A Headstrong Woman(88)

“I know you’re right but I can’t stand the thought of a trial,” Alexandria sighed.

“I was referring to the trip home from town, and, well, most the day really,” Anna admitted. “It was unfair of me. I’m not certain what is going on between you and Jonathon, if anything is, but I’ve placed blame on you that isn’t deserved,” Anna explained.

“I love you, Anna. I have no desire to hurt you,” Alexandria assured her sister.

“I know that, I just forgot,” Anna admitted as tears streamed down her face. Alexandria wrapped her damp arms around her sister and the two women hugged.

“I’m sorry; I got you wet didn’t I?” Alexandria laughed after she released her sister.

“It’s okay; I’ll dry,” Anna told her as she helped her dress in a gown and dressing gown.

After Alexandria was presentable, Anna led the way to the kitchen where Millie was waiting to help with Alexandria’s hair. Anna grabbed Alexandria’s brush and started working on brushing out her hair. Anna started shaking her head. Alexandria’s hair seemed to be one large tangle.

“I hate to, but I’m going to have to cut at least some of this,” Anna told her sister.

“It’ll make it easier to manage anyway,” Alexandria said with forced lightness.

Jonathon moved into the kitchen just as Anna raised a pair of scissors to cut Alexandria’s hair.

“Stop!” he protested as he entered the room.

Anna looked up wide-eyed and held the scissors out to him as though afraid he would wrest them away from her otherwise.

“I’m sorry,” Anna backed away from her sister.

Alexandria frowned at Jonathon.

“It would be a crime to cut her hair; why would you?” Jonathon demanded.

“It’s hopelessly tangled,” Anna explained.

“Have you got a comb?” Jonathon asked them.

Anna nodded and went to retrieve it.

Jonathon studied Alexandria as she tilted her head back to look up at him. He suddenly knew why she kept her hair up; she looked much younger with her hair framing her face and at the moment so vulnerable it made his heart ache. He reached out and gently ran his knuckles down the discoloration on her cheek; he would give anything to turn back the clock and escort Alexandria home himself.

Anna returned with the comb and Jonathon dropped his hand and stepped away from Alexandria.

Anna claimed a seat and watched curiously as Jonathon began gently working tangles from her sister’s hair; he started at the bottom. She was amazed that his large, broad hands could be so gentle. Jonathon was, for all she knew about him still an enigma to her. Hadn’t her sister suggested as much?

“What happened to your hands?” her gaze focused on the split skin on his right knuckle and the scratch marks on both hands.

Jonathon glanced down at his hand. “I guess Nick’s bones were harder than I realized,” he shrugged.

Anna’s eyes widened. “And the scratches?”

“Oh, well it seems he didn’t appreciate my hands around his neck,” Jonathon offered with a sardonic smile.

Anna’s eyes widened further if possible as she swallowed hard.

“What did you think he’d done, Anna? Admonished Nick politely and Nick neatly apologized and went on his way?” Alexandria’s tone was mildly amused.

“Of course not!” Anna snapped. She shuddered inwardly. She had never seen Jonathon angry and imagining him angry enough to hit someone seemed incongruous with the rest of her opinion of him. Would he have reacted the same with any woman? Would he stand in another’s woman’s kitchen untangling their hair or would he have allowed their hair to be cut? They were questions that were nagging at Anna.



Alexandria blinked against fatigue; her eyelids felt too heavy to hold up. She and Anna had often brushed one another’s’ hair at night before bed as a way of relaxing and it was having the same effect on her now. Jonathon’s hand seemed impossibly large and warm on the back of her head when he placed it there to work at a particularly stubborn tangle. She was on the verge of falling asleep sitting up when Jonathon spoke.

“There, all done. Your hair is tangle free,” Jonathon informed her. Alexandria’s eyes opened and she reached back to feel her smooth hair. Remarkable, how had he done that?

“Thank you,” she said on a yawn.

“Go get some rest. If you don’t mind, I’m going to lock both doors and lay down on your settee for a while. Sparky sent Nick on his way but I don’t want him coming back,” Jonathon told her. “I think Millie will be an adequate chaperone were anyone to question our motives later.”