Redemption of a Fallen Woman(87)

‘This is an honour I did not think to have,’ he said.

Elena smiled. ‘Nor I, my lord.’

‘I had no idea that my brother’s taste was so exquisite.’

‘You have no idea how jealous a husband he is either,’ said Harry, ‘so you’d best have a care.’

Jamie grinned. ‘How on earth did you find anything so beautiful? There’s no justice.’

‘I have no complaints to make about my lot.’

‘I should say you haven’t.’ Jamie leaned confidentially towards Elena. ‘I really must relate some of his boyhood adventures. You’ll find them most entertaining.’

Her eyes sparkled. ‘I should like to hear them, my lord.’

‘Such formality is inappropriate between brother and sister. Won’t you just call me Jamie?’

‘If you wish it.’

‘I do wish it. I hope we shall be good friends, you and I.’

Harry uttered a theatrical groan. ‘I’m lost.’

‘I rather think you are, brother.’

‘If you plan to dredge up all the misdemeanours of my youth, I give you fair warning that I shall retaliate in kind.’

Jamie’s expression was indicative of mock dismay. ‘Hmm. Perhaps we might call a truce there.’

Elena eyed them both speculatively. ‘You will do no such thing, for I am determined to hear all these stories, and once I have made up my mind I am not to be dissuaded.’

‘Now you’ve done it,’ said Harry.

‘Can’t you talk her out of it?’

‘Not a hope.’

She laughed. ‘How right you are.’

* * *

When they all met for dinner that evening Elena thought she had never seen Harry look so happy. It positively radiated off him. From time to time she would intercept a glance which only reinforced the impression. While it pleased her to see his joy it also saddened her to know that only others could call it forth. That, it seemed, was beyond her power.

With a determined effort she pushed these gloomy reflections aside, reminding herself that there was much to be thankful for. This outcome was beyond her wildest dreams. Now it had happened she settled down to observe. The longer she spent in their company the more apparent it was that these two men were brothers. They had the same quiet good breeding, the same polished manners, the same charm. They even shared some of the same mannerisms. Harry had once told her he’d looked up to his brother and it was true.

Yet there were differences too. Notwithstanding his obvious physical injuries, there was something about the older man that suggested private sadness, as though the experiences of the past two years had scarred him in other ways. Like Harry he was good at controlling his facial expression but his eyes were more eloquent. There were things that he had not said, events he had not yet recounted. However, they were none of her business. If he chose to tell Harry that was their affair.

It was late when the party broke up. Jamie eventually left them, promising to return on the morrow.

‘You’d better keep your word,’ said Harry, ‘or there’ll be the devil to pay.’

‘Trust me.’

‘I do.’

Jamie turned to Elena. ‘I cannot recall the last time I spent so agreeable an evening. I hope to have the pleasure often repeated.’

‘And I,’ she replied.

‘Until tomorrow, then.’

They went with him to the door of the inn and watched him mount his horse. Then with a final wave he left them.

‘I like your brother very much,’ said Elena as she and Harry strolled back to their room.

‘He likes you, that’s certain.’

‘I’m glad.’ She looked up at him. ‘What an incredible day this has been. I shall never forget it if I live to be a hundred.’

‘Nor I.’

‘I did not believe in miracles, but I have been proved wrong.’

‘I think we were both wrong about that,’ he replied.

‘We have been given more than I ever dreamed possible.’

‘I know what you mean.’

‘If anyone had told me three months ago that things would work out so well I should have called him a liar.’

He drew her closer. ‘You helped to make it happen.’

‘I’m glad of it,’ she replied, ‘and I’m happy for you, Harry.’

‘There’s only one fly in the ointment now, my sweet.’

‘What fly?’

He summarised the relevant part of his conversation with Jamie. Elena was incredulous.

‘You mean to say that Alicia is not his wife?’

‘That’s exactly what I mean to say.’

‘Then the child is not...’

‘The rightful heir? No, he is not.’