Lady Jane sat in her study upstairs in their townhouse on Chesterfield Street in Mayfair, checking some of the new menus she had created. She knew Reggie would enjoy her choices, and the different mix of foods she had put together.
The sudden knock on the door made her jump, and she jerked in her chair, called, “Do come in, Grant.”
The butler did so, and inclined his head. “Miss Malvern has arrived, my lady, accompanied by her lady’s maid.”
“Where have you put them, Grant?”
“In the green parlor, m’lady.”
“Very good. Please tell Miss Malvern I will join her in a few minutes, and you can show Miss Tilda to the servants’ parlor. Please ask Cook to offer her some refreshments.”
“I will, m’lady.” Grant closed the door quietly.
Jane stood up, went into her boudoir next door, and glanced at herself in the mirror. Satisfied she looked tidy, she went downstairs.
Alexis had opened the French doors and gone out onto the terrace. Jane joined her, and when Alexis swung around, she caught her breath in surprise.
“How lovely to see you here in London,” Jane said. “And looking so stunning. Congratulations. You’ve done a wonderful job on yourself.”
Alexis laughed, stepped closer, and kissed Jane on each cheek. “Claudia telling me I was fat was a great motivation, you know. And as I told you a few weeks ago, you and Reggie helped me to pull myself out of the stupor I was in. So, thank you for that. I do believe you saved me from another breakdown.”
“We love you, Alexis, and were worried about you.” Eyeing her again, even more intently, Jane said slowly, “You look ten years younger, like you were when we first met you with Sebastian. Actually, you’ve looked this well for several weeks. But today you are very glamorous. That was always something I admired about you, Alexis, your natural glow.”
“Thank you, Jane, for these compliments, and thank you for being my friend and standing by me. You and Reggie have been so good.” Alexis suddenly choked up, felt her eyes growing moist, because they had been the most supportive and true friends. Unconditionally.
“It’s a bit warm out here,” Jane murmured, linking her arm through Alexis’s. “Let us go inside. I thought we could eat in the morning room, so much cozier than the big dining room.”
Walking across the grand foyer together, Jane stopped suddenly, and said, “This color lilac suits you so well, and enhances your coloring. How perfect it is with your red hair.”
“Tilda picked it out of a bunch of frocks that had been too tight. Now it fits me again. It was hard getting the weight off, but well worth the effort. And all of my clothes fit me. Tilda has given them an updated look with a few alterations. Anyway, I have some news for you.”
As they sat down opposite each other at the oval table, Jane glanced at her questioningly. “You’re not going off traveling abroad somewhere, are you? I couldn’t bear it if you were going away when you’ve just returned to town.”
“I am going somewhere actually, Jane.” Alexis paused, and said rather proudly, “I’m going back to work.”
Jane gaped at her, totally caught unawares and truly startled by this announcement. After a moment, finding her voice, she asked, “You do mean you’re going back to Malverns, don’t you?”
“I do. My father is thrilled, as you can imagine.”
Jane nodded. “And what about James Falconer? How does he feel about this move on your part?” she asked somewhat pithily.
“I suppose he’s happy. It is Falconer who is going to teach me how to run Malverns. My father has given him a contract for a year, plus a big bonus.”
Jane took this extraordinary information in her stride, and exclaimed, “Goodness, they must both believe you’re very serious about your work.”
“I am. What else have I to do? I’m not a big socialite, never have been. Work is the thing I do best, and I enjoy it. Look, I have to have a purpose. I can’t just hang around. Life has to be meaningful.”
“I understand that, but you could help out at Haven House. You will, won’t you?” Jane gave her a long look. “We need your input.”
“I know. I am coming to the next meeting … in a few days. I have been neglectful of my charity as well as neglectful of Papa. He’s needed me and I’ve been absent. I’m really rather ashamed of myself. I haven’t behaved as I should have as his only child.”
At this moment, Grant came into the morning room carrying two plates on a tray. Alexis nodded when she saw the oysters, a favorite of hers. “I see you’re spoiling me already, Jane.” Alexis stared at her friend. “And they’re a good starter, if you like shellfish. And not fattening.”
“What are you going to do at Malverns?” Jane asked curiously, pushing the small fork under the oyster in its shell.
“Falconer is to take me from division to division and train me how to head up and run each of them should I ever have to take it over. I might have to one day.”
“Are you actually up to this, Alexis? I mean, you don’t like Falconer … how do you plan to get on with him?”
“By being nice, polite, attentive to my work, and doing what he says.”
