Midnight My Love (17 page)

Garr rubbed his hands together in
anticipation. "Don't mind if I do. Left Wolverhampton at the crack
of dawn. Must say, I'm devilishly sharp set."

After taking a few bites, he looked across
the table at Rochdale. "Awfully quiet, old boy. No need looking
like a thundercloud. If you're worried about m'father, don't
bother. He's fine. Just a touch of the gout and in one of his pets.
Thinks he's going to stick his spoon in the wall every now and
again, like I said." He turned to Alex. "Wild-goose chase, you
know."

"I beg your pardon?" she asked.

Garr buttered a roll and dabbed a large
spoonful of the raspberry preserves on top. Between mouthfuls, he
explained. "When I brought Rob to London, told Demon m'father was
probably in one of his takings. Nothing serious, and I was right."
He looked around the table. "Where is Rob, by the by?"

Alex smiled. "He's already eaten and gone to
the stables. Garr, I've never had the chance to thank you for all
your help with Robert. I don't know what he would have done without
you."

Garrett flushed with pleasure. "Anything for
ol' Rob, ought to know that." He caught Damien staring at him. "I
say, Demon. Making me deuced uncomfortable with all them black
looks. Something wrong, old boy?"

Damien forced a smile. "Not in the least.
I'm glad you came. Robert will be pleased to see you. When you've
finished your breakfast, we'll join him. I believe he's going to
examine his wheat fields this morning."

Garrett gaped at his friend. "Rob ain't
riding?"

Damien nodded.

"Well, who would've guessed? Old fellow was
practically done up when I left him in Cavendish Square." Garr
chuckled. "Joke's on me. Thought I'd run down and pay my respects
to poor ol' Rob before I left for the Peninsula, and he's riding
around playing Farmer George."

Alex poured the coffee. "Robert's made great
progress. He's doing all manner of things. He's worked hard, and
Jenny and Damien have helped him immensely."

Garr frowned. "What about the fiancée? Said
he was going to cry off."

"The engagement is still on, as far as I
know," Alex said. "Lady Felicia and her father are visiting
Willowmede now. The earl is out fishing and Lady Felicia is still
abed."

Damien caught Jenny's gaze. "Robert tried to
call off the engagement, but Lady Felicia refused to release him.
Even though she freely admitted they wouldn't suit, she doesn't
want a scandal and reminded him gentlemen can't honorably cry off.
She says they shall have a modern marriage--each going their
separate ways."

Jenny's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed.
She quickly returned her attention to her plate, a frown marring
her smooth forehead.

Satisfied he'd given Miss Sedgewicke food
for thought, Damien quickly rose from the table. "Come along, Garr.
Robert will be anxious to see you." He waited as Garrett hurriedly
finished his coffee. They went to join Robert and left the ladies
to enjoy their breakfast in solitude.

****

Later that morning, Alexandra and Aunt
Haygood worked side by side in the stillroom. With notebook in
hand, Alex jotted down a list of the newly made jams, jellies, and
preserves. Aunt Haygood watched and fussed over a batch of
peppermint tea, steeping in a brightly painted ceramic pot.

Sterling appeared at the door. "Excuse me,
Miss. Lady Nugent has called. She awaits you in the drawing
room."

"Drat!" Alex muttered under her breath, then
smiled at the butler. "Thank you, Sterling. I'll be there in a
moment."

Bowing with infinite grace, the faithful
retainer retired to the nether regions of the house.

Aunt Haygood carefully set the teapot on the
shelf and wiped her hands on her apron. "What in the world can that
woman want?" she sniffed.

"I don't know, but we must go quickly," Alex
said. "We can't allow Jenny and Felicia to bear the brunt of Lady
Nugent's waspish tongue."

"No, indeed," agreed her aunt.

Opening the door to the drawing room,
Alexandra saw Jenny sitting on the sofa, a tight smile frozen on
her lips. Felicia sat enraptured, as she listened to the older
woman.

Lady Marcella Nugent, a
dashing matron in her early thirties, turned and gushed at the new
arrivals. "Miss Turlington! And Miss Haygood! I came as soon as I
heard the dreadful news. I was just offering my sympathies to Lady
Felicia.
Such
a
tragedy. My heart positively bleeds for all of you."

