That Infamous Pearl (17 page)

He stopped dead in
his tracks. "Rowena." He stretched one hand out towards her. "Rowena,
I don't know what to say."

She looked at him
nervously, eyeing the door. If she made a run for it, she would surely reach it
before he did.

"Rowena, don't
go. I am so sorry. I didn't mean what I said."

She turned back
towards him, surprise written on her face. He looked stricken, his face pale
and his eyes serious. "What?"

"I...I don't
know how to explain myself. The things I said to you were not truly my
thoughts. I know you would never plot against me, Rowena."

She hesitated. "But
you said that you believed I married you for revenge."

Alaric raised a hand
to his forehead. "I know. It was a wild notion. I was afraid that you
believed me guilty of killing Ingram. So many people think that. I thought they
might have poisoned your mind."

"How could you
believe I would marry a man I thought capable of murdering one man and casting
the blame on another?"

"I don't believe
that." Alaric shook his head. "I am not good at trusting others,
Rowena. I learned long ago that the only person I can rely on is myself. When
you spoke of pursuing this mad course of yours, I could only think that it must
be a trap you had set for me. There are many who would like to see me fall, and
some of them are members of your own family."

Rowena looked down at
her hands, and idly noticed that the tips of her fingers and knuckles had
turned white, from clasping them so tightly before her. She took a breath, and
made a conscious effort to relax her hands.

"You must not
judge me by the actions of others," she replied haltingly. "I believe
what you have told me about yourself. You must take my word in return."

Alaric took another
step towards her, and when she did not turn away, he took one of her hands in
his and gently rubbed it, watching the tips turn a rosy pink again. "Forgive
me. I know I am asking a great deal. The things I said are unforgiveable. I can
only plead that my fear of losing you overwhelmed my better judgment."

Rowena peeped up at
him through her lashes. "You feared losing me?"

"If you had
married me only to obtain revenge for your brother, then I would most certainly
lose you. I find that a terrible prospect. I would do anything to keep you here
with me," Alaric admitted. With a sense of relief he realized that his
words pleased Rowena.

Exerting considerable
effort, Rowena stopped herself from leaping bodily into her husband's arms.
These were the warmest words he had ever given her. If he did not want to lose
her, then he must have some gentle feelings for her. She smiled.

"I would never
marry for such a reason. I told you once that I wished to marry for love."

Alaric stroked her
hand. "And I came into your life and forced you to marry me instead. I am
grateful that you do not hold it against me. Can you forgive me for my unkind
words? I will try to do better in the future."

Rowena looked up at
Alaric curiously. She wondered if she could believe him. His abrupt change from
cold anger to gentle repentance was disturbing. "You won't speak to me in
that way again?" she asked.

Alaric closed his
eyes briefly. "I will try not to," he answered. "It has been a
long time since I trusted someone, and suspicion of the motives of others is
engrained in me."

"You should not
have married me if you did not trust me." Rowena bit her lip. "I
wonder sometimes why you wanted to marry me at all."

If she hoped for
words of love, she was disappointed. Alaric squeezed her fingers gently. "We
are well suited, believe me, Rowena. You will make me an excellent wife and I
will strive to be a comfortable husband to you."

Rowena sighed and the
spark left her eyes. She drew her fingers slowly out of his.

"Am I forgiven?"
asked Alaric.

Rowena nodded
silently. His earlier words had aroused some hope in her, and she prayed that
she wasn't being foolishly optimistic.

Alaric leaned back
against the shining dining table and folded his arms across his chest. "There
is yet one matter we must discuss."

"What is that?"
Rowena felt as though her heart had been squeezed dry. She couldn't imagine
what Alaric might think still needed to be hammered out.

"Your investigation.
It simply will not do, Rowena."

A stubborn look came
over Rowena's face, and Alaric gave a sudden spontaneous smile. "This has
nothing to do with Malcolm's guilt or innocence. What I said earlier in anger
is still true. If you continue on this course, not only will old gossip be
revived, but my enemies might very well seek to once again implicate me in
Ingram's death. For all your good intentions, you could do me a great deal of
harm."

Rowena paled slightly
as the truth of his words sank in. It had never occurred to her that if she
continued to insist on Malcolm's innocence, it would cause many to reconsider
the matter of Alaric's involvement. If her brother had not killed Ingram, then
her husband was the next logical suspect. She would have to be able to clear
both of them in the matter. And if she could not do that, then things might
finish far worse than they had started.

"I hadn't
thought of that, Alaric," she said in a small voice. "I do not
believe either of you committed the crime."

"I know that.
But you are the only one with such faith. It is generally acknowledged that one
or the other of us is a murderer." Alaric placed his fingers gently under
her chin and turned her face towards his. "Can I count on you to leave the
issue alone?"

Rowena's brow
furrowed. She realized it was necessary to reassure Alaric as to her loyalty,
and dropping her insistence on investigating the crime would surely do that.
But it seemed to her unfair that Malcolm must remain in exile. She hesitated.

Alaric frowned. Even
now she was torn, he could tell. The pull of her own family seemed to be more
powerful than her loyalty to him. The knowledge caused a feeling of desolation
to settle over him.

"Very well,"
said Rowena abruptly. "I will not speak of it. I would not want to bring
any harm to you, my lord."

Alaric felt his heart
soar and a warm smile covered his face. Perhaps he had blackmailed her, but
they would both be far happier if she abandoned her hopeless pursuit. Rowena
drew in her breath, marveling at the change that came over his countenance. Her
handsome yet stern husband became the most charming and accessible of men. She
felt a sense of joy when Alaric brought his hands to her shoulders and drew her
close to him. Unconsciously she raised her lips to his, and he lowered his
mouth to hers, his tongue gently tracing the curve of her full lower lip.
Rowena shivered and moved closer, her hands running up his arms to clasp his
shoulders.

