Kenna thought about that for a moment. “I know,” she said, clicking her fingers. “When Rhys disappeared to the Continent Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“What did he do?”
“That’s just it, Kenna. Rhys did nothing save take the blame for me. I had compromised a young woman from a good family and when I refused to marry her, she killed herself. You must believe me. I have nothing but disgust at the memory. I used her most poorly and made promises that should never have been spoken. She was a beautiful girl, Kenna, possessed of the loveliest laughter, totally without guile. Lara was an innocent in every sense of the word and I was bewitched by her. To my everlasting regret I also discovered she was quite mad.”
“Oh, Nick,” Kenna said, coming to sit beside him. She put a hand on his arm. “How did you know?”
“Rhys warned me that she was not always as she seemed. I think they had words once and she flew into a rage all out of proportion to the disagreement. I didn’t believe him. I was too spellbound. But then I began to notice peculiarities in her behavior that could not be dismissed. I slowly came to realize that no matter what had happened between us, I could not marry her. When she killed herself her brother came to me and demanded satisfaction. That was when Rhys interfered. He said Lara had broken off with me some time ago and that he had been secretly meeting her. He took responsibility for her depression and her death.”
“And you let him? How could you?”
“I’m not proud of it, Kenna. I was young and foolish, though one does not justify the other. I let him do it because he convinced me I would only get myself killed in a duel. Rhys was always a better shot than me. He took to the field and I acted as his second. Lara’s brother was wounded and Rhys fled the country. He did not return until hours before the masque.”
“I can hardly believe this.”
“Believe it, Kenna. Rhys most probably saved my life, and if I do not marry it has less to do with you and much more to do with the fact that I don’t trust my judgment of women. There have been other mistakes with women of good birth and breeding I thought I could love. I find the occasional actress or opera singer much more to my tastes.”
“Did Papa know what happened?”
“Yes. He bitterly disapproved of the way Rhys and I handled the situation, but he loved us both, and I like to think he forgave us.”
“I’m certain he did.” She hugged her brother. “I’m glad you told me, Nick, not for Rhys’s sake, for I find that I cannot change my opinion of him because of one gallant moment, but because it explains so much about you. I do love you, Nicholas.”
He returned her hug. “I wish you would reconsider about Rhys. I had hoped…Never mind, let’s have another look at your pitiful wardrobe,” he said, giving her shoulder a playful squeeze and putting the past behind them.
Even though Nick suggested discarding a full one third of her clothes, Kenna’s coach was still loaded with two trunks, three leather cases, and a portmanteau which she carried inside. The arrival of Janet’s bags meant the entire load had to be readjusted and the two grooms accompanying them on the journey grumbled under their breath as they moved everything around and roped it all in again.
After a rather lengthy farewell to Victorine and Nick, during which Kenna was given instructions on how to deal with everything from Yvonne’s children to the innkeeper who ran the hostelry where they planned to spend the night, Kenna’s driver snapped his whip sharply and headed the coach down Dunnelly’s wide entrance and out the main gate.
Kenna thoroughly enjoyed the ride though Janet complained mightily of the poor road conditions which gave them a painful jolt upon occasion. A spring-like thaw had settled in during the past week and while the warm weather was a pleasant change, according to Janet it had created conditions on the road only a pig could appreciate. In order to escape her maid’s less than enthusiastic companionship Kenna asked the groom who was riding alongside on Pyramid to change places with her. He looked miserable at the prospect but Kenna remained adamant.
They stopped only long enough to change her mount’s saddle. Kenna sometimes rode ahead of the coach, sometimes behind it, but she never let it get out of her sight. She had been warned it wasn’t safe to be on these roads without an escort and Kenna knew Nick insisted her grooms and driver carry pistols.
It was approaching dusk when they reached Robinson’s Ale House. Janet made it clear at the outset that she disapproved of their surroundings. Her dark eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline as she looked around the common room and passed judgment on the guests.
“Disreputable lot,” Janet announced, pulling the hood of her cape more closely about her face.
“Calm yourself,” Kenna told her. “Nick would not have arranged for us to stay here if he thought it was anything less than respectable.” Kenna found the accommodations quite acceptable. The dining room was clean, the innkeeper and his wife were solicitous without groveling, and the aroma of stew from the kitchen was mouth-watering. If she and Janet were the only women present and if several of the patrons smelled strongly of spirits, well, it could not be helped. Kenna saw that most of the clientele appeared to be quality. How like Janet to dwell on the cloud and ignore the silver lining.
“Look at those two over there,” Janet whispered when she and Kenna were seated in a private corner of the room. “No, not now! They’re looking this way!”
Kenna smiled tolerantly. “Well, where should they be looking? No doubt they’re struck by your great beauty.”
Janet straightened her shoulders and sniffed disdainfully. “Mind your tongue,” she said, slipping into the tone she had adopted when Kenna was a child in need of a scold. “I’ll have you know in my youth my looks were often remarked upon. And kindly!”
Kenna lifted her hands in mock surrender. “It does not surprise me in the least, dear Janet. Now, won’t you try some of this delicious stew and concern yourself less with the other patrons?” As Janet applied herself to her meal, Kenna glanced at the guests in question. When she caught them staring at her they turned away guiltily and Kenna was forced to agree with her maid. The two men swilling ale a few tables away were easily the most disreputable pair she had seen in ages. Their swarthy faces were shadowed by muddied hats and their clothes were rough farmer’s garb, though Kenna doubted very much that they were from that sturdy stock. Their thick fingers circled their mugs as if they were intent upon choking the drink from them.
“Now who’s staring?” Janet observed as she buttered a slice of warm bread.
“Sorry,” Kenna said.
“If your attention should wander again, mayhap you could notice that nice-looking gentleman sitting near the door. He’s been trying to catch your eye since we came in here.”
“Janet!” she laughed. “You shouldn’t be encouraging me. What would my brother think?”
“Can’t say as to that. Here, have some bread.”
