Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

J ulian judged that they had remained at the old forest house for three hours. In the sequestered glade, they had behaved as though there were no possible consequences to their actions. It was as though they were woodland sprites from a long-forgotten fable, cavorting in the depths of the forest. Sprites of ancient fertility rites. He was amazed at his own lack of restraint and at Ester's.

He thought of the accusation which Kingsley had leveled at her, or would if he were not silenced. He would point to her willingness to give herself to Julian as proof that he had not forced himself on her. Yet Julian found such thoughts repugnant. To him, Ester's essence, her very being, shimmered with an untarnished purity, an innocence that only magnified in the wake of her trials. She was a soul too gentle to bear the scars of scandal, a creature of light faltering under a weight no tender heart should endure. It was not just comfort she sought in his arms but a respite from a storm that threatened to rend her very fabric.

Presently, they dressed, mutually acknowledging that this period in which time seemed to stand still must eventually come to an end. They must return to face their issues. Face those who would drag them down.

Julian assisted Ester with the buttons of her dress, his fingers brushing against her skin as she lifted her lush hair, exposing the nape of her neck to the cool forest air.

"We have to assume that Kingsley has, by now, returned to Theydon Mount, his search proving fruitless. His man too, I would imagine. He may well take the opportunity to plant the cameo in the rooms you were given," Julian murmured as he focused.

He was horrified at the ease with which he could say such things but he would not shy away from the calumny of the man he had regarded as a friend. His mind was made up. He had looked into Ester's eyes and glimpsed her soul. It was not the soul of a thief or a seducer.

"It should not be difficult to smuggle you back into the castle. There are many secluded doors and hidden entrances and the forest will provide additional cover."

"But what then?" Ester's voice was a nervous whisper, as her body shivered with each touch of his finger.

"I will confront him, give him the money he so desperately desires. It will form the liquidation of our partnership and his portion from our shared ventures."

With her gown buttoned up, she spun to face him. Moonlight caught the hint of fear within her eyes. "But what if he refuses the offer?"

"He will accept," Julian stated, his confidence unshaken. "If he is indeed in debt, then the amount the liquidation of our partnership will yield will be far more than his blackmail request. Kingsley was always one to be blinded by gold."

Ester nodded, her fingers twisting a fold of her gown. "I am… I am not at ease with the notion of being the one to sever your kinship. It feels like yet more damage wrought on others by my actions."

Julian cupped her face, tilting it gently to meet his eyes, then kissed her. "Ester, it is not you. It is he who has behaved as a detestable scoundrel and sown these seeds of betrayal. And he shall answer for it."

Ester bit her lip, then nodded timidly.

She proceeded to show Julian how she had entered the house, not by the dangerous staircase but a slope of broken brick that had formed when a wall had collapsed outward into the forest. Julian led the way, offering his hand for her to grasp, admiring her courage that she had dared such a path before.

Reaching the clearing, his steed, Rufus, grazed quietly. Julian assisted Ester onto the old tree stump, lifting her gently onto Rufus' back. Arranging her before him in a side-saddle fashion, she leaned into his embrace as he wrapped one arm securely around her, reins in the other hand. Together, they set off, Rufus treading softly through the underbrush.

They had climbed to the top of the hill and the castle was occasionally visible between the trees in the distance before Julian realized that he had left his gloves behind in the ruined house. He immediately made to turn Rufus and return but Ester took his hands.

"Let them be, Julian," she urged. "Place your trust in me. I am here, and I am well. You have no further need of them."

"But it is not so simple," Julian confessed, a shadow of anguish crossing his face. "I want to. I want to be free of this burden. But my father was a learned man with a great deal of ancient and esoteric knowledge. Growing up in Windermere, I saw and heard things that I cannot explain."

"Your father was wrong," Ester countered fiercely, "he condemned a child to a life of torment for reasons that I cannot even begin to guess at. And I stand before you as proof of his error."

Julian's gaze drifted to the dark embrace of the forest, his hands feeling oddly bare without the gloves. He felt vulnerable, as though his uncovered hands might unleash some latent peril upon the horse beneath him, or the ancient trees they passed. Yet, Ester was living and vital. Her life force was undiminished. The fever had left her and perhaps it was truly nothing more than a head cold brought about by the nighttime immersion in the freezing water of the Theydon Mere.

