Reginald’s eyes lit up.
‘Another charter, is it? This could be important. Come along to my study now and tell me everything. My man will look after your horses. Lerryn, you will not object if I leave you with Zelah?’
‘On the contrary.’ Timothy Lerryn held out his arm to her. ‘We are such old friends I am delighted to have her to myself.’
Zelah wanted to say that she objected, but Reginald bore Dominic away, leaving her with Timothy Lerryn. His blue eyes roved over her.
‘You have not changed one jot.’
She had thought the same of him, but now that he was closer she could see that he was different. He was still a handsome man, in a florid way, but the last four years had added inches to his waist and tiny lines at the sides of his mouth and around his eyes. Lines of dissipation, she thought.
‘What do you want here?’
He looked pained. ‘I came to find you. I heard you were visiting your sister.’
Once such words would have delighted her. She would have given anything to hear them. Now her lip curled.
‘You can have nothing to say to me.’
‘How can you speak so?’ He followed her into the empty hall. ‘Remember what we were to each other.’
She stopped. ‘No one here knows of that!’ she hissed at him. ‘I do not want them to know.’
‘And nor shall they. I did not come here to make trouble for you, Zelah. I wanted merely to see you.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I have missed you.’
‘You are a married man.’
‘That was a mistake. I see that now.’
‘Ha!’ She turned from him. ‘I will take you to my sister. You shall have dinner here, but then you must go, do you understand?’
Head high, she led the way into the drawing room. Maria was reading to Nicky, but she stopped when they came in, regarding Mr Lerryn with a polite, questioning air. She listened to his explanation, flattered if a little bemused that he should break his journey to see them.
Zelah made her excuses and went off to change her gown. Her nerves were jangling, not only from the events at Rooks Tower but also from the unexpected appearance of Timothy Lerryn. He said he had come to find her and that could only mean trouble.
She tarried as long as she dared, but when she returned to the drawing room she was surprised to find Major Coale taking wine there. The sight of Dominic and Timothy Lerryn talking together did nothing to calm her nerves. She could not help comparing the two men—Dominic no longer turned the injured side of his face away from the room, but the sight of his terrible scars only added to his dark, powerful presence. By comparison she thought Timothy’s tightly waisted coat and fashionable blond locks looked positively effete.
She had to steel herself not to run away as Timothy crossed the room to her.
‘My dear Zelah—Miss Pentewan,’ he corrected himself smoothly, seeing the flash of anger in her eyes. ‘Your brother-in-law was explaining to me about the current land dispute going on in Lesserton. I understand you were instrumental in finding a new document that will help the villagers’ case.’
‘Yes. I certainly hope that will be so.’
She went to leave, but he put his hand under her elbow. ‘Will you allow me to escort you to a chair?
She quickly pulled her arm free. A swift glance assured her that Maria and Reginald were engaged in conversation with Dominic so she walked to the bay window where they would not be overheard. Timothy followed her, as she knew he would.
‘Let me make one thing plain,’ she began. ‘I am not your dear anything and I do not wish to renew our acquaintance. After tonight I never want to see you again.’
‘I am very sorry to hear that.’
‘Are you? I should have thought you would be pleased to know that I am making a new life for myself, that does not involve you.’
‘Ah, yes, your sister told me you are working for Major Coale, as his librarian. Are you sure that is wise?’
She eyed him coldly. ‘I do not know what you mean.’
‘With your, er, history.’
She fought down the blaze of anger at his words and the knowing look that went with them. ‘No one knows about my history here and my employment at Rooks Tower is perfectly respectable.’
‘People might not think so, if they were to know the truth about you...’
‘Which they never will,’ she flashed, ‘unless you tell them!’
He put his hand on his heart. ‘My dear Zelah, it is not my intention to say a word.’ He reached for her hand, but she snatched it away. His eyes hardened. ‘Of course, if you are unfriendly I might inadvertently let something slip.’
His hand remained outstretched, the challenge in his eyes unmistakable. Reluctantly she gave him her fingers. He lifted them to his lips.
‘There, that is not so bad, is it? Now, as long as you are sweet to me, your secret is safe.’
She put up her chin. ‘It is our secret, Mr Lerryn, and if it was to become public then you would not appear in any very honourable light.’
His grip tightened. ‘True, but a man’s reputation will survive the odd scandal—a woman’s good name is a very different matter.’
Zelah clamped her lips closed upon the angry retort that rose within her and with a slight nod she moved off, inwardly seething.
Disinclined to join the others, she moved to the piano on the pretext of tidying the pile of music, but Dominic soon followed, carrying two glasses of wine. He held one out to her.
‘You look troubled. I am sorry if you did not wish me to stay. I merely came to pay my respects to your sister and see how Nicky goes on.’
The roughness of his tone rubbed at her raw nerves.
‘Your presence does not trouble me.’ She forced herself to smile. ‘I have a headache. The weather...’
Her gaze shifted to Tim Lerryn, who had come up. She kept the smile fixed on her lips as she hid her dismay at his interruption.
‘Poor Zelah never could endure thunder. The storm this afternoon was particularly bad, was it not? However, the sky is clearing now and I am in hopes that the weather will improve for the remainder of my visit.’
‘How long are you staying in Lesserton?’ Dominic enquired.
‘Oh, a few days more, at least. Having caught up with my friends again we have a great deal to talk about, do we not, my dear?’
Zelah felt her cheeks burn with anger and embarrassment at his familiar tone. She dare not risk her voice, so she turned her attention to straightening the sleeve of her gown.
‘I shall not see much of them tomorrow, I fear,’ Timothy continued. ‘Mrs Buckland tells me the family are joining you at Rooks Tower for your summer ball, Major Coale. I hope the weather holds for you.’
‘You are welcome to join us for the dancing, if you wish, Mr Lerryn. My sister has already sent out all the invitations, but I will see to it you are not turned away if you present yourself at the door.’
Zelah froze.
‘Why, that is exceedingly kind of you, sir, most obliging, is it not, Zelah?’ Timothy beamed with pleasure. ‘It means I shall have the opportunity to dance with you again, my dear. By heaven, that will bring back some memories, eh?’
She murmured something incoherent. After listening to Timothy repeat his gratitude, Dominic gave a little nod and walked away. He exchanged a few words with Maria and took his leave. Beside her, Timothy expelled a hissing breath.
‘Dashed ugly brute, ain’t he? Didn’t know where to look when we was first introduced, my eyes kept going back to that damned scar.’
‘One hardly notices it after a while.’
‘You might not, but others will, take my word for it. I heard about this Major Coale of yours in Lesserton. Allowing villagers grazing rights, letting them forage in his woods—trying to buy his way into their favours, I don’t doubt.’
‘You know nothing about him,’ snapped Zelah.
His brows rose. ‘Oho, and you do? I hope you are not growing too attached to the Major, my dear. He won’t be interested in the likes of you, at least not in any honourable way.’ He leaned closer. ‘Better to let me look after you...’