Alexandra’ stomach twisted inknots. Mr. Runyon’s assessment of Lord Reynolds character did not ringfalse. Unfortunately, all the pieces fit. If Lord Reynolds trulywished her company, he would seek her out. Instead, he attempted toseduce when he chanced upon her. Likely, his treatment of her after the appearanceof Mr. Runyon was nothing more than irritation at having his seductioninterrupted. She clutched at her stomach. The ache in her head spread toenvelope her entire body. Silly spinster from Hampshire! LordReynolds almost had her believe he held her in some esteem. Well, he did,she reminded herself, ill to the very core of her being. He did offer tomake her his mistress.
She misjudged Lord Reynolds character, perhapsshe’d also judged Lady Reynolds too harshly. Mr. Runyon clearlyadored his cousin and had no reason to lie. If what Mr. Runyon told herwas true, Alexandra could forgive Lady Reynolds her coldness.
Mr. Runyon looked at her inexpectation.
“I am so sorry, Mr. Runyon, for what youhave suffered.” Alexandra offered comfort, chiding herself for allowingLord Reynolds to take her mind off of her objective, the safety of HelmsbyAbbey. She truly felt sorry for Mr. Runyon, but she must not allowherself to involve herself too deeply out of pity. She pressedfingertips to her temples. She felt a bit dizzy.
“I can see my tale has distressed you.”Mr. Runyon took her arm and instructed the clerk to deliver the books to LordBurke’s address. He walked her to the carriage, concern etched in hisfeatures. “I shall never forgive myself if you become ill over theseevents.” Gently, he placed her in the carriage.
Tilda snored in the corner, barelystirring as Mr. Runyon followed Alexandra in.
”Mr. Runyon,” Alexandra spoke across theseat from him, “please do not distress yourself, you are not the culprit. It isjust a headache. I have them sometimes.” She reached over and gently tookhis hand. “I admire your fortitude in trying to put the past behind you.”
Mr. Runyon gave her a half-hearted smileas if a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders. “You are a treasure, MissDunforth. I am blessed to have a companion such as you. I amhopeful that once you and I are married, my father and I can mend our breach. Ifeel certain you are the instrument of my redemption.” He gave her hand asqueeze. “Perhaps even Cam and I can be in the same room together, if notfriends. Nothing would make my cousin happier.”
Alexandra stole a look out thewindow. She felt doubly terrible now that she used him for her ownconvenience. He would be devastated. But she must pushon. For Helmsby Abbey.
***
That had been nearly too easy.Archibald Runyon sat back in his carriage after escorting Alexandra insideBurke’s townhome and congratulated himself! What a boon to have Suttonand his worthless sister confront him at Thrumbadge’s today. He couldn’thave planned it better himself! Alexandra barely needed a push to acceptthat Cam, and his father, were the reasons Archie was reviled. His littlepigeon was so trusting! Adorable! Cam’s reputation as thegreat Satan Reynolds, which Archie wisely cultivated while Cam was just a lad,paid huge dividends! Archie clapped his gloved hands.
He reached into his vest pocket andpulled out Alexandra’s note to Mr. Meechum. Calmly he ripped it into tinypieces and tossed them, fluttering, over his head. The creamy paper trickledin to a muddy puddle and disappeared from view. Listening to her rattleon about beloved servants and such today was tiring and a trifle boring.But, it had given him an idea. Archie stroked his chin.
His beautiful little Hampshire rose. Thatbuffoon, Oliver Burke, claimed Alexandra to be plain and devoid of any feminineattributes. Burke was an idiot. True, she was no conventionalbeauty, but he found conventional beauty to be tiresome. She certainlycould never hold a candle to his beloved Jeanette. Few women could. AndAlexandra was innocent. Pure. Untouched. Archie relishedinnocence in women. He loved to be the person to shake the gentleperceptions of a young woman, defile her, and degrade her. Introduce herto perversions she didn’t know she desired.
His delicious thoughts of Alexandra fadedaway as he thought of Cam. How he hated the man! Cam’s baiting madeit clear that Lord Robert, before dying, confessed everything to his son. Damn Robert.Jeanette convinced herself that Robert would become malleable if only she borea son. Well, Archie sniffed, she didn’t. Just daughters.Leaving only Sutton.
