The Season

"And now it's you ..." he said to Gavin, with venom. "You who inherited the estate, the title ... everything! You, the little brat who received all the love and acceptance that should have been mine!" Lucian's voice was becoming more and more hysterical as he spoke, making Alex wince every time he hit a shrill pitch. "And what of me? Nothing! I was given no title, not even a minor one. I was bequeathed no lands. Instead, when I came of age, it was suggested I join the Navy and go to war to make my fortune. I have no family, except my fellow soldiers from the battlefield. We went to war, where we received no recognition and a pittance of a salary ... and then I came home to discover that my brother had been working at the War Office and turning himself into a legend!"

Alex could feel him coming unhinged; she was keenly aware of his anger and frustration as he continued, "You're no more than a child and now you are the earl? I fought for my country. Saved it! And I received nothing in return. So now I'm taking from you what you value most, because you deserve no more pleasure than your father did. I'm the one who deserves happiness. I'm the one who earned it."

"Earned it?" Gavin asked incredulously, unwittingly pushing his uncle to the breaking point. "How, exactly, did you earn it? By killing your brother? Your flesh and blood?"

"You insolent pup. You don't understand!" Alex felt him remove the pistol from her neck and saw him begin to point it at Gavin. In his anger, he had loosened his grip on her and she had enough space to move, but only to make a single attempt at saving them both.

Without pausing to consider the possibility of failure, Alex lifted her foot and slammed it down on her captor's instep with every ounce of her strength, spinning away from him as he doubled over in pain. She heard the report of the pistol and time stopped as she looked to Gavin, who was rushing forward with a roar, his face the portrait of anger.

He tackled his already off-balance uncle, bringing him to the floor and sending the pistol spinning across the room before landing two quick blows to his face. Alex turned to find something heavy that she could use to subdue Sewell but was interrupted by the door bursting open as the Duke of Worthington and will rushed in, the Baron Montgrave quick on their heels, holding a pistol.

Taking in the scene before them, will and the duke rushed to pull Gavin off his uncle and to restrain the older man, who squealed in protest.

"Montgrave has a pistol!" Alex announced to the room at large, alarmed.

"And thank goodness he does. We might have needed it," Gavin said as he approached her, concern in his eyes. "He's on our side, Alex." Taking her into his arms and running his hands over her extremities to find any wounds she might have incurred, he spoke softly to her, "Are you well ? Did the bullet hit you? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," she said, pulling away from him, embarrassed that he would be touching her so intimately in front of the room full of men. "Our side? He is?"

"Yes, my lady," the baron spoke up, from where he was tying Sewell's wrists behind his back. "You see, I have been working with the War Office to root out a network of French spies operating out of Essex, which we came to believe was related to the earl's death. I also knew Sewell from the war. Even then, he vilified his brother and talked of ruining the Blackmoor name. I never thought he would have the courage to do it, but when I heard from you that he was here, I had a feeling he was involved. Of course, I had no idea that the two situations were related until Lady Vivian told me everything this afternoon."

"But Ella saw you in the gardens at the Salisbury ball ! Discussing the robbery at Blackmoor House! Before it happened!"

"Did she? I am impressed, my lady. My informant and I had no knowledge of our being followed."

"If there is one thing women excel at, Baron, it is eavesdropping. Would you care to explain how you were able to discuss the future?" She still didn't trust this Frenchman.

"In fact, we were discussing the robbery as it was in progress, Lady Alexandra. I left the ball immediately and headed straight for Blackmoor House. Of course, you and Lord Blackmoor were close behind me, so it was he who entered the house, ending Sewell 's search before I was able to do it myself."

Alex turned to Gavin. "But you didn't believe me when I told you about your uncle!"

"No, I didn't." Gavin appeared just as surprised as she was. "And I didn't know any of this either. Although I'm rather unclear about why I wasn't apprised of my uncle's wrongdoings."

"We didn't want to upset you unnecessarily," the duke interjected. "We didn't have any proof of Sewell 's involvement in either of these crimes."

"Until now," Gavin said, retrieving his father's book from where it lay at their feet. "Alex has uncovered everything," he said with pride in his voice, handing the volume to the duke and congratulating Alex with, "Very well done, by the way."

Alex ignored the flash of pleasure she felt at his praise, and turned her questions on the baron, "But I saw you skulking around Blackmoor House!"

"That I am able to answer. You were not supposed to see Montgrave," Gavin interjected as the duke and the baron pulled Sewell to his feet. "You were not supposed to become involved at all . In fact, didn't you promise me that you were going to stay as far away from Sewell hall as possible this weekend?"

She ignored his attempt to redirect her attention, instead exclaiming, "You knew! You knew Montgrave wasn't a threat and let me go on believing he was? You didn't tell me? What else did you know? What else didn't you share? Need I remind you that it was I who found your father's messages, I who uncovered the connection between the espionage and the murder, I who discovered the book here, I who saved your life just moments ago? Where were Bow Street and the baron during all those times?"

"Alex, calm yourself. We decided it was best you not know."

"Who decided?" Alex said shortly, her ire rising.

"Alexandra," her father interrupted, "contrary to what you believe, there are some situations in which young women should not participate."

