Beneath the Major's Scars(30)

He grinned. ‘The Exmoor air agrees with me. Come inside. We     will drink a glass of wine while they take your baggage to your room.’ He kept     his arm around her as he swept her inside.

‘So this is your new home.’ She gazed up at the impressive roof     of the hall as they passed through. ‘A touch Gothic for you, Dom.’

‘This side of the house is the original, but do not despair,     the bedrooms have every comfort, including new windows that do not rattle in the     night. Later I will show you the salon and the library, more recent additions to     the building.’

‘Ah, yes, the library. You wrote to tell me you had a home at     last for all your books!’

‘Yes.’ He looked down to brush a speck of dust from his sleeve     before continuing in a casual tone, ‘I have found a librarian to put them in     order for me.’

‘Ah, good.’

‘A woman.’

The choking sound from his sister made him smile inwardly, but     his look was all innocent concern. Sally was not deceived.

‘The devil you have,’ she said rudely. ‘She is a beauty, I     suppose.’

‘Not particularly. She is kin to the Bucklands and I took her     on because she lives at West Barton, so I did not need to have her living here.’     His lips curved upward. ‘Actually, she has done an excellent job of creating     order from the chaos that was the library. But that is not important—we have a     ball to organise.’

He pulled out the list of names Zelah had written out and     handed it to Sally, who perused it carefully.

‘Well, you can add Jasper to the list. He will come, if he can.     He is currently in town and waiting to see what changes Prinny will make now he     is Regent.’

Dominic nodded. It would be good to see his twin again. ‘What     about Ben?’

‘My darling husband is in the Peninsula and the last I heard he     was with the army at Albuerra.’

Dom gave a mirthless laugh. ‘Ah, yes, our so-called victory.     The losses were terrible, I hear.’

‘I know. It is very sad. I think Ben is safer as an     intelligence officer.’

He nodded, then said abruptly, ‘Do you worry about him?’

‘Of course.’ Sally’s smile softened and her eyes took on a     dreamy, faraway look. ‘I cannot wait until he comes back again.’

Something twisted deep in his gut and Dominic found himself     wondering if any woman would ever have such a look for him.

‘You have finished your wine, Sal. Would you like more, or can     I take you to meet my librarian? I fear if we wait until you have changed your     gown she will have left.’

‘Take me to her,’ said Sally immediately. ‘I am agog to see the     woman you will trust with your precious books.’

Sally’s tone was light, but her interest in the unknown     employee was very real. She followed him across the hall, not knowing what she     would find. Some harpy, perhaps bent on securing a wealthy husband. Or an     eccentric bluestocking. What she did not expect was a slender girl with     sun-streaked brown hair and golden skin. She would be looked upon askance at     Almack’s, where pale skin was so fashionable and even the odd freckle was     frowned upon. Not a harpy, then. Her high-necked grey gown was plain to the     point of severity and with her hair strained back into a knot at the nape of her     neck, Sally thought the girl was doing her best not     to attract any man’s attention.

Observing Dominic’s constraint as he made the introduction, and     Miss Pentewan’s faint blush, Sally was even more intrigued. She gave Zelah her     most friendly smile.

‘Dominic tells me you are making excellent progress with his     wretched books. Why he had to collect so many I really cannot think! I do hope     you will be able to spare some time to help me organise this ball.’

‘Yes, ma’am, if you wish it.’

Her voice was soft, musical even and the smile lurking in her     hazel eyes hinted at a mischievous sense of humour. A pleasant enough child, but     nothing to attract her brother. When he had been on the town, his flirts had     always been diamonds of the first water and even his mistresses—of whom she was     supposed to know nothing—had been ripe beauties. What he saw in this     unremarkable young woman she did not know.

‘You are free to give Mrs Hensley as much assistance as she     needs,’ barked Dominic, as if impatient to be gone. ‘The library can wait until     after the ball.’

Sally inclined her head. ‘That is very kind of you,     Dominic.’

‘Not at all. There is still a deal of work to be done out of     doors and I shall not be able to give you as much attention as I would     like.’

‘Ah, I see now. You are shuffling off your responsibilities,     brother. Very well, Miss Pentewan, we shall begin tomorrow by looking at the     lists you have drawn up and seeing how many have replied. But that will have to     be in the afternoon. Tomorrow morning I want to be shown around the estate.’ She     turned to Zelah. ‘Do you ride, Miss Pentewan?’

‘I was used to, but not any more. There are no mounts suitable     for a lady at West Barton.’

‘Oh, if that is all then I will provide you with a mount. I     brought two of my own hacks, because Dom warned me how bad the roads can be. Do     you have a riding habit?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Then that is settled. We will go riding tomorrow, if the     weather holds.’

She paused, raising her brows at Zelah, who clasped her hands     together, saying, ‘I am very grateful for the offer, but I am afraid I cannot     ride out with you. I am a librarian—’

‘Hell and damnation,’ growled Dominic, ‘you will be whatever I     pay you to be!’

Zelah’s head went up.

‘I am no bondservant! If that is what you think, then I am     sorry to disappoint you and we will part now.’

Sally put up her hands. ‘Of course he does not think that, Miss     Pentewan. Shame on you, Dominic, did you leave your manners behind when you     moved here?’

After a tense interlude he shook his head. ‘I beg your pardon,     Miss Pentewan,’ he ground out. ‘I would be much         obliged if you would accompany my sister when she rides out tomorrow.     Since I cannot go with her myself, I would feel happier knowing she did not go     with only a groom for company.’

There was a proud tilt to Zelah’s chin and the stormy look was     still in her eyes as she met Dominic’s fiery glare. So the drab little librarian     had steel in her soul.

Good for her, thought Sally     appreciatively, but is she a match for Dominic?

She waited silently and saw the anger fade from her brother’s     eyes. His tone was quite cordial as he posed his next question.

‘Do you dislike riding, Miss     Pentewan?’

‘On the contrary, but there is no place for it in my life     now.’

‘Not even if it will assist me?’

‘Dominic, do not press her,’ Sally began, but he waved his hand     and continued in a coaxing tone,

‘Come, are you so eager to finish working in my library that     you cannot leave it for another day?’

A soft blush suffused Zelah’s cheeks. ‘It—it is not that,’ she     stammered. ‘I really do not think it is my place...’

‘My dear Miss Pentewan, I really would be most grateful for     your company,’ said Sally. ‘I shall keep you away from your work for no more     than two hours—three at the most. Do say you will come.’

‘I would enjoy it very much, ma’am, but I do not think it     possible. I could not sit down in here in all my dirt, and to go home and change     would severely curtail my day...’

‘Then take the whole day off, madam. I am not such an ogre that     I will prevent you having any pleasure.’

‘There you are,’ said Sally triumphantly, ‘You are to take a     day’s holiday, Miss Pentewan!’



‘My dear, you will wear out the carpet!’

Maria’s laughing protest halted Zelah as she paced up and down     the morning room and she dropped into a chair, albeit one with a view of the     drive.