Silver Sea (23 page)

"You've sent for her?"

"Yes. God, Adrienne, you're so pale. Every time I look at you, I am so sorry." He shook his head, searching for words.

Taking a chair near the window, across from his perch on a high trunk, Adrienne sighed. "There's no point in dwelling on it, is there? None of us can change what happened. I am telling myself that I must be grateful I'm alive and Walter is dead. I'm safe now, and shall remain so."

"Thanks to dear Hunty," he muttered in acid tones.

"Yes, that's right!" At last Adrienne found a reason to raise her voice. "I owe him my life, whether you like it or not, and I cannot allow you to castigate him in my presence any longer. I will not tolerate any more of your mean remarks."

"You... won't...
tolerate?"
His voice dripped disbelief. "What the deuce has he done to you? Cast a spell?"

"How many times do I have to remind you that Huntsford saved my life? That would be reason enough to feel loyal toward him, but I must add, in all honesty, that we have been forming a friendship for some time. Once I had an opportunity to know him, away from his frivolous friends and
you,
sir, I discovered that he is a nice person. And he treats me like a precious jewel."

"Oh, for God's sake, don't tell me that you've fallen for a lot of flattery! I would have thought that a woman so clearly beautiful and intelligent as you are wouldn't need to be fawned over."

"There, you see? You have a streak of unkindness in you, Mr. Essex." Adrienne turned to stare out the window, her eyes sad. "All women need to receive kind words and compliments. I begin to think that you were right about... the other night. The situation between us has resolved itself for the best."

Nathan seemed to be running into a wall at every conversational turn. Perhaps it was time for simple honesty. He took a step toward her and dropped to one knee. "Adrienne, I'm sorry."

"That's good, but I'd really rather that you just leave me in peace. In fact, now that Walter is dead, you can go back to London—or wherever you come from...."

"You don't mean that." He took her hands in his and tried to capture her eyes as well. "Look at me. Please. I'm sorry if I've been too hard on your... friend Huntsford. Perhaps I'm jealous—"

"I wish you would just let it go and be glad that I'm no longer in danger." Adrienne tried to keep her hands from shaking, and her cheeks from turning pink. "Oh, Nathan, why must you make everything so difficult?"

"Because that's what life is with you, my dear. Don't you know that yet?"

She couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Well, maybe I've grown up a bit in the last day. If you are going to stay here, you'll have to make peace with Huntsford. However... you still haven't given me a reason why I need your protection."

"The reason is that I am not satisfied that you are out of danger."

"What on earth does that mean?"

"Did you hear any of the questions I asked Huntsford last night? Much of what happened is quite murky, to put it kindly—"

"Walter Frakes-Hogg was a murky person! What else could you mean?"

As Nathan rose to his feet, he considered his next words carefully. "I am in complete agreement with you about Frakes-Hogg. He was an evil man. However, I don't understand how he gained access to the house and found his way to your room. Furthermore, why was Huntsford Harms passing down our corridor at an hour when he knew that all of us were asleep? I can't recall seeing him in this part of the house once before, but he was here twice last night."

"What difference does any of this make? Why should I care what he was doing there, as long as his presence guaranteed my rescue?"

"Didn't the explanation he gave for having the dagger ring a bit... false?"

Mounting confusion wore down Adrienne's nerves. "Where is Hortie? I don't understand why this should take so long! Perhaps she's waiting for me to come after my own bath." Adrienne jumped to her feet and tried to pass by Nathan, but he caught her wrist. Their bodies were mere inches apart as she demanded, "Why are you saying those things? I don't understand. If you have any regard for me at all, you would try to soothe me this morning, not increase my torment!"

Something seemed to give way inside of Nathan. Admitting that he cared felt rather like weakness, but her pain pushed him beyond that. "This may be hard to understand, but I'm saying these things because I am... fond of you—"

"Oh! You have a very odd way of showing it!" Still, it was wrenching to recognize the openness in his eyes and to feel her own heart leap in response. His fingers were warm against her wrist. "Look—Nathan, I simply—"

"Miss Beau? So, here you me, you minx!" It was Lady Thomasina, swathed in old velvets and brocaded silks.

