Josie Dennis (9 page)

Frederick cupped her chin and turned her to face him. “Then what, pray, is the issue?”

Her heart clenched as the truth struck her. “You, Frederick. You are precisely the issue.”

His beautiful mouth dropped open. “What are you saying?”

She couldn’t speak it, the certainty in her soul that his attentions could never be held by one woman for long. Considering the fact that she’d also been with James, there was little to keep
him
faithful to her now. As for James? She knew he would be hers, forever if she wanted it so. But when the resentment inevitably set in? When he was forced to acknowledge that his wife gave herself willingly to another man? He would hate her as surely as Frederick would forget her.

Her heart shattered, at last no longer torn in two equal parts. No, there were now far too many pieces to ever put back together again.

“Go, please,” she whispered.

“No.” Frederick grabbed her shoulders. “We want you, Isabella. Both of us.”

Fear curled in her belly as her heart attempted to believe his words. “No.”

“Why not?” James asked, his eyes clouded. “You cannot deny that you care for us.”

“Care for you?” A sob escaped her. “Oh, I care for you both. That is true.”

Frederick smiled that crooked grin she loved. “Then what is the trouble?”

For one insane moment she longed to give in to them both. To take their mild affection and rampant desire as enough for as long as it lasted. She wanted more than the moment, however.

She wanted forever.

They took her silence as a kind of agreement and began to make love to her again. As tears coursed down her cheeks, her release so sharp and sweet she cried with it, she knew this was the last time she would be with either one of them.

Three days, she thought as they again collapsed on the bed together. It was passing strange, but now that seemed like far too long a time to endure their closeness without their love.

* * * *

“You were right, of course,” James intoned as he walked beside Frederick in the formal gardens. “It was remarkable. She was remarkable.”

Frederick nodded. “And more than even I expected. But afterward, James. Her reception was not what I’d expected after our proposal.”

James shook his head. “That was no proposal. We should have convinced her that we love her.”

Frederick stopped and turned, arching a brow. “So you admit you love her?”

James let out a breath. “Yes. Now will you?”

Frederick barked out a laugh. “All right, friend. I love her, too.”

James waited for a twinge of jealousy, but after seeing Frederick loving Isabella he knew they belonged together as much as she and himself. After both being as close to her as two men could get, he knew the three of them were meant to be. It was beyond curious, but there it was, as clear as the attraction Catherine had sensed for weeks now.

“I can marry her,” he said.

Frederick shook his head. “No, James. I have Norrington Abbey and a fortune I inherited from my mother. I will not relinquish either of them.”

“Marriage to you would be advantageous to Isabella, to be sure. But why would you have to relinquish anything?” Realization dawned on James. “Your father? No! Do not say he would disinherit you?”

“In the space of a heartbeat. He’s a coldhearted bastard, though I’m ashamed to admit that for years I tried to emulate his image. It sickens me that our dilemma stems from my careless behavior. Yes, I’d still have my mother’s money, but the abbey? He’d bar me from it.”

James thought for a moment. “Have you talked to your brother?”

“About what, pray?”

“The abbey, Frederick. Do you believe he would claim the property?”

Frederick shook his head. “Henry wants nothing to do with the general or the abbey. Or myself, I’m certain.”

“The two of you are estranged. I’ve known that.”

“My brother hates me. Plain and simple.”

James studied his friend for a long moment. Frederick looked sad and shocked and a little red around his eyes. James placed an arm around his shoulders. “Your brother is a fair man, Frederick. If Catherine wasn’t happily married to John I would be exceedingly pleased had she chosen your brother.”

Frederick laughed softly. “She did.”

James opened his mouth to object then realized the hypocrisy of such a declaration. “As you say. Talk to him. He’s devoted to both Catherine and John. Loyalty runs deep in Henry. I’ve seen it.”

Frederick’s shoulders slumped. “I may have lost any chance I had to be close to my brother. It has been so since our mother’s passing.”

James shook his head. “I am sorry for that, then.”

