Wade’s face revealed a range of emotions. “My lady, your thoughtfulness humbles me, but you are a lady and I am...”
“You are my friend,” she told him. “Or at least, you can be if you wish to be.”
Wade’s eyes shined. “Well, it is not up to me. My responsibility—”
“Is to keep an eye on Lady Elisa.” The general stood and for the first time that day, he looked neither angry nor guarded. “If you wish to learn to read during that time, it is your decision, but note… I want you to learn to read, Victor.” He used the soldier’s first name. “You’re a smart man with a quick mind. I wish to see you excel and who knows.” The general grinned slightly. “Perhaps, one day you’ll be wiser than me.”
“Never.” Wade looked embarrassed by the very thought, but he relaxed under the praise and fatherly warmth his leader offered. He even smiled. “I would like to learn to read,” he told Elisa.
Unable to stop herself, she gave Wade a hug. Then she quickly stepped away. “Oh, this is wonderful.”
“There are others who cannot read,” Astger said. “A few grasp the concept, but—”
“I wish to teach them all,” Elisa said quickly. She could hardly wait.
“Then you shall.” Astger turned to Wade. “I’ll be back soon. Watch after her.”
“With my life.” Wade grinned.
∫ ∫ ∫
1 0
* * *
Nicholas greeted Dr. Christian Sparrow when he arrived at Brean Castle a week later.
“How is she?” Sparrow was never one to waste time. Though Sparrow was the youngest doctor Nicholas knew, he believed he might also be the sharpest. His mind worked differently than most doctors in England.
The young handsome lord, who encouraged all to address him by his profession, spoke five languages, three from places farther than Nicholas had ever traveled, and was more willing to try remedies and test theories that other doctors wouldn’t.
Because of his ingenuity, he’d kept Gregory, the former Duke of Van Dero, who’d been ill for over a decade, away from his death bed far longer than any other doctor believed possible.
His gray eyes held Nicholas’ as he waited rather impatiently for an answer. “Lord Cassius thought it best I come and see how she’s faring, but I have been warned to make this journey as quickly as possible.” Milly, Cassius’ wife, was with child and Cassius wanted Sparrow there just in case anything went wrong.
“I have no idea how Lady Elisa is doing,” Nick said. “I haven’t seen her since we’ve arrived. The only thing I can assure you of is that she’s alive.”
Sparrow grunted and turned his dark head away as he looked around the foyer’s vaulted ceilings, exposed sandstone walls, and tiled floor done in the earthy tones of brown, red, and orange. “I suppose her being alive is all we can hope for, given her state of mind.”
For some reason, the comment bothered Nick, though he told himself he had no reason or right to be offended on Elisa’s behalf. He’d said much the same to her in the carriage on the way to the castle.
It was the last conversation he’d had with Elisa, or rather the last time she’d bother to address him. He’d spoken to her upon their arrival, letting her know that she was to remain inside the keep at all times and had she any needs she was to speak to Astger.
She’d nodded and then turned away.
“Take me to her,” Sparrow said.
Nick called over one of the soldiers who were walking about. He’d noticed in the last few days he would see the same three faces and no others, though the men were supposed to be working in rotation.
But Nicholas would never question Astger on his strategy. “Take Dr. Sparrow to Lady Elisa.” Nick saw no reason to intrude on her… whatever it was she was doing. Astger’s reports always stated that the woman was calm and happy. Nick didn’t wish his presence to change that.
Sparrow left with the solider and as Nick turned to go back inside his gentlemen’s cabinet, he stopped to speak to another soldier he’d gotten to know in the last few days.
Dan. He was a tall older man whose family were genteel.
“Dan, why is it that few other men guard this hall?” Nick asked.
Dan frowned. “Astger said you can defend yourself. He said you’d enjoy it were danger to come your way. Shall I tell him you wish for more guards in the hall?”
Nick grinned. “No, that won’t be necessary. I don’t mean quantity. I mean that I rarely see any of the other men.”
Dan straightened. “I can read, my lord.”
Nick lifted a brow and waited.
Dan lowered his voice and leaned forward. “Others cannot.”
“Ah,” Nick said, still just as confused as before. “Well, carry on.” He went to his cabinet.
It was three hours before Sparrow returned.
Nick was in the middle of organizing a list of men who’d best fill the position to oversee logistics for another company the duke planned to acquire when Dr. Sparrow came in.
Nick lifted his head to look at the clock. He lowered his brows as Sparrow took the seat across from him. “It’s been three hours. Is she ill?”
“No.” Sparrow grinned. “She’s very well. In fact, I don’t think she’s ill at all.” He pointed to his head. “Though one encounter with the woman would be far too early to tell. I think I shall stay for the remainder of the week, maybe two, and find out for certain.”
Nick’s eyes widened. “You plan to stay a fortnight?”
“Does that inconvenience you?” Sparrow asked as he looked around the room, concentrating on a painting on the far wall. There wasn’t much to see in Nick’s office. The stone had been covered with plaster and white paint. The molding and mantelpiece on either side of the room matched. The carpet was green. It and the fire were the only true color in the room, which Nick found suited him well.
