by Anne Ashley
Turning briefly she beckoned Serena forward. ‘You remember Miss Carstairs, of course?’
Having lived permanently in the capital for most of his adult life, Theodore prided himself on the fact that he knew most everyone in polite society, but he was forced to think long and hard before he realised that the statuesque female moving gracefully towards him in a charming gown of dull yellow, which emphasised the golden-brown tints in her prettily waving hair, was none other than Sir Roderick Carstairs’s eldest offspring with whom Jennifer had struck up a surprising friendship when she had been in London.
Being something of a connoisseur of beauty, Theodore had never considered Miss Carstairs even remotely pretty, and he was in no danger of revising his opinion now, but he was struck by the warmth of the full-lipped smile, as she held out her hand in greeting, and the rather becoming twinkle of mischief in the fine eyes.
‘Of course he does not remember me, Jenny,’ Serena answered, rather liking the way the hand which clasped hers with surprising gentleness made hers feel so small and delicate. ‘I am one of those people who can attend a party and very few people remember that I was ever there. Not that I have ever objected to being overlooked,’ Serena continued, not granting any of her listeners the opportunity to negate this. ‘It has afforded me the utmost pleasure over the years to study, quite unobserved, the frequently ludicrous behaviour of my fellow man.’
‘Which is often more amusing than being the centre of attention,’ Jennifer remarked, before turning to Julian, who was regarding Serena in the usual mixture of amusement and respect. ‘I organised this little party by way of a thank-you to the men who kindly brought some of my belongings over from Ireland. They are wishful to make an early start in the morning, so I do not envisage the party continuing for very much longer, but you are quite welcome to remain if you wish.’
For a moment it seemed as if his lordship might accept the gracious invitation, but then he shook his head, much to Theodore’s intense disappointment, for he would very much have liked to remain if only to sample the barrel of home-brewed ale which all the men appeared to be enjoying.
‘Good gracious, Wroxam!’ he muttered, as they made their way back across the stable-yard towards the house. ‘Surely you ain’t that fatigued after the journey? It wouldn’t have done any harm to remain for a while.’
‘On the contrary, my dear Theo,’ he countered, ‘it might have done just that. My wife appears to have acquired the ability to put people from any walk of life instantly at their ease. Unfortunately I do not possess that gift. My presence would undoubtedly have placed a restraint on proceedings, and I didn’t wish that. Besides, I was very much hoping that you would join me in the library to sample a rather fine burgundy which Jennifer managed to acquire during her stay in London earlier this year. You see, not only did she master the art of handling people during our time apart, she also acquired an excellent palate. She never ceases to astonish me with her accomplishments!’
Aye, and you can still manage to astound me on occasions too, Theodore mused, accompanying his host into the library, and accepting the promised glass of burgundy.
Although he had never made any secret of the fact that he held the Marquis in the highest esteem, he had never been blind to his friend’s faults. Undue consideration for the feelings of others had never numbered amongst his lordship’s virtues, and yet he had shown rare understanding by refusing the invitation to join the merry gathering in the barn. Was it Jennifer’s return which had wrought this change in a man who had been considered by many of his peers to be just a mite too high in the instep on occasions? Theodore could not help wondering, as he settled himself in one of the comfortable chairs.
‘Will Jenny and her charming friend be joining us later, do you suppose?
The instant he had voiced the innocent enquiry, Theodore realised that something was wrong, for there was just the faintest tightening of the muscles about his lordship’s thin-lipped mouth, clear evidence that he was not totally happy about something.
‘Highly unlikely, I should imagine. Jennifer does not actively seek my company if she can possibly avoid it.’ Julian had tried to sound sublimely unconcerned, but one glance at Theodore’s thoughtful expression was enough to convince him that his surprisingly acute friend was suspicious.
Leaning back in his chair, he surveyed the homely face in silence for a moment. ‘I never imagined that you number amongst those who foolishly suppose that I and my Marchioness are now reconciled.’ His shout of laughter held a distinctly bitter note. ‘Come, come, my dear Theo! Surely you know me better than that?’
