Page 79 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
They were speaking of the two burglars who had broken into the house. Alison paid it little attention, even if she wondered if it might be worth mentioning how the men had somehow known that the family would be away at this time. Almost as if they were told in advance.
“I can’t help but wonder why this estate,” Daniel pressed. “I only wished I had managed to get my hands on them.”
“They were probably little more than traveling rogues,” Felix spoke up, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. “Likely taking advantage of the fact that families are known to travel this time of year.”
“Perhaps,” Daniel said curiously.
“It is not worth pondering.” Felix shifted awkwardly and took a rather loud sip of his tea. “That you scared them off is all that matters, and I doubt they will return. There really is nothing else to say on the matter.”
“What of you, Lady Alison?” Lord Pemberton spoke down the table. Alison’s eyes widened and she felt her cheeks flush as all eyes turned to her… Daniel’s included. “Did you recognize the men?”
“No, Lord Pemberton.” She spoke into her chest, refusing to meet her stepfather’s or Daniel’s eyes. “I did not.”
“And why would she?” Felix added, almost sounding angry. “They are likely a hundred miles away by now. Someone else’s problem to deal with.”
Alison frowned at her stepbrother, noting the sharpness of his tone, just as she did the way he took another loud sip of tea while eyeing her with warning. It was almost as if he was upset with her, which was absurd as she had nothing to do with it.
“Yes, you are likely correct,” Lord Pemberton sighed. “Let us just be glad that you were here to foil them. And to rescue Lady Alison, as you told it. Again, we are forever in your debt.”
Daniel cleared his throat. “Think nothing of it.”
Alison made sure to keep her eyes on the table, wanting nothing to do with this conversation. She could feel Daniel glancing at her every few seconds, and how she wanted to look up and scowl at him… or perhaps to look pleadingly upon him because she wanted to knowhowhe could be so cruel.
I wish I knew what I wanted. I want to hate him. I want to be done with him. But it is not nearly that easy, and I fear that things will become harder before they get easier…
For a time after that, conversation turned to small talk. Lord Pemberton asked Daniel how the past two weeks were spent,and Daniel responded with short answers that suggested little was done and that he and Alison had spent hardly any time together.
That hurt to hear. Was he saying such things because he did not wish to revisit the past? Or did he truly think so little of their time spent together? If only she knew.
“I will just be glad when this season is over,” Lord Pemberton sighed as if the weight of the world sat upon his shoulders. “The stress of it all…” A shake of the head. “Not that you have much to concern yourself with,” he chuckled. “No doubt, life is peaceful now that you have the estate all to yourself.”
Alison’s body went rigid, and she could feel the coldness drifting from Daniel. A quick glance and it was confirmed by how steely his expression became.
“It is indeed,” Daniel said without elaboration.
“It won’t be that way forever,” Lord Pemberton chortled. He had a saucer of tea in front of him, and a plate of sweetmeats, and he took a sip and had a nibble. “What of your future? A man your age, do I see a wedding not too far away?”
“Wilson,” Alison’s mother scolded. “That is hardly our business.”
“It is a fair question,” he argued. “I meant nothing by it.”
“Oh, do tell us.” Nerissa sat forward, her elbows on the table, holding Daniel in a dreamy gaze. “Are you… searching for a wife?”
Felix snorted. “Careful, Lord Grayhill, do not give this one even an inch. She will ask for a mile and use it to tie you down.”
Nerissa’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed bright pink. She dropped her elbows, glared ruefully at Felix, and then shrank back into her seat.
“Enough of that,” Lord Pemberton snapped at his children. “Sorry about them, Lord Grayhill. As I said, it has been a long two weeks.”
Daniel said nothing at first.
But Alison could feel him watching her again. She sat with her head bowed, refusing to meet his gaze. Yet his stare burned through her so it was all she could do not to look up.
“I am sorry to disappoint, but as things stand, I have no intention of marrying.” He spoke slowly and carefully, words that felt as if they were directed right at her. “In fact, now feels as good a time as any to say it…” Another painstakingly long pause and Alison’s heart thumped loudly. “But come Christmas morning, you will no longer have to concern yourself with my dreary presence every time you look out your window.”
“What does that mean?” Lord Pemberton asked.
“It means that…” He sighed and out of the corner of her eye, Alison saw his body slinking down in the chair. “For some time now, I have been planning on moving to the Americas on business. Business which I suspect will keep me there indefinitely.”
