Wild Bells to the Wild Sky (30 page)

Lily hesitated. "We will walk down with you," she offered even though she longed to fly down the stairs to reach Valentine's side.

Artemis shook her head, bidding them leave. "I have already greeted him. I will join you later," she explained, turning away and limping to the window as she heard them race down the corridor with little thought of so simple a pleasure.

Lily slowed her pace as she and Dulcie neared the
entrance
to the great hall of Tamesis House, for standing guard just outside the door was the Turk. Lily could feel his
eyes
watching her as she and Dulcie approached, and,
unable
to resist, she glanced upward to meet his gaze. He was always watching her, as if he still thought she was some kind of jinni. Valentine had once remarked that she was the only living being who seemed to make the Turk nervous.

Grinning widely, Dulcie said hello to him as they passed, but Lily remained silent, defiantly returning his baleful stare and biting her tongue to keep from sticking it out at him. She did not think she like the Turk, and she was beginning to suspect he didn't like her either.

"Hey! Wait up, Lily!" Tristram called after them as he hurried to catch up to his sisters, Capabells scampering at his heels. "Caught myself a salmon in the river, Lily!" he announced, although unnecessarily, for he held proof of his claim before him; a huge fish. "I showed it to the cook. She was surprised that I could catch anything. Wonder how she thinks we ate all of these years? She said we'd have it for dinner tonight," he told them proudly, pleased that he'd not lost his prowess as a provider since leaving the island. "I wanted to show it to Valentine first, though. They told me he was back."
As he passed by the still silent Turk, he pretended to pull a sword from his hip and flourish it in mock challenge before the man. "Bet you could skewer a dozen of these with one sweep of that curved sword of yours, Mustafa," Tristram said admiringly. And Lily, watching curiously, would have sworn she was a gleam of amusement enter the Turk's black eyes.

"I hope your shoes aren't muddied," Dulcie said, eyeing her brother up and down critically. "You smell fishy, Tristram."

"And you look fishy," Tristram retorted, blowing out his cheeks and opening and closing his mouth like a fish.

"I do not! Aunt Artemis says I'm as pretty as a princess!" Dulcie said, her shrill squeal of indignation having its usual effect on Cappie, who started squealing in response as he hopped into Lily's arms to avoid Tristram and Dulcie as they raced around Lily, Tristram trying to smack Dulcie with the salmon.

Still engaged in their boisterous antics when they entered the great hall, Lily was the first to see Valentine Whitelaw. She stopped just inside the door, suddenly unable to move her feet. Dulcie and Tristram, their voices rising louder as they began to lose their tempers after each had traded a pinch or two, bumped into Lily and were suddenly stilled as they followed her gaze.

Valentine Whitelaw was standing near the great hearth, but he was not alone. Around him was a group of people, and with the exception of Quinta Whitelaw and Thomas Sandrick, they were all strangers. And they were all staring in amazement at the three children who had entered the room in so rowdy a manner.

Lady Elspeth Davies stared in fascination at the three children standing just inside the doorway as if ready to bolt. Although Valentine had prepared her for an encounter with three rather
precocious
children, she had not been prepared for the high-spirited trio that stood before her now.

The tallest of the three she had met before. She recognized the dark red hair, so identical to Magdalena's, and pale green eyes, so wide and curious, that had been inherited from Geoffrey Christian. This young girl could be none other than their daughter, Lily. She was at that awkward age, not quite a woman, yet no longer a child. Dressed in an unattractive pink gown, her hair disheveled, she had yet to mature into the beautiful woman Elspeth knew Lily would one day become. But for now Lily Christian stood uncomfortably before them, unsure of herself as she fidgeted nervously. Elspeth thought sadly of the years that had changed the laughing child she remembered so well into this suspicious young girl.

The boy holding the fish before him like a shield she had never met before. He had also inherited Magdalena's unusual hair color, but the eyes....yes, they were like his Spanish mother's. Valentine had told them that the boy, called Tristram, was Geoffrey's son, and, although he bore no physical resemblance to Geoffrey Christian, she had no reason to doubt the claim.

