Chapter 7
AFTER MEETING WITH Homer Barrow, Alex headed to Lady Eloise Dayne’s dinner party.
He arrived late and gave no reason, but was nonetheless welcomed graciously by the dowager and her guests.
This party was more of a casual family gathering since most of those in attendance were Farthingale family members.
This was a new experience for Alex, and one he found himself enjoying despite his initial reluctance.
Lady Dayne introduced him to several Farthingales he had never met before.
They all greeted him cheerfully, although he wasn’t certain why they should be so quick to accept him.
Perhaps Tulip had spoken kindly about him.
He hoped so.
Lady Dayne’s grandson, Gabriel, took him aside as soon as introductions all around were completed.
He was married to John and Sophie’s daughter, Daisy.
“My wife was the one spying through the keyhole who toppled into John’s study when he yanked open the door after your betrothal discussions were concluded. ”
Alex grinned.
So did Gabriel. “She’s a snoopy bit of goods.”
“It seems to be a Farthingale trait,” Alex remarked.
Gabriel nodded. “She and the other cousins were worried about Tulip and just wanted to protect her. I hope you can forgive them.”
“I cannot be angry with any of them for caring about Tulip.”
“Glad you are so understanding,” he said, giving Alex a friendly pat on the back.
“And do not mind John or his brothers if they frown at you. In truth, they like you but are not ready to show it yet. John wanted to spear hot pokers through me when I was first courting Daisy. They all thought I was the vilest, most loathsome creature.”
“Were you?” Alex asked.
He nodded. “But it was only a cover. I was on a dangerous assignment for the Crown. Daisy saw me clearly for who I was and caught hell from everyone for believing in me. That’s a strength in these Farthingale females. They have excellent instincts.”
Which was why Tulip had spent months avoiding him, Alex knew.
But he must have done something right because she had started to thaw toward him over the course of these summer months and now agreed to marry him.
She would have chosen to endure the scandal rather than enter into an unwanted marriage if she still held doubts about him.
“The family came around once the truth was revealed and I was awarded an earldom,” Gabriel continued. “So, you are way ahead of the game in comparison.”
Alex laughed. “That’s comforting.”
As it turned out, titles were not used to address each other throughout the evening.
Despite being an earl, Eloise’s grandson was merely referred to as Gabriel.
Dillie’s husband, the Duke of Edgeware, was merely Ian.
In truth, Alex felt far more comfortable being addressed in this casual manner.
He liked it very much when Tulip called him by his given name, something he should have asked her to do before this evening.
After all, they had shared a kiss and were now betrothed.
Since this dinner party was far more informal than most ton gatherings, he also had the chance to converse with Tulip at length because they were seated beside each other at the dinner table.
“You look nice, Tulip.”
She blushed and glanced down at her gown, a vibrant yellow silk that somehow brought out the lovely blue of her eyes. “Thank you, Alex. So do you.”
He grinned. “Thank you.”
Her hair was styled in an elegant chignon that followed the natural wave of her hair. The style was simple and quite becoming on her.
He debated whether to tell her about his encounter with Harold or the ransacking of his residence.
Ultimately, he decided that she needed to know.
It would not be fair to let her think there were no risks involved in marrying him. Well, she knew very well there were risks because she was more familiar with his relatives than he was.
He had gotten a dose of what worthless hounds these Davenports were just today.
Yes, he needed to be honest with her.
It would crush him to lose her, but she needed to be given the choice to back out of their wedding if this proved to be too much for her.
He waited until they had finished the soup course, a delicate onion broth designed to stimulate the palate, before he brought up the topic.
“Tulip, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said quietly as they watched the main courses being served. Those consisted of fish in a butter and white wine sauce, goose in a plum sauce, and honeyed ham. Roasted potatoes, peas in garlic and lemon, and glazed carrots were the accompaniments.
“Alex, you are frowning. What is wrong?”
He quickly told her all of it, his afternoon encounter with Harold Havers at the tavern across the street from his Bloomsbury apartment and the ransacking of his study.
She appeared genuinely distressed. “Do you think giving them their allowance will keep your cousins quiet?”
“I have no idea. But I do know that without it, they are more likely to turn to desperate measures.”
“Beyond ransacking your study and stealing that one hundred pounds from you?” she remarked with indignation.
“Yes, because actually having to work for their livelihood is out of the question for them. They are gentlemen,” he said, placing derogatory emphasis on the term.
He also told her about his visit with Lady Withnall. “She was the one who urged me to keep them on an allowance.”
Tulip nodded. “It makes sense, I suppose. Do you think they will honor the conditions you imposed on them to stay out of Somerset?”
He winced. “No idea about that either.”
“It was a good idea to include that restriction. Worth a try,” she said with a nod of approval.
He waited for her to say something more, perhaps bring up the matter of their betrothal. He would not blame her if she suggested they put off the wedding or part ways altogether.
To his surprise, she made no mention of either possibility.
