Page 35 of To Tempt a Scandalous Lord
The viscountess shuffled a step closer and dipped her head to whisper, “Danny fancies Molly. Mrs. Simpson, who is the house manager if you recall, said he auditioned for the role of Orlando, she thinks, so he had an excuse to plant a kiss on her, but instead lost the role to Billy there.”
Alicia smiled. “And does dear Molly fancy Danny in turn?”
“You tell me,” Charlotte murmured, inclining her head to the stage.
Rosalind and Oliver were standing with the objects of their love in the play, but the lovesick eyes the actors gave each other told a completely different story.
Chuckling under her breath, Alicia whispered, “How melodramatic young love can be.”
“Oh, I don’t think the theatrics are saved for the young.” Charlotte bumped her shoulder into hers. “Look at how emotional your own relationship with Lord Inverray is.”
“Emotional? Relationship?” Alicia scoffed, biting her lip when several small heads turned in her direction. Dropping her voice, she continued, “The marquess and I have a friendship. We married each other because we had to. The only emotion between us is mutual respect.”
The other woman clasped her hand, holding it tight. “I’m sorry. Marriage is hard even when you love your spouse, so I cannot imagine being married to someone out of necessity.”
“Your first marriage was a love match, was it not?” Alicia asked.
“It was.” Charlotte nodded, a soft note tingeing her voice. “I loved my first husband and I love Finlay. I feel very blessed to have known love twice. Did you love Lord Lindsay?”
Alicia forced down an uncomfortable swallow. “I…was fond of him. He cared for me when others would not.”
If Charlotte was curious about Alicia’s claim, she did not press her on it. “And now instead of celebrating a love match in your second marriage, you’ve been forced into a marriage of convenience.” She exhaled, and it echoed Alicia’s internal strife. “I noticed you did not take a wedding trip. But then with Inverray’s bid for Prime Minister, I’m sure that would have been difficult. Has he been kind to you, at least?”
Alicia worried the buttons on her sleeve. Her new husband had certainly been kind…but she wanted more. Niall was kind to everyone, she noticed. His patience seemed to know no bounds, as she witnessed as he interacted with the young children at the home. But she desired more than his kindness.
Although she was certain she didn’t deserve it.
“He’s been…amiable.”
It hurt to confess such a thing, but then Alicia did not want to lie to her new friend. Charlotte had been a widow, too, and knew how challenging it could be to start life anew with a different husband. In her case, she and Lord Firthwell were in love.Happy.
Although Alicia longed for such things, she comforted herself with the knowledge that Niall was an honorable man who held her in esteem. She could live with his good regard, if nothing else, even if it was a depressing thought.
“I don’t believe for one moment he feels so benignly toward you.”
Alicia shot her friend a dubious look. “Why do you say that? I think I would know as I’m the one married to him.”
“Because he has glanced back here no less than five times over the last few minutes.”
“No, he hasn’t.” Darting her gaze to where Niall was wedged between two guinea-haired girls, she held her breath to see if he would look in her direction. When he didn’t, she sighed. “He’s acting as if I’m not here.”
“He’stryingto act as if you’re not here, but he’s failing miserably.” Charlotte patted her arm. “Perhaps there’s hope for your marriage, after all.”
“If he addresses me with more than polite interest, I might agree with you.” She tried not to sound disgruntled, but the sympathetic smile Charlotte offered told her she had not succeeded.
“Well here’s your chance to put that to the test.” The viscountess raised her brows dramatically as she stepped away from her. “I have to assist the children in changing out of their costumes, but I’ll keep my eyes out to see if you exchange any pleasantries.”
“We won’t,” Alicia called after her, and the viscountess’s answering chuckle was faint.
Turning back to the room, she considered what to do. As this was her first time visiting Little Windmill, she wanted to make a good impression, especially because she was the new Lady Inverray.
Niall appeared to be involved in a serious discussion with a group of young girls, several of them talking at once while he nodded his head solemnly. Her heart lurched at the sight for he was so patient and attentive. He would make an amazing father…if the time ever came.
Ignoring the bittersweet twinge in her chest, Alicia scanned the room to see where she could be of assistance. Several older children were collecting chairs to be returned to the rooms they had been borrowed from, and she grabbed her chair to help them.
After that, Alicia helped Cook with dispersing little teacakes she had made specifically to celebrate the play’s debut performance. She looked pointedly away whenever a child grabbed an extra treat, because it was a party, and a party warranted seconds.
As she made her way back to the kitchens with her hands loaded with plates and napkins, a deep voice halted her in her tracks.