Adrienne quickly backed away from Nathan, and he released her arm. "Your ladyship! I hope you don't mind that I claimed this room for myself. Nathan said it seemed to be unused."

"Mind? Nonsense." All benevolence, the old woman entered, panting a bit. "I am rather surprised to find you here alone with Miss Beau, Nathan dear. I'm not certain that it is entirely seemly, in view of all that's happened. However," she pressed on, waving off his protests, "be that as it may, I have come to give you important news. I was so distraught last night after seeing that gruesome corpse that I didn't speak up when Nathan quizzed poor Hunty about his movements leading up to the heroic rescue of Miss Beau."

Thoroughly suspicious, Nathan waited. "And what was it you 'forgot' to tell me?"

"Why, that Hunty was with me, of course! He had come to my rooms for a sweet mother-son chat, and he had just bade me good night when he passed Miss Beau's room." She met his eyes. "It was just as he said."

Adrienne was flooded with relief. "There, you see?" She whirled on Nathan. "Are you satisfied?"

"For the moment, perhaps." It was pointless for him to argue. The only chance he had to sway Adrienne would be the existence of proof that Huntsford Harms was not all he appeared to be. "I imagine that the constable will be arriving at any moment. I believe I'll go downstairs and wait for him."

"Look for Hortie, will you?" Even as Adrienne spoke, the peevish abigail came through the doorway carrying a hipbath. She was trailed by footmen with containers of hot water. "At last! I have been yearning for a bath ever since..." Her voice trailed off.

Seeing the flashes of pain in her eyes, Nathan wavered. Before he could reach her, however, the already crowded room had another visitor. Huntsford Harms squeezed past his mother and went straight to Adrienne.

"My dear, I have been so worried about you." He had toned down his garb, leaving out the elaborate cravat, the fobs and seals at his waist, the chin-scraping shirtpoints, and the polished Hessians. Instead, Harms wore simple riding clothes and his hair was brushed casually. "How are you feeling this morning? Are you bearing up?"

Lady Thomasina joined the pair, and she and her son exuded caring concern toward Adrienne. Watching them, Nathan burned with renewed frustration as he realized that there was no easy solution.

But he couldn't give up either—for more reasons than he could admit, even to himself. "Adrienne?" He looked forbidding as he spoke her name from the doorway. "I'm going down to wait for the constable."

Huntsford interjected, "No need for that, old chap. I knew that it would be difficult for Adrienne to speak about last night, so I went down early and met the constable when he arrived. He understands that our situation was unique, and the outcome was unavoidable."

Stunned, Nathan said, "Harms, you knew that I wanted to speak to the constable. You had no right to interfere."

"Once again we differ in our important choices. You insist upon searching for crimes where there are none. I, on the other hand, am concerned only for the welfare of this fair flower. As long as you harp on this subject, her torment will continue." He warmed to his speech and pointed an accusing finger. "I insist that you stop inflicting pain upon dear Adrienne!"

Nathan took a step toward Huntsford, eyes glittering with rage. "You are nothing but a self-serving, devious—"

"No!" Adrienne stepped between them. Tears filled her voice and spilled onto her cheeks. "Nathan, just go away! I don't need or want you near me!"

Chapter 13

"I wonder if that fellow is not unbalanced," Huntsford Harms remarked, poking his head around the doorframe to make certain Nathan was not in the corridor. "I mean, really!" He grimaced at the two women and rolled his eyes. "Can you believe that anyone could behave so abominably?"

"I—I think he means well—about me, that is," Adrienne said.

"You are too trusting, my dear. What do you really know about him, after all? Your father could have hired him in desperation, and we might be harboring the worst sort of criminal in our midst!"

