Gift Of the Gods Read online

  “I don’t know – how to thank you,” Penelope sighed.

  She looked at Major Coombe and asked,

  “Do I – look all right? Is my hair tidy?”

  “You look lovely!” he answered.

  There was a deep note in his voice, which Alisa thought revealed his feelings very clearly.

  “Walk slowly and look happy,” the Earl commanded.

  He opened the door as he spoke and Penelope went out first. She was holding Major Coombe by the hand and, as they walked down the passage ahead of Alisa and the Earl, they made no attempt to release each other.

  It was impossible for Alisa to speak, because she found that coming back from the depths of despair to find it was not as serious as she had feared had left her suspended, as it were, in mid-air.

  She could only feel a surge of gratitude towards the Earl and at the same time she felt as if she wanted to burst into tears and hide her face against his shoulder as Penelope had done with Major Coombe.

  For a moment or two she could not adjust herself to the fact that Penelope had run to the Major as if she was a homing pigeon returning to safety, that he had kissed her and that Penelope had put her arms round him to hold him close.

  ‘So that is who she loves!’ Alisa thought and found it impossible to understand why, loving James Coombe, she had been ready to accept the Duke.

  However, she was not allowed to pursue her own thoughts, for the Earl was speaking to her so that as they mingled with the other people in the corridor it should appear that they were behaving in an entirely normal manner.

  “I don’t know whether Exminster told you earlier in the evening about his horse Victorious?” the Earl was saying.

  “Y-yes – he did,” Alisa managed to reply after a pause.

  “Victorious is a very fine animal, but I would like to show you my Apollo who is his accredited rival,” the Earl went on. “Whenever they run together, they are always made equal favourites in the race, which is something that happens very rarely in the racing world.”

  “No – I suppose it is – unusual!” Alisa forced herself to reply.

  They reached the garden and now, as the Duke turned to walk towards the wall that was closest to the private sitting room where the Duke lay injured, she knew what he was about to do.

  She was not mistaken, for he took from his pocket a handkerchief which he had tied in a knot and which contained what the imagined robber was supposed to have stolen from the Duke.

  He glanced over his shoulder to see that there were no people near and then tossed it at the foot of the wall.

  Then he deliberately trampled down some of the flowers that filled the bed in front of it and, as soon as he had done so, he took Alisa by the arm and walked her away to another part of the garden.

  “That was – very clever of – you,” was all she could manage to say when she could speak.

  “It was the most sensible thing to do in the circumstances.”

  “I am sure the – Duke should have – medical attention.”

  “You had better go back to the ballroom,” the Earl replied. “I intend to deal with that now and then I imagine that you and Penelope will wish to go home.”

  “Yes, please – and as quickly as – possible,” Alisa said, “I could – not dance anymore.”

  She spoke in a sudden panic, as if she was afraid that she might have to dance with the Duke of Exminster again.

  “Leave everything to me,” the Earl said.

  As they walked towards the ballroom, they could see Penelope and Major Coombe standing just inside the door.

  The music had stopped and the dancers once again were moving into the garden or going in search of the supper room.

  The Duke walked into the room and straight up to Penelope.

  “Your sister has a headache,” the Earl said loudly enough to be overheard, “and I think it would be a good idea if you two had an early night.”

  “Yes, of course,” Penelope agreed, and turned to Alisa to say, “I am sorry, dearest. It must be the heat.”

  “Yes – of course. It has been very – hot,” Alisa agreed.

  “I am just going to explain to His Majesty that I am escorting you home,” the Earl said.

  Then, as a servant passed him, he ordered,

  “Will you find His Grace? I think His Majesty will soon wish to leave.”

  “I will tell His Grace,” the servant replied.

  The Earl walked away in a different direction, and Major Coombe said,

  “Let’s go into the hall and send a footman to fetch your wraps.

  They waited in the hall for only a few minutes before the Earl joined them.

  “I found the Duchess with His Majesty, he said, “and I explained, Alisa, that you were not feeling well and I made excuses for both of you.”

  Alisa started as he spoke, realising that she had forgotten that the Duchess was acting as hostess for her son and that they should have thanked her for the ball.

  “It is all right,” the Earl said before she could speak. “I made out that you were worse than you are, being sure that otherwise people would think it strange that you should wish to leave the dance that had obviously been given in Penelope’s honour.”

  There was an undoubted touch of sarcasm in the last words, but Alisa realised that Penelope was not listening but was only looking at James Coombe with starry eyes.

  *

  Driving back in the Earl’s comfortable carriage, Alisa thought it strange that she and the Earl sat in the back seat side by side while Penelope and James sat opposite them.

  Quite unashamedly the Major put his arm round Penelope and she laid her head against his shoulder, as if she felt that was where she wanted to be and there was no need to pretend in front of her sister or the Earl.

  They had driven some way from Hawkeshead House before Major Coombe said,

  “If we are to honeymoon before the Coronation, when I shall be on duty, we will have to get married immediately!”

