Alexis was well aware she was totally committed to Sebastian Trevalian, just as he was to her. They had hardly been apart since Sunday afternoon, endeavoring to be together as much as they possibly could.
This had been easily facilitated by their sudden business relationship. At his suggestion he had become her banker and financial advisor for her charity, Haven House. It was a means to an end. A morning meeting in his office inevitably led them to lunch at a restaurant, and another in the afternoon prompted not only tea but supper at his Grosvenor Square house.
A great deal had been conveyed between them, obliquely, by innuendo, and often quite outspokenly. They knew exactly where they stood with each other, honesty the byword of their budding relationship.
He had told her she had turned his life upside down, and she had shot back that he had not only turned her life upside down, but inside out as well. He had merely smiled that enigmatic smile of his, made no response.
It was true. All of her past beliefs, plans, ideas, and decisions about her life, men, and marriage had been blown away, gone forever from her mind.
She was in love for the first time, wanted to be with this particular man in every way … with Sebastian forever. And she would do whatever she had to do to achieve that. She no longer worried about her fortune; he had his own and it was much larger than hers.
The matter of her work had come up only last night, and he had said she could do whatever she wanted as long as they were together on a permanent basis. He had added, with a small sly smile, that he was rather proud of her accomplishments and her business acumen, and wished he could boast about her to his friends.
So many thoughts about him ran through her head tonight. She was seated next to him in his elegant dining room at the Grosvenor Square mansion. Surrounding them were his daughter Claudia and the guests they had invited to the Thursday supper, which she knew full well had been done especially for her.
Lord Reginald, whom she had met before, and his wife Lady Jane, Cornelius Glendenning, Mark Brewster and his sister, Evangilina, were the other guests. Just eight. Exactly the right number. They obviously knew each other well, so that conversation between them was easy and relaxed, and there was a certain friendliness toward her. She felt welcomed, accepted by his friends.
Alexis was pleased she was sitting next to Sebastian for a variety of reasons. Her body was close to his; she could breathe in the scent of him, his cologne. He frequently put his hand lightly on her knee or nudged her foot under the table. And twice he had placed her hand on his knee.
She realized he had planned the table seating, knowing that if they faced each other they would be unable to conceal their feelings for each other. He had told her that only Claudia and Sir Reggie knew how smitten he was with her, and that Reggie would never betray a confidence, not even to his wife. So their secret was safe.
There were other secrets in this room. Alexis smiled to herself. Claudia was to become engaged to Cornelius in the very near future. He had asked Sebastian for her hand in marriage two days ago and Sebastian had agreed. Alexis thought he was not only a good-looking young man, but had charm and a certain gentleness about him. She had liked him the moment she had met him.
The last secret was one that both excited and frightened her. Sebastian had asked her to go with him to Kent, to spend a week at Goldenhurst. Claudia and Cornelius would come for a weekend “as cover,” he had said. And then they would spend the rest of the time endeavoring to work out their future together. He had also explained that his two other daughters were going with his sister, Dorothea, to her shooting lodge in Scotland, which was an annual holiday for them. He had lowered his voice when he had finished that in Kent they would be alone for most of the time, except for the servants, and would hopefully get to know each other fully.
Alexis had already told her father that Claudia had invited her to spend a week at the Trevalian country home in Kent, and that she had accepted. She couldn’t help noticing the gleam in her father’s eyes when he had asked who else would be there. She had shrugged and answered that she had no idea. She had been astute enough to add that Sebastian Trevalian would not be present because he would be abroad. The white lie had been a necessity to throw her father off the track.
Sebastian broke into her thoughts when he turned to her and said, “You’re very quiet, Alexis … I do hope you’re enjoying the evening.”
She nodded, offered him a warm smile. “I’ve been thinking and listening, very happy being here—” She broke off, slipped her hand under the table to touch the side of his leg.
He said, “That makes me happy.”
Leaning into him, she murmured in a low voice, “You never did tell me why you asked me if I spoke French?”
“I wanted to know if you knew what a coup de foudre meant?”
“Struck by lightning,” she answered, looking into his lovely gray eyes, not caring if anyone noticed.
He gazed back at her. “That’s what happened to us, isn’t it?”
