Chapter 20 #2
Sensing she was losing ground, Anne changed the subject. “Speaking of siblings, Moreham, is your charming little sister come to town yet? James and I should so enjoy her company for tea, and perhaps a visit to the philosophical society lecture.”
Rafe wondered at this turn of events. Anne had never shown any interest in socializing with Elizabeth; when his sister was younger, Anne had often referred to her as “that mannerless brat.” He smiled.
“I wasn’t aware you and James were interested in philosophy, but I will certainly pass your invitation on to Elizabeth. ”
Anne smiled at Alix. “One of the great pleasures of an old friendship is that we constantly learn new things about one another and find new things to share.”
“I’m sure,” Alix murmured.
“I say,” James said suddenly, “there’s Sudderby. I’ve been meaning to ask him about the gray Ascot’s planning to race at Newmarket next week. If you will excuse us?”
Anne glanced at Rafe. “I will be looking for you to partner me at cards this evening at the Hensford’s.” And without waiting for an answer, she and her brother rode off.
“I can well see why you selected such a charming woman as your prospective bride.” Alix shook her head, watching Anne’s departing back.
Rafe chuckled. “I’ll admit, Anne has a bit of a sharp tongue, but she’s not so bad as all that. I admire her wit and her poise. I think they, and her father’s title, have made other women a bit jealous of her and have made it difficult for her to make friends.”
Alix stared at Rafe for a moment. It never ceased to amaze her how men who were supposed to be the wiser sex could be so obtuse about women. Suddenly wanting to drop the subject of Anne, she smiled. “I suppose you could be right.”
Rafe smiled. “And besides, how could I have known a French hoyden was going to sweep into my life and turn it upside down?”
Alix grinned up at him. “I believe, my lord, that you did the sweeping up. As I recall, I was but helpless bystander.”
He laughed. “I’m beginning to think, my love, that you are never a helpless bystander.”
Anne, Rafe reflected later that evening, could not have chosen a worse partner for cards.
Though she looked quite lovely in her pale yellow gown and was at her most charming, brushing his arm with her hand and whispering amusing tidbits into his ear, his mind was on Alix at the theater with Minton.
He’d always considered Minton to be rather shallow, but he could see, he admitted to himself, how a woman might find his easy chatter amusing.
And he understood that some ladies thought Minton’s blond hair and square jaw quite attractive.
He had no doubt that Minton would find Alix appealing; the minx was irresistible.
He wondered if he could skip the next round and make it to the theater before the play ended.
He glanced at his watch. The thing must be halfway through by now.
Minton was probably fawning all over Alix.
“You wound me, Moreham,” Anne chided, “checking your watch. Have you somewhere else you need to be?”
“I apologize, Lady Anne, my mind was elsewhere.”
She smiled. “I might have guessed. You’ve cost me a small fortune this evening.”
“You should have chosen your partner more carefully. You know I don’t care to gamble.”
“Ah, but I can’t resist the challenge, particularly when the stakes are high.” She gave a mock sigh, then said reprovingly. “I shall let you make up my losses by taking me riding tomorrow afternoon.”
Rafe had intended to take Alix to explore the bookshops around St. Michael’s alley the following afternoon.
She’d mentioned in passing how she missed her books that had been destroyed when she’d fled her home, and he’d thought it might be a pleasant surprise.
And yet, he didn’t know how to extricate himself from Anne’s invitation without appearing rude.
He’d take Alix out the following day, he thought, as he assured Anne he’d be delighted to ride with her.
The next morning over breakfast Rafe discovered a description of Alix’s appearance with Minton in the papers.
Apparently she’d caused quite a stir; the papers were dubbing her the “silver siren.” He’d been unable to make it to the theater.
Anne had somehow anticipated his every effort to escape the card party.
Silver siren. Weren’t sirens the creatures in Greek mythology who lured sailors to their deaths?
His mouth drew up in a tight line as he drummed his fingers on the breakfast tray.
While there was no question his wife was bewitching, he’d be the one drowning her suitors if she didn’t have a care.
After breakfast, he could barely conceal his annoyance with Anne when they met for their ride. He nodded, half-listening to her tale of some mutual friends she had run into in town. His mind kept going back to that article in the paper.
Then he noticed Alix across the park.