Gabriel reached out and grabbed the reins. “You are not leaving. You will go in there, see Robert and face this. I am certain if you really watch Wenna and the Reverend together, you will understand what I see. They do not suit one another. Think of Robert, Trevan. He idolizes you.”
“Very well.” Trevan’s gaze narrowed upon Gabriel. “I’ll visit with Robert. I do not wish to see Wenna.”
“Good, I thought you might be afraid to go in there.”
“Don’t you dare call me a coward, Gabriel,” Trevan barked. “I am not afraid of that skinny little weasel, or that ill-tempered, red-headed woman. I just don’t want to see her!” With her vicar. Even the thought of seeing Wenna with another man cut his heart in two.
“I’ll just stroll with Zenny in the garden while you visit Robert.”
“Oh, so that’s why you came along?” Trevan raised his brow. His blue eyes twinkled merrily. He winked at him. “You just can’t stay away from her now, can you?”
“I need to find out what it is I feel for her,” Gabriel said truthfully. He gave his cousin a black look.
Trevan shook his head. “It’s as plain as the nose on your face what you feel for Zenny, cousin. But, do whatever it takes for you to figure it out.” Trevan emitted a small laugh as he dismounted.
Trevan wasn’t certain what to expect when they were lead into the small parlour. He did not anticipate seeing Wenna looking so pale and surprised when he entered behind Gabriel.
“Robert. Miss Penrose. Miss Zenny. Mr. Madingly.” Trevan made certain his tone was polite and friendly and that his bow was befitting of his station of Duke.
He approached Robert and took the hand the elderly gentleman extended to him.
“Trevan! So good to see you.” Robert Penrose grinned happily. He placed his other, withered hand over Trevan’s large one.
Trevan could see Robert’s health had deteriorated since his last visit three months before. He would not let it be that long between his next one.
“Robert, I understand Gabriel and Miss Zenny plan to take a walk. Why don’t you and I go into your study, sir? I brought a fine bottle of Brandy back from London for you. I gave it to Nowles to set up for us.” Trevan looked to Wenna. With a fair amount of sarcasm he said, “That way, the lovebirds here, can have a little privacy.”
Wenna looked pleadingly at Senny, then Trevan. “No, please stay and join us. We would welcome your company, Tre-, er, Your Grace,” then she looked to Gabriel, “my Lord.” She realized she was fidgeting nervously. She stilled her hands and focused on keeping them folded in her lap.
He was happy to see the Reverend was a lean, scrawny man just as Gabriel had described him. He was more than a little pleased that the man looked nervous.
Trevan smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief, “I wouldn’t dream of intruding upon your privacy, Miss Penrose. I merely dropped by to visit with Robert before I return to Menadue. I’ve a lot to catch up on.” Mayhap Gabriel was right. He suspected Wenna did not want to be alone with the skinny, little weasel.
Feeling more confident, he added, “For as soon as I catch up at Menadue, I must away to London yet again.”
“But you just returned nigh on three weeks ago from a long trip in London,” Senny spoke up.
“True, Miss Zenny,” Trevan said, “But as I have held the title of Duke for eighteen months now, I must fulfill my duty to my family. My duty is to take a wife and produce an heir. I thought to look in London first. If the betting books at the clubs are any indication, I’ll not have much trouble finding a wife there. I am looking for a gentle, sweet wife who understands what it means to marry a very busy Duke and be a proper Duchess.” His eyes rested on Wenna. He nearly grinned as he saw her stiffen. He watched her lips thin and turn downward into a scowl.
“Oh, I see,” Senny said quietly. She glared at her sister.
Wenna paled further. She squirmed uneasily.
Gabriel struggled to keep from smiling. He cast his cousin an amused glance.
“And Miss Zenny,” Trevan flashed a wide grin Gabriel’s way, “you might also be interested to know those same betting books show that my cousin, Gabriel, is the next best catch for a husband in the upcoming season; behind me, of course.”
Senny whirled around to face Gabriel. “Y-you are looking for a w-wife, Gabriel?”
