Caroline (32 page)

His words stung her with the force of a physical blow, and she was horribly conscious of the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"You are insufferable!" she choked. "How can you be so unfair? So cruel? Why will you not trust me or believe me?"

Alec watched her with keen eyes, and it seemed for a moment that she would strike him in her angry frustration. When he reached out to pull her against him, she struggled in his arms, but his grip was unbreakable. He turned her over on her back, pressing her into the pillows and rolling on top of her to pin her down. Salty tears ran from the corners of her eyes down across her temples and into her hair as she squirmed beneath him.

"That's enough, you little hellion," he told her with a soft laugh. "I believe you."

Gently, he kissed away her tears and her body grew still. When his lips grazed hers, she hungrily sought them in a kiss that left her weak with desire. Alec could feel her body arching against his and for a moment he paused, his face dark and finely chiseled as he gazed down at her. White teeth gleamed in the shadows as he murmured:

"Perhaps this marriage will not be such a bad arrangement after all."

* * *

Noon had come and gone the next day when Caro finally woke up. One of Alec's lean-muscled arms was draped across her hip, his face touching her breasts. For a moment, she laid her cheek against his shining raven hair in utter contentment.

"Alec," she whispered, "wake up."

When he stirred, muscles moved down the length of his tanned body.

"Christ," he muttered, narrowing his eyes against the sunlight that flooded the room. "It must be late."

After raising his head to kiss her lingeringly, he got up and stretched.

"I could use a bath," he declared, running a hand through his hair. "Would you like to join me?"

Caro blushed and Alec threw back his head and laughed. "You can contradict yourself in the most humorous ways,
cherie!"

Shrugging into a dark-blue dressing gown, he stuck his head out the door and unceremoniously called for Pierre. Minutes later, a hot bath was waiting for them in Caro's room and Alec lifted her into it, raising a mocking black brow at her shy smile when he joined her.

Afterward, he chose for her a simple gown of damask rose velvet that highlighted her glowing complexion. Caro watched him shave and dress as she drank her tea, and then he escorted her downstairs. The servants watched them with discreet curiosity as they breakfasted at nearly two o'clock. Caro found herself bantering with Alec with all the ease and enjoyment of their early acquaintance. He watched her consume an enormous amount of food, commenting drily:

"Take care or soon you won't fit in that chair."

When she smiled saucily at him between bites of her warm cranberry muffin, he could not repress an exasperated grin.

"I can see you will be quite unmanageable."

"Alec, if the day ever comes when you cannot manage me it will be a tremendous shock!" she replied honestly.

Pierre appeared in the doorway to announce, "Madame, m'sieur, your carriage is waiting."

Alec looked at his wife, eyes twinkling. "You'd better gobble down that muffin. I fear I must wrench you from the table."

"You are abominably rude, sir!" Caro laughed as he pulled out her chair. Turning to Pierre, she inquired, "Why don't you endeavor to teach this brute some manners, Pierre?"

He smiled cheerfully, then joked, "That is your task now, madame."

Alec threw back his handsome head and laughed with delight.
"Touché!"

* * *

At Alec's request, Parson Brown had visited the Beauvisage house after the wedding to explain Caro's absence. It happened that Nicholai had arrived there for luncheon, sporting a dark bruise on his left cheekbone. The parson delivered his message with great courtesy, but declined to elaborate.

"Major Beauvisage asked that I inform you that he and his wife will call here tomorrow. I believe that they wish to be alone today."

Natalya was frantic with curiosity, while Nicholai, strained and pale, insisted on going to Belle Maison. Jean-Philippe took his arm to restrain him while Antonia watched her son with concern. Katya seemed to be the only person who felt like celebrating the news, declaring that she was delighted to have Caro as a sister.

The next day, Nicholai arrived at the house on Third Street before breakfast and the whole family settled down to wait nervously for the newlyweds' arrival. Only Jean-Philippe appeared unaffected by all the excitement, though he did remain at home all day.

Everyone was understandably overwrought by mid-afternoon, and when Alec's carriage was sighted on the street at close to three o'clock Natalya nearly screamed the alert. With an effort, Antonia and Jean-Philippe persuaded their children to sit down in the parlor and refrain from making a scene. The parents went to the door to welcome Alec and Caro.

Antonia had been confused by Parson Brown's startling news, but somehow not surprised. In the back of her mind she had sensed that Caro was in love with Alec, but it had been a worry to her, for she knew her son and his past only too well. She was seeing them together now for the first time, and Caro's radiance was apparent even from a distance as she smiled up at Alec. Antonia was heartened by the affectionate expression on his face and the way he kept a protective arm around his bride's waist. Somehow she had sensed that Caro's early disappearance from the ball was linked to Alec's bad temper and Nicholai's bruise, and now with this newest development she was more certain than ever.

As Caro ran up the steps to hug her, Antonia felt she was seeing an entirely different girl. Where before she had seemed sad, with suffering in her large eyes, her beauty was now comparable to a perfect rose in full bloom. Her skin glowed, her eyes sparkled, and even her hair seemed more lustrous. Antonia embraced her with sincere affection.

"I couldn't be happier, Caroline."

"Nor could I, Antonia," the new bride exclaimed.

To Caro, Jean-Philippe appeared altered. Where previously all the qualities he shared with Alec had been painful reminders, they now served to make him an extremely special person in her eyes. He seemed pleasantly startled by her friendly smile and warm embrace, but lost no time in hugging her back and offering his best wishes.

Alec remained his usual roguish self, his turquoise eyes careless yet watchful as they followed Caro. From the beginning he coolly dismissed the suddenness of their marriage, smilingly explaining that he had been overcome by the realization of true love. Antonia did not believe it any more than Natalya or Nicholai did, but she did sense the strong currents of emotion that flowed between her son and his new wife.

