A Knight of Vengeance: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)

by Deborah Wilson

  He blinked, but his expression didn’t change.

  Elisa wasn’t entirely sure he’d heard her, but she left before their moment escalated to a point that they’d both miss the evening meal.

  She was nervous as she walked back to the dining room. What if he didn’t come? If he didn’t, there would be no worse embarrassment for her.

  She’d calmed significantly by the time she made it back to the parlor.

  And just in time.

  Astger escorted her to the table, just as he had since the day she’d arrived. Usually, she ate with the general and one or two of the soldiers. They’d offered to let her eat with the entire group, but she’d refused, knowing that men needed their time without women about.

  Dr. Sparrow settled in his chair once she sat. “Your color seems better. Have you had any coughing or dizziness?”

  No coughing, but she was dizzy from Nicholas’ kiss. “I’m well, I can assure you, but thank you for your concern. It means so much to me.”

  Dr. Sparrow grinned. “It is my duty, my lady.”

  She thought about the kiss again. If it were to be the last passionate kiss she ever got from a man, it had been worth it.

  A servant came in with another place setting and a fluttering went off in Elisa’s stomach.

  The place was at the head of the table, which meant no one need ask who was coming.

  Astger and Dr. Sparrow shared another look and then Elisa heard the footsteps. They were swift, every step pronounced on the hardwood floors.

  And then he was there.

  He was perfect.

  She’d hardly noticed his clothing when she’d found him in the tower. He hadn’t been wearing a jacket or coat. How could he stand the cold?

  Either way, he wore a dark jacket now and matching breeches, which made his body all the more impressive. His face was like stone. He did not look pleased to be joining them.

  That didn’t stop Elisa from wanting him.

  “I thought you’d decided to skip dinner?” Astger said.

  His voice was lower than she’d ever heard before. “I grew hungry and changed my mind.”

  Elisa shook upon hearing how he’d emphasized the word hungry.

  His eyes brushed over her before he looked away.

  The first course was brought out.

  Then Nick said, “Are you finding my home comfortable, my lady?”

  Elisa cleared her throat. “Yes.”

  “You said the general showed you around, but you don’t know its history. I shall make myself available tomorrow to give you an in-depth tour if you would like.”

  “Yes,” Elisa exclaimed. “I would love to know the castle’s history. Thank you.”

  “So would I,” Dr. Sparrow said with a smile. “I believe I shall join you on this tour.”

  “As will I,” Astger said, not bothering to hide how displeased he was. “But only to protect the lady, which is my duty.”

  Elisa smiled at Astger. “And you do it very well, my lord. I cannot thank you enough.”

  The general’s coldness broke, and his lips turned up.

  “Very well,” Nicholas drawled. “We shall all tour the grounds tomorrow.” Now he seemed unhappy, but when he looked at Elisa, she felt that shimmering heat and her body warmed.

  She could hardly wait for the tour.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  1 5

  * * *

  Nicholas watched Astger escort Elisa down the staircase the next day. She was laughing, and it looked as though she were doing so at something Astger had said.

  The general’s smile showed his thoughts. He was in love with her.

  And Dr. Sparrow, who stood on Elisa’s other side, was not far behind in his feelings.

  But neither of their admiration needed to be addressed. They both understood what was at stake. In the wee hours of the morning, as he’d struggled to find sleep for wanting Elisa, he had to remind himself why he was doing this.

  Cassius wanted her brother’s debt.

  She’d just finished her morning class with the men. Nicholas had peeked in during the middle of the lesson and had been impressed with her skill and patience.

  She’d be a good mother and her children would be bright.

  The children of whomever her brother chose for her.

  When they reached him, Nicholas extended a hand toward Elisa.

  She gently released Astger and took his arm with a smile.

  She was dressed for the weather. Not even the gray of her coat and hat could hold back her inner shine.

  Were they alone, he didn’t know if he would speak first or simply continue what they’d begun. He had so many questions. What did she want from him? What did she hope for?

  He could promise her nothing. She was not his to take and even if he could, he wouldn’t. Maria’s death had left a bitter taste in his mouth. He was a third son. He would need no heirs. His only duty would forever be to himself and those who employed him.

  No one would last long with him.

  He’d thought to travel to the village and find a girl to please him last night, but instead, he’d sat out in the cold and allowed his body to cool, a habit he was developing around her.

  Before her kiss, he’d been doing just that, hoping the winds would make him cold where she’d made him hot with nothing more than her presence.

  By the time she left Brean Castle, Nicholas would likely have frostbite.

  Astger said, “Mind your step, my lord.” He lifted a brow. “Some parts of the flagstone are covered in ice. I wouldn’t wish for you to slip.”

  Nicholas could read between the man’s words. “I’ll be careful.” He would have to be.

  But their kiss. Their moment in his cabinet still burned on his flesh. The only balm for his pain would be Elisa, but how could he have her and not have her at the same time? How to please his need and keep her pure?

  Was she pure? He’d heard a hundred stories from Bedlam, the horrors that went on. He wondered if she’d suffered.

  They began the tour outside, walking across the courtyard toward the wall.

