“So, the Duke is after your land?” She asked stupidly.
Nodding, he came back to her and squatted in front of her again.
“Anne,” he said, looking into her eyes, “I need to tell you about my, ah, romantic history with the Duchess of Barnsley.”
Placing two trembling fingers to his lips, she sweetly silenced him.
“I already know,” she reassured him with a smile.
“Very well. Anne, there is something else I have to make clear.”
What could it possibly be? Anne thought. What else could he tell her to throw her world even further off its axis?
“I despise the Duchess. But I have to pretend to at least tolerate her while she is here. It is important to find out information about my brother's murder and Chris' whereabouts. Do you understand?” He asked kindly.
Nodding, she chuckled, “Do I have to be nice to her?”
Looking contrite, he nodded but assured her she didn't have to spend time with her. He just didn't want her to drive them away prematurely.
*********
While Anne and Alex were talking in the library, Charles was in a corner talking to the Duke of Barnsley. He was trying to get information from the source, but having little luck. He inquired about everything from the weather in New Orleans to horseflesh. Barnsley had little to say on either subject but did say he had just bought a mare that he would be breeding with Adair, his prize stallion.
“Adair? That will be a fine breed.”
Barnsley shrugged. “I would assume so. I know so little about horses. My stable master tells me it is a good investment.”
Charles nodded in agreement. He did not know very much about horses himself, but Adair was a champion, so it could not be all bad.
“You must have the finest stable in the Colonies,” Charles prompted.
“Indeed,” Barnsley agreed, sounding bored. Charles could see that horses did not interest him. He needed to find something to interest him; to get him talking.
“How is the sugar business treating you?” Charles tested the waters.
Barnsley looked startled. “Well, it has stalled, naturally, what with the blockade of France. However, I should have no trouble recovering,” Barnsley replied carefully.
Charles was about to ask more questions but was interrupted by the arrival of a friend of Barnsley's. Charles could not quite remember his name, so he begged leave of the gentlemen and went in search of Alex. Barnsley wasn't talking, which made this game all the more frustrating.
Unable to immediately locate Alex, Charles sought out Ava.
*******
Alex escorted his wife to the ladies' retiring room, where she ran into Julia.
“Your husband is most impressive,” Julia complemented.
Anne blushed, “Thank you. I think so.”
“Truthfully, I am a little afraid of him,” Julia confessed.
Anne chuckled, “Oh, Julia, you should not be afraid of him. Come with me. We will seek him out and you can talk to him a bit.
Reaching out, she grabbed Julia's wrist and began to pull her back to the party.
“I won't know what to say. I find I cannot recall how to speak when I am nervous,” Julia said, feet dragging a bit.
Anne laughed again and tried to reassure her friend, “I will begin the conversation and you can add something when you feel comfortable.”
“Do you think that will work?”
“Of course, you will be fine.”
“Well, okay. You go and I will join you shortly.”
Eying her friend critically, Anne sighed.
“You know very well if you do not come with me now you won't ever talk to him.”
“I know....I just,” Julia shrugged and pulled her arm from Anne's grip. It wasn't the first time her shyness got the best of her. It would not be the last.
“Alright,” Anne relented, “I will go back without you. But I will force you two together at some point. Then you will have to speak to him.”
Julia stuck out her tongue in childish response. Anne laughed and left the room while Julia turned to ponder herself in the mirror. Her porcelain skin was too pale, in her opinion. Her brown eyes and brown hair were too ordinary. One more critical perusal and she shrugged her shoulders in defeat, then left the safety of the retiring room.
********
Jack was having a bloody terrible evening. His jaw ached and he had no one interesting to talk to. Normally a happy man, tonight he was recognizing how empty his life really was. It was a realization that left him completely uncomfortable. Buried in his work for so long, he had neglected his personal life and now he was suffering for it. Alex was married, Charles was off chasing after a married woman, and his brother...well, who the hell knew where Chris was at this moment? Seeing little of his brother over the years made him feel more distanced from his life. For once, Jack wished he was a drinking man. The alcohol would go down easy, he was sure. Moving through the crowd, he watched the Duke of Barnsley for anything suspicious. Nothing.
The house was stifling, he had to get out. Hurrying down the front steps, he ran down the beach into the thick night air. Breathing heavily, he sucked in every ounce of fresh breath he could draw.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“I left your mother by herself. I always regret doing that.”
In light of the heavy conversation she and Alex had an hour ago, Anne decided to help her husband in his pursuit of justice. The Duke was standing by the refreshment table, full glass of champagne in his hand.
“Your Grace, thank you for coming to our wedding reception,” Anne cooed, inching up to the Duke of Barnsley.”
“Wouldn't miss it, m'dear,” he replied, genuine smile on his face.
“How are you enjoying your stay here in the Caribbean?”
“'Tis lovely, indeed. New Orleans is just as humid, if not more so than here. Heat's never bothered me, though.” Smiling proudly, he sipped his champagne.
“I must confess, it is a bit much for me,” Anne lied, hoping to lure him into superior-male mode.
