“Do you think she will be there?” Byran asked without preamble.
“Who? Where?” Derrick asked.
Byran stopped and stared at Derrick as if he were mad. “Arinna and at the garden party tonight. Where is it? Lady Rosingale’s?” Byran ran a hand through his dark curls and started pacing again.
Which was good because it made him miss Derrick’s exasperated sigh. Annoying his oldest friend was not the way he wanted to start the afternoon.
“Probably? I’m sure she was invited. I’ve seen her at a few events since her move here six months ago.”
“Over the winter,” Byran said under his breath. Derrick caught it only because Byran’s pacing had brought him on a return path.
“Yes, over the winter. What of it?”
Byran glanced at him from the corner of his eye as he passed. “When parliament was in session. You remember parliament, don’t you, Senator?”
“I don’t need a lecture on duties from you,” Derrick snapped, the morning’s irritation back tenfold.
“At least I attend to my part in seeing Europe is restored from the war! You are only going to the conference tomorrow because I am here. Otherwise, you wouldn’t bother.”
“Yes, your visit. I meant to tell you if you were truly here to see the Lady Grey, you need only have said. I’d have made certain your wife remained none-the-wiser,” Derrick snapped. “Or is that a duty you are now taking more seriously?”
Bryan glared at him. Without a word, he stalked down the remaining steps and into the formal gardens and fields beyond. That wasn’t a good sign. For all the times they’d disagreed with each other, Byran had never walked away. Shouting and even the occasional fists were more typical.
They didn’t see each other the remainder of the afternoon until they met outside of Kesmere’s stable to leave. Derrick waited beside Cobalt as Byran strode from the house, dressed smartly, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary for him. “Byran I—”
Byran swung into the saddle of his horse and urged it ahead without looking at him. It was going to be a long night. Derrick mounted, trotting Cobalt to catch up. Byran remained silent and a pace ahead the entire hour ride. By the time Derrick arrived and gave the two horses to a stable boy, Byran had disappeared. So much for apologies.
It was only spring and a damp one at that, but Lady Rosingale’s annual garden party, which started the summer’s events and was timed for parliament’s seasonal break, looked as if a fairy garden had appeared amid the Lake District. Plants overwintered in her conservatory and the halls of the manor were outside and in full bloom, contrasting with guests that mixed wool and fur amid colored, but heavy fabric dress.
Derrick stood on an upper terrace and surveyed the garden, searching for either Byran’s dark curls or Arinna’s short red hair. He’d just decided they must be off together when he spied Byran alone. The party was no time to track down his friend and have it out with him. Derrick was ignoring greetings and associates. But after a day of unspoken argument, he’d had enough, and he didn’t feel like socializing.
Byran’s eyes had just settled on him when someone caught Derrick’s elbow. He turned to face young Dame Corianne Heylor. “I wanted to thank you for your invitation to dinner last night, my lord earl. I was telling Eloise how lovely Kesmere is.”
Derrick could think of nothing to respond, so he focused on everything he wanted to say and ask Byran, pleasantries regarding the evening before would not form in his thoughts.
“It is lovely to see you again, Dame Heylor. Did your cousin come as well? It was a pleasure to meet her last night,” Byran said, his voice and smooth tone disassociating Derrick further rather than helping him collect himself.
“Oh, I had thought it had been a ... more private gathering from your description, Corianne,” Eloise said. Corianne blushed before dipping her head and steering Eloise away.
Derrick turned to Byran to see anger still tinged his brown eyes, even though he’d come to Derrick’s rescue. Derrick grinned, remembering all the times and scrapes they’d been through.
“Dammit,” Byran said, a smile pulling at his lips as well. They both started to laugh.
“Come on, let’s not be the center of attention,” Derrick said, heading out toward the quieter corners of the garden and its sprawling party.
“At least you have a date tonight,” Byran said as they walked, still chuckling though the words held disappointment.
