The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(114)

"How much does he remember now?"



"I think most of it."



Pamela spoke up. "Forgive the indelicate question, but what is so special about his body?"



Sarah smiled, but said seriously, "In addition to the tattoos you are pretty familiar with as the wife of a Rakehell, he has a sixth toe on the left foot, an old bullet wound in his shoulder from a hunting accident, a broken rib, and several other significant marks only a wife or a very observant person would know. None of them are injuries which could be duplicated easily."



Jonathan nodded. "The will says his whole body, with all four limbs, had to be identified, and brought back to England if at all possible in order for anyone to inherit. He knew how much danger he was in. He realized these people were utterly ruthless, and he would never stay alive if he didn't take out some sort of insurance policy for himself."



"How ghastly." Pamela shivered, and now rose to put her arm around her husband's waist.



"Indeed. Sadly, he was never able to prove their machinations against him. They were convinced Napoleon would become Master of Europe and be grateful for all their help invading England."



"How monstrous," Sarah said with a shake of her head.



"It was a clever plan, and they were patient. But not patient enough. When they saw two of the main routes into Portugal would fall, through Ciudad Rodrigo and then Badajoz, they went after Alexander. They were working with the French, and had more than enough evidence to execute him for his espionage.



"By that time Alex was sick of fighting in the shadows. He admired me and knew what it had almost cost me to enlist. My family and friends when Father disowned me. He knew also his marriage to Marielle was a failure, but he was an honorable man. It was one way to end the marriage easily for both of them.



"If he went off to war, she would go her own way, as she had been all along. He could never even be sure that his two sons were his. But though he was disappointed in his family life, he thought they would be safe. He would have done his duty by them once he was not so disgusted by what he had learnt."



"Of course he would. He's a decent man. And the sins of the parents should never be visited on the children," Sarah said with a shake of her head. "So did Marielle betray him?"



Jonathan nodded. "Almost certainly. She was a vain, frivolous piece of fluff. She sold him out, little thinking how expendable she would be."



Sarah clung to her beloved's hand tightly. "Oh, Lord, how awful."



Pamela resumed her seat and snuffled sympathetically. "Are you sure? Sure she betrayed her own husband?"



The vicar solemnly nodded again. "Alexander had been clever and careful. He had played his part of a Spanish merchant to perfection. Who would associate a wealthy Spanish Don with a French emigre or a British major? He bought my commission, then went home to pack a few things and say goodbye to the boys. Alas, they were waiting for him."



"The rest we pretty much know from Thomas's agents. Alex, er, Jason, er, Alexander was forced to watch while they killed his family. He watched them die. They tortured him. Still he refused to tell them about the troop movements, or give away the identities and whereabouts of the partisans and other spies he was working with.



"He escaped, made his way back to Badajoz, and was taken in by the monks, who thought he was one of the injured from the battle. He was badly hurt, in shock. He must have hated himself for what he had seen. What he thought he had done. He'd watched two innocent children die, when one word from him could possibly have saved them."



"No, it wouldn't," Sarah said furiously. "They would have got what they wanted, and killed all of them anyway. And anyone else he had named. He did it for love of his country. No, beyond that. A love of freedom. I don't know that any of us could stand what he has and still stayed sane."



"And he made his way to England, to Brimley, and you two met and fell in love?" Pamela asked, fascinated.



She shrugged. "It was easy."



"It's remarkable. He's not the most likely man you would ever willingly choose," Jonathan remarked. "After all, you never took a second look at any of the other Rakehells, and he's so very different from the type of men you've know thus far. But I have to say I'm delighted."



Sarah gazed down at Alexander with a loving smile. "I chose him for better or for worse. I love him above all else. I only hope he feels the same now that he knows who he is."



A groan from the bed caused them all to hurry closer to Alexander's side. "I do, you know," he whispered.