To Capture a Duke's Heart (32 page)

“Yes, Your Grace,” Mavis replied in a quavering voice.  “I understand.”

He motioned with a flick of his fingers toward the door.  “Go.”

Mavis rose from her seat as Rafael unlocked and then opened the door.  Then stepping aside, he allowed her to exit the room before closing and relocking the door behind her.

As his brother then moved to take the seat that Mavis had just vacated, Michael joined them, sinking down upon the small settee positioned directly across from his and Rafael’s chairs; and for a time the sudden silence in the room seemed to hang over them all like a grim, deathly pall.

“Dear God, what have I done?” Gabriel uttered brokenly, breaking the heavy silence, his voice hoarse with raw, tortured emotion as he set his elbows upon his knees and dropped his head onto his hands. 

“Gabriel,” Michael said quietly, “there’s no way you could have known-”

“Don’t!” he ordered, cutting Michael off as he raised his head from his hands. “Do not offer excuses for what I have done, Michael, or attempt to lessen my guilt in any way, for you know as well as I that I am deserving of neither.”

“Gabe,” Rafael interjected, and then promptly fell silent as his brother turned to him with a stark, agonized expression.

“She
begged
me, Rafe,” Gabriel said raspingly, “with
tears
streaming down her face she told me that she loved me and pleaded with me to at least
consider
that she might be telling the truth.”  He closed his eyes, picturing Penelope’s desolate, tear-stained face in his mind. 
You really don’t know me at all, do you?
  “And I…I…” he broke off, unable to say the words.

“What do you intend to do, Gabe?” Michael asked after a time.

Meeting Michael’s questioning gaze, he struggled to collect himself.  “I’ll leave for London this afternoon,” he said, “and depart for Cornwall shortly thereafter.”

“And when you get there?”

“I am going to get down on my knees and beg for her forgiveness,” he replied somberly, “even though I know that I damn well don’t deserve it.”

Standing atop the grassy hilltop overlooking the small, coastal village of St Agnes and beyond to the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, Penny stood watching as the sun began its leisurely descent below the western horizon, much as she had on nearly every other evening since she’d arrived in Cornwall twenty-three days earlier.  And while the cool ocean breeze blowing in from across the water pinkened her nose and cheeks, gazing upon the brilliant vista was well worth braving the late-autumn chill, for it was truly a breathtaking sight.

Having never before been to the remote stretch of England’s southwestern coast, she hadn’t known what to expect, and had anticipated the worst actually as she’d made the long journey from Berkshire.  But alas, she had been pleasantly surprised by the striking, natural beauty of the area, as well as the delightfully-charming, three-story manor house which sat at the opposite end of the narrow footpath upon which she now stood.  For much like the encompassing landscape, the house, which was constructed of smooth weathered-stone in varying shades of grey and white and accented with a series of tall, mullioned-glass windows trimmed in black, reflected an effortless beauty perfectly suited to the plethora of low lying grasses that surrounded it and the abundant variety of colorful, late-blooming wildflowers sprinkled throughout.

And despite having briefly considered defying Gabriel’s demands, thinking for a time that she might return to Beckford Hall or perhaps travel to Paris, certain that both her father and her Aunt Catherine would have welcomed her into their homes with open arms, she was glad that she’d chosen to come here instead.  For although it was somewhat daunting to be so far removed from her family and friends, the peace and tranquility of her new home suited her present mood; and throughout the past weeks she had grown ever more confident that it would serve as an ideal location to spend the remainder of her confinement and a perfect setting in which to bring her baby into the world. 

The only thing that truly saddened her, of course, was knowing that Gabriel wouldn’t be there to share in the birth of their child, or worse yet, that he might never be a part of their child’s life.  But regrettably, she knew that there was little more she could do to convince him of the truth, and thus, could only hope that someday he would come to realize it for himself.  Just as she hoped that the passing of time would somehow serve to lessen the pain of her shattered heart.

_____

Gabriel’s journey to Cornwall had taken nearly three, agonizingly-long days; and by the time his coach had finally rolled through the sleepy little village of St Agnes and then slowly made its way up the winding road to where it had then stopped before the century-old manor house that sat atop the hill, he’d felt as if an eternity had passed.  But now, having been directed by the newly-hired butler to the rear of the property in his search for Penny, he was suddenly overcome with a fierce and agonizing sense of trepidation.  For as he stood there, scanning the surrounding hillside, his heart seemed to set upon a wild, chaotic rhythm within his chest, and for perhaps the first time in all of his twenty-six years, he understood the true meaning of fear.

Good lord, how could he possibly expect her to forgive him when he’d sent her away to this, he wondered, filled with a renewed sense of self-loathing?  Exiled to this remote, isolated setting to live alone, to give birth to her child,
their child
, without the support of a single friend or family member?  The mere thought nearly dropped him to his knees as bitter bile rose up in his throat.

