Chapter 12 #3
Which meant that the tall, dark man with her had to be the Earl of Adare, Edward de Warenne.
Virginia thought about fleeing before anyone saw her, then pleading a headache, as she felt certain they had come to dine, but it was too late.
“Virginia.” Sean had seen her and he smiled widely. His gray eyes were sparkling. “Come meet my parents, Lady Mary de Warenne and my stepfather, Lord Adare.”
The couple turned simultaneously and Virginia met two piercing stares. For one moment, she felt certain that she was being thoroughly inspected. Slowly, she came forward, filled with unease and dread.
But Mary smiled. “Hello, child. We returned from London yesterday and as soon as we heard the news, we rushed over.”
Virginia actually curtsied. “My lady.”
“Leave it to Devlin not to say a bloody word,” Adare said darkly, staring closely at her.
Virginia looked at Sean in confusion. He seemed bewildered, as well. “How is Devlin?” he asked dryly.
“He was up to his neck in a ruckus of his own causing,” Adare said grimly. “He was once again accused of disobeying direct orders—rumor has it he attacked an American ship.”
“What happened?” Sean asked grimly.
“There was a hearing arranged by Admiral Farnham with the clever help of Tom Hughes. Devlin, however, claimed to have come to the aid of a foundering American merchantman, insisting he attacked no American ship. Several of his men testified that this was true. The ship, the Americana, was apparently lost in a gale and there were no survivors. Farnham was outvoted two to one by St. John and Keeting—the motion for a court-martial dismissed.”
Sean was pale. “Christ.”
Adare held up his hand. “He is on probation and he was sent to escort a convoy to Spain. My son has nine lives—and he’s used up ten.”
Virginia was perspiring heavily. There was an explanation now for Devlin’s prolonged absence.
She would not defend his behavior—for look at how cleverly he had lied to his own admirals!
—but somewhere, in a tiny corner of her heart, she was relieved to know that even if he had wanted to return to Askeaton, he could not.
She bit her lip hard, then gave up. “Is he returning here at any time soon?” she asked nervously.
“I wouldn’t know,” the earl said, his tone kind.
Mary beamed at her. “Why, I should hope so! Or does he expect his brother to keep you company while he sails the world?”
Virginia became very uneasy.
“Congratulations, my dear,” Mary said, grasping both of her hands. “I am so happy for you both.”
“Wh-what?”
Sean echoed her exactly.
Adare smiled. “We are both happy—and relieved, I might add, as this is the last bit of news either of us ever expected.”
Virginia had a bad feeling, oh yes. She glanced at Sean, seeking help.
He coughed.
“How on earth did you two meet?” Mary asked, putting her arm around her.
Virginia could not think of an intelligent answer. And she was referring to Devlin—wasn’t she?
Adare clapped his hand on Sean’s shoulder. “Being as Devlin was not kind enough to inform us of the upcoming nuptials, I will ask you. When is the wedding? Has anything been planned? You know your mother would love to help plan the event.”
“The wedding,” Sean said cautiously, his cheeks red.
“Yes, Devlin’s wedding. The first thing we heard when we got home was the news that Devlin is engaged. The moment we stepped off our ship at Limerick, the mayor was congratulating us—as was every squire and merchant.” Adare now stared closely at Sean. “What is amiss, Sean? You seem upset.”
Sean and Virginia looked at each other helplessly.
Mary now ceased smiling. “Is something wrong?” She turned to her son. “Sean?”
Virginia spoke, as he seemed incapable of it. Her mouth somehow formed the painful words. “I am sorry. I am not Devlin’s fiancée. There has been a terrible misunderstanding.”
“I don’t understand.” Mary was pale.
“Well, this would certainly explain why Devlin did not say a word to us when we saw him in London.” Adare was grim and displeased. “I am afraid to ask, then, what this is about. You are Devlin’s guest? “His gaze narrowed. “We have not been properly introduced.”
Virginia did not want to upset Mary de Warenne, but there was no choice. “I am not a guest here,” she said.
“I don’t understand,” Mary whispered.
“You are not a guest,” Adare said slowly. He turned to Sean. “Is she your wife?”
He flushed crimson. “No. Father, perhaps you should sit down.”
“I have a very bad feeling. Out with it!” Adare said, and it was a command.
Sean murmured, “Virginia is the Earl of Eastleigh’s niece.”
A terrible silence fell.
Virginia stared out the French doors, which were open, due to the weather, and watched the earl embracing his wife. Mary was crying. She felt Sean come to stand behind her and a moment later she felt his hand cover her shoulder. She turned to face him.