He took a deep breath and told her the last of it. “I hired Homer Barrow to keep watch on the Belgravia townhouse and on you, as well.”
Her eyes widened as she stared at him.
She had the softest eyes.
Lovely eyes.
“Do you think I am in danger from your loutish cousins?”
“I don’t know, but I am not about to take any chances. I did not rescue you from Caruthers just to toss you into greater danger.”
“Have you spoken to my uncles about this?”
“No, I wanted to discuss it with you first.”
Her expression softened and she smiled at him. “Alex, thank you. To be honest, you’ve surprised me.”
“How so?”
“I thought it would take a while before you considered sharing your concerns with me. I know how private you are.”
He shook his head and cast her a wry smile. “Julius gave me some advice this afternoon, a lecture on the rules of marriage he thought I sorely needed because I am used to being so much on my own. It isn’t very hard, is it? Confiding in each other. Discussing these problems.”
“Being honest and keeping no secrets from each other? It is rather nice. I hope we do it often.” However, she frowned.
“What is it, Tulip? Are you thinking we ought to end our betrothal?”
She glanced up at him in surprise, if the widening of her eyes was any indication. “No. The more I learn about you, the more I am grateful for your offer of marriage. Do you wish to end it? I seem to be an added burden you do not need at this time.”
“No,” he insisted. “You ease my burden, not add to it. I am happy with my choice of bride and would like to marry you. But John and the Farthingale elders might not feel the same. What will they think once they hear what happened?”
“Must you tell them?”
He sighed. “I think so. They’ll be livid if they learn of it from others…and they will learn of it. Gossip spreads fast around London.”
“That is true.”
He placed a hand over hers. “John’s own daughters gave him fits when making their debuts. Gabriel told me as much.”
Tulip laughed softly. “Oh, yes. I shall tell you all the stories while we ride to Somerset. Poor John and Sophie. I don’t know how they endured all the upheaval and excitement. There seemed to be danger at every turn.”
“Danger? Seriously?”
She nodded. “We’ll have hours to talk within the privacy of your carriage. I’m surprised Lady Withnall did not spill all the stories.”
“She mentioned a few,” he admitted. “She told me about Rose abducting her husband and Laurel almost trampling her husband with her horse.”
“All true,” Tulip said. “I suppose Lady Withnall wanted to provide you with ammunition should the family elders decide this betrothal was a mistake.”
“She seems to think of everything.”
“Because she likes you and has faith in you.” Tulip cast him a determined look. “I will stand by you when you tell them. It is best if we present a united front.”
“Then you are all right with marrying me?”
She nodded.
His heart felt lighter.
It was a ridiculously contented feeling, one he had not experienced before. This ran deeper than the satisfaction he felt when solving a crime.
This realization of no longer being alone in the world scared him and also elated him.
He was going to like having Tulip beside him.
In truth, he was eager to confide in her because she was always going to give him an honest and intelligent opinion.
He thought once more of Julius’s words of advice.
Yes, he fully intended to follow them.
The Davenport aura was a dark one and even his mother, despite loving his father, had felt the need to run away.
He would take it very hard if he ever lost Tulip’s love and support.
Having told Tulip of his concerns, they spent the rest of the meal discussing lighter topics.
After the dessert course, the ladies retreated to Lady Dayne’s parlor for tea and sherry while the men remained at the dinner table enjoying their port and discussing important issues of the day.
He listened with half an ear, for his thoughts remained on Tulip.
“Come outdoors with me a moment,” he said, approaching her as soon as the men had rejoined the ladies.
He felt the need to be alone with her before the party ended, for he intended to talk to John and his brothers about today’s incidents once it did.
Things could get heated between him and her guardians.
If they were going to rescind their consent to the marriage, he wanted a taste of Tulip before they were forced to part.
Not that he meant to forget about marrying her.
He would simply wait the few months until she turned one and twenty, at which time she could decide for herself.
He took her by the hand and led her into Lady Dayne’s garden.
“Oh, no,” Tulip teased. “Another garden at midnight.”
Alex chuckled. “You are quite safe with me.”
“Safe? I hope not.” Her eyes captured the silvery glow of moonlight and sparkled with mirth. “I would much rather be in danger of being kissed by you.”
He laughed and gave her cheek a light caress.
The evening was warm and humid.
A light mist surrounded them as he drew her into the shadows of the lilac trees in Lady Dayne’s garden and placed his arms around her.
The scent of grass and late summer blooms filled the air.
Alex bent toward her, inhaling the lavender scent of her skin that he found irresistible. He brought his lips to her neck and kissed her lightly there.
She tasted so sweet.
“Tulip,” he whispered and brought his mouth down on her soft, plump lips with the desperate urgency of a famished soul.
She seemed to understand his turmoil.
And seemed to hold magic in her response, for she calmed him and at the same time excited him.
Was this real?
Could this last?
Or would their marriage prove cursed and destroy them both?