Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

ALEXANDER

D im candlelight glowed in the windows of Birch House as I approached the front door. Waiting until nightfall to return had been essential in order to prevent any suspicion from Miles. After collecting my two hundred pounds from him at Russell’s, I had agreed to leave Birch House by the next morning.

But that didn’t mean I would leave London completely.

With the money I had secured, I had spent the day searching for a lease on an apartment near Lockhart square so I could court Anne properly and begin building my professional connections in Town. If Anne remained here, I couldn’t possibly leave her to go to York.

I could hardly believe that Miles had searched the bedchambers the night before to discover which one was mine and left a note inside my door. He was desperate, and he viewed me as his greatest threat. I had almost crumpled the note, but I had stopped myself. In his desperation, Miles had made a fatal mistake. I could show his note to Anne at any moment as proof of his character and intentions…if that hadn’t been made clear enough to her already.

I was no longer afraid that Miles would win. I had felt a sense of peace the night before with Anne. She might have finally trusted me completely. Perhaps after thirty-one years, Miles’s lies had caught up to him. I needed to see her, to explain why I had been gone the entire day, but the house was quiet when the butler ushered me into the vestibule. Had everyone already gone to bed?

I passed Anne’s room on my way to my own. Her door was closed, but candlelight still flickered through the crack under the door. I was too late to speak with her tonight. I would have to wait until the morning.

Inside my bedchamber, I removed my jacket, loosening my cravat before falling back onto my bed. I released a tense breath, staring up at the ceiling. My confidence regarding Anne’s feelings had grown, but Miles had a power I couldn’t explain. He was an expert at deceit. What if I hadn’t done enough to win Anne’s trust? I was fairly certain Miles had come to Birch House that day. He could have fed Anne an abundance of lies while I was finding an apartment.

A scratching sound came from behind me. I rolled over just as a folded note passed under the door, skittering across the floor until it came to a halt near the edge of the rug.

I crossed the room to pick it up, reading the words scrawled across it.

Dear Mr. Holland,

You have been selected from amongst my guests to participate in this evening’s secret parlor game. Please meet in the parlor at midnight.

Your hostess,

Lady Tottenham

ANNE

Would Lady Tottenham change her will if I didn’t attend the midnight game?

Considering how quickly she had sent Lord Kirkham and the others out of the house after they had ignored her invitations, it did seem quite possible.

And after what she had said that day about taking me out of her will if I chose to marry Miles, it seemed quite probable, actually.

I replaced my shoes on my feet, adjusting my pink gown in the mirror before slipping out my bedchamber door with a candle in hand. I couldn’t guess what to expect as I approached the parlor. The numbers of the party had diminished. We were all weary of so many games. I opened the door, the hinges creaking in the silence. There was already light coming from inside.

My heart thudded in my chest.

Alexander stood on the other side of the room. He looked up at my entrance. A hint of surprise crossed his expression. “Anne.”

I couldn’t blink as I took in the sight of him.

“We don’t have a chess board this time.” He flashed a smile, gesturing at the table.

I stayed by the door, my grip tightening on my candlestick. “Where have you been? I thought—I thought Miles had dueled you. I assumed something horrible had happened.”

He raised his eyebrows, taking a few steps in my direction. “Did you assume that I would have lost the duel? That would be the second time you have doubted my strength within a day.”

“I’m serious.” I scowled at him. “I have been fretting about it all evening.”

He looked unjustly handsome with his rolled shirtsleeves and tan waistcoat. He stopped several paces away, his soft gaze drinking me in. My heart beat a wild rhythm. This was my opportunity to speak with him alone. Lady Tottenham had provided it, just as she promised. But how could I find the words when he was looking at me like that?

His intense eyes held me captive for a long moment. “I won’t pretend not to like when you fret about me,” he said with a sideways smile, “but I assure you, there was no duel. I was away for a matter of great importance.”

“Did it involve Miles?” I asked in a tentative voice.

He nodded. “He offered to finally repay his debt to me on the condition that I leave Birch House by tomorrow. As added incentive, he offered to contribute two thousand pounds from your fortune. I refused, of course.”

My jaw dropped. “That is ridiculous. He already owed you money. He doesn’t have any right to it. How could he offer it in exchange for something when he hasn’t even fulfilled his end of the bargain he made two years ago.” Alexander’s smile grew as he watched my fit of rage. I took a deep breath. “What?”

“The money he owed is mine now. I took it back.”

My anger faded. “You did?” I squeaked. I twisted a loose thread on my skirts. “Are you leaving, then?”

“I am leaving Birch House tomorrow as promised.”

My heart sank. I scrambled for the right words. “I’m glad you obtained the money he owed you, but what about his confession to your family and the parish? How will they ever know the truth?”

Alexander’s eyes dimmed. “They may never know, but I will do all I can to convince them. Perhaps you can help me.”

I nodded. “I will do whatever I can.” A nervous flutter rose in my chest. “I-I also want you to know that I plan to reject Miles’s proposal. I will write him a letter with my decision, just as he wrote a letter to propose to me. I don’t think I owe him more than that.”

Alexander took a moment to absorb my words, his face dazed. Was he surprised that I had made my decision already? I had never been more certain. He cleared his throat. “You’re right. You don’t owe him anything.”

I nodded, but I fought a pang of grief in my heart. “When you leave the house tomorrow, where will you go?”

A faint smile touched his lips. “I spent the day finding an apartment near Lockhart square.”

