Beloved (64 page)

“For heaven’s sake. If I’d known this wardrobe would prove such a good disguise, we could have left in broad daylight!”

Christina threw her arms around his neck then, clinging to him as a wave of relief washed over her. For all her determination to be free of Guy, with or without Richard, she was unspeakably happy that he’d come back to her.

“Beloved, forgive me. I’m so sorry I worried you.”

Denis, embarrassed, looked away, but he was smiling.

By ten in the morning Richard and Christina were comfortably settled at the home of Richard’s old friend, Captain Gervaise. He had a small house in the country along the river just north of Marseilles and though he was still at sea, his wife was more than happy to give them a place for a day and a night.

By 11:15 the next morning, Guy and Stefano were on their way to Montmajour. Guy was in high spirits as their carriage moved at a smart clip along the road to the abbey. The day was crisp and sunny and the fine weather served to augment his good mood. He was anxious to bring Christina home, to have her with them again. This time he was determined that nothing would spoil his plans. He’d put Christina’s reluctance to return to his house completely out of his mind and now imagined she would be quite docile, even when she saw that Stefano was with him. In fact, Guy fully expected her to be pleased to see Stefano again. Surely she’d missed him, too?

Stefano shared Guy’s high spirits. He was excited about the reunion with Christina, which he knew would be sweet. And Guy’s behavior gave him no cause for concern. All in all, he expected great things.

“When are you going to tell me about this surprise?” Stefano asked. Guy had been hinting that he had something special to share ever since he’d been to the abbey to see his wife.

“You’ll know, soon enough,” Guy answered with a self-satisfied smile.

“Not even a little hint?”

“Guess, if you like.”

“Very well. If I’ll know soon enough, I wonder if it might have something to do with Christina.”

“It does.”

“Hmm…has she grown old and fat since I saw her last?” Stefano was willing, as usual, to play whatever game Guy fancied.

“Well, she’s surely a little older and she has in fact put on a little weight.” Guy was enjoying himself.

“Oh, dear. Well then, has she also grown a wart on the end of her nose and a crone’s mustache, as well?”

“Hardly,” Guy laughed. “She’s more beautiful than ever.”

“A certain healthy glow perhaps, from all those prayers, then?”

“A certain glow indeed,” Guy said. “Motherhood.”

“Guy, how could your wife get pregnant in a monastery?”

Stefano took Guy’s remark as a jest—a mistake he shouldn’t have made. Guy’s light-hearted mood evaporated.

“She was pregnant when I left her there.” Guy’s voice warned that this was no time for Stefano to take any chance of displeasing him.

“Are you serious?” Stefano quickly masked his expression, his thoughts in turmoil. “Well, congratulations! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to surprise you. This time there’s do doubt about who the father is.” Guy’s icy eyes narrowed dangerously. “I trust you’ll remember that?”

“Of course.” Stefano took Guy’s hand and squeezed it. “I know how happy you must be.”

Guy watched him a moment, decided he was sincere, and smiled. But his former excitement had dissolved. He said nothing for the remainder of the trip. He was trying to recover the happy feeling of anticipation. He wanted everything to be perfect.

Stefano did his best to appear unconcerned, but his thoughts were flying in a thousand different directions.
What does it mean? Is she really carrying Guy’s child? This could ruin everything!
He knew how she’d behaved last time, when she foolishly thought Guy had given her a child. And now there was no other possibility—as far as he knew. But then a lot could have happened since he’d last seen her. She could have taken a lover. He discarded that thought as highly unlikely.
Not Christina.
Stefano was sure, deep in his heart, that he was the man she loved.

“Guy,” Stefano said as the carriage turned off the main road. “I want you to know that I realize Christina will be occupied with her condition until the baby arrives and, when it does, that should take up a great deal of her time.”

Guy just looked at him.

“I want to be sure you understand that this time I’ll have no reason to be jealous.” He reached for Guy’s hand and took it firmly in his.

Guy was astounded. It was more than he’d hoped for, yet exactly what he’d always dreamed of! Christina, Stefano and a child, his family.

There was a knock at the door to Robert’s office. He was deeply engrossed in his father’s papers, trying to make some sense of what lay before him. Though he and Grégoire had devoted quite a bit of time to them, there were still many personal things to be either saved or disposed of—letters and notes, journals and family records—that must be read through and sorted.

