Devil's Desire (18 page)

"Why had you expected Squire Blackmore?"

"Because, my dear wife, the Squire has had hopes of marrying his daughter–Louisa, I believe he called her–off to me for the past few years. In fact, had I not met you so . . . unexpectedly, then I might have considered the girl. She had a few good points in her favor, if I remember her correctly? Very quiet, and unassuming, in fact one would hardly know she was around. Quite the opposite of you, my dear; but the only drawback of course would be to find my. self related to the Squire–too much to contemplate, even in conjecture."

"What a pity I have no intention of obliging you, and turning amenable," Elysia smiled sweetly up at him, the smile not reaching her green eyes.

"Never fear that you have disappointed me, my dear, for I seldom play long odds, and only then if it is a sure thing. With you, my dear, I am never sure of anything," he smiled crookedly. "Although I must say, the Squire acted rather well at masking what must have been a shattering disappointment, considering his ambitions have been ruined by your existence."

"I do believe you enjoy seeing the hopes of others destroyed."

"No, not really. But the Squire has made rather
a nuisance
of himself, trying to foister off his daughter on me, merely to achieve his own desires of having a titled son-in-law, and adding my money and estates to his. Unfortunately for him, my estates
are willed to my heirs–
he would not be able to touch them."

"I cannot understand you. You have wealth; looks, and your health. Yet you despise everyone. Why is it? Maybe it is really that you despise yourself and what you have become," Elysia told him boldly, staring into those flaming golden eyes.

He grabbed her arms in a tight grip, almost snarling as he said, "Do not push me too far, Elysia, for you are, after all, married to that thing that I've become." He pushed her away and stalked out of the room, leaving her standing alone and shaken.

"A cruel man and impious thou art

Sweet lady, let her pray. and sleep,

 
 
and dream

Alone with her good angels, far apart

Prom wicked men like thee. Go, go!–I deem

                                                            
Keats

Chapter 8

E
lysia paced restlessly to and fro in front of a large, gray boulder, kicking aimlessly at any small stone in her path. The weak sun had failed to assert itself and was retreating back behind the distant hills, taking its pale light with it. The wind whipped up the hem of her dress as it blew coldly around her, feeling like a cool balm on her flushed cheeks and disquieted nerves.

Luncheon had been a disaster, with Lord Trevegne glowering and taunting her in his anger which had smouldered dangerously since she had dared to give her opinion of his character. Finally, unable to take his abuse any longer, she had stormed out of the dining room, leaving her food uneaten, not caring about Lord Trevegne's look of offended outrage, and the servants' surprised faces at her abrupt departure. Elysia had rushed up to the sanctuary of her room only to find the walls of the room closing in upon her as she sat brooding full of self-pity. Finally, she changed into her riding. habit and quickly and quietly made her escape from the tense and uneasy atmosphere of the house–leaving without a word to anyone. She saddled Ariel herself, Jims luckily absent from the stables, and rode triumphantly and defiantly off into the storm threatened afternoon.

Elysia had no idea how long she had been wandering about the outcropping of rock watching Ariel grazing peacefully, when she heard the sound of approaching hoof beats, and turned expecting to see His Lordship's thunderous brow. Instead, she saw a dainty, chestnut mare with a blue-clad rider come prancing towards her.

"Good afternoon," the girl said as she came closer to Elysia, who was now halted in her tracks and watching the approaching rider curiously. The girl was slight with light-brown hair and smoky-gray eyes. Her cheeks were rosy from her ride in the cool air.

"I am Louisa Blackmore," she said in a small, sweet voice, "and I live at Blackmore Hall–a few miles from here. I am being rude by introducing myself this way, but we very seldom see strangers in these parts. So I just could not pass by without inquiring as to who you are, and if in fact, you might be lost?" She looked at Elysia with concern.

"No, I am not lost, merely enjoying a ride before this storm breaks, which I fear shall happen soon. I am Elysia Dem–Trevegne," Elysia answered, smiling at the other girl.

"Trevegne!” Louisa Blackmore looked nonplussed for a moment, and then recovering, exclaimed, "Then you are Lady Trevegne, Lord Trevegne's new wife?”

"Yes I am, and you are Squire Blackmore's daughter. I made his acquaintance earlier today."

