by Marie Brown
Leena was dismayed. "A ball? But all I know is country dancing. . ."
"That's easy enough to fix! Come on," and Varley leapt up, extending his hand. Leena took it, unsure but willing, and he led her to the open space between the back of the couch and the window. He frowned at the bearskin on the floor. "This won't do." He kicked it aside. "Much better. Now, there are four basic movements to all the courtly dances. . ."
As Leena laughed and stumbled through her dance lesson, Camryn cleared the dishes and settled on a stool to watch, gray eyes troubled. After a while, he rose and went outside.
"We shall have to practice more, of course," Varley said at last, "but I think you shall do wonderfully." He escorted Leena on his arm to the couch, where she sat gratefully. Dancing this way was fun, but her feet hurt. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go see what's become of Cam."
The two men were gone for quite some time. Leena busied herself cleaning the dishes from their noon meal. She smiled at the memory of getting caught that first day by the servants. She had not known servants came to clean Varley's hunting lodge on a daily basis, and they had been unaware of her presence there. Once they believed that she was a guest and not an intruder, they had been scandalized that she had washed the dishes. They had chased her out, gently but firmly, to complete the rest of the cleaning.
Done with the dishes, Leena found herself a book and curled up in her favorite chair. She hoped Varley would figure out whatever was wrong with Camryn. She hadn't missed the sad, brooding look the man wore while watching them dance.
It was late afternoon before the men returned. Leena was relieved to see them. The closer the sun dipped toward the horizon, the more she had worried.
Varley stayed overnight that night, and the one after. As he left, he promised to return again as soon as he could.
Leena's head felt stuffed full to bursting. There was so much work to being a Lady! And so much of it pure nonsense, too. Camryn and Varley had both been schooling her nonstop when they were around. Do this, don't do that; Ladies never sit like that! Even her name required some effort to remember. True, her mother had named her Lenalla at her birth, but she had never used the name before. Everyone had always called her Leena. And then came the riding. Varley had produced sidesaddle, crop, and mare early on and proceeded to instruct her ruthlessly until her knees were rubbed raw and her rear extremely tender. But she was now capable of remaining on top of the horse, as well as telling it to start and stop. She wondered if she would survive all the things she had to learn, just to get a bit of revenge by making the Baroness look a fool.
Chapter 5
Leena's grand debut at the ball came about swiftly. She hoped she was ready as they entered the ballroom. The herald at the door introduced the Lord Varley, and then gave her name as Lady Lenalla. Every eye in the room turned to see her, but she had eyes only for the Baroness where she sat on the dais. Her face mirrored her thoughts clearly. Curiosity gave way to puzzlement, then outrage flashed across her face as she placed Leena as the exiled kennel girl. Leena allowed herself a small triumphant smile as Varley led her into the milling crowd of people. She would remember the look on the Lady's face for a long time. Throughout the evening Leena was aware of hate-filled glances directed her way, from not only the Lady Eliana, but a small group of young women. Presumably they were the hopeful brides. But Varley remained by her side. He refused to relinquish her to other partners, which was interpreted as a touching display of devotion. During the intermission, while the musicians rested, Varley was accosted by a Lord who refused to let him escape. Leena tried to remain with Camryn, who was attending the ball on the strength of being the young Lord's best friend, but it was no use. The Lady Eliana plucked her away from Camryn with ease, and the excuse that she must get to know her son's chosen Lady in private. Leena followed her into a parlor off the main hall.
"What do you think you are doing?" The Lady's voice hissed furiously. Leena smirked at her, enjoying the sight of Eliana's rage. "How dare you show your face here again, and on my son's arm no less? You are no highborn, merely kennel trash! You have no right—"
"And yet, you were perfectly willing to see me on your son's arm when it was your idea. What troubles you now, Lady? That your son has interest in a mere commoner, or that the situation is out of your control?"
"Ha!" The Lady straightened, no longer looming over Leena like a hawk stooping on prey. "The situation, as you call it, is and will remain under my control. You shall do as I planned for you all along. Varley will wed a suitable bride, and by such I do not mean a lowly servant girl."