Dom Christophe entered to announce Guy’s arrival. Robert was surprised, though of course he’d expected him. He hadn’t realized it was so late.

“Show him in.”

“My Lord, forgive me, but does Dom Genelli have a brother?”

“Why do you ask?” Robert was puzzled by the question.

“A gentleman who looks very much like him is with Monsieur Jonvaux. The resemblance is quite remarkable.”

“Well, show them in. Let’s have a look at him.” Robert tried to sound nonchalant, but he’d never imagined he’d encounter this Stefano person—who else could it possibly be? “And Dom Christophe, would you please find my brother and ask him to join us?”

Robert had only a moment to prepare himself for the first sight of Stefano, but no amount of time would have allowed him to come face-to-face with Richard’s mysterious twin without being startled. Dom Christophe was right. The resemblance was remarkable.

Guy introduced Stefano, irritated by the way Robert continued to stare.

“My condolences on the loss of your brother, My Lord,” Stefano said as he bowed in deference. “I apologize if you find my appearance distressing.” He presented his most engaging smile.

For a moment Robert froze. Had something happened to Richard?

“It was a terrible wound,” Guy said pointedly. “And of course proper medical care is almost nonexistent in Bonifacio.” His expression dared Robert to contradict him.

Robert was relieved. He thanked Stefano for his concern, but it was hard to keep from staring. Even Robert would have taken him for Richard at first glance.

“Is she ready?” Guy asked, increasingly annoyed by Robert’s preoccupation with Stefano.

“Come and sit down a moment,” Robert said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk as he refocused his attention. “And forgive me Monsieur Ferro, but I think Monsieur Jonvaux and I need to be alone.”

“No,” Guy said. “Whatever you want to say, he can hear.”

“Very well.” Robert gestured again for both men to sit as he moved behind his desk. It was his turn to be irritated and that strengthened his resolve to protect Christina to the best of his ability. He had only to remember what Christina told him about Stefano to overcome his natural reaction to a man who looked so much like his little brother.

“Guy. Christina has left you.”

“What?”

“Christina has left you. I’m sorry.” Robert calmly folded his hands in front of him on the desk, willing to let Guy make the next move.

“What are you talking about?” Guy glanced nervously at Stefano and then back at Robert.

“Christina is gone,” Robert explained patiently, aware that every moment was buying time for Christina, and hopefully for Richard, as well. “She couldn’t bear the thought of returning to your house.” He could see the rage growing in Guy, though he hadn’t moved from the chair.

“Guy, I know this must be difficult for you, but it would be best for all concerned if you could just force yourself to accept it.”

“Who do you think you are?” Guy hissed, jumping to his feet and grabbing Robert by the collar of his robe.

Robert didn’t move a muscle. “Take your hands off me,” he said quietly.

When Guy saw the look in his eyes, he released him.

“You’re protecting her,” he said sullenly as he slipped back into his chair, his confusion evident.

“No,” Robert said firmly. “But I would have, had she asked.”

“How dare you!” Guy growled, fixing a vicious glare on Robert.

“How dare
YOU
!” Robert said, emphasizing his words as his fist struck the table. He stood up and leaned closer to Guy. “Perhaps you should ask yourself what you’ve done that would cause a devout woman to break her sacred vows and run away.” Robert managed to cast an equally scathing glance in Stefano’s direction.

Stefano looked away. His mind was in turmoil. He was thrilled that Christina had run from Guy, but at the same time he was frantic. How would he ever find her?

“It’s the baby!” Guy said, moving away from the desk and pacing back and forth across the room. “She was like this the last time. We have to find her!” Nervously, he ran his fingers through his hair, the lank strands falling across his face.

“She’s gone,” Robert said emphatically. “You must accept it. You’ll never find her.”

“Don’t be so sure!” Guy said, everything about his look a threat.

Then he turned and opened the door, slamming it hard against the bookcases. With a slightly apologetic look, which Robert found difficult to interpret, Stefano followed Guy.

Guy flew down the stairs, two at a time, Stefano close behind him. On the second landing he ran right into Dom Louis.

