Baron: The Deception Part 7

Dorrie, a slight, gentle-looking girl of eighteen, Evangeline's new maid, said as she fingered a pale yellow silk dress, "I remember this gown. Her grace wore it on Christmas morning. Goodness, it must have been five years ago, when I was just a young girl, newly here in service. She gave me my Christmas present herself-a sewing box. Mrs. Raleigh told her that I wanted to become a seamstress. So very lovely she was. Such a pity that she was taken so soon." "You sewed for her?"

"Not then. She told me to do mending for the servants. I promise I'll be careful, Madame. I've learned a lot in the past five years. I'll make it more fas.h.i.+onable if you wish. You are tall. The ruffles wouldn't look well. You need simplicity in the styling."

"I agree with you, Dorrie. Remove all ruffles and anything else that moves you to remove it. As you can see, her grace and I were of a very different size. I am the maypole of the family." Or, as the duke had said, she was a big girl. And he'd held her waist between his two big hands.

Dorrie examined the seams, the hem, then said briskly, "When I'm finished, all the gowns will look as if they were made especially for you, Madame. And they won't look old-fas.h.i.+oned. His grace's mother sends me magazines with all the latest fas.h.i.+ons. I read them constantly. You will look a dream, Madame."

Evangeline left her, wondering if Houchard, who seemed to know everything about the duke's family, had known that the duke would insist that she take his dead wife's gowns. Houchard probably a.s.sumed that the duke would more or less use the gowns as payment after he allowed her to seduce him.

She knew that Edmund was taking his nap. The duke was with his steward in the estate room. The castle was quiet, at least as quiet as it ever was with nearly fifty souls moving about in it. She went to the North Tower. It was late in the afternoon. She saw only a lone footman in this part of the castle. She smelled the tower room before she was even close to it. It was a sweet yet tart odor, like rosemary mixed with cinnamon. She intended to find out what Mrs. Needle had meant when she'd told her she had heat in her eyes.

The odor grew stronger as she climbed the winding wooden steps. She rapped lightly on the old oak door and heard Mrs. Needle's lilting singsong voice telling her to come in.

The old woman was standing in the middle of a circular room with windows cut deep on all sides, at least ten of them, thick wooden beams between them. It was an incredible room, divided into sections by thick silk screens. Tables curved against the walls, obviously built especially for this climber, especially for Mrs. Needle. On the tables were dozens of labeled jars in neat rows, three jars deep. There was a fire in the fireplace, a hob with a pot seated on it, sending out the cinnamon smell along with comforting warmth. Even on a warm day like today, the fire felt good in this open room.

"Och, ye've come sooner than even I guessed ye would. Sit over here, little la.s.sie, and I'll give ye a nice cup of herbal tea."

Evangeline nodded, and followed the slight old woman into the sitting area that faced the immense fireplace. A sleeping area was set in an alcove. The rest of the huge s.p.a.ce was devoted to Mrs. Needle's herbal laboratory. While she prepared the tea, Evangeline walked to one of the tables and examined the labeled jars. DRIED ROSEMARY, she read. CRUSHED GINGER BERRY. ROSE PETALS. IRINGO ROOT. JAMARIC SEEDS. And so many others, names she'd never heard of. There were several small braziers, small pots set atop them. From one came the strong odor of roses. She breathed in deeply.

"This is a wonderful room, Mrs. Needle," she said, coming back into the sitting area.

"Aye," Mrs. Needle said as she pointed an arthritic finger toward a worn crimson brocade settee. Evangeline sat down. "His grace's father, Duke William, had it arranged just for me. He was a good lad, the former duke, strong and pure, loved his boy more than anything."

"I have heard that. His grace-the boy-appears to have cared mightily for his father as well."

