The Castle Page 7

  For the first time Valeria felt that she had a glimpse of the man inside his pleasant but remote exterior.

  She could see him in her mind’s eye as a small boy charging over the drawbridge. She tried to imagine him in black armour with a silver helmet. For a second she could see him mounted on a huge black charger.

  A shiver ran through her.

  “Are you cold, Miss Montford? I’m sorry, I should have insisted that you rode in the carriage.”

  “No, no, I am fine.”

  Once more he had caused a disturbing sensation to run through Valeria’s body.

  She tried to remind herself how much she disliked him, but could only wonder why, if she really had such a low opinion of Lord Waterford, was she seated beside him hastening towards his castle?

  Moments later they approached the drawbridge.

  It was certainly wide enough for a sizeable coach and the curricle had no trouble rumbling across.

  As they negotiated the planks, Valeria looked over at the moat that he had described as a ditch.

  That, too, was wide. It was far wider than any ditch she had ever seen, but Lord Waterford was right about the weeds and brambles. She thought that they would be as much of a deterrent as water for anyone wanting to cross it.

  A portcullis hung above the entrance.

  They drove underneath it into a vast courtyard.

  Valeria gasped at the size.

  “Why, you could easily house an army in here.”

  “At some stage in the old days, I believe they did.”

  Lord Waterford brought the curricle to a stop. Two grooms rushed up to take control of the horses.

  “Your maid and your luggage will take a little time to arrive, I am afraid. Perhaps you would care to meet my sister and take a little light luncheon?”

  “That sounds perfect, my Lord.”

  He led the way to an ancient door covered in heavy iron studs.

  Valeria followed him and entered a vast baronial hall. Its hammer-beam roof was hung with aged flags and on the far wall were displays of spears and ancient pistols.

  “I see you can defend yourself, my Lord!”

  “Oh, at last you have arrived,” came an irritated voice.

  Valeria saw that a gallery ran along one end of the hall. Leaning over it was a fashionably dressed figure that seemed at first sight not much older than Valeria.

  “Do bring Miss Montford up, Charles. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “Certainly, Susan.”

  He turned to Valeria.

  “As you can see, my sister is becoming impatient.”

  Underneath the gallery was a carved stone screen, behind which in a corner was a wide spiral staircase with shallow steps.

  At the top stood Lady Stratfield.

  Valeria realised that his sister was older than she had at first looked.

  Curly chestnut hair tied in a loose knot surmounted a pretty oval face. Sparkling light blue eyes and a rosebud pink mouth with pouting lips suggested a lively character.

  Lady Stratfield held out her hands to Valeria.

  “My dear, you are lovely! I did not really believe my brother when he said that you were the most beautiful girl he had ever met, but now I see that he was exactly right!

  “We shall have such a lot of fun together! I cannot tell you how gloomy this dreadful castle is. How Charles thinks it can be made liveable, I cannot imagine!”

  “Yet you seem happy to stay here with me,” Lord Waterford interrupted gently.

  “Since I have nowhere else to go, what else could I do? You see,” she said to Valeria, as she led her along a stone corridor. “When my poor John, Sir John Stratfield, I should say, had that awful accident, he left me destitute.”

  “But you do still have your dowry,” chipped in her brother. “It brings in a reasonable income.”

  “Only if one is content to dress in the most dowdy way, never travel abroad and exist with the dullest possible routine.”

  She opened a door and led the way into a reception room. Two of the windows admitted plenty of light, but the walls were bare stone and heavy dark furniture contributed to a cold and unfriendly atmosphere.

  “My dear Miss Montford, if you can help turn this ghoulish place into a home, you will be a genius.”

  There was a theatrical flourish to her words.

  “I have every confidence in Miss Montford,” added Lord Waterford. “Now it’s time for a glass of sherry.

  *

  Early next morning Valeria was out riding.

  Lord Waterford had provided a superb mare for her use and offered a groom to ride with her.

  “I would like to accompany you, but business takes me away for a few days,” he had explained the previous evening after a splendid dinner in the echoing baronial hall.

  Valeria was surprised. She had expected him to be in close attendance while she was staying at the Castle.

  However, the whole idea of a ride without him was immensely appealing.

  She could sort out some of her conflicting emotions – and plan what she could suggest for The Castle.

  After dinner Valeria had asked Lord Waterford how he saw life at The Castle.

  “Will you be entertaining the neighbourhood or do you contemplate a really quiet Social life?” she asked, then coloured as she realised that he was hoping she would be the Mistress of this gloomy antique ruin.

  “Oh, entertainment, please!” burst out Susan. “We need to hold many many parties.”

  Lord Waterford smiled at her and Valeria realised how very fond he was of his sister.

  “I would like it to be a most pleasant place to live and perhaps to bring up a family in,” he muttered quietly.

  This was not a subject Valeria wished to pursue.

  “Are you thinking of ever opening The Castle to the public?” she asked him. “Do you want to encourage them to visit?”

  “I would like to think it would be somewhere that is spoken of with admiration,” he admitted. “Does that sound very ambitious, perhaps even proud?”

