Smuggler's Lair Page 12

  “Mr. Burke was indispensable to Falcon in the last century. Perhaps he has always served the owner of Bodiam Castle since it was built in King Edward’s time.”

  “You make me think all things are possible, Tory.” He came around the table and pulled her into his lap. “Even that you will become my wife.” He took the ring from his pocket and held it out to her on his palm. “I bought you a betrothal ring.”

  Tory’s eyes were like stars as she looked at it and then at Falcon. She held out her finger so he could slip it on. “An emerald—how did you know my favorite color is green? It’s a perfect fit.” She touched his cheek. “We are a perfect fit.”

  He covered her hand with his. “I have always been self-conscious about my birthmark. Yet it doesn’t seem to offend you.”

  “It endears you to me. I wish you didn’t have it, but I’m the one who stitched your cheek back together when you were wounded.”

  “You have a long memory,” he teased.

  “But it is infallible,” she declared. “It was preordained that we should meet. We, who love Bodiam Castle so much, were chosen to restore it to its original magnificence. I cannot wait to get started.... It will be a labor of love for both of us.”

  Falcon changed the subject. “Where would you like to go for your honeymoon, sweetheart?”

  “Why to London, of course. We’ll scour all the antique shops and warehouses searching out ancient treasures for Bodiam.” She slid off his knee and took his hand. “Come, I’ll take you on a tour and try to describe how everything was a hundred years ago.”

  Somewhat reluctantly, he followed her lead as she swept up the staircase and took him down the long passageway that led them to the minstrels’ gallery. “See how dilapidated this railing is? In fact it’s quite dangerous. Once, it was exquisitely carved, polished black oak. We will have to employ a wood-carver to duplicate the oak leaves and clusters of acorns. The balcony was draped with gold velvet and the chairs for the musicians were all high-backed with padded seats.” She smiled at Falcon. “This was where I first glimpsed the Georgians being entertained at Bodiam.

  “The floor of the ballroom down there was highly polished and there were half-a-dozen chandeliers that held myriad candles. The light was reflected by scores of crystals that dangled from the candleholders.” Tory sighed. “It’s such a sorry mess of dust and cobwebs, but we’ll restore it to its original beauty in no time.

  “There were buffet tables at this end for the guests’ food and drink, and at the far end were gaming tables for card and dice games. Georgians were addicted to gambling, but I have to admit I quite enjoyed the risk involved, especially when I wasn’t wagering my own money.”

  “Falcon was unfailingly generous with you, was he?”

  “Not only Falcon. All the gentlemen were anxious to garner my favor.” She rolled her eyes. “Falcon told them I was his sister.”

  “Well, I’m glad he . . . I . . . tried to protect your reputation.”

  “Come, I want to show you the library.” She took his hand and urged him to follow through the archway and down the stone passage. “Down there is where the crew of the Seacock were accommodated. That’s the oldest part of Bodiam, where the soldiers were originally garrisoned.”

  “I’ve only been in that section of the castle once. It needs so much renovation, I am intimidated by such a large undertaking.”

  “Liar, I warrant naught intimidates you.” Tory looked about her uncertainly. “There are so many square towers, I’m not sure this is the right one. Falcon had his library on the ground floor of a square tower. It wasn’t large, but it was extremely cozy.”

  “Down this passage is where I found some books stacked. I added my own to what was already here, but there are no shelves.”

  When they entered the chamber, Falcon lit a torch on the wall. The light fell on stacks of old books. Tory was distressed. “Heavens above, these books are rotting away. This is where we will start,” she said decisively.

  Falcon took her hands. “Tory, I’m afraid I have a confession to make. There isn’t enough money left to refurbish Bodiam. When you disappeared, I thought you were gone for good. The idea of restoring the castle to its original condition without you at my side lost all its appeal. The heart went out of it for me. I spent at least half the money and I’ve made commitments for the other half that cannot be rescinded.”

