by Tinnean
“Who?”
“The boy you almost ran down? Do you even know who he is?”
There was derision in his voice, and I felt the color drain from my cheeks. A handful of moments. That was all the time I’d had to hope.
“His name is Burt Johnson,” I said tonelessly. “He’s five years old. You’re right. I could have—”
“Ash, I’m sorry. There was no need for me to rip up at you like that. I was… I didn’t like the idea of you seeing Ned Moore.”
“I only met him the one time, Geo.” I stroked his cheek. Colonel Whittemore hadn’t seemed anxious for our paths to cross, although he and I had on occasion spoken of horseflesh. “I didn’t even know his surname.”
Geo turned his head to my palm and pressed a kiss to it. “I’m sorry,” he said yet again. “The thought that you might have found another while I was gone….”
“But you told me I couldn’t,” I dared to tease, dared to hope once more. “No, no, don’t kiss me!”
“Why not? Oh, because you vomited? Well, then, that can be remedied.” He poured some liquid into a glass from the bottle that was on the bedside table. “Here. Take a swallow.”
I did as he bid and then raised my face and waited expectantly.
“Ah, Ash. I have missed you.”
“I’ve missed you also. Thank you for your letters. They were—”
His lips were warm, and I leaned into his kiss. It had been such a while…. But then he drew back.
“No, you’re not to distract me. Ashton, Jem said you were riding neck or nothing. He was terrified you’d break your neck.”
“I’m sure it was a huge disappointment to everyone when I didn’t.”
He moved so fast that I found him looming above me. His fingers were tight on my shoulders, and he gave me a shake. I held my breath, uncertain if that action would drive my stomach toward upheaval.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry! Do you need the basin?”
“No.” I breathed shallowly, then sighed in relief. “No, I’m quite all right.” He shook me again. “I say!”
“I was terrified you’d broke your neck!”
“Were you?” I raised my palm to his cheek again and murmured, “You need to shave,” and the look he cast my way was exasperated. “They blame me, you know. At least Arabella does. She’s positive I took the Flame of Diabul, even though I was standing beside her the entire time. Neither Aunt Cecily nor your father seemed inclined to take my part—”
“That never bothered you before.”
“Because I never permitted them to be aware of how they’d hurt me?” I bit my lip. I was a man, and head of the household. I didn’t want Geo to see me as a whining member of the infantry. “Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, lamb.” Geo settled himself beside me on the bed again, and I rested my head on his shoulder.
“What was young Burt doing in that part of the estate?”
“He and his friends were playing Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men.”
“Oh?” I felt my heart sink. “And who was Burt?”
“Why, Robin Hood! Who did you think?”
“I was always made to be the Sheriff of Nottingham or Guy of Gisbourne.”
“What, always?” A dark flush colored his cheeks. “It’s a pity John and Robert Hood are already dead. I should like nothing better than to plant them both a facer!”
“Geo, is it possible William survived?” I cradled the pleasure of his defense to me, but knew better than to express my gratitude aloud.
“More than possible.” He tipped my chin up and studied my eyes for a moment. “The reason why I went to America was to discover the brothers’ whereabouts and wrest the Flame from them.”
“But why?”
“Don’t you know? For you!”
“Truly?” I rubbed my cheek against his hand, where it rested on my shoulder.
“Well, certainly not for me! I’d heard their praises sung from the time they came to live here; I bloody well could have lived without meeting the paragons in the flesh!”
“Perfection gets tiring, doesn’t it? So you learned that they’re dead?”
“Robert and John are. William is alive, and I’ve brought him back to England. He didn’t have the Flame.”
“No, he’d traded it for a horse to return to his brothers.”
Geo looked startled.
“Your father told us.”
He shook his head, murmuring something as he dropped a kiss in my hair, then sighed. “I’m loath to be the one to tell you this, but the stone is still missing.”
“What matter if it’s paste?”
“What?”
“Aunt Cecily said as much.”