"Like this one, for example," will added, attempting to be helpful. "Vivi and Ella put everything together as far as what was happening here, but we came to rescue you. They stayed at the manor."

"I rescued us!" Alex protested, meeting Gavin's gaze. "Tel them!"

"Indeed. She did. I have a feeling my uncle might well be nursing a broken foot," he told the duke and baron, who seemed to have little concern for the pain their prisoner might be suffering.

"Truly? well done, Alex," will said, surprised. «Well, in any event, there's a reason we left Vivi and Ella behind."

"We're here!" Ella surprised everyone with her announcement from the doorway as the two entered, out of breath from their race across the heath.

"And we brought the constable!" This from Vivi, who was followed by the portly county constable, who had to pause to take great, heaving breaths and regain his composure before grabbing hold of Sewell and, with the help of the baron, removing him from the room.

Taking in the scene, Ella wrinkled her nose. "Drat. We missed the excitement!"

"It appears we did," Vivi agreed, disappointment in her tone.

"Ah, well . Next time!" Ella brightened.

Alex smiled as the duke and will began to scold her friends, causing Gavin to lean down and whisper in her ear, "I am happy to see you smiling again."

She turned to him. "I remain vexed with you, my lord. I cannot believe you did not tell me about Montgrave!"

"Alex, I will not argue with you. You can be angry if you need to be, but I almost lost you today and there are other things I would prefer to do than spar."

"For example?" Alex asked.

"For example." He wrapped his arms around her again, and her heart began to pound as he continued, "I'd prefer to remind myself that you are safe. And that you are mine."

She smiled up at him. "I am yours, my lord. As much as you are mine."

He clasped her to him, holding her tightly until a throat cleared from across the room, and Alex and Gavin remembered that the

y had an audience.

"Blackmoor," the duke said, his casual tone belying his intent gaze, "perhaps you would like to explain exactly why your arms are wrapped around my daughter?"

twenty-four

Later that evening, Stafford Manor quieted as the guests took to their beds, and Ella, Vivi, and Alex curled up together on a wide, cozy chaise in the manor library where, for the first time that day, they ,were able to discuss the events of the afternoon. They had returned to the house just in time to change and welcome the first unsuspecting guests to the party and had spent the rest of the day and evening entertaining and pretending not to wish they were somewhere else.

Somewhere else, in this case, was with the duke, Blackmoor, will , and the Marquess of Langford, who had holed themselves up in the manor study for the rest of the afternoon and much of the evening, poring through the documents that the former earl had secreted away in A History of Essex. They were still there now, hours later and, as exhausted as she was, Alex refused to go to sleep without hearing their findings. Ella and Vivi, equally curious, had agreed to keep her company.

Alex yawned broadly, relaxing into the seat. "It's hard to believe that everyone who arrived today was completely unaware of what had gone on all morning!"

Vivi stretched, then assumed a similar position on the couch, leaning her head against Alex's shoulder. "It's true. Your mother covered up the missing men extremely well . I just wish she could have covered up our sneaking in a nap. I thought I was going to fall asleep at the supper table this evening."

Ella lay down, placing her head on Alex's lap and saying, "A nap sounds wonderful! I think I’ll take one right now ... wake me when there is news?"

Alex smiled wearily and placed one hand on Ella's shoulder and the other on Vivi's knee, saying, "If nothing else, today taught me that you are the most wonderful friends a girl could ask for. Thank you for ignoring my instructions not to tell my parents about my heading to the hall . I don't know that we would have succeeded in capturing Gavin's uncle without my father, the baron, and will ."

At that moment, the door to the library opened and will entered, looking surprised to find the trio. "I assumed you'd all be asleep!"

Alex straightened and said, "What happened? Are you through?"

"For the time being, yes," he replied. "There's much work to be done, but the earl left remarkably detailed logs of all the illegal activities taking place on Sewell land over the months leading up to his death — he thought someone was smuggling weapons to the French, then information as the war quieted. It appears that the earl had suspected the culprit was Lucian, but only very close to the date of his death."

"Why did he not tell anyone?" Vivi asked, "He was so close to our fathers — they were like brothers to him. They could have helped."

"Pride," will replied. "Desire to protect his family name. Perhaps even a misguided belief that he could protect his brother."

"What about Sewell 's partners?" Ella asked.

"There is enough evidence to incriminate several wealthy Englishmen and a few Frenchmen who have clearly been meeting with Sewell to exchange money for information. We received word from the constable that Sewell has already given up the names of a half dozen of his partners in the hope that he will receive a less severe punishment."

"No matter what he admits, he's still a traitor and a murderer," Vivi said, sounding very much like her father's daughter. "It's difficult to be lenient with such crimes."

"Indeed," will said, relaxing into the large leather chair across from them. "Now, little sister," he said, all owing a teasing tone to enter his voice, "would you care to explain what exactly has happened between you and Blackmoor in the last few weeks?"

Alex leveled him with a frank look. "Not particularly."

"Come now! It's obvious you are ... enamored of each other."

