Page 40 of To Tempt a Scandalous Lord
He slowly arched a brow.
Smothering a sigh, she thought it best to change the subject. “Ididn’t expect you’d be here today. I was told you’d be at Westminster.”
“After reading the new tract, I thought I’d visit and see how things were faring.”
“As you can see, everything is swell.” Alicia swept her arm over the art project spread before her.
Niall took a step closer, his brow furrowed. “What is it?”
“Mr. Newell has me judging an art competition.” She held up a sketch of aeronautical balloons. “And Mrs. Simpson has already asked for my assistance with the mathematics lesson.”
Niall stared at her for a long moment. “Mathematics?”
“Do you find it hard to believe I could contribute anything to the study of mathematics?” she asked, curling her lip.
“Actually not at all. Considering yourstrategicmind, I assume you weigh the odds for most things.”
“I try to,” she conceded.
“Well, Matthews has not spoken to me since we were last all here, so perhaps your odds were off for that encounter.”
Mortification swept up her spine in a hot wave, leaving her cheeks burning. “I apologize for overstepping.”
“So you’ve said.” Niall wiped a hand down his face. “Yet the damage has been done.”
Her brows knit together. “The viscount is probably in a pique because someone dared to have a different opinion than his own.”
Her husband merely looked at her.
“Come now, Niall. I was not unkind nor disrespectful to Lord Matthews, and yet you seem determined to cast me as a dime novel villain, intent on ruining your political career.”
“It does not become you to be so dramatic, my lady.”
“And it does nothing for your charm to be so spiteful.”
If a thunderstorm could rage indoors, the animosity and frustration that roared between them could have sparked lightning bolts. They glared at each other, each panting with irritation. All her patience went up in a puff of smoke at just the hint of his sneer.
Niall finally backed away. “While I understand you had the best of intentions, I think it would be best if you refrain from visiting here until after the party vote is over.”
“But why?” Alicia shook her head. “I enjoy my visits and can be of assistance. Is my presence here really so unpleasant?”
“Not unpleasant, just bloody distracting!”
Alicia startled, her jaw falling open. He found her distracting? It should have been a compliment to find one’s wife a tempting diversion…but then why were Niall’s hands balled into fists?
She was trying so very hard to atone for her past criticisms of his political moves, and yet her efforts had just given him more to worry about. “I hate this. I hate that all attempts I’ve made to help you have been for naught. Is this some grudge you’re nursing against me?” Alicia sank onto a chair and rubbed her forehead. “We’remarried. It was not your fault and it was certainly not mine. We did what we needed to do to retain our good names. But this rancor that has colored all our interactions as of late is exhausting.”
Niall scrubbed his hand down his face and avoided her eyes. “Just because we’re married doesn’t mean anything has changed. My priority is the leadership race, and there my focus must stay.”
Alicia swallowed convulsively. “I understand. As I’ve said, all I’m trying to do is—”
“Help, yes. But it is not your place to help me in this,” Niall said, effectively ending the discussion.
Silence strangled the air.
Alicia struggled to contain her tears of frustration. She understood that he was stressed, and certainly did not want to add to it, but surely there was a way they could work together instead of him pushing her away.
Niall sighed and looked out the window, his gaze trained on the children queued on the walk for their riding lesson. “Little Windmill has long been my escape from politics and politicians. Where I can spend a simple afternoon with the children, baking biscuits or performing monologues in this parlor.” He turned his head to look at her. “But now thanks to that bloody new tract, my refuge is to be invaded by theton. Mrs. Simpson said she’s received several inquiries about becoming a benefactor, and one gentleman specifically mentioned my leadership bid.”