"Aye, that's true enough. His grace was such a wild lad, always into some sort of trouble, hurling himself into adventures to make a parent shriek, but not Duke William. He just laughed and told his boy not to kill anyone, not to impregnate any girls, and not to cause pain. He would have given his life for his son. It was a sad day when Duke William died. His grace changed on that day. For the longest time he seemed sober as a monk; his eyes became cold and hard, all the laughter sucked out of him. Even now he doesn't try anymore to turn his mother's hair white. He's become staid." Mrs. Needle smiled, showing only two remaining teeth, both of them very white. "Aye, her grace still has hair as dark as a sinner's dreams, just a few threads of gray."

"I understand his grace married my cousin because his father wanted him to settle down."

"Mayhap there was something to that. I think Duke William was very fond of young Marissa. He wanted her for a daughter and knew if he didn't push his grace to the altar, some other gentleman would snap her up. And, as I said, his grace would have done anything for his father, anything at all, including marrying a girl he didn't love. Don't mistake me, la.s.sie, the duke wanted her, and marriage was the only way he would ever have her in his bed."

Evangeline was appalled. She sat forward, shaking her head. "Oh, no. The duke married my cousin because he loved her. I was told that by the people I loved and trusted."

"Och, love, what a fanciful thought that is for a lad so young as his grace was when he met Marissa. He wanted her, little la.s.sie, he wanted her in his bed and he didn't want to let her out of his bed, and all knew it. He made no bones about it. He was young and wild and randier than a goat. l.u.s.t is the guiding principle, the only motive for a young man, nothing more, ever. His grace was no different. He saw her and he wanted her. His father was pleased. His son's l.u.s.t played into his plans perfectly."

She poured Evangeline's green herbal tea, which looked nauseating, into a lovely Wedgwood cup, then sat down opposite her. Evangeline took a very small sip. It was surprisingly delicious, like tart apples mixed with something sweet. Mrs. Needle drank her own tea, slurping it between her teeth, and continued. "It all seemed to go so well until young Marissa discovered she was pregnant. Then she changed. She was afraid she'd die birthing Edmund, but she didn't. But she remained changed."

"Marissa's mother died in childbirth. She was doubtless terrified of dying in the same way."

"I thought that was true until I spoke to her. She trusted me, you see, to save her. She spent time here, questioning me endlessly. Her labor wasn't arduous. I gave her laudanum to lessen the pain. Lord Edmund was born in just over six hours. She was just fine two days later. I even gave her herbs to dry her milk since she didn't want to nurse Edmund." "Marissa was fortunate you were here." "Aye, that fool of a doctor that his grace brought from London, he didn't want to give her anything. He believed that women should suffer, it was their lot, G.o.d's will. Bosh, I said, and gave her laudanum when he stepped out of the bedchamber. She was bleeding too much after the birth, and the fellow simply shook his head and said he hoped it stopped, for he had not an idea of what to do. I took care of her. She healed quickly, as I said, after just two days. But it still didn't seem to matter.

"I don't wish to speak more of Marissa. Forgive me for being blunt, but at my age every moment is a gift granted by G.o.d. I don't like to waste a single one of them. I know that ye don't want to be here. Ye're fighting yerself every minute about it. I wonder why. Perhaps ye'd tell me why ye came, came against yer will."

Evangeline froze. "You're a witch," she said.

"Och, mayhap it is so, but there's this feeling I get from ye. Ye're afraid. But the strangest thing-ye belong here. That's odd, now, isn't it?"

"You know why I'm here, Mrs. Needle. My husband died and left me with no money. I'm dependent on his grace's good will. I will be Lord Edmund's nanny. There's nothing at all odd about it. I'm most certainly not afraid of anything, at least anything that has to do with Chesleigh."

"Ye're a terrible liar, little la.s.sie. Just terrible. Her grace spoke to me of ye several times. It was fond of ye she was. She wished she could see ye, see how ye were growing up, but her father and the former duke weren't speaking to each other, and thus yer father had to side with hers. Wicked it was."

"Do you know the reason for the falling out between the two families? I also missed my cousin, and Lord Edmund."

Mrs. Needle sipped her tea, then set the cup on a small, very old table at her side.

"Her father didn't sever the connection. Far be it from Old Rolfe to close off the till when his pockets were to let."

