Forbidden Angel (23 page)

He hauled in a deep breath. “The thing is, I belong there, not here. So if ya say no ta me, I’ll understand.”

“Yes,” she said simply.

“Yes?” His eyes widened. “Ya said yes?”

“Yes, I said yes.” She smiled. “Most happily, yes.”

Jumping to his feet, he pulled her from the chair and swung her around.

Cook bustled into the kitchen, stopped, and nodded. “You’re a smart man, Frank Bates, yes you are.”

When dinner was finished and the women had withdrawn, Michael stepped outside and lit a cheroot. He understood Frank’s desire to return to Houston. He felt the same.

After accepting Angeline would always want Adrian, it left a feeling of emptiness inside. Penelope, with her dancing red curls, freckles and green eyes, was sweet and vivacious. Angeline was beautiful and exotic, a combination of fire and adventure. Forevermore, the smell of roses would remind him of her. Where Penelope found her adventures in the books she read, adventure would always seek out Angeline.

Penelope joined him as he drew on the cigar.

“If you feel the need to smoke, it doesn’t offend me if you do so in my presence.”

“I’m finished.” He flicked the butt out into the snow.

She wrapped a stole more closely around her shoulders. “I was hoping we might talk again.”

“Come, let’s sit by the fire.” Michael opened the French door for her. “You’ll take a chill out here.”

“Frank has proposed to Shirley and she has accepted. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Took him long enough,” Michael retorted. He brought Penelope near the heat from the hearth and sat beside her on the settee.

She folded her hands in her lap and raised her eyes to his. “I know how you feel about Angeline. I have from the beginning. You are a good man, Michael Harrington, with much to offer someone.”

He took her hand in his. “You’re very sweet, Penelope. And you’re right about my feelings for Angeline. But I hold no expectations.” He gazed into Penelope’s green eyes where he saw compassion and something more. “I’ve been questioning what I want for my life and I realize the Army no longer holds any appeal for me.”

“What do you want, Michael? You may think me bold and unladylike, but I’m certain I would make a good wife for you. I’m under no illusions about your feelings for me, but I believe I could make you happy.” She tightened her fingers around his. “I’m willing to wait, with the hope that you would one day come to care for me.”

Stunned, Michael ran a finger down the side of her cheek. “You are worth far more than that. I don’t find you unladylike, but refreshingly honest. You should have someone who wants you beyond all others and would do anything to make you happy.”

Her eyes held a sheen of purpose. “You have no feelings for me, then? I don’t believe it. You may not yet know what those feelings are.” She drew her hand from his and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. “I know you long to return to America, and I didn’t want you to leave without at least telling you how I felt.”

The gentle touch of her fingers surprised him. “What do you want in a marriage, Penelope?”

“I want a comfortable home. It need not be large, just warm and friendly. I want to care for my husband and know he’s happy. I want to give him children to fill the house with laughter. I want him to respect me and recognize I have opinions of my own. I want to be able to talk to him on many subjects and . . .” She glanced at Michael and reddened.

“I can see you’ve given scant thought to this,” he teased. She had a way of placing him at ease and he felt at peace when he was with her. “As you said earlier, you know I’m returning to Texas soon. Have you considered what marrying me would mean? You’d be leaving your home, your father, England, everything familiar to you.”

Penelope considered his question for a moment. “I would miss my father very much, but it’s not impossible to see each other once in a while. With the steamship, it takes only eleven days to travel to England. Father has friends he enjoys, and Stephanie and her family come often from France to visit.”

Michael cupped her cheek. “You are amazing. Any man would count himself quite fortunate to have someone like you. Let’s see if you still feel the same in a few weeks’ time.”

“Perhaps you’ll see by then that I’m most definite about this,” she pronounced, as she leaned her cheek into his palm.

“Well then, to seal the bargain, if
I
may be so bold?” He lifted her chin and gently kissed her lips.

The aroma of coffee and apple turnovers scented the early morning air. Angeline sniffed appreciably. With her arms clasped tightly around Adrian’s neck, she nibbled on his ear as he carried her down the stairs.