“I’ve changed since last year, friend. I feel I’m changing still. Isabella is one reason, true. But you are the other.”

Sincerity was in all his looks, and James’s throat tightened. “You are like a brother to me now. Depend upon it.”

Frederick nodded again then squared his shoulders. “I want to give Isabella everything, and to do that I have to marry her.”

“Yes.”

“You are to be a part of our union, James. Promise me?”

In his soul it felt right to give his vow. “I promise.” There was still a large obstacle to their plan, however. “What of your father? I won’t have Isabella anywhere near him.”

“I agree. I have but two more days to set matters to rights. I’ll speak to Henry about that, and perhaps we can arrive at a solution.” Frederick smiled that crooked grin of his. “I may have familial harmony at last. Two brothers and a wife. Imagine that.”

James felt a shift in his chest. Their mutual attraction for Isabella had brought both of them something far more.

He prayed it was enough of a bond to hold Isabella to them forever.

Frederick thought all night about what he and James had discussed. Isabella was worth everything, even crawling to his brother and apologizing for every misdeed and flippant insult he’d ever hurled in his direction.

He and James vowed to stay away from Isabella last night, due to her reaction after the last time they were all together. He suspected James had as much trouble sleeping as he’d had.

The fact that the sun’s rising saw him up and about was enough to assure him he needed to do something to resolve his life before he could get on with it. John and Henry had taken to riding the estate early in the morning, for exercise and surely to avoid the general’s company in the breakfast room. And his own, no doubt.

He strode into the breakfast room now to find the two of them finishing their coffee. Catherine and Isabella were absent. As was the general, thank God. Frederick nodded at John and faced his brother.

“Henry, I would like to have a word with you if I may.”

Henry stared at him, his brows raised. “With me? Whatever for?”

“I trust you still plan to return to Somersetshire on the morrow?”

Henry looked to John, some silent communication passing between them. Henry finally nodded to Frederick. “Yes.”

“Then I must ask you once more to speak with me in private.”

Henry must have seen the desperation on his face, but Frederick wouldn’t hide behind his usual sardonic expression. It was past time to show himself to his brother.

“All right.” He stood, placing his napkin on his empty plate. “I suppose five minutes in your company is sufficient tariff to pay for release from the abbey.”

He let his brother’s well-deserved comment go and waved him ahead of him toward the library. Once inside, he closed the doors and faced Henry.

“I have to ask you something, Henry. And I need you to be honest with me.”

Henry bristled. “I have never been anything but. It is you who dissembles as easily as breathing, Frederick.”

He took a breath and held out his hands. “I know it will take a lot on my part to make up for my behavior since Mother’s death. I ask you to set that aside for a moment and listen to my plea.”

Henry raked his fingers through his hair and sat. “I am surely a fool, but go on.”

Frederick took a breath of relief. “Thank you. I have fallen in love, Henry. With Isabella.”

“You?” He snorted. “In love? Never say it’s so.”

“It is. And what’s more, I believe she loves me.”

Henry shrugged. “Father will be pleased. She has a generous fortune.”

“That is not what draws me. Not her money or Father’s dubious approval.”

“Then what? Ah, you think to have a wife here at the abbey and diddle all the maids. Lovely. It will be a marriage as our father had before you.”

“Never!” Henry seemed surprised by Frederick’s outburst, so he took the opportunity to forge ahead. “I want a true marriage, one our parents never had. I need your help, however.”

“With what? Convincing the lady in question? You hardly need my help to coax a woman to do what you wish.”

“I want to marry her and bring her to the abbey. But I do not want the general anywhere near her. Now and forever.”

Henry crossed his arms and leaned back. “You astound me yet again, brother.”

“I’ve astounded myself, actually. Should she agree to marry me and stay here, James will stay as well.”

He let his words settle on Henry, and knew they struck the proper chord when his cheeks reddened. “You and Isabella. And James?”

“You do not wear a look of shock, Henry. Then my suppositions are correct?”

“I will not speak of Catherine,” Henry bit out.

“And I should never have spoken of her last year. That was poorly done of me.”

