Page 7 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘Why are you scowling at your daughter?’ Frankie asked, following the direction of Zach’s gaze as it rested upon two-year-old Ailsa, now a vision of blonde curls and emerging mischief.
‘I’m thinking that she’s as beautiful as you are, has inherited her aunt Anna’s determination to keep up with her brothers, and that I will likely be beating off her suitors with a large stick the moment she turns fifteen.’
Frankie chuckled. ‘No one will be good enough for her in your eyes.’
Zach grunted. ‘That’s because they won’t be.’
Amos allowed their casual conversation to wash over him, feeling content yet incomplete and restless. Something…someone was missing.
‘Where is Ariana?’ he asked Frankie, referring to the young Spanish woman who was responsible for educating the children. It was unlike her to miss family time.
‘Oh, of course, you will not be aware. Martina arrived unexpectedly this afternoon and they are together somewhere.’
Amos frowned. ‘Is something wrong?’ Martina was Ariana’s sister. Frankie had found a position for the displaced young woman, teaching Spanish to Redrow’s three daughters on their estate a few miles north of the Park. ‘It’s not her afternoon off, is it?’
‘I really don’t know what’s happening,’ Frankie admitted. ‘Martina seemed quite distressed and naturally Ariana was concerned. I told her to take the afternoon and ensure her sister’s comfort. I hope you don’t mind. Ariana is employed by you, after all.’
‘Not at all.’ Amos rubbed the side of his index finger against his lips. ‘I wonder what’s wrong.’
‘You’re bound to feel responsible for them, given that you rescued them both,’ Frankie said. ‘But my advice, for what it’s worth, is that you give them some time alone. It could be something or nothing. But if the matter is serious, you can be sure that Ariana will apply to you for guidance. She looks up to you and depends upon your advice.’
‘God help her,’ Amos muttered.
Miranda squirmed on his lap, so Amos set her back on her feet and she waddled off to join the rest of the children romping on a lawn that for once was not a uniform green. Instead, as a testament to the hot spell, it sported large areas of brown, parched grass. The children would be covered in dust but Amos was well aware that would not deter the boys from attempting to kill one another.
His mind dwelt upon the day that he first came across Ariana and Martina, fleeing from an isolated barn in the middle of winter, wearing the flimsiest of clothing, scared half out of their wits but fiercely determined not to be sold into prostitution. Amos himself had spent a year in Italy following Crista’s death, immersing himself in manual labour on a vineyard as he absorbed the reality of his terrible loss, working himself to the point of exhaustion so that he didn’t have to feel anything at all. As he gradually emerged from his self-imposed exile, he accepted that he couldn’t hide away for ever. His children needed him. He had responsibilities here at the Park. He intended to ease himself back into the swing of things slowly, but instead he had come across the girls and used his ingenuity to save them from their pursuers on the final leg of his journey.
Ariana was fiercely protective of her younger sister’s interests. Martina, although only sixteen, had matured quickly. Little wonder, given what she had been through. Her family had been murdered by the French and the girls had barely escaped with their lives and virtue intact. Ariana had taken some persuading before she agreed that Martina should accept the position with the Redrows. He sincerely hoped that something hadn’t happened to prevent that situation from enduring.
As soon as the children had been ushered back into the house, Amos wandered off in search of Ariana. He would not intrude upon her private conversation with Martina, but if he happened upon them and she required his advice…
He and Ariana usually rode together at this hour of the day, so he had a fair idea where he would find her. Cinnamon, the spotted mare that he pretended not to have purchased specifically for her, was turned out to pasture, such as it was, in a small paddock at the back of the stud. An isolated spot that he knew Ariana favoured because he often found her walking there.
Today was no exception. He paused when he saw Ariana sitting on a bench, cradling a sobbing Martina in her arms, soothing her like a baby. He felt like an intruder. Frankie was right. He should wait for Ariana to seek his help. He knew next to nothing about the problems faced by adolescent young women and his intervention would probably not be welcome. He was about to turn away when Ariana glanced up as though sensing his presence and sent him a look of helpless entreaty.
‘Be brave, my love. Here is Lord Amos,’ Ariana said with artificial brightness. ‘We will ask him immediately.’
Martina hiccupped and buried her face in Ariana’s shoulder. Amos sent her a baffled look, but Ariana merely lifted a shoulder, implying that she was in the dark too.
‘Go into the house,’ Ariana said in a brisk tone that saw Martina’s tears dry up. ‘Go to my room, rest and gather your composure. No one will disturb you and I will see you there directly.’
Martina hesitated, as though afraid to be alone. Then she leapt to her feet, bobbed a distracted curtsey for Amos and scampered off without a backward glance.
‘What on earth has happened to get her into such a state?’ Amos asked, helping Ariana to her feet, feeling worried. The girls were his responsibility in an odd sort of way, and after all they had endured they deserved, at the very least, security.
She shrugged, her expression reflecting Amos’s concern. ‘I don’t have the first idea. Marina arrived an hour ago, distraught, and said she had left the Redrows’ employ. I couldn’t persuade her to tell me why. She became near hysterical each time I pressed her for particulars.’
‘Ah.’
‘What does “ah” mean?’ Ariana asked crossly. ‘She is determined not to go back, and I know her well enough to realise that she won’t change her mind.’ She threw up her hands. ‘Now what are we supposed to do? I thought we were settled, at least until we could gain news of Raphael. I have to believe that my brother is alive, that he will find us and take care of us both.’ She puffed out a breath. ‘It isn’t like Martina to be so dramatic. I just wish…Anyway, I realise there isn’t enough work here for me, much less for both of us. I don’t know what to do but I can’t turn her away.’
‘I am not suggesting that you should.’
They walked slowly in the shade, making allowances for the hot weather that didn’t appear to affect Ariana nearly as much as it did Amos. Perhaps Spanish summers were always like this, and possibly even hotter. ‘I am proud of the way that Martina has matured,’ Ariana said. ‘Well, I suppose that’s only to be expected. We both had to grow up before our time, given the circumstances in Spain. Those men who we turned to for help proved to have the most terrible intentions. Martina knows what would have happened to us if you had not…’ She swallowed. ‘Had not come along when you did and helped us. I never spelt it out to her but she’s far from stupid, and she saw enough of men’s baser instincts in Spain not to harbour unrealistic expectations. She leaned on me and I tried to protect her, but now she has struck out on her own and I thought she was content.’ She sighed. ‘I wish she would tell me…’
‘She will when she’s ready. Don’t press her.’
Ariana looked up at Amos, her already large eyes now huge in her fragile face as anger turned them several shades darker, putting Amos in mind of fresh moss after a rain shower.
