A Cantata of Love (The Code Breakers 4) (7 page)

“I meant… This is so embarrassing. There is no easy way to say this… You’re going to be an uncle.”

“Uncle?” Michael grabbed Hen’s hands and pulled her off the bench into a tight embrace. Swinging her around in a wide circle, he laughed aloud. “Hen, you know how to level a chap. I’m just getting used to the idea that my baby sister is a married woman.” He spun her in another circle. “But a mother…”

Hen laughed gleefully. “Honestly, I can’t believe it myself.”

He put her down and held her at arm’s length to examine her face. “I’m thrilled for you. You deserve all the happiness, even with the dark-haired ogre. But why did you marry so quickly?”

Hen batted at his arms. “He’s really not an ogre. Cord refused to wait. And with the end of the peace treaty, we both felt with uncertain times we wanted to be married. He is a gentle and devoted husband, and if you give him a chance, you’ll like him.”

“He’s growing on me.”

“Fine praise, I’m sure.”

“But I always thought you’d marry a fellow linguist.”

“I thought so too. But the ways of the heart aren’t exactly logical, as you’ll soon learn.” Hen sat down and placed her hand on her stomach in a telling way.

“I didn’t spin you too much?”

“No, I’m finally over those symptoms. But these days I need a nap every day.”

“Of course, you must rest. But you’re in good health? Your doctor allows you to garden?”

“Oh, not you too. Cord is driving me insane with his worries. You have to promise me you won’t start treating me as an invalid.”

Michael took his sister’s hand into his. “Grant me permission to worry about you. I promise to keep my thoughts to myself.”

Hen squeezed his hand and giggled. “You silent? That will be a first.”

“You should be resting, not taking care of Edward and Uncle Charles. Maybe they should come home with me now.”

Henrietta rolled her eyes to the sky. “We’re managing fine. Brompton looks after Uncle Charles, Mr. Marlow is still Edward’s tutor, and Cord is good with both of them.”

Michael had witnessed Rathbourne’s obvious concern for his sister, brother, and Uncle Charles at dinner last night. “He is very patient with Uncle Charles and Edward.”

“I wouldn’t marry him unless he accepted my entire family.” Hen tucked her fly-away hair behind her ear. “I know this has been a shock for you. I’m sorry I didn’t wait for your return, but I didn’t know when you would come home and I couldn’t expect Uncle Charles and Edward to live in Kendal house without me.”

Michael had not yet adjusted to all the changes. His thoughts in turmoil, he couldn’t sit still. He did some of his best thinking when he paced. He jumped off the bench and went into motion.

“It wasn’t the homecoming I had expected.” Michael didn’t mention his hurt feelings. “During my sleepless night, I realized how poorly I behaved last night. I knew at some point you would marry and leave Kendal House and that Uncle Charles and Edward would need to move with you. And even though Rathbourne does seem a bit peeved about the code book, I’m sure we’ll bump along fine.”

“But you know no one will ever replace you in all our affections?”

“Not yours, I hope,” he teased.

Henrietta’s face flushed a deeper pink. “There are different affections for those we love.”

This must be the effects of her pregnancy. Hen wasn’t the sort who blushed.

“It is obvious that the stick-in-the-mud makes you very happy. And I saw at dinner how protective he is of you and the Harcourt family.”

“When I finally got word that you were…” Hen brushed away her tears. “Since my pregnancy, I cry all the time.” She gulped. “When I learned you were on your way home, I planned that Uncle Charles, Edward, and I, with the Bromptons, would greet you at Kendal House and have a big dinner party to celebrate your return. But you didn’t tell us of your arrival. I hate that there was no family to greet you.”

“It is totally my fault. I wanted to surprise you. And see the shock on your and Mrs. Brompton’s faces.”

Hen’s eyes again filled with tears. “Can you forgive me for all the changes?”

Hen didn’t need to ask his forgiveness for marrying Rathbourne. It was evident that his sister was deeply in love with her husband.

“I also planned that you would come and work with us each morning like we did at Kendal House. I could use the help, since the load has gotten pretty heavy, thanks to the end of the peace treaty. And, in that way, you’d be part of our daily lives. You’d still have your gentleman’s life in the evenings.”

He looked forward to the hours discussing the codes, Greek particles, and all the linguistic intricacies with his family.

“But will Rathbourne approve of me in his daily life?”

“With the war escalating, Cord is at Upchurch offices a great deal of the time. It will almost be like old times, except a different library.”

“You’ll have to catch me up on the work. With my gunshot wound and then fever, I’ve been out of the game a long time.”

“I’m glad you had Mademoiselle Gabrielle to tend to you. When you told me last night of her singing in French, I got goose bumps. I think our dear mama sent the lady to you.”

“It is strange. I had the very same thought.” He didn’t add that he also thought his mother would have been very pleased to have Gabby as her daughter-in-law.

Hen giggled. “I agree, but you must give her time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend to me. You also thought that Mama would have been pleased to see you make a match with Mademoiselle Gabrielle, a gentle, beautiful French woman.”

“Do you do this to your husband?”

“Excuse me?”

“Tell him what he is thinking?”

Hen’s green eyes, so much like his own, danced in amusement. “Sometimes, but Cord can be quite opaque after all the years he worked as a spy. You are very easy to read.”

“That makes me sound quite boring.”

Hen tittered. “I’d never describe you as boring. But, truly, you cannot pursue Mademoiselle Gabrielle. She will be grieving and needs us all to act as a supportive family.”

Supportive family—he didn’t want to break it to his sister, but he was in no way close to thinking of Gabby as family. He felt like the ogre now. The poor woman was going to soon learn about the loss of her only family and he didn’t seem able to contain his male thoughts.

“Of course, you’re right. This is not the time.”

