‘My fee for this charade was that I would keep all the gowns and the jewels. Not for myself. They will all be sold and the proceeds will go to the charity that runs Prospect House.’ She waved her hand towards the trunks. ‘The gowns and the jewels reflect the character I played: dashy, loud, and totally without breeding, but Forsbrook was not deterred. He thought my fortune sufficient compensation for taking such a wife.’ She stopped and turned to him. ‘So, there you have it. It is a sordid little tale, but it was done to protect Lady Quinn’s good name.’
‘And what of your own reputation?’
She shrugged. ‘I did not have one to lose. I forfeited my good name the day I ran away from home.’ She added, with a touch of defiance, ‘I have supported myself by my cooking ever since and I am proud that I have been able to do so. I do not consider myself a fallen woman.’
In the silence that followed her confession she dragged together what shreds of pride she could muster and went about the room, packing up the gowns and carefully putting them back in the trunks.
Gabriel said slowly, ‘I have spent little time in town these past few months so I have no idea if your story is true, but I am acquainted with Sir Timothy Forsbrook. I know him for a grasping, treacherous scoundrel.’
She shuddered. ‘He is a horrid little man. I cannot regret tricking him.’
‘And do you regret deceiving me?’
She turned to look at him. ‘I did not deliberately deceive you, save to call myself Mrs Hopwood, the name I used in town. Everything else I have told you about myself is true.’
‘And your real name?’
She shook her head. ‘I shall be leaving here very soon, there is little point in you knowing that.’
‘I see.’ He rose. ‘Thank you for explaining the matter to me.’
He left her, closing the door quietly behind him. Nancy continued to pack her clothes in the trunk, telling herself it was just as well he had gone. What good would it have been to succumb to temptation and spend a night of passion with him? It could never be anything more.
But when at last she climbed between the sheets and blew out her candle, she thought her bed had never felt so cold and lonely.
Chapter Six
When Nancy awoke the next morning, the sky was as grey and overcast as her spirits. She dressed and went directly to the kitchen, where she found John Thoresby busy at the stove. Hester, who was trussing the chicken, peered closely at Nancy. ‘You are looking a bit pale, ma’am, if you don’t mind my saying so.’
‘I did not sleep well.’ It was not a lie. She had spent a restless night, regretting that she had ever let Gabriel into her room.
‘Then why don’t you go back to bed, my dear? There is very little to be done here. Mr Thoresby and I can manage and, to be frank, another body would be very much in the way.’
For once Nancy did not have the energy to argue. She decided to take her coffee into the morning room, where the remains of last night’s fire would still be emitting some warmth. There might even be enough life in the embers for her to revive the fire and, if not, she was perfectly capable of kindling a new one.
But when she walked in she discovered that Gabriel was there before her. He had added fresh logs to the fire and was dusting off his hands when she entered. Nancy wanted to withdraw immediately, but he had already seen her.
‘Please, do not run away.’ He gestured to one of the chairs beside the fire. ‘Will you not come in and sit down? I wanted to talk to you.’
‘I do not think there is anything more to be said.’ But despite her words she carried her cup across the room and perched on the edge of the chair. ‘I am only sorry I cannot leave Dell House today.’
He sat down. They were in the seats they had occupied last night, only now they were both sitting upright and Nancy at least was ill at ease.
He said, ‘I should not have ripped up at you as I did last night. I beg your pardon. I was at fault, I admit it. My nature is cynical, from having lived so long in the fashionable world. I am far too ready to think the worst of people. After all you have done for me I had no right to say what I did.’
‘No, you did not.’ She looked down at the coffee cup, clutched between both hands. ‘But it prevented our making an even greater error.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘I do. Most assuredly.’ She lifted her head and met his eyes. She had expected to see his eyes gleaming with laughter, ready to flirt, to tease. Instead he looked unusually sober. She went on. ‘I do not hold you wholly responsible for what happened between us. I cannot deny that I...wanted you.’
Her glance slid to the fireplace, where the flames crackled greedily around the logs. Want. Such a poor, thin word to describe the strength of desire that had overwhelmed her last night. How long had it been since a man had roused her to such a fever of longing? She had thought herself too sensible, too old for such things.
‘Shall we agree to blame it on the wine?’
‘Yes,’ she said bleakly. ‘I think we must.’ She finished her coffee. ‘I am obliged to remain here for another day or two yet. I would not have the others know what has occurred between us. We should continue to dine together, if we are to avoid questions and speculation. I hope we may at least be civil to one another.’
‘I think we might manage that.’
His voice was smooth again, with just that hint of laughter she found so attractive. She would not give in to it again, Nancy told herself. She had learned her lesson.
‘Good. Until dinner, then.’ She left her seat and went to the door. As she opened it he called her name and she looked back.
He was standing before the fire, a faint, rueful smile curving his lips.
‘It will not do, I’m afraid. I want to kiss you as much this morning as I did last night.’
