An Affair Downstairs (23 page)

The Thornes could not have been more welcoming when he appeared at their door. Eve had been instrumental in eliciting the invitation from Sophia for Logan to join the family for Christmas. Suddenly, Eve Thorne had gone from warning him off getting too close to Alice to becoming his greatest champion in winning Alice over. What had changed her mind? She didn't have a bad word to say about Ralston, but he suspected she didn't much like the man. Or, in his bravest dreams, he hoped perhaps Alice had confided something to Eve about her own feelings for him, meaning that he still had the right to believe in the best possible outcome.

“Mr. Kenner.” He clapped his successor on the back. “Let's show you how things are done around here, shall we?”

“I welcome your advice, Mr. Winthrop. Everyone speaks so highly of you. You've been missed.” His brown eyes were wide as a doe caught in the crosshairs.

“But you might be just the breath of fresh air an old estate needs to meet the demands of changing times.” Besides his youth, part of the man's problem might be that he looked generally nervous and not up to the task. Averford was a good sort, but Logan knew him to be exacting and impatient, which probably hadn't helped the new man to catch on. All he needed was a little confidence, and Logan hoped to inspire him. “Let's start in the kitchen. Mrs. Mallows should be preparing baskets for our tenants. We'll check to see how she's progressing.”

Once they were in the kitchen, Mr. Kenner had been temporarily swept aside by some of the staff eager to greet Logan and welcome him back. It was good to know that he had been missed. He'd had no idea he was so beloved a figure while he worked at Thornbrook Park, but perhaps his absence had made them all fonder.

“Here we have the baskets, all prepared.” Mrs. Mallows looked proud of her work, two large baskets stuffed full and trimmed in ribbon. “Mr. Finch will bring them up to Lord Averford shortly.”

“We do this every Christmas? Bring baskets to the tenants?”

“The day of Christmas Eve. What do we have this year, Mrs. Mallows?”

“Venison haunches, a fat goose, a pudding, and some candies and cakes for the children.”

“There's a new family at Tilly Meadow Farm,” Logan explained. “It used to be just Mrs. Dennehy left after her husband passed on, but Captain Thorne…”

“Lord Averford's brother?” Kenner asked.

“Yes. Captain Thorne introduced Mrs. Dennehy to his friends from London, the Coopers, and now they live and work at the farm with Mrs. Dennehy. I understand they have some new lambs. With the addition of extra hands, Mrs. Dennehy has expanded her cheese trade and her revenues.”

“She's reaping sound profits, which is good for us all.” Kenner nodded.

“As long as we keep up our end of the bargain and don't let her buildings fall into disrepair. We helped with some construction and repairs last year, and she bought a new cider press. But there are two baskets. Have we a new tenant at the McGinty place?”

“We do.” Mr. Kenner nodded enthusiastically. “I welcomed him just last week, but I won't say more. Lord Averford was eager to share the news with you.”

“Excellent.” Logan was pleased to know that their work on the old McGinty place had paid off. But he couldn't think of the McGinty house without feeling a flush spread over him.

He could still see Alice leaning over him, the beauty of her pale skin glowing in the firelight, her red hair spilling down her shoulders…The need to see her again overwhelmed him. He had to finish his business with Kenner so he could rejoin the family back upstairs, where he now belonged.

“Mr. Winthrop.” Mrs. Hoyle clapped her hands together at the sight of him, probably the most excited he had seen her in all his years at Thornbrook Park. “How lovely of you to come back to help Cornelius adjust. I hope he's doing a good job of it. I know it has been trying to learn so many new things at once.”

“Cousin”—Cornelius Kenner rolled his eyes—“you must stop treating me like a child.”

Logan had forgotten that Kenner was Hoyle's cousin, and he had more respect for the man for taking the job with his ever-present relative. Logan saw no need to correct her notion as to why he'd actually returned.

“He seems to be fitting right in,” Logan said, to be encouraging. “It's good to see you, Mrs. Hoyle. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas. I'll let you go back to your work.” Mrs. Hoyle left them, and Logan escorted Kenner back upstairs before any other maids or footmen could accost them. Lord Averford met them at the top of the stairs with Mr. Finch.

“There you are,” Averford said. “We're just about to visit the farms. Would you like to come along, Winthrop?”

It depended on Alice. If she was going, he would go as well. But usually, just Lord and Lady Averford went with the estate manager. “I'll let Kenner have the honors this year. You're doing a great job, Mr. Kenner. Keep up the good work.”

“Are you sure? I wanted you to meet the new tenant, Higgins. A good man. He's just about all settled with his wife and new babies, twins. Some people have all the luck.” Averford smiled, clearly good-natured and excited at the prospect of new tenants.

