Lord Deverill's Heir by Catherine Coulter (best books to read all time .TXT) 📗

The fault is both of ours.” Had her voice sounded as false as the comte’s? She hoped it did, to him, the bastard. She didn’t dare look toward Justin. She imagined he would tell her quite plainly exactly what he thought later.

Lady Ann said, “All that matters is that your are safe. I now wish to give an order. No more exploring those old ruins. I remember your father extracting such a promise from you years ago. Come, promise me again.” Yes, Arabella thought, Father wanted me to stay away from the ruins.

There is no doubt at all in my mind. He was afraid of what I would discover. She felt sick, sick to her very soul, but managed to say, “That is the easiest promise I will ever have to keep, Mama.” Dr. Branyon shifted his attention to Gervaise. He was beginning to detest the young man as much as the earl did, but for different reasons. He was afraid that he posed a threat to Ann. What kind of threat, he didn’t know, but it was a fear, deep in his gut. And he wondered yet again what Justin had found out about him and what he was planning to do. Would he simply allow him to leave? He said smoothly, “I understand, monsieur, that you will leave Evesham Abbey shortly.” Gervaise gazed between half-closed lids at the earl before replying smoothly, “Yes, Doctor, there are pressing matters that await my attention. I have enjoyed my leisure here in England, but I must return to Bruxelles.”

Dr. Branyon said, “Well, you have stayed here for a long time, have you not? Perhaps it is best that you return to your home.” Gervaise looked about at all of them. He knew the earl was aware of his goal when he’d come back to tell of Arabella’s accident. Ah, but he didn’t know what it was that Gervaise was after. And that was why the earl hadn’t kicked him out. He wanted to know. Then he would want to kill him. Well, the damned earl would learn about everything soon enough. And Gervaise wouldn’t be the one to die. It made him smile.

Arabella found herself closely studying Gervaise’s face. If only she could unravel why he had come to Evesham Abbey in the first place. Surely he could not be so vile as to purposely set out to seduce his own half-sister. No, surely that would be beyond anyone. By chance her eyes roved to the head of the table. She caught her breath in surprise at the glint of anger in her husband’s eyes. She quickly turned her attention back to the small square of pork on her plate. How very stupid of me, she thought. Justin observed me looking at Gervaise. He didn’t believe her innocent. He would never believe her.

Arabella wished she could simply leave everyone right now, and take her husband with her. But there was an evening to be endured, unspoken lies in the air like layers of dust. How she hated the deception, the secrets.

Finally, at the close of one of Elsbeth’s recitals, Arabella turned gratefully to Dr. Branyon as he rose and took her hand in his. He kissed her fingers, then said, “You will go to bed now, Arabella, no arguments.” She gave him a curtsy. “It would be unbecoming of me to disagree with my future new papa. I most readily do your bidding, sir.” She rose on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.

He patted her hand fondly, then turned to Lady Ann. “I must go now, Ann, but I shall fetch you in the morning for our outing.” Arabella was on the verge of taking herself to bed when she chanced to see Elsbeth gaze with clouded confusion at Gervaise. She’d been blind not to see much sooner how her sister wore her heart on her sleeve. She determined then and there, despite the fatigue that was making her eyes droop, that she would not leave Elsbeth alone with Gervaise. The least she could do was to keep them separated until Gervaise left. She paced about the room for several moments, racking her brain for a solution. The earl watched her, wondering what the hell she was up to. He saw her eyes rest upon Elsbeth, and then, more pointedly, on Gervaise. Something was strange here.

He wanted her to himself. All to himself. He said in a calm cool voice,

“I agree with Paul. It’s time for you to fly off to your bed.” That was it. Arabella said, “Yes, I should indeed go to my bed. Oh, Elsbeth, would you not accompany me to my room? I should like it above all things if you would tuck me up.”

Elsbeth looked up, startled. She had thought to speak to Gervaise, since he was to leave so shortly, to ask him what he planned now that her stepmother was to marry Dr. Branyon. But she could not think of refusing her sister. She readily agreed and rose to walk to Arabella’s side.

“We bid you good night, gentlemen,” Arabella said. She took Elsbeth’s small hand firmly in hers and tugged her in lockstep unceremoniously to the door.

Once in her nightgown, her black hair brushed loose down her back, Elsbeth counting the one hundred strokes, Arabella smiled at Elsbeth and kissed her cheek. “Thank you. I’m glad you came with me. We haven’t spent enough time together. But soon we will. Soon, you will see. Do go to bed now, Elsbeth. It is late and I can see that you are tired.” She wondered if she should follow to make certain that Elsbeth didn’t join Gervaise. It made her blood run cold to think of them together.

Elsbeth yawned and stretched like an innocent child at peace with the world. “Yes, I shall go to my room now. Thank you, Bella, for lending me Grace. I am so very clumsy without Josette.” Her piquant face crumpled at the mention of her old servant’s