Alaric laughed and
gently held her away from him. His body fought his actions, urging him to pull
her closer, to carry her up the stairs to his bedroom. "They say a quarrel
is fine preparation for love-making," he murmured. "And if we
continue, we will doubtless discover the truth of that statement. But I
promised Mackley I would be at his office at two-o-clock."

Rowena pouted
provocatively. "Must you?"

"You aren't
playing fair, Rowena." Alaric traced her lips with one fingertip. "You
know I wish to stay here with you."

Rowena sighed
melodramatically. "Very well. I will be a good wife and allow you to
attend to your business." She shot him a laughing glance. "But I
expect a reward later."

Alaric raised his
eyebrows. "I am sure I can think of a fitting prize for you, my dear.
Indeed, I will probably be unable to concentrate on poor Mackley's concerns
because I will be thinking only of what that will be."

He raised her hand to
his lips and then turned and walked to the door. He paused with his hand on the
knob, and looked back at her.

"Thank you,
Rowena, for abandoning your investigation. I know it pains you, but it is
surely for the best." With another warm smile, he opened the door and was
gone.

Rowena sank back into
her chair and stared unseeingly at the beautiful landscape that hung on the
opposite wall. She had seen a side of Alaric today she had not expected. His
cold fury with her when she had brought up her investigation astounded her, and
his abrupt shift in mood had left her confused. All this after his tenderness
of the night before.

Perhaps when they had
spent more time together Alaric could be convinced to help her clear Malcolm's
name. There must also be ways to conduct an investigation secretly. She would
bide her time until Alaric understood that she wanted only what was best for
them both. In time, he might be able to trust her. Her heart contracted
slightly at the thought. She already cared for him far too much.

Two hours later
Alaric strolled leisurely down a London street. His business with Mackley had
been speedily concluded, and he was returning to his house, eager to give
Rowena the reward he had promised her. A gentle smile curled his lips as he
thought about his bride. He had made a good choice. She was not only beautiful
and intelligent, but passionate as well. The previous night he had discovered
the wanton side of Rowena that he had been sure lurked under her cool exterior.
She had given herself to him with a generosity that had touched him deeply.
Indeed, it had moved him so much that this morning he had intentionally
searched for faults in her, and she had proved him wrong once again. He knew
now that her motives were pure, and when she had chosen him over her brother,
he had been completely satisfied.

He looked up and
noticed that he was passing his club. As much as he wished to return home to
Rowena, he realized it might be wise to stop and see if Charles was there. He
wished to make sure that his cousin had received his note of the day before. He
entered the club hastily and glanced about, seeking Charles' familiar blonde
head. In a moment he noticed him, sitting with a group of other young
gentlemen, and he walked over and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Alaric!"
Charles smiled broadly. "The bridegroom is out and about! How is married
life?"

Alaric grinned
easily. "I find that it agrees with me." He nodded politely to the
men surrounding them. "If I might have a word with you, Charles?"

"Certainly."
Charles disengaged himself from the group and strolled over to a seat in the
window, where he dropped into a large chair. Alaric sat down next to him.

"Whatever are
you doing here, Alaric?" Charles asked. "I thought you'd still be
comforting your wife. She couldn't have taken your defection the other night
well."

Alaric shook his
head. "Charles, you must not have understood my note of yesterday. All is
well between Rowena and me."

Charles looked
surprised. "I understood that you wished me to take the blame for your
behavior the other night, you dog! I thought perhaps it was an attempt to
mollify your pretty bride."

"No, it is an
attempt to keep tongues from wagging. Marguerite heard about my adventures, and
meant to spread unkind tales. The woman has a poisonous tongue, Charles."

Charles gave a shout
of laughter. "Don't I know it! I remember how she talked twelve years ago
when you threw her out. Lord, I wouldn't want to get on her bad side." He
leaned in closer. "So Lady Brayleigh is no longer angry with you."

Alaric cleared his
throat. "All is well between my wife and myself," he said somewhat
stiffly.

Charles grinned
easily. "All is well? Is that the best you can put it, my boy?"

Alaric frowned. "You're
a rascal, Charles. I will not talk about Rowena with you. Suffice it to say I
am well-satisfied. I merely stopped in to reassure myself that you would follow
the instructions I sent you yesterday."

Charles shrugged. "I
guess I owe you enough to take the blame for your wedding-night shenanigans.
God knows I don't want that Bingham woman spreading more gossip about you. The
family name can take only so much battering."

Alaric gave him a
shrewd glance. "I'm not the only one who has abused it. I seem to recall
you dropped over 800 guineas at Mrs. Blackmore's on my wedding night. That is
hardly the act of a staid and sober man."

Charles grinned
unrepentantly. "And you'll pay that debt too, cousin, in gratitude for my
defanging of the lovely Marguerite. It's rare enough that you owe me one,
Alaric!"

Alaric smiled at his
scapegrace cousin. "And they call me the black sheep of the family."
He stood up and shook his cousin's hand. "Thank you, Charles. I'll not
forget this. I do not wish Rowena to be troubled."

"I never thought
to see you worrying about a woman's feelings, Alaric. Soon you'll be dancing
attendance on her and drinking tea." Charles shuddered. "Another good
man ruined by the trap of marriage."

"Nonsense."
Alaric smoothed the sleeve of his coat. "It is a trap you will soon find
yourself in, Charles. And I must admit I find it far more pleasant than I had
thought I would."