Knight of My Dreams (10 page)

“That would be two flaws, my lady. And I have already noticed them,” Alice agreed. Lady Fairley knelt down by her side at once.

“Of course you did, you brilliant girl!” She took Alice's hands in her own as she rose and settled on the edge of the bed next to her. “And even with these flaws you will love him.”

“No one is perfect, my lady. And as flaws go, stubbornness and a contrary nature are rather typical of men.”

“Aye.” Lady Fairley sighed. “However, I doubt you have quite grasped the depth of his stubborn and contrary nature, especially when it comes to myself. I fear Jonathan is . . . constantly suspecting me of some scheme or another. And . . . well, were I to point out that the sky was blue, he would swear it was orange simply to avoid agreeing with me. Especially if he thought he might find himself ensnared in some imaginary plot.”

“Oh, dear.” Alice patted Lady Fairley's hand sympathetically. “That must be trying.”

“Oh, my dear, you have no idea.” Lady Fairley shook her head tragically, then heaved a sigh and went on. “So, seeing as how he was dallying about finding a bride, I—Oh!” She interrupted herself, giving a nervous laugh. “I mean, when the king gave the order for Jonathan to choose a bride within two weeks, well, I decided it was time I took a hand in his future. Two weeks is a very short time to find a bride. I knew he would take no advice from me, so . . .” She shrugged helplessly.

“So you schemed and plotted to aid him in the endeavor,” Alice suggested.

“Aye.” Lady Fairley beamed at her, apparently missing the irony in Alice's voice. “Your cleverness is one of the reasons I felt sure you would be perfect for him. And I did know you would be perfect, my dear. Oh, I introduced him to the daughters of various other friends, but I knew they would not catch his interest. I was simply giving him something to measure you by, knowing you would come out shining above the rest. Of course, I could not introduce you the same way. He would have rejected you whether he was interested or not, simply to confound me. I had to find a way to make him wish to be around you . . . So, your mother, and I—”

“Uncle James,” Alice said softly as the realization struck.

Jonathan's mother nodded. “I fear I was not much taken with your uncle; however, he really did come through for us. And, to be honest, he was really only necessary the first day or two. After that, I do not think Jonathan cared so much what I did. My plan was working beautifully; his attention was wholly taken up with you.”

Alice digested that slowly. “Am I to understand that the courtship that you and my uncle were indulging in was all a sham meant somehow to convince Jonathan to ask me to marry him?”

“Aye.”

Alice briefly chewed that claim over, then asked bluntly, “Why? You detest me.”

“Detest you? Nay, child! I adore you. You will be a wonderful daughter-in-law. Why, you are clever and sweet and honest to the bone, and . . .” Pausing, Lady Fairley framed Alice's face with her hands and allowed a true affection to show through. “Alice, had I had a daughter of my own, instead of a son, I would have liked her to be you.”

Alice felt tears well up inside her at that kind claim, but shook her head with confusion. “But I heard you telling Jonathan—”

“I am sorry, my dear.” Lady Fairley interrupted with sincere regret. “Jonathan told me that you overheard me last night, but I never intended for you to be privy to that nonsense. What I said then was not at all true; I was simply misleading Jonathan. I was hoping to raise his interest by making him think I did not care for you.”

“I see,” Alice murmured, gazing down at her hands.

A moment of silence passed as Alice considered all she had learned; then Lady Fairley could stand it no longer. “So? You will marry my son?”

Alice lifted her head slowly and peered at Margaret for a long time; then she nodded. “Aye.”

“Oh, lovely!” Jonathan's mother exclaimed, hugging her happily. “You are perfect for each other. I know you will be happy together. I—”

“On one condition.”

Lady Fairley stiffened. “Condition?”

“Aye. As much as I appreciate that you love Jonathan, and that you want only the best for him . . . And as much as I appreciate how you got us together, I really must insist that the interference stop here, this very moment. I will not marry Jonathan if it means spending the rest of my life worrying about what you are up to.”

“Oh, my dear.” Smiling, Lady Margaret patted the girl's hands affectionately. “I will be more than happy to stop my interfering. All I wanted in the world was to see my boy happy, and I knew he could be very, very happy with you. Now that the two of you are together, there is no longer any necessity for me to interfere. I can happily retire and enjoy my golden years.”

