“I shall do so, at once, my lady.” The butler offered his handkerchief and bowed.
“Thank you.” She sniffed. “That will be all.”
On his way out, Cara almost knocked him to the ground, but Banks never lost his composure, and how Elaine envied his fortitude.
“Tea, please,” Cara said to Banks. “And scones with some of cook’s clotted cream.”
“Yes, your ladyship.” The manservant dipped his chin and shut the door behind him, and Elaine braced for copious outpourings of sympathy.
“Oh, Elaine, I am so sorry.” As would a friend, Cara offered solace and a shoulder upon which to cry, as she sat beside Elaine. “And Lance will pay for his part in the ruse.”
“It is not his fault.” She buried her face in her hands, as another deluge of misery overtook her. “I should have known Ross did not want me, in truth, but I did so wish to believe in him.”
“But he is blameless, as Lance admitted Ross wanted to apprise you of their plot, but Lance forbade it.” With a humph, Cara cradled Elaine’s head and rocked. “I know it hurts, and my husband will rue his decision to keep a secret from me, if that gives you any satisfaction, but do not let that stop you from marrying the man you want.”
“What?” Elaine sat upright and wiped her eyes and nose. “You think I should hold Ross to a proposal he never intended to extend?”
“Yes, I do.” As Elaine made to protest, Cara silenced her with an upraised finger. “Hear me out, as I know too well the dilemma you confront, but I wager the circumstances were not quite so dire as mine.”
“I do not understand.” Now Elaine was well and truly flummoxed, and everything inside her railed against Cara’s advice. “I know Lance offered for you, in earnest, but you refused him. Thus our positions could not be more divergent.”
“You know that I gave my maidenhead to him prior to taking vows, so I will not attempt to deny that. But if you will indulge me, I would like to share some very personal details, that I might spare you a similar miscalculation.” When Elaine nodded, Cara continued. “It was during Lance’s recuperation from his broken leg that I took him in his bed. Of my own free will, I locked his door, I took off my clothes, I climbed between the sheets, I straddled his hips, and I claimed him as my own. I know it is shocking, but he wallowed in anger mixed with self-pity, as the injury exhausted his store of patience, and I yielded to his anguish in a moment of weakness. He was wounded and helpless, and he did not fight me. Yet I cannot indict him, as I did what I did out of love. In some respects, I probably loved him from birth, as I cannot remember a time when he did not own my heart. But after the consummation, he couched a proposal in a lecture on honor and duty. Choking on pride, I refused him and set us on a course of near disastrous consequences.”
“But things worked out, in the end, and you are happy.” Confused and hurt, Elaine could not make sense of Cara’s conversation. “And what has any of that to do with me?”
“It has everything to do with you, because you are about to make the same mistake.” Cara averted her stare. “I know the torment gnawing at your gut, and the doubt plaguing your every move. I understand the agonizing reflection on each exchange, as you seize upon the most trivial scrap of hope to convince yourself you were not wrong in your campaign. You question his actions, his words, his motivations, and his sincerity, to say the least. But you never second-guess yourself and your commitment to him, and that is why you should marry Ross.”
“But I am frightened.” The sorrow, soul deep as a merciless plague, seeped into her flesh, leaving nothing unscathed in its path, and Elaine vented another pitiful sob.
“Of course, you are frightened, and that is normal.” How Elaine envied Cara, as she seemed so sure of her counsel, and that gave Elaine a measure of renewed confidence. “Just do not let your fears dictate your response, because you may never recover, and that is a shame, given Sir Ross cares for you.”
“But not enough to court me, in earnest.” And that fact manifested a seemingly insurmountable hurdle to which Elaine could not reconcile herself.
“What man willingly engages in the honorable pursuit?” Even as Cara chuckled, Elaine could not make peace with Ross’s betrayal, and it was a betrayal. “Despite his affection for me, which I do not question, Lance did not initiate the chase until I declined his offer of marriage, and in his mind he did it out of some misplaced sense of chivalry. Do not give Ross too much credit, because men are ignorant when it comes to their heart.”