At last, he nodded, steering Rufus back towards the castle, his resolve settling like dust after turmoil. Ester put her hands over his where they lay on the reins, making a point of keeping contact with him. Julian prayed that she was not mistaken, that her faith in him was justified.

The castle loomed larger between the trees, and soon, Rufus was walking along the remnants of man-made paths, having passed into what had once been gardens. When they reached an ivy-covered wall of ochre brick, Julian dismounted and helped Ester to do the same. With her hand clasped gently in his own, he led her along the wall, Rufus in tow, until they came to a set of mossy stone steps. They descended to a grassy sward at the foot of one of the castle's corner towers. The tower was reinforced by tall, stone buttresses, and in between two of these was a door. Julian knew it was there, though he could not see it.

For a moment, he watched the many windows of the castle above them.

"I chose this door because of the windows that overlook this spot of the grounds, most of them are disused and locked rooms. That row up there to the left is the end of the guest's wing where Crammond will have assigned rooms for Kingsley and his man as the search continues. Should they chance to wander the corridor and glance out, they might see us. But it is unlikely. I am cursing the lack of household staff. If I had a proper staff, I could simply put you in a trap and have a stableman drive you to Loughton Grange. Alas, I must press Crammond into service as coachman until better arrangements emerge. For now, I will set you up in one of those disused rooms. You will be safe from Kingsley there. I will leave you the key so you might secure yourself within."

Ester swallowed and nodded, licking her lips. She looked nervous, even a little frightened. Her fingers squeezed his and she gave him a tight smile. He realized that she was trying to comfort him, watching the trepidation that he had no doubt was on his own face.

"This is madness. I am having to sneak about in my own domain to avoid Kingsley's presence. He should be the one in hiding," Julian scoffed.

"He should, and maybe when he realizes that you know the truth, he will be afraid. It seems that he holds all the power at the moment. He knows I am trying to protect my father and my family's reputation. And he knows he can destroy both with the wrong word," Ester replied.

"I know," Julian muttered, "it is simply unjust."

Ester looked into his face searchingly. "Is it too much? I would understand if it was. I am asking you to cut off your oldest friend, disrupt your business. All for a woman you hardly know."

Julian barked a laugh. "Do not talk me out of it, Ester."

When he noticed guilt wash over her expression, he sobered, looking into her eyes.

"You have not asked me for anything other than to be allowed to leave Theydon Mount with your father's money. This course of action is my decision and I would make the same decision again a thousand times. I feel a fool and I can hear Doctor Hakesmere's voice in my head telling me so. He was ever the pragmatist. You are right. I hardly know you. And you hardly know me. But I do not think it matters. Because something had drawn us together more than the usual trivia that two people look for when deciding on a match. I cannot explain it but I am a child of a mystic and learned long ago that there is much in the world that cannot be explained. I do not try to. I accept... Particularly when the mystery seems to be so favorable."

He grinned boyishly and his reward was immediate as a smile bloomed across Ester's lips. When relief from her worries peeked out, it shone like rays of the brightest sunshine. Her joy suffused every inch of her, casting a radiant glow that Julian thought only the divine could possess. A sense of gladness blossomed in his heart, that he had been able to bring forth such a smile. That he had been able to lift the burden from her shoulders, even if only for a fleeting moment.

"So, let us be reckless together and enjoy it while we may," Ester added, her smile unwavering. "I am sure that the world will force us to responsibility and proper behavior soon enough."

Julian laughed. There was no doubt that he felt lighter when he was in Ester's presence. It made him realize how much weight he had been carrying for his entire life. For so long that the burden had become unnoticed. That is until it was temporarily lifted from his shoulders.

That thought brought him back to the real world. He looked down at his bare hands, wondering if he dared to challenge the curse further. He could not risk innocent lives simply to prove a point. Crammond, Molly, even old Mrs. Grypes. If he touched them and they subsequently died, the guilt would be a raging forest fire within him that would consume him utterly.

The sudden, unexpected warmth of Ester's touch startled him from his reverie. She took his hands in her own, and pressed them against her breast, directly above her heart.

