A Headstrong Woman(65)
“You be careful over there, that man watches you too closely. We don’t want him thinking he can add you to his list of mistresses,” Millie cautioned darkly.
“I’ll be careful,” she promised.
“Every man out there in her employ would tear him limb to limb if he tried,” Jonathon’s announcement caused Alexandria to jump; she wasn’t aware that he had followed her. Her gaze when it met his was disbelieving.
“It’s true, every one of those men would protect you if it came to it, well with the exception of Nick; I’m still not so sure about him.”
“Me either,” Alexandria admitted as she recalled the way he had watched her the day before. “We’re off now,” Alexandria nodded to her sister and turned to leave. The buggy stood waiting and with Jonathon’s aide Alexandria was soon seated in it.
“I’m not entirely thrilled to be calling on Tristan,” Alexandria admitted. “Perhaps we should have sent Rusty as you suggested this morning.”
“Maybe, but you’re right about it being, in some ways, more appropriate from a business stand point for you to go.”
“Thanks for coming with me, Jonathon; I feel a little better knowing you’ll be there.”
“I wouldn’t have let you come alone and neither would the others. I was serious at the house, Alexandria; you have gained the respect of those men and more than one or two of them are in awe of you,” Jonathon reiterated his earlier claim.
Alexandria snorted. “In awe of my unseemly behavior perhaps; I’m aware that it is highly irregular for me to run around in men clothes doing men’s work.”
“How is it you turn every compliment into some self-inflicted insult?” Jonathon asked in exasperation.
“It’s a gift I guess,” Alexandria offered him a self-derisive smile.
“Thank you, Alexandria; thank you is the response you give in return for a compliment it. Let’s practice. I’ll give you a complement and you say thank you. Ready?” Jonathon glanced her direction.
“Okay,” laughter bubbled in Alexandria’s voice.
“You’re beautiful,” Jonathon offered.
Alexandria snorted and burst into laughter.
“We’re not off to a great start here, Alexandria. Okay, how about this. You offer me a compliment. Say ‘nice hat’ or something like that,” Jonathon suggested. When Alexandria didn’t comply he turned to her. “Go ahead; I’m going to show you how this is done.”
“Okay,” Alexandria was still smiling at his foolishness. After a moment’s consideration she spoke honestly. “You have beautiful eyes.”
Jonathon looked taken back and at a loss for a moment before speaking. “Thank you,” he finally managed; his tone betrayed his surprise.
“You’re welcome,” Alexandria returned.
“Okay, now you’re turn. You are a very intelligent woman, Alexandria, and pretty as well.”
Jonathon glanced over at Alexandria to find her face scrunched.
“Thank you,” she said primly.
“You look as if someone handed you persimmons,” Jonathon accused.
“I said thank you!” Alexandria protested.
“I’m going to line the men up and instruct them to compliment you and you will be allowed to say nothing but thank you,” Jonathon threatened.
“You’ll do no such thing!” Alexandria scoffed.
“You wanna bet?” Jonathon returned.
“Here we are,” Alexandria was suddenly all business and prim.
“Yes, here we are.” He was going to teach her to take a compliment yet.
Alexandria waited for Jonathon to help her alight from the carriage before mounting the steps and ringing the bell on Tristan Price’s mansion. The man had built a Greek revival structure more suited the pre-civil war south than current day Montana.
“Some place,” Jonathon commented from beside her.
“Isn’t it? I came by here one day with Daddy.”
Any further comment was prevented when the door was opened by a maid.
“Alexandria Morris here to see Mr. Price,” Alexandria announced as she offered one of her seldom used calling cards.
“Please wait in the parlor,” the maid escorted her to the room before disappearing back into the hallway.
“I feel like I’m in Georgia,” Jonathon muttered as he leaned in close to Alexandria. She smiled but said nothing. The room’s décor was over the top.