Chapter 9
Nine
Alexander waited for Esther in front of his carriage, wondering if he should knock on the door. Mrs. Wilson had returned a few minutes ago and told him Esther was with Minnie, so hopefully his foil would soon be found, and he could start training.
The sun was rising in the sky, which meant he would be late for the morning practice.
He could use another foil, but he needed to know where his sword was.
It wasn’t simply a family heirloom, but it was also the perfect sword.
Light, extremely well balanced, and with a comfortable grip that fit his hand.
It’d been his mother’s favourite. He’d learnt his first lunges with that foil.
That foil was unique. And to lose it for no reason added insult to injury. Although he wasn’t as upset as he’d been last night. When his footman had told him Esther had run away with the foil, he’d been hurt at first, and annoyed later.
But seeing her humiliated and sorry had calmed him. And hell, she truly was wonderful. Another person would have refused to help him, but she was eager to.
Esther returned, wearing a fresh dark blue gown and a large hat that partially covered her face.
“Sorry to have made you wait.” She lifted the veil covering her face.
“Any news?” he asked, not to focus on her eyes.
She shook her head. “Not much. The dowager’s cloak is missing. I took it. Apparently, I spent the night stealing things, and Minnie doesn’t know anything about the foil. She saw me leaving the club with a blond gentleman. So I’ll go to the club and ask if anyone remembers me leaving with this man.”
He stretched out his arm towards the carriage. “I’ll accompany you.”
She hesitated. “I think walking will be better. Perhaps I lost the foil and the cloak along the way on the pavement? Or a place will trigger a memory?”
“Fair enough.” He sucked in a breath when she took his arm. “What do you think happened with this gentleman? Are you worried?” Because he was.
In the vulnerable state she’d been in, any depraved man could have taken advantage of her.
“A little.” She blushed, searching the pavement. “I don’t…feel any different, if you know what I mean.”
“Do you mean you aren’t hurt and don’t have bruises?”
“Yes, that’s surely a good sign.”
He hoped so. “It is, but if you want to see the physician again, I’ll send for him.”
She squeezed his hand, and he trembled at her touch. A combination of worry and a wish to protect her caused his pulse to race.
They walked to the town centre in the maze of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways. Esther paused at every corner, muttering under her breath.
“No memory?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She slowed her pace, as they were close to The New Club. “I don’t have any memories, but some unpleasant feelings stay with me. Not to mention the embarrassment.”
“Once, during a competition, I tripped, rolled over one of the seats, and flew out of a window, shouting blue murder.”
She chuckled. “What?”
“I fell on my arse on a rose bush. Not my proudest moment. And the worst thing is that I remember it. So do my friends.”
Her smile brightened her face, and that was all that mattered.
When they arrived at The New Club, she grew serious again. “Please no more stealing. I don’t want to know that I stole something else.”
They knocked on the door, but no one answered.
“It must be closed. Let’s try the back.” Alexander led her around the red brick building.
At the back, attendants and workers were carrying wooden crates of champagne bottles and whisky to the secondary entrance, likely to restock the club’s supplies.
“Excuse me.” Esther stopped a man.
The attendant put down the box of bottles. “The club opens at nine, madam.”
“I came here last night, and I think I left my cloak inside. Would you please check? I’m Lady Esther.”
The attendant glanced at Alexander. “Of course.”
Esther gripped his arm harder, gazing around. “I barely remember this place.”
“You didn’t miss anything,” he said.
“I wanted to try something exciting for once, and I caused a disaster.”
“I went to The New Club, too, but I didn’t find anything exciting there. I was bored after five minutes.”
“What do you find exciting then?”
“Fencing, interesting conversations with a charming lady, riding a strong horse on the beach when the sun is rising, and playing cricket with a great batswoman.” The small confession was worth her beautiful smile.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me feel better after I was horrible to you.”
He worked his jaw. “You weren’t. I would enjoy a kiss from you, but not when you aren’t yourself.”
Her lips parted, and her chest rose, but before she could say anything, the attendant returned, rubbing his face.
“You left with your cloak, my lady.”
She exhaled, glancing at Alexander. “Was I with a blond gentleman?”
“I wasn’t here last night,” the man said.
