Caroline (35 page)

"Why so flustered,
cherie?
Can this be the same brave girl who unhesitatingly slapped my face?"

She couldn't think clearly enough to make a proper retort, and her long lashes swept across her cheeks as she looked away from his penetrating gaze. Immediately he took her chin between thumb and forefinger, lifting her face. She saw him arch a black brow, and one side of his mouth went up in a half-smile.

"Do not try to hide from me, Caro," he said in a low voice as his hard fingers moved to trace the outline of her cheek. Her chin began to tremble. "Surely you are not afraid?" he inquired more tenderly, cupping her chin to still it. Then, gently, he lowered his head and closed his eyes as their lips met.

Something stirred deep inside Alec and when he opened his eyes he saw a tear glistening on Caro's cheek. "What is this?" he asked, kissing it away. "Why should you cry?"

She spoke at last, with an effort: "I don't know! I do, but—oh, never mind!"

"Ah!" he laughed, and the rich sound of it filled the empty room. "I see! The female mind is a wondrous thing!"

Caro's cheeks flamed. "You may jest, but I cannot! Will you never be serious?"

The laughter died out in his eyes then, replaced by something that made her heart constrict. Releasing her, he walked away, his lean physique growing muted as the shadows closed around him. She couldn't move or breathe as she waited by the fire. When he strode back, Alec did not touch her, but merely stood at a short distance, eyes narrowed and jaw set as he seemed to concentrate.

"Damn!" he exclaimed suddenly. "This is cursed difficult. I swear I would rather do battle with the British than endure this torture again!"

Caro's eyes widened, but she did not speak. Reaching out, Alec pulled her roughly to him, his expression softening somewhat at the touch of her body against his.

"This is your fault, you know!" he told her in a dangerous voice. "You have tampered with me in ways that should be outlawed. I vow that I would have done myself a favor if I had left you beneath that tree! You were casting your spell on me from the first and do not think I wasn't aware of it. I am no fool, madame! I knew you were dangerous stuff, but by then it was too late."

Caro's irritation at this tirade was growing by the minute, and finally she pushed herself away from him and raised a warning finger.

"That is quite enough, sir! You are a fine one to talk of spell-casting, for you surely must be expert in the art! Now tell me, what is the point of this attack?"

Alec's eyes were blazing back at her, but she met them unflinchingly, her chin raised in hostile defiance.

"Come here," he commanded in a menacingly low tone. Caro took a rebellious step backward and with one swift movement he caught her and imprisoned her in his arms.

"Vixen," he whispered, but his voice caressed the word and Caro shivered. "You ask me to come to the point, and I can see it is too late to pray for deliverance from my fate. I am up to my ears in this, and God knows it's probably been a lost cause from the moment I pulled that hat from your head in the woods of Connecticut."

Caro was holding her breath, afraid to exhale for fear of breaking the spell that held them. Alec stared at her before speaking again, and she could see his soul revealed in his incredible turquoise eyes.

"Caro, I'm mad with love for you."

His mouth seared into hers with an intensity that left her breathless and shaking. He kissed her again and again, crushing her ribs with arms that felt like bands of steel, his lips possessive and reverent, merciless and tender by turns as he tasted every inch of her sweet flesh. Blood was pounding in Caro's head and her breasts pulsed warmly beneath Alec's deft fingers as he flicked open the tiny buttons down the front of her gown. Her nipples stood out in little peaks against her thin chemise and he swiftly tore it away from her, his mouth burning her breasts while evoking a hungry, shameless response in her. Without wasting a movement, Alec undressed her. Caro's fingers reached out to fumble with his buttons until he came to her aid, and as she pulled his garments away from his hard, well-muscled body he was surprised to feel her hands touching him eagerly. She kissed the lean ridges of his stomach and caressed his muscular buttocks, then she heard him groan softly and suddenly he bent to lift her effortlessly in his arms. In a shadowed corner of the parlor, he laid her down on the Turkish rug and they made love with an urgent ecstasy that imprinted itself permanently on both their hearts.

* * *

Afterward, Caro was sure that it was all a dream; even while she moved and spoke and touched, she was not convinced that she was dealing with reality.

They did not sleep at all that night. Alec pulled his fine linen shirt over Caro's head and, wearing only his breeches, led her upstairs to their bedroom. Before joining her in the big bed, he went to the dressing room and returned carrying a small velvet box. Her eyes shone with excitement as she looked at it, afraid to hope.

"My darling, this is your Christmas and wedding present both. Enjoy it—God knows it has been justly earned!"

There was a tiny button on the front of the box that released the catch, and when it flew open Caro beheld the most perfect ring she had ever seen. Bringing it near the candle which burned at the bedside, she saw that it consisted of a dazzling circular diamond surrounded by smaller emeralds so that it resembled a flower. The band was of rich gold, and the delicate inscription inside read:

"C—I love you—A 1783."

She closed her eyes in an effort to still the tumult in her heart, and felt Alec take her hand, sliding the cool ring down her finger. He kissed her palm tenderly, declaring, "Our marriage is real now, truly consummated this night. I cannot play at love any longer, Caro."

Something snapped inside her, and she threw her arms about his neck, crying, "Alec, I cannot believe this is happening. I never thought I would have the opportunity to tell you that—I love you. Oh, how I love you."

He grinned in the old way she adored.

"I know—you have told me already."

