A Lady’s Mystery by Joyce Alec

Author:Joyce Alec [Alec, Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-09T04:00:00+00:00

8

Alexander cleared his throat and tried to smile at Lady Beatrice as they walked together toward the bookshop. It had been a chance meeting, apparently, although from the look in his mother’s eye, Alexander found himself wondering if such a thing had been both planned and coordinated by her. She had, after all, begged for him to accompany her into town so that she might buy a new pair of gloves, lamenting over the fact that her silk ones had been found to have a small hole near the palm. Having had no other plans, he had agreed to it a little reluctantly, quietly hoping that his mother would only want a short trip into town. He had been feeling a good deal better since last evening and thought that whilst a few minutes in the fresh air might do him good, he wanted to return home as soon as possible so he could rest and recuperate so as to be in good health for tomorrow’s social gatherings.

Now, it seemed, he was to spend a good deal longer away from home than he had first intended.

“You are fond of reading?” he asked, finding nothing else to say and hating the silence that came from Lady Beatrice.

“Yes.”

He closed his eyes momentarily and hid his growl of frustration. “And what are you hoping to purchase today?” he asked after a moment. “Another novel, mayhap?”

Lady Beatrice swung her eyes up to his for the briefest of moments. “Perhaps,” she answered, her cheeks coloring furiously. “I mean… yes, I suppose so.”

Alexander wanted to take his leave of Lady Beatrice and her mother, Lady Dalton, almost at once, given just how difficult it was to have any sort of conversation with the lady. Idly, he thought of Lady Marion, thinking to himself that he greatly appreciated her quick wit and sparkling conversation. He never had to struggle to think of what to say when it came to her, even though he found her probing questions a little disconcerting, especially when she refused to stop asking them despite his demands that she do so.

He recalled that she also enjoyed reading, remembering how she had taken a few books from his library that she had not yet returned. They had not discussed her hobbies at length, however, making a twinge of guilt twist his heart. He perhaps should be more attentive to Lady Marion, but at the moment, all he was able to think of when he was in her presence was whether or not his stomach would start turning this way and that, or if a chill would run down over his skin, rendering him both hot and cold at the same time.

“I hope you enjoy your time in the bookshop,” he said lamely, opening the door for Lady Beatrice and waiting for his mother and Lady Dalton to join them. “I have some business I must return home to.” His smile was lackluster, but Alexander did not care. He had no time for Lady Beatrice and certainly did not want to give the girl or her mother any sort of hope.

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