Theodore’s protracted sigh revealed his disappointment even before he said, ‘Truth of the matter is, I’ve not known what to think. I had hoped, of course, that—’
‘That I had learned to forgive and forget,’ Julian finished for him, the cynical glint in his eyes fading as he stared fixedly down at the contents of his glass. ‘Whether or not I am capable of such altruism is irrelevant in the circumstances. Jennifer is not here because she wishes to be, but because I gave her no choice in the matter. Had she not returned with me, she would have forfeited all contact with our son.
‘Good god, man, don’t look at me like that!’ he ground out, easily recognising the recrimination in Theo’s kindly blue eyes. Tossing the fine burgundy down his throat with scant regard for its excellence, Julian stalked over to the decanters to replenish his glass. ‘She had kept my son’s existence secret from me for eight long years. How I managed to stop myself from throttling the life out of her I’ll never know! I was angry, bitterly angry at having been denied all knowledge of Charles’s existence.’ A moment’s silence, then, ‘But not so angry as to demand anything more from her other than that she return here to Wroxam Park.’
‘And now?’ Theodore dared to ask, as he watched him resume the seat opposite.
‘Now I’m merely confused, at a loss to understand why the event which resulted in our long separation ever occurred in the first place,’ Julian answered, while staring intently into concerned blue eyes, ‘just as you yourself have always found my wife’s adultery difficult to believe. Have you not, my dear Theo?’
He nodded, his expression grave. ‘Not that I ever doubted the truth of what you told me. It was just…’
‘Just what?’ Julian prompted, his gaze more intense than before.
‘It was just that I would never have believed Jenny capable of such behaviour. She was never a wanton, not even remotely flirtatious as a girl. What she did seemed totally out of character to me. Added to which, I could have sworn that she was in love with you.’
His lordship’s clasp on the stem of the glass tightened noticeably. ‘She was…once,’ he murmured. ‘I foolishly took that love for granted, and it has cost me dearly.’ The protracted sigh was clearly audible. ‘The problem is, though, if Jennifer herself is at a loss to understand why she committed adultery, it isn’t likely that I’ll ever be able to uncover the mystery.’
‘Evidently you’ve discussed the matter, then,’ Theodore remarked, feeling suddenly quite optimistic. After all, only by being open and frank about the past could they ever hope to be reconciled in every sense.
His hopes, however, were swiftly dashed when his lordship disclosed, ‘Jennifer has never once attempted to broach the subject, except when I met her for the first time in London. It is to her credit that she didn’t attempt to make any excuses for the past, and was generous enough to accept total blame. No, I learned of her thoughts, of her complete bewilderment over the incident, from some letters she wrote to me just before she decided to leave the protection of my home all those years ago.’
Leaning back against the chair, Julian took a moment to study the contents of his glass before sampling a little of the fine wine, and taking his time to appreciate its excellence this time. ‘Why I kept those letters I’ll never know,’ he admitted. ‘I did, in fact, take the trouble to cast my eyes over the first one, but naturally I was in no mood then to apprecia
te its contents. Unlike the other week, when I was disposed to study every written word with extreme care, and found the missives most illuminating, if also faintly puzzling.’
‘Jenny didn’t attempt to—er—deny what had taken place between her and young Wilburn, I trust?’ Theodore prompted when Julian fell silent, and stared fixedly at the empty grate.
‘Naturally not. What she did make abundantly clear, however, was the fact that she was never in love with Geoffrey Wilburn. And, more interestingly still, that she could remember little of what took place on that fateful afternoon.’
Sandy brows drew together. ‘Dueced odd, wouldn’t you say? Do you believe her?’
‘Surprisingly enough, Theo, yes, I do. During these past weeks I’ve become acquainted with my wife, which, to my everlasting shame, is something I didn’t take the trouble to do nine years ago, and have come to the conclusion that she is one of the most innately honest people one could ever be blessed to know.’
