The Outcast's Redemption (The Infamous Arrandales) (21 page)

As memory returned Wolf wanted more answers. He tried to sit up, but Grace’s gentle hands pressed him back.

‘No, no, you must stay there, at least for the present. There is no danger now. Loftus knows Urmston is the true villain. He arrested him immediately.’

‘Aye.’ Richard laughed. ‘Braddenfield was as mad as fire when he found the fellow trying to kill his fiancée!’

Wolf’s eyes flew to Grace. There was a faint flush on her cheeks, but she made no attempt to contradict Richard. Wolf caught her wrist as she went to move away.

‘Grace, I must talk to you, alone. I need to know—’

The blush deepened. Gently she freed herself from his grip and moved out of reach.

‘Hush now, sir. There will be time to talk when you are better.’

That was her answer, then. She loved him, wanted him, but she would not break her promise to marry Braddenfield. Wolf closed his eyes. It was best this way. Grace might love him now, but once the first joyful bliss had faded she would compare him to her first love. Let her marry her magistrate, she would go into that marriage with her eyes open, not blinded by starry infatuation. And as for himself, the sooner he was away from here the better. But first he must see his daughter.

He glared at Raoul Doulevant. ‘How long must I stay in this cursed bed?’

‘I would prefer you did not exert yourself today.’ He put his hand on Wolf’s brow. ‘There is no fever and the wound is not deep, but it might start to bleed again. You have the luck most extraordinary,
mon ami,
but I beg you will stop putting yourself in the way of bullets. This is the second time I have, how do you say,
patched you up
and I may not be on hand if you should be shot again.’ Raoul put his arm about Cassie’s waist and pulled her close. ‘You should settle down. I can recommend it.’

Wolf caught the adoring look that passed between Cassie and her Belgian husband and his spirits plummeted. The man was a hero, worthy of any woman’s regard. What had he ever done, save spread mayhem and murder? The opening of the door caught his attention and his sister-in-law came in with Lady Hune.

Wolf’s breath hissed out. ‘Am I to have no peace?’

‘Ungrateful brute,’ Richard admonished him cheerfully. ‘When the family have gathered here to support you! But we will be relieving you of our presence shortly. Now we know you are in no danger Phyllida is anxious to return home to little James.’

Ah, yes, Richard and Phyllida’s son. And they were expecting another child, which might well be another heir. Wolf’s black mood deepened. He did not begrudge Richard his happiness, but it served to highlight his own bleak existence. Well, at least a nephew ensured the entail was safe and lessened the need to stay in England. As if to give an extra twist to the knife, Phyllida announced that the Davenports had arrived.

‘Alex and Diana?’ exclaimed Richard. ‘Why the deuce are they here?’

‘They have brought Florence,’ said Phyllida.

‘My daughter.’ Wolf’s hand clenched at the bedsheet. ‘I must see her.’

‘Not today, I think,’ said Phyllida gently. ‘It might frighten her to see you like this.’

He tried to sit up again. ‘Then let me be dressed and I can sit in a chair.’

There was an immediate outcry. Phyllida and Cassie pushed him back against the pillows, talking over his protests until Lady Hune rapped her cane on the floor and called for quiet.

‘This is a medical matter,’ she declared. ‘Let us ask the surgeon when Wolfgang may get up.’

All eyes turned to Raoul.

‘Tomorrow,’ he said. ‘
If
you rest today.’

‘I will,’ said Wolf. ‘I will rest now and Grace can sit with me.’

‘That is not possible.’ Again that flush mantled her cheeks and she refused to meet his eyes. ‘Kennet is here and he is anxious to attend you.’

Wolf was about to consign his valet to the devil, but Richard squeezed his bare shoulder.

‘Miss Duncombe sat by your bed all night, Wolf. It is well past noon now; she must be exhausted.’

‘Yes. Yes, of course,’ said Wolf. ‘Send Kennet to me, then.’ He glanced again at Raoul. ‘I feel weak as a cat, but you say I should be able to get up tomorrow?’

‘If you rest today, yes.’

‘We’ll leave you now,’ said Richard. ‘And it is not only little Florence who will visit you tomorrow. Sir Loftus wants to see you. We managed to put him off today, but he represents the law here, Brother, and will not be gainsaid.’

