Forever My Love (Berkeley-Faulkner #2)(94)

The grilling seemed to continue for several minutes, while Mira began to enjoy the thrust-and-parry conversation. Evidently the other woman did as well, for her interest in Mira increased with each minute. Where in France had Mira originally come from? Which young men had paid court to her so far, and whom was she interested in? How had her family come to be acquainted with the Berkeleys? Mira spun dramatic and intricately detailed answers to the prying questions. The conversation must have entertained the woman to a great degree, because she frowned as she saw her companion returning. .

“The devil. We’ll have to continue our talk some other time. They’ve arrived.”

“Madam, before you introduce me to anyone, I must remind you that I don’t know your name.”

“You don’t? You don’t know who I am? I thought everyone did. Help me up, child.”

“Of course. No, I do not know who—” Mira began, helping the elderly woman out of the chair. She stopped in mid-sentence as she saw whom the companion had brought back, and she blinked in surprise as she stared up into clear gray eyes.

“Alec,”, the elderly woman said briskly,’t”this is the one.”

And with that she bade the companion to lead her away, leaving the two of them to stare after her in stunned silence. Juliana’s notion of an introduction had never been very complicated.

“Was that… is that… your mother?” Mira felt her cheeks turn crimson.”Unfortunately, yes.”

“Oh, the things I said to her,” Mira groaned, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, the things I told her!”

“She would pick you.” Alec’s voice was threaded with dry resignation. “I should have expected it.”

“Pick me for what?”

“Pick you for me.”

“Me for…” Mira stammered, now regarding him with such complete confusion that Alec laughed.

“Mira, ma cMre, don’t ask me to explain what is going on. I’m not at all certain that I know. Or care.”

She looked at him in confusion, and as the sun shone on his hair and glowed in his eyes, she thought that she had imagined last night. In the light of day it seemed impossible that she had loved him, touched him, known him in the most intimate way possible. Yet he had given her that freedom last night, hadn’t he? Hadn’t he encouraged her to want him and respond to him?

“What was your first thought this morning?” he asked, smiling slowly.

“What a ghastly night it was. And you?”

“I was besieged by a number of important questions.”

“The most pressing one being… ?”

“What it would feel like to wake up with you in my arms,” he answered reflectively. “And I wondered if you kick in your sleep, if you make any noise, if you pull the covers onto your side of the bed or—”

“I don’t do any of those things.”

His eyes glowed warmly. “I would like to have the opportunity to find out.”

Just then Rosalie’s voice broke into the conversation. “Mireille?”

“The Berkeleys…” Mira turned her head to watch Rand and Rosalie strolling toward them.

“Don’t look so guilty.” Alec grinned at her unsettled expression. “Keeping company with me is not a crime.““In Rosalie’s opinion it is,” she assured him, and for the next few minutes she could not look at any of them… not Alec and Rand, who exchanged polite and cordial greetings, not Rosalie, who was eyeing her with vigilant interest.

“I was hoping for the opportunity of speaking to Miss Germain in private,” Alec finally said, directing the gentle request to Rosalie. “Perhaps you will permit me to walk with her through the garden in order to gain a few moments of secluded conversation. Of course, I realize that it might be looked upon as an imprudent demand—”

“Yes, her reputation—” Rosalie began.

“I have not the slightest inclination to leave so much as a bruise on her reputation,” Alec continued firmly. “However, my intentions are nothing but honorable in making this request, and after the discussion is done, I trust you will understand my desire for unhindered and uninterrupted—”

“Enough, Falkner,” Rand said, his hazel eyes twinkling with a smile. “I am certain that my wife gives her consent.”

“Yes,” Rosalie murmured, her blue eyes round with surprise at the words “honorable” and “intentions.” Everyone knew what was implied when those two words were used in conjunction with each other. Overcome with curiosity, she threw a sharp look at Mira’s downbent head.

“Thank you.” Alec held out an arm for Mira to take. “Miss Germain?” he prompted, and as her fingers curved around the top of his forearm, they walked along the garden path at a leisurely pace.

“I thought you said that you never ask for permission.” Mira concentrated intently on the path in front of them.

“I did not say that I wouldn’t if necessary.”

“So formal, so amiable… I am trying to remember if you’ve ever begged me so prettily for anything—““Miss Germain, have I ever told you that you have the makings of a fine shrew?”

“I don’t recall that, no.”

They stopped in a secluded spot, and Mira sat down on a small marble bench while Alec leaned his shoulder against a sturdy tree. “Then have I told you,” he continued more softly, “that your eyes are like two dark stars and that your hair is softer than silk?”