Velvet Chains (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  Season opened her eyes and found Lucas Carrington staring at her. His probing golden eyes disturbed her so she gazed out the window. Most probably he was wondering, as everyone else surely would, whether she had been ravished by The Raven.

  She searched for something to say to him that would end the uncomfortable silence between them. "You once told me Virginia was lovely, Mr. Carrington. I never expected I would be seeing it for myself."

  "Did I exaggerate?"

  Season looked out the window of the coach at the lovely tree-lined roadside. In the green meadows they were passing, wild flowers of every color and description were in full bloom. She felt a pang of homesickness for Chats worth.

  "No, you most certainly didn't exaggerate, Mr. Carrington. Your Virginia is very much like the part of England which I call home."

  "If you will look to your left, my lady, you will see our destination."

  Suddenly the trees thinned and Season saw a village in the distance. The carriage turned up a lane that led in that direction. "I thought you told me you lived on a plantation, Mr. Carrington."

  "And so I do. Our American plantations are very like small villages, my lady. They are self-sustaining. We have our own blacksmith shop, storehouse, barns, and stables. To your right you will see the weaver's house, and to your left are the slave quarters. As you can see, we are pretty much cut off from the rest of the world, so we have to be self-sufficient."

  "Are there no nearby towns or villages?"

  "The closest would be Williamsburg. It is a good two-day ride."

  Season turned back to Lucas. "Again I would like to apologize for being inflicted on you. If I can get in touch with my cousin, Edmund, I will not long test your hospitality."

  His golden eyes rested on her face. "I can assure you that you will be most welcome. In fact my sister, Rebecca, will be overjoyed to have you stay with us. She is about your age and is starved for female companionship."

  "You are very kind, sir."

  Lucas saw tears in Season's emerald-colored eyes before she quickly looked away. "Why do you cry, my lady?" he asked softly.

  "Forgive me, but you are so kind. I hate women who cry, don't you?" she asked, dabbing at her eyes. "It is not habitual with me, I promise you."

  Lucas reached out with his gloved hand and pushed a golden curl from her face. "Have you suffered a great deal?"

  Season smiled through her tears, warming to the concern she heard in his voice. "I wouldn't want you to think I have been beaten or abused. I was not treated unkindly. I suppose I just have to make an adjustment. For so long I have been confined to a small cabin, but now, suddenly, I can have all the space I want. I can tell you one thing, no one will ever lock me in a room again. I detest being locked up."

  "You have changed, my lady."

  "I suppose I have grown up a great deal in the last three months."

  He smiled. "I cannot see that you have aged a day since I saw you last."

  Season could feel herself beginning to relax. Lucas Carrington was easy to talk to, and she could tell he was trying to make her feel at home.

  "If you will look off to your right, my lady, you will see Rosemont."

  Season looked out the window and saw a majestic brick colonial mansion sitting atop a gentle sloping hill. At one time the bricks must have been red, but over the years they had mellowed to a soft pink color. At the bottom of the hill there was a river, and behind it a heavily wooded area. There were plowed fields, and several blooded horses frolicked in green meadows.

  Season looked at Lucas. "I have the feeling that this was untamed land which has been carved out of the wilderness. The soil is new and the very air we are breathing is young. I have the strangest feeling that this land will one day be a great country. How could it help but be, for there are unlimited resources here. Someday this land will be a country apart from England. For the first time I begin to realize what the colonists have been fighting for."

  Lucas gave her a quizzical glance. "Careful, my lady, you speak treason," he said, smiling slightly.

  "Perhaps I am beginning to see what The Raven was trying to tell me. This land shouldn't belong to England. It should belong to the ones who were born here—those who have cleared and worked the land, and those whose mothers and fathers are buried here."

  "Are these the views of The Raven?"

  "He never actually said this to me, but I know that is what he is fighting for."

  Season didn't realize the carriage had come to a halt until Lucas reached over and opened the door. "I think it would not be well for you to voice your newly formed opinions too freely, my lady. There are those who will not understand what you are saying."