“Perhaps I'll ride on out later. It's Mr. Kenner's turn to enjoy this special part of the holiday season. But I'm glad to hear there will be a new farmer in the area, a welcome addition to our little Thornbrook community. Or your community, as it is. I can't quite get used to the fact that I no longer call it my home.”

“Ah, but you are back where you belong. Enjoying life with your own family at last?”

“Truly, I am. I worried about bringing unnecessary drama to Stratton Place, but enough time has passed that people have forgotten or, at least, no longer bring it up as a regular topic of conversation. I am very glad to be of use to my brother. He's still recuperating from his illness.”

“Well, old man, don't be a stranger. It's not all that far from here, and I hope you'll come back and visit us through the years.”

“I'll try to do that.” He would especially make a point to do it if things went as he hoped with Alice.

“I have a feeling he might be back sooner than expected.” Captain Thorne joined them. Logan had already told Thorne and his wife of his love for Alice and his hope to convince her to marry him. “Eve and I are heading over to visit with the Coopers at Tilly Meadow. Lady Alice is currently cooing over Mina in her pram out in the gardens, if you would like to come have a look. I've created the most beautiful daughter known to mankind, and I'm always at my most delighted when people pay her the proper attention.”

“Admittedly, I'm not much of an authority on babies, but I could probably summon the appropriate compliments on sight.” Logan smiled.

“You too, Brother. And Mr. Kenner. Everyone should be admiring my baby. Finch is sending footmen out with the tenants' baskets. We can meet him out by the cars.”

Logan breathed a sigh of relief to see no sign of Lord Ralston out with Alice, Sophia, Eve, and the baby. Marcus Thorne leaned in to kiss his wife.

“I let the nurse have a rest,” Eve informed her husband. “She might be up late with Mina while we're at Christmas Eve Mass tonight. Alice said she would keep an eye on the baby until we return.”

“Isn't that kind of her? Thank you, dear Alice.” Marcus bowed to her, and Logan felt a ridiculous twinge of jealousy.

He could not forget that Sophia had intended Marcus and Alice to fall in love when she'd first invited her husband's brother to return to Thornbrook Park. But of course, Logan had no need for concern. Alice had professed no interest in Marcus, and it quickly became all too obvious that the man only had eyes for Eve. Now they were married, with a child. Why would Logan be jealous?

“It's my pleasure. Mina and I have so much fun together, don't we?” Alice bounced the baby on her hip, looking so natural that Logan felt another twinge that was far from jealousy. It was more a biological reaction to Alice's proximity. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss her madly. Without the baby present.

At the very least, he had to get closer to her. Being so near and not able to touch her was driving him out of his mind. He crossed the walkway to stand with her, waving as the others got into cars and drove off.

“Will she be going to sleep soon?” he asked. “Perhaps if you put her in the pram? I'm dying to get you alone.”

She stopped bouncing the baby and met his gaze. “She's nowhere near ready for a nap, I think, though I'm no authority on the matter. Besides, it's going to be quite a challenge finding time to be alone with such a houseful. Lord and Lady Holcomb stayed over with Lord Ralston, and Agatha's inside. I suppose we should go in and make sure they're all getting along. Agatha doesn't like Lord Ralston.”

“I knew I loved her. Did the ghosts fill her in on his flaws, or was it something she read in his aura?”

Alice laughed, a sound he hoped to hear for the rest of his life. “I believe she's just going by her instincts. He's dismissive of her free-spirited nature. Lady Holcomb is a bit afraid of Agatha, too, from what I've seen. She might be concerned that Agatha is actually in command of the supernatural instead of merely being in communication.”

“If that were the case, I'm sure we would have a bit more paranormal activity around Thornbrook Park. Agatha would certainly enlist a mischievous poltergeist or two to do her bidding in chasing Lady Holcomb and Lord Ralston away.”

“And Lord Holcomb?” Alice asked

“He's a good sort.” Winthrop shrugged. “He can stay. When we go shooting, he always has a joke, a smile, and a little something extra in his flask to keep the chill off.”

“Aha. If I weren't holding a baby, I would dazzle you with my new skills. I took your advice more seriously to heart, and I had Patrick teach me how to shoot.”

“There's more to it than simply aiming a rifle and…”

“I know.” She placed a hand on his chest, shooting a tremor through him as surely as if she'd pulled a trigger. “I had him show me properly how to load, clean, and shoot a rifle. I can name all the parts. And I hit a target dead center. Only one, but I'm sure I can improve with practice.”

“Alice.” He embraced her, though that meant dodging Mina's sticky grasp. “I'm so proud of you. That took real determination. You can even load?”