His words caused a sudden flutter in her breast. He still desired her! Her spirit leapt at the thought. However, pride would not allow her to let him see it. She shrugged.
‘Alas, sir, we cannot always have what we want.’
And with that she left him, but the day suddenly seemed a little brighter.
* * *
Gabriel waited until the door had closed before sinking back on to his chair. He had seen the shadows fly from Nancy’s eyes, replaced by a glimmer of mischief when she made that last remark, and he was surprised at how much that pleased him. His actions last night had ruined the easy friendship that had been growing between them. It was bad enough that he had tried to make love to her, but then to accuse her of heaven knew what!
He closed his eyes, reliving the moment he had seen the gowns. For an instant it had all made sense: her sensuous beauty, the passion that had flared so instantly when they kissed. He had recalled his original assessment of her, that she was more courtesan than cook, and he had allowed his anger and disappointment to cloud his judgement. Of course, he only had her word for it that she was not playing some deep game of her own, but his gut instinct was to trust her. Yet could he do so? Should he do so?
Gabriel rubbed his hand over his eyes. The sooner this commission was over the better. It was making him suspicious of everyone. And it was unjust to accuse Nancy of having secrets, when he had so many of his own.
* * *
‘Mrs Hopwood, the snow has stopped and the sun has come out. I wonder if I might invite you to take a turn around the grounds with me?’
Nancy almost dropped the baking dish she was carefully placing in the oven when she heard Gabriel’s voice. She had come down to the kitchen to help Hester with dinner, determined to put last night’s encounter out of her mind. It was over, he had apologised. They understood one another. And yet...
And yet part of her could not help regretting their quarrel, that he had not taken her to bed and assuaged the longing that now slumbered, but was still there, deep inside. Which was why it was so infuriating to have him addre
ss her so cheerfully when she was still struggling with what might have been. She closed the oven door and schooled her face to a look of polite unconcern as she turned to look at him. The refusal was already on her lips when Hester spoke up.
‘Now that’s a grand idea, Master Gabriel. It has brightened up and Miss Nancy could do with a breath of fresh air. I said this morning she was looking peaky.’
Nancy glared at her. ‘Thank you, Hester, but I have not yet finished here.’
‘Tush, ma’am, there is nothing to do now but clear away and I am far better at that than you. Off you go now and fetch your cloak.’
Still Nancy hesitated.
Gabriel said, with a diffidence that was at odds with the teasing gleam in his eyes, ‘I am very much recovered, but John refuses to let me go out alone, lest I should suffer a sudden relapse. He is exceeding busy, however...’
Hester tutted. ‘Good heavens, Master Gabriel, if John Thoresby is to escort you out of doors, then who will do all the fetching and carrying that is required in the house? I think it much better that Miss Nancy should go with you to make sure you come to no harm.’
‘My thoughts exactly, Mrs Yelland.’ Gabriel was smiling, his eyes full of laughter, but Nancy read understanding in their blue depths, too. He said, ‘If you are concerned for your skirts, ma’am, there are very few drifts in the grounds, nothing a stout pair of shoes cannot cope with. I feel sure the fresh air would do us both good.’
* * *
Ten minutes later she was outside with Gabriel, their feet scrunching through the fresh snow on the path.
‘You realise I only agreed to walk out with you because everyone else is busy,’ she told him crossly.
‘Yes, I gathered it was not what you wished to do at all. That was very evident when you flounced out to fetch your cloak.’
‘I did not flounce!’
‘No, of course not.’
His soothing tone made her gasp in indignation before her ready sense of humour took over. She laughed, her anger evaporating like their cloudy breath in the bright, cold sunshine.
‘Odious creature! You deliberately set out to tease me!’
‘I admit it, but only to dispel any restraint between us. I have not yet apologised for kissing you.’
Her cheeks flamed and she averted her face. ‘We agreed not to discuss that. It was the circumstances. Being so much in each other’s company.’
‘And dining alone.’
‘And the wine,’ she added.
‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘One becomes prey to temptation.’
She swallowed, trying not to think of just how tempted she had been. ‘Quite.’
‘Madness for two elderly people such as ourselves to be carried away on a tide of passion,’ he remarked thoughtfully.
Nancy glanced at him sharply. She might consider herself over the hill, but Gabriel was in his prime. Why, he could not be more than five-and-thirty. His handsome face bore little more than laughter lines around the eyes and his dark hair had only the faintest touch of silver at the temples. And she knew from nursing him that his body was lean and athletic.
Nancy felt again the knot of desire uncurling inside and her instinctive retort, that she was not yet in her dotage, withered on her lips. He might take her protests as encouragement, or at the very least think she wanted to flirt with him. A man like Gabriel would have the pick of society’s young beauties. How could she compete? It was better not even to think of it.
She managed a very convincing laugh.
‘Quite ridiculous, I agree. I pray you will forget it. I have.’ She tucked her hand into his arm, as if to prove she did not fear contact with him, and they began to walk on. ‘You no longer need nursing, so as soon as my coach can get out to the main road, Hester and I shall continue our journey north.’ She could not resist adding, ‘We will leave you to whatever nefarious activities you are engaged upon.’
