The Virgin’s Secret Page 15
“Nathanial Harrington.” A tall woman glided into the room and held her hand out to Nathanial. “You were just a boy when last I saw you.”
He chuckled and raised her hand to his lips. “Lady Rathbourne, you are as beautiful as ever.”
She was indeed beautiful, startlingly so. Lady Rathbourne might well have been the loveliest creature Gabriella ever seen. She was nearly as tall as Nate, her blond hair meticulously styled, an air of grace and elegance lingering about her. Her gown was in shades of red, the latest in French fashion, and Gabriella had the most absurd feeling that it had been selected to compliment the room.
“Am I?” Lady Rathbourne tilted her head in a manner that might have appeared artificial with anyone else yet was completely natural to her, and studied Nate. “How very kind of you to say so.”
Lady Rathbourne was, all in all, perfect. Gabriella didn’t like her one bit, and liked even less the way she stared into Nathanial’s eyes and held onto his hand. Gabriella rose to her feet and, although she’d never considered herself clumsy, wished she could have done so with a bit more grace.
“Not at all,” Nathanial said in a gallant manner. “You have not changed one bit. You are exactly as I remember you.”
“Well, you have most definitely changed. You have become quite charming, no doubt dangerously so.” Lady Rathbourne studied him for a moment. “You are very nearly a foot taller than when we last we met. Indeed, the boy I remember has become quite a handsome man. You very much resemble…” A shadow crossed her face so quickly Gabriella thought she might have been mistaken, “And how is that rascal of a brother of yours, Quinton?”
Nathanial smiled. “Quinton too does not change.”
“And…the rest of the family? Your mother and Regina? Regina must be grown as well.”
“And just launched upon the seas of society.” Nathanial shook his head. “One must fear for those hapless unmarried men who have not been forewarned.”
“I can well imagine.” Lady Rathbourne laughed. It struck Gabriella very much like a laugh not well used, but then this room too seemed like a place that had heard little laughter.
She cleared her throat softly.
“And this is?” Lady Rathbourne smiled at her.
“My apologies,” Nathanial said quickly. “Lady Rathbourne—”
“You used to call me Olivia,” she chided.
“I was an impertinent scamp.” Nathanial grinned. “Olivia, allow me to introduce Miss Gabriella Montini.”
Gabriella nodded. “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Rathbourne.”
“Do call me Olivia.” To Gabriella’s surprise, genuine warmth colored the lady’s green eyes, warmth at odds with the surroundings. At once she decided that she liked Lady Rathbourne after all. “I don’t receive many callers, especially not old friends. I have known Nathanial’s family for much of my life, although I have not seen any of them for some time.” She waved at the sofa. “Please sit down. I have requested tea for us, it should be here any moment.”
“Thank you.” Gabriella retook her seat on the sofa. In this room, with this woman, her serviceable blue gown and practical hat seemed both out of place and rather shabby. In the back of her mind she resolved to purchase some new clothes.
Olivia joined her on the sofa and waved Nathanial to a nearby chair. “Now then, your note said you had a matter of some importance to discuss.”
“Yes, that.” He looked a shade uneasy. “It’s a long story and I’m not sure you can actually be of help. Still, because I knew you…”
Olivia raised an amused brow. “Yes?”
“Perhaps I should explain,” Gabriella said quickly.
Nathanial nodded with obvious relief.
“Lady Rathbourne—Olivia,” Gabriella began. “My brother was an archeologist who discovered a rare, ancient cylinder seal. A seal that made reference to the lost city of Ambropia, the first such reference ever found. But the seal was stolen from him, and while searching for it he died.”
“Oh dear,” Olivia murmured. “My condolences.”
“Thank you.” Gabriella drew a deep breath. “Now it is up to me to recover the seal and prove it was his discovery. I intend to donate it to the Antiquities Society, and we have been authorized by the society to use its name in our queries.”
“The Antiquities Society? How very prestigious.”
Gabriella nodded and winced to herself. Authorized was perhaps not entirely accurate.
Olivia drew her brows together. “And how can I can be of help?”
“One of those my brother suspected of taking the seal was a man named Javier Gutierrez.” Gabriella paused. How did one accuse a woman’s husband of theft and possibly worse? “He apparently often acted as an agent in the gathering of antiquities for Lord Rathbourne.”
“I see,” Olivia said coolly, the warmth of her demeanor abruptly gone.
A maid entered bearing a tray with tea and biscuits. Olivia waited until the maid had left the room to continue.
“As much as I wish otherwise, I’m afraid I can’t help you.” She poured a cup for Gabriella, handed it to her, then poured one for Nathanial. “I know little about my husband’s activities in regards to his collections.”
