Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“It is our anniversary today,” Marco said as they walked around the park, enjoying the sunshine. Alice looked up at him quizzically.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked.
“We have been courting a full week,” Marco said with a smile. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a delicate white handkerchief with lace edging. The letters A.A. were embroidered among the flowers near one corner. Alice stared down at the lovely offering.
“A.A,” Alice whispered, looking up at Marco. “For… Alice Alegria?”
“Indeed,” he said with a soft smile. “Happy Anniversary, Alice dear. How do you feel now our engagement is officially one week old?”
Alice laughed and then covered her laughter with her hand lest she earn censorious looks from any of the matrons present. She folded the handkerchief and tucked it into her pocket.
“I feel fortunate to have such an attentive suitor,” she responded, smiling.
“Suitor? Surely I am more than a suitor. Am I not your fiancé?” Marco asked with a heavy mock frown.
“You are, of course, how easy it is to forget these little details,” Alice chuckled lightly. However, inside, her heart danced, just as it did every time Marco referred to himself as such. She was indeed very lucky that her future husband caused such excitement within her.
“Yes, especially after a whole week,” Marco quipped, tipping his hat to a gentleman who passed. “You would think the idle curiosity of the ton would have ebbed by now.”
Marco was right, of course. Society scrutinized her more than ever since news of her engagement became known.
Alice had never felt the gaze of the ton upon her more.
They eyed every chaste kiss he placed upon her hand and watched every conversation they had closely.
She was always on edge, imagining she saw prying eyes around every corner.
It was even more frustrating because she longed to have Marco touch her as he had done at the opera.
Every time she saw the gleam of desire in his eye, her own rose, and she felt weak.
She hated that they were granted no opportunity to be alone before their wedding.
“They wish to see if we will make a mistake,” Alice said tartly, straightening her shoulders.
She was glad she had worn one of her prettiest, most striking outfits for their walk today.
A dusty rose spencer with white lace trim was open over a sprigged muslin gown of a lighter shade of pink.
Her bonnet had a smaller brim than was the current fashion as she hated to have her vision impeded by her headgear.
The hat was trimmed with a salmon pink ribbon, white lace, and tiny pearls.
She carried a creamy lace parasol to protect her fair skin from the sun's harmful rays.
While she was not wearing the muted pastels of the other unmarried ladies around them, she knew the colors of her attire suited her perfectly.
The dark pink brought out the roses in her pearly cheeks and made her red hair shine.
It was the perfect armor for a battle with the ton.
"The old vultures find nothing so entertaining as watching a couple misstep. "
“Perhaps we could suggest some other sport to entertain them, something more genteel,” Marco mused.
“Yes, perhaps bear-baiting or bare-knuckle boxing would amuse them,” Alice said darkly.
She could not stop herself from scowling at some busybodies nearby who were loudly speaking about her.
Marco burst into laughter, coming to a standstill in the middle of the path.
Garnering a disgruntled grumble from the couple promenading behind them.
“How you make me laugh,” he choked, grinning down at her. Alice felt a flowering of something warm inside her chest. “Tell me, what sort of missteps are they hoping will happen? Do they expect you to trip over your slippers as you walk down the aisle?"
“Oh no, nothing so mundane,” Alice sighed heavily, turning her gaze away from the gossiping ladies with a haughty toss of her hair.
“They want to see if we will be caught in a scandalous embrace on a darkened balcony.
Or expect you to procure a special license so we can be married in haste.
Thus making them believe I have allowed you liberties and proving that I am no better than they thought I was. "
Alice was gratified by the flash of fury she saw in Marco’s eyes at her bitter words.
“Well, we will not give them the satisfaction,” he said softly before lowering his voice to nothing more than a whisper and leaning close to her ear. “Besides, we both know that you would never agree to such improper things, don’t we, Miss Fitzroy?”
Alice’s belly turned over with desire, and for a moment, she could not stop thinking of his fingers between her legs, gently opening her with a soft and delicate touch. Of how strange yet delicious it felt when the tip of his finger slipped inside her.
