‘I will follow on, once I have instructed Summerson to conclude the business of the boundary with Sir Arthur.’
He turned and hailed Dominic and Jasper as they passed. Zelah stepped back behind her sister. She felt as drawn and exhausted as Reginald had said and did not want to face anyone, especially Dominic.
‘How can we ever thank you, gentlemen, for returning my boy safely to us?’
‘I am pleased we could be of service,’ returned Jasper with his cheerful grin. ‘Sir Oswald should not bother you any more, I do not see how he can explain away the evidence against him.’
Maria put out her hand first to Dominic, then to his brother. ‘I know you must be very tired,’ she said, smiling mistily up at them, ‘but you are very welcome to come to West Barton. Join us for dinner—it is the least we can do after all you have done for us.’
‘And do not forget Miss Pentewan’s efforts, too,’ put in Dominic, his words and the trace of a smile that accompanied them making Zelah feel as if she might cry at any moment. ‘But, no, thank you. We will stay until Sir Arthur has concluded the hearing, then we must go back to Rooks Tower. I still have guests there. I shall send Sawley ahead to tell them what has occurred, but I know they will be anxious to hear the story from us.’
‘Of course.’ Maria nodded. ‘I quite understand, but pray believe me when I say that you are both welcome to take pot luck with us at any time.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’
Jasper bowed over her hand and Zelah’s before ruffling Nicky’s hair. ‘Good day to you, Master Nick. Do not frighten your mama too much with the tales of your adventures!’
Zelah stood by, smiling, supposedly listening to Nicky’s reply, but all the time she was painfully aware of Dominic, standing beside Reginald. He would be taking his leave any moment. She would give him her hand for the last time. There would be no ‘until tomorrow’ because she no longer worked at Rooks Tower.
Dominic stood outside the little circle, watching. Jasper found it easy to converse, to do the pretty and bow over the ladies’ hands, but Dominic held back. What was wrong with him? His manners could be every bit as polished as his brother’s, but somehow today he could not push himself forwards. If Zelah had given him the slightest encouragement, a mere look, then he would have stepped up, taken her hand, but she had been avoiding him ever since they had arrived in Lesserton this morning. Now he watched the way she smiled up at Jasper when he took her hand and the demon jealousy tore at his gut so that he could manage no more than a curt nod of farewell before he turned away.
Zelah’s heart sank. After all they had done together, all they had been through, he could not wait to get away. Bitterly disappointed, she climbed quickly into the carriage.
Dominic cursed himself for a fool. How could he leave her without a word? He owed her more than that. Quickly he turned back, but she was already in the carriage. The moment was lost.
‘Well, we did it, Brother,’ declared Jasper once they had collected their horses and were trotting out of the village. ‘We brought the boy home safely, the principal villains have been locked up and a party is even now on its way to Beston Quay to apprehend the innkeeper and his wife. Everything has worked out very well.’ Jasper laughed. ‘By Gad, I never thought Exmoor would prove so interesting! You are the hero of the hour, Dom. And Miss Pentewan is the heroine.’ When Dominic was silent he continued. ‘By Gad, what a woman. Came into the inn, cool as you please, and cut us free. Heaven knows what would have happened if she hadn’t come looking for us.’
‘Utter recklessness,’ retorted Dominic, chilled at the thought of what might have happened. ‘To put herself in danger like that! If she’d had any sense she would have gone to Beston village for help.’
‘And that might have come too late. Admit it, man, she’s a damned fine woman. I thought so the first time I met her in your library. Not one to say yea and nay because she thinks you want to hear it.’
‘Certainly not,’ agreed Dominic with feeling. She had challenged him from the first moment they had met.
‘Graddon says Rooks Tower has been transformed since she first entered it.’
‘Aye,’ growled Dominic, ‘if you call setting the place on its head, opening up rooms and encouraging me to hold a ball—a ball, mark you!—a transformation then, yes, she has changed it out of all recognition.’
‘And you too, Dom. When Sal wrote and told me how you had recovered I could scarcely believe it, but it is true.’ His shrewd gaze slid to Dominic, who strained every muscle to keep his countenance impassive. ‘How much of that is due to your little librarian?’
‘I agree she was a civilising influence,’ Dominic said carefully, ‘but any woman would have been the same.’
‘It takes more than just any woman to put up with your moods and your curst temper,’ retorted his fond brother. ‘You know you have been the very devil to live with since you came back from the Peninsula. And with good reason, I admit. The state you were in, we were surprised you survived at all. What you suffered would have tried the patience of a saint. But from what I’ve heard Miss Pentewan has been more than a match for you.’
Exhaling in frustration, Dominic kicked his horse into a canter, relieved that they had reached a stretch of open ground, but when they drew rein to make their way onto the road he found his brother had not finished with the subject of Zelah Pentewan.
‘And the way she kept up with us all the way to Beston Quay and back. Never a murmur of complaint. Pluck to the backbone. Do you know, brother, I think I am in love.’
A short laugh escaped Dominic. ‘Again! How many times has that been this year?
‘No, this time I am serious.’ Jasper brought his horse to a stand, a look of dawning wonder on his face. ‘Zelah Pentewan is intelligent, courageous, generous—not a beauty, perhaps, but very lovely. There is something quite out of the ordinary about her.’
Dominic swung round in the saddle, scowling fiercely. ‘Devil take you, Jasper, Zelah is not one of your sophisticated society ladies. She has no more guile about her than a kitten! I’ll not have you break her heart with your flirting!’
‘Flirting?’ Jasper looked genuinely shocked. ‘Dom, I have no intention of flirting with her. I want to marry her!’
Chapter Eighteen
If he had taken a blow to the solar plexus Dominic could not have been more winded. For a full minute he stared at his brother, and his stunned countenance brought a rueful flush to Jasper’s handsome face.
‘Oh, I know I have thought myself in love before, but this time I am convinced it is for real. It has been coming on ever since I danced with her at your summer ball. She was so graceful and with such a natural wit that she completely bowled me off my feet. Of course, I don’t know if she’ll have me, but I’d like to put it to the touch. What do you think, Dom, do you think I have a chance?’
Looking at Jasper with his perfect features, his clear brow and the smooth, unblemished planes of his face, Dominic knew he was looking at one of the most handsome men in the country. Add to that a generous nature, a noble title and enough charm to bring the birds out of the trees, and it was inconceivable that his offer should not be accepted.
‘Damn you, I do not see how you can fail.’
Jasper’s black brows snapped together and he subjected his brother to a searching scrutiny.
‘Dominic? Do you have an interest there yourself? Because if that is so...’
Dominic wished he had bitten off his tongue rather than have Jasper guess his secret. In his mind’s eye he compared himself with his twin. What woman would want a scarred wreck with a comfortable income when she could have the exceedingly rich and handsome Viscount Markham? Not only that, but Jasper’s unfailingly cheerful disposition was a stark contrast to his own foul temper. It was time to be honest with himself. He had held the ball for Zelah’s sake, had he not? So that she might find a prospective husband. Now it seemed he had succeeded only too well, for she had won the biggest prize on the matrimonial market. He forced himself to laugh.