His Counterfeit Condesa (Historical Romance) (23 page)

‘Perhaps it belongs to one of the traders hereabouts,’ she suggested. ‘I’ll ask Jacinta.’

The two of them dismounted and went in together. They had no sooner entered the hallway than they saw the maid speaking animatedly to two men in dirty and travel-stained clothes. Seeing the newcomers she looked up, smiling. Then the men turned around. Sabrina’s heart leapt.

‘Ramon! Luis! How glad I am to see you.’

‘Did I not tell you I would find him?’ said Luis.

‘I knew if anyone could, it would be you.’ Sabrina turned to Ramon, examining him critically. ‘Are you injured? Have you been unwell? We have been so concerned.’

He smiled ruefully. ‘I am well,
Doña
Sabrina, I thank you.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ said Albermarle, ‘but where the devil have you been, man?’

‘I regret the tardiness of my return, Colonel, but it could not be avoided.’ He looked at Sabrina. ‘The day after I left you, my horse put its foot in a hole and broke its leg. I had to shoot it. Then I walked for three days more before I came to a farmstead where I could obtain another beast. Unfortunately, I had no money and it took all my powers of persuasion to make the man part with it. Even then I had to swear a sacred oath to return with payment.’

‘It must be some horse.’

‘Oh, it is.’

Light dawned. ‘Not that ghastly old crock I saw outside?’

‘The very same.’

Albermarle snorted. ‘The rogue should rather have
paid you for taking it off his hands. It’s a miracle you got here at all.’

‘At times I did wonder if it would not have been quicker to walk.’

Luis grinned. ‘When I met him he was not twenty miles from town, carrying the horse.’ Then, seeing their expressions of incredulity, he added, ‘All right, I admit I exaggerate a little bit. He was not carrying it just then.’

Jacinta threw him a quelling glance and Albermarle turned back to Ramon.

‘Have you got the papers, man?’ he demanded.

‘I have them safe, Colonel.’

The collective sigh of relief was audible.

‘Luis told me that my delay has meant trouble for Major Falconbridge,’ Ramon went on, ‘and for that I am truly sorry.’

‘The matter must be rectified at once,’ said Albermarle.

Luis nodded. ‘By taking the papers to General Ward, no?’

‘Ward be damned. Take ‘em straight to Wellington.’

* * *

Afterwards, it was as though a load had been lifted from Sabrina’s shoulders. The only cloud over her pleasure was that she couldn’t let Falconbridge know straight away. A pleasant diversion arrived some three days later in the form of the previously abandoned coach, and with it her missing boxes. Having given the driver a handsome tip, she lost no time in having these carried upstairs. Then she and Jacinta spent an hour unpacking. Initially Sabrina had wondered what condition her things might be in, but, apart from a little creasing, the garments seemed to be untouched by the recent adventure.
It came as a relief. Although she did not want for funds, they would not have stretched to the replacement of almost her entire wardrobe.

Jacinta gathered an armful of dresses. ‘I will take these for pressing. They will soon be as good as…’

The words were drowned by loud knocking on the door. Then they heard Luis’s voice.

‘Doña
Sabrina, you must come!’ Her stomach lurched. Immediately her thoughts went to Robert. Had something happened to him? Was he injured? Captured? Dead? Dear God, not dead. She hurried to the door and threw it open.

‘What is it? What’s happened, Luis?’

‘He is back!’

She let out a long breath. ‘Thank heaven. Is he all right?’

‘A little tired perhaps, and thinner of course, but otherwise all right.’

She stared at him. ‘Thinner?’

‘Si,
but it is to be expected. Probably he has had a little fever. It is not unknown.’

Sabrina paled. ‘A fever?’

Jacinta stepped forwards and glared at Luis. ‘Who has a fever, you fool?’

He looked affronted. ‘I did not say that anyone had a fever. I only said he might have had one, being thin as he is.’

‘Why should Major Falconbridge be thin?’

‘Not Major Falconbridge, woman.’

‘Idiota!
Who then?’

‘Why, Señor Huntley of course. Who else?’

Sabrina went pale and red by turns. ‘My father? My father is back?’

Luis nodded. ‘That is what I have been telling you.’

