Tempest(39)
“No, not really. I just come here, from the Hart Hotel in Bridgetown. I work for Mistress Gemma Hart.” Liza waited for a sign of recognition. “She is Lord Raveneau’s... other lady.”
“Oh.” Auggie blinked. “Oh! Good God! Are you a spy?”
She shrugged. “Not really. I just let my mistress know how things go on here. She has a right to know, don’t you think so? She has to think of little Paul’s welfare, not just her own.”
“Paul? Is that the love child?”
“Yes, sir.” Liza dusted for a moment, letting her revelations sink in. “Paul is like a little angel. Innocent, you know? Mistress Hart wonders if you would like to come to Bridgetown and talk to her. She says, maybe you’re growing bored here and you’d like a bit of diversion on your own? She will serve you a fine supper if you come tonight.”
“A lovely thought, but how am I supposed to get there?”
“I could say that I have to visit my mother, and I would show you the way. You could drive me, and we could borrow a buggy.” Seeing Auggie’s uncertainty, she plucked the note from the corner of the desk blotter and held it out to him. “You can see for yourself how much pain Mistress Hart endures. She sent this note to his lordship this morning but he does not answer. He only shoves it away and forgets about it.”
Auggie scanned the contents, then put it in the pocket of his white duck trousers. “How do we know what Lord Raveneau has planned? He may have gone to Bridgetown today to see your mistress, rather than coming with us.”
From the doorway, Hermione Parrish spoke. “Auggie, I think you should go. Catherine is wavering. It may be up to you to help deliver the death blow to this horrible marriage.”
When Cathy tiptoed into the cramped north bedroom, she was shocked to find Adam lying on the narrow bed, apparently asleep. Almost more startling was the sight of Alice breaking all the rules by napping beside him, her white-whiskered muzzle on Cathy’s pillow.
She decided that, if she could just be quiet enough to change her clothes without waking him, everything would be fine. There was a massive Barbadian mahogany wardrobe against one wall. In it were the items of clothing Cathy and Adam wore most often; for the rest, they made furtive trips into their dressing room when Hermione and Auggie were downstairs.
Now, Cathy opened one door and withdrew a thin muslin shirtwaist and her simplest ecru skirt. The window nearby was open, and she was grateful for the fresh air wafting up from the ocean. The pink frangipani tree had just burst into bloom, and its flowers spread their heavy scent on the late-afternoon breeze.
Cathy sighed and let herself relax. The sleeping Adam looked like a dream, so darkly and sinfully handsome that just the sight of him sent frissons of desire over her nerves. His hair was tousled and touchable. Stubble made shadows on his sculpted jaw.
Alice snored, then whimpered slightly, all four paws twitching as if she were dreaming of hunting game during her youth on the grounds of Thorn Manor.
Her heart aching, Cathy looked away from both of them and began to unbutton the jacket of her suit. When she had removed it, along with the blouse and skirt, she turned to reach for the other shirtwaist.
A brown hand captured her wrist in midair. “My lady wife.”
He had her in such a grip that Cathy had to sit down or lose her balance. “Let me go.”
“I like the look of you in your lacy drawers and corset.” He kissed her shoulder and gave her a sleepy grin.
“Have you been drinking? For heaven’s sake, that’s the last vice I would recommend you take up at this point in your career.”
Adam laughed. “I like your way with words.”
“I don’t want to hear any more about what you like about me. If we weren’t married, and we didn’t have guests, I wouldn’t tolerate being in the same room with you—”
“Now that’s a lie.” He drew her down until he was looking into her eyes.
“You’re the expert on lies. How many must you have told to keep your mistress a secret?”
“I only meant that you care, Cath, whether you’ll admit it or not.” Holding her thick hair, he brought her mouth to his, ever so softly. “We’ve been making a marriage these past weeks...”
She wrenched free, bright spots of color flaring on her cheeks to betray her body’s response to him. “How can you say that, when everything we have shared has been built on deception?”
“Wait.” Clasping her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, he said, “Allow me to make one speech in my own defense, and if you choose not to believe me, then at least I’ve been heard.”
