Page 12 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘You are treated with every consideration here.’
‘True, I am lucky and grateful but you will soon be equally content. We shall find you something that will suit you better.’
Tears of gratitude swamped Martina’s eyes, even though she had vowed to do no more crying. She was an adult now and needed to behave like one. The horrors they had endured in Spain seemed like another world. Her abiding memory was of being permanently afraid and often in tears, which solved nothing. That was all behind her now. England was her home and she wondered if she would ever return to the land of her birth. Did she even want to? She supposed that rather depended upon whether Raphael was still alive, could be found and was ready to take responsibility for his sisters’ welfare. What remained of the family’s wealth she had no idea, but she thought it was probably all gone, looted by the French.
‘Thank you.’ She impulsively hugged Ariana. ‘You are the best sister in the world.’
‘Hardly. Anyway, you can make yourself useful today. It’s nanny’s day off so you can help me with the children if you like. The heat is making them especially fractious so they are quite a handful.’
Martina’s face lit up. She adored small children and had endless patience with them. ‘Gladly.’
‘Lord Amos tells me that Lord Vincent’s nanny is returning to Ireland, so there may be a vacancy next door. If you are interested, and if you really have left the Redrows’ employ, then he will mention it to his brother.’
‘It would mean that we wouldn’t be separated.’ Martina clapped her hands. ‘I would love that above all things.’
‘As would I. Very well then, I shall tell Lord Amos of your interest.’
‘Of course,’ Martina added whimsically. ‘If you were to marry the handsome Lord Amos then our problems would come to an end.’
‘Martina!’ Ariana looked scandalised by the proposition. ‘What a thing to suggest.’
‘Well, dearest, it’s obvious to me that you like and respect him very much. And he did buy you a horse.’
‘He loaned her to me. And of course I respect him. He saved us from…well, I prefer not to dwell upon what he saved us from.’
‘There’s more to it than that.’ Martina pleated the bed sheet between her fingers. ‘I have seen the way your eyes light up whenever he walks into a room.’
‘Oh lord, they don’t, do they?’
Martina smiled. ‘Don’t worry, only someone who knows you as well as I do would notice.’
‘Lord Amos is still mourning the death of his wife and likely always will.’
‘Yes Ariana,’ Martina said, beaming. ‘Whatever you say.’
‘You’ve grown up. Matured. I did not notice it happening,’ Ariana said in a reflective tone. ‘I am very proud of you.’
Martina tossed back the covers and wash her hands and face in the cold water left over in the ewer from the night before. ‘It’s funny the way life works out, isn’t it?’ she said reflectively. ‘We have suffered some of the worst privations that any person could be asked to endure and somehow landed on our feet. We are survivors, you and I.’ She turned away as she dried her face and said, almost to herself, ‘I must believe that.’
‘You are in a reflective mood today,’ Ariana said as she too attended to her ablutions. ‘But our introspective thoughts must wait until a more suitable juncture. We should break our fast and then attend to the children.’
‘Indeed we should,’ Martina agreed, putting all thoughts of the horrible Mr Redrow from her mind as she accompanied her sister from the room. She was more than willing to do all she could to help in the nursery to make amends in some small way for the trouble that her unexpected arrival had caused.
Chapter Four
The following two days kept Jared fully occupied. He paid another visit to Max Sheridan, laying out the specific terms of his will. He also procured the services of a well-qualified steward by the name of Harker and a dozen men had commenced work restoring the gardens. He already felt as though he had established himself. Several people had called, leaving cards, but Jared hadn’t received any of them. He would return their calls in due course, but as things stood he had other priorities.
On the third morning he rode one of the greys to the front of the magnificent mansion that sat majestically in the centre of the duke’s estate, feeling a little intimidated by its orderly splendour yet reassured by the duke’s deeply established authority. They had never met, but he had heard countless stories of his fair-mindedness and integrity. He had no expectations of being received by the duke, especially since he had Thor with him, and intended only to leave his card. To his astonishment, he was asked with great civility by a stately butler if he would have the goodness to wait in an ante-room while he ascertained whether the duke was at home.
‘If you would care to follow me, sir,’ the butler said, returning almost directly, thereby not allowing Jared sufficient time to appreciate the elegant room in which he sat. With a shrug, he and Thor did as they had been asked.
The butler paused outside ornate double doors, knocked once and entered. A gentleman who strongly resembled Max Sheridan looked up from behind a large desk. Jared was pleased to see that he was dressed in shirtsleeves, as was his mirror image, who was slumped in a chair beside the open French doors. A third man in the room was slightly more formally attired; a senior servant of some sort presumably, since he didn’t share the striking Sheridan looks.
‘Mr Braden, your grace,’ the butler said before withdrawing, closing the doors softly behind him.
‘Braden, good of you to call.’ The duke stood, hand outstretched. His grasp was firm, his expression open and welcoming. ‘I’m Winchester. My brother, Lord Amos.’
That gentleman stood and also shook Jared’s hand. ‘I hear you’re in the market for a decent horse,’ he said by way of introduction. ‘I dare say I can help you there.’
