Of Noble Birth (51 page)

And then he
wept.

The End

Don’t miss Brenda Novak’s next high seas
adventure:

THE BASTARD (available 11/11):

Born a bastard to a wayward marquise,
Lieutenant Crawford Treynor was given to a poor farmer to raise and
was beaten and maltreated until he ran away to join the Royal Navy
as a lad. He’s had to climb up the hard way, without benefit of
money or connections. Treynor is determined to prove he’s as good
as any other man and rise to captain his own frigate. But once he
finds Jeannette Boucher, a lovely French stowaway, aboard The
Tempest, he must decide whether to return her to the man he knows
would abuse her—or risk everything, even his life, to keep her for
himself.

Meet Jeannette:

“Shall I let Lord St. Ives know that you are
ready?” Agatha’s solemn eyes met Jeannette’s reflection.

Jeannette nodded. She had no choice. She
felt like a fox cornered by baying hounds. It didn’t help that
those hounds were the urging of her own conscience.

The maid closed the door as she left,
leaving Jeannette to wait and to pace, her mouth so dry she could
scarcely swallow. Tears burned behind her eyes and, despite the
fire, her hands remained as stiff and cold as a cadaver’s. At least
her family’s future was now secure, she told herself. Everything
was decided, done. The trade had been made when she and the baron
exchanged vows. She had only to finish her part of the bargain.

A heavy hand pounded on the door, nearly
causing Jeannette to collapse in a heap on the floor. She’d heard
no tread and felt completely unprepared to meet her husband,
regardless of Agatha’s ministrations.

How could she be such a coward? she
wondered, feeling ashamed. Would she shrink from her duty to those
she loved?

“Entrez,” she said, steadying her voice.

The door burst open, but it wasn’t St. Ives.
It was her younger brother Henri, and his face was as pale as her
own.

Jeannette dragged the heavy counterpane from
the baron’s bed and used it to cover herself. “What are you doing
here? What is the meaning of this?”

Henri didn’t seem to notice what she was or
wasn’t wearing. “Jeannette, thank God I have arrived in time. Come
with me. We must leave at once.”

“But I cannot--”

“Hush! They were talking about you. The
baron is not the man we thought he was. He—he has plans to dishonor
you.” He made an effort to compose himself, but couldn’t quite
manage it. “Never mind.” He gestured as if he could sweep the
confusion away that easily. “The details are too ugly. Come
away!”

Jeannette stiffened in surprise. “I
understand that you are worried about me, Henri, but Maman and Papa
were strangers when they married and--”

“This is different.” His lip trembled as he
pushed her toward the door.

“But I am not dressed!”

For the first time, Henri seemed to realize
she was dragging the counterpane. His face grew red, but he
remained steadfast in his purpose. “There is no time to delay. I
heard them...outside...placing wagers…”

“On what? Henri, do not frighten me.”

His chin jutted out in defiance. “You have
no need to worry. I am your brother. I will not let anything happen
to you.”

Grabbing his slender shoulders, Jeannette
gave him a gentle shake. “Stop this. I am a married woman now. I
have no choice but to stay here. You know that as well as I
do.”

“Listen to me!” He gripped her elbow as
though he’d drag her away if he had to. “I have learned the baron
cannot father a child.” His whispered words came in a torrent. “He
is bringing others to your bed, to acquire an heir any way he can.
And the men he has chosen are eager for the opportunity, even
placing wagers on whose seed will take in your belly!”

At this announcement, all the strength
threatened to leave Jeannette’s limbs. Was that what Richard
Manville had meant? Why Sir Thomas had fairly salivated at the
touch of her? Were they anticipating a turn in her bed?

She knew the baron had been married before,
that the late baroness had borne him no children….

“Come, vite!” Henry pulled harder, but she
wrenched away.

“No! You must go back down and act as if
nothing has happened. Detain St. Ives, if possible, while I leave
on my own.”

“But Maman and Papa...we should all go!”

Jeannette’s heart sank. How she wished that
were possible. But St. Ives would never sit idly by and allow her
parents to take her from Hawthorne House. His standing and
reputation would be ruined. And he could easily stop them. He had
power here in England, knew everyone. “Think, Henri! I belong to
the baron now. And we are refugees, paupers! All he has to do is
deny our accusations and follow through with his plan. Who would
stop him, except Papa? And I will not have Papa dueling over
me.”

“But you cannot go alone. Who will protect
you? A woman on her own is not safe!”

“I can take care of myself. You know I can.
But you must promise me something.”

Agitated and still eager to grab her and
leave, he shifted on his feet. “Yes, anything!”

“Do not breathe a word of this to anyone,
even Papa, until I am well away.”

Warring emotions revealed themselves in the
look on his face, but he finally sighed and nodded. “Where will you
go?”

“To London, of course. Our cousin Darby will
help me, I am sure, if only I can get to him. After I am off, tell
Mama and Papa where I have gone and then the three of you can meet
me at Lord Darby’s in two weeks.”

“But how will you travel so far? You have no
money!”

“I will manage. Just do as I say!”

“What choice do I have?” he asked, his
bravado crumbling.

“Exactly. Now go, so I can change.” She
hugged him, a close, poignant embrace, then half-shoved him out the
door, frantic now lest the baron appear.

“Au revoir,” he murmured softly, his somber
face looking years older than his age.

Other books by Brenda Novak:

THE BASTARD: Historical Romance 11/11

Bulletproof Trilogy (Romantic Suspense)

IN CLOSE, Romantic Suspense, 11/11

IN SECONDS, Romantic Suspense, 9/11

INSIDE, Romantic Suspense, 7/11

The Heat Trilogy (Romantic Suspense)

WHITE HEAT

BODY HEAT

KILLER HEAT

The Last Stand Series (Romantic
Suspense):

TRUST ME

STOP ME

WATCH ME

THE PERFECT COUPLE

THE PERFECT LIAR

THE PERFECT MURDER

The Stillwater Trilogy (Romantic
Suspense):

DEAD SILENCE

DEAD GIVEAWAY

DEAD RIGHT