“I will join you later, LordBurke.” Mr. Runyon gave a chilly dismissal.
Odious Oliver nodded with a warningglance at Alexandra. He needn’t have bothered. She would never sayanything to hurt kind Mr. Runyon.
Mr. Runyon sat down gingerlynext to her on the couch. His golden hair gleamed in thecandlelight. She found him attractive. He did not have LordReynolds’s angelic beauty, but he was a rather good-looking in his ownway. He took one of her hands, rubbing it gently in his largerone. His hand circled her wrist, squeezing for a moment, then, lettinggo. The pale blue gaze settled on her, the pupils dark as he squeezed herfingers.
“Miss Dunforth,” Mr. Runyon sighed. “Ispoke at length with Mr. Meechum.” His voice trembled slightly.
Dread settled over Alexandra like a darkmist. The consommé threatened to leave her stomach.
She took another sip of the tea.Her head began to throb. “Yes?” How pathetic and hopeful her voicesounded, even to her own ears.
“I am sorry, Miss Dunforth. Iregret to inform you that apparently your aunt may have misled you.” Heglanced away, refusing to meet her eyes. “Unintentionally, I’m sure.”
She put the tea down, sloshing a bit onto the saucer. She tried to pull her free hand from Mr. Runyon, but heresisted. “Misled me? How?”
Mr. Runyon coughed. He gave her awan smile, his blue eyes troubled. “The terms of the will, I’m afraid. There isno expiration on your uncle’s guardianship and Helmsby Abbey most assuredlybelongs to him. Not you.”
Her vision narrowed to pinpoints.
“What do you mean? ” Aunt Eloise lied?
“I’m afraid that your uncle, OliverBurke, is your guardian until you are married. Helmsby Abbey andeverything that goes with it...” He paused and his eyes saddened. “...belong toyour uncle. It isyouthat has no claim on the estate.”
Alexandra sat back against the cushionsof the couch, pulling her hands free from Mr. Runyon. A giant whoosh ofair forced through her lungs and out. She told herself to breathe. Herhands clutched at the arms of the couch.
“Please, Mr. Runyon. Please do notsay this to me.” My God. What would she do? Odious Oliverwould sell the estate. She had failed Helmsby Abbey, and all who dependedon her.
“Miss Dunforth. I am deeply sorryto bring you this news.” He moved closer to her on the settee, his voice lowand empathetic. “I suspect your aunt misled you to keep you from leaving her. Shenever encouraged you to marry, did she? Perhaps she didn’t wish to bealone or perhaps she was incapable of running the estate without yourassistance.”
Alexandra stomach clenched. A deepwracking pain centered there. Could it be true? Her mind, sluggish andtired as it was, searched for a rationale.
“Dearest.”
Alexandra looked up at Mr. Runyon,startled out of her despair by the endearment on his lips. An odd thoughtoccurred to her, of watching cows run about the pen as the herders manipulatedthe animals, driving them down the chute. The cows fought the men’sguidance, but in the end, allowed themselves to be led down the chute, wherethe butcher awaited them.
“Forgive me for having to be theone to destroy your hopes.” He reached for her hands again, this time clutchingher fingers tightly. “To tell you of your aunt’s betrayal.”
Alexandra’s throat was very dry. Afeeling of hopelessness, of having her choices all taken from her, like thecows, hit her.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Mr.Runyon. You are unfailingly kind and a true friend to me.” Panic made hervoice shaky. “Thank you for speaking to Mr. Meecham.”
“Miss Dunforth, I wish to be so much morethan a friend.” He peered at her with fervor. “I desire to be your truecompanion, your husband. Pray forgive me for the timing of my proposal coming asit does, on the heels of you finding yourself without recourse.” He shookher hands excitedly. “But you arenotwithout recourse! I wish tobe your knight in shining armor. I spoke to your uncle beforedinner. I have told him that I wish to purchase Helmsby Abbey fromhim!” His eyes gleamed in excitement. “Your uncle drove a hard bargain,but in the end I triumphed. Paid him more than he asked to assure yourfuture happiness. We shall live there, always, if you wish it. Yourfamily, your beloved servants, shall be safe. I will grow to love them asyou do, my dearest!”
The blue eyes glittered with zeal as hewaited for her response to his news. His hands were moist and clammy ashe clutched at her.
Her voice sounded far away as she said,“you would do this for me? Ensure that all whom I love there would alwaysbe welcome? Helmsby Abbey, my home, would forever belong to me?”
“Oh, my foolish little dove! Ofcourse! Just say yes and all shall be returned to you.” Alexandra closedher eyes. The chute gaped wide. All of the exits, blocked. The butcherwaited. What choice did she have, really? An image of Helmsby Abbey, atsunset, floated through her mind She could smell Mrs. Cowrie’sscones. The housekeeper sent a letter just yesterday, asking Alexandrawhen she would return. All of her extended family had no idea how precarioustheir situation actually was.
“We would live at Helmsby Abbey?Truly?” She sounded like a beggar in the street. Shame washed overher. Why prolong the agony. The choice remained simple. MarryMr. Runyon and keep Helmsby Abbey safe. There was no otherrecourse.
“Miss Alexandra Dunforth, would you do methe honor of becoming my wife?”
The smile on Mr. Runyon’s lips did notmatch the look in his eyes. He gave the impression of a wolf about tobite into a tasty lamb. Alexandra shook her head in exasperation, afterall, what did it matter now? Mr. Runyon would restore her home to her andmake a decent husband. Most marriages started with less.
He waited, his nostrils flaringslightly. The wolf like visage disappeared. A lopsided grin crossed hisface, giving him the look of an earnest puppy. “Please say yes,dearest. I know I am not perhaps the man of your dreams, but I shall striveto be.”
Her heart, the heart that yearned for thesmell of cinnamon and dragon tattoos, screamed her refusal, her mind, everlogical, ignored the desire of her heart. “Yes, Mr. Runyon. I’ll marryyou.”