Alice relaxed and smiled. Her eyes growing misty, she squeezed the older woman's hands. “Thank you, then. For everything you have done.”

“You are more than welcome, my dear.” Lady Margaret hugged Alice briefly, then sat back and smiled. “Now, Jonathan is waiting in the garden where we found you last night. Go drag my son out of the misery your refusal has sunk him in. I promise, this time I shall not interrupt.”

Beaming, Alice rose quickly and rushed from the room.

Lady Fairley watched the girl go, then opened the chest beside her with a pleased sigh.

“What are you doing now, Margaret?” Elizabeth of Houghton slid out from behind the curtains that had been hiding her for the past several minutes. Her best friend since childhood was drawing a piece of parchment and a quill and ink out of the chest.

“Setting to work on a plan to get Alice with child. All we need are grandbabies to make things perfect.”

“From what I saw when we
finally
interrupted those two last night, babies will not be a problem,” Elizabeth said dryly. She moved forward to look over her friend's shoulder at the list being written.

“I told you, it would not have done to stop them too early. Had Jonathan not already intended to wed Alice at that point, we would have been able to use what we saw to force them to marry. Which would not have been possible had we interrupted earlier,” Lady Fairley said, sounding a touch irritated. “Besides, while they may be enthusiastic about the endeavor, one can never tell how the matter of fertility rests with the two of them. A little help in that area will not hurt.” Then she glanced up with a twinkle in her eye. “I spent the better part of the winter investigating which herbs increase a woman's fertility, and which a man's ardor. . . . Just in case.”

“When you were not plotting how to get the two together, and corresponding with me on the details of that plan?” Elizabeth asked dryly.

“'Twas a long winter, was it not?” came Lady Fairley's response. “And 'tis always nice to have a project to occupy the mind during such long, bitter winters.”

“Hmm.” Lady Houghton shook her head at her friend's antics, watching her draw up a list of ways to encourage grandchildren. “Did I not hear you vow mere moments ago never again to interfere in the lives of our children?”

“Oh, well. And I shan't . . . except for ensuring that I get grandbabies.”

“But you swore on your honor.” Lady Houghton taunted.

Margaret gave her a dry look. “Elizabeth, darling, you know that a mother lets nothing, not even her own needs, not even her honor, stand in the way of her child's happiness . . . and getting her grandbabies.”

“A
lice!” Jonathan leaped to his feet the moment he saw her approaching and silently blessed his mother for whatever it was she had said. Things must be fixed, for that was the only reason he could see that Alice would be there. He knew he was right when, as soon as she spied him, a smile bloomed on her face. She picked up her pace to run into his open arms.

“Oh, thank God,” he said softly, holding Alice close and swinging her around in a half circle before setting her down. Peering down into her face in question, he asked, “Mother straightened everything out? You will marry me?”

“Aye.” Alice laughed happily. “She explained everything, and really, she is a dear, Jonathan. You are very fortunate.”

He goggled at the claim. “A dear? Fortunate? She nearly lost you for me.”

“Nay. She loves you very much, Jonathan. And were it not for her help, we would not be together.”

“Her help? Ha!” He scoffed at the very idea. “She did everything in her power to turn my attentions away from you. Had I listened to her, we never would have even met. Why, that first morning, she did everything in her power to dissuade me from accompanying her to the gardens where she was to meet you, your mother, and uncle.”

“Which only made you more determined to accompany her,” Alice pointed out gently.

Jonathan stopped his pacing to turn slowly toward Alice. The truth dawned on him. “She manipulated me.”

Alice nodded apologetically. “She knew that if she asked you to accompany her to meet the daughter of a friend, you would balk. And that if she acted at all as if she thought I was suitable, you would find some excuse not to be interested in me. So she—”

“Played me false. She acted as though you were thoroughly unsuitable in her opinion and . . .” He narrowed his eyes. “Your uncle?”

“A trick, I fear,” she admitted with more apology. “His attentions were false, something they stirred up between the three of them. It was intended to keep you around us long enough for you to get to know me.”

