Finessing the Contessa

by Wendy Soliman

  “How could I have forgotten about Augusto for so long?”

  “Perhaps you did something that took your mind off your problems?”

  She blushed. “Even so.”

  “No regrets.”

  She smiled at him. “None whatsoever.”

  “Good. Come, I’ll help you dress, then we’ll go above.”

  They stood on the deck together as the crew found a sheltered spot in which to drop the anchor. A wherry was lowered and Rob, Electra and several of the most trusted members of the crew were rowed ashore in it.

  “Take someone with you to watch for the packet from Dover,” Rob said to Wright, Hal’s skipper. “There’s a convenient tavern over yonder where you’ll blend in with the other seafarers, but keep a sober head about you.”

  Wright flashed a toothy smile at Electra. “That we will.”

  “First though, take yourselves off to the livery stables and hire two saddle horses. Keep them close at hand and follow Maynard when he leaves that boat. Find out where he goes, learn as much as you can about the place and the surrounding area without raising suspicion, and without getting caught. Then come back here and let me know what you’ve discovered.”

  “Can’t we follow him straight off?” Electra asked.

  “Patience,” Rob replied. “We can’t risk you being seen, not even in that disguise,” he added, raking her body with his gaze. “It won’t fool anyone at close quarters.”

  “Perhaps not, but supposing Maynard’s information causes Gravina to leave here? We could miss Augusto because you want to be cautious.”

  “I anticipate he’ll leave at first light. He was so anxious to get his hands on that report that he won’t waste any time putting the information he now has to good use.”

  “Precisely.” She scowled at him. “He will leave here.”

  “Yes, but if Augusto’s here, he’s unlikely to take him along.”

  “You can’t be absolutely sure about that.”

  “If he does, we will go back too and reach England before he does.”

  Electra sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t doubt you. I’m sure you’ve thought everything through.” Her head shot up. “But the marquess wanted you to discover who else Gravina is in league with. If you allow him to leave you won’t find that out.”

  “Hal will have him watched when he reaches England. Besides, if he does have anyone other than Pallister in his corner, it’s unlikely they’ll have come across the Channel to meet with him. That was always an outside possibility.” Rob grinned. “Our true purpose has always been to discover what our Machiavellian stepmother thinks she’s playing at. She’s done her damnedest to drag the Forster name through the mud in recent months. We need to make sure she doesn’t do anything reckless that will taint the rest of us by association.”

  “Presumably you discussed this change of plan with your brother.”

  “Yes, we talked it through last night.” Rob returned his attention to Wright. “I’ll take a room at that pension opposite. Contact me there when you know anything.”

  “Right you are, m’lord.”

  Established in the best room the pension could provide them with, Rob and Electra settled down to wait. Rob had a hot meal sent up, which they toyed with. Afterwards, he occupied his time at the window which looked directly onto the place where the packet from Dover would dock.

  “It’s here,” he said a little while later.

  Electra joined him at his vantage point but they were too far away to see if Maynard left the vessel. With nothing else to do except wait, they fell onto the lumpy bed to get some rest. But this time it was Electra who had other ideas.

  “Do you still find me attractive as a boy?” she asked, wrapping her arms round his neck and slanting a flirtatious smile.

  “Sweetheart, you could wear a sack and I’d still find you impossible to resist.”

  “What about if I wear nothing at all?”

  Rob emitted a wicked laugh. “There’s one sure way to find out.”

  Rob removed her clothing, taking his time, kissing every inch of bare flesh as he exposed it. Lingering when he reached her breasts, sucking a solid nipple into his mouth and feasting on it like a starving man. Electra, still wearing her boy’s breeches, was naked from the waist up, her hair cascading over her shoulders and tumbling down her back. She looked good enough to devour whole. Rob sat back to examine her more closely, overwhelmed with a torrent of protective feelings. Electra had infused structure and meaning into his existence and it would now seem pointless and empty without her in it. That realisation confirmed what he already knew.

  He’d fallen deeply in love with her.

  She was everything he’d ever wanted in a wife—beautiful, compassionate, spirited, sensual, and a brilliant chess player. He pulled her into his arms and into his heart, never planning to let her leave either location.

  But before he declared himself he must establish if her son was still alive and, if so, somehow reunite the two of them.

  “What is it?” she asked. “You’re staring at me. Is something wrong?”

  Rob desperately wanted to tell her that far from being wrong, everything was very right with his world all the time she remained in it. But he couldn’t—not until this damned business was resolved. She might feel inclined to accept him through some misguided sense of obligation but nothing less than totally reciprocated love would satisfy him.

  He flashed a predatory smile. “You’re not made like any lad I’ve ever known.”

  She laughed as he pulled her back into his arms and claimed her lips in an intoxicating kiss. He absorbed the essence of her into his soul as he slid his tongue between her parted lips and swept her mouth with it. He crushed her lips with passion, telling her without the need for words just how desperately he desired her.

  Rob broke the kiss. The slowness with which he’d removed half her clothing was replaced now with an urgent need to render her completely naked. Electra helped him, seemingly as desperate as he was. She cast the last item casually aside and lay back on the bed, her thick hair cushioning her head as she watched him throw off his own garments.