“You staying will be of no inconvenience. It will be good to have another person at the dining table,” Nick said.
Sparrow looked surprised. “The lady doesn’t join you?” The thought seemed to disagree with him. “Terrible.” Then he brightened. “Perhaps, I can convince her to join us, just while I’m here.”
“Hm.” Nick tapped his pen on his open book. “You’re taken with her, aren’t you? Don’t be fooled.”
Sparrow lifted his hands. “I know, she’s promised to another man. Astger told me.” He smiled. “But even still, I like her. I believe we could be friends.”
“Friends,” Nick repeated.
“Yes.”
“You don’t have female friends.” Nick leaned forward. “In fact, I was under the impression that you hated women.” Sparrow was known to be slightly bitter where women were concerned. He’d never told anyone why, but Nick thought it might have to do with a woman who’d done him wrong.
“Milly is my friend,” Sparrow said.
“Milly is everyone’s friend.” The woman had likely never met someone she didn’t admire at first sight.
Sparrow stood. “You look busy. I’ll leave you to it. I’ll see you at dinner.” He left before Nick could say anything else.
Nick tapped his pen on his book a few more times and then got up and rang the service bell.
A maid came.
“Go and ask General Astger to come to me.”
Astger showed a half-hour later.
Nick looked him over and noticed something he hadn’t picked up about the scarred gentleman before. There was a lightness in his step. A pleasantness in his expression even though he didn’t smile.
He seemed relaxed, which was quite the opposite of the man who’d asked Nick to take over his duties upon first meeting Elisa.
Perhaps, the general had assigned another to take over his duties and was avoiding Elisa just as much as Nick was.
Unfortunately, Astger didn’t have that option.
“Have you been watching our charge?” Nick asked.
“I was with her before you called me here.” Though relaxed, he still stoo
d like a solider. His hands were at his side. His chin at the perfect angle of someone used to giving commands.
“Truly? You were with Lady Elisa?” Nick moved and leaned on the front of his desk. “And how is she?”
“Well,” Astger said. There was a slight bend at the corner of his lips, but it fell swiftly.
Nick narrowed his gaze and wondered if he’d truly seen the smile. “And you’re getting along with her?”
“Yes.” The general was not one to expand on things.
Nick crossed his arms. “Why?”
Astger shifted on his feet. “What?”
“Why aren’t you enemies anymore?” Surely, Nick wasn’t the only man on this side of the war.
And he was definitely at war with Elisa, even if she didn’t know it.
Astger did smile then. “She wrote me a letter.”
“She wrote you,” Nick said.
“Yes, it was a very nice letter. I forgave her right after reading it. Well, not quite right after, but perhaps an hour later.”
Nick tilted his head. “So, she wrote you a letter and you forgave her.”
“Is there something you need, my lord?” Astger asked, slightly irritated. “I’m in the middle of a game.”
“A game?” Nick stood. “You’re supposed to be watching Lady Elisa.”
“Lady Elisa is who I am playing with, my lord,” the general said. “I’m doing my job. So, if you’ll excuse me—”
“I won’t excuse you.” Nick glared. “You’re playing games? What game are you playing?” He was not liking the sound of any of this.
“It’s a game she’s created for the men. Firstly— ”
“The men?” Nick scratched his head. “You’re allowing the soldiers to play with a lady?”
“She’s very kind,” Astger said. “Everything I thought about her was wrong.” The general looked truly upset by his thoughts, as though the past still haunted him. “She’s a good woman. Lovely, really.”
“You and your men do remember that she has an intended, don’t you?” There were a few other lords in the Equerry. Nick didn’t need any of them getting any ideas where Elisa was concerned.
Astger’s expression became cold. “Van Dero asked me to accompany you here because Lady Elisa needed protection. I am doing just that. If you have an issue with how I do it then you can write the duke.” Astger left.
Nick moved to the door, planning to follow, but stopped.
Astger was right. His assignment was to protect Elisa. She was alive. Sparrow had verified it. There was no reason for Nick to go and see as well.
Especially since they were avoiding one another.
Though he was curious about this game and now wished he’d allowed Astger to explain it at least. He’d cut the man off too soon.
The desire to know burned within him until he was crossing the threshold.
It was his property. He should know what was going on in his own home. That reasoning carried him into the hall and toward the noise that seemed to be coming from a music room.
∫ ∫ ∫
1 1
* * *
Elisa asked Matthew to start the music again. The young highwayman turned soldier began a steady one-two-three rhythm on the piano and the room filled with grins as the game began again.
“Ready?” she asked ten soldiers who’d decided to play.
They nodded their heads, keeping the tempo.
And when the music began at the top, she pointed to George. “H!”
“Hat!” he replied on the count.
“P!” she cried at the top of the count again.
“Potato!” Charles answered when her finger was directed at him.
“O!” Dr. Sparrow called to Wade from his seat next to Astger by the door. He was enjoying the game just as much as everyone else.