Jane looked at her intently, her eyes narrowing, amazed at Alexis and what she was saying. Yet she believed her. Alexis wanted her father’s company after all. And she needed Falconer. So she would have to toe the line, kowtow to him a bit. Now Jane decided she was brave to take this on. “I wish you well,” she murmured. “And always remember Reggie and I are here for you, to help any way we can.”
After enjoying a cheese soufflé, and mixed berries for dessert, Jane and Alexis went back to the green parlor. Grant served them coffee, which they had decided to have outside on the terrace.
It was a glorious day, a bright blue sky without a blemish, and no breeze at all. Jane said, “How nice it is out here, and it’s already mid-September.”
“An Indian summer kind of day,” Alexis volunteered. “And the air seems quite fresh for once. Not so many fires in our homes.”
Jane nodded, and was silent, continuing to worry slightly about Alexis working with James Falconer. In order not to sound as if she was lecturing her, Jane decided to bring her husband into the conversation.
After a few sips of coffee, she glanced at Alexis once again, taking in her beauty and vivid coloring—the red hair, emerald-green eyes, and alabaster skin. Quite an amazing comeback. She now said, “Returning to the subject of your being helped in your work by Falconer, I want you to know that Reggie really admires him. So much so, he offered Falconer a job at The Chronicle. In management, of course. It’s his uncle George who’s on the newspaper.”
Looking surprised, Alexis asked, “When did Reggie do that?”
“The first day he met him, when Falconer brought that letter from your father. To Goldenhurst.”
“My goodness, Reggie must have been impressed. He was rather fast on the draw, wasn’t he?”
“Indeed. I must amend my statement, Alexis. Reggie had run into Falconer once before when he was with his uncle George. I want to add that that job offer still stands, and Reggie would hire him in an instant.”
“I realize I have to learn how to run Malverns, Jane. And I will be a diligent student. Actually my father trusts him implicitly, and I cannot ignore that.”
Jane nodded, smiled warmly, filled with relief that Alexis was obviously very serious about the company. She was also still impressed by the way Alexis had pulled herself together, gone back to being the woman she was before Sebastian’s tragic, very sudden death. He was far too young to die.
Alexis interrupted her meandering thoughts when she said, “I’m thinking of buying a house, Jane.”
“A house!” Jane exclaimed, staring at her. “Don’t you want to live with your father?”
“I am doing so at the moment, as you know. But I’m used to running my own place now, being independent. And it was his idea, actually. I too was as surprised as you obviously are.”
“I’m amazed. Have you found one?”
“Yes, last week. It’s on South Audley Street, on a corner, and of medium size. Rather nice, not too big.”
“You’ll need to get a staff together. Perhaps I can be of help.”
“I’d love that, Jane. Mrs. Bellamy, my housekeeper at Goldenhurst, has a cousin, Vera Fox, who has agreed to become my housekeeper. And she knows of a couple of good butlers. I’m to interview them tomorrow. I’ve hired Mrs. Fox.”
“Gosh, you’ve been quick!”
“I think my father wants me to be independent, have my own home, an establishment that’s new and fresh, and which I can run myself as I want.” She laughed. “I’m quite excited about it, and about decorating it.”
“As I said, I’d love to help.”
“I will show it to you tomorrow, if you’re not busy. It’s empty, and I have the keys. The papers are being prepared, but they accepted my offer. I can go into the house whenever I want, to take measurements, all that.”
“What a great project—I’ll be thrilled to give you a hand.”
“Then you shall.”
James sat at his desk, gathering together papers, making a small pile of them, then placing them in a folder for Peter Keller. It was a busy day.
Rising, he hurried across the room and wrenched open the door, causing Alexis Malvern to stagger and fall against him. Dropping the folder, he grabbed her and held her tightly with both hands, preventing her from dropping to the floor.
They were both so startled by this strange encounter neither of them could speak for a moment. They just clung together, stupefied.
It was James who pulled himself together first. He righted her carefully, making sure she was properly balanced on her feet.
He stared at her. God, she was beautiful. Beyond belief.
She stared back, still disconcerted by this odd accident, and discovered she couldn’t look away. His eyes were so blue, they were mesmerizing.
She blinked and took a deep breath. “I was just about to knock,” she murmured by way of an explanation.
“It was my fault,” he answered swiftly. Taking her arm gently, he led her into his office. “I’m afraid I have a bad habit of rushing around, and wrenching doors open too quickly. I’m so sorry. I hope you’re not hurt?”
“No, I’m not. I’m fine, thank you.”
“Come and sit down for a moment, to recover your equilibrium.” He led her across the room to a large window, with two chairs and a small table in front of it.
