[Victoria Alexander] The Virgin's Secret (Harringt(BookZZ.org) (32 page)

involved. Quite frankly, I didn‟t want to tell Caroline about her niece‟s existence if Gabriella‟s motives were less than honorable. It would quite break her heart.

“However…” Mother smiled in a satisfied manner. “Aside from a certain penchant for what

might be called impulsive, even illegal, behavior, I am quite impressed with Gabriella‟s

character.” She turn a steady eye on her youngest son. “You could do far worse.”

Nate grinned. “But I could not do better.”

“No, darling, I don‟t think you could.”

“According to this,” Sterling waved at the report, “after her father‟s death, Gabriella was literally passed from one distant relative of his to another.” His expression darkened. “From what I‟ve read here, it was not a pleasant experience for her. She was not especially wanted and was treated more like a servant than a relative.”

“Oh dear,” Mother murmured.

“Approximately two years later, Enrico Montini, her half brother from her father‟s first marriage, found the girl.” Sterling glanced at his mother. “I assume that‟s when Lady Danworthy‟s family was told she was dead?”

Mother nodded. “That sounds accurate.”

“The trail would appear to end there. However, the report says Montini was thereafter

accompanied by a young boy that he claimed was his brother. However…” Sterling‟s gaze met

Nate‟s. “Gabriella has no other brother.”

Nate nodded. “I had come to much the same conclusion, but I hadn‟t put this particular piece of the puzzle together.”

“So you‟re saying that Enrico Montini hauled his sister around to all those dreadful, dangerous places you and Quinton frequent on your search for antiquities and pretended she was a boy?”

Anger flashed in Mother‟s eyes. “How could he? Had he no thought for the consequences of

raising a girl that way?”

Nate shook his head. “Apparently Montini had no thought for anything other than his own

concerns.”

“And there was a significant fortune involved,” Sterling added.

“Yes, of course,” Mother said thoughtfully. “The inheritance from her mother‟s father.”

“I doubt that he knew about that.” Sterling tapped the report with his finger. “Apparently, Gabriella‟s father left her a sizable fortune and it was entirely in Montini‟s hands.” He shrugged.

“According to this, Montini‟s father was not pleased with his son‟s choice of vocation and left very nearly everything to his daughter. As long as Montini had Gabriella, he had the means to support his work.” He looked at his brother. “Your Miss Montini is a very wealthy woman,

although I suspect she didn‟t know that until her brother died.”

“That explains a lot,” Nate said. “Go on.”

“Nine years ago, the alleged younger brother vanished and Miss Montini began attending school here in London. She is remarkably well educated for a woman—”

Nate snorted. “Don‟t let her hear you say that.”

Sterling continued. “She owns a small house in a respectable if not particularly fashionable section of the city and employs…” He flipped through the pages. “A Miss Florence Henry as a companion and—”

“Xerxes Muldoon and his wife.” Nate nodded. “I recently discovered that.”

“Well, this is all very interesting,” Mother said.

“Indeed it is.” Sterling clasped his hands together on the desk, his gaze shifting between his mother and his brother. “Now that I am confident we know very nearly all there is to know about Gabriella, what do the two of you intend to do?”

“I intend to reunite Gabriella with her family,” Mother said firmly.

“I intend to make her a member of this family.” Nate grinned.

Sterling raised a brow. “Because she has a fortune and a respectable family?”

“No,” Nate said sharply. “Because she is the most remarkable woman I‟ve ever met. Because I cannot imagine living my life without her. And because regardless of who she is or what she has or doesn‟t have, she holds my heart in her hands.”

Mother beamed. “Wonderful, Nathanial.”

Sterling cast him an approving smile. “Best wishes, little brother. Now…” He leaned forward and studied Nate. “What is the progress regarding the Montini seal?”

Twenty-three

Even the vast number of treasures that might well take as long to document as Lord Rathbourne had taken to collect could not diminish the unease that settled more firmly about Gabriella with every minute in his house.