Alex sank onto the sofa next to Jenny. "So
thoughtful of you to pay a visit." Glancing at her friend, she
wasn't surprised to see angry sparks shooting from the normally
calm gray eyes. Alex couldn't blame Jenny; she wasn't overly fond
of the woman either. She watched as her ladyship removed her gloves
and folded them in her lap.

Lady Nugent lived five miles north of
Willowmede with her husband, Lord Thomas Nugent. Alex had heard the
lady enjoyed the favor of numerous lovers. She didn't doubt those
rumors in the least. Tall and Junoesque, her ladyship had rich
ebony hair and dark violet eyes. Perhaps if her eyes weren't so
hard and calculating and if she would refrain from so many
affectations, Alex could like her better.

Marcella waved a wispy handkerchief at no
one in particular. "I arrived at Nugent Manor only yesterday.
Thomas and I were in Naples for a month. He's off again already on
another diplomatic mission. They really work him to death, poor
darling."

Felicia's eyes glowed. "It must be exciting
to travel all over the world."

"La, child. I much prefer merry ol' England,
I assure you. Foreigners can be so very vulgar, you know." She
turned to Alexandra. "How is your poor brother doing, Miss
Turlington? It's simply too terrible. The baron has always been the
picture of good health and to be struck such a blow when he's in
his prime is simply too much! You must send my best wishes up to
his invalid's bed."

Alex smiled. "You can tell him yourself.
Robert is hardly an invalid and has made an amazing recovery. He's
out riding the north farms today with Rochdale and Garr
Fleming."

Seeing Marcella's blank expression, she
added, "Examining the wheat."

Lady Nugent made a quick recovery and
gurgled with laughter. "I knew Turlington was not the kind of man
to take his losses lying down. And here I was sympathizing with
Lady Felicia when I should be congratulating her."

Felicia had the grace to blush. Alex
clenched her fists in the folds of her skirts. Some how, some way,
that betrothal must be broken, she thought.

Marcella prepared to take her leave. "I only
stopped by for a second, dears. I've a hundred things to do, you
know. Since Turlington is up and about, why don't you bring
everyone to the Manor for luncheon one day soon. How about
Tuesday?"

Alexandra shook her head with feigned
regret. "I'm sorry. We're already engaged for Tuesday."

Smiling stiffly, Marcella drew on her
gloves.

"You see," Alex explained, "Carlisle has
invited Lord Thane to fish in the bass pond at Bramble Court. You
know what an avid fisherman his lordship is. Carlisle has planned a
picnic for all of us in the afternoon."

"Certainly. I understand perfectly,"
Marcella said. "Oh well, some other time. I must be off, darlings.
Give Turlington my best and tell Rochdale I'm sorry I missed seeing
him." She swept out of the room and Alex breathed a sigh of
relief.

Aunt Haygood sat straighter in her chair. "I
just bet she missed seeing Rochdale," she mumbled.

"What's that, Aunt?" Alex asked.

"Marcella Nugent never does anything without
an ulterior motive, as you well know. Robert was merely a
convenient excuse to visit Willowmede. It was Rochdale she wanted
to see."

"Why would she . . .?" Alex was interrupted
as Garr Fleming strode into the room, a frown marring his usually
cheerful features.

"What the deuce was the Nugent doing here?"
he demanded. "Saw her getting into her landaulet. Looking a tad
shopworn, wouldn't you say?"

Alex's eyes widened and Aunt Haygood nodded
her head grimly.

Flushing, Garr apologized. "Sorry, shouldn't
have said that. Forgot I was in company. Last I heard, Marcella was
in Brazil or some such outlandish place." He paused as a thought
occurred to him. "Does Demon know she's home? They were thick as
thieves a couple of years back."

Felicia gasped. "You don't mean Lord
Rochdale and Lady Nugent . . . ?"

Garrett nodded, then remembered to whom he
was speaking. "Meant to say they're good friends. Yes, that's what
I meant. They're just good friends."

Alex's heart tumbled in her chest. It
shouldn't matter about Rochdale's past, yet somehow it did.

Aunt Haygood harrumphed and coughed loudly.
Thumping her on the back, Garr offered a bit of advice. "Try some
horehound tea for that cough, Miss Haygood. Be right as a trivet in
no time."

Jenny laughed and Alex, though still pale,
joined in. "Garr, have you forgotten who you're talking to? You
must remember Aunt Haygood is a leading authority on herbal teas
and their medicinal values."