“Would you please find someone who was here?” Alexander asked.
The man exhaled and left.
She shifted her weight. “So you would like a kiss from me,” she whispered.
“I wouldn’t have said it otherwise.” He dipped his head, and she stared at him with her large, disarming eyes. It was as if she were apologising for her beauty.
She rose on her tiptoes, her flowery scent enveloping him. They paused at the same time, an inch from each other’s lips. He wanted to savour her mouth with a hard kiss, but with effort, he controlled himself.
Another attendant broke the spell. “My lady, I remember you.”
She jolted back from him, and Alexander shot a glare at the man, who froze.
“What were you saying?” she asked.
The man didn’t come closer. “You left with Lord Warwick, my lady.”
She turned towards him when the attendant left. “The gentleman who was at the garden party?”
Alexander nodded. “He practises fencing.”
“He might have the foil then!”
“Possible.” He offered her his arm again, and she took it without hesitation. “Shall we pay him a visit?”
“I know the foil means a lot to you.”
“It does, but your safety is more important.” He cut through a side alley to avoid the crowded high street.
A breeze carried the scent of the sea that mingled with Esther’s perfume, and he became painfully aware of the delicate weight of her hand on his arm, the soft swish of her skirt, and the warmth of her skin.
She came to a halt. “Look!”
“The foil?”
“No, sorry. I wanted to show you those flowers.” She pointed at a patch of grass between two buildings, covered with bluebells.
The blue flowers moved their pretty crowns in rhythm with the breeze.
“You probably don’t care.” She shuffled her feet. “But it’s so rare to see something so beautiful in the middle of a town made of bricks and steel.”
“I agree.” He took her chin and lifted it. “As rare as finding a beautiful, fierce lady who isn’t afraid of being herself.”
She gave him that disarming stare again. “Who said I’m not afraid? I’m constantly afraid.”
“Even now?” He caressed her chin with his thumb, feeling her silky skin.
“Especially now.”
He stopped caressing her. “Of me?”
She put her trembling hand on his cheek. “Of not doing what I want to do and then regretting it for the rest of my life.”
“What do you want to do?” He pressed his cheek against her palm, and her touch felt comfortable and exciting at the same time.
“This.” She rose on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.
A shock of sensation energised him at the simple touch. He held her up by her waist and pressed his mouth harder against hers. Their chests touched, and she let out a sweet moan.
When he released her, they were both panting. For a moment, they stared at each other without talking.
“Wonderful,” she whispered.
“Wonderful.” Although he would add shocking as well.
The kiss she’d given him last night was nothing compared to this. The first kiss had been uncaring and soulless. This one was the opposite, warm and delightful. It was as beautiful as an unexpected patch of bluebells in the middle of a town.
She laced her fingers through his. “Let’s find your foil. I want to see you fencing.”
He nodded, unable to say anything. He’d wanted to kiss her properly, but he hadn’t expected such a storm of emotions to start within him. When he found the foil and finished the competition, he would ask her to marry him.
They walked the rest of the distance in companionable silence, stealing glances at each other.
Benedict’s townhouse came into view when they rounded a corner. He knocked on the front door with too much energy, thanks to the inner turmoil she’d started.
The butler opened the door, and a flare of alarm crossed his face. “Y-your Grace, my lady.” His voice became squeaky when he addressed Esther.
“I would like to see Benedict.” He brushed past the butler after Esther entered.
The butler hesitated. “I’ll inform His Lordship you’re here. Will the lady wait here as well?”
“Yes, why?” he asked.
“Nothing, Your Grace.” The butler hurried up the stairs.
Esther winced. “Heaven, what did I do to that man?”
“No memory of this place?” he asked, gesturing at the overwhelming amount of paintings and vases crowding the entry hall.
She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth, and he wanted to kiss her again. “Nothing.”
“No feelings either?”
She shook her head. “Maybe we didn’t come here.”
“Possible.”
He wasn’t going to lie. Knowing that she’d been alone with Benedict while in that wild state didn’t please him in the least, but above all, he was worried. Benedict wasn’t a rake, but if he’d been in a state similar to Esther’s, then anything could have happened.
“There’s nothing I can do about that,” she said, taking his hand.
