"Are you sure you are quite safe here? Will you not consider spending the night at Worthington House?"
He shook his head at her question, offering a reassuring smile as he tucked a loosened curl behind her ear. "No need. Don't worry about me, Alex. I would prefer you forget everything you heard this evening."
She rolled her eyes. "I cannot simply pretend I didn't hear it, Gavin. Your uncle plotting against you is not something I'm going to easily forget."
"My uncle?"
The surprised interest in Gavin's voice set off warning bells for Alex as she realized that he did not know everything there was to know about this particular evening. She had deliberately refrained from mentioning the fact that she'd overheard Lucian Sewell plotting against Gavin earlier — both because she hadn't been sure how to do it tactfully and because she was certain that if she explained everything, he would be unwilling to leave the house quickly. "Alexandra. My uncle?"
She paused, unsure of how to proceed — of what words to use to share this terrible information. Taking a deep breath to shore up her courage, she plunged into her explanation. "The conversation I overheard, it was in the library annex of the house, on the way to the orangery?" She pushed on as he nodded in recognition. "There were two men in the room, but the door was closed, so I couldn't recognize them by voice alone... they were too muffled. I hid in the orangery, just inside the door, in the dark, until they emerged and, while I didn't recognize the first man to exit, I did recognize the second." She stopped, making sympathetic eye contact with Gavin before her final revelation. "It was your uncle Lucian."
He stood stock-still for a brief moment before speaking frankly, "You are mistaken."
It was Alex's turn to be surprised. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, there is no possible way that my uncle is plotting against the Blackmoor line. You did not see what you think you saw."
"But I did, Gavin. I saw your uncle exit that room."
"No, Alex, you couldn't have. My uncle Lucian is many things, but he would never betray his family. Of that, I am certain."
Indignation was rising in Alex's chest; she was beginning to feel warm with defensive ire. "With all due respect, my lord, I witnessed something that points to the opposite."
"I am sure that you believe you did, Alex. But I'm telling you that you were wrong. I don't doubt that you saw someone who appeared to be my uncle. However, it was not he. Of that I am certain."
"I know what I saw. You are in grave danger. And Lucian Sewell is a threat to you and to the Blackmoor line. He admitted to killing your father, Gavin."
She saw the cool response in his eyes. "You do not believe me."
"I don't doubt what you heard. Only its source." Noticing her rising anger, he attempted to calm her. "Alex, my uncle Lucian adored his older brother — he was the first of the family to arrive at the Blackmoor estate once we found my father's body. He has been infinitely helpful in assisting me with the transition to earl. He has been an active part of the discussion relating to my father's death and the potential threat to me. He's an ally. Not a villain."
"But isn't it possible that all those things make him the perfect villain?" Alex's voice rose in desperation as she saw Gavin's expression darken. "Perhaps he was first to the Essex estate because he was already there. Have you even considered that his assistance in your transition to earl was merely a ploy to get closer to whatever information your father had garnered? And, Gavin... you must stop including him in any discussion of your safety. He is not to be trusted."
She watched him as he leaned against his desk, arms crossed over his broad chest, and her frustration brought tears to her eyes. She refused to cry in his study. Taking another deep breath, she spoke, her voice quivering, "I risked my reputation to come here tonight. I came out of nothing but the deepest concern for you and your family's well-being. I would never ever suggest something so damaging if I did not believe, with all my heart, that it was true. And you owe it to me — and to yourself— to at least consider it a possibility."
His expression was dark as he leveled her with a cool, grey gaze. "You are right that you have risked your reputation coming here tonight, Alex. It seems you have also risked my family's good name in doing so. I think it best you return to the ball and forget everything you saw. I assure you that we have this situation well in hand."
She was shocked by his cold dismissal. Was it possible he was offended by her concern? She opened her mouth to speak again, but he cut her off before any sound could escape. "I have heard what you have to say, Alex. You needn't repeat it. I encourage you to leave, and be quick about it. I would prefer that my uncle's character be the only one maligned this evening."
"Gavin —"
"Good night, Alexandra."
She watched him turn away from her, tears welling in her eyes. "Gavin —" He paused, not turning back, but clearly focused on her next words. "Be careful. Please."
And, with that, she turned and pushed the window open wide once more, enough for her to sit on the edge and swing herself out into the flower bed below. He made no move to help her exit and she landed off balance in the moist, soft soil, one knee sinking into the fresh dirt.
She didn't care about her ruined gown, or her filthy slippers, or the tears that were threatening to pour down her face. all she cared about was getting back home and finding someone who would believe her.
eighteen
She did not have to go far.
Once back in the Worthington House gardens, she retraced her steps to the balcony of the music room. She crossed the darkened space as though in a trance, not knowing to whom to go or what to say. She opened the door to step into the hallway filled with guests who had left the ball room for quieter conversations or a moment's rest, and Vivi and Ella spilled into the doorway, barely catching themselves from falling at her feet. The two had obviously been standing with their backs against the door, waiting for her to return.
If Alex hadn't been so shocked by her encounter with Gavin, she would have burst into laughter.
Vivi righted herself first, whispering harshly, "Thank goodness! We've been worried to death!"
"And curious to death," Ella added.
Vivi looked at Ella oddly. "That's not even a phrase." Returning her attention to Alex, she continued, "We were just wondering whether we should call in the cavalry."
Ella drawled, "By that, she means her father."
"As angry as he would have been that we let Alex storm off into the night," Vivi pointed out, "I think 'cavalry' is a perfectly acceptable description."
The two looked up at Alex and spoke in unison, "What happened?"
And, with that, as she looked into the curious, concerned eyes of her best friends in the world, Alex did what she'd wanted to do since leaving Blackmoor on the balcony earlier in the evening. She burst into tears.
Ella and Vivi shared a quick anxious look before rushing forward and herding Alex back into the music room and closing the door firmly behind them.
"Are you all right? What happened?" Vivi asked urgently, guiding Alex to sit on a small tufted stool while Ella lit some nearby candles.
"I think we've established that she's not all right, Vivi," Ella piped in, crouching down beside her tearful friend. "Alex? Are you hurt? Has Blackmoor done something to deserve a thrashing?"
Alex sniffed and responded with a watery smile. "Yes. Would you go deliver it?"
Ella smiled back. "Well, I'm happy to see that you can still find humor in this situation. I would go try for you, you know it. But he is rather significantly larger than I."