Page 72 of Wickeds Scandal
Alexandra gave her hair a final pat,frowning as an unrepentant curl tried to sneak out of her carefulcoiffure. Sadie did wonders with her hair, controlling the tendrils in alovely, if somewhat severe style. Alexandra gave her reflection a smile.Sutton would detest it.
“You’d best hurry down, my lady.”Sadie deftly tucked another curl as Alexandra stood and smoothed hergown. The Marquess does not like you to keep him waiting. You arelucky that way.” Sadie’s crush on Sutton had not abated. She was ingood company. Maids kept dropping things, spilling wine and tripping,whenever Sutton even looked their way. “Yes, I suppose the time hascome. I rather feel like Daniel before the lion’s den.”
Sadie gave a ‘harumph’. “You’venothing to fear, my lady. Not with Lord Reynolds and the Dowager besideyou.”
“I suppose,” Alexandra answered absently,surveying Sadie’s handiwork in the mirror. Her gown was the color ofsapphires, a deep blue which caught and held the light when she moved.Matching gloves, shoes and a small reticule studded with brilliants completedher ensemble. Sutton had paid the most sought after dressmaker on BondStreet triple to finish the gown in time for tonight’s ball. Even now, anarmy of seamstresses worked around the clock on the rest of Alexandra’swardrobe.
“You look beautiful, my lady.”
Alexandra gave Sadie a small, shysmile. Shefeltbeautiful. The gown’s color deepened thegray of her eyes and her dark hair contrasted dramatically against the sapphireof the gown. The bodice, cut fashionably low, skimmed the top of herbreasts. A diamond necklace studded with sapphires hung around herneck. Diamonds and sapphires twinkled from her ears. The gifts fromSutton were lovely. Reluctantly, Alexandra took off her birthday locketfor Sadie to clasp the heavier necklace about her throat. The thought ofnot wearing her locket made Alexandra uneasy.
She smoothed her skirts, giving herselfone more check in the large, oval mirror.
Sadie opened the door with a flourish andgave her mistress an audacious wink. The Dowager had chosen Alexandra’smaid wisely. Once her initial shyness had dissipated, Sadie had proven tobe as forthright and opinionated as Alexandra herself.
Sutton waited impatiently at the bottomof the stairs with the Dowager and Miranda. Dressed in formal black, thewhite of his shirt contrasted sharply with the tan of his skin. Thedark hair fell loose, a bit defiantly, to his shoulders. Earlier,Alexandra had heard the Dowager extolling Sutton to tie back his hair with aribbon for the evening. Sutton refused to do so.
Alexandra’s breath caught as she lookedat him. Sutton was simply the most handsome man she had ever seen.And he belonged to her.
He turned as her heard her come down thestairs, his eyes running over her form in appreciation. “I thought to runout to the garden to find you escaping your fate by climbing down the treeoutside our rooms, possibly to catch a passing hackney to take you back to GrayCovington.”
Alexandra scrunched her nose,appreciating Sutton’s attempt to get her to argue with him rather than worryover the Rocheford ball.
“That was my plan, but I could not getthe window open. The latch is mounted too high. Sadie refused tobring me a stool.”
Miranda laughed. The Dowagersnorted.
“Next time I will think to prop a ladderagainst the house and loosen the latch for you.” He took her hand.
She looked into his face, determined notto show her anxiety. It wasn’t the ball, exactly, that concernedher. Since their arrival in London, a feeling of doom hovered at the edgesof her mind. The Dowager told Alexandra that Archie had not been seen inwell over a month. He’d likely returned to the Continent with his tailbetween his legs. Jeanette was furious at her cousin’s desertion.Odious Oliver’s town home had been sold to pay his debts. Her uncle, aslarge as he was and hard to miss, disappeared from sight. Miranda thoughthim in debtor’s prison. The only thing left for Alexandra to do was totell Sutton about Helmsby Abbey. She planned to gently break the news tohim tomorrow over tea with the Dowager.
“I’m sorry I kept you all waiting.”She held out her hand to Sutton.
“It was worth it.” Sutton broughther hand to his lips and brushed it lightly. “You are beautiful,Alex. My beautiful Badger.”
The feeling of unease increased.Alexandra put her hand on his arm and tried to tell herself she was beingsilly. All was well.
***
“Lord Reynolds, the Marquess ofCambourne. Lady Reynolds, the Marchioness of Cambourne.” Theservant’s voice echoed in the ballroom. Thetonwent silent.Dozens of eyes turned to the staircase as Alexandra and Sutton entered.
Alexandra clutched tightly to Sutton’sarm. She looked at the sea of faces. Several women eyed herwith open hostility, others, jealousy. Caroline Fellowes watchedAlexandra with particular menace. The crowd for the most part regardedher with curiosity, as if wondering why a man of Satan Reynolds’s ilk wouldruinherand create a scandal in doing so. Several older matronshuddled near the foot of the stairs opened their fans so they could whisperbehind them unobserved.
Sutton moved forward.
Alexandra froze. A light-headedfeeling came over her.
“Buck up, Badger,” Sutton whispered outof the side of his mouth. “Lift your chin. Give them your most haughtylook. You are a wealthy and powerful Marchioness, married to the infamousSatan Reynolds. You should enjoy your noriety.”
Alexandra considered this. IfSutton could withstand years of being gossiped about, she could tolerate thisevening. She composed her face into a mask of utter boredom as theDowager taught her. She barely glanced at Sutton.
“Well, my lord,” her tone curt andperfect for the circumstances. “Shall we?”
Sutton chuckled under his breath, guidingher down the stairs as the ballroom broke back into conversation.
***
Donata reclined in a comfortable chair allowingLord Wasser to fetch her a glass of punch. The man had to be at leastseventy, but he flirted shamelessly with her. She appreciated hisefforts. Her gaze ran across the ballroom to the dancing couples.Sutton swirled his tiny bride around the dance floor, practically lifting Alexoff of her feet as he turned her.