"I promise you, Julian. There is no curse."

In answer, Julian captured her lips in a brief but fervent kiss, the taste of her lingering as he squeezed her hand. Then, with a quick glance around the corner, he flashed her a roguish grin. "Come on. Now or never," he whispered, leading her down the steps toward the secluded door.

They slipped inside, the air turning cooler as they ascended a set of stone steps lined with a black, wrought-iron handrail. The passage opened into a cold, tiled corridor, several storerooms lining its length. Their footsteps echoed off the walls, blending with the hush of the castle around them.

"This corridor eventually descends to the cellars," Julian explained in a hushed tone. "My wine cellar is down there, but Crammond has already brought up enough wine for seven dinners, and it is only he who ever ventures down..." He trailed off, his attention snapping to a sound rising from the darkened stone archway ahead.

Beyond, the arch stone steps descended into darkness. The unmistakable rustle of movement reached them, followed by the warm glow of an approaching lamp.

"Hide!" Julian reacted instantly, pulling Ester into the shadows, pressing her back against the cool stone, concealing her just beyond the arch.

Then, he descended the steps, making no attempts to hide.

At the bottom, the vaulted chambers stretched out before him, lined with racks of dusty wine bottles. The air was chill and dry, tinged with the scent of aged wood and cork. His eyes settled on the figure standing amidst the shadows—Kingsley's servant, Harper.

"Your Grace… you have returned," Harper said, holding the lamp aloft, its light casting long shadows against the walls.

"I have, just," Julian replied coolly, his gaze narrowing. "You have evidently been back for longer. Long enough to indulge in a perusal of my wine cellar. My man, Crammond, knows the contents of the cellar like the back of his hand. You could have simply asked and spared yourself the dust."

"I have a fondness for the grape, and his lordship recommended your cellar," Harper grinned childishly.

"Oh, he did, did he," Julian murmured at the man's audacity.

"Pardon, Your Grace?"

Smoothly, he donned his best smile. "Ah, might I ask, how did the search fare?"

"Regrettably, we found nothing," Harper admitted with a grim set to his lips. "His lordship has ridden to the village to inform the magistrate, ensuring that the name of the miscreant is duly reported. He believes action will be taken more swiftly if the orders come from him personally."

"And you are not accompanying him because?" Julian asked, one brow arching.

"Ah. I was instructed to return here to appraise Your Grace of the current status of our pursuit. I am confident the thief will be clapped in irons by nightfall," Harper replied, tone filled with certainty. His eyes drifted downward, catching sight of Julian's bare hands. Julian, noticing the glance, casually tucked them behind his back.

"Well, I have done so. I will take my leave, Your Grace. Maybe I will meet his lordship on the road."

"Nonsense. You are fond of the grape!" Julian exclaimed, making every effort to keep the wryness from his tone. "Take your time and select any bottle you wish. I confess, my knowledge of wine is not what is expected from a gentleman. I grew up in a modest house where the ale was home-brewed and wine a rarity. Please."

Julian indicated the rows of bottles and stepped back, indicating that Harper was free to continue. Harper bowed.

"That is most generous. I can assure Your Grace that I will not take your invitation literally. There are many bottles worth as much as this house without any exaggeration. I will select a modest port, I think."

"As you wish," Julian forced a smile.

It felt unnatural, as did the attempt at small talk. He was unused to conversations with anyone that were not entirely pragmatic. There had been long talks with Crammond over the years, over firelight and good ale. But since becoming Duke, their relationship had changed, Crammond maintaining a distance as he felt appropriate. There had been no one else that Julian would wish to or know how to talk to at length.

He turned away and ascended the steps once more. Initially, he walked past Ester, allowing her to follow him but not stopping in case Harper was watching or listening. When they were out of earshot along the corridor, he turned to her.

"Did you hear that?" he asked.

"I did," Ester whispered.

"I wanted to throw him out by the scruff of his neck. Sniffing around my cellars like he owns them. The nerve of the man," Julian raged in a hushed voice, "but at least Kingsley is not here yet. He will get short shrift from the magistrate when he asks for the arrest of a village girl named Emily Granger. I hope there is no such person."