“They have been busy, haven’t they?” He didn’t sound pleased. “Well—”
“Although I must say I fail to see what Robert hoped to gain by absconding with it.”
“Apparently Hood had been aware from the start of the matter that Lady Cecily had sold the Flame to a wealthy American via his agent. According to the letter he wrote her, he was in the cupboard in the playroom—something about searching for a toy soldier to bury—and overheard the entire affair.”
“The playroom?” I imagined that made some sort of sense. It was out of the way, and it was unlikely the servants would have intruded on them. “But when was this?”
“Almost twelve years ago. The duplicate of the Flame was given her at the same time.”
And of course Robert never breathed a word of it to anyone, not even his beloved brothers.
“But then Sir Eustace managed to have the entail broken.” I recalled how pale Aunt Cecily had become the night the Flame was taken, when the message arrived from Sir Eustace stating his intention of selling the Flame.
“Yes. Hood knew that it would go ill with Lady Cecily.”
As it did in spite of Robert’s action.
“And so Robert staged the theft.”
“And went haring off to retrieve the real Flame.”
My shoulders slumped. “Yes, that’s precisely what he would do. Ah, Geo, you must be so very disappointed.”
“Wh… why? Ashton, what are you talking about?”
“I’d never do anything to compare with Robert’s gesture.” Truth to tell, I’d been too wary of Sir Eustace to do much that would draw his attention to me.
Geo said nothing, staring at me as if he’d never beheld me before, and I felt my heart sink. Of course he had come to… to have some affection for me, but to have it made plain what a coward I was…. I waited for him to tell me he was leaving, that he’d never return, that the debt could go hang.
Finally, he spoke. “Let me see if I have this correct. You would never make off with a counterfeit jewel or attempt to retrieve the original.”
“No.”
“However, what you would do is take on a whipping that would have left Lady Cecily seriously injured. You would remain behind to look to the welfare of your people. You would shoulder a debt left by a dissolute bounder.”
“Geo, you’re giving me more credit than I deserve. This is my legacy. I could no more abandon Fayerweather than I could….” I frowned, unable to think of anything.
“Precisely.” And he kissed me.
I WAS again settled comfortably against Geo’s shoulder when my stomach rumbled, reminding me it had been some time since breakfast. “What’s the time?”
Geo took out his pocket watch. “It lacks an hour until dinner.”
“Truly?” I stared at him, nonplussed. “I was unconscious for that long?”
“Indeed, and quite frightened me out of my wits. Are you feeling well enough to go down?”
I tested my limbs cautiously. There was a twinge in my knee, but other than that I felt surprisingly well. “Yes, although I may need to lean upon you.”
“Lean away. I’ll ring for Kincaid.” He got off the bed and crossed to the bellpull.
“Geo, what is this?” I realized that articles of his clothing were scatt
ered about my chamber.
Color tinged his cheeks. “’Tis nothing. I wanted to make sure you hadn’t taken grievous hurt.”
So he’d stayed, keeping watch over me? I flushed with pleasure. “Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
I smiled. Did he truly think I wouldn’t? “When did you get here?”
“I was just tooling up in the phaeton when you came storming out of the manor.”
“I’d just missed you? Oh, Geo, a fine welcome for you.”
“Even worse was when they brought you home on a shutter.”
“I’m so dreadfully sorry!”
“No matter. As long as you’re alive, it—” There was a tap on the door, and Geo went to it. “Ah, Kincaid.”
“Sir Ashton?” The man actually sounded concerned.
“Yes, he’s with us once more. We’ll need water for shaving.”
“And for bathing, also,” I called.
Kincaid poked his head around Geo. “I’m glad to see you’re more the thing, sir.”
“Th… thank you!”
“Shall I tell her ladyship you’ll both be down for dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Very good, sir. I’ve lain out your dinner clothes, Mr. Geo, and when I return, I’ll see to Sir Ashton’s.”
“Splendid. Thank you.” Geo closed the door and turned to me.
