Trondelaine Castle (20 page)

When he was gone, Wendy rose and hobbled back to
the castle and the safety of her room. Needing
something to soothe her, she worked for a time on her
needlework. And wished, in vain, for Kevin’s presence.

As it happened, there was no time for her to talk with
him before dinner. Wendy heard the loud, laughing
voices as Kevin and Lord Richard returned, but they
headed immediately to their rooms to change.

A short time later, she stood in front of the mirror
with a satisfied smile. Her hair and makeup suited her
perfectly, though it was quite likely the men wouldn’t
even notice.

Head high and back straight, she moved down the
hall toward the James Room. She would not be afraid
of the Earl and she was determined he should know it.
Outside the James Room, Wendy halted, momentarily
uncertain. Then, resolutely, she stepped forward. The
three men turned to look at her. “Good evening, Lord
Richard,” Wendy said, with a smile. “Tony. Kevin,
how was your day?”

Perhaps it was the way Kevin answered, “Fine,” and
put an arm around her waist. Perhaps it was the
contemptuous smile on Tony’s face. Whatever, some
impulse of mischief made her move to Lord Richard’s
side and say, “May I please have a glass of sherry?”

“Certainly, my dear.” Was there a note of triumph in
the Earl’s voice?

Ignoring Kevin’s scowl and the back Tony had
turned on her, Wendy took the glass and walked back
to Kevin. Indicating he should sit on the sofa beside
her, she asked again, “So tell me about your day, luv.”

Manfully, he matched her tone. “Oh, jolly well
interesting. We rode quite a distance, you know. I even
beat his lordship in a short race.”

“I still dispute that!” a sharp voice said.

Wendy looked up to see the Earl seated facing her,
frowning. Kevin, growing bolder, remarked carelessly,
“Oh, I shall give you a rematch tomorrow, if you wish.
But the results will be the same.”

“Excuse me!” muttered a voice and, as they turned,
the three saw Tony head for the doorway.

But before he could reach it, Charles had appeared
to announce the evening meal. With good grace, Tony
conceded defeat and led the way to the dining hall.
Lord Richard, Kevin, and Wendy formed a small
cluster that trailed behind. A grim humor pervaded the
meal and only Wendy, it seemed, was quite at ease.

She was determined to take Kevin aside after dinner
and perhaps they could leave tonight. She was almost
completely packed and surely he wouldn’t take much
time with his things. With that purpose in mind, she
tried to take his arm after dinner.

But before she could, the Earl was beside her, saying,
“Shall we adjourn to the music room? I believe you owe
me a game of chess, Kevin.”

“Right-o!”

Tony muttered some excuse and disappeared. In the
music room, Wendy tried again. “Kevin, could I please
speak with you? Alone?”

Kevin looked at her oddly. “Sure we can talk, luv.”

He didn’t move and Wendy repeated, “I said, alone!”

Kevin smiled easily. “Now, luv, anything you have to
say, you can say in front of his lordship.”

“No, I can’t!”

Kevin shrugged and turned to the Earl. “The chess
game?”

Lord Richard nodded and the two men sat down at
the chess table as Wendy watched in disbelief.
Carefully, she tried to calm herself, saying silently that
Kevin just didn’t realize how serious she was. When she
had herself in hand again, Wendy sat down beside the
two men to watch the game.

Listening to their comments and watching their
faces, she grew aware of how much alike Kevin and
Lord Richard were just then. And the realization
chilled her. Both men seemed to delight in mocking
her, from time to time, as the game progessed and,
finally, she fled the room. And in her bedroom, Wendy
cried.

Wendy was awake very early the next morning. In
fact, it could not honestly be said that she had slept.
She had waited a long time the night before for the
chess game to end and for Kevin to come to talk with
her. But he never did and, finally, she heard the
laughter of the two men as they climbed the stairs
together.

Wendy had then spent a number of hours going
over, in her mind, her relationship with Kevin. It was
not pleasant to realize she had been looking at him
blindly for the most part. And ignoring her own doubts
and needs.

