The Captain's Christmas Bride (17 page)

Well, if he did decide to go there, she would just have to find it beautiful as well. And if she didn’t...

Oh, why was she even thinking about it? He was just as likely to go back to sea and leave her behind. And until he’d made up his mind what to do, there was no point in worrying about it.

‘Well, anyway,’ she continued with forced brightness as he continued to glower down at their joined hands, ‘there are only really two more significant events before the house party breaks up. Tonight’s New Year Ball, and then the Twelfth Night festivities. Tonight’s ball is one that all the local worthies will attend. And many of them who come from further away will need rooms, which is why I will be so busy today, making sure everything is ready for their arrival.

‘But the Twelfth Night celebration is mainly for the household. The family, and any guests who wish to take part, put on an entertainment for the staff, by way of thanks. And the day after that, all our guests will leave. So...’ She played with his fingers, looking at them rather than at the expression on his face. Or rather, the lack of expression she would find should she look into his eyes. It was as if he didn’t want her to know what he was thinking. Which was extremely annoying. How was she to know what he wanted if he would neither tell her, nor give her a clue?

Clearly, the only way to find out would be to ask him outright.

‘I was just wondering, what we shall be doing? You mentioned going to London, to lay siege to the Admiralty. Will you still wish to do that? Or...I mean, I understand why you became angry with me last time I suggested using our family house. It was tactless of me. It is just that I am in the habit of getting it opened up for the Season. It was more of a habit, and I spoke without thinking...’

‘Julia,’ he said, squeezing her hand. ‘You don’t need to keep on apologising. You meant no harm. I can see that now.’

‘Well, do you think you might consider it then? As a form of...compensation for having to marry me? I know you didn’t want to. And I know you don’t want people to think you are...sponging off my family either. But, Alec, everyone makes use of family connections. And only think what an advantage it will be to launch Lizzie from the house in Belgrave Square. You want her to have the best start in life you can provide, don’t you?’

He shook his head, though his mouth was curving into a rueful smile.

‘I’m not going to be able to stop you flinging yourself into my affairs, am I?’

‘Well, but—’

‘I know, I know. And you will say it is for my own good.’

‘But—’

‘No. Just listen to me,’ he said sternly. ‘Lizzie won’t be ready for a Season this year. And when she is...’

‘When she is, she will need every advantage she can get. The Season is a cut-throat business, Alec. Girls get...mown down.’

‘I can see,’ he said, ‘that you are determined to help me, whether I want you to or not.’

‘Well, I’m your wife. That is what wives do.’

‘Is it?’ He searched her face as though he really hadn’t a clue what wives were for.

But then, he hadn’t been looking for one when he came to Ness Hall, had he?

Chapter Eleven

S
he was heartily relieved to hear the knock on the door heralding the arrival of her hot water and drinking chocolate. Because it had hurt to realise that Alec didn’t want to receive anything from her.

‘I shall go and get dressed now,’ she informed him with a tight smile.

She went to the dressing room in Betty’s wake. Usually she let him go first so that she could lie on her side, watching through the door he’d leave half-open as he washed and shaved. There was something so appealing about the way he dressed himself. So casually assured in his masculinity.

But she didn’t want to this morning. Their discussion had left her feeling all on edge. She was trying her hardest to be a good wife to him, and he just kept on...putting her in her place.

Which confused her. Because every so often he seemed to be growing almost fond of her. Look at the way he’d kissed her hand at Marianne’s wedding, for no apparent reason. Or the way he’d smiled at her, just now, when he’d said he could see she would always be flinging herself into his business.

She’d known that marrying a stranger was going to require a great many compromises if they weren’t to make each other miserable. And she could have taken them all in her stride if only she wasn’t starting to have such strong feelings for him. If she wasn’t starting to wonder how he felt about her. But as it was...

She drew in a sharp, painful breath as she worked the soap into a lather.

She was no good at working out what people truly felt for her, that was the trouble. She’d believed David and Marianne loved her as much as she loved them, but they hadn’t even liked her.

She couldn’t, she simply couldn’t tell Alec that she was glad they were married, and that she was starting to look forward to spending the rest of her life with him. He might...laugh at her. Or say she was fickle for transferring her feelings from one man to another so swiftly. Or fire up in annoyance, and tell her that he was making the best of a bad job, but that the last thing he wanted to be was married.

Or even worse, look at her with pity. Which he might actually feel if he couldn’t return her affection, because he was a kind man, beneath that gruff exterior.

But as for what he really thought—how could she tell? How could anyone tell what went on behind those cool grey eyes? He could say he loved her breasts one minute, and the next, flare up with irritation over a perfectly innocuous remark.

She’d been pleased as anything when he’d said she was generous. Yet he’d criticised that very generosity later, telling her it wasn’t pleasant being on the receiving end of charity. Which had made her feel the way David had so often made her feel. When he’d given a compliment with one hand then taken it away with the other.

She couldn’t even place any reliance on the fact that so far, Alec was enthusiastic in bed. Enthusiasm in bed was no indication of deep feelings. Men could even be enthusiastic in bed with women they despised. She’d overheard Nick mock his own conquests often enough to know that much.

