***
Archie watched in pleasure as his littleHampshire rose agreed to the match. She must adore that pile of manure inHampshire. She practically salivated as he mentioned returning the estate toher. The very thought her dusty group of ancient retainers at the estatebecoming homeless nearly made his pigeon faint! He would have to watch herfuture attachments to servants. He simply did not approve.
Archie practiced his proposal all day infront of the large mirror in his study to ensure just the right amount ofemotion. He felt certain he got it correct. He toyed with the idea ofgetting down on one knee, but honestly, he found that idea so preposterous hewasn’t certain he could maintain his sincerity. He found playing thebesotted suitor laughable, but necessary. On their wedding night, he wouldtell Alexandra how he, Archie Runyon fooled her. That he tore up the noteto Mr. Meecham. That Helmsby Abbey was gone! Lord Burke informed Archieof the sale of the estate two days ago. His dove would be devastated.Delicious!
He pressed a kiss to Alexandra’s coldcheek. “Wonderful! This is just wonderful news! You make me thehappiest man in the world. I shall inform your uncle right away.”And hewashappy. The thought of having Alexandra completely inhis control made him lightheaded. The special cuffs he’d ordered fromFrance would arrive by the end of the week.
Alexandra closed her eyes and her handsshook as she pressed her fingertips to her temples.
Archie wasn’t pleased. This was notquite the reaction he hoped for. She acted odd, slow, at dinner, but heput that down to nervousness over his supposed meeting with her solicitor.
“Alexandra, dearest?”
Sweat beaded on her forehead. “Just alittle tired. I have not been sleeping well. Would you mind ringingTilda, and ask her to bring another pot of my special tea?”
“Special tea? Are you ill?” IfBurke sold him a sickly bag of goods, the fat man would pay dearly. DidAlexandra have consumption or some other distasteful disease? She seemedwell enough on their recent outing to Thrumbadge’s. He noted the palenessof her skin. The way her hands shook.
“I’m just a little tired. Thedoctor told me I am prone to nervousness and stress.”
Archie found that statement absurd. Herang for Tilda.
When the maid brought the tea, Archie pouredAlexandra a cup. The dark steaming liquid gave off an acridly sweetsmell. She’d barely eaten tonight. Her pupils wereslightly dilated. The headaches.
Alexandra took a deep swallow of tea and relaxedinto the cushions of the settee.
Damn Oliver Burke! Damn him!Did Burke think Archie stupid? “Iwill be back, my dove.” He patted her hand. The vein in his templethrobbed. Burke overstepped his bounds. “If it suits you, wewill make a formal announcement of our betrothal at my cousin’s birthday fete.”
She nodded slowly. “Ofcourse. Whatever you wish.” The words filtered out, her lips barelymoving.
Archie stood and strode out of theparlor, pausing only to grab his wolf’s head cane where it sat in thefoyer. His angry footsteps echoed on the bare wooden floor as he beat apath to Burke’s study.Really! He was so incensed he thoughtof killing the man tonight instead of waiting until after the wedding. Heflung open the paneled door. Burke sat behind an enormous desk, his eyesclosed, his two large, ham like hands clasped together across his bloatedstomach. Grunting in surprise, he sat up. His hands flew downbelow the desk. No doubt to pull up his trousers.
Tilda crawled out from under Burke andthe desk. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and gave Archie a slygrin.
Archie wished for a pistol. He wanted toshoot the shameless old whore. And Burke.
“Get out. Now.” He pointed thewolf’s head at Tilda.
Casting a baleful look at Archie, Tildascurried like the rat she was, from the room. A cloud of brandy lacedwith the aroma of body fluids tickled his nose as she passed.Disgusting!
Burke faced him, red faced andblustering. “You should learn to knock Runyon. A man deserves someprivacy in his own home.” Burke pushed away from the desk, stilladjusting his trousers. His eyes were bleary with drink.
“Sit down, you fat, disgustingtoad.” Archie hurled the words at Burke.
Burke complied immediately, a woundedlook on his face. He mopped his brow with a hastily produced handkerchief.Burke’s eyes widened in terror, like a child who has been caught doingsomething vile, by a parent.
Archie expected Burkewasterrified. The fat man should be. Archie’s blood boiled with rage.He felt this same insane rage when he’d killed Lucia and her groom inTuscany. No one defied him. Undermined him.
“Alexandra agreed to marry me.” Hespat the words out, his voice choked with anger.
Burke sat back, relaxing and resumedmopping his forehead with the handkerchief. “Well there was no need tobarge in on me with the news! Isn’t that what you wanted? Youdidn’t want her forced. You told me she must come to you of her own freewill. My congratulations.” Burke lurched one arm across the desk andpoured himself another brandy.
Archie swung the cane over his head,threatening Lord Burke.
Burke put his hands over his head in adefensive gesture, spilling the brandy. He sobbed in fear. The wolf’s headslammed down on the center of the desk sending pieces of wood into the air.
Burke jumped up, his chinswiggling.
“You’vedruggedher.Laudanum. Do you think me sostupidI wouldn’t notice? Nowonder she barely spoke at dinner. How long have you been drugging her?”He wished to tear the fat man limb from limb. This wasn’t how the game wasplayed! Burke ruined it for him.Ruined it! Archiewanted to sob in frustration. He had suchplansforAlexandra. The cuffs!
