Page 37 of Lyon’s Obsession (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #91)
A lexander had spent time with Annalise on Sunday evening.
Her relations would return on the morrow, and he was not happy to leave her behind, for he thought she would be mistreated by Honfleur.
From what little Graham had learned, Honfleur meant to “up” his presence in society by making investments and pretending to offer guaranteed bonds to one and all, including servants and shopkeepers.
Each proposal would be backed by uttered notes. “No more five- and ten-pound notes.”
“Did you inform Beaufort of Lady Caroline’s return?
” he asked. Alexander was not necessarily happy regarding Beaufort’s continued presence in Annalise’s life, but he would not fight with his sister over something he would not tolerate if their roles were reversed.
She would soon reach her majority and would be able to choose her own future with or without his input.
Moreover, he knew Beaufort, too, wondered what would occur between Annalise and Caroline Moreau when Honfleur and his daughter returned.
Alexander meant to address an awkward topic this evening.
“You realize,” he said with compassion, “if we move against the band of conspirators as we have discussed, Caroline will be among those arrested. She has participated in Moreau’s many schemes.”
“So have I,” Audrey argued.
“Not…” he insisted as he raised his finger to emphasize his point, “to the same extent as Caroline Moreau. She has always been cognizant of her father’s manipulations.
You have, thankfully, been kept ignorant of the more serious crimes.
I do not excuse your participation in many of Moreau’s schemes, but, even before I knew you were my sister, I recognized your goodness. ”
“Meaning I shall be expected to step aside and permit my cousin to know English justice,” she accused.
“If you do not, I cannot protect you,” he instructed. “My wealth and position cannot save you if you choose to cooperate with Moreau and his daughter.”
“I feel somewhat like Judas,” Audrey admitted. “Judas did not betray Jesus out of spite. He considered Jesus a Rabbi, a teacher, not the Lord Savior. He lacked faith in him, just as I have lost faith in all I have known as my family.”
“You must also recall Judas thought Jesus would overthrow the Roman occupation and take a position of power, ruling over Israel,” he said as he gathered her into a loose embrace.
“Your reference makes more sense than you first considered. Judas wished to be among the ruling elite after the revolution. Do you not see such an analogy very telling in what we investigate? You are not Judas in this upcoming disaster; Moreau and his daughter are.” He kissed her forehead.
“You are not betraying the girl who was your long-time friend. You are taking a stand for what is right. For your future and mine. Nevertheless,” he cautioned.
“You and I should continue your training with the weapons you have available. It would not surprise me if your uncle turns on you when he discovers we know what he has planned.”
“If you insist,” she said as she sat upon the bench in her usual spot.
“I insist,” Alexander declared. He climbed over the stool to sit opposite her.
They spent the next few minutes rearranging plates for the convenience of serving. Finally, they caught hands and said grace, an idea which had formed from his prayer of thanksgiving for her return to his family.
“Caroline’s letter confirms the last message we received from Graham,” he stated.
“Who is Graham?” she asked.
“One of our agents,” Alexander explained.
“Lord Aaran Graham. He was on the ship carrying the Moreaus to France. He was to attempt to strike up an acquaintance with either Caroline or her maid in hopes of learning something of what Moreau planned with this journey, but, from what I understand, he had little success. Your cousin shunned his company, and she gave her maid orders to do the same.” Alexander grinned largely.
“Such does not surprise me,” Annalise shared.
“Caroline despises the attention of titled gentlemen. You should see how she treats Beaufort, and you know your friend likely never knows rejection,” she said with a giggle.
“Caroline’s disinterest does not surprise me,” Audrey admitted.
“She has yet to find a gentleman who has caught her attention for more than five minutes.”
“Such must be quite problematic, especially in an English ballroom where each set is traditionally thirty minutes, or thereabouts, in length,” her brother observed.
Audrey smiled largely. “You should hear her when she returns home. Caroline crawls in my bed and tells me about each of her dance partners and their poor attempts at holding a conversation with her in French.”
Alexander paused, but swallowed what must be said.
His sister frowned noticeably. “Come on, out with it. We promised no secrets.”
