Twice Tempted by Eileen Dreyer Read Free Book Online Page B

“It’s good to see you.”
    “You, too, sir.” Alex returned the hug, briefly closing his eyes at the familiar scent of vetiver cologne, which immediately resurrected every feeling of safety and comfort he’d known as a boy. The slight rasp in his father’s breathing ruthlessly dispersed it. “I’m surprised you got away without at least mother.”
    He is too thin , Alex thought, his own heart stumbling. He could feel what good tailoring was camouflaging. Thank God Drake had given him time off. He could focus on making sure his father regained his strength.
    “Your mother is furious with me for haring off so quickly,” Sir Joseph said, stepping back to retrieve his brandy.
    “She and Cissy are well, I hope?”
    His father chuckled. “She and Cissy are setting the Russian court on its ear. It is one thing for an Englishwoman to converse in French. But when she also discusses recipes with the cook in Russian and comparative religion with an orthodox priest in Greek, she upsets everyone’s expectations. They aren’t certain whether they should distrust her or adore her.”
    Alex nodded. “They chose adore, of course. She is impossible to resist.”
    His father’s eyes softened. “That she is.”
    Alex stood back and faced his father. “Does she know?”
    For the first time, Sir Joseph looked less than sanguine. “You do, then.”
    “The government worries when its most vital diplomat feels under the weather.”
    Sir Joseph’s smile was tired. Alex thought his shoulders slumped, just a fraction, as if he’d been holding himself up.
    Taking his drink, Sir Joseph settled into one of the armchairs before the fireplace and waited for Alex to join him before speaking. “It was undoubtedly stupid of me to make that voyage home, just because of a bit of discomfort.”
    “Is that what they call heart seizures now? Discomfort?”
    Alex won a faint smile. “I didn’t want your mother to know. She would worry.”
    “She will find out, you know. It’s inevitable. And I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when she does. What do the doctors say?”
    “What they’ve said since I was twenty-five. I injured my heart with that bout of rheumatic fever, and I must be careful.” A sudden winsome smile lightened the thin face. “But careful is such a dead bore.”
    Alex knew he should argue with his father. Make him see some sense. But when Sir Joseph Knight smiled like that, kings and emperors tripped over themselves to please him. It was Sir Joseph’s secret, one Alex wasn’t even certain his father understood. Sir Joseph was such a gentle soul that people around him lived in fear of disappointing him. God knew Alex did. Had from the time Sir Joseph had first introduced himself to a nine-year-old boy to ask his permission as head of the family to marry his mother.
    Alex had often wished he had his father’s knack for controlling people with kindness, but he didn’t. He wasn’t patient enough, or nice enough, or capable of seeing good in even the worst person. His father lived to negotiate. The only thing Alex hated more was always being disappointed with the inevitable results.
    If Chuffy wanted to see a White Knight, Alex thought, considering the comfortable creases of his father’s face, this was where he’d find him.
    “Why come home?” he asked instead. “The travel had to have been grueling.”
    His father shrugged. “Not as much as you think. We came mostly by sea, and I like sailing. It’s so peaceful, so free of brangling.”
    It was Alex’s turn to smile. “At least diplomatic brangling. I understand the Tzar has a new bee in his bonnet.”
    Sir Joseph scowled. “Oh lord, yes. Somehow he’s gotten himself involved with some harebrained female claiming to be a mystic, who has talked him into forming a Holy Alliance that would codify divine right.”
    Alex let an eyebrow slide north. Drake had been right. This was right up the Lions’ alley. “Where did the mystic come from?”
    “God only