“There’s a good chance they attacked Horethorne Hall as well. I hope our colleagues in Somerset fared as well as we did. No deaths for us, five injuries, all will recover.” Trevan sat behind his desk.
“Thanks to Zenny,” Tristan added.
“We owe many thanks to Zenny. It could have been much worse had they surprised us. As it was, we were able to alert the outside guard before the Brown Coats arrived. That saved us, I think,” Trevan agreed.
“The constable will come for the bodies in the morning,” Tremayne provided.
“What of the prisoners?” Trevan asked.
“They were thoroughly questioned and are now locked up. One did not survive,” Tremayne rose from his chair.
“Why?” Trevan raised his brow and looked at Tremayne.
“Ask our cousin, August. He was questioning him at the time,” Tremayne shrugged.
“I will. Let’s get a few hours of sleep. There is much to take care of here tomorrow.” Trevan sighed heavily.
“Wenna! What are you still doing up?” Trevan asked as he came up the stairs. He found his lady walking down the corridor.
“Your mother and I just finished tending your wounded cousins. All are sleeping soundly. The Surgeon feels everyone will recover nicely.”
“Good.” Trevan smiled at her. “Oh, damn!” Trevan turned to Tremayne who still followed behind him. “Tremayne, can you take some men tomorrow morning and bring cousin Elowen from Penhallow. I’d forgotten Daveth is presently in London. Marrek would skin us alive if harm came to her. We promised him we’d look out for her while he is out of the country.”
Tremayne nodded, “I will.” He and Tristan turned down the corridor leading to their rooms.
“How is Zenny?” Trevan asked as he and Wenna continued on to the end of the corridor where the ducal apartments were located.
Wenna shook her head, “Oh dear, I forgot all about Gabriel and Senny. I suppose we should look in on them.”
Trevan nodded.
He opened the door to Senny’s room.
A candle still burned on the table beside the bed. Gabriel slept upon the bed in his trousers and shirt. Senny was beneath the covers yet she was nestled against him.
“I hate that Senny suffers so with her abilities. Sometimes I think they harm her more than help her,” Wenna whispered sadly.
“She saved us tonight, Wenna. That is for certain.”
“Should I wake Gabriel?” Wenna looked to Trevan.
“No. I have never seen anyone as frightened as Zenny was tonight. I am certain that is why Gabriel is with her. He does not want her to wake and be afraid.” Trevan blew out the candle after Wenna pulled the coverlet over Gabriel. “We’ll leave them as they are. None will know save us.”
“Let’s go to bed.” Wenna took his hand and pulled him toward the door.
“We will be sleeping tonight woman, I’ll no doubt wake you in several hours, though,” Trevan whispered as they stepped into the hall. “What of Robert?”
“Your mother and I checked on him hours ago. He was sleeping,” Wenna informed him.
Wenna leaned against Trevan as they entered her bedchamber together.
They undressed, shared a long, sweet kiss, and fell asleep in one another’s arms.
Gabriel stirred when he heard Senny whimper. Her hands were flailing beneath the covers. Gabriel couldn’t get to her hands because he lay on top of the bedding.
He stood from the bed, and slid beneath the covers. He put his arms around Senny and pulled her back against his chest then captured her hands in his to keep her still. “Shh, Zenny, love. You’re safe. I’m here,” Gabriel whispered into her ear. She settled almost immediately. Gabriel placed a kiss against her hair and snuggled against her soft warmth. Just before sleep overtook him, he decided it felt very good to sleep with Senny in his arms. He rather liked it.
When Senny woke, Gabriel was gone. She was alone in her bed. She knew he had slept with her, for she woke once to find him curled against her and his arms snugly around her. She savored the feeling of sleeping in his arms.
She had washed, dressed and sat brushing her hair in her dressing room when a knock sounded on her chamber door.
“Zenny?”
It was Gabriel.
“Yes?”
“Are you decent?”
“Yes, I am dressed,” she called out.
