Page 57 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
Anna inhaled deeply. Her heart was telling her one thing and her mind, another. The result was the feeling of being pulled in two different directions. “Everything is so confusing. Nothing is like I planned it would be. Right now, I feel like I have not seen him in years, not just nine days.”
“Nine days?” Eliza echoed Anna’s words.
“I know,” Anna admitted. “The mere fact that I am keeping count of how many days has passed tells you more than I myself ever could.”
“I understand,” Eliza said tenderly. “I know that feeling.”
It was obvious that she was thinking about something else. Better yet, someone else. Anna knew exactly who it was. She had noticed that Alexander’s steward showed tender affections toward her lady’s maid during the picnic they shared together, and this affection had only been growing ever since.
The man had come on several occasions. Anna’s heart would jump at seeing him, expecting a letter from Alexander, only to realize that his visit was not fueled by duty but rather by passion. However, it seemed things between Eliza and Tom were as tumultuous as things between Anna and Alexander. In any case, this was not the right time to discuss it.
“How about we go out to the garden?” Eliza suggested. “I feel like picking some flowers for the drawing room.”
“Splendid idea!” Anna welcomed the distraction, although she knew every flower would remind her of the picnic they had shared with Alexander and Tom, and the flower he had gifted her.
Anna took her by the hand, and together, the two ladies fled into the sunlight, hoping to leave the darkness behind. But darkness had a way of following one to all places, regardless of whether it was wanted or not.
***
When Tom returned to Alexander’s study later that afternoon, he wore a crestfallen expression, his shoulders slumping with disappointment.
“That bad?” Alexander asked, not even waiting for the response, which was more than obvious. Instead, he went over to the liquor cabinet and poured both of them a glass of scotch. The two men listened to the soothing sounds of the swirling liquid, then the cap being placed back on the crystal decanter. Alexander walked over and handed Tom one of the glasses.
“Thank you,” Tom said, sitting down in the leather chair. Taking a deep breath, he recounted his encounter at the servants’ door of Lady Ravenscroft’s home, where he had become accustomed to visiting. “I went there expecting to be met, as usual, with open arms.
But the welcome I received was exactly the opposite. She didn’t even let me explain. Eliza simply looked at me with disdain and said she did not wish to speak to me again because she, like her mistress, did not know who to trust anymore. Without any more words of explanation, she slammed the door in my face.”
The look of disappointment on the faces of both men was the same. It was obvious that Tom was taking this very hard, and Alexander could sympathize with him, especially due to the fact that he had bade him to go there and face Eliza.
It was obvious Anna was upset, and of course, Eliza had taken her side. That was to be expected. However, her words rang in his ears. Just like her mistress, she didn’t know who she could trust. What did she mean by that?
“I hoped she would at least talk to me,” Tom continued, his voice laced with regret. “But it seems she has judged me without giving me a chance to ask what I wanted or even to explain.”
“I’m sorry, old boy.” Alexander squeezed Tom’s shoulder. “This is all my fault.”
He took a quick, thirsty sip, but it did little to soothe his troubled mind. With a heavy sigh, Alexander pondered the implications of Eliza’s cold reception. He could not escape the realization that his actions had caused more harm than he could have anticipated.
He also knew that repairing the damage would require more than mere words. It would take time and effort to rebuild the trust that had been shattered. But the real question was, would any of them be given the chance to do so?
“No,” Tom suddenly said, with determination in his voice. “This is the fault of that man. We have to find out more about him and who he is working with.”
Alexander grinned. He walked over to his writing table and extracted an open envelope that contained a letter. Actually, an invitation. He handed it to Tom victoriously—a ray of hope in an otherwise dark and endless tunnel.
“It seems you have summoned this invitation by the sheer force of your mind, old boy,” Alexander explained with a smirk. “It arrived an hour after your departure this morning.”
Tom’s eyes widened with eagerness. “You are attending?”
“Of course.” Alexander nodded importantly. “I would not miss it for the world. Truth be told, it is the last place where I want to be, especially in light of everything that is taking place. But as we’ve discussed, there are numerous potential benefits that could await us there.”
Alexander knew this presented an opportunity to not only gather information about Sir Rupert, but also to secure leverage against him through the intricate web of gossip and alliances that permeated high society. Lady Pentor’s gatherings were renowned for their opulence and exclusivity, drawing the most influential figures of the aristocracy under one roof. And that meant much information being shared over glasses of brandy.
As he weighed the pros and cons of attending, leaning to the pros even more now, Alexander’s mind filled with hopeful possibilities. Perhaps he could glean valuable insights into Sir Rupert’s motives and, more importantly, vulnerabilities, or forge alliances with powerful allies who could aid him in his quest. With each passing moment, Alexander was becoming more and more assured that he needed to attend that ball, no matter what.
With a resolute nod, the decision was made. He would attend Lady Pentor’s ball, seizing the chance that had been so serendipitously thrown in his path. He would find out what he needed to know in order to bring this vile man to justice, even if it was the last thing he would do.
Chapter 30
The day of Lady Pentor’s annual ball arrived quickly enough. Composing himself in the carriage, Alexander took several deep breaths. He knew what this would mean. He would be approached by those who knew him as well as those who did not but who still thought they had the right to do so. He would have to greet them, speak to them, as usual. But he needed to remain focused on his goal—finding Sir Rupert.
