Beloved (31 page)

“That’s just it,” Max continued, brimming with cheerful interest. “I ought to know the nature of this information, don’t you
think? At least to a degree that would make a fella well-rounded in matters of the world. I’m not quite clear about how one
thing leads to another. Or what exactly happens then. In fact, I’m not clear about a number of things. In fact—”

“Do shut up, Max,” Ella said in a voice barely above a whisper. “When will you learn to be appropriate?”

“He’s only interested,” Saber told her. “Interested and probably uncomfortable, just as you are.”

She looked at him then, and his stomach fell away. “I am not uncomfortable,” she said. “Why should I be? I’ve made my apologies.”

Exhaustion snapped Saber’s reserves of patience. “I’m almost surprised to find you here, Ella. I feared you might have fled
back to Scotland with your parents.”

“Grandmama, would you please explain to Saber that Mama and Papa left unexpectedly early so I couldn’t accompany them.”

“Don’t be a sapskull. Saber is perfectly aware that they have left.”

Ella drew herself up. “Perhaps I should leave for Scotland.”

“You will do no such thing,” Grandmama said.

“Probably shouldn’t travel if you’re … Well, not a good idea if you’re in an interesting condition, is it, Ellie?”

The girl pushed aside the plate that was put in front of her, and crossed her arms.

“Ella is not in an interesting condition,” Grandmama said, with surprising patience. “I was referring to the need for her
to become strong for when she
is
in such a condition.”

“Oh,” was all Max said.

“Rather than the foolishness your mama entered into, I should hope that you and Saber will waste no time in producing offspring.”

The arousal Saber felt might have shamed him, had it not brought him the pleasure of recalling Ella’s sweet body in his arms,
her sweet lips upon his own.

Their offspring.

Their children—the fruit of his seed within her.

“I had a particular reason for asking Saber to be here this morning,” Grandmama said. “Eat your kidneys. Both of you. And
you, Max.”

Keeping his eyes on the proceedings, Max ate with evident relish.

“We have arrangements to make,” Grandmama continued. “There will be no more shilly-shallying. I shall deal with no more moonish
nonsense. We are going to proceed with all haste.”

“Proceed with what?” Max asked around a mouthful of kidneys.

“Saber.” Grandmama raised her coffee cup and took a sip. “It’s time you—”

“Don’t say it,” he told her, making certain his voice conveyed enough command to stop her. “Do not go too far, please, Grandmama.
It would be a mistake.”

For a moment the old lady considered. She set down her cup and pushed out her pale lips into a thoughtful little bunch of
wrinkles.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Ella said.

“I won’t,” Grandmama said. “It’s time some changes were made. Saber and I are agreed on that.”

He forebore to argue.

“I’ve heard from Calum and Philipa,” Grandmama said, as if the diversion wouldn’t be noticed. “They have decided to visit
earlier than planned. They’ll be arriving in a few days to give your ball, Ella.”

Ella showed no sign of having heard a word.

“Did you hear me? Calum and Pippa are on their way to London to give you a marvelous ball. As we speak, the ballroom is already
being readied. Hasn’t been used since Justine’s pathetic attempt—”

“Don’t say nasty things about Mama,” Ella said. “There is no one as special as our mama.”

“I should say not,” Max agreed, forking in more kidneys and following them with a bite of toast recently cooled in the silver
rack. “Mama is the best. So is Papa. Saber’s a brick too.”

Saber gave the boy a grateful half-smile. “Too bad your entire family doesn’t agree with you, young Max.”

“They do,” Grandmama assured him. “No matter on that score at the moment. To our earlier discussion.”

“About offspring, you mean?” Max asked, his attention on his plate. “Jolly good show that Ella and Saber are going to have
some. When, exactly? I ought to at least read—”

“You will
not
read that outrageous book,” Grandmama said. “Now be quiet, all of you, so that I may finish. It’s inappropriate for women
to be alone in London.”

“Alone?” Ella gave the dowager her full attention.

