Senny was confused. To her it seemed that Gabriel was acting as if he were her beau. She knew she wasn’t the only one who thought so. She had caught a few whispers from some of the women. She couldn’t understand why he was behaving in such a manner. Not that she didn’t want it to be so, she did. His behavior came as such a surprise to her, when only yesterday he spoke of friendship.
As he led her from the store, he was beaming. He looked down to see Senny looking up at him with a bewildered expression upon her face.
“Zenny, love, what is the matter?” he asked with concern.
He watched as her teeth captured her full lower lip. He saw her take a deep breath before she spoke. “I-I don’t understand, Gabriel. Y-you are giving people the impression,” her voice grew shaky then and much quieter, “that you are c-courting me or some such thing.”
He had confused Zenny with his actions. He felt badly for a moment, until he realized just how much he had enjoyed himself today. Every bit of attention he gave to her was real. Every single time he brought a smile to her face, it had gladdened his heart. He wanted to make her smile, to bring her joy. He wanted this. This was real. He wanted to kiss her, among other things. He wanted Senny beside him for, well, forever. The realization was startling, but comforting at the same time. He did not wish to overwhelm her. He would take things very slowly, for Zenny’s sake.
When he did not answer right away, Zenny turned her face upward. He saw hope shining in her eyes, and the beauty of it amazed him. “You do not wish for me to court you?” he asked her, now sure of the path unfolding before him. He wasn’t quite certain of the depth of his feelings, but he knew he was happy with Senny beside him.
“No, I mean yes. Yes I do, b-but,” she faltered.
“Tell me, Zenny.” They stopped walking and he faced her.
Instead of an answer, she asked him a question. “You are not just being k-kind to me are you? Do you truly wish to court m-me?”
Gabriel smiled down at her. “I am serious about courting you, Zenny. As I said yesterday, we are dear friends. I propose we take things slowly and see how they progress. Is that acceptable to you?”
He watched as Zenny thought about it for a moment. He wanted to kiss her right on the village green when her pearly white teeth worried her bottom lip.
“Yes, G-Gabriel,” she nodded slowly then gave him a brilliant smile that tugged at his heart. “This is acceptable. I would like that very much.”
He allowed his free hand to cover her fingers where they rested upon his arm. He gave them a tight squeeze. “I would like it as well. You have made me very happy today, Zenny. I am now officially courting you. Shall we walk home?”
“Yes,” Senny agreed with a very pleased smile. Her heart soared. Gabriel was courting her.
Chapter Three
Menadue, near St. Cleer, Cornwall Late May of 1834
Trevan Chynoweth rubbed his forehead. He paused to stretch his long arms over his head after he placed his quill on the holder. He looked to the clock on the mantel. It was half past two. He’d missed luncheon again and had been in his office since ten that morning. Well, enough work for today. There was still enough time to ride to St. Mabyn.
He wasn’t certain he had made much progress with Wenna these past four weeks since his return from Glastonbury. She was still engaged to the vicar, yet she hadn’t said a cross word to him in all that time. He had not managed to get her alone for more than a few minutes here and there, but even then, they had conversed civilly. Once or twice while taking a meal with the Penroses, he had caught Wenna looking his way out of the corner of his eye.
Trevan visited Callywith almost every other day since he returned from Glastonbury, save for several days he spent in Truro the first week he returned. Most often, the vicar was not there when he visited, thanks to Senny and Gabriel. He also knew the vicar did not come to call as often as he used to. Trevan grinned to himself as he rose and donned his coat.
Between Gabriel and him, along with his brother Tremayne, Wenna had scarcely had time alone with her fiancée. Oddly, that seemed to please Wenna. That was what gave him hope. Hope that he still had a chance.
He decided now was the time to get Wenna alone so he could talk to her about their situation. If she still intended to marry Madingly, he realized he must cease his visits to Callywith and move on without her.
Wenna looked out the window of the parlour. It was John coming up the drive. Oh, she was not in the mood to listen to his boring prattle today. He only talked of himself and his grand ideas and opinions. She sighed heavily. “Senny, I’ve a head-ache and John has arrived. Could you please give him my excuses?”