Leena laughed. "And how do you suppose I will cooperate? I was unwilling to harm Varley when I didn't know him, and now that I do what makes you think I will betray him?"
"This!" Quick as a striking snake, Eliana grabbed Leena's wrist and peeled back her long elegant glove. The mark of a convicted thief, incongruous amidst the fine furnishings of the parlor, gleamed with the shine of fresh scar tissue in the lamplight. "One word from me, and you are exposed as a thief and a liar! You will cooperate with me. You must, or risk all."
Leena's smile faltered a bit, but she managed another laugh. "And it all comes down to this, your word against your son's. He has collected quite a bit of information—"
The transformation of Lady into snarling beast caught Leena off-guard. Leena found herself pinned against the wall, gasping and struggling to break the Lady's grasp on her throat. The woman possessed a remarkably strong grip for one who lived a life of ease.
"What has he found? What does he know? Tell me now, fool girl! You tread upon dangerous ground."
"I—will tell—you—nothing!" Leena gasped, wondering what secret the Lady held. It must surely be terrible to provoke such a violent response. With a furious wrench she broke Eliana's grip. The two women glared at each other. Then Leena straightened her hair and smoothed the lace at the front of her gown.
"I suggest you keep in mind what I just said before you try to 'expose' me." She favored the Baroness with a cool look and swept regally from the room.
Returning to the relative safety of the ballroom, she spotted Varley hovering anxiously near the open door.
"Where have you been?" He grasped her hand urgently, raising it to his lips for the benefit of those watching.
"Your mother wished to speak to me privately, my Lord." Her voice trembled. Varley looked at her sharply, concerned. Then his eyes flicked to her neck and widened.
"My mother can be a bit. . . intense," he said casually. "Perhaps my Lady would care to join me on the balcony?"
She nodded. "Fresh air would be welcome, my Lord." He offered his arm and led her upstairs to the gallery and its series of balconies overlooking the gardens. The first balcony was occupied, so they continued to the end of the long walk and took possession of the last balcony. The cool night air was welcome after the closeness of the ballroom, with its gaslights, chandelieres, and guests burning with curiosity and dislike of the unknown Lady Lenalla.
"What happened to you?" Varley asked urgently as he slipped an arm about her shoulders in a loverly fashion.
"Your mother tried to blackmail me into betraying you," she murmured, resting her head against his shoulder.
"What!"
"And then she went mad when I hinted that you had incriminating material against her. What is going on here, my Lord?"
"She did what? Did she harm you? I saw the marks around your neck." Anxiety darkened his green eyes, and he touched her throat gently, easing away the memory of those grasping fingers.
"She tried to strangle me. Varley, I'd say there's something more going on here than just a loving mother wishing to see her only son happily married. What is she up to?"
"I do not know," Varley said grimly, "but I intend to find out. I have long suspected that she is up to no good. I would rather the confirmation had not come at risk to you, but what's done is done. I think we should return now, dance a few dances, and then I shall escort you and Camry
n back home. We have stayed here long enough. This grows too dangerous for my liking."
Leena shuddered. "Mine too. I thought it would be so fun, just being able to spite the Baroness—I had no clue she would fight back. I should have realized." She sighed, then they returned to the ball.
After spinning with hard won grace through the figures of two dances, Leena spotted Camryn standing by the food tables. He looked upset.
"There's Cam," she murmured. "Shall we go now?"
"Indeed." Varley led her off the floor to join Camryn, with a pause along the way to ask a servant to have their coach readied.
"Varley, we must leave!" he began urgently.
"What—No, not now." Varley's eyes darkened again with worry, and Leena could feel how badly he wanted to reach out to Cam. "The coach should be waiting out front. Let us be off now."
Walking tall and proud, with Camryn trailing anxiously behind, they made their way out of the ballroom. Every eye focused upon them by the time they reached the door. Varley halted, swept his gaze over the crowd. Then he nodded once and they set off- through the double doors of the ballroom, across the wide hallway, and out the double doors to the outside. With exquisite timing, the carriage rolled up just as they reached the driveway. A footman assisted Leena inside, the men followed, and then they were safely away. When the coach rolled through the gates of the manor and away from torches and prying eyes, Varley dropped his calm exterior.
