Chapter One
Major Rafe Delafield,retired, halted his carriage at the top of the hill so he could study the rambling fortress that sprawled across the far side of the valley. Castle Carrollton was the Delafield family seat and when he’d summered here as a boy, the warm Cotswold stone had glowed golden in the sunshine. He’d gone swimming in the lake and ridden ponies and played with his cousins and suitable local children such as the offspring of the local vicar and gentry.
Those had been good days. He felt a sharp pang at the thought of his boy cousins and the local children, and particularly the small girl child who had been his best friend then. So many gone now.
Now at the end of October, the fortress loomed as dark and ominous as a castle in one of the Gothic tales that the ladies loved. His destiny and his doom. He wasn’t sure what he would choose to do if he actually had a choice, but he didn’t. The Carrollton responsibilities had fallen on him, and he’d never shirked a responsibility in his life. Though sometimes he’d been tempted…
He’d survived Waterloo. Now, much worse, he must face his Great-Aunt Agatha, the widowed Countess of Carroll who was privately known as the Gorgon. He had promised to visit her after he’d recovered from his wounds, and he couldn’t put this visit off any longer. Hoping he wouldn’t have to stay long, Rafeset his horses forward and started down the hill. He’d survived Napoleon, he could survive his Gorgon great-aunt.
*
The vast entryhall of Castle Carrollton had originally been stony, intimidating, and decorated with displays of weapons, but in more recent years carpets and tapestries and furniture had made the space more welcoming. Though Rafe hadn’t been in the castle for ages, the butler who greeted him was familiar and his voice was warm as he bowed. “It’s good to see you again, my lord. We were all pleased when the news arrived that you’d survived…” he hesitated, “the late unpleasantness.”
Waterloo was the “late unpleasantness?” An understatement of massive proportions. “I was lucky,” Rafe said without inflection. “Too many other men weren’t.”
Looking uncomfortable, the butler said, “Her ladyship is anxious to see you.”
Deciding to get his initial meeting with his great-aunt over with quickly, Rafe said, “I’ll go up to her now. I assume she’s in the same rooms?”
The butler’s expression was pained as he studied Rafe’s travel-stained clothing and stubbled chin, “Surely you’d prefer to freshen up first, sir?”
Cheered at the possibility of shocking the countess, Rafe said smoothly, “I wouldn’t dream of keeping her waiting.”
Knowing that the butler would be looking pained again, Rafe headed up the right-hand set of curving steps. The children who used to infest the castle had always loved the banisters and there had been only a few injuries caused by sliding down them.
Today he had the sense that he was being watched. That was confirmed by a rustle of feminine murmurs and a few giggles. Itwas no more than he expected since he’d been brought here to become the prey of a pack of husband-hunting young women.
As he turned from the stairs to the upper passage, he caught a glimpse of himself in a gilt-edged mirror: unshaved, dark hair too long, his ruined face. He turned away from the image and continued to his great-aunt’s rooms.
The footman who stood by the entrance to the countess’s chamber bowed and silently opened the door. Rafe stepped into warm, jasmine-scented air. The chambers were not pretty, frilly, and feminine. Instead the colors were cool blue and gray and everything was organized with military precision.
The countess waited in royal splendor in her receiving room, her jewelry glittering and one hand resting on the silky fur of a fluffy gray cat. The Carrollton cats were many and there were odd stories about them, though Rafe thought all cats could be considered odd. That was one of the reasons that he liked them.
The current cat looked exactly like the one that had been on the countess’s lap the last time he’d seen her. He wondered idly if it was the same cat, who would be ancient by now, or a descendent. He’d made friends with the fluffy cat the countess had owned when he was a young visitor, but this one studied him with the air of a hanging judge.
“So you finally made it here, my boy,” the countess said tartly. Her disapproving gaze went over him. “You look as if Napoleon’s heavy cavalry rode over you.”
Rafe took a seat, not waiting for an invitation. “It was Napoleon’s lancers, not the heavy cavalry. I’m still rather surprised that I survived.”
“Other than being skin and bones and dressed like a beggar in Seven Dials,” her ladyship said, “you look well enough, which is fortunate, given the reason you’re here.”
A maid entered with a tea tray and set it between Rafe and the countess. Her ladyship poured tea for herself. “I assume you’d prefer something stronger?”
Mentally giving thanks, he replied, “I would, thank you.”
The well-trained maid produced a decanter of claret and deftly poured a glass for him. He would have preferred something stronger yet, but the claret was excellent.
The countess waved a hand at the various small sandwiches and pastries. “Help yourself, my boy. You need fattening up.”
He disliked following orders, but he was hungry and the Carrollton cooks were very good. As he filled a small plate with savory tarts, sliced meats and cheeses, and more, the countess said, “It was never expected that you would inherit the earldom, but alas, the nearer heirs are all gone. You know why I summoned you here.”
He grimaced. “You’ve filled the castle with nubile and well-bred young women, and you want me to choose a bride and produce an heir with all due speed. I regret to inform you that won’t happen.”
Her brows arched. “Were your injuries that severe, or do you have no taste for women?”
He almost smiled, recognizing that the countess was more worldly than he’d realized. “I like women very well, but ever since I unexpectedly inherited the earldom, I’ve been hotly pursued by every ambitious young woman of good birth whom I’ve met. The experience has given me a deep distaste for the idea of marriage.”
“You’re intelligent and capable and will make an admirable earl,” the countess said in a stern voice. “Marriage is your responsibility and your fate.”