She nodded, pride shining in her hazel eyes. “I wanted to check another accomplishment off on my list. And now I have.”

“This list of yours, could I see it sometime? I wonder if there are any more goals I might help you with.”

She nodded. “I have a few I want to add. I realize nothing is written in stone. It's a list that is sure to see changes through the years, as often as I change my mind.”

“I had the impression that you never changed your mind once you made it up.”

“That might have been true in the past, but you've brought out a whole new side of me.” Mina fussed in her arms and reached for Logan, to his surprise. “Look, she wants you. How sweet.”

“She probably thinks I'll be the one to free her from that silly bow in her hair. What were they thinking?” The red bow was barely clinging to her little blond wisps, and she was wrapped in a red bunting to match.

“That it's Christmas, and she's adorable? Here.” Before he could protest, she handed him the baby.

He juggled her until she felt right in his arms. He'd missed out on his nieces Sarah and Laura in all their infancy and toddlerhood. “All right, Mina. If we're to be friends, I must beg you not to spit up on me.”

The baby cooed and resumed with sucking her own fingers.

“You are a natural with her. How long were you with Grace before you fled to Europe?”

“She was about six months old when I left, just a little older than Mina. She was four when I returned for Father's funeral.”

“Do you ever think about having children of your own?”

“I didn't. Not for years. I thought to never have them. I had my well-ordered life and my work, and that was all. And then something happened to change all that. You happened, Alice. But I don't expect to have children. I'm not against the idea, but I'm not resigned to it, either, as some are. I spent too long living my life in a box. I'm out of the box now. I'm learning what it is to live, and I find that spontaneity is part of my brave new world.”

“Mr. Winthrop, spontaneous? Who would believe it?”

“Just about anyone watching me hold a baby right now, I suppose.”

Alice laughed again, and he let the sound wash over him, a balm to his soul.

“This is where you first kissed me,” Alice informed Logan, settling a drowsy Mina into her pram. “Here near the fountain during the ball, with the snow falling down.”

“I remember, but we kissed before that. Don't you remember? When I was coming up the stairs with shears in my hands.”

“Yes, but that time I kissed you. I prefer to consider the time that you took matters into your own hands, right here.”

“It's starting to snow again.” He brushed some flakes from her hair. “If we didn't have the care of an infant, I would take you in my arms and dance with you again. I might be daring enough to kiss you, even with the possibility that your fiancé could be watching from a window. Be warned, I've made sure to hang mistletoe in some out-of-the-way spots.”

“So if you begin to lure me away from the crowd, I should know that I'm in danger of being kissed?”

“Even worse. I'm not sure I can control myself around you, Alice. I might not even need the excuse of mistletoe.”

A thrill coursed through her veins. How she wanted to be in his arms, swept away. “I want you to know that I told Ralston I have no intention of marrying him. I've broken the engagement.”

“That's wonderful news.” He put his arms around her. “I'm happy to hear it, overjoyed if I'm being honest.”

She stared into his midnight eyes and remembered the feeling of drifting away into them, the peace she felt becoming a part of him, even if it was only a hazy dream as she lost consciousness. The euphoria had felt so real, so overwhelming, that it was a wonder she ever woke up again. But looking into his eyes as he stared back at her, she began to feel it again. This time, it was real and not the effects of an injured daze. She loved him.

“I'm happy being with you. What made you decide to come?”

“Being away from you. Thornbrook Park is no longer home. Once you left, I realized that neither is Stratton Place. My home is with you, wherever you are. And that's where I had to spend Christmas.”

“Logan.” She placed a hand on his cheek. “Let's get the baby in out of the snow so we can find a place to be alone.”

They rolled the pram inside, prepared to hand the sleeping baby over to her nurse.

“Ralston didn't take it well,” she confessed as they walked. “He's determined to change my mind.”

“And how does he plan to do that?”

“He wouldn't exactly say how. Why would he?” Alice had some idea, but she didn't want to alarm Winthrop with her suspicions. He'd been on the brink of facing charges over murdering a romantic rival once. There was no need to tempt him to it again.

She knew he wouldn't be capable of it without good reason, but that she suspected Ralston of sedating her might be reason enough. After all, the thought of it made her own blood boil. But first, she had to be sure she was right. Unfortunately, that meant keeping a close watch on Ralston when he was around, a tricky endeavor when she didn't want to give Logan the wrong idea that she had any interest in Ralston.

Inside, the nurse was waiting for them.

“There's my wee charge. I hope she doesn't take ill from the cold.”

“She's well bundled up,” Alice said. “Look, only her little cheeks are red and will undoubtedly be quick to warm.”