  “The castle was built by Lord Prilow for his wife, who’d once told him she would like to marry a prince. Well, Prilow was no prince, but he was a wealthy man and wanted his wife to feel like royalty.”

  “How lovely. When was this?” Dr. Sparrow asked, catching up to them.

  “A long time ago.”

  “How long ago?” Elisa asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe a hundred years or so.”

  “But the structure is older than that,” Dr. Sparrow countered as he glanced around. The good doctor knew everything. “The architecture still holds Roman influence.”

  “Very well,” Nick said.

  “Was Lady Prilow pleased with the castle?” Elisa asked.

  “Yes, the lord and lady were very happy,” Nick said. “They had many children and then their children had children. Their great-grandson and heir had a boy and a girl.”

  He helped Elisa up the stairs in the battlement at the wall and then stood by her side when they reached the rampart. Brean Castle was in view and even farther than that was the small village.

  He pointed out a few other buildings on his property, things he knew Astger had likely showed her already.

  He hadn’t spent much time here in the past. Maria preferred the city, and Lord Gregory had always found some party to make sure Nicholas received an invitation to.

  At the parties, it had been Nicholas’ job to listen and report back what he’d learned. There had been a little extra if the secret was calamitous. Before marriage, Nicholas had been willing to do anything and everything to make his fortune, including sharing beds with women whose tongues grew loose with wine.

  He’d bought the castle for Maria. He’d believed he could pull her away from the city and into a calm place of mind and being, but she’d refused. She’d taken one look at Brean and thought it a prison.

  It was, in a way, little more than that for Elisa.
She’d been inside its walls for a week, yet as she glanced over the horizon, there was nothing but a smile on her face.

  She was happy here.

  She shouldn’t be. She’d been very determined to get to London just days ago, yet she stood there with the most content of smiles.

  She’d smiled at him at Bedlam as well. She was light-hearted.

  He wanted to ask her what it was like, to be able to find happiness anywhere. Perhaps, he could learn how to do so from her. Perhaps, it was what she could teach him.

  There was plenty of time.

  The forest surrounding the property was dense, which was yet another barrier against attack. Because he was rarely here, and only a few people did know his location, he was certain Lord Alguire would search the entire country before thinking to come here.

  “I’m glad Lord and Lady Prilow were happy,” Elisa said. “Aren’t you?”

  He grinned. “Yes, I’m happy for them.”

  She sighed. “Love must be the most brilliant thing ever invented.”

  “It is powerful.” Nick agreed… in a way. It could be used to manipulate. It could cloud the senses.

  “Why doesn’t the heir have the castle now? What happened to his children?” Dr. Sparrow asked, coming up on Nicholas’ other side.

  “The daughter went on to marry a military man. They moved to India.”

  “And the man?” Astger asked, even though the general knew what had happened to the man. He was trying to embarrass him in front of Elisa.

  Elisa’s cheeks had turned pink from either the climb or the wind. Had they been alone, he’d have kissed the words right from her lips. “You said he gave you this castle in exchange for his life? Exactly, how does that work?”

  Nicholas noticed Astger’s eyes grow wide and grinned. “Sadly, Lord Prilow’s heir did something… terrible. I found out about it. I confronted him with the evidence. I told him what I would do with the evidence, and he decided to give me his home in exchange for the evidence and my silence.”

  Elisa gasped.

  Nick looked at the doctor. “Do you know much about murder, Doctor?”

  Sparrow straightened. “No.” He looked offended. “Why, I’ve never killed a man in La perfide Albion.” Albion was a poetic term for England, especially during times of great tension.

  “Can’t you tell from my story?” He leaned toward her. “I’m avoiding the answer to that.”

  “Because you promised to keep his secret?” she asked, making what he did sound far nobler than it was.

  “No, because I wouldn’t wish to disturb how you sleep at night.”

  She swallowed. Her eyes flashed. “All right.”

  She was so innocent. Why did that make him hard?

  Yet, he knew she was beginning to get clues to who he truly was. Surely, she understood that what he did now was not a custom for gentlemen, to steal pretty women from Bedlam and hide them away.

  Just on time, a servant ran toward them. “We need the doctor. One of the maids isn’t doing well.”

  Dr. Sparrow didn’t bother to excuse himself. “Tell me about her symptoms.” Work and the exploration of science controlled him.

  Then there was a second interruption.

  “Wade is missing,” Charles informed him. “We’ve looked everywhere for him.”

  “Excuse me.” Astger left swiftly.

  Elisa started to follow the general, but Nick stopped her with a hand on her arm.

  “Stay here.”

  “But we should go help them look for Wade,” she said. She was worried. Her expression seemed to always shine from her heart.

  “There are more than enough staff members to hunt for him.”

  “Two more pairs of eyes is always useful.” She grabbed his hand and started forward.

  He stopped them, and she naturally curved back to face him. “I would rather we didn’t help.”

  “But Wade might be hurt,” she urged.

  His plan was falling apart, and all because the woman had a bleeding heart.

  It only made his feelings more potent.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  1 6

  * * *

  Nicholas sighed.

