Through The Leaded Glass

by Fennell, Judi

  “I thought you weren’t going to marry Lady Marston.”

  “I’m not.”

  Gregorio smiled that smile Alex had seen women swoon over. “Good. That means she’s available.”

  “No she’s not.” Nick whipped out his sword.

  Unfortunately, Gregorio’s brothers were much faster.

  Nick scowled at the four swords aimed at his heart. “Stay away from her.”

  “Never fear, Caversham,” said Gregorio. “I have more than enough women.”

  “And that’s why you’ll never find a wife, Gregorio,” said Luca, his brother.

  “I wouldn’t bet on that, Luca,” said Silverio. “Gregorio will be the one to fall the hardest. Mark my words.”

  Gregorio shoved the two of them and captured Nick’s sword in one of his signature moves Alex had witnessed all too often. “Enough! You, Luca, are a child. Why would I want a wife when I can have fun with so many, eh? And Silverio, you keep your notions of true love for your wife. The rest of us know it is merely true lust.” He handed Nick the sword—hilt first—then clasped Alex on the shoulders and led him to the fire. “Now, since you have no need of us to find you a woman, what is it you want?”

  The relationship the brothers shared was one Alex had always envied. He and Frederick had never been close. Frederick, as heir, had spent his days sequestered with their father learning the workings of Shelton, while Alex, a second son, had been free to roam the countryside. And since Gregorio’s family had camped on Shelton land while his father had lived, Alex had naturally been curious about them. They’d taken him in, treating him as they did each other, not as an earl’s son.

  Since then, their relationship had proven beneficial for both parties. The gypsies possessed talents that weren’t part of the normal upbringing for a nobleman’s son, and, as earl, Alex had resources at his disposal should his friends ever require them.

  “Gregorio, I need to know about a woman who’s traveling with you.”

  Gregorio, who’d been replacing a display of jeweled plates on Isobel’s wall, looked over his shoulder, one black eyebrow arched.

  “Another woman? I like the sound of that.”

  Luca rolled his eyes while the other brothers snickered.

  “A fortune-teller, Gregorio. Blonde, tiny, dressed in pink. She approached me during the faire, demanding to tell my fortune.”

  “Drabarni? Alicia?” Gregorio laughed. “I think not. My mother would spit coins to hear you call her such. The woman knew no Rom, had no potions, nor knew the names of any herb.” He stroked his chin with the devilish air that’d won him so many hearts. “But she did look rather enticing in her costume.”

  “Which was the only reason you permitted her to stay.” Luca said.

  “Things never change, Gregorio,” drawled another brother, Delán.

  “Why should they, eh?” Gregorio set a gold chalice back on the shelf. “Women are women and she was beautiful. Besides, when a beautiful woman appears in your arms out of nowhere, who’s to question the gods?”

  “I need to question her,” Alex said.

  “I’m sorry, my friend, but she’s gone and I don’t know where she went.”

  “That’s because you didn’t question her about anything,” another brother, Costa, grumbled from behind them.

  “Why use a mouth like hers for speaking when kissing is so much more satisfying?” Gregorio leaned over to whisper to Alex. “Jealousy. It’s an ugly thing among brothers.”

  “I hear you, mulo. Just wait until love ensnares you,” said Costa. “Then your carefree days of flirtation and stolen kisses will be put aside forever. I hope whoever she is, she breaks your heart. Many times.”

  “Really, Costa, it is unkind of you to speak of such things when Alex is missing his betrothed.” Gregorio picked up a silver platter. “So if it’s not Lady Marston, who are you planning to marry?”

  He’d like to tell Gregorio the truth about Kate, but there were some things even charm-using gypsies wouldn’t believe. “Her name is Lady Katherine—”

  “Ah. It is Kate.” Gregorio nodded. “Alicia wouldn’t tell me much about her.”

  Silverio punched his arm. “That’s because you never gave the woman a chance to speak.”

  Gregorio smiled. “As I said, jealousy is an ugly thing.”

  “So is your face.”

  This could go on all evening; the brothers were masters of insults.