The nurse nodded, not quite approvingly. “I'll take her from here.”

Logan and Alice didn't get far before Aunt Agatha, draped in a flowing, royal blue robe trimmed in silver, caught up to them.

“Mr. Winthrop! The veil has lifted. I can see your aura at last.”

“Oh?” He lifted a brow. “And what color might it be?”

“It's a sunny, happy yellow. You have a yellow aura, which goes very well with Alice's orange. Together, you look like a bright sunburst. It reminds me of springtime. What a perfect omen! I do love the spring. It's all about new life. Together, you have new life. You see, Mr. Winthrop? The Ace of Cups was always meant to be yours. New beginnings.”

“I should have never doubted you,” Logan said. “What does this yellow aura reveal about me? Should we be warned?”

“You are prone to leading with your head instead of listening to your heart. You have a tendency to keep to yourself, and you do not suffer fools gladly. But when you love, you love deeply and loyally. I don't know how I didn't see it before, because yellows love to garden and watch things thrive under their care.”

Logan stroked his chin, considering. “Very astute. And what of the orange aura?”

“Oranges are impatient. Their main flaw is a tendency to act first and think later. Capricious!”

Alice blushed. “I think we have that covered, then, Agatha. Thank you.”

Agatha went on. “They are quick to anger, but quick to forgive. But also absolutely charming, nearly impossible to resist. Thoughtful, generous, honest, and genuine. You always know exactly where you stand with an orange.”

“Insightful. This aura reading seems to be quite an accurate science,” Logan said.

“I wouldn't exactly call it a science.” Alice took Logan's hand. “You'll have to excuse us, Agatha. I believe Mr. Winthrop had something to show me down the hall.”

“Of course, my dears. I'm trying to locate Lady Holcomb. I've never met anyone as badly in need of a tarot spread. She is in for a rough time of it if she keeps ignoring warnings from the spirit guides.”

“I'm not sure she's up yet. The Holcombs might be sleeping in to prepare for a late evening with Mass.”

“Perhaps I'll wait in the breakfast room with another of Mrs. Mallows's divine cinnamon twists. Carry on.”

Logan and Alice exchanged glances, watching Agatha drift away as if floating on a cloud.

“I wonder what color her aura is,” Logan asked, after she had gone.

Alice laughed. “Probably all of the colors of the rainbow, or she can summon the one she wants at will.”

They walked through the house as of one mind. Alice didn't have to ask where he led her. The conservatory's double doors were open, beckoning them. He barely waited until they were inside before he tucked her into a corner behind the ficus trees, with the heady scent of orchids all around them, and enveloped her in a kiss. His tongue seared her like a branding iron, marking her as his own.

“I've missed you. God, how I've missed you.” His forehead pressed against hers, his hands ran over her body and slowly gliding up her corseted waist to her breast, then pausing there, his palm flat over her hardening nipple, his thumb grazing the rounded curve through the delicate silk of her blouse. “I need you, Alice.”

“I need you, too.” She caressed his rough cheek, the slow growth of beard scratching her hand and flooding her with desire. She wanted to tug him to the floor and roll atop him, but it was too dangerous. They could be caught. Her hand trailed down his neck to toy with the buttons of his shirt, eager for contact with bare flesh.

He caught her fingers in his hand. “Not here, Alice. Somewhere proper. I want to take you in a bed this time.”

“A bed?” She arched a brow. “You have put me in a mind for anything but proper. And how could we manage it?”

He shook his head. “We might have to test our patience and wait for a more opportune time. I'm willing to wait for you, Alice. I'm willing to do anything for you. I want to give you…”

“The moon?” She didn't mind that he'd confessed to saying the same to another woman. She knew he'd loved Julia, and she knew that he loved her more intensely.

“No, Alice. The entire universe. I want to give you everything.”

“All I need is you. I want you, Logan. Nothing else matters.”

They kissed again, his hand pressed in the curve of her backside, urging her flat up against him. It was how Ralston found them when he walked in.

“I knew the mistletoe was hidden somewhere. It seems some other man has found it before me.” He gestured up to the arch above the doorway. “But you're a bit misplaced. It's over here.”

“Ralston,” she said, breaking the kiss, but not backing away. If she stayed in Logan's arms, he would have a harder time attacking Ralston, and she was certain it might come to blows. She could feel the heat of Logan's anger rising within him, the vein at the side of his neck pulsing furiously. “I'm sorry you've come upon us in a private moment. Perhaps you could leave us alone?”

“Leave you? In the arms of another man?” He walked further into the conservatory. “I assure you that ignoring the situation is the last thing that crosses a gentleman's mind when he find his fiancée in a compromising position.”

