“Well,that’s all ancient history now, isn’t it?”
“We have aguest, Jeanette.” The Dowager gave a nod in Alexandra’s direction. “Youforget yourself.” The warning in her voice was implicit.
LadyReynolds gave a sniff of her perfect nose, ignoring the Dowager. “I havesome errands to attend to. I shall be gone the rest of theafternoon. Friends to visit.” She turned to Miranda. “Miranda, praydrink nothing but tea. No cakes or scones! I see in you a tendencytowards stoutness. Now that your brother foolishly declined Percy Dobson’soffer for your hand, I am assured of nothing but difficulty in finding youanother suitor. If you grow stout, it will only complicatethings.”
Mirandareacted as if she had been slapped. Her lovely face reddened, and herwhole form deflated like an overdone soufflé.
The Dowagerbanged her cane on the floor.
“Dear,daughter-in-law,I fear I am out of patience this morning. Pray do not tryme.”
The airaround the two prickled with animosity. Miranda lowered her eyes.Alexandra wished to fade into the tapestry of the sofa. She lowered hergaze to her lap.
“As youwish, my lady.” Lady Reynolds curtsied low to the Dowager, smirking withdisrespect. Her skirts rustled softly. The icy gaze pierced theDowager with dislike.
She quirkeda perfectly plucked eyebrow in Alexandra’s direction, as if she suddenlyremembered Alexandra was in the room. “Donata, you haven’t introduced me.And you are?” Her tone spoke volumes. Lady Reynolds couldn’t careless who Alexandra was.
Alexandrarose and curtsied. “Alexandra Dunforth, my lady.”
The goldenhead didn’t nod in acknowledgement. The pale blue shards of ice flickeredwith what Alexandra thought was recognition. The Marchioness turned herback on Alexandra, and faced the Dowager.
“Well, Iwill leave you to yourscintillatingconversation. Please makesure that Miranda drinks only tea. Sutton is so tight with everyfarthing, I can ill afford to let out her gowns if she eats toomuch.” The Marchioness flounced out of the room in a flurry of bluesilk.
Alexandraexhaled slowly. She had been holding her breath. What a horridwoman! And she was a Marchioness!
The Dowagerlooked very old and tired, as if her previous liveliness were taken by the darkfairy who had just sailed from the room.
“That’s mymother. Lovely, isn’t she? She thinks Cam is the reason no one hasoffered for me. Ha!” Miranda gave a toss of her head.
A soft knockcame at the door. Alexandra prayed it wasn’t Lady Reynolds returning.
“Come,” theDowager uttered in her commanding tone.
The butleropened the door and bowed low. “Lord Reynolds is here, madam.”
Alexandra’steacup shook. She struggled to set it down without spilling hertea.
The Dowagercast her an odd look.
The scent ofcinnamon wafted into the room, followed by Lord Reynolds. “Hello,Rainha,hello, Miranda. I’ve come to chase away your demon. I believe shebolted to her carriage when she saw me coming.” He smirked like a childcaught in mischief as he walked through the door, but stopped in surprise whenhe spied Alexandra. The green gaze ran over her figure on the couch,lingering on her bosom before lifting to her lips.
Damnation!He does remember me!Shefelt ridiculously happy that he did, then, chided herself for doing so.
His featuresimmediately composed into cold curiosity. “Forgive me, Grandmother, I didn’trealize you had a guest,” he drawled with what sounded to Alexandra likeinsolence.
Alexandra stiffened her spine.Does he think I am here toscream ruination? Well, I don’t give a bloody damn what he thinks.I wasn’t snooping and I certainly don’t wish to acknowledge our previousmeeting.
“Cam,this is Miss Alexandra Dunforth. Grandmother met her at Lady Dobson’sball the other night. Miss Dunforth, my brother, Lord Reynolds, theMarquess of Cambourne.” Miranda, no doubt still smarting from hermother’s remarks, defiantly bit into a slice of raisin cake.
“Must yourefer to me in a foreign tongue? Portuguese is only slightly better thanChinese. At least the Portuguese aren’t heathens.” The Dowagersniffed.
“But Rainhameans queen. I thought you would appreciate the sentiment.”
Alexandrarose and made a dutiful curtsy, all the while wishing she could run from theroom. Lord Reynolds was more beautiful than she remembered, in spite ofthe slight frown he directed at her. The dark, silky locks of his hair werepulled back and tied neatly with a leather thong. The earring, danglingjauntily from one ear, appeared to be a jade figure. Thesmell of cinnamon grew stronger as he moved into the room. He bent downto bestow a kiss on his grandmother’s forehead before moving his tall form tothe window, where he leaned against the sill. The green eyes, so like hissister and grandmother, watched her appraisingly.
An awkwardsilence engulfed the room. Alexandra clasped and unclasped herhands. Lord Reynolds presence caused her no end of nervousness. Didhe think she hear to denounce his behavior at Lady Dobson’s? Shecertainly wasn’t here to curry favor with his family or force him intomarriage. Marriage was the farthest thing from Alexandra’s mind, and in fact,she was actively avoiding it.
The darkhead nodded curtly, “A pleasure, Miss Dunforth.”
