Page 44 of The Duke of Fire (The Dukes of Desire #1)
“ D o not read that,” Jane said matter-of-factly, plucking the paper from Alexandra’s hand.
“Excuse me, I was about to get to the good parts,” Alexandra huffed, reaching for the gossip sheet that had just been taken from her.
“You may read them later,” Gemma insisted, coming in front of her in a pale peach satin and lace gown that accentuated her plump figure. “It is time to get ready for our little party. That is much more exciting than gossip, is it not?”
Alexandra noted the glare Gemma threw in Jane’s direction, as well as the avoidant way Jane looked away from her.
Something had been off between them this past week, but whenever she asked, both would quickly dismiss her questions and change the subject.
Whatever it was, Alexandra accepted that it would heal itself in its own time.
“I suppose that is true,” Alexandra sighed, stepping into the dress her maid held for her. “I am surprisingly excited for this evening.”
For the last two weeks, ever since she had cried herself to sleep with her friends by her side, Alexandra had shuttered herself away from her usual crowd of friends to focus on charity and visiting the orphanage.
It was only when Jane appeared three days ago to announce that her brother-in-law, Oliver, would finally be arriving home from his travels that they should throw him a welcome home party.
So, Alexandra had worked to organize the party and make it a festive one, inviting not just her close friends but those of Oliver’s and making sure that a proper English feast would be prepared for their weary traveler.
Her dress, one picked out by Gemma, was a bit too bright to match her spirits, but as it was fitted onto her, she saw a bit of the light from the peach silk catch in her eyes.
At the very least, I should do my best to have a great time.
“Beautiful,” Gemma praised as she and Jane stepped away from the final touches on Alexandra’s appearance.
“Absolutely radiant,” Jane agreed. “It is so lovely to see you out of your boring day frocks for a change. These tones suit you so much better!”
Though she was not one to speak on her own vanity, Alexandra found herself nodding as she smoothed her hands down her small waist and took in her reflection.
A bit of cosmetics had hidden the dark rings under her eyes, and the bright color of her gown had given her complexion a warm glow that had otherwise been absent.
A bottle of hair tonic from Paris given to her by Gemma had also seemed to bring luster back to her brunette hair, giving it so much extra body and curl that she chose, despite her married status, to allow half of it to drape down the length of her back while the other half was pinned up and back with small combs decorated with glittering jewels.
“I declare, you look like a brand-new woman,” a masculine voice agreed.
Alexandra whirled away from the mirror, her smile growing wider as a man stepped into the room. His handsome face was covered with a well-groomed blonde beard, and his blue eyes sparkled below his ear-length but well-combed hair.
“Oliver Jameson,” Alexandra chastised, her smile wide as she stepped away from the mirror, “You reckless flirt. Whatever are you doing here?”
Oliver smiled widely as he opened his arms and hugged Alexandra tightly.
“Oh, I thought the party was for me. Was I not invited?” he teased.
They squeezed each other affectionately, if not briefly, and as she pulled away, Alexandra batted her hand against his shoulder.
“Of course you were, but I refer to your presence in my private quarters. What will the servants say?” She retorted, trying her best to give him a stern look.
She failed and broke into a smile as she watched her other two friends go to hug him.
Though he was only a relation to Jane’s husband, she and Gemma loved him dearly, like a brother.
“Ah, yes, well, for that, you will simply have to forgive me,” Oliver replied matter-of-factly, “I was too impatient to wait for your grand entrance, and though I appreciate the company you have invited, they have already exhausted me. I thought I would sneak up here and have some actual conversation before I fell asleep with boredom.”
“Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, my dear friend, but we are just finished and were to head downstairs. Besides, I am not sure that our conversations of cosmetics and fashion are more titillating than what you may have discussed with the other guests.”
“Oh, I would not say that,” Oliver said with a deep chuckle.
Alexandra paused to give him a curious look, but before she could ask him what he meant, Jane approached his side and tucked her arm securely into his.
“He is speaking of the gossip that will come from him barging in on us ladies,” Jane said hastily, throwing Oliver a glare before shifting her features into an innocent smile for Alexandra.
“No worries, though; we will simply say that I had demanded that my brother-in-law come to me the moment he arrived. No one will question it.”