“Nothing,” he responded.
“I would prefer not to have secrets between us, Alexander,” she said softly. “I have had enough of secrets. They tend to weigh heavier on me than the truth.”
He continued to move the peas around on his plate, as he constructed a response.
Displeasure marked her features when he looked up.
“I am confident Caroline found nothing lacking in Beaufort’s French,” he started.
“Beaufort’s grandfather was a French count, who held an English title also, along with the Irish one.
Ironically, a large part of the family is from Ireland, such is the reason for his Christian name.
Navan is a county town in Meath, where many of Beaufort’s relations reside. ”
Audrey’s displeasure rushed forward. “What you have shared is all good to know, and I am happy to claim your friend’s acquaintance.
I enjoy conversing in both languages with the gentleman, though French does not come as easily to me as it does to Caroline; however, such is not what you wished to say. Honesty, please, Brother dear.”
Alexander placed his fork across the lip of his plate.
“If you insist. In my most humble opinion, and keeping in mind, I have not lived any place other than England, but two grown women regularly sharing a bed, especially in a house of this size, is a bit peculiar. However, if such is your desire, I will continue to love you no matter what choices you make. Yet, you must be aware, in England, such behavior can find you standing before a hangman as easily and as quickly as if you, too, intended to commit treason.”
“What are you insinuating?” his sister demanded. A heat of embarrassment colored her cheeks.
“Caroline kissed you on the mouth before a room full of patrons at the Oakley Arms. The action appeared natural to all who were within,” he explained.
“You were not present at the time. I saw you leave.”
“As I have said previously,” he stated in hard tones. “We were there to watch Yates and to view with whom he consorted.”
“Who is ‘we’ exactly?” she asked.
“Lords Duncan and Beaufort, another of Duncan’s sons you have yet to meet, and me. The four of us. I left with Lord Duncan in fear you would take notice of us.”
His sister blushed again. “Yet, the other two viewed Caroline’s actions and reported it to you?”
Alexander reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “You are what is important to me. I will learn to love whoever you love. Yet, I would have you know more caution, if this is the road you wish to travel. Any number of people could be called upon to testify against you two.”
His sister frowned. “I can honestly say, I love no one, at least, not romantically.” She blushed deeply, but she, obviously, made herself make eye contact with him.
“Since as long as I can recall, Caroline has been my closest confidante. From the day Uncle Jacobi rescued me from the bayman in Honduras, I was intended to be Caroline’s playmate.
Naturally, we have been each other’s closest associate for some fifteen years.
” She paused before adding, “In truth, with the kiss, I experienced revulsion, but I did not know how to respond. Caroline called me a ‘pea goose.’”
“And you possess no experience in such situations,” he finished for her.
“Do you have such experience?” she asked. Their conversation had turned very awkward. Did all brothers and sisters speak of such intimacies? Somehow, Alexander doubted it.
It was his turn to blush. He swallowed hard before saying, “Men of a certain turn search the rookeries for young boys. Some go ‘willingly,’ for they require the funds these men offer in order to assist their families. Some may go because these encounters are all they know. I cannot say with any assurance. Such is not a topic one has in the slews. Yet, it is true even a few precious pence can be the difference between starvation and survival, and these men always pay much more than a few pence, more than enough to assist a family for months at a time.”
“But not you?” she asked.
“Not me,” he responded in adamant tones.
“More than once, someone attempted to grab me, but I, generally, put up such a ruckus, the man would walk away quickly. Socially, these men do not wish anyone to recognize them.” He paused before explaining, “I thought I left all those experiences behind, but quite a few of the older boys at school and even some of the tutors and professors seek out the younger ones or those boys who are not as robust, shall we say, as the others. When I learned your cousin kissed you, I knew surprise. I never thought of—” He gestured wildly with his hands.
“Likely this conversation makes me sound na?ve.”
His sister seemed to take some comfort in Alexander’s awkwardness. “Neither of us had a family where a person might discuss anything of importance nor even ask for advice. Other than the dance I shared with you, I have never been in a man’s company, that is, in a social situation.”