“Well, m'dear, 'tis to be expected,” he condescended.
Smiling, Anne nodded as if she didn't have an intelligent thought in her pretty little head.
Champagne done (rather quickly in Anne's opinion), the Duke asked her for a dance.
Happily accepting, he led her to the floor in a country dance.
Alex watched through narrowed eyes as his wife chatted up Barnsley. The sight was making him a little sick, though he knew what she was doing and why. He kept a tight reign over his emotions and pretended like he was having a good time. In truth, he had been. Celebrating his marriage was exactly what he wanted to do right now; not search for a way to trap Barnsley into admitting he killed Phillip.
His eyes never left Anne as she and Barnsley moved from the refreshment table to the dance floor, and back again. Looking at his watch, he grew agitated as he realized she had been talking to him for ten...no, twelve...no fifteen minutes! Just as he was about to intercept his wife, the Duchess appeared before him.
“Alone at last,” she purred, close enough for Alex to smell the alcohol on her breath. It was too pungent for him to ignore.
“What can I do for you, your Grace?”
“I have not had a chance to really speak with you in private. I was sorry that your brother passed. I know how much you loved him,” Louisa slurred.
“Did you merely seek me out to offer your condolences one year after the fact?” Alex was on the brink of outright laughter. If she was here just to say she was sorry his brother was dead, she was wasting everyone's time. Especially her own. Unless she could prove her husband did it...
“No, I did not want to offer my condolences. I also wanted to apologize for my behavior, toward your wife. I behaved abominably. I am very jealous, you see.”
Her words were calculated, measured.
“I also wanted to tell you that I am sorry we parted so badly. You see, I was very young and impressionable
and wanted to please my parents. They forced me to marry Barnsley. In fact, my mother outright told me to seduce him so he would have to marry me. I loved you but my father ordered me to stop seeing you. I thought if I was cruel to you, you could get on with your life. I only wanted you to be happy.”
Alex did not believe one word of her story, but was willing to play along to see what he could get from her.
“If that were true, why didn't you just tell me? Did you think I wouldn't understand?”
“I was stupid and naïve. I thought if I pushed you away you would get over me quickly. It was wrong of me to have been so cruel.”
“Yes, it was very wrong of you,” he admonished, playfully.
“Alex, please forgive me? I have been punished for my sins.” She was tearful now.
“What do you mean?”
“Barnsley has seen to it that I pay for everything,” she said cryptically.
Alex felt a creeping sensation at the base of his neck.
“Please explain that statement.”
Looking around furtively, she asked if they could go somewhere private. Sighing, he obliged her, for now. He was only willing to play this game so long.
Once they were seated comfortably in the library, Louisa sniffed and continued her sob story.
“He ignores me. He keeps a mistress and flaunts it. We're going broke and he continues to spend. I don't want to lose everything!” she cried.
“He doesn't sound like a very good husband, does he?” Alex said softly.
“He's a monster,” she agreed, tears spilling down her cheeks in earnest.
He pulled her close to comfort her and played the caring friend.
“Louisa, please listen to me. I can help you. But you must help me. Can you do that?”
She nodded, unable to speak. Finally she regained her voice.
“So, you forgive me, Alex?”
He sighed, “Yes, Louisa. The past is past. I forgive you.”
Alex spent the better part of the next ten minutes trying to comfort her. Once she left, he formulated a plan. Now that Louisa had come to him, he could use her to get to her husband. He just had to seduce her, in a manner of speaking. He had to gain her trust and get information from her. Tonight was the first step. He would have to ensure another meeting between them. Since she had initiated contact with him tonight, he felt certain she would continue to do so. And if she saw him as an ally against her monster of a husband, he just might be able to do it faster than he anticipated.
******
Alex rejoined the party to find his wife still speaking to Barnsley. Several guests were beginning to leave and he noted it was creeping onto two a.m. Itching to pull her away from the Duke, he physically restrained himself and went in search of Jack. When that failed, he looked for Charles. He was also nowhere to be found. Puzzled that no one seemed to be available, he returned to the “ballroom” to find it empty, save for his wife and her sister.
“Come to bed, love?” He asked, holding out his hand. She nodded in tired agreement and they made their way upstairs to their bedchamber. Upon arrival, he immediately demanded information from her.
“Tell me of Barnsley. You seemed to be enjoying his company,” he stated flatly but not unkindly.
“Yes, your point?” She defended.
“I do not want you keeping too much company with that man. I appreciate your wanting to help, but he is dangerous and I will not have you in harms' way,” he ground out.
“There is no need to order me about,” Anne grated back, declaring a modicum of independence.
“Then I shall ask you nicely. Once.” Alex's eyes flaring in warning and demand set Anne's anger blazing.
“Then ask me nicely,” she taunted.
Anne watched as Alex's eyes turned from fire to stone.
“You will please stay away from him,” he managed through gritted teeth.
“I will think about it,” she mused stubbornly.
“Madam, you will do as I command. I am your husband and as such you are expected to do as I tell you. Is that understood?”
“Fine. I just want you to know I don't think he did it.”
