Beyond the Duke's Domain: Ducal Encounters Series 4 Book 4 Page 6

  ‘I can quite understand why.’

  ‘Besides, there will be little peace and quiet to be had once I go up to the nursery,’ she added, smiling. ‘I will show you the hidden trout lake sometime, then you will understand what I find so alluring about this estate.’

  ‘I already have a fair idea,’ Raph replied, attempting not to frown when he thought of the closeness he’d detected between his sister and the duke’s brother.

  ‘It makes the war seem very distant,’ she said. ‘I know it took me a long time to adjust and to stop looking over my shoulder. I couldn’t understand why these elegant people seemed to think only of their own pleasures when so much destruction and unrest had been endured in the rest of Europe.’

  ‘Life goes on.’ Raph squeezed his sister’s hand. ‘I am riding with the duke and your Lord Amos this morning, so I shall see some of the estate for myself.’

  ‘About Captain Cutler,’ Ariana said, biting her lip. ‘I won’t let you exclude me from the hunt.’ She held up a hand when he tried to interrupt her. ‘You admitted to feeling guilty for leaving us, which is unnecessary but understandable.’

  ‘You went through so much alone.’ Raph shook his head. ‘I am full of admiration for your courage and still find it hard to believe that you found the strength of will from somewhere to overcome so many obstacles.’

  ‘It was more a case of my determination to protect Martina. Anyway, my point is that I need to see that terrible man brought to justice. We were rescued, more by luck than judgement, and so were the rest of the girls that were brought in with us. But many more were not, and I lay awake at nights sometimes wondering what the poor souls must be going through. I need my revenge—on their behalf as well as mine and Martina’s—and I will have it with or without your cooperation.’

  ‘I will tell Lord Romsey how you feel, I promise.’ Raph wanted to shout at her, to tell her that it would be impossible and far too dangerous for Ariana to involve herself, even though he understood her determination. Having found her, he had no intention of letting her do anything to risk her reputation, her virtue, or her life. But he knew that his sister had, through necessity, become fiercely independent and that the situation called for a delicate hand. Besides, he felt assured that Lord Romsey would take his side and exclude Ariana from the hunt. ‘The final decision is Lord Romsey’s.’

  ‘Is it now?’ Ariana asked, her eyes gleaming with fierce determination.

  Raph laughed and shook his head. ‘I like the person circumstances have turned you into,’ he said. ‘Most of the time.’

  ‘Come on. Breakfast will be set. I’ll show you where, but then I must be in the nursery.’

  ‘You must eat too.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me. I am never hungry at this time of the day.’

  Ariana left him at the door to the breakfast parlour. The duke and Lord Amos were already seated at the table in shirtsleeves, and greeted him affably. They spoke of nothing specific and an hour later, once Lord Vincent had joined them, the four men set off on horseback with the duke’s dogs running alongside.

  Raph was astonished when he discovered the full extent of the estate, acre upon well-tended acre. It was impossible for them to cover the grounds in one ride, and all of it was untouched by the ravages of war. Raph tried not to feel resentful.

  It was the first time that he had ridden Hurricane in company and he wondered if the horse would remember his manners or take it upon himself to show off. It could go either way. In the event, his fellow equestrians rode equally spirited mounts. Hurricane appeared to realise that he had met his match, and his behaviour was impeccable.

  Their ride finished in the village that Raph had ridden through the previous day—Shawford. They left their horses in the mews and made their way into the tavern’s taproom, where the duke and his brothers were greeted with deferential informality. They were clearly regular customers, as evidenced by the duke’s dogs, who flopped down on the boarded floor, exhausted after their long run. The locals more or less ignored them, clearly aware that this was neither the time nor the place to force their company upon the most influential landowner in the district. Not so the rather pretty barmaid, who eyed Raph with speculative interest.

  ‘Senor Sanchez-Gomez is our guest, Martha, so remember your manners,’ the duke chided, winking at her.

  ‘You know me, your grace,’ she replied with a saucy smile. ‘Always well-mannered and obliging, so I am.’

  Lord Vincent rolled his eyes. ‘Of course you are.’

  ‘Watch her,’ Lord Amos advised, as the men carried their tankards to a table by the window. ‘She will eat you alive, given half the chance.’

