Lady Alexandra's Lover (Sex and the Season #3) - Helen Hardt Page 0,61

and their physical attraction and chemistry was beyond obvious. But what she felt for him went so much further. She felt at one with him—at peace with herself.

And that was a new feeling. She wasn’t sure she was ready for it.

Part of her was broken. Her father had seen to that. Evan deserved better.

She’d never felt guilty about her desire to marry only for money. She would use her husband, and he would use her as well, for the physical necessities of marriage as well as to bear him children. She had plans to be a good wife. She would be by his side at all social gatherings, looking her absolute best and attending to all social graces. She was prepared to be a whore in the bedroom if that was what he required. She would earn her keep, and she would earn it well. The fact that she was broken in some ways wouldn’t matter because she didn’t need her husband’s love, and he would not have hers.

No, she could never be with Evan.

Evan’s eyes, though still clouded with anger, misted. “Are you going to answer me sometime this century?”

Ally hedged. “I’m not sure how to answer you, Evan. I’ve known for some time that I would never marry for love. There are certain things I may never be able to give you, and you deserve everything.”

“I love you, damn it. You are all I want and all I need.”

Ally shook her head. “You only think I’m what you want. We have a good time between the sheets. Don’t mistake that for love.”

Evan scowled. “You honestly think I could mistake sex for love? You ought to know by now that I am by no means inexperienced in the act. I have had many women, and never have I fallen in love with any of them. I courted your cousin, a beauty by anyone’s standards, yet I could not fall in love with her. I’ve never said those words to anyone, Alexandra, and I do not say them lightly. However, it appears that you do.”

Alexandra swallowed. She did not say the words lightly either. But she had made a mistake in saying them, even though they were true—most probably the truest words she’d ever spoken. She could not say them again.

“I intend to marry Mr. Landon,” she said, willing her voice not to shake.

“Then leave my chamber,” Evan said, the words like ice.

She stood. In a white haze, she gathered a linen around her, retrieved her garments, and did as he bid.

* * *

Sophie rose, took a light breakfast, and decided to take a morning walk about the grounds of the estate. Graves had informed her that Evan and Alexandra had gone to London, and the mansion was quiet. But Sophie didn’t mind. She was an introvert by nature, quite content in her own company. Though she missed Ally, she found it nice not to have to make constant chatter with her sister.

Sophie adored her alone time. She could go to the conservatory, play the pianoforte, and sing to her heart’s content, not worrying that anyone other than servants might hear. She could sit on the divan for hours at a time with her nose in Mr. Dickens’s latest book and worry not about being interrupted. Or, like this morning, she could enjoy the crisp morning air, the summer blooms, the light breeze as she walked about the grounds, admiring the greenery and the lushness of the scene.

No one followed her. No one was around to follow her. She smiled and opened her mouth to croon one of her favorite ballads.

She jumped when a hand clamped over her mouth.

“Do not scream, my lady. Do as I say, and you will not be harmed.”

Sophie tensed, terror coursing through her. What was going on? She was alone on the estate, and now, with the stranger’s hand over her mouth, she couldn’t scream. Would anyone have heard her anyway? She was far away from the mansion and the stables. Most of the servants were at either of those two places. She had no choice but to do as her captor bid. She was held so fast that she couldn’t turn to see who he was. Her heart beat quickly, wildly, and her knees threatened to give way. The captor forced her forward, and she took jagged steps for another mile or two before they came to a horse tied to a tree.

Before she could get a look at him, her captor blindfolded her,