"What happened, Cam?" He was away from Leena like an arrow from a bow, to join Camryn on the other seat. Cam sighed with relief and sagged against his shoulder. Leena smothered a highly inappropriate giggle at the sight of the larger man leaning on the smaller.
"Your mother's up to something," he said. "I was out in the gardens, trying to clear my head after dancing with old Widow Mayfield—her perfume gave me a headache—when I was surrounded by men, wearing a livery I didn't recognize. The leader of them told me that we were all playing with something best left alone. He threatened me, Varley, said he knew all about us and would go public with it if we didn't stop. What is going on here?"
Varley frowned and ran a hand through his carefully combed hair, rumpling it. "I think we may have stumbled onto something much worse than we ever believed possible," he said thoughtfully. He shifted until his arm was around Camryn, and related the tale of Leena's experience.
"I think we should do something about this," Camryn said, after a thoughtful pause. "Obviously she is up to no good. I want to know what it is, and why people are threatening us. If I'm going to have the threat of burning shoved in my face, I damn well want to know why."
"Agreed. I think it's time for some action. I trust you will not protest if I bring Ratboy in on this?"
Camryn grimaced. "No. I know, it is necessary. But if he so much as lays a hand on you—"
Varley smiled and stroked Cam's hair soothingly. "You have nothing to fear, and you know it."
"Ratboy?" Leena asked, unable to contain her curiosity. Cam made a face at her from his position on Varley's shoulder.
"Another of Varley's. . . friends." He smiled, a wry twist of the mouth. "He truly is a thief, and a sneak. Varley saved him from hanging a bit ago."
"What Cam doesn't mention is that Ratboy is also a highly talented spy capable of finding out what color the High Prelate's underwear are and determined to convince me that he'd be a much better partner for me than Cam."
Camryn glowered. "Stupid man."
"Hardly stupid, just. . . delusional. But I think I'll pay him a visit tonight."
"Tonight? Must you?"
"Hush now Cam, the sooner we get this cleared up the better. I'll be back. Now, what would you two say to visiting my estate for a while?"
"You have an estate?" Leena was surprised. How many homes did one man need, anyway?
"I do. It is a day's ride out from the manor, making it rather inconvenient but a good place for privacy. I'm not supposed to use it until I am married, but given the current assumptions about my choice of wife, I'm sure that will be overlooked."
"What's the point of moving us out there?" Camryn asked, raising his head.
"To keep you safe, of course."
"But if everyone knows you've opened up Blackthorn, how will we be safe?"
"Hmm. Good question." Varley lapsed into thoughtful silence. "We'll just have to see what news Ratboy brings us. Perhaps it's all nothing, just a screen to hide that my lady mother is having an affair."
Leena shivered with a strong sense of foreboding. Somehow, she was sure it was far more than that.
Chapter 6
"So you're the kennel girl."
Leena jumped. Ashley leapt up and began growling, hackles raised. A slender man dressed all in shades of deep gray stood on the porch, where she had been enjoying the sunlight and a book. Suddenly she was glad Cam had insisted Ashley remain home to guard her.
"She will do more good for you than me," he had said. "I only need her to scent anything unusual, not to defend my life."
"And who might you be?"
"Come on, use your brain, girl. Who else could I be, but the one and only Ratboy?"
"No wonder Cam doesn't like you," she muttered. "So, Ratboy. What do you here? Have you news?"
The insolent grin vanished from his face, replaced by a dark frown. "That I do, girl. When will Varley return here? I dare not go to him at the Baron's manor."
A thrill of fear coursed through Leena. She became aware that Ashley still rumbled with a menacing growl. "Lay down, Ash." The hound cast her a reproachful look, then sank smoothly to the floor. Her eyes continued to glare at Ratboy, who ignored them thoroughly. Her growl subsided to an almost subliminal mutter. "He should be here this afternoon. What is your news?"
"I'll tell you this much now, you're all in danger."
No, really? Leena thought. I hadn't guessed that from all the threats. "I know that," she said impatiently. "The question is, what kind of danger? and why?"
