The Lady Forfeits

by Carole Mortimer

  She also realised she had been thrown temporarily off balance earlier by Mrs Prescott’s spiteful remarks about Gabriel’s birthmark, but just this past few minutes spent in her vindictive company had finally enabled Diana to see it for exactly what it was; a means of hurting Gabriel, as well as driving a wedge of misunderstanding between the betrothed couple.

  And she had so nearly succeeded…

  Her gaze was cool as she looked down the length of the table at the other woman. ‘I am sure that every family has its secrets and scandals, Mrs Prescott. Including my own,’ she added drily. ‘But our relationship is such that Gabriel and I do not have secrets between us.’ She reached across the table to lightly touch the back of his hand, her heart aching as she saw the agony of emotion in the depths of his eyes as his gaze flickered across to her.

  ‘I somehow find that very hard to believe,’ Jennifer said scornfully.

  ‘Perhaps that is because you have always found dishonesty so much easier to understand?’ Gabriel rallied to toss the insult at her.

  He had foolishly allowed himself to be momentarily shaken by his aunt’s taunts—a loss of his normal control that Diana had not only masked by deflecting Jennifer’s attention with her own conversation, but acknowledged privately by offering him her tacit and gentle support with that light touch upon his hand. Considering how disagreeably he had behaved towards her earlier, that support was breathtaking. He was fast discovering she was indeed a diamond amongst women.

  He turned his hand and captured the slenderness of her fingers within his grasp, the intensity of his gaze holding hers when she looked across at him in shy enquiry. He gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze as he reiterated his resolve to apologise to her as soon as possible for his earlier bad temper.

  ‘Might I remind you I am not the one who was disowned by my own family!’

  He should have known that Jennifer would not have allowed his insult to go unchallenged. ‘There is only your father, the rector, and he was ever blind to your faults.’ Gabriel eyed her disdainfully. ‘Can my uncle be equally as blind, I wonder?’

  She bristled defensively. ‘Charles and I are very happy with our marriage.’

  ‘Indeed?’

  Angry colour once again darkened those creamy cheeks. ‘You will see for yourself when he returns from town.’

  Gabriel snorted. ‘I have absolutely no intention of still being in Cambridgeshire when my uncle returns.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Because you are too much the coward to face my husband, perhaps?’

  Gabriel’s eyes glittered fiercely at this slur upon his honour. ‘If you were a man, I would call you out for such an insult!’

  ‘If I were a man, there would be no reason for the insult!’

  ‘You—’

  ‘Gabriel.’ It was Diana’s softly spoken warning that brought an end to what was rapidly becoming an intolerable heated row.

  He drew in a deep, controlling breath and forced himself to calm down. ‘Diana is quite correct; we are digressing from the point.’

  ‘And what point was that?’

  His mouth tightened ominously at Jennifer’s obvious sarcasm. ‘That there was not so much as a maid present when I visited my mother’s rooms earlier and I am not satisfied with the level of her care.’

  ‘I have told you—’

  ‘I would also be interested to learn why and by whom my mother’s companion was pensioned off four months ago. Perhaps it was another of those decisions Charles made so arbitrarily?’

  ‘How on earth do you know about Alice Britton?’ she gasped.

  ‘I believe I asked why and by whom, not how I happen to know of it.’

  Dark brows rose haughtily. ‘Charles decided she had become too old to perform her duties any longer and sent her away.’

  ‘But did not replace her?’ he pressed.

  ‘There’s was no need when I am here to keep dear Felicity company,’ his uncle’s wife simpered.

  Gabriel would as soon see his mother in the daily company of a venomous viper! ‘And when Charles decided to dismiss Miss Britton, did he also provide her with a suitable pension?’ As Gabriel was well aware, Alice Britton had been with his mother since Felicity was a small child, first in the nursery, then as lady’s maid and latterly as her companion. Not only was it doubtful that the elderly woman would have the means to keep herself in retirement, but now that he had seen the situation here for himself, he could not believe that his mother would ever have agreed to her companion’s dismissal.

