Page 40 of Conveniently Trapped with the Marquess
“I shall take it in stride.” Simply because while Christopher was right, and assisted in calming William’s nerves, he knew Alice would not be an easy woman to win over. His charming words, his easy smile, his good looks—they might not help him at all.
At the very least, it won’t help to stand over here talking about it.
Tapping his brother on the shoulder, William pushed away from the wall and made his way to the ladies. They’d finished their tea and were in the middle of what seemed like riveting conversation. As William drew closer, he noticed Alice had a faint blush on her cheeks and Lady Emma was staring at her as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Their expressions were wiped from their faces when William sat in the empty chair by the table. “Lady Emma,” William said. “My brother says he has something pressing he would like to say to you but I’m afraid Lady Alice’s presence is intimidating him a bit.”
Alice, as William expected, rolled her eyes while Lady Emma giggled. “I fail to believe that.”
“Oh?” Lady Emma responded before William had the chance. “You do not think you are intimidating, Alice? You do know it is good to know your own vices.”
William chuckled heartily at that. He was right. Lady Emma was certainly much like her sister, even though she delivered her lines with a sweet smile.
Alice narrowed her eyes at Lady Emma, but Lady Emma was already rising. She patted Alice kindly on her hand before she made her way over to Christopher. William almost wished he could see his brother’s face when Lady Emma repeated what she’d been told, but he knew he only had a small window of opportunity before they were rejoined by the others.
“Meet with me again,” he said to Alice. “Tonight. In the library.”
Alice looked at him in surprise, blinking. The way her cheeks colored, the way her lovely green eyes seemed so large and bright in that moment, made William wish they were alone right now so that he could tell her what he truly wanted to say.
“You wish to make this a habit, I see.”
“A lovely little secret between friends is nothing to be ashamed of,” he responded with a wink.
Alice stared at him for a moment, not saying anything. Then she nodded, the barest of smiles appearing on her lips. “Very well. I shall see what you have to say.”
There it was—anxiousness, excitement, happiness. All those things in one, swirling within him like a whirlpool. Christopher’s words had never seemed truer. But before he could say anything in response, he heard footsteps behind him and Christopher’s heavy hand on his shoulder, squeezing hard.
William winced as he looked up at his brother’s forced smile, seeing the annoyance behind his eyes. “I do not recall, William,” Christopher pushed out between gritted teeth, “sending any messages with you.”
“You didn’t have to, dear Brother,” William laughed as Christopher let him go. “I know you well enough to know what you are thinking.”
Lady Emma giggled, reclaiming her seat. “I believe Lord Erlington has fooled you, Lord Christopher.”
Christopher sighed, his shoulders sagging. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Alice laughed, the sound like music to William’s ears. Christopher sat next to William, shaking his head once more. Conversation struck back up, riding on the coattails of Christopher’s embarrassment. After a while, William began to relax once more, to truly become more like himself before he’d realized that he’d fallen in love.
But he was always aware of Alice—of the looks she gave him when she thought he wasn’t watching, of the way she laughed and smiled and simply existed.
God, he thought,I really stood no chance.
Chapter 16
The library was swathed in darkness when Alice arrived. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust before she made her way over to the desk and lit the candle she knew was there. The moment the golden flame filled the space around her, Alice realized that she wasn’t alone.
“Heavens!” she gasped when she noticed that William was sitting in the chair by the desk. His head was resting on the back of the chair, twisted to the side. He seemed to be…asleep.
Alice frowned. She set the candle down, her pounding heart settling as she drew nearer. He truly was asleep. His long lashes casted shadows along his cheeks, his breathing low and even. His lips were parted slightly, his hand resting on his lap and the other slung over the arm of the chair.
Her breath caught in her throat. She’d never seen him so relaxed before, so at ease. It was truly unfair, she decided, for him to be so beautiful even while asleep. Alice raised a finger, wanting to touch his smooth cheek.
“What sort of indecent things do you plan on doing to me while I am asleep, Alice?”
Alice pulled away quickly, her chest constricting at his low, sleepy voice. She gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself as William slowly opened his eyes and leveled them on her. It took her a moment too long to bring herself back together.
“Why are you sleeping in here?” she managed to ask. Her tone was still breathless. “If you’re tired, you should simply go to your bedchambers.”
“I wanted to see you.” William sat up slowly. Alice took a step back, hoping the distance would help to bring herself back under control. But his words made her heart flutter in her chest.
