La Flamme (Historical Romance) (27 page)

"Liar! You know you love me—why not admit it?"

Garreth was feeling uncomfortable because her voice was beginning to carry to others. "I do not believe this is the place that we should be having this conversation, Lady Meredith."

Her hand tightened on his arm like a claw and she didn't seem to hear his words. "Many times I have ridden past Wolfeton Keep, hoping for a glimpse of you. Now you are here and I shan't let you go. Come with me so we might be alone."

Garreth shook her hand off and moved down a step, hoping to discourage further conversation. "Eugenia, there is nothing for us—there never was. What I once felt for you was nothing more than a young man's foolish infatuation with a beautiful woman."

"Deceiver of women!" Her voice rose even higher. "You allowed me to love you and then left me as if I was nothing! I shall never forgive you for the humiliation I've suffered. Everyone laughs at me because you prefer a witless cripple to me. Not once did my plight cross your mind."

Eugenia became aware of the hardness in Garreth's eyes. He was no youthful lover who could be easily manipulated. He was a man now, cold and distant, and his aloofness only made her want him all the more. "You have not thought of me at all, and I have never stopped thinking about you," she went on. "I would have done anything for you, Garreth, and 1 have." There was such vehemence in her voice, such passion and hatred twisted together that it was difficult to see where one ended and the other began.

Garreth looked at the pitiful creature. How could he ever have thought he loved her? His eyes were smoldering with anger. "You are mad, Eugenia."

"If I am, 'tis your fault." There was desperation in her voice. "We belong together—you just don't remember how much we loved each other, before she came along. She is nothing—NOTHING!"

Garreth suddenly felt repulsed by her. "Good-bye, Lady Meredith. I do not expect we shall meet again." He turned and hurried down the steps, knowing that she was watching him. There had been something unsettling about her actions today. She was surely demented to make such a public display of her emotions. He had little doubt that their meeting would be the talk of London over morning tea.

He thought of Sabine, and it was like a cleansing breath sweeping through him. He wanted to see her, to touch her, to know that she belonged to him.

30

Mrs. North escorted Sabine into the huge anteroom that was decorated in Roman style. The ceilings were coffered in gold and white, while marble pillars trimmed with gold arched along the walls, and the armorial glass windows running the length of the entire eastern wall were etched with the Blackthorn coat of arms. Sunlight reflected through the amber and blue glass, giving that portion of the hallway the appearance of a vast honeycomb.

"You must be weary, Your Grace," Mrs. North said. If you will follow me, I shall show you to your chambers."

As they moved past ornate salons and formal rooms, Sabine glanced inside, noticing that they were elegantly furnished.

Climbing the stairs, Sabine could see out the high windows to an enormous park beyond the courtyard. This would be a lovely place to live and raise children. She had to keep reminding herself that she was mistress of this domain.

Mrs. North threw open a pair of wide double doors. Sabine went inside, looking puzzled. Highly polished wooden floors were partially covered by a green carpet, where deer and pheasants had been skillfully worked into the nap. The huge mahogany bed was carved with the Balmarough dragon. This was definitely a man's room— the master suite.

Mrs. North saw the question in Sabine's eyes. "His grace left instructions that you were to be placed in his chambers."

Sabine was too stunned to speak at first, and when she understood the significance of this action, she realized she could not object to the housekeeper. How dare Garreth assume that she would share his bed!

"Perhaps later you would like a tour of house?"

Ysabel came forward to pull down the bedcovers. "Not today, I think. Her grace must rest from the journey. She will dine in bed. Tomorrow will be soon enough for her to see the rooms."

"Of course." Mrs. North moved to the door and turned back. "If there is anything you need, you have only to ask."

Ysabel unfastened Sabine's gown as she asked the question that Sabine could not. "Have you heard when his grace will be returning?"

"We have heard nothing, Mrs. Agostino."

Sabine was glad her back was to the housekeeper so the woman would not see the disappointment in her eyes.

After the housekeeper departed, Sabine looked at Ysabel with defiance in her eyes. "I did not expect that I would be sharing Garreth's bed."

"You have it within your hands to win your husband. You now know that he is innocent of any wrongdoing. Do not turn away from him."

After Sabine slipped out of her gown and into her nightgown she got into bed and plucked at the gilded fringe on the coverlet. "Garreth has said little about the baby, Ysabel."

