Page 6 of The Duke's Price
“It is not as bad as you think, becoming Richport’s lover,” Bella said. “Only you, the duke, and I will know for certain, so you need not fear a loss of reputation. Virtue, yes, but as you say, keeping that is not one of your choices.”
“You are right,” Ruth replied, struck once again by Bella’s pragmatism.
“Well then,” said Bella. “I shall plan a retreat.” She grinned. “I shall tell my uncle that I need a time of prayer to preparemyself spiritually to be a good wife. Shall we compose a letter to the good mother?”
It took them nearly an hour to find the words that would convey what was needed to Madre Katerina.
Ruth had been Bella’s governess for four years, and was so used to the Spanish dialect used in the principality of Las Estrellas that she dreamed in it. Nonetheless, for purposes such as this, English was better. Madre Katerina was familiar enough with the language to make the translation, and Don Sombras, God rot him, could probably make a fist of it, though much good it would do him, since it was in code. But otherwise, the only person likely to be able to read the note was the Duke of Richport, who in this case, did not matter.
To the mostexcellent Mother Catherine
I trust this epistle finds you well. I am myself in some perturbation of soul, good mother. I am to be wed to my good guardian, the Duque de la Sombras. It is the best thing for my land and my people, but I am yet a child, and had selfishly hoped for a handsome young man. Yes, I know you will tell me that I must do my duty, and indeed, I wish to obey wiser heads than my own.
Dear mother, may I come and spend some time in prayer and fasting in the convent? With your counsel, I am confident that my thoughts will soon turn in a more humble and feminine direction.
I would wish to come to you on Friday, in the afternoon and descend into the Chapel of Our Mother the Star of the Mountains. How wonderful to stay there for Saturday, offering prayers to the Holy Virgin who is our great example of doing the will of God. I would be happy to welcome as many of the nunsas wish to make the retreat, and together we shall ascend to new heights of humility and obedience.
The castle will expect me back after Mass on Sunday, in a better frame of mind.
Miss Henwood will come with me, sharing this journey of a soul, for she, too, faces a great change in her circumstances.
With great affection and respect.
Isabella Estrellas.
I am in trouble,the note meant.Sombras is trying to force a marriage against my will. Allow me to use the tunnels from the chapel in the basement to escape the city and make our way into the mountains. You and the nuns should probably come with me, for by Sunday, Sombras will know we have escaped.
“There,” said Ruth. “In the morning, send that note. I suggest we inform your uncle during the afternoon audience, when as many people as possible are there to hear you.
Perry decidedthat refusing the wolf hunt the following morning would have two benefits. First, he would avoid a cold wet ride up and down mountains in pursuit of an animal he didn’t want to kill. Second, it would annoy Carlos, and thus set the scene for Perry’s planned departure.
As it turned out, he’d already achieved the second goal, as he discovered when he sought Carlos out immediately after leaving the chambers that had been assigned to him.
The man was down in the stables, giving orders for horses to be saddled and minions to be sent to drive the wolves toward the hunters.
He greeted Perry’s cheerful good morning with a frown and a grunt.
“I must make my excuses,” Perry said. “I would prefer not to go hunting.”
“You have other game in mind?” Carlos asked, his tone clipped and his brows drawn together in a frown. “I heard you were hunting my governess on the battlements last night.”
Ah! They had been observed, then. Perry should have guessed that Carlos was having Miss Henwood watched.
The key to being irritating but not dangerously so was to keep it light. Perry had been in five duels in his early twenties, before he got the balance right, and only one since. “I tried my hand,” he admitted cheerfully. “Sadly, your governess was not interested, even when I offered to take her with me when I leave.”
“Oh? I am reliably informed that you kissed her,” growled Carlos. “That sounds interested to me.”
Perry chuckled. “I wish! She is a delectable piece, Carlos, but I wish you well at warming her up! She told me the mattress dance is of no interest to her, and I suggested a kiss as proof that I could change her mind.” He shrugged, and infused his voice with wry amusement. “Apparently, I was insufficiently convincing. She tells me she is all but promised to your good self.”
That prompted a smile from Carlos. “What? The great lover was rejected? I should have liked to see that.”
“Unkind, my friend,” Perry said, all mock indignation.
Carlos relaxed as he swallowed the tripe. People were very predictable. Humour, particularly self-deprecating humour, was a tried-and-true recipe for convincing people that one was being honest.
As if a man couldn’t be lying in his teeth when he was laughing at himself.
“Then come and hunt wolves with me.”