“Your mother was in on this, too?” he asked in horror.

“Well . . .” Alice grimaced. “Your mother said that she was not, but I suspect she was: Mama is the only one who could have convinced Uncle James to participate.”

“Damn.” Jonathan sank slowly to sit on the bench. Alice peered at him, obviously worried.

“Jonathan? Are you all right? Has this changed things? Do you not wish to marry me after all?”

“What?” He glanced at her distractedly; then what she had said sank in. He leaped to his feet again. “Nay! I mean, aye! Aye, of course I still want to marry you. I just . . . well, I—” He made a face. “It is discomfiting to know I am so easily played by the woman.”

Alice seemed amused by that comment when he suddenly whirled on her. “Did she admit to involvement in getting the king to order me to marry?”

“Er . . . well, no. That did not come up.” She frowned briefly, then moved to stand in front of him. “But does it really matter, my lord? I mean, you do really want to marry me, do you not? 'Tis not simply a case of having to marry, and I am the most likely candidate . . . is it?”

Recognizing her fear, Jonathan took her hand. The last thing he wanted was for her to believe such nonsense. “Nay, Alice. You are not simply the most likely candidate. Even were there not a pressing need to marry, I would surely want to wed you. And most likely just as swiftly. In case you had not noticed, my passions become carried away whenever you are about.”

She ducked her head and rubbed her fingers over the knuckles of his hand. “Actually, I had not noticed, my lord. It appeared to me last night that you were the one in control, and that I was the one carried away.”

“That is only because my mother interrupted us,” he assured her. “I kept telling myself that I could not take your innocence, that your satisfaction must be enough until I could get you properly wed to me. . . .” He grimaced. “'Struth, I was a heartbeat away from ravishing you there on the ground like some lowborn wench.”

Alice blushed, but smiled. “And are you sure you will not mind being married to such a wanton as myself?” At his uncertain look, she quietly admitted, “I fear I do not think I would have minded being ravished there on the ground. In fact, I would not protest should you wish to do so now.”

Jonathan felt his body harden and tighten at the very suggestion. He swallowed thickly. Damn, just the thought of it had him ready for action. Hesitating briefly, he glanced around, gauging the odds of getting caught. They might be getting married, but they weren't yet. He wouldn't see her shamed before he—His thoughts died abruptly as he became aware of Alice's hand drifting down toward the more than obvious bulge between his legs.

“Perhaps,” she murmured, meeting his startled gaze boldly, “you might even teach me to please you as you pleasured me, my lord. Your mother promised not to interrupt us this time.”

“Oh, Alice, my sweet.” Jonathan laughed. “Whether my mother was involved or not, you are definitely the right bride for me.”

She smiled widely at those words and took his hand to lead him around the bench and toward the bushes behind it. “I am glad you think so, my lord. I, too, think we shall be terribly happy together.”

“Until my mother next interferes,” he added dryly.

“Oh, nay.” Alice paused and leaned into his chest, her expression serious as she slid her hands up around his neck. She drew his head down for a kiss.

Jonathan's legs nearly gave out at the shock of her aggression. His lovely lady was a very quick learner! He let his arms slide around her and pressed his hands against her bottom, urging her up against his hardness. Her tongue delved into his mouth and explored with an abandon that left him trembling. He actually moaned aloud when she broke the kiss and leaned back to murmur, “She has vowed never to interfere again.”

“Oh, that is all right then,” he whispered huskily, then claimed her lips once more.

Jonathan had little real hope that his mother could fulfill that vow. The woman simply did not know how
not
to interfere. Still, he would keep that little tidbit to himself. He had no intention of scaring off the woman he loved. He was rather hoping that by the time Alice realized his mother simply did not have the nature to keep that promise, Alice would love her enough to overlook it. Lady Margaret of Fairley was a woman who grew on a person, and her intentions were always the best. She loved her son and wanted what was best for him. And this was one of the few times Jonathan agreed with his mother. As his new bride-to-be led him farther into the surrounding trees and bushes, he conceded Alice
was
definitely the best. And despite her interference, or perhaps because of it, so was his mother.