Regency - Chapter 9

Beth felt a mix of fear and gratitude when Alec interrupted Alex's tirade. She was happy to have Alex's attention turned from her, but worried at what might happen between the two men. She was well aware that Alec was not fond of her childhood friend.

"Leave the lass alone," Alec said in a low, menacing voice, his Irish brogue thicker than she had ever heard it.

"Worried I might keep her from your bed?" Alex taunted.

Beth's gasp of outrage was drowned out by the sound of the low growl emanating from Alec's throat. She was about to move to stand between them when Alex spoke again.

"Is the ice queen act a facade to cover up your indiscretions?" he asked, looking at Beth with a patronizing smile.

She froze. What was happening? Why was her best friend treating her like this?

Before she could get lost in her pain, a loud crack drew her attention back to Alex. Only, Alex was no longer standing next to her. Now he was lying on the ground, a hand covering a nose that appeared to be dripping blood. Alec stood over him, his hands still clenched into fists.

"If I EVER hear you speak so disrespectfully about a lady again, you will not get off so easily," Alec said threateningly. "Beth is a friend of mine. She is perfectly respectable and the fact that you would even say such things in front of her shows your true colors. You are no gentleman." He paused and his anger turned to a look of disgust. "I hope never to see your face again, especially not in the vicinity of Beth."

Turning his attention from the man on the ground, Alec moved to Beth's side. She was still trying to process what had just happened. Had Alex really just accused her of. . . being a fallen woman? The idea was so ludicrous that she wanted to laugh, but at the same time, so painful that it brought tears to her eyes.

She looked into Alec's eyes, which were filled with sympathy, and her own eyes began overflowing with tears.

Alec quickly pulled her arm through his and led her from the clearing. She didn't even glance back at Alex. It hurt too much to even look at the man she had so admired for so long. She didn't pay any attention to where they were going until Alec led her off the path into a different copse of trees.

"You can let your feelings out now," he said softly. "No one will see."

"You will still see," she pointed out with a watery smile as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Yes, well, that is the responsibility of a friend, is it not? To stay with you even when you are not feeling your best?"

"I would say ESPECIALLY when I am not feeling my best, which you always seem to be there for."

He shrugged. "It must be a gift."

She giggled. "Not a very convenient gift, if it surrounds you with crying women."

Alec remained serious. "I have no problem with crying women, and I definitely have no problem being with you when you are not feeling in top form." He frowned as he pulled out a clean handkerchief and began softly dabbing at her cheeks. "I hope I broke his nose," he muttered.

Beth gasped and giggled again. "I doubt it is very ladylike of me to say so, but I hope so too," she admitted. "Oh, how could he say such awful things? It's as though he does not know me at all!" Her tears dried up as her sadness flipped to anger. "Really, to imply that I am. . . that I would. . . As if I would even consider. . . Aargh!" She ended her tirade with a groan of frustration. She had started pacing as she spoke and now stood a few feet from Alec.

"He's a fool," Alec said. "You should never pay heed to the opinions of cretins like him."

"But he wasn't always like that," Beth said softly. "He used to be so kind, so easy to talk to. He used to know me better."

"Time changes all of us. Unfortunately, not all change for the better."

Beth frowned. "I suppose I did not change for the better either." Alec looked at her with one dark blond eyebrow raised until she continued. "You were right. I have cut myself off from friendships and from other people. I was so focused on saving myself for Alex that I sacrificed so many opportunities." She sighed. "And all for nothing!"

"Well, you might have made sacrifices, but you still have time to remedy any regrets you may have. You are still young, beautiful, intelligent, and well-placed in society."

She blushed, but nodded slowly. "That is true, at least in part" She smiled as she considered what she might do now that she didn't have to maintain her ice queen persona. There were still a few young ladies she had been drawn to the year of her come-out who had not married yet. She would reach out to them, apologize for snubbing their attempts to get to know her. She could still make friends. And she would start dancing again. Oh, but she would need someone brave enough to ask her.

Beth looked back at Alec and smiled. "Would you like to help me overcome my regrets?" she asked.

Alec looked at her with a wry smile. "Why do I feel like I'm being led into something I might regret?" he asked.

"I hope you won't dislike it too much," she answered. "I'm out of practice, certainly, but I hope I can still be an enjoyable partner."

"Ah," he answered, catching on to her meaning. "Am I to have the honor of re-introducing you to the dance floor?"

"Would you?" she asked with excitement. Giving up dancing had been one of the hardest sacrifices she had made. She had always loved dancing and had been so excited to get to dance in the beautiful ballrooms of London.

"I would be honored to," he answered with a soft smile.