  Jennifer gave a derisive smile. ‘As you know, what happens in this household ceased to be any of your business long ago—’

  ‘I will take that to mean he did not.’ Gabriel’s jaw was tight with disapproval.

  ‘Take it as you wish,’ she shot back as the butler returned to remove their soup dishes.

  The more he learnt of the happenings in this household the past four months, the more he began to fear that Miss Britton’s concerns for his mother were fully justified.

  ‘I can see how concerned you are for your mother, Gabriel.’ Once again it was the softly spoken Diana who took charge of the conversation after the butler had left the room. ‘As such, I am sure that my own maid will be only too happy to sit with your mother until other, more permanent arrangements can be made.’

  ‘That is not necessary, Lady Diana—’

  ‘I do not wish to seem rude, Mrs Prescott…’ Diana’s voice became firm as she turned to address the older woman; she had suffered quite enough of this woman’s opinions for one evening! ‘…but I believe you will find my remark was actually addressed to Gabriel.’

  She flushed at the obvious put-down. ‘Even so, I am sure it is completely unnecessary for you be inconvenienced like that.’

  ‘My dear Mrs Prescott, I assure you I do not consider it in the least an inconvenience to relinquish my maid to the comfort of my future mother-in-law.’ She steadily met the older woman’s gaze.

  Diana had become firmly convinced during dinner that the atmosphere she had sensed in Faulkner Manor since their arrival was caused by the malice of Jennifer Prescott. Admittedly, having Gabriel return so unexpectedly must have been something of a shock, but that still did not explain why she was so determined to ruin any chance of happiness for him, especially as Diana was now utterly sure that Gabriel had not been guilty of any past seduction of her.

  The other woman did not appear to be unhappy in her marriage; on the contrary, her earlier claim that her marriage to Charles Prescott was a happy one, despite its unusual beginnings, seemed to indicate the opposite was true, spoken as it was so convincingly. So what had happened eight years ago and why had Jennifer Prescott lied about it?

  Diana turned to look across the table at Gabriel. ‘Perhaps we might consider taking your mother back to London with us when we leave? I am sure that a change of scenery might help—’

  ‘Felicity’s health is far too precarious for such a long and arduous journey!’ Jennifer protested sharply.

  ‘Again, I do not wish to sound rude.’ Diana unblinkingly returned the older woman’s resentful gaze. ‘But I believe it is for Gabriel to decide whether or not his mother is well enough to travel back to London with us.’

  ‘My husband is now the master of this household, not Gabriel.’

  ‘Forgive me. I was led to believe it was Mrs Faulkner’s home, and that you and your husband were but guests in her household,’ Diana remarked.

  Jennifer gave up all pretence of politeness as she rose angrily to her feet. ‘How dare you question me in this way?’ The skirts of her dress swished as she stalked around the table towards Diana. ‘Just because you have a title and a grand manner does not mean—’

  ‘That is quite enough.’ Gabriel rose to his feet to step in between Diana and the rapidly approaching harpy. ‘I advise you to regain control of your emotions forthwith, madam, or I will be forced to do it for you,’ he warned her.

  It took several mo
ments for his aunt to regain her composure. ‘I apologise for my outburst, Lady Diana. I was merely…concerned that you do not seem to understand the fragility of Mrs Faulkner’s condition.’ This condescending adage completely negated her apology. ‘I am sure it would be most inadvisable to even think of moving her at this time.’

  Gabriel had to admit—in view of his mother’s lack of consciousness when he’d visited her earlier—to being somewhat surprised himself at Diana’s suggestion that they remove his mother to London. He watched his wife-to-be stand up and move gracefully to his side, her fingers resting lightly in the crook of his arm as she turned to answer the other woman smoothly. ‘I apologise for speaking out of turn, Mrs Prescott.’ She turned to him. ‘I am sure your aunt is wise to advise caution in regard to your mother, my dear. And no doubt she is also correct in her opinion that your mother does not need the services of my maid, either.’

