A Scarlet Bride (5 page)

The mare her aunt rode bobbed her head as if agreeing with Alexandra.

"Of course not, dear.
In fact, most of the time we control the home.
Men simply don't realize it."

The thought of living with her parent, seeing him every day, was enough to send Alexandra fleeing back to England.

"I hardly think I need protecting. My plans do not include much of a social life," Alexandra explained.

Aunt Clara pulled up on her reins until their horses were side by side. She gazed fondly upon Alexandra. "It's truly tragic what happened between you and Gordon, but that is in the past. It's time you moved on and gave love a second chance."

"What is wrong with a woman choosing a life without love and family? I have no need to play the traditional role of wife and mother."

Alexandra felt a small ache in the pit of her stomach. Wasn't that exactly what she'd wanted five years ago? While she'd never actually loved Gordon, she'd wanted their marriage to be successful.
To have a family and a home, to be a welcomed member of society.
The death of that dream had been excruciating, but now she didn't have room in her life for those aspirations. Gordon's perfidy had replaced them with new ones.

"Being in England for five years may have changed your appearance from a young girl to a woman," Aunt Clara said. "But I know inside, you're still the same person. You wanted to be a wife and mother."

"Sometimes life changes the role we're expected to play. It certainly has in my case." Alexandra directed her horse around a tree branch in the road, the animal's slow, lazy steps gently swaying her in the saddle. A wren's delicate song filled the air with a happy note.

"Yes, but most of the time it's just a short side trip before we get back on the main path," Aunt Clara said. "When the right man comes along, you'll forget these foolish notions of living alone. You'll want to have your husband's children."

Alexandra pulled back on the reins harder than she intended, and her horse neighed in protest. "I'm never going to remarry. I'm finished with marriage and men."

"Oh, pooh!
I don't believe it for one moment. One bad man doesn't mean it's time to give up on love. Gordon didn't deserve you, but that does not mean there's no one for you."

Alexandra sighed and reached down to pat the sorrel mare. She loved Aunt Clara dearly, but some of her ideas were exactly like society's and her father's ideas.
Marriage and babies.
What else did life offer a woman?

But Alexandra knew once
Hester's Revenge
was published, she could possibly be the center of scandal once again if people realized that she was John Smith. Yet this time would be different. This time Gordon would suffer as well, and she could hardly wait to see his reaction.

Aunt Clara suddenly pulled her horse to a stop.
"Oh, my goodness.
Look."

Alexandra turned her attention toward the meadow to which her aunt pointed, and gazed in amazement. Two riders, a male and female, were racing across the countryside, jumping fences, galloping toward them at full speed.

For a moment, she simply stared. The gracefulness of man and animal were an awesome sight. She truly loved horses, their strong powerful legs pounding against the earth while the man perched precariously atop the animal's back. The woman racing toward them rode almost as well as she pushed her horse onward.

"Who are they, Aunt Clara?"

She laughed.
"Who else?
My neighbors."

A nervous tremor crawled up her spine.
Connor?
She squirmed uncomfortably in the saddle. "Let's go, Aunt Clara, before they reach us."

Alexandra had no desire to meet Connor Manning's latest conquest. She had no wish to see what kind of woman would ride with such unrestrained passion, with a scoundrel like her aunt's neighbor.

"No, dear, they're racing to us," Aunt Clara said with certainty.

The urge to kick her horse and ride away was strong, but Alexandra resisted because of Aunt Clara. Yet the closer Connor galloped to her, the warmer the sun seemed on her body. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, the wind pushing it open to reveal the tanned muscles beneath.

The nearer the pair came, the more she realized that the second rider was a very beautiful young girl, barely out of the classroom.

Alexandra's jaw tightened as she gritted her teeth. The cad was chasing schoolgirls! Innocent children who knew nothing of handling a randy man like
himself
.

She bristled as the riders came to a halt beside them. Dust sprayed from their mounts' hooves, the horses' eyes wild from the chase. The pretty young girl sat her chestnut horse better than most men.

Laughing, the girl exclaimed, "You lost again, Connor."

The girl's smile was easy and relaxed. Whoever she was, they were obviously very comfortable with one another. For just an instant Alexandra felt resentful, but then she pushed the feeling aside. Why in the world should she be jealous of a young girl under the influence of a knave like Connor? Pity would be more appropriate.

Both the man and the horse were winded, and for a moment, Connor gasped for breath. "Luck was on your side this time, but the next opportunity, I win."

"Prove it," she taunted, before turning to Clara. "Hello, Mrs.
LaRoux
."

"Suzanne, it's been a while, child. How you've grown," her aunt cried in obvious enjoyment.

"Thank you. It's nice to see you again."

Suzanne smiled shyly in Alexandra's direction, and it was then she noticed the resemblance between the man and girl. The same
skyblue
eyes, full lips, and upturned nose. Who was she?

Connor tipped his hat in Aunt Clara's direction,
then
turned his attention to Alexandra. "Good morning, Mrs. Thurston." He pulled his mount alongside hers. "You weren't exaggerating. You do indeed sit a horse well."

His eyes twinkled with mischief as a slow heat infused Alexandra's body. She felt a blush creep up her neck onto her cheeks. "Thank you, Mr. Manning."

"Let me introduce you to my sister. Suzanne, I'd like you to meet Alexandra Thurston."

Alexandra felt almost giddy with relief. He was still a knave, but maybe not as much as she'd thought.

"Hello. You're prettier than your brother," Alexandra said.

