Anne Ashley (10 page)

‘Request her to clean that up properly, by all means. I
shouldn’t want one of the servants to stumble and be injured by any shards that
remain. But leave the rest of the floor,’ Briony countered casually, as her eyes
focused on that clear scratch on stone by the portion of wine rack that was
reserved for the very best clarets. If anything, it was more noticeable now than
before. ‘There’s no need to push extra work on the poor child when it isn’t
really necessary. The rest of the floor can wait for a month or two.

‘By the by, Janet,’ she added, leading the way back up to the
kitchen, ‘who now keeps a tally on stocks down here? Is it still you?’

‘No, Miss Briony. Master Luke said as how he was sure young
James could take over that duty. He even took it upon himself to accompany the
footman down to the cellars a time or two to acquaint himself with the different
stocks. Master Luke ordered the last lot of wines from the vintner himself, I
believe.’

Did he, now? Briony mused. Interesting…yes, most
interesting.

Leaving Janet in her own domain, appearing a deal happier, it
had to be said, Briony went in search of the young footman. She eventually ran
him to earth in the drawing room, about his duties, refilling the various
decanters.

She’d had little private conversation with the pleasant young
man since his arrival at the Manor weeks before. Although the undisputed
mistress of the house and therefore, strictly speaking, in authority over all
the members of the household staff, because of the unusual circumstances
surrounding her marriage, she had not wished to interfere in any way with Luke’s
own people. The valet Smethers, of course, was mainly answerable to his master;
she would never dream of interfering in any part of his day-to-day routine,
unless, of course, word reached her that a dispute had arisen with another
member of the staff.

She had more or less treated the young footman in the same way
as the valet, leaving it to Luke to issue orders when necessary. Now, however,
she thought it might serve her cause if she was to begin to exert her authority
over the young man.

‘Ah, James, I’m so glad to have come upon you!’

He appeared a little flustered by her friendly greeting and
bright smile. ‘I’m sorry, ma’am, to be in here so late, only I’m a little behind
in my work this morning.’

‘No need to apologise,’ she assured him. ‘Quite understandable
in the circumstances. I’m here merely to assure you that you performed your
duties wonderfully well last night. I cannot believe we drank so much wine! I
hope those served at dinner were to everyone’s taste. A hostess must always
attempt to cater for her guests’ preferences,’ she continued artfully, thereby
attempting to lead the conversation in a direction that might ultimately satisfy
her curiosity.

‘Now, tell me, James, did everyone imbibe the same wines?’

‘Oh, yes, ma’am, except…’ he frowned slightly ‘…Mr Kingsley, he
wanted a different wine served just to him.’

Briony succeeded in suppressing a self-satisfied smile. ‘Oh…?
Was there a reason for this?’

‘Why, yes, ma’am! He brought it to me earlier in the evening,
before any of the guests arrived, and said I was to put it to one side and serve
it only to him. Said as how it was a new wine he’d never sampled before and
wished to try, but didn’t want it served to anyone else until he’d satisfied
himself as to its quality. It looked a bit weak to me, if anything—the sort one
might give to a child.’ He suddenly appeared guilty, as though he’d said more
than he should. ‘Begging your pardon, ma’am.’

‘Not at all, James,’ she assured him, favouring him with one of
her most beguiling smiles before changing the subject slightly. ‘I went down to
the cellar myself a short while ago and couldn’t help but notice a bottle had
been broken.’

‘That wasn’t my fault, ma’am, I swear it!’

‘No one’s accusing you, James,’ she hurriedly assured him. ‘I
couldn’t help but notice, though, that it was red. A bottle of claret, I
understand?’

‘Yes, ma’am, most strange! I thought so myself. Only white
wines are kept in that section of rack. Perhaps it had been placed there by
mistake. But how it came to be broken, I cannot say.’ He frowned, appearing
genuinely perplexed. ‘It wasn’t there when I made my last visit to the cellar,
late yesterday evening, that I do know. But it was there this morning.’

Yes, and I’m almost positive I know why.
Luke must have dropped it by accident while he was down there,
Briony
reasoned, before leaving the footman alone to carry on with his work.

* * *

At the end of the week, when Briony had more or less
grown accustomed to the routine of eating meals alone and coming and going as
she pleased, unbeknown to her, her errant husband was entering a fine town house
situated in the more fashionable part of the capital. It was almost midnight, so
he was reasonably confident that, should he be spotted entering the dwelling by
way of the side entrance, it was highly unlikely he would be recognised,
especially at this time of year, when most of the ton had deserted the capital
for the fresh country air.