He had planned he would pursue his attachment with Gabby once she was established and living with her brother, demonstrating to Gabby that he knew how to behave like a gentleman. Now everything had changed. And he wanted to take care of her, shelter her from hurt. He understood that his feelings for Gabby weren’t logical or precise, and couldn’t be deciphered like a substitution code.

Chapter Nine

Gabby rushed down the stairs and out the front door to speak with Lord Kendal. All morning she had been watching from her bedroom for him to arrive. Finally, she would be reunited with Lucien.

She had been separated from her only family for long years. She knew it wasn’t ladylike to rush after the gentleman, but she didn’t care.

She was wearing one of Lady Henrietta’s simple day dresses, nothing in her usual French style. After the exhausting travel and then with the changes in Lord Kendal’s household, she was grateful to have been spared dinner with the family. She begged off since she had no proper clothes, and Lady Henrietta allowed her to use the flimsy excuse to escape.

She awoke refreshed, knowing she was safe and that soon she would be with her brother. She’d be happy to finally resume her true identity as a sophisticated woman, not the schoolgirl in a convent or a young boy. Dressed in a stylish wardrobe, she would never be confused with a Mimi or Yvette.

Gabby followed a path that wound between the hedges, leading to the back of the house. She quickly arrived at the garden where Lord Kendal and Lady Henrietta were sitting.

Lord Kendal was bent over his sister, his body turned in concern and brotherly love. She felt a deep yearning in witnessing his obvious care.

Lucien was much older than Gabby and they had never spent enough time together to become really close, but now they needed each other. They were each other’s only family. She wanted to be a loving sister to him. And despite how hardened he had become with the murder of their parents, he had always been a protective brother.

As if he sensed her approach, Lord Kendal twisted on the bench where he was seated next to his sister. He rose and bowed over her hand. “Good afternoon, Mademoiselle Gabrielle.”

His face was closely shaven. The golden stubble gone. Although dressed as a proper English gentleman in his buff riding breeches and perfectly fit forest-green riding coat, he exuded a boyish air. Maybe it was his disheveled curls that never stayed in place, or the way his eyes always were bright with curiosity.

Gabby curtsied. “Good afternoon, my lord.”

The formality between them hurt her. The adventure with Michael had ended. They were back in proper society. They would meet as polite strangers—Lord Kendal and Mademoiselle Gabrielle. She would assume her new life, and Lord Kendal would go back to his.

Last night she tried to reconcile her excitement to be reunited with her brother with the loss of being in Michael’s company. She didn’t want to give up his easy, light-hearted teasing or the promises in his touch and his intense stares.

They would meet in London, since she assumed the English aristocracy would be a small, intimate world as in Paris. Of course, with the war between England and France, she couldn’t be sure how often they would meet as polite strangers.

Gabby curtsied again. “Good day, Lady Henrietta.”

Lady Henrietta’s face glowed in the afternoon sunshine. “I hope that you slept well.”

“I did, my lady. Thank you for your generous hospitality.”

Not known for her patience, Gabby had to bite her lip to prevent blurting out questions about her brother.

“It is a fine summer day.”

Lord Kendal’s teasing manner was gone. His eyes studied her, not flirting or laughing with her, but keeping a distance. He also recognized the end of their time together.

She had known this moment would come, when she would have to give up her fantasies of a simple and happy life with him. The sorrow in his eyes was no less than what she was feeling. It was time for her to take her place with her brother. Time to say good-bye to the only man she had ever dreamed about.

“Do you have news?” She tried to not sound as impatient as she felt.

He took her arm and led her to the bench where his sister sat. “I do have news. I think it best if you sit down.”

Gabby startled at the grave tone in Lord Kendal’s voice. His usually mischievous eyes were dim and filled with concern and pity. A chill swept over her skin. A foreboding. The same look her servants had given her when her mother had been escorted from their home, and she’d had to show no emotion at her mother’s suffering.

Lady Henrietta took Gabby’s hand. Her glowing countenance now was clouded. Her eyes watery. Gabby trembled with the lady’s pitying expression. Her heart beat harder, faster.

She looked back and forth between the grave and sympathetic looks. Deep dread settled into Gabby’s heart.

No, this couldn’t be happening. She woke up this morning for the first time in a long time not afraid, without fear for her future.

“Lucien?” The fear was strangling her voice. “Tell me.”

She watched Lord Kendal swallow hard before he spoke. “I’m so sorry.”

Gabby’s mind halted.

“Your brother…” Lord Kendal shook his head. “He is dead.”

It couldn’t possibly be true.

“There has been a mistake.” The words echoed in her head as if she were speaking down a long tunnel.

Lady Henrietta took her hand. “I’m sorry. Your brother was killed in a duel.”

“Lucien is an amazing marksman.” Not able to look at the awful truth in their eyes, Gabby twisted the material of her skirt. Her mind refusing to believe anything these strangers said. “My brother never would have lost a duel.”

Lord Kendal’s eyes and face were flat, contorted in sorrow. She looked away, not able to bear this world of loss and suffering.

“Who told you this lie? How did you discover…?” Her voice quivered.

“It is common knowledge in London,” Lady Henrietta said.

Lord Kendal knelt on one knee before her. He took her hands between his. “I wish it weren’t true. If I could make your brother’s death not true, I would. I know how hard this terrible news is for you.”

The dark, empty abyss was opening in front of her. Memories flashed before her. The screams. She opened her eyes wide, not looking at their faces, but looking up at the bright blue sky. Lucien was gone. There was nothing to do. The crippling pain would come later, like after her parents’ deaths. She had to do something right now or she would shatter into a thousand shards.

“Can you take me to my brother’s residence?” She was alone. No family. Where would she go? “I’d like to speak to his servants.”