In the Wake of the Wind (39 page)

Aiden slumped into a chair. “And Lottie would never lie,” he said. “So explain that.”

“I can only think that Charlotte badly misunderstood what she heard. What other explanation is there?”

Aiden dug in his coat pocket and pulled out Charlotte’s note. He’d reread it countless times in the course of the day, each word confirming his darkest suspicions. He abruptly held it out to Raphael. “I think you’d better read this before you protest your innocence too loudly. Serafina’s admitted to everything.”

Raphael took it and scrutinized Charlotte’s neat penmanship. He read it twice, a deep frown marking his brow, then looked up. “Aiden, this is deeply troublesome. I don’t want to speak against your sister, but does this sound like something
Serafina
would say? Listen.”

Aiden had memorized the entire contents, but he nodded anyway, too tired and disillusioned to protest.

“My dear Aiden,” Raphael read, “your wife came to me this morning in a state of terrible distress. She confessed her sins against God to me and begged me to take her back to Townsend. She wishes you to know that she regrets her adultery deeply, but realizes that you will never take her back. She plans to return to Clwydd where she will spend the remainder of her life making penance to God.” Raphael rubbed the back of his neck and glanced up at Aiden. “And so on in that vein. Has it occurred to you that
Serafina
would never—but never—think in those terms, even if there was any truth to this adultery nonsense?”

“What are you getting at?” Aiden said impatiently. He didn’t even know why he was listening to Raphael at all. “It’s all there as clear as day.”

“What I’m getting at, you bloody idiot, is that
Serafina
is a little pagan. Surely you’ve realized that by now?”

Aiden sat bolt upright, his fingers grasping the arms of the chair, thinking of
Serafina
singing in the Midsummer moonlight, of
Serafina
spouting off about reincarnation, explaining the tenants of the Wiccan religion to him. If she made penance to anyone it would be to her precious goddess, not the God of the Christian church. “Dear Lord …” he said slowly as Raphael’s point hammered home. “She is a pagan, isn’t she?”

“Yes, and given that, the last thing
Serafina
would do is confess her supposed sins against God to Charlotte, whose views of religion she finds oppressive in the extreme.
Think,
Aiden. Who does this letter sound like to you?”

Aiden squeezed the bridge of his nose with his fingertips, trying to absorb all the unsavory implications. “It sounds like Charlotte,” he said, as painful as the admission was. “But maybe she was just putting what
Serafina
told her into her own words,” he said in defense of his sister.

“Nonsense,” Raphael said succinctly. “Charlotte must have written this claptrap without Serafina’s knowledge or consent, because
Serafina
and I never committed adultery in the first place.
Serafina
wouldn’t admit to something that never happened.”

Aiden’s head swam with confusion. It had to be one thing or the other. Either Charlotte had lied, or Raphael was lying now, and it was beginning to look more and more to him like Charlotte was guilty of an enormous deception. The more he thought about it, the more Raphael’s explanation of befriending
Serafina
on Aiden’s behalf made sense. It certainly explained their easy affection for each other. And if Charlotte had lied, that meant that
Serafina
and Raphael were innocent, and that thought gave him back hope. It gave him back
Serafina.

“But—but why would Lottie write something so patently untrue?” he said, still unsure, hoping against hope that there was a reasonable explanation for Charlotte’s actions.

“I don’t know,” Raphael said, shaking his head, looking as confused as Aiden felt. “I honestly don’t know. But she did, and she must have thought she could get away with it, that you would believe this tripe. She wouldn’t have the first idea that
Serafina
would never use this kind of language, for I know
Serafina
has always guarded her tongue carefully around your sister when it comes to her religious beliefs.”

He threw the note down on the desk in disgust. “I don’t know what this is all about, but I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. It sounds to me as if Charlotte is not only trying to run
Serafina
away, but she’s also trying to destroy our friendship.”

“But for what reason?” Aiden cried desperately, knowing in his heart that Raphael spoke the truth. He could see it in Rafe’s face, hear it in his voice. And if he really searched his soul, he also knew that
Serafina
wasn’t capable of the behavior Charlotte had accused her of. He probably wouldn’t even have listened to her if he hadn’t had his own nagging doubts, the doubts of a jealous fool.

Serafina
had honored her vows after all, and that mattered more to him than he ever would have imagined. Right now it meant everything.

His lifelong loyalty to his sister tore at him, but so did his devotion to his cousin and his wife. He could find no defense for Charlotte, no excuse. And that broke his heart.

