Midnight My Love (8 page)

"Then what is bothering you?" Jenny
asked.

"Carlisle is below stairs in the Blue
Saloon. He's waiting for an explanation. He wants to know why
Rochdale is on such intimate terms with me and he will probably
demand an answer to his marriage proposal."

Jenny laughed.
"
Rochdale and you?
Where could Carlisle have gotten such an absurd
notion?"

"It could have been when Rochdale called me
'his love' and kissed my wrists," Alex replied.

"
Kissed your wrists?
" Jenny sat on
the bed. "Alex, you must tell me what has occurred this morning.
Obviously, you've been downstairs already."

"Unfortunately, yes," she said. "I checked
on Robert and he wanted to speak to Rochdale. I was still in my
wrapper, so I went to the stairs and there was Carlisle with fruit
and flowers. Rochdale called me his love and kissed my wrists, and
Carlisle demanded satisfaction. Rochdale enjoyed it all immensely,
I assure you." She lowered her eyes, arranging her combs and
brushes on the tabletop. "How could he have changed so much, Jenny?
Whenever he used to tease and flirt with me, it was always done in
fun. Now, it seems he almost hates me."

"I don't think he hates you," Jenny said
softly.

"Well, I thoroughly
detest
him! And I have a
good mind to go downstairs and accept Carlisle's
proposal."

Jenny watched her friend closely. "I thought
you had already made up your mind to do just that. Didn't we agree
Carlisle is worth ten Rochdales?"

Alexandra nodded as she
rose from the dressing table. "Yes, we did. Rochdale can go hang!
I
will
accept
Carlisle." She gave Jenny a quick hug. "Now hurry and eat your
breakfast. Robert is better, but he still needs someone to sit with
him." She straightened her shoulders and went downstairs to
confront her frustrated suitor.

****

When Alex entered the Blue Saloon, she found
Carlisle pacing back and forth between the tall mullioned windows
that overlooked the ornamental gardens.

Sir Howard stopped abruptly when he
perceived his beloved at the door. "Miss Turlington!" he said in
accents of extreme agitation. "I cannot abide the thought of my
intended living under the same roof as that reprobate! That you
should be subjected to such insolence is beyond anything. I shall
not rest until Rochdale leaves. I will not know a moment's peace
until you are safe from his evil influence!"

Alex felt her bristles
rise and barely refrained from telling him to take a damper. "I
am
not
your
intended, Carlisle. Not yet. As for Rochdale, he was merely
provoking you--deliberately, I might add." She sank into one of the
satin-covered chairs near the windows. "Shall we discuss this more
calmly?" She watched as Carlisle took a seat opposite. "You must
know Rochdale has been everything that's kind in regards to my
brother. He took Robert in when Garrett Fleming brought him to
London. He conveyed him to Willowmede by easy stages, and he's been
up all night nursing Robert through a high fever."

"Miss Turlington," Carlisle protested, "you
cannot expect me to sit idly by and allow a man of Rochdale's
reputation to play with your emotions, to influence you, to take
advantage of your innocence? It's more than a man can bear!"

Carlisle's proclamations were almost more
than she could bear. "You will have to trust I'm beyond the age to
be influenced," Alex said, with what patience she could muster.
"Believe me, I know what Rochdale is. I'm under no misconceptions
about his reputation or his way of life. I despise the man
wholeheartedly. But he is my brother's best friend. And while he is
a guest in this house, I expect him to be treated with courtesy and
respect."

Carlisle knelt beside her chair, taking her
hands in his own. "Miss Turlington--Alexandra--when I saw Rochdale
kiss your wrists, I was stricken with a blinding jealousy. If we
were formally betrothed, even Rochdale would respect your new
status. He wouldn't dare go beyond the line of proper
behavior."

Alex laughed bitterly. "If Rochdale wanted
me, a betrothal wouldn't stop him. This is all nonsense; Rochdale
doesn't want me. He was merely trying to irritate you and he
succeeded. Don't think anymore about it. I've put it out of my
head, I promise you." She gently removed her hands from the
squire's desperate grasp. She wondered why she couldn't feel the
same thrilling sensations she felt when Rochdale held her hands.
Carlisle was a much worthier man.