“Wenna, you haven’t said a word about feeling unwell all morning, nor after luncheon.” Senny looked up from the book she was reading.
“Well, I have a head-ache now.” Wenna called as she exited the parlour and ran toward the stairs.
Senny groaned. “Wenna!”
“Do this for me, please Senny?” Wenna pleaded from the foot of the stairs.
“Very well. I don’t think you care for John enough to marry him.” Senny called after her sister.
“Mind your own business, Senny!” Wenna called as she hurried upstairs.
Senny sighed and shook her head. What was her sister up to?
Senny informed Nowles that Wenna was not accepting callers. She stood by the door of the parlour and waited until she was certain Nowles had turned the Reverend away.
Later, Senny still sat in the parlour reading. She looked out the window when she realized someone had turned onto the drive from the lane. She smiled as she peered out the window to see Gabriel and Trevan riding toward the Manor.
She rose when Nowles showed them into the parlour.
“Good afternoon, Zenny.” Trevan nodded as he looked about the room.
“Wenna is in the garden. She suffered a headache earlier and could not see the vicar. However, she made a miraculous recovery and is now tending to her herbs,” Senny said with a conspiratorial smile.
Trevan grinned. “Thank you, Zenny.” He winked at her before he excused himself and made his way to the back of the house.
Gabriel leaned against the doorframe, grinning at Senny. “Would you like to take a walk down the lane?”
“I would love too, Gabriel.” Senny set down her book and accepted the arm Gabriel offered to her.
Wenna wiped her brow with the back of her gloved hand. She would have to break her engagement to John. The sooner, the better. She now noticed him looking at her sister the way a man should not. She also noticed the way he talked down to her grandfather. There was something in his eyes she did not like either. He was boring of late, and rather self-centered.
Trevan was always about Callywith lately. He seemed to be always in a jovial mood. She wondered why. Perhaps he had moved on. Was he relieved to be rid of her? Had he fallen out of love with her even before their argument? He hadn’t said anything more about their relationship since the day she informed him she was marrying John. She couldn’t help but wonder if he would leave to go to London soon to look for a wife. The thought of him marrying another woman made her quite ill. Oh, why was she so confused?
She moved to stand but nearly fell, for the hem of her skirt caught on the heel of her half boot. She started as a strong hand gripped her upper arm.
“Careful now, Wen Pen.” Trevan bent and removed the fabric that had caught on her heel.
“Thank you,” Wenna mumbled as he helped her to her feet.
“You are welcome. The herb garden looks very fine, Wenna. But, your gardens always look well.”
“Thank you, Trevan. Are you looking for Grandfather? I believe he’s in his study.”
“No, actually, I wished to speak with you.”
“Oh?” Wenna looked up into his brilliant blue eyes. Feelings she had thought were gone rushed in. The realization those feelings were still there hit her hard.
Trevan longed to move a section of errant auburn hair that w
as about to fall into her eyes, but he resisted. He behaved as a perfect gentleman for four weeks. He supposed he could maintain his saintly behavior for a bit longer. “Wenna, I have to ask. Are you still set on marrying the vicar?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Wenna tried to sound nonchalant. She no longer wanted to marry John Madingly, but she didn’t want to tell Trevan that just yet.
“I was hoping, no Wenna, I’m asking you to give me another chance.”
“I – I don’t know, Trevan. I just don’t know.” Wenna wrung her hands. Was she still in love with Trevan? She certainly was not in love with John Madingly. Why did this have to be so perplexing? Why was there no clear-cut answer? She cared for Trevan. She still had feelings for him. She found him to be the handsomest man she’d ever set eyes on. Just looking at him made her heart flutter. Did she still love him? Even if she did, would he treat her like she wanted to be treated or would things be as they were before? She wrung her gloved hands together.
“Are you in love with him, Wenna?” Trevan asked in a soft, serious tone.
“I – I don’t know how I feel about anything anymore, Trevan. I just don’t know.” Wenna realized she was bungling things badly. She had never been good at hiding her emotions.