Elspeth felt her heart miss a beat when, at last, she allowed herself to look at the youngest of the children. Dulcie Rosalinda. Elspeth knew she had tears in her eyes. This was Basil's daughter, this beautiful little girl with his black hair and eyes. Elspeth glanced toward her son, Basil's son, and could see the similarity between brother and sister.

Simon had been told the truth. His dark eyes had traveled quickly over the three. He had stared in curiosity at the girl who was about his own age and who was holding a chattering monkey in her arms. He had looked on in admiration as he'd taken the measure of the boy who'd caught the big salmon, but an unfathomable expression had entered his eyes when he'd stared at the little girl with hair and eyes of the same blackness as his own.

Sir William Davies stood off to the side, his son and daughter each holding one of his hands as they hid behind him and shyly peeked out at the three strange children. What he was feeling he kept to himself, for although saddened by the situation, he must have felt a certain amount of relief when told that Basil would not be returning to England.

"Are you satisfied, Valentine?" Quinta Whitelaw demanded with a laugh. "I told you the children would fare well enough while you were away. You have worried needlessly. As you can see, they have lost none of their exuberance. I, however, cannot claim to have been so fortunate, for I have lost my best hat to that monkey. I followed my hat's trail, piece by piece, throughout the house," Quinta said. "Come, my dears, and let me properly introduce you. I am afraid your entrance has confirmed the worst."

"I fear I shall be held accountable for all misfortune that befalls good folk in future. From hens not laying to sour milk, all mischief will be blamed on my small castaways if I set them loose in London," Valentine said, holding out his arms as Dulcie raced into them.

Lifting her high, he kissed her, laughing with pleasure as she hugged him tight, whispering in his ear that she loved him. Lily remained where she was,
gazing
on enviously.

"Captain, look what I caught!" Tristram said, holding out his aromatic catch and waving it wildly, which caused Thomas Sandrick to hold a scented handkerchief to his nose.

"A splendid catch, Tristram."

"I caught it for our dinner tonight," Tristram said, swinging the salmon closer to Thomas Sandrick as he graciously offered it to his green-hued host.

"That is very generous of you, Tristram. Why don't I have it taken to the kitchens, where it can be prepared," Thomas Sandrick said with a sickly grin as he took a step back. But before he could summon a footman, his attention was caught by a movement beyond the windows overlooking the river and he excused himself.

"Lily," Valentine said, holding out his hand to draw her near his side, "this is Lady Elspeth."

"Lady Elspeth," Lily replied, curtsying respectfully before her.

Lady Elspeth smiled down at Lily. "I do not imagine that you remember me at all, but I have very fond memories of you, and of your mother and father. You and your mother often stayed at Whiteswood when your father was away on one of his voyages. Valentine has told me all about you and what your life was like on the island. I think Basil must have loved you and Tristram, and Dulcie, very much," Lady Elspeth told her, thinking of the many stories Valentine had related to her about the children.

"We loved him very much, my lady."

"Yes, I know, my child," Elspeth said, the cross the children had made for Basil, which Valentine had described for her in such detail, still vivid in her mind. "Later, will you share with me some of your memories of Basil, and your mother, and what your days were like on the island?" Elspeth asked softly, exchanging a glance with Sir William, knowing he would understand her request.

Basil was dead. Although they both had believed that to be true for the past seven years, the last few months, since learning that Basil might still be alive, had been the most difficult of Elspeth's life. Whether he had been found alive or indeed had been dead these many years, Basil had been there between them at Whiteswood. Now that the truth was known, and she was secure in her love for William, Elspeth wanted to hear about Basil. She believed she could accept the love he must have felt for Magdalena. When Valentine had told her about Basil's life on the island, she had at first felt anger and a jealousy of Magdalena. She had even felt betrayed. But as she had listened to the story unfolding, she had come to understand how Magdalena and Basil would have sought comfort from each other, much the same way she had sought comfort from William. And she knew how that comfort would have gradually become love. Because she had loved Basil, she was not resentful that he might have found happiness on that island.

