Read Online A Cantata of Love (The Code Breakers 4) by Jacki Delecki - Free Book Online
Authors: Jacki Delecki
Tags: Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Historical, Action & Adventure, Adult, series, Regency, England, romantic suspense, French, 19th century, Bachelor, Victorian, Britain, Protection, Forever Love, Single Woman, englishman, Hearts Desire, international intrigue, London Society, Subterfuge, Code Breakers, Napoleonic France, Young Woman Disguised, Leg Injury, Clandestine Assignment
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fate.
“Today isn’t the day.” Lord Kendal voice had a commanding quality she had never heard before.
“Why not?” She could feel the panic rising in her throat. “I’ve no money. No place to go.”
“You’re not alone. You have Michael and me and our family. You needn’t worry about the future right now.” Lady Henrietta spoke in a soothing tone.
Future. What future? She knew what happened when everyone you loved was taken from you. The hollowness and pain carved deep holes in your heart and in your soul.
Lord Kendal spoke in a soft, soothing voice as if speaking to a child. “I’m not going to allow anything to happen to you. I will find the solicitor and bring him to you. I promise. You trust me, don’t you?”
Gabby looked into his eyes, the color of the first spring leaves. “Sister and I had no other plans except to get me out of England and to Lucien.”
“Neither you nor Mother Therese could have anticipated this. But Mother Therese trusted me, and I hope you will too.”
Lady Henrietta stood. “Let’s go back to the house and get you tea.”
Michael took Gabby’s arm. “Let me escort you inside.”
She didn’t want to be alone right now, but how could they understand her fear and loneliness? Their future, their world, hadn’t just exploded. Yesterday Michael was upset because his sister got married and moved. How absolutely simple and normal.
“If you wouldn’t mind, my lady, I’d like to spend time in the gardens.”
“Of course. I’ll have Mrs. Brompton prepare a tray for you when you come inside.”
“Thank you.” Gabby’s voice cracked, responding to the gentle understanding.
Michael took her hand and placed it on his arm. “Let me accompany you. This isn’t a time to be alone.”
“Thank you. But I want to be alone.” She didn’t want words of comfort or soft platitudes. It was her brother, her loss, and her pain gnawing on her insides.
“But you’re pale and shaking.”
She hadn’t realized her hands were shaking. She just had to move. The day her mother was killed, she rode her horse, risking everything, but she couldn’t just sit and let them know they had beaten her. “I’m fine.”
She saw the surprise and then the hurt flash across his face. “I’ll wait for you in the drawing room.”
She shook her head in refusal. She wanted to lean on him, gather her strength from him, as she had done with the idea that Lucien waited for her, for a new life. She wouldn’t think about her brother right now. Lucien had taught her how to bury her feelings so no one could detect her vulnerability. As she had done when she was orphaned and had to pretend she wasn’t related to her dead parents. She coped then. She would again.
“Gabby, please let me help you.”
Staring into his undefended and open eyes was too painful for her.
“No, please, can you find my brother’s solicitor?”
“Now?”
“Yes.” It was hard to breathe, hard to go on. “I must know the circumstances of his death.” She wasn’t surprised that Lucien had fought a duel. He had a quicksilver temper and was offended easily, much like her father. “Gallic pride” her mother had called it.
She couldn’t keep her voice from quaking. “I’d like to know where he is buried.”
She turned quickly and walked toward a path that would take her down the slope and away.
Chapter Ten
Gabby had endured the scattered rain long enough. She returned to the house, hoping to pass undetected. Despite Lady Henrietta’s pelisse and the warmth of the day, her hands and feet were wet and numb. Climbing the stairs, she hoped to avoid everyone’s pitying looks and words. She didn’t want to reassure them that she was fine when she wasn’t.
Relieved to have escaped anyone’s notice, she walked quickly toward her bedroom. A door on her right opened.
“I’ve been waiting for you, my dear. The tea tray is here.”
Gabby floundered for a moment. The older woman spoke as if she knew Gabby, but
“Today isn’t the day.” Lord Kendal voice had a commanding quality she had never heard before.
“Why not?” She could feel the panic rising in her throat. “I’ve no money. No place to go.”
“You’re not alone. You have Michael and me and our family. You needn’t worry about the future right now.” Lady Henrietta spoke in a soothing tone.
Future. What future? She knew what happened when everyone you loved was taken from you. The hollowness and pain carved deep holes in your heart and in your soul.
Lord Kendal spoke in a soft, soothing voice as if speaking to a child. “I’m not going to allow anything to happen to you. I will find the solicitor and bring him to you. I promise. You trust me, don’t you?”
Gabby looked into his eyes, the color of the first spring leaves. “Sister and I had no other plans except to get me out of England and to Lucien.”
“Neither you nor Mother Therese could have anticipated this. But Mother Therese trusted me, and I hope you will too.”
Lady Henrietta stood. “Let’s go back to the house and get you tea.”
Michael took Gabby’s arm. “Let me escort you inside.”
She didn’t want to be alone right now, but how could they understand her fear and loneliness? Their future, their world, hadn’t just exploded. Yesterday Michael was upset because his sister got married and moved. How absolutely simple and normal.
“If you wouldn’t mind, my lady, I’d like to spend time in the gardens.”
“Of course. I’ll have Mrs. Brompton prepare a tray for you when you come inside.”
“Thank you.” Gabby’s voice cracked, responding to the gentle understanding.
Michael took her hand and placed it on his arm. “Let me accompany you. This isn’t a time to be alone.”
“Thank you. But I want to be alone.” She didn’t want words of comfort or soft platitudes. It was her brother, her loss, and her pain gnawing on her insides.
“But you’re pale and shaking.”
She hadn’t realized her hands were shaking. She just had to move. The day her mother was killed, she rode her horse, risking everything, but she couldn’t just sit and let them know they had beaten her. “I’m fine.”
She saw the surprise and then the hurt flash across his face. “I’ll wait for you in the drawing room.”
She shook her head in refusal. She wanted to lean on him, gather her strength from him, as she had done with the idea that Lucien waited for her, for a new life. She wouldn’t think about her brother right now. Lucien had taught her how to bury her feelings so no one could detect her vulnerability. As she had done when she was orphaned and had to pretend she wasn’t related to her dead parents. She coped then. She would again.
“Gabby, please let me help you.”
Staring into his undefended and open eyes was too painful for her.
“No, please, can you find my brother’s solicitor?”
“Now?”
“Yes.” It was hard to breathe, hard to go on. “I must know the circumstances of his death.” She wasn’t surprised that Lucien had fought a duel. He had a quicksilver temper and was offended easily, much like her father. “Gallic pride” her mother had called it.
She couldn’t keep her voice from quaking. “I’d like to know where he is buried.”
She turned quickly and walked toward a path that would take her down the slope and away.
Chapter Ten
Gabby had endured the scattered rain long enough. She returned to the house, hoping to pass undetected. Despite Lady Henrietta’s pelisse and the warmth of the day, her hands and feet were wet and numb. Climbing the stairs, she hoped to avoid everyone’s pitying looks and words. She didn’t want to reassure them that she was fine when she wasn’t.
Relieved to have escaped anyone’s notice, she walked quickly toward her bedroom. A door on her right opened.
“I’ve been waiting for you, my dear. The tea tray is here.”
Gabby floundered for a moment. The older woman spoke as if she knew Gabby, but
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