“You would have me marry for less than love?” The mere idea repulsed Elaine, and she shoved from the sofa. Pacing before the hearth, she heaved a sigh. “Have we not always prided ourselves on reaching for something more than the usual social arrangement devoid of romantic attachments? Am I to abandon my standards, and those of our ancestors, on a whim?”
“No.” Shaking her head, Cara came to stand by Elaine. “Rather, I encourage you to fight for your man. If you want him, if you believe he is fated to be yours, then go after him. Seize him, and never look back. Yes, he blundered. But do not punish him to the extent that you doom yourself to a future without your true mate.” She grasped Elaine by the forearms. “Think it over, have courage, and you will see I am right.”
For a few minutes, Elaine mulled her options, none of which inspired confidence. At last, she settled on a course of action that could ultimately destroy her if she failed to achieve her objective. “I do not need to think on it, as I have made my decision.”
#
“Well, I believe we have covered all the necessary aspects.” After setting his pen on the blotter, Lance pushed from his desk, and Ross breathed a sigh of relief. “Now we need only convince Elaine to accept your proposal, as she is ruined, and you are her lone option. Without a union to excuse her behavior and restore her reputation, society will label her a fallen woman, and no one will have her, so she must marry you.”
To his infinite regret, Ross suspected that was much easier said than done, as he perused the contract that would bind him to Elaine for eternity. “What do you suppose are the odds that she will forgive me?”
“About as good as those that my wife will absolve me of my lapse in judgment.” Shaking his head, Lance stood by the window and gazed at the sky. “I owe you an apology, as you were right. We should have informed the ladies of our plan.”
Ross was not one to gloat. “Lord Raynesford—”
“Please, call me Lance, as we are to be family.” The marquess shrugged. “Well, I hope we are to be family.”
In silence, Ross considered the prospect of belonging to such an estimable group. The Brethren of the Coast existed in the realm of lore among the military ranks. Daring naval captains descended from the Templars, the warriors of the crusades, the seamen had long served the Crown in secret, and only a scarce few, among which he counted himself, knew of their true identities. He was not sure what intimidated him most, the Nautionnier Knights or Elaine.
“What will you do if she rejects my suit?” The possibility terrified Ross, as he could not lose her.
“Send her to the country, where she will live out her days in isolation.” With a haphazard tone, the marquess pronounced Elaine’s sentence, and Ross wanted to drag her, kicking and screaming, if necessary, to the altar. “I never should have attempted a courtship, as I am no expert when it comes to women.”
“Who could claim such knowledge, when the ladies defy reason and logic?” Lance raked his fingers through his hair. “Which is why I have never kept secrets from my wife.”
“A sensible practice, given you promised to love, honor, and obey, or did you conveniently forget your vows?” Ross peered over his shoulder and discovered Cara standing in the doorway. “And I pledged to be your partner in all enterprises, but I cannot keep my word when you break yours.”
“I plead temporary insanity.” Despite Ross’s presence, Lance all but ran to his wife, but she halted him with an upraised hand. “Cara, I am so sorry, sweetheart. I never meant to hurt you.
As god is my witness, I only thought of guarding Elaine.”
“Yet that does not lessen the sting of your offense. And Elaine is not entirely convinced she is in danger, but that is beside the point.” She thrust a piece of parchment at her husband. “Here is a list of requirements for the wedding.”
“She has accepted me?” In shock, Ross almost swallowed his tongue, as he wondered why Elaine changed her mind.
“Indeed, and I hope you will not make her regret it.” Then the usually poised marchioness caught her husband in her sights. “And I promised Elaine you would pay for her trousseau, as it is the least you can do after the mess you made of her engagement.”
“But she has an ample inheritance.” In seconds, Lance perused the items and frowned. “Bloody hell, are you trying to bankrupt the marquisate? This will cost a small fortune.”
“Which is why I told her money is no object, when she protested, and I assured her that you would be unfailing in your generosity.” The marchioness loomed as a powerful adversary. “Or do you wish to deal with me, here and now?”