"I don't understand what you mean, ma'am. Marissa's father was an honorable gentleman, and a man of some means."

"Rolfe was a gambler, little la.s.sie. He spent three fortunes. I believe he's now spending a fourth fortune, one that he managed to steal by marrying his son to an heiress. Poor girl, with Old Rolfe as a papa-in-law." "My father never told me that," Evangeline said. "Surely you are mistaken."

"Believe what ye want to believe. Old Rolfe never paid a single sovereign of the girl's dowry to Duke William, not even a sou." The old woman laughed.

"Oh, goodness. That bespeaks a fine gall, Mrs. Needle."

"Aye, a very fine gall. He's still doing so, as far as I know. I listen, but there's no more to hear since Marissa died. Now, as for ye, little la.s.sie, why don't ye tell me what is troubling ye?" Evangeline was silent as a post. "Ye're impetuous, just as she was, but ye've known a very different life. Yer English mother was the saving of ye, child. She gave ye balance, curbed yer willful ways. Ye're proud, but not so proud that ye'd lose sight of what is right. Aye, and that father of yers, a beautiful man he was. I remember him very well from the wedding. A beautiful laugh he had as well. I'm sorry to hear he died. Odd, but I hadn't expected that. It jest doesn't feel right." "He had a very bad heart." Mrs. Needle just frowned at her, then turned to frown into the fire.

Evangeline's eyes fixed on Mrs. Needle's face. "How could you know about my mother? Indeed, what can you possibly know of my character? You never met me until yesterday."

"I've lived for a very long time. I see things, ye must have guessed that already, and I know people, la.s.sie. And of course her grace spoke of yer family. It's true of many people that their character s.h.i.+nes in their eyes. You are one of those, Madame."

Evangeline moistened her lips. "You said I had heat in my eyes. What did you mean?"

The old lady's nearly empty mouth smiled wide. "Ye're all interested in that, are ye? I don't blame ye. It's a fine thing, having heat in yer eyes. Ye'll find out soon enough. Yer life is just beginning. I only wish ye'd tell me what bothers ye. Ye feel fear and the oddest thing-ye also feel tremendous guilt."

Evangeline jumped to her feet. "I shouldn't be here, that's why," she said, and banged the cup and saucer beside Mrs. Needle's on the small table. "I should never have come to Chesleigh. Please, you mustn't speak of this to anyone. There's nothing to it. Just forget, Mrs. Needle. I beg of you, just forget what you feel, what you think you see in me."

"I won't tell anyone anything. Except for the duke. I tell his grace everything. He's my proud boy, my beautiful boy."

"He is much more than that. He is utterly without inhibition. He is outrageous. He's also very amusing." She dashed her fingers through her hair. "I didn't expect him to be anything like the way he is."

Mrs. Needle c.o.c.ked her head, her eyes intent on Evangeline's face. "His grace has tempered his wild ways, moderated his appet.i.tes. He's become a good man. He awaits the mate of his heart to become happy as his father was." "You speak of love as though it was fate." "For some it is."

"I don't believe there is a single special person on this earth made just for the duke, made just for me. The chances are too great of that female or that male ever coming anywhere near the duke or me."

"Aye, ye'd think that. It only makes sense. The world is a grand place, more people than one can imagine." The old woman smiled at her and nodded. Her eyelids drooped. Evangeline just stood there, staring at the old woman, who looked to be on the verge of falling asleep under her nose.

"I will leave you, Mrs. Needle. Don't get up. Thank you for the tea."

"Think about what I've told ye. Come back."

"I'll come back."

"I'd like to hear tales of this husband ye said ye had. Nay, don't tell me tales now." Mrs. Needle's eyes were very open now, sharp, filled with knowledge. "Ye know, little la.s.sie, loyalties are sometimes dreadful burdens. They tear and rend us, even blind us if we let them."

"That's true, but it hasn't anything to do with me. Good-bye, Mrs. Needle."

As she let herself out of the North Tower room, she heard the old woman's soft snoring. Was she so very obvious that one could just look at her and tell that all was not well? No, surely not. The old woman was a witch, although Evangeline had never before believed in witches.