She paled visibly as Gabriel watched her. She captured her full lower lip with her pearly white teeth. He knew it was something Senny did when she was nervous. Her eyes, a vivid mixture of green and blue, appeared to shimmer suddenly with unshed tears. She was upset. Damn Trevan!
“Zenny, come, let’s walk to the lake. I promised you a walk, and a walk we will have.” Gabriel offered his arm to her. He glared at Trevan as he passed him. How could Trevan upset his sweet Zenny so?
Trevan took hold of Robert’s Bath chair and prepared to push him from the parlour.
“When will you be going to London, Your Grace?” Wenna asked. She realized she sounded rather desperate. What was wrong with her? Why should she care?
“I am not certain, Miss Penrose. When the business affairs awaiting me at Menadue are completed, I will leave for London. I plan to spend a few weeks there before everyone quits Town for the summer. If I do not find a wife during that time, then I shall return again for the little Season.”
“Oh. A very sound plan,” Wenna commented in a soft, distant voice.
“Indeed, Your Grace.” The Reverend added heartily, giving the Duke a nod.
“If you’ll excuse us, Miss Penrose, Mr. Madingly. A bottle of fine French brandy awaits us!” Trevan turned and pushed Robert from the room in his Bath chair.
“I did not know you were looking for a w-wife, Gabriel,” Senny said the moment they stepped outside. Her voice was barely a whisper. She had to know. She must prepare herself for it. The ache in her heart was almost unbearable at this moment.
Gabriel stopped walking and gently took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “I have no plans to look for a wife in London, or anywhere else. I will not be joining Trevan. I shall stay here in St. Mabyn.” He knew at that moment he would not be going to Truro with Trevan at the end of the week either. There was only one woman he was interested in, and she was standing right in front of him.
“Oh.” Senny looked down. She asked, because she felt it was necessary that she know, “D-do you ever plan to marry, Gabriel?”
“Someday, I will. I have no plans to at the present time.” Gabriel then asked her, “And you, Zenny? Do you wish to marry?”
Senny had never thought of marrying anyone but Gabriel. For many years now, she believed Gabriel could never feel the way about her that she felt for him. Still, he was a dear friend to her.
“No, Gabriel, I cannot marry. Wenna will marry. Lanyon is the heir. He must marry. I will take care of Grandfather. He would not be happy anywhere but at Callywith, I think,” she told him in a matter-of-fact tone.
Gabriel was surprised. Didn’t all young, unmarried women think of marriage? True, Senny was four and twenty, and not that young. Yet, she believed she could not marry, that Robert was her responsibility. Gabriel felt his heart constrict. Ever dutiful and loyal, his sweet, golden-haired Senny planned to sacrifice her happiness to take care of her grandfather.
“Zenny, you can marry if you wish. Your grandfather would not want you to forgo your happiness for him.”
“I could not be so cruel to rob him of his happiness in exchange for mine, Gabriel. I c-could never do such a thing!” Senny turned serious blue-green eyes to him.
Once again, Gabriel felt the need to kiss sweet Zenny. He refrained.
“When Trevan mentioned I was looking for a wife, you seemed upset by that. Were you?” he asked softly. He noted the blush that crept to her cheeks.
“I – I,” Senny could not lie ever, and especially not to Gabriel. She struggled to find a plausible reason to give him other than she wanted him to marry her, “If you took a w-wife, we could not take w-walks or yo
u could not spend as much t-time with us at C-Callywith.”
She looked away, afraid he might see the truth in her eyes and stay away from her because of it. The noise began to gather in her head. She knew an attack was close. Her thoughts began to whirl. She concentrated on stopping the chaos swirling inside her mind. On just breathing.
“Zenny, look at me.” Gabriel stepped closer to her. She turned her face upward. She captured her lower lip with her teeth again. It was nearly his undoing. He longed to kiss her, but again resisted. It was too soon, his thoughts were still too muddled. He had to be certain of his feelings before he allowed himself to go any further with her.
“Zenny, is that the only reason you would not wish for me to marry another?” Why had he asked her such a thing? He immediately regretted doing so, for she became more uncomfortable by his question. When he realized his question upset her terribly, he felt like the lowest of men. Why was he doing this?
