After Lord Berkley left her in the gardens, Alex didn’t have much enthusiasm left to stay at the party. She was unhappy with her friends for tricking her, she was angry with Owen for appearing without warning, and she was sad to say good-bye to the one good friend she treasured, Lord Berkeley. Despite his insistence that Owen loved her, she couldn’t be certain of that at all. The man had never said as much and she had no other reason to believe it, other than her remnant of wishful thinking. Besides, Lord Berkeley was the type who has obviously wanted to make her feel better. Alex lifted her skirts and turned toward the door. It was time to go to bed. She would just go back inside, find Jane, her hostess, and say good night.
Alex was slowly walking up the terrace steps when the door opened and Lucy Hunt came hurtling out. Lucy plunked her hands on her hips. “Don’t tell me you’re retiring already.” The duchess sounded displeased.
Alex nodded. “Yes, I’m quite tired, and I—” Why was she explaining herself to Lucy Hunt, at any rate? She was angry with the woman. “Your Grace, I beg your pardon, but I’m not particularly pleased with you at the moment and I wish to go to bed, so if you’ll just—”
“You mean you want to hide from Owen,” Lucy said.
Alex scowled at her. “No. Certainly not. I—”
Lucy wrapped her arm through Alex’s and led her back down the steps and into the gardens. “You’re angry with me for orchestrating this event and inviting Owen, but if you’d only see it’s for your own good, you’d be ever so much happier sooner.” Lucy released her arm and smiled at Alex. “And yes, you are hiding from Owen. Don’t try to deny it. I was in a great deal of denial and confusion at this very house not long ago. I know denial when I see it.”
Alex narrowed her eyes on the duchess. “What do you mean?”
“Derek punched a tree, then climbed one—a different tree, that is—this one right here, actually.” She flourished her hand in front of the huge oak that rested in the center of the lawn. “Look up there. That large branch nearly meets the window of that bedchamber. I happened to be staying there at the time, and, well, Derek climbed right up.”
Alex supposed she should be shocked at that bit of news, but from what she knew of the duchess, it sounded in keeping with her exploits. “That’s my bedchamber,” Alex whispered.
“Oh, that’s interesting,” Lucy said, a sly smile on her face.
“But you didn’t finish what you were saying. Derek climbing up the tree confused you?”
“No. The tree climbing didn’t confuse me half so much as the fact that after I allowed him into my bedchamber to see to his bloody fist and ensure such an esteemed war hero didn’t fall to his death, he kissed me.”
“And that confused you?”
“Entirely.” Lucy nodded and lowered her voice. “Though the truth is that had I known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have allowed him to leave my bedchamber with only a kiss.”
Alex gasped and clamped her hand over her mouth.
“I’m so sorry, dear. Have I shocked you? I didn’t mean to. Cass always says my mouth works faster than my brain sometimes.”
Alex shook her head. “I’m certain you were quite in love with His Grace, and planning to marry, but Owen and I—”
“Oh no, no, no. I wasn’t settled on him at all. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. When Derek kissed me that night, it was the beginning of a great deal of confusion. You see, I thought he was going to become betrothed to Cass, and I would never betray my closest friend.”
Alex gasped again. She couldn’t help herself. “Cass? But she and Lord Swifdon—”
“Julian. Yes, I know. Oh, it’s a very long story, dear. Long and complicated, but suffice it to say that everyone knew that Derek and I were a better match. Everyone except the two of us, of course.”
“So you’re saying that Owen and I—”
“Are obviously a perfect match. We agreed to invite him here so that you would have the opportunity to talk and see the truth yourself. Owen was quite adamant that he see you and have the chance to speak with you alone. But you’ve been quite stubborn and refused to listen to him. I came out here to say I think you should give him the opportunity to tell you how he feels.”
Alex sniffed. “You don’t know everything he’s done, and—”
“I may not know all the details,” Lucy agreed. “But I’ve known Owen since I was a child, and he’s a good man. A very good man.”
“I know, you told me, the story about Eton and—”
“It’s not just that, dear. It’s many things he’s done over the years. The way he treats Cass. The way he speaks softly to his horses. The respect he’s always shown his mother. Take my word for it. He may have acted like an ass of late, but we all do stupid things at times. Let him tell you how he feels.”
Alex sighed. “Owen’s not the sort to tell a lady how he feels.”
“Perhaps not in the past, dear, but give him a chance. These men of ours, they do surprise us from time to time.”
Alex pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. This night was becoming more exhausting and more confusing, not less so. “So what are you saying? Owen should punch a tree, kiss me, and confuse me?”
“Not at all. I’m simply saying that you should hear him out.” Lucy turned away briefly and then peeked back over her shoulder with a sly smile. “And, if he just so happens to climb up to your bedchamber, don’t let him leave.”