  “Oh, Charles, you have to realise that you hold a great position now and your castle needs to reflect it. I am sure Miss Montford agrees with me?”

  Valeria laughed.

  “I think the position is in the man, not in his home.”

  Susan pouted.

  “Oh, that is too clever for me!”

  “Susan, Miss Montford has expressed exactly what I think,” volunteered Lord Waterford.

  Valeria felt warmth rush through her at his words.

  They were not the idle flattery she was used to, but an acknowledgement of her intelligence.

  Out riding the next morning, Valeria found herself remembering his comment. Some of the warmth she had felt when he made it remained with her.

  She had refused the offer of a groom.

  “I am too used to riding without attendance, as you know,” she explained mischievously to Lord Waterford as they said goodnight.

  He had taken his farewell of her.

  “I shall have left before you rise. Susan will look after you. My architect will wait on you tomorrow and you can explore The Castle together.

  “I shall return in a couple of days. You may be sure I shall not be away a moment longer than I have to. There are matters to be sorted out about the estate. My lawyer, who was my great-uncle’s, is old and of uncertain health. I decided I could not ask him to make the journey here.”

  What a very considerate man Lord Waterford was, Valeria thought, as she lay in bed and slipped into sleep.

  Valeria had wakened to a morning that was bright and clear and the gloom of the previous day had vanished and she rode out eagerly.

  A little way away from The Castle, she came across a large empty house. Low and rambling, it was surrounded by an overgrown garden that almost hid it from view.

  There was something of Sleeping Beauty’s Palace about the place.

  Coming down the lane towards her was an elderly man wearing a smock a
nd carrying a staff.

  Valeria asked if he knew who owned the house.

  “That be ’is Lordship’s.”

  “Lord Waterford’s, you mean?”

  “Aye.”

  He tipped his hat to her.

  Valeria thanked him and rode on her way, up onto open country.

  ‘What,’ she wondered, ‘did Lord Waterford intend doing with this place? It could indeed be made into a very pleasant home.’

  She spurred her mare into a gallop.

  She could not help recalling the ride that had ended so badly in France, when Lord Waterford had rescued her.

  She waited for the familiar feeling of humiliation to wash over her again and was most surprised to find that she recalled not the humiliation but his kindness and understanding.

  Suddenly there were hooves galloping behind her.

  For a moment Valeria felt panic and wished she had accepted the offer of a groom to ride with her.

  There was something so insistent in the speed of the following horse that she could only imagine someone was about to kidnap her.

  Urging on her mount, she turned to see who was in pursuit.

  Then she gave a cry of amazement.

  The horseman rapidly overtaking her was Sir Peter Cousins.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Valeria brought her horse to a halt.

  Sir Peter then drew up alongside her, his horse and himself breathing hard.

  “You ride fast,” he cried, sweeping off his hat and bowing from the saddle, his golden head shining in the sun.

  Valeria’s breath, too, was coming quickly.

  “What an – unexpected pleasure, Sir Peter. Do you live near here?”

  “No, I am staying with friends. Juliette told me you had written to her that you were going to stay at Waterford Castle. So I took up a long-standing invitation. I recalled you said once that you delighted in early morning riding so I hoped to encounter you.”

  Valeria felt a fizz like champagne rise inside her.

  Sir Peter had sought her out!

  He had followed her to The Castle!

  She had not been mistaken about her attraction for him. The already bright morning became suffused with golden warmth.

  She controlled her feelings – she knew how the game was played.

  “It is such a surprise to see you on English soil, Sir Peter,” she murmured demurely.

  “A surprise? I would have thought that you would be looking for me to appear at any moment ever since you returned. You must have recognised how powerful your effect was on me.”

  He sounded perfectly serious – gone was his usual, slightly ironic patter.

  Valeria was thrilled.

  “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. In the South of France all I could think about was you.”

  He gave her one of his mocking grins.

  “My hostess’s daughter was not pleased, I can tell you. I knew my duty and flirted outrageously with her, but my heart was not in it and I am afraid she knew it.”

  “I am not sure you should be speaking to me like this,” Valeria countered haughtily.

  “Oh, but I have to. When I returned to the Loire, it was to see you again. I was certain that you would still be there, awaiting my return.”

  Valeria stilled the restlessness of her mare.

  “Why you should think that, I cannot conceive, but I had not seen my dear father for so long and he required my company.”

  “And yet here you are, away from his side!”

  “I am fulfilling a commission.”

  “A commission? What sort of commission?”

  “To advise on the restoration of Waterford Castle.”

  He laughed.

  “That wreck! It will require more than your talents, Miss Montford. The old Lord sat there within its walls and let the world go hang. He was indeed famous throughout the neighbourhood for his unsociability.”

  “The present Lord Waterford is very different.”

  Valeria found herself surprised at her vehemence.

  An indefinable expression crossed Sir Peter’s face.

  “Indeed? Intending to set this County alight with his hospitality, is he?”

  For an instant she was taken aback by his sneering tone.

  Then Sir Peter gave an easy laugh.

  “I am sure he will prove to be an excellent landlord for his estates. I hope, though, he is not stealing your heart as well as employing your talents.”