  Remarks that were very odd, considering that Diana had been the one to make both the suggestion that her maid sit with his mother and that they should take her to London in the first place. What was going on here?

  Jennifer visibly relaxed. ‘Now that tempers have cooled, I suggest we all sit down and resume eating our dinner.’

  ‘An excellent idea.’ Diana smiled brightly as she removed her hand from Gabriel’s arm and retook her seat at the table. ‘One always develops such an appetite when one is in the country.’ She placed her napkin lightly across her silk-covered knees before looking up to smile at the now-seated Jennifer Prescott.

  Gabriel resumed his own seat at the table far more cautiously. His uncle’s wife had just seriously insulted Diana, in both word and deed, and yet the smile that curved his fiancée’s delectable lips could not have been sweeter. Not because she was not fully aware of the personal nature of the attack, he felt sure; as he had learnt to his cost, it was most unwise to underestimate the woman he was betrothed to.

  Undoubtedly something was seriously amiss with Diana’s contradictory behaviour, but Gabriel had no idea what it was. He intended to find out at the earliest possible opportunity, though.

  He was none the wiser by the time the meal finally came to an end almost two hours later. An excruciating and long two hours for Gabriel, although the ladies appeared to suffer no such discomfort as they conversed on such subjects as London fashions and the difficulty of acquiring the correct silks and lace. The capabilities of the cook at Faulkner Manor were also extolled as each delicious course was served to them. Diana had briefly excused herself from the table to go off in search of a handkerchief after the main course was finished, leaving Gabriel and Mrs Prescott to enjoy an uncomfortable silence. Diana had resumed control of the inane conversation upon her return, this time asking about the comfort and size of the congregation that attended the church in the village of which Jennifer’s father was still rector.

  All of them innocuous subjects—and so totally boring Gabriel found himself in danger of falling asleep over his dessert.

  ‘That is two hours of my life that I hope never to live through again,’ he muttered as he and Diana ascended the wide staircase together. Gabriel had requested that his after-dinner brandy be delivered to the privacy of his bedchamber rather than run the risk of having to suffer any more of his uncle’s wife’s company.

  Diana could not help but laugh at his disgruntled expression. She agreed; it had been a most tedious evening. Worse than tedious, in fact. ‘Never mind, Gabriel.’ She patted his hand sympathetically. ‘This evening has served one purpose at least—I now completely accept your explanation as to how Mrs Prescott has knowledge of your birthmark.’

  He raised surprised brows. ‘You do?’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Diana snorted. ‘I am sure that even at a very young age you would have required at least some intelligence in the women you bedded.’

  Gabriel stiffened. ‘I am not at all sure this is a correct conversation—’

  ‘Oh, don’t be so pompous.’

  He scowled. ‘I have just suffered the most agonisingly boring evening of my entire life and now you dare to call me pompous?’

  She turned to eye him teasingly as they reached the top of the staircase. ‘It is not in the least flattering that you include the apparently boring company of your future wife in that sweeping statement.’

  ‘Damn it, I was not referring to you!’

  ‘Now you are swearing in front of your future wife, too.’

  ‘I shall do a lot more than that if you do not soon explain your previous remark,’ he vowed as she continued to walk along the hallway to their bedchambers, leaving him no choice but to follow her, as he carried the candle to light her way. ‘In fact, I wish you would explain the whole of this peculiar evening to me. I would be interested to learn, for example, at what point in the evening you became convinced that Jennifer Prescott has, and always did have, the intellect of a pea?’

  ‘I believe you may be insulting the pea!’ Diana laughed. ‘And I believe it became apparent to me when she first described your mother’s health as being nothing more than a simple malaise that did not require the attendance of a doctor or nurse, before only minutes later claiming your mother was far too fragile in health to be removed to London.’ She pursed her lips. ‘It has always been my belief that one is in need of a certain amount of intellect in order to be a successful liar.’