Gabriel opened her bedchamber door. He spotted her through the open door leading the Lady’s dressing room. He was happy to see her looking well. In fact, she looked very well. She wore a deep blue-green gown that nearly matched the color of her eyes. Her loose golden hair gleamed in the sunlight coming through the window and hung like silk about her. Gabriel realized he had been silent far too long.
“How are you feeling this morning?”
“A little tired, Gabriel, but otherwise I am fine. Have I missed breakfast?” she asked him. “It is late.”
Her brilliant smile warmed him. Memories of holding her in his arms did as well. “No, I came to see if you would join me or if you wanted a tray sent to you. I did not know how you would feel this morning. The household slept late. Breakfast will be served in a quarter of an hour.”
“I assume with what happened last evening, Wenna has our maid busy downstairs. I must put my hair up. I’ll be a few minutes.”
“I’ll wait.” Gabriel realized he should leave her rooms, but instead he sat in a chair and watched Senny at the vanity through the open door to the dressing room. He watched as she quickly arranged her hair into her usual coiffure. He knew her golden hair to feel like silk, it was every bit as soft as it looked. He longed to run his hands through it at that moment. Though the style she fashioned was simple, it looked lovely on her. He thought she always looked beautiful.
The only accurate word Gabriel could think of to describe her was sylphlike. She was tall, and slender. Though she had curves in the right places, she was fine-boned and pale-skinned. She moved so gracefully, she appeared to float as she walked.
Whenever Gabriel was near her, he felt at peace. Unless of course, he was kissing her, then he grew mad with uncontrollable lust for her.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts he realized Senny had finished and was walking toward him.
“Shall we go down?” Gabriel realized his voice sounded rather husky as he rose.
“Yes. I’m famished.” Senny smiled as she took the arm he offered.
..
The lower floor was noisy as everyone made their way to the long gallery where the massive sideboards would be filled with breakfast foods. There were now about sixty Chynoweth family members and their families in residence.
Many greeted him and Senny as they made their way to breakfast. Gabriel felt Senny stiffen beside him. He looked to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Everyone is staring at me this morning,” she whispered.
“I did not notice.” Gabriel looked about. Many of his and Trevan’s relatives were looking at them as they walked across the massive entrance hall into the corridor leading into the dining room. “They don’t mean anything by it if they are staring, Zenny. All know it was your vision that saved us during the night.”
“Oh,” Senny exhaled heavily. “Do you suppose they think me odd?”
“No!” Gabriel smiled down at her. “You are not odd. If they stare, it is because they know you were the one who saved us during the wee hours of the morning. Menadue is the seat of the Chynoweths, and you are like family. You will always be welcomed here. Besides, I think I just realized why we are being stared at, Zenny.” He grinned down at her.
“Why?” Curious, she looked up at him.
He caressed her fingers, still enfolded in the warmth of his hand. “I neglected to let go of your hand and put it upon my arm before we came downstairs.”
“Oh,” Senny tried to slip her fingers from his hand. She looked to Gabriel with a curious expression when he tightened his grip on her fingers, keeping them exactly where they were.
&
nbsp; “We are among friends and family. Let them say what they will. If I want to hold your hand while we are here at Menadue, I shall. We are soon to be wed, in any case.” He grinned at her and gave her a wink. She gave him a brilliant smile in return. Gabriel was certain his heart skipped a beat when she did.
Ensconced in the library that afternoon, the gentlemen spoke about the attack on Menadue the night before.
“There’s not a brown coat for miles around,” Jonas Lanphear announced. “Some of our folk down Bodmin saw them leaving late this morning. More than twenty riders in brown coats and hats went north. Before leaving they asked for the most direct route to Yeovil, in Somerset.”
“Templecombe is just beyond Yeovil. So, it appears with the arrival of more men at Menadue yesterday and this morning, they have decided to leave us alone. Chances are they’ll be to Templecombe before I can get a letter to Micah and Harry. Their numbers are small at Horethorne Hall,” Trevan sighed heavily. “We need to send at least a dozen men to Templecombe now. We can send more when the rest of the Michelmores and Iveys arrive tomorrow or the next day.”