Dorrie arranged Evangeline's hair in two thick braids, plaiting them together atop her head. She pulled free loose tendrils around her face, several falling down her neck. It was an attractive style on her. She looked at herself in the long mirror, aware that Dorrie was standing behind her, awaiting her reaction. She smiled at her image. The yellow silk gown, highwaisted and cut low over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, fell in soft folds to the floor. Dorrie had removed the adorning flounce, indeed made the gown over, and it now fit her as if it had been made for her.

Both of them knew it was a success. And she needed a success. Mrs. Raleigh had told her just an hour before that the duke was entertaining, and he desired her presence. Evidently, he'd already sent word to Dorrie since the beautiful gown had been ready and waiting for her.

She drew up short as Ba.s.sick moved to open the door to the vast salon. The sound of a girl's sparkling laugh reached her ears nearly at the same moment as she saw the elegant young lady, laughing still, her white hand on the duke's black sleeve. She saw a much older lady, a huge diamond tiara balancing precariously on her iron gray hair, rouge spotting her cheeks red, seated near the fireplace, a gentleman standing on each side of her.

"Madame de la Valette," Ba.s.sick said in his deep voice.

Everyone in the room turned toward her. What the devil had she gotten herself into now? Who were these people? All she'd wanted was to be left alone so she could betray the duke and keep her father safe. She closed her eyes a moment, then opened them wide, smiled, and walked into the drawing room.

The young lady, whose hand was still resting possessively on the duke's arm, looked up and smiled at her. She was a blonde, so fair her hair looked nearly silver in the candlelight. Her eyes were a pale blue, laughing eyes, and Evangeline imagined that a smile was her constant companion.

"Do come in, Madame," the duke said easily, walking toward her. His dark eyes started on her hair, and she saw him nod in approval. She wanted to tell him that she'd even pinched her cheeks to bring color to her face, something she'd never done before in her life, and didn't understand why she'd done it now. He should look at her face, yes, and nod in approval. No, he was looking intently at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, she knew it, and he knew that she knew it. He gave her a wicked grin as he took her hand, raised it to his mouth, and lightly kissed her wrist. "You look beautiful, but of course, you know it."

"Stop looking at my bosom. I have other parts that are just as nice."

"I'm not at all certain that you meant to say that. What parts are just as nice? Are these parts that would enchant me further south? Or perhaps these parts are tucked behind your ears? Later, you will tell me all about these parts. Perhaps I will concur with you, perhaps not. As for your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, it gives me great pleasure. Actually, they give me great pleasure. I wish my grammar to be correct, particularly in a situation as important as this one.

"Ah, Dorrie did a fine job on this gown. Now, before you forbid me to do other equally innocent things, let me introduce you to my great aunt, Lady Eudora Pemberly, and her G.o.ddaughter, Miss Felicia Storleigh. The gentleman with the wild-tossed hair who looks like he's just come in from a high wind, although his aim is to look das.h.i.+ng and romantic, is Lord Pettigrew, Drew Halsey by name. And this is Sir John Edgerton, a dapper gentleman who fancies himself as great an arbitrator of fas.h.i.+on as the departed Brummel. Both gentlemen just arrived from London not above an hour ago. Ladies, gentleman, my cousin, Madame Evangeline de la Valette, recently arrived from Paris."

Evangeline nodded politely to everyone, but it was difficult. She couldn't believe he was here. It was too soon, much too soon. Her heart began to pound, loud slow deep strokes. She felt faintly ill. She stared, frozen in place, at John Edgerton.

Chapter 13.

He looked just the same. Perhaps there was a dash more of gray threaded in the light brown hair at his temples. Naturally, it hadn't been all that long since she'd seen him last. His face was lean, an aesthete's face, her father had once said, the face of a man with too much on his mind and not enough time. And now he was here.

Because she was.

