Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

" B roughton, what in the world are you doing back here?" Alexander clapped his friend on the shoulder as Colin was ushered into his study.

"I had some property to view in the neighboring village and thought to drop by after," the Marquess replied with a grin.

Alexander couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the sight of him. Colin had always been a welcome distraction from the burdens that weighed heavily on his mind. He poured them both a drink and handed one to his friend.

"So, how's the new life going?" Colin asked, stretching his legs out comfortably over the rug and crossing them at the ankles, a picture of ease.

Alexander felt a sigh escape him, unbidden. The question hit closer to home than his friend could have known. His new life, this marriage—on the surface, it was just as expected, but beneath it, there was a constant tug of tension. Keeping Elizabeth at a distance was one thing, but managing her curiosity about his past was proving to be far more difficult than he'd anticipated. And now, there was Georgianna's meddling to contend with.

He had always known the widow to be relentless, but even he had underestimated her persistence. To show up during his honeymoon—her audacity left him speechless. And worse, Elizabeth now believed her to be his mistress. No matter what he said, she wouldn't be swayed from that notion. The very thought of it made his chest tighten with frustration.

It wasn't just the lies that troubled him. What unnerved him most was his growing desire for Elizabeth to believe him . He wanted her trust—needed it, for reasons he could not fully explain. The idea that she viewed him with suspicion perturbed him, unsettling in a way he hadn't expected.

"Well, that sigh doesn't sound very promising," Colin remarked, his gaze sharp as he watched him over the rim of his tumbler.

Alexander offered a wry smile, swirling the brandy in his glass. "Suffice to say, I am still navigating the tides," he replied, his voice more guarded than he'd intended.

"Hopefully not in a storm?" Colin's tone shifted slightly, concern flickering in his eyes.

Alexander chuckled lightly, though there was little humor in it. "I have to keep the storm at bay. Isn't that what marriage is all about?"

It was, indeed, a most daunting task.

"The unflattering aspect of it, I suppose," Colin shrugged, taking a sip from his glass.

"Flattering? You find marriage flattering?" Alexander couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it. His marriage, thus far, had felt anything but flattering.

"From afar, yes," Colin replied with a mischievous grin. "For example, it looks good on you so far," he added impishly, his tone full of jest.

Alexander shot him a look, which only made his friend roar with laughter. But beneath the banter, Alex's mind was already turning over the rumors Georgianna had delivered. If anyone would have a finger on the pulse of society, it was Colin.

"So, how fare the rumors in town?" Alexander asked, his tone more casual than he felt.

Colin raised a brow, but answered readily. "I believe society has made its peace with the scandal," he said, referring to the unfortunate circumstances that had led to Alexander's hasty marriage to Elizabeth.

But Alexander frowned, confusion knitting his brow. "I speak not of the scandal precisely, but of the new rumors about the Duchess," he clarified, his voice more serious now.

Colin blinked, his expression shifting to one of genuine surprise. "What are you talking about?" he asked, clearly at a loss.

Alexander exhaled, feeling the frustration begin to coil within him again. He briefly shared what he had been told about Elizabeth and Percy, though he deliberately left out the identity of the person who had brought the news to him. There was no need to drag Georgianna's name into this conversation—at least not yet.

Colin frowned in thought, his brow furrowing as he processed the information. "Perhaps these rumors started after I left town already," he mused aloud.

Alexander clenched his jaw. Could Georgianna have been lying? He wouldn't put it past her—causing trouble in his marriage would be entirely in keeping with her vindictive nature. But then again, could there be any truth to her words? He couldn't shake the uncertainty prickling at him.

"How long have you been out of Town, then?" Alexander asked, hoping to gain some clarity.

"Oh, I left town the day after you did. I had a brief stop in Essex first," Colin replied, his voice thoughtful.

Alexander felt his frustration deepen. If Colin had left so soon after him, there was little chance he would have heard anything about these rumors. Which left him no closer to the truth than before.

Could Georgianna possibly be telling the truth?

Alexander knew he needed to confront Georgianna at the earliest opportunity, to put an end to her schemes once and for all. But perhaps, for now, a warning—delivered through a carefully penned letter—would suffice. The thought brought him a measure of resolve.

"I have another property to view in an hour. I best be on my way, then," Colin said, rising from his chair at last.

They walked together toward the front hall, and as Colin reached for his coat, he turned back with a grin. "Give my regards to the Duchess, would you?"

Before Alexander could respond, a voice cut in, soft but clear.

"She's heard you already."

Both men turned, their gazes lifting in surprise to find Elizabeth approaching, her graceful figure framed by the doorway.

"How pleasant to see you here, Lord Broughton," she said with a smile that warmed the room, her eyes a brilliant blue that seemed to catch the morning light. The simple morning dress she wore flattered her pale, porcelain-like skin, and as she moved toward them, Alexander found himself momentarily transfixed.

He had managed to avoid her for days now, convincing himself it was for the best, but the truth was that her absence had done little to ease the constant invasion of his thoughts. He yearned for her—deeply, inexplicably—and the sight of her now only intensified that longing, a sensation he had tried so hard to suppress.

Quickly, he schooled his expression, locking away the emotions that threatened to surface. "That saves me delivering the message, then," he said, his tone casual, though his mind was anything but.

Elizabeth chuckled, the sound light and teasing. "How lazy of you to find such simple tasks as delivering messages tedious," she quipped, casting him a playful glance before turning back to Colin.