He chuckled. ‘My activities as you call them are not nefarious, madam, I assure you. Covert, but not detrimental to King or country.’
‘But they are dangerous?’
‘Naturally.’
They had walked full circle around the lawns and were now back at the door to the house. As Gabriel stood aside to allow her to enter she stopped and turned to him.
‘Then I pray you will take care, Gabriel. Not that it matters to me,’ she added quickly, ‘but I should hate to think that all my hard work in saving your life has been wasted.’
‘I shall do my best to obey you.’ He caught her gloved hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Until dinner time, Nancy.’
She flushed, only then realising she had called him by his first name and thus given him an excuse to use hers. With as much dignity as she could muster, she withdrew her hand from his grasp, picked up her skirts and fled.
* * *
Gabriel felt the now-familiar desire flooding through him as Nancy hurried away. It was useless to deny it and he did not want to, but it made it damned difficult to concentrate upon anything else when she was near him. He made his way to his room to remove his greatcoat, thanking providence he had not been wearing it the night he was attacked, else he would have lost that along with the very expensive coat he had purchased from Stultz that very Season.
The memory of the attack sobered him. A coat might be easily replaced, even at ten guineas, but if his attackers should learn of Nancy’s part in his rescue—it was better that she should be well away from Dell House before he ventured into Darlton again, so despite the attraction he felt for her he must hurry her departure. He would not risk any harm befalling her.
* * *
The time dragged until dinner, even though Gabriel kept busy. With so many extra people in the house there were more rooms to keep warm. John Thoresby and William Coachman shared the heavier duties between them, such as fetching and carrying coal or logs up to the rooms, and Nancy and Mrs Yelland had commandeered the kitchen, so Gabriel was left with little to do except tidy his and John’s bedchambers and light the fires in the principal rooms. His man thought such tasks were beneath his master’s dignity, but Gabriel had never been one to allow his servants to do everything for him and in their current situation it was necessary for them to work together.
He did not see Nancy as he made his way about the house, but suspected she was in the kitchen, helping to prepare the meal. He had enjoyed their dinners together and hoped this evening they would be able to meet with at least some semblance of ease.
* * *
At the dinner hour he made his way to the morning room in good time. The table was already set, candles lit and a good fire crackled in the hearth. He was at the side table when he heard the faint whisper of the door opening and looked around to see Nancy coming into the room. She greeted him coolly and accepted his offer of a glass of wine.
‘I am constantly amazed at how civilized Dell House has become since you and Mrs Yelland arrived, ma’am. Do you never rest?’
She accepted the wine and his question with a faint smile.
‘Hester and Thoresby are determined to observe the niceties. Theirs is the industry, not mine.’
He did not choose to argue the point. The fact that she was here, talking to him, dining with him, was more than he had expected and he had no wish to jeopardise the mood. He escorted her to her chair and had barely taken his own seat opposite when the door opened and Hester Yelland came in with the first of the hot dishes.
He exerted all his charm during dinner, introducing unexceptional topics of conversation, offering his companion the very choicest meats and keeping the wine glasses filled. He was careful not to issue fulsome compliments or to make any remark that might be misconstrued. His efforts paid off and by the time the meal was ended, they were once more talking easily together.
However, he knew it was a fragile truce so he did not suggest they sit by the fire. Nancy seemed
content to remain at the table, sipping her wine and occasionally selecting a dainty morsel from the china dish of nuts and dried fruits that Hester had brought in when she and John came in to remove the covers.
‘Another excellent meal,’ he remarked, raising his glass to her. ‘My compliments, ma’am.’
‘Thank you.’ She reached out to pick a dried apricot from the dish. ‘You are wise to appreciate good cooking while you can. This snow cannot last for ever and when Hester and I leave, you and Mr Thoresby will have to fend for yourselves again.’
‘Which we can do. No doubt you will be relieved to continue your journey.’
‘Yes. My friends will be growing anxious if they do not have word of me soon. And you.’ She glanced up. ‘Do you have family, friends who worry about you?’
He was not expecting the question.
‘I have one or two good friends. As for family...’ his mouth twisted ‘...I am a younger son. They are never of much value.’
She looked up, surprised, and he suddenly realised how bitter that must sound. She did not question it, however, merely ventured a light, teasing remark.
‘Younger sons can also be expensive, I believe.’
‘Yes, but my parents are fortunate that I have my own income.’
‘Indeed?’ She leaned on the table, propping her chin on one hand. ‘Do they want to see you setting up your own establishment?’
‘I am sure they do, although they are far too wise to say so. I don’t doubt they would like me to take a wife and settle down.’
‘And will you do so, some day?’
‘I very much doubt it. I have been a bachelor for too many years to wish to change my situation now.’ He sipped at his wine. ‘You do not look convinced. Do you think perhaps I might one day lose my heart? If that was going to happen, I think it would have occurred long before now.’
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