Gabriel suddenly had a strong feeling he should go to Templecombe. He did not know why, but he felt he should. “I will go, Trevan. I’ll take my brother, Thomas, and ten men.”
Thomas Chynoweth, who closely resembled his elder brother save his hair was lighter and his eyes were darker, nodded. “I will join you.”
“Very good, Gabriel. I will send a messenger ahead this instant in hopes he can beat the Brown Coats to Horethorne Hall. I’ll set Diggory to gathering the supplies you will need. You’ll travel light for a wagon shall slow you down. I’ll be gone but a few minutes. When I get back, we’ll come up with our plan. In the meantime, Gabriel, send your man to pack for you and study the map to see if there is a short-cut that might get you to Templecombe faster than the route taken by our brown-coated friends.”
Trevan stopped and thought a moment. He frowned. “Harry’s and Lyons families are at Eveleigh Park. I feel I should send some men there. Harry and Micah have none to spare at Horethorne Hall.”
“I will go.” Tristan spoke up.
Trevan looked to him warily then nodded slowly. Tristan seemed serious enough about taking responsibility since he had taken an interest in Harry’s sister, the young and lovely Lady Caroline. Trevan would allow him to prove it further. “Very well, Tristan. Take Julyan and some of your cousins. Ten or so.”
Tristan nodded and brandished a large grin.
As more family arrived from locations throughout Cornwall, Menadue grew louder and more boisterous. Since Gabriel was still ensconced in the library, Senny found the small parlour empty. She was sitting in the window seat reading when a young woman appeared in the doorway. She had thick, black, wavy hair, and her eyes were even a paler blue than Gabriel’s. She was about as tall as Senny was, and slender as well.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I see you’ve found my secret place I hide in when I want to get away. I’ll leave you to your privacy…”
“No, please stay. The room is not mine. I just needed a bit of quiet. I am Senny Penrose.”
“Ah, Wenna’s sister. I am Trevan and Gabriel’s cousin, Elowen. Elowen Penaluna. My brother is St. Erth. I think we met many years ago when we were younger.”
“I think we did.” Senny nodded and smiled as she remembered the time Elowen spoke of.
“I have heard Gabriel mention Lord St. Erth often, and I spoke with him a few times at Fairy Cross when he was visiting.”
“You live in St. Mabyn, correct?”
“Yes.” Senny nodded. The young woman seemed very nice and kind.
“I live at Penhallow, near Draynes Wood.”
“Near the falls?” Senny asked.
Elowen nodded then asked, “Was it you or your sister who had the vision that saved Menadue last evening?”
Senny stiffened. She became nervous. She lowered her gaze. “I-it was m-me.”
“Oh, I did not mean anything by my remark.” Elowen rushed to the window seat and sat down beside her.
“What you said is fine. I am not always comfortable with my gift,” Senny admitted.
Elowen said, “You should be proud of your gifts, Senny. They are a blessing. You saved lives with yours last night. I have learned to be proud of mine and you must too. It is difficult sometimes, but I have learned not to care when people speak ill of me. It is only because they are ignorant and don’t really know me or understand what it is that I do.”
“People in St. Mabyn say I am away with the piskies. They call me Simple Senny,” Senny offered with a half smile.
“People call me a Witch, and I suppose I am. I’m a Pellar and a healer. Let them call me a Witch if they like. I think the ones who call me that do so because they don’t understand what a healer does and therefore fear me. I’m certain the people in St. Mabyn call you names for the same reason. They don’t understand your gift.” Elowen smiled at Senny. “Can you explain your gifts to me, Senny? Then I will tell you about mine.”
Senny nodded and began to tell Elowen of her gifts. At first, she was unsure, but after Elowen asked many questions and encouraged her at almost every turn, Senny felt more confident. Elowen explained her abilities to Senny afterward.
In search of Senny to tell her he must leave Menadue in a little over an hour, Gabriel overheard her speaking to Elowen as he approached the small parlour. He remained just outside the doorway listening as he heard Senny explain her gifts to his cousin. She did not seem nervous at all, as she spoke about her abilities. A slow smile spread across his face. His cousin, Elowen, was the perfect person for Senny to speak with. Why had he not thought of that himself?
