Presenting Lady Gus by Sydney Jane Baily

Author:Sydney Jane Baily [Baily, Sydney Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

By the time Augusta was allowed out of her chamber, two days later, all the rest of the guests had arrived. Even Lloyd fresh from purchasing horses and James with his wife, Helen, along with her retinue, had arrived after the midday meal.

“Is James the paragon of virtue that Wesley is?” Rolf asked Gus as they stood in the dining room by the carefully laid table, awaiting Lord Brenville and the rest of the guests. He held her elbow, though she’d assured him that she could stand quite well by herself.

She shrugged off his snide remark as she did all his passing quips about Wesley. He looked at her, still paler than usual, but otherwise, none the worse for her ordeal.

“I still say that it’s not Wesley or James you should be worrying about,” she said, watching with alarm as the servants brought in the first course of pigeons in white sauce, placing the dishes carefully on the sideboard — about ten minutes too early.

Rolf took a deep, steadying breath. The timing was off on this normally well-run ship, ever since Gus was felled by the opium poppies.

“Do tell me precisely why I should not be worrying about your cousins.” He loved to hear her theories regarding the poisoning and the archer.

“Well, James wasn’t even around, and, Wesley, he’s never been good with a bow though we played at archery for a summer. The pistol is more his weapon.”

He rolled his eyes. “Where there is money involved, dear heart, there is a way.”

At that moment, Wesley entered the room. Behind entered the man who must be his younger brother — the same features and fair hair — leading his lovely raven-haired wife, blooming with good health and obviously expecting.

“I don’t believe you’ve been formally introduced to my king,” Wesley said. “Captain, this is my brother, James.”

Before Rolf could say anything, James stepped up — a slightly younger, trimmer version of Wesley — and saluted smartly. “You are a naval officer, are you not, my lord?”

Rolf nodded, seeing admiration in the younger man’s face.

“Why, yes. I —”

“Were you at Trafalgar?” James asked.

In an instant, Rolf was transported back to that terrible day, the loss of life including Nelson, the smell of the cannons and the pistols, and the watery grave that claimed so many even in the face of English victory.

“Yes,” he answered. And Malta. And Boulogne. And . . .

“I am honored that we will even in a small manner be related,” James continued. “I would like to have gone to sea.”

Rolf wondered if he had an abnormality or injury or unapparent disfigurement, but the young man only sighed without enlightening him further.

“May I present my wife, Helen. Helen, this is Augusta’s betrothed.”

The lovely woman curtsied deeply despite her condition.

Rolf nodded in return, realizing belatedly that he should have taken her hand and kissed it. However, as Gus had learned, he was not fluent in the social graces.

Wesley, on the other hand, took Augusta’s hand in both of his and held it captive, looking into her eyes.

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