Besides, Alec had told her, with that brutal frankness of his, that he’d been without a woman for so long that he’d have been grateful to get into bed with just about anyone.

So, no, she wasn’t going to blurt out how she felt—how she was starting to feel about him.

But she could show him.

A rather naughty smile came to her mouth as she dried her face on her towel. She hung her wrapper loosely from her shoulders, rather than tying it tightly, and sashayed back to the bed, the way Nellie had taught her. She bent over to kiss him on the forehead.

‘I changed my mind...about getting dressed,’ she said.

‘I can see that,’ he replied, cupping the nape of her neck and kissing her mouth.

So—he didn’t mind her making the first move sometimes. First thing in the morning. He was always keen on having marital relations first thing in the morning.

‘And I’m glad. I rather thought I’d offended you, the way I snapped when you mentioned the town house, and Lizzie’s come-out.’

Well he had. So why hadn’t he been the one to try to make amends?

The answer came back quicker than blinking. It was because he was a man. Men didn’t patch up quarrels. Lest it made them look weak.

‘It takes a bit of getting used to,’ she conceded. ‘Being married, doesn’t it?’

‘I could easily get used to this,’ he growled, sliding the wrapper from her shoulder, and nuzzling where her shoulder joined her neck.

‘Mmmhh...’ she agreed.

They didn’t make it down to breakfast.

* * *

And so Julia had to spend the rest of the day making up for lost time. There were always a dozen last-minute hitches whenever there was a further influx of guests into a house that was already fairly full. Always a series of crises whenever a ball was being arranged. Besides the mundane lists she had to go through with Mrs Dawson, discussions with the cook and Gatley, as well as handling the friction that arose between the staff of Ness Hall and visiting servants.

But at last it was time to return to her room to prepare for dinner. She was looking forward to a wash and a change of clothes. Her gown bore testament to everything she’d done that day, from emptying stale vases to inspecting and tasting Cook’s latest sauce. Hoping to avoid the eagle-eyed scrutiny of any of her aunts, she made for the back stairs, just as Nellie came running down them, almost colliding with her.

‘Nellie! How lovely to—’ She broke off her greeting when she saw that the opera singer’s face was white, her eyes wide with alarm. ‘What is it? What has happened?’

‘It’s that bugger Eduardo, pardon my language, my lady. I’ve got to stop him.’ She darted past Julia, then whirled round. ‘Actually, it might be a good idea if you was to come with me. I’ve a feeling the young lady will want you. Or someone like you.’

Julia’s stomach contracted with a cold, twisting sensation. She’d noticed the way all her young cousins batted their eyelids at the handsome young actor. The way he’d played up to their adulation, flirting impartially with each and every one of them in turn.

‘I saw ’em out the winder,’ panted Nellie as she dashed down the corridor to one of the doors that led from the servant’s hall to the grounds at the rear of the house.

‘He’s taking her into that
orangey
. Which can only mean one thing.’

Oh, dear me, yes. A young man could only have one purpose for taking a young lady out to the orangery. And it wasn’t to study botany.

‘He can’t have been in there with her very long, though,’ Nellie said over her shoulder. ‘I come running down the stairs as fast as me legs would carry me. So he can’t have got very far.’

Though it didn’t take as long to become thoroughly compromised as one might suppose. Julia should know. She’d never have believed how quickly Alec could get her onto her back, had she not been there.

* * *

It was hard to make out anything very clearly through the windows of the orangery, since they were streaming with condensation. Though she could perceive the shapes of a man in a dark coat, and a female in the regulation white of a young girl. And that they were in each other’s arms.

Nellie tried the door, which was of course locked. The pair inside sprang apart guiltily as it rattled.

‘We’ll have to use the window,’ Julia told her, going to the one with the broken latch.

She heaved up the sash and stepped over the sill. And gasped in shock when she saw that the girl Eduardo had persuaded into the orangery was none other than Alec’s sister.

‘Lizzie!’

As she came to a shocked halt, Nellie cannoned into her back, having tripped over the sill as she climbed inside.

‘It’s not what you think,’ said Lizzie. ‘Eduardo said he knew where to find some blooms to take the plainness off my costume for the play.’

‘I’m sure he did,’ said Nellie with sarcasm. ‘And just as sure that ain’t what he showed you when he got you in here.’

While Lizzie flushed and fidgeted, Eduardo sidled closer to her and put his arm round her waist. And then smiled. A not-very-nice smile.

‘I am sure you don’t want anybody to know what a very forward young lady your sister-in-law is, do you, Lady Julia?’

Lizzie turned a stunned face to him, her face turning sickly pale when she saw that shark-like smile.

‘What do you want?’ Julia asked scornfully. ‘Money, I suppose.’

‘Money?’ Lizzie looked from Julia to Eduardo in bewilderment.

‘Five hundred pounds,’ Eduardo continued smoothly. ‘To ensure I never speak of how easy it was to entice Captain Lord Dunbar’s sister into a secluded spot, where we proceeded to make passionate love.’