The old lady raised her chin. “Yes, alone. With your father gone and no other male relatives in residence, we are alone.”

Max sputtered. “I’m here!”

“You are not a man.”

“I am—”

“Quiet! A mature male presence is essential—for the look of things as well as for protection and guidance.”

Saber regarded her with interest. While helping Calum assume his responsibilities as Duke of Franchot, the dowager had shown
herself as more than capable of administering the huge castle and its surrounding estates. Surely she wasn’t becoming too
feeble to deal with a London house.

“The staff is very reliable,” Ella said. She patted Grand-mama’s arm and smiled. “And I have no fear in any situation. We
are perfectly safe here.”

“We
will
be perfectly safe here,” the dowager duchess replied. “We need a man in the house and we shall have one. Saber is moving
in at once. I shall act as chaperon until the marriage.”

E
lla watched her visitor and longed for her to leave. Uncharitable, she knew, but this was a day when any intrusion would be
unwelcome.

“This is the loveliest room.” Precious Able positively bubbled as she bounced around Ella’s sitting room. “The loveliest house.
Lord Wokingham’s is
so
stuffy. And so…Oh, dear, how very wicked of me. I should never speak any wrong of my dear Woky. He is so good to me.”

“I’m glad,” Ella said vaguely. “That is a particularly becoming gown on you, Precious.”

“Do you think so?” Precious clasped her fingers together beneath her bosom and surveyed the yards of flounced, rosebud-pink
muslin that foamed around her. “Woky said it was too provoking. I can’t imagine what that meant, can you?”

“No,” Ella said with complete honesty.

“Anyway. I didn’t come to presume upon your hospitality for long. I only want to know what’s happening to you. You haven’t
been about for
ages.
And I’ve missed you.” Precious pouted prettily. “You promised to be my friend. You can’t be if I never see you, you know.”

Surely he would not do it.

“I was invited to Verbena White-Symington’s ball at Clarence House! Can you believe it?”

Saber couldn’t possibly agree to move in here at Pall Mall.

“Well, actually, Woky was invited to the ball and, of course, since I am his fiancýwent too. I was so certain you would be
there.”

With Saber under the same roof she would see him at every turn. Ella looked into the fire—seeing him now. Great-Grand-mama
intended to do all in her power to promote a marriage that should not take place.

Ella glanced at the small, pearl-encrusted watch pinned to her bodice. Two in the afternoon. The house had been utterly still
since Saber left—in a thunderous silence—and everyone else had removed themselves to their quarters. Even Max had absented
himself.

“Of course,” Precious said, walking toward Ella with springing steps that set her skirts swaying. “Perhaps you weren’t invited.”

“No,” Ella said. “No, I don’t believe I was. Although I’m not sure.”

Precious giggled and spun in a circle. “You are such a silly puff-head sometimes, Ella Rossmara. Of course you would remember.”

“Of course I would.”

Whatever happened, she must work very hard to be a good wife to Saber, to make him glad he’d married her. He was marrying
her out of nothing but duty. And she would let him do it because she was too weak to do otherwise.

Oh, her mind twirled around and around.

“You aren’t even listening to me, are you?”

“Hmm?” Ella raised her eyes to Precious’s and encountered a frown. “Oh, I’m sorry, Precious. How thoughtless of me. I’m a
little preoccupied.”

Precious grew still and her frown deepened. “All right, I’m going to be honest. I’m just going to be absolutely truthful and
explain exactly why I came today. I did try to persuade myself that I didn’t need to, but I do and so I’m here.”

Bewildered, Ella tried to become more comfortable in one of the stiff pink wing chairs.

“You aren’t saying
anything.
” In a billowing, rosy cloud, Precious sank to the floor beside Ella. “I am your friend. You’re troubled and you need help.
I want to give you that help.”

Ella’s concentration centered on her visitor. “Troubled? Of course I’m not troubled. I was simply listening to you and there
didn’t seem too much to be said.”