But then, as he caught sight of Penelope just a few seconds later, her loose curls fanning out behind her like a fiery beacon as she stood off in the distance, gazing out across the ocean, his fear slowly gave way to a fierce, irresistible pull that compelled him forward and onto the narrow footpath a few feet in front of him; for despite it all, he had to at least try.

Catching a hint of movement from the corner of her eye, Penny turned her head, stunned to see Gabriel standing just a few yards away; and for one brief moment, her imprudent heart leapt at the sight of him.  But then, recalling herself in the very next instant, her sanity returned and her initial feeling of joy was replaced with a sudden sense of apprehension as she wondered what could have possibly prompted his unanticipated visit to Cornwall.

“Hello,” Gabriel said simply, his heart in his throat as he watched the changing emotions play across his wife’s beautiful face.

Penny opened her mouth and then promptly shut it, completely and utterly disconcerted by his presence; and for several long seconds all she could do was gaze back at him in uneasy silence.  Then, finding her voice at last she asked warily, “Why are you here?”

Noting the foreboding in Penelope’s tone was like a dagger to Gabriel’s heart; for sadly he knew that she had every reason to expect the worst.  “I’m here,” he began, “because I needed to tell you how deeply, deeply sorry that I am.  How sorry I am for hurting you, time and time again,” he continued earnestly, “and how very sorry I am that I couldn’t see the truth, even though it’s been there right in front of me, all along.”

Penny blinked in surprise, for that was assuredly the very last thing she had expected to hear.

“I’ve been such a damned fool, Penny,” Gabriel continued, his voice rough with emotion, “and even though I know that I have no right to ask for it, and that I certainly don’t deserve it, I have nonetheless come to plead for your forgiveness.”

Stunned, Penny shook her head in confusion, her mind urging caution despite her rapidly beating heart, afraid to truly believe what she was hearing.  “Why?” she questioned hesitantly.  “Why now?”

Gabriel eyed her regretfully, his expression a reflection of his utter shame and profound remorse.  “You were right about that night, Penny.”

Regarding him uncertainly, she waited for him to continue.

“We
were
both drugged that night, just like you thought.”

Drawing in a sudden, ragged breath, she uttered softly, “How can you possibly know that?”

“Because acting on a hunch, I questioned your stepmother’s maid.”

“You questioned Mavis?”  Penny’s brows drew together in bewilderment.  “But I don’t understand.  How would Mavis know anything about what happened that night?”

“She knew,” he told her, “because she aided your stepmother in her vile, addle-brained plan to get back at me for spurning her amorous advances, first by drugging the brandy in my bedchamber and the cup of warm chocolate she brought to you when you retired for the evening, and then by helping the countess get you out of your chamber and into mine.”

Maryanne’s plan?
  Penny’s eyes went wide in astonishment.  “And she thought to get back at you by… compelling you to marry me?” she queried, struggling to make any kind of sense from what he was telling her.

“According to her maid, she was convinced that I would
refuse
to marry you, believing,
as I did
,” he acknowledged ruefully, “that you had deliberately set out to force me to the altar.”

Penny could only shake her head in wordless confusion.

“Apparently she believed that not only would I have been forced to weather the ensuing scandal by refusing, but that I would have gained a powerful enemy in your father as well.  And while she would have effectively enacted her revenge upon me, you would have been made to suffer the consequences as well; your reputation ruined, barred from ever entering into Society and most likely sent away to France in disgrace to live with your aunt.”

“I see,” was all that Penny could manage as she endeavored to take in everything that Gabriel just had told her; for while she’d always known that her stepmother was spiteful and mean-spirited, she hadn’t imagined her capable of something so truly contemptible.

“I’m so very sorry, Penny.”

She nodded slightly, her expression solemn.

“Can you ever forgive me for doubting you?” he asked then, eyeing her uncertainly as he took a tentative step toward her.  

“There’s nothing to forgive, Gabriel,” she said quietly.  “For there is no way you could have possibly known that my own stepmother had orchestrated such a nefarious scheme, and clearly you were just as much a victim as I.”

“If only that were true,” he stated dolefully, his tone laced with regret.  “But you and I both know that what I have done…” he broke off, struggling against the sudden tightness in his chest, “
what I have done to you
,” he started again, shaking his head desolately, “is far worse than anything your stepmother ever did.  Because I should have known better, I should have known
you
.”

Penny swallowed, fighting against the lump rising within her throat as she noted the sudden moisture in Gabriel’s eyes.

“And the child, our child…” he trailed off, his voice breaking as he looked down at her stomach.  “Dear God, that night… how could I have…”

“It’s not your fault,” she said softly.

“Perhaps, perhaps not.  But the way I treated you…” he shook his head dolefully.  “There’s no excuse for-”

“Gabriel, don’t,” she said, her own voice cracking.

