Broken Legacy (Secret Lives Series)

by Colleen Connally

  “I am sure I will adjust as long as you are there.” She snuggled into his shoulder. “I am resigning myself to living without the sounds of the ocean. I will have to find comfort in the sounds of the country.”

  She shocked herself with the confession she had begun to think of a future with the man beside her. Foolish to lower her guard and feel the growing emotion inside her. She reprimanded herself, but she had come to finally acknowledge, if only to herself, she would grasp whatever time she had with him, even if it was only for a few moments. She would live within this fantasy world until reality crept within to destroy her illusion.

  “I will make certain of it,” Lenister said. “I will show you my favorite spots, although I have never found secret hallways or compartments at Ashwin Manor.”

  She looked up at him. He was teasing her. “Perhaps it is only you have never found them,” she mused, laying her head back on his shoulder. “But I’m certain I will enjoy your home. Tell me, I want to hear all about it. Did you grow up on this estate?”

  “I was born there, I am told, but my mother took me back to her home in Ireland after my father’s death, a freak carriage accident. My mother inherited her father’s estate outside Limerick and wanted me to grow up as she had—surrounded by family. Seamus is my cousin on my mother’s side. At the time, I wasn’t in direct succession to the earldom, being my uncle and two cousins before me had claim to the title.”

  “You have an estate in Ireland also?”

  “Yes, not that I have seen it in years, but I have promised Seamus he can oversee the estate after this mission. I doubt I will return to Ireland in the near future and Seamus well deserves the opportunity. I was barely seventeen when Grandfather called me back to Ashwin Manor. Seamus and I departed Ireland, so young, feeling indestructible. Rushing forth into the world, thinking it would pass us by if we let it.

  “Grandfather cautioned me about enlisting. I believe he wanted me to become more familiar with Ashwin Manor, get my bearings on English soil, but I did not pay attention to his advice. Perhaps he suspected that the title would pass to me. My uncle had died by this time. Grandfather wanted me to have a semblance of a relationship with my cousins. I found both overbearing and none to my liking. In the end, Grandfather relented and bought both Seamus and I a commission in His Majesty’s army.”

  “Did you know him well?”

  “Not as well as I would have liked, not having grown up on his estate. I admired the man, though. His intentions were true. I just did not listen to him. To be honest, I suppose I had a chip on my shoulder, feeling slighted. Always felt my cousins had an air of superiority. It bothered me greatly until now.”

  She studied his handsome face. It was not difficult to imagine him a determined young soldier bent on proving his worth.

  “I was told you were an exceptional gentleman, allowing your cousin’s widow to stay after the birth of her daughter. I am certain your grandfather would have been proud of you.”

  He glanced over at her, smiling. “I suppose. I found with the passing of time that my outlook changed.”

  His expression changed. No longer smiling, Eloise realized his thoughts had turned to his children. It was in his eyes.

  “Time has a way of doing that, changing one’s outlook. I wish I could go back to my childhood. It may surprise you to know that I had a wonderful childhood. It was the only way I knew. I thought most people were like I was. I was so naïve and innocent. I accepted my life. I wanted for nothing.

  “I thought myself fortunate. Nana Adele loved me. I had clothes on my back and shoes on my feet. I played and laughed with my cousins. I thought it the grandest adventure to visit my uncle’s house. In my innocence, I assumed his house in Calais a mansion…so it seemed to me. I played with Chanti when I slept over. Her room looked to me as a room a princess would live. Then…” Her voice faded off when she thought of meeting the marquis.

  “Do you want to talk of it?”

  Startled, she had lost herself in the memories. She lowered her gaze and shook her head. He said nothing, but bent his lips to hers and kissed her. His concern touched her and she returned his kiss. His arms rounded her, wrapping her in a protective shield against the hurt of yesterday. There she stayed. She found she didn’t want to be anywhere except here in his arms. Her eyes weighed upon her as she felt the rhythm of the wheels beneath her. She slept.

