Silver Sea (18 page)

"Good, good!" Lady Thomasina clapped her plump hands. "Jarrow, send for the berlin and a team of horses. And, Miss Beau, do dash off and bring back my blue silk turban and whatever else one takes to town." She waved her away. "Hurry now!"

Her son was about to go off in search of his own hat and cane, but as he passed the tub chair, a hand clasped the tail of his frock coat. "Hunty, wait!"

"What? Why are you whispering?"

"I want to be certain that she's out of earshot," Lady Thomasina murmured. "Yes? Hunty, dear, don't you see that you and I are having the same brilliant notion about Miss Beau? Your regard for her is clear, and I approve most heartily. She would be the ideal woman for you, my dear!"

His brown eyes widened. "Let's not get carried away, Mummy. I mean, I don't think we ought to leap to conclusions."

"Why not? She puts your other bits of muslin in the shade. And, Hunty, I can see that, in order for you to woo her, you must have Nathan Essex out of the way. I adore him, but he's far too much of a distraction for that girl." Lady Thomasina wore a satisfied smile. "You see, I can help you. I am in charge, after all, and wield a good deal of power over both of them."

Huntsford tapped a manicured finger against his mouth. "Ah, yes. Point taken, Mummy." He might not have the same goal in mind as she did, but that didn't mean he would turn aside her efforts to help him win Adrienne. His mother was quite right; she could be very effective in aiding him to come between Adrienne and Nathan.

Chapter 10

The cobbled streets of Winchester glistened with rain, though the sun now shone brightly. It was a market day, and the hilly town was crowded with people who had come from the green Hampshire downs to sell or buy wares.

High Street was the center of the market, so Adrienne, Huntsford Harms, his mother, and their coachman found that College Street was even quieter than usual. The creak of cartwheels and the din of voices were replaced by bird-song from nearby gardens and the gentle murmur of the River Itchen.

They had disembarked from the berlin near the castle wall by the river. Adrienne couldn't help remembering the scene of high drama that had occurred there, when Walter Frakes-Hogg had tried to force her into the old tower. Days later, it all seemed like a bad dream. With Huntsford on one side and Adrienne on the other, Lady Thomasina waddled west along College Street quite happily, pointing out landmarks to her companion.

"So much history here, Miss Beau! You French have no idea."

"I'm not completely French, my lady," Adrienne hastened to amend. "My parents were both raised in Philadelphia and settled in France only after they were married. Our chateau was my grandfather's ancestral home."

"Hmm. Well, you weren't raised in England, in any event. That was my point. Look to your left, Miss Beau. There is Winchester College! It was begun in 1382 by William of Wykeham, who also founded New College at Oxford...."

Adrienne listened with one ear to her ladyship's speech about the history of the college. She could see the Gothic buildings beyond a particularly lovely garden that made her think of Jane Austen, whose home adjoined those grounds. How much pleasure she must have taken from those bright flowers during her final summer.

When they reached 8 College Street, Adrienne stared at the modest house. It was easy to imagine the invalid authoress sitting in the first-floor bow window and watching people walk where Adrienne now stood. "Do you suppose that she was happy here at all?"

"She was only in residence from May until July," Lady Thomasina said in gloomy tones. "Dr. Lyford told me that he hoped to cure her and that she did walk about the rooms during the day. She took a sedan chair outdoors at least once...."

The medieval Kingsgate was nearby, at the end of College Street, and Adrienne felt a chill under its shadowed arch. It was difficult to understand why someone as young and gifted as Jane Austen should die. "I suppose that she must not have known the end was near. I mean, she did come to Winchester to be near her physician, hoping for a cure...."

Huntsford spoke up at last. "I say, too much doom and death for one day, don't you think? Why don't we bundle into the coach and go somewhere for a nice spot of sherry?"

"I want to go inside the cathedral first," Adrienne said stubbornly.

"Whatever for? Just a lot of flying buttresses or some such!"

