Chapter 11 #2
Alice gasped, and her hand shot forward, gripping the edge of the box, the only sign on an otherwise flawless countenance that he was doing anything to her. As he slowly ran his finger down to her opening, the soprano finished her passionate aria, and thunderous applause broke out from the theater.
Underneath the cover of the audience's approval, Marco leaned closer. He asked, "Does this mean you will marry me, Alice?"
“Yes. Yes, Marco, I will,” she said breathlessly. Then she eased her hips forward on her seat, and his index finger slipped slightly inside her.
They both gasped at the shock of the touch. Before Marco could press any further, porters began turning up the lights, signaling the end of the performance. Those around them started shuffling to their feet, their voices blending together as they praised to actors.
Alice swiftly shuffled back in her seat.
Marco reluctantly removed his hand from beneath her skirts, and she smoothed them down, looking remarkably composed, then pulled her glove back on.
Yet he saw a rosy blush that spread from the swells of her breast up to her neck and cheeks and realized she was just as affected as he was.
He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small box.
He carefully opened it and withdrew a magnificent ring.
The oval center diamond was yellow. It was set in gold and surrounded by smaller white diamonds, making the rare gem seem almost amber in the soft light.
He took hold of Alice's left hand and slid the ring onto her fourth finger.
“It is beautiful,” Alice said softly, looking down at her hand.
“I thought of your eyes the moment I saw it,” Marco said, honestly. He had looked at many jewels, but the rare yellow diamond reminded him of the gold flecks in her honey brown eyes, and he knew it was perfect for her.
“You must have been quite confident that I would say yes to have brought this with you,” Alice said softly, smiling as she touched the stone with her finger.
“I would say I was more hopeful than confident, though you might not believe me," Marco replied.
“Strangely enough, I do believe you. Thank you for the lovely ring, Marco. Now you must return me home, so I can tell my mother the news,” Alice said, rising from her seat and looking at Marco expectantly.
“Of course,” Marco said, standing and offering her his arm. As they left the box, they found Beth waiting in the hallway. Her eyes immediately went to where Alice's hand rested on Marco's arm, and she gasped.
“Oh, my lady! What a beautiful ring!” Beth gushed, rushing forward to look at her mistress's hand more closely. Alice blushed softly.
“Thank you, Beth,” she said primly. “It is time we go home so I can inform my mother of my engagement.”
“She will be most pleased, I am sure,” Beth said, eagerly stepping behind her mistress.
The trio took the stairs into the atrium, and Marco noticed how people’s gazes lingered on them.
He saw some lady's eyes widen when they saw Alice's finger newly adorned.
Many immediately ducked their heads behind their fans to gossip.
“People seem to already be speculating about your new ring,” Marco said softly.
“Well, let them. It is not as if their own staid lives are worthy of such gossip," Alice muttered, her voice so tart that Marco smirked to himself. Before he could answer, someone behind them called his name. He turned to see his cousin.
“Hello, Gio. How are you this evening?” Marco asked, shaking his cousin’s hand. Beatrice was smiling at Alice, and they politely curtsied to each other.
“Miss Fitzroy, how lovely to see you. You look stunning in that gown,” Beatrice said, and Marco felt Alice relax slightly beside him.
“It is such a lovely surprise to see you here together,” Giovanni said, giving his cousin a significant wink. Marco decided it would be best to tell his cousin of recent developments before he embarrassed them all with his unsubtle but well-meaning innuendos.
“One that will be repeated often,” Marco said, squeezing Alice’s hand where it rested on his arm. “Alice has just consented to be my wife.”
For a moment, Giovanni and Beatrice gaped at Marco and Alice in astonishment. Then they both burst into life, Beatrice squealing with excitement and Giovanni beginning to laugh with delight.
“Oh my goodness! How wonderful!” Beatrice cried, reaching forward to kiss Marco’s cheek as Giovanni clapped him on the shoulder.
“This is indeed excellent news, cousin,” Giovanni said, although Marco was sure he saw a little reluctance inside his eyes. He wondered if his cousin had some reservations about his choice of bride.