“Of course not, my lady.” The marquess tugged at his cravat and cleared his throat, and so Lance fell as a large timber newly cut at the base, and Ross averted his stare. “You are, as always, very wise, and I would do well to follow your example.”
“May I speak with Lady Elaine?” Ross inquired.
“No, you may not.” He winced at Cara’s curt response. “Understandably, she is upset and requires a period of recovery. I sent her to her room to rest for tonight.”
“What is tonight?” With a sheepish expression, Lance glanced at Ross. “Did I forget something?”
“We are hosting an impromptu dinner to announce Elaine and Ross’s impending nuptials to the family, prior to publication of the official notice in The Times. I have already dispatched the invitations, and I hereby command you to present yourself at the appropriate time, in your best formalwear, sans complaint.” To Ross, she said, “And I expect you to be an attentive and appreciative fiancé, because I shall be moved to violence if she sheds another tear during what is typically a celebratory milestone in the life of a young lady.” In a rush of high dudgeon, the marchioness whirled about and dashed for the door, with her husband on her heels, when she drew up short. “Do not follow me, as I am angry with you, and I wish to be alone. Perhaps this afternoon you can join me in the nursery and spend an hour with our children, as it appears you need a reminder that you are part of something more than yourself. And if you ever again hurt Elaine—either of you, know that you will answer to me and the full compliment of Brethren wives.”
Given her fury, Ross gulped, as the estimable noblewoman had just put him on notice, and it was nothing less than he deserved. When she slammed shut the oak panel, he actually flinched. What had he done? In a brief moment in time, in the blink of an eye, he surrendered strength and honor, longstanding hallmarks of his character, to capture something he desired. And in that lapse of judgment, he destroyed a beautiful and pure creature he esteemed.
“I know it is not yet noon, but I need a drink, and I wager you could use one, too.” Lance filled two brandy balloons and passed a glass to Ross. “We are both in trouble.”
“You know, I have seen the ravages of war, the brutality of torture, and the hideous mayhem of espionage.” Ross downed a healthy portion of the amber intoxicant. “But nothing frightened me more than what I just witnessed.”
“Indeed.” Lance shuddered. “And never have I seen my wife so cross, which means I need to visit the hothouse, the candy maker, the perfumery, and the jeweler, before I report for duty in the nursery.”
“May I accompany you on your errands?” Composing a mental inventory of purchases intended to smooth ruffled feathers, Ross drained his glass and set the crystal on a table. “Given my blunders, I must pay homage.”
“That is advisable.” As they strolled into the hall, Lance chucked Ross’s shoulder. In the foyer, the marquess signaled the butler. “Banks, have the carriage readied, as we depart, at once. And send word to Admiral Douglas that I will not attend the usual gathering at White’s, as I am needed at home.”
“Yes, my lord.” The proper manservant dipped his chin and hurried to convey the orders.
“So what is Elaine’s favorite scent?” For a man in his thirties, Ross likened himself to a green lad of eight and ten, given his ignorance of romance. “And what should I prepare to confront at dinner?”
“She is partial to lavender water, and if history is any guide, you will endure a concerted siege.” Waggling his brows, Lance chuckled. “Actually, this could be quite amusing—for me.”
“Very funny.” Peering up the staircase, Ross half-anticipated to glimpse Elaine lurking in the shadows, but he spied no sign of her. “Any recommended method of defense?”
Lance snickered. “Have you a suit of armor?”
to catch a fallen spy
chapter seven
The stenciled ceiling in the chasmal Raynesford dining room framed an intricate Egyptian scene from the Battle of Megiddo, the centerpiece of which boasted the victorious Pharaoh Tuthmosis III riding a resplendent chariot amid his twenty-two thousand soldiers in a glorious defeat of the Syrians. Beneath the Venetian cut-glass and ormolu chandeliers, another conflict commenced, the outcome of which could save or destroy Elaine.
At least, that is how she viewed the situation.
The box of Belgian chocolate truffles, the fall bouquet of roses mixed with mums, the bottle of lavender water, the ornate Capodimonte trinket box, and the diamond and sapphire bracelet, which arrived at equally spaced intervals, signaled Ross’s launch of a new campaign, and she prayed he was in earnest, as she could not bear another disappointment. Lucky for her, the cards accompanying the gifts bore identical entreaties:
Please, forgive me.
