Condid you have that dream again?
Yes. Its not important.
Alex grunted softly. It certainly doesnt seem to have affected your appetite.
Little does. Con gestured toward the pristine expanse of table in front of Alex. What about you? Have you eaten anything?
I had a cup of coffee.
No doubt that will calm you down.
Alex rolled his eyes and went over to pull a piece of toast from the rack. Youre not going to distract me from your dream.
I know. But theres nothing new to tell. Its the same dream Ive had five times now. Im in a bizarre round room. There are clocks and compasses everywhere, and I have this feeling of absolute dread. He paused. Maybe its panic rather than dread. I feel as if Im late. Im sure its just because of the wedding. Im worried about not getting to the jewelers in time for the ring. Keeping this family in line. Being late to the church. All that.
I have never in my life known you to be so concerned about being late, Alex said flatly.
Youve never gotten married before. Con shrugged it off. Speaking of being late, why the devil are you all turned out in your wedding coat this early? Youll be creased and stained by the time the ceremony rolls around.
I know. Ill change. It was just I couldnt think what else to do. Alex sighed. This is going to be the longest day of my life.
Why so nervous? Youve been champing at the bit for weeks. I cant imagine youre having second thoughts.
Lord, no, nothing like that. But I cant rid myself of the fear that something will keep it from taking place. That Sabrina will decide to call it off at the last minute.
The womans mad for you. Anyone can see that.
I woke up this morning thinking, what if the Dearborns grab her again?
Idiot. Shes at Kyrias, with all that brood to protect her.
I know. Not to mention her friend Miss Holcutt.
Indeed. Id warrant Miss Holcutt could scare off any chap with wicked intentions.
Alex smiled. Youre inordinately hard on Lilah.
Its inordinately easy to be hard on Lilah, Con tossed back.
I think the reason is youre also rather sweet on Lilah. Cons contemptuous snort only made Alex grin. Not to mention the fact that shes the only woman to turn down your advances.
Thats not true.
Oh, really? What other girl has told you no when you asked her to take a stroll in the garden? For that matter, what woman has turned you down about anythingexcluding our sisters, of course?
Dozens, Im sure. Con paused. Well, a few. Im not universally approved of, you know. Youre the one whos the perfect model of a marital prize.
Im not the one whos a charming rogue.
I beg your pardon. I am charming, of course, but hardly a rogue.
Alex laughed and reached over to steal a sausage from Cons plate. Actually, Im surprised you arent pursuing Lilah. I would think she would be a challenge to you.
Maybe I would. Cons lips curved in a faint smile. If she werent your future wifes bosom friend. That makes things awkward.
Not necessarily. Not if the two of you suited.
Con snorted. What is it that makes a reformed bachelor want to take all the rest of us down with him?
Alex ignored his plaintive question. Miss Holcutt is rather attractive.
Con thought of that bright hair, an indescribable color somewhere between gold and red, that dewy skin, the long slim body beneath her conservative gowns. Rather attractive didnt begin to describe Lilah.
Thats the problem. Lilah Holcutt is the sort of woman who leads you on a merry chase, and once you manage to catch her, you cant imagine why you wanted to. Shes priggish, self-righteous, humorless and critical. Shed make any mans life a misery. Besides, shes made it quite clear that she detests me.
Alex crossed his arms, regarding Con thoughtfully. Con was grateful that before Alex could speak again, their mother swept into the room. Alex. Dearest.
Both men rose. Mother. I thought youd gone to Kyrias.
No, dear. Im of little use there. Neither are the others of course. Kyria and Miss Holcutt could easily handle it all themselves, but its a nice bit of sisterly time. But Im not going to pass your wedding day away from you. She took Alexs face in her hands. Tears glittered in her eyes. I can scarcely believe youre getting married. It seems only yesterday you were in leading strings.
Im not the first of your children to marry, Alex protested.
I know. But those times, I knew I still had my babies. Now its my baby getting married.
You have Con.
The duchess smiled at her other son. Yes, but it wont be long before you are married, too, Con.
Nonsense. Youll have me around to bother you for years, Con told her lightly. I doubt Im marriage material.
Emmeline Moreland chuckled. Now, where have I heard that before? She patted Cons cheek. And you were never a bother. Either of you.
Mother, how could I marry? Con laughed. Ill never find a woman who compares to you.
Hours later, Con stood beside his brother as Alexs bride made her way slowly down the aisle on the arm of Uncle Bellard. Con was unsure whether Bellard was supporting her or Sabrina was holding up their small and shy great-uncle. Bellard had been thrilled when Sabrina, having no male relatives of her own, had asked him to escort her, but this afternoon the old man had been dithering about, several shades paler than even the groom.
Alex, oddly enough, lost his nervousness the moment Sabrina came into view. Black-haired and blue-eyed, with a strawberries-and-cream complexion and a bewitching smile, she was a vision, and Alex could not take his eyes off her.
Con looked across at Sabrinas maid of honor. Lilah Holcutt was tall and willowy, and when she smiled, her lips curved in a faintly lopsided way that never failed to send a sizzle through Con. It was fortunate for him, he supposed, that Lilah was not prone to smile often at least not around him. She was more apt to send him that look. The one that said she found him irredeemably foolish. Strangely enough, that one, too, set off a little tickle in him.
She was especially attractive today. Her face was too well formed, her form too alluring, her hair too fascinating a color for her to ever be anything but lovely. But today there was something different about her. Con suspected that his sister Kyria had something to do with that. Lilahs red-gold hair was not pulled back into its usual neat twist that stopped just short of severe. Nor was her blue dress the plain pastel frock she normally wore.
Her gown was a rich vivid blue that accentuated the color of her eyes, with a scoop neckline and a fall of soft lace at the sleeves, leaving much of her arms bare. She had beautiful arms. And her hair, that bright blend of red and gold that Con had never seen on anyone else, was swept up into a soft roll, with a small strand on either side curling down beside her ears in a way that made a mans fingers itch to touch it.
Lilahs gaze had been on the bride and groom, but now she glanced over at Con. He sent her a friendly wink, and she frowned. Obviously he had again earned her disapproval. With Lilah, that was easily done. It was one of the many reasons it was wise to avoid her.