Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(96)

“Shhh.” Lily put her hand over his mouth and glanced at Alex, her eyes gleaming wickedly. “Not another word, Henry, or your brother will begin proceedings to divorce me.”

Heedless of the shocked gazes of her family, Alex tangled his fingers in her curls and kissed her cheek, drawing his head back to smile down at her. “Never,” he said firmly, and for one heart-stopping moment Lily allowed herself to believe it.

“Lord Raiford,” Burton interrupted sedately, presenting a white card. “Lord Faxton has arrived.”

“Show him in,” Lily said with a laugh. “Perhaps he would like to stay for dinner.”

They all partook of a long and enjoyable dinner, with conversation that ranged from the merits of Lord Faxton’s proposed bill to the accomplishments of Henry’s tutor Mr. Radburne, a sober but amiable man with an affinity for history and language. Lily was the perfect hostess, giving the conversation gentle nudges when it dawdled, effortlessly drawing a spell around the group to make each guest feel comfortable and included. Alex watched her from the other end of the table with dawning pride. For tonight, at least, the inner tension had faded away, leaving behind a woman so lovely and charming that she dazzled his eyes like sunlight. She faltered only once, when she met his eyes and a searing awareness passed between them.

While the gentlemen were having their port, Penelope drew Lily aside for a private conversation. “Lily, we were so shocked when we heard you had married Lord Raiford, of all people! Mama nearly fainted. My word, we all thought you hated him!”

“I thought so too,” Lily said uncomfortably.

“Well, what happened?”

Lily shrugged and smiled lamely. “It’s difficult to explain.”

“Lord Raiford seems a completely different man, so kind and smiling, and he stares at you as if he adores you! Why did you marry so suddenly? I don’t understand any of this!”

“No one does,” Lily assured her. “Least of all me. Penny, let’s not talk about my marriage. I want to hear about yours. Are you happy with Zach?”

Penelope sighed ecstatically. “Beyond anything I could have imagined! I wake up every morning afraid it’s all going to end like some miraculous dream. It sounds ridiculous, I know—”

“Not at all,” Lily said quietly. “It sounds wonderful.” Suddenly she smiled wickedly at her younger sister. “Tell me about the elopement. Was Zach terribly masterful, in the mode of Don Juan, or did he play the shy, blushing bridegroom? Come, don’t keep the thrilling details all to yourself.”

“Lily,” Penelope protested, turning scarlet. After a brief hesitation, she leaned forward and spoke with her voice lowered. “With the servants’ help, Zach stole into the house after Mother and Father had retired. He came to my room, threw his arms around me, and told me that I was going to be his wife, and he wouldn’t allow me to sacrifice my happiness for my family’s sake.”

“Good for him,” Lily cheered.

“I put a few things into a valise and went with him to the carriage waiting outside—Oh, I was so terrified we would be caught, Lily! At any moment Mother and Father might have discovered my absence, or Lord Raiford might have returned unexpectedly—”

“No,” Lily said dryly. “I made certain that Lord Raiford was indisposed for the evening.”

Penelope’s eyes turned round with curiosity. “What in heaven’s name did you do to him?”

“Don’t ask, dearest. Just tell me one thing—did Zach play the gentleman and wait until the night you reached Gretna Green, or did he waylay you at the coaching house?”

“What a dreadful question,” Penelope said reprovingly. “You know very well that Zachary would never dream of taking advantage of a woman. Zachary slept in a chair by the fireplace, of course.”

Lily made a face. “Hopeless,” she said with a laugh. “The two of you are hopelessly honorable.”

“Well, so is Lord Raiford,” her sister pointed out. “In my opinion he is even more staid and conventional than Zachary. Had the two of you been in our situation, I’m certain Lord Raiford would have conducted himself with all decency and decorum.”

“Perhaps,” Lily mused and then grinned. “But no matter what you suppose…he wouldn’t have slept in a chair, Penny.”

The guests all left at a late hour, and finally Henry and his tutor were settled in their respective rooms. After running back and forth to confer with the household staff, Lily was assured that everything was in order. She went up to the bedroom with Alex, exceedingly pleased by the way the evening had turned out. Alex dismissed the maid and helped Lily undress, while she gloated over her sister’s happiness.

“Penny is radiant,” she said as Alex unfastened the back of her gown. “I’ve never seen her so happy.”

“She looks well,” Alex admitted grudgingly.

“Well? She absolutely glows.” Lily took off her dress and sat on the edge of the bed in her undergarments, extending a leg for him to roll off her stocking. “The sight of her now makes me realize how truly miserable you made her, with your grim face and gruff manners.” She smiled provocatively, reaching out to unbutton his shirt. “It was the best thing I ever did, getting her away from you.”

“Nearly killing me in the process,” Alex said sardonically, holding up one of the embroidered silk stockings and viewing it with interest.