Finessing the Contessa

by Wendy Soliman

  “You’re right,” she said. “When I was married, I took my vows seriously, in spite of...”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, let’s just say that I don’t hold with adultery, no matter how easy it would have been for me to justify it. And then, after Philippe died, I didn’t find anyone who excited my passions.”

  “Tell me about Philippe.”

  “I knew when I was twelve that I would marry him on my sixteenth birthday. Our families arranged the union and I had no say in the matter. His required my dowry, mine liked the idea of me marrying into the equivalent of Sicilian royalty.”

  “And, I’m guessing here, your father-in-law wished to procure a toehold into your brother’s expertise with herbs.”

  She looked surprised. “Why do you say that?”

  “You told me he’s an ambitious man and never misses a chance to enhance his fortune. Besides, he sponsored Vincenzo.”

  “Yes, but only after I married Philippe. Vincenzo doesn’t much like Maynard, but that was Gravina’s price for sponsoring my brother. He knows he can trust Maynard absolutely, you see.”

  Rob did see, all too well. “Did your Philippe treat you well?”

  “Oh, he was kind enough, but we never should have married. He never should have married.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because he preferred the company of men,” she said softly, “in all respects.”

  “Ah, I see. That must have shocked you.”

  She lifted one shoulder. “At first I didn’t understand it. I was only sixteen and couldn’t comprehend why he appeared to like being with me everywhere except in the bedroom,” she said with a wan smile. “I thought I must be doing something wrong. I found the courage to ask him about it and eventually he told me why he wasn’t attracted to me.”

  Rob ground his jaw. “That was insensitive of him.”

  “Actually I was grateful because I no longer felt like a failure. He came to my bed once a month because his father expected me to provide him with a grandchild...an heir.”

  “He managed to...er—”

  “Yes. Once I recovered from the shock of his revelations I asked him to explain how he managed to become erect when he was with a man. Then I suggested he thought about that when he was with me, and it seemed to work.”

  Rob looked at her askance. “You had the presence of mind to think of that at such a tender age? I’m surprised you didn’t run home to your family.”

  “They wouldn’t have taken me back. It would have appeared as dishonourable to the marchese and they’d never risk upsetting him. As for Philippe and me, we were both terrified of his father and so did our very best to provide him with the grandchild he so desired.”

  “He was unkind to you?” Rob asked, grinding his teeth.

  “Not so long as we did as we were told.” She shuddered. “But if he thinks anyone’s defying him, he becomes a tyrant. You have no idea.”

  No, Rob thought, I don’t. But that didn’t prevent him from taking Gravina in extreme dislike. And now, his right-hand man was manipulating the contessa here in England and must be doing so on the marchese’s direct orders. Rob twisted his lips in derision. Germs of ideas, increasingly outlandish ways in which he might extract revenge on her behalf, rattled about inside his head.

  “If you did know him, you wouldn’t ask such questions.” The contessa sighed. “He involved himself in every aspect of his son’s life, and mine too, until I learned to stand up for myself.”

  “Which is why you decided not to continue living under his roof after your husband died?”

  “Yes. My parents were both dead by then, and I knew Vincenzo wouldn’t force me to remain with the Gravinas. Mind you,” she added contemplatively, “I’ve often wondered why my father-in-law let me go without putting up more of a fight to keep me with him.”

  “Why would he wish you to stay when it must have been obvious that you preferred to leave?”

  “Because he looked upon me as a possession, I suppose.” She gazed off into the distance. “The people he invited to his home seemed to like me, which made them easier for him to deal with and swing to his point of view.”

  “He used you to enhance his own position?”

  “Yes, in some respects I suppose he did.”

  “Did he know of his son’s sexual preferences?”

  “Probably, which is why he was so determined that I would produce a child. There were rumours, you see, and they had an adverse effect upon his family’s reputation. He was very good at not hearing that which he didn’t wish to hear, countering rumours with deeds rather than words.”

  “You having a child would have put paid to those rumours?”

  “Precisely. If he decided something wasn’t the way he wished it to be, he seemed to think he could make it go away by the sheer force of his will.”

  Rob nodded. He’d met such people. He recalled the contessa’s reaction to Sophia’s young son that day on the lawn and assumed she’d been so upset because her efforts to conceive had been unsuccessful.

  “The marchese remained disappointed, I collect.”

  “Oh, no, I gave him his grandson.” Her expression closed down and Rob had no idea what occupied her thoughts.

  “Where is he now?”

  She looked away but not so quickly that Rob didn’t observe tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

  “He perished with his father,” she said bleakly.

  Rob simply stared at her. “That’s what you weren’t telling me.”

  “It hurts too much to talk about it. I try to forget, try not to think about Augusto every moment of every day, but it’s hard.” She reached into her reticule and produced a miniature of a beautiful, plump-faced little boy with a mop of dark curls and huge eyes. “This never leaves my side.”

  “I can’t begin to imagine the pain you must feel,” he said, abandoning all restraint and pulling her into his arms.

  “It’s my fault,” she said, falling against his chest, sobbing. “I should have been there that day and then it wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Shush.”

