Page 46 of When her Duke Returns
“I had to,” she replied.
Alexander sneered. “What do you want, Mary?” he queried then looked back over the gardens.
The question caught her off-guard. “Nothing at all fromyou. I was looking for Harry.”
“I haven’t seen him.”
“All right.”She stood there for a moment more, unsure why he was treating her with such frigidity or why she could not simply turn away.
“A most joyous engagement to you, then,” she spat and turned to leave. He laughed darkly, and it prickled at her skin. “What’s so funny?”
Before he could answer, the hush of a gown and heels tolled from beside them. Cecelia strode forth with a fresh drink in hand. She was dressed most wonderfully, her hair piled high atop her head in golden swirls.
“It’s you,” she said once she caught sight of Mary, and she came to settle beside Alexander. She tended him his drink, which he took, and then, he pressed a light kiss to her hand.
Mary could hardly believe what she was seeing. “And it’s you.”
“How have you been?” Cecelia asked.
“Fine,” Mary replied, trying her best to look away. “Perfectly fine.”
Cecelia looked to Alexander then. “Mother wants me to speak with the Swiftons for a moment. Supposedly, they have questions about the wedding that just can’t wait, and food will soon make its rounds. Are you coming?”
Alexander shook his head with a smile. “You go on without me.”
“Don’t linger long,” Cecelia warned with a nervous glance toward Mary. Then, she swept up her skirts and hurried back inside.
“Well,” Mary said once the coast was clear. “You both seem rather chummy with one another.” She knew it was not befitting of her to pry, but the sight of them together had sparked her muzzled jealousy.
“Are you here to enact your vengeance, Mary? One ruined engagement celebration for another?” he rasped then seemed taken aback by the rancor of his words.
“Do you truly think so little of me? I am simply answering your call.”
“Not my call.”
“Your grandmother’s, then.”
“Because you have always been so diligent in that regard.”
“Well, youarequite the gentleman!” Mary scoffed and stepped toward him. “Good luck to Miss Stanton, I say!”
“What is that to mean?”
“That I wish her the greatest fortune in dealing with your hysterics, most naturally.”
“Hysterics?” the man laughed back. “That is quite rich! I see you are as impossible as ever.”
Mary scowled in the darkness. “Then I suppose it is grand we are to be rid of one another for good, Your Grace.”
Alexander merely looked at her, his eyes heavy under their lids. How she detested when he acted this way—much the petulant child! She turned to leave with a huff then snapped back around when more wit came to her. “It is quite unkind to antagonize me after everything you have wrought. You have betrayed me and stolen away my dearest friend—”
“So, we are even,” he quipped and looked away. He seemed weaker for their time apart, exasperated even—he had half the face of Alexanderbutnone of his spirit.
“You were never friends with Lord Burkley. Do not pretend to understand what it is I feel, what you have done to me!”
“Done to you? Toyou? Have you forgotten who it is that sparked this madness in the first place? If you had not jumped so readily into another’s arms, if you had allowed yourself more than a week to grieve me, we might be happily wed by now.”
Mary smiled incredulously. “We would never be happily wed, and you know it. You are not man enough for me! Evidently so, if you are satisfied to wed the first girl that comes along!” She knew the words held no kindness nor real meaning for her. Her jealously had turned her tongue venomous, and it made her heart ache.
