The little flame flickered and died.
‘You are very kind, Major.’ Steeling herself, she pushed away from him. ‘I should go in now.’
Dominic caught her fingers. His body was alive, aroused and he wanted to succumb to the attraction he felt for her, to seduce her here on this moonlit terrace far above the everyday world. He could do it, too. She had responded to him before, and here, with the darkness to hide his face, why should it not happen again? But she was pulling away from him and he could still see the trace of tears on her cheeks. He buried his own desires and squeezed her hands.
‘Of course. It is very late.’
For a brief moment her fingers clung to his. Perhaps she wanted comfort, but he was not the one to give it. He would do nothing that she might regret in the morning. He said formally, ‘Goodnight, Miss Pentewan.’
Without a word she walked away, her figure a pale blur on the stairs before she disappeared from his sight. There. It was done. He had saved her. From himself, possibly from her own weakness.
Why, then, did he feel no pleasure in his chivalrous deed?
Zelah did not sleep well and was relieved when the morning came and she could leave the tower room and go in search of her sister and brother-in-law. She found them at breakfast, being entertained by Sally and Lord Markham.
‘Dominic has already gone out,’ explained the viscount, rising to escort her to her chair. ‘Taking his duties far too seriously, if you ask me. He should be here looking after his guests.’
‘But he knows he can rely upon us for that.’ Sally beamed at Zelah across the table. ‘So you are to leave us this morning and go back to West Barton. What shall I do without my little companion?’
‘Any number of things, I should imagine.’ Zelah had lost all her shyness with Sally and treated her in the same friendly manner as her own sister. ‘But perhaps before I leave this morning you will write a reference for me, as we agreed?’
‘By all means, if that is what you wish.’
Zelah nodded, saying firmly. ‘It is, madam.’
‘I have a great deal to do before the hearing next Friday,’ said Reginald. ‘How soon can you be ready to travel, Zelah?’
‘Hannah has already packed for me.’ She pushed her plate away. ‘I can leave as soon as Mrs Hensley has furnished me with my reference.’
‘Then I shall go off and write it now,’ said Sally, smiling.
‘Well, I need to feed Baby before we can set off,’ put in Maria. ‘It will be at least another hour.’
A sudden burst of sunlight filled the room, making everything jewel bright and sending glittering rays bouncing off the breakfast silver.
‘Ah, the sun is making an appearance.’ The viscount put down his napkin and looked at Zelah. ‘Perhaps Miss Pentewan would care to take a stroll around the grounds with me until the carriage is called?’
Zelah assented readily. The viscount was an entertaining companion and, knowing her heart was in no danger, Zelah could relax and enjoy his company. She encouraged him to talk about his brother, hoarding each little nugget of information. Jasper’s revelations only confirmed her impression of Dominic. Honest, loyal and honourable, a man determined to do his duty.
‘And now he is throwing his energies into Rooks Tower,’ said Jasper as they reached the orangery. He opened the double doors and stood back for her to enter. ‘I thought at first he wanted it merely as a retreat, to hide away from the world, but his holding a ball has made me think again. Perhaps he is intending this as a family home. What do you think, Miss Pentewan, is my brother on the look-out for a wife?’
The thought was a body blow to Zelah, robbing her of breath. She hoped it did not show in her face and she pretended to give her attention to looking about the summer house, admiring the arrangements of plants and marble while she considered her response. At last she said carefully, ‘There were several very eligible young ladies here last night.’
‘I know, I danced with them all,’ he replied promptly. ‘Dominic, on the other hand, danced with none. But perhaps he was just being cautious. He is not the sort to raise false hopes.’
‘No. He is far too chivalrous for that.’
Jasper did not notice the bleak note in her voice. He merely nodded, gazing around him in admiration.
‘Now, madam, you are to be congratulated. You have created here the perfect trysting place. Do you not find it most romantic?’
Zelah summoned up a smile. ‘Not in the daylight, sir, I see only the empty glasses that the servants failed to clear away because they were hidden behind the plants.’
He looked pained. ‘You are far too practical, my dear.’
‘My besetting sin,’ she told him cheerfully.
‘You puzzle me, Miss Pentewan. Why do you resist all my attempts to flirt with you?’
His worried tone amused her and she gave him a mischievous look.
‘Since you attempt to flirt with every young lady, my lord, it will do you no harm to be rebuffed occasionally.’ She moved towards the door. ‘Shall we go back to the house?’
Jasper was in no way discomposed by her response and they strolled back across the lawn in perfect accord. The entrance door was standing open and as they approached Dominic came out.
‘Good morning, brother,’ Jasper hailed him cheerfully. ‘You were up and out before I had even shaved this morning!’
‘I went to see Giles Grundy,’ he replied shortly.
‘Ah, yes, how is he?’ asked Zelah.
‘A little bruised, but he will mend. Doctor Pannell has set his arm—he says it is a clean break and should heal well.’
‘And while you have been busy with your tenant, you have left me with the very agreeable business of entertaining your guests,’ Jasper responded, putting his free hand over Zelah’s where it rested on his sleeve.
Dominic shifted his stony gaze to Zelah. ‘I have just ordered the carriage for your sister.’
She knew him well enough now to know he was angry about something, but she said calmly, ‘Then I shall fetch my wrap.’
She moved past him into the great hall, wondering if he had received bad tidings. Poachers, perhaps, or news that Sir Oswald had destroyed more deer. She had not quite reached the top of the stairs when his gruff, furious words echoed off the walls.
‘By heaven, Jasper, it is bad enough that you flirt with every woman you see. Must you also attempt to charm my librarian?’
Chapter Fourteen
Librarian. Yes, that is all she was to him, thought Zelah as she sat in the tower room the next day, working at her ledgers. She tried to ignore the huge bed that still dominated the room, a constant reminder of her attendance at the summer ball. The weather had broken and the rain had fallen steadily all day. She saw no one save Mrs Graddon, who brought her a tray at noon, along with an invitation from Mrs Hensley to join the other guests in the drawing room later to play charades.
Zelah sent back her apologies. She had lost too much time already. She wanted to finish her work at Rooks Tower and be ready to take up the post in Bath, should her application be successful. Dominic had told her that Sally could find her a position with someone of her acquaintance, but Zelah wanted to sever all ties with Major Coale’s family and had already sent off the required references to Bath.
She was relieved when at last she could return to West Barton, but even there the talk was still of the ball. Learning that Maria was in the nursery, she ran upstairs to find Nicky telling Nurse how exciting it had been.
‘Major Coale brought me supper, and by sitting on the edge of the landing I could hear what people said when they came into that little spot beneath the stairs.’
Maria threw up her hands. ‘Lud, my son is an eavesdropper! He now knows all the secrets of the village.’
‘Devil a bit, Mama,’ grinned Nicky. ‘It was only Lord Markham telling one of the ladies that her eyes reminded him of the stars, and then Sir Oswald came over with—’