He took another step toward her. “I’m so incredibly sorry for hurting you, Penny, more so than I could ever hope to put into words.  And though I know I don’t deserve it, that I don’t deserve
you
, I promise you that if you can somehow find it in your heart to give me another chance I will spend the remainder of my days doing everything in my power to make it up to you.” Standing there then, his heart constricting in fear, he watched her face, wondering desperately if he was too late, if he had hurt her too deeply, if he had lost her forever?

Oh my love
, Penny thought, for the depth of his emotion was clearly reflected in the pain and sorrow of his humble gaze.  And in that moment she knew.  “Why did you give me the music box, Gabriel?” she asked in a choked whisper, as tears stung the backs of her own eyes.

He smiled tenderly.  “Because I love you, Penny,” he avowed.  “Because I have always loved you; and though my foolish, damnable pride wouldn’t allow me to admit it, not even to myself, the
truth is that you captured my heart the very day that I met you.”

For one seemingly endless moment they simply stared into each other’s eyes, and then, in the very next instant Penny was in his arms.  “I love you, Gabriel, more so than I could ever hope to put into words,” she professed, repeating the words he’d spoken to her just seconds before, as tears of joy began to roll slowly down her cheeks.

Standing unnoticed in the doorway of their bedchamber, Penny couldn’t help but smile at the sight that greeted her.  “I don’t know why we bothered to hire a nursemaid,” she said teasingly as she stepped into the room, “for you have scarce let the poor woman so much as hold your son since the day she arrived.”

Glancing up from the blanket-wrapped bundle in his arms, Gabriel met her affectionate gaze with an unabashed grin.  “I am taking every advantage of the time I have,” he responded unashamedly, “for once my mother arrives, you and I will doubtless be fortunate if we’re allowed to hold him ourselves.”

“Considering that my father rarely allowed his treasured grandson out of his arms for more than a few moments during his visit, I fear that you may be right,” Penny replied with a look of mock trepidation. 

Truth be told, however, it had been a most delightful visit, for while Charlie had accompanied their father to Ainsworth Park, eager to meet his new nephew, her loathsome stepmother had been notably absent from the festivities.  For once Maryanne’s duplicity had been revealed she had been summarily exiled from Beckford Hall and sent to live with her widowed aunt in the elderly woman’s modest cottage in the remote hamlet of Blackpool, far removed from both the entertainments of London and the pampered lifestyle she had previously enjoyed.

“Indeed.  And it’s not as if the situation wasn’t bad enough already,” Gabriel continued to grumble as Penny moved toward him from across the room, his expression endearingly aggrieved, “for even now we are forced to all but wrestle the lad from his doting uncles’ arms whenever Rafael and Michael are about.”

Stopping beside the chair upon which Gabriel sat, near the warmth of the fire, Penny did her best to hide her amusement as she reached to gently smooth one of their month-old son’s soft, inky black curls from his forehead.  For while Gabriel’s claim was in fact only a
slight
exaggeration, she couldn’t be more pleased to know that their son was so well-loved.  “I still cannot believe how much he resembles you,” she murmured, looking down upon the baby’s beautiful, angelic-looking features.

“Jealous are you?” Gabriel queried with a playful arch of his brow.

“Perhaps just a little,” she said, though in all honesty she was beyond thrilled that their son had inherited the bulk of his father’s features, including his glorious, uniquely-colored green eyes; for whenever she looked upon her son’s sweet, beloved face, she saw Gabriel reflected there as well.

“Never fear, my love; for if our son is
truly
fortunate, and I have every confidence that he is, in addition to his father’s
extraordinary
good looks,” he began with a rakish grin, “he will doubtless have inherited his mother’s remarkably generous, kindhearted, loving, intelligent and delightfully unique nature,” he continued, gazing up at her through adoring eyes.

“Thank you,” Penny replied softly, as she leaned down to place a light, tender kiss upon her husband’s lips.

“By the way,” he asked as she moved to rest her head against his, and then reached to trace her finger gently along the curve of their son’s cheek, “have I told you how much I love you?”

Penny felt her heart give a tiny flutter.  “Not since this morning.”

“Not since then?” he remarked in surprise.  “Surely that cannot be true.”

Hiding her smile against his hair, she emitted a woeful sigh.  “Alas, I’m afraid that it is.”

“Well in that case,” he said, his voice taking on a low, seductive timbre, “perhaps we should put our son to bed, for I shall most definitely need to devote the remainder of the evening to making amends for such a grievous oversight.”

“Yes, I think perhaps we should,” Penny agreed, feeling an intoxicating shiver of desire race along the length of her spine.  Then, lifting the baby from Gabriel’s arms, she carried him across the room, placing a soft, feather-light kiss upon his cheek before laying him gently within his bassinet. 

“Sweet dreams, my love,” she whispered, as she gazed down lovingly upon their son, Ariel Edward Charles Ashcroft, the newest and most cherished addition to the Ashcroft Angels.