Garland of Straw (Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 2)

by Stella Riley

  Kate looked from the tightly-latticed fingers to the cold cynicism in Colonel Brandon’s eyes and recognised that, in sidestepping one quagmire, she appeared to have uncovered another. Fortunately, however, Eden said, ‘Shot? Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like Fairfax.’

  ‘Henry Ireton, apparently,’ replied Kate succinctly. ‘Geoffrey brought three accounts of it, in various newspapers, from London yesterday.’

  ‘Which you may read at your leisure,’ interposed Dorothy smoothly. ‘Right now, however, I’d like to repeat my invitation to Colonel Brandon and hear his answer.’ She smiled at Gabriel. ‘Well, sir? Will you stay with us?’

  He hesitated and then said, ‘We’d be honoured, madam – though I can’t leave my lieutenant completely to his own devices. And no.’ This as Eden would have spoken. ‘I shan’t need you and hereby give you three days leave.’

  ‘For which I thank you, if Eden does not.’ Dorothy arose, feeling that she had now been as patient as courtesy demanded. ‘Come and go as you please, Colonel – but do try to join us for supper. Meanwhile, Kate will take Venetia upstairs … to the yellow room, I think, Kate. And Tab —’

  ‘I’ll go and see if Toby needs rescuing,’ said that young lady, moving good-humouredly to the door. ‘Never let it be said that I don’t know when I’m not wanted.’

  Eden sat very still and watched them all leave the room. Then he looked at Dorothy and said bluntly, ‘I’m here because Gabriel made me see that I’ll never mend anything by staying away. But, as yet, nothing is fundamentally changed. And I still can’t talk about it.’

  ‘Do you think we haven’t learned that?’ She sat beside him, resisting the impulse to take his hand. ‘No one will mention the past to you or push you against your inclinations. We made that mistake before, if you recall. And for now, it’s enough that you’re here.’

  Bleak hazel eyes searched her face and appeared to relax slightly.

  ‘Then what do you want to talk about?’

  ‘Everything. Good heavens – we’ve two years to catch up on. I want to know where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing … and how come Venetia Clifford is married to your commanding officer,’ replied Dorothy, for all the world as if there were not a hundred questions she would much rather ask. ‘Go on. I’m listening.’

  *

  Upstairs, Venetia followed Kate into the yellow bedchamber and wondered whether Gabriel intended to preserve appearances by sharing it with her or whether he expected her to put herself in the embarrassing position of asking for a second room. Before she could decide which it was to be, however, Kate turned to her and said unexpectedly, ‘I didn’t care to mention it in front of the Colonel … but I had the feeling that you know somebody who was in Colchester.’

  ‘I think so.’ Venetia turned away to lay her cloak on the bed. ‘And, if I’m right, so do you. Francis Langley. I saw him in London in May and he was off to join Lord Norwich. But, as you rightly assumed, Gabriel knows nothing about it.’

  With so much still unsaid between them, Kate refrained from remarking that – judging by the look in his eye – the Colonel guessed more than Venetia supposed. Instead, she said cautiously, ‘Francis will be all right. He was born lucky. But I’m sorry I threw the news at you that way. I was trying to keep the conversation away from unsuitable topics for Eden’s sake.’

  ‘I know.’ Venetia decided that it was time to grasp the nettle. ‘And is that what you and I are doing?’

  Kate smiled wryly.

  ‘It looks like it, doesn’t it? I’m all too aware that this can’t be easy for you.’

  ‘It isn’t easy for either of us.’ Venetia paused and drew a steadying breath. ‘I read the letters you wrote to me after Kit died but there seemed no point in replying simply to say that I couldn’t forgive you. Now, however, I rather wish I had. I might have realised sooner that suitability isn’t everything … and that we all make mistakes. Nor are our emotions fixed in lead. And that being so, I’d like to salvage what remains of our friendship. If that’s possible?’

  Kate sank down on the window-seat, grinned and decided that a more mundane tone was needed before they ended up falling on each other’s necks.

  ‘I don’t foresee any problems. Particularly if you’ll sit down and tell me how you came to exchange one Brandon for another.’

  Venetia laughed and immediately felt better for it.

  ‘It’s a long story. Just out of interest, I imagine you think I’ve got the better bargain?’