“I've told you, Lord Ralston. I will not marry you.”

Ralston shook his head. “It's Harry, darling. Why are you being so formal?”

Alice could feel the tension taking over Logan's body, his muscles turning to steel beneath her fingers. She stepped out of the circle of his arms to stand in front of him, keeping hold of his hand. “Because we're not engaged any longer, Lord Ralston. You know I was mentally impaired when I agreed to the marriage in the first place.”

She admired Logan's restraint in standing back to allow her to try to handle matters with Ralston on her own. She could only imagine how trying it was for him not to throttle the man on the spot.

“‘Love is a serious mental disease.'” Plato, again. Ralston placed his hands over his heart. “And we're all just sick over you, Alice. I can't blame a man for losing his head. Lord and Lady Furbish have sent word of their congratulations, by the bye, on behalf of the family, of course. I daresay Matilda is devastated.”

Alice tried to remain unfazed, but her panic increased when she realized he'd gotten the word out. “She will be overjoyed, then, when I tell her you are back on the marriage mart.”

Now there could only be a scandal, or one of them scrambling to save face. Of course, it would be her. Her family's reputation could be on the line. Logan snapped. She hadn't expected she would be able to hold him back forever.

“How dare you take advantage of a woman and then act as if you had every right? How could you possibly allow word to get out? Have you no honor?” He stepped perilously close to Lord Ralston.

Alice began to look around and calculate how many plants could be irreparably damaged if they should come to blows. Not the lemon trees! She had to get Logan and Ralston out to the parlor, at least. What were a few damaged antiques next to living things that had taken so much of Logan's love and care to grow strong and lush?

“How dare I?” Ralston gave a sharp laugh. “Have I no honor? That's rich coming from the man who had his arms around my fiancée.”

Alice stepped between them. “Why do you insist on being ornery, Ralston? There's no reason to be indignant. Disappointed, perhaps. Embarrassed, most assuredly. When you interrupt a private moment between two other guests in the house, you should know to bow your head and walk away, or at least cough to alert us of your presence. But it's preposterous that you should stand here and claim any rights over me. You know we were never truly engaged. My heart was never in it. And if you believed otherwise, I've taken pains to set you straight.”

“Allow me to set the both of you straight. As far as I'm concerned, I walked in to find my fiancée with her tongue down the throat of another man.” Ralston held up a hand. “Pardon me for being crude, but I could see with my own eyes. And if word gets out of our broken engagement, everyone will know what I saw, and that I am the wounded party.”

Logan dropped his hands, unable to figure Ralston out. “Why would you want to emasculate yourself so, to appear jilted? You could just walk away. Have some pride.” It was both a last chance to reason with the man and an attempt to figure him out. Logan was clearly at a loss.

“Because I am an earl, Mr. Winthrop. Not a simple estate manager. And I get what I want. I want Alice to be my wife, and it will be so—or her reputation and her family's reputation will pay the price. You might have been out of our world long enough to forget, but that's how it works. Reputation is everything.”

Alice poised on the tips of her toes, ready to jump between them again, desperate to avoid a terrible situation. She had no concern for Lord Ralston, who would certainly take the brunt of the blows, but she dreaded Logan putting himself in any situation that might leave him vulnerable to judgment or censure. He had already been deemed a murderer once. The last thing he needed was for people to believe him at it again, over yet another romantic rival. She had no doubt that putting Logan in such a predicament was exactly what Ralston hoped, which was why she felt especially relieved to see Logan drop his arms to his sides and take a step back.

“I feel sorry for you, Ralston,” Logan said. “You don't care who you hurt as long as you get what you want. If that's the way your world works, it's a wonder that any of you want any part of it. You'll never know the meaning of the word ‘honor,' and the reputation you think so highly of will never be worth a damn among the truly righteous.”

Ralston stood speechless. Logan reached for Alice's hand and escorted her from the room.

Alice loved Logan more than she'd ever believed it possible to love.

***

Logan would have felt a great deal better if he knew that his speech had any effect on Ralston. The line had been drawn. Ralston intended to make it difficult for Alice to walk away from her commitment. Pounding the man to a pulp would have been temporarily satisfying, but it wouldn't have made the situation any better. Logan had matured enough to know that violence wasn't the answer to deter men like Ralston.

Upon regaining the power of speech, Ralston would simply have alerted the constable and let the law wreak his revenge. Or he might be the type to hire a band of thugs to take care of the situation his own way in the shadows of night. In any case, attempting to reason with the man was always the best way to go. In the event that Ralston proved unreasonable, as seemed to be the case, they had to find another way.