  ‘But—’ Gabriel was left standing outside in the hallway as Diana entered her bedchamber without so much as a backward glance, meaning he had to follow her if he wished to continue this conversation. ‘Are you telling me you had decided over two hours ago that she is an unmitigated liar?’

  She remained completely composed as she removed her long lace gloves. ‘Oh, no, Gabriel, I decided that several days ago. Before I had even met her. Think, Gabriel,’ she urged as he looked totally dumbfounded by her admission. ‘I could hardly claim to believe your own version of past events without at the same time acknowledging that the young woman involved must therefore be a liar. As Jennifer Prescott is that young woman, ergo Jennifer Prescott must be a liar. Once I had that firmly established in my mind—and, once again, I apologise for my slight wobble over doubting your word earlier—’

  ‘It is I who should apologise to you for behaving so boorishly,’ he inserted swiftly.

  ‘Let us not now argue about who should apologise to whom,’ she dismissed with her usual briskness. ‘In regard to Mrs Prescott’s lack of honesty… Once I remembered that she is inherently dishonest, it became so much easier for me to realise I must disbelieve anything she had to say. She has also been very cunning, of course—’

  ‘You just claimed that she lacks intellect!’ Gabriel eyed her with some considerable exasperation.

  ‘Really, Gabriel, I am sure you must be aware that true intelligence and the slyness of a cunning vixen are not at all the same thing.’ Diana shot him a chiding glance.

  ‘I must?’

  ‘But of course,’ she said. ‘You are, I am glad to say, the most intelligent gentleman—apart from my father—that I have ever met.’

  Gabriel was not feeling particularly intelligent at this moment; in fact, this whole conversation seemed to have run away from his understanding!

  Diana, on the other hand, seemed cheerfully satisfied with her evening. And in her happy state of contentment, she was even more desirable to him. He suddenly realised that, although he still did not want to make love to her properly for the first time under this roof and before they were legally married, there were other ways he could satisfy the desire that ignited between them every time they touched. And he was pretty sure he knew them all…

  Diana was so caught up in thoughts of the positive results of her evening that she did not even notice as Gabriel placed the lighted candle upon the dressing table before locking the bedchamber doors, only becoming aware once he stood very close to her, the warmth in his eyes unmistakable as his arms moved about her waist and he pulled her gently but determinedly into the heat of his body.

  H
er eyes widened. ‘What are you doing, Gabriel?’

  ‘I am sure you, at least, are far too intelligent a woman for me to need to explain.’ His head lowered, his lips nuzzling against the rapidly beating pulse in her throat.

  She was undeniably flustered by the warmth of those lips against her flesh. ‘But—’

  ‘I have decided that this evening does not have to be a complete waste of time.’ Those lips now moved the length of her throat, slowly, pleasurably. ‘I also admit the only thing that made this evening at all bearable for me was the thought of reacquainting myself with the mole upon your left breast once we were finally alone together…’ His hands were at her back as he began to unfasten the buttons of her gown that ran the length of her spine.

  A quiver of anticipation travelled down that spine at the mere thought of his previous familiarity with her breasts; breasts that now tingled in awareness beneath the silk of her gown, the now familiar warmth growing between her thighs. ‘And is it also your intention to acquaint me with the birthmark upon your thigh?’

  His husky laugh reverberated throughout her body. ‘It might be, yes. With your agreement, my dear?’

  She lifted her head to look up at him and saw the desire that burned in the dark-blue depths of his eyes and the laughter lines fanning out from the corners. The slant of his cheekbones seemed less severe than usual, too, and his lips, those firm and sculptured lips, were curved up into a lazily amused smile.

  This was a question to which Diana could have only one answer…

  Chapter Twelve

  It was the very gentleness in Gabriel’s expression—an emotion so at odds with his usual uncompromising arrogance—which succeeded in melting the very bones in Diana’s body. ‘I believe I should enjoy that very much,’ she responded huskily.