Emily Hendrickson by The Unexpected Wife

satin stripe that contrasted nicely with her yellow morning gown. Once settled, she surveyed Alexander where he had taken a position leaning against the fireplace surround.
    She touched the betrothal ring with a hesitant finger. “It was enormously thoughtful of you to think of this. Such a beautiful ring. Marius hatefully insisted that anyone could find a plain gold band, but to have you put this elegant ring on my finger, declaring it to have been a family ring properly altered to fit me, well! That put him in his place.”
    Alexander gave her a wry look. She was such an odd combination of practicality and feminine logic, all overlaid with an innocence he found touching. What a pity she had been pushed to such a situation.
    “I am pleased my efforts meet with your approval,” he began. “Now, as to our supposed marriage ... when did you leave your home?”
    She gave him the precise date, and he rubbed his chin while he considered the matter. “Is there a calendar around here? I should like to study it.”
    Juliet dug around in the dainty desk by the window and ultimately found a small one, promptly offering it to him.
    He studied it, then pointed out that it would be possible for them to have been wed on the twentieth of February after a meeting on the eighth, then separated immediately, whereupon she traveled south, ultimately concluding her trip in Woodbury.
    “And where were we married?”
    “Gretna. ‘Tis the only answer we can give, for it would be too easy to check any other place. You can say you traveled north with your former governess and I met you there, persuading you to flee to Gretna with me.”
    “I suppose,” she inserted cautiously, “Marius will have no difficulty in believing you swept me off to marry me at once. You have a most commanding way about you, my lord.”
    “Do I, indeed?” Alexander said somewhat austerely. He paced back and forth for a few minutes, thinking about what they might possibly meet with, then spun about to face her. “There must be no more friendly calls from Mr. Wyllard. No more exchanging plants and seeds, receiving pretty little nosegays, wistful looks—at least on his part. And above all, no duets with him.” Alexander waited for her to explode and was not disappointed for long.
    She flew at him, coming to a halt close to where he had waited for her. “I cannot believe my ears. Mr. Wyllard is as harmless as a butterfly. He means no wrong and respects you greatly.”
    “Think what construction Marius will place on his attendance. Do you wish to give your stepbrother the impression that ours is not a love-match?” Alexander placed his hands on his hips, watching her struggle with her warring feelings.
    “After that kiss you gave me, I do not see how he could fail to believe we are not madly in love,” she said at last. Then she gave him a curious look. “Tell me, Alexander, do you often kiss like that?”
    “What?” he sputtered with laughter and a wonder at her innocence.
    “I have received few kisses, it is true, but that seemed most extraordinary to me. I doubt you could repeat it.” She watched him from slightly narrowed eyes as though wondering what he might do at her words.
    Without pausing to consider what he was doing, Alexander pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.
    “Amazing,” she whispered when released. “I had not thought that kiss could be duplicated.” She turned away as though to compose herself, glancing back at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes that Alexander immediately caught.
    “Minx! What a blessing that you were never given a Season in Town. You would have had the place upside down in no time.”
    “I believe I am becoming a shameless flirt!’” she said with an odd expression, then continued. “You realize Marius may believe it was heartless of you to leave me alone and spend time in London whilst I lived in this remote village. He has said nothing so far, but it will take a bit of time for the thought to