Page 36 of To Tempt a Scandalous Lord
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure there are any number of places you’d prefer to be than here, cleaning up after a gaggle of messy, noisy children.”
Pivoting, Alicia found Niall standing behind her, his mouth a tense line and his dark brows low over his eyes.
She collected her poise as best she could with the heavy load in her hands. “I prefer to be here than any other place I can think of. The play was delightful, the children are delightful, and they have made my daydelightful.”
Niall grunted, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at his boots.
Annoyance clouded her vision. “Has my presence here been an imposition for you?”
He shook his head, his dark hair falling across his brow. “Of course not.”
Alicia sighed. “Why didn’t you invite me then? Did you think I wouldn’t want to be here?”
“I just…” He stopped, snapping his mouth closed. Niall worked his jaw for a moment, then mumbled, “It doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”
“So I am.” After a moment, Alicia released a long sigh. “If you do not mind, my lord, I should deliver these to the kitchen. They grow heavy.”
“I can take them for you,” he said, stepping forward to relieve her of the carefully stacked dishes.
She jerked away. “I don’t need your help.” Belatedly, she added, “But thank you.”
He nodded once, stared at her for a long moment, and then prowled away.
Alicia watched Niall’s retreating back, warring emotions choking her. He seemed irked she was there but wouldn’t say why. Did he honestly believe she wouldn’t want to be involved in his efforts to help orphaned children? Or maybe it wasn’t about her presence at the home at all? But then again, did she really have a right to be frustrated with his lack of forthrightness when she herself was withholding a secret ten times more important? And potentially more destructive?
Huffing a breath, she turned on her heels and headed to the kitchens.
As she placed the dishes on the counter, Alicia felt a presence behind her. Charlotte and Juliana stood there, cautious expressions on their faces.
“We saw Niall speaking with you in the hall. Did he tell you why he didn’t invite you?” the duchess asked.
“He did not,” Alicia said, wiping her hands on a cloth. “He indicated there were probably other places I’d prefer to be than here.”
Juliana rubbed at the spot between her eyes, while Charlotte sighed. “But I suppose he could have simply greeted you and left it at that. Instead he hunted you down to speak with you. I can’t help but think that’s encouraging.”
“You’re a dear for thinking so, but then I know my brother.” Juliana considered Alicia with serious eyes. “He seems determined to keep his distance from you. I wonder why?”
A heavy weight pressed on her as a horrible thought popped into her mind. Was it possible Niall had learned her secret? She hadn’t released any new tracts since the day of the Talbot ball, but she had been working on a draft regarding the child labor legislation. Could he have found it? The possibility left her decidedly nauseated, and she clamped her eyes closed as she steadied herself.
Without a word, Juliana stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. Alicia had never been the demonstrative type, but it was easy to relax into the woman’s warm embrace.
“This marriage is new for both of you, and will take time to adjust to it. Just…just allow him that time. Charlotte and I are united in our belief that my stubborn brother is quite fond of you, but uncertain if he should show it.”
Alicia pulled back to look at her. “Why is that?”
Juliana twisted her mouth, her gaze unfocused for a moment. “Niall’s life here in London is career focused. All his time is occupied with politics and speculating for the Campbell estate, and I believe he likes it that way. Emotions can be messy, and Niall is a neat and orderly type of person. Between us, I think he is afraid to allow himself to consider an actual marriage with you. To do that would mean he’d have to relinquish some of the control he holds so tightly about himself.”
Could that really be it? Was Niall holding her at arm’s length because he feared letting her close? She might not understand her new husband, but wouldn’t his own sister?
And if he did let her close, would he regret it when he learned about her anonymous career?
She needed to do something now, something powerful, so that when she finally told Niall her secret, it would be met with appreciation instead of disdain.
Stepping from Juliana’s arms, Alicia ran a hand down her skirts before she tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “I’ve been thinking about ways that I could be of assistance to Inverray’s campaign, and I believe I’ve come up with a plan.” Sliding her gaze to Charlotte, she raised her brows. “Do you remember the suggestion I made about how to exploit the political tract writer?”
The viscountess gasped. “I do. I thought it was splendid. Have you thought of how you can set the plan into motion?”
Alicia grinned, taking particular delight in Charlotte and Juliana’s interested miens. “Let me share what I’ve been thinking.”