  Long hours later, the carriage rolled to a stop and waited at the checkpoint allowing entrance into Paris. The day’s light gave way to the reddish glow of the sun setting.

  Eloise watched Lenister exit with papers in hand. Suddenly, her hands shook nervously. She could not stop them. Oh, heavens, what is wrong with me! I have to compose myself. He cannot have come in vain! Her anxiety heightened upon her entrance in this city of terror. They had nothing to fear? Did they not? They came only to plead for his children. Lenister had planned every possible scenario. Then why did her heart beat so quickly!

  Her eyes widened when the carriage door opened. She breathed again, seeing her husband standing on the bottom step beside a patriot in a red cap and tricolored cockades. She couldn’t take her eyes off the man’s weapons secured to his belt on each side, with national musket and a sword. Behind him, a band of patriots dressed in a range of similar clothing in different degrees of wretchedness, ragged and, the truth be told, quite filthy.

  “Eloise, you do not have to come out at the moment. My dear wife, Citizen Daffe is seeing to our welfare while in Paris. He is our escort. Why, we have even been given an invitation by General Bernard himself as his guest.”

  “It is good,” Eloise said, finding her voice. Her eyes never left the guard’s face.

  “And much appreciated.” Lenister bowed slightly to the patriot and stepped back into the carriage.

  Eloise scooted over. Immediately, his hand gripped her trembling ones. No sooner had the door closed when his arms encircled her. He said nothing, but held her closely. Safe and secure within his arms, her trembling stopped.

  She gradually withdrew back. “I don’t know what overcame me. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  “Eloise,” he said in a low voice. “How long have you taken all burdens on your shoulders? No more. I am not going to leave you. Do you understand? Never. Trust me.”

  “I do,” she whispered. “It is not you. Can you not feel it, Gerard? The smell encompassing us the moment we rode in. Death. It is this I can’t take. My heart aches even though I don’t know of the ones being led to their deaths. What is wrong with me? How is it that I can hear their cries and the cheers of the crowd?”

  “Empathy, they call it, my dear. Empathy. It is what explains your actions. It is not what is wrong with you, but what is wrong with the rest of us.”

  Once more the carriage wheels began to slow. Lenister looked out the curtain window. “Are you readied?”

  She swallowed hard. Never before in her life had she played a part more important. She patted her hair and fluffed up her skirt. Lenister reached over and pushed back fallen tresses of her hair that had escaped. Quickly, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

  “I love you, Eloise.”

  Astonished, shock, she was certain, illuminated from her eyes from his words. His expression softened upon her. He reached over and caressed her cheek. “I know it is not fashionable to be so with one’s own wife. I know it is not a suitable place to utter to you for the first time, but never have I more felt the need to tell you words you need to know. I love you, Lady Lenister.”

  He kissed her once more. She didn’t have a chance to respond. The door of the carriage opened. Lenister exited and extended his hand to her. Accepting his hand, she stretched out as she stepped down and lifted her head. The carriage had parked in front of a large mansion.

  Within the Saint Germain quarter of Paris, the former home of an aristocrat had been occupied by the Republic guard. Sitting back a few yards from the street, the carriage had entered through an iron gate, which had now been closed
. The house was shut off from the public by a high wall.

  Her hand grasped tightly to her husband’s as she descended out of the carriage. Glancing up, her sight grazed up the many stone steps. Standing in front of the massive building, the man she had traveled so long and hard to see. Tall and agile in appearance, his blonde hair was pulled back in a queue and he was dressed in a suit of substance. A white shirt with a neatly tied cravat lay underneath a navy waistcoat. General Marc Pierre Bernard stood awaiting her.

  Lenister watched the reunion unfold through jaundiced eyes. Forgetting momentarily of his mission, jealousy built within him. Resentment toward this man he had need of…this General Marc Pierre Bernard raged within him. The man was young, much younger than himself, only a year older than his wife, tall, and without question extremely handsome. He carried himself with an arrogance that Lenister well recognized. Suddenly, Lenister had a vision of what his brother may have looked like and the knowledge didn’t ease his mind.