As they started north to the cathedral precincts, the berlin following at a distance, his mother whispered, "She wants to see her grave."

"Grave! Bloody hell! Whose grave?"

"Shh, Hunty!" Lady Thomasina gave him a pinch. "Show a little consideration for Miss Beau's sensibilities."

Those words broke through to him. Adrienne had paused to wait for them in front of the cathedral, and Harms took that opportunity to mend his image. He strode toward Adrienne and said, "You're very considerate of Mummy. She does like the security of one of us on each side."

Adrienne was looking particularly fetching in a lilac-hued promenade dress with a matching bonnet lined with white satin. Gazing up at the cathedral, she seemed oblivious to his words. "Isn't it spectacular?" She turned sparkling green eyes toward Lady Thomasina. "I am anxious to know more."

"I find that I am growing tired, Miss Beau. My legs, you know. I believe I'll take a seat on this bench, and you go inside with Hunty. He'll be your guide."

"Oh, my lady, I couldn't leave you—"

"I
insist.
Hunty, do assert yourself."

He seized the moment, clasping Adrienne's hand around his arm with authority. "Don't argue, Miss Beauvisage. Mummy wouldn't send us off without her if she didn't truly want it." Strolling into the great nave of the cathedral, his mind went blank. Finally, he confessed that although he'd heard the history of the grand building many times he remembered nothing.

Adrienne found herself quite taken with this uncertain side of Huntsford Harms. He was usually so self-important and vain, two qualities that she found terribly dull, but the sight of him blushing and admitting that he was not a very fit cathedral guide endeared him to her.

"Never mind, my lord. We'll learn together."

He basked in the light of her smile. "Call me Huntsford. We are friends, are we not?"

"Yes, of course, and you must call me Adrienne."

As they rambled together through the long nave, she gleaned bits of the cathedral's story by listening to other visitors. "The transepts are Norman, of course," whispered one man, while a tall young lady informed a group of children that the nave, with its intricate web of fan vaulting, was the work of William of Wykeham.

"Did you hear that?" Huntsford murmured, bending close to Adrienne's ear. "That fellow certainly was busy! Seems to me he was a bishop."

"There, you see," she teased. "You do remember something!"

They tried with limited success to stifle their laughter, since every sound was magnified to an appalling degree inside the cathedral. An elderly couple standing nearby gave them stern glances, and Adrienne bit her lip.

They found the slab marking Jane Austen's grave in the north aisle of the nave. Seeing his companion's solemn expression, Huntsford put on a suitably respectful attitude. His throat was dry, however, and he badly craved a drink. Moments later he guided her out into the sunshine.

"I had wanted to see the mortuary chests of the Anglo-Saxon kings," Adrienne said with a note of longing. "There is so much history in Winchester! I've heard that there is a Round Table displayed in the old Norman castle not far from here, and some believe it was the one King Arthur used. I don't suppose..."

"Dear friend, I should love nothing more than a visit to the Great Hall to view the Round Table, but I fear that we must save that for another day, when we are not accompanied by Mummy." Huntsford feigned disappointment. "Shall we have an outing of our own very soon? Perhaps on Tuesday? We'll do anything you like."

"Yes. I accept with pleasure." As they walked back toward Lady Thomasina, Adrienne continued to chatter about the legends of King Arthur, and Huntsford made charming replies. His eyes caressed her attentively, and it occurred to her that it was enjoyable to be treated thus. Nathan, on the other hand, was arrogant, cynical, and apt to behave as if she were a mischievous child rather than a beautiful, fascinating woman.

"Ah, there you are, you two!" Lady Thomasina could not have looked more smug if they'd appeared wearing wedding rings. "Clearly, you are getting on very well. I knew that Hunty needed more intellectual stimulation than those other gooseish girls could provide."

"Mummy, do try to contain yourself," he said, smiling through clenched teeth. "You'll frighten her away."

