Anne Ashley (17 page)

‘And how, my girl, do you propose to prevent me?’

Laughing again at this outrageous piece of deliberate
provocation on his part, he bridged the distance between them in three giant
strides, effortlessly pulling her to her feet before capturing her trim waist
within the circle of his good left arm. Her reaction was instinctive and acted
like a sharp slap in the face to a virile male. Absolute rejection to his
advances might have been a new and vastly demoralising experience for him, but
he had always played by the rules and accepted the rebuff with as much grace as
he could muster.

Letting his arm drop to his side, he went over to the door.
‘Time, I think, to place myself in the hands of my excellent valet once again. I
shall see you at luncheon, no doubt.’

Briony could only watch him leave in an agony of confusion and
bitter regret. Although he had done his utmost to conceal the fact, and had even
managed a semblance of a smile before closing the door behind him, she was under
no illusions whatsoever that she had severely dented his pride. Yet it had never
been her intention to do so.

Cursing herself for every kind of a fool imaginable, she took
up his former stance before the window. When he had her pressed against him,
every inch of her frame had suddenly grown taut, but not through any kind of
revulsion to his touch. Dear God, how could it have been when she had grown to
love him so! But he wasn’t to know that of course, she reminded herself. He
wasn’t to know that when she had stiffened, visibly so, that it was simply the
reaction of a naïve young woman who wasn’t sure what was expected of her, that
it was merely the result of total inexperience when dealing with the more
familiar attentions from members of the opposite sex. And the result, too, of
her guarding herself against possible rejection on his part, she was obliged to
acknowledge.

Oh, he liked her well enough; she knew that without a doubt. He
was exceedingly grateful for what she had done for him, too. But there was a
great chasm between mingled liking and gratitude and love. All the same, she
couldn’t help feeling that yet again she had let slip a wonderful opportunity
for a more meaningful relationship to develop between them. Would a proud man
like Luke Kingsley risk rejection again by offering a further chance? Somehow,
she didn’t imagine so. She very much feared that she would need to make the
first move the next time if she stood any chance of saving their union and
making it a marriage in every sense.

Chapter Thirteen

T
wo days later, while Briony was still
attempting to pick up the threads of a normal routine after those many traumatic
days spent nursing Luke, her peaceful morning’s sewing was interrupted by Janet
announcing the arrival of none other than Lieutenant Henshaw, accompanied by a
Colonel Maitland this time. Although Luke had ridden out earlier, Briony was
aware that he had had every intention of returning to the Manor in good time for
luncheon. Consequently, she felt obliged to entertain the visitors until his
return, especially as she felt certain Luke would appreciate the opportunity to
consult with the officers.

It wasn’t easy, but somehow she managed to suppress a twitching
smile at the dagger-look, only partially disguised, the young Lieutenant shot in
her direction on entering the room. She could appreciate his chagrin and would
undoubtedly have felt much the same had someone deliberately gone out of his way
to mislead her, as she had done by so successfully concealing Luke’s
whereabouts.

Setting aside her tambour frame, she rose to her feet. ‘Do sit
down, gentlemen,’ she invited politely. ‘May I offer some refreshment…Madeira,
perhaps?’

Once again the Lieutenant seemed as if he was about to refuse
both offers. The Colonel, however, undoubtedly a man of much wider experience,
was quick to answer.

‘A glass of port would be most agreeable, ma’am,’ he assured
her.

In view of this swift acceptance, his companion evidently felt
it would appear churlish to refuse. Even so, this didn’t prevent him from
favouring her with a further disgruntled look as she handed him a filled
glass.

‘Your housekeeper gave us to understand that your husband is
not at home at present, but is expected back at any time.’

It might have been pure imagination, but Briony suspected there
was a hint of scepticism lurking there in the Lieutenant’s remark. And who could
blame him for remaining aggrieved over the previous deception? Certainly she
could not. Sadly, though, sheer devilment got the better of her and she couldn’t
resist issuing the same invitation as she had at their last encounter.

‘You are quite at liberty to search the house, Lieutenant, if
you do not believe my housekeeper. But I assure you he is not here. I understood
him to say that he had an appointment with Mr Pettigrew in the local town,
though why he should wish to consult with a lawyer at this time, I have no
notion.’

‘Naturally not, ma’am,’ Colonel Maitland put in hurriedly,
clearly having been made to feel uncomfortable by his companion’s thinly veiled
hostility. ‘But what you could perhaps confirm is your husband’s state of
health. I understand his injury was quite serious.’

‘Yes, Colonel, it was,’ she readily confirmed, all at once
feeling chilled by the all-too-recent memory. ‘There was a time when I genuinely
feared for his life.’ The heartrending recollection was all at once vanquished
by a surge of annoyance. ‘However, like most single-minded gentlemen, he made an
exceedingly tiresome patient, and one who, moreover, stubbornly refuses to admit
that he is not yet sufficiently recovered to go jaunting about the county on
horseback.’