“Now we know why Devlin has not ransomed you,” Sean said softly. “He was too busy defending himself against a court-martial.”
“Eastleigh probably thinks I’m dead. He probably thinks I lie on the bottom of the sea with the Americana,” Virginia said uneasily.
“Probably,” Sean agreed.
“Why is your mother so dismayed?” she asked. “No one told her about the ransom.”
Sean hesitated. “Some of it has to do with how much Mother yearns for Devlin to find happiness.”
Virginia stiffened. “He’s not interested in happiness.”
“You are right, I think,” Sean said. “But she is his mother, and every mother wants her child to be happy.”
“They both seemed shocked when they learned I am Eastleigh’s niece.” Virginia said.
Sean shrugged.
“I have asked you a dozen times. Why? Why is Devlin doing this? He doesn’t need the money. And you refuse to answer. So now I ask, why is Lady de Warenne so upset? Why did the name Eastleigh almost cause her to faint? Is this about Eastleigh?” she cried.
“Yes.”
Virginia started. “I don’t understand.”
“Eastleigh was not always an earl. Harold Hughes was actually the middle son of the late earl. He was a captain in the army, a common-enough calling for the second son.” Sean was terse.
She still had not a clue as to what this meant. “What does any of this have to do with me—and with your brother?”
Sean grimaced. “He served in Ireland, Virginia. He was the man who murdered our father when we were boys.”
Virginia cried out, reeling. Sean steadied her. She clung to his arms. “This is about your father’s death?”
“This is about my brother’s obsession with it, yes.”
And it struck her then. “My God, this is not about ransom, this is about revenge!”
He nodded.
And the enormity of it, the absolute irony, became instantly clear. She laughed. She laughed wildly, for Devlin was a fool, oh yes!
“Virginia, you are becoming hysterical,” Sean said cautiously, trying to lead her to the sofa.
“I think not!” she cried, allowing herself to be led. “Your brother is a fool, because Eastleigh doesn’t give a damn about me and he could not care less that I am someone’s hostage!”
Sean pushed her to sit, then walked away.
Virginia continued to chuckle, for now she was the one with the last laugh.
Devlin’s absurd scheme had certainly backfired.
Sean returned, looking very worried, handing her a snifter.
Virginia shoved it away. “Don’t you see?
There is no revenge. If Devlin wants to hurt Eastleigh, he can not do so with me. ”
Sean sat down beside her, taking both of her small hands in his own large, strong ones.
Virginia thought of Devlin’s hands—both men were so alike physically—and she tensed. Slowly she met his gaze.
“No. Devlin has been methodically destroying Eastleigh for years. The man has been reduced to a single estate with very little income. He can’t afford this ransom, and when he pays it, he will have to sell off all that he has left. He will be finished, Virginia, and my brother will have won.”
She stared, stunned, dismayed, and then, aware of him holding her hands, she pulled them away. “And he will have to pay?”
“It will become a matter of honor.”
“What kind of man destroys an innocent woman in order to avenge his father?” she asked numbly.
“My brother,” Sean said. He took her hand again, but only one, clasping it firmly. “He hasn’t destroyed you. You’re not with child.” He kept his voice low. “He won’t touch you that way again, I promise. Very soon, this will be over. One day, it will be a vague memory.”
Virginia stared, but she did not see Sean, she saw Devlin instead, and now she began to understand how his eyes could be so cold, how he could lack any kindness, any mercy.
He was no ordinary man. He was obsessed with revenge, and apparently, no means was too obnoxious to gain his end.
“And what of his career? Surely he will be court-martialed for abducting me.”
Sean hesitated. “Eastleigh has already been made a fool by Devlin, many times. He is too proud to go to the authorities, Virginia.”
Virginia became still. It struck her then that she had the power to be the means of Devlin O’Neill’s downfall. And Sean stared back—clearly, he knew it also.
Suddenly Mary and the earl had stepped into the room, Mary no longer crying. Both were terribly grave. As they looked at her, she slid her hand from Sean’s and slowly stood.
Mary managed a smile. “Please, child, come outside and sit with me. It’s such a pleasant evening.”
Virginia wished she could be saved, as she had little doubt that Mary wished to speak far too intimately with her. She glanced at Sean pleadingly but he shrugged. Having no choice, she walked out to the terrace with Mary. The other woman paused beside the balustrade and faced her.
Virginia gazed up at the stars instead of at the other woman. But it was impossible not to be aware of her kindness and compassion; it flowed from her the way it might from an unearthly angel, in holy, tangible waves.
“Child,” she said softly, tilting Virginia’s face. “How can I apologize for what my son has done?”