Getting to his feet once more, Julian went to stand before the marble grate, resting his right arm along the length of the mantelshelf as he gazed once again down into the empty hearth. ‘She is also a most loving and caring mother, who has earned the unfailing devotion of those who shared her life in Ireland. Since her return here she has swiftly won the respect of my own servants. She is quite simply a rare creature, hard working and touchingly loyal to her friends. Not the type of person one could ever imagine indulging in a meaningless affair with a man she didn’t love. And I’m absolutely certain in my own mind, after spending many hours thinking back to that time, that she wasn’t in love with young Geoffrey Wilburn. She was friendly towards him, but nothing more. In fact, unless I much mistake the matter, apart from a gentleman called O’Connell, a man she loved and looked upon as a father, men have played no part in her life at all during these past years.’
Theodore was not unduly surprised to learn this. ‘She certainly betrayed little interest in any member of our sex during her time in the capital.’
‘Ah! So you noticed that too, did you.’ Julian betrayed the faintest hint of approval as he cast a glance over his shoulder. ‘Very observant of you, Theo!’ His expression grew more pensive. ‘None the less, even though her affections are not engaged, she has no desire whatsoever to embark on a reconciliation with me.’
Theodore could easily detect the suddenly tense set of those powerful shoulders, and had not missed, either, the note of bitter regret in the refined voice which betrayed clearly enough the state of his lordship’s mind.
More than just a modicum of hope returned. ‘Look on the bright side, old fellow. At least there’s no rival for her affections.’
The shapely hand raising the glass to his lips checked for a moment. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that,’ Julian enlightened him, faintly smiling now. ‘In fact, I do have a rival, a magnificent specimen that is both powerful and handsome. That the object of his evident devotion just happens to be a Marchioness does not, believe me, matter a jot to him.’ The smile grew more pronounced. ‘Come, I’ll take you to meet him. There’s still light enough to see, and there’s no time like the present.’
Displaying scant appreciation for the excellent wine, either, as he finished the contents of his glass in a hurry, Theodore followed the Marquis outside once more, experiencing the most uncomfortable feeling of unease as a vision of the handsome, golden-haired man with whom he had seen Jennifer dancing a little earlier appeared before his mind’s eye. He could not in all honesty say that his lordship had betrayed even a hint of jealousy when admitting to having a rival, but Julian was remarkably adept at disguising his feelings.
He gained a little comfort when his lordship did not head in the direction of the barn, from where the sounds of music and happy chatter still emanated, but he felt a little puzzled when his friend led the way into the large stable, where most of the prized animals were housed.
‘Why the deuce have you brought me in here, Wroxam?’ he demanded to know, after looking about him in vain for any two-legged creature lurking in the shadows.
‘You know full well why,’ his lordship answered, leading the way down to the far end of the long stone building. ‘I wish you to make the acquaintance of my rival. And here he is!’
‘Good gad!’ Theodore exclaimed, after peering into the very last stall. ‘So that’s your rival!’
‘He is, indeed. And a worthy one, do you not agree?’
‘Magnificent!’ A concerned frown swiftly erased the amusement in Theodore’s eyes. ‘But surely he ain’t Jenny’s horse? She could never control such a powerful animal!’
‘I have yet to see her ride him…I have only been privileged to observe the bond which exists between them. Only before have I seen such affection in a dog for its master. Believe me, Theo, it is something to witness.’
Julian turned his attention to the hunter, and after a moment managed to persuade the beautiful black to move away from the back of the stall. ‘Come, Oriel, my handsome fellow. You remember me, surely? Here see what I have for you,’ he coaxed and, after a moment or two, velvety lips removed the treat from his outstretched hand.
A rare, wistful and lopsided grin tugged at his own lips. ‘Unless I much mistake the matter, apart from our son, only this fellow holds a place in my wife’s heart… Now, how the deuce can I ever compete with him?’
Chapter Ten
Three facts became abundantly clear to his lordship during the following days: the first, and very gratifying one, was that his good friend Mr Dent was betraying a marked partiality for Miss Carstairs’s company; the second, and equally gratifying, was that Charles had taken an instant liking to his tutor Mr Granger, and the third, and far less satisfactory one, was that his occasionally irksome young son betrayed no immediate signs of forgetting the notion of promoting a race between his mother and father.
Charles, being something of a cunning little rogue, never failed to broach the subject with his father when others were present, and although Jennifer herself never betrayed the least interest, both Miss Carstairs and Theodore were very enthusiastic. Which, of course, was sufficient encouragement for Charles to continue plaguing his father until, albeit most reluctantly, his lordship acquiesced.
