by Dawn Brower
“Good afternoon Conte Leone,” Alfred greeted him. “I hope your trip went well.”
“It did,” Rafe said and smiled. Much better than he could have hoped for, but he wouldn’t say as much to Alfred. “Thank you for being here to retrieve me. Is Marsden house bursting at the seams?”
“There are…many guests already in residence. Some have opted to stay with the Marquess and Marchioness of Severn. They have considerably more room.”
Rafe considered his options for a moment. The twins, Alex and Drew probably had bachelor apartments. They would be more entertaining to reside with… Too bad that wouldn’t be an option. Rafe’s parents probably are at the Marsden townhouse with his sisters. They would expect him to follow suit. He sighed and slid into the car. “Have my parent’s arrived?” He asked Alfred after he was settled in the driver’s seat.
“They have,” he replied. “A couple days ago.” He nodded to the car. “I’ve already seen to your luggage.”
“Wonderful,” Rafe replied. Alfred was a good servant.
Rafe considered everything he’d done while he was away and what he still needed to complete. His father would have a lot of questions about the property. He might as well get that part dealt with. Then he could make some inquiries about Miss Aletha. There was a small chance that Alex and Drew knew who she was and where he might locate her. They tended to know every eligible female within their vicinity.
Though he wanted to run and find Aletha as soon as possible he did have many family obligations to attend to. He should also check in with William. It was his wedding after all and William was a good friend of Rafe’s. He’d see his father and then William. Only after that could he see to what he really wanted to. Aletha.
Alfred pulled the car away from the train station and headed to Marsden House. It didn’t take long to reach the Marsden home. Alfred pulled the car in front of the house and put the car in park. He then slid out of the driver’s seat and opened Rafe’s car door for him. Rafe exited the vehicle and went inside the townhouse. Alfred followed behind him with Rafe’s luggage.
“The family will have tea in the main salon in an hour if you wish to join them,” Alfred told him. “I believe some of the gentleman are in the game room at present if you wish to go there now. If not, you’re welcome to take a respite in your room. Mrs. Smithy has arranged it so you’re usual room is ready.”
“Thank you, Alfred,” he said. “Can you see my belongings are taken there? I will be in the game room for now.”
“Very well,” Alfred replied, then bowed. He turned on his heels and started up the stairs with Rafe’s luggage.
Rafe headed to the game room. He wasn’t certain who he would find there but figured it didn’t much matter. The company would be welcome either way. He needed something to take his mind off of Aletha. At least until he could devote some time to locating her… He entered the game room and found William and the twins leaning against the billiards table.
“Am I interrupting something?” he asked.
William glanced in his direction and smiled. “It’s about time you decided to make an appearance. What took you so long? The rest of your family has been here for days. I was starting to think my best man was going to be a no show.”
“Right,” Drew drawled. “Are you afraid marriage is contagious?”
“It’s all right if you do,” Alex said and shivered. “It very well might be. Will is lucky I love the bastard or I’d skip it altogether. Seems like everyone is tying the knot these days.”
Rafe chucked lightly. “I’m sure it isn’t contagious.” Though he would spare them his thoughts on the matter. They might start to believe that hogwash. Rafe wanted to settle down. He just hadn’t found a woman he deemed worthy enough to spend the rest of his life with. Though he had started to believe Aletha might just be the one he’d been searching for. “Even if it is I’m sure the two of you are immune. I don’t think there is a woman alive that could convince you to fall into that particular trap.”
“True,” Drew agreed and glanced at his twin. They had matching golden locks and, as Rafe’s sister Sofia said more than he liked to hear, dreamy blue eyes. “Rafe wouldn’t steer us wrong. I think we can attend Will’s wedding and walk away unattached.”
“Glad I can alleviate your concerns,” Rafe said and shook his head. He nodded toward the billiard table. “Are you about to play?”
“We were considering it,” William answered. “But we have odd numbers. We could play in teams with you here.”
Rafe considered it. “All right but we need to break up the wonder twins. I swear they talk to each other without saying a word at times.”
“It’s a gift,” Alex replied smoothly. “You’re just jealous of our wicked skills.”
“Wicked yes,” Rafe agreed. “Jealous no. Only cautious of your cheating ways.”
“I’m wounded,” Drew said and turned to his brother. “Aren’t you?” He lifted a brow. “I’d never cheat and neither would Alex.”
“Don’t bother trying to pull anything over on us,” William said and rolled his eyes. “We’ve know you since you were wee babes and don’t believe a word of your malarkey.”
Rafe missed all of them. They had pretty much grown up together. His parent’s were close friends with all of theirs and they made sure to spend as much time in England as they could. It wasn’t just because Rafe’s mother had English relatives. The Marsdens were more family then those he held blood ties with. When they visited England they stayed with one of the Marsdens or at the Huntly estate since his aunt, Rubina married the duke. Rafe felt as comfortable in the Marsden home as the one in Italy he’d grown up in.
“William isn’t wrong,” Rafe said. “So are we going to play or not?”
“We’ll play,” Alex answered. “I’ll be with you and Drew can pair up with William.”