"Oh, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Lady Trevegne," Louisa said extending her gloved hand eagerly. "I do not feel that I have committed a
faux pas
and been too forward now–I'm always being scolded for that–but since you have heard of me, and I am not a complete stranger to you, then all is well'"

She smiled in genuine friendliness at Elysia. Hardly heartbroken, thought Elysia, as she smiled back at Louisa's cheery face, and remembered Squire Black-more's evaluation of his daughters state of mind upon hearing of the new Lady Trevegne.

"Thank you; Elysia answered politely, "and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance also," She was puzzled by Louisa Blackmore's obvious delight in finding that she was Lady Trevegne.
           

A, loud clap of thunder rumbled overhead, causing the horses to shy nervously.

"I think I should remount before this storm comes down upon us and soaks us completely,” Elysia remarked apprehensively, gathering Ariel's reins and leading him over to the rock where she could climb up to mount.

"We can talk on our way back to the road, I go the opposite way, once there," Louisa said as they began to canter side by side. "I cannot believe that you are actually riding that horse," she continued in awe, with a hint of fear in her voice, "for I should die of fright even to touch him. He is the horse that no one can ride. I mean, even Lord Trevegne cannot mount him, yet here you are riding him, and without a groom to accompany you. My groom is waiting on the road up ahead, a constant shadow but it does make me feel safer. And here you are riding out alone, and on that wild horse." She gave a delicate shudder at the thought.

Elysia laughed with the first genuine amusement she had felt in years. "I seem to be creating a rather dis-torted image of myself. I suddenly find that I am endowed with strange mystical powers because I am riding a horse that supposedly cannot be ridden. When the plain truth of the matter is, I raised this horse, and trained him until I was forced to sell him. So you see, I am a mere mortal, with no extraordinary powers of persuasion."

"Well, that is a relief. I'm sure I thought you were a witch," Louisa said jokingly, "but you do ride so well, and I can scarcely control little Dove when she gets frisky, that I feel ashamed to ride with you," she complimented Elysia, patting Dove's satiny neck affectionately.

"You ride quite well, considering you are so tiny. It would indeed be foolish, and dangerous to mount you on a big unpredictable horse," Elysia told her. Adding as she watched the small child-like hands control the reins, 'Why, you make me feel as though I were some muscular Amazon–my spear and shield at hand to repel an attack. "

Louisa gave a giggle, and threw Elysia an incredulous look. "But that can't be true, you are so beautiful. I should love to have your red-gold hair. It's such a glorious color compared to my plain; brown curls," she sighed. "Papa calls me a little mouse which I fear he might be right in believing, for I appear to be shockingly lacking in courage and robustness."

"That makes you sound as if you should be a blacksmith or miller," Elysia, laughed. "You are merely delicate and petite, and I do envy you. Shall we trade places?"

"Oh, goodness no! That would never do, for I would never be able to be the wife of the Marquis. He strikes absolute terror into me," she said, her eyes growing round. She put a small hand to her mouth in embarrass-ment. "Oh, what will you think of me for saying such a thing about your husband? It is just that you are' so nice that I forgot you were a Marchioness."

“I
shall think that you are completely honest, and have reason to feel so, for the Marquis can be absolutely beastly at times," Elysia replied matter-of- factly.
 

Louisa looked at her in admiration. "I’m so glad that I've met you, for you are so nice, and not at all what I imagined you would be like. I thought you would be snobbish and supercilious like those ladies from London who occasionally visit Blackmore. They make me feel so gauche–as if I were still in the schoolroom," she declared in an indignant voice.

"Well, .you need not expect any airs from me, for I have never been a la-dee-da-type London lady. I much prefer the simplicity of the country," Elysia stated firmly, although she could hardly call Westerly simple.

"Does that mean that you shall be spending a great deal of time down here?" Louisa asked excitedly. "I do hope so. I have been so lonely. There is no one to talk to, and Papa and Mama are often in London. Since I am too young to have a season yet, I have had to stay here to finish my studies. I wish so often for a friend–and I hope you will be mine, Lady Trevegne?"

"Please, call me Elysia. I too have longed for a: friend to talk with." Elysia glanced at. Louisa's small-framed figure and added in a teasing tone, "I have need of a good, strong shoulder to lean upon at times."

Louisa laughed delightedly. "This is truly wonderful, for I think that we shall become dear friends. You seem so nice and amusing, and now Papa shall no longer be able to berate me for not winning Lord Trevegne's admiration. If you only knew how terrified I was at the thought, or even the possibility of Lord Trevegne having noticed me," she said paling visibly.

"Your father actually desired a match between you and Lord Trevegne?" Elysia found it hard to believe that anyone would wish to marry off his daughter to one such as her husband.

