Faith was mildly surprised to find she was hungry after all.
Before Jameson left the room, Gerard signalled to him to wait. After he had taken Faith into the bedroom, he returned. The valet waited impassively.
“Jameson, I’ve always relied on your discretion.”
“Yes, my lord. What happens in the sanctuary of your rooms has always been sacrosanct.”
Gerard thought that was going a trifle too far but appreciated the sentiment. “This time, don’t. Don’t be discreet. Tell who you like that I breakfasted with Lady Bradley in my chambers in a scandalous state of undress. Tell them what we said. I want the whole of London to know she is my chosen bride.”
The valet’s slow smile showed Gerard the man had understood his meaning. “It will be a pleasure, my lord. May I express my delight that you are about to enter the married state with a lady who suits you so well?”
Gerard accepted the compliment with a smile. It was the nearest thing to congratulations he expected to get from any male in this house.
As it happened, he was wrong. Later that day, no word being forthcoming from his father, he took Faith to show her the apartments she could expect to occupy as his countess. They connected with his own. He watched her face carefully, alert for any trace of disappointment or dislike.
He found none. Faith spun around to face him, her face shining with delight. “These are lovely, Gerard. But aren’t they a trifle—grand?” She gazed at the apartment, her lovely eyes drinking in the pristine luxury.
Gerard had taken great and savage delight in having these rooms decorated for the wife he’d doubted he would ever have. When his father had suggested it, Gerard had found the most expensive decorators, the most costly furniture, and had the rooms decked out in the French style. They were suitable for a princess. His bitter disappointment led him to interpret his father’s urging as spite, and he responded in kind. Now he was glad of his extravagance. Faith appeared to advantage against the golden yellow Chinese wallpaper and the rose and gold colour scheme. The colours suited her fair complexion and glowing, dark hair.
He grinned at her. “You’ll have the most magnificent levées in London.” He took her hand. “Shall we test the bed?”
With one graceful gesture, he indicated the steps to the high four-poster, crowned with ducal strawberry leaves, in anticipation of her elevation to duchess. That too had been a deliberate ploy to taunt his father.
She gave him a most un-princess-like dig in the ribs. “Do you think of nothing else?”
“Not when you are by me,” he confessed. “I suspect I have some time to make up for.”
“You said that before,” she commented. “You’ll tire of me soon.”
“No, I won’t.” All humour gone, he seized her chin, forcing her to turn her face to his. “When I thought I wouldn’t know you in the Biblical sense, I wanted you. You are the only woman other than Deborah who can talk to me, directly to my mind. More than that, when I saw you, kneeling by your brother on the filthy floor of the Incurables ward, I suffered a wave of protectiveness, as though you already belonged to me and I had the right to care for you. Believe it, Faith. This bedding is the most glorious bonus I could wish for, but it is a bonus. I never expected it, but I still wanted you. You still belonged to me.”
She listened to him gravely, her eyes soft with understanding and, when he had done, stood on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek. “I shouldn’t tease. It was bad of me.”
“No, love, it’s merely that I don’t want you to demean yourself. Our bedding is a delight, something I doubt I’ll ever tire of, but I want you for my countess and my future duchess.”
“Then do you think this is the right way to do it? This abduction?”
He met her gaze, not a trace of a smile in his demeanour. “No. I wanted to court and wed you in the proper fashion, but my father was plotting against it. If I’d matched his subtlety, tried to win you by beating him at his own game I would have lost. This is my way, straightforward and honest, the only way I had any chance of outright victory. Father will be forced to accept you in public.”
“And in private?” She put her hands on his chest, holding him off.
“I can promise you he’ll be at least polite. If you give me an heir, he’ll be cordial. That, above all other things, is what he wants.”
“Why did he not marry again and have more children?”
Gerard shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps he thought he’d done enough.”