  His body then covered hers, its hardness a thrilling contrast to the softness of her voluptuous curves. He supported his weight on his elbows, filled with a desperate need to possess her. She lifted her hips and they sighed in unison as he drove himself home.

  “Rob, I...”

  Electra’s words trailed off and she gasped as Rob drove himself deeper. He recognised his own need reflected in her eyes, sensed the flickering heat that consumed her. He’d never felt more completely at one with another human being in all his years.

  “It’s all right.” He nipped playfully at her earlobe. “I understand.”

  “Then don’t torture me. All the tension, the worry, my fears...this helps make them go away.” Her eyes pleaded for his understanding. “It helps a lot.”

  In the face of such honesty, Rob was incapable of holding back. He picked up the rhythm and took her to the brink. Together they crossed the abyss, crying out as pleasure captured them both, sending sensation rioting through Rob like a volcanic eruption. Electra’s legs had worked their way round his waist and he struggled to disengage them so that he could empty himself over her thigh.

  “Ah, love,” he sighed when they stopped trembling and he lay flat on his back, cradling her against his side.

  “Hmm.”

  Rob glanced at her, wondering what she’d been about to say, but Electra was already sound asleep.

  * * *

  “It’s promising, but you haven’t got the perspective quite right.” Beth smiled, ignoring the narrowing of Julia’s eyes. “Do you understand what perspective is?”

  “Yes. No.” Julia scowled. “Oh, this is stupid.”

  “Would yo
u prefer to return to lessons with Miss Dawson?”

  “No.”

  “Then have patience and concentrate on your sketching. What do you think’s wrong with it?”

  “It’s not as good as yours.”

  “But it could be, if only you’d apply yourself. You show great promise. Do your friends in Hampshire enjoy sketching, too?”

  The child hesitated. “I don’t have any particular friends.”

  Beth blinked back her surprise. “Why ever not?”

  “Mama doesn’t think the local children are suitable playmates.”

  Oh, dear. “Well, I’m sure you’ll make some friends here in Denby.”

  “Who? There isn’t anyone my age.”

  “Your uncle is sending two of his children here for the summer and Amelia is only a year or so older than you.”

  “I might not still be here.” Did Beth hear a note of regret in the girl’s tone? “Besides, the duke’s children aren’t legitimate. Mama wouldn’t approve.”

  “Julia,” Beth said, striving for a patient tone. “If you want to have friends of your own, you must learn to judge people by what’s inside their hearts, not by the circumstances of their birth. After all, that’s hardly their fault.”

  The child wrinkled her brow. “But how do I know what’s inside them? I can’t see through their bodies.”

  “True, but you could start by not judging them until you get to know them better. Amelia is to be presented and I very much doubt if society will mind about her accident of birth, so why should you?” Julia looked so bewildered that Beth took pity on her. “I suggest that you offer Amelia your friendship when she arrives. After all, you know the place far better than she does and I expect she’ll be anxious.”

  “All right, but I don’t expect Mama will like it.”

  Beth wanted to scream that Mama wasn’t here, thank the Lord, but somehow refrained. “You’ve got that statue all out of proportion,” Beth said, pointing to Julia’s sketch. “Perhaps if you were to—”

  “I can’t do it! It’s too hard.” Scowling, Julia drew heavy charcoal lines through her sketch, deep enough to tear the paper.

  Beth sighed, already recognising the signs. Julia was about to throw a tantrum. Beth continued with her own sketch and paid the child no attention whatsoever. Even so, in the periphery of her vision, she saw Julia glancing at her, seeking a reaction which didn’t materialise.

  Julia threw her charcoal on the ground and stomped back towards the house. Beth let her go, taking heart from the fact that it was almost time for luncheon and it was the first temper fit Julia had thrown so far that day.

  She sensed a presence behind her, too large to be Julia returning. She glanced up and her gaze clashed with Gabe’s.

  “Oh, I didn’t hear you approaching.” Beth lifted a hand to her chest. “You gave me a start.”

  “I doubt you could hear anything over the racket she was making.” He glanced at Julia’s retreating figure and rolled his eyes. “I saw the two of you earlier, but didn’t think it would be too long before she got bored and flounced off.”

  “Actually, she has quite a good eye for sketching. She merely lacks patience.”

  Gabe glanced at Julia’s ruined sketch and laughed. “It’s hard to tell from that if she has talent or not.” He looked over Beth’s shoulders. “Whereas you could teach the masters a thing or two.”

  “Hardly.”

  “It’s kind of you to take Julia under your wing, but not necessary. She has a perfectly adequate governess.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind. I feel a little sorry for her. She just told me she doesn’t have any friends of her own because Mama doesn’t approve of the local children. Anyway, trying to help her makes me feel useful.”

  Gabe raised both brows. “You feel undervalued here?”

  “I feel I shouldn’t be here at all half the time, if you want to know the truth. I keep expecting someone to ask me what I think I’m doing here and ask me to leave.”

  Gabe laughed. “You’re the sister of the marchioness, you goose. Of course you should be here.”

