“N-no. He does not. But, he loves me. He knows I’ve been with you for a long time. Surely he has figured it out.”
“I would think a man of the cloth would want a chaste bride, perhaps you should tell him,” he spat in a bitter and sarcastic tone.
“It’s none of your business what I do anymore, Trevan. Now go. You have overstayed your welcome with me.”
What if Trevan was correct? That John wanted only a chaste bride. She hadn’t considered the fact that she was ruined at all. Well, if that were the case, she’d marry neither one of them. To Hell with them both.
She watched as he ran his large hand through his curly black hair. He truly looked frustrated and upset. She saw raw pain in his eyes. Unconsciously she sighed. Why was she feeling bad for him? He caused this, didn’t he?
“Wenna, I know I’ve neglected you, but it was not done intentionally. I love you, Wenna. I always have. I always will. I can get a special license and we can be married as soon as the day after tomorrow. I’ll make it up to you, Wenna. I swear it. Let the vicar go and marry me. We belong together!”
“No, Trevan.” She shook her head vehemently. “I have made up my mind. I have to do what is best for me. I want to be happy, Trevan. Not miserable, wishing I had a husband who spent time with me. Now go.”
“You’re not even going to give me a chance? Let me prove my love for you?” Trevan felt his insides coil into a tight knot. He felt his face drain of color. His heart actually hurt. He felt a stab of physical pain inside his chest. He added a soft, “Please, Wen Pen?”
“Since you were counting the time when I was eleven when you first asked me to marry you, I gave you sixteen years, Trevan. No more. Your actions this last year has made it quite clear to me that you do not love me. Not truly. Not enough. My affections are for John now, for he returns them. Good day, Trevan.”
Trevan opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He tried to swallow but there seemed to be a great lump in his throat. His vision blurred. Tears threatened! He turned and stalked away, leaving Wenna Penrose inside the summerhouse.
He nearly knocked over Wenna’s sister, Sennen, known to all as Senny, as he hurried down the graveled drive.
“Hello, Trevan,” Senny smiled up at him. “If you’re looking for Wenna, she’s in the...” she faltered when she saw the angry expression darkening his features.
“I found her, Zenny.” Trevan used the Cornish pronunciation of her name. “Thank you.” He gently touched her shoulder and moved around her.
He should speak to Robert, Wenna’s grandfather but he was unable to speak to anyone, at the moment. He went straight to the black gelding.
He mounted Gabriel’s black and turned back toward the lane. He turned left instead of right when he reached the lane. He would go into St. Mabyn, to The Swan if he were being precise. He’d have a pint. Or two.
Still in shock, he shook his head. What just happened? He could not lose Wenna! He must figure out a way to win her back. He had to.
“Trevan?” Gabriel sat down across the rough table from his cousin.
“What are you doing here, Gabriel? I thought you did not frequent taverns?”
“I don’t. I saw Zenny at Callywith. She said you and Wenna quarreled. She said you looked about ready to kill someone.”
“I want to kill someone! I just can’t decide who I should kill, Wen Pen, or that no account Vicar you hired. Perhaps both of them. I even considered killing you because it was you who hired him, but I changed my mind.” He shrugged then frowned. “You are family.”
Gabriel gave him a nod. The corners of his mouth threatened to turn upward in a smile, but he decided a smile was inappropriate for the occasion. “Trevan, I told you he’s not Wenna’s type. Do not worry, she’ll see it soon enough. Besides-”
Trevan interrupted him, “Well, Gabriel, I am worried. He asked her to marry him. She accepted his proposal of marriage.”
Gabriel shook his head in confusion. “But, Wenna would never leave her family!”
Trevan tried to focus on Gabriel, but there seemed to be two of him. He wasn’t certain which one he should look at. He squinted harder in order to determine which Gabriel was real and which one was the result of his heavy consumption of spirits.
Finally, he gave up and spoke, “Either I’m drunker than I thought, cousin, or I blacked out for awhile. Who said anything about Wenna leaving her family?” Trevan asked.
“Mr. Madingly told me just this morning that he has applied for a position as a missionary in Australia. If he gets the position, he would be leaving in as soon six months from now.”