‘Oh,’ cried Lizzie, stepping smartly away from him. ‘We never did any such thing! Honestly, Lady Julia,’ she pleaded. ‘He just kissed me, that was all. And people have been doing lots of kissing all over the house.’

‘No mistletoe in here, though, is there,’ said Eduardo mockingly. ‘So of course, you slapped my face.’ Which statement made Lizzie blush, because she’d done no such thing. ‘Well?’

‘I don’t have five hundred pounds just lying about the place,’ said Julia.

‘Lady Julia! You cannot give him money. I didn’t do anything. We didn’t do anything, not really!’

‘But she knows that I can make it sound bad, very bad. Particularly to your brother. Who knows all about the kind of things that go on when a man gets a woman alone amongst all this tropical foliage.’

Now Julia felt sick, too. Sick with outrage. ‘Who told you?’ She whirled on Nellie. It felt as if everyone she’d ever liked, ever trusted, had betrayed her over this Christmas season.

‘It weren’t me,’ Nellie vowed. ‘I know it looks bad, what with me bringing you out here, as if we was in it together. But I swear I’d never do anything to hurt a young lady’s reputation. Not after the way I started out in this business. Wouldn’t wish that fate on anyone.’

Though she knew Nellie was a brilliant actress, she couldn’t see any reason why the woman would lie about this. Besides, from other veiled remarks Nellie had made, it now seemed clear that her career on the stage had only begun after some man had stolen her virtue.

‘Then who?’

Eduardo smirked. ‘Can you not guess who would leap at the chance to have her revenge upon you? Not very wise in your choice of friends, are you? Or very tactful in the way you bestow largesse, like some kind of Lady Bountiful, putting everyone’s backs up?’

‘Marianne,’ Julia whispered. Only she and David had known what had happened to her in this very spot—apart from Nellie. Only she had anything to gain from repeating the tale. Besides, David hadn’t had the run of the house of late. He wouldn’t have had the chance to strike up that kind of conversation with any of the actors, let alone Eduardo.

‘Nellie,’ she said, turning to the opera dancer, who was quivering with as much rage as Julia was feeling. ‘Could you please take Lizzie back to the house, while I deal with this...this...?’

‘Yes. Of course.’ Nellie drew Lizzie away from Eduardo, and over to the window. Where she muttered a blistering oath.

‘Someone’s coming!’

‘Hide!’ Julia pointed to a row of large urns at the far end of the orangery. ‘Get down behind them. You can get in at the end of the row.’

Eduardo frowned, and looked towards the window nervously. And it hit Julia, in a burst of clarity, that he really didn’t want anyone else to know what he’d been up to with Lizzie. When the theatre was closed his company made a lot of money by performing at private house parties like this one. If word got out that he couldn’t be trusted with young, innocent female guests, the work would dry up. Or more likely, he would be expelled from the company.

‘You’ve as much at stake as Lizzie, haven’t you?’

‘What? No.’

‘Oh, yes, you have.’ Julia shook her finger at him. ‘So this is the deal I’ll make with you. I won’t say anything about your behaviour, and nor will you. You will not damage Lizzie’s reputation, and I will not damage yours.’

He stared at her for a second, his face registering shock, then defeat, then pure unadulterated fury.

‘You think you’re so clever,’ he hissed. His words were almost drowned by the grate of a boot heel at the window.

Julia saw the swirl of a man’s coat out of the corner of her eye, in the same instant that Eduardo grabbed hold of her. And ground out one final threat.

‘If you don’t want her ruined, then you won’t struggle. Or I’ll point out exactly where she’s hiding, to whoever comes in through that window.’

Then he placed his mouth over hers and kissed her.

It was a loathsome kiss. Every nerve in her body screamed to break free, but she didn’t struggle and she didn’t slap him. She just stood slack in his arms and let him run his tongue over her lips. Allowed him to exact his paltry revenge. Because she knew that whoever had just poked his head through the window would only see a married woman committing an indiscretion, and wander away again, chortling to himself over the latest scandal created by one of the notoriously unfaithful Whitney family. And the whole incident would soon be forgotten.

Nobody could have been more surprised when instead of doing any such thing, the man came marching over to where she stood, frozen in Eduardo’s vile grasp.

‘Get your hands off my wife!’

It was Alec! He seized the actor by the scruff of the neck and tore him off her. Eduardo’s heels skittered across the tiled floor as Alec lifted the slender young man almost off his feet.

‘Bastard!’ Alec let go of Eduardo’s collar, but only so that he could punch him in the face. The actor reeled back, blood pouring from his nose. But Alec wasn’t finished with him. He gripped him by the collar and the seat of his breeches, and heaved him in the general direction of the window. She wasn’t sure if it was by luck or judgement that Eduardo went sailing straight through the open part. Even so, his flailing arms caught the frame, showering splintered wood and broken glass onto the gravel path.

Eduardo got shakily to his feet. Opened his mouth as if to make a protest. Alec gave a low growl and stalked in his direction. The actor changed his mind about whatever he’d been about to say, and took to his heels instead.