If He's Noble (Wherlocke Book 7) (Paranormal Historical Romance)

by Hannah Howell

  To many men in society she would be a plum ripe for the plucking and not necessarily for the sake of marriage. There was not one thing about Sir Bened Vaughn that made one think of a heartless rogue who seduced women just for the pleasure of it. Simeon suspected the man had seduced very few women in his time. He was just what he appeared to be, a big strong man with the sort of special gifts that allowed him to help people, something he did readily. If he was going to be fully honest with himself, Simeon would admit that he would have heartily approved of such a man for his sister. Of course, if he had had control over the courting time, they would not be slipping off into the wood to do the sort of things he did not care to think of his sister doing.

  He looked at Bevan who just winked and decided he even approved of the family his sister might soon be joining. It was not going to be easy but he decided he would just leave it be. Bened would probably wonder at his apparent acquiescence but Simeon promised himself he would not interrupt what Lilybet called a mating dance. His sister deserved her chance at happiness.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “There is my Uncle George’s.” Simeon looked at the tidy stone manor house surrounded by luxurious gardens and smiled at Lilybet who rode beside him. “You are looking better. I mean, healthier.”

  “I feel a great deal better. Your sister has been tending my back and, I hate to admit it, but her salve works far better than mine does in healing the wounds and, just as important, dimming the pain.”

  “Primrose is extraordinarily clever when it comes to healing plants and herbs. Papa built her whatever she needed for her work. I envy her for that. She has something that pleases her and which creates things to help people.”

  “You have found nothing like that?”

  “Not yet. I can talk you to death about philosophy, in several languages, and I have been trying to invent things. I keep playing about at it but have not yet succeeded.”

  “You will, and cease glaring at Sir Bened.”

  “I know what you said and I actually agree with most of it, but does he truly think I do not know what he and my sister are about with all their late-night walks? Must think I am an idiot.”

  Lilybet sighed. “I doubt he thinks much about you at all. M’lord, she is a grown woman, a spinster by many people’s reckoning, and he is a very good man. I thought you had made up your mind on that.”

  “I had but he should ask to marry her instead of just continuing on as her lover.”

  “Best if they decide that all on their own if they are suited enough in all ways to actually marry.”

  “Have you seen anything about their future?”

  “I have and it will not start out smoothly but that is all you need to know. Just stay out of the way.”

  Simeon sighed and glanced back at Primrose who was, as always, riding beside Bened. Primrose certainly looked happy and Bened had not once shown her anything but the greatest respect, courtesy, and, he had to admit, affection. Simeon just felt as if he was failing her in some way.

  His uncle hailed them from the front step of his home and Simeon waved at the man. Right behind him was Frederick, a huge bear of a man who loved cooking. The beautiful garden with its massive number of roses in bloom was all George’s work and Simeon was not surprised to see Primrose already off her mount and walking through it toward the house, pausing to inspect any plant she found beautiful or just interesting.

  “Oh, Uncle George,” Primrose said when she finally reached the man, “you have outdone yourself this year. It is all so very beautiful.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the cheek and then took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “And I was so sorry to hear about your father. He was a good, good man and my sister loved him dearly.”

  The sound of the burr in his voice, one she could recall from her mother all those many years ago, warmed her heart. “Well, he is with her again and I like to think they are both happy.”

  “I am sure they are.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You do look so much like her.” He glanced at Bened who had moved to stand beside her.

  “This is Sir Bened Vaughn. Bened, my uncle, the Honorable George Haigh.” After her uncle shook Bened’s hand she introduced Frederick even as she hugged the man who smelled deliciously of cinnamon. “Have you been cooking, Freddie?” she teased.

  “With company riding our way? But of course. I even made the cinnamon buns you so like.”

  “You are an angel.”

  “A Vaughn, are you?” said George as they all headed into the house. “Related to the man in the castle?”

  “He is the head of the family, aye. Vaughns and Wherlockes,” Bened said, and nodded at Lilybet and Morris.

  “Rumor has it there is a Vaughn who now owns the old manor on the other side of the castle.”

  “I would be that Vaughn.” Bened succinctly explained how he had come into possession of the place. “I was hoping to visit Modred and have a quick look at the place before we have to leave.”

  “The young couple tending it for you have everything well in hand. Repairs and all are moving along at a good pace. We could not resist having a look when we heard it might be lived in once again.”

  “A good sturdy building,” said Frederick as he stood up from the seat he had taken next to Simeon in the parlor. “Now I need to get us some food and drink and prepare something for the children.”

  “Children?” Primrose asked her uncle.

  “Yes, we adopted two orphans. It was a battle but since no one else would take them in and we had signed intent allowing us to do it from their parents, they are now ours. A boy and a girl. Their parents worked for us and tragically died while fishing. One of those horrible storms that appears to pop up for the sole purpose of killing someone.”

  “How wonderful for you yet how sad it came about because of such a tragedy. Where are they?”

  “They should be returning from their tutor soon.”

  “You are having the girl tutored as well?”