“I am so excited you will become part of the family, Miss Fitzroy. And you must now call me Beatrice as I know we will become as close as sisters,” Beatrice gushed, grasping both of Alice’s hands and admiring her ring.
“Thank you, Beatrice, and you must call me Alice,” Alice said, her voice a little stilted but the smile on her face was completely sincere. Marco felt sure she was not accustomed to such easy acceptance.
Giovanni ushered Marco to the side as the ladies talked and asked, “How on earth did this come about?”
“Later, Gio. I will explain later,” Marco said, not wanting to discuss the situation with Alice standing so near. Before Giovanni could respond, they saw Hackman approaching them, and Marco's stance stiffened, earning an inquisitive look from his cousin.
“My lord, my lady," Hackman drawled, bowing to Giovanni and Beatrice. “Forgive my interruption. When I saw you all here, I had to come over to pay my respects to Miss Fitzroy. I'm sure you all know I was a close personal friend of her father's.”
Hackman’s disdainful eyes drifted over to Marco, and the man barely restrained his sneer.
“Indeed. How attentive of you, Hackman,” Marco said, not even bothering to sound sincere. He could not forgive Hackman for his terrible comments about Alice. He truly had hoped never to lay eyes on the man again.
“Yes, I am ever reverential,” Hackman intoned in a way that said he wished Marco to the devil.
The man's leering eyes swung to Alice. He openly ogled her lewdly, frowning when his gaze fell to the ring on Alice's finger.
“You all seem quite cheerful this evening.
I cannot believe it was the opera that elicited such exuberance. I found it to be subpar, myself."
“While I do not agree with your assessment of the performance,” Marco said.
Although he genuinely had no idea if this was true, as he was too occupied with Alice to notice, he did not like how Hackman disparaged the company's efforts with such insouciance.
He drew Alice to his side before adding, “The excitement arose when I told my cousins that I have just asked Miss Fitzroy to be my wife.”
“Indeed, and I assume you have accepted, Miss Fitzroy?” Hackman asked quietly, his eyes fixed on Alice’s face with an angry look that also contained a hunger that caused Marco's hackles to rise.
“Yes, I have,” she replied stiffly. Hackman smiled broadly, and Marco knew there was no genuine warmth behind it.
“Then I supposed you are to be congratulated, Mr. Alegria, for capturing such a gem. I trust there is no reason to rush to the altar," Hackman all but snarled.
“None at all,” Marco said, bristling at the implication that Alice was being forced to marry him because he had taken her virtue.
Beatrice glared at Hackman on Alice’s behalf.
Giovanni's hands were balled into fists as if trying to keep himself from striking the man.
Hackman smirked, knowing his barb hit home, and turned his attention to Alice.
She clenched her teeth beneath the polite smile she kept painted on her face.
“I do hope you do not come to regret your choice, my dear," Hackman sneered, his eyes drifting dismissively over Marco. “I must tell you that your father would have preferred you to wed just about anyone else."
Marco was overwhelmed with a rage so powerful his vision blackened at the edges.
He longed to strike out, preferably at Hackman's smug face.
Alice must have sensed that his tenuous hold on his emotions was slipping.
She gripped his arm lightly, grounding him enough to stop him from doing something irreparable.
She fixed her golden eyes upon Hackman with derision.
“And I assure you, that fact played no small part in my decision,” Alice said calmly. “Now, we must bid you good evening, sir.”
Hackman’s jaw tightened at the impertinent dismissal.
Still, he gave a neat bow to Alice and turned to take his leave to the others, but not before throwing an angry look toward Marco.
He ignored it, he would not be intimidated by Hackman.
A man who made himself feel bigger by insulting ladies behind their backs.
Instead, he turned and smiled at Alice, proud of how gracefully and skillfully she put Hackman in his place.
Giovanni touched his shoulder just then. His cousin had a serious look on his face, and Marco knew they would need to have a long talk about this evening's events.
“We need to talk, cousin,” Giovanni said quietly, confirming his suspicions. Marco sighed heavily, knowing he could not avoid his questions.
“Allow me to escort my betrothed home. I will come to your house directly after,” he promised, knowing he was in for a deep conversation.