She'd hoped she would have more time. She felt fear flood her, and for a moment she could think of nothing to say. No, she wished she had a gun. She'd shoot the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. The d.a.m.nable, traitorous b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

She'd known he would contact her, oh yes, she'd known, but there'd been no time to prepare herself. She'd been a fool. She'd spent just a few hours with the duke, and she'd forgotten for minutes at a time why she was really here. Now everything was real again, far too real, and she hated it and she hated herself.

"You don't need to introduce me to Evangeline," John Edgerton said in his easy, deep voice, stepping toward her. "I have known Madame de la Valette since she was a little girl with stubby braids, dirt on her nose, and scuffed boots."

He bowed deeply, took her stiff hand in his, and lightly kissed her palm. His lips were dry and cold. But his eyes, when he looked at her, were strangely soft and warm, as if none of this were real, as if he'd been only a man who'd liked the girl, remembered her fondly, as would a kind uncle, nothing more. He said, "It's a pleasure to see old friends, don't you agree, Evangeline? I hope you are well. May I say that you are looking beautiful? You're the image of your dear father, except you have your mother's eyes."

"What is this?" the duke said, frowning from one to the other. Edgerton was still holding her hand. She looked odd, as if she were afraid to move, which was ridiculous. "You know her, John?"

Evangeline pulled her hand from John Edgerton's grip, and her voice, when she finally got the words out, was smooth and calm. "Yes, I know him. It's been a very long time. This is quite a surprise, Sir John. I hadn't expected to see you, particularly this quickly." They were nearly the same height. Her eyes met his, but she saw nothing in his eyes or in his expression except pleasure at seeing her. He was a master of lies, as well he should be, since his entire life was a lie and no one had appeared to have ever noticed. Well, what had she expected? To see the word evil written across his forehead?

"I hope all surprises aren't bad, Evangeline," Sir John said, only this time his eyes, warm and now caressing, strayed to her chest. The duke saw it. He also saw red. He drew back, surprised at himself. Good G.o.d, what was the matter with him? This woman was nothing to him, nothing at all, a relative who wasn't really all that much of a relative at all. Ah, he was feeling protective since he'd recognized her as a relative, since she was now, after all, under his protection. Yes, that was it. It was in his seigneur's blood to feel like he wanted to smash John Edgerton, who'd had the gall to stare at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Sir John said easily, just a touch of humor in his voice, "Ah, I see your cousin hovering, Evangeline. He obviously believes I'm monopolizing you far too early in the evening. Yes, you must make your curtsy to Lady Pemberly. She's a dragon, but her fire won't burn you, just scorch a bit. You and I will speak at greater length after dinner. There is so much you and I have to discuss. So much time has past since we last saw each other, hmm?" He turned to the duke. "I haven't seen Evangeline for nearly two years. I knew her parents."

And Edgerton was seeing too much of her, the duke thought, wanting to strangle his friend, but knowing at the same time that it was absurd. He watched Evangeline turn to make her curtsy to his aunt Eudora. He heard her speaking, her voice too soft, indistinct for him to make out the words. What the devil was the matter with her? He looked back at John Edgerton, but he was now speaking to Drew Halsey, gesticulating with those long, thin hands of his.

"So you are Marissa's first cousin," Lady Pemberly said, looking her up and down. "There's no remarkable resemblance. Your hair is a rather muddy blond whereas Marisa had golden hair. Marissa was too short and you're too tall. There are other differences, naturally."

"Yes, my lady. I'm a big girl, it's been remarked upon before."

"I did the remarking, Aunt Eudora," the duke said, and she jumped, not expecting him to be so close. "I doubt not that you've remarked on too many things, my boy. Now, Madame, your English is more than pa.s.sable. You speak nearly as well as a native. You are to be congratulated on your tutors. With more lessons, a lot of study, you just might become perfectly fluent."

"My mother was English. Actually, I was raised in England, my lady. If you don't mind, I would claim fluency."

"I think she is scorched enough," the duke said. "Come, Aunt Eudora, don't try to run her off when she's only just arrived. Edmund now believes the sun rises on her. Think of my boy's happiness, if you please. Edmund now prefers her to either Rohan Carrington or Phillip Mercerault."