"Yes, he had quite set his mind upon it, and was very upset this morning when he told us that the Marquis had wed. I am afraid he really believed that His Lord-ship would have married me—which is ridiculous really, I'm not his type at all."

They had almost reached the road, when a light drizzle began to fall and they quickened their pace.

"I hope you've not a long way to go, Louisa. Why don't you stay at Westerly until a carriage can be arranged to take you home?"

"No, I've not far to ride, really. And if I hurry I shall make it. Will I see you soon?" Louisa asked hopefully.

"Possibly tomorrow night. We have been invited to dine."

"Oh I do hope so. I feel so ill-at-ease with Papa's friends from London," Louisa said worriedly, "and several carriages of them arrived this morning from London, it would seem for an indefinite stay." Louisa smiled half-heartedly and waved as she turned her little mare in the opposite direction, the groom close behind her as they headed down the road

Elysia waved back and hurried faster toward the house, standing mistily in the rain in the distance. She felt happy. She had actually found a friend, someone with whom she could talk and share things. Elysia was smiling and humming a little tune as she rode into the stable yard. She was glad she'd decided to ride. She'd only ridden a short way this, morning before being forced to return, and she had thoroughly enjoyed giving Ariel his head. It had also helped her to clear the cobwebs from her mind and relieve some of the restlessness she was feeling. But her smile faded, and the tune she was humming abruptly stopped as Elysia noticed Lord Trevegne preparing to mount Sheik, and Jims looking up with relief as he heard the hooves approaching.
          
.

Elysia was helped down by Jims, Lord Trevegne making no move to assist her. She risked a glance at his scowling face–he actually looked as if he would like to strangle her, so murderous was his expression.

"Ye should'na have gone out without telIin' no one, Miss Elysia," Jims scolded her.

"I am sorry, Jims, but there was no one here, and I felt like a ride," Elysia explained nervously as she felt Lord Trevegne's hard fingers grip her arm as he came up to her.

"Shall we go in, Elysia. I am sure you will want to change," he said in a very soft and quiet voice. Elysia glanced at him in surprise, he didn't sound angry, even though she had disobeyed him-despite his tightened lips and quivering nostrils.

"Yes, that is precisely what I had in mind," Elysia said waving to Jims, who was staring at her unconcerned face in bewilderment. His Lordship was in a foul temper, and Miss Elysia was in for a real tongue-lashing-if not more. He had never seen Lord Trevegne looking quite so put out, his eyes glowing darkly when he found out Miss Elysia had ridden by herself. The only obvious sign of his anger, however, was the clenching of his fists. His Lordship wasn't used to being crossed, and Miss Elysia being the high-spirited little filly that she was, was certainly heading for trouble. He wondered if the Marquis would be able to handle her? Miss Elysia always gave as good as she got. Ah, well. . . they'd work it out.

Elysia tried to pull her arm from the Marquis tight grasp as they walked briskly toward the big double doors, but he only tightened it painfully.

"You are hurting my arm," Elysia gasped out between gritted teeth. But he ignored her protest, dragging her with him into his study, a room she had not been into yet, anxious not to disturb the lion in his den.

It was a warm-looking room with dark, wine-colored drapes, Oriental carpets, and 'big, red, leather chairs. A large, mahogany desk sat squarely before the French windows. On its smooth, highly polished surface was a gold hawk with a sharp beak weighing down a pile of papers. A
fire was b
urning brightly in the grate–crackling noisily.

Without warning, Lord Trevegne took Elysia's other arm and shook her until she thought her head would roll off. Elysia stared up at him with tearful eyes when his anger had abated, her lips quivering uncontrollably.

"If you ever disobey my orders again, Elysia, I’ll thrash you within an inch of your life," he ground out in a hoarse voice.

"You wouldn't dare!” Elysia squeaked in
a shoc
ked voice, a pulse in her throat beating wildly.

"I will dare anything. Don't push me too far, for I am nearing the end of my tether. I gave specific orders that you were not to ride unaccompanied. It was not a whim, nor an idle wish. You do not know this country, the moors can be dangerous–along with other unexpected hazards. We live on the coast, we are at war with France. Smugglers and spies, and God only knows what else may lurk in coves and estuaries throughout this area."

Elysia stared at him in dismay, feeling guilty. After all, he had only forbidden her to ride alone for her own protection. "I am sorry, Lord. . . uh, M'Lord," Elysia hesitated confusedly, feeling unable to call him by his first name.