Kevin had offered a carefree sort of life and a
relationship in which she would not need to take
responsibility. For he had made it clear, more than once, that he felt he should make all decisions that
would affect his household, if he ever married. It had
seemed a safe, sheltering proposition. And who cared if
Kevin were a little callous?

But it did matter. Very much. And suddenly Wendy
realized she didn’t want to be sheltered. Sure, it was
easier; but it meant giving up so much. Too much. You
were only half alive if you never took responsibility for
your actions. If you didn’t think and act on your own
sometimes.

And what Kevin wanted, in a way, was a wind-up
doll who would look attractive, keep house and cook
for him, and never interfere in “important” matters.
Oh, she could have a job, if it would keep her happy, so
long as it didn’t inconvenience him.

Maybe that’s what hurt most: the fact that he
wouldn’t care greatly what she did so long as he needn’t
take notice of it. How could you be really close to
someone like that? And if you couldn’t, then what was
the point of marriage?

By dawn, Wendy knew she would never marry
Kevin. As soon as she saw him, she would ask him to
drive her back to London and on the way she would tell
him. He’d be angry about their vacation, but that
couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t be any more upset
about the fool she’d been than she was.

After breakfast, Wendy asked Gwen if she had seen
Kevin. “He’s in the music room, Miss Pratt,” was the
prompt reply.

As she entered the room, Kevin stood up. “There
you are, luv. I was about to go looking for you. I’ve got
something I want to say.” He hesitated, as though
suddenly nervous. “Sit down, ducks, you look ragged.”

Afraid of what she knew he was about to say, Wendy began to chatter. “Kevin, 1 need to talk to you also. I
want to leave here. I-”

He cut her off. “Of course we can leave. Just as soon
as we’ve made the accouncement. I shall love watching
his lordship’s face.”

“What announcement?” Wendy asked ominously.

“Why, our engagement, luv.”

“There isn’t going to be any announcement!” she
retorted. “I’m not going to marry you.” She hesitated
as she saw his face darken, then plunged on. “Kevin,
I’m sorry. I’m flattered that you want to marry me, and
I like you very much. But in the past few days, I’ve
come to realize that I don’t love you and never could.
So you see, it wouldn’t be fair for me to marry you.”

“All I see is that you’ve got your eye on his lordship’s
money!”

“Kevin!”

“No? What else could make you act like this so
suddenly? A few weeks ago you would have been
delighted to be engaged to me!” He shook his head. “So
this is it, eh? I have my walking papers and I’m to leave?
Just like that?”

“Kevin, I am so far from being interested in the Earl
that I want to leave Trondelaine. Today. Now. With
you.,,

Kevin visibly relaxed. “Okay, luv. I understand.
You’re upset. These last few weeks have been rather a
strain for you. We’ll go on to Scarborough as we
planned. And soon you’ll feel right-o again.”

Wendy sighed. “Kevin, I am feeling `right-o,’ as you
put it. And I’m not going to change my mind about us,
if that’s what you’re thinking. Nor do I want to go to
Scarborough. I want to go back to London.”

“No! I don’t know what you’re plotting, ducks, about his nibs, but I shan’t help you. If you won’t go to
Scarborough with me, then you can jolly well find your
own way back to London!”

Before she could say anything more, Kevin was out
the door and she was alone. Wendy sank down onto a
chair. What on earth could she do now?

For a while, Wendy simply sat there. The only choice
left seemed to be to ask Tony to drive her to London.
And yet she felt a curious reluctance to do so. She was
still sitting there when Lord Richard entered the room.
“Hello, my dear!” he said cheerfully, strolling over to
the fireplace.

She mumbled a suitable greeting and waited. After a
moment, the Earl turned to face her, still leaning
against the mantelpiece. “So. I understand our young
friend, Mr. Lisle, is leaving.” He waited for her nod
before continuing. “He seemed in a rather foul mood. I
gather you’ve given him his notice? Was he very vulgar
about it?”

