An Impossible Attraction by Brenda Joyce

at Alexi. “Life is filled with tragedies.”
    “And life is filled with beautiful, young, spoiled debutantes.” Alexi saluted him with his glass.
    “What is your point?” Stephen asked crossly. But he recalled the parade of young ladies he’d been offered over the course of the past decade—every single one of them a mirror image of Anne. “Because I seem to recall another terribly spoiled and pampered young woman…before, of course, you jilted her at the altar and took off for parts unknown.” Stephen saluted Alexi with his glass, which he realized was almost empty.
    Alexi’s smile remained, but it no longer reached his eyes. “I made a terrible mistake, leaving her after our vows. I cannot imagine Lady Anne becoming the spectacular woman that my wife has become—a woman of opinions, ideas, of will, of substance . Miss Bolton reminds me of Elysse—not in appearance, but in courage.” He drained his drink and said, “I believe you have just insulted my wife.”
    He knew he should apologize, but Alexi’s latest reference to Alexandra Bolton was even more jarring than the previous ones—though Alexandra had been courageous tonight. No one could dispute that. “I personally have no use for a woman with opinions,” he muttered.
    “My God, you’ve insulted me, then Elysse, and now you’ve just insulted every woman in the family,” Alexi said, standing abruptly.
    “That is not what I meant,” Stephen said, standing, as well.
    “I think you should marry Anne or someone just like her,” Alexi said. “You can be such a jackass. Marrying a woman who will bore you to tears just so you can please that bastard who raised you—so you can be just like that bastard—is exactly what you deserve. Apologize.”
    Jack started laughing.
    Stephen finally lost his temper. “I am a jackass? Because you meddle like a woman.”
    Alexi’s eyes widened, then narrowed to slits. “Oh ho,” he said.
    Stephen tensed for the blow.
    But just as Alexi clenched his fist, Ned stood and interposed himself between the two men. “You can’t possibly strike His Grace. ”
    “His Grace, my arse. Why not? I’ve done so a hundred times.” Alexi glared.
    “Stephen deserves it,” Jack said, grinning with relish. “He did insult Elysse—who happens to be my only sister. And if he called me a woman, I’d take a piece of his scalp.” He winked at the two younger men, clearly relishing the prospect of a fistfight.
    “Go ahead, hit me,” Stephen said softly. “I won’t hit you back.”
    But Alexi knew him too well. “You won’t hit me back because you know that in a roundhouse, I will win.”
    Stephen rolled his eyes.
    “I’ll place a wager,” Jack said. “Do you want in?” He looked at Chaz and Randolph.
    “No one is coming to blows,” Ned said. “Not at this table.” Then, “Are you considering Anne Sinclair for a wife? Is that what this is about?”
    “No, I am not,” Stephen said firmly. “And I truly don’t know what set Alexi off tonight. Obviously I will have to marry one day—and yes, I will choose a debutante. I am sorry I insulted Elysse. I am very fond of her. I consider her a sister, in some ways.”
    Alexi smiled, instantly in a good humor. “I know you do. But you are still an ass. You’ve considered a hundred different debutantes. However, it isn’t your fault, it is Tom’s. You will imitate him after all, living with a wife you despise, in splendid isolation.”
    Ned seized Alexi’s shoulder. “He apologized. Let’s end this subject.”
    Stephen folded his arms, staring. He truly hoped that Alexi was wrong. But as a boy, he’d found Clarewood a cold and lonely place, something he recalled vividly now. “Splendid isolation? Now you are a poet,” he said, holding back his rising temper.
    “The truth can hurt.” Alexi shrugged. “I have changed my mind. You should cease your pursuit of Alexandra, and you should most definitely marry Anne.”
    “Your point is made. It took you long