“I have no earthly idea,”
Rafe
said. “Charlotte obviously has some nefarious plan in mind. She thinks that not only can she banish
Serafina
to Wales, but she must also be convinced that you’re too proud to go after her. I don’t know why she thought I’d sit back and do nothing, unless she really does believe that I’m guilty of seducing your wife.”

“This is insane,” Aiden said, covering his eyes with one hand, trying to make sense out the entire mess. “How the hell did we ever come to this place?”

“You’ve never had reason to doubt Charlotte’s word before this. But you have even less reason to doubt mine. I bear no ill will toward you, Aiden, even though you can be a blind idiot at times.”

Aiden raised his head. “God, I’m sorry,
Rafe.
I should never have accused you.”

“I can marginally understand why you might have leapt to the wrong conclusion—and I’m partially to blame. I should never have agreed to keep the lessons a secret. But never mind that now. We had better get to the bottom of this before
Serafina
is hurt.”

The thought of
Serafina
being hurt in any way was enough to propel Aiden to his feet. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, no, my friend,” Raphael said, staying him with a hand on his shoulder. “Not until you get a few hours’ sleep. You look dead on your feet. We can leave in the morning.”

The last thing Aiden wanted was to sleep, but he saw the sense in Raphael’s insistence. He wouldn’t be any good to anyone in his state of exhaustion. He could hardly think straight.

“Very well,” he said reluctantly. “But we leave for Townsend at first light.”

“We leave at first light,” Raphael agreed. “And don’t worry overmuch, Aiden.
Serafina
loves you, of that I’m sure. She won’t run away, especially not over a pack of lies.”

“I don’t know,” Aiden said, rubbing his hands hard over his face. “I’ve behaved like the biggest fool,
Rafe.
She has every reason to leave me, given the things I’ve said and done. If anyone’s hurt her, I have—my God, I practically accused her of adultery to her face, even before Charlotte got her claws into me.”

Rafe
gave him a hard look. “Do you mean to say you came up with this piece of idiocy all on your own?”

Aiden grimaced. “I’m afraid so, and if you’d like to take a swing at me, you have my full permission. But I sensed there was something you were both keeping from me, and that was the only conclusion I could draw. I did have my reasons, but I can see I put the facts together back to front.”

To his surprise, Raphael laughed. “Remind me never to fall in love. That lofty emotion seems to make jealous fools out of the most reasonable of men.”

Aiden chose not to answer Rafe’s pointed remark. If torment, desperation, and helplessness were love in disguise, then he wanted nothing to do with it. “I owe
Serafina
an enormous apology,” he said instead. “I can only hope she’ll understand.” She had to understand. He didn’t know what he’d do if she turned away from him now.

“I’m sure she will, but you can deal with that tomorrow. Go to bed; we’ll tackle this again in the morning. I think the bigger problem is Charlotte, and I for one want to set her straight before she does any more damage.”

Aiden nodded, thinking it would be a miracle if he didn’t put his hands around his sister’s throat and strangle her.

T
he
late afternoon skies opened and began to pour with rain, which suited Charlotte’s dark mood perfectly. She couldn’t believe that
Serafina
was still at Townsend, that she’d had the nerve to defy Charlotte. She’d been so sure that the whore would leave by morning, once she had the night to contemplate the wrath awaiting her when Aiden returned. But instead she had defiantly gone out to work in the garden, peasant that she was, studiously ignoring Charlotte, as if that would make a difference.

Aiden would take care of
Serafina
soon enough, that was certain. The look on his face when Charlotte told him of his wife’s unpardonable sin had spoken worlds. In some ways, she could hardly wait. As for Raphael, Aiden would never speak to him again. Raphael might even choose to leave the country in disgrace, which would suit Charlotte beautifully. She didn’t ever want to look at his face again. He had deceived her in the worst possible way, and she held nothing but hatred in her heart for him.

Charlotte opened her Bible, finding her favorite psalm, the very first one, and recited it aloud, taking comfort from it.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

God always looked after the righteous, Charlotte thought with satisfaction. She moved on to the second verse, relishing the words and their message.

“Not so the wicked!” she read. “They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the path of the wicked will perish.”

She closed her Bible again, resting her hands on it. “Just so,” she murmured. “Just so.”

She stretched her arms over her head, her body sated and relaxed from Frederick’s amorous administrations that morning. Unfortunately he was going to have to be disciplined, for his enthusiasm for his task had distinctly waned, and that wouldn’t do at all. Imagine his asking to be assigned to another position in the household—the nerve of the man! He ought to be honored to serve her. She wasn’t about to let him go now, not when she’d finally found someone who could meet her needs.