Lily nodded her acquiescence to Lady Elspeth's request, but the smile that had started to curve her lips faded when she saw Sir Rodger and Honoria Penmorley, accompanied by several people,
entering
the hall from the river steps.

Honoria,
looking lovelier and haughtier than ever, and apparently well recovered from her seasickness, was being escorted by a gentleman who could not claim to be much taller than she, and
whose
grinning visage and casual utterances seemed to be causing her more irritation than amusement. For as soon as was politely possible, she removed herself from his proximity with a fastidious and elegant sweeping aside of her skirts and turned her attention to Thomas Sandrick, who had hurried to welcome his guests to Tamesis House and was now standing in conversation with Sir Rodger.

George Hargraves bowed deeply to Honoria Penmorley's retreating, stiff-backed figure, a look of mock despair on his face until he spied Valentine Whitelaw. With his usual irreverent expression back in place, he came sauntering over.

" 'Sdeath, if it isn't Cap'n Rogue back from his travels," he declared. "And about time, too. Ever since Valchamps was knighted he has been lording it over everybody at court. Now that another of Elizabeth's fair-haired ones has returned, I look forward to seeing him cut down to my size," George stated as he gazed at his friend from head to toe, a suffering look entering his eye as he took Valentine's height. "Pity Elizabeth's hand didn't slip when she was knighting Valchamps," George speculated. "Have you heard about it?"

"I heard."

"Thought you'd heard wrong, too, I'll wager," George said with a disbelieving shake of his head, still confounded by the affair. "A fool's luck, I say. If Valchamps hadn't happened to have been out riding with Her Majesty that day, and managed to outmaneuver me so he could be beside her, then I might be 'Sir' George Hargraves right now instead of just plain ol' George Hargraves who lost his seat and landed in the mud when Her Majesty's horse bolted. Valchamps went riding to the rescue and kept Elizabeth's horse from racing under the trees. Elizabeth could have been killed, Valentine," George said, still upset by the incident. "Missed my chance to play the hero," he grumbled, still humiliated by his unheroic participation in the affair.

"But Valchamps did not."

"Indeed he didn't. Even managed to hurt himself while trying to protect her. So grateful was Her Majesty, that she knighted him for risking his life for her," George said in exasperation. Becoming aware of the young girl Valentine still held in his arms, he added in a different tone of voice, "I've heard about your voyage, and I am sincerely sorry, Valentine."

"I am too, George," Valentine said as he set Dulcie down. "This is Basil's daughter, Dulcie."

"Hello, Dulcie. You certainly are the pretty one, and just about my size," George said, unable to resist poking fun at himself as he made on of his comical faces.

"Hello, George. This is Cappie, and he can make funny faces, too. Of course, he is a monkey," Dulcie responded to George's delighted amazement.

"Well, at least she did not say 'he is a monkey, too' " George said with a loud guffaw.

"I don't believe you've met Lily Christian?"

"Lily, the fairest flower to find," George complimented Lily, for a brief moment no longer playing the court jester, but his seriousness only lasted an instant.

Suddenly George Hargraves was frowning, his nostrils flaring slighty as he glanced around. "Hmm, for a moment there I thought Raymond Valchamps must be nearby, but I perceive I was mistaken. 'Tis a freshly caught salmon the young man is holding so close beneath my sleeve," he said, eyeing a giggling Tristram with an amused gleam in his eye.

"Faith, Valentine," George said loud enough for his approaching host to overhear, "if I'd known Thomas expected us to provide our own fare, I'd have bagged a couple of pheasant on my way here. Or at least I would have stopped by Billingsgate and bought a barrel of oysters."

Thomas Sandrick frowned. Then catching another whiff of Tristram's salmon, he beckoned to a footman, who promptly relieved Tristram of his catch. But Tristram hardly noticed. He was too busy watching George Hargraves, who was now frantically checking his doublet for stray oysters, much to the delight of the children now gathered around him.