Adrian chuckled. “The way I see it, you have two choices. We can turn around and go back upstairs and continue
nibbling
, or, you can behave yourself and we’ll go join the others.”

“You said my uncles are here?” She pulled back to look at him.

He studied her face for a moment. “Yes, as well as everyone else.” He resettled her in his arms. “How much do you remember?”

Nervously, she moistened her lips as she thought. “Only snatches of faces, pieces of conversation, nothing that makes a great deal of sense.”

Adrian stopped at the bottom of the staircase. “I don’t want you to overtax yourself. When you feel tired, I’ll take you back to your room.”

She glanced expectantly toward the drawing room. With the door open, she could hear voices. One sounded vaguely familiar.

When Adrian carried Angeline into the room, all eyes turned in surprise.

Penelope rushed toward them, and took hold of Angeline’s hand. “You look just wonderful, but should you be up?”

Adrian raised a brow in amused acceptance. “She refused to stay in bed any longer and insisted I bring her downstairs to join everyone.” After depositing her on the settee, he covered her legs with a soft lap rug.

Angeline’s smile of welcome faded as she stared somewhat uncertainly at Esteban.

He moved to her side and knelt in front of her. “I am your
Tio
Esteban, your mother’s brother. How are you feeling?”

“You are my uncle?” She searched his face.

“
Si
, I am. Rafael is also here. We came in search of you.” When he reached for her hand, she moved hers away. His face clouded as if disappointed, but he stayed where he knelt, and waited.

Fury almost choked her. “I’ll soon be twenty-one. Why have you waited so long? My mother died without a word from any of you.” Angeline spat the words contemptuously.

He gripped her hand gently, and this time, she let him hold it. By the tremor in his, she knew he was not unaffected by her words.

Esteban’s voice was calm, steady. “You have every right to be upset. There has not been a day I did not regret letting Franchesca go without following. We were very close. Twins often are.”

“Twins?” Angeline tried to jerk her hand from his grasp, but he refused to let go. “That somehow makes it worse. How could you just forget about her? How could you do what you did?”

Sudden anger flared in Esteban’s eyes. “We never forgot her, but your grandfather is a very proud and difficult man and demands obedience. We did not know our sister had died, and we did not know about you.” He let out a long, audible sigh.

Angeline permitted herself a withering stare. “And if you had, would things have been different?” When he hesitated, her lips thinned in anger. “I didn’t think so. I’ve come to realize how much my mother sacrificed for my father and me.” Her mood veered sharply to despair and a tear slipped down her cheek.

Esteban brushed the tear away. “You judge us harshly, but I do not blame you. When she left, a part of me left also.”

Swallowing the sob that rose in her throat, she uttered brokenly, “But you did nothing!”

Esteban visibly flinched. “I was not much more than a child myself and I did approach
Don
Fernando later that day. As I said her name, he hit me across the face and told me never to speak it again.”

Angeline rigidly held her tears in check. “If such is the case, then why are you here now?”

Esteban raised his eyes to hers and said simply, “He is dying, Angelina.”

“And if my mother had asked to see him while she lay dying, would he have come?” Angeline heard her own voice, unnaturally harsh, but she was beyond caring.

Rafael stepped into the room. “I can answer that question. He would not have.”

Angeline turned to look at the tall, handsome man. “
Don
Rafael, I presume?” She gained her feet carefully and crossed slowly toward him. When Esteban reached for her, Adrian stopped him with a shake of his head.

“
Si
, I am Rafael Cordova, your uncle.” His gaze slid over her. “You are so much like your mother, and not just in the way you look.” He cupped his palm around her balled fist. “More than once, your mother hit me with her little fists. She had such a temper, so full of fire and spirit.”

His eyes met hers. “She loved with as much passion. Everything about her, what she did or how she felt, was always so intense.” Rafael lifted her fist to his lips and kissed her fingers. “Shall we sit?”

Angeline blinked with puzzlement. “It was your voice I heard, your face I saw at times. You were upstairs with me.”