Garr looked much struck. "You don't say? Had
you told me before? Please, accept my apologies, ma'am--just
thought I'd drop a little hint."

Miss Haygood waved him
away. "I must go upstairs and lie down. I feel one of my spasms
coming on." She glowered at Mr. Fleming. "And rather than
horehound
tea, I believe
some Roman chamomile will help soothe me. Unless you have another
suggestion, young man?"

"Wouldn't dream of it," Garr said. "Don't
know what I was thinking. Deplorable memory. Never can remember a
thing."

Aunt Haygood stared at him until she was
satisfied she'd put him in his place. Refusing all offers of
assistance, she slowly made her way to the door and left the
room.

****

From her window seat, Alexandra gazed at the
sinking sun. She had spent the afternoon hiding in her bedchamber.
Tossing her unread book down beside her, she leaned her head
against the cool pane of glass. Ever since Garrett had revealed
Rochdale's relationship with Lady Nugent this afternoon,
Alexandra's stomach had not stopped churning. She shouldn't be
surprised, but it had caught her completely off guard.

Lately, life had become extremely
complicated--something new to her. Since her father's death and
even before, Alexandra's days had been fairly regulated with
household duties, her nights devoted to the skies.

Every spring, she went to London for part of
the Season. She enjoyed the social events and making the rounds
with Jenny. There was never a shortage of admirers, yet Alex felt
them all lacking because she couldn't help comparing them to a
tall, sandy-haired viscount with lazy topaz eyes.

Alex picked up her book, flipped through the
pages, then set it down again. That brought her back to the major
complication in her life right now. She didn't know what to think
about Rochdale. And why should she think about him at all? Because
he was there, whenever she let down her guard. Hard, ruthless,
passionate. The memory of his kisses made her tremble. Why had he
kissed her again, and why had she responded with such
enthusiasm?

A knock on her door was a welcome
interruption. Jenny peeked cautiously into the room. "May I come
in?"

Alex summoned a smile for her friend.
"Certainly, dearest. I'm afraid I abandoned everyone and played the
hermit this afternoon."

Jenny sighed. "I think Marcella Nugent makes
a lot of us feel like hiding. I had to bite my tongue when she went
on and on about 'poor poor Robert.' And Felicia just sat there,
receiving Marcella's deepest sympathies. I was boiling mad, let me
tell you. I still am."

Alex nodded. "I know--your
eyes were shooting silver sparks. Felicia
must
release Robert from this
engagement. I can't bear the thought of him being tied to someone
who pities him and is embarrassed to even look at him."

She saw her friend blush and try to avoid
her gaze. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Tears sparkled in Jenny's eyes. "I have to
tell you something, Alex. I hope you aren't shocked. I . . . I'm in
love with Robert."

Alex stared at her for a moment, then ran to
hug her close. "You silly goose! Why should I be shocked? How long
have you loved him? Why, you'd be perfect for each other, and I
couldn't wish for a better sister."

Jenny's lips quivered slightly. "I don't
know if Robert loves me, but I think he cares a little." She
straightened her shoulders and sat taller. A militant light shone
in her gray eyes. "I've decided Felicia cannot be allowed to marry
Robert. She would make his life miserable. And you heard what
Rochdale said at breakfast this morning. Robert can't cry off and
she refuses to let him go."

Jenny twisted the handkerchief she held in
her hands. "Something must be done. Felicia has to end the
engagement, then maybe I'll have a chance. If not, Robert shall
find someone else who really loves him." She gave a strangled sob
and fell into Alex's arms.

Alexandra held her friend as she cried her
heart out. Here was Jenny in a new light. Love did strange things
to people--and made people do strange things. "Love," she whispered
softly.

Jenny pulled back and searched Alexandra's
face closely. "I'm not the only one in love, am I? Admit it--you
love Rochdale, don't you?"

"No," Alex declared vehemently.

"I think you do," Jenny persisted. "I saw
your face when you realized he and Lady Nugent had been
lovers."

Alexandra clasped and unclasped her hands.
Her chest constricted with a sharp throbbing pain.

Jenny went on. "I remember when you told me
about Rochdale kissing you in the observatory all those years ago.
We were so young back then, weren't we? Oh, how your eyes glowed
even though you swore you hated him--that he'd betrayed your
friendship! I remember wishing Robert would kiss me, like Rochdale
had kissed you. I was only fifteen, yet I knew I loved Robert, even
then."