"Nonsense!" Adrienne's tone was cheerful. She took her ladyship's other arm and together they hefted her to her feet. "Shall we treat ourselves to tea at the Wessex? I hear they have lovely little cakes and sweets."

"Why not champagne?" Huntsford suggested.

The mood was nearly euphoric as the trio started down the footpath toward Kingsgate Street and their waiting berlin. Then Adrienne happened to look off across the cathedral grounds. A man was striding toward them, pushing aside the branches of a red oak tree that had grown across his path.

Could it be...?

"Adrienne!" the man called. Emerging into the sunlight, he raised a hand to her.

"We mustn't dawdle," Lady Thomasina cautioned. The berlin was just a few steps away. The coachman opened the door as they approached.

"Nathan!" Without a thought, she released Lady Thomasina's arm and ran toward him, skirts raised. It was the most amazing thing—Adrienne's entire body was transformed by his presence. Her face was warm, her heart raced, and a certain joy rushed through her veins so that she tingled as she drew near to Nathan.

"How many times have I told you not to go off without me?" he scolded, his handsome face forbidding. He reached out and grasped her arm with one hand, as if to assure himself that it was indeed she, and that she was whole and safe. "I cannot turn my back for one hour—"

"Why are you so relentlessly horrid?" Adrienne tried to turn away from him, pouting. "How could I have imagined that I missed you today?"

Behind her, his expression softened. "Missed me, did you? What exactly did you miss?"

She felt his chest graze her back, and a jolting weakness overtook her. "Don't be impossible. I—I was simply looking forward to our outing. I had the mad idea that you and I would have fun, but clearly you were otherwise occupied with that suspicious fellow you call your cousin!"

"Devil take it, we weren't supposed to come into Winchester until tomorrow! If I'd guessed that you would go off and throw yourself in the way of danger—"

"Huntsford has protected me very nicely"

Nathan could scarcely refrain from picking her up and carrying her off. It was particularly maddening to realize that the Harmses were watching. "So, it's Huntsford now? If you are harboring any notion that
he
can be trusted to look after you, kindly dispel it immediately!"

"I think you are jealous!" Eyes flashing, Adrienne turned back just in time to see the exposed emotion in his face. Every nerve in her body ached for his embrace, longed to taste his kiss....

Several dozen yards away, Lady Thomasina cuffed her son's arm. "Aren't you going to intervene?"

His thoughts were far away, with Walter Frakes-Hogg. It seemed that all the pieces had shifted since the night at the White Ostrich, when he'd promised to kill Nathan Essex. He had never had much hope of doing that, for there was an excellent chance that the bigger man would instead kill
him
in self-defense. It had seemed wise to agree, though, and stall as long as possible, for he didn't trust Frakes-Hogg to treat him fairly in any event.

Harms also feared that, after he'd been employed to murder the Scapegrace, he might be murdered himself just to keep the loose ends tidy. Frakes-Hogg had taken great pains to make certain no one knew he was even in Winchester, let alone associated with Harms. If Huntsford had an "accident," who would suspect Walter Frakes-Hogg?

Adrienne had been a happy diversion from these problems, and his new feelings for her were entirely unexpected. Now, watching Adrienne with Essex, his heart sank. The first step toward shifting the balance would be for Huntsford to prove to Adrienne that he could be just as strong and protective as Essex.

He took snuff and tried to ignore his mother's voice. Perhaps there was a way for Huntsford to correct Adrienne's image of him, drive a wedge between her and Essex, and eliminate the problem of Walter Frakes-Hogg, all at the same time....

* * *

Adrienne allowed Alistair to pour more claret into her glass, and she drank it, then yawned. "I'm not much good to you tonight, I'm afraid."

Across the card table, Huntsford examined a fingernail. "It's all the same anyway. The games, I mean."

Alistair rolled his eyes. "I've known you all my life, Harms, and you've never been bored by gaming, drinking, or—"

"Did I solicit your opinion?" he snapped. "You've had too much to drink. Again."