“Works for me,” William said. He went to a nearby rack and lifted a stick. “Drew set up the table.”
“You can go first,” Alex said to William. “Since we’re all gathered to celebrate your upcoming nuptials.”
William laughed. “We’d gather at this time of the year regardless. It’s almost Christmas.”
“True,” Alex agreed. “I’m attempting to be generous and all that.” He gestured toward the balls that Drew had set up on the table. “Will you please break them?”
“If you insist,” William said. He grinned and then leaned down to make his shot. The balls flew across the table.
They took turns wracking up points on each side. It was a close game. William was right about the twins. Playing against them was a sure way to lose, especially at cards. Billiards they were on a more even footing, but separating them was still to their benefit. As a result they ended up with a tie game at the end.
“Well that’s bollocks,” Alex said. “There is no clear winner. How are we supposed to lord it over the losers if no one won?”
“We don’t need to bother,” Rafe said. “It’s all in good fun either way.”
He loved all of them but the twin’s competitiveness could get out of hand at times. Rafe thought about Aletha. He wondered if she’d find the twins charming as most women did. He’d like to think she’d never give them a second glance, but since she was female he doubted it. Sometimes being with the Marsden twins could be a little disconcerting.
“Perhaps we can do something else to entertain us,” William said. “Though I have to lay some ground rules first. I’m getting married.” He gave the twins a pointed stare. “No loose women.”
“What about women with a little…integrity,” Drew said with a wink. “I promise they have the highest of morals.”
Rafe rolled his eyes and held back a laugh. “I’m sure that William doesn’t need to make any distinction about the women’s character. He means that he’s not interested in any females other than his betrothed.”
“Oh…” Drew frowned and glanced at William. “Are you absolutely certain? It’s not too late to change your mind.
”
William stared heavenward and Rafe swore he was praying for patience. Then he met Drew’s gaze. “I can say with complete conviction that I love Victoria and marrying her is my greatest wish.”
“Bloody hell,” Drew said. “Then I guess we’re drinking. If we can’t have women it’ll have to do.” He went over to the bar and then glanced back at Alex. “I am assuming you want one too.”
“Of course,” Alex said a little absentmindedly. “A drink is always good to have.”
Drew poured four glasses of brandy and distributed them to everyone. Rafe didn’t really want any but thought it wouldn’t be prudent to decline the glass. He’d just sip it slowly and hope Drew didn’t notice he wasn’t getting foxed. “What have you been up to since I last visited England?” Rafe asked the twins. “I’m surprised you haven’t found trouble you were not able to extricate yourself from yet.”
“Trouble loves us.” Alex said and winked. “It’s part of our charm.”
“Your charm is most definitely trouble,” William agreed. “But I doubt that it’ll hold forever. Have you two ever thought about…”
“Please do not finish that sentence William,” Drew said dryly. “I’d hate to murder you before your wedding. Victoria wouldn’t look kindly upon me for doing so.”
Drew wasn’t wrong… Victoria was the no nonsense sort. She’d been a nurse during the war and didn’t have much of a sense of humor. “I wouldn’t want to upset her,” Rafe said. “But William is only looking out for you. Surely, at some point, you’ll have to settle down.”
“Perhaps Alex will,” Drew conceded. “He is the heir after all. I can happily stay unencumbered for the rest of my days and fully intend to stay a bachelor forever.”
Rafe doubted he’d be able to remain alone. He’d not be able to handle the solitude. Drew and Alex did so much together and if Alex did marry it would leave Drew on his own for the most part. He’d slowly go insane. He’d have to find someone to settle down with then. Otherwise, Rafe feared he’d be lost in the emptiness.
“I met someone,” Rafe blurted out.
“What?” Alex sat forward. “Please say I heard you wrong.”
William’s smile widened. “It happens to the best of us.” He lifted his glass in a salute. “I hope she’s as wonderful as my Victoria.”
Rafe couldn’t believe he told them that much. What would they say when he couldn’t even tell them her last name? They would start to think he’d lost his bloody mind, and he very well may have.
Drew shook his head slowly. “Bloody weddings. They are contagious. Rafe you lied to us.”
He frowned. “I did no such thing. William’s wedding has nothing to do with this.”
“Of course it does,” Drew said with disgust. “It makes us think that tying ourselves to one woman for the rest of our lives won’t be so bad. But you’d be wrong. It is a fate that I don’t want for myself. So if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go hide in my room until after the wedding. I won’t catch this particular bug.”
With those words Drew set his brandy down and exited the room. “He’s been acting odd for days now,” Alex said. “Don’t listen to him. He’ll be at the wedding.”
“I know,” William said. “Drew wouldn’t let a little thing like a contagious wedding stop him from anything. I’m not concerned.”
Rafe closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He’d talk to Drew later. For now he was growing weary and needed to rest himself. He downed the rest of his brandy and set his glass next to Drew’s. “I’m going to retire myself. I’ll see you both at dinner.” He exited the room without another word.