  Alisa gasped, but Penelope answered,

  “I can be ready tomorrow.’’

  Major Coombe laughed.

  “I shall need just a little longer than that, my darling. And I think it would be politic for you to meet my mother before we are actually married.”

  “Yes, of course, Penelope agreed, “but nothing seems to matter except that you love me.”

  “I will make you sure of that when we are married,” James Coombe said, “and it will not be in more than three or four days’ time.”

  Penelope gave a sigh of happiness and moved a little nearer to him, while Alisa felt as if the world had turned upside down and she could hardly believe what was happening.

  As if to make sure that she was not dreaming, she looked towards the Earl and saw that he was not looking at Penelope and James Coombe but at her.

  It was impossible to see the expression on his face in the lights that occasionally flashed through the carriage window, but even so the mere fact that he was looking at her made Alisa feel shy.

  Penelope was whispering something in James Coombe’s ear and as she did so he was holding her close against him with both his arms round her.

  The fact that they had forgotten everybody except themselves made Alisa feel alone and a little lost.

  She and Penelope had always been so close to each other that now she could hardly believe that while she had spoken of him scornfully, Penelope had really loved James Coombe without even telling her.

  There was no doubt that she was in love and Alisa knew her too well not to be aware that there was a new note in her voice that had never been there before.

  She could feel too a vibration coming from Penelope that was also new and which she realised was one of happiness and love.

  ‘That is how I want to feel,’ she thought, ‘and I will never, never marry anybody unless I do feel that way!’

  She decided that tomorrow she would write to the Duke of Exminster and thank him for his proposal and say onc
e again that she was deeply honoured that he should wish her to be his wife, but she would make it quite clear that it was something that would never happen.

  ‘I want to be in love,’ she thought.

  She felt that only when she could cry out as Penelope had done at the sight of James and run towards him knowing that he was everything she wanted in the whole world, would she accept a man as her husband.

  The horses were slowing down and she was aware that they were turning into Islington Square.

  It was then, as if he knew what she was feeling, that the Earl reached out and Alisa felt his hand take hers.

  The strength and warmth of his fingers were comforting and, as they tightened, they aroused in her the same feeling that she had felt when he had kissed her.

  She could feel the rapture of it moving through her body, as it had done then, and she knew, as it rose from her breast into her throat and then to her lips, that she was in love, completely and hopelessly in love with the Earl of Keswick.

  Chapter Seven

  Alisa awoke early after spending most of the night lying awake and thinking about the Earl.

  She realised that her love was hopeless for, if he had made up his mind that he would remain a bachelor, nothing and nobody would change it.

  She could understand now why the women he had in his life were like Madame Vestris or occupied a position such as he had offered her.

  At the parties she had seen him, he had never seemed to be interested in any particular woman and, although the sophisticated beauties who were married clustered round him, he continued to look bored and cynical in the way she had grown accustomed to.

  ‘I love him!’ she whispered to herself.

  She knew that it would bring her no happiness to stay in London and go to parties and balls when all she wanted was to be alone with him.

  When she was called, she rose and dressed before she went to her sister’s room, hoping that after all the dramatic happenings of the night before, Penelope would sleep late.

  But she was awake, sitting up in bed and looking exquisitely lovely with her fair hair falling over her shoulders and her eyes shining.

  “I have had a letter from Jimmy!” she cried before Alisa could speak.

  “What does he say?”

  “That he loves me and that we will be married just as quickly as he can arrange it. Oh, Alisa, I am so happy!”

  “I am glad, dearest, but I had no idea that you even liked Major Coombe!”

  “I tried to hate him because I felt differently about him than about any other man I had ever met and I was so determined to be a Duchess!”

  Penelope laughed and it was a very attractive sound.

  “How could I have been so stupid? How could a Duchess’s coronet be as thrilling as Jimmy’s kisses?”

  Alisa could understand only too well and she sat down on the edge of the bed to say,

  “I am so very very happy for you, dearest! But please we cannot afford a great many expensive gowns for your trousseau, because it would take me a long time to pay for them.”

  “What does it matter what I wear?” Penelope asked. “Jimmy thinks I look lovely in anything!”

  Alisa stared at her sister, remembering what a fuss she had made about having new gowns.

  At the same time she was apprehensive as to how much they still owed to Mrs. Lulworth.

  She was just about to mention it when Penelope said,

  “Jimmy has arranged for us to have luncheon with the Earl today and then he and I are going alone to buy my engagement ring.”

  “I am sure that you must be careful not to choose anything too expensive,” Alisa said warningly.

  Penelope nodded.

  “I have already thought of that. I know that Jimmy finds it very difficult as it is, being in such an expensive Regiment, and that is why, like the Earl, he decided that he could never get married.”

  Alisa smiled.

  “He certainly seemed very eager to do so last night.”

  “He loves me,” Penelope sighed in a rapt little voice.

  Then, as if she forced herself to think sensibly, she said,

  “We may have to live in a cottage, Alisa, but I know that you will always help me and, when you are married to the Duke, at least I can wear the gowns you have no further use for.”