“You don’t have to apologise.”
“Alexander, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? Are you anxious about the competition?” Benedict skidded to a stop upon seeing Esther. His expression changed to an angry one. “You!”
“Oh, bother.” She touched her forehead. “I didn’t mean to steal anything. If you tell me what I stole, I’ll do my best to return it.”
“Stealing? You tried to kill me!” Benedict said.
“Nonsense.” Alexander scoffed.
She shook her head. “No. I refused to believe that. I’m not a violent woman.”
“What is this, in your opinion?” Benedict lowered the collar of his shirt to reveal an angry red cut on his neck, not deep but long, surely left by something sharp.
She wrung her hand. “Your valet wasn’t very careful when he shaved you?”
“It wasn’t a razor, but Alexander’s blade.” Benedict pulled up his collar again.
“What?” Alexander and Esther said together.
“It’s not possible,” Alexander said. “Fencing foils aren’t sharp. You should know.”
Benedict was flustered. “Yes, but she thrust your foil at me, and I lost my balance and cut myself on the sharp edge of a table. It’s still her fault.”
“I want to know everything from the beginning,” she said.
“You should know.” Benedict raised his voice.
“There’s no need to be rude.” He stepped closer to her. “Esther doesn’t remember anything about last night. So tell us what happened.”
“No memories. How convenient.” Benedict arched his brow. “I met Esther at The New Club. She was searching for a gentleman to kiss.”
Esther covered her face with the veil of her hat.
He held her hand. “Forget about that,” he whispered and winced. “Poor choice of words.”
“She became particularly insistent with me,” Benedict said, “and boldly asked me to go to my house.”
“Honestly.” She pressed her fingers to her forehead.
Benedict was flustered. “That’s the honest truth. She was so excited we practically fled the club. So we climbed into my carriage, but she asked me to stop in front of your house. She jumped out and told me to wait, so I did. When she returned, she had your foil.”
“And you didn’t think to return it?” he said.
Benedict shrugged. “I thought it was a practical joke, not that she meant to use the foil against me.”
“Please continue.” She grimaced. “We came here and then?”
“And then you ran through the house, wielding the foil, scaring my butler. When I tried to kiss you, you turned around and thrust the foil, and I slashed my neck.” Benedict pointed at his cut. “It’s a miracle I’m alive.”
“It’s a shallow cut,” Alexander said.
“I was frightened.” Benedict sounded outraged.
“I’m really sorry about that, but what happened to the foil?” she asked.
“You left with it. You said you wanted to return it to Alexander.”
“Finally some decency,” she whispered. “And nothing happened between us?”
Benedict shook his head. “As much as I like ladies, I find that my interest diminishes when they try to cut me into pieces.”
He exhaled. “Don’t be so dramatic. Did Esther hail a cab?”
“I don’t know because I was bleeding!” Benedict pointed to his neck again. “Is this your strategy to make sure you win the championship? To get rid of all rivals? Unleashing a crazy lady on me?”
“I don’t need stratagems to win the championship.”
“You’re together,” Benedict said, shifting a finger from Esther to Alexander. “Accomplices.”
“No, the duke is helping me recover the foil.” Esther lifted the veil. “He didn’t ask me to do anything.”
“So you don’t know where my foil is,” Alexander said, anxious to get somewhere.
“No,” was Benedict’s curt reply.
“What about my cloak?” She joined her hands as if in prayer.
Benedict nodded at his butler who darted down the corridor. “Your cloak…” He stretched out an arm and waited for the butler to deposit a bundle in his palm. “Is here.”
She cried out in happiness. “Thank goodness.” When she unfolded it, her smile vanished. A large dark stain marred the fabric. “What is that?”
“Blood.” Benedict’s voice turned icy. “My blood. I used your cloak to stem the flow.”
Hell, even Alexander had to admit that was a lot of blood. “Mrs. Wilson will have it laundered.”
She gave him a desperate look.
“I don’t care if you burn it.” Benedict waved them out. “I think you should leave now.”
The butler opened the door eagerly.
She paused on the threshold. “But it’s important we find the foil.”
“It’s more important to preserve my veins intact with my blood in them. Good day.” Benedict went up the stairs.