A Reason to Rebel (15 page)

“I feel most ungrateful,” Estelle said, “deceiving Lady Crawley in such a monstrous fashion.”

“And your way would have better served your conscience?” He raised his arm to his mother for a last time before putting up the window.

“No, of course not, and I would not have you think I do not appreciate your intervention. It is just that I cannot help regretting the necessity to play her false.”

“Then let us hope that our business might be speedily concluded.”

“Indeed, but if we are so fortunate as to recover my sister I do not see how I can return to Crawley Hall. I shall have Marianne’s welfare to consider as well as my own and can hardly foist another deserving cause upon Lady Crawley.”

“So what do you intend to do?”

“I cannot say with certainty. In fact I own I have not thought that far ahead. Devising a means of discovering Marianne’s whereabouts and taking her to safety has occupied all my thoughts since learning that my father is no longer looking for her.” She paused, nibbling at the end of her gloved index finger, a contemplative expression filtering across her lovely countenance. “Perhaps we are both destined to become governesses after all. We are amply qualified to fulfil such a role thanks to our tenure at Miss Frobisher’s Academy for Young Ladies.”

“I daresay.” Alex chuckled at the vision this conjured up. He glanced out of the window as they approached the outskirts of the village. “I say, look out!” He clasped her shoulder and in one fluid movement pulled her head towards his lap.

“What is it?” The alarm in her voice was apparent even though it was muffled by the close proximity of her lips to his thigh.

“We are passing through the village, past the inn where you father has put up. I can see him talking to his coachman at the archway to the mews. No, no, keep down, he is looking this way.”

“Has he recognized you?”

“He can hardly have failed to do so. But do not be alarmed. He will only have observed me sitting alone inside my carriage.”

Winthrop broke off his conversation with his man and turned to glare at the passing carriage. His features were cold and full of suspicion. He lifted his head to ask a question of the inn’s ostler. Presumably he wanted to know whose carriage it was bowling past them at such a cracking pace. Alex assumed a bored expression and looked straight through the man.

“He will suspect something nonetheless.”

“It will get him nowhere.”

“No, I suppose it will not.” Estelle sounded far from certain as she twisted her head sideways on his thigh, presumably because she found it uncomfortable speaking to the fabric of his breeches. Alex stifled a groan. He was finding it uncomfortable too, but for a very different reason. “But he will now know that you are not at home and will very likely try to gain access to Crawley Hall and to your mother.”

“Pray do not concern yourself. He will not get past the gatehouse. And by now my mother will be in the curricle, on her way to Lady Jacobs’s party, where she will remain until I have returned and can collect her myself.”

“But he will not give up, even then.” Alex could hear renewed anxiety in her voice and had to suppress the almost overwhelming urge to comfort her in the manner which spontaneously sprang to mind. By some extreme effort of will he resisted taking such an improper course, making do with stroking her slender back, soothing her as though she were a fractious child. “He will undoubtedly set about quizzing your staff, or more likely get his man to do so.”

“And what will he discover?” Alex lifted his shoulders. “That I have removed to London, that is all, and there is nothing remarkable about that. I visit the capital on a regular basis.”

“But he might also learn that you were accompanied on your journey by a lady who has been a guest in your house.”

“Perhaps, but only if there is someone in my employ who values his position so little that he is prepared to reveal that information. I have given specific orders that your visit should not be mentioned to anyone and I seriously doubt that those orders will be disobeyed. But even if he does somehow gain that intelligence, what then?”

“Well, he might look for me in your London home.”

“Where he will have no better luck than he did here.” He transferred his attention from her back to the trembling shoulder resting on his knee. “Have courage, Estelle. I know you are fearful of him and I comprehend your anxiety. But take comfort from the fact that he cannot get near you or force you to do anything against your will when you are in my company.”

“And when you are not with me?”

“I shall not leave you unprotected until this matter is resolved.”

“That is not what I meant.” She popped her head up, only for him to push it sharply back down again. The only sounds inside the carriage as they passed through the outskirts of the village were the wheels gliding over the rutted road and Estelle’s anxious breathing.

“It is all right,” he said after a moment or two more during which no words passed between them. “We are beyond the village now and it is safe for you to get up.”

“Thank goodness!” Bonnet askew and face drained of all colour, she lifted her head, her insecurities on plain view as she gazed at him through trusting eyes.

Alex cursed beneath his breath. It was beyond his ability, would likely have been beyond any man’s power, to resist her as she appeared at that moment. Her eyes were wide with anxiety, and he was mesmerized by the sweep of her extravagant lashes as they fluttered to rest against her pale cheeks. The rise and fall of her breast as she struggled to contain her fear only added to his dilemma. To Alex she had never appeared lovelier or more vulnerable. His arm was still resting on her shoulder and he pulled her head against his chest, intent upon reassurance. Her eyes opened wide with surprise and he thought she was about to object. But she made no attempt to evade him. Encouraged, Alex’s free hand moved to set her bonnet straight and then pushed a springy curl behind her ear.

“You worry too much,” he whispered. “It is not at all flattering that you set such little stock by my abilities to protect you.”

“It is not that, it is just that I—”

“Shush, no more talking.”