  Alex took the silver dish from Gregorio and put it on the shelf. “What did Alicia say about Kate?”

  “Merely that she must speak with her and that you were to help her do something. I offered to provide assistance in your stead, but she said it could only be you. She wanted to go to her, begged me to take her. Naturally, I could not refuse such a beguiling creature, so we were to be off to Shelton tomorrow, but, like a dream, she was gone when I awoke.”

  “Which says so much about your charms, brother,” said Delán, winning that round.

  “Speaking of charms.” Gregorio retrieved one of the guards’ swords from the floor and studied the blade. “I’d like to hear why your betrothed is here instead of in your home, Alex. I suspect ‘twill be an interesting tale.”

  Nick headed out of the hall. “I’ll go see what’s keeping Isobel.”

  “I’ll go with you,” said Tris.

  Nick scowled but didn’t argue.

  Good thing because while Nick had faith in Isobel, but as the minutes had passed and she hadn’t shown, Alex had questioned if she could, indeed, be trusted.

  A week ago, he would have said yes.

  But then his life had changed.

  Because of Kate.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Kate gripped her weapon as the servant leaned against the opened door. Now was her chance.

  She tiptoed toward the door. The servant couldn’t see her in the darkness and by the time she did, it’d be too late.

  She readjusted her hold on the candelabrum, lifted it higher… Almost there…

  “Kate?”

  Kate? That wasn’t a servant.

  Isobel.

  “I’m so sorry, Kate. Please forgive me.”

  Sorry was not what she’d expected.

  “Sorry?” Kate lowered the weapon, but kept inching toward the door. Two feet to go. “Don’t you think that’s a little lame, Isobel? You’ve kept me locked in the dark for hours. Ruined my life, actually, in ways you’ll never know, and all you can say is you’re sorry? Just how long were you planning to leave me in here?”

  Isobel spun around, just as Kate ran through the open door. It’d be nice to lock Isobel in, but right now she just wanted to get the hell out of here.

  “Please, Kate, wait.” Isobel grabbed Kate’s skirt and followed her into the corridor. “I know I did you a disservice. Please let me explain.”

  Kate yanked the fabric free. “There’s nothing you could say that would make what you did right.”

  “I know but I’d planned for Alexander to come—”

  “So you could seduce him.”

  Isobel’s lips thinned and she nodded. “It was wrong of me, I know. A bad plan that I had to improvise when you arrived instead.” A tear slid from the corner of Isobel’s eye. An effective ploy on members of the opposite sex, Kate was sure, but it had no effect on her. “All I can do is beg your forgiveness for a mother’s desperation.”

  “A mother’s desperation?” Kate tightened her hold on the candelabrum—and her temper. She’d only make the situation worse by braining the lady of the house, but, oh, did she want to. “What would you know of a mother’s desperation? A mother is exactly what I was trying to become, but your little detention has put that in jeopardy. I’ll tell you what a mother’s desperation is, Isobel. It’s worrying for months at every action you do, how it’ll be seen by those making the decisions. It’s preparing for your child’s arrival, only to have that arrival determined by someone else’s whim. It’s wanting to give all the love you have inside of you to that per
son and raise her to have a wonderful life, but being unable to because of fate conspiring against you. That’s a mother’s desperation. And that’s what you’ve taken from me.”

  “I’m sorry. But you’ll have children with Alexander. You’ll experience all of those things. And I do understand. That’s why I needed to marry him. My eldest, Elinor, is betrothed to a duke. One who will care for her, not treat her harshly. But if I don’t marry Alex, the king will marry me to Lord Wexham.” She shuddered. “He’ll deny Elinor’s match. His pride is such that, as an earl, he won’t want my daughter’s husband’s title to be above his. But Alexander doesn’t care about such things. He’s an honorable man and favored servant of the king. Elinor would have her match and I—”her voice hitched—”I wouldn’t be sent to that… that… man.”

  Isobel’s impassioned words reverberated along the plastered walls of the corridor. Apparently the woman did know a mother’s desperation, but it then begged the question, “So why let me go now?”

