‘Yes. Thank you. It will be our third child.’ His smile remained, but there was a spiteful note in his voice as he added, ‘My wife breeds like a sow. We expect no still births in our family.’
Zelah’s hands went immediately to her stomach, as if to protect herself from the cruel blow. Feeling sick and disgusted, she turned away, grateful to hear her brother-in-law’s cheerful voice close at hand.
‘There you are, my dear. Maria is not yet downstairs so I shall carry you off to dance in her stead.’
‘I’ll dance with you, Reginald, with pleasure!’ Zelah accepted with alacrity and went off, determined to forget Timothy Lerryn.
* * *
Despite his duties as host, Dominic found his eyes drawn constantly to Zelah. He watched her dance with her brother-in-law, then Colonel Deakin led her out, and finally Jasper.
Dominic watched his brother taking Zelah down the dance. How had he ever thought her an insignificant little thing? She was the most elegant woman in the room. Her only ornament was the string of fine pearls around her neck, but she outshone the other ladies with their flashing jewels. He was standing beside Lady Andrews, who saw his concentrated gaze and gave a little chuckle.
‘Lord Markham appears quite taken with young Miss Pentewan. I am not well acquainted with her, but she seems a pleasant, well-mannered gel.’ There was a pause. ‘She is employed here, I understand, as your archivist?’
‘That is correct, ma’am.’
‘How unusual. And, may I say, very daring.’
‘Oh?’ He frowned. ‘How is that? Why do you call it daring?’
Lady Andrews fluttered her fan nervously. ‘Oh well, perhaps I am old-fashioned,’ she tittered. ‘Sir Arthur says he sees no objection, but to have an unmarried lady employed in a bachelor’s establishment...’
‘I have several housemaids working here. They are unmarried—do you consider them at risk, too?’ he countered bluntly.
‘Oh, no, no, Major, of course not—’ She broke off, flustered, then gathered herself and came back to say brightly, ‘And you have your sister staying here, so there can be no objection, can there?’
Dominic forced himself to smile before he moved away. He had known from the outset there would be gossip, but he had ignored the voice of caution and hired the girl, wanting only to help her. He had thought only the meanest of tabbies would consider there was anything improper in the situation. After all, she did not live at Rooks Tower and he had a house full of female servants, so there should be no question of impropriety. Yet if he was honest with himself, Dominic knew that he had failed to keep a proper distance between himself and his employee. By God, if anyone found out he had kissed her! He knew his world, it fed upon sordid intrigue and gossip—that was the reason he had refused to give her a reference: the more glowing his recommendation, the greater the belief that she was his mistress.
Dominic nodded to one acquaintance, threw a brief word to another, but continued to move through the crowd, his thoughts distracted. Hell and damnation, he had no wish to ruin the chit. The work in the library was all but complete now. He would end her employment before Sally left Rooks Tower.
Chapter Thirteen
Dancing with Lord Markham set the seal on Zelah’s success at the ball. After that there was no shortage of young gentlemen begging for the pleasure of leading her out. She whirled from one partner to the next in a heady round of gaiety, but her enjoyment was cut short when she left the floor at the end of one dance to find her way blocked by Timothy Lerryn. He bowed elegantly and held out his hand.
‘Dance with me once,’ he coaxed her. ‘For old time’s sake.’
There was no escape. The matrons on the nearby benches were all smiling and nodding encouragement, pleased to see the young people so enjoying themselves.
She could declare that she would dance no more that evening, but Dominic had not yet asked her to dance, and she desperately hoped he would do so before the end of the ball. Putting up her chin, she gave Timothy a challenging look. ‘One dance,’ she told him. ‘No more.’
Triumph gleamed in his eyes as he led her back to the floor. While they waited for the other couples to take their place in the set he leaned towards her.
‘Have I told you how well you are looking tonight, my dear? Quite beautiful.’