‘No,’ muttered Wolf, his eyes on Grace. ‘Sir Loftus carries all before him.’

* * *

Grace went out with the others to the dining room, where a light meal had been laid out, but she had no appetite. Loftus had reluctantly allowed her to stay and nurse Wolf overnight, but only after she promised to leave as soon as he was out of danger. She had prayed so hard and vowed never to sin again if Wolf was spared and now she must keep those vows. She had behaved outrageously in London, but Loftus was willing to stand by her, to give her the protection of his name. His affection for her was deeper than she had realised and although she could not love him she must be a good and faithful wife. He deserved at least that.

Grace had already received an early morning visit from Papa and Aunt Eliza. She had been expecting it, because Loftus had promised he would call at the vicarage and assure them that she was safe. What
had
surprised her was their reluctance to remove her from the Hall. Papa said she could be of more use there than at the vicarage and as Wolf had not by that time regained consciousness, Grace had returned to his bedside. But now she wished Papa had taken her away. Then she would not have seen the warmth in Wolf’s eyes when he awoke. It made leaving him so much harder, but it must be done. She was not free. She had pledged herself to Loftus and she could not withdraw. A line from an old poem went through her mind.

I could not love thee, dear, so much, Lov’d I not Honour more.

A knot of unhappiness settled in Grace’s stomach and she picked at her food, something that Cassandra, sitting opposite, was quick to notice.

‘Oh, dear, are you too fatigued to eat nuncheon? Perhaps you would prefer to sleep first and we will order a tray to be sent up for you.’

‘No, no—you are very kind and I
am
tired, but I was thinking that perhaps I should go home.’

Her suggestion brought a storm of protests, from Phyllida’s insistence that she had had a shock and was not yet recovered, to a plea from the newly arrived Diana, Lady Davenport, that she stay to meet the children.

‘I shall bring them downstairs later,’ she said, smiling. ‘And I am sure you would like to meet Wolfgang’s daughter.’

Grace knew that would be a bittersweet moment, but in the face of everyone’s kindness, she finally gave in.

‘Very well, but only until Sir Loftus calls tomorrow.’ She coloured faintly. ‘I shall write a note, asking him to bring his carriage so that he can convey me to the vicarage. I am sure my fiancé will want to take me away with him, once he has spoken with...once he has finished his business here.’

Having won their agreement, Grace gave up any pretence of eating and went off to rest. She fell asleep almost immediately, waking only when a maid came in to inform her it was nearly dinnertime. Aunt Eliza had brought over her trunk, filled with the gowns she had purchased in town. Grace would have preferred something older and more demure, but in the end she settled for an evening gown of deep-rose silk with a snowy lace fichu filling the low neckline. She blinked when she found her aunt had also put in her jewel box. Heavens, what was she thinking? This was not some elegant house party. However, the company did include a dowager marchioness and a countess, so she decided it would be reasonable to wear her pearl ear drops.

Not that it matters
, she thought as she made her way down to the drawing room.
I am not trying to impress anyone.

And Wolf would not be there to see her.

When Grace walked in, the buzz of conversation halted abruptly. She hesitated, wondering if she was perhaps overdressed for the occasion, but a quick look around the room showed her that everyone had changed for dinner. Lady Phyllida came forward to draw her into the company, her manner so warm and welcoming that Grace was reassured. She saw two little girls, the Davenports’ wards, and recognised Florence immediately. With her dark hair and serious grey eyes she reminded Grace so strongly of Wolfgang that her heart contracted painfully. She forced herself to smile and talk with the children, all the time telling herself that this unhappiness would pass. As soon as she was away from this house she would be able to forget Wolfgang Arrandale.

Lady Hune’s French chef had risen nobly to the challenge of working in an outdated kitchen, and after her refreshing sleep Grace was able to enjoy the lobster and asparagus and even a flavoured rice pudding. Richard Arrandale, sitting beside Grace, kept her glass filled with wine and conversed so pleasantly that the meal was not the ordeal she had been expecting. He excused himself from the table when the dessert course was served and went off to see his brother, but he returned quickly, looking exasperated.

‘Wolf has not yet dined,’ he declared, going back to his seat.

‘I gave instructions that he was not to be disturbed, if he was sleeping,’ put in Raoul.

