Page 41 of Maxwell

Kissing her on the mouth roughly, he stepped back. “Let’s go.”

*****

Her bubble of euphoria burst as soon as she stepped into the hallway and took off her jacket.

“Daddy!” His sudden appearance gave her pause and had her pulse jittering. “You’re still here.”

“I was waiting for you.” His dark brown eyes were trained on her and, as usual, she was reduced to being the little girl who’d eaten cookies before dinner.

“Is something the matter?”

He gestured at Janet who’d come out to open the door. “We’ll take breakfast in the informal dining room.”

“Yes, sir.” With a slight curtsy, Janet hurried off.

“You didn’t have to wait- “

“Do you have to go and freshen up?” He looked at her clothes pointedly. “I believe those were what you had on when you left so hurriedly last night.”

“I took a shower.” She followed him into the dining room where the table was already set. He pulled out a chair for her to sit before going to the head of the table.

“You didn’t bring a change of clothing?” He waited for the maid to finish putting the meal on the table before resuming. “That’s not like you, darling.”

Alessia felt the tension at the base of her stomach. “It was spur of the moment.” She picked at her eggs Benedict without interest.

“I’d like to think that we have a close relationship.” His quiet tone had her staring at him.

“We do.”

“Yet you’re sneaking off to what appears to be an assignation in the middle of the night and coming home the next day.” He put aside his cutlery. “Is that the way we brought you up?”

Her shoulders lifted and stiffened. “I’m twenty-eight- “

“My dear, I know how old you are. You’ve been behaving strangely the last several months and I need to know why. Who’s the young man?”

Picking up her cup, she took a sip of coffee and, for a moment, she almost blurted it out. Something stopped her; she had no idea why she couldn’t tell him about Maxwell.

Of course she did! He wasn’t going to approve and she couldn’t bear the thought of trying to choose between the two. She resented the fact she was being put in a position where she had to choose.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then there is someone.” He pressed.

“Yes.” She spread her hands. “I’m just not ready to tell you who he is yet.”

He eyed her sharply. “Obviously he’s someone I wouldn’t approve of.”

Suddenly she felt the weariness falling over her. “What type of person would you approve of, Daddy?”

“You know what I mean.” He said stiffly. “You’re my only child and I want what’s best for you.”

“That includes someone who has the so-called pedigree of our society. A man who has a spotless reputation and comes from a very good family.”

“Precisely.”

“Nothing less.”

He eyed her for a few seconds before reaching for his cup of coffee. “I should probably cut myself off. Julian is insisting on it.”

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