Shades of the Past (25 page)

The constable nodded as if to concur.  "True.  A guilty man would not be expected to reveal his crime.  It would lend an aura of innocence, if he did—and did it cleverly enough.  You will find, your lordship, I am not easily misled.  I intend to sift the finest details of this investigation.  We are not done yet, I promise you.  Hopefully, you brought extra trunks with you this time and intended to remain a while longer at your estate.  It would be unwise to leave Herefordshire just yet."

With a curt bow, Constable Grealey turned and quit the room.  Adrian ground his back teeth as he watched the stocky little man depart, then turned his gaze to Lawrence. 

He expelled a long breath.  "I don't know whether to thank you, brother, or challenge your account as the constable did."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Lawrence retorted, obviously stung.

"I know where Olivia died, at least I believe I do.  Unfortunately, it complicates your account even further."

"Have you been consulting tea leaves or crystal balls?" Lawrence scoffed, his tone incredulous.  "First—despite Sherringham's extensive grounds, buildings, and follies—you go directly to the place she's entombed and rip open the wall.  Now, you tell me you are able to reveal where she died?  Perhaps, you have reason to know firsthand after all."

"Or proof."

Lawrence snorted.  "What proof could you possibly have?"

At that moment, Vanessa appeared at the door, a thin stack of photos in her hand.  She gave him a nod, confirming their suspicions, then withdrew. 

Adrian returned his attention to Lawrence.  "You shall see for yourself in a moment, brother, when we join the others in the Saloon.  But I will give you this much.  Olivia died in the tower study, near the time of the accident, I assume."

"What?" Lawrence choked out.  "How?" 

"She fell down the spiral stairs—accidentally or otherwise—breaking her neck."

"My God, you think I did it?"

"I am accusing you of nothing, but by your own admittance you were in the study that night."

"
Late
that night.  I didn't arrive there until well after you departed Sherringham.  I went looking for you to play billiards, which is how I came to learn you'd rode back to London.  In the end, I took on old Jennings, the gameskeeper.  If he were still alive, he could vouch for the hours we played at billiards.  In any case, Olivia wasn't in the study when I arrived there, nor was her body lingering upon the stairs.  I didn't return to the study after I witnessed the accident from the window and fled to the scene.  Or have you forgotten my own efforts to save your wife that night?"

Lawrence held up his hand.

Adrian winced at the sight of the ugly, patterned scar branded into his brother's palm and felt instantly repentant.  He thrust a hand through his hair.

"Forgive me.  After last night, I guess I've been grasping at everything and anything to reconstruct the events that led to Olivia's death.  Just when I thought I was free of the past, it has come back full blown to haunt me."

"
Haunt
you?"

Adrian met Lawrence's gaze directly.  "Come, let's join the others, and I'll explain everything.  There's far more happening around this grand old pile than you can possibly imagine."

»«

Vanessa rested her head against Adrian's bare shoulder as she gazed out the bedroom window at the stars, contemplating the last hours. 

After the Constable’s departure, Adrian closeted himself with his brother, sisters, and in-laws in the Grand Saloon.  Vanessa joined them as well, the topic of the late viscountess consuming the entirety of their time and energies.

Vanessa recalled the pained look reflected in Adrian's eyes, the protective walls rising about him, as he vowed his innocence in his wife's death once more.  She interpreted his look as one of concern that, with the discovery of Olivia's body and the host of questions and suspicions it raised, his family might believe him guilty in the matter after all.  But, by their warm and supportive response, Vanessa knew his concerns to be unfounded.  Inwardly, she smiled and wept for joy all at once.

Together, Vanessa and Adrian then disclosed the extraordinary, otherworldly events which had been transpiring at Sherringham.  

The family's reactions were strong, though predictably mixed.  While Lawrence, Majel, and Cissy found the tales of supernatural happenings amazing, they did not doubt their occurrence.  Nigel and Henry proved less accepting—until they viewed the newest spirit photographs for themselves.  Their disbelief turned quickly to worry that Olivia's disembodied presence might yet bide in or about the manse.