  ‘Ask any of us if you doubt it,’ Lord Vince added. ‘She took it upon herself to educate us all in turn as we came of age and clearly hasn’t lost her taste for the erotic.’

  Raph smiled. ‘I consider myself duly warned.’

  ‘Decent drop of ale this,’ the duke remarked. ‘Just what’s needed after a few hours in the saddle.’

  Raph felt drawn in by the affability of the elegant gentlemen who had so generously taken his sisters under their wing. Two hours in their company had reassured him about their honourable intentions, but Ariana’s feelings and her plans for the future were a hurdle that would have to be overcome. He ought not to have broached the subject the previous night, and he would now bide his time and give her an opportunity to adjust to his reappearance in her life.

  He wanted her to return to Spain with him, but had he forfeited the right to insist? To ask, even? She had made a life for herself here, with which she appeared to be content, but he didn’t like to think of his well-born sister working as a governess. The position was beneath her. Besides, it was beyond time that she was married, and preferably to a Spaniard who was worthy of her. Raph found himself in the position of being head of a family of two, unsure if his authority would be respected.

  Unsure if he had any right to assume that it should be.

  After two tankards of ale they reclaimed their horses and rode back to the Park. As they trotted up the long driveway, the duke drew rein and the rest of them followed suit when they noticed a striking young woman in a red habit cantering a black Arabian around the schooling ring under the watchful eye of Cal Harrison.

  ‘It looks as though Lucy has been given access to her gift a day early,’ Lord Amos said, shading his eyes with his hand to gain a better view.

  Lucy was Miss Boyd, Raph remembered. He had noticed her the previous day, despite being introduced to so many strangers that he had struggled to recall who was who. ‘She is a very accomplished horsewoman,’ he said.

  ‘Apparently so,’ Lord Amos replied. ‘I expressed concerns to Cal about her ability to control that creature, but he assured me she could do it. Seems he was in the right of it. I should know better than to question his decisions by now.’

  They rode on, left their horses with the grooms who came to take them and joined Cal at the schooling ring. Lucy saw them and raised a hand as she slowed to a trot and then a walk.

  ‘He is magnificent!’ she said, her vibrant blue eyes shining with obvious pleasure, even though the plume on her hat had fallen across her face, partially concealing the eyes in question. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked dazzling in her scarlet habit, sitting erect on the back of an equally striking horse. Raph looked away, liking what he saw a little too much. His life was complicated enough without distractions of that nature.

  Miss Boyd slipped from the saddle and landed softly on her feet. She threw her arms around Cal’s neck. ‘Thank you so much!’ she said.

  Chapter Five

  ‘It looks as if Clarence and Anna have arrived,’ Zach said, nodding towards a familiar conveyance that had just been driven into the carriage house. His dogs barked in agreement, making them all smile.

  ‘Did you meet our sister while you were in London?’ Amos asked their guest.

  ‘I met a number of ladies and gentlemen, but unless my memory fails me
I did not have the pleasure of making Lady Romsey’s acquaintance. I saw only Lord Romsey and a succession of other government officials, and met a few ladies at a reception I was required to attend.’

  ‘You would have remembered Anna If you’d met her,’ Amos assured him with a grin.

  ‘There’s no way to prepare you for the force of nature that is our sister,’ Vince added. ‘Brace yourself.’

  Zach noticed the young Spaniard glance dubiously down at his attire. ‘Don’t think of changing for now,’ he told him, waving aside his concerns. ‘The ladies will make allowances.’

  They entered the house through a side door that Faraday opened for them. ‘Lord and Lady Romsey have just arrived, your grace, and are in the drawing room with her grace.’

  ‘Thank you, Faraday.’

  Zach could hear his sister’s melodic voice running on in her customary manner before they reached the threshold of the room in question. Rolling his eyes, Zach opened the door and couldn’t help smiling when Anna ran up to him, just as she had when they were children and he arrived back at the Park from school. Marriage to a diplomat whom she claimed took life far too seriously, and motherhood three times over, had done nothing to temper her exuberance.

  ‘Steady!’ Zach placed his hands on her shoulders to prevent her from bowling him over.