Precious pressed one of Ella’s hands. “I know why you’ve been absent at absolutely every event for almost two weeks.”

“Do you?”

“I don’t believe a word that they’re saying.”

Ella gave the girl her complete attention. “I’m sure I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Oh…Well… Oh, forget I even mentioned anything. I’m sure I’ve got it all wrong anyway. My wedding is to be in four weeks—at
Woky’s house. But I already told you that.”

“Yes. Precious—”

“Will you help me with all the shopping, Ella? Will you assist me in choosing my trousseau? You have such exquisite taste.”

“I’ll help you. Precious—”

“And you absolutely
promise
you’ll be there on the day? My mama and papa cannot return from Lancashire, so I’ll be all alone if you don’t come, and I’m
convinced I shall quite faint away if that happens.”

“I’ll be with you.” Ella leaned forward. “Precious, what did you mean? About people saying things?”

Precious’s blue eyes filled with tears. “Why, oh why did I mention it?”

“You did mention it. Now, would you please explain?”

“Oh, it’s not really anything. They’re all jealous of you because you’re so beautiful—and so different-looking.” Precious
paused. She got to her feet and stroked Ella’s hair. “Exotic. Not quite English, really.”

Ella resisted the temptation to mention the word
gypsy.

“They say you are not really the Rossmaras’ daughter.”

Ella breathed deeply. “I am the adopted daughter of Viscount and Lady Justine, Viscountess Hunsingore.” Trying to avoid the
truth would only result in more speculation. “My brother, Max, is also adopted.”

“How kind of the viscount and his wife.”

“Yes,” Ella agreed. “How kind of them.”

“So that much is true.”

“That much?”

A tap at the door was an unwelcome interruption. Ella’s maid, Rose, entered with a bowl of cream roses. “There’s more new
ones downstairs, Miss Ella. Will I bring ’em up?”

“No, thank you, Rose,” Ella said. “In fact, why don’t you take a nice vase of flowers to your room. And there is another box
of sweetmeats on one of the demilunes. Please share that with the rest of the staff.”

Rose bobbed and smiled her pleasure before departing again.

“Lots of gifts?” Precious said, moving to sniff the roses. “They weren’t wrong about that either.”

Irritation shortened Ella’s temper. “Why don’t you just tell me everything you’ve heard, Precious. It isn’t kind to taunt
someone you supposedly count a friend.”

Precious swung around, her mouth turned sharply down at the corners. “Ella! Oh, my dear one. I’m sorry. It’s only that I spoke
too hastily, I thought, and then I couldn’t take back my words. Are you to have a ball?”

Ella wasn’t distracted, but she said, “Yes. Two, I believe.”

Precious puffed up her cheeks and looked doleful.

“You shall come,” Ella told her in haste. “If you’d like to, that is. You and Lord Wokingham.” But not the revolting Hon.
Pom.

“Yes, yes, we should enjoy that so. When—”

“Precious, we were discussing what you’ve heard about me. ”

Max entered without knocking. “I say, Ella, this household has gone quite mad!” He stopped at the sight of Precious.

Precious regarded Max with avid interest and said, “Mad?”

“This is Precious Able,” Ella said. “Precious, my brother, Max. Precious is telling me that there are unpleasant rumors abroad
about me.”

“Oh, Ella, I was
not.
”

Max’s green eyes studied Precious intently. He strolled closer and stood, looking down at her. “What rumors would those be?”

“Really, there aren’t—”

“Come along,” Ella said, pretending jocularity. “Out with it, Precious. You’re among friends.”

“Your brother obviously has more important matters to discuss than gossip,” Precious said, plopping herself on a rose-colored
damask couch and smoothing her skirts. “I shall just sit and wait until you’ve finished your business.”

Ella didn’t miss the assessment in Max’s gaze. “Not at all, Miss Able. After you, of course.”

“No, no, you have some urgent news for Ella. Little me can wait.”

“Not at all,” Max insisted. “We are gasping to know what you know, aren’t we, Ella?”

“We are,” she agreed.