Madrilene's Granddaughter. Laura Cassidy

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СКАЧАТЬ inclined his head. “Thank you. Tomorrow you will inspect the next generation. I am a grandfather, you know, and scarcely believe it.” At ease now, Rachel began to eat, relaxing and offering a comment here and there. At length George turned to his mother on his other side and Rachel glanced sideways at Hal.

      Hal had spent the meal so far staring at Katherine. Part of the effect she was having upon him was the extraordinary excitement he felt because it was so long since he had been so immediately attracted to a woman: she was very different from the women he was used to—so vital and fresh, as well as so beautiful. Throughout the meal she had shared her favours between Piers Roxburgh and Harry Latimar. Piers seemed as struck with her as his best friend, and Harry, with a lifetime’s association with the great and glamorous behind him, was plainly enjoying her company. “I beg your pardon?” Hal turned courteously to Rachel as she spoke.

      “I was just remarking how very fond your family seem to be of each other. I have seldom heard so much laughter and happy conversation.”

      “Oh, yes, we are all good friends. We do not see much of my sister and her husband, but letters are exchanged on a regular basis and George and his family are near enough to be a part of our life here.” He again allowed his gaze to centre on Katherine and Rachel fell silent. For a brief time, while she was speaking with George, she had felt interesting and worth noticing. Now she was back to feeling the tolerated onlooker. The outsider of any group.

      After the meal there was a general move towards the parlour and Rachel came to Bess’s side and asked leave to retire. “’Tis a family party,” she murmured. “I have no place there.” Bess was swift to hear the desolation in her voice, and gave her a thoughtful glance. Rachel’s looks, the set of her head and firm chin, somehow did not match the uncertainty of her manner. There is good blood there, Bess mused, and she reminds me…A memory from the distant past tugged at her.

      “My lady?” Rachel was bearing the scrutiny meekly enough, but her expressive eyes darkened. She is judging me, she thought, as all in her position must do when confronted by someone like me.

      “You may go to your rest, of course,” Bess said, “but I would be pleased if you would stay for the rest of the festivities.”

      “In that case…” Rachel’s smile flashed out.

      The impression of having known her, or someone very like her once, grew stronger in Bess, although she could not think who it was. It would return to her—these days her memory was not what it was. Meanwhile, she led the way into the parlour where she and Harry received gifts and more good wishes. Later the family caught up with the news.

      George and Hal sat on the long settle. Hal had been a baby when George married his love, Judith; in his growing years his older brother had been raising his family and frequently away in Elizabeth Tudor’s court. As George began to spend less time in the royal residences, Hal had completed his training, received his silver spurs and duly been taken up by the Queen. He and George saw little of each other, but were very good friends.

      “So, little brother,” George said now. “How is it with you? You look fit.” It was an understatement, he thought wryly, for he had never seen such an example of fair and handsome youth.

      “I am,” agreed Hal. “You look fine yourself, George. I am sorry not to see Anne here tonight. Is she well, do you think?”

      “I know she is.” George and Anne were twins—the one always knew the other’s feelings and state. “I think if she could speak to you now, she would say: I wish I could be at Maiden Court, but my beloved husband and children need me.”

      Hal glanced at him; he would not argue with one who knew what he was talking about. “Yes…well. What think you of our visitors?”

      “Katherine Monterey and her handmaiden? I think Katherine a very beautiful girl.”

      Hal turned to him. “So do I! She is lovely, is she not? And also sweet.”

      George considered. He knew Katherine, of course—as the niece of one of the greatest friends of his youth, Tom Monterey, he had taken an interest in her. He knew his parents had been asked to present her when she was old enough. He also had known her father—Ralph—a court favourite and dead these long years. Ralph had sued for Anne Latimar’s hand and George had been greatly relieved when the projected match had foundered for he had had no liking for the attractive unscrupulous courtier. Was his only daughter like him, George wondered, or like her grandfather, who had been as fine an example of stalwart English gentleman as could be found? He said, “Piers seems to share your enthusiasm.” Piers had drawn up a chair close to Katherine’s and was holding earnest conversation with her. Hal frowned.

      “I think I have made it clear this night, even after knowing her so short a time, my regard for Katherine,” he added stiffly, “Piers is my friend.”

      “Friendship is the first thing cast overboard when a woman gets between two men,” George said mildly. There was a short silence, during which Hal’s fair face darkened. Piers was certainly doing all he could to charm Katherine, he thought cynically, with the kind of performance he only usually put on for a lady who might advance his static career. Obviously he had registered the name of Monterey—He rose abruptly. “Excuse me, brother.” As he moved purposely across the floor, his mother touched his sleeve.

      “Hal, my dear, I was speaking to Rachel earlier of our small innovation here at Maiden Court. The Queen’s Rest, you know. She expressed a wish to see it, and I thought we would go now. Come with us, won’t you?” Hal looked down at her blankly. “I need a little air,” Bess went on.

      For a moment she thought he would refuse, but he smiled and said, “Very well, Mother. I will ask Piers and Katherine to join us.” He bowed before Katherine and leaned to offer his invitation. She shook her curls and protested how comfortable she was. Hal looked at Piers. “You will escort us, won’t you, Piers?”

      “Thank you, but no, my friend. I would not leave such a charming lady unattended.” Katherine gave Hal a mischievous look, then fixed her marvellous eyes once again on Piers. Hal turned on his heel.

      Chapter Three

      In the cool night air Rachel dropped behind the others until Bess turned and offered her arm. “Perhaps we should have brought our cloaks, Rachel. It is not as warm as I expected.”

      “Would you like to go back in?” Hal asked immediately. He resented being pressganged for this expedition; who knew what progress Piers—so adept with women—would make in his absence?

      Rachel looked at him. If he was reluctant to be out in the moonlight, it certainly admired him. Inside the manor, by soft candlelight, he was almost too handsome: so much coin-bright hair, vividly blue black-lashed eyes and classically modelled face gave the impression of delicacy. In this pure cold light the strong bones of his face, allied to the athletic shape of his body beneath the rich clothes, conveyed uncompromising masculinity. When Bess shook her head decisively in answer to his question, he passed a hand over his hair resignedly.

      Rachel had particularly noticed his hands at the supper table. They were unusual in their length of sensitive square-tipped fingers and a beautiful example of the human bone structure. She thought, quite impersonally, that she had never seen quite so lovely a feature on a man’s body before.

      The innovation Bess had mentioned to Rachel and called the Queen’s Rest was a little stone house built on a space of land just before the formal house gardens СКАЧАТЬ