Beneath the Major's Scars (14 page)

* * *

Dominic stretched and rubbed his eyes. He had slept well
again, untroubled by dreams or nightmares. That was three nights in a row. He
put his hands behind his head, thinking about the change in him. It was due to
Zelah. She had accused him of wallowing in self-pity. He could not deny it. She
had coaxed and bullied and nagged him until finally he had erupted, his pain,
anger and guilt spilling out and the relief, to finally confess it all to
someone, had been overwhelming. That was three days ago and now he felt purged,
ready to rebuild his life, to face the world.

And it was all due to his little librarian.

Graddon brought his shaving water and Dominic considered how
best he could reward her. Money? The razor rasped over his cheek. No. He knew
her well enough now to know her proud independent spirit would never accept such
a gift, or any gift. Damnation, then how was he to thank her? One thing was
certain, he would not let her become a governess. She deserved to be her own
mistress, with her own servants to command. But how was he to engineer such a
change in her life? It must not look as if he had any hand in the affair. He
could set up an annuity and have his lawyer tell her it was from some long-lost
relative, but that would mean taking her family into his confidence, and if her
father was the upright clergyman she had described then he might not be happy to
collude in such a lie. Besides, there was not much time. The work in the library
was almost complete. Every day he dreaded that Zelah might come to him and say
she had accepted another post. And once she had left her sister’s house—

‘Marriage!’

Of course. He dropped his razor and dried his face quickly.
Maria Buckland had already thought of an excellent plan. It was up to him now to
carry it out.

* * *

When Zelah set off for another day at Rooks Tower, the
sky was a blanket of unbroken grey and a freshening wind promised rain later.
Spring was refusing to give way to summer. However, the lowering weather did not
affect her spirits. When she thought of what she had achieved in the library she
was pleased, but when she reached the house and walked through the salon, its
window shutters now folded away to allow the light to fill the elegant space,
her heart swelled with pride. She was pleased to think she was playing some part
in Major Coale’s rehabilitation, encouraging him to see that he need not lock
himself away and live a solitary existence.

She must face up to the fact that she had grown fond of the
major. Too fond. He could be overbearing and irascible, but she knew much of his
ill temper sprang from the horrific injuries he had suffered, not just to his
face, but to his mind. She had seen a softer side to his character and now her
day was not complete unless she saw him—Zelah shook her head. Heavens, what was
she thinking? She must not allow herself to become attached to Dominic Coale. It
would be foolish to dwell upon his many kindnesses to her. They meant nothing,
and if she should betray her feelings—she knew only too well how easily a man
could succumb to temptation. It had almost destroyed her once, it must not
happen again.

It was therefore a very cool and formal greeting that she gave
the major when he marched into the library the following morning, before
returning her attention to her work. He appeared not to notice.

‘You will leave off your interminable cataloguing, Miss
Pentewan. I have another job for you.’ He strode about the room as he spoke, his
hands clasped behind his back. ‘I want you to compile a list of all the families
in the county. Those with the rank of gentlemen and above, naturally.’

She paused, her pen caught in mid-air.

‘A list, sir? Very well, if that is what you want...’

‘It is, and I want it complete by tomorrow. You may need to
consult your sister on this.’

‘Yes, I think I shall have to do that.’

She stared at his broad back, wondering if she dare ask him why
he wanted these names. He swung round, catching her glance.

‘I am going to hold a ball.’

Zelah dropped her pen.

‘A—a
ball
?’ She hurriedly blotted
the ink that had splashed on to the ledger.

‘Yes. Now we have opened up the salon it seems a pity not to
use it.’ He began to pace up and down the room. ‘My sister will be coming down
to play hostess. I have already written to her. You and I will compile a list
and then you will write to everyone, inviting them to attend.’

‘And...and when is this ball to be?’

‘At midsummer. Three weeks from now.’

‘Three weeks! So little time.’

‘I know, but it cannot be helped. I have asked Mrs Graddon to
let me know what is required to make all the bedrooms habitable and I will be
sending someone to buy what is necessary—give me a list of your requirements,
pens, paper, seals and so on and they shall be fetched for you.’

‘Th-thank you,’ said Zelah, her head reeling. She listened as
he explained the steps he had already taken to prepare for the event and drew a
sheet of paper towards her to write down a few notes.

