Chapter 8
Valentin clenched his fists and paced in front of the massive fireplace at the heart of his private apartment. A fire always burned in this interior drawing room, warm or cold outside, but he was oblivious to the crackling flames as his anguish grew.
Why no news yet? He should have heard something by now as to whether Estelle had been seriously injured!
He’d known she was in pain from the moment he’d pulled her into his arms, Gaston’s lifeless body lying only feet away from them.
He had done his best not to jostle her during the ride home, grateful he had ordered his royal guests, their courtiers, and several soldiers back to the castle as he and the rest of his men had plunged into the woods to look for Estelle.
What a hue and cry he most likely would have heard for them to see her cradled in his arms!
Valentin cursed under his breath, not caring one whit what Ophelia, Alicia, and Ingrid must be thinking.
No doubt the three women had been informed of their return, and probably about what had occurred in the forest. Such astonishing news always traveled fast. He could scarcely believe it himself that his hated cousin was dead even though he’d been the one to plunge the knife into Gaston’s throat.
Such rage had filled him to see Estelle held captive in Gaston’s arms, a blade pressed against her neck, that he’d only reacted when she had screamed and hurled herself to the ground.
He didn’t remember at all jumping from his horse or wresting away the knife, though the look in Gaston’s eyes when Valentin had struck the death blow would never leave him.
Incredulity, as if Gaston couldn’t believe that he had finally been bested, falling dead to the ground mere seconds after making a futile attempt to pull out the knife.
“Damn you for eternity, Gaston Chevalier,” Valentin muttered, though any sense of triumph was tempered by the physical pain that might never leave him thanks to his cousin’s sadistic torture.
Even now the damaged flesh on his back felt as if needles pricked him, he knew because of straining to grab the knife—
“My lord, Miss Easton’s brother-in-law is here to speak with you,” Robert announced from the doorway, Valentin turning around to face him.
“Let the man in!” Surprised that the viscount had come himself rather than send word, Valentin felt fresh apprehension as he strode across the room to meet him. Yet he relaxed at once when he saw Adam’s face.
“Your Highness—Valentin. I’m pleased to let you know that Estelle sustained no serious injury, though she’ll be sore for a few days.”
“Thank God.” Smiling broadly with relief, Valentin reached out to shake Adam’s hand. He had liked this tall Englishman from the moment he’d met him, the two of them standing eye-to-eye. Yet the sudden movement of his arm caused him to wince, which made Adam look at him with concern.
“You’re in pain. Did your cousin cut you before you—”
“No,” Valentin broke in, perhaps a bit too brusquely. He shrugged, which also made him wince. “Old wounds from my time in prison.”
“You know I’m a physician. If you’ll allow me to take a look…”
Valentin sighed, his own doctors having been unable to find anything to fully alleviate the pain, saying it would take time. Yet he had already mentioned to Adam about the two of them discussing ways to improve the health of his people. Why not start with his own?
“Very well.” Valentin had already changed out of his blood-splattered riding clothes to a white linen shirt, brown trousers, and boots, his preferred informal mode of dress.
He turned his back to Adam and pulled his shirt over his head, not surprised when he heard a low intake of breath.
“Not a pretty sight, but there it is, compliments of my cousin, Gaston.”
“May I touch the skin?”
“You’re the doctor.” Valentin hadn’t meant to sound flippant, but he truly didn’t think anything further could be done to help him.
He closed his eyes as Adam gingerly touched his back in several places, and then quietly bade him to get dressed.
He did so, and then turned around, Adam’s face grave indeed.
“I thought it was too much to hope for,” Valentin said with no small amount of resignation. “I will just have to live with it.”
“Actually, I can make you a salve that will soften the skin to make movement much less painful for you. I studied with an apothecary known for treating patients who’d sustained burns during the war. I’ll just need the ingredients and the use of some space in your kitchen.”
“Anything you want is yours.” Deeply grateful, Valentin once again reached out to shake Adam’s hand. Yet this time, Adam held out something to him in his palm, Valentin recognizing at once the polished brass button from his red military coat.
But how had Adam come to find it? Robert had told him this morning when he’d picked up the coat from where Valentin had tossed it last night that a button was missing on the front…
Realization gripped him when Adam nodded as if he’d read his mind, Valentin suddenly feeling as sheepish as a green youth. “Adam, truly, I can explain. I only visited Estelle in her room for a few moments—”
“I know, to ask her for her hand in marriage. Estelle thought it best to tell us what had happened after her lady’s maid told my wife she’d found the button on the floor this morning.
I have no doubt you intend to act honorably toward my sister-in-law, but in future, until the two of you are wed, there is something I do want, Valentin. ”
“Name it.”
“A chaperone with you and Estelle at all times.”
“Done.”
“Good. Estelle said you plan to announce your intention to wed after the coronation…but until then, it must remain a closely guarded secret.”
Valentin nodded, feeling a tic in his jaw as Hortense jumped to his mind. “It’s for the best. I will speak to my privy council the following morning when I’ll have full authority to do what I wish.”
“Then we’ll discuss it no further until then…except for one more thing.”
Adam’s expression had grown quite somber as he handed him the button, Valentin slipping it into the pocket of his trousers.
“Since Estelle’s father is not here, I believe you have something quite important to ask me.”