My eyes flew open wide. “I thought you were going back to York.”

“There is one problem with York that I cannot seem to disregard.” He passed the tea table, his steps casual as he approached me. “ You are not in York.”

My heart devoured his words, and I didn’t dare breathe or blink for fear of missing them. He finished crossing the room, stopping just in front of me. “I told you before that if I was in love with you, I would have never run in the opposite direction—that I would have married you if I was given the chance. I am in love with you, Anne.” His eyes roamed my face. “Madly.” He touched my face, brushing softly at the hair by my ear. “If your feelings allow, I would be honored to be your husband. I give you my heart. It is all yours. I promise to return your loyalty, to remain by your side forever, and to do everything in my power to give you the happiness you deserve. If you’ll have me.” His eyes were nervous, as if he feared I might crush him with one word.

I had meant to confess my feelings first, but he had beat me to it. Tears sprung to my eyes. My thoughts spun, leaving a large gap following his words. He still waited for my reply. “Why did your parents have to send you away to school?” A smile broke over my face. “I could have known you and fallen in love with you much sooner.”

A slow smile tugged on his lips, a crease forming in his cheek. I wanted to kiss it all.

“But that is what happened,” I said just above a whisper. “I did fall in love with you.” I felt nervous and shy, but never more certain of anything. “You have made me feel safe, and loved, and happier than I have ever known. You saved me.” My voice cracked as a tear slipped down my cheek. “You saved me from a bleak future and have offered me one that I never thought I would find. I don’t care that I am an heiress.” I laughed, a choked sound. “There is nothing I would rather be than your wife. I love you.” I shook my head as desire overwhelmed me.

His hands caught my face, and before I drew another breath, we were kissing. His lips were soft but insistent. His short stubble rubbed my face but I didn’t care. Not at all. My body dissolved against his, wild tremors racing through my veins, reminding me again that every other man I had kissed in my life had been wrong.

He broke away for a moment, his chest rising and falling against mine. His eyes gleamed with amusement. “You are going to set me on fire.” He took the candle from my hand, turning to set it on the nearby sideboard. The flame still flickered strong on the wick.

“I’m sorry! You distracted me.”

His mouth broke into a smile. I could hardly believe I had just been kissing him, until he closed the distance between us with two large strides. His hands encircled my jaw as he kissed me again, sending a spiral of butterflies through my stomach.

I buried my fingers in his hair. He smelled of fresh rain and the other scent that was uniquely his. His fervent mouth parted my lips again and again. His hands were all over my back and waist and hair, gathering every inch of me forward. He couldn’t possibly be closer, yet I needed him to be. I needed it more than I had ever needed anything.

That wild, frantic feeling grew like a flame. I took two handfuls of his shirt, pulling him harder against me. A soft groan came from low in his throat, and he kissed me deeply, until my head spun. The swift succession of intensity brought a lightness to my head, but I had never felt anything more perfect.

He cupped my face in his hands softly, as if it were the most fragile thing he had ever held. “I love you,” he whispered. And I knew he meant it. He dipped his head down, leaving a trail of kisses on my neck. Shivers exploded across my skin. He felt like the accumulation of every happy moment of my life. Every smile, every laugh, everything that made my life worth living. He evoked sensations I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling. His mouth found mine again. His kiss was slow and gentle, until it faded into a soft brush against my lips.

I felt his mouth curve into a smile the same moment mine did.

“What game did Lady Tottenham intend for us to play?” Alexander asked, pulling back just enough to look in my eyes.

“She has always only cared about the kissing part of her games. I think she will be content.”

He laughed, pressing a kiss to my forehead, then my nose, and cheek, all in quick succession. “The real question is whether or not she has locked the door behind us.”

My eyes widened. I followed him toward the door, testing the handle. It turned. A flood of relief washed over me. I felt Alexander’s hand on my waist as I faced the door. He turned me swiftly toward him, a playful smile on his face as he leaned his other hand against the door, trapping me. I was still rather shy, but my boldness surprised me. I rose on my toes to kiss his grinning lips again. His smile was as delicious as I’d hoped.

I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but I experienced every sensation all over again. We laughed between each touch of our lips, until we both became lost in the kiss entirely. My giddiness spun me in circles until I nearly lost my balance. Alexander pressed me against the door, keeping me steady as we kissed and kissed. I wasn’t aware of the time that had passed, only that tonight, a locked door would have been far too dangerous.

I took hold of the doorknob, turning it with a click. Alexander pulled back, and I slid around him, laughing. “We should return to our rooms,” I said in a breathless voice. My happiness alone could have carried me there weightlessly, but before I knew what was happening, Alexander had scooped me up into his arms.

I clung to his neck as he opened the door, my laughter verging on uncontrollable. As soon as we were in the corridor, I lowered my voice to a whisper. “You don’t have to carry me,” I protested, even though I adored every second of it.

He smiled. “I plan to make a habit of this.”

My head whirled with dreams of living at Birch House with him. I could hardly wait to invite Henrietta here to show her how my life had changed. Marrying Alexander was unexpected, but it didn’t scare me. My dreams had never felt more secure. He wasn’t going to run away or change his mind or keep me waiting. He valued me and my heart and my time more than anyone ever had.

I tried to imagine the years of laughter and difficulties and adventures ahead of us, but it was all blurred by my happiness. I didn’t need to look ahead to things that were unwritten. I had this moment. I had him.

There couldn’t be a greater prize.