A moment or two only after he had made his presence known the
door opened, signifying his arrival had been expected. The high-ranking
manservant then relieved him of his outer garments before showing him into a
well-stocked library where a tall, distinguished-looking gentleman sat awaiting
him.

He rose at once to his feet, hand outstretched in order to
clasp Luke’s warmly. ‘How goes it with you, m’boy?’ He took a moment to study
the younger man. ‘You look well enough, I must say. Marriage appears to agree
with you, though it was one development no one could ever possibly have
foreseen.’ He shook his head. ‘I just wish there had been some other way to
overcome that problem, that’s all. But I’m sure when this business is over,
whether we succeed or not, I shall be able to pull a few strings in order to
hurry through the divorce.’

‘Don’t concern yourself on my account,’ Luke assured him. ‘As
you say, marriage was not part of the plan, but now it’s happened I’m prepared
to make the best of it.’

After the servant had furnished Luke with a glass of wine, he
received a nod of dismissal from his employer. Luke waited only for the
major-domo to leave the room before revealing, ‘I’ve had contact already with my
particular quarry. My wife and I held a dinner party last week. I considered it
would be the most natural thing in the world for us to include several of our
more affluent neighbours amongst our guests. I gained the distinct impression
during the evening that my sudden desire to take up residency in the county had
not resulted in any undue speculation… I’m positive he at least is not in any
way suspicious. He, of course, has his own reasons for being in Dorset at the
present time. He certainly didn’t give the impression that he was in any hurry
to leave, either.’

‘It’s so confoundedly frustrating that, even at this late
stage, we cannot be one-hundred-percent certain that he is our man,’ his
companion, appearing unusually sombre, reminded Luke. ‘It could still turn out
to be one of possibly four or even five others, all of whom, like your own trio
of suspects, remain closely monitored.’

‘I do not foresee too many problems in keeping a close eye on
my quarry.’

The older man studied his guest above the rim of his glass for
a moment before reducing the contents. ‘So, what is it that does concern you,
m’boy?’

Luke smile wryly, for he was well aware that appearances were
very deceptive, especially where the gentleman seated on the opposite side of
the hearth was concerned, and that behind the benign smile and dreamy grey-eyed
gaze was concealed a razor-sharp intellect.

‘Nothing ever escapes you, does it, sir?’

‘I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, m’boy…but not too much, I
hope.’ Again he paused to sample his wine. ‘Evidently you’re encountering some
problems.’

‘A few,’ Luke admitted. ‘The Riding officer in the area is a
stiff-rumped young devil, keen to get on. Met many of his sort in the army. But
I don’t underestimate him. He’s determined to stamp out the trade…just as we’re
keen for it to continue, at least for the time being.’

‘Do you want me to pull a few strings and have him removed to
another area?’

‘No, no, don’t do that,’ Luke countered. ‘If I’m watching
Henshaw, you can bet your life others are, too. If he’s suddenly removed, it
would look mighty suspicious. No, I don’t want that. I’ve already aroused one
person’s suspicions, I don’t want to arouse anyone else’s.’

‘Might I be permitted to know who?’

‘My wife,’ he revealed, staring thoughtfully down into the
contents of his glass. ‘I rather think I overplayed my hand there. It’s always a
mistake to underestimate the opposition, as you know.’

‘Is she likely to prove a problem?’

‘Very likely,’ he revealed, smiling in spite of the fact that
he was deeply concerned. ‘I’m convinced she already suspects me of something.
And in a way I’ve only myself to blame. I should never have insisted that she
keep so strictly to her part of the bargain. She took me at my word. A room next
to hers is hardly ideal.’ Again he smiled wryly. ‘And for more reasons than
one!’

Grey eyes once again studied him intently. ‘Do I infer
correctly from what you’ve just told me that your marriage—er—hasn’t been…?’

‘No, sir, it hasn’t…nor is it ever likely to be,’ Luke admitted
softly. ‘Sadly it will not be a divorce I seek…but an annulment.’

The older man pursed his lips together in a silent whistle. ‘I
see. So that was the price you paid in order to alleviate any suspicions: a
marriage in name only. A heavy price, indeed!’

‘Yes, sir,’ Luke agreed. ‘And it most certainly isn’t what I
want…not now. My wife is a most desirable young woman. I found her so from the
moment we were reunited. I supposed, wrongly as things have turned out, that
once the knot was tied and she had come to know me a little better, she might
reconsider, and be willing to enjoy a union in the full sense. Unfortunately, I
made the mistake of betraying my inclinations far too soon.’