“You’re looking very solemn, sir.” I patted the bed beside me. “Come join me.”
He limped toward the bed but hesitated. “Ashton, I’ve no wish to distress you, but… but I find I must ask you something.”
“Yes?”
“Is… is Burt your by-blow?”
I couldn’t help myself. I burst into laughter. “Have you seen Mrs. Johnson?”
“Don’t be difficult. You’ve said yourself the boy is only five. You could easily have fathered him on a young lady and given him to the Johnsons.”
“I suppose I could have, but the truth of the matter is I didn’t. I’ve never lain with a woman. Why would you think such a thing?”
“Perhaps because he bears such a resemblance to you?”
“Do you think so? He could more easily be one of Sir Eustace’s. He was in the petticoat line, not I.”
“You’re being deliberately obtuse.”
“I’m not, Geo. Of course I noticed the resemblance, but I could hardly bring Sir Eustace’s by-blow to live here in Laytham Hall. I’ll do the best I can for him, but it would not be fair to the boy to let him have a taste of manor life, only to apprentice him to Mr. Ruston or to Giffard.”
“So one day you’ll marry?”
“If I wish to leave Fayerweather to a legitimate heir? I have no choice, although it will go hard on the lady who settles for me.”
“‘Settles’?”
“The estate is heavily entailed. Even if it weren’t, I’ve no taste for Town life. Unless she had money of her own, she’d perforce have to remain here. What father would allow his daughter to wed into such circumstances?”
“If you married a Cit’s daughter?”
“It may come to that, and if it does, he could well want to have a hand in the running of Fayerweather.”
“And you wouldn’t permit that?”
“You must understand. I’ll have already made so many concessions….”
“I could advance you whatever sums were needed.”
“No, Geo. I’m so indebted to you—”
“I’ve a message for you, lamb. I’m plump enough in the pocket that a few hundred guineas here or there won’t make a difference!” He smiled at me, and for a moment I couldn’t catch my breath.
“Will it… will it bother you?”
“You being leg-shackled? What have I to say in it? As you’ve pointed out, you must have an heir.” He looked resigned.
Was this how Ned felt? Was this why he was going to India?
“Blister it!” I growled. I seized Geo’s shoulders and pulled him against me. “Once she’s given me an heir, I’ll find the ready to set her up in a house in London or Bath or Brighton, wherever she wants. I won’t let her come between us!” The kiss was bruising, my teeth hard on his lips and my tongue demanding entrance to his mouth, which he gave readily, his arm about my neck, holding me close. I broke away finally to give us both an opportunity to breathe. “Will you… do you…?”
He ran his palm over my cheek, letting his fingertips trace the curve of my jaw.
“Well, of course I do!”
DINNER, THANKFULLY, was over.
It had been an uncomfortable affair, with Aunt Cecily frequently averting her gaze from the gouges on my cheek.
Conversation was desultory; for the most part, Arabella gushed on about where she and William would reside, naming the most fashionable neighborhoods in London, while William grew silent and thoughtful.
Might he be having second thoughts? I wondered snidely.
Well, perhaps Aunt Cecily would give him what remained of the price of the Flame.
Finally, the last cover was removed, and the ladies left us to our port.
“I must say your return to Fayerweather comes as something of a surprise to me, William.” I took a walnut from the dish at the center of the table and cracked it neatly between my fingers.
I caught Geo watching my fingers. When his eyes raised to mine, they were hungry, and I lost track of the conversation.
He swallowed a smile and nudged my ankle under the table.
“I beg your pardon, William. You were saying?”
“Mr. Stephenson gave me no choice.”
“Eh?” Geo’s father looked startled. “What had I—oh, you mean George!”
Geo observed them ironically. “I thought Laytham was due an explanation.”
“Of course.” There was reluctant acceptance in William’s voice. “You must understand. Robin did what he did for Aunt Cecily. At first neither John nor I could fathom his reasoning—”
“And yet you were both willing to shoulder the responsibility.”
