Winning a Lady's Heart (Danby #1)(19)

Father continued as though there’d been no interruption. “And he all but killed his wife.”

Who was this man before her? How could they even share the same blood? It shamed her. She looked up to Nathan to see how he’d been affected by the tirade, except his face was set in an inscrutable mask, which seemed to further infuriate her father who turned to Nathan so quickly he nearly lost his footing. “You bastard, do you have nothing to say?”

“I do, Tewkesbury,” Danby bellowed from across the desk, the sound startling both Alexandra and her father. Nathan, however, appeared wholly unaffected by the stern tone.

“God forgive me, Tewkesbury, I thought you were a good match for my daughter. The only reason I gave you her hand was because your father and I were friends, and I respected him. There aren’t many I respect, but I respected your father. Shame on me for judging another man by his father. You are nothing like your father. Just like Pembroke is nothing like his father.”

Red splotches stained her father’s cheeks and he sputtered, attempting words. Alas, Father had never been eloquent.

Danby slammed his fist down. “Silence,” he barked. “It’s time you listened. I’ve had to accept that my daughter is miserable because of a match I put together, but I’ll not see my granddaughter committed to the same fate. You are a cowardly, conniving, manipulative fellow and undeserving of my daughter. Well, that is a mistake I cannot correct. But I can save my granddaughter the fate of allowing you to select her husband.”

Alexandra felt a sting behind her eyes and her vision blurred, turning the duke’s image into a kaleidoscope of light from the sconces and salted tears. Nathan’s hands came to rest on her shoulders, reminding her of his love and support.

“She’s my daughter,” her father blustered.

Apparently he had more backbone that she’d credited him with.

“More importantly, she is my granddaughter. Listen good and listen well, Tewkesbury.” Placing his elbows on the desktop, he leaned forward. He spoke with lethal calm. “When I issue commands, I expect them to be obeyed. I expressly bade you to remain in London. You ignored my directive. I am telling you now, Pembroke is marrying your daughter.” He paused and shifted his attention to Nathan. “I presume you want to wed my granddaughter?”

Nathan claimed Alexandra’s hand and held it aloft. The candlelight illuminated the massive diamond on her finger, sending a prism of light radiating off the walls. “More than anything, Your Grace.” His hot gaze fell on Alexandra, and he caressed her with his eyes, before returning his attention to the duke. “I love her.”

A tremulous smile tipped the corners of Alexandra’s lips.

“Well, there you have it, they are to be married.”

“Now, off, you two. I’m sure my offspring are hovering outside this office for details on what was discussed in here.”

Alexandra curtsied as Nathan bowed. Without sparing so much as a glance for her father, Alexandra started to leave. Upon reaching the door, she paused, turned, and hurried the twenty-three steps across the room to her grandfather’s seat.

She leaned down and kissed his wrinkling cheek. “Thank you so much, Grandfather. I love you,” she whispered.

His throat bobbed up and down, and he deliberately cleared it. “Off with you now, Alex.”

Alexandra rose and hurried to Nathan’s side. She smiled up at him and they took two steps to leave when Grandfather’s next words reached them.

“Oh, and Tewkesbury, with only three days until Christmas, I’m going to insist you return to London. I’ll not have you spoil any of my offspring’s Christmastide.”





Alexandra sneaked down the second stairwell of Danby Castle, stealing a peek over her shoulder to make sure one of the many cousins, aunts, uncles, or various other relatives in attendance for Christmastide were not privy to her actions.

An eager excitement to see Nathan flooded her, filled her, and for the first time she wasn’t able to count steps, stairs, or anything other than the moments it took to see him.

She reached the kitchen doors and shoved them open. In dire need of oil, the door hinges creaked. She flinched as the sound resonated from the walls like a gunshot in church.

The Duke of Danby’s doors did not creak. But then the Duke of Danby did not display affection or play the role of matchmaker, and yet this Christmastide he’d done all those things. Looking around to verify she remained alone, she stepped inside.

The soft glow from the kitchen fireplace illuminated the large room, casting the room in flickering shadows.

Until the day she was an old woman gone grey, Alexandra would always remember Nathan that Christmas night, as he stood looking at her across the long kitchen like she was the only woman in the world.

“At last,” Nathan called quietly, his deep mellifluous voice flowing over her like a silken caress. He stood beside the long, rectangular table where the staff would take supper. There were two flutes of champagne.

She moved deeper into the kitchen and stood before him. His hands clasped her at the waist, as he gently tugged her towards him.

Alexandra sighed and twisted her fingers in his luscious, dark locks and kissed him like it was their last night in the world. He tasted of dark chocolate and spice, the perfect delectable Christmas treat. Their tongues boldly sparred as they reacquainted themselves with their lover’s embrace.