  “But you don’t understand. I—”

  Rob placed a finger against her lips to prevent her protests. Then he replaced that finger with his lips, pulling her body hard against his as he kissed her with passion and determination. He would remove that bruised, haunted expression from her eyes if it was the last thing he ever did.

  “Just so that you know,” he said when he finally broke the kiss. “Not coming to your chamber the other night was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my entire life. Only by getting thoroughly foxed did I manage to resist.”

  “Do you make a habit of resisting ladies who offer themselves to you?” She smiled through her tears. “No, I’m sure you don’t, but you thought I might be trying to distract you. Your sense of duty does you great honour.”

  “My sense of duty is a blasted nuisance. And, as to your motivation, I know in my heart that you are who you say you are.”

  “Which obviously isn’t enough for you. I mean, you can hardly explain to your brother that you believe me without proof. I quite understand that. Still, if Maynard brings Vincenzo to Denby, that ought to settle things.”

  On fire with a combination of lust and determination to prove Electra Falzone innocent, Rob was now unsure just how much longer he could continue to resist her charms.

  “Yes,” he said forcefully. “Let’s hope it does.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Come along, Murphy, not far to go now.”

  Gabriel Forster pushed his Irish stallion into a canter, leaving Brighton behind them as they cut across country on the shortest route to the Hall. Gabe had just finished his final exams at Cambridge, and he’d taken over a week to ride home. He wa
s anxious to arrive but also keen to delay the moment.

  His hesitancy was attributable to Beth Elliott, Hal’s wife’s sister. Beth had received several offers during her first season, apparently, which she’d declined. Now Garman was sniffing round her petticoats and Gabe was conflicted. He had feelings for Beth, but at two-and-twenty he was far too young to think about matrimony. Was he jealous or did he wish Beth well? That was what he’d been trying to decide this past week.

  “Murphy,” he said, pausing at the crest of a hill and patting his horse’s sweaty neck, “why does life have to be so damned complicated?”

  Murphy appeared more interested in cropping at the grass than helping him decide. Sighing, Gabe recalled his horse’s attention and they trotted down the hill to the back gates of the Hall’s extensive park.

  He entered the house through the side door from the mews and handed his outer garments to Potter, who always seemed to know when a member of the family entered the house, no matter which door they used or how stealthily they chose to do so.

  “Welcome home, Lord Gabriel.”

  “Thank you, Potter. Where’s the family?”

  “In the drawing room, my lord.”

  Gabe headed in that direction, expecting to find only Hal, Leah and Beth at home. He tried not to resent the fact that Garman was there also, telling himself it made no difference to him. He moved across the room to shake hands with his brother.

  “Welcome home,” Hal said, clapping him on the shoulder. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “It’s good to be back. I’m keen to get to work.”

  “Don’t you need some time to relax first?”

  “We did that at the end of the exams.” Gabe winced. “The celebrations became...er, a bit protracted, and it took me three days to recover.”

  “That long?” Hal laughed. “You obviously haven’t inherited the Forster hard head for drink.”

  “Probably not.” Gabe glanced round the room. “Where’s Rob?”

  “He’s in Dartmouth, at Billingham’s, but we’re expecting him back, probably today.”

  “With a guest,” Leah said, her eyes alight with speculation.

  “A female guest, judging by your reaction.”

  “Apparently so,” Hal replied.

  Gabe was laughing as he leaned over Leah and kissed her hand. Leah occupied a settee and appeared...well, as though she had increased significantly. Her fiery temperament matched her red hair, making her the perfect woman to keep her brother content since she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him when the need arose. Until she had come along, Gabe had wondered if there was a woman in the country capable of meeting Hal’s exacting standards.

  “Welcome home, Gabe.” Leah smiled at him. “How were the final exams?”

  “Over with, thank the Lord.”

  “I’m sure you upheld the family honour.”

  “Am I’m not sure of any such thing,” he replied, wincing. “My two brothers covered themselves in glory, blast them. That’s not an easy path to follow.”

  “Nevertheless, we know you applied yourself. We saw little enough of you during the season because your studies kept you from us.”

  That wasn’t precisely true but Gabe didn’t set Leah straight. He was acutely conscious of Beth seated beside Garman, talking quietly with him. It was difficult for Gabe to think of Leah and Beth as sisters. Leah was lively and intelligent. Beth was serene, thoughtful and the most beautiful woman Gabe had ever seen. Dressed in a becoming shade of green, her eyes alight with laughter at something Garman had just said to her, Gabe wondered if he’d lost his senses by not snapping her up. Except he wasn’t ready for commitment yet and was even less sure about his feelings for his lovely sister-in-law.

  Beth’s gaze kept flitting towards him, reminding him that he couldn’t delay the moment.

  “Beth.” Gabe took her hand and brushed his lips across the back of it. “How did you enjoy your season?”

  “Thank you, it was interesting.” Beth’s face was an unreadable mask and Gabe wondered what she meant by interesting.

  “Interesting?” Leah quirked a brow. “Beth, that’s an understatement if ever I heard one. You were a sensation.”