The young girl giggled.' "Thank you. You like horses?''

Connor grinned."Mrs. Thurston is very knowledgeable on the subject."

Alexandra gave Connor a look intended to clearly warn him that she remembered their banter from the
Rutherfords
' ball. The man had done his best to provoke her the other night with his
innuendoladen
conversation regarding horses, and she was not going to let him resume their previous conversation on the subject.

"I'm fond of horses," Alexandra replied. "You ride very well."

The young girl smiled, clearly pleased. "Thank you. Connor started me riding ponies when I was very young."

"Why don't the two of you follow us back to the
house.
We'll have lemonade on the terrace," Aunt Clara said.

Alexandra wanted to moan. But instead she smiled politely, being pleasant, yet refusing to encourage him. At every turn, this man seemed to be lying in wait for her. He'd made himself abundantly clear the other day.

He wanted her, he'd said, and she had the feeling it wasn't just to attend a picnic.

"We'd like to," he said, "but I promised Suzanne we'd ride awhile this morning. We'll join you as far as the Ashley River and then turn back toward our property."

Surprised at his refusal, Alexandra glanced at him from beneath her lashes. A promise to his sister was more important than flirting with her. She smiled. Perhaps the rake had a few redeeming qualities.

Turning her horse, Aunt Clara replied, "That would be lovely."

Aunt Clara and Suzanne rode ahead, side by side. Connor pulled his mount in line with Alexandra's. As she swayed in the saddle to the rhythm of her horse's gait, she couldn't help but notice how his tan riding pants fit his thighs snugly, how his black leather boots hugged his calves. His shirt was open and he had a
widebrimmed
hat atop his head that gave him more the air of an explorer than a plantation owner.

She glanced into his
sapphireblue
eyes and watched them twinkle with amusement. Quickly she stared straight ahead, trying to calm the rapid beat of her heart as a flush crept up her neck. To be caught leisurely examining him as if he were on display was so mortifying. Yet somehow, what she'd seen had been pleasant. Actually, it had been more than
pleasant,
she'd truly enjoyed her brief perusal, which was alarming to a woman who wasn't interested in men.

Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Unusually warm for this time of year, yet the heat doesn't seem to be affecting you."

"I've visited this area of the country since I was a child. Although it's been many years, I'm well acquainted with South Carolina heat." She wouldn't dare let him know that sweat trickled between her breasts.

"I imagine it's much different from England."

She shrugged her shoulders. "England is definitely cooler, but a good part of the year is a chilly drizzle."

"Then our climate should be a welcome change."

"There was much about England I loved." Alexandra raised her brows.
"Most especially my solitude."

Her horse shook his head and snorted through his nostrils trying to escape a pesky fly.

"Which has been disturbed in the last few days?" he asked.

"Precisely, Mr. Manning."

Connor smiled. "But don't you find this new experience to be challenging?
Even a little exciting?"

She thought for a moment before she answered. "I've never wanted my life to be exciting. At least it hasn't been for the last several years."

"Then perhaps it's time for a change."

Alexandra felt certain that everything was about to change, but not because of Connor Manning.

"I don't like change."

He smiled. "
A week from Saturday night the
Sloanes
are
having the biggest ball of the year. I'd be pleased if you'd accompany me."

"Are you always this confident with the ladies?" she couldn't resist asking.

He laughed. "I'm not shy. I see what I want and I go after it. Why?"

She gazed at him, wishing she could read the thoughts behind his blue eyes. The man could express himself so eloquently with only a
look,
and his glance would sizzle her toes if she wasn't careful.
"Because I've never met a man so sure of himself."

"The men in your life must have been extremely dull.''

Alexandra couldn't help but laugh. "Some. Most were simply arrogant and greedy."

"Can you blame them?" His eyes grew warmer. "Sometimes greed is not about money, but about power and possession. Most men would covet a woman as lovely as you."

Alexandra swallowed, trying to calm the suddenly rapid beat of her pulse. Staring into his smoldering blue eyes, she felt as if he were removing the layers, trying to get to the person she had locked up inside. He disrupted her peace of mind, which she found frightening.

"I am no man's possession," she said, pulling her shoulders back, raising her eyes to his defiantly.

"Not yet anyway," Connor said, his eyes never wavering from her.

Alexandra met his gaze and felt her backbone stiffen.
"Never again, Mr. Manning."

Connor smiled, and obviously tried to lighten the mood. "You've yet to answer my question. Will you attend the
Sloanes
' ball with me?"

"Mr. Manning, you do not take a hint easily. No, I will not attend the
Sloanes
' ball with you. I don't even want to attend this picnic, but I will because my father accepted for me," she said, glancing back and wishing his devilish good looks didn't attract her. Wishing she found him completely intolerable, instead of intriguing and stimulating.

Connor shrugged. "I'll accept your answer for now, but don't expect me to give up. And besides, you're going to have fun at the picnic."

"Maybe.
But what about you, Mr. Manning?
What if you find out I'm a complete bore? Are you so certain you'll enjoy my company?"

"I have no doubts, madam. We'll have a splendid time together," he said, his voice deep and strong.

She glanced at him as his eyes twinkled with hidden amusement. Alexandra didn't know quite what to make of his last statement. Somehow she didn't think he was referring to the picnic.

They rode along in silence for a few moments, while Alexandra tried to still her racing pulse. She fanned herself, blaming the heat, knowing the real cause was the man beside her. For the first time in six years, she felt attracted to the opposite sex, but she wouldn't let that stop her from carrying forward her carefully laid plans.