A Scarlet Bride (35 page)

"Great news, Doctor."

James Halsted rushed into the room, a big smile on his aging face. He glanced at Alexandra before turning his attention on Connor. In two quick strides, he was by the bed.

"You did it, boy. You made quick time in getting her in the family way. I'll write you a bank draft today."

The blood drained from Connor's body.

He felt as if everything was happening in slow motion, when in reality it was mere seconds. In a panic, he realized the old man was going to destroy the happiness they had just found if he didn't get Halsted out of the room now.

Alexandra released Connor's hand and sat up in bed, a puzzled scowl wrinkling her forehead. "What did you say, Father?"

James grabbed Connor's hand and pumped it up and down. "Good job.
My first grandchild."

"What is he talking about, Connor?
Bank draft?''
Alexandra repeated, her voice rising.

Connor felt his world starting to slip away.

"Come on, James. Alexandra needs to rest." His voice sounded frightened to his own ears. Connor grabbed Alexandra's father by the arm and tried to pull him to the door. If only he could get his
fatherinlaw
out of the room.

"But we must discuss our plans," the older man protested.

"Not now, James," Connor said, firmly pushing him through the door and shutting it behind him.

Connor stood facing the closed portal, afraid to turn around and look at Alexandra. Damn James! And damn
himself
for not telling Alexandra about the arrangement with her father. Why had he not been honest with her?

Slowly, he turned toward Alexandra. Connor thought he had never seen such a look of agonized bewilderment on her face. Torture could not have been any more painful to him as she gazed at him, the reality of what he'd done beginning to settle over her features like a cold splash of water.

''You agreed to get me pregnant for money?'' she asked in disbelief.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and realized how demeaning Alexandra's words were. "It's not as bad as it sounds."

She looked at Connor, her face a contortion of pain and anger. "You did. You agreed to get me with child, all for my father's money."

"Not exactly," he assured her, approaching the bed. He tried to pick up her hand, but she yanked it away from him. Her green eyes sparkled with an icy fury, her hands clinched into fists.

"Get out." Her voice was calm.
Too calm.

"Alexandra, let me explain," Connor pleaded. "The arrangement had nothing to do with the two of us. I needed the money."

"Get out." Her voice raised just a notch.

Connor ran his hand through his hair, desperation and fear choking him. He took a deep breath. "Alexandra, please, it sounds horrible, but it wasn't meant that way. Give me a chance ..."

"A chance to use me again!
Use my body, without regard for my feelings! Get out, now!" Her voice became more
highpitched
with each word. "Get out!"

In this kind of state, there was no talking rationally to her. He needed to give her some time before they could find a way to overcome this.

"I'm going to let you get some rest now. I'll be back later." He turned to leave, walking slowly to the door.

"Damn you, Connor Manning!"

Something smacked him in the shoulder, jarring him, sending a sting shooting through his muscles.

"Damn you to hell for what you've done!" she yelled. With a heavy heart, Connor yanked the door closed before anything else could
come
flying through.

God, he had really messed things up this time. Worse, he had no idea how to undo the damage.

***

Alexandra stared at the closed door. Her heart felt as if it had been wrenched from her chest. She wanted to cry, but the tears refused to flow. How could he hurt her like this?

All the dreams of the past few days seemed like dust blowing in the wind. Everything had been a lie.

A nasty lie for her father's money.

Swinging her legs over the side, she sat up in bed and ran her hand over her flat stomach. And now she was expecting a child.

But why would her father pay Connor to get her with child? The only thing he cared for in life was money and his bank.

The bank.

Oh, God, he'd mentioned on more than one occasion that he wanted an heir. She'd always known her father was a cold man, but to barter for a child, her child, was ruthless.

And how could Connor have agreed to such a barbaric arrangement?
A child for money.
How grotesque!

All the time she was with Gordon, she had never conceived. He'd even accused her of deliberately not wanting his children when just the opposite had been true. Then she had longed for children, hoping they would fill the void in her life that Gordon had never filled.

But how could Connor, the man she loved, agree to such a horrible proposition?
Money for their child?

Every time she thought happiness was achievable, it slipped through her fingers like pebbles in a stream and sunk to the bottom, plunging her spirit with it.

Damn her father for meddling in her life. Damn Connor for making her believe she could be happy with him, only to show her he was like all the other cruel, manipulative men she'd known.

A sob escaped her, and she buried her head in her hands, letting the tears flow freely. She cried for the death of her dreams and for the unborn babe she now
carried,
its future so uncertain. But most of all she cried for the loss of Connor. How could he do this to her? How could he hurt her even more than Gordon had?

At least Gordon had never pretended he loved her. But deep down, she had begun to believe Connor cared for her, had begun to hope they had a chance of making a real marriage. His betrayal hurt most of all.

Alexandra took a deep breath and released the
pentup
tension, leaving only the heartache behind.

To hell with Connor.
To hell with her father.

She didn't have to return to River Bend with Connor and be his wife again. She didn't have to remain by his side, knowing what he had done, pretending nothing was wrong. She had other choices.
Choices that didn't include Connor.

Alexandra glanced around her old room. This very room had been her haven since childhood. It would be once again. Connor could return to River Bend without her.