Not to be deterred, Sir Howard took hold of
her hands again. "When we were in Bath, you promised to give me an
answer to my proposal. I must know soon or go mad," he pleaded.

Something deep inside forbade Alex from
committing herself as she had intended, yet she knew she must reply
somehow. "I need more time before I can give you an answer," she
said softly. "I have a lot on my mind just now. Robert was severely
wounded. He's still feverish. He's lost an arm, Carlisle. Do you
know what that means to a man like my brother? He's going to have
to relearn many things he's always taken for granted." She gave his
hands a quick squeeze, then withdrew her own. "If you truly feel
for me as you say, please allow me more time. I assure you,
Rochdale is no threat."

Sir Howard searched her
face with worried eyes. "I'll take your word about Rochdale, my
dear. Forgive me, I should not have pressed you for an answer today
of all days. Tell me what I can do to help. Let me share
some
of your troubles,
Miss Turlington."

"Thank you," she said. "I
knew I could depend on your good sense. You've already relieved me
of
one
problem,
by bringing those lemons. The doctor said to give Robert plenty of
clear liquids, and lemonade will be just the thing!"

Carlisle prepared to take
his leave. "I'm happy to have been of service, my dear. If you
need
anything
,
please don't hesitate to send word to Bramble Court."

Jenny Sedgewicke sat in Robert's room, busily
plying her needle to her embroidery. This was the fourth afternoon
she had watched over Alex's brother. He was much better. His fever
was gone, though he still slept most of the time.

As Jenny glanced toward the bed, a
tenderness flooded her heart so sweet she thought she might die
from it. She had loved Robert Turlington from the first moment she
had met him, many years ago. She had visited Alexandra's home often
when she and Alex were in school together. She was three years
younger than Alex, yet the age difference had never seemed to
matter. At Miss Fairweather's Select Seminary in Bath, Alex had
taken Jenny under her wing and they became fast friends.

Jenny had been invited to spend holidays at
Willowmede on more than one occasion. Robert was charming and
handsome and her heart was young and susceptible. Even though he
treated her like a sister, she fell in love with her friend's older
brother.

No one suspected her secret. No one knew the
agonies she'd endured when Alex had no word from Robert all spring.
No one was aware of the tears she'd shed when he became betrothed
to the beautiful Lady Felicia Marlow.

Jenny laid her tambour frame aside and
studied the man she loved. At thirty-five, he was more attractive
than ever. Even lying in the bed, he was big and powerful looking.
His hair was wavy and dark, almost black. She had long wanted to
smooth back the errant curl that always fell across his
forehead.

Robert had thick black lashes which most
females would have given their souls to own; his eyes were the same
emerald green as his sister's.

Suddenly, Jenny found herself staring into
those eyes, now regarding her with interest. She felt herself
blush. Robert must think her terribly bold to be gazing at him so
intently.

"Jenny?" he said, his voice raspy with
sleep.

"Yes, it's me," she replied. "I see you're
feeling better this afternoon. Your eyes are clear and your color
is back to normal."

Robert smiled weakly. "Still the practical
Miss Sedgewicke, I see."

"Yes," she said. "Some of us need to be
practical or nothing would get done in this world. Now, it's time
for your medicine."

Robert grimaced. "I don't
want more medicine, my dear. What I do want is some
food--
real
food.
Not the pap I've been served these past few days." He rubbed his
chin with his good hand. "I think I could also do with a
shave."

Jenny smiled. "Excellent. When a man wants a
shave, that's a sure sign he's feeling more the thing." She jumped
up and pulled the bell, then helped Robert to a sitting
position.

He fell back against the pillows. "I'm weak
as a kitten."

Jenny adjusted the coverlet. "That's to be
expected. You probably haven't had a decent meal since you were
wounded. As soon as you eat some of Mrs. Abernathy's good English
fare, you'll be up and about."

Robert turned his head toward the wall. "How
can you bear to look at me? Don't you find it repugnant to be
around a one-armed man?"

