Page 17 of Souvenir of Love

“And were you right?”

She thought of the lies he’d told when they’d first met, and the things she’d kept concealed. And the disaster the two of them had nearly made of their lives. “It’s not that simple, Elizabeth. And James…” Her hands fluttered as if the right words were small birds and she might somehow pluck them out of the air. “He is so much older, and experienced, and he’s…well, he’s…”

“A Dinsmore?”

She nodded.

“That doesn’t make him bad. It makes him proud and, I’ll admit, rather arrogant. But consider his situation: his father mad, his sister an angry spinster, his title withheld, his fortune entailed. What else is he to do but seek amusements and grow increasingly bored with them? He’s like a little boy who has lost his way.”

“He’s not a little boy, Elizabeth; he’s a man.”

Elizabeth thought about how his hands and his lips had explored her body, how he’d looked as he’d held her close and pleasured her. “I am aware of that.”

Alix frowned at the flush drifting up her sister-in-law’s slim neck. “I’m not talking about what passed between you two last night.”

The flush became distinctly crimson and spread to Elizabeth’s cheeks.

“Elizabeth, listen to me. There is an innocence to what boys do. They are just discovering the boundaries of their world, the damage they cause.” She stopped, knowing she must continue, must say her mind, but aware that whatever words she chose would hurt Elizabeth. “The damage they cause is…unintentional.”

“Are you saying what happened between us was…that James planned it?”

“I wasn’t there, Elizabeth.”Though, she thought bitterly,a good deal of the ton conveniently was. As well as the footman who appeared at Rafe’s elbow to let them know their carriage was ready at the precise moment word had begun to spread through the crush. Rafe had wanted to charge to the library, but she had convinced him it would only make things worse.

“Is that what you are saying, Alix?” Elizabeth demanded.

No matter what arguments she presented, Elizabeth would reject them; her sister-in-law was clearly infatuated with James Dinsmore. “What I’m saying is that James knew better than to take you into the library alone. He knew the risks to you and to your reputation.”

“And if I tell you that it was my idea to go into the library?”

“I’d say you did a very mad thing, but I would still say that James should not have taken you.”

“And if I tell you that he resisted, that it was I who encouraged him?”

Alix, her mouth drawn tight, said nothing, only picked up her needlework and began to work the petals of a flower.

“Last night was not planned. It just…happened. But I feel somehow that it was meant to be. He will come for me.”Perhaps not today—she glanced out the window—but I know he will.

They continued to stitch in quiet, if not entirely comfortable, silence.

“I’mbored and I’m tired of sitting. I need some fresh air.” Elizabeth began putting away her needles and thread. “Do let us go riding.”

Alix looked doubtful. “Rafe has put it out that we are not at home to visitors.”

“Just a brief ride, a quick turn about the park. We won’t stop. We won’t speak to a soul. If anyone tries to engage us, we’ll simply wave politely.”

“Elizabeth, I don’t know.”

“I suppose we must stay inside, then.” Elizabeth sighed, peering through her lashes. “After all, Rafe does always know what’s best.”

Alix’s eyes narrowed. “I know what you are up to, Elizabeth Harcrest. You are trying to manipulate me.”

Elizabeth picked up a needle, but her hands remained motionless in her lap. Her eyes drifted toward the window.

She’ll learn, Alix thought,soon enough.

“Such a beautiful day.”

Weaving her needle into the corner of her work, Alix said, “Very well, a brief ride.” She rose, praying that the lesson Elizabeth was about to learn would be brief as well.