Serena smiled, casting a surreptitious glance at Kit, a glance which told him she would give him neither rest nor respite in the desire for revenge which had taken hold of her. He was observing her gracious greeting of his friend with narrowed eyes, always wary where she was concerned, never knowing what she would do next, but she had worn so many different guises this day that he could be forgiven for thinking they had a changeling in their midst.
Sensing Kit was a little put out by Sir Ludovick’s close attention pierced Serena’s pleasure. Tweaking his nose a little further, she slid her gaze away from his and curved her lips in her prettiest smile.
‘You honour me, Sir Ludovick.’
Supper was announced and Serena placed her hand on Ludovick’s proffered arm, allowing him to escort her the short distance to the table. Following with his mother and Melissa, Kit felt a strong thud of discomfort as he admired the gentle sway of Serena’s hips as she walked ahead of him, certain there was added movement because she knew he was watching her and wished to goad him further. With narrowed eyes he watched Ludovick’s familiarity towards her, observing how his hands brushed the incredibly narrow curve of her waist as he pulled out her chair. Kit’s frown deepened when Serena tilted her head to smile her thanks, testing Kit’s restraint beyond the limits of endurance.
Supper passed pleasantly enough, with Serena languishing in the attention of her admirer, and frequently meeting the dark, challenging eyes of her tormentor, who watched her from across the table with unswerving tenacity. She feigned a smile that would have torn asunder any man’s defences who was off his guard, but Kit was not deceived by her mellowing mood.
Serena flattered Ludovick, listening to him with rapt attention, and she was joined by Melissa in encouraging him to speak of life at court. Throughout supper Serena’s smile remained beguiling, and her soft, sweet perfume teased Kit’s senses—along with the creamy, tantalising swell of her breasts, which he was uncomfortably aware of each time she leaned his way. Afterwards they gathered round the fire, Lady Mary sitting a little away from them as she engaged her time embroidering a small sampler, the candles on the table illuminating her work.
Kit’s irritation mounted and he scowled as he watched Ludovick playing the doting swain to the woman he had claimed for himself. It was clear to him that his friend had singled Serena out as the supreme target of the hunt and, reading the maid’s response to Ludovick’s flattery—how she seemed to hang with breathless expectancy on his every word and laugh at all the right moments—the tournament would be easily won.
During a moment when they found themselves out of earshot of the others, Kit was about to caution Serena, to rebuke her, but decided against it, not wishing to add tinder to any mischievous intent that lurked behind those brilliant green eyes staring innocently into his.
Over the days that followed Ludovick was frequently at the house. Kit’s restlessness became a torment when he saw Serena being wooed by another man—a right he felt a desperate urge to reserve for himself alone. His thoughts wandered like a homeless bird that could find no place to roost. Every time his friend approached her, jealousy would raise its ugly head and go searing through him. It was a dilemma. And yet how could he put himself forward as a suitor when she saw him as a villain and her tormentor, with nothing to offer her at the moment but himself?
Lady Mary watched what was happening with a keen, quizzical eye. Highly sensitive to her son’s moods, and after observing Kit and Serena closely since the arrival of Ludovick and Sir Henry’s letters, it was evident that things were very wrong between them. On a day when Kit and Ludovick had taken themselves off for a day’s hunting, she spoke to Serena as they strolled around the garden.
‘Forgive me if I speak out of turn, Serena, and it is certainly not my intent to embarrass you but, since the arrival of your father’s letter, I have noticed that matters are strained between you and Kit. Is it because you resent his interference in your affairs?’
Serena was a little taken aback by the question, and also ashamed that Lady Mary felt she had the need to broach so delicate a subject. ‘He—he does tend to take a great deal upon himself where I am concerned, Lady Mary,’ she replied hesitantly.
