A Reason to Rebel (33 page)

“Oh, just one thing more, Winthrop,” said Alex.

“What now?”

“Only this.”

Alex drew back his fist and planted it in the centre of her father’s face with considerable force. Her father looked at Alex in surprise and slowly crumpled to the floor, blood pouring from his mouth.

“That was in revenge for your abuse of Estelle,” Alex said, capturing her hand and leading her from the room.

Chapter Twenty-one

Somehow, late as it was, room was found for the entire party at the inn in Farnham and Estelle was at last able to reflect upon the extraordinary events of the day. In all the confusion following her father’s capitulation, they had restored a drowsy Marianne to the anxious Mr. Porter and roused her mother from a drunken stupor to inform her that she would be travelling abroad. Her mother had been totally perplexed by the whole business, unable to understand the necessity for this sudden journey. She did not once express pleasure at the unexpected appearance of her daughter but that did not prevent Estelle from experiencing a pang at regret at the thought of never seeing her again.

They also made plans to acquaint the servants of Matthew’s return as head of the household. There was so much to organize and Estelle had not managed a single private word with Alex. At Marianne’s request she intended to return with her to Ramsgate on the morrow and remain with her until she was wed to Mr. Porter. Then she would consider Matthew’s request to return to Farleigh Chase and help him with his new responsibilities.

But the idea did not sit comfortably with her. The place held too many unpleasant memories for her ever to be comfortable there. Images of her father would always haunt her. Every minute she would expect him to appear and issue some unsavoury command that required her instant obedience. She would not mind if she never set foot in the place again and would, perhaps, seek a position as a governess after all. But she understood that in her current emotionally turbulent state, now was not the time to make decisions about her future.

She and Marianne were sharing a room in the inn and they had talked for some time about the extraordinary events of the day. Her sister was keen to hear every detail of their father’s downfall, furious to have slept through it all. Still drowsy, she had closed her eyes again half an hour previously, but Estelle was too energized to even consider sleep. For the first time in her adult life, the spectre of her father did not loom large, and she was finally free to behave as she saw fit. And the heady feeling of liberty streaking through her veins was all due to one man’s determination to fight on her behalf.

She must see that man one last time to thank him and wish him adieu. They would part in the morning, and she would never get another opportunity to see him alone. Checking to ensure that Marianne was soundly asleep, she pulled the robe taken from her room in Farleigh Chase tight about her body and slipped from the chamber before her courage failed her. She knew Alex’s room was the second on the left on the other side of the corridor. Boldly she entered it without knocking, lest he thought to observe the proprieties and send her away when he saw it was her seeking him out.

He was seated at the window in shirt-sleeves, staring out into the dark night, apparently deep in thought. He started when he heard the door open and looked up, seeming to resent the intrusion. But when he observed her standing on the threshold, his face broke into a slow, intimate smile that set her pulse racing.

“Estelle, I hoped you would come.” He held out his arms and she ran into them without hesitation. He crushed her body against his and claimed her lips with an avidity that stole what little breath she had remaining. His tongue ruthlessly plundered her mouth as though seeking release at the end of a day that had been fraught with danger for them both. He deepened the kiss and she did not scruple to follow his lead, boldly drawing the tip of his tongue deeper into her mouth and lacing her fingers through the tangled mass of hair that hung below his collar. Desire streaked through her body in dizzying waves as his hands lazily explored the contours of her back, stroking her bruised rear with a delicate touch and drawing her ever closer, allowing her to feel the full extent of his own desire.

“I came to thank you for freeing me from that tyrant,” she said, when he finally released her and gave her an opportunity to speak.

“The pleasure was all mine.” Alex re-seated himself and drew her onto his knee.

“I did not wish to thank you in front of the others, you see, when I take my leave of you in the morning.”

“And why would you be taking your leave of me?”

“Well, Marianne has asked me to stay with her in Ramsgate until she is married.”

“I see.”

“Indeed, and then Matthew wishes me to return to the Chase but I am not so sure I should like to do that.”

“I should think not.” He sucked gently on the lobe of one of her ears and she squirmed on his lap as he sent pleasure spiralling through her.

“And so perhaps I shall seek a position as a governess after all.”

“That is hardly necessary.”

“Why? Oh, that was pleasant. Do it again.”

He obediently reapplied his lips to the pulse beating at the base of her neck. “You appear have overlooked one small consideration.”

“What might that be?”

“Have you forgotten that you have undertaken to be my mother’s companion—”

“Yes, but that was only because—”

“And that she is expecting me to return you to Crawley Hall at once.” He slid the robe from one of her shoulders and possessed himself of her breast.

“Oh, but I cannot. You must ask her to beg my pardon. I deceived her, and I would hate to see the disappointment in her eye when she learns the truth.”

“Well,” he said, dealing with the inconvenience of the robe which still clung stubbornly to her other shoulder, “I think we can resolve that. I have a suggestion to make.”

“The answer is yes.”

He nibbled at her bare shoulder. “But you do not know what I was about to suggest.”

“Oh, but I think I do. My father was right. You wish to have me living beneath your protection and I would be more than willing to enter into an arrangement of that nature.”

