“What was it you wanted to tell me tonight?” she asked sleepily.
“I don’t think now is a good time,” he said, holding her. “I don’t want anything to ruin this moment. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“After tea with your father,” Jess murmured.
Alex stroked her hair and held her as he sat up in bed, not sleeping but watching the sun come up, and thinking how good life could be. Right now he had what he wanted most: Jessica’s love. He knew that she’d love him no matter what, through sickness, through full-bottomed wigs, even through a few little white lies about the actual shape of his body and what he did in the evenings. Not many men had the opportunity to verify their wife’s love as Alex had done.
He smiled and pulled her closer. Tomorrow night he’d tell her everythi
ng and she’d understand. If she was woman enough to love him in spite of his unappealing physique, then she was certainly woman enough to understand.
But just in case, he thought with a smile, he’d better remove the breakables from his room. Jess might not understand immediately. But he’d tame her, oh yes, he would.
* * *
“You look lovely, Jessica,” Sayer Montgomery said. “Is that the red dress the countess had made for you? Alex, don’t you think she looks lovely?”
Alex didn’t answer.
Jess laughed. “I think he does like the dress.”
Sayer looked from one to the other. “You both look especially happy today. Did something happen?”
Jess put down her tea cup. “I’m glad the Raider wasn’t caught last night. Did you hear any news?”
“Only that he got away and they got the contraband out in time.”
Jessica was filling Alex’s teacup while he lounged in his seat. She knew he liked to annoy his father.
“I wonder how the Raider knew about the ship?” Sayer asked.
“I’d like to know that, too. I’m assuming that was the message the admiral received, but I didn’t give it to the Raider. I didn’t even have time to read it before it was stolen.”
“Do you think the Raider took it from your room?” Sayer asked.
“In broad daylight? I doubt—”
“What?” Alex shouted, coming out of his euphoria. “Did you take a message from the admiral? Is that what you were doing in his room?”
“Alex, please calm down.”
Alex jumped up, overturned his chair and nearly upset the tea table. “Did Sophy know about this? Did she help you? I’ll wring both your necks. You and that damned red dress, if it hadn’t been for that, I’d have realized what you were up to. So help me, Jessica—”
“Sit down,” Sayer bellowed, effectively stopping Alex’s tirade. “I’ll not allow a lady to be spoken to like that in my presence.”
Alex slumped in the chair and sulked. His eyes told Jess he’d get her later.
“I want you to kiss your wife and tell her you’re sorry for your bad temper. It’s from his mother’s side of the family. No Montgomery man before him ever screeched at a woman.”
Alex sat there, his jaw set.
“I like that idea,” Jess said, not at all disturbed by Alex’s outburst. Her only concern was the stress his anger put on his weak heart.
Sayer glared at his son until Alex grabbed Jess’s hand, kissed the back of it and mumbled some incoherent words.
“Oh,” Jess said, obviously disappointed.
“Goddamn you!” Sayer bellowed, ignoring Jess. “I’ve bred no son like you. I’ve seen you kiss that little Italian flirt and she’s not half the woman Jess is. Aren’t you man enough to kiss your own wife?”