by Jo Beverley
“Mmm.”
Chastity tried to be cool, but longing swept over her, empowered by his skillful touch. She surrendered with a whimper of despair…
A brief rap at the door allowed just enough time for them to break apart before Rothgar entered. He coolly assessed them and said, “Excellent. Cyn, there is urgent business in Winchester. Are you up to it?”
A flickering glance told Chastity that Cyn didn’t want to leave her, but he accepted the duty. “I can manage with a fresh horse.”
“Good.” Rothgar crisply explained the situation. “I’ll send two grooms with you, but it will go easier if you are there to make the request of your friend’s wife. And if she’s already disposed of the garment, you’ll have to track it down and retrieve the document.”
“ ‘Struth. Am I to prowl the worthy poor, picking pockets?”
Rothgar’s lips twitched. “Do what is necessary. Once you have it safe, you can rest as long as you are in a secure place and the grooms keep watch.”
Chastity shivered at this sense of hovering danger. If anyone discovered Cyn had that document, he would be a target. Henry Vernham would kill to get it; the Earl of Walgrave would destroy half the world to have it gone. This was no time to hold back.
She took Cyn’s hands and kissed him. “Take care. Please.”
Chapter 19
The wedding dinner was a strange affair. Verity and Nathaniel had eyes only for each other. Elf looked wistful. Brand and Rothgar made desultory conversation about political matters. Chastity worried about Cyn.
Though she had known him for such a brief time, they had rarely been apart. She wasn’t used to worrying about him in absentia. She realized Rothgar and Brand were discussing the war. That interested her, as Cyn’s safety rested on it. “Do you really think the war will soon be over?” she asked.
“Almost certainly,” said Rothgar. “Since the battle of Wandewash in India, and the surrender of the Canadas, French expansion is blocked. Now that King George has withdrawn support from King Frederick, Prussia will have to come to terms.” He smiled in acknowledgment of her feelings. “You may not have to face the thought of Cyn in battle in the near future.”
“Perhaps he may be posted at home for a while,” said Elf hopefully. “I have seen so little of him in past years, and I have only just come to know you, my new sister.”
Chastity knew she should protest, yet this acceptance of her future as Cyn’s wife was too delicious a fantasy to abandon entirely. She sat in a silent dream as Elf wondered where Cyn would be stationed, and even progressed to speculating as to future nieces and nephews.
The meal ended with toasts to the married couple. Elf rose to lead the ladies away, but Nathaniel rose too. As pink as his bride, he indicated that they were ready for bed. With an admirably straight face, Rothgar wished them a good night.
Elf led Chastity up to her boudoir to take tea. “It will soon be your turn, too.”
“I allow myself to dream,” said Chastity. “But in all honesty, I don’t see how it can be.”
“Rothgar will manage something,” said Elf confidently, “and Cyn will not be deterred by a mere matter of reputation. I hope it can be straightened out, though, for it will make everyone a great deal more comfortable. Speaking of comfort, I intend to escape this bodice immediately. I’m sure Chantal laced me especially tight to compete with your waistline. I feel as if I’m about to pop.”
The maid soon had them both in charming negligees, loose gowns trimmed with lace and ribbons, and they settled in comfortable privacy for a chat and tea.
“Can you tell me more of your family, Elf?” Chastity asked.
Elf poured boiling water on the leaves in the pot. “Of course, since you are to join it. As you know, there are the six of us, all with strange names. Rothgar’s mother made no objection, and so the pattern was set.”
“You have different mothers?”
“Didn’t you know? She died when Rothgar was five. Father married again soon after. I scarcely remember my own mother, for she and Father both died when I was but seven. Cyn is said to resemble her the most, wretched man.”
“Lord Rothgar must have been young when he came into the title.”
Elf passed the tea in a dish of Chinese porcelain. “Just turned nineteen, and with responsibility for five siblings, two of them hell-born twins. He took it seriously. He’s been very good to us.”
“It is clear he feels strongly about his family.”