She wheeled herself over to the door, listening to be sure there was no one moving about on the other side, then wheeled her chair back to the middle of the room, just in case she needed to return to it in a hurry. She had no intention of having anyone discover that she could walk—far better they thought her a helpless cripple.

She stood and strolled over to the window, looking to see if
Serafina
still labored on her knees, a fitting position for her. But
Serafina
was no longer in the garden, chased away by the sudden downpour of rain. A pity. She would like to have seen
Serafina
covered in mud, her hair streaming around her face, looking like the harlot she was.

A sudden disturbance in the hallway shook Charlotte out of her thoughts and she scurried back to her chair, quickly arranging herself in it, and just in time, for the doors flew open and Aiden stormed in, his face as dark as the thunderclouds outside. Perfect. He was as angry as when she’d last seen him, which bode only ill for the trollop he’d married.

“Aiden,” she said, reaching one hand out to him, intend
ing
to feed his mood. “My poor brother. I’m so glad you’ve come, for your wife—”

“Be still, Lottie,” he roared, halting directly in front of her chair. He glared down at her, his eyes snapping cold fury.

Her eyes widened and one hand went to her throat. She had never seen Aiden like this, and a tremor of fear ran through her. “What—what is it? What’s happened?” she stammered, recoiling as Raphael appeared behind him in the doorway, looking every bit as furious as Aiden. He closed the doors behind him, shutting out the faces of the curious servants who had gathered in the hall.

“Perhaps you can tell me,” Aiden said, leaning over her, his hands braced on the arms of her chair. “Just what the
hell
have you been up to?”

Her startled gaze flew to Raphael, who had pulled a piece of paper out of his coat and held it up in the air between two fingers, one eyebrow arched. It was the note she’d left Aiden; she recognized the writing paper. She looked back at Aiden in confusion. “I—I don’t understand. I explained everything. Are you angry I left without speaking to you first?”

“What I am angry about, Charlotte,” he said, biting out every word, “is that for reasons known only to you, you decided to slander my wife and our cousin. Would you like to explain yourself?”

“But I—I didn’t slander anyone,” she said, her heart starting to race in alarm. “I only told you the truth.” She pointed an accusatory finger at Raphael. “Ask him,” she said, putting as much disdain into her voice as she could.

“Do you think I didn’t?” Aiden said, straightening, two pale lines of strain running from his nose to his mouth. “Do you think I brought
Rafe
along simply because I wanted the company of the man you said defiled my wife?”

Charlotte swallowed, bile burning bitterly in the back of her throat, as bitter as the hatred that burned in her heart. “I suppose he denied it. But he would, wouldn’t he?”

“How
dare
you,” Raphael said, striding forward. “How dare you turn a blameless conversation into a vile pack of lies? You had nothing—nothing—on which to base your accusations, Charlotte. And yet you went straight to Aiden and poured out a whole sordid story that existed nowhere but in your imagination.”

“So
you
say. You forget that I heard you. And I saw you too, saw you take that whore into your arms in an embrace. Explain that, why don’t you?”

“You little fool,” Raphael said, regarding her with icy disdain, “I was offering
Serafina
some comfort and reassurance. She was upset. It’s no more than I’d do for any friend.”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “And shall I tell Aiden why she was upset, Raphael? Shall I tell him that she felt guilty and terrified that her husband would discover the truth about the two of you?” She smiled nastily. “Did you tell Aiden that you did him a favor in teaching his wife how to make love to a man?”

“Enough!” Aiden shouted. “I’ve heard enough from you. My God, you have a filthy mind for a woman who quotes the Bible morning, noon, and night. You even manage to take the Good Book out of context, tormenting everyone around you with your misplaced piety and constant judgment as if you were God Himself.”

Charlotte gasped in shock that Aiden would be so cruel. “I—I do no such thing,” she protested. “I only honor the word of God and speak it to remind others of His way.” She fumbled for her handkerchief, tears of injury stinging her eyes. “Aiden … Aiden how could you turn against me like this? How could you doubt my good intentions? I’ve always had your best interests at heart.”

“So you’ve always said. I begin to wonder. Why would you write me a note supposedly voicing Serafina’s remorse, her intentions of leaving me when it is more than obvious that
Serafina
said nothing of the kind? She had nothing to be remorseful for!”

Charlotte’s mouth tightened.
Serafina.
It always came back to
Serafina.
Oh, how she’d like to see her gone for once and for all.
“Serafina
was in no state to write herself. She asked me to relay the message to you.”