“I really thought she would be here,” Derrick said. “You’ve known each other a long time then?” he asked.
Byran ran his fingers through his hair, looking off toward the party as if he wanted to go back and check once more. He sighed and dropped onto a stone bench. “I’ll see her tomorrow. After all this time, I can wait another day. And yes, I’ve known her since before the war. We met in Madrid when she worked for the US Embassy. She was there a year or so after the military takeover of the US government.”
“I never knew ... you never told me about her,” Derrick said, sitting next to Byran.
“I know. I meant to. I wanted to introduce you once. But... I’d never been in love before, not like that. I couldn’t think straight. Thought you would tease me.”
Derrick grinned. “I would have. But ... I would have helped you.”
“I know. Man, I never thought I would be the one married with kids. I love Isabella and Cerilla and Santi. I do ... it’s just that—”
“You love Arinna too?”
“It was because of her and her work at the embassy that I got involved in politics. Not because of Isabella. So much of what I’ve done started because I met Arinna.”
“And now she is at the next estate,” Derrick said with a shake of his head. “What are you going to do?”
“Try not to make a fool out of myself,” Byran said with a glance toward Derrick. His look sobered.
“What is it?”
“Like I said, when we were teenagers, I never would have thought I’d be the one married and with kids. And you are sort of engaged? Did your father really arrange that? You’ve never told me. You left the base and came to Kesmere before the war ended, and you really haven’t left since. What happened?”
Derrick choked. “I can’t ... I’ll tell you. I’m just not ready yet.”
“After four years?” Byran snorted at Derrick’s nod. “I haven’t seen you smile like you did back there in years. It was you like ... before the war or maybe when you were a soldier in the Guard. I can’t imagine what happened that you changed so much. But I’m here whenever you are ready.”
Derrick nodded, gaze sliding away into the darkness. He needed to be able to put into words his riot of feelings and responses that still felt raw before he could explain any of it to Byran. And some of it he didn’t think he’d be able to tell his friend. It would disappoint him too much.
“Are we good?” Derrick asked, the old phrase that often ended their fights when they’d been teenagers sounding out of place in the world of formality that had risen from the old one’s ashes.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Byran said, rising to his feet. They walked a few paces in silence again before Byran spoke. “I know you don’t like Arinna. I’m not sure why other than it must have something to do with the Guard. So you don’t have to tag along and, I don’t know, chaperone us.”
Derrick snorted. “Actually, I probably do. Seriously, you are a married politician, and she is the leader of the armed forces. And from what you said to her this morning, she is under suspicion of treason.”
Byran stopped, red-faced and fuming. “It isn’t true!”
“Fine, it isn’t. Not that I think anyone would believe you weren’t at least a little biased.” Derrick held out a hand to calm his friend. “But if you care about her enough to cross the continent to warn her and not even tell me why you are here, I think you’d not want to cause her more rumors to squelch.”
It took Byran a minute to tamp down his emotions enough to answer. “You are right, of course. You real
ly had heard none of the rumor on the Guard siphoning funds?”
“No,” Derrick answered, continuing the walk back to the party. “Who would I hear that sort of news from out here?”
“Your father,” Byran snapped. Derrick tripped on a garden stone.
“He hasn’t told me anything in years. Only ... he called the other day and said to watch her,” he confessed.
“That is why you are inviting her tomorrow? For your father?” Byran’s anger erupted again as he slammed to a stop.
“No! For you. You obviously care for her. Though if I cared for your sanity, I’d probably send you home to Isabella. I don’t care what my father wants.”
“I do,” Byran said. He swallowed down the anger leaving behind worry on his face. “Something is going on, and I need to know what, Derrick.”
“Shit.” It was the first word that came to his mind. “You are my best friend, but I don’t know if I can start talking to my father again, even for you.”
Byran dropped an arm over his shoulder. “It is so good to hear you swear again! You’ve smiled tonight. You swore. Maybe the Lady Grey will be good for you too.”
