Redemption of a Fallen Woman

Elena surveyed him with quiet sympathy. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘So am I.’

She would have liked to know more but it was clearly dangerous ground and she had no wish to alienate him. He must have been very much in love. Indeed, it seemed he still grieved for the woman he had lost. She was aware of a sensation very like envy. Her betrothed had never cared like that, had not cared at all, in fact—only she hadn’t discovered it until she needed him most. The memory was bitter and she pushed it away. Harry Montague’s lady had been lucky in that respect at least.

‘My father died in the war.’

‘Your uncle mentioned the fact.’ As soon as the words were out he cursed mentally. He hadn’t meant to reveal any part of that private after-dinner conversation.

Elena kept her voice level. ‘Did he relate the circumstances?’

Harry hesitated, but decided it was pointless to lie. ‘Briefly, yes.’

‘I see.’ Although it was a difficult subject she was rather relieved that her uncle had been frank with him about her past. It would save further explanations. ‘Well, after what happened I could not stay in Badajoz.’

His heart leapt towards his throat. ‘Badajoz?’

‘Yes. My family home was there. Did not my uncle tell you that?’

‘No, he said only that it was soldiers who performed the outrage. I assumed they were French.’

‘Atrocities were not confined to any one military group,’ she replied. ‘It was British soldiers who ran amok in Badajoz and it was they who … Well, you know what happened.’

Harry shut his eyes for a moment to regain his equilibrium. He knew what had happened all right. Murder had stalked the streets then.

‘What occurred there is a matter of everlasting shame to my country,’ he replied.

‘I imagine you can understand why my family were so keen for me to enter a convent.’

‘Their view is not one I share.’

‘That is fortunate for me and I’m grateful.’

‘I wasn’t seeking your gratitude.’

‘You have it all the same.’ She shot him a sideways look. ‘I must apologise for embroiling you in my problems but in truth I could think of no other way out.’

‘I hope you won’t come to regret your decision. The journey is going to be long and hard.’

‘But the company is good.’

‘I’m glad that you think so.’ He could only hope she wouldn’t be disillusioned. Fortunately she knew relatively little about him and he wasn’t about to enlighten her further.

‘You would not have come on such a journey without a servant whom you trusted.’

Harry nodded. ‘You’re quite right. Jack Hawkes and I know each other well.’

‘He is a family retainer?’

‘Not exactly. He was once a member of my company. We served together during the war.’

‘And then you employed him afterwards.’

‘Just so.’

‘Had he no family, then?’

‘None that he knows of. The company was his family in the end.’

She nodded. ‘I can understand that. War creates a bond between men.’

It was an echo of his own former thought and he regarded her in surprise. ‘You speak knowledgeably.’

‘I have spent some time among fighting men.’

Curiosity increased. ‘The guerrilla force your uncle mentioned?’

‘That’s right. Does it shock you?’

‘I own to surprise. It’s not the role I would immediately have associated with you.’

‘It was that or the convent.’

‘But were you not engaged to be married?’

‘My betrothed broke off our engagement.’

Harry was conscious of having strayed onto dangerous ground. He sensed the hurt beneath the level tone and felt awkward. Clearly these were personal matters which he had no right to probe.

‘More fool him,’ he replied.

The words carried no discernible trace of irony. Elena eyed him askance, momentarily taken aback. At the same time the memory she had tried to suppress resurfaced. It ought not to have hurt any more, and she was disconcerted to discover that it did. With an effort she kept her tone neutral.

‘It would have shamed him to marry me.’

‘Why? You had been through a dreadful experience and you did what you thought you had to afterwards.’

‘Yes, but I was dishonoured all the same. He was very polite but he made it quite clear that marriage was out of the question.’ She lifted her chin. ‘I realised then that he felt nothing for me at all.’

The scene was still horribly vivid, the details etched on her memory. The Barilla family estate was outside the city, but Jose had come to find Elena when news of the rioting troops reached him. His shock on seeing the destruction they had wreaked was plain, but it was as nothing when he understood what had happened to her father, and to the female members of the household. Elena had been so relieved to see him that she hadn’t considered what might lie beneath his evident abhorrence. More than anything she wanted him to take her in his arms, to make her feel safe. However, on entering the vandalised salón where she waited, he left a yard of space between them and made no attempt to close the gap.