“The truth, Charlotte. You see, you don’t know my wife at all. That’s where you stumbled.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Not only is
Serafina
innocent of any wrongdoing, but she also doesn’t subscribe to your brand of hellfire and damnation.
Serafina
would never have said the things you put in her mouth for any reason.”

Charlotte paled. She felt cornered, trapped. Aiden somehow knew that she had fabricated the letter’s content, and panic seized at her chest. “I only did it for you, to make your life easier,” she stammered, terrified of what he might do. “Oh, Aiden, don’t hate me—please. I thought it was best if I took her away. She had hurt you so much already, and I didn’t want you to have to—”

“To what?” he interrupted coldly. “To speak to my wife myself? To divine the truth straight from her? Did you really think I’d leave it there, Charlotte, allow you to poison my mind so completely against her?”

Charlotte sobbed into her handkerchief, more from outrage than any remorse. She had done the right thing, she knew it. But the only way to recoup the situation was to pretend to be contrite, for Aiden would never forgive her otherwise.

“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes again. “I meant no harm.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Aiden said. “I can’t help but wonder what you said to
Serafina
after you took her away. I suppose you heaped your venomous accusations on her too?”

“I—I told her that I couldn’t approve of what she had done,” Charlotte said, avoiding the real essence of their conversation.

“And when you finished telling her that, you oh-so-gently suggested that she leave Townsend, is that right?”

“Yes!” she cried. “And why not? She betrayed you. Why should she be allowed to stay here in my house after what she did? But she wouldn’t go.”

“Good for her,” Raphael said. “I’m glad there’s someone around here who stands up to your bullying.”

She hated Raphael twice as much in that moment. “I most certainly did not bully her. I only tried to point out the error of her ways and she refused to listen to me. But she denied nothing, Aiden. Nothing!”

“If I know anything about it, you probably never gave her a chance,” Aiden said with disgust. “Dear God, but you can be vicious, Charlotte. You’ve probably had
Serafina
in a state of panic, thinking I believed your lies, damn you. Where is she?”

“How should I know?” she said, dabbing delicately at her nose. “I’m not my brother’s keeper.”

Aiden snorted. “That’s a new one. And from now on you can keep your damned quotations to yourself. I won’t hear you use the Bible to further your own twisted purposes.”

Charlotte drew herself up indignantly. “I have never twisted the Bible nor used it to further my own purposes. I follow the path of the Lord.”

“Oh?” Aiden said sarcastically. “Then you tread an interesting path in His name. I doubt it’s one He had in mind.”

“You would hardly know,” she spat. “You have lived a godless life for years, Aiden Delaware. I know all about your fancy women, your libertine ways. How dare you accuse me, I who have lived a blameless life?”

“I’m beginning to wonder just how blameless your
life
has been, Charlotte. You have used your position here for years to make a number of lives miserable.” He shook his head. “I think I understand far better now why Father took to drink—it wasn’t just losing our mother, although that’s when his problems started. But having to live under your harsh yoke was enough to drive him to permanent inebriation, and I can’t say I blame him for wanting to drown you out. I thank God
Serafina
came along when she did and brought some happiness back to this place.”

“Your wife has done nothing but interfere,” Charlotte said furiously. “She has turned my carefully ordered household on its ear, made a mockery of discipline. Only a fortnight ago she announced that she thought the servants should have a full day off every other week! How am I supposed to run Townsend with a spoiled staff, I ask you?”

“I think it’s best if you don’t run Townsend at all,” Aiden said curtly. “I will hire a housekeeper to take over your duties. From now on the staff will report to my wife, which is how it should have been from the beginning. But that was my mistake.”

Charlotte shrank back in her chair. “You—you can’t mean it,” she said, her blood running cold. “Aiden—no,” she pleaded. “Townsend is my life. It’s all I have.”

“And if you wish it to stay that way, then you will never speak ill of
Serafina
again. Because if you do, I swear to you I will send you to live somewhere where your vicious tongue can’t be heard for miles around. Furthermore, you won’t have a staff to bully.”

Charlotte cheeks flamed hot with anger and humiliation. She quickly bowed her head before he could see the loathing in her eyes. “As you say, Aiden,” she said, her voice shaking with an effort to control it. He wouldn’t take control of Townsend from her. She wouldn’t let him. She would just have to think of something to make him change his mind.

Aiden nodded. “I’m glad that’s understood.” He turned to Raphael. “I am deeply sorry for all of this. I’m going to find
Serafina.”

Charlotte heard the doors open and close. She looked up, only to find Raphael still there, gazing down at her with an unfathomable expression.

“You believe me, don’t you?” she said, desperately needing an ally. As much as she despised him, he was all she had left. “I truly meant no harm.”