“But of course! He was our brother!”
“Of course.”
“He was quite cross with us, claimed we were attempting to steal his thunder…. Well, you know his droll wit. Once we were on the Peregrine Falcon he explained the entire thing.”
“Why go to America? Why not the Continent?”
“Robin had some idea of discovering the whereabouts of the American who’d bought the Flame, of talking the man into letting him buy it back.”
“May I ask where he intended to find £10,000?”
“Oh, he devised a grand scheme. We would take employment that would put us in contact with men of wealth.”
“Of all the mutton-headed—”
“No, it worked! They paid no heed to what they said before us, and using the information they unwittingly let fall, we were able to amass a tidy fortune.” He reached for his glass and took a sip. “Unfortunately, the man’s wife was enamored of the Flame and refused to part with it.”
“What did Robert do?”
“He began paying court to Mrs. Van—to the wife’s maid. Once he discovered where the Flame was kept, it didn’t take very long to replace it with the counterfeit.”
“Then….” I swallowed. “Then the stone we have is the actual Flame? Geo, I… I can’t remember where I left it!”
“Never fear. It was in the pocket of your trousers. I placed it in your dresser.” He paused to scowl at William. “Hood never saw fit to divulge that bit of information.”
“Why would I, when it was no longer in my possession?”
Geo’s scowl darkened, but I breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn’t mattered when I’d thought the stone was paste, but now that I knew the genuine article was once again in my possession….
“I wish I knew to whom Sir Eustace intended to sell it.”
“Is that all you care about?” William was clearly put out.
“Yes. Ten thousand pounds will see all the farms and cottages in repair, Giffard will
have the equipment he’s had in mind, the stud will have its stallion—”
“No, Ash.” Geo interrupted my reverie of the splendor of that. “You need to keep the Flame for your son.”
“Eh? Awful’s managed to romance some deluded lady?”
“Don’t call him that!” The look he sent William’s way was deadly.
“And we’re talking about the future.” I was touched by Geo’s defense of me.
“Huh.” William hunched a shoulder and turned from me pointedly to resume his tale. “We left New York immediately, making our way West, trusting the Com—the man wouldn’t realize the stone had been switched. Robin said many vanished without a trace beyond the Mississippi, and so would we. Eventually, he said, we’d find a port—New Orleans, perhaps—with a ship sailing for home, and—”
“But you didn’t.”
“No. We heard of the unrest in Texas, and Robin—” William glanced at Mr. Stephenson. “You recall his spirit, sir?”
“Indeed.” Mr. Stephenson’s upper lip quivered for a moment.
“We arrived in San Antonio early in February. At first John and I didn’t think it would be a hopeless venture, but then Colonel Travis drew that line in the dust and asked all who would stay to cross over. Robin was the first.”
“Brave lad!” Mr. Stephenson averred.
Foolish was more like, but I said nothing.
“Of course the mission fell. We were less than two hundred, and the Mexicans… there they were, as far as the eye could see, and we’d no sooner shoot one down than twenty would be there to replace him. It was like that… that Greek myth of the warriors raised from the teeth of the dragon? There was no hope. Colonel Travis was desperate, and wanted someone to ride to General Houston’s headquarters. Robin shoved me forward. ‘He’s the lightest,’ he said. ‘He’ll get the most speed from his horse.’ But it was useless. General Houston wouldn’t send more men.”
“And that was when you traded the Flame for a horse to return to the Alamo.”
“Yes. I rode that horse to death, but I was too late. By the time I returned….” His voice trembled, and he needed a moment to collect himself. “That bastard Santa Ana had ordered the dead defenders to be stacked like cord wood and burned. I managed to slip into the mission while the Mexican army was caring for their own wounded. I found my brothers in the long barracks. John had blanketed Robin’s body with his own, and his back was riddled with wounds. Robin’s shoulder was a bloody mess, but it was the bullet between his eyes that killed him.”