  Tory looked at him as if she didn’t comprehend what he was saying. “What do you mean, there’s no money to refurbish Bodiam?”

  “Exactly what I say. Oh, I have enough money for us to live comfortably, but restoring Bodiam will have to wait a few years.”

  “You frittered away a fortune in one short month?”

  “I didn’t fritter—”

  “You devil! Apparently you inherited more than the castle from Mad Jack Fuller, you also inherited his insanity! For years he wasted his money building follies and other extravagant whims that earned him the well-deserved nickname Mad Jack. Now you are following in his footsteps!

  “Bodiam Castle is an ancient treasure that came into your hands with a sacred trust attached. How can you have squandered the means that were heaven-sent to restore a part of English history? You are a careless, thoughtless devil! How could you, Falcon?”she cried passionately, pounding her fists into his chest.

  He seized her hands. “You little hellcat, stop it!”

  Tory wrenched her hands from his and folded her arms across her chest in a posture of defiant anger.

  He gazed at her, unable to mask his regret. “It is clear that Bodiam means far more to you than I do, Victoria. How naive I was to think you were marrying me for love.”

  “I did love you!” she cried.

  “Yes, but you love Bodiam Castle more.”

  “You asked me to marry you under false pretenses,” she charged. “Your confession about the disappearance of the fortune you inherited should have preceded your proposal.”

  “I warrant I didn’t tell you because I feared your refusal. Finally, my conscience wouldn’t allow me to keep you in ignorance.”

  “A damned good thing your conscience began to prick you, Sir Peregrine, before you bedded me!”

  He stiffened. “I think we have insulted each other quite enough for one night, Mistress Carswell.”

  “Indeed. Kindly have the portcullis raised. I cannot remain here a moment longer.” Tory tossed her hair back over her shoulder and turned on her heel. Don’t cry! Don’t you dare to cry, Victoria Carswell!

  CHAPTER 12

  “Well, young madam, it’s about time you returned home. Are you married yet?” Edwina demanded, the moment her daughter stepped through the door of the priory.

  “Hello, Mother. I’m so sorry to have caused you so much worry over the last month.”

  “Worry I can handle; I’ve been a martyr to worry all my life. ’Tis the shame that is difficult for me to bear. All will be whispering that you have been living in sin. Your father, God rest his soul, must be spinning in his grave.”

  “I cannot control the way people think. I am sorry for the scandal I have caused.”

  “No, you cannot control scandal, but you can diminish it by joining Sir Peregrine Fuller in holy matrimony. When is the wedding to be, Victoria?”

  “We have no plans, Mother.”

  Edwina’s look of shock would have seemed comical, had Tory found anything funny in her situation.

  “Oh, my dear, is that an engagement ring I see on your finger?”

  Tory glanced down at the lovely emerald and diamond ring she had forgotten all about. She decided not to disabuse her mother of the notion that it was a betrothal ring. At least it would buy her time tonight and allow her to escape to her own bedchamber.

  They both heard Edmund open the front door of the priory.

  “Victoria is home and you will be happy to know that your sister is betrothed to Sir Peregrine Fuller.” She turned to her daughter but did not lower her voice. “Poor Edmund, it cannot have been easy fo
r a man of the church to hold up his head under the shameful circumstances of his sister’s disappearance.”

  You are an expert at fostering feelings of guilt, Mother. Even though Father smoked in secret I warrant he was racked with guilt.

  Edmund was alarmed at how pale Tory looked. “Are you feeling all right? Shouldn’t you be in bed after such an exhausting day?”

  “I am tired, though I hate to admit it. I think I’ll go up.”

  Edmund held out a supporting arm and Tory gratefully leaned against him and they headed toward the stairs. “Good night, Mother. I’ll try to answer all your questions tomorrow.”

  As the siblings climbed the stairs, Edmund asked kindly, “This morning you were insisting that you had been back in time a hundred years. Have you banished all your strange thoughts now that you have returned to normal, Tory?”

