Just the distraction she needed from her constant surveillance of her husband, her fear that the moment her back was turned, he’d set off to kill Fairfax. “Look,” she said, waving it at Matthew. “We’ve been invited to a reception.” Matthew seemed less than thrilled, making Alex sigh. He disapproved of the friendship that had sprung up between her and Sir William, and made no secret of it. Well tough; she enjoyed Sir William’s company, and if anything the incident with Jones down at the waterfront had intensified the relationship, with Alex a regular guest whenever the Governor was in town. On the evening of the reception, they walked arm in arm towards the Assembly House. Alex had overruled Matthew’s objections and was wearing a borrowed deep blue bodice with a rather daring neckline that had both James and Matthew ogling her before they left, one with appreciation, the other with a scowl. Matthew was in sober black, with dark silk stockings and blindingly white linen at cuff and neck of the long well-cut coat – all of it courtesy of Mr Parson.
