Alexandra's anxiety had been building for several days, and her nerves were strung tighter than a noose. What if nobody came? She knew Aunt Clara would attend, but how utterly deplorable to have a party with your relative as your only guest. A shudder ran through her, settling in her stomach as a wave of nausea assaulted her. Sighing, she took a long sip of water. Lord, she prayed she was not setting Suzanne up for failure. Though it would hurt terribly if no one came, Alexandra would survive. But to inflict this kind of snub and hurt on a seventeenyearold girl would be devastating. And it would be all Alexandra's fault. Alexandra, the adulterous divorcee, committing yet another misdeed. No, it had to be successful. She'd remarried, ladies would come—or at least she hoped they would. She hurried downstairs to make sure everything was ready. As she rounded the comer of the dining room, her skirts swishing as she bustled about. She ran straight into Connor. He grabbed her forearm to keep her from plowing headon into him.