‘I should have been here to protect you,’ he said.

‘They would have killed you, Jose.’

‘Better that than such dishonour.’

‘The dishonour is not yours,’ she replied. ‘It belongs to those who committed the deed.’

‘Yet the taint can never be expunged.’ He let out a long breath. ‘I imagine that you intend to follow your sisters to the convent.’

Elena frowned. ‘Why should you imagine that?’

He stared at her. ‘But surely, after what has happened there can be no other choice.’

A cold lump settled deeper in her stomach. ‘No other choice?’

‘You must see that we cannot marry now. It is impossible.’

‘Is it?’

‘Elena, there may be consequences to the events that took place here.’

‘You mean I may have conceived a child.’

He winced. ‘It is a possibility. You must know that.’

‘I will know soon enough.’ She paused. ‘And if there is not a child?’

He shook his head. ‘After such a violation I cannot consider … I have my family to think of. You must see that.’

‘I do see. I think I’m truly seeing for the first time.’

He ignored the implication and stolidly maintained the calm, reasonable tone. ‘The wisest course for you now is to enter a convent. You have become soiled goods. No man of good family can marry you after what has happened.’

Elena felt as though she had been turned to stone. It couldn’t be happening. This stranger could not be Jose; he only looked like him. She wanted to shake him, to scream, to weep, to plead with him not to abandon her but she did none of those things, knowing that it would be useless. Gathering the shredded remains of pride she lifted her chin.

‘You’re right, of course. I was foolish to think anything else.’

He nodded. ‘I wish it had been otherwise, Elena, from the bottom of my heart.’

‘Your heart? If you possess one at all it was never mine.’

‘Elena, I …’

‘Go, Jose. Just go.’

For a moment he looked as though he were about to answer but then thought better of it. Instead he had turned away and walked out of her life for good….

‘He felt nothing for me,’ she repeated.

Harry regarded her steadily. ‘In that case you were well rid of him.’

‘So I think, now.’

He hesitated, but the urge to know overcame reticence. ‘Were you in love with him?’

‘I thought I was. He was young, handsome, wealthy, educated, amusing—all the things a young woman could want in a suitor.’ She smiled wryly. ‘I see now that I was in love with the idea of him. Of course I was younger then and very naive. It never occurred to me to look beneath the superficial charm. I accepted it all at face value.’

‘We’ve all done that at some point in our lives.’

‘It is painful to discover that the idol has feet of clay.’

‘There must have been other admirers since.’

Her expression grew cool. ‘I have not sought them.’

Again he could have kicked himself. ‘Forgive me. That was confoundedly tactless. It’s just that a woman like you would always excite admiration.’

‘My time was spent planning ambushes and fighting. Romance played no part in it.’

‘I didn’t mean to imply anything untoward.’ He paused. ‘You might have got yourself killed.’

‘At the time I didn’t care. But, as it turned out, I never suffered any serious injury. It was as though I bore a charmed life.’

‘I’m glad of it.’

Again the tone was sincere. Moreover, he was not critical of her actions and nor was he judgemental. After the opprobrium she had suffered of late it was a pleasant and unexpected change. But then he was unexpected in so many ways. It occurred to her to wonder then what might have happened if she had met such a man when she was younger, before the war had changed her life for ever. For a brief instant she had a glimpse of something that was beyond all former dreams of romance. It was followed by a sensation of sadness and loss. Her throat tightened. Such happiness as that was afforded to few, and it certainly didn’t include her.

They stopped at midday to rest their mounts and then, having eaten and taken a short siesta, resumed their journey. It was late afternoon when they heard other horses approaching, a large group riding fast. Elena’s stomach lurched and she darted a look at Concha. The other woman’s face revealed the same misgivings. Jack Hawkes looked at his master.

‘Should we pull off t’road and let ‘em pass, my lord?’

‘Yes, and let’s hope that passing is their intention.’

