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Tiffany Marlowe
didn’t seem like the wisest of decisions, considering his attraction to the
enticing minx, but surely they wouldn’t be the only people taking advantage of
the cool evening breeze, he reasoned.   He
certainly hoped not, anyhow.
    Exiting through the doors a few moments later, Alex was
immensely relieved to see that there were indeed several other couples
occupying the expansive marble terrace.   Leading Tiffany to a vacant spot near the waist-high balustrade, he
deliberately kept them within eyesight of the others.
    Taking a deep breath and inhaling the cool night air,
Tiffany smiled in contentment as the gentle breeze caressed her warm
cheeks.   “The breeze feels lovely,
doesn’t it?”
    “It does indeed,” Alex said, returning her smile.   As he watched, she tipped her head up and
scanned the night sky.  
    “The sky is so clear tonight,” Tiffany mused as she looked
up at the stars twinkling above.   “Oh
look,” she said a moment later, pointing to a trio of bright, evenly-spaced
stars that appeared to form a straight line.   “There’s Orion’s Belt.”
    Alex followed the line of her gaze.   “You have a good eye,” he commented.   “Are you interested in astronomy, perchance?”
    “I am,” Tiffany admitted.   “Ashleigh’s grandfather took us to visit the Royal Observatory when we
were children and I’ve been fascinated with the stars ever since.”
    “Do you have a telescope of your own?”
    “Sadly no.”   She shook
her head.   “Years ago I asked father if
we might be able to purchase one, but he promptly informed me that there were far
more important things to be done with ones time than staring into the night
sky,” she said with a rueful smile and a light, disingenuous chuckle.
    “While that may or may not be true,” Alex maintained, “I
freely admit that I enjoy it nonetheless.”
    “You own a telescope?” Tiffany asked, eyeing him with added
interest.
    “I do.” Alex nodded.   “I would be happy to show it to you sometime.”
    “Oh, would you?”
    “Of course.”  
    Tiffany’s expression lit up instantly.   Fool ,
Alex chided himself.   What the hell was
he doing?   He wasn’t supposed to be
encouraging any kind of relationship with Tiffany Marlowe, not even something
as innocuous as a mutual interest in astronomy.   Considering his attraction to her, it was simply too dangerous.   
    “I’d like that.   Thank
you.”
    Damn, when she looked at him like that he couldn’t think
straight.   It was a good thing they
weren’t alone.   Even as that reassuring
notion registered within his thoughts, he detected another couple approaching
from the opposite side of the terrace.   Cringing, he realized that it was Lucinda Langdon and her husband
Winston.   He’d noted their presence
earlier in the evening and had done his best to avoid them.   Though he was fairly certain that Winston was
unaware that he and Lucinda had anything more than a social acquaintance, he
had no desire to rouse the elderly baron’s suspicions.   However, he supposed that it hardly
mattered.   For according to Lucinda,
Winston was well-aware of her philandering ways, and in fact, privately
sanctioned her amorous activities.   She’d
been quick to inform him that due in large part to his advanced years and
declining health, as well as the fact that his first wife had dutifully
provided him with his requisite heir long before her death; Winston had ceased
visiting her bed years ago and nowadays simply chose to look the other way when
she sought her pleasure elsewhere.   Nevertheless, Alex preferred to be as discreet as possible when it came
to his amorous activities, regardless of the circumstances.
    “Chesterfield, I thought that was you,” Winston said, as
they drew near.
    “Good evening, Langdon, Baroness Langdon,” Alex greeted,
nodding politely to each of them.
    Turning, Tiffany eyed the couple whom she’d met earlier that
evening.   They were an