Page 40 of Lyon’s Obsession (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #91)

“Y ou are ‘not’ to spend the night,” Duncan emphasized. “Nor are you to…”

“I would not,” Alexander declared as he turned blood red in embarrassment.

Duncan continued his warning. “I was once a young man who desired a comely woman. You and I have both repeatedly set Theodora’s wishes and needs aside. We must tread carefully, or we could destroy her. I expect you to sleep at Dutton Hall tonight.”

Alexander turned another shade of red, but, in many ways, he appreciated Duncan’s caution. At least they agreed on how they would proceed with Theodora. At the top of the stairs they separated, though Duncan’s quarters were three doors removed from Dora’s.

Alexander waited until Duncan entered his suite before Xander slipped into the servants’ passage.

In his opinion, there was not a chance in a fiery hell that Theodora would admit him through the main door to her suite.

Though he felt bad about lying to Duncan, Alexander and Theodora had recently permitted their ardor to go too far, though not as far as it could have gone.

He paused outside the servants’ door to Theodora’s quarters.

All he had to do was knock and enter immediately, before Dora could send him away.

He still did not know what he would say to her, and so, he paused with his hand in the air to compose his thoughts and consider the first words that should come from his lips.

“Just be about it, Marksman,” he chastised himself softly.

“ No emotional outbursts! No pleading for a kiss, which, generally, leads to another kiss and then another.” He took a deep breath.

“ You can do this. Theodora is worth every second of your misery .

“ All you must execute is to deny yourself any opportunity to touch her, even if you have never been able to be so self-disciplined as to perform thusly previously .” He dropped his hand to his side.

He did not want to be standing outside Dora’s door with a necessary apology on his lips.

He should not have failed her, for she, assuredly, had never failed him.

Unexpectedly, the servant door opened, and Winston chirped in surprise. “My lord,” the maid said while recovering her composure.

“Winston!” he repeated as he stepped around the woman.

The maid turned to her mistress. “Should I remain, my lady?”

“Yes,” Theodora said.

“No!” Alexander overrode Dora’s order. “Your father knows I am here,” he provided.

“Does he now?” Theodora challenged. “It is quite magnificent to know the men in my life still believe me incompetent to make choices.”

No doubt the whole household would soon know he had made a late evening appearance in Theodora’s private chamber. “My purpose is not what you think.”

“Of course it is not,” Dora said sarcastically. “If every time you called upon me was what people thought,” she said boldly, “we would have a half dozen children by now.”

“The idea of having children with you, Dora, does not frighten me as you suppose it would,” he countered.

Theodora released her breath on a rough exhale. “Why are you here, my lord?”

“I came to tell you I have claimed the offer from Mrs. Dove-Lyon to court you,” he stated in firm tones.

“Why?” she whispered into the silence which had fallen between them.

Behind him, Alexander knew Winston had slipped from the room and closed the door as she exited.

Theodora knew she had but two choices: She could swallow a large dollop of pride and rush into his arms, or she could continue her contrary complaints. Her anger won out. Employing irritation would prevent her from doing something she would later regret.

“Should we sit and discuss our future sensibly?” Alexander gestured to the small sitting area where Theodora had claimed her meals since the incident in West Hampshire.

She shook off the idea. “I ask again, why are you here?”

“Quite simple,” he said. “I have missed you terribly.”

“Does not your sister hang on your every word?” she asked tartly. “You do not require my adoration any longer.”

“I admit to being excessively worried for Annalise. She has chosen to remain in Moreau’s household when the man returns to England tomorrow. She is in danger, and I cannot help but be concerned. However, such does not mean I do not equally worry over your recovery.”

“I am not recovering,” she said contentiously.

“Then what are you doing, Dora?” he asked.

“What I am expected to do. As an earl’s daughter, I am to be docile and obedient.”

“Bull!” he declared. “You are Lady Elsbeth Duncan’s daughter. God bless her soul, from everything I have heard of her, your dear mother did not possess a docile bone in her body. Neither do you.” He reached a hand to caress her cheek.

