Page 24 of A Momentary Marriage

“Yes, I did, thank you.”

“I only wish I could.” Maurice sighed mournfully. “I rarely get a full night’s rest. It’s my back, you see.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Just be grateful you’re young. The cold and damp are terribly hard on one as one grows older.”

“I’m sure they are.” He didn’t look to be older than his forties. And it was neither raining nor cold.

“I thought it was your stomach kept you awake,” Claude put in, his sardonic tone similar to his brother’s.

“Oh, it does. My back, as well.” Cousin Maurice sighed lugubriously and launched into a description of his ailments that was mercifully cut short by Adelaide entering the dining room.

“Lady de Vere.” Adelaide beamed. “I hoped you would be here. Usually I am the only woman at breakfast. Conversation is so dull.” She giggled and made a little moue toward her husband. “Sorry, darling.”

Claude didn’t seem to mind. He stood up, offering the first real smile Laura had seen on the man’s face. Taking Adelaide’s hand and raising it to his lips, he seated her with the care one would show an invalid. However coolly he presented himself to others, it was clear that with Adelaide he was all warmth. It made Laura more inclined to like him.

“Good morning,” Laura answered Adelaide. “And, please, call me Laura.”

“Lovely! After all, we are sisters now, are we not? I haven’t had the chance to welcome you to the family. I vow I had begun to think Sir James would never marry.”

There was a flat note to her last words that made Laura glance at her sharply. Despite Adelaide’s overt cheeriness, Laura suspected the woman had in fact been disappointed James had not remained a bachelor. But at least she was attempting to be nice, which was more than could be said for much of James’s family.

“It’s wonderful that Sir James found someone.” Adelaide recovered her pleasant tone as she turned toward her husband. “Isn’t it, dear?”

“Wonderful,” Claude repeated sourly.

Adelaide leaned forward, laying her hand upon her chest and tittering in a self-deprecating manner. “Though I must admit, I would never have had the nerve myself to marry Sir James. Such a formidable man!” She gave an expressive little shiver. “You must be terribly courageous.”

“Um . . .” How was she to respond to that?

Laura was saved from replying by Claude, who drawled, “Oh, I doubt it required courage, my dear, merely clear thinking. After all, James is a far better choice financially than Laura’s first fiancé.” He turned to Laura, his expression cool and disdainful.

“Claude!” Adelaide gasped.

Laura met the man’s gaze levelly, letting a heavy silence build, then said, “I thought that James had gravely underestimated his brother’s character, but I can see now that he spoke nothing but the truth.”

Claude smirked. “I don’t know what he promised you in return for marrying him, but if James thinks to supplant me with an heir, he’s left it a little late.”

Laura clenched her hands in her lap, aware of a strong desire to drive her fist into Claude’s smug face. Controlling herself with an effort, she rose and turned toward the others at the table, ignoring Claude. “Pray excuse me, Adelaide. Cousin Maurice. I find I have lost my appetite.”

Laura escaped to the gardens, thankful that she ran into no one on her way. She was too furious to be polite. The gall of that man! The utter, heartless lack of compassion for his dying brother! It was little wonder that James didn’t want to leave his dog or anything else to Claude. She hurried down the steps leading from the terrace to a formal garden, too angry at first to even notice the flowers and plants around her. But as she walked, the beauty of the garden began to soothe her. Orderly beds of early spring flowers were arranged around the central fountain, their geometric shapes sharply delineated by low green hedges. In contrast, the lower gardens beyond it were a lush riot of flowers and shrubs. Bright spikes of foxglove were banked by hydrangeas, and spiky purple balls of allium topped tall green stalks like lollipops.

Paths wound through the gardens, tree-shaded benches scattered along the way. At the other end of the colorfully jumbled garden, an arbor covered in lavender wisteria led to yet more steps and a trail shaded by trees. The ground sloped down slightly, and Laura followed its twisting way.

Small paths branched off in different directions, but Laura stayed on the more-trodden walkway, emerging finally into a small green clearing. Here the land fell sharply away. On the far side of the clearing stood a large fountain, and beside it was a stone bench, facing outward to enjoy the vista. The man who sat there turned at the sound of her approach.

“Sir James!” Laura stopped in surprise, then started forward.

He stood up, his smile teasing. “Sir James? Don’t you think we should drop the formality?” He leaned in as she stopped beside him. “Considering that we are presumed to ‘know the secrets of the boudoir.’ ”

She quirked a brow at him. “You’re merry this morning.”

“The gardens affect me that way. Come, look.” He took her hand and led her to the fountain.

Below the fountain, wide, shallow steps of white stone marched down the hillside, grouped in tiers. The stairway was bordered on both sides by narrow streams of water that flowed from the fountain. The water tumbled down over black stone steps, creating a series of small waterfalls. The effect was enchanting, filling the air with the soft burbling of a brook and creating a stunning landscape.

At the bottom of the hill lay the stone ruins Laura had glimpsed from her window this morning. She could see now that the pond beside the old castle was actually a wide, irregular moat. The ruins lay on an island in the middle of the water so that one had to cross a small bridge to reach them. They were more extensive than she had realized, consisting of two buildings, partially caved in, and a squat round tower.