“You mean to tell me Wenna is just going to up and leave Zenny solely responsible for Robert’s care! Lanyon is in school and is only home a few weeks out of the year. How could she do that to Zenny?”
Trevan slammed his large fist upon the table, causing the ale in his cup to slosh out. “How can she do that to her grandfather? He, along with her parents, raised her better. God rest her parents’ souls, good, fine people that they were.” Trevan shook his head.
He pointed a finger at Gabriel as he continued, “You need to go talk some sense into her tomorrow, Gabriel, for I’ll not be talking to that woman again. She said I did not love her enough, that I neglected her. She’s marrying the damn Vicar because he brings her flowers. Flowers! Flow-ers. I could have brought her flowers. But I never guessed she had any need of them, and why the hell would I, for she has a garden full of the bleddy things.”
“She said,” Trevan paused when his voice cracked. “She said what there was betwixt us isn’t enough. She told me she no longer loves me. She must be lying. Do you think she’s lying, Gabriel? I hope she is. For if she’s not I’ll have to kill the vicar. I promised you I wouldn’t, but I will. I am. As soon as I can see straight, I will.” He looked at both Gabriels. “Kill him, that is.” He nodded emphatically.
“Get up, Trevan. Let’s get you back to Fairy Cross.” Gabriel knew that on the morrow Trevan would wish he hadn’t come to the Swan and publicly aired his woes. By sunset, all of St. Mabyn would know the Duke of Penrose’s business. He rose and offered his hand to his cousin. He helped a very intoxicated Trevan to his feet.
Trevan weaved slightly.
“How long have you been here, Trevan?” Gabriel asked as he reached out to steady him.
“Since, oh, about half past ten this morning. What time is it now?”
“Half past three.”
“Ah.” He chuckled. “I reckon I’ve had a bit to drink then.” Trevan shrugged.
“Umm. A bit,” Gabriel agreed with a nod.
“Wait, my horse is here,” Trevan turned in a circle once they stepped outside the pub, not sure which way to go. “Somewhere.”
“I’ll send one of the stable lads back for him. You’re in no condition to ride, cousin. You’d slide right off and break your fool neck.” Gabriel proceeded to walk his cousin down the lane. His large hand gripped Trevan’s upper arm to steady him.
Trevan pointed a finger at Gabriel, “Now I’ve had enough of being called a fool for one day. You’ll not do it again, Gabriel. Do you understand?”
Gabriel sighed. “Sorry, cousin, I didn’t mean it. You are not a fool, as you well know. I apologize, I misspoke.”
“All right, I forgive you.” Trevan stumbled a bit as he stepped into a hole in the lane.
“Careful, watch your step, Trevan.”
“I cannot see my steps, presently, Gabriel. Everything is swimming around me right now.”
“I see. In that case, let’s hurry and get you to Fairy Cross, cousin. I don’t feel up to carrying you today should you black out along the lane.”
Once Gabriel deposited Trevan into his bed, he cleaned up and headed in the direction of Callywith Manor. He did not wish to butt his nose into Trevan and Wenna’s business, but Wenna just up and leaving her family did not sound quite like her. Surely, a man planning to marry would tell his intended he planned to move to another country, especially one
as far away as Australia.
Gabriel long ago learned to trust his gut feelings. He felt something wasn’t quite right with this situation. Wenna Penrose might decide to ruin her life, but he couldn’t just stand by and let her ruin her sister’s and grandfather’s. Or even Trevan’s.
He met up with Senny on the lane.
“Hello, Zenny.” Gabriel smiled. The sight of Senny Penrose always made him feel warm inside. She was quite lovely, delicate and fae-like. Her hair was golden like the sunshine with a hint of red to it. It reminded him of fiery, summer sunrises and sunsets.
“Hello.” Senny offered him a bright smile. Gabriel usually pronounced her name in the Cornish, Zenny. He was the handsomest man she knew. He was tall, and although very muscular, he was not as broadly built as Trevan. He was leaner, but no less handsome. His hair was a deep brown, yet it was lightly mixed with dark golden strands, no doubt because he spent a great deal of time out of doors. It was his eyes, clear, and pale blue, framed by long dark lashes that always drew her gaze. She told herself it mattered not how handsome she thought he was. They had been close friends for years and that is all they would ever be.