"Is it?" She attempted to appear bored, to little effect. will laughed. "You forget I have known you your entire life, Scamp. I can tell when there is something of import in that lovely head of yours."

She stayed quiet, willing herself not to rise to her brother's bait.

"You also forget," he said in a deceptively casual tone, "that I spent the day with Blackmoor."

Alex sat up straighter, causing Vivi to lose her headrest. She was unable to hide her eagerness. "Did he say something about me? What was it?"

Will laughed, enjoying the power he held over his little sister. "My, my. Is this the same sister who spent much of her time prior to this season expounding on both the irrelevance of men to her future and her marked lack of interest in marriage and the trappings of romance?"

"I didn't say men were irrelevant to my future. That's ridiculous. Nor did I show a lack of interest in romance." She ignored the three sets of eyebrows that rose in a silent yet eloquent response to her statement. "What happened? Was Father difficult with him?"

"I thought you weren't interested in discussing Blackmoor?"

"Oh, William, I do wish you would be quiet if you have nothing to say," Alex growled in irritation, then sat back and said, "I'm not interested. I was merely being conversational."

All three of her companions snorted with laughter. "You cannot honestly think that he'd actually believe that, can you?" Vivi asked before turning to will . "Take pity on her, my lord. Have you never wondered what a girl thought of you?"

"Never." He lied baldly, a broad smile on his face, then pressed on. «Well, I shall simply say that our father and he are currently having a serious conversation."

"What?!" She leaned forward, squashing Ella's head on her lap, causing her friend to cry out and sit up. Alex's "I beg your pardon, Ella" was followed immediately with, "William! What are they talking about?"

"I haven't any idea." will leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. "It seems to me that it would likely have something to do with your inappropriate display this morning."

Alex stood. "Oh, no! Do you think Father is angry? Do you think Gavin is being lectured? Do you think I should go to him?"

"In order: No, I don't think Father is angry. Yes, I do think Gavin is being lectured — that's what Father does, remember? And no, I definitely do not think you should go anywhere near the study while they are locked in there. I think you should sit down and attempt to relax," will said, finally sounding more like the brother she loved and less like the one she wanted to murder.

"You might try lowering your voice as well ," Vivi suggested. "You’ll wake everyone in the house if you keep on like that."

She sat. And lowered her voice. "I'm sorry. I simply ... well , I seem to be rather overly excited."

"Really?" Ella said sarcastically, leaning back on the couch, one hand over her eyes, exhausted, but still managing to elicit a laugh from the others in the room.

"What is it that is amusing you all ?" The voice came from the doorway of the library, drawing the attention of the entire group. Four heads turned toward Blackmoor, who entered with a tired, curious smile on his face.

Alex drank in the sight of him, thoroughly disheveled — somewhere he had lost his waistcoat and his cravat, his blond hair was unruly, falling into his face after hours of his running his fingers through it in concentration, and she could detect the hint of a beard on his face, which he had not shaved since that morning. He had never looked more handsome, more remarkable. She had never wanted to be near him so very much.

His grey gaze fell on her from across the room, and she could feel his inspection as he studied her. She longed for five minutes with a looking glass as she touched her hair nervously, knowing that he was seeing the stray auburn locks that had come loose from her topknot, her tired eyes, her wrinkled dress. Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she looked into his eyes and recognized the intensity there. It was the same emotion she'd seen that afternoon, and the night before. Her breath caught. He loved her.

She was shaken from her reverie by Vivi and Ella, who stood up in unis

on.

"I find myself exhausted," Vivi said, making a show of a wide stretch.

"Indeed. It has been a long day for me as well ," replied Ella, who did not have to fabricate the yawn that followed her words.

They looked to each other with a nod, and then to Will, who was still seated comfortably in his chair. "And you, my lord?" Vivi said politely. "Are you not tired after your long day?"

"No. I find myself feeling rather energized."

Ella and Vivi looked at each other, and Vivi tried again, with a slightly firmer tone, "Perhaps you would feel differently if you found your chamber, my lord."

"I don't think so." The corner of Will 's mouth twitched, betraying his amusement.

"William, you would try the patience of a saint," Vivi said with a smile. "Must I ask you to escort two young women frightened of the dark upstairs?"

He laughed aloud. "You two? Frightened of something? I find that very difficult to believe."

Ella lost her patience with the entire conversation. "Wil , just leave the room. Go wherever you'd like. But give Alex and Blackmoor some peace, please?"

Will winked broadly at her. "Now that's a request to which I cannot help but respond." He stood, waiting for Ella and Vivi to kiss Alex good night, then motioned them to precede him from the room.

When the trio had left, Gavin started across the room to Alex, who felt a sudden wave of nervousness. To cover it up, she said, "We seem to have a connection with libraries in the evening, don't we?"

He paused, cocking his head, contemplating her statement. She loved that about him. He really did think about what she said. Even when it was inane.

And about libraries. "Indeed, we do," he replied finally, joining her on the chaise and taking her hands in his.

"It's interesting, really, when you think that the library isn't a room typically used in the evening, what with the difficulty of reading by candlelight and the high ceilings. They simply devour light usually. Not my parents' libraries, of course, as you can see. They can also be rather drafty but, again, not these.