  "Do you understand, Mr. Carrington?"

  He got out of the carriage and helped Season alight before he answered her.

  "I understand, my lady, but I don't altogether agree with you."

  "Strange, isn't it, that I am taking the stand you should be taking, Mr. Carrington, while you are defending England as I should be doing?"

  Lucas smiled, "It's a strange world we live in." He took her hand and helped her up the steps. "Welcome to Rosemont, my lady."

  Before they reached the entrance, a young woman rushed out the front door. She hesitated for a moment and then rushed forward to embrace Season.

  "I am glad you are here. Since Lucas and I found out you were coming, I have been watching the road." She looked a little uneasy, and Season could tell she was thinking she had been too forward. "I suppose I should call you, your ladyship, shouldn't I?"

  "My lady, this impulsive young woman is my sister, Rebecca. Rebecca, Lady Season Chatsworth."

  Season smiled warmly. The girl was so lovely. She had the same black hair as her brother, but where as his eyes were golden in color, the girl's were a soft brown. "I am delighted to meet you, Rebecca. I hope you will feel you can call me Season."

  "Oh, I could never call you by your name. I don't think Lucas would approve."

  Season laughed delightedly. "The permission is mine to give, and I insist you call me Season."

  Rebecca looked doubtfully at her brother and then smiled. "All right, Season," she said, linking her arm through her new friend's. "Are you tired, hungry, thirsty?"

  Season smiled. "Yes, all of those."

  Rebecca led her into the house. "The first thing we must do is to get you settled. Follow me upstairs and I will show you to your room. I think you will like it since it faces the back of the house which is much quieter and you will have a good view of the river. Did you bring any trunks? No. How foolish of me, of course you didn't," Rebecca said, flushing slightly. "Lucas said I wasn't to say anything about your being kidnapped, and you are hardly here a minute and I have already made a fool of myself."

  "It's all right, Rebecca, don't concern yourself. I think you are very charming."

  "I am rambling like a magpie . . . it's just that I am so happy you are going to be staying at Rosemont."

  Lucas smiled at his sister indulgently. "You will have to excuse Rebecca, my lady. I warned you she would be glad to see you."

  He handed Season's bundle of clothing to his sister and bowed slightly. "I will leave the two of you to get acquainted. I have an errand to run. Don't expect me back until the dinner hour."

  "Don't be late, Lucas. Ruthy is preparing chicken and dumplings," his sister called after him.

  Rebecca showed Season to the lovely room she would be staying in. There was a soft blue rug on the floor and the big four-poster bed had cream and blue bed coverings. The walls were covered in cream-colored silk; the soft curtains at the window were ice blue. Season was surprised to find such luxury in this yet undeveloped land. Yet all the rooms she had seen had been elegantly furnished, and the house had a warm feeling.

  "Would you like to lie down and rest awhile?" Rebecca asked.

  "No, but I would like something cool to drink," Season told her.

  Rebecca directed the maid to put away Season's few belongings and she led
the way downstairs.

  Season and Rebecca sat on the veranda where the cool May breeze stirred the leaves of the budding dogwood trees. They found many things to talk about. They spoke of fashion and travel. Rebecca wanted to know all about Season's home in England and what it was like growing up in a castle. Season was beginning to like Rebecca very much.

  It soon became apparent that Rebecca had purposely not brought up the matter of her kidnapping, but Season, who had never had a friend, felt the need to talk to someone about her ordeal.

  "Rebecca, there is no reason to avoid discussing my kidnapping. In fact I think it might help if you would allow me to talk about it."

  Rebecca reached out and took Season's hand. "I wouldn't want to do anything that would upset you. Lucas would be angry with me if I were to ply you with questions."

  "I believe you and I are friends, Rebecca. Please don't feel that you have to watch what you say around me.

  "Was it very bad for you, being The Raven's captive?" Rebecca asked, her soft brown eyes shining with sympathy.