He was so close he could feel the warmth of her body though he did not touch her. Her scent was fresh, lemony, with a hint of mint, and the sweetness of freshly cut geraniums.
Senny could feel her cheeks burning. It was over. Gabriel must have guessed she had feelings for him because she had never told a single soul. He’d no doubt heard the women in the village. She had.
Simple Senny thinks she’s going to land herself an earl! What would a man with the devilish good looks of him want with an odd girl like that? An’ simple minded to boot, the girl never says a word. ‘Tis pure pity he shows her, that’s all! She’s away with the Piskies, that one.
Senny didn’t know why they thought she couldn’t hear them. She could. Gabriel had either heard their chatter or guessed on his own and wanted to hear it from her. Had she given herself away? Worse still, did he think her a nuisance? Please no!
She could deny it, but it would be a lie. She had no choice but to tell him the truth and accept the consequences. She might lose her dear friend forever. Yet, what if there was a chance? More than likely it would be a slim chance. She had to fight for it if there were. This was Gabriel. Her Gabriel. Her dearest friend.
When she looked up at him, his jaw looked tight. It was the serious expression he wore that truly concerned her. Was he angry? Fear crept in. It would probably not be a good idea to tell him everything.
Confusion washed over her when she saw the same kindness in his eyes she always did. That calmed her somewhat.
Gabriel had never seen Senny look so perplexed, so lost. She actually trembled. Before he knew it, his hands were on her shoulders. “Zenny? I’m sorry. I’ve upset you. I did not mean to.”
Senny managed to hold off the noise beginning to build in her head and the swirling, chaotic thoughts, difficult though it was. She wanted to speak. She had to.
“S-so you’ve heard the women in the village, have you? Now y-you want to know if it’s t-true.”
“Heard what, Zenny?” Perplexed, Gabriel cocked his head.
“They call me S-simple Senny, and they say I think to catch myself an Earl. They laugh and say, What could he see in such an odd g-girl who’s simple-m-minded to boot? She’s away with the P-piskies, that one. I hear them, Gabriel! I don’t know why they think I can’t, b-because I can. I know you don’t think me simple-minded. I know you are not k-kind to me out of pity as they say, at least I h-hope you are not.” Senny looked upward into his crystalline eyes. She realized her fear of losing him and her anger at the village women had forced far too many words from her mouth.
Well she might as well say it all. “My m-mother always told people you would be my husband, and many b-believed it. I know you probably do not like what she said. I am d-different, I know it.” She looked into his pale, clear blue eyes. They had darkened to a stormy gray. Was he angry? She noted his jaw tightened. Oh heavens, what had she done?
That was the point she became completely overwhelmed. The noise threatened to crash in on her. The pressure built in her head. Her thoughts swirled. Still she managed to speak. She felt she had to. “I–I know you could never be interested in s-someone a-as different as m-me, G-Gabriel. I know that.” She began to tremble.
When Senny was overwhelmed, she became either extremely nervous or she panicked. Gabriel knew exactly what to do. He had known her since she was a babe, and he a lad. Although her gift differed from his, he had always known she needed calming at these times. Calming her was foremost in his mind. He let go of his lust. He spoke soothing words to her. He gently rubbed her back and shoulders while he urged her to take deep breaths.
He waited until she was completely calm to speak with her.
“Zenny,” Gabriel whispered as he caressed her cheek. His fingers moved to capture her chin. He tilted her face upward, so he could see her eyes. He saw the tears threatening to spill.
“You are far from simple. To me you are everything that is beautiful and good in this world. Do not listen to that bunch of addle pated hens! Never could anyone call you simple-minded, my sweet Zenny. You are one of the most intelligent women I know. I enjoy your company more than any other woman in my acquaintance. You are different, but not in a bad way, Zenny. You are unique in a very good way. You are honest and have the purest of hearts,” Gabriel’s whisper grew softer as he lowered his head. He wanted to kiss her. Yet he stopped himself and pulled back.
“Y-you are not angry, Gabriel?” Senny whispered. She felt her cheeks burning still.