  “I don’t suppose I’ll ever be completely free of strange thoughts, and what the devil is normal, I’d like to know?”

  He opened her chamber door for her. “Here you are—just as you left it. Get a good night’s rest, Tory. Sweet dreams.”

  She closed the door and sagged against it, drained of energy. Her thoughts were in disarray, her emotions were in turmoil, and her happiness lay in shards all about her. “Splendor of God, how am I going to face the future without Falcon?”

  She did not bother lighting a candle. As she undressed, her hands began to shake from fatigue. She put on a fresh nightgown and slipped into bed. Victoria lay on her back staring up into the darkness. Her mind and her body felt strangely numb.

  Her thoughts slowly began to form coherently. Minutely, she went over the things she and Falcon had said to each other that had made her temper flare and compelled her to walk out on him.

  It is clear that Bodiam means far more to you than I do, Victoria. How naive I was to think you were marrying me for love.

  “I did love you,” she cried. Yes, but you love Bodiam Castle more.

  “Is his accusation true? Do I love Bodiam Castle more than I love Falcon?” she whispered.

  The answer came back immediately. “Falcon means more to me than life. It is true that I love Bodiam and long to restore it to its original magnificence, but I would love Falcon even if he were penniless and had no bloody castle!”

  Splendor of God, I never even gave him a chance to explain. He tried to tell me that he didn’t squander the money, but I was in such a self-righteous fury, I refused to listen.

  “It’s his bloody money, Tory. The man can do whatever he wants with it. It is absolutely none of your business!”

  She sat up in bed, wrapped her arms around her knees, and regretted with all her heart the things she had said. I must go and ask him to forgive me. She threw back the covers. I cannot go running to Bodiam Castle at this time of night just to assuage my conscience. And what if he refused to let me in? What if he no longer wants me? I’ll go tomorrow. In daylight the things I said won’t seem so dark and ugly.

  * * *

  As Victoria waited for the castle’s portcullis to be raised, her hand brushed over the ship’s bell that had belonged to the Seacock. She would cherish forever her memories of sailing to France aboard the brigantine. She sighed and thanked the man on the gate. Then she straightened her shoulders, gathered her courage, and walked in the front door of Bodiam.

  “Good morning, Mistress Carswell. Allow me to take your cloak and I’ll tell Sir Peregrine he has a visitor.”

  “Thank you, Mr. de Burgh.”

  Beneath her cape Tory was wearing a gray wool dress. Its design was similar to the one that Falcon had slashed to ribbons because it was the ugliest garment he’d ever seen. She smiled, remembering how outraged she had felt at the time, but it had given her the chance to strut about in her corset and drawers, something that had done wonders for her female self-confidence.

  De Burgh did not return. Instead, it was Falcon who came to greet her. “Victoria, I hope you’ve had a change of heart?”

  “Oh, Falcon, I have!” She ran into his open arms. “I’m so sorry for the things I said last night.”

  “Hush, we’ll have untold arguments over the next hundred years. It will keep our life from becoming dull as ditchwater.”

  “Let’s go upstairs. I must apologize to lift the heavy load of guilt from me.”

  “There’ll be no guilt between us, love; not today, not ever.”

  When they arrived at Falcon’s chamber atop the round tower, Tory stood contritely before him. “I searched my heart and can solemnly vow that I love you more than Bodiam. My love for you is boundless, even if you become penniless and own no castle.”

  He took her hands. “I should have told you about the money before I asked you to marry me, Tory.”

  “It’s really none of my business what you do with your money, Falcon. It was shameless of me to feel furious about it.”

  “I like it when you are shameless.” He reached up and took the pins from her hair so that it fell in soft waves about her shoulders. “That’s better.” He threaded his fingers into the dark, silken mass. “I hate it when you screw it into a knob.”

  Tory smiled her secret smile. Those were the exact words Falcon used a hundred years ago.

  “Come and sit down. I want to tell you about the money.”