There was something about Jane’s manner that was deepening Alexandra’s curiosity, but it was forgotten by the time the small group reached the main hall where she was hosting the party.
In no time, her silent questions ceased as she became busy greeting her guests and lending a listening ear to Oliver’s many stories of the Middle East.
“I am telling you,” Oliver laughed after finishing another story, “There are many things such places get wrong, like handling snakes, but I am not sure that having a harem is one of them.”
“Oliver!” Alexandra gasped as Jane, her husband Marcus, and the others all roared with raucous laughter.
“It sounds like a fantasy, yes, but I am sure the reality is quite stressful,” Marcus, Jane’s husband, chuckled. “I can hardly handle having one wife, let alone a dozen. I would much rather handle the snake!”
He had only arrived a few minutes before, and though Alexandra had seen him greet his wife warmly, Jane had seemed almost annoyed at her husband’s attendance.
“Oh, I do not know,” Jane replied presently, lifting her third glass of champagne toward her lips, “I think a harem could be quite riveting and not at all bothersome if approached properly.”
“Is that your way of requesting that I start a harem in our home, darling?” Marcus laughed.
“Quite the contrary,” Jane replied, her smile quite devilish as she looked at her husband. “I am stating that perhaps I should start one. Though instead of women, I shall have a bevy of men to wait on my hand and foot.”
Alexandra stared at her friend in shock as the others around them roared in laughter, save for Oliver. He looked offended by her bold words, and Alexandra could not help but wonder why it was Oliver, not Marcus, who was so indignant.
“You are so wicked when you jest, darling,” Marcus stated, attempting to draw a smile back on his face. “Perhaps we should each start our own harems and see who is more successful.”
“Perhaps we should,” Jane teased back boldly, but Alexandra knew by the look in her friend’s eyes that there was more annoyance than playfulness in her friend’s response.
“Why must you two always ruin my stories?” Oliver asked, his eyes narrowing more toward his brother than Jane.
“Because it is so fun to see you riled,” Jane answered for the both of them.
“Well then, I refuse to be riled by you any further,” Oliver stated matter-of-factly, offering his arm to Alexandra. “Come, Your Grace, let us take your delicate ears from such filth. I have a thirst for conversation far savorer than this.”
Wanting to talk about literally anything else herself, Alexandra happily took his arm and allowed him to lead her toward the refreshment table. She turned back once as they walked, and she found Jane’s eyes on her.
What is going on with everyone lately?
Knowing now was not the time to stay on such pondering, she pushed the question away and looked up at Oliver with a smile as they reached the refreshment table, and both picked up a fresh glass of champagne.
“Tell me another story of your travels,” she implored, then quickly added, “One that does not involve the selling or keeping of human flesh.”
“Well then, I am afraid I have no more stories for you,” Oliver replied with a wicked grin as he wiggled his brow.
Alexandra laughed and pushed at him.
“No, of course, I will regale with the stories of the market sometime,” Oliver said, growing genuine.
“It truly is a fascinating experience; you would be positively astounded by the culture of it. However, I am weary of being the storyteller for now. Please, tell me how you are. Jane did not mention you much in her letters, but what she did mention saddened my heart.”
Alexandra felt her smile slip away, and she took a cautious look around the party, wanting to be sure no one could hear them.
She was satisfied when she saw that almost everyone was clustered into one circle or another, talking excitedly to one another as their eyes occasionally rose to look over at her.
“Oliver,” she whispered, taking him a few steps away, “I do not know what I am supposed to be doing with my life.”
Her friend’s brow dipped as he looked down at her with obvious pity.
“His Grace still remains estranged? After all this time?”
Alexandra nodded, her discomfort rising once more through the bit of joy the party had brought her.
“What an absolute idiot,” Oliver growled lowly. “He has no idea what treasure he has.” Oliver went on, placing his hand over hers, “You did not have to do such a reckless thing, though. Especially since there are much more enjoyable ways to cure loneliness and spousal abandonment...”
Oliver’s hand was warm, too warm, against her own, and she pulled her pinned hand away from his.
“Oliver,” she said in warning, “I do not know what you speak of.”