Now, she sat on a wrought-iron bench in the tiny walled garden off the library. When the butler, Franks, had shown them in, he pointed out the French doors, hidden behind velvet drapes, that led to the garden. He had said as well that Lord Rathbourne suggested she might like to make use of the garden to avail herself of fresh air should the treasure room become too stuffy. It was unexpectedly thoughtful. A gravel path led from the door to a tall hedge. On the other side of the hedge, hidden from the house, the wrought-iron bench faced a small tiered fountain.

Sitting here, one might well imagine they were somewhere far from the dark, brooding house looming behind them. Gabriella wondered if Lady Rathbourne ever sat here and imagined just that.

She wasn‟t sure she could spend day after day in this house, in the windowless room she couldn‟t stop comparing to a tomb. Lord Rathbourne was not at home today and she was grateful for his absence. When she‟d been in the treasure room, Xerxes positioned himself just outside the

opening in the viscount‟s library. Right now he stood behind her in the doorway, vigilant and watchful. Even though the hedge obscured her view, she knew he was there. Any other time, she would have found his protectiveness annoying. Here and now, it was a comfort.

Today, she had planned to start making a preliminary list of the separate and varied collections, if only to begin to determine the enormity of the job. Instead, however, she‟d spent most of her time studying the seal that was so similar to the one her brother once had. While she was certain it wasn‟t the same, she would very much have liked to see an impression and compared it with her brother‟s. Which reminded her, she needed to stop by her own house to see if Florence had found the impression on her way home.

Home. When did she start thinking of Harrington House as home? It wasn‟t that it was grander than anything she‟d ever known; size and affluence had nothing to do with it. There was a sense there of family and tradition and belonging. An air of continuation. The feeling that no matter what else happened in the world, regardless of where family members might wander, this would always be a place that welcomed them.

Perhaps if she hadn‟t experienced the easy affection in that house, Rathbourne‟s might not seem as grim, although she doubted it. The few servants she had met thus far, while not overtly unpleasant, were not particularly friendly either. She couldn‟t quite put her finger on why, but it struck her that there was no warmth in this house. No feeling of occupancy. No sense that this was something other than a showplace, a display cabinet. She shivered at the thought.

In spite of the opportunity Rathbourne‟s collections offered for her future, she knew now she had to reconsider her decision to accept the position.

That would please Nathanial. Not that she cared. She blew a long breath. Of course she cared.

She was lying to herself if she thought otherwise. At least being at Rathbourne‟s house took her mind off Nathanial. And off Quinton‟s comments.

Was it at all possible that Nathanial‟s heart was at stake? Some of the things he‟d said—and so much that he‟d almost said—might lead one to believe, if one were silly and foolish—

“What are you thinking, girl,” Xerxes said, rounding the path.

“Nothing of significance.” She shrugged.

“I thought you might have been thinking about Mr. Harrington.”

She started to deny it, then couldn‟t. Besides, Xerxes always seemed to know when she was less than truthful.

“Perhaps you should—think about Mr. Harrington, that is.”

“Thinking about Mr. Harrington in any manner whatsoever is pointless.”

“Why?”

“Why?” She stood and turned toward him. “Because he and I…” She shook her head. “We

would never suit.”

“Oh?” Xerxes raised a brow. “From my observation, there is no one who would suit you better.”

“Regardless.” She shook her head. “It‟s really not possible.”

“Not if you won‟t let it be possible.” He studied her carefully. “It‟s up to you, girl. It‟s all in your hands. I would hate to see you let happiness slip through your fingers.”

“Happiness?” She thought for a long moment. She wasn‟t sure she‟d ever been truly happy, and not sure she‟d know happiness if it came her way. She‟d been content enough, she supposed, although now it struck her that most of her life thus far had been spent in preparation for something that would never come. Had been spent waiting. “Do you really think so?”

“I think,” he chose his words with care, “Nathanial Harrington is the best thing that has ever come into your life. And I think you are the best thing that has come into his. I further think if you don‟t understand that and accept it, then you are not as intelligent as I have always known you to be. However,” he shrugged, “what I think isn‟t nearly as important as what you know.”

“What I know?” What did she know? She knew she loved Nathanial. She knew she didn‟t want

to leave him. As for his feelings…Didn‟t she know those as well? Didn‟t she know when he

called her “my love” or when he tried to protect her or when he held her in his arms or when she

gazed into his brown eyes—didn‟t she know then that he shared her feelings? She met Xerxes‟s gaze. “What if I‟m wrong?”