  Beth laughed. “Hardly that.”

  “Garman.” Gabe nodded at his rival, if that was what he actually was. Garman, a man several years older than Gabe, smiled and seemed perfectly at his ease. Dark-haired and darker-eyed, he was an intellectual, as was Beth in many respects. Gabe told himself that was a good thing.

  “Forster,” Garman returned affably. “Hope Cambridge didn’t grind you down. It can do that to a fellow if he doesn’t have a care.”

  “As you can see, I survived—just.”

  “And now your head is full of my horses,” Hal said.

  “Absolutely, I was thinking, Hal, that if we—”

  The door opened and Gabe’s words trailed off as he, along with everyone else, turned towards it expecting to see Rob stride in. Instead, Potter preceded a young lady he’d never thought to see beneath this roof ever again.

  “Lady Julia Forster, my lord,” Potter said impassively to Hal.

  Gabe glanced at his brother, who looked as bemused as Gabe felt. What the devil was his thirteen-year-old half-sister doing here?

  “Julia?” Hal walked towards her.

  The child lifted her chin in the rebellious gesture Gabe remembered all too well. “Mama said I was to come and stay because she’s had to go away and someone has to look after me.”

  “You came alone?” Hal asked.

  “My governess is with me.”

  “Where is your mother?”

  “She said to give you this.” Julia thrust a letter at Hal and then sat down, looking more unsure of herself than defiant now.

  Hal read the letter quickly, placed a hand on Gabe’s shoulder and led him farther away from the rest of the party so as not to be overheard. He passed the letter to Gabe, muttering an expletive beneath his breath.

  Hal,

  I have been called away. I’m sure you can work out for yourself why my hasty departure from these shores has become so pressing. I’ve been offered an opportunity to discharge my debts by doing a service for our mutual friend. This demeaning task would not have been necessary if you had...however, I see little point in raking over old coals.

  Julia will be no trouble. In any event, she ought to know her family better and will be of use to Leah when the baby’s born. She loves children.

  Cynthia Denby.

  Gabe handed the letter back to Hal. “Of all the damned nerve. What a letter to write, to say nothing of dumping Julia on us uninvited. Our stepmother has never pleased anyone except herself, but she’s gone too far this time. What do you think she’s playing at, Hal?”

  “I didn’t pay her gambling debts. Pallister bought up her vowels and is obviously using her in some way in lieu of payment.” Hal rubbed his chin.

  “If what I hear is true, Pallister has managed to cling to power, in spite of the damage our brother-in-law inflicted on his reputation.”

  Their sister Flick’s husband, Darius Grantley, was a barrister who’d recently defended two young men who were accused, literally, of highway robbery. Darius had effected their acquittal by proving the Marquess of Pallister’s only son to be the true culprit—and making Pallister a sworn enemy of the Forster family in the process.

  “Yes, and now he’s recovered his position, he’ll be out to revenge himself on the Forsters. Whatever he’s asked Lady Denby to do, it won’t reflect well on us.”

  “Still, there was no reason for her to send Julia here. Presumably she leaves her in Hampshire with her governess when she’s away from home. Why change her routine?”

  “Her petty revenge on me for not paying her debts, I presume.”

&nb
sp; “Or,” Leah added softly, walking up to join them, “Lady Denby intends to make her absence a lengthy one and has closed her house down in order to economise.”

  “You shouldn’t be on your feet,” Hal said, guiding her back towards her couch.

  “Do stop fussing, Hal,” Leah replied. “I’m perfectly able to stand up without your help.”

  “Even so, oblige me.”

  “God’s teeth, let’s hope Leah isn’t right,” Gabe said in an undertone. “That letter makes it sound as though she wants you to feel guilty for failing her, Hal. What shall you do?”

  “I don’t know. Start by trying to teach the child some manners, I suppose.” Hal spoke so quietly that Julia, seated farther away beside Beth, couldn’t overhear him. “Damn it, I don’t need Leah upset like this.”

  “Leah appears far less agitated than you are.”

  “And my hearing isn’t impaired by my condition, gentlemen,” Leah said, having resumed her seat a short distance away from them. “Please don’t talk about me as though I’m not in the room.”

  “Forgive me, m’dear.” Hal’s voice softened as he bent to kiss his wife’s brow. “However, you would understand our agitation better if you knew what Julia’s capable of. Speaking of which...” He turned towards the child and raised his voice. “Julia, you’ve neglected to pay your respects to your family. And this gentleman is Mr. Garman.”

  The child chewed her lower lip as Hal focused a steady gaze on her, saying nothing more. She curtsied to Leah and Garman but made do with merely nodding in Gabe’s direction.

  “Did your mother tell you when to expect her back?” Beth asked.

  “No. But I’m sure she won’t leave me for too long,” Julia said, sounding anything but sure.

  “Ring the bell, Beth, if you please,” Leah said. “I expect Gabe and Julia would like some tea.”

  “And cakes,” Julia said. “I’m very hungry.”

  “Did you not have lunch?” Leah asked.

  “No, Mama said we had to get here as fast as we could and that we were not to waste money on the way.”