“Yes, I do,” Valentin agreed as solemnly, though he felt again like the impetuous suitor for having overlooked the proper formalities. “Lord Linley, if you would grant me the great honor of Miss Estelle Easton’s hand in marriage.”
“The honor is ours, Your Highness, after everything you’ve done for us. The honor is truly ours. You have my permission.”
Now Adam did clasp his hand, and so warmly that Valentin swallowed hard against the moisture in his eyes as wild elation filled him. Good God, how could he possibly keep this news a secret even for a few days when he wanted to shout it from the highest tower?
“Go on, then.”
Valentin looked at Adam in confusion for a moment, until a smile of understanding spread across his face. He was already halfway to the door when Adam called out behind him.
“Don’t forget the—”
“I know! A chaperone! Robert, where are you?”
Estelle sighed as she pulled the covers snugly around her, watching as Mattie finished tidying up after helping her with a sponge bath and to don a fresh nightgown.
She was so grateful her lady’s maid had promised to keep quiet about her wedding plans, and had appeared thrilled to be let in on the secret. Mattie smiled now as she came closer to the bed.
“Will there be anything else before I leave you to rest for a while, Miss Easton?”
Estelle shook her head, what she wanted so desperately at that moment not in Mattie’s power to grant her.
After everything that had happened, she longed to see Valentin! She wanted to look into his eyes and tell him herself that she was fine…and to thank him for once again rescuing her in the nick of time. If he hadn’t wrested the knife from Gaston, she didn’t want to think of what might have occurred—
“May I come in?”
Valentin!
Overcome by happiness to hear his voice and see his handsome face, she nodded at him and held out her hand as he came to the bed while Robert took up a position just inside the open door. Mattie clearly must have changed her mind about leaving because she joined him, looking up at Robert shyly.
“There, you see,” Valentin said with a broad smile as he grasped Estelle’s hand and inclined his head toward the door. “Our two chaperones, everything as proper as it should be.”
Estelle stared at him in wonder, never having seen him look so relaxed or so happy.
Truly happy! He bent over to kiss her hand, but only briefly, the warmth of his lips upon her skin thrilling her more than she could say.
Then he released her and pulled a chair closer so he might sit next to the bed.
She couldn’t stop staring at him, or him at her, his smile fading to a look of such poignant intensity that she felt her breath still.
“I heard from your brother-in-law that you suffered no grave injury.”
“Yes, I’m fine, truly!” she blurted, able at last to reassure him just as she’d longed to. “A little sore, but Adam said I’ll be able to attend your coronation and the ball. Oh, Valentin, once again you saved my life! You were so very brave—”
“I’d say you were the brave one to hurl yourself from your horse as you did…”
He fell silent, clearly finding it difficult to speak for a moment, while Estelle felt emotion clog her throat, too.
“Valentin…in the woods. Gaston told me a terrible thing he did to you, so terrible. He said he burned you—”
“Gaston is dead and won’t trouble us anymore, my love. We’re free of him forever.”
She nodded, his tender endearment just what she’d needed to hear at that moment.
She wanted so much to reach for his hand, to give him comfort and to feel his strength, but a glance at Robert and Mattie reminded her that she and Valentin had breached convention quite enough already.
Somehow she would just have to be patient to feel his arms around her again, to feel his kiss again.
“We must think of the future, Estelle…our future. I plan to speak to my privy council the morning after the coronation, but it’s only a formality. They’ll approve our match and then we’ll set our wedding date for as soon as possible. Does that please you?”
“Oh, yes! I only wish more of my family could join us. Donovan said it would be too difficult for him and Corie to travel so far, and my sister Marguerite and her husband, Walker, as they have young children. My father performed the wedding for all of my sisters—well, Marguerite and Walker married first in Scotland at Gretna Green and then had a second ceremony in our parish church.”
“I have an idea,” Valentin said gently, leaning closer. “We’ll marry here first in the cathedral so my people may celebrate with us, and then we’ll journey to Cornwall for a blessing by your father so all of your family can attend. What do you think?”
Estelle smiled at him, elated, which made him smile, too, and lean even closer as if he intended to kiss her—
“My lord, someone’s coming down the hall!”
Gasping at Robert’s warning that had startled them both, Estelle wondered if Adam and Linette might be returning to see how she fared.
Yet Valentin’s expression suddenly looked tense as if he recognized the approaching footsteps.
He stood up abruptly and pulled the chair away from the bed, back to its original position against the wall just as Princess Hortense swept into the room.
“My dear girl, the news has spread through the town like wildfire! How dreadful for you to be nearly abducted and carried across the border!”
Estelle gaped in surprise as Valentin’s elegantly dressed half-sister, swathed in purple silk from head to toe, flicked her gaze in the direction of Robert and Mattie and proceeded directly toward the bed.
“Valentin, please, the chair if you would. I summoned a carriage and came here as quickly as I could. I must catch my breath!”
Silently obliging his half-sister, Valentin set the chair in the spot where he’d been sitting only a moment before, while Estelle still had not found her voice to speak.
My dear girl? Had she heard the woman correctly? Last night at dinner Hortense had barely acknowledged her and had blatantly seated her as far away from Valentin as possible!
“Valentin, why didn’t you send me word yourself as to what has happened?” Hortense said with clear reproach as she took a seat. “Your citizens are thronging the streets to celebrate that Gaston Chevalier was slain by your hand!”