“Yes. He really should marry, and I think he’s coming around to it, though that may change now.”
Chastity sipped. “Why now?”
“He has been hoping one of the others would marry to carry on the line, but Bryght’s plans fell through. Now Cyn is to be wed, I fear Rothgar will drop his intent to find a bride.”
“I don’t understand why the marquess should expect his brothers to do his duty.”
“Ah,” said Elf, and for the first time seemed hesitant. “Well, it’s a family scandal and you are to be family. It’s not something that need bother you in any case. It’s his mother, you see.”
“Rothgar’s mother?”
“One gathers she was not a very pleasant person.”
“But can he remember much of her?”
“He remembers something. Strong events trigger memories. She bore a second child, a daughter. She killed the babe.”
Chastity inadvertently splashed a little of her tea. “What?”
“It’s true. The child was but a few days old, and she strangled her. Rothgar was there when she did it, but was too little to stop her. He was only four years old, but he remembers. I think that is why he is so protective of us. He is still trying to save his baby sister.”
Chastity put down her dish of tea before her trembling hands caused another spill. “But why would she do such a thing?”
Elf shook her head. “No one knows, but I’ve heard it said that some women are driven mad by childbirth. She was locked up afterward, of course, and not allowed near her son. She took some wasting disease and died.”
“It’s a terrible story, but why would the marquess not wish to marry?”
Elf was somber. “He is concerned that it could be in the blood. He has always been very careful not to lose control.”
“I think he should disregard it. Who knows how children will be?”
“But some qualities are passed on. The color of hair and eyes. A gift for music or art.” Elf smiled reassuringly. “You certainly mustn’t let it affect your plans, Chastity. Now, why don’t you explain your family to me. Have you sisters other than Verity?”
“No, just two brothers. Fort—Fortitude, that is, and Victor. You see, you don’t have a monopoly on strange names. Fort is the oldest, he’s Lord Thornhill. Victor is just eighteen.”
“What are they like?”
“Oh, Fort is a typical man. He loves riding, and shooting, and the new sport called boxing. They put on padded gloves and hit one another until one of them falls down. Can you imagine it? Despite such horrid tastes, he’s quite kind really, but not very sensitive.”
Elf laughed. “As you say, a typical man.”
“As for Victor, we’ve been fighting since he was born, so I’m no judge. He’ll doubtless improve with age.” She stifled a yawn, then blushed to be so rude.
Elf immediately put down her tea. “How thoughtless of me. You must be exhausted.”
“I confess, I am,” said Chastity. “I had little sleep the last two nights.”
Elf’s color flared. Chastity almost hastened to correct Elf’s obvious assumption that there had been two nights of lovemaking, but then realized that it was not entirely an error. With a strained smile, she said good night and went to her own room. Once there, she sighed.
She wasn’t made for scandal. She hated this feeling of being less than virtuous. Cyn had been more right than he knew when he said their lovemaking had weakened her. If they couldn’t marry, they must part, for much as her body longed for him, she would die in a life of sh
ame.
In the morning, Chastity was woken with a cup of delicious chocolate, and the information that her brother had arrived and was anxious to speak to her.
She leaped out of bed, nerves atingle. She had a cowardly urge to summon Elf to accompany her, but she suppressed it. Despite the kindness of the Mallorens, she was alone in the world, and must behave so.
She discovered she now had a wide selection of clothes, most of which, as Chantal had said, would not suit Lady Elf. With the maid’s assistance, she dressed in a demure India cotton morning gown of orange printed in brown. In this case, the orange was almost exactly the color of Elf’s hair, and the effect would have been startling.
The lady was clearly in the habit of buying without truly considering the matter. The gown looked well on Chastity, however, and the modest, though expensively embroidered ruffles at bodice-edge and elbows created the demure appearance she wanted.
Would Fort still be on her side?
She found her brother in the Tapestry Room, prowling.
“Good morning, Fort,” she said, striving for dignity and composure.
He turned suddenly, and she saw he had a black eye and a bruised lip. “Oh, Fort! Did Father do that?”