She went up on tiptoe and kissed him again, but this time he clasped her and made it a proper kiss. “If you continue in this fashion, we’ll be testing out the springs in this bed, too,” he growled, his mouth less than an inch away from hers. “In fact…“ He bent and swung her into his arms, striding towards the bed, gleaming with its unused, gold-embroidered coverlet.
A knock came at the door. They exchanged a glance, and reluctantly Gerard put her back on her feet. He went to answer the knock, opening the door barely a crack.
Stretton entered the room. Glancing about he gave Faith an amused grin. “Good day, ma’am. I came to see if you were totally expired yet.”
“No.” Faith put up her chin. “I was thinking of dressing and going to visit my brother.”
“Oh no you don’t.” Alarmed, Gerard reached out and gripped her hand. “Once you leave these apartments you might not be allowed back in. My father will be waiting.” He turned to Stretton, lifting a brow in query.
Stretton nodded. “He’s hardly left the house in all this time. He must know it’s all around the clubs.”
“Is it?” Delight welled up within Gerard.
“I made sure of it. I also made sure that everyone knows you are to marry before too many days have passed. I made Boscobel the villain in all this, said he’d forced your hand.” Stretton flashed his sudden smile. “That was what you wanted. Now if the duke forbids your marriage, he will dishonour a lady.” He bowed to Faith.
Faith flushed and Gerard knew that adorable delicacy was overwhelming her again. “You could send for a gown,” he said grudgingly.
She shot him a look of gratitude, but Stretton stepped forward. “If I may crave your indulgence, I’ve been busy having your belongings moved to these apartments. I thought you might find it more convenient.”
After a puzzled glance at him, Faith crossed the room and opened the door he indicated. By her expression she was pleased with what she saw. To Gerard’s alarm, she went into the room and closed the door behind her.
Gerard went towards the door but was forestalled by Stretton’s lifted hand. “Give her a minute or two. You can tell if she leaves that room.”
Faith? He couldn’t help it. His agitation rising, he had to make sure she was safe.
I’ll be out in a moment, Gerard. Her voice came clear and assured. Gerard stood on guard by the door and faced Stretton. “You’ve been a good friend.”
“More than that. We are brothers, of a kind. If Faith is the woman you want, then you shall have her. Have you tested her blood?”
Gerard shook his head. “I don’t want to know. In the fullness of time, we’ll take the test.”
“Your children depend upon it.”
“They do not. If they have red blood, we will love and cherish them all their days. If they are clear, the same will apply. It matters little.”
Stretton regarded him steadily. “Your father is obsessed with dynastic concerns. I am the same, but for different reasons. We have our enemies too. Your father could be one of them.”
Stretton avoided his direct glance, crossing the room to stare out of the window on to the garden below.
“I thought you said he was not? That you’d read nothing in him?”
“I don’t read anything in him, but the most powerful Ancients are often very good at masking themselves.”
“The Titans. I mentioned them before.” Stretton turned, facing Gerard, his face steady once more, the mocking smile firmly in place. “Did you think they were leg
ends too, that I was jesting? No. They are Ancients, as we are, with the same heritage. But they, and the people who range themselves with them, want to subjugate the earth and all its peoples. They see it as their right. For them there is no other way.”
“Who are they?”
Stretton shrugged. “We have yet to discover them all. I think I have found one.”
Gerard considered. “You think my father is one of them?” He didn’t want to believe it.
“His mental door is always firmly closed, just as most mortals’ doors are. I haven’t forced it, because if he is a Titan, he will know and then he’ll know what I am, if not who.”
Before Gerard could answer, the door to the dressing room opened and Faith entered, followed by Deborah. Gerard smiled warmly to see his sister. She smiled back, equally affectionately. “I’m glad you did this. Father is holding out against you, but he will weaken, I’m sure.”
Gerard frowned, his brow thunderous. “He hasn’t sent for the minister?”
Deborah shook her head. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?”
“I’ll take Faith and leave this house.” Gerard’s temper rose, fury at the disrespect his father was showing to Faith clouding his judgment.
