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ALICE BURROWED HER nose into Christian’s greatcoat, the bergamot and mint scent giving her a sense of comfort. Prince carried both of them without any effort, and it wouldn’t be long before she was home. For now, though, she was enjoying being warm and safe with Christian’s solid presence at her back and his arms surrounding her.
She leaned into him and turned her head. “You know, when I finally realized what was happening, and that the valet was the traitor, my first thought was, I was right about Pembroke being innocent.”
“Yes, your instincts were right on.” He tightened his arms around her. “The day we went shooting I spoke with him and started to doubt his guilt as well. The evidence was just so overwhelming, I couldn’t see how he could explain that away.”
“Jasper did a thorough job in framing him.” Alice shifted her weight. “I hope the drugs Pembroke was given don’t do any permanent damage.”
“I’m sure your father will have a lot of questions for him when he’s lucid.” Christian’s breath tickled her neck and sent tingles down her spine. She couldn’t stop thinking about the kisses they’d shared in the kitchen and the courtyard. He’d come for her. Believed in her. And she wanted him to be hers.
“Does your father know what you do for the Falcon Group?” Alice kept her voice low and soft. Was his family difficult to talk about?
“I think he guessed after a while.” Christian’s voice trailed off. “The three of us―my brother, my father, and me―were so close after my mother died. My father would talk over the parliamentary matters he was involved with, and my brother talked about the estate. Endlessly.” He chuckled. “When we were at home together, we hunted and fished, and when we were apart, we wrote each other regularly.” His voice got very soft, barely more than a murmur. “They both knew their place in the world, but it took me longer to find mine. And now that I have, I must give it up. Family always comes first.” Christian straightened in his seat and shifted her closer to him. “Not that I mind, really. I just feel most useful and able to contribute my skills in military and intelligence matters.”
“You haven’t lost your place and purpose. It’s just changing a bit.” She twisted so she could meet his eyes. “You’re going to help the men coming home from the war, and you’re in a unique position to help change the laws of our country to do more for them as well. And you still have Falcon Group, though your role might be different now.”
He kissed the end of her nose. “I love how you think. You see things so clearly, and you help me see things differently as well,” he said in her ear. “You’re unlike every other woman I’ve ever met.”
“I’ll assume you mean that as a compliment.” She smiled and turned forward once again.
“Most definitely a compliment.” He leaned forward, his lips nuzzling the nape of her neck. “When we realized you’d been taken, I was so worried, but your father reassured me that you were armed and capable. And you were.”
His kisses were featherlight, but they started a firestorm in her middle. “I was still glad to see you walk into that parlor,” she said, a mite breathlessly.
“With my brother’s death and my father’s illness . . . I couldn’t lose you as well.” He kissed her earlobe and she closed her eyes, wishing they weren’t on horseback. “You’ve become so important to me in such a short time.”
She gazed up at him and tilted her face just enough to kiss the edge of his mouth. “You’re important to me, too.”
The lights of Langdon Park were just ahead, and Alice sighed. She wanted more time. Right here, on the back of the horse, with only stars as their witness, everything seemed how it should be. This was where she wanted to stay. If only she could.
There were no carriages in front of the mansion, and the house was quiet, so the masquerade guests must have all gone home. Two grooms came out to meet them as they approached. Christian dismounted, then gently lifted her down. She swayed toward him, and he quickly handed off the reins off to a groom and swept her into his arms. Her excitement had given way to exhaustion, so Alice laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes.
The butler opened the door as they gained the top step and Alice’s mother was in the entryway. “Oh, Alice!” she exclaimed, rushing to her side. “Take her to the drawing room.”
“I’m all right, Mama,” Alice said, but her voice sounded small in the large entryway. The duchess probably hadn’t heard.
Once in the parlor, Christian set her down on the green damask sofa, then promptly took the seat beside her. She laid her head against his shoulder as her mother sat in the chair right next to her and dismissed all the servants.
“What happened?” the duchess asked when they were alone, discreetly wiping away a tear. “I was so worried when your father said he was going to find you.”
Alice looked over at her mother. “Lord Pembroke’s valet was framing him for Thomas’s murder and for being a traitor to the Crown.” Her arm was starting to throb. “He was beside himself after his brother died in the war, spying behind enemy lines for Wellington. He wanted revenge, so he was going to make everyone think I had run off with Lord Pembroke, then sell us to the French.”
Christian’s body tensed as she spoke. She lightly touched the back of his hand. “It all ended well, though.” Her eyes were starting to close. She was feeling so very tired all of a sudden.
“Your daughter was magnificent. She kept her head about her and managed to foil all his plans.” Christian’s voice rumbled through her and Alice sighed.
The door opened and her father strode in. He walked to his wife’s side immediately and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry to have worried you, my dear,” he said softly. “It couldn’t be helped.”
She sniffed. “I agreed to all your extra activities from your very first assignment all those years ago, and I know your work is important,” she said, softening the admonishment with a small smile. “But I do worry.”
Alice opened her eyes and found her father’s gaze. “Where is Dubois? And Jasper?”
“We took them to the Priest House on the far side of the estate. It hasn’t been used in years and is in a bit of disrepair, but there are several rooms without windows, and doors that lock from the outside. It’s the most secure building we have until we can get them back to London.” Her father sat down in a chair opposite her mother. “How are you feeling, Alice?”
“Tired.” She looked over at Christian. “Relieved.” Turning back to her father, she straightened. “Has Dubois or Jasper said anything?”
“My physician is with Dubois now. It wouldn’t do for him to bleed to death before I can deliver him to the Foreign Office. He hasn’t said a word. Jasper is very anxious to talk, however. He claims he never meant to harm you at all, that he only wanted money for his mother, to ease her pain and suffering after the loss of her son. Though if you ask him about Thomas or the Earl of Pembroke, he’s not very complimentary. Nothing I can repeat in the presence of ladies, you understand.” He winked at Alice. “Not that you would want to hear it anyway.”
“What happens now?” the duchess asked, twisting her handkerchief in her hands. “Will they be here much longer?”
“No, my dear. I will have them moved as soon as I can make arrangements.” He stood and touched his wife’s shoulder. “I won’t have them here a moment longer than necessary.”
Her mother stood with him, patting his hand. “Thank you, Edmund. Now, we need to get Alice in bed. I’ll ring for Winnie and make sure to have Cook make a posset for you. It will all look better in the morning.”
“Yes, Mama.” Alice felt Christian’s arms come around her again.
“Perhaps I should assist her upstairs. The shock seems to have set in.” Christian pressed her close, and Alice sighed into his warmth. He always seemed warm. Or was making her feel warm.
“Thank you.” The duke held the door open for them, and the duchess led the way.
“I’d like to meet with you tomorrow morning, Your Grace,” Christian said as he passed by with Alice.
“Yes, I think you should,” the duke said, nodding as they gained the hallway.
Alice wanted to ask if she should be ready to give a report to her father as well, but her head felt heavy. Tomorrow. Everything would look better tomorrow.
Christian easily carried her upstairs as if she weighed nothing, and deposited her on her bed at her mother’s direction. Before he drew away, however, Alice felt his kiss on her brow. “Sleep well, my beautiful warrior,” he whispered, and then he was gone.
Alice smiled and turned into her pillow. She was so very tired, but contentment washed over her. Christian recognized the things about her that made her stand out and would be an embarrassment, or perhaps even ruin her, if anyone found out. But those were the things that had captured his attention.
He’d truly seen the woman she was. And admired what he saw.
Warmth pooled in her chest at the thought, and then she let herself sleep, dreaming of the man who had won her heart.
