Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

ALEXANDER

I stopped the coach outside of Martins, stepping out onto the crowded cobblestones. I lowered the brim of my hat on my forehead and tightened my cravat. I needed to look fashionable if I hoped to obtain a loan from the banker at Martins. It couldn’t come across as a desperate plea, or I would be sent away. All I needed was enough to live on until I could obtain more clients in York. Leaving London at the end of the house party was no longer part of my plan. If I could help it, I would stay long enough to have a fighting chance at Anne’s hand in marriage.

I walked quickly, weaving through the crowds that gathered on the streets. I had grown comfortable with the location of Birch House, so far removed from the heart of London society. Lady Tottenham had no rules in place that prevented her guests from venturing into town for business, so I didn’t expect she would have a problem with my departure that morning.

I hadn’t slept more than an hour or two the night before, and not only because my bed had been the floorboards of the hexagon room. My mind and emotions had been spinning out of control. After learning of the written proposal Miles had sent to Anne, I was no longer certain what his intentions were. He might have assumed she had money from her previous marriage, but perhaps he didn’t. He might have truly loved her.

It was hard to imagine Miles loving anyone, but if there was a woman who could soften his heart, it was Anne. It was impossible not to love her.

I had been falling in love with her since the first day of the house party.

I smiled at the thought of her face squished against the sofa cushion, curls falling over her forehead. Her eyes had been twitching with a dream of some sort. I had left her there, sleeping, when I heard the door unlock just after sunrise. My trip to the bank was my last hope of remaining in London after Lady Tottenham’s hospitality expired. The money Miles owed me was likely long gone, but that wouldn’t stop me from confronting him when he came back to London.

I stopped walking, my gaze catching on a man at the threshold of the gentleman’s club, Russell’s, across the street. I rubbed my eyes, blinking hard. My lack of sleep must have been causing hallucinations. I looked at the doorway of Russell’s a second time, my brow creasing.

The man with the navy blue jacket looked exactly like Miles.

I froze, watching him as he started walking in the opposite direction. I had only caught a short glimpse of his face, but with his back turned, I recognized his height, the shape of his shoulders, and even the saunter in his step. It was my brother. I was sure of it.

My plans at the bank vanished, falling down my list of priorities. I jogged across the street, narrowly dodging a team of horses. The coachman cursed at me as I ran, but I didn’t care. What was Miles doing back in London already? I could hardly believe my luck at finding him on the street, but his presence in town was more troubling than it was fortunate. Anger pulsed in my neck as I slowed my approach, taking large strides up the cobblestones behind him. When I came close enough, I stopped walking.

I spoke in a loud voice. “I didn’t think I’d see you for another fortnight.”

His steps halted.

I had known he would recognize my voice, even amid the noise all around us. He turned around slowly, a lopsided smile on his mouth. “Alexander?” He scoffed with disbelief. His skin was tanner than usual, freckles smattered across his cheeks. He had won the favor of countless people with his blue eyes and wide smile. He had an innocent face no matter what expression he wore. His brown hair had been lightened in the sun, but it was combed and styled neatly. Not a hair was out of place. His cravat was starched and clean, and despite my efforts to intimidate him, he was completely unaffected.

“Was India not to your liking?” I asked, not bothering to hide the venom from my voice. “You spent just as long on the boat as you did in the country.”

Miles took a step closer, his smile growing. “You don’t have to greet me with such animosity, brother. I plan to repay you in full.”

I crossed my arms. “Where have I heard that promise before?” My voice was hard. “And your confession? I have spent the last four years as a stranger to our family because they still blame me for your mistakes.”

He groaned, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a snuff case. “Do relax, brother. I’ll tell them the truth eventually, and the money will be back in your pockets. Have patience.” He took a pinch of snuff before drawing a deep breath. “I miss the sea air. It smelled much better than London.”

My jaw tightened. “Don’t change the subject. You will repay me, in full, the two-hundred pounds I lent to you by the end of the month.”

He laughed. “You have grown far too serious. Two-hundred pounds isn’t a matter of life or death.”

“In my profession, that’s nearly half my annual income.”

He shrugged, crossing his arms. “At least you’re earning more than you would have in the church.”

My anger flared. “Are you suggesting I should thank you for ruining the life I had planned for?”

“Yes.” He gave an emphatic nod. “You would have never suited the life of a vicar.”

I glanced heavenward, my hands fisting at my sides. Miles didn’t know how fortunate he was that we were in public. A group of passersby seemed to sense the tension between us. One woman whispered behind her glove to her companion. I stepped into the shade of the nearby shop, hoping it would cool the anger that boiled under my skin.

“I’m surprised to find you in London,” Miles said as he stepped up beside me. “I thought your best success was in York.”

“It is.” I kicked at a twig on the cobblestones. “I came here to reclaim the money you stole.”

Miles smiled, his gaze lingering on a group of young ladies as they passed with their chaperones. “I will repay you. I promise. A meager two-hundred pounds will be nothing but pocket coins for me soon enough.”

His arrogance hadn’t always been so apparent as it was now. He had no reason to hide it when there were no observers. “I presume the East India Company was profitable then?” I asked.

He bit the inside of his cheek, shaking his head. “Actually, it wasn’t. I was nearly arrested for a number of…fraudulent activities.” He waved a hand in front of him. “It’s no matter. I realized the life of a nabob isn’t for me. I lack the patience for it. There are faster ways to obtain a fortune, and I have plans underway.”

I frowned. “Plans? Do you have any money at all?”