“Lindle to be more precise.” He grinned painfully. “I’m delighted to report that he’s in worse shape. I broke his nose.”
Chastity laughed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
His eyes were warm as he looked at her. “You’re vastly improved, Chastity.”
“Thanks to you. I’m sorry for abandoning you…”
“Devil take it. I’m glad you had the sense. But once I’d knocked Lindle out, and escaped Father’s clutches, I scoured the town for you. I had some lurid imaginings. I virtually took a couple of brothels apart.”
Chastity went to him and kissed him gently. “Thank you. But Cyn was doing the same.”
“Cyn?” he said with a puzzled frown that told her he’d heard sin.
With a choking sensation, Chastity realized he knew nothing of Cyn Malloren. But how else could she explain her presence here? If she’d thought of the necessity, she’d have come up with some kind of story…
“Sin?” he asked, cooling rapidly.
“Lord Cynric Malloren,” Chastity said, licking her lips, wondering if she should summon protection after all. “He… er… escorted Verity and me to Winchester.”
“A Malloren,” Fort spat. “I wondered how you ended up here. And how did he come to be in Maidenhead?”
“He helped me find Nathaniel, of course,” Chastity said brightly. “Surely you can see that.”
“Alone?” His eyes lit with anger. “The two of you on the road overnight, alone?” His hand went to the hilt of his sword. “Where is he?”
“Not here,” she said quickly. “And Fort, you are not to hurt him.”
“Am I not, by gad!”
“He wants to marry me!”
“Hah! He wants to marry Chastity Ware? You’re a bigger fool than I took you for!”
She thumped his chest. “I thought you believed in me!”
He swung a fist at her, but controlled it with a caught breath. “You told me you are not a virgin.”
“Yes,” she said, meeting his eyes, “but I was.”
“Then he’s a cur.”
“No.”
He took a deep breath. “Sister, you clearly do not understand these things.”
“I understand them perfectly. I was not seduced, Fort. I went to him willingly, because I love him.”
“He is a cur to take advantage of you.”
“He didn’t think me a virgin then, Fort. Promise me you won’t fight him.”
“I’ll promise you nothing.” He turned away and ran his hands through his disordered hair. “I’ll have you and Verity out of this hellhole. No one trusts a Malloren, especially with a woman. They’ll doubtless pass you around.” He swung back to sneer at her. “If they haven’t already.”
“Fort, stop this!”
He stopped, but only to stare at her. “Cyn Malloren! I knew I remembered that name. He was at—” He broke off and then said, “At a certain place.”
He was talking about Rood House.
“Have you breakfasted, Fort?” Chastity asked quickly.
“I heard Cyn Malloren was fighting over a wench,” he sneered. “How do you like that, sister dear? But three nights since, your honorable seducer was squabbling over a whore.”
Then he started counting nights. She could see it in his eyes.
“That was the night you spent on the road with him on your way to Maidenhead…” His puzzled frown turned to an expression of horror. “Dear Lord in heaven…” Chastity retreated strategically behind a sofa, wondering what her chances were of reaching the door.
“I thought that teasing Chloe was familiar!” His voice swelled to a roar. “You filthy little trollop!”
“You were at Rood House too!” she screamed at him.
He charged at her, and the sofa suddenly seemed no barrier at all. Chastity looked for a weapon and grabbed a large Chinese vase, the best defense to hand.
Fort stopped.
He stopped because a glittering rapier was at his throat, wielded by Rothgar, who had appeared as if by magic.
“Ah,” said Fort. “Another Malloren. Is she whore to the whole family, then?”
“My dear Thornhill,” said Rothgar softly, “she is to all intents and purposes one of the family. If you offend against her, I will be forced to take it personally…”
Even Fort appeared to be sobered by the concentrated malice in the marquess’ voice.
“She doesn’t deny that your brother ruined her,” Fort said. “I’ll have satisfaction of him.”
“That is between you and him. But it is your father who has ruined her. Whose side are you on?” The unwavering sword at his neck carried a lethal promise.