“Of course not, Mr. Alegria,” she loudly proclaimed, pulling away from him slightly before completely losing her head. Behind them, her mother, who was chaperoning them, conversed with another matron, and smiled at them both. “I am a most virtuous young lady.”
“And I am ever the proper gentleman,” Marco said, inclining his head politely, but Alice saw mischief in his eyes. She longed to be alone with him, if just for a few moments.
“Oh dear, I am sorry to have made you wait, my dears,” Alice's mother gasped as she caught up with them, waving her hand to the lady who had walked in the opposite direction.
“That was Duchess Sinclair. She was most eager to hear of your wedding plans. She had much to say about which flowers you should choose for the ceremony.”
“We did not mind waiting for you, Mother,” Alice said, taking hold of Marcus’ elbow and beginning to walk. “Shall we continue?”
Things between Alice and her mother were not precisely strained, but neither were they entirely at ease.
Neither of them seemed able to forget or move past their frank conversation the night of the opera.
Alice did not know what she could possibly do to repair the rift.
At least her mother seemed besotted with Marco, which helped thaw things a bit.
“Thank you for accompanying us today on our promenade, Mr. Alegria. It has been so good of you to call on us every day,” her mother gushed.
“Think nothing of it, Your Grace. I confess, however, I had a little more planned today than a simple walk,” Marco said, and Alice’s heart leaped at the prospect of spending more time with him.
“My cousin and his wife are coming to my estate to go riding this afternoon, and I had hoped Miss Fitzroy could accompany us.”
When his gaze rested upon her, Alice recognized a familiar flame of desire within his eyes. She knew that challenging stare. Marco was inviting her to sneak away with him, and Alice felt she would expire with unfulfilled lust if she did not go with him.
“May I, Mama, please?” she asked politely, keeping her voice as level as possible under the circumstances. She thought she saw Marco smirking at her demure posture from behind her parasol.
“Well, yes. I suppose it is appropriate since the marchioness and marquess shall also be there." Alice’s mother smiled at him. “And you live so close to the park, Mr. Alegria, that I suppose I might take the carriage home alone.”
“Indeed, Your Grace. Alice and I could walk there. It is a fine day, and no one can object to an engaged couple walking the public street,” Marco said. They had reached the entrance to the park and the spot where the Dowager's carriage was parked. “Unless you would prefer we see you home?”
“Oh, do not concern yourselves with me. I am an old dowager. I do not require an escort home,” Alice’s mother said, waving her hand dismissively. Marco helped her into the carriage. “I hope you both enjoy your ride.”
“Thank you, Mama,” Alice said. They waved as the driver urged the horses on, and the carriage moved out of sight.
“There is no ride planned, is there?” Alice asked archly. A teasing smile on her lips as she again looped her arm through Marco's.
“How perceptive you are, Miss Fitzroy,” he said quietly, chuckling. “Shall we walk?”
They talked of nothing consequential on the quick stroll through the fine streets to his estate. Alice could barely think of anything but the fact that she would be alone with Marco again soon.
A stoic butler bowed them into the front hall when they arrived.
He took Alice's parasol, hat, and jacket without a word, and a footman took Marco's hat.
The men bowed as Marco put a hand on Alice's back and led her down a wide hall that branched off the main staircase.
Before long, they came to a door that brought them into a cozy library.
Alice instantly fell in love with the room.
Burgundy striped silk adorned the walls.
The room was filled with several large bookcases, almost groaning under the weight of countless books.
Comfortable chairs were scattered around the room and in front of a large fireplace.
A massive mahogany desk had pride of place before two large windows that let in copious amounts of sunshine.
“Welcome to my home,” Marco finally said, closing the door behind him and casually resting his back against it.
“It is quite lovely,” Alice said. She could feel Marco’s eyes following her as she slowly walked around the space, taking in the smell of old books, and admiring the artwork.
She stopped in front of a painting that was practically hidden behind the edge of a shelf.
It depicted a nearly naked woman. She was sitting astride a muscular man who was equally unclothed.
The woman's head was thrown back, and her face was fixed in ecstasy.
The man was gripping her hips, his eyes upon the woman, his expression one of intense desire. They were quite clearly making love.