His sigh held a clear note of bitter regret. ‘I promised her a
marriage in name only and, as yet, she has given me no reason to suppose she
wants it any other way. Quite the contrary, in fact!’ he revealed, recalling yet
again with painful clarity that rejection on their wedding night. ‘But I have no
intention of breaking my word…unless she gives me reason to suppose she wants it
otherwise.’

‘Oh, dear, I am so sorry.’ There was genuine sympathy in the
older man’s voice. ‘I know I’m against such things as a rule, and I must trust
to your judgement, but might it not help matters if you told her the truth?
Could you not confide in her fully?’

Luke shook his head. ‘Whether she can be trusted or not is not
the issue, sir, not for me. I’ll not have her involved in this. Briony’s no
sweet simpleton. It might almost be better if she were. She doesn’t lack spirit,
either.’ Again he shook his head solemnly. ‘It isn’t that I don’t trust her…
It’s that I daren’t do so, for fear of what she might do if she knew too much
about me and why it was so important that we marry. It’s best if we leave things
as they are, with her thinking the worst of me and not trusting me. It’ll be
safer for her in the long run… I’ll just need to be more careful in the
future.’

Chapter Eight

‘E
xcuse me, ma’am,’ the footman’s
apologetic voice floated across the kitchen to where Briony stood, busily
arranging bowls of fresh flowers, ‘only there’s a gentleman called, wishful to
see the master. When I informed him Mr Kingsley’s away at present, he asked if
you might spare him a few minutes of your time.’

‘Did he state his business?’

‘No, ma’am. But he’s a soldier, a Colonel Hugo Prentiss. I
think he could be a friend of Mr Kingsley’s from his army days, though I’ve
never seen him before myself.’

‘Very well, James, show him into the front parlour and tell him
I’ll be with him presently.’

After removing her apron, Briony went through to the hall,
pausing only briefly before the large mirror to check on her overall appearance
before entering the small reception room. She then stopped dead in her
tracks.

She had not considered what type of person would be awaiting
her, but she had never expected to find a giant of a man, with an alarming crop
of reddish-brown hair, matching side whiskers and a great barrel of a chest. Not
by any standard could the front parlour ever have been described as roomy. All
at once it seemed considerably smaller with the unexpected visitor taking up so
much of the space.

Yet, when he took her tentatively offered, outstretched hand in
his, it was with surprising gentleness and she decided in an instant that she
liked this big stranger, with his merry twinkling blue eyes and friendly
smile.

She looked about in some alarm, wondering which of the chairs
could most withstand his weight, before gesturing to the solid-looking winged
chair in the corner of the room and requesting him to be seated. ‘As I believe
my servant told you, sir, my husband is away at present, visiting the capital,
although I expect his return any day now,’ she said, pouring him a glass of
Madeira.

In truth, of course, she couldn’t honestly have said when Luke
might put in an appearance, but she could hardly own as much, otherwise the
Colonel might consider it most strange. As it was, he might think it odd that a
newly married man should wish to be parted so soon from his bride. ‘I assume you
are home on leave, sir,’ she added, handing him one of the glasses and seating
herself opposite.

‘Yes, ma’am. Took a ball in the shoulder during a slight
skirmish some weeks ago. I was owed some leave, so decided to take it then. I’m
due back in Plymouth at the end of the week, and shall be returning to the
Peninsula. So I decided to call on my old friend Kingsley on the way, as I
failed to catch up with him in London.’ He frowned. ‘Dashed odd! I was there
myself a few days ago. Needed to visit the War Office. Was told Luke had already
returned to the country. That’s why I expected to find him here.’

‘I can only repeat that I look to see him any day, Colonel
Prentiss. I can only assume, like yourself, he must have stopped off somewhere
en route to visit a friend.’ She hardly knew how to explain her ignorance
concerning her husband’s whereabouts and decided it might be wise to stick to
the truth as far as possible. ‘Given that Lady Ashworth, my godmother, died
quite recently, we felt our wedding should be a quiet affair. I can only suppose
Luke is catching up with some of his friends, those he felt unable to invite to
the wedding itself.’

‘Undoubtedly that’s it, ma’am,’ he agreed jovially, after a
prolonged stare that she found slightly unnerving. ‘At this time of year the
capital’s thin of company. Most everyone has returned to the country. But if you
think there’s a likelihood he’ll be back in a day or so, I’ll remain in the
area. I’m sure you can direct me to a suitable inn.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of doing so, Colonel Prentiss. No, you must
stay here,’ she invited, after only a moment’s consideration. Not only did she
feel sure Luke would have asked his friend to stay, but she also hoped it might
vanquish any suspicions the Colonel might be harbouring regarding his friend’s
hasty marriage.