  Any other lady would leave footmen to look for a servant. They’d have never thought a man who couldn’t read their responsibility, and even if they did, they never did more than donate money to a cause run by someone who would see to the servants on their behalf.

  Elisa cared for Wade.

  Nicholas wanted that even though he knew he shouldn’t.

  “Come,” she said. “Once we find Wade, we can return. I’m sure he’s still here. You said no one could leave except for over the bridge.”

  There was another way out, but only Nicholas, a few footmen, and Astger knew that.

  He would have to tell her the truth. “Wade isn’t missing. I had a footman accidentally lock him in a room, but don’t worry. There is food, water, and a wonderful fire where he is. He’ll be quite comfortable actually. I imagine after the first ten minutes of realizing he had nowhere to go, he settled into a chair to wait. He might have even fallen asleep.”

  She gasped. “I don’t understand. You used the word accident? Why would you—”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders. “It wasn’t an accident on my part. I mean... I did it so we could be alone.”

  Her color rose. It made her eyes seem darker. “How sweet of you, my lord.”

  “Nick,” he told her. “You can’t kiss a man and call him ‘my lord’. Not when we’re alone.”

  “Nick,” she said. “Or Nickie!”

  He chuckled. “Just Nick will do.”

  The smile she gave him told him that she’d defy him later and that only made him want to kiss her more than he’d wanted to seconds ago.

  “Is the maid sick? The one Dr. Sparrow went to see?” Again, she was thoughtful.

  “No, she’s pretending,” Nick said. “She once wished to be an actress. I’m sure the illness will baffle Sparrow long enough for me to…” What was he wanted to do? “To get to know you better.”

  She seemed to grow happier by the minute. Her face truly lacked a mask to hide behind. He liked that about her. He probably liked that more than anything else he’d learned thus far.

  “I like your idea,” she told him.

  Nicholas would have liked his idea better if he and Elisa were alone in a warm room with a bed.

  He had discovered something during their short morning walk.

  He liked her.

  And not just for her beauty. It was everything.

  Her openness was captivating, especially in a life where Nick was used to seeing nothing but shadows of the truth. She was a puzzle in some ways but straightforward in others.

  And he liked it all.

  Thoughts like those had forced them outside. He could not be alone with her. Though the general and doctor were gone, anyone could see them from the castle. She was safe from his thoughts for the moment. “I hope you can bear the cold for a little longer,” he said.

  She took his arm, and they continued to walk the wall. “I’m perfectly fine as I am. Don’t forget, I was walking outside when we met.”

  It had been the strangest meeting in all of Nick’s life. He would never forget it.

  “How is it that you were outside, to begin with?” Nick asked. “I didn’t think patients were given such privileges.”

  “I was given many privileges.” Her smile fell away. “The only true rules were to stay away from everyone else and don’t wander toward the gate.” There was a gate around Bedlam.

  Nick tried to imagine what that would be like. “You must have felt terribly lonely.”

  “I did, but I had Uncle Beau. We spent a great amount of time together.”

  “What did you do?” he asked.

  “Puzzles. Play chess. Just talk. He helped me create a few of my lessons for the patients I was teaching to read.” She lifted a finger. “Always at a distance. I couldn’t teach them directly a
s I do the soldiers, but I made sheets with drawings and characters. Slowly, it all came along. I believe the guards helped.”

  “You’re a noble woman,” Nicholas said. “A good person, through and through.”

  “Not always.” Her lips flattened. “I did call Astger a child.”

  Nicholas laughed at the memory. “Trust me, he’s been called worse.”

  “I will never believe that!”

  “It’s true.”

  She laughed and he stopped to watch her do it.

  Why was this so easy?

  “And no one else ever visited you?” he asked.

  “My father. He came often enough, but…”

  He wanted to urge her to finish. When she didn’t, he asked, “Why did you kiss me?”

  She stopped and faced him. “Because I wanted to. I hope I didn’t offend you.” She began to pull the edges of her hat down and it was then that Nick realized he couldn’t see a single strand of her hair. She must have hidden it on purpose.

  He grabbed her hands and then lowered them to her sides. “Why do you hate your hair?”.

  “I don’t know.” She chuckled. “I’ve always disliked it. I always wanted hair like my brothers.”

  “My older brother Oliver has red hair as well, though it doesn’t have the same curl as yours. Once, he went without combing it for a few weeks and long strands began to knot together.”

  Elisa’s eyes widened. “Truly? Are you close to your brother?”

  “I’ve two. Oliver and Leonard. We are… close in our own way. When we were younger, we depended on each other often.”

  “That is the way with siblings, is it not?” she asked. “Avery was always good to me. He’s my eldest brother.”

  “I know Avery.”

  “He once stole my father’s carriage. He always liked driving, more than riding. It was late that night. He must have been fifteen at the time. I was only six or so. I caught him and asked to go with him.” Her smile grew. “There I was, in nothing but my night rail and robe. He took me around the city. It is my fondest memory of him.”

  He grunted, though admitted the story did not leave him unmarked.

  “You don’t like my brother?” she asked. “If you are not his friend, then why do this? Why help me?”