Page 54 of The Banished Bride
“W-here are we?” she demanded in a tight whisper as she stared up at imposing townhouse. “This is not?—”
Alex took hold of her hand and started up the polished stone steps. ”Please, it will only take a moment. There is something inside that … belongs to you. I would like for you to have it now, tonight, before you rush off back to your calico cat and distressed females.”
Leaving me an even more distressed gentleman,he added to himself.
She bit her lip, but followed along without further protest. Alex whisked her through the half-opened door and across the arched foyer before the startled butler could blurt out so much as a simple greeting. Their hurried steps echoed down an imposing corridor lined with gilt-framed portraits, until he finally drew her off to the right and into a small wood-paneled study.
“What is this place?” she asked again, the words hardly audible as her gaze took in the shelves of leatherbound books, the expensive Oriental carpet and the marble hearth, decorated with a detailed carving of entwined acanthus leaves.
His eyes finally met hers, their sapphire color alight with a strange glimmer. He was, he realized, more nervous than if he had been facing a thousand screaming, charging, knife-wielding Pashtu rebels bent on carving him into little pieces to float down the Ganges. Against such an attack he might fight back. Against Aurora he was defenseless—with a word she could slice his heart to ribbons.
“This is Woodbridge House,” he answered softly. “You said to take you home.”
Aurora went very pale. “I—you—” Overcome with confusion, she quickly looked away. “W-what was it you wanted me to have, sir? How can there be anything here that is mine.”
Without answering, Alex took a small leather box from the top drawer of his desk. He opened it, hesitated for a moment and then held it out to reveal what was inside. Lying on a fold of velvet was a ring of exquisite craftsmanship, the design simple but beautifully wrought. Centered in the gold detailing was a flawless emerald, flanked by two sapphires.
“I bought the sapphires in India because they seemed a kindred stone to me,” he explained. “For some reason, the emerald caught my eye as well. It seemed … a good match. The colors complemented one another—different shades, but of the same family.” He drew in a rather ragged breath. “Y-you may think of it as a reminder of our brief time together. A part of me shall always be with you, even if I am not there in person.” As he spoke, he extended his palm. “It also occurred to me that I have never given you a wedding gift.”
She made no effort to take it. In fact, her arms clasped around her chest and she turned around to face the banked fire. The gesture caused a small stab to knife through his insides.
“I know you think me a complete scoundrel.” He let his arm fall back to his side. “Lord, I have more faults than most men. I have been selfish, cowardly and callous to name but a few of them—I am sure you would have no trouble adding to the list, especially after my behavior tonight …”
A loud sniff interrupted him.
“Aurora, might you turn around?” he pleaded. ”Much as I enjoy the sight of your lovely shoulders, I shall never find the courage to finish the rest of what I want to say if it’s clear you loath me so much that you can’t bear to look at me.”
Ever so slowly, she moved to face him, though her eyes remained glued to the tips of her slippers.
Alex hadn’t realized that he had been holding his breath until it came out in a rush of relief. Swallowing hard, he dared go on. “It was as if I had been wandering in the dark until our pathscrossed. You made me look at myself—and a good many other things—in a whole new light. I meant to try to make up for some of my transgressions. The reason I sought out my wife was so that I might make some sort of amends for my unforgivable neglect by granting her the freedom she deserved.”
He paused. “And so that I might be free to seek you out. I don’t know what I meant to do about Mr. Sprague, but I would have figured out something. Perhaps carried you off to India. You would, by the way, find it a most fascinating place ….” He realized he was babbling and yet couldn’t seem to stop. “I meant to offer you the ring as soon as the Runner located your whereabouts, but if you don’t like it?—”
Tears were flowing down her face. “Like it?” She wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I love it.”
“Did you say the word ‘love?’” Perhaps there was hope.
“You heard me. I love the ring.”
“Ah, the ring.” Well, it was a start.
“Yes, I love the ring. And I love the way your eyes reveal just as many facets as the cut gems. I love your courage, your strength, your sense of humor. I even love the annoying little wiggle of your brow when you are angry. Hell’s bells, I loveyou, Alex Fenimore. Surely you must have realized that my heart was yours from the moment you fainted dead away in my arms.”
An incredulous smile started to spread across his face. It turned to one of pure joy when she crossed the space between them and brushed a light kiss over his lips.
“I was praying that a certain barnyard animal might once again become airborne,” he murmured before taking her in his arms. The kiss that followed had a sweet, haunting tenderness, rather than the hard, burning passion of earlier in the evening.
When finally he broke it off, Alex took her face between hands and slowly traced his lips over the path her tears had left.
Such caresses only caused the drops to flow again. “Oh, dear, I am never such a watering pot,” she murmured between sniffles. “I may have need of that deuced bottle of vinaigrette yet.”
He smiled, then ran his thumb along the ridge of her cheekbone. “Why the tears, sweeting?”
“It’s just that … Robbie and I must soon return home, and then I shall probably never see you again.”
“This is your home, Aurora. As you have noticed, it is a large place, with more than enough room for Robbie, an aged cook, a hobbled housekeeper and a calico cat.” He kissed her forehead. “And since your former governess will no longer be required to keep an eye on you, we will make sure she does not become too bored by having her teach our children to be as wonderful as their mother.”
“B-but what about the divorce proceedings? The papers have been filed?—”