“What if you‟re not?” Xerxes smiled. “You should talk to the man. I suspect you haven‟t done that.”

She shook her head. “We talk all the time.”

“About how you feel? What you want?”

“Nathanial says everything is about what I want.”

“And?”

“And.” She drew a deep breath. “And Nathanial Harrington is what I want.”

“Then perhaps it‟s time to do something about that.”

“Perhaps…you‟re right, it is indeed.” She smiled. “And I will. Now, it‟s time to go.” She started back into the house, her voice brisk, her tone decided. “We need to stop at my house. I must speak to Florence and you should probably see your wife.”

Xerxes chuckled. “Your Mr. Harrington doesn‟t stand a chance.”

“He‟s not my—” Resolve washed through her and she grinned. “But he will be.”

She would talk to Nathanial as soon as possible. Confess her feelings and pray he felt the same.

By the time their carriage rolled to a stop in front of her house, the most intoxicating sense of hope bubbled within her. She had learned to trust him, she loved him, and it was past time to take the greatest leap of faith of all.

“I was just about to send you a note.” Florence hooked her arm through Gabriella‟s and steered her into the parlor. “Miriam and I are going to take the first train north in the morning. We have received word that her mother is ill.”

“Oh dear,” Gabriella murmured. “How bad is it?”

“We‟re not certain. The note we received was rather vague.” Florence seated herself and

indicated Gabriella should sit beside her. “But it did say we should waste no time. Miriam is quite concerned.”

“I can well imagine.” Gabriella frowned. “But shouldn‟t Xerxes go with you, then?”

“Absolutely not,” Florence huffed in indignation. “He needs to stay here with you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Especially as you insist on working for that dreadful viscount.”

“I see you have been talking to Mr. Dennison.”

Florence‟s expression remained firm but a smile lit her eyes. “Why yes, I have. Now about this position of yours with Lord Rathbourne—”

“You needn‟t worry about that.” Gabriella blew a resigned breath. “As great as the opportunity is, I have decided not to accept his offer. Being there today, however, did give me the chance to look for the seal.”

“And?”

“And he has one that might well be its mate, but I found nothing more than that. Nor did I really expect to. Lord Rathbourne‟s arrogance is such that if he had my brother‟s seal, I doubt that he would hesitate to tell me.” She shrugged. “Unless I could prove it was Enrico‟s—have you found the impression yet?”

Florence shook her head.

“I doubt it will matter. I am afraid we might never recover the seal. As for Lord Rathbourne, I intend to tell him tomorrow that I will not accept his offer.”

“Excellent.” Relief washed across Florence‟s face. “I cannot tell you how worried I have been.

As has your Mr. Harrington.”

“Mr. Dennison again?”

“He is a fount of information as well as…”

Gabriella raised an amused brow. “As well as?”

“Gabriella.” Florence took the younger woman‟s hands. “I suspect Mr. Dennison may soon ask me to marry him.”

Happiness for her friend washed through her. “How wonderful.”

“Yes, it is,” Florence said slowly. “However, I am not certain what my answer will be.”

“Why ever not?”

“If I marry Mr. Dennison…” Florence paused. “I am concerned as to what will happen to you.”

“To me?” Gabriella widened her eyes with surprise. “You should not concern yourself with me.”

“Your welfare has concerned me for nearly a decade,” Florence said firmly. “I do not intend to abandon you now.”

“Don‟t be absurd.” Gabriella scoffed. “You wouldn‟t be abandoning me at all. Besides, you and Xerxes and Miriam are my family. Even if we no longer reside in the same house, that will never change. And we are not so large a family that we cannot include one more.”

“But things will change.”

“For the best,” Gabriella said firmly. “You must follow your heart, my dear friend. You have always told me to do so.”

“And are you following it now?” Florence‟s gaze searched hers.

“I think I always have really.” Gabriella thought for a moment. “I followed my heart when I studied to make myself indispensable to Enrico. In many ways the search for the seal was

following my heart. As for anything else…yes, Florence.” She cast her friend a brilliant smile. “I am going to follow my heart.”