  Isobel swallowed. “Because I cannot decide who Alexander should marry anymore than I want someone to decide it for me. I hope you can forgive me. It was for my daughter’s marriage. And my… life.”

  “I still don’t get it, Isobel. You’re giving up that easily? Why?”

  Isobel licked her lips and looked away. “Lord Caversham… Nicholas. He will offer for me. He feels we will enjoy the king’s blessing, though I’m not as hopeful.” She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “But Alexander has made his position clear and I find I’d rather take a chance on the happiness Nicholas offers than dismiss it out of hand.”

  That, Kate could understand. It didn’t help her any, but she understood why Isobel had locked her in.

  She put the candelabrum on the floor. “I wish you luck. I can’t say I forgive you for this, because you might have cost me my own daughter, but I do understand why you did it. I’d like a horse and an escort to return to Shelton immediately.”

  “Of course.”

  “Isobel! Where in God’s name are you?” Nick’s call echoed in the hallway. “You’ve been gone long enough. Alex is worried and now he’s got gypsies with him. I’ll not be able to stall him much longer. You better have come to your senses.” He rounded the corner and stopped when he saw them. “You did have her hidden here.”

  “Yes, she did,” Kate answered. “And now I’ll be leaving.” She looked at Isobel. “With Alex.”

  Isobel nodded. “I know. But perhaps you would join us for supper? It is the least I can do after the harm I have caused.”

  Kate looked at Nick and Tris, and picked up her skirts. “Gypsies? You said gypsies, right? Supper can wait. There’s still time for me to find Alicia. Where are they? And Tristan, are you okay?”

  He rubbed the back of his head. “My pride is the most injured. We weren’t expecting a fight inside her keep. Thankfully you weren’t injured.” He held out his arm. “Come. I’ll take you to Alex.”

  Nick offered his arm to Isobel. “Issy?”

  Isobel linked her hands in front of her. “I’d rather wait here, if you don’t mind.”

  Kate couldn’t blame her. When she considered everything from Isobel’s point of view, the woman hadn’t had many options. Besides, now that Alex had the gypsies with him, maybe it would turn out okay.

  But what about leaving Alex?

  She couldn’t think about that now. She had to find Alicia. At least, if she had the knowledge of how to return home, then she could make an educated decision. Hell, maybe she could even return home in time for her appointment, get Emma, then come back. They could be a time-traveling family…

  Yeah, like that wouldn’t mentally mess with Emma and William.

  But when she found herself scooped up in Alex’s arms and being kissed senseless, she tried to come up with a way to make it all work.

  “A-hem.” An amused chuckle and tapping boot interrupted them.

  Alex slid his hands over the back of her head, smoothing her curls down her back, and pulled his lips from hers with a sigh. “Thank God you’re safe, Kate. When I found you gone—”

  “A-hem.”

  Alex’s jaw tightened. He wrapped his arm around her waist as they faced their a-hem-er. “Kate, I’d like to present my friend Gregorio and his brothers, Costa, Luca, Delán, and Pesha.”

  “Ah, my lady.” Gregorio whipped a scarf from around his head and waved it in front of him as he bowed. “A true pleasure to meet the woman who has so captured Shelton’s hardened heart.” He popped up again in an instant, a sly grin lifting the corner of his mouth. “I would never have believed such a vision to exist—”he picked up her hand and kissed the back of it, his black eyes gleaming with amusement—”had I not seen Alex’s desolation when he thought you were lost to him. I would never have lost you.” He bestowed another quick kiss with a dramatic waggling of his eyebrows.

  Kate couldn’t stop a quick laugh. After the last few hours, it was good to laugh again.

  Alex, however, didn’t seem particularly happy about it. He took her hand from Gregorio’s grasp and said a few harsh words to the gypsy. The gypsy answered back and Kate thought they were speaking Romany until she recognized some of the words. But not many. It was English. Olde English. Which meant…

  She looked at her hand. The ring was gone.

  She looked at Alex, then at Gregorio.

  Her ring glinted in his teeth.