  ‘Actually, yes. I never really liked Ellis … whereas, despite the unfortunate circumstances of our first meeting, I found your Gabriel quite —’ She stopped as Venetia suddenly sat down beside her. ‘What have I said?’

  ‘Nothing – yet.’ Venetia frowned down at her hands, caution warring with a desire to talk. ‘Kate … tell me about Basing House.’

  A familiar chill slid down Kate’s back but she said, ‘If you’re asking me about the atrocities which took place during the surrender, I didn’t see very much of them.’

  ‘You must have. You were there.’

  ‘Yes, I was.’ She hesitated briefly. ‘If you really want to know, I was shut in the Marquis of Winchester’s library, watching Luciano blow Cyrus Winter’s head off.’

  Venetia stared at her. ‘Literally?’

  ‘Literally. But since that, too, is a long story, I think we should deal with one thing at a time. Such as the fact that, so far as I’m aware, Colonel’s Brandon’s men were not amongst those permitted to run amok that day. I take it that is what you wanted to know?’ Kate waited; and then, when Venetia merely nodded mutely, said, ‘You know, I can’t help feeling there must be something very wrong if you needed to ask me that question.’

  ‘I don’t think I really did need to ask it. But you’re right, of course. Things are … well, far from perfect between us.’

  ‘And you’re miserable,’ said Kate flatly. ‘I sensed it as soon as I saw you. So why did you marry him?’

  ‘I had no choice,’ replied Venetia; and embarked on a swift, colourless account of the circumstances surrounding her marriage. ‘So you see,’ she said, her voice becoming a trifle uneven, ‘we began badly. But it might still have been all right if only I hadn’t been so stupid.’

  ‘And were you?’

  ‘Oh yes.’ She gave a small brittle laugh. ‘Yes. In the beginning, I sneered at his birth, his integrity and his profession. And then, just when I’d begun to realise my mistake and there was actually some hope of starting again, I —’ She stopped, staring despairingly into the attentive green eyes. ‘Oh God! I’ve made such a mess of it, Kate – and I’d give anything to put it right. But I’m very much afraid that, this time, he’s not going to let me.’

  *

  When Kate finally left Venetia’s room some time later, she met her eldest brother crossing the gallery and immediately said, ‘Eden – how well do you know the Colonel?’

  ‘As well as he allows – but not well enough to stick my nose into his personal affairs. Why?’

  She shrugged. ‘I just thought he might like to know that his wife’s more than half in love with him, that’s all.’

  Eden eyed her sceptically. ‘Has she said as much?’

  ‘Not in so many words, no. But —’

  ‘I thought not. You can take it from me that, whatever their relationship is, love has very little to do with it. So the best thing you can do is follow my example and leave well alone.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘Unfortunate as it may seem, not everyone’s marriage is as blissful as your own. Or am I making an assumption?’

  ‘You know you’re not.’ She laughed and, linking her arm with his said simply, ‘Luciano is … everything I want. And I hope you’re going to be polite to him for once.’

  ‘And spoil his fun? Not I!’

  ‘My husband,’ announced Kate severely, ‘does not enjoy being rude to people.’

  ‘Yes he does. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be so good at it,’ retorted Eden. And then, his
expression altering subtly as they approached the nursery door, ‘I understand the house is brimming with little Maxwells – not excluding your own. What’s he called, by the way?’

  ‘Alexander Richard or Alessandro Ricardo – depending on the obvious. Fortunately, at only eighteen months, he’s too young to be confused by it.’ She paused and added helpfully, ‘You’ll find Bess there, too – Amy’s little girl.’

  ‘Yes. Mother told me.’

  Kate knew what was wrong but did not know how best to help him.

  ‘Do you want me to come with you or go away?’

  ‘I don’t know. Go away, I think.’ And then, for the simple reason that she had not asked, he said baldly, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to handle this – or even if I can. Does she still look like Celia?’

  ‘Yes. But her disposition is quite different. She’s gentle and shy and, I suspect, intelligent.’ Kate hesitated again. ‘As for Jude, he remembers you and thinks you are a great hero – but it’s his Uncle Ralph who takes him fishing and lets him dismantle his pistol.’

  ‘So I shouldn’t expect too much.’ Eden squared his shoulders and drew a long, bracing breath. ‘Oh well. It’s no good putting it off any longer. Boot and saddle.’ And, setting his hand on the latch, he went in.