“
Si
. For much of the time.” Rafael turned her and urged her back to the settee, tucking the lap robe around her legs.

“This is hard for me. I’ve only just recently learned I had family. One moment I want to know you and the next I want nothing to do with people who could treat their own so harshly. Can you understand?”

Rafael inclined his dark head. “I can. But life is too precious to have it filled with regrets. We have lived with ours. I would not wish the same for you.” He regarded her intently. “What do you know of the man who abducted you?”

Angeline had prepared for the inevitable question. “He is called
El
Cazador.” She pressed her finger against her lip for a moment as if considering. “He’s tall, slender, with dark hair and eyes. He said nothing about himself.”

As she lied to her family and Adrian, she hoped there wasn’t some special place in hell for this kind of sin.

From his stance near the hearth, Adrian listened to his wife with a frown he couldn’t completely disguise.

“Cazador saved my life three times,” she explained to her uncle. “Once when he discovered I’d been wounded, and again when Malcolm wanted him to leave me. He refused. And lastly when the house caught fire and he carried me out.”

Rafael’s eyes narrowed. “And Malcolm, where is he?”

Distress was plain to see in her lovely eyes. “We assumed he died in the fire. He was a brutal, insane man and would have hurt me if not for Cazador.”

Rafael spoke to her gently. “It sounds as if this Cazador became your protector. We are thankful, but it does not excuse him. You almost died because of him.” His tone sharpened as he probed further. “Do you know of any reason he would return you?”

“I know Malcolm lied to him about the circumstances regarding me.” Her voice held the slightest tremble but still, Adrian heard it, and his frown deepened.

“A hired
Hunter
with a conscience. How unusual.” Rafael’s words held a challenge.

Angeline shrugged. “Yes, I suppose, but we are all safe and this nightmare is finally over. I really don’t want to talk or think about this anymore.” She glanced away.

“As you wish.” Catching Adrian’s eye, Rafael said, “May I have a moment, my lord?”

Adrian followed Rafael to the other end of the room where they could speak privately.

“There is something she is not saying.” His face showed worry. “Can you think of any reason she would withhold information from us?”

“Perhaps it’s only that she’s been through so much.” But Adrian didn’t believe it, any more than Rafael. The fact she was hiding something troubled him.

Michael and Frank crossed the room to take positions by Adrian’s side.

“What’s next, Boss?” Frank asked.

Adrian lowered his voice. “Angeline and Cazador
escaped
from the burning house. Malcolm might have survived as well. I know she believes him dead, but I do not. Direct everyone to be careful and keep watch.”

“Any news from Thornby?” Michael asked.

“We need to let him know where we are and how to reach us.” Adrian glanced briefly over his shoulder at Angeline. “This trip to Spain, to see her grandfather before he dies . . . I don’t know what she’ll decide to do.”

Rafael spoke up. “Just so you know, we will try and persuade her to come.”

Adrian’s voice was calm, his gaze steady. “This will be her choice,
Don
Rafael, and I’ll support whatever she chooses. You must realize if she says no, I’ll take her and return to America until other matters are settled. If she says yes, we’ll all be going.”

Rafael inclined his head. “I anticipated as much. I loved my sister and I would not harm her daughter in any way. I hope she will decide to come, for it would mean much to my parents—and, I believe, to the
niña
as well. But if she chooses not to, I will honor her decision.”

Later, over breakfast, Angeline studied Rafael across the table. “If we were to travel with you to Spain, when would we leave?”

“As quickly as you are able. Our father’s health is failing rapidly.”

As she picked at her meal, she told herself to remain matter-of-fact about such a monumental decision. “I need time to discuss this with Adrian and the others. Because speed is of the essence, you’ll have my answer this evening.”

Rafael smiled warmly at her. “Thank you, Angelina. If you would like for us to tell you of the family, you have but to ask.”

Angeline responded casually. “There is, actually. I’ve been told the problem arose because my mother wanted to marry my father instead of someone
Don
Fernando had chosen. Is that so?”