  Alex took it back. “Nicely done, my friend,” he said as he slid it onto her finger. “Gregorio is a man of many talents, Kate. Some useful and others…” He raised his eyebrows at his friend. “More useful.”

  If possible, Gregorio grinned even wider, his dark eyes dancing. “Fear not, dear lady, for I would never touch so precious a jewel that belonged to Alex.”

  Alex rolled his eyes. “You have no shame, Gregorio.”

  “Who wants to have shame when one can have fun?” Gregorio took Kate’s hand and placed it on his arm. “Come, my lady, you must explain to me how this man allowed you from his sight. Were you mine, we would never be parted.” He turned with her and headed toward the door. “Alex, I shall entertain your betrothed while you deal with the lady of the castle. Lady Katherine and I will wait for you in the bailey.”

  “The hell you will, Gregorio.” Alex glared at Nick. “I want a full recounting, Nick.”

  Nick shook his head. “It’s over, Alex. Ask Kate. She’ll tell you.”

  Alex didn’t care what Kate told him. He’d lost her, thanks to Isobel. That he had her again didn’t negate what Isobel had done.

  He watched Kate walk with Gregorio, who, for all his flirtations, would never harm a hair on her head. Nor touch one either. Alex had implicit trust in his friend, for the code that ruled the gypsy camp also ruled his life. One would never pay court to another’s woman.

  And Kate was definitely his woman. For as long as the heavens permitted her to stay.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The heavens opened up before they’d made it back to Shelton. Thunder, lightning, sheets of rain deluged them. Alex’s cloak had provided Kate with little protection during the ride, so when they ran into the keep, they were dripping water everywhere. One more nightmare to add to this hellish day.

  Kidnapped, soaked, freezing, probably on her way to pneumonia, and now, Gregorio had told her that Alicia was missing before he and his brothers had headed back to their camp.

  This wasn’t like Alicia. She had to know Kate was freaking out about this whole time travel thing, and her disappearance just upped the freak-out meter to new levels. Then there was the missing window and the very real possibility of losing Emma, and, oh yeah, they still didn’t know who’d kidnapped William so that threat was still hanging over their heads. And then there was the possibility she might not even be able to return home, and, oh God, it was just too much. She sagged against the wall.

  Alex was at her side in an instant. “Are you ill, Kate?”

  In a manner of speaking… “I just want th
is all to be over with.”

  His fingers flexed on her arm and his mouth thinned. “It will be. Soon. But, for now, we need to get you out of those wet clothes.” He led her to the stairs. “I’ll send Mary.”

  Mary wasn’t who she needed. “I don’t want Mary, Alex. And I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

  He lifted her into his arms before she’d finished speaking. “Thank God.”

  “Or me.”

  He smiled. “Yes, most definitely you. And I shall show you my appreciation in so many ways.”

  She shivered as he took the stairs two at a time and it had nothing to do with the rain soaking her skin. Each step jostled her against him, the hard muscles of his chest flexing against her arms, his biceps tightening against her thigh and shoulder, and the electricity in the air from the storm couldn’t compare to what his touch was doing to her.

  Thunder rumbled over the castle rooftop, low and close, as Alex kicked open the door to his room. It was dark except for flashes of lightning arcing through the slats of an interior shutter as the windowpanes rattled.

  He set her down on new rushes, the sweet scent of the herbs permeating the room in the damp air, and he lit a single candle. He tugged her to him, tilting her chin up with a finger. Stray raindrops slid from his hair to his cheeks. “I was so worried, Kate.”

  Kate reached up to wipe them away. “I know. I’m sorry. But I couldn’t let that opportunity pass. I had to find Alicia.”

  “You should have waited for me.”

  “I didn’t know when you’d be back. I didn’t know where you’d gone. Where did you go? Did you find the window?”

  “I believe so, but we will know for certain on the morrow.”

  So tonight could be their last night.

  She threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged his mouth down to hers. “Then let’s not waste another minute of the time we have left.”

  “I don’t plan to.” He kissed her then, his lips firm against hers, his tongue demanding entrance, and it was so carnal her knees threatened to give out yet again.