“Haha, I suppose I will find out as I have a feeling you are planning on spending quite a bit of time with her over the next few weeks. Which means I’ll be spending quite a bit of time with her.”
“What, not shipping me back to Isabella then?” Byran said, pushing Derrick forward before he had a chance to dwell on a future in Arinna’s company.
Derrick shrugged. “I barely know your wife. I’d prefer not to know your girlfriend, but I don’t think it can be helped in this case.”
“Well, that is your own fault for holing up here. You’d be more than welcome at Merimarche.”
“Watching you with children ... that would be something,” Derrick said, the teasing holding more truth than expected.
The party lights were only a hedge away, music and laughter flooding over the plants to reach where they stood in the growing shadows of evening. Byran pulled back the friendly arm over Derrick’s shoulders and straightened his jacket.
“Ready to be social and all that?” Byran asked.
Derrick frowned. “No, not really.”
“Good, glad to hear it. You were starting to worry me. Come on, I’ll get us something to drink, and then I think we should talk.”
“I don’t think I can take finding out you have more secrets, Byran,” Derrick said, meaning it.
Byran cast him a quick glance. “No more. I just think if you are going to be trailing along after Arinna and me, you should know a little about how we met. And it isn’t what you might think.”
“And it is going to require drinking for you to tell me?”
Byran grinned like he had when they were about to do something very foolish. “Oh yes, a lot. What? Are you afraid you’ll find out you actually like her?” Byran tossed over his shoulder.
Derrick was glad he didn’t have to answer because he didn’t want to have to tell Byran that he was. Then Kesmere would have been the wrong choice.
Chapter 8
BARON VASQUEZ
RECONSTRUCTION
They arrived early. That was his fault. After sharing a bit of how he and Arinna had met with Derrick, Byran had been impatient to see her again today.
It was quiet near the marsh that lay above the bridge where they’d agreed to meet. The stream flowed through a morning land cloaked in mist. Most of the world was waking, and the birds calling from the reeds sounded loud and haunting in comparison to the stillness. He and Derrick sat quietly on their horses, the conversation from the night before having eaten Byran’s desire to talk. He wanted more than memories with Arinna as well as a return to the times when Derrick had been more carefree. And as the sunlight warmed, he tried to ignore that Arinna was late.
When she appeared on the road, Arinna seemed to break off from the mist, a piece of night and fog condensed into form by daylight. Her dark grey horse moved without a sound along the road. He tossed his head to turn one eye to where they sat but did not neigh or challenge as another stallion might. He snorted once, huffing in the scent of the gelding Byran rode and Derrick’s Cobalt. Arinna patted her stallion’s neck, and he settled.
“I’m sorry I am late. Thank you for waiting.”
Arinna smiled pleasantly. It might have been believable to someone who didn’t know her. She leaned to her left, holding the reins loosely in her right hand when she was typically left-handed. More than that, though, there was slowness to her expression as if she were tired. The worry he’d felt at her lateness found a new home.
“I didn’t think you’d stand me up so soon,” Byran replied.
Arinna chuckled as she stopped by his side. “I don’t remember standing you up too often.” Her eyes flashed with warmth.
The horses made a hug difficult. He took her hand, brushing her fingers with his lips. Then instead of letting go, he gently pulled her arm forward and brushed back her sleeve. Arinna had left the long sleeve blouse under her dark blue riding coat unbuttoned at the cuff and the reason why was the same one as how she held the reins. A tight bandage went from her wrist to her elbow.
“Byran!” Arinna said, snatching back her hand. She reached up to run her fingers through her hair, stopping mid-motion as a flash of pain crossed her face.
“If Rhiol is so dangerous, my lady, you are more than welcome to stay at Kesmere,” Derrick said into the silent tension.
“Hah, I will keep that in mind,” Arinna said, her glance at Derrick full of humor. “Good morning to you, my lord earl,” she added as she turned her horse and urged him forward.