“Olivia.” Nathanial leaned forward eagerly. “We were hoping that you might know if he had come into possession of such a seal. If he might have mentioned something that might help us. Or if you had noticed a new acquisition to his collections or—”
“My dear Nathanial.” Olivia filled her own cup, her tone offhand, as if she were discussing nothing of particular importance. “I do not share my husband’s passion for such things. He never discusses his acquisitions with me and I would not know a seal such as the one you are looking for if it were to sprout legs and walk into the room. Beyond that…” The warmth in her eyes had now vanished along with her demeanor, replaced by something hard and resolute. “My husband collects for the joy of acquiring. He particularly enjoys besting another collector or, better yet, a museum or institution. It is something of a game for him, and his fortune is such that he can demand nothing less than total victory, regardless of cost.
“He is not a man to be trifled with.” The vague hint of a warning sounded in her voice. “I would permit you to view his collections, to determine if indeed what you seek is there, but that’s impossible. His acquisitions—be they of art or sculpture or antiquities—are displayed in a locked room for his eyes alone. I do not have access to them nor do I wish to.” She sipped her tea. “I have not seen most of what he has accumulated and I have no interest in doing so. It is, as I said, not something we share.”
Disappointment washed through Gabriella at her words. And more, the oddest feeling of sympathy for this beautiful woman who would appear to have everything yet seemed as well to have nothing. “I see.”
“As for your Mr. Gutierrez…” Olivia shook her head. “The name is not familiar. I would be surprised if it was. I never meet anyone who has a business arrangement of any sort with Lord Rathbourne. However…” She paused. “…I would certainly not be surprised to learn that he and my husband were involved in something, shall we say, less than aboveboard. If this seal is as rare as you say, it is exactly the type of item that would indeed arouse Lord Rathbourne’s desire.” She shrugged. “His fine hand in this incident would not be unexpected.”
“But you don’t know,” Nathanial said.
“No, I am sorry. And I would not ask him.” Olivia hesitated as if choosing her words. “Lord Rathbourne and I essentially live separate lives. Occasionally I appear with him at social events, but for the most part we rarely even share the same dwelling.” She smiled at Nathanial. “I say this only because we are old friends and I cannot remember the last time I have had a visit from an old friend. I have always been sentimental about such things and fear I am becoming more so with every passing year.”
“I’m sure my mother would enjoy it very much if you were to call on her.”
“That’s not possible,”
she said simply. “Nathanial.” Her gaze pinned his. “I trust the confidences I have shared with you will go no farther than the three of us?”
“Of course not.” Nathanial nodded
“Do I have your word on that?”
“You do.”
She glanced at Gabriella, who nodded her agreement as well.
Olivia smiled. “Thank you both. Your discretion is most appreciated.”
“Will we see you at the Antiquities Society Ball?” Gabriella said impulsively.
“I’m afraid not. I rarely attend such events in London. I prefer to spend most of my time in the country. When I’m in London, I tend to be something of a recluse.” She smiled, but this time it did not reach her eyes. “Someday, in my dotage, I suspect I will be called eccentric. Oh dear.” She cast Gabriella a rueful glance. “My future sounds dreadful. I shall be an eccentric as well as a sentimental doddering old creature.”
“Never,” Gabriella said staunchly.
“You are too kind.” Olivia directed her attention back to Nathanial, her tone brisk. “Now, do tell me more of your mother. She had any number of charitable pursuits, if I recall.”
They chatted for a few minutes about Lady Wyldewood and Regina, about Nathanial’s and Quinton’s adventures. Gabriella noted Olivia never asked about Lord Wyldewood nor did Nathanial bring up his oldest brother’s name.
A quarter of an hour later they took their leave and settled in the carriage they’d had wait for them, Nathanial sitting on the seat beside her rather than across from her. At her insistence, they’d dispensed with the ever-present maid. It seemed wise, given the nature of their mission. It was most improper and really quite nice.
He blew a long breath. “That was worthless.”
“I suppose it was.” She shrugged. “Still, we do know the seal is something that would arouse Lord Rathbourne’s interest. So we have not eliminated Gutierrez. And we know his lordship’s collections are kept in a locked room in the house.”
Nathanial raised a brow. “So that if we break in we will know where to look?”
“Don’t be absurd.” She scoffed. “We don’t know where the room is. And as we should have to break in at night, we’d spend most of our time stumbling about in the dark looking for—” She caught Nathanial’s grin and sighed. “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am.” His grin widened. “It’s the most fun I’ve had today.”
“I’m glad I can provide you with some amusement.” She huffed and settled back against the worn leather seat. “I daresay Lady Rathbourne has few amusements.”
“You noticed that, did you?”
“It was hard not to.”
“Mother says she’s rarely seen in public.” Nathanial shook his head. “She used to be quite a social creature.”
“She said she has known your family for a long time.”
He nodded. “Her father’s country estate borders ours. Although she and Sterling had known each other most of their lives, it was a casual acquaintance, not at all significant. As I remember, they did not fall in love until she was out in society and they ran into one another at a ball in London. It was as if they had never met before. If you recall, I told you that my family assumed they would marry, but then, abruptly, they were no longer seeing one another, and almost at once she married Lord Rathbourne.
“She is as lovely today as she was then.” He paused. “But today, she looked like a woman afraid.”
“Not at all.” Gabriella shook her head. “She looked like a woman resigned. She seems as much a possession as anything else her husband has collected.”
