Page 41 of Her Wicked Duke
Alexander approached her, with his grandmother in tow. “Anne, this is Elizabeth Dunst, my grandmother and the Dowager Duchess of Winsor.”
The Dowager Duchess gave Anne a sharp once-over. Her hand shot out, pinching Anne’s cheeks as she turned her face this way and that. “Hmm, yes. A fine bone structure. That shall be quite important for my great-grandchildren.”
“All right, Grandmother!” Alexander cringed.
Anne giggled as he led his grandmother away, showing her to her seat at the grand dining table, where he introduced her to the Marquess and Marchioness of Angleton. Anne wasn’t sure ifthe three of them had ever met before, but Annette embraced Elizabeth as if they were old friends.
“Please, sit,” Matthew Hatson said.
Everybody took their seats, with Alexander sitting across from Anne, Mary across from Elizabeth, and Lord and Lady Angleton at each end of the table.
“Alexander, we’ve truly missed you,” Annette said, smiling fondly at him, as a mother might. “The Christmases without you these last few years have been quite different. Wouldn’t you agree, Anne?”
“Of course,” Anne replied politely, seeing right through her mother’s games. “It was… nice.”
“Nice tohaveyou here, of course,” Annette clarified.
“I can only hope my grandson didn’t make a blunder of himself!” Elizabeth interjected. “Goodness knows he did in France. I was severely embarrassed.” She held up a crystal glass to the candlelight. “Is this real?”
“I assure you it is,” Matthew answered.
“I have broken several in Alexander’s collection already,” Elizabeth said, much to his horror. “Only in jest, of course. I like to remind him that his wealth is fragile.”
The table fell silent as the Dowager Duchess seemed to amuse herself.
Alexander looked ready to leave, his jaw tight with annoyance.
“Mary, is Patrick not joining us tonight?” Annette asked, breaking the silence. “Had he joined us, it would have been a lovely family gathering. Your Grace, we really do consider Alexander as a family member already, you see.”
“Ah, do you, now? Well, he has a perfectly healthy grandmother right here. I may be old, but I am not useless.” Elizabeth smiled teasingly.
“Oh, I did not mean to offend you?—”
“I’m jesting, Lady Angleton,” Elizabeth assured. “I have heard about the many years you have been there for my grandson. I wish he had been able to come to me for help during those years, but I am grateful nonetheless.”
Annette nodded.
Mary cleared her throat. “Patrick is meeting with some friends at his gentlemen’s club. He sends his regards to everyone.” Her cheeks were pink as if she was embarrassed.
Annette waved a dismissive hand. “He can join us next time.”
As the first course was served—a rich terrine and bread drizzled with olive oil—Matthew began to grumble to himself, and Anne only hoped he held his tongue long enough to get through the dinner.
Her eyes met Alexander’s, and he shrugged discreetly as if to say,We are trying, at least.
As the two sides of the table conversed, Anne couldn’t stop wondering what his reward would be this time.
How and, more importantly,whenhe would want to collect it.
Chapter Thirteen
By the end of the first course, Alexander was questioned by his grandmother, and Annette and Matthew interjected occasionally.
“How is it that you and Lady Anne reconnected?” the Dowager Duchess asked.
“We ran into each other at Lady Angleton’s ball last month,” Alexander answered. “It was quite the surprise.” His lips quirked, and he looked at Anne. “Wasn’t it, Anne?”
She knew he wasn’t talking about the surprise of them meeting again but the surprise of what he had shown her.