  "At first I was very frightened, but three months is a long time—in my case it seemed like a lifetime. After a while, I came to love the sea."

  "It must have been just awful. In your place I would have been terrified."

  "At times it was very bad. During a horrible storm, I feared the ship would sink."

  "I hate storms and I would hate them even more at sea."

  "It wasn't a pleasant experience."

  "Season, when the man—The Raven's first mate— came to our door to tell Lucas and I The Raven was turning you over to us, he said he had a message from Robert Wolf. Is it true that Robert is alive? Did you see him on the Andromeda?"

  "Yes, I did. I wasn't aware that you knew Robert."

  "He is a neighbor of ours. I have been worried sick about him. His family hasn't heard from him in over a year. It has been longer than that since I heard from him."

  "I talked to Captain Wolf many times. He was held captive by a pirate named De Fores until The Raven rescued him. He was ill for a time, but when last I saw him he had recovered very nicely."

  Rebecca's eyes grew misty with tears. "Are you sure Robert is all right? I have been half out of my mind with worry over him."

  "Yes, I promise you he is well. You seem to be very fond of him."

  "I have known Robert all my life. I cannot remember a time when I didn't love him."

  Season looked at Rebecca's midnight black hair and knew that she was the one Robert had spoken of with such feeling. She smiled. "Robert spoke of you—yes. You are the young woman he told me about aboard the Andromeda. Did Robert ever call you funny face?"

  "That was always his nickname for me. What did he say about me?" Rebecca asked eagerly.

  "I don't think it would be fair to him if I repeated what he said, do you?" Season teased.

  "Oh, please tell me, Season. Did he say he liked me or did he call me a pest as he always did to my face?"

  "I think I will tell you. After all, it's only right that we females stick together."

  "Don't tease me, Season. Tell me what Robert said," she begged.

  "I want to get this straight now," Season said thoughtfully. "He said when he thought he was going to die and it was too painful to go on, he thought of dark hair and soft brown eyes. He said he thought of his love, knowing he couldn't die until he told her he loved her. He said he had watched her bloom and grow."

  Rebecca placed her hands to her flushed cheeks. "Could it be me he spoke of? Suppose he spoke of another. I have waited all my life for him to love me. Yes, he spoke of me, because he once told me that he had watched me bloom and grow. Season, Robert loves me! Why has he never told me?"

  "I should not have told you, Rebecca. He will want to tell you himself."

  "No, I'm glad you did. Now I can be ready for him when he comes home. You said he was ill. Are you quite sure he has recovered?"

  "Yes, Rebecca, I would not have told you that if it weren't true."

  "When will he be home? When can I see him? His note told me only that he would see me soon."

  "He told me he had to report to your Congress before he came home."

  "I am deliriously happy. Surely it won't be too long until I see him." Suddenly Rebecca's face whitened. "He isn't being held prisoner by that awful Raven, is he?"

  "No. From what I understand Robert and The Raven are good friends."

  "Many people whisper about The Raven. Some say he is a patriot, and others claim he is a pirate. I am appalled by what he did to you. I would be frightened to meet him in the flesh, but I will always be grateful to him for rescuing Robert for me."

  "Grateful to whom, funny face? Did I just hear my name mentioned?"

  Season watched Rebecca's cheeks redden when Robert Wolf walked up the steps to the veranda. Seeing the hunger in his eyes when he looked at the young girl, Season excused herself and went into the house so the two of them could be alone. She doubted that either of them were aware that she had left.

  "Robert, you are safe. You are here!" Rebecca cried, taking a timid step in his direction.

  "Are you glad to see me?" he asked in a deep voice.

  "I shouldn't admit it, but yes, yes, Robert, I am very glad you are here."

  He took her hand and pulled her into his arms. "I made myself a promise some time back that if I were ever fortunate enough to see you again, I wouldn't rest until you became my wife, funny face."

  Rebecca raised her face to Robert's and he kissed her softly. He quickly broke off the kiss and smiled down at her. "I am glad to see you, funny face," he said softly.

