For Your Arms Only by Linden, Caroline (best fiction books to read .TXT) 📗

not in the lock. She looked around, but it was not on the floor by the door, or anywhere else she could see.

“What is it?”

“The key,” she whispered.

The bed ropes creaked as he got out of bed. Cressida peered anxiously under a table, and then the key appeared in front of her, lying on his outstretched palm. “Thank you,” she said softly, reaching for it.

“Until later,” he said, holding tight to the key. “Will you walk with me this afternoon?”

She wet her lips. “Didn’t I tell you last night? I would go anywhere with you.”

His mouth curved. “Thank you.” He leaned in to kiss her as he dropped the key into her hand.

Cressida could only smile dreamily back at him. She had never realized love could make a person so happy about the slightest thing. “Thank you,” she said, “for the most beautiful night of my life.” She turned the key in the lock and slipped out of the room, before she forgot herself once more.

Later, after he had washed and shaved, Alec left his room, feeling as though he had opened a door to a new life. The scars of his past still marked him, but not as before. It wasn’t the physical wounds that had pained him as much as the wounds on his soul, and Cressida’s understanding and acceptance spread salve on those. He would never be the same man he was before Waterloo, but that was beside the point. He had been chasing a ghost, telling himself that if he could only prove his innocence, everything would be restored as it was before. Finally, at long last, he realized—and acknowledged—it was a lie. He knew he had not spied for the French, Cressida believed him, and that would be enough. A long life stretched in front of him, hopefully a happy one. He would be a fool to ruin that chance by clinging to anger and despair about a fact he could not change.

He met his mother at the bottom of the stairs. “Good morning, Mother.” He kissed her cheek.

She blinked in astonishment at such a warm greeting. He resolved to be a better son, one she deserved. “Good morning, Alexander. May we have a word?”

“Of course.” He extended his arm and they went into his study.

Mother clasped her hands and drew herself up. “I am very sorry to have to say this to you,” she said gravely, “but I must. One of the maids said she saw Miss Turner leaving your chambers early this morning, in her nightclothes. I do not wish to interfere in your affairs, but Miss Turner is still an unmarried woman, and our guest. It pains me to reprove you, dear—”

Alex grinned. “Then don’t. Mother, rest easy; I hold Miss Turner and her reputation in the highest possible regard.”

She looked uneasy. “The servants will gossip. I scolded the girl at once for spreading tales, but I am not sure I can stop them from whispering about it among themselves…”

“They won’t for long,” he told her, still grinning like a schoolboy. “I intend to marry her.”

Chapter 25

That day was one of upheaval, as John and his family left. Even Marianne, who spent most of her time in the nursery with her children, came to bid them farewell. Alec shook his cousin’s hand, recognizing how much he owed the man. Without John, Penford would have been sorely neglected for the last several months, and no man could have been more gracious in the face of such crushing disappointment.

“Thank you,” he said.

John’s grin was wry. “Think nothing of it. I could do no less for my aunt.”

“I am forever in your debt, and for far more than the comfort you gave my mother.”

“I am sure you would have done the same, had our positions been reversed.” Too late John realized what he said; his face flushed, and his eyes veered away.

Oddly, Alec didn’t feel the sting this time. In fact, it might have been the greatest compliment John could have paid him, presuming Alec’s honor equal to his own. “Of course. I hope you still consider Penford partly your home. Your family will always be welcome here.”

John cleared his throat, still awkward. “We do, thank you. Good-bye, Alec.”

Alec walked with him to the waiting carriage. He helped his aunt inside, then stood back to wish them all safe journey, and the coach was off. His mother and Marianne went back into the house, but Julia waved her handkerchief until they had turned at the end of the long drive.

“The house will be so quiet now,” she remarked when all that remained was a cloud of dust to mark the passing of the coach. “First John, Aunt Hayes, and Emily, and soon Cressida and her sister and grandmother will be gone.”

Alec smiled to himself. “Oh?” he murmured. “Will that bother you?”

She sighed. “Yes. Perhaps it would bother you as well, were you ever here.” She turned and went back into the house.

Alec let her go; he planned to be around much more in the future, but not, he hoped, to be bothered by Cressida’s absence. He stood in the sunshine for several minutes, just admiring Penford. It was his home again, where he would bring his bride, and, God willing, raise his children. He had never thought of all that. Penford had not been his house, and he hadn’t thought of marriage until now. The prospect was a very pleasing one. He took a full breath, and set off to hurry through the daily business before meeting Cressida.

Callie was just rising when Cressida slipped back into their room. She looked shocked for a moment, but said nothing. Cressida was sure every sinful pleasure had left some sort of mark on her, but when she looked in the mirror it was more a glow of happiness. In fact, she looked remarkably well for such a wicked woman.

“Will you