  General Marc Pierre Bernard all but ignored him after a stiff formal acknowledgement. The man’s eyes lay upon Eloise, who looked quite lovely even dressed as she was in a simple gown. Painstaking effort had been made to give the appearance of humility, as Eloise phrased it. Lenister would have liked nothing better than to have dressed his wife in the finest silk in Europe and adorn her in jewels, but it would have served no purpose.

  General Bernard made no attempt to hide the fact of his relation to Eloise. With the ease that comes with an intimate knowledge of another, General Bernard embraced Eloise, who held to none of the formal greetings. She greeted him as one would a brother. She leaned up and kissed the man’s cheek three times as was tradition.

  “Marc Pierre, I’m happy to have found you looking so well,” Eloise said, stepping back from the embrace.

  General Bernard did not release his grip on Eloise nor did Eloise try to resist, much to Lenister’s chagrin. Instead, the man escorted his wife into the large house. Lenister followed in silence. At one time, Lenister imagined someone of importance lived within these walls—an aristocrat, no doubt—and that a butler would have greeted them alongside many footman and servant girls. He also had no doubt that the owner no longer lived within the borders of France, either dead or escaped. Though he didn’t hold much hope that many escaped the brunt of the first onslaught at the beginning of the Reign of Terror.

  The house seemed bare even though furniture still remained. The house had been stripped of any personal items. No paintings, mirrors, or ornaments hung on the wall. With each footstep, the hall echoed off the marble flooring.

  The house seemed to serve as a home for a barrage of National Guard soldiers. Lenister glanced back at Seamus, who stepped up to his side.

  “All seems as we had hoped,” Seamus said under his breath. “It is good.”

  Lenister nodded, but his eyes remained on his wife and her friend. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more there than met the eyes.

  * * * *

  Eloise glanced nervously over her shoulder and hoped Marc Pierre would make his appearance soon. Lenister had kept a close eye on her since their arrival, not allowing her an opportunity to see her friend in private…overprotective, he had told her. Her husband had forbidden her to leave their lodgings without him by her side. She had obeyed until she received Marc Pierre’s note.

  Marc Pierre had been the epitome of a gracious host. He had escorted Lenister to different officials over the last couple of days. As of yet, no progress had been made. Lenister had been met with one delay after another. He had not been allowed to even see his children.

  Eloise’s worries mounted with each passing moment. Despite every precaution her husband had taken to ensure their safety, she could feel the tension in the air about their presence in Paris. There was no safety within this city.

  Paris was a city on edge. The reigning power ruled by fear. If rules were not followed, then death would be the price paid. The only issue was that no one knew what the rules entailed. One could be arrested only on an assumption. No one was exempt from the hand of France’s justice. The citizens of France had been instructed that foreigners were not to be trusted, even those who had come only to plead for their children.

  Moreover, to Eloise’s dismay, Marc Pierre had made no effort to contain his familiarity with her around her husband. In fact, she thought he took enjoyment in tormenting Lenister. Both men thinly veiled the animosity brewing between them.

  She sighed heavily and hoped Marc Pierre would hurry. Lenister would miss her soon enough, although she left him with Seamus in deep discussion.

  Her attention turned, hearing brisk footsteps outside the door. Eloise looked up across the moderate size room paneled with shelves. She noticed that most of the shelves were still filled with books. She had no interest in reading, but it would serve well as a cover. The door’s handle turned and the door opened. Marc Pierre entered. He was dressed casually with his shirt loose about his pants, his hair down to his shoulders. He closed the door behind him and she heard a click. He had locked the door.

  “I thought the library would be an excellent meeting place for us. That is, if your husband misses you.” Marc Pierre’s eyebrows lifted as he walked to her side. His eyes glared at her, simmering with an underlying anger. “And I think he will miss his bride. Will he not, Eloise?”

