The Untamed Earl(52)

Owen turned to Alex with a sharp slant to his voice, drawing her away from her thoughts once again. “So, that’s it? You’ve got what you wanted.”

Alex’s heart tugged. She didn’t have what she wanted at all. But she had to continue to play this game. “I still intend to help you with Lavinia,” she assured him. “What else do you want to know about her?”

He shook his head. “I don’t have any idea. It seems entirely hopeless.”

“How did it go with her … tonight?”

“As badly as you’d expect. She doesn’t seem to be impressed with the things you told me to mention. I think it’s because they’re coming from me. I could tell her everything she’d ever wanted to hear, and she’d reject it coming from me.”

Alex stared at her slippers. She pushed one along the stone floor beneath her feet. “I’m sorry you’re disappointed.”

He groaned. “I need you, Alex. Tell me something, anything that will help to make her come around to the idea of marrying me. I doubt my trying to woo her is of any use anymore. She seems to have a heart of stone, but something has to melt it.”

Mine is already melted.

Alex gulped. He wasn’t jealous after all. At least not jealous enough to stop trying to court Lavinia. Oh God. What had Alex expected? Their parents were all counting on an engagement between Owen and Lavinia. In their world, one did what one’s parents told one to do. That was how it worked. It would take more than one dance with another man to make Owen jealous enough to defy his father.

Alex paced over to the balustrade and stared out into the darkened gardens. “I don’t know what else to say,” she murmured. “Perhaps you should simply tell Lavinia the truth. That Mother and Father want you to marry each other. See what she says.”

He strode over to her, and Alex looked up at him. The breeze ruffled his hair. “Thank you for your help, Alex.” He turned back toward the door.

Alex’s voice was soft and low. “You’re quite welcome.”

How had this conversation begun with Owen seeming to be jealous over Lord Berkeley and ended with him asking for additional ways to win Lavinia?

With one foot resting on the stone step that led back inside, Owen said, “Good luck with your viscount.”

Alex watched him go and expelled her pent-up breath.





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“Get up!”

Owen blinked against the harsh sunlight that was streaming through the window of his bedchamber. Though he’d come home quite alone, he’d gone on a bender last night. One of which he was not particularly proud, and now his head pounded like the devil and someone had kicked his mattress and yelled at him.

He blinked through his bleary haze some more, opening his eyes to see his father’s rotund form standing above him.

“What time is it?” he asked through a cracked, dry throat.

“Well past noon, of course.” His father always sounded judgmental.

“I was out till after four.”

His father rolled his eyes. “That makes it all right?”

“No. That makes it exceedingly early. For me.”

Owen struggled to his feet and pulled on his dressing robe. Then he sat on the edge of his bed, braced his palms on his parted knees, and contemplated his father through unfocused eyes. “What can I help you with?”

His father grabbed his lapels and began to pace in front of Owen. “I want to know how you’re progressing. With Lady Lavinia.”

“Ah, so the parents want a progress report, do they?”

His father hesitated briefly. “Yes. We do. All four of us.”

“It’s progressing as well as can be expected.” Owen yawned and rubbed his fingers through his hair.

“Yet you were out till all hours instead of courting her?”

Owen rolled his head around on his neck. “On the contrary, I went to a ball to see her and then I went out till all hours.” And he’d gone out till all hours to try to blot out the memory of Alex dancing with Viscount Berkeley.

His father grunted. “You’re not witty, you know.”

“I have reason to believe otherwise.”

His father yanked at his lapels again and resumed his pacing. “Is she taking a liking to you? Showing interest?”

“That task has proved impossible. The girl is an icicle. I’ve decided I’m just going to tell her we’re meant to marry. Reason with her.”

“No!” His father’s voice shook the rafters. “You must make her fall in love with you.”

Owen rubbed his temples. “I’m telling you that’s far easier said than done.”

More lapel tugging ensued. “What’s this? Lost your confidence, have you? Where’s the lad who was so certain of himself not a fortnight ago?”