Filed To Story: Alessia Mistaken as Mistress Book PDF Free
Alessia groaned. “I can’t eat another bite.”
“At least try it.”
He extended his fork, a succulent bite of red filling and flaky crust on the tip. Alessia had no choice but to accept the offering. She opened her mouth, and he fed her the bite.
She caught a bit of crust with her tongue. It melted in her mouth, and she savored the sharp tang of rhubarb. “Mmm, it’s wonderful,” she said appreciatively.
His eyes darkened and his gaze focused on her lips.
Alessia’s heart skipped a beat.
Heat flooded her cheeks.
She met his eyes and knew he was thinking of the inflaming kisses they’d shared. She remembered her reactions to his touches, and embarrassment scorched her face. She glanced at Leda, but the woman had finished her meal and was playing with William.
“Want another bite?” he asked.
Alessia shook her head and lowered her gaze.
“I guess I’ll have to finish yours then.” He finished eating and sat relaxing, one arm resting on an upraised knee. Leda chattered to William. After a few minutes, Alessia relaxed and placed the sultry moment out of her thoughts.
“Are you enjoying yourselves?” a female voice asked.
Alessia glanced up and discovered pale green eyes set in a vaguely familiar face, framed by the underside of a white parasol. She felt she should know where she’d seen the woman before. She clung to the arm of a muscular young man with chestnut-brown hair and eyes.
“Yes. It’s a lovely day,” Alessia replied.
“Sorry,” the woman said, and extended a hand to Leda. “We haven’t met before. I’m Judith Marcelino.”
“Of course,” Nicholas said, his voice not altogether welcoming, and Alessia understood he hadn’t recognized her at first either. “You didn’t move on with the theater group?”
That was it! They’d met her at the restaurant in Youngstown after the theater.
“No. I decided to stay a while.” She patted the young man’s arm.
“J.W.,” Nicholas acknowledged.
“Mr. Halliday,” the young man returned with a polite nod.
She’d stayed because she’d met an iron worker?
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Judith,” Leda said. “And you know Claire?”
“Oh yes. We go back a long way. Don’t we, Claire?”
Alessia merely blinked.
“I knew Claire in New York. Before she ever met Stephen, of course. She did the costumes for
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I had a lead.”
“O-oh,” Leda said with interest, making the word two syllables.
“Claire designed a lovely blue gown with hundreds of seed pearls.” Judith’s piercing green eyes held a silent message. “
Remember, Claire?”
Her eerie inflection made the hair on Alessia’s neck stand on end. The food she’d eaten turned to a hard ball in her stomach. Panic rose in her throat, and her heart thudded a few sluggish beats as though it would stop altogether.
What was she saying? Good Lord, what was her purpose? If she knew Claire and meant to expose Alessia, why hadn’t she done it the last time they’d met? She obviously expected Alessia to go along with her taunting questions.
“I-I…” she stammered.
“It was a cobalt blue,” Judith prompted.
“I-yes, of course I remember that dress,” she replied.
Nicholas looked at her curiously.
“And who is this?” the girl asked, kneeling gracefully beside where Leda sat holding William.
“This is my grandson, William Stephen Halliday,” Leda said proudly.
“Oh!” Judith looked him over. “William Stephen Halliday,” she repeated, rolling the name from her tongue as though she were trying it out. “Well, what do you know?”
Alessia wanted to jump up and push the woman away from her son, but she commanded her body to stay put. She set down her plate.
“Do you think he looks like Stephen?” Judith asked Leda.
Alessia’s heart jumped.
“Somewhat,” Leda responded with a rich smile. Anyone who took an interest in William won her over. “But he’s the very image of Claire. All that pale hair, and see his chin?”
“Oh, yes,” Judith agreed as if it really were important to her.
Nicholas and the fellow he’d called J.W. exchanged a look. “Will you join me in getting something to wash down that meal?” Nicholas asked.
A smile spread across the young man’s face as though he were honored. “Sure.”
The two of them headed toward the area where barrels of beer sat on the tailgate of a wagon in the shade.
“You go enjoy yourself now,” Leda said to Alessia. “William and I have some ladies to impress.”
Alessia helped her to her feet and watched helplessly as she walked back to the sewing circle.
With trepidation weighing her heart, Alessia turned back to the young woman who had made herself at home on the blanket. Judith patted the spread beside her. “We may as well catch up on old times, don’t you think,
Claire?
“
Alessia’s knees shook, so she sat quickly. “What are you doing?”
Judith appeared stricken. “What am I doing?” She splayed her hand over her chest dramatically. “Why, I’m just being an old friend!”
Her smile gave Alessia a cold shiver.
“And authenticating your story, of course.”