Jack glanced at the women. ‘Do you think it might be …’

‘I don’t know but I expect we’re about to find out.’

They had no sooner reined aside than the oncoming group swept around the bend. Harry counted a dozen riders; depressing odds if they were local brigands. His jaw tightened. The leading horsemen saw them and he heard a shout. There could be no doubt now that they were the target. The thunder of hooves came closer. His hand moved towards the Baker rifle in the saddle boot, then paused. Had he and Jack been alone he wouldn’t have hesitated, but the women’s presence made him reluctant to draw fire.

‘What do you want to do, my lord?’

‘Nothing, yet,’ he replied.

Before they could say more, the oncoming riders were upon them. In moments the little group was surrounded and a dozen pistols trained in their direction. Judging from their stony expressions, the bearers would very much have liked to use the weapons and clearly wouldn’t hesitate if given the order. Then, through the swirling dust, Harry recognised the man who led them. Don Manuel reined in a few yards away.

‘Did you really think to get away with this, my lord?’ He glowered at Elena. ‘Or you either?’

Elena’s stomach wallowed. This was rapidly assuming the proportions of a nightmare. She had miscalculated badly to assume that her uncle would wash his hands of her, and now innocent people were caught up in her botched plan. She directed an agonised glance at Harry but he failed to see it: his attention was focused squarely on her uncle.

‘I can explain, señor.’

Don Manuel regarded him with cold contempt. ‘I’m not interested in your explanation. I welcomed you in good faith and gave you all possible assistance. In return you have betrayed my hospitality in the basest way possible, and you have brought dishonour to my house.’

‘I understand why you might think so, but the situation is not what it seems.’

‘The situation is perfectly clear, my lord. I can only lament that a man of your rank and birth should have stooped to such subterfuge.’

Harry held on to his temper. ‘There was no subterfuge here.’

‘Do not compound your crime with falsehood.’

‘I resent both those suggestions, señor.’

‘You resent? It is I who am the injured party here and you who have violated my trust.’

Unable to remain silent any longer, Elena interjected. ‘No. He was not to blame.’

Don Manuel glared at her. ‘Lies won’t save him. He will learn what it means to besmirch the noble name of Urbieta.’

‘What do you mean to do?’

‘He and his treacherous henchman will hang from yonder tree. When it is done you will be delivered directly to the convent and your name will never be mentioned in my house again.’ Don Manuel turned to his servants. ‘Bind these men.’

She stared at him in appalled disbelief. However, it became horribly clear that her uncle meant every word. Under his flinty gaze, four of his men dismounted and advanced on Harry and Jack. Despite strong resistance, they were dragged from their horses and manhandled across the intervening space to be brought before their judge. Sick with dread now Elena flung herself off her own mount and ran to stand with them.

‘They are innocent. They had no knowledge of my intended escape. I used their departure to cover my own. It was only later when they were embarked upon their journey that Concha and I came up with them.’

The maid nodded. ‘It is true, señor.’

Don Manual directed a quelling glance her way. ‘Silence, wench! You are as complicit as the rest and you will be punished accordingly. Were you a man I’d have you hanged. As it is you may count yourself fortunate to be let off with a flogging.’

Concha paled but she did not lower her gaze.

‘She was obeying my orders,’ said Elena. ‘No blame attaches to her either. If your anger must fall on someone, let it fall on me. Lord Henry did not wish to take us along with him but he would not abandon us either. He had no choice but to do what he did.’

‘He should have brought you back at once.’

‘I did not wish to return and he would not force me to do so.’

‘I can well imagine he would not. No doubt he had other plans for a slut such as you.’

A muscle jumped in Harry’s jaw. ‘You are insulting, señor. I will not permit such imputations to be made.’

‘Can you deny that it was part of your scheme?’

‘I certainly do deny it. My intention was to escort the lady to England in accordance with her wishes, and that is all.’

Elena glanced at Harry and then met her uncle’s gaze. ‘He’s telling the truth.’

‘He is, señor,’ said Concha, ‘though you flog me for saying so.’

Don Manuel scowled at them but made no immediate reply. Elena’s heart pounded in her breast.