A puzzled frown puckered her brow. "I do not understand—"

"I fear that I have long held the advantage over you,
cherie,
for I inadvertently learned of your true feelings early on. I had my suspicions anyway, but you confirmed them while we were at Van Der Pat Manor."

"What do you mean?"

"Just this. Do you recall the first day that you regained consciousness—the day I came into your room and found you out of bed?"

"Yes..." she allowed hesitantly.

"I take it then that you have not forgotten the quarrel we had on that occasion? I believe it came about as a result of your introduction to Gretchen."

Caro's eyes narrowed at the name. "Please come to the point!" she demanded.

Alec laughed, obviously enjoying himself, then said, "Don't rush me, love." Pausing, he rubbed his cheek in mock forgetfulness. "Oh, yes! I believe that Katrina paid you a long-winded visit after I left. Later, I decided to apologize to you so that we both could enjoy the gathering that evening. I returned to your room, opening the door to find you asleep. At your bedside I took your hand, thinking to rouse you. However, you grasped at it quite eagerly, never opening your eyes, and said in a clear voice, 'Oh, Alec—I love you!' "

"Do not say it!" Caro gasped in horror. "You are making this up!"

"It is God's truth! Do you take me for a liar as well as a rogue?"

"Oh, dear," Caro moaned, color flooding her cheeks. "What did you do?"

"Needless to say, I got away from there with all possible speed. I was terrified for the first time in my life—quaking with fright before an impetuous little minx. Let me tell you, I was mad at myself as well as you."

"You were quite horrid for most of that evening."

"Believe me, sweetheart, I felt horrid. I suppose I continued to feel that way until our friend Pilquebinder conveniently took matters out of my hands. I don't know if I could have ever brought myself to face the truth otherwise."

"Please, Alec, do not behave as though you have been so badly beaten. You have the attitude of a wild horse broken against its will! I have no wish to tame you or take away the magnificent spirit that sets you apart from other men. It is your very wildness that I love most! If you will only let me be your friend and share your life I will be the happiest woman in the world."

His eyes sparkled with humor as he put a dark hand against her cheek.

"Do not deceive yourself, Caro. You are, in your way, as spirited as I am. I am unversed in the ways of true love—for all I know, in my case, it may be only temporary. I have every confidence in your abilities, however, so don't give me that forlorn look." Idly, he ran a finger over her shoulder. "This conversation grows tiresome. Why don't you put out that candle and let us explore some of the finer points of wedded bliss."

Caro blew out the flame and turned eagerly to embrace her husband.

Chapter 25

The dining-room table fairly groaned beneath its sumptuous burden, displaying an array of dishes filled with everything to delight the senses. A large golden-brown turkey dominated the feast, accompanied by a roast goose and a huge Christmas meat pie. There were colorful roasted root vegetables and fragrant biscuits and muffins, plus a variety of French wines.

Antonia sat near the center of the table, flanked by Nicholai and Katya. She found that she had little appetite, for her mind was preoccupied by Caro and Alec. Her son had insisted that Grandmere occupy the hostess's chair at the opposite end of the table and placed his wife next to him. Now they were behaving as if they were completely alone in the crowded room. Alec seldom released her hand, and they whispered and laughed together like the most ardent young lovers.

Antonia was naturally pleased by what she saw, but perplexed nonetheless. Caro and Alec had been a baffling riddle from the very beginning, and each time she saw them her confusion deepened. Although her rakish son, with his cool mockery for life itself, had always been rather an enigma to her, she was beyond comprehension of him now. Antonia wished they had not been in France when he first brought her to Philadelphia. Unlike Natalya, she was not inquisitive by nature, and she knew that her lack of maternal meddling had kept Alec closer to her. Often, after a brandy or two, he would let down his defenses and confide a little in her. This time, however, it was obvious that he was keeping his own counsel.

I should not be so curious, she admonished herself. As long as they are happy, that is all that matters. It is none of my affair after all.

Dessert was served then, everyone exclaiming at the sight of the plum pudding in a blaze of blue, brandy-fed flames. There was mince pie, too, and Katya solemnly told Caro that if she did not eat a piece on each of the twelve days of Christmas, she would not be happy during the twelve months to come.

After dinner, everyone repaired to the south parlor which was warm and cozy with the decorated tree and the steadily burning Yule log. The entire house was fragrant with pine and the aromas of delicious food. However, the spirit of Christmas was most evident in the eyes of Alec and Caro.

Pierre appeared in the doorway bearing a huge silver wassail bowl. Everyone raised their cups to toast Christmas and exchanged embraces. Alec bent to hug his mother and lightly lifted her off the floor.

"Why don't you and I go out and look at the mistletoe?" he inquired, turquoise eyes dancing. Antonia smiled up at him and raised her eyebrows.

"I should like that very much!"

Laughing, he leaned over to whisper to Caro, then took his mother's arm and led her from the room. They passed under the arch dividing the entryway, the mistletoe forgotten. Alec leaned against the door frame of the north parlor, still holding her hand thoughtfully.

"Dear Maman, I suppose you are wildly curious to know what is going on with Caro and me!" he said frankly.

Antonia flushed. "Why, Sacha, what a thing to say!"

"I see you do not deny it!" he laughed, leading her inside to sit on the yellow damask settee. "Actually, I feel rather guilty for not speaking to you earlier about this. I will not pretend to tell you the entire story, but there are some facts which we both feel you have a right to know."