The wise old woman walked to the door, knowing well what Sabine was feeling. "I would think his first concern is with the mother of his child. And, he has put you where you belong."

Alone at last, Sabine moved out of bed and walked to the dressing room that was connected to the bedchamber by double doors. She lifted Garreth's green velvet doublet from a wooden peg to hold it to her cheek. She wished with all her heart that they could recapture the love they'd shared in Paris.

A servant led Garreth into the dining room, where Stephen was having breakfast.

"Have you eaten?" Stephen asked, motioning Garreth to a chair. "Try the salmon—it's quite delicious."

Garreth shook his head. "I dined hours ago. I was on my way home when your message reached me."

Stephen leaned back in his chair, watching Garreth. "I'm glad you came promptly."

"Your note said it was urgent."

"I never liked her, but I still can't believe she is that evil. It never occurred to me that she was so desperate."

"Stephen, are you going to tell me what you are talking about, or keep rambling on?"

"Eugenia of course. I supposed her infatuation for you would pass, as it had with all the others, but she only became more obsessed with you." Stephen lifted his cup to his lips but did not drink. "I heard about the scene yesterday. Everyone's talking about your meeting with her at the palace."

Garreth shrugged. "It was of no importance. Surely you haven't asked me here to talk about that."

Stephen took a sip of tea and wiped his mouth on a napkin. "What I'm trying to tell you, if you'll stop interrupting, is that Eugenia admitted to me that she was Cortland's cohort. She gave your cousin the means to hire assassins to execute the raid on Woodbridge Castle. To hear her tell it, Cortland betrayed her by trying to make it look as if you were guilty. The plan, as she saw it, was to have your wife killed so you would be free to marry her."

"Dear God, this cannot be," Garreth said. He felt an urgency to rush to Sabine. "I felt uneasy about my meeting with her yesterday—she was distraught, but to actually... no, she could not be guilty of that."

"I can assure you, Garreth, Eugenia was a party to what happened to the Woodbridge family. She brazenly admitted everything to me not an hour ago. I won't even repeat the threats she made before she went storming out. I tried to stop her, but her coach left before I could reach her."

Garreth's eyes narrowed in thoughtfulness. "Now everything becomes clear. When I was in the Tower the archbishop told me that there was a woman involved with my cousin. I never thought it would be Eugenia—I still can't believe that she would go to such extremes."

"Eugenia's dangerous, Garreth. She means to harm you, I believe through La Fla . . . er, Sabine."

"I'll see that she rots in hell!"

"No doubt she'll eventually come to that. My concern for the moment is that I can't locate her. I've had men looking for her, but she has disappeared."

Garreth came to his feet. "1 care nothing for her. She had not entered my mind until yesterday when she created that distasteful scene."

"Therein, I believe, lies the trouble. As much as I could make out of her ranting, she fancies herself your true and only love. She believes that you will realize that you love her. She isn't rational, Garreth. I would watch your wife since Eugenia's threats were against her."

Garreth's jaw tightened. "She dared to threaten Sabine?"

Stephen nodded. "She vowed that if she couldn't have you, no other woman would."

Garreth moved quickly to the door. "I'm going home at once."

"Yes, that would be wise. I'll continue to search for Eugenia. I'll send a messenger if I locate her."

"Have you alerted the authorities?" Garreth asked.

"I wanted to talk to you first, as I was unsure how you would want to proceed. This will no doubt cause a scandal."

Garreth's lips thinned. "Scandal and I are old friends. Go to the authorities and tell them what you have told me. Inform them that I want Eugenia detained, and impress upon them that she is dangerous. Also tell the archbishop what you told me."

"Rest assured, I shall do that."

Stephen walked Garreth to the door and watched him mount his horse. "How fares La Fl... your wife?"

Garreth glanced up at the sky then back at his friend. "About the way anyone would fare who is where they don't want to be."

"Give her my respects."

"I shall."

*                                          *                                          *

Garreth entered the small salon, where he'd been told he would find Sabine. She lay asleep on the lounge near the window, with an open book clutched in her hand.

For a long moment, he stared at her. She wore a blue gown without adornment and he thought she had never looked more beautiful. Reposed as she was, he could see the swell of her stomach and once again felt a surge of pride.