  ‘It’s so lovely to see you, Zach, even if you have brought the smell of horses into Frankie’s drawing room. And you two, as well,’ she added, transferring her attention to Amos and Vince. ‘I swear your appearances improve with age, whereas we ladies fall into decline every time we notice a new wrinkle. It is most unfair, is it not, Frankie?’

  Frankie laughed. ‘The entire world knows that the male of the species is always dealt a better hand.’

  ‘How are you doing, Anna?’ Zach asked.

  ‘Oh, increasing again,’ she said with a careless flap of one hand. ‘Clarence was reluctant to become a father at first but now seems to have acquired a taste for the responsibility.’

  If Anna realised she was speaking indelicately in front of a stranger, it did nothing to stem the flow of words that spilled from her lips. Zach glanced at Clarence, who responded with a casual shrug, accustomed to the candid manner in which Anna expressed herself. He had never, to Zach’s knowledge, tried to curb her impetuosity. He must realise that infuriating though she could sometimes be, attempting to turn Anna into something she was not would be akin to clipping a wild bird’s wings.

  Zach caught sight of Frankie’s expression in the periphery of his vision. It had closed down, which worried Zach. Surely she didn’t resent Anna’s happy news. She was unable to have more children herself, but she had already given Zach three sons and a delightful daughter. Their family was complete and Zach was spared the agony of living through any more of Frankie’s confinements, petrified that the next one would claim his wife’s life.

  No, she didn’t resent Anna, he was absolutely sure of it. Something else must be worrying her, reinforcing his recent concerns about her being withdrawn.

  ‘Congratulations,’ Amos said, shaking Clarence’s hand. His voice recalled Zach from his reverie. He too congratulated Clarence and kissed Anna’s cheek.

  ‘Thank you.’ He paused. ‘I think. Sanchez-Gomez, good to see you here.’ Clarence offered the Spaniard his hand. ‘May I introduce my wife, Lady Romsey?’

  Anna smiled as she transferred her full attention to their visitor. ‘At last!’ she said, submitting their guest to a prolonged scrutiny that somehow failed to be insulting, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘I would have known that you were related to Ariana even before we were introduced. The family likeness is remarkable. I dare say you are delighted to be reunited with your sisters. I know that I would—’

  ‘Let the poor man get a word in edgeways, Anna,’ Clarence said in a tone of mild rebuke.

  ‘Sorry.’ Anna flashed a wry smile. ‘I do tend to be verbose. Ask anyone. It’s one of my worst faults.’

  ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Romsey,’ Raph said, bowing over her hand.

  ‘Did you enjoy your ride?’ Frankie asked him.

  ‘Very much, your grace.’ Raphael transferred his smile to Frankie. ‘The gentlemen were most hospitable and generous with their time.’

  ‘In other words, you ended up in one of the taverns,’ Anna said. ‘Have you told your guest about the feud, Zach? The two local villages, Shawford and Compton,’ Anna continued without pausing for long enough to allow Zach to respond, ‘claim joint ownership of this family. I know, it’s ridiculous,’ she added in response to Raphael’s raised eyebrow, ‘but there you have it. If you went to the Crown in Shawford today then you must be sure to visit the Plough in Compton within the next few days, otherwise the villagers will think you have slighted them. They will take offence and make your life uncomfortable.’

  ‘Anna!’ Clarence said, a little more forcibly this time.

  Frankie smiled. ‘Come and sit with me Anna, and allow the gentlemen to catch their breath. Why is this the first I am hearing about an addition to your family?’ she added, as the gentlemen seated themselves and Faraday provided them with tea.

  ‘I have only just had it confirmed,’ Anna replied, helping Frankie to pass the cups round.

  ‘Well then, we shall have a double reason to celebrate tomorrow,’ Frankie said.

  Zach thought he saw a hint of sadness flicker momentarily through Frankie’s expression, reinforcing his concerns. The complication with her last confinement had almost claimed her life, and definitely shaved a few years off of Zach’s. They had never discussed Frankie’s inability to bear him more children. He had assumed that she was resigned to her situation.

  Now she had given him cause to wonder.

