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Then,Isabel saw Nora coming up from the kitchen, and rose to meet her, hoping to getsome information about the guest.
Noraasked, “Have the new guests arrived?”
“Aye,Nora. The Duke, Niles, is here. Do you know if the Lord was expecting him?”Isabel asked, hoping she had kept the distress she was feeling, out of hervoice.
“Actually,Niles is the Lord's cousin, Me Lady. I have not heard, or seen anything of ‘im,since right after His Lordship, and Lady Esme, both disappeared,” Noraexplained. “I believe ‘e was helping His Lordship, by spying on Avery. The Dukesent ‘im a message, but he was not around to receive it.”
“Doyou recall what the message was?” Isabel asked, trying not to sound toointerested.
“Aye. Itwas something about a bit of fluff, Avery was trying to pedal, that the Dukehoped he ‘ad sent ru
“Well,Brant has taken him into the receiving room, so I do not know if he will bestaying,” Isabel said, as calmly as she could.
Shemoved away from the housekeeper, who continued on her way, to check on the newguest. As Nora tapped on the receiving room door, Isabel retrieved her son fromthe cradle, and took the child upstairs. She had been informed that Niles wasback from Normandy, but she had been hoping, he would stay away from hiscousin.
Whilehis wife was heading upstairs, Brant was questioning his cousin, Niles, aboutwhat had happened with him, Avery, and Isabel.
“Asyou will recall, I was playing the debaucher with Avery, so he would let hisguard down, right?” Niles paused, until Brant nodded. He then continued, “Averysaid he had an alliance with the girl’s father, and was helping arrange astrategic betrothal. He claimed Isabel was one and eight, and a prime piece.She certainly was the latter.”
“Shewas only one and six,” Brant interjected.
“Wellthat explains some of it. I had never seen the Lady at Court, or any otherfunction of the gentry. The girl would have been paraded everywhere to find ahusband, unless her family was lowborn, or of ill repute. It did not occur tome, that she might be younger. Even in debauchery, my position would not allowme to fiddle with a girl that young. Avery must have realized that,” Nilesexplained, attempting to defend his actions.
Brantnoted the supreme effort Niles was making, to gloss over his actions. Hiscousin really was not saying anything pertinent, to what actually transpired.Niles appeared to be implying, that he felt his actions were necessary. Whileat the same time, avoiding being specific about what those actions were.
“Exactlywhat happened, Niles,” Brant asked. “I know it upset Isabel, quite badly. Shetold her maid if she ever saw you, again, she was going to slit your throat, orcastrate you.”
“Shesounds dangerous. You will protect me, will you not, cousin?” Niles asked,flippantly.
Whenhe received a stern look from Brant, Niles reluctantly continued, in a muchmore serious tone, “Anyway, Avery took me up to the girl’s room, and orderedher serf to leave. She had her head covered, so Avery tried to pull the manteloff, so I could see her. The girl kicked him, and then yelled at us to get out.Avery slipped a rope around one of her hands, and she elbowed him in the gut.So he put the rope around the bedpost and tied her other hand, just so shecould not hit him, again. She was still yelling at us to get out, so hethreatened to gag her. Though she did lower her voice, she continued toverbally defile him. Twas Avery taking down her braids, so I could get a lookat her. I was really in a spot, with the roll I was playing, and him expectingme to look the girl over. So I moved up in front of her, and she startedreviling me. Isabel is quite attractive, and I must admit that by that time mylittle soldier was at attention. To my shame, I acted the debaucher I wasplaying, and undid my laces, so she could see what she was doing to me. Then,she called me a disgusting pig. Somehow, I could not resist brushing a finger acrossthe exposed side of her breast, thinking to scare her. She is quite bold. Thegirl just called me a disgusting little man, and spit at me.”
Nilespaused, trying to judge Brant’s mood, but his cousin revealed nothing. Hemerely motioned to Niles, to continue his story.
“Iam sorry to say I lost my temper, and slapped the girl. Realizing that thingswere getting out of hand, I told Avery I had seen enough. After that we movedto the side, and discussed what he had in mind for the girl. I told him I wasdue to leave for Normandy for a few months, so any arrangements, would have towait until my return. That was when he mentioned having a plan to kidnap hisenemy's sister, to draw him out. That was why I sent you word, to guard Esme.With our talk done, Avery cut the rope on the girl, and I told her I hoped tosee her again, in a few months, as we left the room.” After another shortpause, Niles said, “My actions were quite awful, with Isabel. I can only pleadthat it seemed appropriate, with the roll I was playing.”
Hedid not tell his cousin, that had it not been for Avery, Niles might very wellhave forced himself on the girl.
DuringNiles lengthy explanation of his encounter with Isabel, Brant observed that he continuallyemphasized Avery's poor treatment of the Lady. At the same time, Niles tried todownplay his own behavior, as largely necessary to maintain his cover, so hecould spy for Brant. Somehow, his efforts to minimize what he had done, left Brant questioning his cousin's character. Whilehis high position in society, required that Brant show Niles some deference, hecould not shake the feeling that Niles was someone he needed to watch. Brant'ssire had never totally trusted Niles' father, for some reason he would notexplain, and now, Brant was suspicious of the son.
Tryingnot to give any indication of his doubts about Niles, Brant said, "If youwere not my cousin, who was spying for me at the time, this would be an easymatter. I could just kill you." He paused for affect, thencontinued, "You really shook Isabel up, and now she is my wife. Now I knowwhy she dislikes you so. But since I ca
"Ido not know," Niles replied. "At the time, it seemed benign. When Iran in to Richard, with Lady A
Hepaused, trying to look properly embarrassed. Niles was hoping Brant wouldaccept his explanation as sincere, and let him off the hook, but his cousinsaid nothing. After a short time, the silence was becoming awkward.
Nilescontinued, "I treated the sole heiress to a huge fortune, like some dockside strumpet. I know full well, my appalling behavior could destroy thereputation of my whole family, if the story gets out."
“Ithink the first thing, is to talk to Isabel. I doubt that your being my cousin,is going to endear me to her,” Brant said.
“Howdid you manage to wed the girl, anyway?” Niles asked. “How did she get awayfrom Avery?”
“Letus just say, Richard arranged it,” Brant answered.
“Averyseemed quite taken with the girl. Was she actually a virgin, as he said?” Nilesasked.
“Shewas,” Brant answered, wondering why Niles was so interested. “Now she is mywife, and mother to my son."
"Youmust be quite pleased, with the lad," Niles said.
“Aye,I am,” Brant replied. “Nora should be back shortly, with some refreshment.”
“Rightnow, I could use some strong spirits. This is a nightmare,” Niles replied.