When he’d first arrived, the doctor had seemed cold. He’d told her he’d come to check on her health, but Elisa could tell he didn’t care if she were healthy or not. He seemed ready to go and Elisa had been ready to let him.
The good doctors she knew were very few. Often, the sight of them caused fear, but with Astger standing so close, Elisa was certain the general would not let harm come to her.
Astger had made the doctor wait until her initial lesson with the men was complete, but by the time she’d finished leading the men through a list of short words, Dr. Sparrow’s brooding expression had turned to a stunning smile.
“Orange!” Wade replied to the letter Dr. Sparrow had shouted.
The men were getting good at the game. The ones who’d been unable to read were only able to associate some letters with words. It would be a long time before they could read at the level of the other men in the company, but they were getting rather good.
Her new friend Astger kept a quick tally of everyone’s points, a smile on his face the entire time. He was very proud of his men.
Aside from Wade, the others had been forced to join her class.
She’d tried to make the lessons engaging and with little embarrassment, but when the men refused to relax, she’d thought of another idea.
She’d spilled ink on her dress.
And then she’d almost tripped over a chair.
Moments later, she’d slammed her hand in a book.
She’d put on a little show, embarrassing herself to make the men smile and show them that no one was perfect.
That she could read kept them from thinking her completely useless and that she’d continued to make them smile and laugh kept them in their chairs for longer.
The goal was that one day they could read the simple letter she’d written to them.
It would not happen in the short time she’d had with them, but one day they would, she and Astger believed.
The idea of the game had come after Matthew had offered to gift Elisa for all her hard work. His gift had been music. The song had been… not for the ears of a lady. However, Elisa hadn’t been able to keep herself from thinking how the tune could benefit the lessons.
And so it had begun. The competition had grown so intense that Astger was now offering a reward to the winner. The prize would be presented before Elisa left.
Strangely, she did not have the urge to leave as quickly as she had before.
After the way Nicholas had spoken to her in the carriage, she’d decided to run, to find a way to escape, but her mind had swiftly been changed by the men who sat before her and their friends who were scattered around the castle, protecting her from Lord Alguire.
Even at the sight of danger, she’d been certain that leaving was the best option for her, but the longer she stayed, the more the thought she should stay. For the moment, Elisa felt she was fulfilling some duty that had always been meant for her.
This was her reason for being here; therefore, she could not abandon them.
Yet, there was the matter of finding the proof of Alguire’s crimes before he found out what she knew.
She wasn’t even certain her clue was right.
Gloria.
But she hoped…
“Out!” she shouted when one of the men thought October began with an A.
When the music stopped, Elisa told Charles. “That was a very good try. The O often sounds very close to the A. Perhaps, we should begin going over the months.”
“But you didn’t write a month on my letter,” Wade said as he tapped his breast pocket. “I only wish to learn the words on the paper.” He smiled. “Is the word love included in it?”
Elisa laughed and was ready to reply when Nicholas’ voice broke into the large room.
“What’s this about a letter? Are we writing love notes now?”
She turned and found him at her back.
His gaze was on her. Eyes she’d once adored now only reminded her of pain and embarrassment. She looked away and tried to slow her breathing.
Why a stranger had the power to affect her so, she didn’t know. His opinion of her should be the last thing she should worry about.
And yet, i
f there were anyone in the room whom she didn’t want to think her crazy and whom she wished to see who she truly was, it was him.
Or at least, it had been.
Now all his presence did was remind her of just how anxious she was to return to London.
He moved into the room and then came to stand in front of the men.
And close to Elisa.
She stepped away and Astger stood with a deep frown, and she bemoaned it. At the same time, she placed the blame squarely on Nicholas’ shoulders, which only helped her hate him more.
Dr. Sparrow crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I’m certain Lady Elisa’s letters are pure.”
Elisa pointed at the doctor. “You, sir, have just earned yourself your own letter.”
He grinned. “I look forward to reading it.”
Nicholas scoffed. “You just met her. You hardly know her.”
“And what do you know of her?” Astger challenged.
“Enough,” Nicholas replied, though he met no one’s eyes… except for Wade’s.
As Wade’s nervousness grew, Elisa decided to speak. “Actually, love is mentioned in my letter to Wade, and Charles, and Matthew, and every other man who is protecting me.”
The men who sat in the chairs were surprised. As was Nicholas.
His mouth turned down. Even looking as agitated as he did, his face was a thing of perfection. She loathed it.
He turned to Wade. “Give me the letter.”
“Absolutely not,” Elisa said.
Nicholas spun and gave her a very foreboding look, but Elisa refused to crumble under the weight of it. During moments like this, Elisa wished she truly were mad. She was enraged by Nicholas’ audacity.
“Absolutely not,” she repeated, making certain he understood her well. “What I have written Wade is his own. These men have been working very hard to learn to read.”
His brows lowered. “Learn to read?”
“I will not allow you to take such a precious moment from them or soil what it is I wish to give them.”
A Knight of Vengeance: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 6