"I had no idea he would shoot the peac.o.c.k, Rex," Evangeline said to Lady Pemberly, and the duke laughed, then told his great aunt all about the gift Evangeline had given to his small son. "Edmund also shot the rope tying his boat to the dock. As you can imagine, he didn't do a great deal of damage." To Evangeline's surprise, Lady Pemberly's painted face was in danger of cracking when she smiled widely, those witch green eyes of hers clearly willing to be amused now. "Well, my girl, if you bring a gun to a child, you must be more English than French. Gentlemen and their guns. One would think they sleep with them beneath their pillows. My father shot more tree stumps than my mother had bouts of the vapors. Yes, you did well. My boy here will teach his boy not to shoot anyone except highwaymen or perhaps the prime minister or the prince regent, both ineffectual b.o.o.bs who undoubtedly deserve it.

"Now, Felicia, come and say pretty things to Madame. The good Lord knows your papa spent a goodly number of groats so that you'd learn how to be a proper lady. You've had more than enough time to practice your seduction skills on the duke. I saw that he wanted to laugh, but he's fond of you and so he didn't. It would seem to me that you enjoyed more success with Drew. He, at least, is still smiling. Come along before one of the gentlemen sends you back to the schoolroom or gives you a kiss behind the potted palm, which they would do only to encourage you in your efforts."

Felicia batted her fair lashes up at Drew Halsey, then toward the duke. "Is it true, your grace? You haven't fallen in love with me? You've just been putting up with me? Oh, goodness, I've tried and tried." Felicia dipped a credible curtsy to Evangeline. "A pleasure, Madame. I hope you will forgive our intrusion, but G.o.dmama insisted that we come to dinner and she insisted that three hours' warning was certainly more than ample. The duke has a splendid cook, so she knew we wouldn't starve. And as Lord Pettigrew and Sir John had just arrived to pay us a visit, she volunteered their escort for the evening. His grace, of course, is in an agony of delight at our presence. He's a.s.sured us that he adores surprises."

Lady Pemberly rolled her eyes. The duke said only, "Just seeing you, Felicia, makes me feel old."

"I was thinking the same thing," Lord Pettigrew said, but the smile he sent Felicia's way wasn't at all that of a disinterested elder.

"Bah," Felicia said. "Both you and the duke are only twenty-seven, an ancient age for a lady-something I've never understood-but for you, gentlemen both, you're considered barely ripened, barely grown out of your greenness, barely ready to please a lady with your newly matured logic and affection and sincerity. At least that's what my mama says."

"Your poor mama could never string that many words together in her life, at least once you were born," Lady Pemberly said.

"Old," the duke said again. "Perhaps a cane is the next step in our decline, Drew. Sherry, John? Evangeline? Anyone?"

After the sherry was poured, Lord Pettigrew said in his deep voice, "John, you scoundrel, you gave no hint that you and Madame were already acquainted."

"As Felicia said, the duke likes surprises," said Lady Pemberly. "You said you knew her parents, John?"

"Yes, my lady. Her father was an excellent scholar and one of the most handsome men I've ever seen in my life. Evangeline is the very image of him. I'm sorry, Evangeline. I heard of his death earlier this year."

Evangeline said nothing, merely nodded toward him. Of course he would know everything to say, know how to keep all of his facts straight.

"When did you last see Evangeline?" the duke asked Edgerton.

"She was all of seventeen years old. And then she married and lost her husband. So much happening in such a short time. Life burdens us, doesn't it?"

She said absolutely nothing at all. She didn't want Edmund's make-believe gun; she wanted one of the duke's. She wanted it loaded, aimed at John Edgerton's head.

John said, "I remember it wasn't the happiest of times. Her mother had died the year before, all the ladies in the neighborhood were after her father, and Evangeline spent most of her time hiding out in the maple forest. I remember that I had to search you out several times when I visited. What did you do there?"

"Nothing much," Evangeline said, really wanting to say that she'd been avoiding him.