“Monsieur!” the monk said in surprise, but then he saw Stefano. “Dom Genelli?” Dom Louis was stunned. What was the silent monk doing dressed like a dandy?

“You fool!” Guy screamed, unable to pass on the narrow stairs. “What are you talking about?”

“But Monsieur, this man…he’s the monk I wrote you about.” He continued to stare at Stefano. It was Dom Genelli, wasn’t it?

“What?” What was this idiot monk babbling about?

“I told you in the letter. This man…” though when he looked at Stefano again, he found he wasn’t so sure. “Dom Genelli arrived just a few days before you left your wife with us. He’s from Italy…Bergamo. He’s…he was under a vow of silence, but they spent a great deal of time together. He even went to Beauvu with the Abbot when the Baron died.”

Suddenly, things slipped into place. Guy began to understand what the monk was saying, and what it must mean. He could barely control his rage when he spoke.

“And where is this monk now, this silent monk?” Guy’s fingers tightened on the man’s robe and Dom Louis cringed.

“But Monsieur, he is here. You can see that for yourself.”

“This man is no monk. He’s my friend. Where is this Genelli? Tell me!”

“He is visiting the library at St. Trophime. He left at the beginning of the week, but as far as I know, he hasn’t returned.”

“I see.” Guy relaxed his grip and took a moment to collect his thoughts. “Forgive me,” he said slowly, as he smoothed the wrinkled fabric at the man’s throat.

Stefano watched Guy. What on earth was going on? None of this was making any sense…and more important, where was Christina?

“Since you seem to be such a fount of information,” Guy said quietly, his voice now smooth and controlled, “Where is my wife?”

Dom Louis was still quite shaken and very confused by Stefano’s resemblance to the absent Dom Genelli.

“Why, I assume she’s here somewhere…though I didn’t see her at Terce.”

“When did you last see her?” Guy tried to sound patient, but he was ready to tear the stupid little man limb from limb.

Before Dom Louis could answer, Grégoire appeared on the stairs below them and Robert materialized from above at almost the same instant.

“Dom Louis. Go to my office,” Robert said in a tone that left no room for argument. “Now.”

“Guy, are you having trouble finding your way out?” Robert asked.

Guy gave him a filthy look then pushed past Grégoire and hurried on down the stairs. Stefano, having no idea what else to do, followed him.

Guy said not a word on the way home and Stefano, knowing Guy was angrier than he’d ever seen him, remained silent.

Guy slammed into the house and immediately sent André to St. Trophime to ask after the mysterious monk. Then he went into the salon and poured himself a drink. He had to think.
Where is she? Where would she go?

“Is there anything I can do?” Stefano asked quietly, as he watched Guy pace back and forth across the room.

Guy stopped and looked at him, aware suddenly that he was there.

“Does it really matter so much?” He ran the risk of angering Guy even more, but he couldn’t find a way to diffuse the situation if Guy wouldn’t talk to him.

“Of course it matters! She’s my wife. She’s carrying my child! She belongs here with us!”

“I’m sure we can find her…”

Guy turned on him. “
WHERE?
Where can we find her?”

“For heaven’s sake, calm down. This is getting us nowhere. That monk said he saw her yesterday. How far could she have gone?”

“I don’t know!” Guy howled.

“Well, what are the possibilities? Think!”

Guy threw himself down into a chair. He simply couldn’t believe this was happening.
What has she done?

“She might have gone to Beauvu,” he said, finally. “She would feel safe there. Or to Cybelle’s—they would probably take her in.”

“Cybelle?”

“Richard’s sister. She’s married to the Marquis de Castillion. Christina hasn’t seen her in years, but it’s a possibility.”

“Could she have gone to Italy? Does she have family there?”

“I suppose, but I doubt she’d go to them. None of them are very well off and she’d be afraid of what I might do.”

Guy finally calmed down. The alcohol was having some effect, which pleased Stefano because there was another question he wanted to ask.

“There’s one thing that concerns me,” he began.

“What?”

“That monk said I looked like the Italian monk…Genelli?”

“So?”

“So, it just seems a little strange that there are so many men who share my face. And stranger still that all of them seem to be acquainted with your wife.” He looked at Guy. “Except for Bonelli, of course.”