Like it or not her breath rushed from her lungs in anticipation.

His touch made her shiver. Why did she react so completely to this particular man?

Irritated, Theodora stepped back from his caress.

Even so, a hint of tobacco on his clothes—an earthy scent that was somehow comforting and made her wish to know his strength—had filled her with longing as his shoulders filled her line of sight.

Why did she fall in love with this one of her five brothers? Why not Aaran? They two had made a promise to marry if neither of them found someone else to love. Why could she not love Aaran and he could love her in return? Alexander only knew one way to live—headstrong.

“ Lead, follow, or move from his way ,” she thought.

His life, despite the unexpected elements of his work for the government, fit into a perfectly-arranged platter.

None of the ingredients were permitted to touch or, heaven forbid, to mix.

Unfortunately, for no reason or forethought, she was the type to jump into an appealing lake while wearing her most expensive gown simply because it called to her.

“Xander,” she murmured, more from habit than thinking.

His smile said he recognized her longing.

He caught her hand and tugged her closer.

“I realize I have said all that I mean to say before, but I know of no other words to convince you. You and I are going to marry, and it will be as quickly as I can remove Annalise from Honfleur’s control.

The dastard has demanded that my sister clean his house, as if she is his servant, but we cannot act to remove her, for we require Annalise to continue on because we must wait to capture the entire group of master forgers, as well as the accomplices who utter the bank notes.

“Truthfully, when this madness is over, I pray you will take Annalise under your wing. My sister knows nothing of British society. The dance we shared at the masque is the only one she has ever known. She could learn much from you. I cannot speak to what you must think of the deed I am asking of you, but I pray you understand that I must choose this course before we marry. As to my wish to make you my wife, I warrant I am most eager to have you forever by my side; yet, there are promises I made to my father and myself before you came into my life.”

“You are asking me to wait,” she accused.

“I am,” he admitted, which shocked her, for he had never addressed his need to his family as a solemn promise that could not be broken.

As to Dora, it had been more than fifteen years since Alexander had come into her life.

Though she always knew he missed his family, just as she missed her mother, this was the first time the opportunity to claim family truly existed for him.

She would admit that she would do whatever was necessary to reclaim her mother’s touch, for even just one day.

“However, I cannot turn from Annalise now that she has been returned to me. I am not made in that manner. Such, though, does not mean I wish to trade you for my sister.”

For a long moment, Dora gazed into his eyes to learn the truth of his words.

They had known each other since she was a young girl in the playroom.

If Theodora was honest with herself, she had always, until recently, thought he and she knew each other better than anyone else.

They had shared everything, both the highs and the lows of life.

They had assisted in carving out her mother’s legacy.

They had founded the charities her mother would have executed herself if she had lived long enough to do so.

Every single important event in Dora’s life included Alexander Dutton, and those in his life included her.

Countless memories had been shared—love and passion and sorrow and regret. That is until…

“I promised your father I would not spend the night,” he confessed, “but if wooing you is what is required,” he grinned. “I will make the sacrifice and accept Duncan’s anger on the morrow.”

His remark was typical for Alexander. Emotions frightened him. Theodora supposed such was partly due to his years in the rookeries, but loving this man was not easy—assuredly, it would never be easy. He always went to extremes to prove his worth.

While she was considering her options, he interrupted her thoughts. “I have notes from both Mrs. Dove-Lyon and your father,” he offered while reaching into the inside pocket of his coat. “They should explain my sincerity.”

Curious, Theodora accepted both. She opened the one from her father first and stepped from Alexander’s closeness to read it:

Whatever choice you make will not change how much I adore you.

Theodora wished to cry: The knowledge of her father’s undying loyalty meant more than any could understand. Yet, in some ways, she wished her father would order her to marry Alexander. Unfortunately, she was on her own.

Next, she read the longer one furnished by Mrs. Dove-Lyon.