He had no time for more because Sabrina was out of the room and running along the passage to the head of the stairs. She paused there a moment, her gaze searching the hallway below. Several men were waiting there. Among them was a man of middle years with greying brown hair. His face was pale and gaunt, the blue eyes tired. Though of upright carriage he was dusty and travel-stained and indisputably thinner, but she would have known him anywhere.

‘Father.’

At the sound of her voice the blue eyes brightened and a tremulous smile formed on his lips. Sabrina raced down the stairs and across the hall. Moments later his arms were round her.

‘Oh, my dearest child, how I have dreamed of this moment.’

‘And I also.’ Her breath caught on a sob. ‘I thought I might never see you again. I feared you would never be freed.’

‘I might not have been but for you. Major Falconbridge has told me what you did to obtain my release.’

She looked round and saw him just a few feet away and suddenly a lump formed in her throat. ‘This was your mission. This is why you went out of town.’

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘It was General Ward who charged me with the office, but he had his orders from the very top.’

‘Lord Wellington?’

‘Apparently so. When he received word that the return of the English prisoners was imminent, he sent me to oversee the handover and to ensure your father’s safe return. I did not tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise.’

‘The very best of surprises. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

‘No thanks are necessary. It was my privilege.’

Sabrina didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and ended by doing both. He smiled gently.

‘You and your father must have a great deal to say to one another, so I’ll leave you for the time being.’

Unable to speak, she nodded, dashing tears from her eyes with a shaking hand. Her father put an arm about her shoulders and then looked at his deliverer.

‘Thank you, Major, for all that you have done. I am most grateful.’

‘An honour and a pleasure, sir.’ He bowed. ‘Your servant, Miss Huntley.’

With that he turned and left them. Sabrina stared at the empty doorway, her heart full.

* * *

Falconbridge’s mind was also agreeably preoccupied: Sabrina’s joy on being reunited with her father had given him a very real glow of pleasure. That he had been able to contribute to her happiness in some small way, gladdened him immeasurably.

On leaving them he had delivered his report to Wellington, informing him that the exchange of prisoners had taken place without a hitch. It was then that he learned of Ramon’s return and the safe delivery of the military plans. For a moment or two he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly. When his brain did assimilate the information, his overriding feeling was one of enormous relief. His lordship had no difficulty reading the expression.

‘You did well, Major Falconbridge. The information was every bit as valuable as I’d hoped.’

‘I am glad of it, sir.’

‘It would appear that your faith in that fellow Ramon was quite justified.’

‘I never doubted him, sir.’

‘The feeling would seem to be mutual.’

‘Sir?’

‘May I say that you have inspired an extraordinary degree of loyalty among your confederates on the Aranjuez mission. Quite apart from a detailed explanation about why he was delayed so long, the chap was also quite tediously emphatic that what occurred was none of your fault.’

‘Was he, sir?’

‘Damn it, man, with a dozen like him we needn’t have besieged Badajoz at all; we could have talked our way in.’

Falconbridge’s lips twitched. ‘I’m grateful for his support, sir.’

The hawk-like gaze held his. ‘Then perhaps you should go and tell him that yourself.’

‘I mean to, sir.’

‘Good. Do it soon, would you? Then perhaps I might be left alone to get on with the organisation of this campaign.’

Falconbridge left the room, aware that he was grinning quite inanely but unable to help it. He would have gone directly to speak with Sabrina but tact forbade it. She and her father needed time together.

* * *

Thus it was another two days before he presented himself at her door. It was opened by Jacinta who informed him that her mistress was in the garden.

‘It’s all right,’ he said as she made to accompany him, ‘I know the way.’

He walked through the salon and let himself out
through the open French window, pausing a moment on the pathway among the brightly coloured beds. He saw her sitting on a stone bench by the fountain, apparently absorbed in a book. The sound of the water covered his footsteps until he was close. He paused, drinking in the details, realising that imagination had fallen well short of reality. The dusty and dishevelled companion of his travels was far removed from the feminine vision before him now. She was wearing a pretty pink gown that he had never seen before. It showed off to advantage the curve of a figure whose perfection he had glimpsed more intimately on other occasions. The golden curls were arranged in a knot on the crown of her head, and trailed artlessly over her neck and shoulders.

