Page 22 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
Lisandro and Harry were standing side by side next to the fire, warming themselves. It might have been autumn in England, but it was much colder than Spain. Why anyone voluntarily lived in this chilly country was beyond him.
Harry’s wife, Alice, had kindly provided Maria with a fashionable warm gown and shawl, along with woolen stockings and a small case containing ribbons and a hairbrush. Lisandro was pleased to know that people who had never even met Maria were still keen to make her feel cared for and comfortable.
The door to the main room opened and Stephen stepped through, followed by young Toby. The boy always seemed to be trailing close behind his guardian. They quickly started clearing plates and cups away.
When the table was free of breakfast dishes, Stephen turned to his young protégé. “Toby, make your introductions,” he said.
The boy slipped the cap from his head and came to stand in front of where Maria sat. He bowed low. Lisandro turned away, stifling a laugh as Toby counted to three a little too loudly before standing upright.
“Do . . .” Toby faltered, then glanced at Stephen. A patch of red appeared on each of his cheeks.
“Doña Maria. Remember to curl your tongue like we practiced,” said Stephen.
Toby tried again. “Don . . . ia Mari . . . a. I am Toby,” he said.
A smiling, Maria held out her hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Toby. I understand you played an important part in my rescue last night.”
The boy’s eyes went wide, as did his smile. He bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. “I saw you throw the food out the window. And I watched the dog eat it and fall asleep. I was the one who found you.”
Maria beckoned him forward. She kissed him softly on the cheek. “You did a wonderful job, Toby. I cannot begin to thank you enough for being so brave. When I get back to Spain, I promise to send you a reward.”
He immediately shook his head. “No. Your rescue was enough, Doña Maria.”
She glanced over at Lisandro, a questioning expression on her face.
“Sir Stephen is teaching Toby to be a gentleman. And a good man does not always seek payment for his gallant deeds,” he explained.
Toby shifted uneasily on his feet once more. His constant fidgeting was evidence that he would rather be anywhere else than there. Stephen placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. “Go and have some breakfast. And when you are finished, make sure you take some nice crispy bacon down to your new dog. Off you go. Good lad.”
The boy let out an audible sigh of relief and headed toward the kitchen.
When he was gone, Maria turned to Stephen. “Is he your son?”
“No. When I went to finalize my late father’s personal matters a little while ago, I found Toby at the old estate. I brought him back to London with me,” replied Stephen.
By-blows and bastards were not the sort of thing one discussed in front of a gently bred noblewoman. There were enough familiar features shared between Toby and Stephen for Lisandro to have come to the conclusion that they were likely half-brothers. From what he had discerned of Maria, she was no fool, and would probably also put two and two together.
Stephen pulled up a chair and took his place at the head of the table. Harry and Lisandro moved away from the fire. While Harry sat on the opposite side of him, Lisandro seated himself next to Maria.
“Now, we know the three in the house are dead. What we don’t know is if there is anyone else in London who was directly involved in the kidnapping,” Lisandro said.
Maria sat forward. “What about the woman? The one who used to feed me.”
Harry cleared his throat. “She received a visit from me late last night, and I took her back to the house in Queen Anne Street. Suffice to say, after having seen her accomplices, she decided to leave town and visit family in the country. I don’t expect she will return any time soon.”
Maria’s cheeks went a horrible gray. Lisandro shot Harry a disapproving look.Did you really need to tell her that? I am sure death is not the sort of thing she is used to discussing over her morning coffee.
“Good. She should be grateful you didn’t shoot her as well. I would have—given half the chance,” replied Maria. She met Lisandro’s gaze, and he was the one to blink. Maria de Elizondo was fast changing his opinion of her. Perhaps she hadn’t lived such a sheltered life after all. “Lisandro, you are mistaken if you think I have not seen violence. Or that my life has not been without tragedy.”
To his ever-growing worry, she then turned her attention to Gus. “Mister Jones, I take it your trips to Spain over the years were not simply to take in the vista. I know the English were heavily involved in my country during the war, and I don’t just mean in the battles of the Peninsular conflict. May I be frank with you?”
A clearly uncomfortable Gus gave a nod.
“Did you and your friends act as spies? Agents of the British Crown?”
“Hmm. I don’t think I can in all honesty tell you too much of what we did during the war against Napoleon.” He glanced toward Lisandro. “And when I say we, I include the Duke of Tolosa in that group.”
Maria barely flinched at the revelation, giving Lisandro even more cause for concern. How much did this woman know about his wartime activities?