  “Of course. Had to fight over that as well but found a good lad just back from Oxford who was more than happy to take them both. I made it clear he is not to temper what he teaches the girl and he appears to be of a like mind. Idelle and Gerwin Craddock, now Haigh. We are very proud about how far they have come in just this year, especially after all they went through after their parents died. Too many refusing to help them and the officials refusing to honor the wishes of their parents.” He shook his head.

  “I am happy for you that it all worked out in the end.”

  “We had a duke on our side. Hard for pompous officials to argue with a duke.”

  “Modred helped you?” asked Bened, and smiled when the man nodded. “Sounds like our cousin.”

  “Strode in on the day we truly felt all was lost and told the men they were breaking the law. The will was fully legal and they were trying to thwart the last will and testament of the ones who had died. If they did this, they weakened that law, which meant their own wills could be contested. Even said he might consider it himself since some of the lands they would bequest in their wills abut his. He then pointed out that since no one else was offering to take the children they would be put on the parish and that meant a regular cost to them. Hard. Cold, precise, and very effective.”

  “The smartest approach. That is our Modred,” said Bevan.

  “We could never thank him enough but I did send him a few rose cuttings which Dob prettily thanked me for and Frederick sent him some of his very fine cakes.”

  “A perfect choice.”

  “To be quite honest the roses were more for Dob,” confessed George. “His Grace told us that he had had one more arrow in his quiver if they had still balked. He had been given permission to use Dob, to point out that these were the same men who had, without hesitation or question, handed his care over to Dob and they had known all about her.”

  “Actually, he could have just threatened them with sending her down to argue your cause and
they would have quailed in their boots.” Bened laughed softly. “Dob is a force to be reckoned with.” He took one of the tiny lemon cakes Frederick offered and, after one bite, closed his eyes and hummed his appreciation.

  “Frederick cooks like a god,” said Primrose as she savored one of her favorite cinnamon buns.

  “So, Sir Vaughn . . .” began George.

  “Bened will do.”

  “Thank you. So, Bened, when do you become our neighbor?”

  “Not long now. Had to help Rose with her troubles and all. Been sending off instructions and funds when needed but do need to go have a quick look. The couple handling it all for me appears to be very good at it. Hard-working and responsible and, even more important, careful with the funds I send.”

  “They are good people. Pughs. Your family seems fond of them.”

  “When I saw the name of the caretakers, I did find it comforting.”

  “It used to belong to Vaughns many years ago, did it not?”

  “It did. Modred and Dob were quick to send me all sorts of information. I shall have to do a more thorough study when I settle in as I think it may be why that earl handed it over.”

  Primrose listened to her uncle and Bened discuss his new lands and wondered if she would ever see them. Before she could fret over the future Frederick caught her attention and he rose to his feet and hurried out of the room. A moment later she could hear two childish voices with only the occasional interruption of Frederick’s deeper one. He walked in holding the hands of a boy and a girl, both with bright red curls and wide brown eyes. The children patiently allowed all the introductions and then sat politely while Frederick made them each a plate of treats.

  “They were born to a poor couple who had no learning but we could see the spark,” said George in a quiet voice as the children talked to Frederick. “We want grand things for them and Frederick insists that means learning such skills as good manners as well.”

  “Very wise. They are lovely children and seem quite content despite the tragedy they suffered.”

  “Thank you for saying so, sweetheart.”

  It was later that afternoon that Bened asked Primrose to join him, Bevan, Lilybet, and Morris in going to see his cousin the duke. Since she was not family she protested that she would be intruding. Then she worried that Simeon would feel left out if not invited only to find out he had been and had declined for he wanted to spend time with his uncle. Uncertain, Primrose finally joined the others. It was not until they were almost there that she noticed she was not the only one who was feeling intimidated.

  “Lilybet, you did not have to come if you did not wish to,” she told the pale-faced woman riding next to her.

  “I came on this journey to meet with my mother’s kin,” Lilybet said. “I will do that.” She grimaced. “I just had not realized one of those kin would be a duke in a castle. I was hunting for Wherlockes and he is a Vaughn. But, as Morris said, the Vaughns and Wherlockes are just branches off the same tree, their roots all having started at the same place and time.”

  “Do you know what the duke’s gift is?”

  “He can hear what you think.”

  “I find that rather frightening and yet have not been at all troubled by anything else. Not even how Bevan can almost disappear in an open field.”

  Lilybet laughed and her color improved. “Your brother’s face when he did that was funny.”

  “I was not all that easy with it myself. Fascinating though it is. A puzzle, too, as he swears he cannot go invisible or change colors. I am thinking it is some trick he can play on our minds and he may not even know how he does it.”

  “That makes a great deal of sense. It is not him who disappears but our eyes that do not see him because our minds tell us he is not there.”

  “I just do not see how he can do that, either, but it is the only answer I could come up with.”

  “Well, I like it. It feels right.” She frowned. “Do you get the feeling we are about to be put to some test?”

