Page 46 of In Scandal with the Duke
“Alexander, are you well?” he asked, reaching to steady his friend by taking more of his weight.
Brooks, visibly relieved by James’s arrival, managed a strained smile. “Your Grace, I feared you would be abed,” he said, his voice heavy with relief.
“Help me get him up the stairs to a guest room,” James directed. Together, they maneuvered the unsteady earl up the staircase, supporting him firmly between them.
Once they reached the guest room, James gently helped Alexander onto the bed.
“I will take it from here, Brooks.”
“Very well, Your Grace,” he responded with a nod, giving a respectful bow before exiting the room.
Alexander’s clothes were drenched—whether from rain or some nighttime misadventure, James couldn’t tell. He lay on the bed, barely conscious and completely limp. Concerned for his friend’s comfort, James began by removing Alexander’s boots, setting them aside with athud. He then proceeded to carefully undress him, removing the soaked layers to prevent any risk of chill.
Alexander, now somewhat more aware but still visibly affected by his inebriation, lay back on the bed, his expression a mix of resignation and faint irritation.
“Bloody hell, Minerva, I already told you, it is only one woman I want in this life … even if she will not have me,” Alexander muttered, half to himself and half to James.
“I am not Minerva,” James responded dryly, focusing on getting Alexander out of his wet clothes. “You need to get out of these sodden clothes, or you might catch your damn death.”
Alexander’s gaze shifted down to his own state of undress with a slow, dawning awareness. With a grumble, he managed to peel off the remaining wet garments, his movements clumsy and uncoordinated. Once freed from the clinging fabric, he collapsed back onto the bed, now completely naked.
“Is this about Lady Penelope?” James ventured cautiously, knowing the sensitivity of the topic.
“I do not wish to speak about her,” Alexander replied tightly, his voice holding a sharp edge of pain.
James made a non-committal grunt in response, deciding not to press the matter further. It was well-known among their circle that Alexander harbored a deep, unrequited affection for Lady Penelope. The intensity of his feelings was almost palpable whenever he was near her, his gaze laden with a longing that bordered on scandalous indecency. For her part, Lady Penelope always seemed flustered by his attention, blushing deeply and keeping her distance, which only seemed to fuel Alexander’s want.
James grabbed a towel and attempted to dry his hair.
“You are uncommonly beautiful for a man, Basil, and rumors say you have a ruddy cock and good stamina, but I am not interested in you.”
He chuckled. “Dry your damn hair yourself.”
James placed it aside and pulled a blanket over Alexander to ward off the chill. He watched his friend for a moment, wondering when they all became bloody fools about love. He felt a surge of sympathy for Alexander, understanding the torment of badly wanting someone, an experience James knew only since he met Elizabeth.
“Try to get some rest, Alexander.” James fed some logs into the fire to help his friend stave off the chill of the stormy night. He left the room quietly, closing the door behind him with a softclick, leaving Alexander to the mercies of sleep.
Now, Miss Armstrong, precisely what exactly am I to do about us?
James, never one to dwell on matters he had no immediate answer to, decided to enjoy their time together until she returned to New York.
We are lovers. There is no reason to needlessly complicate matters.And the sharp, unfathomable wrench in his heart was ruthlessly suppressed.
CHAPTER16
For the next two weeks, James enjoyed Elizabeth’s delightful company, and each moment with his lover mocked his resolve to remain indifferent and simply enjoy a pleasurable affair. As he awoke each morning, thoughts of Elizabeth filled his mind, and she remained his final contemplation before drifting off to sleep each night.
There were a few nights when his lover was obliged to attend social events with her mother and aunt, whom she declared held the undying hope she would accept one of the many gentlemen now showering her with attention. Elizabeth remained steadfast that their advances were unwelcome; she, however, accepted a few dances and the flowers delivered to her aunt’s home. James watched it with a mild sort of amusement at the gentlemen tripping over their feet to woo her. He felt a fierce pride in her will and determination to live life and not merely endure it on the whims of others.
On Monday, he took her once again to see fireworks at Vauxhall Gardens. James paid handsomely for the display to last much longer. It had been spectacular, lighting up the night sky with bursts of color that reflected brilliantly in Elizabeth’s wide, delighted eyes. In a moment of unbridled joy, she’d turned to James and kissed him on his lips. The bold move caught the attention of nearby onlookers, causing a stir among the crowd. Some whispered and pointed, amused or scandalized as they were both dressed as gentlemen. Elizabeth merely winked and kissed him again, this time lingering over the caress.
Tuesday, James appeared at another ball, shocking many into whispering. He’d danced with three other ladies before bowing over Elizabeth’s hand and sweeping her into the sensual waltz. He noted how disapproving his mother seemed while his lover’s mother appeared delighted.
Wednesday, James surprised Elizabeth with a private balloon ride. He recalled the awe and longing on her face when she saw a balloon soaring in the air for the very first time. His lover had been astonished when she realized that he arranged for them to go up. She had screamed her joy once they soared in the sky, lifting her hands upward as if reaching for the stars. Elizabeth was fearless, adventurous, and, once again, uncaring of the workers who steered the hot air balloon, for she had walked right into his arms, resting her weight against his chest and watched the night sky with him.
Thursday, he had woken with an eagerness inside that his mother, who called upon him, commented that he seemed different … happier. That night, he accompanied his mother to a smaller soiree, and not surprisingly, Elizabeth was in attendance. James’s heart had pounded from the smile she bestowed when she saw him. James found himself increasingly enchanted by Elizabeth’s vivacity and her fearless embrace of every new experience.
Their meeting on Friday was happenstance. James visited the Royal Observatory and encountered Elizabeth, who was in the presence of her brother. The night they flew in the skies in the hot air balloon, she had expressed a fascination with the stars. The way her face lit up as she peered through the massive telescope, the sound of her laughter as she teased her brother, was a sight that James knew he would remember forever. She asked questions, her curiosity boundless, and her enthusiasm infectious. James found himself drawn into the mysteries of the universe right alongside her. The minx deliberately brushed her hands against his several times, and their ease of camaraderie had clearly left Brandon feeling uncomfortable.