“I noticed that as well,” he murmured.
“In spite of her obvious strength, she seemed very sad to me. She is not happy with the choices she has made in her life.”
“And yet they were her choices.”
“As far as you know.”
He paused, then nodded. “As far as I know.”
“What if they weren’t?” Gabriella said slowly. “Her choices, I mean.”
“It scarcely matters now and we will probably never know.” Nathanial sighed. “We all thought she was the love of Sterling’s life. That they were fated to be together—soul mates, if you will. But she shattered his heart. I have always thought the speed with which he married Alice was a direct result of that.”
Gabriella hesitated. “Perhaps he should know.”
“Who should know what?”
“Your brother, the earl. Perhaps he should know how unhappy she is.”
Nathanial turned to her, disbelief in his eyes. “Are you mad?”
“Possibly,” she murmured.
“What good would that do? For good or ill she has made her choice. She is married and he has gone on with his life. There is nothing to be done about it.”
“Still.” An odd wistful note sounded in her voice. “It does seem a shame.”
Nathanial narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What?”
“That one might find the love of one’s life, one’s soul mate, and lose him because of circumstances.”
“She lost him because she chose to marry the man who had the biggest fortune.” Nathanial shrugged. “One could argue if she was willing to make such a choice, she could not have been the love of his life after all.”
“One could argue as well that one suitor having more money than another is a circumstance.” Gabriella had no idea why she was arguing the point at all, why she cared, and yet she did. “Do you think there are such things as soul mates? As two people who are fated to be together against all odds?”
He looked into her eyes in a firm manner. “Yes.”
“As strictly a…a…” She thought for a moment. “…a philosophical matter of debate, mind you…What if they are from completely different backgrounds?”
“It’s of no concern.”
“What if they don’t trust one another?”
“They need to learn to do so. Leaps of faith and that sort of thing.”
“What if one has a large, boisterous family, traditions, and heritage, and the other has no family whatsoever?”
He smiled. “A large, boisterous family very nearly always welcomes an additional member.”
“What if she isn’t what he thinks she is?” She gazed into his eyes. “What if she can’t be what he needs? What he deserves? What he wants?”
His voice was low, measured, and fraught with meaning. His words a statement as much as a question. “What if she already is?”
Her breath caught. Sheer panic warred with the most wonderful feeling of surrender within her.
She swallowed hard. “It was a philosophical matter of debate, Nathanial, nothing more.”
“I know.” He pulled her into his arms. “Everyone in my family loves a good debate.”
“This is not a good idea.”
“And I thought it was an excellent idea,” he murmured, his lips against the side of her neck.
“Well, that is…indeed…” Shivers skated down her spine. “…excellent.”
“I thought so.” He angled his mouth over hers, and she lost herself in his kiss. Her mouth tentatively opened to his and his tongue met hers. Desire and need exploded within her and she clung to him. Sensation swept through her, and her toes curled in her sensible shoes.
The most scandalous thought occurred to her. Why not enjoy Nathanial’s touch? Why not surrender to him? She had no idea if he was her soul mate, she wasn’t even sure she believed in such nonsense. But she did know he made her feel things she had never suspected she could feel. Made her want things she could never have. And she knew as well that Nathanial Harrington, the youngest brother of the Earl of Wyldewood, would never marry Gabriella Montini, who had no family or position and was, in fact, with her brother’s death, no one and nothing of note. Even if he could overlook all else, there was one thing he could not overlook. No honorable man could. If she had learned nothing else in her years in England she had learned this. There was no future in his arms.
The carriage drew to a stop and she pushed out of his embrace.
“We’re here.” She scrambled out without waiting for his assistance.
“Yes, I was aware of that.” He chuckled, climbed out of the carriage and ambled after her. “Unfortunately.”
She turned to him and squared her shoulders. “That cannot happen again. There will be no more kisses shared in carriages or in libraries or at the door to my room.”
“I haven’t kissed you at the door to your room.”
“But you’ve thought about it.”
“Indeed, I have.” He grinned in an unrepentant manner. “I find I have a hard time thinking about anything but kissing you.”
“It has to stop,” she said firmly. “All of it.”
His grin widened. “I don’t see why.”
“No.” She steeled her resolve against the need to throw herself back into his arms and forced a collected note to her voice. “I don’t suppose you do.”
Gabriella turned and walked into the house, leaving him staring after her.
She acknowledged Xerxes standing by the door with a slight nod and ignored the questioning look in his eye. She didn’t pause until she reached the sanctity of her room. Closing the door firmly behind her, she rested with her back against it and closed her eyes.
The meeting of the Verification Committee was fast approaching. Either they found the seal and restored Enrico’s reputation or they failed and all was lost. Regardless, one way or the other, this would be over then. She would leave this house and this family and Nathanial forever.
The irony of it all hit her. She and Nathanial were searching for a seal that might reveal the location of the lost city. After centuries it could well disclose the Virgin’s Secret, which had been sought by so many for so long. The search had brought her to the one man she would be willing to give up everything for. But it was her own secret that would keep them forever apart.