Page 61 of Never a Bride
“Masquerade?” the other woman said. “I was traveling in the north much of last year, and I fear the gossip did not reach me.”
There were titters of laughter and gasps, which quieted when Lady Boxworth spoke.
“You did not hear that Thornton masqueraded as his brother the viscount, undetected for near two years?”
The other woman let out a gasp, echoing Emmeline’s. Why hadsheheard nothing of such a scandal?
“I know he is a twin,” said the other woman, “but to pull off such a deed is arrogant beyond belief! Whyever would his brother allow such a thing?”
“The viscount put his own brother up to the stunt while he was off in Spain spying for England,” Lady Boxworth said. “He needed a replacement for himself, so no one would question his whereabouts.”
A new, girlish voice said breathlessly, “Then Sir Alexander is a hero!”
“You show your youth, child,” Lady Boxworth said in a withering tone. “He wasn’t the hero—Lord Thornton was. Sir Alexander should merely have modestly played the part, calling little attention to himself. But a man such as he cannot resist showing his arrogance.”
Emmeline stiffened, but she wanted to hear the rest of the story. Truly hewasa hero, for it could have been dangerous for him.
“Arrogance?” echoed one of the fascinated listeners.
“Yes, indeed,” said Lady Boxworth. “Sir Alexander used this pretense to the title to spend vast amounts of his brother’s money. He scandalized the court with his affairs with women”—she lowered her voice—“married women, as well.”
“Did he ruin his brother?” asked the young girl.
“Thankfully, no.”
“Did he perform the viscount’s court duties?”
“Yes,” Lady Boxworth admitted reluctantly. “But he rose above himself, courting maidens as the viscount, misleading them with his attentions—as if any of these well-born women would marry a mere knight, had they but known. And now, ladies, he’s paying for the sins of his arrogance and scandals; he’s no longer accepted at the best of homes. His only life was his brother’s.”
Emmeline’s anger heated her veins, and she lifted her head and stared at the cruel women. “Lady Boxworth, you claim Sir Alexander wooed maidens falsely. Did he offer them marriage? Did he make promises he could not keep?”
The old woman’s prominent nose rose into the air. “Thankfully these young women discovered the truth in time.”
“Did he make false promises?” Emmeline asked again.
After a brief hesitation, Lady Boxworth coldly said, “No.”
“Then I don’t see why you feel the need to discredit a man for helping his country.”
“And benefiting handsomely from it, I dare say,” the woman said quickly.
Emmeline could not respond, because she didn’t know all the facts. She merely shook her head at the gossiping women, dismissing them. She turned around and found Alex approaching her, smiling with the ease of a man who didn’t know what was being said about him. He bowed to the ladies, and Emmeline wanted to wince.
Then he turned, bowed to her, and held out his hand. “Would you care to dance, Lady Emmeline?”
Chapter 18
Emmeline put her hand in Alex’s, happy to be escaping such malicious women, even if it meant subjecting herself to the temptation of his embrace.
“I would enjoy dancing with you, Sir Alexander.”
His eyebrows rose, but he said nothing, only led her into the center of the hall.
As they performed the dance steps together, she watched his face, trying to make sense of this new information. She was curious about the two years of his life he’d given up, but she did not know how to raise the subject with a man so private with his true thoughts. She found herself feeling compassion for him, and it softened her. What had it been like to risk his life for his country, then give up the power and wealth to which he must have become accustomed? Had he felt the same as she had when she’d given up Clifford Roswald: lost and frightened of the future? Did men merely hide their feelings beneath bravado?
His grin turned wolfish. “Ah, you study me so thoroughly, my lady,” he murmured. “I feel quite ravished.”
She wanted to groan. His arrogance only hid even more arrogance—and salacious thoughts. “Alex, you really should learn to control your tongue.”