After additional hours of discussion, the family agreed with Adrian's position—under no circumstance should the photographs be revealed to Constable Grealey.  Lawrence made the particular observation that since Adrian and Olivia were known to have argued in the west wing near the tower itself, the pictures of Olivia's lifeless, if somewhat transparent, body on the staircase would be much too damning if exposed.

After the family dispersed, Vanessa and Adrian had walked for a time in the darkening gardens.  The day's tensions still held him in their grip, the old wounds ripped open afresh while multitudes of new questions continued to devour his thoughts. 

Many of these, Adrian voiced aloud.  Why had the Abbey Ruin been considered too dangerous to go near these past years, and when were its walls last known to have been mended?  What drew Olivia to the tower study after he'd departed that night, and what was the truth of her death?  Above all, who had entombed her body in the wall?

Much later still, wishing to abandon the topic altogether, they took a light supper in a small, private dining room. When Adrian's mood remained heavy, Vanessa gently pressed him, sensing there was something more that remained unsaid.  Something that gnawed at him deep inside.

Adrian closed his eyes and fell silent a moment as he struggled with whether or not to give it voice.  She gazed on the long sweep of black lashes shadowing his cheeks, and the muscle that jumped fitfully in his wonderfully square jaw.  Another moment passed before he reopened his dark eyes and settled them upon her.  It was then she'd beheld the pain piercing their depths.  Her heart thudded solidly against her ribs as she realized his fear—that she believed him a killer after all. 

Vanessa rose instantly from her chair and went to his side.  Lacing her arms about his neck, she smiled softly into his eyes.

"Do not ever doubt my love, dearest.  Not ever.  My heart harbors no uncertainties of you, but only the greatest admiration and passion."

Her smile spread as the look of pain disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a kindling fire.  She bent toward him, her mouth caressing his, then parting, inviting his entrance, teasing him to do so with the tip of her tongue.  Adrian drew her down onto his lap and complied fully, invading and coupling his tongue with hers in a quickening dance. 

Their breathing grew rapid, their needs heightening, as their kiss continued.  Adrian encircled her within his strong embrace, his lips leaving hers to move hotly downward.  Vanessa sank her fingers into his dense hair as he spread kisses along her collar bone then to the swell of her breasts, where they rose above her gown.

Somewhere between their ensuing heady kisses and eager, searching hands, they’d made their way to Adrian’s bedchamber which lay unexpectedly near.  She vaguely remembered reaching it by way of a servants’ passage which proved blessedly quick and direct—as well as deserted.

Entering, they hurriedly rid themselves of their encumbering clothes, leaving an unsubtle trail from the door to the wide, canopied bed.  There, wrapped in Adrian’s love, Vanessa withheld nothing from him, nor did he from her.  Together their bodies and hearts fused as one, burning to cinders in passion’s fire.

Now, having awakened to the early morning light, pleasantly fatigued but wondrously sated, Vanessa gazed upon Adrian’s fine profile.  She knew she should leave and slip away to her own chamber, yet she could not bring herself to leave him just yet.

Leaning forward, she placed a light kiss on Adrian’s cheek.  He stirred, then opened one eye.  A grin broke over his face and he opened the other.  “Ah, love, tell me this is no dream.  I should never tire of wakening to find you smiling upon me as you do just now.”

Rolling her beneath him, he began spreading kisses over her face and neck. 

"Marry me, Vanessa.  Marry me today so I’ll not wake alone without you ever again.”  He lavished more kisses to the base of her throat and between her breasts.  "Say you will consent to be mine.  Let me cherish you to the end of my days”

Vanessa whole being cried "yes" to his proposal, her heart loudest of all.  But her head warned it could not be.

Adrian's hands framed her hips as he trailed kisses over her waist and abdomen.