  “Perhaps, but I have no real purpose, other than to please myself. I’m not used to being idle. Leah took it upon herself to teach Julia some manners, but then Charles came along early and ruined that plan—”

  “Ah, and how is my nephew this morning?”

  Beth grinned. “You’ll be happy to know that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with his lungs.”

  They laughed. It was the longest private conversation she’d had with Gabe since his return. They’d fallen into their familiar way of conversing as though they hadn’t been separated. He’d been avoiding her, probably because he supposed she had expectations. Perhaps one of his brothers had said something. Her cheeks coloured at the thought. If Gabe ever considered her as a wife, she wanted it to be because he loved her. Any other reason would be unacceptable.

  Beth glanced at Gabe. He appeared distracted and she knew she’d lost his attention. “You’re thinking about your brother?”

  “Yes, damn it—excuse the language, Beth, but I can’t seem to settle to anything today for worrying about him.”

  Ah, so you didn’t really come looking for me. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. He has a whole shipload of men at his command and a lady to protect.”

  “Even so, he and Hal should have allowed me to go, too.”

  “So you hanker for danger?”

  “Not exactly, but I’d like to think that my brother valued my support.”

  “That’s understandable. I’d feel the same way if Leah was in trouble.”

  “Do you ever sketch animals?” he asked in an abrupt change of subject.

  “Sometimes.” She glanced up at him. “Why?”

  “Well, I was just thinking, you’re so good, and you’re such friends with Rominus. If you sketched him for me, I could use the drawing to advertise the stud.”

  Beth smiled. “I’m willing to try, but I can’t guarantee that the results will be up to much.”

  “And I’m equally sure they will be.”

  Beth said nothing more. Gabe hadn’t happened upon her by chance, nor had he come to discuss his half-sister’s bad manners, or sketches of horses. She waited for him to tell her why he really had sought her out.

  “Was Garman here earlier?” he asked casually.

  Ah, so now we come to it. “Yes, did you see him?”

  “I saw his Furioso in the stables. A fine beast.”

  “Ah, of course,” Beth said softly. “His horse.”

  “I gather he only just bought it at Tattersall’s.”

  “He came to propose marriage,” Beth said, not looking at him, aware of a headache thumping against her temple and a slight shortness of breath. It had been a long time since she’d suffered from her old malady, but she recognised the signs of an attack building. She breathed deeply, willing it to subside.

  “I thought he probably had.” Gabe regarded her for a long time, his expression unreadable. Beth returned her attention to her sketch. “What answer did you give him?”

  “I asked for time to consider.”

  “Very wise. It would be foolish to rush into a decision, unless you’re absolutely sure. Presumably you’re not or you wouldn’t need to think about it.”

  “No, Gabe,” she said, folding up her sketch pad. “I’m not sure about anything. I...” Her lungs seized and a coughing fit came upon her so quickly that she was ill-prepared to deal with it.

  “Your old problem?” Gabe looked rather alarmed. “Allow me to fetch help. Some water.”

  “Yes.” Beth was struggling to breathe. “Please.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Beth recognised Mr. Falzone’s voice but was too short of breath to answer him.

  “
Beth has an infection of the lung,” Gabe said. “What ought we to do for her?”

  She sensed Mr. Falzone occupying Julia’s vacated chair.

  “Take slow, deep breaths, Miss Elliott. Draw as much air into your lungs as you can manage.” He placed a large hand on her shoulders and spoke in a competent voice that immediately soothed her.

  Beth knew that was the right thing to do. Her jangling nerves, agitated by her conversation with Gabe following so closely on the heels of Mr. Garman’s proposal, began to settle and she breathed more easily.

  “That’s it. You must try to avoid stressful situations. It’s the worst possible thing for you.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Falzone.” Beth flashed a wan smile at both him and Gabe. “I’m fully recovered now.”

  “No you’re not. Sit here for a while until you can breathe more easily.” His hand continued to rub her shoulders. In all the years she’d suffered with this condition, never before had anyone suggested that rubbing her shoulders would help, or that it would feel quite so...well, warming.

  “Thank you,” she said again, this time standing up. “I’m quite myself again.”

  “If you’ll allow it, I’ll make a herbal infusion that will give you relief the next time you have an attack.” Mr. Falzone smiled as he examined her face, causing Beth to blink beneath his scrutiny. He really was a very handsome man, and so kind, too.

  “Thank you.”

  “May I escort you back? It’s almost time for luncheon.” Mr. Falzone picked up Beth’s discarded sketching materials, tucked them under one of his arms and proffered the other. She placed her hand on it and together they walked slowly back to the house. Only when they reached it did Beth realise that to her utter astonishment she hadn’t given Gabe a second thought since Mr. Falzone came to her aid.

  Chapter Twenty

  Electra had only just woken when Wright returned. Relaxed after a long sleep, she took one look at the bosun’s weather-worn face and all her anxieties came crashing back down on her. Rob squeezed her hand but kept his attention on Wright.

  “What news?” he asked.

  “We followed Maynard and the other cove for nigh on an hour. It was difficult to keep out of sight because he headed inland using quiet back roads.”