"Gadzooks!" Lady Thomasina tottered over to the narrow bed and collapsed. "Hunty may be right! Nathan's charm may have been a ruse to win our trust!"

"I just don't think so." Adrienne shook her head stubbornly.

"Well, my fair flower, it might be worthwhile to take a grain of doubt to your future dealings with Essex. It occurs to one that he might be slandering me in order to deflect attention from
himself...."

Adrienne stared at him in horror, unable to speak.

"Darling Hunty!" His mother opened her fan and swung it to and fro until her cloying scent filled the room. "Could it be?"

He shrugged. "Just a thought. I mean, mightn't Essex have been the person helping Frakes-Hogg bind you, Adrienne? Oh, dear, I've upset you. How thoughtless of me! Do, please, forget everything I've said. I promise never to mention it again, as long as he does as you've ordered and will pose no further threat."

"As—I've ordered?" she repeated in confusion.

"Why, yes. You told him to go away, didn't you? I suppose I assumed he'd be leaving in any event, since Frakes-Hogg is dead and you don't need to be protected any longer."

"Oh. Yes." Adrienne was dazed. "I must ask you both to leave now, before my bath is cold. Thank you again for your many kindnesses, my lady." Nodding toward Huntsford, she felt her cheeks warm. "And thank you, too."

He seized the moment and bent to kiss her hand. "It has been an honor, my dear."

With that, Lady Thomasina let her son help her to her feet, and she leaned on him as they left Adrienne's bedchamber. Hortie, who had been pouring the bath, testing the water, and adding a bit of rose-scented oil, joined them. She wiped her hands on her apron and looked back before closing the door.

"I expect that's what you need, hmm?" For once, Hortie spoke with a hint of kindness and perhaps even sympathy.

Adrienne gave her a wry smile. "I wish that soap and hot water were enough to wash away all my troubles and confusion."

She seemed on the verge of saying more, but the Harmses were waiting. Once all three were on their way down the corridor, Hortie went ahead, and Lady Thomasina and her son lagged behind, whispering.

"That was a stroke of genius, darling boy!"

"Casting doubt on Essex, you mean?" He looked smug. "I thought so too, Mummy."

"I have another idea to draw dear Miss Beau farther into our fold, and I'll put it into practice shortly." Lady Thomasina watched until she saw Hortie turn down the servants' stairs. "I don't think we can afford to dawdle, you know. Miss Beau is feeling weak and confused right now, and Nathan is definitely out of favor. The tide could turn in his direction at any time."

"If only I could think of a way to get rid of him!" Huntsford complained.

"Well, darling, you never know. Now that you've sharpened the point of Miss Beau's insistence that he leave, I daresay he may not have a choice."

"If he has half a brain, the big oaf will realize that he's fighting a losing battle and, furthermore, that he's simply not wanted!"

"Just so. Come in and have tea and scones with me, and we'll firm up our plans."

Lady Thomasina started through the doorway to her sitting room, while her son hesitated, loath to endure any more of her company that morning. Since Lady Clair had been threatening to go off to Brighton if he didn't give her more amorous attentions, Huntsford wanted to squeeze an interlude in her bed into his morning's schedule. "Mummy, would you mind terribly if—"

She looked back with a piercing glare. "I suggest that you remember what is important. I am not a person you can treat with frivolous disregard, Hunty."

For years she had been conniving to bind her adult son to her. Now that fate had delivered a way, Lady Thomasina could not afford to take chances by loosening the ties. She went into her sitting room and he followed.

* * *

For the first time in his life, Nathan Raveneau had problems he couldn't solve. He didn't know what to do with Adrienne or the scheming Harmses, and he wished that Nicholai Beauvisage lived near enough so that Nathan could just take her home to the safety of her own family.

Of course, then he wouldn't be able to see her any more. And, since Adrienne was not yet twenty-one, he wouldn't get the land on Barbados if he took her home now.