"Say you will be my wife, darling, or I shall be forced to torment you to a fine madness until you agree."

When Vanessa did not immediately reply, Adrian paused.  "Forgive me, my love.  I am rushing you.  As a bride you will wish to choose a date and arrange for your gown.  Do not keep me waiting long.  We could marry in a small, private ceremony, then repeat our vows later in a much larger one—as grand as you desire."

Vanessa felt her heart crack as she lay surrounded by the great love of this man, knowing she must deny him—deny them both—their most cherished desire.

"Adrian, I can't—”

"When we are past the present madness, then," he cut short her words, undeterred to set a wedding date.  "After the official paperwork is finalized with the constable's office—"

"No, Adrian, you don't understand.  I cannot marry you.  Ever."

Adrian went cold in her arms.  A storm gathered in his face as he lifted himself up and stared at her.

"Can't, or won't?  Do you fear I am guilty after all?  Or just cursed with the touch of death for any woman who bears my name?"

Thrusting upright, Adrian moved to abandon the bed, but Vanessa quickly reached out and seized his arm with both her hands, staying him.

"No, it's not you, Adrian, or your name."

He swung back toward her, his brows colliding together.  "What then?  You refuse to marry me ‘
ever’
?  For what possible reason, if not because of me?"

"I am barren, Adrian," she blurted, hot tears welling in her eyes.  "I can give you no heirs."

Adrian froze, excepting for his jaw which dropped open several inches, surprise registering in his eyes.

Vanessa swiped at her tears as they began spilling in earnest over her cheeks. 

"At least, I think I am.  My marriage was brief, but still long enough that I should have conceived.  Yet I did not."  She reached toward him and touched Adrian's face with her hand.  "Do you not see?  I cannot marry you—not because I don't love you most desperately, but because as Viscount Marrable you must have heirs—heirs I cannot give you, though with all my heart I wish I could." 

She looked aside, palming away the wetness from her cheek, utterly miserable. 

"The truth is, I am inadequate to be your viscountess."

For a moment, Adrian sat utterly wordless, looking at her as if dumbfounded.  His brows drew together once more and he almost appeared angry again.  But in the next instant, he drew her into his arms and hugged her close. 

"My God, what a selfish boor I am, thinking only of myself and my own wounded pride.  But, darling, even if what you say is true, do you really think I would cast you aside because of it?  You are my heart, Vanessa.  My lifeblood.  I will take no other to wife save you."

"But your heir . . ."

Adrian pressed a kiss to her brow as he eased her back onto the mattress.  "There are other Marrable males to carry on the family name and titles." 

He kissed her lids, one by one, causing her to close her eyes. 

"Sherringham will continue on, long after I am gone—whether through a son, or a brother, or a nephew . . ." 

He brushed his lips over hers then smiled on her in earnest. 

"Do you not understand, dearest?  True, it would make me the happiest of men to fill the entire manse with our babes—provided the effort brought you no harm, that is.  But I have no wish to live the remainder of my days without you."

He thumbed away a tear from her cheek.

"Perhaps, it is fated I shall have no heir.  That I am willing to accept.  And if it is to be so, my only real concern will be to arrange provisions for you in the event of my demise.  That and no more.  As a man wealth in my own right, I do not consider that an issue."

Vanessa's throat clogged with emotions.  How had she won the heart of such a man, willing to sacrifice so much for her, to risk never having a child of his own?  But that was just it—his
heart
led him now.  A heart long chained with pain but now pulsing with life and love.

Gazing on him, seeing the consuming look in his eyes, she did not doubt his love one moment.  Nor could she deny him hers.  Yet in time to come, she feared Adrian would sorely regret his choice—a choice that left him without a direct heir.

A jarring realization struck her.  Should anything happen to Adrian, Lawrence would be the one to assume his place.  Her stomach twisted at that thought.  Truly, Adrian
must
have an heir, for the future sake of the House of Marrable.