Alex's face went ashen, “What?”
“I don't think he did a thing to hurt you or your brother. He is a kindly old man without a malicious bone in his body.”
“You have only known him one night. That hardly qualifies as 'knowing him',” Alex turned from his wife and began to undress. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he removed one shoe, then the other. Then he tugged at his cravat, pulling it off. As he walked toward the water closet, he pealed off the rest of his clothing and, stepping naked to the tub, ran a hot bath.
“Just because I haven't known him long, doesn't mean I don't know how to judge a person's character. If you want to talk about the Duchess, I'm all ears. In fact, maybe you can tell me what you two were chatting about,” she called into the bathroom. Peaking around the corner, she saw him already submerged in the tub, a scowl on his face.
“We were not speaking of anything important. I was trying to be nice to her. Remember the plan?”
“I remember it very well. I didn't know it involved sneaking off with her for twenty minutes,” she shot back, returning to the bed, slipping off her shoes and calling for Chloe.
Damn, he thought as she closed the bathroom door as Chloe entered their bedchamber.
He would just have to explain all this to her later, after he had kissed her so thoroughly she forgot what they were fighting about. As his luck would have it, she didn't.
“You really need to include me, Alex,” she reminded him softly.
He nodded, kissed her shoulder, and pulled her to him. Too tired for anything but sleep, he closed his eyes and immediately fell into a peaceful slumber.
******
The next morning found Anne pacing restlessly in the dinning room, waiting for Jack. She replayed the conversation she had last night with Alex over and over again. Just as she was about to go in search of him, Jack appeared.
“Hullo, Anne,” he greeted.
“Jack, good, you are here,” she said in a business-like tone.
“How may I assist you today?”
“I know about your brother. I also know that you have a lead in New Orleans. How likely is Alex to act on it?”
“A ship is due in this afternoon that should have our informant on board. Based on the information we gather, we will decide our next move.”
“If this man tells you where Chris is located, will you be go to get him soon?”
“Of course.”
Anne nodded, “I'm coming, too.”
Jack's eyes popped out of his head and he shook his head, “No. You cannot come. It is too dangerous. Anne, you are very dear to me. I don't want to lose you,” he admitted.
“I want to help, Jack,” she set her chin and he sighed.
“You are too dear to Alex, Charles, and me to risk your life.”
“You three are dear to me, but that doesn't mean I will make you stay here while your brother is in danger. I can help,” she promised, softly.
“Truthfully, Alex loves you too much. It would interfere with his judgment.”
Anne scoffed when he said that but he insisted it was true.
“Nevertheless, I am coming. Like it or no,” she determined. She would be damned if she was going to do what she was told when her husband's life was in danger.
Jack sighed heavily and nodded. It was not his place to deny her anything.
“I have to go to the ship now, Anne.”
“Please be careful,” Anne said, touching his shoulder in a sisterly manner.
“I intend to be very careful. You be careful, too,” he advised.
They shared an affectionate embrace and he left Anne with her determination.
*********
That night, Alex returned to his bedchamber to find candlelight shimmering in the room, basking it in a warm glow. The bed was turned down suggestively with soft flower pedals strewn
about it. The doors to the balcony were open, the curtains swaying in the balmy breeze.
But Anne was nowhere in sight. Puzzled, he walked in, carefully turning the lock.
He sighed heavily and walked out to the balcony. Then his breath caught. Anne was standing with her back to him, slightly bent over the railing. She was wearing lace. Beautiful lace. Pure white lace chemise with garters and silk stockings. No slippers adorned her feet. Her hair tumbled in soft curls down her back.
She looked just like he’d pictured in so many of his fantasies. He must be dreaming now.
She turned to him with a smile and offered her hand.
“Come, enjoy the night with me,” she said invitingly.
That was all he wanted to do at the moment. So, he sauntered over to her and looked out at the night.
The skies were clear and the moon was full, casting it’s rays on the sea below. It was a beautiful night for a tryst.
She seemed to have the same idea.
She turned to him and slipped her arms around him, drawing him close. Her breath whispered on his lips before she kissed him full on the mouth. She took charge then and plunged her tongue into his mouth.
He melted, wrapping his arms around her. The kiss was full of passionate promise. He started to guide her back to the room but she stopped him. She surprised him by taking command of this seduction. Leading him into the room, she pushed him gently so he sat on the edge of the bed. Then she slowly undressed him, whispering tender words against his skin while she stripped him.
She focused on his pleasure, but she couldn’t deny the thrill she felt at leading him. She was in charge now and it felt good to be the seducer. Of course, all this was just to get him to agree to let her go to New Orleans. She laughed silently to realize she wasn't above teasing him to get what she wanted.
His eyes on her thrilled her and she took what she wanted. Loving him thoroughly, passionately, greedily.
When they were both spent, he dozed in her arms but her racing mind kept her awake.
“Alex?”
“Hmm?” Was his lazy reply.
“We need to go to New Orleans.”
“Okay. For a honeymoon?” His hazy mind barely knew what she was saying.
Behind Your Eyes Page 14