‘That’s dashed hospitable of you, ma’am!’ He rose from the
chair with surprising grace for such a large gentleman. ‘I’ll away and arrange
for my bags to be brought in and pay off the post-boys,’ he announced
decisively, thereby offering her no opportunity to change her mind and withdraw
the invitation.

* * *

Almost a week later, when they returned to the drawing
room after having enjoyed yet another fine dinner quite alone together, Briony
was exceedingly glad she had, on the spur of the moment, asked the very
agreeable Colonel Prentiss to stay at the Manor.

Quite naturally, they had spent a great deal of time in each
other’s company. Fortunately Luke’s favourite hack was up to the Colonel’s
weight and they had ridden every day, thereby enabling Briony to keep her guest
amused by acquainting him with some of the beautiful Dorsetshire countryside.
She had even taken him over to the lodge, which had now been fully restored by
local workmen, and wasn’t in the least surprised to discover that he was well
acquainted with Luke’s trusted servant, Ben Carey.

All in all Briony believed she had been the perfect hostess,
keeping her guest amused during Luke’s absence as best she could and ensuring he
had everything he required to make his short stay at the Manor most agreeable,
whilst by the hour growing increasingly fond of him.

Never in her entire life could she recall developing such a
friendly rapport with anyone on so short an acquaintance. She had grown to adore
everything about the big man—his manners, his humour and most especially his
gentlemanly behaviour. Had she been blessed to have a brother, she would have
wanted him to be just like Hugo Prentiss—kind, dependable, the sort of person
one would instinctively turn to in times of trouble. She had thus far resisted
the temptation to confide her own woes, but hadn’t hesitated to cease any
formality between them.

In truth, she had become as much at ease with the Colonel as
she had with Luke during those two weeks prior to his departure to the capital;
perhaps even more so because with the Colonel she didn’t need to maintain a
pretence; she could be entirely herself, with the result that a quite touching
friendship had surprisingly developed between them.

‘Good gracious, it’s so very humid this evening!’ Briony
remarked, throwing open wide the French windows in the hope of tempting the
slight breeze to infiltrate the room. ‘Shall we see if we cannot find a shady
spot in the garden somewhere, Hugo?’

Considering his comfort, Briony didn’t hesitate to invite him
to remove his jacket and leave it behind whilst they explored the garden for
that much-hoped-for shady niche. He needed no second prompting. As he peeled off
his jacket and tugged at the folds of his cravat, his relief was palpable.

‘Ah, Briony girl, this is the kind of life a man dreams of
having,’ he remarked, tucking her arm through his in the most companionable way
as they crossed the terrace and wandered down the stone steps. He shook his
head, appearing genuinely perplexed. ‘Can’t understand what ails our Luke. If I
had a wife like you waiting at home, I wouldn’t go dashing off to the capital at
a moment’s notice.’

Briony glanced up at him, not for the first time wondering why
a man with such an abundance of natural charm had never married. True, one could
hardly describe him as handsome, or even attractive, come to that, but his
features were regular enough and his merry blue eyes twinkled disarmingly when
he was amused. He was undeniably big, but one would scarcely describe him as
fat, and although he boasted a large barrel of a chest, he carried his clothes
very well for such a tall man, and was never less than impeccably attired at all
times.

As they entered that most fragrantly scented area of garden,
curiosity at last got the better of her and she asked without the least
hesitation, ‘Why have you never married, Hugo? Does the thought of giving up
your bachelor state terrify you so much?’

He chuckled. ‘Ah, lass, now I put it to you—what little lady in
her right mind would take a great ox of a fellow like me to husband?’

‘I should,’ she answered so rapidly that he appeared quite
taken aback. ‘You are without doubt the most delightful gentleman of my
acquaintance.’

His expression changed to mock alarm. ‘Now, it isn’t that I’m
not flattered, because I am, Briony girl. But don’t you go round saying things
like that, especially not in front of that husband of yours. Like as not the
fellow will call me out. Crack shot is Kingsley!’

‘Much you’d care if he did,’ she returned, having by this time
discovered enough about Luke’s long-standing friendship with the man beside her
to be sure they held each other in mutually high regard. ‘You’d merely refuse to
accept the challenge, not that I suppose for a moment Luke would issue one.’ She
was all at once serious. ‘You’ve both been through a great deal together,
haven’t you?’

‘We have, yes,’ he admitted after a moment only. ‘At least
enough for me to know there’s no one I’d prefer at my side in a tight spot.’ He
stared ahead down the path, seeing something in his mind’s eye that instantly
wiped every vestige of a smile from his lips. ‘Your husband’s immensely
courageous, Briony. The men in his regiment worshipped him, would have followed
him anywhere. Which tells you much about his character. Wellesley thought highly
of him, too. Luke earned his majority through bravery, unlike me,’ he went on, a
wicked twinkle returning. ‘I’m damnably lucky to have had such rich and
influential relatives.’