“
Si
, but she was not opposed to the marriage until she met your father,” Rafael explained.

“What can you tell me of this other man?” Angeline forced down a bite of pastry and wondered how much his response might mirror that of Philippe’s.
I hope I haven’t misplaced my trust.

Esteban spoke. “I was close to him as well. His name was
Don
Philippe Montenegro and his family’s property adjoins ours. The three of us spent much time together as we grew up. Although I was the twin to Franchesca, the two of them had a special bond. They could even finish each other’s sentences.” His expression saddened in remembrance. “No one ever questioned the arrangement, not that we would have. Philippe would have done anything for Franchesca.”

Angeline’s head snapped up. “Why do you use past tense? Is he dead?”

Esteban shrugged. “I do not know. He left some years ago when the revolution started, and we have heard nothing of him since.”

“I see.” Angeline’s stomach churned. She crumbled the remainder of her pastry and strove to remain calm. “What does
esposa
mean?”

“It means wife. Why do you ask?” Esteban questioned.

Philippe called my mother his wife?
Her head spun and she felt faint. Then it was true. Her father and mother had never been married because she was already wed to someone else. She suddenly realized what
Don
Esteban had meant when he said Philippe would have done anything for Franchesca.

In giving her up to ensure her happiness, the selfless act had cost him his. Philippe had never been able to have a wife or legitimate children of his own because he was already married.

“Are you feeling ill?” Adrian’s gaze traveled over her face.

“Just tired, that’s all.” Angeline dabbed moisture from her upper lip as she fought an onset of nausea.

Esteban eyed her curiously. “May I ask, why so many questions about
Don
Philippe?”

“I’m trying to understand.” Angeline tilted her head, accepting her right to speak her mind. “Would you say
Don
Fernando loved her?”

“Let me answer this one,” Rafael interjected. “Father loved her very much. He gave her anything she asked for—except William.” Rafael hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “Your grandfather has always been very determined to build the family holdings. Though well bred,
Don
Fernando did not come from money. I believe it a driving factor in most of the decisions he has made, including that Franchesca and Philippe should marry. He does not allow disrespect or disobedience. He has made the Cordova name and holdings what they are by sheer determination and willpower.”

Angeline leaned forward. “Is his
love
conditional, then? Only given if he is obeyed?” She found Rafael’s gaze and held it. “Are you saying because she disobeyed him, he was able to stop loving her?”

“I am saying nothing of the sort. Do not disrespect him!” Rafael replied sharply. “Though he would never admit it, his heart broke when she left. He was never the same afterward.”

“Do you blame my mother for that? It could have been different had he chosen.” Angeline stood abruptly and glared at Rafael, who had leapt to his feet.

“That is enough, both of you. Now sit.” Adrian’s tone brooked no argument.

Both Rafael and Angeline glanced at him in surprise before they each slowly drew back.

Adrian gave a short nod of approval. “Better. That will get you in trouble with her very quickly,
Don
Rafael, and, of course, with me as well.” His gaze swept to Angeline. “You told me you wanted to know your family. Has that changed?” he questioned, his expression unreadable.

Angeline lifted her chin. “No, it hasn’t.”

Adrian turned to Rafael. “
Don
Rafael, do you still desire to have Angeline meet her grandfather?”

“
Si
.” He sighed. “I am sorry,
niña
.” Rafael rose and moved around the table to kneel at her side, and took her hand. “It is that I fear he will die before we can return.”

Angeline could only imagine how her uncles would feel if they were not there when he died. Rafael and Esteban had risked much to try and find her, and they were her family.

“Then perhaps we should prepare to leave in three days’ time,” she quietly consented. “Is that acceptable,
Tio
Rafael?”

“It is most acceptable.” He smiled at the familial term. From across the table, Esteban indicated his approval with a grin.

Penelope looked to her father. “If the others do not mind, may I be allowed to go, Papa?”

Angeline sent a pleading glance toward Jeffrey. “I would love her company, Lord Jeffrey.”

Michael interjected. “Sir, I will be accompanying them and would consider it an honor to escort her.”