He plays at nonchalance, she thought, but he cannot take his eyes off her.

Nicholai seemed a changed person as he stared coldly across the room at Alec and Caro. All the gaiety and sparkle were gone from his eyes, and yet even now his wounds were beginning to heal. Watching him, Antonia knew that it was not part of the Beauvisage makeup to remain unhappy for long, and Nicholai had always been the most light-hearted and fun-loving of all her children.

"He will make a fast recovery," she whispered to Jean-Philippe. "Perhaps I should ask Mary Armstrong to dinner...."

Natalya, for her part, was having an inner conflict between her feelings of betrayal and her curiosity. At last, inquisitiveness got the better of her and she began to bombard Caro with questions which Alec neatly parried.

"There is really nothing to tell, dear sister," he said carelessly. "I simply decided that I wanted to marry Caro and, once the decision was made, we were overcome by impatience."

"That's right," Caro added firmly, suppressing a bubble of laughter that rose in her throat.

"But Caro was here eating breakfast yesterday morning!" Natalya argued. "She only went out for a walk! How could-"

"Do not pry so," Antonia admonished, winning a broad smile from Alec. "You surely can leave them a few lovers' secrets!"

"Honestly, Caro," Natalya declared in annoyance, "I wouldn't be surprised if Sacha has known all this time that you loved him. You two were probably carrying on secretly when all the while I thought your heart was breaking!"

Caro flushed hotly. "Do be quiet!"

"On the contrary," grinned Alec, squeezing his wife's hand. "I find this new turn in the conversation quite enlightening!"

She pushed at him playfully and he laughed out loud at her embarrassment.

"Surely you want me to know everything about you, dear wife? I believe that a lengthy
tête-à-tête
with my sweet sister would be quite educational!"

At that moment tea and cakes were served, and to Caro's great relief the subject was changed. Jean-Philippe began to discuss the shipping trade with his sons while Caro sipped her tea, happy merely to feel the hard pressure of Alec's arm against hers.

After a few minutes, Antonia exclaimed, "Sacha, through all of this excitement we have neglected to ask about your meeting with General Washington! Do tell us about it!"

"
Mon Dieu!"
echoed Jean-Philippe. "How could we have forgotten that?"

Alec laughed. "I am not sure it was worth the ride, considering I had less than a dozen hours' sleep in four nights. I do not suppose that Washington would have been pleased with my absence, however, and it was a good opportunity to say a last farewell to many close friends."

"Everyone was there, then?" inquired his father, leaning forward in his chair.

"Every officer who was close to him, except Lafayette. I suppose it was worth a great deal to me just to see them all at once, for it was a sad occasion. We all met at Fraunces Tavern and drank together a last time. Washington had no speech prepared, but his words were eloquent all the same, and I'll confess that many of us wept by the time we joined in that final toast. The general bade each of us come and take him by the hand—Henry Knox went first and they threw their arms about each other...."

"You and your comrades shared a great deal," offered Antonia in a low voice.

"Yes," Alec agreed, his tone bittersweet. "More than men should be expected to endure, I suppose. Perhaps that's the reason for the strength of the bonds we formed during those years."

"What did General Washington say to you?" Katya asked.

"Nothing. I believe we were all past words. But his eyes were filled with tears—a most affecting sight, let me assure you."

"Has Washington departed for Mount Vernon?"

"No. In fact, I believe he is en route to Philadelphia even now. He mentioned that Annapolis is his eventual destination—he must return his commission, you know. As a matter of fact, he is worried that he may even have to forego Christmas at home, for he cannot leave Annapolis until at least the twenty-third."

Jean-Philippe raised an eyebrow. "I cannot conceive of the general not reaching Mount Vernon by Christmas Day if that is his wish."

"No doubt you are right," Alec agreed.

As tempting aromas began to drift out from Mrs. Reeves's kitchen, Antonia eyed the couple hopefully. "You must stay for dinner. We still have so much to talk about!"

Alec looked at Caro, his eyes resting on the sweet curve of her neck.

"Alas, Maman, we have already made our plans for the evening. I beg your indulgence."

Natalya and Katya voiced their emphatic disappointment, but Nicholai looked relieved as his brother rose.

Dusk was gathering as they said their good-byes and departed for Belle Maison. Caro loved the cozy interior of the carriage, her heart quickening as Alec settled himself beside her and encircled her with one arm, drawing her near to him. As they set off, however, his eyes were on the buildings that they passed, sharply alert as though he were looking for something Caro was not quite brave enough yet to try and gain his attention, so she merely rested her head against his shoulder and waited for him to speak.

They were passing a small dark alley between Arch and Race streets when Alec suddenly thrust her away from him, calling to Maurice to stop immediately. Leaping lightly to the street, he disappeared into the shadows, and Caro could faintly discern the form of another man running ahead of him. Panic and fear consumed her as she began to descend from the carriage to follow her husband. Maurice was at her side immediately, warning her in agitated French that she must not take another step. After pushing her back inside the coach, he also broke into a run, following his master.

Only a minute passed before Maurice returned, opening the door to speak to Caro. "It is all right, Madame," he said in slow English, a faint smile playing at his mouth. "M'sieur is quite able to look after himself! I believe he only sought to speak to the man we saw, for he bade me return to watch over you."

Even as Maurice finished speaking, Alec appeared in the distance, sprinting easily toward the carriage. The driver opened the door for him, and he dusted off his coat sleeves as he sat down beside her. A muscle twitched angrily in his cheek before he spoke.

"As you may have guessed, that was our friend Pilquebinder. I had warned him yesterday to make haste in his departure from Philadelphia, yet he has blatantly defied me. The man is too strange to be human, and I'll frankly admit that he worries me."