‘Well, he is awake now and in the devil of a temper because Kennet has gone off to press his coat for the morning.’ He swung round to look at Grace. ‘I know it is presumptuous of me, but would
you
accompany Croft when he takes in my brother’s dinner tray and remain while he eats it?’

‘Me?’ Grace recoiled. ‘No, that cannot be necessary.’

Richard shook his head at her. ‘It is very important that he eats well, to aid his recovery. Ain’t that so, Doulevant?’

‘Very important,’ Raoul agreed solemnly.

Lady Cassandra leaned forward. ‘We would take it as a very great favour if you would do this, Miss Duncombe. Wolf is far less likely to throw the dishes at you than at any of us.’

Something close to panic fluttered inside Grace. She had refused the syllabub, so she had no reason to stay. She glanced around the table, but everyone was either intent upon their dessert or looking at her hopefully. There was no escape.

* * *

The morning room was washed with the soft glow of candlelight. Wolf was on the daybed, propped up on a bank of pillows and with a white nightshirt covering his upper body. Grace thought how achingly handsome he looked, his lean cheeks freshly shaved and his dark, curling hair falling over his brow. He watched her, unsmiling, as she came in, but the look in his dark eyes was unreadable. Grace straightened her shoulders. She reminded herself that they would be bound to meet occasionally if he decided to stay at Arrandale, so she would have to get used to this. She summoned up her most cheerful manner.

‘Croft has brought your dinner and I am here to keep you company while you dine.’

She stood aside while the butler placed the tray across Wolf’s lap and a footman put a second, smaller tray with wine and glasses on a table at Wolf’s elbow. When the servants withdrew she sat down upon a chair at a safe distance and folded her hands in her lap, watching Wolf pick at the succulent morsels the chef had served up to tempt his appetite. He looked pale, and a little tired, but he was calm enough. A suspicion began to grow that the Arrandales had planned this. They wanted her to be alone with Wolf. But to what end?

They want him to marry you and settle down at Arrandale.

Impossible! Had he not told her he was too restless to marry? That he could never be faithful to any one woman? Even if she was not promised to another man he did not
want
to marry her. He would certainly not want to be coerced into marriage by his well-meaning family.

‘Will you join me in a glass of wine?’ Wolf asked her politely.

Grace nodded, glad to be doing something, but as she poured the wine into two glasses her hand trembled and she spilled a little on the tray.

‘Are you afraid of me, Grace?’

‘Do not be ridiculous.’

‘You are shaking.’

‘I should not be here,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I should not be alone with you.’

‘Then why are you here?’

Her shoulders lifted a fraction. ‘Your family...’

‘What?’ He gave a mirthless laugh. ‘Surely they know you are betrothed to Braddenfield?’

‘Yes.’ She handed him a glass. ‘I told Loftus what had happened. I thought he would not wish to marry me once he knew everything.’ She did not look at Wolf, knowing he was watching her intently. It was as much as she could do not to sigh. ‘He admires my integrity.’

Wolf had finished eating so she moved his tray to the side table. She said, trying to sound cheerful, ‘He is a truly noble man, I think.’

‘Aye, damn him.’

‘I do not know why you say that—’

‘Don’t you, Grace? Don’t you know that I hate him because he will have you and I won’t?

‘No,’ she whispered, her heart beating frantically. Wolf grabbed her wrist.

‘Oh, I know it is fixed. There is no getting out of it now. You are promised to him, but that does not stop me wanting you.’

He was stroking the inside of her wrist with his thumb, setting her whole body on fire. From her toes to the crown of her head, she was aware of him. There was a lightness in her head and in her womb, her breasts tingled, they felt full, swollen and aching for his touch. She wanted to sink to her knees beside the daybed, to close her eyes and delight in the sensual feelings he aroused in her.

I could not love thee, dear, so much...

It took a supreme effort of will to pull away.

‘I will not break my promise to Loftus,’ she said, her voice catching on a sob. ‘Neither will I allow you to behave dishonourably.’

His eyes held her prisoner. She felt the threads that bound them, strong as steel, tightening and pulling her towards him. One word and she would be lost. She would give herself to a man who would only love her for a short time, then he would move on. He would cease to love her and she would lose him, as she had lost so many other people she had loved. Grace crossed her arms, as if to hold herself back.