“I do not choose to discuss my private affairs with
you,” Wendy said coolly.

But her lower lip betrayed her by trembling.
Noticing this, the Earl crossed to her chair and,
bending over to put a hand on her arm, he said, “I’m
sorry, my dear. That was beastly of me.”

Blinking back tears, Wendy stared up at Lord
Richard in astonishment. He looked around for a
nearby chair. There were none. Muttering something,
he gently pulled on Wendy’s arm as he said, “Come, sit
over here so that I can speak with you properly.”

When they were seated on the sofa, he continued,
“My dear, I know it can’t have been easy for you to
break with Kevin. And I don’t mean to pry. But I have
made a bloody mess of the past few weeks, haven’t I?
I’m not usually so clumsy with women.”

As Wendy realized what was happening, the shock
startled her out of her silence. “Lord Richard, please,
I-”

Gently, he hushed her. “No, let me finish. At first, I
really did dislike you, you know. And I was certain
you’d come to swindle me. But then I realized I didn’t
care. Not even about the bracelet.”

“I didn’t take it!” To her surprise, he nodded. She
went on, “Lord Richard, I think I know what you’re
trying to say and-”

“Do you?” he interrupted. “Good! That will save us
some time. Well, what shall it be? Will you marry me?”

He spoke confidently as Wendy stared at him.
Marriage was not quite the proposition she had been
expecting. Abruptly she realized he was staring back,
waiting. “No. No, I won’t!” As anger replaced
confidence on his face, she spoke more softly. “Surely
you must see it wouldn’t work?” He dismissed that with
a wave of his hand and, frustrated, she said, “But why
do you want to marry me? Particularly since you
believe me to be after your title and money?”

“Because I love you,” the Earl said simply.
Astonished, Wendy could only stare and he added,
“Frankly, I don’t give a damn why you marry me, so
long as you do. You’ll have money, of course. As much
as you wish. And I’ll have my solicitor draw up any
marriage settlement you like, within certain limits, of
course. Very generous limits,” he added, misinterpreting her grim expression. “And I shan’t demand any
phony emotions from you. You needn’t pretend to love
me, simply be my wife. It would be very pleasant, I
promise you.”

He halted, waiting for Wendy’s reply. When it came,
she spoke awkwardly. “Lord Richard, I’m very
flattered. And surprised. I-I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t know how you felt.” She hesitated, wanting to
lash out at him for believing her to be so mercenary.
But he had said he loved her, and you have to be gentle
with people who love you. “Lord Richard-”

“For heaven’s sake, woman, call me Richard!”

“Richard, I’m sorry. But I just can’t marry you. We’d
both be unhappy. And I don’t love you.”

“Think it over, at least,” he pleaded. “The settlement
would be very generous.”

“To hell with the settlement!” she exploded. “I don’t
want your money. Can’t you understand that? Or your
title. I don’t love you and I wouldn’t marry any man if I
didn’t. I just want to leave here and go back to
London!”

She hadn’t meant to speak so baldly, but it was too
late now. The Earl’s eyes flashed with anger. “Well, you
won’t be going back just yet. Or have you forgotten
about the bracelet? No, I didn’t mean that. Look, my
dear, just think it over. I don’t know what it is you
want, but when you’re ready, just tell me and I’m sure
we can come to an agreement.”

Wendy was silent, recognizing the futility of further
argument. Seeing her hesitation, Richard said gently,
“I’ll leave you alone, now. Just think about what I’ve
said, my dear.”

And he left. As soon as he was gone, Wendy was on
her feet. She had never resented as much as she did
now, the slow pace that the cane forced on her. She
must find Tony. His antipathy toward her no longer
mattered. Indeed, she thought grimly, it was an
advantage. He would be delighted to remove her
corrupting presence from his friend!

But where would he be? Realizing she had no idea
where to start looking, Wendy returned to her room
and, for the first time, used the servant call button.