“Give me a chance, Wenna. Let me prove to you that I love you. Let me show you that I am the man you want. I’ll not neglect you again. That was wrong of me. I apologize for it. It was never my intention to hurt you so deeply.”
Tears threatened. Wenna swallowed. “I’m so confused, Trevan,” her words came out in a whisper.
Trevan sighed and gave a nod of agreement. “I can’t blame you. I made a muddle of things betwixt us, Wen Pen. Would you consider breaking your engagement to the vicar and give me a chance? I would appreciate the chance to woo you properly.”
Wenna removed her gloves and shoved them into the pocket of her apron. She wiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek. She nodded. She needed to break her engagement to John Madingly in any case, for she would never marry him, she could barely stomach his company of late. She didn’t even want to talk to him. She did want to give Trevan a chance.
Trevan removed his handkerchief from his pocket and presented it to her.
“Thank you, Trevan.” Wenna gave him a small smile and wiped at her tears. “I will go to the church tomorrow and talk to John. I will break the engagement, Trevan.”
“Do you want me to go with you, Wenna?” Trevan asked her softly.
She shook her head. “No, ‘tis best if I go alone, Trevan.”
Trevan nodded. He didn’t like the idea of her going alone, but he had to let her do it. “May I call upon you tomorrow at two?”
Wenna nodded. “Yes, two will be fine.”
Trevan offered her his arm. “Allow me to escort you back inside, Wenna. You look as if you could use a cup of tea.”
Wenna smiled up at him. She nodded, “Yes, I truly could.”
In the parlor, Wenna and Trevan took their tea. They talked of the goings on in St. Mabyn and St. Cleer, of Trevan’s family and hers.
Wenna rose as she saw Gabriel and Senny walking up the drive, hand in hand. “They are holding hands. What is it with those two?”
“Gabriel and Zenny?” Trevan rose to join Wenna at the window. He grinned as he watched the pair. He turned to regard Wenna.
Wenna nodded and looked up into Trevan’s brilliant blue eyes. She felt a tug at her heart just looking at him. He was so handsome.
Trevan grinned down at her. “I would say they are in love, though, I don’t think either one of them knows it.” He gave Wenna a wink.
Wenna smiled. “I think you may be right.” She laughed then. “It is good match for them both, I think.”
“Ayce, I agree.” Trevan motioned toward their vacated chairs as they heard the front door open. Gabriel and Senny’s voices carried into the parlour from the entry hall.
Wenna returned to her chair and picked up her cup. Trevan did the same.
“There you are, Senny. Gabriel. Will you join Trevan and me for tea?” Wenna smiled at them both. “And we hope the both of you gentlemen will stay for dinner.” Wenna raised an eyebrow at Trevan.
He grinned happily. “Of course.”
Gabriel led Senny toward Wenna and Trevan.
“Senny?” Wenna knocked upon her sister’s door.
Senny opened the door, “Yes?”
“May I come in? I was hoping we could talk.”
“Certainly, Wenna,” Senny said. She still held her book in her hand. She walked back toward the bed and sat on the edge. Wenna did the same. “What is the matter?” she asked her sister.
“Senny, I am going to break my engagement with John tomorrow. I do not think he is the right person for me to marry.”
Senny would have smiled, but her sister looked confused and worried. “Why?”
“I – I,” Wenna paused, “Trevan has asked me to give him another chance to woo me, I think I must do so. If I did not I would always wonder.”
“That is very wise, Wenna. Trevan does love you.”
Wenna almost asked her sister what she knew of love, but she held her tongue. Wenna knew what some people said of Senny, and it broke her heart. Senny was different, that was all. Being Senny’s sister, Wenna knew her to be capable of great love. She just wasn’t certain if she knew much about loving a man.
Wenna had always worried about Senny. She was always protective of her younger sister, overly so until Gabriel had started spending more time with her, especially in the two years past. Before Gabriel walked with Senny on a daily basis, Wenna was the one who used to join her. Wenna never trusted some of the young men in the area to leave Senny be for she feared they might take advantage of her.