‘That’s because he’s concerned for your welfare, not because he harbours any cruel intent. Faults he has, but cruelty is not one of them.’ Lady Mary smiled. ‘Kit is hasty sometimes, and as obstinate and stubborn as all the mules in Spain put together, but he has a soft heart beneath that fearsome manner of his. Don’t be too hard on him. I know your heart was set on going to your father but, all things considered, it is best that you remain with us here in Scotland—for the time being, at least.’
‘I’m beginning to realise that now. I’m sorry if I’ve seemed ungrateful. You have been so gracious and kind and I have no wish to cause offence. But you are right, of course. My father’s letter came as a shock to me. Not only because of his refusal to let me go to him, but also when I learned of his marriage—without a word to me.’
‘Kit told me about that, and I can understand your disappointment. But your father must be allowed to live his own life, Serena. And if he has found happiness, then be happy for him.’
‘Yes. I am coming round to it.’
‘Good.’ Lady Mary smiled, linking her arm companionably through hers. ‘And please go easy on my son. You may not have noticed in your preoccupation with dear Ludovick, but of late Kit has been going around with a face like a thundercloud.’ Her eyes were soft when she looked at Serena’s troubled features, having some inkling of this young woman’s secret feelings. ‘Don’t you think you’ve punished him enough? End his misery, Serena.’
Overcome with mortification, Serena halted and looked at Lady Mary. ‘Oh, Lady Mary—I hope you don’t think—’
‘What?’ She laughed. ‘That you’re trying to make Kit jealous with Ludovick? My dear Serena, when a woman goes out of her way to make a man jealous by playing him off against another, it can only be because she cares for him. And it is a rarity for a man to be immune from jealousy when he cares deeply for a woman.’
To cover Serena’s confusion they carried on walking a little way in silence, but then Lady Mary said at length, choosing her words with care in an effort not to seem as though she was prying, ‘You do seem to get on well with Ludovick—but do you really prefer him above Kit?’
The conversation was becoming difficult for Serena, and she carefully fudged the question, feeling unable to answer it. It was an inquiry tactfully phrased by Lady Mary, but still a request for an explanation. ‘Sir Ludovick is a friend, Lady Mary. Our relationship will never be anything more than that,’ she told her in complete honesty.
‘Then don’t you think—in the light of Ludovick’s growing affection for you—that you should dissuade him from any further involvement?’ Lady Mary said gently.
Guilt suddenly assailed Serena, for Lady Mary had voiced what she intended to do. Although she was reluctant to admit how deeply she had come to care for Kit, she did realise that she had allowed her friendship with Sir Ludovick to go too far. The situation worried her and she felt regret at having encouraged Kit’s friend, her sole reason for playing on his attention being to tweak Kit’s nose a little. She now realised she had been foolish and must step back, to allow Sir Ludovick’s ardour to cool before it all got out of hand and he declared himself.
She had searched for a way to sever any romantic ideas that might be forming in Sir Ludovick’s mind, but it was difficult finding the right words to say that would let him down gently without spoiling their friendship. Having encouraged his attentions, the dilemma she now faced was of her making entirely.
‘No matter how it looks, it was never my intention to become romantically involved with Sir Ludovick. He has been very kind.’
‘So has Kit.’
Serena flushed, averting her eyes, unable to meet that probing, gentle gaze. ‘I know,’ she murmured quietly, suddenly ashamed that Lady Mary was aware of her ploy to repay Kit for tryin
g to assert his authority over her by giving Sir Ludovick her undivided attention whenever he called. She now realised how very childish and silly it all was.
‘I know I shouldn’t be discussing this, Serena, that it’s a private matter between you and Kit, but you must understand my concern in the light of that awful conspiracy and not knowing what will happen to him when he returns to London to stand trial. What if those trying him don’t believe him? I am so afraid.’
Serena was unprepared for the agony that tore through her when Lady Mary quietly uttered those words. Until now she had deliberately shied away from the thought. Lady Mary’s voice was so distressed that, thoroughly alarmed, Serena halted and looked at her, not fully realising until just then how much this gracious woman was silently suffering for her son. The smile had faded from her face, which suddenly looked drawn. There were lines of worry on her forehead and her eyes were deeply troubled. Reaching out, Serena took her hand in an effort to comfort her.