He ignored her strangled protest as he abandoned his nibbling and stood so abruptly that she slid from his lap. “Is that what you think of me? I had not appreciated that you consider me to be as lacking in moral fibre as all that.”

“No, of course I do not,” she said, bewildered by his anger. “You just risked your life on my behalf and so it is obvious that you must have some feelings for me. But consider. You are an aristocrat, expected to marry well, whereas I am the daughter of a disgraced builder who murdered my husband. We desire one another, which is most inconvenient, but there is nothing to be done about that other than to adopt the solution I have suggested. Are you not pleased with me for saving you the trouble of asking?”

“You would prostitute yourself for me?”

“It hardly seems creditable, I do agree. But then I was
even prepared to marry Cowper to save you, remember, which told me something important about my feelings for you. And now, I find the prospect of parting from you too painful to endure and if you really are in need of a mistress—”

“I did not say that.”

“You see, Alex, you have awakened something in me and I find that I cannot bear the thought of not seeing you any more, of not feeling you—”

“God’s teeth, Estelle, will you let me explain myself! That was not what I meant at all.”

“Oh.” She dropped her head to hide both her blush and her disappointment. “You do not desire me then?”

“I desire you so much that I cannot think about anything else for more than five minutes at a time.”

“Then my solution would best serve.”

“Indeed it would not and that was not what I was about to suggest.”

“Then what?”

“I was going to suggest that you return to Crawley Hall and that we tell my mother the truth about you.”

“That I am about to become your mistress? I think she might be rather shocked if she were to learn that, Alex.”

“Will you oblige me by putting mistresses out of your mind for just one moment?”

“Well, I suppose if you can forget about them then I ought to be able to manage it,” she said dubiously.

As he sat down again, he pulled her back onto his knee and his hands reclaimed her breasts. “I suggest we explain your reasons for coming to Crawley Hall in the first place and give her an edited account of how we have bested your father. Naturally, we would leave out all reference to murdered husbands.”

“Yes, I can quite see that it would be better not to mention anything about that. But do you not think she will be cross with me? I like her very much and should not like to disappoint her.”

Alex chuckled. “My mother is not as easily shocked as you seem to imagine and would love the romantic story of your sister’s flight to Porter. And she would, of course, insist upon your resuming your position as her companion. Not that you were officially her companion. But if she considers you to be homeless because you cannot bear the thought of returning to the odious Chase, I daresay she will not be able to help taking you under her wing.”

“And save you the expense of setting me up as your mistress.” Estelle tilted her head to one side, allowing Alex’s marauding hands easier access to her body. “Yes, that would be a wise economy, I suppose.”

“Estelle, my dear, you are in danger of trying my patience beyond endurance. I have no intention of taking you as a mistress. I want you for my wife.”

Estelle’s mouth fell open. “But that is impossible!”

“I know that it is, for the present. I am not so ill-mannered as Cowper in that I would propose to a lady who is still in mourning.”

“Oh, I see.” A tremulous smile tugged at lips. She bit them, afraid that she might be about to disgrace herself by crying.

“But since gaining a liking for doing as you please, you appear to have developed a penchant for frequenting concealed passages, drugging maids, crowning butlers with frying pans and masquerading as governesses. I do not think that such qualities ought to be encouraged in a future viscountess. I should keep you where I can see you until such time as I can decently propose to you.”

“Hum.” She traced the line of his lips with her finger. He responded by sucking that finger into his mouth and smiling into her eyes, passion and amusement competing for domination in his expression. “It is a tantalizing prospect, I must confess.”

“And when I am in a position to propose, what do you imagine your response will be?”

“It is hard to say and, anyway, I think it excessively cruel of you to excite my anticipation since I cannot see the situation ever arising. Your mother will be grievously disappointed that you have chosen so poorly. She puts great stock by such matters you know.” She wagged the finger he had just released beneath his nose.

“My mother says all the things she thinks people wish to hear and then does precisely as she pleases.” His lips brushed the sensitive spot beneath her left ear. “It can be terribly trying. You are very much like her in that respect, you know.”

“Yes, I daresay that I am. Would you not find that rather frustrating, having two such contrary females under your care, I mean?”

“I certainly feel frustrated at this precise moment. But we were discussing my mother. She is a romantic at heart and since she already adores you, I do not anticipate any difficulties when I take her into my confidence and tell her that I plan to propose to you as soon as I decently can. That will save her the trouble of finding suitable young ladies to parade for my attention, of course.”

“Do you really think it will be that simple?”

“Indeed, I do. In fact I believe she noticed my partiality for you even before I became aware of it myself. If she did not approve she would have been sure to let me know.”

“Oh.” Estelle appeared to have lost the ability to say anything that made the slightest bit of sense. She blamed his hands, of course. How could anyone be expected to think coherently when he was doing such wonderful things with them? But she was not about to say so in case he felt honour bound to bring them under control. “Then why did she go to the trouble of discussing your potential brides with me?”

“I would imagine it was her convoluted manner of judging if you returned my regard.”

“She was assessing my suitability for the role, you mean?”