Jenny stared at him in
surprise. "I certainly do
not
. You're the same man I've always
known. I hope we're still friends, even though you've been away so
long."

Robert managed another
smile. "We
are
friends, Jenny. I remember your visits to Willowmede. You and
Alex used to tag along wherever I went. We've known one another a
long time, haven't we?"

"Yes, we have," she said, her heart turning
over in the afterglow of his smile. "As for your arm, please try
not to fall into despondency because you've lost it. I know you
find it difficult to accept the loss, but we are all extremely
thankful you're still alive. Alex would be devastated without you.
Remember, you are surrounded by people who love you and want to
help you through this."

Robert's lips tightened into a hard line.
"I'm not certain how one person will take all of this." He seemed
to hesitate. "I'm referring to my fiancée, Lady Felicia Marlow.
She's very young and doesn't deserve to go through life with half a
man."

Jenny lowered her eyes and said softly, "If
she truly loves you, it won't matter."

"Of course it matters," he said irritably.
"She's beautiful and perfect in every way. She will certainly be
repulsed by a man who isn't whole."

"Lady Hamilton wasn't repulsed," Jenny
said.

Robert frowned. "I don't know any Lady
Hamilton."

Gathering up her embroidery, she carefully
explained. "Admiral Nelson's Lady Hamilton. She certainly wasn't
repulsed by his disabilities. In fact, didn't she fall into a dead
faint when they met in Naples, after he was wounded? I believe she
was very happy when her beloved Admiral caught her and held her
close."

Robert grinned. "You'll put me to the blush,
if you continue in this vein. Gently bred young ladies should not
be speaking of the likes of Emma Hamilton."

"I was trying to make a point," she said,
defending her position.

"And the point being?" he asked.

Jenny lifted her chin. "The point is Lady
Hamilton welcomed Nelson with all her heart despite his loss of an
arm. Plus he was blind in one eye. Admiral Nelson did not let his
injuries keep him down. He went on to do great things," she ended
in triumph.

"I wasn't aware you were such an admirer of
Nelson's," Robert said.

Jenny sighed. "You're still not getting the
point. I'm trying to tell you that your loss of an arm shouldn't
matter to Lady Felicia."

Robert looked at her with impatience. "Lady
Felicia cannot be compared to Emma Hamilton. Felicia is young and
extremely sensitive. I intend to call off the engagement."

"Does Lady Felicia know about your
accident?" Jenny asked, tucking her needle and scissors into a silk
holder.

"No. I couldn't bring myself to write to
either her or Alex," he replied shortly.

"Then we must send her a note right away.
She must be sick with worry!"

Alex arrived then, coming into the room and
kissing Robert on the cheek. "Who must be sick with worry?" she
asked, as she felt his forehead.

"Lady Felicia," he replied. "She doesn't
know about my arm. Or lack of."

Alex sat on the bed. "Does she know you were
wounded?"

Robert stared at the wall again. "No, I
didn't write to anyone after the battle."

"Good gracious, Robert! We must let her know
you're alive," Alex said. "I'll post a note immediately. Why don't
we invite Felicia and her father to Willowmede? You're better now,
and by the time they arrive, you'll be up and about."

Robert looked thoughtfully at his sister.
"Yes, that might be best," he said slowly. "We won't tell them I've
lost an arm, merely that I was wounded. When Felicia arrives, we
can break it to her gently. I'll be able to see how she accepts the
news. If she has any reservations, I'll release her from the
engagement."

Alex hugged him. "You'll do what you think
is best. Don't worry, Robert. I'm sure Lady Felicia loves you and
will accept you as you are."

Robert smiled grimly. "I hope you're
right."

"Of course, I'm right. But of first
importance is to get you strong again. Are you hungry, love?"

"I'm starving, to tell the truth," he
said.

"And he wants to be shaved!" Jenny said.
"Isn't that wonderful? I believe he'll be right as rain before we
know it."

Alex smiled. "I'll summon your valet and he
can tend to you. Cook is waiting to prepare anything you like.
Perhaps we can make up the sofa in the drawing room, and you can
sit with us this evening. Staying in bed so long would make anyone
suffer the doldrums."