“Senny, it seems Gabriel spends a great deal of time with you lately,” Wenna mentioned. She smiled at her sister. She saw the smile that immediately lit Senny’s face then watched it turn to a frown. Senny shook her head, “We are good friends, Wenna.”
Wenna laughed softly. She reached out and tucked a loose strand of Senny’s straight, golden hair behind her ear. “Senny, do you not believe Gabriel could be spending time with you for another reason?”
Senny shook her head, adamantly, “No, we are good friends. He said so.” She purposely didn’t tell Wenna that Gabriel alluded to the fact that he was courting her a month ago. He had made such a point to say they were taking things slowly. Other than him holding her hand more often, nothing had truly changed between them. She reasoned it was possible he may have changed his mind, or perhaps he was having second thoughts. The only thing she did know is that they were good friends.
“Oh,” Wenna sighed, “I see.” She smiled than and added, “He bought you a bonnet and ribbons not too long ago.”
“Gabriel is very kind, you know this. I – I know what the women in the village say, Wenna. I know they call me simple and say I mean to c-catch an Earl. That he is kind to me only out of p-pity. I hear them talk.”
Wenna grew angry when she realized how much those words must have hurt her sister. “You are not simple and don’t you believe those old besoms for a moment! You are beautiful, Senny. I think Gabriel thinks so too. You remember what Mama used to say?”
Senny set her book down and wrung her hands, “Everyone remembers, I - I wish she had never said it. I think that is why everyone t-talks so.”
Wenna kissed her sister’s cheek, “Senny, do not listen to what the village women say. Listen to me. I think you are beautiful. I think Gabriel thinks you are beautiful. I believe there is every possibility that Gabriel might love you, just as Mama used to say. It is not an impossible to think the two of you could marry. Anyone can see Gabriel adores you. I’m just asking you to believe there’s a chance if you want what Mama said to be true.”
“N–no, Gabriel said we are good friends and a-always will be.” Senny shook her head. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. It would hurt too deeply to let herself believe that and then be disappointed. Gabriel had never me
ntioned love.
“Senny, are you in love with him?” Wenna asked softly as she hugged her sister to her.
“I can’t be, for it would hurt too much if he did not love me in return,” Senny said matter-of-factly.
“You can be, Senny. It’s fine for you to fall in love. You deserve love as much as anyone else.” Wenna hugged her sister to her again.
“Y-you can’t tell anyone. If G-Gabriel found out, Wenna, he might not like it. I would r-rather be his f-friend than have nothing.”
“Shh, that would never happen, Senny! Gabriel would never turn his back on you and you know it. Don’t worry, I will tell no one.”
“Not even Trevan?”
“Especially not Trevan! Senny, you and I both know he cannot keep a secret!” Wenna giggled.
Senny joined in her sister’s laughter. “This is true.” Feeling a little calmer, Senny exhaled deeply.
“Just promise me, that if you are in love with Gabriel that you remain open to the possibility of him loving you back. That’s all I’m asking. Just believe it can happen.”
Senny gave her a small nod. “I will try. I’m glad you are breaking your engagement to the vicar, Wenna. I do not like him.”
“Nor do I. I do not know what I saw in the man. He looks like a weasel.” Wenna shook her head. Then she snorted as she succumbed to another bout of laughter.
The sisters collapsed into a fit of giggles.
“You cannot expect me to be happy about this, Miss Penrose!”
“I am sorry, Mr. Madingly. I made a decision in haste, and I apologize for wounding your feelings.”
“Wounding my feelings?” he yelled. “I think you’ve gone back to that bull of a Duke, is what I think!” He pointed a finger at her. His flashing eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
“Mr. Madingly, the Duke of Penrose is a fine man, and does a great deal for all on Bodmin Moor! He is a close friend of the family, and what relationship he and I may have in the future is now none of your concern.”
“He had you, didn’t he? You have lain with him. I should have known you for the whore-” John Madingly stopped shouting when a masculine voice sounded from the church entrance.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 5