  "I have waited a long time for you to admit that you love me, Robert. You just asked me to marry you, but I didn't hear you say anything about love."

  He lightly thumped her nose. "I love you, funny face. Yours is the first face I want to see when I get up in the morning and the last I want to see at night. Will you marry me, Rebecca?"

  Her dark eyes lit with happiness. "We will have to get Lucas' approval."

  Robert kissed the tip of her nose. "You just leave your brother to me. He will probably think I am doing him a favor by taking you off his hands."

  She giggled delightedly. "That may very well be, but you are never going to get me off your hands."

  He drew her tightly against him. "As if I would want to. Even now I am anxious to have you tied to me by marriage. I will ask Lucas for your hand as soon as possible."

  The enamored pair kissed, both glorying in their newly confessed love.

  Season saw that the door to the library was ajar, so she wandered into the room. There were bookshelves all the way to the ceiling, so she walked along a wall, looking at book titles. The afternoon had turned quite chilly, and she noticed there was a warm fire burning in the marble fireplace. It made the room warm and inviting.

  "Do you perhaps read, my lady?"

  Season jumped guiltily as if she had been caught doing something wrong. "I. . . yes. I know it isn't considered fashionable for a woman to read, but my brain would go stale if I were denied the privilege of reading."

  She looked into Lucas Carrington's golden eyes and saw amusement there. She didn't think what she had said was particularly amusing. "I apologize for coming into your sanctuary uninvited. When my father was home, I was never permitted in the library unless he summoned me."

  "That rule does not hold true here at Rosemont, my lady. You are welcome in this room, or in any other room you choose to enter."

  "I find myself in your debt, Mr. Carrington."

  "Not at all, my lady," he said, bowing gallantly.

  "There is yet another favor I would ask of you, sir. You and your sister have been so kind to me, would you think it unseemly if we were to be on a first-name basis? I would hope that you might call me Season. 'My lady' seems so stuffy and formal." In truth, when Lucas Carrington called her "my lady," it reminded her too much of The Raven.

  Amusement laced his golden gaze. "Done, Season. Now I would ask
a boon of you."

  She smiled prettily, as if she knew what was on his mind. "Yes, Mr. Carrington?"

  "I would deem it an honor if you would call me Lucas. Dare I hope that you will do that."

  "Done, Lucas."

  "What kind of books do you prefer to read, Season?"

  "I find I have an insatiable appetite for almost any reading matter, although I admit to being a romantic at heart. Your library is quite extensive. It's much larger than the one at Chats worth."

  "Do you still miss your home? I remember when we talked at the ball, you were homesick."

  "I…so much has happened since then, Mr.— Lucas. I don't really know where my home is."

  His brilliant eyes glinted. "I hope you will think of Rosemont as your home."

  "It is a very lovely home. You live very graciously, Lucas, but I do not belong here. What will become of me?"

  Lucas took her hand and led her over to the sofa. "You have but to tell me what your wish is, and I will try to fulfill it, Season. Should you wish to return to England, I will arrange it. Should you prefer to return to New York, I will immediately send word to Edmund that you are staying with me. I feel sure he would come to Rosemont as soon as he could get away."

  Season shook her head. "Poor Edmund, I had almost forgotten about him."

  Lucas took her hand. "If it is your wish, you are welcome to remain at Rosemont until you are stronger and can decide what you want to do."

  "Why are you being so kind to me, Lucas?"

  He was quiet for a moment, as if trying to decide how to answer her. "Perhaps I feel responsible for you. Let's say that I would like to make up to you for what a fellow countryman has caused you to suffer."

  "I don't know how you can say that. I most certainly do not hold you responsible for what has happened to me. I hold no one to blame."

  "Not even The Raven?"

  "Him least of all."

  Lucas' eyes narrowed. "You have every reason to hate that man, and yet I get the feeling you do not. You must be a very forgiving woman, Season."