‘I think that is all,’ he said at last, rubbing his chin. ‘I
must be off to find Phillips and ask him if Old Robin has been back yet to
finish removing the moles from the south lawn.’ He strode towards the door and
stopped. ‘Oh, and remember to put your own name on the list. You and your sister
and brother-in-law will be my guests at dinner beforehand.’

‘Me? Oh, I do not think I could—’

He turned to glower at her. ‘You will do as you are bid, Miss
Pentewan. If I am going to all this trouble, then I expect you to make a little
effort, too!’

Chapter Nine

Z
elah was still
dazed when she returned to West Barton that evening
and it was a relief to unburden herself to her sister.

‘Do you not think it odd,’ she mused, ‘that a man who so very
recently lived as a recluse should suddenly take it into his head to hold a
ball?’

Maria was inclined to be complacent. ‘That is the life he has
been used to.’

‘But up until a few days ago he could not bear to look at
himself in the mirror. He kept the salon in darkness.’

‘Yes, until you showed him how nonsensical it was. You are a
beneficial influence, Zelah. Think how much he has changed since he has met
you.’

‘He would have come about, even without me, but a ball! That is
most unexpected.’

‘He appeared to be enjoying himself at the assembly,’ returned
Maria, her eyes twinkling. ‘Perhaps someone gave him the hint.’

‘Yes, but the worst thing is, he insists that I should be
there. I suppose that he feels he cannot leave me out, since you and Reginald
are invited. We are all to dine there, too, beforehand. And I am to tell you,
sister, that he will have a suite prepared for you and the children, because he
knows you will not stay away long from Baby.’

‘Well, I consider that to be exceedingly kind, and beyond
anything I was expecting.’ She cast a shrewd look at Zelah. ‘Major Coale must
think very highly of you, my dear.’

‘I think he values the work I am doing.’

‘Are you sure that is all?’

‘Of course. What else should a viscount’s son think of a
parson’s daughter?’ Zelah forced herself to speak lightly and she was glad to
see the speculation fade from Maria’s eyes.

‘Oh well, at least this will give you the opportunity to mix in
society.’

Zelah shook her head. ‘But I don’t
want
to mix.’

‘Well, you should. Who knows? There will be many gentlemen
there, and dancing has been known to lead to greater things, like an offer of
marriage.’

‘Maria, you know that is impossible.’

‘Not so,’ said Maria stoutly. ‘You have many qualities that an
honest man would look for in a wife—’

‘Not if he knows of my past. Would you have me deceive an
honest man?’ Zelah bit her lip and fixed her eyes upon her sister’s dismayed
countenance. She said gently, ‘I should not be attending this ball at all. I am
a fallen woman, Maria. If anyone should discover that—’

‘They won’t. No one outside Cardinham knows what happened to
you—why, even Reginald and I don’t know the whole!’

No, thought Zelah, sadly, she had never told anyone about the
man who had stolen her heart and her virtue. She thought back to that halcyon
summer. She had been in love and thought herself loved in return. She stifled a
sigh.

‘Well,’ she said brightly, ‘at least it will give me the
opportunity to find out if anyone requires a governess.’

* * *

Two weeks before the ball, the major’s sister arrived. A
handsome travelling carriage bowled up the drive and Zelah, watching from the
tower room, saw a lady alight. She was elegantly attired in a travelling dress
of olive green, her dark hair caught up under a stylish cap from which a number
of curling ostrich feathers nodded in the breeze. Even as she shook out her
skirts Dominic came striding out of the house and caught her up in his arms,
swinging her around. Zelah turned back to her books. She had no right to feel
jealous of the major’s lovely sister.

Down on the drive, Dominic hugged his sister. ‘It is good to
see you, Sal. How was your journey?’

‘Tiresome. If only all the roads on Exmoor were as good as this
last mile!’ She pushed herself free of his arms and stood looking him over.
‘Hmm, a vast improvement, Dom, I would not have recognised you. The last time I
saw you was at Markham and I thought then you bore a strong resemblance to a
bear. And you are no longer limping.’

He grinned. ‘The Exmoor air agrees with me. Come inside. We
will drink a glass of wine while they take your baggage to your room.’ He kept
his arm around her as he swept her inside.

‘So this is your new home.’ She gazed up at the impressive roof
of the hall as they passed through. ‘A touch Gothic for you, Dom.’