Sabine awoke and stared into the eyes of her husband. "Garreth," she said, swinging her feet off the lounge and standing, "I didn't expect you today."

Amusement twisted his lips. "I couldn't stay away from you, Sabine. I hope you have come to feel that this is your home."

Her long silken hair fell across her shoulder as she bent to retrieve the book she had dropped. "I believe there has been a mistake. Mrs. North has put me in your bedchamber."

"It was not a mistake. She was merely following my orders."

"I desire my own quarters. I remained there merely until you came home because I did not want to involve the servants in our personal lives."

Tense moments passed before he spoke. "And if I refuse, what then?"

She gave him a mock curtsey. "I have been well brought up, Your Grace. My only aim in life is to please My Lord."

He took a step closer, so near to her that they were almost touching. He held his arm out to her. "Shall we go below and sup, Madame?"

She ignored his arm and walked stiffly to the door. As they descended the stairs, Garreth suddenly felt the weight of their plight.

*                                          *                                          *

"If circumstances had been different, Sabine"—Garreth began after a long silence—"if you had come to me as my bride when you were supposed to, I wonder, would we be happy now?"

"We shall never know. But I do not believe we are suited to each other."

A mocking smile touched his lips. "I remember differently."

She blushed and lowered her head, thinking the meal would never end. At last they retired to the green salon where Sabine was seated near the window, watching Garreth conversing with a servant.

"Inform Captain Barkley that I will see him in my study within the hour."

"Very good, Your Grace," the man said, departing.

"Captain Barkley was most courteous and helpful on our journey, Garreth," Sabine said. "He is to be commended for his attentiveness."

"He was only doing what he was told, Sabine. He is, however, a good man—which is why he is commander of my guards."

Sabine stood up and began moving nervously about the room, straightening a portrait, centering an ornate clock on a table, running her finger across the mantle as if looking for dust.

Garreth watched and guessed at the meaning of her actions. "You find life in the country tedious after Paris?"

"I hope never to see Paris again."

He looked skeptical. "Think well before you speak. Did you not like being adored as La Flamme?"

"I was wondering how long it would take you to speak of my past." She walked back to him and sat beside him. "It is well that we get this finished and done."

He glanced down at her. "I believe the lady is about to make a confession. Dare I hope she will explain to me why she left me in Paris with just a letter to untangle the web she had woven?"

"It would be futile to try and make you understand."

"Understand this, Sabine—no husband likes to think that his wife had been desired by hundreds of men."

"It wasn't like that."

"Was it not?"

"You are free to think what you will. I will not speak of it at this time. I'm going to bed, Garreth."

"To my bed," he reminded her.

She shrugged. "I am but your vassal, by order of the king—where else would you find me?"

He stood, taking her hand. "Where else indeed? Your charms are many, your faults few. After all, I can boast that I am the only man who ever bedded La Flamme. Pity we cannot post it, so I could be the envy of half the world."

"Mock me if you must, but know this, Garreth—I did what I had to do to survive, and I ask no one's pardon— not even yours. I kept Richard and myself alive for all those years, and that's all that mattered to me."

"It's true, Sabine, you did keep Richard safe."

A frown creased her brow. "I'm not even sure yet that Richard and I are safe, and I worry about him."

Garreth's muscles became taut. "Why should you think that?"

"Before my nurse, Thea, died, she told me what she had overheard the night my father was killed. One of the men boasted about how they had made it look as if you were guilty."

He searched her eyes. "Thank God you at last believe that I am innocent."

"I know that now, but I didn't know it in Paris."

His jaw tightened, and his dark eyes were piercing. "Did your Thea overhear anything else?"

"Yes, and this is the odd thing. The man were talking about a lady who wanted proof of my death."

This confirmed everything Stephen had told Garreth about Eugenia. "Did the men name the woman?"

"Thea said not. Perhaps it was one of your rejected lovers," she said in jest.

He moved away from her, his manner suddenly distant and cold. She had come too close to the truth. "I do not find humor in this."

Years of hurt begged to be put into words. "I once met one of the women who loved you. 1 still carry the scars of that encounter within my heart."

"I can't imagine who it would be, Sabine. When did this happen?"

"Not long after we were married. Your Lady Meredith staged an accident on the road by Woodbridge. I was unfortunate enough to come upon her."