She had felt uneasy about leaving Aunt Clara alone tonight, and now saw no need. She would stay for as long as she could.
Long enough to decide where to go from here.

Maybe it was better this way.
For her and the child.
Better to stick with her original plan of getting her revenge and living her life alone.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stood, grabbed the servant's cord, and yanked the bell.

Men were despicable creatures. Connor had just proved it. She would stay here, lock herself in her room, and finish her second novel. At least with the publication of The Banker's Perfidy, she could possibly support herself and her unborn child.

Walking to the desk, she pulled out pen and paper. A few moments later, someone knocked on the door, and Alexandra glanced up from the note she was writing.

"Who is it?" she sniffed.

"I'm answering your summons, Mrs. Manning," the servant said through the door.

"Come inside."

She glanced at Betsy, a young maid. "I wish you to return to River Bend with my husband and pack all of my belongings. I've decided to stay with Aunt Clara."

The girl gazed at her, expressionless.
"Yes, ma'am."

Alexandra folded the note and handed it to the young woman. "Give this to my
husb
—" She took a deep breath.
"To Mr. Manning."

Connor leaned against the wall of the parlor and watched as the guests mingled quietly. He didn't feel like being social. He only felt a numb sense of shock.

Why had it happened this way? Why had her fattier blurted out the damaging words in front of Alexandra? Why couldn't her father just keep his mouth shut?

Maybe by tonight she'd be willing to listen. Maybe by tonight, he could explain why he'd felt it necessary to take her father's money.

No. He was fooling himself if he thought Alexandra would forgive him so easily. It had taken weeks for her to get over his bet with William. This would take even longer.

"Mr. Manning?" a young maid said, approaching him.

"Yes?"

"I have a note from your wife."

Connor took the note from the young girl and tore open the seal. His eyes quickly scanned the document.

Mr. Manning:

Betsy will accompany you back to River Bend, where she will pack my belongings. I will not be returning to River Bend. Don't try to see me or change my mind.

Stunned, Connor
sagged
his shoulders, despair overpowering him. This was worse than he thought. He hadn't considered life without Alexandra.

With
a calmness
he didn't feel, Connor shoved the note into his pocket and glanced at the waiting young girl. "I'll meet you at the carriage in five minutes."

"Yes, sir."
She hurried off.

Putting his hands in his pocket, he touched the crumpled note with his numb fingers. His heart felt in much the same condition. He was going home.
Alone.

Fear trickled down his spine. Surely it wouldn't be forever. Would it?

Connor straightened his shoulders and held his head high. This was only a temporary setback. After several days to sort her thoughts out, she would return to River Bend. Several days and she would realize her mistake. Realize they belonged together, forever.

***

The next day, Alexandra remained closeted in her room. No one had asked any questions regarding her remaining at Summerwood while Connor had returned home. Betsy had fetched her belongings from River Bend, yet even with her few possessions around her, Alexandra felt lost.

She didn't belong here anymore. She didn't belong anywhere, really. In the last few months, River Bend had started to feel comfortable, familiar, like the home she had longed for since she was a child. But now with Connor's betrayal, she felt she had no home.

Yet her heart refused to deny that, no matter what the scoundrel had done, she loved him.
While the rational part of her wanted to hang him from the nearest tree.

How could he lie to her? Act as if he cared, when all the time he had only been motivated by greed? How could he treat her so badly?

Because that was what rakes did.

Sometime during the last five months, she had fallen hopelessly in love with Connor, had even begun to believe he was sincere, trustworthy. And for that reason, his betrayal hurt more than anything she had previously experienced.

She loved Connor, yet she hated him for what he had done. Now she was carrying his child. Damn him for hurting her so badly. Damn him for awakening the woman in her. How was she going to live without him?

Alexandra ventured out of her room later that afternoon, hoping to find Aunt Clara. Instead of locating her aunt, she found her father in the parlor, sipping a glass of tea while reading the newspaper. The sight of the banker made her bristle with renewed anger. She turned on her heels, hoping to escape his notice, knowing she would be unable to restrain her fury.

"Daughter, I would like a word with you," he called before she could depart the room.

She halted, letting the years of rage pulse through her. Since the day her mother died, her father had done little but give her grief. True, he was her father, but she was tired of his interference. She was tired of his highhandedness.

He had meddled in her life one time too many.

She turned and walked into the parlor, head held high, shoulders pulled back, as if prepared for battle. The crinoline of her skirt rustled as she took a seat across from her father on the
mirrorback
love seat. The same love seat Connor had sat on when he'd called on her that first time, so many months ago.

"Yes, Father. We do need to talk," she proclaimed, her voice stern.

He glanced up at her, his eyes questioning, before he returned to his newspaper. "Is Connor coming to take you home today?"

"No," she replied. "I don't know if I will ever return to River Bend."

Her words caught her father's attention. He folded his newspaper and laid it aside. A frown creased his forehead, his eyes stern and foreboding. But Alexandra didn't back down. Not this time.

"What are you saying? You're his wife and you're expecting his child," he said, his voice rising slightly. "Your place is at River Bend, with your husband."