‘None the less, he can readily confirm that, save for a slight
stiffness in the shoulder, he is none the worse for having made the attempt,’
Luke put in, surprising everyone present by his sudden appearance in the
room.

Briony was then the recipient of an outrageously provocative
smile before Luke turned to his two gentlemen visitors. ‘Forgive me for not
being here to welcome you. Truth to tell, I didn’t know just when to expect you,
or even if I would receive a visit. And I think for the benefit of all concerned
these meetings between us should be kept to a minimum. It would not do to arouse
suspicion if we wish to achieve an all-round satisfactory result.

‘There’s absolutely no need for you to leave, my darling,’ Luke
hurriedly added, as Briony rose to her feet. He wasn’t surprised by the startled
glance she shot him before obediently re-seating herself, though whether the
astonishment stemmed from his wishing her to remain or the unexpected endearment
was anybody’s guess. Nor was he unduly concerned by his visitors’ disapproving
expressions.

‘There have been only a handful of people throughout my life,
gentlemen, whom I have trusted implicitly…my wife numbers among them,’ he
assured them both. ‘You may speak freely in front of her, which I trust you will
do in future if ever you should need to contact me urgently and discover me away
from home.’

As far as Luke was concerned that particular subject was now
closed. He poured himself a drink and seated himself beside Briony on the sofa,
as though to confirm that bond of implicit trust between them.

‘Now, Colonel, I understand you’ve been informed as to my
mission here in these parts, and are here to lend me every available
assistance?’

‘Yes, sir. But as yet I do not know the name of the
traitor.’

‘And it is better so,’ Luke told him bluntly. ‘The fewer people
aware of his identity, the less chance there is of him becoming suspicious.
Believe me, he is no fool.’

‘But surely if we are to be of any real assistance…’ Lieutenant
Henshaw’s protestation faded at the steely look of determination that flickered
across Luke’s face.

‘The greatest assistance you can lend me, Lieutenant, is to
carry on as before. You’ve been keeping a vigilant eye on the comings and goings
in this area. But be under no illusion about it—an equally watchful eye has been
kept on you and will continue to be kept on you. Behave any differently and the
traitor will soon learn about it. But what I can tell you is this, if you’ve not
already been told—on the night of the last run, I was endeavouring to get close
enough to the smugglers to be able to recognise some of them. Unfortunately, I
got a little too close and was mistaken for a gang member. With painful results,
I might add,’ he continued wryly. ‘Even so, all is not lost. Since that incident
I’ve succeeded in making contact with one member of the gang, who is willing to
offer his services.’

Luke smiled crookedly at the young Lieutenant’s eager
expression. ‘No, Henshaw, I’m not prepared to divulge his name, not even to you.
I pledged my word that I would do everything within my power to ensure his
safety and the safety of two of his colleagues, both of whom, like himself, are
very unwilling members of the gang. Their continued involvement has been forced
upon all three by threats of reprisals against loved ones if they so much as
attempt to break free.’

Again Luke could not suppress a wry smile as he stared down
into the contents of his glass. ‘I did tell you that not all those involved in
smuggling are hardened cutthroats, Henshaw. Through sheer desperation some
resort to lawlessness in order to feed their families. Such a one, I believe, is
known to you—one who has turned informer. For his sake and the sake of his young
family, I would strongly advise you to avoid any further contact with him.’

‘But—’

‘Yes, I know what you are about to say, Lieutenant,’ Luke cut
in. ‘He has been well paid for his services. But he is of little use to his
family…dead. You may be sure the gang as a whole is suspicious and that each
member will be subject to close scrutiny for some time to come. It might be
fatal to use the same informant a second time. They might put it down to ill
luck that the militia turned up last time, but should it occur again…’

‘You are proposing, are you not, that future runs should be
allowed to take place unchallenged,’ Colonel Maitland suggested, having listened
carefully to everything said.

‘Yes, Colonel, that is precisely what I’m advising,’ Luke
confirmed. ‘I can appreciate that it goes against everything you’ve been trained
and ordered to do,’ he went on, staring at the Lieutenant in particular, as Luke
felt that, driven by ambition, he could quite easily jeopardise many months of
painstaking planning by rash actions. ‘We are attempting to bring to justice
someone who is of far more danger to this country than a gang of smugglers.
Until I hear from London that the trap has been baited, I propose we carry on as
normal. You, Colonel, will continue to go about your duties and ride out on your
daily patrols. It will appear strange if you do not.’