Forever Yours,
Ross
However, it would take more than a few expensive presents to quell her reservations where he was concerned. The cause of her internal unrest sat to her right, as informal and private family gatherings never bowed to social conventions. At one end of the massive table, Admiral Douglas loomed as the venerable patriarch of the Brethren, while Lance occupied the other position of prominence, with Cara to his immediate left. And although the couple often held hands, a noticeable chill pervaded their exchanges, which saddened Elaine.
“Are you ever going to look at me, tonight?” Sheltered by the linen tablecloth, Ross toyed with the expensive bauble, one of his offerings, which decorated her wrist.
“I have not decided.” Not for a minute would she admit she chose her gown to compliment the gems. She traced the edge of the colorful Sèvres plate, which bore an untouched portion of a Banbury cake, as her appetite had dwindled to naught, and jumped, when he teased her heated palm. “Thank you, for everything. It was kind of you to think of me.”
“Must confess I have thought of nothing else since the hurtful events of this morning, which I regret more than I can say.” Did he have to be so bloody polite? When he leaned near, she inhaled his signature sandalwood scent, and gooseflesh covered her from head to toe. “You must know how terrible I feel about what happened.”
“This is neither the time nor the place to discuss it.” Yet she would give anything to enact a row. “But I am sorry you are obliged to offer for my hand, in light of your disingenuous courtship.” No, she could not resist reminding him of his slight. “Whatever happens, I pledge to do credit to your good name.”
“My dear, you have it backwards.” How his baritone worked on her nerves, calming the frayed edges. “Your mere acceptance of my proposal does me a great honor, and I can only hope to deserve you.”
At that point, she met his stare, and what she spied in his amber gaze shook her to her core, but fear gnawed at her confidence. “I know not how to believe you.”
“Just give me a chance to make amends.” Ross twined his fingers in hers. “That is all I ask.”
“Excuse me, everyone.”
Lance tapped a spoon to his wine glass, and the family quieted. “I suppose you have some idea why Cara and I convened you.”
“Given Logan’s presence, it is not difficult to guess.” Blake rested an arm along the back of Lenore’s chair and snorted. “Just stem the tide and give us the date and time.”
A chorus of concurrence erupted, and Lance rolled his eyes. “Oh, all right. Elaine and Ross are to wed, Thursday next, in the afternoon, here at Raynesford House.”
Another rousing cheer rocked the chamber, and the Brethren wives hauled Elaine from her seat.
“I am so thrilled for you.” Sabrina sniffed.
“What wonderful news.” Alex hugged Elaine and whispered, “I knew it would work out for you.”
“I wish you great joy.” Caroline kissed Elaine’s cheek. “And I know you will be a marvelous couple.”
At her side, the Nautionnier Knights converged on Ross, and they had some painfully familiar sentiments to express, which harkened to the night of Harris’s murder.
“Congratulations, Ross.” Dalton scored the first hit. “Even though you had no such understanding with Lady Elaine.”
“Indeed, it is a fortuitous development.” Everett chucked Ross on the arm. “Given you had no intention of taking a wife.”
“And you seem remarkably fit.” In an uncharacteristic show of dramatic flair, Jason hugged Ross. “As it is clear you opted for beaten, battered, and bruised.”
“But it remains to be seen if he is wiser.” George shared a vigorous handshake with her husband-to-be. “As he gave us his word as a knight in His Majesty’s service that there was nothing between him and Elaine.”
In that instant, Elaine faltered, and tears threatened to reveal that all was not as it appeared. While her future spouse remained stoic, she wanted to scream.
“Ladies, let us repair to the drawing room and tea and leave the men to their brandy and cigars.” Rebecca, always so intuitive, ushered Elaine into the hall. In a low voice, she said, “Whatever you do, do not cry, as our husbands will skewer Ross.”
To Catch A Fallen Spy (Brethren of the Coast Book 8) Page 8