She was looking directly up at him, her lips plump and so achingly tempting that Alex gave up all efforts at restraint. Slowly, giving her ample opportunity to object, he dropped his head, angling it to avoid colliding with the now straight peak of her bonnet. With infinite gentleness he covered those lips with his own. Savouring the sweet taste of her mouth, he gradually increased the pressure. His body pulsated with desire when he discovered that she did not have the slightest idea how to return his kiss. The knowledge both heartened and infuriated him. Her brute of a husband had clearly not taken the time to allay her very natural fears about her marital responsibilities with soothing preliminaries before forcing himself on her.

All to the good, Alex decided, putting his heart into pleasing her. He teased her lips apart with his tongue and lazily explored the contours of her mouth. As he drew her closer and deepened the kiss she let out a tiny sigh, whether of outrage or pleasure he was not entirely sure at first. But when her arms wound their way round his neck, a feeling of triumph ripped through him. That she was following her instincts and actively seeking to prolong the moment became apparent when she pressed her body more closely against his side. It was a headily sensual gesture underlined with a sinuous grace that left him breathless and aching for more.

Her action, and the sensations that threatened as a direct result, brought Alex to his senses. Disciplining himself to ignore his growing need, he reluctantly lifted his head and released her. Another cry, and this time it was definitely one of protest, passed her lips.

“Better?” He raised a questioning brow as he removed his arm from around her shoulders and settled her back in her seat.

“Is that how you resolve all the problems with the females under your care?”

Alex’s lips quirked. It was too late for her to pretend disinterest. Her cheeks were scarlet. She put up her chin in a belated attempt to appear dignified, looking everywhere except at him. Her response to his kiss had told him far more then she could possibly imagine. He would wager his fortune that she had never before acted so impulsively and was doubtless overwhelmed with guilt for enjoying the experience. She did not yet appreciate that she possessed a passionate nature and was clearly embarrassed by what had passed between them.

And so she was attempting to place the blame at his door, which was indeed where it belonged. It had been most ungentlemanly to impose himself upon her when she was so totally dependent upon his patronage. He should not have given way to his impulses and vowed that he would not do so again.

With considerable difficulty Alex wrenched his mind away from the alluring prospect of awakening her passions and the peculiar effect the prospect was having upon him. He had bedded more women than he could remember. What was so special about this one? He did not know and disciplined himself not to dwell upon the issue. There would be time enough for introspection when they had found her wretched sister.

But then what? It was a question which had cost him much sleep the previous night and one which he had yet to find an answer to.

“We are bound for Ramsgate but that is all I yet know. Tell me more about this callow youth whom your sister developed a
tendre
for and why you anticipate finding them together.”

“Mr. Porter is articled to Nesbit and Jones, the solicitors who took care of Mr. Travis’s business affairs.”

“Yes, so I apprehend.”

“Marianne was staying with me in Hertfordshire, a month or two before Mr. Travis had his accident. Whilst she was there, Mr. Porter called about some business on behalf of his employers. It detained him in Hertfordshire for several nights, which threw him into frequent company with Marianne, since he dined with us each evening. He is an intelligent and engaging young man and it did not harm his cause with Marianne that he is also frightfully good looking.”

“I daresay it did not, but I feel persuaded that your father would not have approved of a mere clerk paying court to your sister.”

“Indeed he would not have. However, he was not there and I did not think there was any harm in it. Marianne almost swooned when she first espied Mr. Porter. I could tell immediately that her partiality for the young man was returned by the way they looked at one another and the excuses they made to be together. I caught the two of them in close conversation several times, conversation that ceased when they noticed my presence. I also found them alone in the summerhouse shortly before he left.”

Alex chuckled at her expression, which failed in its effort to be censorial.

“Very remiss of me, I know. I am unaware how long they had contrived to be alone. I am not much of a chaperone, you see.” She turned dancing hazel eyes in his direction. “And once he had left, Marianne could not stop speaking about him. She whirled around the house saying it was love at first sight—”

“She was that smitten?”

“My sister has a flair for the dramatic. But even so, I thought as you do, at first anyway. I had seen her in love before but her partiality for Mr. Porter did not wane when he left, so I was gradually persuaded that this time it was different. There was an indefinable air about her; about them both when they were together, which was impossible to misinterpret.”

“But you did not encourage her partiality?”

“No, for I knew it was useless. She was determined to wait until Mr. Porter was out of articles and could make a life for them both.”

“They had talked of such matters? It had progressed that far?”

“I believe so, from some of the remarks she subsequently made. I reminded her that she had agreed to marry Mr. Cowper. But she just waved the notion away and said she would find a way to avoid that fate.”

“Which is why Porter’s one-line response to your enquiry after Marianne makes you so sure she must be with him?”

“Quite. As I said before, I could see how taken he was by her. Indeed what man could resist such a jewel? But even if he was not, surely politeness alone would require him to ask why I was seeking her and if there was any way he could be of assistance? I cannot understand it at all,” she said, frowning. “Mr. Porter’s manners are punctilious and his attraction towards Marianne was absolutely genuine, I would stake my life on that. And that is why I cannot accept he would be so unconcerned about her welfare.”

“Which,” said Alex, covering both of her hands with one of his own, “is precisely why we are heading directly to Ramsgate now. Try not to worry. We shall soon have all the answers.”