‘This side of the house is the original, but do not despair,
the bedrooms have every comfort, including new windows that do not rattle in the
night. Later I will show you the salon and the library, more recent additions to
the building.’

‘Ah, yes, the library. You wrote to tell me you had a home at
last for all your books!’

‘Yes.’ He looked down to brush a speck of dust from his sleeve
before continuing in a casual tone, ‘I have found a librarian to put them in
order for me.’

‘Ah, good.’

‘A woman.’

The choking sound from his sister made him smile inwardly, but
his look was all innocent concern. Sally was not deceived.

‘The devil you have,’ she said rudely. ‘She is a beauty, I
suppose.’

‘Not particularly. She is kin to the Bucklands and I took her
on because she lives at West Barton, so I did not need to have her living here.’
His lips curved upward. ‘Actually, she has done an excellent job of creating
order from the chaos that was the library. But that is not important—we have a
ball to organise.’

He pulled out the list of names Zelah had written out and
handed it to Sally, who perused it carefully.

‘Well, you can add Jasper to the list. He will come, if he can.
He is currently in town and waiting to see what changes Prinny will make now he
is Regent.’

Dominic nodded. It would be good to see his twin again. ‘What
about Ben?’

‘My darling husband is in the Peninsula and the last I heard he
was with the army at Albuerra.’

Dom gave a mirthless laugh. ‘Ah, yes, our so-called victory.
The losses were terrible, I hear.’

‘I know. It is very sad. I think Ben is safer as an
intelligence officer.’

He nodded, then said abruptly, ‘Do you worry about him?’

‘Of course.’ Sally’s smile softened and her eyes took on a
dreamy, faraway look. ‘I cannot wait until he comes back again.’

Something twisted deep in his gut and Dominic found himself
wondering if any woman would ever have such a look for him.

‘You have finished your wine, Sal. Would you like more, or can
I take you to meet my librarian? I fear if we wait until you have changed your
gown she will have left.’

‘Take me to her,’ said Sally immediately. ‘I am agog to see the
woman you will trust with your precious books.’

Sally’s tone was light, but her interest in the unknown
employee was very real. She followed him across the hall, not knowing what she
would find. Some harpy, perhaps bent on securing a wealthy husband. Or an
eccentric bluestocking. What she did not expect was a slender girl with
sun-streaked brown hair and golden skin. She would be looked upon askance at
Almack’s, where pale skin was so fashionable and even the odd freckle was
frowned upon. Not a harpy, then. Her high-necked grey gown was plain to the
point of severity and with her hair strained back into a knot at the nape of her
neck, Sally thought the girl was doing her best
not
to attract any man’s attention.

Observing Dominic’s constraint as he made the introduction, and
Miss Pentewan’s faint blush, Sally was even more intrigued. She gave Zelah her
most friendly smile.

‘Dominic tells me you are making excellent progress with his
wretched books. Why he had to collect so many I really cannot think! I do hope
you will be able to spare some time to help me organise this ball.’

‘Yes, ma’am, if you wish it.’

Her voice was soft, musical even and the smile lurking in her
hazel eyes hinted at a mischievous sense of humour. A pleasant enough child, but
nothing to attract her brother. When he had been on the town, his flirts had
always been diamonds of the first water and even his mistresses—of whom she was
supposed to know nothing—had been ripe beauties. What he saw in this
unremarkable young woman she did not know.

‘You are free to give Mrs Hensley as much assistance as she
needs,’ barked Dominic, as if impatient to be gone. ‘The library can wait until
after the ball.’

Sally inclined her head. ‘That is very kind of you,
Dominic.’

‘Not at all. There is still a deal of work to be done out of
doors and I shall not be able to give you as much attention as I would
like.’

‘Ah, I see now. You are shuffling off your responsibilities,
brother. Very well, Miss Pentewan, we shall begin tomorrow by looking at the
lists you have drawn up and seeing how many have replied. But that will have to
be in the afternoon. Tomorrow morning I want to be shown around the estate.’ She
turned to Zelah. ‘Do you ride, Miss Pentewan?’

‘I was used to, but not any more. There are no mounts suitable
for a lady at West Barton.’

‘Oh, if that is all then I will provide you with a mount. I
brought two of my own hacks, because Dom warned me how bad the roads can be. Do
you have a riding habit?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Then that is settled. We will go riding tomorrow, if the
weather holds.’