Fort ignored it and looked steadily at Chastity. She sent him a silent appeal. He sighed. “Hers.”
Rothgar lowered the sword. Chastity only then realized that Brand and Elf were in the room too.
“Then we are all on the same side,” said Rothgar smoothly, as if that violence had never been. “Let me tell you about your father…”
Time hung heavy at the Abbey as everyone waited for Rothgar’s plans to bring results. No one was entirely sure what wheels Rothgar had set in motion except the marquess himself, and the only clear sign he gave was to casually order preparations for a grand masqued ball in five days.
“Five days,” said Elf calmly. “And who is to attend?”
“Everyone I have invited,” he said enigmatically.
It became clear that Rothgar had invited all the local gentry and a good part of the aristocracy.
“Won’t they think it strange to be invited to a grand ball at such short notice?” Chastity asked.
“Oh, no,” said Elf. “He always does things this way. A whim takes him and he holds an event. They are accustomed.”
“Well, I suppose they are accustomed to a scrambling kind of affair then. It took weeks of planning for my father to hold a ball this spring.”
“Scrambling,” said Elf with Malloren hauteur. “Of course not.”
Chastity found herself swept up into a whirlwind of efficient organization. Large numbers of extra staff were summoned from London. Messages went to Rothgar’s other estates demanding provisions. Both staff and provisions, of course, all came by the fastest means, regardless of cost. A dozen crates of geese came by post chaise.
Fort stayed on at the Abbey. He appeared to accept the likelihood of his father’s guilt, but he was not particularly mellowed toward the Mallorens. He kept to himself as they awaited Cyn’s return. Cyn, who would bring the document that could ruin the whole Ware family. Cyn, who was his sister’s seducer.
Fort looked like a man who lusted for someone to kill.
“What a horrible brother,” said Elf as she directed the rearrangement of furniture. “He doesn’t seem to care f
or you at all.”
“Perhaps he cares too much,” said Chastity. “What would Rothgar do if he found you in bed with a man?”
Elf went wide-eyed at the thought, but said, “He wouldn’t turn against me.”
Chastity didn’t argue, but she thought Elf overoptimistic. She hoped her new friend’s illusions were never shattered.
In the evening of the next day, Bryght returned from Maidenhead with the letter. Chastity and Elf were with Rothgar when Bryght walked into the Tapestry Room and gave it to his brother. “The house was deserted, and Walgrave is no longer in Maidenhead.” Somewhat grimly, he added, “You didn’t tell me who the letter was from.”
“I didn’t tell you to read it, either,” remarked Rothgar with an unmistakable touch of humor. Rothgar’s humor was generally cause for concern.
Chastity saw an angry muscle twitch in Bryght’s jaw. He hadn’t shaved that day, and looked more sullen and angry than usual. “Was I to ride my arse raw to get the damn thing, and not stop to check it wasn’t a laundry list?”
Rothgar scanned the perfumed paper and his brows rose. “One glance would tell you it wasn’t that.”
“One glance told me who had written it. I recognized the writing, and the perfume.”
“Ah,” said Rothgar, with a smile that was positively beatific, yet the most chilling thing Chastity had ever seen.
Bryght’s jaw was working in an alarming way and his hands were fists. “You sent me deliberately.”
Rothgar didn’t deny it. “You have never believed the woman to be less than perfect.”
“I’m not sure what I believe now. Would she have come to this if she’d married me?”
Chastity realized with horror that Bryght’s lost love was Nerissa Trelyn.
“She chose Trelyn of her own free will,” Rothgar pointed out.
Bryght turned on his heel and slammed out of the room.
“As you see,” said Rothgar to Chastity, “I have a score of my own to settle with Nerissa Trelyn. But even so, I will not destroy her unless she insists on it.”
Chastity shared a horrified look with Elf, but that lady just shrugged as if such dramatics were an ordinary part of life. Lud, but living with the Mallorens was like living in a dragon’s lair, with Fort as an invading eagle.
