“Sweet, sweet Madeline. We all knowhow…piousshe was. Not her fault she became a rich man’s mistress.A vicar’s daughter spends all her time on her knees…praying.Right?” She leaned into Sutton’s tall form, smelling the musky exoticcinnamon scent that clung to him, wishing for a knife to plunge into hischest.
A guest behind her remarked on how lovinga mother and son they were.
His nostrils flared, but he saidnothing. He merely raised a brow and walked away into the crowd.
Jeanette turned, her lips twisted into ahalf-smile, to greet Lady Worth. Sutton wouldn’t be able to keep histemper in check for long. Archie had imparted the mostdelicioussecret to Jeanette.
SIXTEEN
There she was! His little pigeon!
Archie Runyon stood just inside theentryway, watching in anticipation as Alexandra and her uncleentered his beloved Jeanette’s ballroom. Lord Burke he dismissed withdistaste. But Alexandra! Pale and fragile, as one of his cousin’s belovedMoon Roses, she glided towards him. Her dark curls gleamed like a bolt ofsable silk in the candlelight. Her manner demure and unassuming.The dark gray silk of her gown clung tightly to her generous breasts while theoverskirt of silver floated around her hips. The effect was of Alexandragliding through a cloud of mysterious mist. Lovely. His gaze ran tothe press of her breasts against the bodice of the gown. Soon.
“Miss Dunforth, my dove, at last you havearrived.” He walked forward, clasping her hands in his own.
He noted with distaste that her handswere icy. Even through the beautiful handmade gloves he'd ordered forher.
Alexandra watched him with detachment.The pupils of her gray eyes enlarged. This wouldneverdo.How much laudanum had she been fed? He glared at Burke.
“Lord Burke. It is only two hoursride from London to Gray Covington. I have been awaiting my fiancée.Impatiently.”
Burke flushed at the censorious tone.“Business, Runyon. My apologies.”
Archie turned back to Alexandra.“My dove, do you approve of your room? I requested that particular roomas it is down the hall from my own. I hoped you would enjoy the view ofthe gardens. And it is in the family wing. After all, tonight youbecome my family!”
Alexandra murmured a polite reply.Her hands slid from his and hung limply at her side. Good Lord! Shelooked about to slump to the floor in a stupor. Damn Burke!
“Come.” He tucked took her hand again,tucking it into the crook of his arm. Archie made a determined effort tocontrol his anger. He had warned Burke about giving Alexandra too muchlaudanum. Apparently Burke had ignored Archie’s instructions. Hewould make sure the fat man paid later for his blatant disregard. “I mustintroduce you and your uncle to my beloved cousin.” He cast a look atBurke. “I’m sure she’ll bedelightedto meet you. Delighted”
Burke tried to hide his fear andfailed.
Archie was sure that Burke would muchrather run all the way back to London than face Jeanette Reynolds. Theman looked like a fattened pig, about to meet its fate with the butcher.
Lord Burke’s steps faltered. Henodded grimly to Archie. “Yes. Of course.”
Archie gave Burke a satisfied smile andturned towards his cousin, not waiting to see if Burke would follow.Burke would. Archie dangled Burke’s chits above the man’s head untilAlexandra became Mrs. Runyon.
Archie led Alexandra through the gatheredcrowd, ignoring the stares of the curious, and the rudely raised eyebrows asthey passed.Cretins! Once his estrangement from his fatherwas ended, he and Jeanette would make every gossiping twit in this ballroom payfor the manner in which he was regarded. He made mental notes of who pointed athim from behind fans and whispered behind gloved hands. Once his fatherwelcomed Archie back, and the old codger would, once he saw Alexandra, Archie’ssocial standing would be reinstated. Archie beamed in appreciation as hespied his cousin.
Jeanette’s glorious wheat-colored hairsparkled in the candles. Brilliants twinkled at her temples. Thetiny crystals were also sewn into her midnight blue gown, the color of whichmatched the hangings in the room to perfection. A fairy princess, come tolife and walking among the lesser folk. No, Archie thought, a human star,a goddess sparkling amongst the dull women of theton. His heartlurched. He and Jeanette would have done well as man and wife. ButJeanette deserved far better than to be the wife of a third son. He onlywished she had found a duke to marry. Or a prince. Not Robert the Rotten.
“My dear, Marchioness.” Headsturned to watch him and Jeanette.
“Dearest?” Jeanette swung around atthe sound of his voice, completely dismissing Countess Rutherford. Theglacial gaze fixated on Alexandra for a brief moment, then a stunning smilecrossed her face, making her shine as if she were the sun. Her lightfloral scent floated to his nostrils as she moved to take his hands.
Archie disengaged Alexandra’s hand fromhis arm to press a kiss against his cousin’s cheek. He bowed and made asweeping gesture towards Alexandra.
“Lady Reynolds, may I present MissAlexandra Dunforth.”
Alexandra lowered her eyes. She dippedinto a perfect curtsy.
Archie was beside himself.Perfect! He so looked forward to breaking down each barrierAlexandra possessed.
“Greetings, Miss Dunforth. It is solovely to see you again.”
Alexandra paled, the first sign ofemotion since she walked through the entry of Gray Covington. Archiesmoothed down the ends of his mustache, enjoying her obvious discomfort.Silly pigeon. He knew everything she said or did. He knew she wentto tea with the Dowager and to the Royal Exhibition with Miranda. Hecataloged her every move.
“Felicitations on your birthday, mylady.” Alexandra’s voice was low and polite. Respectful. “It is agreat honor to attend this occasion.”