  Primrose stared at Lilybet in surprise. “Yes. I thought I was being foolish but wondered why I was being brought along when it is clearly intended to be a family visit, the cousins coming to pay their respects to the head of the family and all that.”

  “They are certainly doing that and bringing me to meet the head of the family so he can acknowledge me as family, I suspect. There just seems to be a little secret the three of them are sharing. Nothing huge, or really worrisome, just a little something.”

  When they halted in the courtyard and let the stableboys take their horses, Primrose stared up at the huge castle. This family was old. She got the deep, sure feeling that they went back centuries, maybe even to the far distant time when there were many kings and not just one. She also noticed that the rose cuttings her uncle had sent were growing beautifully in a tidy little garden near the massive front doors.

  She nudged Lilybet and nodded at the roses. “I must not forget to tell him about that.”

  “I will be certain to remind you if it looks like you might have,” Lilybet said.

  The man who came to the door was no servant and Primrose was shocked to realize that it was the duke himself. He was so handsome, he was almost pretty. He also looked far too young to be the head of such a huge powerful family. Then Bened grabbed her by the hand and pulled her forward. She looked into the duke’s beautiful sea-green eyes and thought he seemed almost ethereal.

  “This is the Honorable Primrose Wootten, Your Grace,” he said. “Primrose, this is His Grace, the Duke of Elderwood, Modred of the half dozen names.”

  The young Duke frowned at Bened and said, “Are you certain it is only a half dozen? It often feels like more.” He then took off his glove and reached out to take Primrose’s hand, a gesture so unusual she was shocked speechless. “I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Wootten.”

  “Primrose will do, Your Grace.”

  “And I shall tell you to call me Modred but I have a feeling it may take you a while to do so.”

  “We also have another surprise.” Morris tugged Lilybet closer. “This is Lilybet Wherlocke. She has come looking for her family and we thought she might as well start from the top. One of the ones we have lost touch with, Modred.”

  “That is wonderful news.” He shook her hand as well and smiled. “And even better now.” He turned and yelled down the hall. “Aunt Dob! You must come meet the new guests.”

  “Must you bellow some like some fishmonger?” came a woman’s voice, moving closer with each word. “Who are the ladies? I recognize everyone else.”

  Modred took both Lilybet and Primrose by the hands and tugged them forward. He introduced them with utmost courtesy to his aunt Dob despite the fact that he was holding hands with two women who had only just been introduced to him. The way the woman’s eyes widened as she saw that made Primrose expect a lecture but the woman just smiled so brightly it had to be hurting her cheeks.

  “High walls?” she asked Modred.

  “High, wide, and very strong,” he replied.

  Bened looked so pleased that Primrose began to think she had been right to think she had been brought to face some kind of test. Obviously she had passed and so had Lilybet. Then, when Bened took her hand from the duke’s she recalled the man’s gift again. The necessity for such a test came to her so quickly, the reason so clear, she almost gasped. She glanced at Lilybet who was frowning at Morris. They had wanted to see if the duke could read their thoughts. Primrose would have been angrier if she had failed.

  “You did not tell them,” said Dob, and slapped both Bened and Morris upside the head. “I would get my spoon and do that except that I am in too good a mood right now. A newfound Wherlocke who can come and go here as freely as she pleases and a new friend who can do the same. You brought us two treasures so you are forgiven. By me. Might take a little longer to be forgiven by the ones you tricked.”

  “You did not smack Bevan,” said Bened as he rubbed at his abused ear.

  �
�He is just too adorable and I am sure was just following your directions. Now, into the parlor all of you and I will bring some food and drink.”

  The moment the woman left and Primrose found herself seated next to Bened in a lavish front parlor, she scowled at him. “You could have warned us.”

  “Nay, because then you may then have worked to build walls and that is never a true judgment,” answered Bened.

  “You mean you can actually make it so he cannot see inside?”

  “Yes, although it is hard work. You and Lilybet are what is best, ones he can actually befriend, even come round for a visit without a long warning. You just do it, without thought or effort. It is a natural part of you.”

  “And obviously with you, Morris, and Bevan.”

  “With most of the family, of the blood. It does appear as if the high strong walls to the mind come hand in hand with the other things. It requires a strong emotion to put a crack in them and then he is assaulted by a little of what is there.”

  “You are right. That is more a curse than a gift,” she said softly, watching the duke prompting Lilybet to tell him everything she knew about her mother and her mother’s family.

  “It is and I am sorry I did not warn you but I could not. It had to be as normal a meeting as possible to know for sure.”

  “Apology accepted and now I am going to go find his aunt Dob and see if she needs any help in the kitchens.”

  Bened gave her the directions and Primrose walked away, allowing herself to inspect everything she passed. When she stepped into the kitchens, Dob turned to face her, holding a bloody butcher knife. On the board covering the counter behind her were a lump of brown fur and the innards of the butchered rabbit corpse she could see on the stovetop. But that scene rapidly blended into another as horror, grief, and fear surged up into Primrose so fast she could not stop it. She heard herself scream as Dob became Augusta and the mangled fur and blood became Constantine.