He hadn't kissed her for days. Her lips tingling, she wondered whether the kiss had been for show or for real. "Almost."
He smiled, reaching around her to run a finger down her bare back, making her shiver. "I shall wait for you in the curricle," he said, then walked away.
She slowly closed the door.
"It looks like you're reconciliated already," Peggy commented as she did up her buttons.
"We're both trying." Blushing for the second time inside of ten minutes, Alexandra took a seat at her dressing table so the maid could work on her hair.
"I wish to apologize for being such a crab the past few days," Peggy said from behind her. "I admired you so for your investigation, and I was disappointed to find myself no longer part of it." She deftly twisted and pinned. "Do you expect you could ever forgive me?"
"Of course," Alexandra said. Peggy had been her strongest ally until that first time she went off without her, and she'd missed having a woman here at Hawkridge to confide in. "I collect I haven't been a very pleasant person myself the last day or two."
"But you're the mistress," Peggy pointed out. "You're allowed to be a crab." They both laughed; then Peggy sobered. "I fear for you, though. All the buzz in the servants' quarters is that someone is after you—I'm thinking you should be leaving Hawkridge to save your life, not going on picnics."
The maid's concern warmed Alexandra's heart. "I know tales of danger have been bandied about by the prattleboxes belowstairs, but I assure you there's nothing to fear. A few unfortunate accidents do not a plot make. Besides, my investigation is all but over. I have only one person left to interview."
In the mirror, Peggy looked surprised. "Did you fall from your horse before visiting Lizzy, then?"
"No, I spoke with Lizzy. She told me of another departed servant called Maude." Too late Alexandra remembered Peggy's propensity to gossip and Tris's wish that no one learn about Maude. She watched Peggy's face in the mirror. "I wonder why she wasn't on your list?"
"We all thought the old woman was dead," Peggy said, looking shocked. "Are you certain she isn't?"
"Lizzy wasn't sure, but I hope not. I collect I will find out tomorrow when I try to pay Maude a visit."
"You'll take me along this time, won't you?"
"If I'm still not up to riding, most assuredly." Alexandra turned to her maid, putting a finger to her lips. "Tell no one else, I beg you. You know his lordship doesn't want me continuing this investigation. I cannot risk any word reaching him concerning my plans for tomorrow."
"Mum's the word," Peggy promised. "But I do believe the old woman is dead. Why make the journey at all when you'll most likely put your reconciliation in jeopardy for nothing?"
"Perhaps you're right." Hoping to keep her maid in such good humor permanently, Alexandra made a big show of sighing. "I shall think on it," she told her and rose to collect her bonnet.
FORTY-NINE
"PEGGY THINKS Maude is dead," Alexandra told Tristan as he helped her into the curricle. "But I want to try to visit her anyway. You won't mind, will you? Even if the journey proves to be fruitless?"
"I said I'd take you, and I don't intend to go back on my word. But whyever would Peggy say she's dead?" He climbed up beside her and pulled the hood over their heads to shield them from the bright sun. "I thought no one knew about Maude."
She winced. "I mentioned her without thinking. But it's just Peggy," she added quickly as he lifted the reins. "I made her promise not to tell, and she also believes that I plan to visit Maude tomorrow, not today. I made the timing very clear."
Annoyance tightened his jaw, but he didn't want to start this outing with a disagreement. As he drove away, he told himself firmly that what was done was done. Nothing untoward was likely to come of it, since it was plain no one was following them. By all appearances, everyone had bought their story that they were off for nothing more interesting than a honeymoon picnic.
Alexandra took up the silver basket and wrapped their luncheon in one of the large napkins, leaving only the lemon puffs in the bottom. "For Maude," she explained. "Thank you so much for doing this. It means a lot to me."
He slanted her a glance. "It means a lot to me that you were willing to forgo it."
"I'm glad," she said softly and left it at that. They rode silently for a few minutes before she turned to him again. "Would you care for something to eat?"
He shook his head. "I'm not hungry."
"Neither am I. I'm too nervous to eat. This is our last chance…"
She trailed off, and little was said for the rest of the ride.
But he hadn't missed the "our." Our last chance.
Like most servants, Maude hadn't gone far from the place of her birth to find employment. Nutgrove was less than an hour away, an hour Alexandra spent rubbing up against Tristan. Innocent though she had come to him, she was a temptress, and he suspected she knew it. Their kiss earlier that morning had been intended for show, but the feel of her mouth on his had jarred him to the core.
He wasn't ready for this—he couldn't allow her to steal his heart. She was about to come to the end of her search. As she'd said, this was their last chance. Once she believed he would never be free of scandal, it would be only a matter of time before she left him.
He couldn't bear to think of that—to think of going on without her. Alexandra's presence had changed the very