‘The fault is mine, Uncle. I swear this on my parents’ graves.’

‘Even if Lord Henry was not the instigator of the plan,’ said Don Manuel, ‘he has been instrumental in bringing dishonour to the family name.’

Harry’s eyes glinted. ‘If you seek satisfaction, señor, you may have it.’

‘No,’ said Elena. ‘I would not have any bloodshed on my account.’

‘Have no fear. I would not sully my blade in so sordid a matter,’ replied her uncle. ‘Yet this dishonour must be expunged.’ He fixed Harry with a gimlet stare. ‘If your intentions are honourable as you claim, my lord, then you will prove it.’

‘How may I do so?’

‘By taking my niece to wife. You shall marry her this very day. If not I shall have you and your servant hanged and she will go to the cloister.’

The pronouncement was met with dumbfounded silence. Elena’s cheeks went paper-white.

‘Uncle, this is not …’

‘Enough! Which is it to be, my lord?’

Harry knew there was only one possible answer now and he gave it.

Chapter Six

It was a matter of some five miles to the nearest town, a journey undertaken at a pace that precluded any opportunity for speech. Once or twice Elena glanced Harry’s way but he continued to look resolutely ahead of him, his expression like stone. Shocked beyond measure by her uncle’s decision and appalled by the consequences of her actions, she found coherent thought almost impossible. All she could see just then was looming disaster. Once she had eagerly anticipated marriage and all that it entailed. Of course, back then, the agreement would have been entered into by mutual consent and in all honour; now she was soiled goods to be offloaded because it suited her uncle’s purpose. One way or another he meant to be rid of her. Her wishes didn’t enter into it, or those of her intended bridegroom.

As she thought about Harry her stomach churned. How disgusted and angry he must be at this moment. He hadn’t wanted any part of her scheme but had been too gentlemanly to abandon her. By heaven, he must be wishing he had though. And when the knot was tied and she was completely in his power, what revenge might he take then? The memory of Badajoz returned with leering drunken faces and men obscenely unbuttoned, hands tearing her clothing, holding her down while they did their will…. She shuddered. Was it all about to happen again? From her limited experience of him, Harry did not seem to be the brutal type but, even so, as her husband he would expect his will to be met. Elena swallowed hard.

In an alarmingly short time the cavalcade arrived at the town and pulled up in the plaza in front of the church. Half a dozen men detained Jack and Concha; the remainder hustled Elena and Harry inside. Hearing the intrusion a startled priest paused by the altar.

‘Mass is not for another hour.’

Don Manuel fixed him with a steely gaze. ‘We are not here for the mass, but to see these two married.’

‘That is not possible. Perhaps tomorrow …’

A fat leather purse landed on the floor at his feet, the jingle of coin seeming loud in the still air.

‘Marry them,’ said Don Manuel.

The priest hesitated and licked dry lips. Then he nodded. ‘As you wish.’

Elena’s heart thumped against her ribs and she closed her eyes, willing that she might wake up. White-faced, she glanced at the man beside her. This time he saw it and returned her gaze. His face was impassive but the expression in the grey eyes was unmistakable. Good heavens, he was furious. How he must despise her now. She shivered inwardly. Mingled with dread was a deep sadness that she had forfeited whatever small regard he might once have had for her. At that moment she would almost have preferred to be in a convent cell.

At the priest’s command they knelt. Harry was scarcely aware of the droning voice, only of roiling emotion. Elena had correctly read the fury uppermost in his mind but she had entirely mistaken its direction. For a moment or two he indulged a savage fantasy involving a dull blade and Don Manuel’s vital organs. Underlying that were very different feelings.

He threw a covert glance at the woman beside him. He hadn’t missed the expression of abject terror in her eyes just now; by rights she should have fallen into a fit of hysterics. Most women would have done so long since. But then Elena wasn’t most women. She’d had the courage to face her uncle’s wrath and to take responsibility for her actions, to exonerate everyone else. But for that determined intervention he and Jack would almost certainly be swinging from a tree by now. She had been subjected to public insult and humiliation into the bargain, another bone he’d like to pick with her uncle. As for this present outrage …

‘… do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?’