Chapter 5
Sunlight streamed into the window bringing its rays throughout the room in waves. Aletha wished the bright cheery light could erase the melancholy filling her. Her family sucked any joy she felt out of her. She loved them, but sometimes she truly hated her parents and brother. They had brought her mood down from the moment she arrived in London. If only returning to New York would make it better… She sighed. Nothing would improve the way they treated her. To them she was nothing more than a broodmare they could auction off to the highest bidder. As soon as she found a rich, well-connected, preferably titled, husband they would be happy with her. Until then, she was a burden none of them wanted to have on their shoulders. Her mother was the worst of them… She kept pushing eligible gentlemen in her direction and nearly demanding she pick one or she’d do it for Aletha.
Was it too much to ask for a say in her own life?
Aletha didn’t want a husband. At least not the first man shoved in her path… Of course her mother would point out that there were several already presented to her, but that wasn’t the point. She didn’t want to marry for the sake of tying herself to a man for the rest of her days. If, and only if, she chose to marry it would be for much more than the dictates of society. Aletha wanted love, respect, and equality in her potential marriage. She would not take a back step behind her husband and let him rule her life. Her decisions would be her own and she would build something with her life.
“What are you ruminating about?” Her brother, Christian asked as he entered the room. “Shouldn’t you be shopping or something? Go rub elbows with polite society. Maybe you’ll get lucky enough to grab an earl or some other titled gentleman’s attention.”
She glared at him. Of course he’d suggest such nonsense. He was as old school as their grandfather. She couldn’t blame him. Christian had learned his ideals on Phillip Carter’s knees. Their other grandfather hadn’t had much to do with their lives. They didn’t interact with the Dewitt side of their family much. Not that Aletha cared. They would probably be as closed minded as the rest of their family. “Shouldn’t you be somewhere else?” She lifted a mocking brow. “I don’t know…finding a lady that will deign to put up with your idiotic notions?”
Christian ignored her pointed barbs and walked over to the bar located on the far side of the sitting room. The Duke and Duchess of Weston kept everything well stocked. There was a time her family had pushed her to secure Julian Kendall, the current Duke of Weston’s attention. Of course back then he’d been a second son, but the connection was good enough for them. Though she didn’t understand why. They had always kept a distant connection to the family. Well as long as she remembered any way… She still didn’t quite understand why. That didn’t mean much to her either way. Aletha hadn’t wanted to marry Julian and that worked out for the best. He adored Brianne and they were so deeply in love it was almost sickening to observe.
“I have plans to go with Julian to his club later,” Christian told her as he poured some brandy into a glass. “Though I doubt very much any ladies will be in attendance. At least not any proper ones…”
She gagged a little at his innuendo. Men could be so disgusting. “I doubt Julian will want any ladies improper or not to attend to him.” He was too much in love with his wife and Aletha refused to believe anything less.
“You’re not wrong,” he agreed. “But this is a…celebration of sorts.”
“What pray tell are you celebrating?” The only thing they had to look forward to while they were there was the upcoming wedding. There was not much for entertainments in London at this time of year.
“I suppose that isn’t quite the right word. It’s a send off for William. Now that he’s getting married he needs a proper burial for his bachelorhood. Poor bastard needs something doesn’t he?”
She clenched her teeth together and breathed in and out slowly through them. Aletha would not murder her brother. She loved him…most of the time. Right now was not one of those times. “If you’re so against the sanctity of marriage why do you keep pushing me toward the institution?” He was such a damn hypocrite.
“Because dear sister,” he began, then stopped to take a sip of his brandy. He held out his hand with the glass almost saluting her. “You’re female. All females should desire marriage and men should avoid it as long as possible. That’s just how it’s done.”
What he didn’t say was that she had to accept her fate. Ballocks. She didn’t have to marry because she hadn’t been born male. “So you’re going to go out and help William Collins bid adieu to his life as he knows it. You don’t think he is happy with the choice he’s made?”
“Oh, I’m sure he believes he is. Otherwise he’d never have proposed to begin with.” Christian shrugged. “But really, what man stays in that ridiculous state of mind once the bloom has lost its appeal. He’ll come to regret his choice in time.”
Her brother would make some woman miserable one day… “Who had this brilliant idea?”
“I think it was his cousins. The Marsden twins.”
Ah… That almost made some kind of twisted sense. Andrew and Alexander Marsden were two of the wickedest men she’d ever met. Handsome as sin and everything that went with it. There wasn’t anything decadent those two hadn’t had the pleasure of imbibing…or so she’d been told. She’d been alert enough to pay attention to them. Any living and breathing female would. They were blonde gods and yes, she’d been a little agog at the sight of them when she had first met them. Then they opened their mouths and she realized neither one of them were for her. “Those two would have a send off to a male’s bachelorhood. I do hope you all don’t do anything incredibly stupid.”
“What fun would that be? Of course we will do something foolish. That’s the whole point of this little excursion” He swallowed the remainder of his brandy and set his glass down.
Male voices echoed outside of the sitting room. They were already there to retrieve Christian? Didn’t they want to wait until nightfall to start their excursion into every sin known to man?
The door opened and two men entered. One was Julian, the Duke of Weston and the other… her mouth fell open at the sight of Rafe. Her mysterious man on the train. What was he doing there?