Lady Alexandra's Lover (Sex and the Season #3) - Helen Hardt Page 0,1
he’s not taking you more seriously?”
“Don’t be silly. I haven’t allowed him liberties to get him to propose marriage. I’ve allowed him the liberties because I wanted to.”
“Ally…”
“Have you never been curious, sister dear?”
Sophie’s cheeks reddened. “I’m as curious as anyone, but I know my place.”
“You and Van Arden never…?”
“Of course not!” Sophie said hotly. “Not even a kiss.”
“You’re missing out on life’s pleasures, then.”
“I’ve no interest in—”
“Oh, Sophie, please spare me the self-righteous drivel. You just admitted to curiosity. We’re all interested. Lily and Rose both slept with their husbands before marriage. And while it might have been behavior to expect from Lily, it was not from Rose. Yet she did it.”
“Still, Ally, if it’s marriage you’re after, perhaps you should not have let him have so many liberties.”
“And you think he would have proposed by now if I hadn’t allowed the kissing?”
“I think it’s a distinct possibility.”
Ally rolled her eyes. No man in the world would marry a woman just to get into her drawers. There were places one could go to get that. And with Mr. Landon’s money, he could have as much as he wanted. “I disagree, dear, but it’s quite a moot point. I’ve allowed the liberties, and I can’t take them back. Nor do I want to. I enjoyed it.”
“And now you think to give him the ultimate liberty?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever for?”
Ally smiled deviously. “So you can catch us, of course.”
* * *
Lord Evan Xavier entered his father’s mansion on the Brighton Estate, handing his riding gloves to the butler.
“I trust your ride was pleasant, my lord?”
“Yes, thank you, Graves. Are my stepsisters at home?”
“Ladies Sophie and Alexandra are in the front parlor.”
“Thank you.” Evan turned and headed up the long staircase to the second level, his goal to get as far away from the front parlor as possible. He didn’t want to deal with his stepsisters at the moment, especially Alexandra, who had lately turned into the very bane of his existence.
Their newly wedded parents had left for the continent nearly a month ago, and while they were abroad, the girls were Evan’s responsibility. His father, David, the Earl of Brighton, and his new stepmother, Iris, the girls’ mother, were desperately in love with each other, and Evan didn’t expect them home anytime soon. He normally enjoyed having the estate to himself when his father was away, but now… Well, he was no longer alone.
He found sanctuary in his own suite of rooms on the third level. The girls would never dream of setting foot there. He dismissed Redmond, his valet, and stripped off his riding clothes himself. After cleaning up, he lay on his bed and closed his eyes. Only a bloody hour until dinnertime…
* * *
“Catch you?” Sophie said, her green eyes wide. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Of course not. You catch us, and you tell our new stepfather, the esteemed Earl of Brighton, and he will force Mr. Landon to do right by me.” Ally smiled. The plan was brilliant. No one would think for a moment that her sweet and prudish older sister had made up the tale. And their new stepfather had already proven himself to be vastly overprotective.
“Absolutely not.” Sophie vehemently shook her head. “I’ll not take part in this ridiculous scheme.”
“But you must, Sophie. Everyone will know you’re telling the truth.”
“This is a truth I want no part of. Please reconsider, Ally. You’ll be ruined.”
“Do you think I care about being ruined? I want to be married, and Mr. Landon is my choice.”
“Do you love him?”
“What does that matter?”
“It’s the only thing that matters. Just ask Lily or Rose.”
“Lily and Rose both made fine matches,” Ally said, “and I’m thrilled for them. But I’m not going to wait around forever. I want Mr. Landon.”
“You want his million pounds.”
“I’ve made no secret of that. But I do care for him. He’s kind, and he makes me laugh.”
“But do you love him?”
“Yes, I think I might.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. Ally enjoyed his conversation and his kisses, and she loved him as one might love a friend.
“Then you don’t. Both Lily and Rose say you’ll know when you’re in love with a man.”
“Perhaps Lily and Rose are wrong. Did you ever consider that?”
“No.”
Honestly, Ally hadn’t considered it either. “Then perhaps Mr. Landon is my true love after all, even though I don’t feel the fireworks that Lily and Rose felt. After all, that crone at the Midsummer festival said my true love was closer than I knew.”