  She sat before the fire and Falcon took the chair opposite. “Last month there was a terrible tragedy off the coast. The Thames, an East Indiaman, was shipwrecked and went down with all hands. It affected me profoundly and I felt compelled to do something to avert these disasters. A new East Indiaman had just been launched and I equipped it with lifeboats with some of the money I inherited.”

  Victoria’s eyes widened with admiration and Falcon held up his hand. “When you told me I used to be a pirate and a marauder, it suddenly dawned on me why the shipwreck affected me so intensely. I warrant I was compelled to make up for some of the barbaric things I did in my past life.”

  Tears threatened but she held them at bay. “It was the right thing to do, Falcon. I admire your generosity.”

  “Later, when I thought you had gone and would never come back, I decided to put the money Jack left me to good use. The people of Hawkhurst live a hand-to-mouth existence for the most part. Fishing is a dangerous occupation and the pay is pitiful. I own so much fertile land here at Bodiam, a hundred acres or more, so I donated it to the townspeople of Hawkhurst.

  “I researched a crop that would be lucrative. I decided on hops. I have committed thousands of pounds for hop vines that will be delivered and planted in the spring.”

  “That is a brilliant idea! You have always helped the people of Hawkhurst supplement their meager existence. Now you will do it with something that is not illegal.”

  He grimaced. “Do you think you can bear a reformed reprobate?”

  Tory’s smile was mischievous. “I doubt you will ever be completely reformed. Recklessness is in your blood.”

  “I’ll need a partner in crime. Any volunteers?”

  “How about Tory Palmer Fuller? I warrant the name suits me.”

  * * *

  “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” Falcon slid a wide gold band on Victoria’s finger.

  Falcon has just endowed me with Bodiam. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think to live in a castle, especially one as magnificent as Bodiam. It is a grave responsibility to be a keeper of the castle.

  “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” Reverend Edmund Carswell smiled down at his beloved sister. “Forasmuch as Peregrine and Victoria have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

  Behind her, Tory heard her mother sniffle back tears. Mo
st likely they are tears of relief that I am wed, after causing so much gossip. She hid a smile as she remembered the fierce battle she had had a week ago when she had decided on pale green silk for her wedding dress. Her mother had insisted she follow the fashion set by young Queen Victoria, who always wore maidenly white.

  “White is a symbol of purity, and I can hardly claim that after residing at Bodiam for a month. I believe living in sin was the phrase you used, Mother.”

  Falcon bent his head and kissed his bride’s brow and Tory’s thoughts came winging back to the present.

  Victoria’s brother Edmund solemnized the private evening ceremony at his Hawkhurst parish church. Her brother had also given her away, and Mr. de Burgh had acted as witness.

  Outside the church, Tory bade her mother goodbye, then Falcon helped her into their carriage and de Burgh drove them back to the castle along a path that was lined with the cheering people of Hawkhurst. “Everyone seems to know about the wedding.”

  Falcon put his arm about her and drew her close. “Of course they know—I shouted my love from Bodiam’s highest tower.”

  She laughed up at him. “I believe you—thousands wouldn’t.”

  The carriage stopped at the front door of the castle and Falcon lifted his bride high against his heart and carried her over the threshold. He didn’t put her down, but instead carried her along the passage that led to their round tower.

  Suddenly Tory felt shy, and tried to mask it with humor. “You’d best not try to carry me up all these stairs, milord. You’ll need to muster your strength for the jousting.”

  “Your words paint a very rude picture of a man riding with a stiff pole before him.” Falcon set her feet to the floor. “I think I’ll tan your arse for that remark, wench. I’ll give you five seconds’ head start.”

  Tory let out a whoop, her shyness forgotten. She picked up her skirts and ran like the wind. “You devil! That’s exactly what you said to me before, but once you hiked my skirts you decided against beating me to a jelly.”

  “I warrant I was filled with awe.”

  “I warrant you were filled with lust.”