My Dearest Friend (Books We Love Regency Romance) (13 page)

***

“I have given the matter a great deal of thought, Señor Blake,” said the Abbess when she sat in her office with the duke the following morning. “Although we promised Sara that we would rear the child, she was not to know that you would come in search of her and therefore would not be able to make an enlightened decision. I believe it to be right to restore Sophie to her family. It would be a very lonely life for a child to be brought up within these cloisters and she should have the advantages that you are able to give to her. ”

“
I can assure you that I will…” started the duke, but the Abbess raised her hand and impatiently cut short his reply.

“Please allow me to finish,” she said rising to pace the room. “Before I take you to see the child, I have a favor to ask of you in return, and I want you to consider it carefully. When Sara came to us, she struck up a friendship with Hannah, a young girl of fifteen who had lost her parents in one of the previous battles. She had been left in our care by an uncle who served with Wellington, with the promise to return to claim her. That was over a year ago and still he has not returned. We do not know whether he survives. Hannah has now expressed a wish to return to England to try to find her relatives. She helps with the care of Sophie and has no wish to be separated from her. Would you consider taking her with you to England? She is a quiet girl and will not impose, indeed, she is somewhat shy.”

It struck Robert that this could be the answer to a problem that had concerned him for the past few days. “I travel with Miss Chandler and her brother,” he replied. “Hannah can act as Sophie’s nursemaid under her guidance. That is, if she would agree to accompany us in that role?”

“
I am sure she would,” the Abbess said, giving a rare smile. “Now I will take you to meet your niece. I have kept you apart long enough and it is time you made her acquaintance.”

They left the office and once more traversed the echoing cloisters, which, now the sun was up, bore no resemblance to the deeply shadowed corridors of the previous evening.

The quadrangle set in the center of the buildings was bathed in sunlight and on its grassy lawn were two small children playing with a ball. Set slightly to the side, on a low stool, sat a young girl with dark hair and pleasing features. In her lap she cradled a sleeping infant whose bright blonde hair shone almost as a halo in the morning sun and as the two approached opened its startling blue eyes and gurgled happily.

“
This, Señor Blake, is your niece,” the Abbess said, taking the babe from the girl and presenting her to the duke. He hesitated for a moment before taking her into his arms, holding her with a gentleness he did not know he possessed. As he examined the babe’s features, he felt a tenderness come into being that was completely foreign to him.

“
Although she has not the coloring of my brother she has the look of him,” he said, his voice deepening with emotion, not risking himself at that moment to say more. Instead, he bent and kissed the babe’s cheek, marveling at her perfection, and held her momentarily against his breast before returning her to the young girl’s arms.

“And you are Hannah?” he questioned, addressing the girl who reddened under his scrutiny, but nodded her head. “I believe you wish to return to England,” he continued not altogether displeased with her modesty. “Would you consider accompanying us as Sophie’s nurse? I travel with a lady companion so you will be assured of some guidance in her care should you require it.”

“Thank you, sir,” Hannah replied in a pleasantly low voice. “I would like that above everything. Sophie is used to me and I will take good care of her.”

“We will leave at first light for Elvas, will you be ready?”

    “Yes, sir.”

Robert smiled. “Good girl, I am sure you will do famously,”
then turning to the Abbess, “Could we impose on your hospitality for just one more night? It would be safer for us to return on the morrow and complete the journey in one day without having to put up at some inn overnight?”

The Abbess nodded her agreement.
“It will give us time to make arrangements for their departure,” she said, indicating that he should follow her and return indoors. “In the meantime perhaps you would wish to avail yourself of our library. We have many fine old books that you may find of interest.”

***

They commenced the return journey the following morning just as the first fingers of dawn crept over the adjoining hills. Robert waited whilst Hannah and the babe were settled comfortably in the interior of the coach before joining them. He hoped that the return would prove as uneventful as their outward journey.

Hannah proved herself quite capable of caring for Sophie, indeed the pair appeared quite self-sufficient, and it could be seen that a bond existed between them. It was a totally new and not altogether unpleasant experience for him to be in such close proximity to an infant. Indeed, a completely unexpected experience, finding a tenderness in himself he never knew he owned.

When he had previously envisaged a family, it had been something to consider in the future when he would fulfill his obligation to provide an heir. Now, within a short space of time, he had acquired a ward and had a fervent desire to take a wife. He still could not believe how his world had taken such a complete turnabout in so short a time. The future promised to be far less bleak than it had appeared less than two weeks ago. Stovely would at last become a home. Their home! The thought of it beckoned him to return to its stately portals and he found himself eager to comply.

***

When they were within twenty miles of the Portuguese border, Robert was on the point of congratulating himself on the ease of the journey when they were brought to a sudden halt. Cautiously looking out the window, he saw a small company of French cavalry headed by a young officer barring their path.

On the box,
Proctor slid his hand slowly between the seats and curled his fingers around the stock of his rifle. He would normally have carried it placed across his lap but had deemed it prudent to keep it out of sight for fear of drawing attention and he was glad of the fact. It would not do to antagonize the troop. The travelers were too heavily outnumbered and to show any signs of resistance at this point would bring about certain death. Instead, he hailed the officer good-humoredly whilst the driver sat silently at his side, his eyes dark with fear.

The officer brought his horse alongside the carriage and demanded to know their destination, but before
Proctor could make a reply, the duke opened the carriage door and stepped down into the road.