She ignored his compliment and returned only short answers to his remarks as they went down the dance, impatient for the ordeal to end. But even when she made him a final curtsy he took her hand and placed it on his arm.
‘You sister and her husband are over there, I shall escort you to them.’
Zelah merely inclined her head, keeping as much distance as she could between them. A moment later he spoke again.
‘By heaven.’ He raised his quizzing glass. ‘Who is that fellow in the lime-green coat, talking to Buckland?’
Zelah shifted her gaze. Reginald was standing beside Maria’s chair, looking very much like a terrier guarding a bone.
‘That is Sir Oswald Evanshaw.’
Even as they watched, Maria rose from her chair and Reginald swept her off towards the door.
‘Well, well, they have cut him dead!’ He stopped. ‘No point in taking you over there now, your sister and brother have gone off to the supper room, I suppose. So what do you say to one more dance?’
‘No.’ She tried to pull her hand free. ‘Release me, if you please.’
‘If you will not dance, then I shall escort you in to supper.’
She could smell the brandy on his breath as he leaned closer. She tugged again at her hand. ‘Let me go,’ she hissed. ‘You have been warned.’
He leered at her, a reckless look in his eyes. ‘Coale can do nothing to me if you come with me willingly.’
‘But the lady does not want your company.’ With relief she heard Dominic’s voice behind her. ‘I suggest you leave now, Mr Lerryn.’
Dominic spoke very softly, but there was no mistaking the menace in his tone.
Lerryn glared at him for a moment, his jaw working, then he flung himself away, shouldering his way through the crowd.
Zelah closed her eyes and released a long, grateful sigh. ‘Thank you.’ She put out her hand and he took it in a warm, reassuring grip.
‘I did not expect him to stay so long. His attachment to you must be stronger than you thought.’
She shuddered. ‘His attachment is nothing more than pique, the desire to have the unobtainable.’
‘We are all guilty of that,’ muttered Dominic. He pulled her hand on to his sleeve. ‘Come. Let us go to supper. My sister is waiting for you there.’
* * *
Timothy Lerryn lounged out of the salon. Damn the chit, who was she to set herself up against him? He would show her! He had half a mind to tell her story now, to anyone who would listen. But his brain was not so befuddled that he had forgotten Major Coale’s quiet threats when he had arrived. They had been issued in a cold, matter-of-fact tone that was much more effective than any blustering arguments and he did not doubt that if word of Zelah’s past got out the major would indeed hunt him down and ruin him. Well, the slut was not worth the risk. Seething with frustration he set off across the great hall.
He had almost reached the door when a flash of bright green caught his eye and another idea came into his sly brain. He stopped, stepping back and across to put himself in the way of his quarry.
‘Sir Oswald.’ He bowed. ‘Timothy Lerryn, at your service. I wonder if I might have a word with you. There is something I think you should know...’
* * *
In the supper room Zelah found her sister sitting with Sally Hensley while Reginald paced up and down behind them.
‘He is still fretting over his words with Sir Oswald,’ Maria explained when Zelah came up with Dominic.
‘Aye, blast his eyes, the man came bang up to me to say that his men had found Giles Grundy on his land and sent him home with a broken arm. Then he had the effrontery to suggest the hearing next week was as good as sett
led!’ Reginald scowled blackly. ‘He thinks he has Sir Arthur in his pocket, but when I show them that new document—!’
‘Yes, dear, now sit down, do and calm yourself.’ Maria shook her head at him. ‘The man is indeed a scoundrel, but we will not stoop to his level. I will visit the Grundys tomorrow and offer what help I can and you will use the law against Sir Oswald.’
‘I’ll ride over, too,’ said Dominic, holding a chair for Zelah. ‘I can spare some of my men from the woodcutting if Grundy needs help on his farm. Now if you will excuse me—’
‘Are you not going to eat with us?’ asked Sally.
Dominic shook his head. ‘I promised a certain young man he would have some supper. So I am going to take it to him!’
