Chapter Twenty-Four #3
“Frequently,” Alexandra replied. “So decide. If you’d rather I had never come, say so plainly, and I will write to the county for an annulment and be on an eastbound train inside a fortnight.
The children managed before me, and they will manage after.
But I am not going to spend another two months being tolerated. ”
She stopped. Aidan said nothing at all.
With a sound that was perilously close to a growl, Aidan closed the gap between them. His hands reached out and seized her wrists, pulling her to him as his mouth closed over hers, swallowing her small yip of surprise.
He could feel her stiffen.
And then that passed, and she was melting as softly as butter against him. He’d half-expected her to be a wilting flower, as genteel ladies were meant to be in the face of men’s attentions. It was his surprise and delight that she responded eagerly to him, with as much ardor as he felt.
Her wrists slipped free of his hands, and he was prepared to let her go.
She put her palms on his chest, and he braced for the inevitable moment when she would push him away.
Instead, her hands curled tightly into his shirt, pulling him closer in a movement that would have felt threatening coming from anyone else.
I wonder if she’ll ever stop surprising me? Some distant, still-rational part of Aidan’s brain wondered idly.
God, I hope not, his heart answered.
He pulled back suddenly, putting a breath of space between them as they both drew air. They were breathing hard, whether that was from the kiss or their fight, Aidan couldn’t tell. He ran his eyes over Alexandra’s face, curious and hungry to see her all at once.
“Drina,” he said, and it came out of him without permission.
Her eyes were soft and slightly dazed, and her wonderfully round cheeks had pinked up. Her mouth was still open, and he could feel her breath as she tried to compose herself. Aidan knew that he was staring at her, but he couldn’t help himself—he’d never seen someone look so appealing.
Her half-lidded eyes opened wide behind her spectacles, and she pulled back. Though it was only a fraction of an inch, he could feel the loss keenly.
Even so, he loosened his grip on her, holding her steady until he was certain that she could stand on her own.
Subtly, she made an effort to smooth out her cotton bodice. He watched, bemused, as she patted her hair and pushed her spectacles back up on her nose. Aidan couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Then, in a movement so quick he almost thought he imagined it, she put her fingertips to her lips for just the briefest moment. It wasn’t quite a smile, more impish than that, like someone who has done something daring and gotten away with it.
Aidan couldn’t help but grin at her. Glancing up, she caught him smiling and gave him a prim look.
“I don’t know what you’re looking so pleased about,” she said stiffly. “Pawing at me like that where anyone might see? Positively scandalous.” She took a couple of small steps backward, widening the distance between them.
“I didn’t hear you complaining,” Aidan replied, his voice gruffer than usual.
Alexandra sniffed and lifted her chin. “Well. Be that as it may, I do think that there is something that warrants consideration.”
“Yes?” Aidan inquired.
“It seems to me that the best chance for happiness—not just ours, but the children’s as well—would be a future in which we are… more closely aligned,” she said, all logic and reason again.
Aidan grinned at her wolfishly, which she promptly ignored.
“I know that things are difficult between us, and I know that will take work. All I ask is that we consider it.” She paused, then stepped closer, folding her arms over herself. “I know that I have much to learn, but I am keen to do so—I’ve never shied away from learning anything, ever.”
Despite his teasing, Aidan could see that Alexandra was sincere. She hadn’t run from him yet, and something in her drove him absolutely crazy… though he was coming to realize that may not be a bad thing.
She took his silence as a confirmation of sorts; she nodded, then retreated back to the house. Aidan stared after her, wondering about the merits of letting himself love a woman of such contradictions.
It had been clear from the start that this was a marriage of convenience for both of them.
Aidan had never imagined, not even once, what it would be like to actually like his wife, let alone grow to love her.
Those notions came with all sorts of terrifying ropes and weights that would keep him firmly anchored to responsibility and pragmatism.
And yet… it wasn’t an unappealing idea. He could see it, both of them curled up on the sofa before the fire, the children around them. It was warm and familiar, like home.
Aidan shook himself. You’re all aflutter from just one kiss—what would a loving marriage do to you? he thought snidely.
He shrugged to no one and turned back toward the barn, meandering between the corrals.
She only asked me to consider it, that’s all.
It’s not a binding promise of anything. He set himself to work: some fences needed mending, a horse needed delivering to the mine, and one of the mares was showing early signs of founder.
It was strange, then, that he couldn’t stop thinking of Alexandra’s proposal, replacing the shadow of Kevin Black in his thoughts.