“What is the reason for this delay?” he demanded in his impeccable French. “Have we not suffered enough?”

The young officer appeared taken aback by the onslaught; he was more used to travelers quaking at the mere sight of his men. By the drab look of the coach, he had not expected this arrogant French gentleman to descend from its interior.

Proctor
, watching the scene could not help but admire the duke’s coolness under the circumstances, knowing that it was a life or death situation.

The young officer however, was not to be intimidated.
“Your name and destination, sir,” he demanded, sitting erect in the saddle. His commission was too new and although he felt it necessary to exert his authority, he proceeded warily, recognizing he dealt with a man of some worth.

Robert appeared at his most haughty.
“I am the Comte de Chaumont.” He silently prayed that the officer was not familiar with the original, but took the chance. Being acquainted with the comte, it had been the first name that had sprung to mind.

Obviously, the young man was not, for he merely bowed slightly in the saddle, appearing unmoved by this disclosure.
“And your destination, comte?”

“Bruges. We sail from Lisbon.”

“And your business in Spain?”

   
“I traveled with my wife and child to visit my father-in-law, but we were set upon by the English.” He wondered just how long he would have to suffer this arrogant interrogation when his chief desire was to throttle the young upstart who sat upon his horse so defiantly before him.

The officer took in the bruising still evident on the duke’s face and felt no need to question the statement. He bent in the saddle and looked into the coach.

“I do not see the comtesse,” he said straightening. “The child and her nurse yes, but your wife, no!”

Robert dropped his voice convincingly, “My wife did not survive the encounter.”

The officer looked uncomfortable. “My condolences, comte, these are indeed violent times. You must forgive our intrusion on your grief.”

As if he became suddenly aware of his men waiting on the dusty road, the officer looked in their direction and ordered six forward.
“I will detain you no longer, sir. You must be eager to return to your home. Allow me to provide you with an escort until you are safely over the border into Portugal. It is but a few kilometers but, none the less, it is unwise to travel unescorted. There are many dangers upon the road.”

Robert inclined his head.
“These are, as you say, dangerous times and to travel without an escort is most unwise. Our outriders were also slain in the attack so I would welcome the support of your men.”

Briefly his eyes met
Proctor’s and a look of understanding passed between them before he stepped back into the coach, indicating that he thought the interview over.

Sitting once more beside Hannah and the babe, he heard the officer issue orders for the troupe to continue on their way. He knew that his story would not stand close scrutiny and was thankful that he had not been asked for credentials or indeed, details of the supposed attack. Obviously, he had lied convincingly enough to satisfy the officer, a fact for which he silently gave thanks.

Throughout the encounter, Sophie had slept peacefully in Hannah’s arms and he tenderly touched the babe’s cheek as he settled back into his seat. “Well done,” he whispered to Hannah, keeping his voice low so that the riders did not hear that he spoke in English. “I’m grateful to see that for one so young you don’t easily resort to hysterics.”

“Not I, sir,” was Hannah’s only reply.

He watched the cavalrymen riding at the side of the coach and was relieved when at last, at a certain point on the
road, they saluted and wheeling their horses about, returned in the wake of their fellows.

Proctor
opened the hatch. “Do you wish to halt, sir?” he asked.

“No, continue. We must reach the inn before nightfall.” He knew he would not tell Jane of the encounter, he had no wish to unsettle her.

Chapter
Eight

Their arrival at the inn that night went quite unnoticed, the sound of the horses’ hooves clattering over the cobbled yard exciting no more interest than had done their predecessors during the day. Once they were halted, the duke hurried Hannah and the sleeping Sophie from the vehicle and into the private parlor. He had hoped to find Jane within, but the room was deserted and he knew a moment’s disappointment. Just as he was about to go in search of her, Eaves pushed open the door and stopped in some surprise.

“Your grace,” he beamed coming into the room. “We had given up hope of you arriving today.”

“Where is Miss Chandler?” the duke demanded, making toward the door.

Eave’s countenance sobered. “She’s with the major, sir. I am afraid he took a turn this morning and she has not left his side since. The doctor has been called and says that despite it being but a momentary setback we must delay our return journey for a few days. Shall I fetch her for you, sir?”

“No need, I will go to her directly,” the duke said. “However, I would be grateful if you would arrange suitable accommodation for my ward and her nurse and make sure they are well nourished before they retire. It has been a very long and tiring day.”

With that, he strode from the room and took the stairs two at a time to the second landing. Eagerly pacing its length, he came to a sudden halt just as Jane stepped out of Harry’s room and quietly closed the door behind her. In the dimness of the corridor, she did not immediately perceive him standing but a short distance away, awaiting her notice, and was startled when he softly called her name from the shadows.

“Robert,” she cried, involuntarily pressing her hand to her throat, unable to move, as a new shyness overcame her.

For an instant, they stood thus until the duke moved forward into the pool of moonlight that filtered through a small window and slowly opened his arms to her. She did not hesitate but ran to him and buried her face in his neck. Words were not necessary for the moment as they both rejoiced in their reunion. Indeed, if she had tried to speak she would have found her words crushed into oblivion as, bending his head, he fiercely kissed her, demanding a response. Finding in herself no resistance to his embrace, she welcomed it as if to be loved by him was the most natural occurrence in the world.