Her smile quickly faded when she remembered why she came to see him. “Oh, I was just coming to see you, Gabriel. How is Trevan? Did you find him?” Senny asked with genuine concern.
Something about Senny’s smile always made him…happy. He loved seeing her smile. In fact, he thought about Senny’s smile often while in Glastonbury, along with her golden hair. It was very unlike him to think of Senny’s beauty.
“He was at the Swan and quite foxed. When he wakes tomorrow, I think his devastation shall truly surface. He is a broken man, Zenny. I know he didn’t make time for Wenna as he should have, but he does truly love her.”
“Poor Trevan. Anyone can see he loves Wenna.” Senny’s vivid blue-green eyes grew watery. “I just don’t understand her anymore. Or any of this, Gabriel! I felt so badly for Trevan. The look on his face when I saw him, oh, it was heart-breaking.” Senny’s lowered her voice to a whisper, “I swear to you, he looked about to cry. It frightened me. I’ve never seen Trevan thus.”
That was typical for Senny. She was always concerned about the feelings of others. He smiled down at her. “Come, Zenny. I’ll walk you home. I’d like to talk to Wenna,” Gabriel offered his arm.
Gabriel was most often at St. Mabyn. He left the village two or three times a year. He had developed the habit of daily walks with Senny when he was in residence at Fairy Cross. He enjoyed her company.
“There is no talking to Wenna, right now. She doesn’t want to talk to anyone. She will not hear what grandfather or I have to say, we both tried. Lanyon says he will stay out of it. He just arrived last week. He hasn’t seen most of what’s going on. I think she’s lost her mind, Gabriel. I don’t know what she sees in that man. He talks to Grandfather like he’s an imbecile and I don’t like the way he looks at me or Wenna for that matter!”
“What do you mean, Zenny?” Gabriel’s head snapped up. “How does Madingly look at you?” He stopped walking. He reached out his hand, gently grabbing her shoulder to stop her as well. He gave her his full attention.
Senny felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. “I-it’s not in a nice way, G-Gabriel. He doesn’t look into my eyes. He looks, ah, l-lower, and does the same to Wenna!” Senny felt uncomfortable now speaking of such a subject with Gabriel. When she was overwhelmed or uncomfortable, she stuttered. She hated that she did. Then she became self-conscious that she had stuttered. Gabriel appeared to be angry. That threw her closer toward a panic.
She tried to breathe deeply so the panic attack would not take hold of her. She did not like being so different. When she became unsettled, the noise roared in her head and her thoughts crashed in upon her, whirling around in her head with the noise. It was difficult to grasp her thoughts at those times and quite hard to concentrate on them long enough so she could clear her mind. Then she had trouble speaking and it became difficult to breathe. If people were about, they stared, unless it was Gabriel or her family. They were used to her episodes. She did not like people staring at her. After a few deep breaths, she felt she could hold the panic at bay.
Gabriel felt a flash of something. Was it anger? Jealousy? The Reverend looked at Zenny’s breasts. He refrained from doing the very same at that moment. Why, they were his. No, they weren’t his, but Zenny was his. Well, not his like his, but she was his responsibility and had been for years. His nostrils flared with the anger building inside him.
He could see she was upset. He saw her draw her deep breaths. He waited. She seemed fine. In a soft gentle voice, he asked her, “I know you have the gift. What do you feel when he’s near you, Zenny?”
“Deceit. He’s h-hiding something. I don’t think he has good intentions where my s-sister is concerned. I think he is not as holy a reverend as he p-pretends to b-be.” Despite the panic attack threatening, Senny was so far able to process her thoughts. The noise in her head ebbed somewhat. She took another deep breath.
Gabriel nodded. “I can’t believe Wenna has agreed to marry him, especially when he’s trying to obtain a missionary post in Australia and could leave in six months time. I just cannot see her leaving her family.”
“W-what?” Senny looked at Gabriel in wide-eyed disbelief. “This is the first I’ve heard of it. Wenna will leave us? No! She couldn’t. She wouldn’t, w-would she?” The panic crashed in on her at that point. Wenna would leave her and grandfather alone!