Byran nudged his horse to follow, waiting for Arinna to say more. She didn’t.
“You cannot tell me this was some accident from around the manor,” he finally asked, vexed.
“No, you are right. There was a small ... problem out of the country and I forgot it wasn’t wise to try to catch bullets.”
“When?” Byran demanded.
Arinna sighed.“Yesterday actually, after you left Rhiol.”
“That was the message awaiting you,” Derrick said. Arinna tossed him a quick glance.
“Yes.”
Arinna did not elaborate, leaving Byran to wonder if she’d say more if Derrick weren’t there. Surprisingly, it was Derrick who pushed for more information.
“It is rather unusual, isn’t it, for you to be called away for such a problem?”
“Yes, of course,” Arinna said after a moment’s hesitation.“It was very unexpected. There are only occasional problems that come up these days, my lord earl.” The answer sounded rehearsed, full of reassurances without saying anything. Byran spent his days dealing in politics. He knew a covering phrase when he heard it. He sighed. Derrick and Arinna’s civilities were a thin veneer for their distrust, and he was tired of it already.
“Arinna, seriously what happened? You are tired and sore. When did you return?”
Her eyes were wide and very blue when she met his gaze. She bit her lip as she looked away.“This morning.”
Derrick stopped his horse. “You were in a fight last night? You needn’t have come. We can—”
Byran wasn’t certain who was more surprised by Derrick’s reaction, Arinna or him.
“I’m fine. I wanted to come. I wouldn’t have slept anyway.” Her voice trailed off as she looked away into the mist.“During the war, I would pace the barracks after a battle.”
Arinna’s voice was haunted with memories. A mixture of pain and understanding crossed Derrick’s face before he turned away as Arinna’s attention returned to them.
“This is much preferable, my lords.”
“So be it,” Derrick replied, manner gruff as he edged his horse forward. Derrick ended up a length ahead as Byran and Arinna followed.
“I looked for you last night at Rosingale’s,” Byran said.
“Ah well,I was supposed to attend, but as it turned out I was otherwise engaged,” Arinna said dryly.
> Byran shook his head at Derrick’s snort. His friend’s moods were changeable as the wind. And as much as Byran wanted to sort out Derrick, with Arinna by his side in the growing day, Byran gave his attention to her.
The morning faded with the miles as he and Arinna talked. Enough time passed that Derrick dropped back to ride alongside though he rarely spoke. Byran would have been happy to have no destination. But traffic on the road increased as they approached Kendal.
“I never asked what this conference was,” Arinna said with a laugh. “What exactly are we doing today?”
“It is a conference to review progress and proposals for restoration efforts across Europe. Parliament members from the UK, businesses, and people representing cities will be there,” Byran answered.
“That sounds really pleasant,” Arinna said. “It will be nice to see something other than fighting and destruction.”
Derrick glanced at her sharply. “I would think you have not seen as much of that since the war ended, my lady.”
“I ... of course,” Arinna said. A slight blush rose to her cheeks. “I’m tired. It was the small skirmish last night that has me out of sorts. You must excuse me.”
They’d entered the outskirts of the town. Kendal still had the feel of colonial era Britain it had held before the war, probably more so as horses and carriages once again filled its streets instead of autos. Now the bustle of the city came from everyday people going about their lives, rather than tourists passing through. The three joined the mishmash of traffic, unable to continue any conversation as they maneuvered through the packed streets. Turning away from the market stalls, they made their way to the meeting hall.
“I will join you in a few minutes. There is something I need to check on; if you will excuse me, my lords,” Arinna said after dismounting and handing over her horse to a stable boy. She disappeared into the throng.
“Come on,” Derrick said, nudging Byran with his elbow. “From the look on your face, you no longer care if we were going to this conference or heading down to New London. You are not sneaking off to a café with her and leaving me to attend on my own.”
After the War: Military Dystopian Thriller (Friends of my Enemy Book 2) Page 5