“No, why would I be angry?” he asked softly as he smiled down at her.
“B-because of what my mother always said and what the village women s-say.”
“I’ve always known what your mother said, Zenny. She used to tell me the very same thing.” His hand remained on her cheek. Gabriel allowed his thumb to trace lightly across her full bottom lip. She closed her eyes as he did so.
He wanted to kiss her. He needed to kiss her. He sighed. He could not. She was overwhelmed. More importantly, he had to discover what this sudden lust he felt for her was and if there was something deeper causing it. He now suspected there just might be.
He had to be certain. He would not allow himself to compromise Senny’s feelings. He allowed himself to kiss the tip of her nose. “Zenny, we are dear friends, you and I. We shall always be.”
Senny opened her eyes. She met Gabriel’s gaze. He was smiling at her. She smiled back, emitting a deep sigh of relief.
“Don’t you listen to those gossipy old hens! I treasure what we have, Zenny. You are my dearest friend.” The brilliant smile she gave him warmed his heart.
Once again, he had to refrain from kissing her. “Come along, let’s get back. I believe Trevan wishes to return to Menadue as soon as can be.” He took her hand in his and entwined his fingers with hers. How dare those old besoms insult his Zenny so!
Senny sighed again. They were still friends. “You are my dearest friend too, Gabriel.” She smiled up at him.
Gabriel so loved her smile. “Zenny, will you join me for a walk to the village tomorrow? I have some errands to tend to.”
“Of course.”
He planned to give the gossipy village hens an eyeful. He planned to parade Senny all about the village on his arm.
“Robert seemed happy to see you, Trevan.” Gabriel remarked as they rode the short distance to Fairy Cross.
Trevan nodded. “Yes, I believe he was. There might be some truth to what you said about Wenna, Gabriel. She nearly fainted when I walked in behind you. It seemed to me she did not wish to be left alone with the vicar.”
“I told you as much. That would be the reason you fabricated your tale of looking for a wife?”
“Ayce.” Trevan nodded. He gave Gabriel a white-toothed grin. “When will you see Zenny again, Gabriel?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Would you ask her if there are certain times the skinny little reverend calls upon Wenna? I should like to show up at Callywith in the next few days when he is not about.”
“I will find out for you, and I’ll send a message to Menadue
,” Gabriel grinned.
“Good. I have a plan.” Trevan grinned. He reasoned it might not work. Wenna was engaged to the Vicar. Yet he had to try.
Gabriel strolled with Zenny up and down the small village street. There were only a few shops in St. Mabyn. Their first stop was a small mercantile where a variety of items were sold. He purchased a pair of gloves for himself and purchased two particular ribbons that he insisted Zenny must have because they complemented her lovely gown of cornflower blue.
Next, they went to the Inn where he purchased an apple tart for each of them. He made a grand show of capturing a crumb at the corner of her mouth with his napkin as they ate their tarts. They ventured into another small shop afterward. He pretended to be interested in various items. He made a small purchase.
Gabriel was feeling very satisfied that the old besoms’ who dared whisper hurtful words about his Zenny were getting quite an eyeful. It pleased him that they watched every move he and Zenny made along the street. He noted they whispered amongst themselves. He took special care to allow his touches to linger on Senny’s hand or arm. He rested his hand at the small of her back several times while escorting her inside a shop.
It was easy and natural to give his full attention to her. He let there be no question in the gossipy hens’ minds that Sennen Penrose was the sole focus of his attention. It was true that she was.
Senny seemed oblivious to the attention they were receiving. She focused on him and their conversations. When a few of the shop owners spoke to her and inquired after her family, she answered in a very kind, sincere manner.
In the last shop they stopped in, Gabriel noted his Senny was giving a particular bonnet some attention. After a brief and gentle argument, he insisted that he purchase it for her. He demanded she allow him to place it upon her head himself. As he did so, he remarked to her how lovely her hair was. He mentioned that it resembled spun gold kissed with the fire of a Cornish sunset. Of course, his compliment was loud enough so that the three other ladies visiting the shop could hear every word.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 4