  The babble of voices dwindled into silence while four pairs of wide, young eyes glued themselves to his person and Toby, Tabitha and Meg Bennet the nursery-maid, got hurriedly to their feet. The only one who took no notice of him at all was Alessandro Ricardo Falcieri del Santi – single-mindedly banging a wooden spoon on the floor.

  Toby surged across the room, grinning from ear to ear. Like Tabitha, he had grown to adulthood in the last two years and, at twenty, was as tall as his late father had been. Now he grasped Eden’s hand and said, ‘My God – you took your time, didn’t you? I’ve been having nightmares about having to fill your shoes tomorrow.’

  ‘They’d never fit you,’ retorted Eden. ‘But I apologise for cutting it so fine. My only excuse is that I was busy.’

  ‘Saving the nation,’ nodded Toby. ‘We know.’

  Eden’s eyes strayed involuntarily to the red-headed seven-year-old staring at him from the hearth and the small girl peeping past his shoulder. Tabitha said quickly, ‘Come on, Toby – and you, Meg. Let’s take Bess and Eve and Alex into the garden for an airing before it rains again.’

  Meg scooped up little Alessandro and took her own child by the hand. Toby opened his mouth to demur but found young Bess being smartly deposited in his arms. Then Tabitha opened the door and ushered them all briskly through it, leaving Eden alone with his children.

  He felt his throat close and realised he couldn’t think of anything to say but finally he managed a tight smile and said, ‘Well … what’s this? Never say you’ve forgotten me?’

  Jude shook his head and came a few steps closer, Viola Mary clinging limpet-like to his sleeve. He said, ‘Father?’ And then, a huge smile creasing his face, ‘You came! I knew you would – I knew it!’ And flew across the floor, dragging his sister with him.

  Eden dropped on one knee and met the onslaught as best he might. He said unsteadily, ‘You’ve grown.’

  ‘I know. Uncle Ralph says I’m big enough for my own pony now,’ came the proud reply. And, hauling his sister forward to receive her share of notice, ‘Mary’s grown too. But she can’t have a pony yet because she’s only four.’

  Trapped by a pair of pansy-blue eyes, Eden felt as though he might suffocate and had to force himself to remain still. It was not her fault that she wasn’t his – any more than she could help resembling Celia; but the plain truth was that he couldn’t look at her without re-living the day on which his life had been irrevocably shattered. And, with the best will in the world, he didn’t know how to hide it.

  As though sensing something amiss, Jude said excusingly, ‘She’s shy.’ And, nudging her with his arm, ‘This is our father. I told you he’d come when he’d finished fighting with the Scots. Say hello and don’t be a baby.’

  She whispered something indistinguishable and hung back, nibbling one finger.

  Seizing his opportunity, Eden got up and tried to pull himself together. Ruffling his son’s hair, he said lightly, ‘So you can ride, can you?’

  ‘And jump,’ replied Jude. ‘I’ll show you, if you like.’

  ‘I’d like that very much.’

  ‘Come on, then.’ The boy grabbed his hand and made a dive for the door. ‘We can take Mary to Grandmother. Then we won’t have to hurry up because of her being cold.’

  Eden knew it was the coward’s way out but he couldn’t resist it. He kept his mouth shut and let himself be towed away downstairs.

  *

  After that, meeting Ralph and his brothers-in-law was mere child’s play. Blond and massive as ever, Mr Cochrane slapped him painfully on the back and asked him how it felt to be one of Old Noll’s up-and-coming young heroes; Geoffrey Cox shook his hand and murmured something banal; and Luciano Falcieri del Santi gave him a lurking smile and made the kind of typically cryptic remark to which, as usual, there was no answer whatsoever.

  By the time Colonel Brandon returned from Far Flamstead, Ralph’s mother and elder brother had joined the party and everyone was gathered in the parlour, enjoying a glass of wine before supper. Venetia looked up as Gabriel came in and felt her nerves tighten – but he was immediately beckoned over to join the other gentlemen so she forced herself to try listening to Amy Cox’s inane prattle. After all, he had been assiduously avoiding her ever since Uttoxeter and was therefore unlikely to seek her out now.