‘But they must believe him. They have to. They have not the least shadow of proof that Kit was involved in the conspiracy. All they have is mere slander uttered by Thomas Blackwell, a man so cruel and so wretched that he should be beneath contempt. The king has promised Kit a fair trial. He will be pardoned.’ Serena swallowed, trying to believe the conviction of her own words. ‘He has to be,’ she whispered fiercely.
‘Pilot could find no basis for the charges against Christ—but he still crucified him,’ said Lady Mary quietly. She sighed deeply, discerning Serena’s own anguish and looked with deep concern into her pain-filled eyes. ‘You do care for Kit, don’t you, Serena?’
‘Yes,’ Serena admitted softly, unable to speak anything but the truth. ‘I have come to care for him a great deal. Looking back, I had every reason in the world to hate him for forcing me to abandon my decision to go to my father in Flanders, and in my anger I could not see that he was offering me a measure of security I would lack on my own. I cannot deny that wars have been waged between us during the time we have been alone together, and complaints aired with so much aggression that I did not pause for one moment to question my emotions—not until we reached Addlington Hall and idleness forced me to search my heart.’
‘If you love him enough to accept everything that’s happened, and live only for the moment, then you must be by his side when he goes to London. I intend accompanying him myself. He’s going to need all the support he can get if he’s to survive this.’
Serena made a point of speaking to Sir Ludovick the following day when they were returning from one of their rides through Holyrood Park. They were discussing Kit and his forthcoming journey to London, and Ludovick had just expressed his regret that he would not be returning with him to add his support.
‘With his property confiscated and title stripped from him, there’s little wonder Kit is so concerned about his future. At present no one has been named to replace him and Thurlow remains empty. I believe that may have something to do with the king himself. Because of Kit’s loyalty and the bond of friendship that existed between them before the abortive plot, I feel King James is reluctant to have him hounded to Scotland.’
‘What was the king’s reaction when he was told of Kit’s suspected involvment?’
‘He was deeply shocked when it was brought to his attention by Salisbury that Kit might have colluded with the conspirators—that he might even have been one of them himself. Because of the severity of the crime, the king had no alternative but to agree to his arrest.’
‘Thank goodness he escaped.’
‘Aye. Being a man with a skill learned on the battlefields on the continent—and knowing he was innocent—Kit did not care to sustain the attentions of His Majesty’s torturers and the hangman’s rope. But one thing I am certain of is that his allegiance to King James has never wavered. The loss of his honour, his estates and title he will find hard to bear, but that the king should believe him guilty of betraying his trust is the greatest. It has injured him deeply. He burns with vengeance and will not rest until his name has been cleared.’
‘What do you think his chances are?’
Sharing Serena’s fears for Kit with equal pain, Ludovick’s face became set in worried lines. ‘If Kit can prove that for malicious reasons of his own Blackwell set out to discredit him, then I see no reason why the king will not show clemency. Besides, he earned considerable merit in his duties towards His Majesty when he was in Scotland.’
Serena glanced across at him, seeing the weak sunlight playing on his flaxen hair, hating herself for what she was about to tell him. ‘When Kit leaves for London, Ludovick, it is my intention to go with him.’
His astonishment obvious, Ludovick stared at her, fingering his beard thoughtfully, his blue eyes suddenly wary. ‘Has Kit asked you?’
‘No. He’s no notion of what I intend.’
‘But, Serena—I had hoped to speak to you, to—’
‘No, Ludovick,’ she interrupted quickly, sensing what he was about to say and wanting to save him from any embarrassment. ‘Please don’t go on. I know what you want to say, but I must tell you that—’
‘You have decided against me,’ Ludovick stated bluntly.
He looked at her with an expression of such mortification and incredulity that Serena had to look away, moved by a terrible feeling of remorse. ‘No, not at all. I am flattered by your attention and admire and value your friendship greatly—but my interest lies elsewhere,’ she told him quietly.