  ‘Was that Lucy I saw in the schooling ring as we drove in just now?’ Anna asked. ‘She was wearing a rather fetching red habit and looking very much at home on a black horse.’

  ‘Her birthday gift from Cal,’ Frankie said. ‘She is very excited about it.’

  ‘She will be nineteen.’ Anna threw her head back and sighed. ‘It’s so long ago for me that I can scarce recall it. I declare, I feel positively ancient these days.’

  ‘Fishing for compliments, my dear?’ Clarence asked with an indolent smile.

  ‘Ha! I know very well that your mind will be above such trivialities now that you are here with my brothers, especially if you have something you are aching to discuss with them.’

  ‘Perceptive as always,’ Clarence replied, ‘but you know very well that I am more than capable of doing several things at once.’

  ‘They say men are hopeless in that regard, so Clarence must be the exception that proves the rule.’ Anna’s smile lit up the room. ‘Anyway, Frankie, it is so nice to be here. I hope that my bringing the children along won’t create problems. I said that they would not come, and you were unprepared for the invasion.’

  ‘What’s three more?’ Zach asked, grinning.

  ‘They adore being with their cousins,’ Anna said, ‘and since I suspect that Clarence’s business here will take more than the day or two he predicted, it seemed like the best answer. The little monsters drive me demented, but I can’t seem to help missing them when we are parted for any length of time. Besides, Michael will be off to school at the end of the summer. It hardly seems credible, but there you have it. It seems brutal to send such young children away from all that’s familiar to them.’

  ‘It didn’t do us any harm,’ Vince pointed out. ‘In fact, we thrived on it.’

  ‘Because Zach was there first to pave the way for the rest of you, I expect. Poor Michael will be the first of the next generation.’

  ‘Josh and Leo are champing at the bit to join him,’ Amos said, ‘and you know as well as I do that it’s a rite of passage which has to be endured.’

  Anna pouted. ‘I suppose you are right.’

  ‘Will you excuse us, ladies?’ Zach asked, putting his empty cup aside.

  ‘Of course.’ F
rankie looked up and smiled at Zach. ‘Nia and Martina will be here momentarily, and we shall be perfectly comfortable talking about you all.’

  Zach laughed. ‘I don’t doubt it for a moment.’ With Marley and Mungo at his heels, he led the way into his library. The dogs flopped down on the rug in front of the fireplace, despite the fact that the warm weather negated the need for a blaze, and appeared to fall asleep immediately. Zach watched them with a smile. He had grown fond of them and they were proving remarkably loyal, but he still missed his old wolfhounds, Phantom and Phineas.

  He and his young hounds had assumed the dukedom together, and they had been there as a constant source of comfort as Zach found his feet. The shapes of their bodies were imprinted into the old rug in front of the fire; a rug that Zach had forbidden Frankie to replace. Ordinarily, a duke couldn’t afford to be sentimental or show weaknesses of any sort, but when it came to his dogs, Zach was happy to make an exception.

  ‘I apologise for my wife,’ Clarence said, smiling at Raph. ‘She says what is on her mind, without always stopping to consider the ramifications.’

  ‘No apologies are necessary,’ their guest assured Clarence as he took a chair and leaned down to scratch Mungo’s ears. ‘She is charming.’

  ‘Happily, marriage and responsibility have not quelled her spirit,’ Amos added. ‘She tested our patience as children, always insisting upon tagging along behind us boys and not expecting any quarter to be given when she joined in our games, but we wouldn’t have her any other way.’

  ‘We did try to warn you what you would be taking on, Clarence,’ Vince added, ‘but I can’t help thinking that Anna chose the only man in the country who would find a way to…how should I put it…?’ Vince grinned as he tapped the fingers of one hand against his lips. ‘Curtail her exuberance without destroying her spirit,’ he finished.

  ‘Having assured ourselves of your domestic felicity, Clarence, perhaps you’d care to enlighten us as to the reason for this visit,’ Zach said, seating himself and stretching his booted feet out in front of him. ‘We know that you and Sanchez-Gomez have been closeted together in Whitehall this past week. The poor man probably thought he’d done his duty by the time he extricated himself from the claws of the Spanish diplomatic service, but now he finds himself caught up in your web of intrigue.’