"You have to wait, and so will that twit Camryn when he shows up." He leaned against one of the supports for the porch roof, grinning insolently once more.
"Lay off Camryn." Leena glared. She wasn't too impressed with this man, despite his rakish good looks and overabundance of personality.
"Never, dear kennel girl." He laughed as she bristled at the insulting tone. "I have a message for you, by the way. Ferrin was devastated by your disappearance, and wishes you well."
Leena grew hot, then cold all over. She hadn't even thought of Ferrin since her first day away. "Tell him that I am doing well," she said softly. "And thank you."
She gazed off into the distance, thinking of the young man who might have been her husband if her situation had not changed so drastically. Funny, but she did not feel any particular sense of loss- she must not have cared about him as much as she thought she had.
A sound startled her and Ashley at the same time. Breaking out of her memories, Leena saw Camryn approaching from the forest trail. His open, friendly expression closed like a slammed door when he spotted Ratboy.
"Hello, Leena," he said, joining them on the porch. "And how was your day?"
"Fine, and yours?" She grinned as Ratboy shifted, plainly irritated.
"It was excellent. Until now." He flicked a pointed glance at the younger man, who glowered in return. Then Ratboy's grin returned.
"Hello, Camryn," he said heartily. "Someone's really got it in for you, old man."
"Oh really? That's interesting news, boy." Camryn moved gracefully to the wooden chair beside Leena. "Quite fascinating, really- I would never have expected anything of the sort."
Ratboy's grin didn't waver. Neither did his hard eyes shift their gaze from Camryn. "But I'll bet you'll be surprised by who. And why, and what they plan. . ."
"And I suppose you're going to expect me to get all upset now." Cam yawned. "And then you'll laugh and taunt me with your secret knowledge until Varley arrives, and then you'll tell him once again how he'd be better off
without me. . . Very well then, get on with it. We haven't got all day."
"You are more right than you know." Ratboy's grin took on a vulpine quality. "But you are right, nothing will come out until Varley is here. So if you'll excuse me, I think I'll just go have a nap. I was up late last night, you know." He sauntered into the lodge. Ashley growled louder as he passed. Leena felt like doing the same.
"That boy is insufferable," Camryn muttered as the door thumped shut. "But necessary."
Cam and Leena passed the time pleasantly enough, talking quietly and waiting for Varley. They were both beginning to worry when he finally turned up, as the sun dipped slowly below the horizon.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, swinging off his horse. He pulled its bridle off, loosened the girth, and set it loose in the paddock. "I was delayed. What's wrong?"
"Inside, on the bed," Cam grunted sourly. Varley arched a brow and went inside. They followed.
"Wake up, you lazy bag of bones!" Varley grinned at the sprawled figure on the bed. Ratboy sat up, suddenly and completely awake.
"About damn time you got here, Varley. Where've you been?"
"I was detained. Have you news for us?"
"I do." Now that Varley was present, Ratboy's attitude was entirely different.
"Shall we sit, then?"
They arranged themselves on the couch and chairs. Camryn took his accustomed place at Varley's side, shooting Ratboy a glare as he settled in.
"Well? Will you tell us your news now?" Varley looked surprised at Leena's acid tone.
"Of course, dear." Ratboy smirked. Leena growled. "Well, it would seem that you three have stirred up a hornet's nest this time."
"So tell us! What is she up to?" Cam looked ready to tie the young man in knots.
"Please," Varley said. Only one word, but Camryn subsided and Ratboy lost his grin.
"Okay, here's how it is. The Baroness is in debt. So far, in fact, that the barony coffers are not likely to ever recover. Lucky for you, Var, she can't touch your personal stash." Jaws dropped all around. "She has been gambling and drugging it all away for years now, and it's come time to pay her debts. Her plan was to marry you off to a rich girl, one with enough money to cover all her debts. But her creditors are tired of waiting. The Organization has been putting pressure on her, trying to get money out of her. She's borrowed all she can from friends, and is getting desperate. She's worked a new deal with one of her gambling buddies, Lord Orlen. You marry his daughter, she gets the money. Orlen takes over the Barony."
