Lord Deverill's Heir, Catherine Coulter [the best motivational books .TXT] 📗

if it was unpleasant. You are always forthright, honest, and loyal—and those are the traits gentlemen are supposedly noted for.

“You see, that is exactly your problem. Gentlemen think that we are playing games, or lying, even when we are honest. And when we are forced to be less than honest, they do not know the difference anyway.

Therefore, my dear friend, why disappoint them?”

“You have said a lot there, Suzanne, and I’m not certain that I have quite gleaned your meaning. I am honest, most women are, yet it makes no difference to gentlemen if we are or not. Is that what you said?”

“That is close enough.”

Arabella sighed, pulled up a blade of grass and began chewing on it. “I invited you to ride with me to cheer me up. You must know that Elsbeth has sunk into total gloom since her maid, Josette, fell to her death. I expected gentleness from you. I expected tender wit and perhaps even soft pats on my shoulder. But here we are, and I find that all you wish to do is to dissect my character.”

Suzanne sighed herself and pressed her lips together. She stretched out her legs and wiggled her toes inside her soft calf riding boots. “I see that all my wisdom will go unheeded. I will tell you, Bella, I think you almost as much a romantic ninny as dear Elsbeth.” Arabella turned startled eyes to her friend. “Come, Suz, stop twitching your toes and tell me what you mean. Elsbeth a romantic? Why, the thought is absurd. She is such an innocent child despite her twenty-one years.

She would have no notion at all about romance.”

“Poor Arabella. Even Elsbeth tries to dissemble although she isn’t at all good at it yet. Haven’t you noticed how she hangs on to the comte’s every word? I swear she is much taken with the young Frenchman. He is her cousin?”

“Yes, of course he is her cousin. Her mother was his aunt. But really, Suz—”

Suzanne threw up her hands. “Oh, Bella, how can you be so blind? Your dear half-sister is not such an innocent child. I vow she has quite set her sights on her young cousin. Why last night I happened to look at her when the comte was playing whist with you. There was hatred in those pretty eyes of hers, Bella, hatred and jealousy of you, and all because the comte was just being his French self.” Elsbeth and Gervaise? It cannot be possible. But wait, Arabella, think back. Have there not been many times when Elsbeth and Gervaise have both been absent during the day? Has Elsbeth not seemed to become more confident, more sure of herself? And she seems to talk so freely with Gervaise.

“Oh my God.” She surged to her feet. Justin believes the comte to be my lover. I did not understand. I had no answers. All I could do was swear that I was innocent. Can it really be that Elsbeth, my shy, uncertain Elsbeth, is the comte’s lover?

Suzanne untangled her shapely legs and rose to stand beside Arabella.

There was a blind glazed look in her friend’s eyes that quite unnerved her. She grabbed her arm and shook her. “Bella, what has upset you so? I daresay that I could be in the wrong about Elsbeth and the comte. You know me, I’m always talking, and not necessarily thinking enough before I do speak.”

Arabella turned to look at her friend. “No,” she said slowly, “you are really quite right. I have been blind to what is going on about me. I have paid dearly for my blindness. As has Justin. But how did he know?

Why did he believe it was me? And he was so very certain, as if he’d seen me, but that isn’t possible, is it?” She added urgently, her riding crop tightening in her hand, “I must return to Evesham Abbey now, Suzanne. I have much to think about. Oh God, there is so much to say now, so much to learn. Listen to me, Suz. Please keep this to yourself. But I thank you for telling me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Arabella swung upon Lucifer’s back and dug in her heels before Suzanne could put two thoughts together.

The earl stared thoughtfully down at the single sheet of paper from his friend Lord Morton, of the war ministry. Jack certainly conducted an efficient operation despite French control on the Continent. He read the few lines once again, then shredded the letter and watched the fragments settle atop the logs in the grate. He lit a match and watched the small pieces of paper grow black about the edges and then crackle into orange flame.

He was on the point of leaving the library when the door opened and Lady Ann appeared. “My dear Justin, I am so glad that you have not yet gone out, for I wished particularly to speak with you.” The earl’s thoughts flew to Arabella. He looked at Lady Ann’s set face and grew instantly wary. He became instantly formal. “It is true that I was on the point of riding to Talgarth Hall, Ann, but of course I have still a few minutes. Would you care to sit down?” Lady Ann sat down and patted the place beside her. She said quietly, “I have no intention of bringing up uncomfortable topics, Justin, so you may be at your ease. It is Elsbeth I wished to discuss.”

“Elsbeth? Surely all decisions relating to her are in your domain, Ann.” He crossed a booted leg over the other and waited none too patiently for her to speak.

Ann knew she couldn’t carry off her fiction any longer. “Very well, Elsbeth is my domain and I frankly don’t care what your opinions are concerning her.” She drew a deep breath. “I know that you do not think highly of Gervaise de Trécassis. For that matter, neither do I and neither does Dr. Branyon. I don’t trust him, it’s that