  Her attention wandered again. The men were an undeniably good-looking group, she thought distantly. Ralph, Viking-fair but somehow reminding her of an overgrown puppy; Eden, with his mahogany hair, neatly-tailored bones and the thin white line that marred one cheek; Toby Maxwell, tall and lithe, his eyes full of mischief; Luciano del Santi, beautiful as Lucifer, with his insolent, inviting smile; and Gabriel. Gabriel … with his level brows and storm-grey, black lashed eyes; the strong, clear lines of cheek and jaw … the thick, silky dark hair … and his spectacular, unforgettable physique. Venetia stared at him as though she’d never seen him before. A sensation of melting heat flooded her body and her lungs seemed to malfunction. Feelings she’d never known before but instantly recognised threatened to overwhelm her and brought a tide of colour to her cheeks. Then his eyes met hers and she found herself unable to look away.

  Her expression hit Gabriel like a kick to the stomach. He didn’t know who had caused it but didn’t, for one second, think it was him. With a brief excuse to his companions, he stalked unsmilingly towards her.

  For the first time in ten minutes, Amy Cox stopped talking.

  Gabriel nodded curtly at her and said, ‘Forgive me, Mistress. I need a brief word with my wife.’ Then, gripping Venetia’s elbow to draw her inexorably into a quiet corner, he murmured harshly, ‘For Christ’s sake – are you trying to issue a mass invitation?’

  ‘What?’ asked Venetia, confused. ‘I don’t know —’

  ‘There’s not a man in this room who could fail to interpret the look on your face,’ he snapped. ‘It belongs in the bedroom. Whose, of course, I wouldn’t know.’

  Her face stung as though he’d slapped her. She opened her mouth, then closed it again as she realised she had no idea what to say.

  ‘And speaking of bedrooms,’ he went on in the same furious undertone, ‘why in Hades didn’t you have the sense to prevent us being placed in the same one?’

  ‘It – it was awkward,’ she managed. ‘Kate’s mother just assumed … and I wasn’t sure it was what you’d want.’

  ‘I imagine you could be fairly sure I’ve no intention of sleeping with you.’

  Quite without warning, Venetia experienced a rejuvenating gust of temper.

  ‘That’s hardly the point. Given recent events – not to mention what you just said - if I’d arranged for you to be lodged elsewhere, you’d be accusing me of having improper desi
gns on Ralph or Luciano – or one of the damned stable-hands.’

  ‘Oh no,’ murmured Gabriel lethally. ‘Young Toby might oblige you, I suppose – or Amy Cox’s unfortunate husband. The latter would depend on how desperate you are.’

  Her heart slammed against her ribs but she managed to say coldly, ‘If you’re determined to humiliate me, at least keep within the bounds of probability.’

  ‘I am. Of course, I’d have severe doubts about your friend from Colchester if he were here.’

  Her breath caught. ‘What friend?’

  ‘You tell me. Of course, it’s probably all perfectly innocent. But then you said that about Ellis, didn’t you?’

  ‘And it was true!’

  ‘Was it?’ The grey gaze was utterly impervious. ‘Then why did you do your utmost to keep his visit a secret?’

  ‘Not for the reasons you have in mind,’ snapped Venetia. ‘But if it will stop you dragging me off to bed and ravishing me, you can be sure I’ll tell you next time.’

  His smile was deliberately insulting.

  ‘There had better not be a next time. And your memory is at fault. I didn’t ravish you. You bloody well enjoyed it.’

  Hot colour washed over her and, without stopping to think, she said shakily, ‘You bastard!’

  As soon as the words were out, she regretted them – but too late.

  His eyes, granite-hard and icy-cold, he said gratingly, ‘Well, of course. But you’ve known that all along, haven’t you?’

  While the evening generally passed on wings of laughter and music, Venetia existed in a black void of mingled anger, humiliation and regret. He was right. She had enjoyed it … and that, though he didn’t know it, had been a miracle of sorts. A miracle which now, between them, they had managed to spoil.

  She kept away from Kate so she wouldn’t be tempted to blurt out the whole, sorry mess. And she made sure she never met Gabriel’s eyes nor went within two yards of him unless someone else was at her side. Had it been possible, she would have found a small, dark place to curl up with her wretchedness.

  She never knew where Gabriel slept that night. She only knew it was not with her … and for the first time in a week, she was grateful.