* * *
The last dance had ended and the salon was rapidly clearing. Dominic looked for Zelah, but she was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she had gone off with Jasper to the drawing room. He and his twin had made a habit of that in their younger days, seeking out the prettiest girls and carrying them off at the end of the evening to engage in a desperate flirtation.
Dominic tugged at his neckcloth. It was all he could do not to go storming off to find them. Instead he forced himself to remain outwardly calm as the last of his guests took their leave. He escorted them out to the drive and watched the final carriages rattle away until the silence of the summer night was restored. For once there was no wind to freshen the balmy air, the moon rode high in the cloudless sky, dimming the stars and bathing everything in a silver blue light. After the clamour of the evening, the peaceful calm was soothing and he did not want to return to the house immediately. He set off across the grass rather than have the scrunching of the gravel under his feet disturb the night.
* * *
Even before the ball was over, Maria was congratulating Zelah on her success. She began to talk of having a small gathering at West Barton.
‘Nothing as grand as this of course, but we could perhaps invite one or two of the gentlemen who danced with you...’
Zelah stopped her. ‘I know what is in your mind, Maria, you think to persuade one of those eligible gentlemen to offer for me.’ Timothy Lerryn’s scowling image rose up before her. ‘I do not want a husband.’
She read the determination in her sister’s face and made her excuses to walk away. The orchestra was playing the last dance of the evening and she could see Dominic partnering his sister. There was no chance now that he would dance with her and Zelah slipped quietly away to her room.
There were no curtains or shutters on the windows and the moonlight flooded in on all sides, making candles unnecessary, but it was oppressively hot. She wanted to be out of doors, but that was impossible. It was the middle of the night and not safe for anyone to be wandering around alone, especially a young lady. She remembered the flat roof above her. That surely would be safe enough. Quickly she slipped out of the room and up the stairs.
Zelah stepped out on to the roof. She gazed about her, entranced. It was a magical world, all grey and blue moonshadows. She paced around, her slippered feet making no sound on the stone slabs. It was easier to think up here, for the rest of the world seemed very far away and somehow less important. There had been no lack of partners this evening, she had enjoyed the dancing and for a short time she had felt like a carefree girl again. That was what she had hoped for, wasn’t it? A few hours of enjoyment before she settled down to the sober existence of a governess.
She gazed out at the distant moors, silver under the moonlight. She would not deceive herself, she had hoped for more. She had wanted Dominic to dance with her. It was too much to hope that he would flirt with her, as his brother had done, bringing a flush to her cheeks with his cheerful nonsense, but she had thought perhaps he might compliment her upon her appearance.
She wrapped her arms across her chest as a huge wave of anger and futility welled up. She wished there had been no summer ball, that the world had remained shut out of Dominic’s life.
That she could have kept him to herself.
It was a despicable thought and she quickly dismissed it. She did not want Dominic to be a sad, lonely recluse. He needed to take his place in society, even if that meant he had little time for her.
And what did that matter? She would not be here much longer. The books were all in order now and in another few weeks the cataloguing would be finished. She really must remind Sally to write her a reference and make efforts to secure another position, although she knew that nothing could compare to being at Rooks Tower.
‘What the devil are you doing here?’
She jumped as Dominic’s angry words cut through the night. ‘I—I beg your pardon. I did not think there could be any harm...’
‘Harm? Foolish girl, you know the stonework is unsound. Come away from that wall.’
His anger sliced into her like a knife. Not for her the soft, civil tone he used for his guests. Just because she had been allowed to attend his summer ball she must not think herself anything other than a servant. The unhappiness within her tightened into a hard knot.
‘I had not forgotten. I am sorry. I shall not come here again—’
She ran for the stairs, but as she passed him his hand shot out, gripping her arm. He was not wearing gloves and she could feel the heat of his fingers through the thin sleeve.
‘Wait. There are tears on your cheek.’
She turned her head away from him. ‘Please, let me go.’