Henry gave a curt nod. “Good. But what do you want from me?”

“The truth is I need you.” He swallowed. “You are my brother and I value your opinion. Please help me.”

Henry studied him then nodded. “You are dead serious, Frederick. You will keep yourself to Isabella? I think of her as a sister of my own, you know.”

“I know. She is fortunate to have the family I wish we had growing up.”

“Father is a reprobate and Mother was miserable.” He ran his gaze over Frederick once more. “I admit that I almost believe you do not want to follow in Father’s boot tracks. At long last.”

“I do not. I want what you have, Henry. I want love.”

Henry smiled, a bright expression he hadn’t seen on his brother’s face since his abrupt departure from the abbey last year.

“You have my support, Frederick. Together we’ll convince the general to relinquish the abbey to you and your wife.” He waved a hand. “He has any number of friends who would accept him for extended visits, both in London and in the country. And when he stops here for the occasional visit? All three of you shall come to Thorne Manor.”

Frederick grinned and grabbed his brother in a hug, tears stinging his eyes. “Thank you.”

Amazingly, Henry returned the embrace. If he could gain a bit of his brother’s love at this late date, perhaps he and James could convince the woman they loved to take an even bigger chance on the two of them.

* * * *

Isabella sat once more with Catherine, seeing the excitement and relief on her friend’s face. Tomorrow they would all return to Thorne Manor. Would James come as well? She couldn’t bear it if he did, truth to be told. Seeing him without Frederick would be torture. They each held an equal share of her heart. Would it even keep beating if she left either one of them?

“I cannot wait to get home,” Catherine gushed. “Henry is meeting with his father today, which should effectively sever any attachments he feels to the abbey.”

“He hates it here, doesn’t he?”

“No. I believe he has sad memories here, however. It should come as no surprise that his parents’ marriage was not a happy one.”

Isabella didn’t stifle the shiver that thought incited. “I imagine so.”

Was Frederick thinking to have a marriage like his father’s? Populating the abbey with young maids to see to his needs when the mood struck? That night in her bed, loving them at the same time, was something she could relive forever. It was a pity that would only be in her head. Those were sad memories indeed.

“John said Henry and Frederick spoke at length in private yesterday.”

That seemed extremely odd to her. To her recollection, they hadn’t spent more than two minutes in each other’s company the entire length of their stay. “Henry and Frederick spoke?”

“I was worried Henry’s brother would attempt to convince him to extend our visit,” Catherine went on. “But no, we leave on the morrow.”

“On the morrow,” Isabella echoed in a small voice. “I suppose I should see to my things.”

“Are you coming with us?” Catherine winked. “I thought you would wish to stay here.”

Isabella’s mouth dropped open. “Why?”

“Isn’t this where your heart is?”

“My heart?” Isabella’s hands fluttered until she clasped them tightly in her lap. “I do not know to what you are referring.”

“You and Frederick, Isabella. I believe you are attached to him.”

“I do not…” She felt tears burning behind her lids. “Yes. I love Frederick.” Oh, it felt heavenly to admit at least half of the truth.

“I knew it! Hmm. What shall become of my brother, however? I do not wish to see his heart broken.”

She couldn’t conceal everything from Catherine any longer. “I love James, too. Oh, you must think me an evil creature.”

“Evil? Hardly that. Who am I to tell you where to give your heart?”

Isabella wiped at her damp eyes, shaking her head. “You misunderstand me. I have been with both of them, Catherine.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “At the same time.”

Catherine’s laughter, light and tinkling, was completely unexpected. “Truly? Oh, that explains so much.”

“What?”

“James and Frederick, constantly in each other’s pockets. They have grown so close, and now I know why. I daresay they love you, too. Even that scoundrel Frederick appears to have changed his stripes.”

“He is a scoundrel,” Isabella said. “But are you not shocked by my confession?”

Catherine leaned forward. “I am in love with two men as well, Isabella. I am the luckiest of women to know in my heart that they love me, too.”

“It is true, then? What Frederick…You and John and Henry?”