The priest’s voice brought him back to reality with a jolt. Taking a deep breath Harry made his reply. A short time later he heard the corresponding affirmation from Elena.

‘Do you have the ring?’

Harry looked blankly at the priest for a moment and then, as his brain caught up, realised he’d got nothing of the kind or indeed anything that would serve. In consequence it looked as though Elena’s humiliation wasn’t over yet. He took a deep breath.

‘I regret …’

Don Manuel cut him off. ‘It is here.’

From his jacket pocket he produced a fine gold band and placed it on the open bible. Harry stared at it in astonishment. Where the devil had the man got that from? Borrowed it from one of his entourage, perhaps? However, when he picked it up, it was immediately evident that so small a ring could never have belonged to any of the brawny thugs who had accompanied Don Manuel. It slid easily onto Elena’s slender finger though, almost as if it had been intended for the purpose. Suspicion took root. He shot a swift glance at the don and saw the faint cold smile on his lips. Implication became certainty and Harry understood then that this had been the intention from the outset. If ever I need a favour I will know where to come. When he discovered Elena had fled, her uncle had taken a shrewd guess at her plan and laid his own accordingly. On discovering his guess to be correct, he’d baited the trap and drawn them in. They’d fallen for it hook, line and sinker! In that moment Harry didn’t know what he wanted most: to shoot the old fox, to run him through or to strangle him with his bare hands.

Elena sensed the sudden increased tension in the man beside her. His anger was almost palpable now. She swallowed hard, not daring to look at him, too keenly aware of the enormity of what she had done. Instead she looked down at the ring on her hand. It felt like an alien presence but it bound them fast, like the promises they had just made. For one irrational moment she thought that, if they had been compelled to wed years ago, then their chance of happiness would surely have been as good as anyone else’s on entering the married state. As it was …

‘I now pronounce you husband and wife.’ The priest’s face assumed an unctuous smile. ‘You may kiss the bride.’

Her heartbeat accelerated. She saw Harry turn towards her and then his gaze met hers, only now the grey eyes revealed nothing of the thoughts behind. His face came closer and she closed her eyes, felt his lips brush hers, a sudden intimacy that intensified the fluttering sensation in the pit of her stomach. It should have been repellent but it was not. Rather it revived something in her that she had thought long lost. Then it was over. When she opened her eyes again he had drawn back. She saw him rise and extend a hand to her. Trembling she took it. Strong warm fingers closed over hers and squeezed gently, a gesture that was both reassuring and unexpected.

Wordlessly she allowed herself to be led from the church. After the close confines of the building with the musty smells of dust and stale incense, fresh air was a blessed relief. She took several deep breaths to steady herself. Then she became aware of the rest of her uncle’s entourage waiting a little way off, and with them Concha and Jack, both grim-faced. Harry paused and, retaining his hold on her hand, turned to face her uncle. For a moment they faced each other in silence. Then Don Manuel spoke.

‘I bid you both farewell. We shall not meet again.’

‘You are quite correct,’ replied Harry. ‘We shall not.’

The don strolled across to the horses and, retrieving his own, remounted. As the rest of his servants followed suit he glanced once more at the newly wed couple. Then he turned his horse’s head and rode away with his men.

For a moment the quartet in front of the church watched them go. Then several more moments passed in awkward silence. Offering congratulations to the newly married couple didn’t seem appropriate in the circumstances and yet, in the light of what had just happened, all other topics seemed irrelevant. It was Harry who eventually solved the dilemma.

‘It’s getting late. We’ll find an inn and stay there tonight. Jack, why don’t you and Concha go and seek out somewhere suitable?’

Clearly relieved at having something to do, Jack nodded. ‘Right away, my lord.’

He and Concha exchanged glances and then hurried off. Elena watched them depart and then turned to Harry.

‘I don’t know how I can begin to apologise to you.’

He surveyed her steadily. ‘It is not you who should apologise.’

‘I dragged you into this business and, but for me, you would still be a free man.’

‘But for you I might have been a dead man.’