  Valeria felt a flush suffuse her neck and face.

  Gathering up her reins, she stroked the mare’s neck.

  “We must be on our way,” she said primly. “Why not call at The Castle and meet with Lord Waterford?”

  “I may do so. Is his Lordship presently at home?”

  Valeria shook her head.

  “He has gone to London on estate business. He is expected to return in a couple of days’ time.”

  Sir Peter raised a derisive eyebrow.

  “Gone to London, leaving such a beautiful girl as you on her own?”

  “Lord Waterford’s sister, Lady Stratfield, keeps me company and I have much to occupy me. In fact, I must return at once, I have an appointment with the architect.”

  He grinned mockingly at her.

  “An appointment with an architect! How businesslike you sound, Miss Montford. And here was I, thinking your only aim in life was to make men like me happy!”

  Anger suddenly swelled in Valeria.

  He was obviously suggesting she was only playing at restoring The Castle.

  But before she could canter away, Sir Peter leaned across the small gap between them and pulled her towards him with a strong arm.

  “Just what a fascinating creature you are. The most fascinating I have ever met.”

  Then he brought his mouth down on hers in a most passionate kiss.

  Valeria’s bones turned to jelly.

  She was powerless to resist. And indeed, she did not want to try.

  As suddenly as he had gathered her against him, Sir Peter released her.

  Valeria gasped as the pressure of his arm was taken away and the mare gave a shuddering neigh.

  “How dare you, Sir Peter!” she spluttered, trying to sound completely outraged.

  Her blood, however, was still singing through her veins.

  He gave another of those smiles, which she could not help think looked a little sinister, and put on his hat.

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that!”

  Then he was gone.

  Valeria rode at a fast canter towards The Castle with her thoughts in a whirl.

  Out of confusion came one triumphant conclusion,

  Sir Peter had sought her – the most exciting man she had ever met loved her! Maybe she would not have to reconsider Lord Waterford’s proposal to save her Papa.

  *

  Valeria was almost late for the architect.

  Afterwards she could not recall any impression of Mr. Fellowes, despite page after page of her notebook being covered in her neat hand with comments he had made and ideas she had contributed.

  Through their discussions her body seemed to throb with the burning memory of Sir Peter’s kiss.

  It was as if a fever had entered her blood. Almost she wished there was a medicine she could take that would cleanse it from her.

  But then she would remember the thrilling thought that Sir Peter rather than Lord Waterford might rescue her Papa from financial ruin and marry her.

  Susan joined them for lunch at her most charming.

  After Mr. Fellowes had left, she remarked,

  “My dear, what a terribly boring man. All he could talk about was The Castle.”

  “That is what he came for,” laughed Valeria.

  She did like Susan and her light-heartedness was a genuine tonic after the intoxication of her encounter with Sir Peter.

  “Oh, you are as bad as my brother! Come, shall we play cards this afternoon? It’s raining so we cannot go out. What I long
for most is London! Do you find the country boring? Would you mind if I call you Valeria? You must call me Susan.”

  Valeria was delighted.

  “I will be honoured. And, no, I don’t find that the country is boring. I am sure that when Waterford Castle is more comfortable, you will enjoy living here more. Shall I explain my ideas about its restoration, Susan?”

  “On no account! You must tell Charles everything when he returns and to have to repeat all the dreary details more than once would be too much.”

  Valeria laughed.

  How, she mused, could a brother and sister be so different?

  So, as they settled down to cards, she asked Susan about her parents.

  “My dear, they were like cat and dog. Mama told me that she had been forced into the marriage, as Papa was so suitable. She had no idea, though, that Papa would turn into such a bully! He beat Charles as he was growing up when he tried to stop him shouting at Mama.”

  “Susan, that’s awful! Your poor Mama, how could she bear it?”

  Sir Peter was cast from her mind as she had a vision of Lord Waterford as a boy opposing his terrorising parent and her heart began to warm towards him.

  Susan put down her cards on the table and looked at Valeria without any of her usual effervescence.

  “My mother said I was to be sure to marry a man who was kind and laughed. I met John at my coming-out ball shared with a cousin. Papa was too mean to pay for one for me. Have you had a coming-out ball, Valeria?”

  “Yes. I was very young, but I think Mama knew she did not have long to live and wanted to see me properly launched into Society. I had a lovely ball and Papa said he was so proud of me.

  “Wasn’t being presented to the Queen the funniest thing? Her Majesty is so dignified, but I do think she must have been terribly bored by it all. Tell me about meeting your husband.”

  Susan propped her chin on her hands and smiled.

  “Sir John Stratfield asked me to dance and he was so amusing. He kept me in fits the whole time we were circling the floor. I knew that if I could marry him, I could forget all the unhappiness at home and live a life of fun.

  “If my Papa had realised what a gambler John was, he would never have allowed our marriage. But he was a Baronet with a large estate and it all seemed very suitable.

  “John loved his cards and he knew every gambling joint in London. I had no idea he had mortgaged his estate until he undertook a cross-country horse race for a large wager against a punishing rider. John must have known he would have to take every risk going. He fell trying to jump too high a hedge and broke his neck.”