“Then I suppose you should go,” Jeffrey agreed, albeit reluctantly.

As the sun lowered in the sky, a small group of people gathered inside to watch as Frank claimed Shirley’s hand. “Shirley girl, I ain’t got much, but all I have I gladly give ta you. I’ll protect you all the days of my life, and I promise ta try and make ya happy, if’n you’ll have me.”

Shirley smiled through her response. “Frank, you have given me your heart and I feel like the richest woman alive. Yes, I will take you for my husband for all the days of my life.”

As the minister pronounced them wed, Frank kissed his bride lightly on the lips amid applause and laughter.

Adrian heard sniffles from Bunny and a blown nose from Edward Thornby, who had discreetly turned his back so as not to be seen teary-eyed by the others. While the men shook Frank’s hand, the women kissed Shirley’s flushed cheeks.

“You look beautiful, Shirley. And happy.” Angeline held both of her hands.

“Thank you, my lady. I never thought I’d feel this way again.”

Adrian chuckled at Frank’s loss of words and slapped the groom on the back. “Congratulations. I was beginning to think you would never get around to asking her.”

“Just wanted to give her enough time to know what she was gettin’ afore I did.” Frank’s gaze followed Shirley. “Ranchin’ ain’t no easy life for an English woman.”

“Don’t say that in front of Virginia,” Adrian cautioned. “She says she loves Texas and I do believe Angeline likes it as well. At least, I hope so.”

Frank’s expression grew serious. “I was wonderin’ how you was feelin’ after bein’ gone for so long. I know you have responsibilities here and all, but you do at the ranch, too. Don’t mind tellin’ ya, I’m a mite concerned at what you’ll decide ta do.”

“I know, Frank. There’s a lot to consider.” Adrian sent his wife a loving glance. “It needs to be the right decision for all concerned.”

Penelope rushed up, her face alight with happiness for the new couple. “Cook has baked a cake, Frank, and you should join Shirley at the table to cut the first piece.” Frank grinned and hurried away. “I’m so happy for them.” Her eyes sparkled up at Adrian.

“You’re always happy, Pen.” Adrian tweaked her nose.

“It’s easier to be happy than choose to be sad, cousin. Life is too short and much too exciting to waste it.”

Adrian couldn’t help but wonder where the young girl had gone. He leaned down and kissed Penelope on the cheek. “They’re about to cut the cake. I know you don’t want to miss it.” He grinned as she rushed off to watch the newlyweds.

Holding a cup of honey-sweetened tea, Edward waited in line for his piece of cake. How kind of this remarkable family to remember he enjoyed his tea this way. He counted himself quite fortunate to have worked all these years for them. He’d been able to put away a sizeable sum on which to retire and Lord William had ensured he would be well pensioned in his senior years. He would never have to worry over finances. He liked Lord Adrian, too. Such a good match for Lady Angeline, whose fiery nature sometimes frightened Edward. But he cared deeply for her.

With his cake and tea, Edward settled himself in the corner where he would be out of everyone’s way, but still able to watch the festivities. A people watcher, he enjoyed the pastime as much as others enjoyed the theatre. He took his first bite of cake and closed his eyes, savoring its sweetness.

Content to observe the festive merriment between the couples, he finished his cake and contemplated a second piece.
Yes indeed, things are turning out quite well
.

He’d soon finish the work with his friend at Scotland Yard, to finally clear Lord Adrian of any wrongdoing. So far, Jeremy Stallings had determined no one in the House of Lords felt Lord Windsford guilty in the death of his fiancée. In fact, they were quite eager to welcome him back amongst their midst.

To prove Malcolm culpable was a different matter. Stallings was an excellent detective, and if anyone could locate the footman who had delivered the message to Lord Adrian, he could.

Stallings had learned extra help had been hired for the occasion. None of the regular staff knew anything about the message. But the line of communication between the staff from the different houses was amazingly thorough. Perhaps soon, there would be word.

Last to correct was the issue of the marriage between Adrian and Angeline. He sipped his tea.
That is a problem for another day.