‘You are in love with Kit,’ he stated.
She nodded. ‘Yes.’
Utterly deflated, a long, heavy sigh escaped Ludovick’s lips and he seemed to slouch in the saddle. ‘I should have seen it. It was foolish of me to pretend, or to try to believe the impossible. I should have known that the many days you spent alone together could not fail to draw you close. I have never underestimated Kit’s magnetism for gaining the attentions of the opposite sex, or his own attraction where they are concerned, so I should not be surprised that this has happened.’
‘I am only sorry for my delay in telling you. I should have spoken before, I know—but I wanted to avoid causing you pain.’
‘And you and Kit have not exactly been seeing eye to eye since my arrival in Edinburgh, have you, Serena?’ he said, voicing his musings softly, meaningfully.
‘You are very perceptive, Ludovick,’ she smiled.
‘I would have to be blind not to notice.’
‘In case you are wondering, that has more to do with the contents of my father’s letter making Kit my guardian than any grouch where you are concerned.’
‘Then what is there left for me to say?’ said Ludovick, deeply wounded by Serena’s declaration, but he had no intention of letting it affect his much-valued friendship with Kit—or Serena, for that matter, a woman he held in such high regard that he had considered asking her to be his wife.
‘I wish you both every happiness—and I’m glad you’re to go with him to London. With so much beauty set before him, the king will be dazzled and charmed into offering Kit clemency,’ he smiled, the familiar roguish gleam back in his eyes, which gladdened Serena’s heart and brought a light-heartedness back to the conversation.
‘Now there I shall have to disagree with you,’ she laughed. ‘The only response His Majesty will have to my appearance in London will be to have me clapped in irons for my father’s involvement in the plot. I fear I am the one who will be in need of saving, not Kit. So what now, Ludovick? Will you stay in Edinburgh?’
‘No. My mission is done. I’m away home to Argyll. Besides…’ he grinned, his eyes twinkling merrily, ‘…if I steal any more of your time, Kit will have me dangling on the end of his dirk like so much raw meat.’
Alone, Serena quietly reviewed the past weeks she had come to know Kit, dissecting each moment they had shared with meticulous deliberation in an attempt to put some semblance of order to her emotions. It was no use hiding from the fact that they had been violently attracted to each other from the beginning,
despite her show of outrage at his persistence to chafe and vex her at every turn.
Kit had the infuriating ability to pluck at the worst of her nature, to see what no man had ever seen before, to exasperate her beyond words and drive her to passionate fury. But, she thought, on a warm tide of feelings, he also had the ability to tease, to cajole, to delight her senses in a way no other man had succeeded in doing before. He had created yearnings inside her she was a stranger to, yearnings she wanted to satisfy, and only Kit could do that.
He had a mastery over her and he knew it, and he had made it plain that he wanted her as a man wants a woman. But she had refused to yield, crushing the yearnings felt by them both, and now, in this weakening of her will, her longings would not be still and she wanted to discover the mystery of this man who had succeeded in bringing her to a state of submission. How could she even think of breaking away from him and leaving him forever?
Chapter Fourteen
Retiring for the night, Serena was almost startled out of her wits on entering her chamber. Kit was waiting for her, sitting calmly in a chair beside her bed, his black hair and masterful face set in taut, unreadable lines. Closing the door, she slowly moved towards him, looking down into his dark eyes which held no warmth to soften the moment. A trickle of fear trailed down her spine. Never had she seen his eyes so cold or so angry before.
Serena wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms, to declare her love and be done with all the shillyshallying between them, but her ire was pricked on finding he had entered her room without being invited in. Lifting her head, she stared at him haughtily.
‘So! Not only do you appoint yourself my guardian, but you also invade the privacy of my bedchamber. I can only hope you do not extend your newfound authority to my person. Where is my maid?’
‘I dismissed her,’ Kit growled, his voice, like his expression, noticeably lacking in warmth.
Conspiracy of Hearts Page 23