  Alisa stiffened.

  “Jimmy says that he is one of the richest Dukes and spends thousands a year on his horses, so he is not likely to be cheese-paring where you are concerned.”

  It was impossible for Alisa to reply and Penelope went on,

  “Perhaps, dearest, if you ask him very very nicely he will give me my wedding gown. I would like it to be beautiful for Jimmy’s sake.”

  Alisa looked at her sister and said in a faltering voice,

  “I-I have no – wish to marry the – Duke.”

  Penelope stared at her tor a moment.

  Then she asked,

  “Are you crazy? Of course you must marry him! He is not a drunken brute like the Duke of Hawkeshead and, although he is a lot older than you, everybody speaks of him warmly and says that he is kind and considerate to his family and his employees.”

  Alisa got down off the bed to walk across the room to stand at the window.

  Penelope watched her go with a puzzled expression.

  Then she said,

  “Please, dearest Alisa, be sensible about this. I know you have been much more idealistic about love than I have been until now, but there is not another Jimmy! There could never be and you will make such a beautiful Duchess of Exminster.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Alisa replied and walked out of the room, leaving Penelope alone.

  *

  Driving in the Earl’s comfortable carriage, which he had sent to fetch them to Keswick House for luncheon, Alisa was aware that Penelope was longing to return to the subject of her marriage to the Duke of Exminster.

  She knew her sister so well that she was aware that she was feeling a little embarrassed, but was still determined that Alisa’s future should be settled as well as her own.

  She began to speak of how fond Jimmy was of riding and how hard it was for him not to be able to afford fine horseflesh of his own.

  “The Earl is very kind to him and lends him his hunters and even his phaeton,” Penelope said, “but it would be far easier for him to borrow from a brother-in- law.”

  Alisa did not protest and Penelope went on to enumerate the many advantages there would be for both her and Jimmy if Alisa was married to the Duke.

  Because Alisa had always allowed Penelope to take the lead in anything they did, she felt as if her will was being sapped away and she would not have the strength to go on fighting.

  She had already written the letter she had planned to the Duke and now she had it in her reticule, intending to post it after she had made it clear to Penelope that she would not accept him as her husband.

  “The one thing I have always longed to do,” Penelope was saying, “is to wear a tiara and, as the Exminster jewels are famous, I know, dearest, that you will sometimes let me borrow one of yours.”

  Alisa took a deep breath.

  “Penelope,” she started, “I cannot – I will – not – ”

  As she spoke the words, the carriage came to a standstill and she realised that they were outside the Earl s house in Berkeley Square.

  “We are here!” Penelope cried excitedly. “And I am sure Jimmy will have come off Parade by now.”

  The carriage door was opened and she jumped out before Alisa and hurried up the steps as if she could not wait another moment before she saw the man she loved.

  James Coombe was with the Earl in the library and, as soon as the two sisters were announced, Penelope ran towards him with a little cry.

  “Thank you for my lovely letter, which I found when I woke up this morning!” she said. “I have read and read it until I know it by heart.”

  James Coombe smiled at her and raised her hand to his lips
.

  Alisa thought that Penelope, in ignoring their host, was being rude and hastily she curtseyed to the Earl.

  “Good morning, Alisa!” he said. “I hope you slept well.”

  “Yes – thank – you.”

  She tried to speak calmly, but she felt as if he must be aware that her heart was beating violently in her breast and it was difficult to look at him.

  “I have good news for you.”

  “What is it?”

  “I was informed this morning by several of my callers that our host last night had been savagely assaulted by a thief who entered his private sitting room and, having knocked him unconscious, robbed him!”

  Alisa clasped her hands together and found it difficult to breathe.

  “Then an hour ago,” the Earl went on, “I sent a servant to enquire as to how His Grace was faring and I was informed that the doctors are satisfied with his condition, which is not dangerous, although he is heavily bruised.”

  Alisa gave a deep sigh of relief.

  Then she asked in a low voice,

  “You don’t – think that he will – tell anybody who – hit him?”

  It was difficult to ask the question and the Earl smiled before he replied,

  “I think that no man would wilfully admit to being knocked unconscious by a woman, especially one who is so delicately made and beautiful as your sister.

  “You are – sure about – that?”

  “Quite sure, so stop worrying!

  It was an order and Alisa responded meekly,

  “I will – try.

  Jimmy told Penelope the same news and, when they went in to luncheon, Alisa thought that everybody seemed to be in extraordinarily good spirits.

  There was champagne to celebrate Penelope and James’s engagement and, as the meal finished, the Earl lifted his glass and toasted them.

  “To your happiness!” he proposed. “And may your future be as golden as it seems now!”

  “That is a lovely toast!” Penelope cried. “And you know that everything that has happened to us is all thanks to you.”

  The Earl raised his eyebrows and she added,

  “I have told Jimmy that it was your fifty pounds that made us able to buy beautiful gowns in which we could call on the Marchioness of Conyngham.”