To Cathy’s consternation, Alice had awakened and moved over to prop her chin on her master’s chest, fixing Cathy with sorrowful, pleading brown eyes. “Oh, all right, but I really don’t see any point in it.” She was interrupted by a loud snuffling sound from Alice. “I mean, how can I trust anything that you say?”
“That’s just my point. I haven’t lied to you, though it’s true that I haven’t told you all. At first, what was the point? You insisted on marrying me no matter what. I probably could have told you that I kept an entire harem right here at Tempest Hall and it wouldn’t have deterred you.”
“Hardly! But go on.”
“I’ll freely admit the truth of my relationship with Gemma, adding that I have done nothing requiring an apology. I was not married during our involvement; I had not even met you. In fairness, I should add that Gemma Hart is not the woman of loose morals you and your mother might think. She is independent, intelligent, strong, and successful in business.”
Torn and stung, Cathy asked, “Why didn’t you marry her, then?”
“I didn’t love her, not in that way. I was involved with her because I didn’t want to marry anyone yet. You’ll recall that I told you that very thing in Newport?” He watched her eyes drop, lashes brushing her cheeks. “Now that I am married to you, I think I’d say that I wouldn’t want to be married to Gemma instead because she doesn’t laugh enough. She isn’t very playful or warm; she’s too caught up in the serious matters of life, simply because of her circumstances.”
This soothed her a little. “But why didn’t you tell me sooner, when you knew that I would find out one day? And...” She took a painful breath. “What about Paul? He is your child, isn’t he?”
“I’ve already explained that I meant to tell you, but the moment was never right— and then your mother arrived! You and I were growing closer, and I didn’t want to hurt you, but I was wrong. Wrong. I’ve told Gemma the same thing.”
“You’ve been meeting with her secretly!” she accused.
“We’ve talked privately once or twice, but there is no romance between us any longer. I have been faithful to you.” His hand tightened around hers. “Cathy, I have a long and eventful past, and if that upsets you, we’re going to have trouble.”
Her lower lip pushed out a little. “You haven’t answered about Paul.”
“You haven’t given me a chance,” Adam protested. He looked directly into her eyes. “Yes, he is probably my child—”
“Oh, Adam!” For all her suspicions, it was a painful shock to hear him say the words.
“You wanted the truth, and there it is. But I had no idea until I returned to Barbados with you. He seems to be a fine little boy, but I can’t say that I feel any strong paternal ties to him. Gemma wants me to spend more time with him; that’s the demand she keeps making. Bringing all that up to you seemed like setting off an explosion in our shaky new marriage. If I have mixed feelings about Paul, what must yours be?”
“I think—” Eyes burning, she wrested her hand free of his and stood up. “I think that Paul is a problem I shouldn’t have to deal with. I think that you have made your bed, with your fancy mistress, and now you’ll have to lie in it.” Slipping her arms into the fresh shirtwaist, Cathy added, “And I have strong doubts whether there is room for me in that bed!”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Adam was annoyed, but got up and went to open the door mere inches. He saw Auggie standing there, looking more tanned than ever in the shadows. “Can I do something for you, Chase?”
“Sorry to disturb you, but I wondered if I might borrow your carriage for a few hours?” Before Adam could speak, Auggie rushed on: “I feel a bit restless, and I heard your maid, Liza, saying that she needs to visit her sick mother in Bridgetown. Perhaps I could take her, and she could direct me?”
“I suppose so. We aren’t much on road markers in Barbados, but if Liza is along, you’ll be fine.” He gave him a distracted smile. “Try to come back before dark, though, all right?”
Auggie assured him that he’d be extremely cautious with Adam’s horse and carriage, then turned and started back down the corridor. As soon as he heard the door click shut, he stopped, grinning, and rubbed his hands together.
“Here I come, Miss Gemma Hart!” he whispered. “If we succeed in destroying this marriage, I’ll never have to work or worry about money again. Aunt Hermione will see to it that I live in high style for the rest of my life!”