Chapter 37: Regency - Chapter 13
Beth was surprised when one of the young kitchen girls entered her room following a tentative knock. She had not asked for anything from the kitchen. In fact, she was dressing for bed and would soon retire.
When the girl handed her a note and quickly disappeared, she was even more puzzled. Who would be sending her a note via the kitchens? Especially this late?
She tentatively opened the small paper and read: "Beth, I need to talk to you. I must make amends for yesterday. Please come meet me in your back garden under the tree. I am waiting as you read this. -Alex"
Sighing, she placed the note in the fire and peeked out the window. Sure enough, she could just make out the solitary dark figure under the tree.
If she had received a note from Alex asking her to meet him in private a week ago, she would not have hesitated to accept. Now she was uncertain. His note held no hint of anything improper. If he truly wanted to apologize for his horrendous behaviour, she felt that he might deserve the chance. After all, it seemed a waste to throw out years of friendship for one conflict.
Beth considered asking her maid and good friend, Jennings, for advice, but she knew that Jennings was still angry at Alex over his interest in Arella. And Beth hadn't even told her maid about the fight and Alex's dreadful accusations the previous day.
No, she would have to decide for herself. She chose to err on the side of mercy. Knowing that she was in sight of the house, she felt she would be safe, but she didn't want to take any chances.
Once she had changed back into a simple day dress and thrown on a cloak to shield her identity, she made her way quietly down the servants' stairs. This late, there were very few up and about. Thankfully, only the young girl who had delivered the note was in the kitchen.
"What is your name?" Beth asked, approaching the girl slowly.
"Jenna, Miss," the girl answered, watching Beth with large, scared blue eyes and twisting a strand of her red hair around her finger.
"Well, Jenna, thank you for delivering that note. I have another favor to ask of you."
"Of course, Miss," she said, relief filling her features.
"Could you accompany me out to the back garden? I am going to meet someone, but I am not sure if it is safe. I need you to hang back in the rose garden and watch and if I appear to be in distress, will you please alert my father?"
Jenna's eyes grew even wider as she considered the task. "Aye, Miss," she finally answered.
"Wonderful. Thank you."
Jenna and Beth move quietly out into the garden. As requested, Jenna stopped near the roses and Beth continued to the tree alone.
"Thank you for coming," Alex said quietly as she drew near.
"I received your letter," she answered, looking at him expectantly.
He sighed. "I don't even know where to begin. I was such an a- such a fool yesterday."
"You were, yes."
"I don't know where those accusations came from, honestly. It's obvious to anyone that you're an innocent. The only explanation I can come up with is that I'm jealous."
"Jealous?" she asked incredulously. "Of what?"
"Of whom would be a better question." He stepped forward and took her hand. "I'm jealous of Watford. Of your friendship with him. I guess I feel as though our friendship is something special and I don't want to think that it's something you share with other men, as well."
Beth jerked her hand away and stepped back. "Am I just supposed to remain on the shelf and alone forever because of our friendship? I would like to find a husband someday, you know. And I would hope that I might become friends with the man I choose to marry. How can I find someone to share my life with if I refuse friendships with all other men?"
Alex furrowed his brows in thought. "I hadn't considered that," he admitted.
"You are working on a future with Arella. Worry about her. I have my own future to build." She turned to leave, but looked back as Alex spoke again.
"Is Watford your future then?"
"What?"
"Is he the man you plan to build a future with?"
Beth froze. She hadn't really allowed herself to consider where her relationship with Alec was going. "I don't know. I enjoy his company. I consider him a good friend. We shall just have to see where tomorrow leads us, I suppose."
"I don't trust him. No one really knows anything about him. And he admitted to being at a private masquerade in Italy."
Beth smiled and shook her head. "I have a feeling he was baiting you."
"For what purpose?"
"It seems he doesn't trust you either."
"On what grounds? The man doesn't even know me!"
"No better than you know him, I assume." Beth smiled at Alex's stricken expression, but remembering Alec's charges, she quickly resumed a serious frown. "Have you really been sowing wild oats all those years you were away?"
Alex frowned as well. He sighed and rubbed his cheek for a moment. "I can't lie to you, Beth. I have done a lot of things I am not proud of in the last few years. Father sent me away because he was hoping time abroad would straighten me out. Instead, it provided opportunities to dabble in more questionable activities."
He paused, then came to her and carefully took her hands again. "I am not perfect, but I came back to England to try and turn over a new leaf. I have a lot to work on, certainly, but I hope to be a better man than I have been."
Beth looked into his eyes. He seemed very earnest. "Then I support you in your efforts. But I will not accept being treated poorly by you or anyone."
"Nor should you."
"Thank you for being honest with me. I hope your suit with Arella prospers." Beth squeezed his hands before letting go and returning to the house. She certainly had a lot to consider.
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