She thought of how devastated Grandfather would be. She couldn’t help the tear that trickled down her cheek. More thoughts crashed in on her. It was becoming difficult to separate the thoughts from the noise. The noise level inside her head rose considerably.
Her fears took over. People would think her incapable of taking care of grandfather, because she was different. Some thought her an imbecile. What would happen to them? Would they be forced to leave Callywith? Where would they go? Grandfather could not bear leaving his home. It would surely kill him.
She found it more difficult to breathe as all the things that could happen crashed in upon her at once. The noise rose to a roar inside her head. There was pressure building in her head. She raised her hands to cover her ears. Fear gripped her. She felt herself trembling.
“Oh, Zenny, I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” Gabriel stepped closer and spoke calmly. “Settle down. Don’t cry, love! Breathe. Come on, breathe.” Gabriel gently took hold of her shoulders and looked into her wide blue-green eyes. Taking deep breaths was the only thing that worked when she had one of her attacks. She became overwhelmed easily at times, most often it was when she was frightened or unsure.
He had done this to her and felt like a cad for it. The thought of another man looking at her breasts had sent him over the edge. Why? His hands moved down her arms and up to her shoulders again in soothing strokes. He continued to speak gentle, comforting words to her, all the while encouraging her to take her deep breaths. As she calmed he drew her closer and rubbed her back. He placed a soft kiss to the top of her head as she leaned into him.
When she began breathing normally once again, he spoke in a soothing tone, “Forgive me, I thought you must know of this already. Madingly told me of his plans just this morning. Mayhap Wenna does not yet know, but I can’t imagine a man proposing first before telling his intended of his plans.” Gabriel produced his handkerchief and wiped the rolling tear from Senny’s cheek.
The noise inside her head lessened and dissipated. She took a deep, shuddering breath.
“Come, we’ll straighten this out right now, eh? Wenna has some explaining to do. No more tears, Zenny. We’ll get to the bottom of this, you and I.” He smiled down at her as he took her hand and rested it upon his arm again.
Senny nodded. She gave him a half smile. She was a little shocked that Gabriel had called her, love, earlier. Surely, he meant it in a brotherly way. Gabriel never showed any interest in her the other way, the romantic way, even though
for years she hoped he might. No, she was being silly. Gabriel Chynoweth thought about her as he would a sister or cousin, and always would. She had resigned herself to that.
“Have you lost your mind, Gabriel Chynoweth? I would never leave my family. John would have told me of such plans when he proposed to me. You must have misunderstood him,” Wenna argued.
“No, Wenna, I did not misunderstand. He told me this very morning.”
Wenna shook her head. “Why would he not tell me something so important? He called earlier, not two hours ago.”
“That is something you’ll have to ask him, Wenna. The thought occurs to me that if he married you first, you would then be his property and would have to go to Australia with him whether you wanted to or not.”
“Did Trevan put you up to this?” Wenna looked at him in angry accusation.
“No, Wenna. He did not,” Gabriel said with an irritated sigh.
“You Chynoweths should mind your own business and quit poking your noses in mine!” Wenna said hotly. This could not be true! She trusted John.
“Trevan has given up on you. You broke his heart,” Gabriel began, “What you do or whom you decide to marry is none of my business. What happens to Robert, Zenny and Lanyon does concern me. Furthermore, Zenny told me Madingly talks down to Robert and looks at her in ways he shouldn’t. You know your sister has the gift, Wenna. If you don’t trust your own discernment you should at least give some merit to what your sister feels.”
“Is this true, Senny? How does he look at you?” Wenna turned to regard her sister.
“He looks h-here,” Senny’s cheeks burned bright pink. She held her hands in front of her breasts without touching them. “And he does the same to you. He’s hiding something. He has b-bad intentions toward you, though I c-can’t say what they are.” Senny struggled to keep the noise from creeping into her head.
Gabriel realized the moment Senny lowered her hands, that her breasts were fine indeed. How could he have never realized what a lovely figure she had before? She was slender. Though her bosom was not large, it certainly was not too small. He realized her breasts were perfect. He would even go as far to say they were magnificent. Her waist was small and her hips were shapely.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 2