Instead he pulled her closer, putting one hand under her chin and forcing her to look up at him. The moonlight glinted in his eyes, twin devils sent to mock her. Gently he wiped her tears away with his thumb.
‘Has someone been unkind to you tonight?’
‘N-no.’ It was a struggle to speak with more tears ready to fall.
He said roughly, ‘Perhaps you are regretting sending Lerryn away.’
‘You know that is not so!’
‘Then why are you crying?’
‘I—um—I am just...very tired.’
How could she tell him the truth? His eyes bored into her and she prayed he would not read her thoughts. At last he looked up at the moon, letting his breath go in a long sigh.
‘Yes, it has been a long day.’ He pulled her close and enfolded her in his arms. She did not resist, it was the most natural thing in the world to allow herself to lean against him. ‘It has been quite exhausting, having so many people in the house.’
‘Did you not enjoy it?’ she murmured the words into his coat.
‘I did, after a fashion. It is good to know I am not a pariah, a social outcast.’ His arms tightened. ‘And it is you I have to thank for that, Zelah. You made me see that all was not lost.’
‘Then...then you are not angry with me?’
‘Angry? No. I was worried lest you lean on the parapet and the stonework should give way.’
‘Oh.’
It was a spark of comfort. The tiny flame warmed her heart. She let herself relax against him, her cheek against his shoulder. His breath ruffled her curls, softer than the night breeze.
‘I am pleased I could help,’ she murmured.
‘And now I shall do something for you. Sally told me you had asked her to recommend you. With her support I have no doubt that we can find you a suitable post. I was talking to her earlier—are you set upon becoming a governess? Because we thought perhaps you might find the role of companion more to your taste. Sally has many contacts.’
The little flame flickered and died.
‘You are very kind, Major.’ Steeling herself, she pushed away from him. ‘I should go in now.’
Dominic caught her fingers. His body was alive, aroused and he wanted to succumb to the attraction he felt for her, to seduce her here on this moonlit terrace far above the everyday world. He could do it, too. She had responded to him before, and here, with the darkness to hide his face, why should it not happen again? But she was pulling away from him and he could still see the trace of tears on her cheeks. He buried his own desire
s and squeezed her hands.
‘Of course. It is very late.’
For a brief moment her fingers clung to his. Perhaps she wanted comfort, but he was not the one to give it. He would do nothing that she might regret in the morning. He said formally, ‘Goodnight, Miss Pentewan.’
Without a word she walked away, her figure a pale blur on the stairs before she disappeared from his sight. There. It was done. He had saved her. From himself, possibly from her own weakness.
Why, then, did he feel no pleasure in his chivalrous deed?
* * *
Zelah did not sleep well and was relieved when the morning came and she could leave the tower room and go in search of her sister and brother-in-law. She found them at breakfast, being entertained by Sally and Lord Markham.
‘Dominic has already gone out,’ explained the viscount, rising to escort her to her chair. ‘Taking his duties far too seriously, if you ask me. He should be here looking after his guests.’
‘But he knows he can rely upon us for that.’ Sally beamed at Zelah across the table. ‘So you are to leave us this morning and go back to West Barton. What shall I do without my little companion?’
‘Any number of things, I should imagine.’ Zelah had lost all her shyness with Sally and treated her in the same friendly manner as her own sister. ‘But perhaps before I leave this morning you will write a reference for me, as we agreed?’
‘By all means, if that is what you wish.’
Zelah nodded, saying firmly. ‘It is, madam.’
‘I have a great deal to do before the hearing next Friday,’ said Reginald. ‘How soon can you be ready to travel, Zelah?’
‘Hannah has already packed for me.’ She pushed her plate away. ‘I can leave as soon as Mrs Hensley has furnished me with my reference.’
‘Then I shall go off and write it now,’ said Sally, smiling.
‘Well, I need to feed Baby before we can set off,’ put in Maria. ‘It will be at least another hour.’
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