Briony knew he was teasing her and made to give him a playful
slap in response, only to stumble slightly when her right foot decided to find
perhaps the only uneven surface along the whole length of path and she ended
wrapped in a pair of strong, muscular arms.

‘Pray enlighten me, madam wife, as to why it is that whenever I
discover you in the garden with a gentleman guest you invariably end up in his
arms?’

Their reactions could not have been more dissimilar. Whereas
Briony gave a guilty start before disengaging herself from the gentle hold, the
Colonel uttered a whoop of delighted surprise before grasping his errant host
warmly by the shoulders.

‘By heaven, Kingsley! If you were still in the army, Wellesley
would have had you strung up as a deserter! Can’t understand for the life of me
how you can bear to tear yourself away from this place! Was beginning to think
I’d be obliged to leave on the morrow without having caught sight of you!’

‘Had I known you were here, Hugo, you great ox, I’d have
delayed my return!’

Briony wasn’t fooled by the discourteous response and seemingly
neither was Colonel Prentiss. The banter continued in much the same vein between
the two men for some little time, leaving Briony in no doubt whatsoever as to
the depths of their friendship.

Although she willingly accompanied them both back inside the
house, she remained with them only until such time as she felt she could
reasonably leave without giving the impression that what she suddenly craved
most of all was solitude.

Unfortunately, she had reckoned without the surprisingly acute
perceptiveness of Colonel Prentiss. He had dealt with far too many raw recruits
not to recognise when people were attempting to conceal their emotions. He had
not been fooled for a moment by the appearance of surprised delight at her
husband’s unexpected return, once recovery from shock had been accomplished. Nor
had he been blind to that touch of reserve that had surprisingly crept into her
demeanour, something that had been singularly lacking in her character before
Luke’s appearance had taken her completely unawares.

Above the rim of his glass he studied his friend as Luke began
to consume the tray of food his wife had thoughtfully arranged to be sent in to
him. ‘You’re a lucky dog, Kingsley!’ he at last declared, determined to have his
curiosity satisfied. ‘A darling of a wife, a delightful home—everything a man
could wish for… So why, I ask myself, do you feel the need to desert her so soon
after the nuptials have taken place? My every instinct tells me something is
sadly amiss here at the Manor!’

For a moment their eyes met and locked, before Luke returned
his attention to the food on his plate. Had it been anyone else he might have
denied entirely the assertion. Alas, he knew only too well that hidden behind
that relaxed geniality lurked an astuteness every bit as sharp as his own. All
the same, this knowledge didn’t deter him from at least attempting to alleviate
Hugo’s obvious suspicions.

‘If you’re trying to suggest you detected a slight—how shall I
phrase it?—strain between Briony and myself earlier, it’s hardly surprising. One
does not expect to return home to discover one’s wife in the arms of another
man, especially when that other man just happens to be an old and trusted
friend.’

All at once the Colonel’s blue eyes were twinkling again. ‘Nice
try, Kingsley, old fellow! Had I not known you so well, I might have believed
you were slightly aggrieved… Not that you don’t have good reason to be,’ he went
on, all at once appearing smugly satisfied. ‘I always believed I was destined to
remain a bachelor and was not unhappy at the prospect. It isn’t that I’ve
anything against the ladies, you understand. In fact, I’ve enjoyed the pleasure
of a fair few in my time, as well you know. But marriage has never once entered
my thoughts, not since Alicia’s death.’ All at once he looked serious. ‘Briony
has stirred something in me, though, I don’t mind admitting to it. I’d give a
great deal to have what you have here—a darling for a wife, a lovely home. I
hope you appreciate just what you do have.

‘And all that nonsense I was hearing in London about you a
while back didn’t fool me for a minute, either,’ he went on, when he received no
response. ‘Like me, you’ve enjoyed a fair bit of female company in your time,
but I’ve never known you become entangled with married women before. You’ve far
too much sense for that. Nor am I fooled by all the stories of excessive
gambling and living only for pleasure. We spent too much time together out there
in Portugal and Spain for me not to be sure you’ve been behaving quite out of
character since selling your commission. Too many times you came to my quarters
before going out on a secret mission for Wellesley, knowing there was a very
real possibility you wouldn’t be returning. Behind all the cheerful bonhomie you
attempted, there was a certain guarded look in those eyes of yours.’ He paused
for a moment, his own all at once surprisingly piercing. ‘And I’ve seen it again
this evening.’