A Study In Seduction(71)
“One.” I think. He didn’t know where Nicholas was, couldn’t remember the last time they’d received a letter from him. Alexander tried to keep his voice level. “I fail to see what this has to do with the exhibition.”
“Then you’d best look more closely, Lord Northwood.” Sir George Cooke thumped a fat finger on the table. “Your brother is considered an enemy of the state.”
“My brother is not a soldier, not in politics—”
“You think anyone cares what he does?” Lord Hadley asked. “We’ve already received numerous objections to the extent of the Russian display in the exhibition, and we’ve not even received most of the objects yet.”
Lord Wiltshire coughed. “And, forgive me, Lord Northwood, but no one has forgotten the unfortunate circumstances surrounding your mother and the divorce of your parents. Owing to your support and the strength of your work with the Society, we’ve been willing to overlook it up to this point, but I’m afraid the increasing hostilities with the Russian Empire force us to take it into account once again.”
Alexander’s back teeth snapped together. “What my mother has to do with—”
“Lord Northwood, please.” Sir George held up his hand. “You are not on trial. We are not asking you to defend yourself or your family. We are simply stating the facts, and I venture to suggest that even you yourself cannot disagree with them.”
Alexander sat back, detesting the helplessness that swamped his chest.
“There is a great deal of anti-Russian public sentiment in France,” Sir George continued, “and it is beginning to flourish here. We dare not risk causing tension with the French and other foreign commissioners to the exhibition by suggesting that we sympathize with the czar.”
“A despotic ruler, if ever there was one,” Lord Wiltshire added. “We must be united with our allies against him, Northwood, and in all areas of society. That’s really the crux of the matter.”
“And your own business of trading with Russia—fibers and such, isn’t it?—is also an issue, Northwood,” Sir George said. “It’s not been declared illegal, per se, but we can’t discount the possibility that it will be soon. Or at the very least that it will arouse public sentiment.”
“What would you have me do?” Alexander asked. “Remove the Russian display from the exhibit, limit trade with—”
“Lord Northwood, there’s not much you can do.” Faint sympathy glimmered in Hadley’s expression. He and Sir George exchanged glances. “We’ve got to… well, we’d need support of the union representatives and there are bylaws to consider, but I’d suggest you prepare yourself for the eventuality.”
Alexander’s fists tightened. “What eventuality?”
“I’m afraid we’ve little choice but to consider replacing you as director of the exhibition.”
Alexander stormed from the room. All the work he’d done for the Society, the exhibition, his family, his company… slipping like water from his fist. He let the door slam shut behind him as he strode into the exhibition space of St. Martin’s Hall.
Workers teemed through the great room like insects over a field. The hall itself, and the staircases, galleries, and passages, were crowded with tables, shelves, cases, and partitions to demarcate various displays. The air filled to the paneled ceiling with the sounds of shouting voices, hammers, the scrape and thump of crates.
His doing. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for him, and now they could strip him of his duties as if—
Alexander stopped at the section devoted to the countries of Asia. Lydia stood near the China exhibit, her head bent as she examined a shelf of books. A surge of joy swelled beneath Alexander’s heart at the sight of her, diluting his anger.
Even with all the frustration she’d caused him, he could not deny the sheer pleasure he found in just looking at her. He had a constant longing to hear her voice, to feel her gaze on him, to bask in the warmth of her smile.
Christ in heaven.
He loved her. He wanted to marry Lydia because he loved her. He needed to marry her. He needed her.
He took a few breaths to calm his turmoil before approaching her. Talia and Castleford were also there, deep in conversation.
“Hullo, North.” Castleford lifted a hand in greeting. “We were just going over the final details here.”
Alexander kept his gaze on Lydia. An image of her flushed and naked beneath him flashed into his brain. He drew in another lungful of air and forced steadiness into his voice. “A pleasure to see you, Miss Kellaway.”