Again he stared directly at the younger man. ‘Whereas you,
Lieutenant, must be seen to patrol the coast road, just as you’ve been doing for
several months. My contact didn’t lead me to believe another cargo of contraband
is due to be landed in the area in the near future. But as he openly admitted
himself, he doesn’t receive much warning—two, three days at most. Therefore, we
must be prepared to act swiftly. If all goes well, gentlemen, every single gang
member will stand trial and shall receive his just deserts, save those three I
have pledged my word to assist.’ Luke stared down into the contents of his
glass, his expression all at once very sombre. ‘And with luck I, too, shall be
able to complete my task here.’

Whether or not the visitors were prepared to adhere strictly to
Luke’s recommendations, Briony had no way of knowing. She, however, was not at
all happy with what he had proposed, a fact that she made perfectly clear the
instant the two officers had taken their leave.

‘So, despite everything I’ve said, you’re still determined to
take an active part in proceedings.’

The half-smile that instantly curled his lips wasn’t destined
to placate her, as he well knew. ‘I’ve come this far, Briony. I cannot now leave
it to others. I want to see this thing through.’ He was all at once serious.
‘After all, it was my only reason for coming here in the first place. And should
something happen to me, let me assure you, you will not be in any way adversely
affected.’

Of course I shall, you idiot! I love
you,
she longed to retort, but the words once again seemed to stick
in her throat. Now was not the appropriate time to declare herself. His mind
clearly was on bringing Miles Petersham to justice. He had admitted as much.
Besides which, wouldn’t she be placing him in the most invidious position if he
couldn’t return her regard? After all, love was not the reason for their
union—he’d confessed as much.

Frustration at her inability to declare herself gave rise to a
sudden surge of annoyance, more with herself than with him, and she shot to her
feet, very nearly knocking the tambour frame over in the process.

‘Where are you off to?’ he asked in surprise.

The simple enquiry only served to fuel her ill humour. ‘Out!’
she snapped, making a beeline for the door. ‘And do not delay luncheon on my
account. I don’t know when I’ll be back!’

* * *

By the time Briony had ridden into the local town and
had left her mare in the capable hands of the ostler at the White Hart, her
temper had cooled, even if her heart remained heavy with the love she simply
could not declare, at least not yet.

Without conscious thought, she walked down the town’s main
street to the premises of someone who had her own problems at the moment with a
male relative, and who would undoubtedly lend a sympathetic ear to Briony’s
immediate concerns.

‘I just cannot understand why he continues to involve himself,
when others are quite capable now of taking over from him.’ Briony noted her
friend’s puzzled expression. ‘Oh, I know I’m not making sense, Mary. And I
cannot reveal more. I’m sworn to secrecy. And it’s all so confoundedly
frustrating!’

‘It’s only natural you’re concerned,’ Mary responded gently.
‘You’re in love with your husband and are fearful for his safety, just as I’m
fearful for Will’s.’ She spread her hands in a helpless gesture. ‘But what can
we do? Men will always be men, determined to have their way.’

Mary’s observations on the opposite sex only served to annoy
Briony still further. ‘Yes, stubborn fools! I knew one day I would regret
agreeing to marry that man, so I’ve only myself to blame!’

The admission was out before she realised what she was
revealing. One glance at Mary’s shocked expression served to convince Briony
that she would need to think carefully before she spoke from now on. She knew it
would be a mistake to attempt to rectify the blunder, so she merely added, with
a dismissive shrug, ‘Oh, don’t mind me, Mary. I’m just cross-grained today. What
I need to cheer me up is a new bonnet.’ She paused to glance about at the vast
amount of unused space in the storeroom; as she did so, an idea all at once
occurred to her. ‘I don’t know why you don’t branch out into millinery. There
isn’t a decent hat shop for miles around.’

‘Don’t imagine I haven’t considered it,’ Mary admitted. ‘I’ve
been making a good profit these past couple of years, but even so, I’d need to
find someone who would invest in the venture and there aren’t too many people
willing to take the risk.’

‘You’re looking at one who would,’ Briony astonished her by
admitting. ‘I’m not in a position to offer financial backing just yet. But in a
few weeks from now, I…’ Her words faded and she shuddered involuntarily, as the
icy-cold realisation that her marriage to Luke was more than half over filtered
through her mind. ‘…I shall be in a position to help. We’ll discuss the matter
further, after you’ve given it more thought.’

She rose to her feet, all at once accepting it had been a grave
error of judgement even to attempt to find some respite from her woes in a
friend’s company. She had to face the fact that there would be no comfort for
her anywhere, nor with anyone, until she had conquered her demons of fear and
uncertainty, and confided in Luke her complete change of heart.

Yet, as she left the shop the idea of helping Mary further
didn’t completely fade from her thoughts. In fact, the uncertainty of her own
future prompted her to pay a visit to her man of business, who was in a position
to tell her exactly how much money she was destined to inherit once the six
months was over. No matter what happened, she had no intention now of holding
Luke to his word. If the marriage should end—and there was no earthly good her
not facing that very real possibility—then she would insist that Luke had his
fair share of his aunt’s money.