Colin, always quick with a charm, stepped forward with a smile. "It is even more pleasant seeing Her Grace's lovely face," he said, bowing gracefully as he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

Alexander's chest tightened as a soft pink blush rose to Elizabeth's cheeks. It was a small reaction, but one that stirred something fierce within him. He did not like it—the manner in which she was smiling at Colin, or to any other man for that matter.

"Are you in the country for a while?" Elizabeth asked, her voice as light as ever, though Alexander could sense the subtle undercurrent of curiosity in her tone.

"I came to view a few properties I intend to purchase in the area," Colin replied easily. "I might linger a little longer to see the processes through," he added with a grin.

At that moment, Alexander's gaze met his wife's. There was something unreadable in her expression—tentative, perhaps, but veiled, as though she was weighing her next words carefully. Then, almost too quickly, she shifted her attention back to Colin.

"Why, that sounds like the perfect opportunity to host you for dinner then," she said with a pleasant smile.

Colin beamed, never one to refuse a generous offer. "I never turn down a free meal."

"Excellent," Elizabeth replied, her tone smooth.

But when her eyes met Alexander's again, he caught the brief flicker of triumph in her gaze. It was unmistakable. She had set something in motion, and the realization sent a jolt of unease through him. What exactly was she playing at?

As they watched Colin make his departure, Alexander couldn't shake the feeling of being outmaneuvered. He felt as though the ground was shifting beneath him, trapping him in a game he hadn't realized he was part of.

"Care to share your little game?" he asked once Colin was out of earshot as they walked together through the hallway.

Elizabeth paused, her footsteps halting as she turned to face him. "I beg your pardon?" she responded, feigning innocence with such ease it only deepened his wariness.

"Oh, do not feign innocence with me, Elizabeth," Alexander chuckled, though the sound lacked warmth. There was something brewing, something he couldn't yet grasp. "You're playing at something here, for your dinner invitation to Broughton was not without a motive."

"Is that so?" she asked, raising a brow as she came to a full stop in the hallway, forcing him to do the same.

Her face was a picture of innocence, her expression so composed that it nearly convinced him— nearly . But he knew better. She was playing a game, and he was at the center of it, though he couldn't yet see the full board.

"I have no inkling what you are talking about," she said sweetly.

"Is that so?" Alexander stepped deliberately closer, and the flicker of satisfaction he felt when she instinctively took a step back was undeniable. The delightful pink that bloomed across her cheeks as she looked up at him only added to his enjoyment.

"Perhaps I need an incentive to share that motive," she said, her voice soft but filled with challenge.

He quirked an amused brow. "I thought you claimed yourself without an ulterior motive just now?"

"That was before I saw an opportunity," she responded slyly, her gaze steady.

He couldn't help but laugh. She was far more cunning than he'd given her credit for. "An opportunity for what?" he asked, genuinely intrigued now.

"An opportunity to gain something out of your curiosity," she replied, her confidence matching his.

The sound of his own laughter surprised him. She was delightful—he had to admit that. There was something invigorating about the way she played the game, how she never backed down.

"Well then, pray tell, what incentive do you need?" he asked, his voice lowering as he closed the distance between them.

"An answer," she said plainly. "About the Compton assembly invitations," she added, her tone light, but her eyes filled with determination.

"You do not give up, do you?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Never," she replied, jutting her chin out in defiance, the gesture both endearing and maddening.

"Ominous," Alexander chuckled again, thoroughly entertained by the exchange.

"So? Will you go to the assembly?" she pressed, her persistence unwavering.

His gaze drifted downward, settling on her lips as she spoke, and for a moment, the conversation faded into the background. She was so insistent, so focused on the blasted Compton invitations, but all he could think about was whether she would stop talking if he kissed her.

He took another step toward her, and her eyes widened in surprise. He felt a thrill of satisfaction when she found herself backed against the wall. He liked the way she looked at him now—unsure but still determined, her breath quickening as he drew closer.

And he liked the idea of keeping her right there, his prisoner in that moment, caught between defiance and something else entirely.

Alex raised his hand, letting his fingers trail lightly along her jawline. He relished the way the soft pink in her cheeks deepened under his touch, her reaction delightfully visible.

"Liz, dear," he said, his voice low and teasing, "didn't I tell you that I'd think about the invitations?"

Her lips parted slightly, as if she meant to respond, but no sound came forth. Her breath caught, and Alex felt an almost instinctual pull, his head lowering toward hers.

"A little patience," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper now, "would get you your answer."

Her eyes fluttered shut, and for a moment, the space between them all but disappeared. The temptation to close the gap, to kiss her, was nearly overwhelming. He could feel the warmth of her breath, sense the tension in the air as they hovered on the edge of something dangerous.

But just when their faces were barely a breath apart, Alex abruptly pulled back, stepping away and putting a deliberate distance between them. The sudden withdrawal was as much for his own restraint as it was to toy with her.

Her eyes flew open, wide with surprise, and there, unmistakably, was a flicker of disappointment. It almost made him laugh—though he had to admit he was just as affected by their closeness as she was. But playing this game, leaving her wanting, was far more entertaining.

This should be fun, he thought, an impish smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I—I will need to see Mrs. Ryton about the dinner…" she stammered, her composure crumbling as her voice came out flustered and breathless.

Without waiting for a response, she turned quickly on her heels and hurried down the hallway, practically skipping out of his sight. Alex watched her retreat, his amusement still lingering, though the urge to chase after her remained strong.