She paused, raising her brows at Zelah, who clasped her hands
together, saying, ‘I am very grateful for the offer, but I am afraid I cannot
ride out with you. I am a librarian—’

‘Hell and damnation,’ growled Dominic, ‘you will be whatever I
pay you to be!’

Zelah’s head went up.

‘I am no bondservant! If that is what you think, then I am
sorry to disappoint you and we will part now.’

Sally put up her hands. ‘Of course he does not think that, Miss
Pentewan. Shame on you, Dominic, did you leave your manners behind when you
moved here?’

After a tense interlude he shook his head. ‘I beg your pardon,
Miss Pentewan,’ he ground out. ‘I would be
much
obliged
if you would accompany my sister when she rides out tomorrow.
Since I cannot go with her myself, I would feel happier knowing she did not go
with only a groom for company.’

There was a proud tilt to Zelah’s chin and the stormy look was
still in her eyes as she met Dominic’s fiery glare. So the drab little librarian
had steel in her soul.

Good for her,
thought Sally
appreciatively,
but is she a match for Dominic?

She waited silently and saw the anger fade from her brother’s
eyes. His tone was quite cordial as he posed his next question.

‘Do you
dislike
riding, Miss
Pentewan?’

‘On the contrary, but there is no place for it in my life
now.’

‘Not even if it will assist me?’

‘Dominic, do not press her,’ Sally began, but he waved his hand
and continued in a coaxing tone,

‘Come, are you so eager to finish working in my library that
you cannot leave it for another day?’

A soft blush suffused Zelah’s cheeks. ‘It—it is not that,’ she
stammered. ‘I really do not think it is my place...’

‘My dear Miss Pentewan, I really would be most grateful for
your company,’ said Sally. ‘I shall keep you away from your work for no more
than two hours—three at the most. Do say you will come.’

‘I would enjoy it very much, ma’am, but I do not think it
possible. I could not sit down in here in all my dirt, and to go home and change
would severely curtail my day...’

‘Then take the whole day off, madam. I am not such an ogre that
I will prevent you having any pleasure.’

‘There you are,’ said Sally triumphantly, ‘You are to take a
day’s holiday, Miss Pentewan!’

* * *

‘My dear, you will wear out the carpet!’

Maria’s laughing protest halted Zelah as she paced up and down
the morning room and she dropped into a chair, albeit one with a view of the
drive.

They were in the morning room at West Barton. Breakfast was
finished, Zelah had donned her riding habit and was waiting for Sally Hensley to
arrive. She could not deny she was looking forward to riding out. She had
enjoyed riding her father’s hack at Cardinham and she had brought her riding
habit with her to West Barton. However, Maria had explained to Zelah that she
had sold her horse, for there would not be any opportunity for her to ride until
little Reginald was older. What Zelah knew, although it remained unspoken, was
that there was no money to spare for such a luxury. Zelah had resigned herself
to the fact that she would never ride again, but now Major Coale’s delightful
sister had not only invited her to ride, but was willing to provide a mount,
too.

Zelah had spent some little time wondering if she should have
held fast and refused to go. But it had been far too tempting an offer and when
Sally eventually arrived, and Zelah was at last mounted upon the spirited bay
mare, she could not regret her decision. The mare tossed her head and snorted,
playfully sidestepping across the drive while Zelah kept control with the
lightest hold on the reins.

‘She is very lively, but you have her measure.’ Sally nodded
approvingly as Zelah brought her mount alongside Sally’s glossy black horse.

‘She is delightful.’ Zelah laughed. ‘What is her name?’

‘Portia. After Shakespeare.’ Sally chuckled. ‘Dom and Jasper
had taken me to see
The Merchant of Venice
as half
of my birthday treat. Portia was the other half. She is a delightful ride and
can cover miles without flagging, but then my husband bought Ebony for me.’ She
leaned forwards and stroked her horse’s gleaming neck. ‘Poor Portia was
ousted.’

‘I do not know how you can choose between them,’ commented
Zelah as they rode out into the lane.

‘Ebony was a present from my darling Ben. When you have a
much-loved husband you too will value any gift he gives you.’

‘I do not intend to marry. I am going to be a governess.’

‘Goodness. Wouldn’t you rather have a husband?’

‘No.’ Realising this bald answer might be a little rude, she
added, ‘I would rather be independent than marry the wrong man.’