‘Why the long face, Julian?’ Accompanying his lordship out to the stables on the morning the race had been arranged, Theodore could not fail to notice his friend’s rather grim expression. ‘Surely you don’t suppose that you might lose the friendly contest? Why, you’re one of the finest horsemen I know!’
‘I thank you for that vote of confidence, and the compliment, Theo. But to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t give a damn if I win or not. I can only wonder at myself for weakening and allowing myself to be cajoled into doing something I have not the least desire to do by that impish son of mine!’
‘But why?’ Theodore was genuinely at a loss to understand the reason behind this display of reluctance. ‘There’s no denying that Oriel is a powerful animal, and not what I’d call a lady’s mount, but we’ve been assured by both Miss Carstairs and Patrick that Jenny is equal to the task of handling him.’
‘Perhaps, but I have yet to witness her skill. Not once since we’ve been here has she attempted to take him out. In fact, I’ve never seen her on horseback since her return to Wroxam Park.’
His deep frown was clear evidence of a troubled mind, though it cleared somewhat when he noticed Patrick leading an unsaddled Oriel from the stable. ‘Not one-hundred-percent fit this morning?’ he enquired, but his hopes were swiftly dashed by the groom’s assurance.
‘To be sure the boy’s fine, sir, and raring to be off, as you might say. It’s just that I ain’t certain sure whether the mistress is taking your challenge seriously or no. When I am sure, I’ll know which saddle to put on his back. Joseph and his lads brought all three of the mistress’s saddles from Ireland.’
‘Three?’ Theodore’s sandy brows rose sharply. ‘A trifle extravagant, wouldn’t you say, Patrick?’
&nb
sp; ‘No, sir, not when you consider the mistress has three ways o’ riding—like a lady, training and serious.’ His lopsided grin appeared as he glanced towards the house. ‘And it looks as if she intends riding serious today.’
Julian, following the direction of the groom’s amused gaze, saw Jennifer emerging from the mansion’s side door, with both Miss Carstairs and Mary at her heels. Her long auburn hair was for once simply styled, merely confined at the nape of her neck with a bright green ribbon, and she was dressed in a flowing dark green skirt, which he had never seen her wearing before, and a loose-fitting blouse of a lighter hue.
Patrick, having released the reins in order to collect the saddle from the tack-room, left Oriel free to greet Jennifer in his usual affectionate way, earning himself a scold from Mary as he did so for nearly trampling on her foot.
‘Good gad, Wrox! Does the beast always behave in that fashion with Jenny?’ Theodore asked, amazed at the spectacle.
‘I’m afraid so. One might have expected him to have outgrown such coltish adoration by now.’ He shuddered. ‘Nauseating, is it not? The animal’s besotted. Quite besotted!’
Theodore frankly laughed. ‘Why, Wrox, old fellow, if I didn’t know better I’d swear you were jealous!’
‘Stop showing off and behaving like a commoner, Oriel,’ Jennifer scolded lovingly. She made no attempt to grasp his reins as she made her way across the yard to join the gentlemen, but then there was absolutely no need for her to do so, for Oriel automatically followed like some adoring puppy.
‘It isn’t too late to change your mind, Jenny,’ Julian surprised her by announcing.
‘Oh, but it is,’ she countered, secretly moved by the obvious concern she could easily detect in his voice.
When she had first been forced to return to Wroxam Park, nothing would have induced her to accept her husband’s offer to ride one of his horses. Then, later, when she had discovered that if she wished to go out riding with Charles, she could do so only in the company of one of his lordship’s grooms, stubborn pride had kept her out of the saddle. Since Oriel’s arrival, however, the temptation to ride again had been too strong to resist, and she had enjoyed the hours she had spent with him, during his lordship’s absence from home, galloping across the Somerset countryside. Since her husband’s return she had refrained from riding, simply because she had suspected that Charles would continue to badger his father until he had agreed to the contest, and some perverse inner demon had prompted her to keep her equestrian skills a secret from him, for this was a contest she was determined to win.