She did as he asked, and watched him as he picked up several pieces of paper and a folder, which he placed on his desk.
Her reticule? Where was it? She then saw it still hanging on her arm. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back in the chair, attempting to relax.
A moment later he was leaning toward her, offering her a glass of water. Taking it from him, she thanked him, and began to drink. He sat down in the other chair and drank some of his own water.
After a while, he said, “I didn’t know you had started to come to the office. I thought it was to be next week.”
“Oh, it is, you’re quite right!” she exclaimed. “But I had a bite to eat with Lady Jane at midday, then we had to go and look at the outside of a house, which took all of twenty minutes. She had to leave me for another appointment afterward. I had time to spare, so I thought I would come and say hello to you … and apologize for being so rude to you when you came to Goldenhurst. So, I’m sorry, Mr. Falconer. I wasn’t very nice. I have no excuse for being so beastly. However, it was a bad period of time for me.”
James, though taken aback, said in an even voice, “Thank you for apologizing, Miss Malvern, and for taking the trouble of coming here today. It’s very nice of you.”
“I wanted it to be … well, a fresh start, since we are going to be working together, and for a whole year.”
She smiled, her green eyes sparkling with eagerness, with life, with warmth.
He inclined his head, wondering how on earth he was going to cope. He was having that strange tension in the pit of his stomach again, and he was blinded by her incredible natural beauty.
In the light from the window, her auburn hair was like a burnished helmet around her alabaster face. She was ravishing. And so desirable.
Suddenly realizing she was gazing at him intently, he cleared his throat and asked, “Do you wish me to introduce you to Peter Keller? Some of the other division heads?”
“Oh, no, no, not at all. It’s not necessary. Actually, I came to see just you … to make amends, as I explained a moment ago.”
“You have done so, and we’ll leave the introductions for next week. But since you are here, I would like to ask you a question. I’m not certain whether or not Mr. Henry has told you that you will have to travel. To Hull, where the new arcade is a huge success, and to the arcades you know in Leeds and Harrogate.”
“He did mention it in passing. That doesn’t present a problem at all. He also explained that at the end of the year your contract ends, you will leave Malverns, and I will become managing director.” She paused and hesitated, before asking, “Do you think I’ll be ready?”
Without hesitation, he answered, “Absolutely. When you worked here before you were excellent. Nobody better. You’re very clever and intelligent. You’ll pick everything up very swiftly. You’ll see the changes I’ve made are not very huge. But they have succeeded.”
“I’m glad you have faith in me, Mr. Falconer,” she said, and stood up. “I must leave you to get on with your work.”
“Yes, and I must give these papers to Keller.” Taking them from the desk, he went on, “Are you going to see Mr. Henry now?”
“Oh no, he’s not here. I believe he had a meeting at midday in Mayfair, and then went home.”
“Is your carriage waiting outside?”
“Yes, it is,” she answered, and wanted to offer him a lift but didn’t dare.
“Then I’ll escort you downstairs,” he said in a firm voice. “I’ll just give this folder to Keller. He occupies the next office to me.”
Once he had handed the folder to Keller, he left that office immediately. Alexis was waiting in the corridor and, putting his hand under her elbow, James walked with her down the staircase. Neither of them spoke, caught up in their own thoughts. About each other, although they did not know this.
After he handed her up into her carriage, she lowered the window and her eyes locked on his.
“I will do everything you want me to do, Mr. Falconer,” she murmured. A small smile suddenly flickered on her mouth and was gone.
“I sincerely hope you will, Miss Malvern,” James answered before turning and going back into the Malvern building without a backward glance.
When he was inside, he leaned against a wall, taking a few deep breaths. How would he be able to handle this situation? This woman spelled trouble. She had a terrible effect on him, aroused him in a way no other woman ever had.
He had never forgotten that trip to Paris, and how he had believed she felt the same as he did. Only to be discarded and avoided on their return to London.
Their odd collision in his doorway just now had been an accident, due to their timing. But oh, how it had thrilled him to hold her in his arms, her body pressed close to his, feeling that rush of desire, that stirring in his loins, the oncoming erection, which he had managed to control as he moved away from her as fast as possible.
He must endeavor to put distance between them when dealing with other matters. That was a given. And he must think with his head, not his heart. It occurred to him that he must include other people when he was informing her about each division. The division heads must be present. That was important.
The contract was the key to his future, the beginning of his dream, his retailing empire. Nothing could get in his way, or block his rise. Not even the most beautiful woman he had ever known.