Sleepily, Alex nodded, getting out of bed before Nick shut the door behind him. He stretched his nude body, his fingertips touching the ceiling, before getting a long nightshirt from a chest and putting it on. He chose his largest, gaudiest wig.
He stopped as he remembered the harrowing experiences of the previous day. First, he’d almost kissed Jess, thereby giving everything away, but, thankfully, Nick had interrupted them. After the wedding, he’d been conscious only of the fact that now Jessica was to be his forever. He’d never experienced such a feeling of possession in his life. He wanted to take her away from the house; he wanted to veil her and keep her completely to himself. He didn’t want others to see or speak to her.
He was afraid that if he got too near her, he just might abduct her, so he’d stayed away from her, not even letting himself stand close enough to smell the fragrance of her hair.
But he’d had to stand there and watch while she danced with man after man. She was his wife but she wasn’t. He couldn’t hold her, couldn’t touch her, had to act tired and uncaring when he wanted to show her how truly energetic he felt.
He’d breathed a sigh of relief when Eleanor took her away, but then his imagination nearly killed him as he thought of what they were doing. Jessica was being prepared for his bed.
He had stayed for hours after Jessica had gone. Everyone else had gone to bed, but Alex had stayed alone in the common room. He had been afraid to have even one drink, one mug of ale, because he had known it might weaken his resolve. He’d told himself that what he was doing was for the good of America and worth his personal agony.
But when he had walked into his bedroom and seen a sleepy-looking, gentle-eyed Jessica in his bed, he’d almost turned traitor. He had known he had to get her out quickly or he’d never be able to control himself.
He had meant to make up to her for his rudeness when he’d come to her as the Raider, but the little she-cat was damned hardheaded. She’d thrown him out without too much misery on her part.
So here he was now, facing another agony. His father wanted to see the newlyweds in Alex’s room. Of course he wanted to see them in bed together. Alex grimaced as he adjusted his wig. His father wanted to make sure his weak-spined son had done his duty by his wife. Alex jammed his fist through the sleeve of the nightshirt. Sayer wouldn’t visit Adam or Kit to see what they had done with their brides. Not his best sons.
Angrily, he opened the door to Jessica’s room.
The sight of her head, just barely visible above the covers, made him forget his father and his country.
Jess turned over and looked up at him. “Alex, what…what are you doing in here?”
The fear in her voice dampened his ardor considerably. He slouched and made his voice whine. “Nick just told me my father is going to visit the newlyweds in their bedchamber. My father wants grandchildren of his own and I’d not like to make him think there was no possibility of them. Would you join me in my bed?” With that he spun about on his bare heel and went back to his own room.
Jessica lay in the bed, blinking after him. For a moment, she’d thought he’d known about the Raider’s visit last night. She was relieved to see that he knew nothing.
She lay still and thought of Alex standing over her. He always looked so much better when he wasn’t wearing one of those absurd coats of his. In fact, watching him walk in that long gown, she couldn’t see his fat legs or his big belly. Odd, but she’d never noticed before what broad shoulders he had.
She jumped out of bed, started toward his room, then on impulse looked at herself in the mirror. She picked up her comb to smooth her hair but then didn’t. Her hair was billowed out about her head and right now her eyes looked bright with anticipation.
She went into Alex’s room.
He was lying there, his belly making a mound under the covers, and looking up at her. She’d never before noticed what thick eyelashes he had.
She smiled at him. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” she asked with a lowered voice.
Alex seemed to hesitate before he pulled back the covers and she climbed in beside him. He stayed on his side of the bed, as far away from her as possible.
She moved around in the bed some. “Alex, I think your bed is much more comfortable than mine.” She turned toward him, but he was lying as stiff as a ship’s mast, his eyes on the ceiling.
“I guess we should pretend to be the loving couple.” She moved her body next to his, but if anything, Alex grew stiffer. She raised on one elbow. “Alex, you aren’t a bad-looking man at all.” She put her finger to his cheek. “Remember the time you held the pistols on Pitman and saved our house from being burned? You were very brave that night.”
Alex kept his arms to his sides and didn’t look at her.
She moved near him so her body was pressed against his. “Alex,” she said softly, running her finger along his chin, “you’ve been awfully good to me and my family. You know, it’s amazing, but in this light you look almost as handsome as your brothers.”
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “I knew that would get some reaction from you,” she laughed and then listened as she heard voices outside the door. Alex didn’t move.
&
nbsp; “Here,” she cried, “put your arm around me. At least pretend that we’re married.”
Woodenly, Alex obeyed her. Jess curved herself into his body, putting her knee across his stomach. She snuggled against him and thought how solid he felt, how big his shoulders were, how hard his thighs and soft his stomach. She sighed contentedly.
When the knock came on the door, she didn’t hear it and when Alex answered it, his voice cracked.
Nick entered the room carrying the emaciated Sayer. Alex’s father had aged many years in the short time since his accident.