Beneath the Major's Scars(40)

The sound of the door opening made her jump and a guilty flush     heated her cheeks.

‘I beg your pardon, I did not mean to startle you.’ Dominic     stood in the doorway.

‘I—there is no mirror in the tower room....’ Her words trailed     off. She knew she must sound very conceited.

‘You look very well.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Everyone else is     in the drawing room. I was merely coming to check that the salon and the library     were in order. The orchestra will be setting up in here while we are at     dinner.’

He seemed ill at ease, whereas Zelah’s fine new clothes gave     her an added confidence.

‘I have just come through the library, Major, and I can assure     you there is not a book out of place.’

‘No, of course.’ He seemed to battle with himself for a moment     before meeting her eyes. ‘Very well, then, shall we join the others?’

He held out his arm to her. Zelah placed her fingers on his     sleeve. She could feel the ribbing of the wool-and-silk fabric through her     glove. Expensive. Everything about his coat—the sheen of the material, the fit,     the exquisite cut—it all shouted quality. Tonight he was every inch a viscount’s     son.

And she was a parson’s daughter, an encumbrance that he was     trying to marry off by inviting her to his ball. Had he not said as much?

The silence was uncomfortable and she searched for something to     say as they crossed the hall.

‘I met your brother earlier. He came into the library.’

‘I know. He said you had given him his marchingorders.’

‘I hope he did not think me uncivil. I tried very hard not to     be.’

‘No, but you surprised him.’ A glancing smile touched his lips.     ‘He is not accustomed to being turned away.’

As the footman jumped to open the door, Dominic released her     arm and allowed her to precede him into the drawing room. It was filled with a     chattering, glittering crowd and Zelah knew a moment’s panic, but it subsided     when Sally Hensley came forward to meet her.

‘My dear, how charming you look. I have just been talking to     your sister. She is over there by the window, but you can find her later. First     I want to introduce you to everyone....’

It was not to be a large dinner, a mere ten couples were     sitting down, but that was more than a dozen new people for Zelah to meet and     remember their names. She realised Sally had chosen the company with care, they     were all close friends of Dominic or family. No one to stare or comment upon his     scarred face.

At dinner she found herself beside one of Dominic’s army     colleagues. Colonel Deakin was a jovial, bewhiskered gentleman who lost no time     in telling her that he had served with Dominic in the Peninsula. He patted his     empty sleeve.

‘Wasn’t long in following him home, too! I’ll not complain,     though, my wife and I have settled into a nice little house in Taunton and she     says she’s glad to have me under her feet all day, even if I only have the one     good arm.’ He raised his glass at the plump little woman sitting opposite, who     twinkled back at him and addressed herself to Zelah.

‘I’m lucky to have him and I thank the Lord for it, every     day.’

Colonel Deakin chuckled. He leaned a little closer to Zelah,     lowering his voice. ‘And I’m pleased to see Coale looking so well. He was a good     officer. Thought we might lose him, y’know.’

‘Was he very badly injured?’

‘Barely recognisable,’ replied the colonel, cheerfully helping     himself to a large slice of raised pie. ‘Fortunately we had a good sawbones who     patched him up pretty well, but even then when we sent him off to England I     never really expected to see him again. Pity about his face, of course. He was a     dashed handsome fellow.’

Zelah glanced to the head of the table, where Dominic was     engaged in conversation with his brother. With the two of them together she had     no need to try to imagine how Dominic had looked before he went to war, but the     scars mattered very little to her now.



By the time the guests left the dining room the first     carriages were pulling up on the drive. Zelah and Maria went off to tidy     themselves before the ball and Zelah took the opportunity of thanking Maria for     her gown.

‘With the fan, and new shoes and gloves—it is all too         much. How I wish you had not spent your money on     me, Maria.’

‘Oh, tush! If you will not think of yourself, then please think     of what my feelings must be on the occasion. Reginald is highly respected here     and I would not have it thought that we could not afford to dress you.’

Zelah hugged her sister, tears starting to her eyes. ‘Then I     will accept it all very gratefully, my love. Thank you, dearest sister!’

Maria had to stay to feed the baby, so Zelah made her way back     downstairs alone. The great hall and the salon were already full and she saw     Dominic greeting his guests. She thought she had never seen him look better. His     black frock coat, tight-fitting breeches and stockings only accentuated his     powerful physique. Now he was no longer limping his movements were graceful and     assured, those of a man at the peak of his physical power. Dragging her eyes     away, she spotted Reginald talking to Sir Arthur Andrews and on the far side of     the room stood Sir Oswald Evanshaw, resplendent in a lime-green coat. She     descended the final few steps and was caught up in the crowd. Almost immediately     Dominic was at her side.

‘I was looking out for you.’

‘You were?’

Her spirits soared, only to plummet at his next words.

‘Yes. Lerryn has not arrived yet. I have given instructions     that if he turns up he is not to come in until I have had a word with him.’ He     touched her arm. ‘Do not worry. He will do nothing to harm you.’

She murmured her thanks and watched him walk away. The harm was     already done. Dominic knew what she was. Sally came up and took her hand.

‘You are looking very pensive, Zelah. I hope everyone is being     kind to you?’

‘Oh, yes, in all the noise and confusion no one has time or     inclination to question too deeply why Major Coale should invite his librarian     to the summer ball. Indeed, most have no idea of my identity, and I think the     guests who were at dinner merely look upon me as a poor little dab of a girl who     is on the receiving end of the major’s charity.’

Sally laughed. ‘Oh, no, my dear, you are much more important     than that! All Dom’s friends know he was becoming a positive recluse. When he     moved to Rooks Tower we thought we had lost him but now, barely six months     later, he is holding the most important local gathering of the summer.’

‘But I had nothing to do with this—’ Zelah protested.

‘You taught him that he is still a person worthy of note,’     Sally cut in. ‘He told me as much. We all owe you a great deal.’

Zelah saw her chance. ‘Then perhaps I could ask a favour of     you,’ she said. ‘Would you be kind enough to supply me with a reference? I am     sure a good word from yourself would mean a great deal to any future     employer.’

‘Oh, my dear, you are looking so lovely tonight that I am sure     you will have no need of a reference—’

‘But I will.’ A note of desperation     crept into Zelah’s voice. ‘My work here is almost done and I have had a very     favourable enquiry from a widow in Bath. She has three children in need of a     governess and has asked me to provide references. My father has offered one, and     Reginald, but they are family and therefore not as valuable... I would be most     obliged if you would provide one for me.’

Sally squeezed her hands. ‘I will, of course, Zelah, if that is     what you wish. But on one condition.’

‘Anything!’ was Zelah’s grateful response.

‘That you forget all about being a governess for tonight and     enjoy yourself!’ Bestowing an airy kiss upon Zelah’s cheek, she dashed off to     greet more guests.

When the music began Zelah moved to one side of the room. She     knew so few people that she had little expectation of dancing, although, with     Sally’s words still ringing in her head she did hope that Dominic might claim     her hand later in the evening. That could not be for some time, of course,     because there were many ladies with whom he must stand up first. She watched him     from the side of the room. He strode proudly through the crowds, seemingly     unaware of his scarred face and because he took no note of it, most of his     guests did the same. She was aware of one or two sly looks, the odd hesitation     when someone was introduced to him, but she saw no signs of the repulsion     Dominic had feared would mar his return to society. She was glad, for his     sake.