“If you do you he’ll never allow you back.” Deborah’s voice was firm, but Gerard sensed her unhappiness. He had no wish to cause an estrangement between them.
“We’ll wait, then. If Faith is willing.” He turned to her in query and his thoughts were arrested by what she wore. Rather than a plain sacque, she wore a gown of surpassing splendour. Flowers rioted over a field of gold-coloured satin, the voluminous folds of the gown floating over her form, concealing the lovely body underneath. Gerard felt grateful to the mantua maker. His Faith was shy of displaying her charms. She would feel more comfortable in this confection. But now that he knew intimately what lay beneath, he could feel his body rise, yet again. Would it ever stop? He doubted it. For her sake he’d have to learn to control it.
I’ll convey your thanks. Stretton’s voice, laced with amusement, echoed in his mind.
Faith came towards him but stopped to curtsey to Stretton. “I’m much obliged, sir. Thank you for your help.”
“Think nothing of it. If you dislike any of the garments, send them straight back. Cerisot will have to charge double for them, once she has associated your name with them.” Faith blushed and Stretton grinned widely. “You’re notorious, my dear. Ellesmere’s intemperance has gained you an enviable reputation for beauty and sensuality.” He bowed low, showing off a graceful sweep of leg and arm.
Faith turned to Gerard, a stricken expression on her face that went straight to her heart. He took her hand. “It matters not. When we go into society again, they’ll treat you with the greatest respect or I’ll know why.”
“I didn’t want all this,” she said, “but if we can stay together, I’ll endure it.”
He gave her a warm smile. “I never doubted you.”
Faith smiled back, lovely to his eyes. She had tied her hair back and it hung, glossy with brushing, down her back. He wanted to disarray it again by running his hands over the silken length.
Deborah cleared her throat. “I came partly to make sure you were well, but also on George’s behalf.” At once Faith gave Deborah all her attention. “He is a trifle agitated and keeps asking for you. May I ask James to bring him along?”
Faith answered without consulting Gerard. “Of course. I wanted to visit him today, but I wasn’t sure if…”
“No.” Gerard’s decision was delivered gently, but firmly. He would not waver from his course.
Deborah inclined her head in assent and glided out of the room. Gerard glanced at Stretton to see him watching Deborah’s departure with gleaming attention. “You have an interest in my sister, Stretton?”
“We would not suit. She would never bear with my starts. I was wondering, that was all.” Stretton sounded curt, to Gerard’s ears.
“Deborah is five years younger than me,” Gerard pointed out. “She wasn’t born on that night.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Stretton said. Gerard’s head snapped, all attention. “Although the disaster was the biggest release of Olympians, if someone becomes aware that an Olympian or a Titan is dying, they can arrange matters singly. Where was she born?”
“Hill House.” With a shock Gerard realized it was within the range of the disaster his father had visited on the Ancients. If he’d found another, he could have repeated the experience, but with one person.
Stretton nodded. “You see. It could be possible. She might be more than she seems.”
“Dear Lord.” Without him realizing it, Gerard’s hand had tightened around Faith’s. It was only when she wriggled it he let her go, turning to her with a small apologetic smile. “How do we discover it? How can we discover what my father is?”
“I have tried. I cannot. I have called on friends to help, but I doubt they’ll have any more success than I’ve had. We must wait for him to show his hand, much though I regret the necessity. It may be that he is what he seems, a power-mad man who wants to use the Ancients to control his country. That is bad enough.” Stretton turned away.
“It’s true,” Gerard agreed solemnly. “Until now I’ve owed him my loyalty and my respect, but I will not allow him to rule me. I thought he knew that, but now I’m not so sure.” He was surprised to find himself admitting aloud what he was only beginning to come to terms with in his heart, but it was said now.
A knock sounded on the door. At Gerard’s nod, Stretton opened it to reveal an anxious Lord Fordhouse, flanked, as always, by his attendant. At a glance from Gerard, he stepped back, yielding George to his sister.