As if sensing that quiet scrutiny she looked up and saw him. Her cheeks paled, then flooded with warm colour. The book slid unheeded from her lap.

‘Robert.’ She rose to greet him, holding out her hands. ‘How glad I am that you have returned.’

He lost no time in possessing himself of the offering, holding her fingers in a familiar warm clasp as he returned her smile. Then he enquired after her father.

‘I hope he is in better health.’

‘He is much improved having had good food and plenty of rest. Of course, there is still some way to go yet, but I am sure that it will not be long before he is fully restored.’

‘Indeed I am happy to hear it.’

‘I cannot thank you enough for bringing him back to me.’

‘It was but a trifling service to escort him the last few miles home.’

‘Not trifling to me,’ she replied. ‘You cannot know what it meant.’

‘And I must thank Ramon. Lord Wellington told me of his return.’

‘Is it not wonderful? I cannot tell you how it felt to see him come back safe, and with the documents intact.’

He smiled. ‘I think I can imagine it.’

‘He went straight to see Lord Wellington and put the matter right. He felt it was the least he could do in view of his tardy arrival.’

‘His lordship informed me that Ramon spoke most eloquently on my behalf.’

‘I am quite sure he did.’ She was suddenly aware that he was still holding her hands. She really ought to free herself.

He drew her to the bench and sat down beside her. ‘I have wanted so much to speak with you,’ he went on. ‘I have missed your company these last two days.’

Her heart began to beat much faster. ‘Have you?’

‘More than I can say.’ He hesitated. ‘If I dared to, I would hope that you have also missed me, just a little.’

She smiled, regarding him askance. ‘Are you fishing for compliments?’

‘Absolutely. Is there any chance I might get one?’

‘No chance at all. Though I did miss you—a little.’

His eyes gleamed. ‘Only that?’

‘In truth, rather more than that.’

For the space of several heartbeats his gaze searched her face. Then he did release her hands, but only in order to take her in his arms. The precipice yawned at her feet but now it induced no desire to draw back. Sabrina closed her eyes and leapt, relaxing against him, surrendering to the embrace, wanting this. Her entire being delighted in his nearness and in the familiar scents of leather and cedar, and the warmth of his lips on hers.
Their touch engendered more erotic thoughts and blood became fire. Her mouth opened beneath his, soft and yielding inviting total possession. He tightened his hold and the kiss became deliciously intimate, but now there was no fear or revulsion, only a deep-seated feeling of belonging.

Eventually he released her and drew back a little, looking down into her face.

‘How many times I have wanted to do that.’

‘Have you?’

‘Ever since the night of the ball.’

A small pulse leapt in her throat. ‘Then it wasn’t just a ruse?’

‘A ruse?’ His brows drew together for a moment. ‘It may have begun that way, until I actually held you in my arms and kissed you. Then I realised that my feelings had grown deeper than even I had suspected.’ He sighed. ‘I had no expectation of their being returned, of course. You had made it clear that our relationship was to remain on solely professional lines.’

‘I was afraid that if I did not you would think…’

‘What?’ he prompted gently.

‘That you would think of me as Jack Denton once did. I could not bear to see you look at me like that.’

‘My dearest girl, I would never look at you that way. You are most precious to me.’ He drew her to his breast, pressing his lips to her hair. ‘I think I did not know how precious until I saw you in Machart’s clutches. The thought of any man doing you harm is intolerable. If I had my way you would never be harmed again.’

‘Nor would I see harm come to you,’ she replied.

‘I imagine that was not always the case.’

‘True. The first time I met you I confess I could cheerfully have wrung your neck.’

‘Ah.’ He pulled back enough to look into her eyes. ‘And now?’

‘I have no wish to, even though this behaviour can hardly be described as professional.’

‘I’m afraid it’s about to become even less so.’

Without warning Sabrina was tipped back into the crook of his arm and for a while after that speech was impossible. When next he looked into her face all suggestion of laughter was gone.

‘In case I’m not making this plain enough, I love you to distraction and can think of nothing else.’