Archie stretched his slender fingersinside the fine leather of his gloves. He bet that Alexandra did notspill her books by chance. Miranda, that chattering simpleton, did not justhappen upon Miss Dunforth in need. Archie stroked the wolf’s headabsently. He saw the way Cam looked at Miss Dunforth. The thoughtof Cam’s pain when Archie married Miss Dunforth was simply delicious.Imagine! The great Satan Reynolds enamored of a virgin, a bluestocking fromHampshire no less! Incredible! Wait until he told Jeanette.
He leaned back into the leather squabs ofhis carriage and contemplated the delicate bones of Alexandra’s hands.Her hands were so small, her wrists so slender he would need to have specialcuffs made for her. He couldn’t risk Alexandra slipping out of them at aninopportune moment.
Archie thought of the beautiful leathercrop he had fashioned in Italy. Long narrow strands sprung from the topof the crop, each ending in a small glass bead. The handle of the cropwas made to fit his hand perfectly, so as not to lose the grip when the cropwas being used. Just today, he tried it out on the downstairs maid, adrab little girl who dutifully submitted to him. He imagined it was Alexandrabeneath him the entire time. His elderly father would adore Alexandra.Archie would finally appease the old toad and return to his rightful positionin the family.
And Archie would be appeased as well.The idea of buying a woman and making her a slave to his needs held muchappeal. Alexandra’s intelligence challenged him, which would make the breakingof her spirit that much more exquisite. He planned all types ofactivities after their marriage. Once she broke, his friends could useher. Archie would watch. He would beat her, pulling back the darkcurls of Alexandra’s hair so hard, a scream would come out of her lusciousmouth. He needed to be careful. He didn’t want her too bruised.He imagined Alexandra’s firm plump bottom, pushed towards him. Archiefelt himself grow hard just thinking about it. He rapped on the top ofthe carriage.
“Take me to Madame LeFleur's.” Hiscoach acknowledged the command with an abrupt turn, heading toward thedirection of the most notorious brothel in London. Madame LeFleur wouldhave forgiven him by now for that unfortunate incident. It had been yearsago when Archie had less control of his emotions. The girl, no more thanfourteen, balked at all his suggestions for play. It wasn’t Archie’sfault her neck snapped. He hoped Madame LeFleur hired sturdier whores now.
TEN
Alexandra sat down on the drawing roomcouch, a tray of tea before her. She pressed her fingertips to hertemples and took a deep breath. Lord, how her head ached.Dinner, a long and drawn out affair, exhausted her. Her appetite, usuallyso robust, deserted her tonight. A few sips of consommé were all she couldstomach. Odious Oliver cheerfully stuffed his face full of food, ignoringthe fact that the duck was dry, the fish overcooked and the vegetables mushy atbest. Mr. Runyon noticed. He ate mostly bread, downed with a glass of redwine. Alexandra cared little. Mr. Runyon had visited with Mr.Meechum. She waited impatiently for dinner to end so that she could hearMr. Meechum’s response to her note.
The door to the drawing room opened andMr. Runyon entered with Lord Burke trailing behind him.
“May I have a word alone with your niece,Lord Burke?” It was phrased as a question, but the words from Mr. Runyonsounded more like a command.
Her atrocious uncle gave one ofhis pig-like snorts. He disgusted her. She thought him larger,getting fatter like a goose before Christmas.
“Of course! Of course! I’ll justhave a glass of port in my study. Leave you two lovebirds alone.”Odious Oliver blinked one bleary eye at Mr. Runyon.
Alexandra watched her uncle withapathy.
“Try to stay awake to entertain Mr.Runyon. It amazes me he’s interested in anything you have to say.”Her uncle gave a huge wheezing chuckle and headed towards the door.
“You will not speak to Alexandra in sucha way again, Lord Burke. Do I make myself clear?” Mr. Runyon glaredat her uncle, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. What alovely man to defend her. Mr. Runyon stood firmly in Alexandra’s corner.He didn’t take advantage or try to seduce her on books. Not like LordReynolds.
Alexandra’s eyelids fluttered down as shethought of Lord Reynolds. He toyed with her. But she ached for himall the same. She dreamt of the dragon tattoo and the earring nearly everynight. Felt the dark sable hair beneath her fingers. Oh, she knewhow foolish her feelings for the notorious Lord Reynolds were. Ridiculousactually. His torturing of her was merely a game for him, ruining women ahobby. Oh, but to be ruined by a man such as that. She smiled and awistful puff of air escaped her lips.
“Um, yes, Runyon. I meant nothingby it. Alexandra doesn’t take offense, why should you?” Her uncleshuffled his feet, his fat fingers nervously tapped on his pant leg.