“Here, Senny,” Elowen removed a thin, blue silk ribbon from around her neck. A small, shiny, dark-colored, pointed stone dangled from the end of the ribbon. This is a piece of black quartz, Senny. It will help you filter out the negative energy that comes to you. You will not be overwhelmed by so much of the energy coming from others around you when you wear it.” Elowen draped the ribbon around Senny’s head.
Elowen continued, “The cord is long enough so you can tuck the stone in your bosom if you don’t want anyone to see it.” Elowen watched as Senny took the stone in her fingers and looked at it.
“It’s beautiful. But I cannot take your special jewelry.” Senny shook her head.
“I insist. I have another similar stone at home. I can make myself another one. I have plenty of amulets to wear while I’m here.” Elowen laughed as she pulled the other cords from her bodice. She wore three more stones upon them.
“They are beautiful. What is the flashing blue one called?” Senny asked.
Elowen held it up so that Senny might see it better. “It is a Moonstone. My brother brought it back from India for me years ago. He is there now. I shall write him and ask him to procure one for you.”
Senny smiled. “It is lovely.”
“Moonstone shall be perfect for you. It helps you understand your gifts. You will connect with your abilities easier if you wear it.”
“Zenny?” Gabriel said as he entered. He was eager to talk to her. He wanted to spend a little time alone with his lady before he left Menadue for Templecombe.
“Ah, hello cousin!”
“St. Mabyn!” Elowen rose and hugged her cousin.
“You look well, cousin.” Gabriel smiled at her.
Elowen watched her cousin’s gaze rest upon the smiling Senny. “As do you. It was wonderful to meet you, Senny. I must find Aunt Morva. I look forward to talking with you again soon. You as well, cousin,” Elowen turned and left them alone.
As she exited the parlour, Elowen nearly collided with the green-eyed gentleman she had briefly been introduced to less than an hour before, upon her arrival to Menadue. She had never seen eyes of such a vibrant, emerald color before.
“My apologies, Lady Elowen.”
“It was my fault, sir, I was not paying attention,” Elowen said as she started to move around him.
He stepped to the side and motioned for her to continue on her way.
“Thank you, Lord…” she struggled to remember the handsome man’s title.
“Lord Alloway, at your service, Lady Elowen.”
“Thank you, Lord Alloway,” she gave him a quick curtsy and continued toward the drawing room.
Newton, “Newt” Lambrick, Lord Alloway, watched her walk away with an amused smile upon his face.
“What do you think of cousin Elowen?”
“I like her. She is very nice,” Senny said with a pleased smile.
Gabriel came to sit beside her on the window seat. “Zenny, I must go to Horethorne Hall, in Templecombe, to help Micah, Harry and the others. We heard from Jonas’ kin in Bodmin that the Brown Coats are on their way to Micah’s home, Horethorne Hall. Our friends are sorely outnumbered there. I get the feeling I need to be there, so I offered to go.” He saw a brief flicker of alarm mar her features. It was immediately replaced by a calm expression.
“Of course you must go, Gabriel. I will miss you.” She smiled sweetly at him.
Gabriel knew he shouldn’t, but he moved closer. He didn’t want to leave her, but his instincts told him he needed to go to Templecombe. She would be fine. She had her sister and grandfather, and now Elowen. Aunt Morva would keep an eye on her also. Tremayne and Trevan would be here.
“I will miss you as well, Zenny.” He allowed his lips to feather over hers. Once. Twice. Then he kissed her fully.
Her passionate response to his kiss surprised him. It also delighted him. He gathered her into his embrace. The book she held fell to the floor with a thud as he pulled her tighter against him.
Passion flamed between them quickly. As Gabriel lost himself in their kiss, he slid through the veil and once again, he connected with her. He could feel her excitement. He heard her heart beating. He felt the passion growing between them inflame her. He felt her ache to know more, felt the need she yearned to fulfill. Her sweetness, her caring and her love were a balm to his soul.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 12
