His Dark Enchantress (Books We Love Regency Romance) (37 page)
Read His Dark Enchantress (Books We Love Regency Romance) Online
Authors: Victoria Chatham
“It’s over,” she whispered. “It really is over.”
“What is over?”
Emmaline took the letter from him and opened it again.
“The Prince writes that it was never his intention that I should carry his blame, and has only now discovered
the case and absolves me of any wrong doing.”
“What blame? What wrong doing?”
Emmaline patted the seat beside her and Lucius sat down.
“You know I only stayed with Etienn
e du Lully simply to forward any intelligence I might discover.”
Lucius nodded and took her hand.
“We were in Liege, shortly before the battle at Waterloo and I overheard Etienne discussing French troop movements. It was vital information and imperative that I get it to the Duke.”
“Wellington.”
Emmaline nodded. “Wellington had several aides, Prince William was one of them. It was he to whom I entrusted the intelligence.”
“And it was the Prince of Orange you have been protecting all this time?”
Amazement was clear on Lucius’ face as her bravery and the danger into which she had placed herself became evident to him.
“Yes.” Emmaline swallowed hard and closed her eyes before continuing. “But Etienne discovered us. He recognized the Prince from Salamanca, for it was he who saw Etienne kill my father. Etienne immediately attacked him but the Prince
shot him.”
“And this is
the secret you have been hiding?”
“There were just the three of us.” Emmaline dropped her voice. “I sent the Prince away so he could get my information to Wellington.
It appeared to those who found his body that Etienne and I were alone together. The evidence that I had killed him was overwhelming. Raoul put a price on my head, but I managed to escape and came home to Baymoor. My intention was to stay there, where I knew I would be safe.”
She tipped her head back and rested it against the wall.
She sighed with relief.
“Safe, but cutting yourself off from the world and love,” Lucius offered, kissing her fingertips.
“I didn’t know you then,” she said shyly. “But, grandfather insisted I must be wed. In London I was so afraid that I would come across someone from my past who might know anything of this. I knew it would discredit me, whatever my motives, and bring disgrace to anyone with whom I was acquainted.”
Emmaline scanne
d the letter again. “The Prince, through his own circles, heard that Raoul was offering a reward for discovering my whereabouts and made it his business to find Raoul first. He writes that Raoul shot himself rather than have his misdeeds made public.”
“So Styles was hoping to claim the reward.”
“And more.” Emmaline shivered. “I was part of their bargain. I was to be Peregrine’s prize, for him to do with me whatever he pleased.”
Lucius stiffened, his hatred for Styles tempered only by the fact that the man was now dead. He pulled Emmaline into his
arms and kissed her.
“What now?” he whispered into her hair.
“Well, I was thinking...” Emmaline began.
“Oh, Lord,” Lucius teased her. “Last time you did that you went out to buy a pig, and look what happened.”
“Yes, but that’s all over.” She turned her blue gaze on him and fluttered her eyelashes shamelessly. “Now that we have Sadie back from the gypsies I was thinking I would breed her, and Psyche too.”
“We don’t have a stud.”
“Not yet we don’t.” Emmaline looked up at him, her eyes beginning to twinkle. “I hear that Mr. Caldwell is selling his Black Conroy
...”
“That rogue!” Lucius shook his head. “He
all but killed his groom.”
“And
would you not do the same if you were shut in a closed stable most of the time?” Emmaline shook his arm. “Lucius, Black Conroy has the blood of the desert in his breeding. He is descended from the Byerley Turk and the Godolphin Arabian. He should be allowed to run free. He is only a rogue because he is misunderstood.”
“And you want me to buy him for you?”
“Yes, please.”
“Give me one good reason why I should.”
Emmaline took his hand and laid it on her belly.
The End
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Several of the characters and incidents I have referred to do have foundation in history.
Angelica Catalani: (1780-1849) was a renowned Italian soprano.
The Prince Regent: George, Prince of Wales and son of George III. When George III was deemed unfit to rule
, his son ruled as his proxy as Prince Regent and ascended the throne as George IV on the death of his father.
Lady Jersey and the Countess Esterhazy: two of the six or seven lady patronesses who presided over Almack’s Assembly Rooms.
The Army of Wounded Warriors: my fabrication based on the fact that Wellington was well supplied with intelligence from many sources.
Cuidad Rodrigo (January 1812), Badajoz (March 1812) and Salamanca (July 1812): major battles fought during the Peninsular Wars, that period from 1807 when Napoleon’s troops invaded Spain to his defeat at Waterloo in 1815.
Sam wins the Derby: Derby Day in 1818 was very hot and dusty and Sam won the race by three quarters of a length.
William II, Prince of Orange: spent his childhood in England, attended Oxford University and served as an aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington. Often referred to as Slender Billy
The coach stops named on Emmaline’s trip to Devon were major stops on a route known as the Trafalgar Way which ran from London to Falmouth.
Gloucester Old Spot: A hardy breed of pig from the Berkeley Vale of Gloucestershire, U.K. Also known as the Orchard pig.
The Byerley Turk and the Godolphin Arabian: along with the Darley Arabian (not mentioned in my text) are considered to be the foundation sires of today’s Thoroughbred racehorse.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Being born in Bristol, England, Victoria Chatham grew up in an area rife with the elegance of Regency architecture. This, along with the novels of Georgette Heyer, engendered in her an abiding interest in the period with its style and manners and is one where she feels most at home.
Apart from her writing, Victoria is an avid reader of anything that catches her interest, but especially Regency romance. She also teaches introductory creative writing. Her love of horses gets her away from her computer to volunteer at Spruce Meadows, a world class equestrian centre near Calgary, Alberta, where she currently lives.
NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
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