Emily Hendrickson by The Unexpected Wife Page B

Lord Taunton. There might have been gossip about Alexander in the newspapers, and he certainly was devilishly handsome—putting the chinless Lord Taunton totally in the shade. But the truth of the matter was that he appeared to live up to his reputation—kissing her because he didn’t want an unkissed schoolgirl for a wife! Even were it true, he had promised to behave. Was she afraid he would or wouldn’t do it again?
    She drew her legs up, then wrapped her arms about them, resting her chin on her knees. Could they fool the people of Woodbury? Mrs. Tackley had known the viscount’s grandmama. That was a danger. What other pitfalls lurked in their way she couldn’t imagine, but she guessed she had best discuss the matter with Alexander. He had taken charge yesterday, and without a doubt he would take charge again. Truth be known— and she would never have admitted it to a soul—it was rather good to have another who knew her secret and was to help in one way or another.
    Pansy opened the door, nudging it aside while balancing a tray upon which sat a cup of steaming chocolate and some buttered toast. “Morning,” the maid said with her usual terseness. “Trouble is still here, I see. His man came down for hot water while I was getting your chocolate and toast. Nothin’ but trouble, missy.”
    “You think I do not know that?” Juliet moved to accommodate the tray in her lap and munched toast and sipped hot chocolate in silence while Pansy nattered on about the day to come and what did Miss Juliet intend to wear to the dinner that evening.
    “Not Miss Juliet, Pansy. Madam or my lady. And you must remember it, particularly now that his lordship is here.” Juliet glanced again at the closed door and set the tray aside, the toast forgotten.
    “Your yellow muslin, madam?” Pansy asked with a gloomy manner.
    “That’s better,” Juliet muttered and proceeded to dress for the morning confrontation. That there would be one, she had not the least doubt.
    When she marched down the curving stairs to the ground floor, she searched the area to see if Alexander was around. Then she nearly jumped out of her skin when a voice came from behind her.
    “I am here, and as soon as we have broken our fast, we had better discuss what is to be done.” Alexander joined her, keeping his distance as might be expected from a gentleman whose wife was not quite pleased with him.
    Juliet thought back to various novels she had read. Not one of them dwelt with the problem of an estranged couple. In the future she would ignore all those Gothic books and look for something more helpful.
    Pansy had added a frilled betsy over Juliet’s gown, and Juliet found it very useful to occupy her nervous fingers. It was pointless to try to eat a thing, but she did manage to sip a cup of hot tea. Lord Hawkswood had no such difficulty, it seemed. He loaded his plate and ate a hearty meal, drinking several cups of coffee as well.
    Randall brought in the latest London newspaper, one only four days old, and his lordship hastily scanned the paper for scandalous tattle about Society characters. His twisted smile indicated something amused him.
    “Is there anything of import, my lord?” Juliet ventured to ask.
    He folded the paper and handed it to Juliet by way of reply. It took but moments to spot the item that had caught his eye. “Lord H has disappeared, leaving Miss S in tears and on the hunt,” she read softly. “No need to explain that, I expect.”
    “If you are finished with that tea, perhaps we might have our little discussion now?” He glanced at Randall, who left the room, taking the paper with him.
    Alexander rose to escort his little “wife” to the library. He had figured that the room offered the greatest privacy while affording comfortable chairs in which to sit. He carefully closed the doors behind them when once inside and thoughtfully eyed Juliet.
    She was nervous of him, perhaps afraid of the consequences of her actions—as she