“Yes.” He scowled. “Not to worry. I will ensure you are paid.”

I shook my head, cursing under my breath. I would never see that money. My family would never respect me, and Miles would win, just as he always had. The image of Anne running into his arms flashed through my mind, and a wave of frustration nearly knocked me to the ground. He wouldn’t greet her with the arrogant smile he wore now. He would fool her just as he had fooled so many others. Panic set into my bones. If he was scheming something, I needed to find out what it was.

“What are these ‘faster ways to obtain a fortune’?” I raised my brows. I was grateful for my extra inch of height as I stepped closer to him. “What are your plans?”

“Marriage.” He adjusted the buttons on his silver waistcoat. “I have made arrangements with a widowed baroness. Her late husband had a great deal of land, of which she still shares in the profits.”

I glared at him, my jaw tight. “Anne Dixon?”

His eyes widened. “I didn’t think you would remember her.”

“She is rather unforgettable.”

Miles stared at me in confusion for several seconds. “At any rate…there is an understanding between us. I suspect her widowhood has provided her with enough money to live comfortably on. She is a sweet girl, and I am quite fond of her. It would be an agreeable match, to be sure.” For a moment, his smile appeared genuine. “If not Anne, I’m certain there are plenty of young ladies with dowries who will be joining the upcoming Season.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to steady my breathing. How had a disgusting, fortune-hunting scoundrel like my brother managed to steal Anne’s heart? He couldn’t even begin to deserve her.

“Are you all right?” Miles’s teasing tone grated over my skin. “You could do the same, you know. If you spent less time fixating on the two-hundred pounds, you might be able to focus your attention instead on a beneficial courtship.”

I stared at the cobblestones, no longer able to look at his face. It took all I had not to grab him by the neck. If he knew Anne’s loyalty, if he had taken a moment to try to understand her heart, he would see that she was worth more than any sum of money. As I had always suspected, he had left her for the chance to go to India without any qualms. When he was unsuccessful, he had convinced her of his devotion through letters to ensure she would wait for him. Once he learned of her destitution, he would surely break her heart. How could someone be so cruel?

I had promised myself I would protect Anne from him. Telling him the truth, and preventing her hopes from escalating further, seemed the best way to do that.

I took a deep breath. “I have become acquainted with Anne during my time in London,” I said, looking up from the ground.

Miles reared back in surprise. “How?”

“We have both been guests at a house party hosted by Lady Tottenham at Birch House. I happen to know that Anne’s financial state is not what you think. The baron’s land has stopped producing. She is destitute.”

Miles’s face fell.

“If it is your love for her that motivates you, I invite you to honor your proposal.” My gaze was hard. “If not, I invite you to leave her alone. Break your ties to her. You have hurt her enough.”

Miles exhaled slowly. “That is unfortunate news.” He scowled, raking a hand over his hair. He was silent for several seconds. “I have certainly led her to expect an engagement between us.”

“Will you keep your word?” I was confident in his answer, but I wanted to hear him admit his folly.

He sighed. “If her situation is as dire as you say, then I cannot. I do feel terrible that she has been awaiting my return, but I have no choice but to pursue a woman with an income or dowry. I did love her once, but we were very young. It was never going to last.” His remorse only skimmed the surface of his expression. He met my gaze. “Would you be willing to convey the news to her?”

I scoffed with disbelief. “You cannot be serious. Anne won’t take my word for it. She deserves to see your true character so she can understand how little she has truly lost.”

Miles’s expression darkened. “How do I know you speak the truth about her financial situation? You could lying in an attempt to ruin my plans.”

A surge of anger flooded my chest. “You may ask Anne about her financial state yourself. Unlike you, she is honest. She believes you truly care for her. If that isn’t true, you need to tell her. I won’t break her heart for you, but I will endeavor to make it whole again.”

Realization dawned in his features. “You care for her.” He tipped his head back with a laugh. “That’s even more motivation for you to lie to me. You know she would never choose you over me.” His sneer pushed my composure over the edge. “Did she already reject you?”

I threw my fist into his nose.

He staggered back, holding his face. He lunged forward without warning, striking me in the cheekbone, then my mouth. I punched blindly at his face, making contact with his jaw. I grabbed his collar, throwing him back until he tripped against a passing gentleman. The gasps of the people on the street brought me back to my senses. I tasted blood in my mouth, and my face throbbed with pain. Miles wiped blood from beneath his nose, his eyes wild with shock.

I had never hit him in my life, but he had never deserved it more. I had wanted to fight him for years, so I felt nothing but satisfaction at the surprise in his expression.

I backed away, eager to escape the onlookers. Our public fight could make the London gossip papers if I wasn’t careful. It might have been too late, but I didn’t care. I would cherish that moment for the rest of my life. Standing up to Miles and defending Anne all in the same instant was an incomparable victory.

I didn’t stop walking for at least ten minutes, making my way as far from Miles as possible. I couldn’t visit the banker with blood on my face. I needed to go back to Birch House and warn Anne, but I didn’t know how. Was it better if she didn’t know Miles was already back in London? It would drive me mad to see her waiting even a second longer for Miles.

I could already feel the swelling on my cheekbone. Knowing I might have broken Miles’ nose was my only consolation.

I sat in the coach on the way back to Birch House, debating what to say to Anne when I returned. Ultimately, it would be best if she didn’t know Miles was back in London—at least not yet. I would keep it a secret as long as necessary. I needed time to decide what to do. Miles owed Anne an explanation, though I doubted he would give her that.

He had never been one to pay what he owed.