“Oh, you are impossible,” she said with a pretend pout. “How do you know so much about non-aristocratic entertainment? You are as aristocratic, if not more, than me.”
“Ah, but I did not live as an aristocrat for many years.”
Gabriel said it in a casual tone, without pain or rancor, but she sensed there was a painful story behind that.
“I would like to know how you lived, and where.” Had she said that aloud? Her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own of late. But she could not regret it. She wanted to knoweverythingabout him.
“Truly? My life is not that interesting,” he said with a nonchalant shrug.
“Hmm, I will be the judge of that.”
She looked around, noticing they were in a lovely spot. It featured dense vegetation and even a small waterfall. “Can we linger here for a bit? I would like to sit by the lake and watch the swans.”
“Of course,” he said, dismounting at once and coming to her to help her down.
They walked their horses to the grassy area near the lake and, eschewing the benches lining the main avenue, sat on the grass at the very edge of the lake. A copse of trees sheltered them from the view of anyone walking down the path. They were in their own private little spot, and she found the seclusion suited her well.
“Why didn’t you live as an aristocrat for many years?”
He grimaced. Maybe he had hoped she would have forgotten the subject. Well, there was no chance of that. She was profoundly interested in everything that had made this complex man who he was.
“I guess I could say it was for the adventure, or something daring and romantic-sounding. But the truth is, it was for practical reasons. I did not have the means to live as an aristocrat.”
“But you are the son of an earl...” At his sardonic look, she waved a hand. “I know, but still. In the eyes of the law and society, you were his son and heir. Surely that entitled you to an allowance and certain privileges.”
“Not in his view.”
“He disowned you?” she whispered, appalled.
Even if she knew the truth about his parentage, she still had not guessed the depths of the old earl’s malice. What had it beenlike for Gabriel to grow up with so much undeserved hatred from the very people who should have loved him the most?
Gabriel shrugged. “In every way that mattered. At this point, he couldn’t prevent me from inheriting the title, because I was born within his marriage to my mother. But he washed his hands off me. When I graduated from Eton, I wanted to go to Oxford to read law, or even study for the church. I was a great student and had an aptitude for both. But theEarlbought me a commission in the army and shipped me off to India. In light of recent revelations, I think he hoped I would be killed in battle.”
She gasped. The cold-bloodedness of the earl’s actions, and the resigned tone in which Gabriel delivered the statement, sent chills down her spine.
“How old were you?”
“I had just turned eighteen.”
“So young... How did you manage?”
“Oh, there were others younger than me. I did well enough, all considered. I was only a green lad who knew nothing about war, but I was an officer in Her Majesty’s army.”
“What rank did you have?”
“I was a Major, a high enough rank. The earl may have hated me, but his pride would not allow him to have his alleged son be any less. I guess I should be grateful for that, but I wasn’t. I was terrified. Not at the prospect of battle, but at the responsibility. Can you imagine what it feels like to be eighteen and have this position of power thrust upon you? I was responsible for men’s lives. Literally. A wrong decision on my part could have resulted in unnecessary deaths.”
“What did you do?” Had he said his life was not interesting? She was enthralled.
He shrugged. “At least I had enough wisdom to seek competent advisors. Most of my subordinate officers were more experienced and capable than me. I realized at once that if Itried to lord it over them, they would become my detractors. So instead, I listened to them. Empowered them. And they became my mentors and biggest allies.”
“It sounds as if you turned things around through your own cunning.”
“I don’t know about that, but in time, they came to trust me. And by the end, I think I was a competent officer. But I hated every minute.”
“Why did you hate it so much?”
“The senseless fighting. Men killing each other for no other reason than the greed of those in power.”