  “Is that the reason you are angry with me? That I married? I had no choice,” she retorted.

  He laughed. “It is me you are talking to, Eloise. Come. At least be honest.”

  She slapped him, hard. Immediately, Marc Pierre grasped her by her shoulders and stared into her eyes.

  “Never do that again,” he said, glowering at her. “Tell me. Tell me, Eloise, how is it that you did not manage to elude this trap you say your husband sprung?”

  “Let go of me,” she insisted. She twisted in a vain attempt to free herself. “He caught me completely unaware. I let my guard down. A mistake on my part, but why would it matter to you? Did you not tell me the last time I saw you that you wanted nothing more to do with me?”

  “I told you not to make any more demands of me. I can do no more for you. I would not cover for you any longer. You would not listen to reason. You were becoming reckless. Do you think I want to see you lose your head?” He paused. Then he released her and took a step back.

  “No,” she replied. Her voice softened and her eyes welled with tears. “As I do not want to hear of your death! You may have told me not to come back, but I begged you to leave!”

  “I told you well that I would not abandon my country!”

  “The country that you are loyal to no longer exists! Madness and chaos is all around you. It has encompassed you to where it is all you know.”

  “Do not turn to try this upon me, Eloise.” His eyes narrowed. “It had been ordained by the National Convention that terror would be the order of the day for anyone considered to be an enemy of the Nation. Do you understand, Eloise, in that scope of their law, you would be an enemy if they found out? Why the hell did you return?”

  His words silenced her for a moment. Finally, she looked up and met his glare. “I have contemplated the whole of the situation. How can I explain it to you, Marc Pierre, that some things mean more than one’s life? I was raised a common bastard. My family did not acknowledge me until after my seventeenth year. Tell why anyone would think differently?”

  “Don’t be an imbecile! No matter the secrecy that took place, there is always someone who knows something. Someone who has heard a rumor. A rumor is all it will take for someone to look further into the matter.” Marc Pierre shook his head in disgust. “It was recorded, Eloise. It was a foolish mistake to have dismissed it as irrelevant.”

  “It was irrelevant to me,” she said.

  “It would not be to the Tribunal. There have been changes, Eloise. There has been a new tribunal created. Punishment is set to be swift and quick, without a chance of appeal. They will have to face the Revolutionary Tribunal. The circu
mstances of those accused are indeed dire.

  “Can you not understand? The Tribunal wants nothing more than to eradicate France of all they consider conspirators, spies, emigrates, royalists, and any they consider enemies of the nation.”

  “This is nothing more than a circus, a horrible nightmare of a circus.”

  “It very well might be. I agree that not much of their reasoning of late makes sense. I’ll warn you, though, Eloise, I know well how your mind works. But you don’t know these men. All are extremely curious, especially Gairden. They do not leave a suspicion alone; they will investigate until they are satisfied. It would only take one outburst against you…one who has heard gossip. It would be all it takes. You said you married your husband to protect the ones who you now put in danger. You know well what will happen to everyone who has any connection to you if discovered!”

  “You have nothing to concern yourself with, Marc Pierre. I would never betray anyone.”

  “No, I suppose you would not intentionally,” he said reflectively. “You have always been the better part of us all. To be truthful, I doubt I hold any goodness in me anymore. Time has destroyed it. I do now the only thing I know. I have long since given up any thoughts of returning to being an attorney. I have decided to remain in the National Guard.

  “It is what I have need to tell you. We are trying to keep a civil war from breaking out. There have been several factions that have given us issue. The borders also are unsafe. You were lucky to have found me within Paris. I am to be sent out once more. I believe I am to head to Italy. I came back only for orders.”

  “You have given up on going to America?” Her voice could not disguise her disappointment. She stared at him. “Why, Marc Pierre? Why?”

  “This is all I know, Eloise. You…you have found another life. You have lived between two different worlds, but now you have been pulled into one. He has done that, Eloise. Do you not think I cannot see it? It is in his eyes…it is in yours.”