“It is,” she answered, feeling her heart swell inside of her. She knew he loved her.
* * *
Sebastian made his own rules in life, liked to be in control of the world he occupied. One of his genuine dislikes was the social habit of dividing the men and women after a lovely dinner. Suddenly the men went off to smoke and drink a port or brandy, and the ladies were left to their own devices in another room.
He had never quite understood why that was, and had abandoned this peculiar separation of the sexes when he owned his own home. Those friends who had partaken of supper were led into a drawing room, where they enjoyed an after-dinner drink together, and the men smoked if they so wished. He wanted the companionship, laughter, and enjoyment of the meal to continue on without disruption.
And so on this particular Thursday evening, everyone flocked into the blue drawing room, where Bloom served nightcaps to the men, cordials to the women, and coffee to those who enjoyed it. There was more conversation, hearty discussion about all kinds of things, from current politics to the latest play in the West End, and a certain amount of gossip.
Sebastian liked this chance to speak longer to his friends, share confidences and ideas, and he moved around the room leisurely, a brandy balloon in his hand.
Alexis watched him closely, unable to take her eyes off him, thinking how handsome he looked. He favored the color gray in many of his clothes, and tonight he wore a dove-gray suit, beautifully tailored and obviously an expensive item from Savile Row. The color suited him, and the cut of the jacket made him look slimmer and taller than he already was. There was no question in her mind that he was the most elegant of men.
It was Lord Reginald who intruded on her thoughts, when he sat down next to her on the sofa. “May I join you, Alexis?”
“Of course,” she answered quickly, smiling at him. “I was glad to hear from Claudia that your daughter, Jasmine, listened to her and has promised to stop lacing herself so tightly.”
“Indeed she has, and her mother and I are truly grateful.” He laughed lightly. “That was quite a brilliant idea you had, suggesting that Claudia should tell Jasmine that tightly bound waists were out of fashion and the crinoline was as dead as a doornail. Now, the chicest gowns are plain, simple, and without a bustle.”
Alexis laughed with him, and explained, “It wasn’t an invention on my part, Lord Reginald. It happens to be the truth. I for one am very pleased. I like this new style in gowns, and certainly they are more comfortable to wear. I can assure you of that.”
Lord Reginald nodded and sat back, turning toward her slightly. In a low voice he said, “He means a lot to me, you know. Don’t break his heart, will you? I couldn’t bear it.”
Momentarily startled at this intimate comment, Alexis stared at him for a split second, and then answered softly, “I love him with all my heart and soul, and may God strike me dead if I hurt him in any way. Which I won’t, I promise you that.”
“I think I know that already, my dear. I’ve worried about him for years … he has lived a lonely life, that I can attest to, I’m afraid. You make him happy—”
“What are you two chatting away about?” Sebastian asked, coming to a stop in front of them. “I do hope you’re telling her nice things about me, old chap. I’d appreciate it if you sang my praises to her … all the time.”
Alexis said, “He was doing just that, although no one needs to tell me what a wonderful person you are. I’ve known that since the moment I met you, Sebastian.”
Smiling, his eyes now leaving her face, Sebastian sat down on the arm of the sofa and touched her shoulder gently. Looking at Reginald, he said, “Tell my lovely friend what a surprise she’s going to have when she sees Goldenhurst.”
Slightly taken aback, Reginald exclaimed, “Oh yes, you are indeed, Alexis. It’s a most unique place. Right in the heart of Kent, near the Romney Marsh. And the gardens will take your breath away.” Giving Sebastian a quick glance, he asked with a certain eagerness, “When are you planning to go there?”
Sebastian shrugged lightly, almost dismissively. “I don’t know yet. It’s not really been planned, although I have told Alexis quite a lot about the farm.”
“If you want company, I’d love to join you—” Reggie began, and stopped abruptly when he saw the look of horror on Sebastian’s face. “Ah, I see. Of course.” A smile spread across his face. “You wish to show your little gem to Alexis on your own. I do understand.”
Sebastian couldn’t help laughing, and rising, he toasted the two of them with his cognac and moved across the room to speak to Cornelius, who would one day be his son-in-law. He liked the young man Claudia had chosen, and hoped he loved her the way he loved Alexis.