Faith held out her arms and George ran in his ungainly way across the room, hurling himself at her. They laughed together and Gerard felt a guilty pang of jealousy. A foolish thing to feel, but after her sole attention for nearly two days, his possessiveness must have increased more than he’d supposed.
He ignored it and glanced at Stretton, who took the hint. They left the room, to discuss matters over a glass of wine, leaving the siblings to enjoy their privacy.
Stretton grinned knowingly and Gerard would have blushed, had he anything to blush for. “You’ve made sure of her?” he asked.
“You could say that.” Gerard handed his friend a glass of wine.
Stretton regarded the glass thoughtfully. “Do you know whose attributes you have? Am I right?”
Gerard swallowed. It must be hard for Stretton to hear this, but he was showing nothing outwardly and his mind was closed. “I think you’re right. I lit the fire from the bed this morning.”
Stretton gave a bark of laughter. “Does Faith know?”
Gerard drained his glass. “No. Not yet. I will tell her when the moment presents itself.”
“How did she sleep through the thunder?”
Gerard stopped his reminiscent smile. He’d kept Faith busy enough to ensure her sleep was very sound indeed. “I only used lightning. And I missed the first time. I don’t know how I’ll explain the scorch on the hearth.”
Stretton chuckled, but then his face returned to a serious expression. “Your father.”
Gerard didn’t prevaricate. “I’ve thought on what you told me.” He returned to the decanter. “It fits. I know I was born at Hill House, and I know the names of two of the other women who were there. I presume my father has the names of the others, but I’ve no idea where he keeps them.”
“In his head if he has any sense.” Stretton rose and walked to the window, restlessly pacing back again. “He must know some of us got away and that we’re after him. But I want to know his friends. I suspect he has something planned, though damned if I know what it is.” He turned, his eyes fixing Gerard in a gimlet stare. “Does he know who I am?”
“He’s never given any indication of doing so,” Gerard said cautiously. “He’s a devious man, easily capable of hiding anything. He has shown us affection, Deborah and me, b
ut we always knew that if we transgressed beyond what he considers acceptable he’d turn his back on us without a backward glance.”
Stretton strode to the window again. “My father loved us without restriction. He had children who were Ancients, like me, and mortal children who died within their allotted lifespan. He loved us all and taught us all to love each other. We all mourned when a brother or sister died.”
Gerard didn’t break the silence, but refilled the glasses. He had never known such unqualified affection. Not until he’d met Faith.
“You must do the test.” Stretton’s voice was sharp.
“No. I will, but not yet. I want to make Faith mine beyond recall first, so my father can’t take her away from me.”
Stretton nodded. “Perhaps I’m too precipitate. I don’t think your father has made any special preparations.”
Gerard shrugged. “I didn’t expect him to. He’s not exactly in favour of this match.”
“He’s planning something. I can’t read him. His hints for me to return to my own house are increasing, but I thought you could do with someone to watch your back. Was I wrong?”
Gerard fetched a deep sigh. “No. And thank you for staying on. I know how difficult my father can make it for people he takes a dislike to.”
Stretton shrugged. “Think nothing of it. D’Argento is taking care of things there. Your father doesn’t know he’s here, and d’Argento is deliberately staying close to my house so he doesn’t get wind of it yet. We tend to go our own way and join together when we need to. The disaster thirty years ago has taught us caution.”
“A shame.”
“A great shame.” Stretton’s face broke into a sudden smile. It was devastatingly disarming, blinding in its charm. “However, we do meet, and we do survive. I hope the test shows you will be with us for a long time. Even if it doesn’t, you are one of us. Welcome to the family.” He strode forward and shook Gerard’s hand, his grip firm and sure. Gerard grinned in return but before he could answer Stretton went to the door and left with a murmured, “See you at the altar.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lightning Unbound: Even Gods Fall in Love, Book 1 Page 18