Page 25 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
To her surprise, Lisandro nodded. “Yes, my forebears did wrong. But from the sounds of it, I think you have been told a different version of the story to the one I know. So, let you and I make a deal, Maria. If we make it back to Spain in one piece, I will tell you the whole tale of the feud. And when you have heard it, you can ask your father if what I have said is true.”
She didn’t like the way he spoke about the row between the two families. He seemed to take it far too lightly.
If you had any idea as to how many times, we have toasted the destruction of the dukes of Tolosa, you wouldn’t think it so amusing.
“Maria, I simply want to return you home to your family. Only a man made of stone could have refused Diego when he came to Castle Tolosa, asking for my help. My reward, if freely given, would be your friendship. As to whether your father wishes to allow you and I to spend time together, I don’t think he is in a position to refuse. His honor and that of your brother are dependent on it.”
She turned to gaze out the window watching the view as it changed from crowded and dirty streets to open fields. Maria found herself fighting with a new and unexpected reality. She was fast discovering that not only was Lisandro brave, but he was a man in possession of a good heart.
Seeing her enemy as even more than a fair-weather friend went against all that she had been taught to believe. But if, as he suggested, there was another side to the feud, she owed it to herself to find out what it was.
It wouldn’t be the first time that a story had gotten legs and become a twisted version of itself as it grew into legend.
Perhaps she and Lisandro could find a way to become friends.
She glanced back at him once more. The interest he had stirred within her at their first meeting, flared up again and she didn’t attempt to resist. She didn’t want to fight it.
Perhaps they could become more.
Chapter Fifteen
At the end of a long day on the road, after a number of changes of horses, the coach pulled into the entrance of a country estate. The manor was set well back from the London to Portsmouth road. It would be difficult for anyone to try and hide if they sought to approach the house unseen.
As Maria stepped down from the carriage, she stretched her back and shoulders. Every muscle was tight. “Hopefully I will sleep tonight,” she said.
Lisandro met her gaze. “Didn’t you sleep well last night?”
Maria shook her head. The drugs had done their job while she had been held captive, but it would take time for her body to readjust to sleeping without them.
“Not very well. I am exhausted. I don’t expect I will get a solid night’s rest until I am safely back home in Spain.”
She could also privately admit to still not fully trusting her rescuers. The medallion from Diego had gone a long way to settling her fears, but until she could actually ask her brother what had been discussed between him and Lisandro, she would remain on her guard.
He talks of friendship, yet I feel that there is more to what he and Diego agreed.
Being constantly on edge frayed her nerves. She yearned to enjoy a long, restful sleep under the shade of one of the giant oak trees at her family’s home in Villabona. To wake and find her maid bringing her a refreshing glass of sangria.
I just want to be back in Spain.
Stephen and Gus climbed down from the top of the coach. While Gus led the horses around to the rear stables, Stephen headed toward the front door.
He rummaged around in his coat pocket for a key, then turned to the others. “I’m afraid this won’t be a warm meal and cheery fireside evening. I only employ a man to come up from the local village once a week to check on the place. Other than that, the house is usually empty.”
Maria’s heart sank. She had been looking forward to some hot food. But they would have to make do. This was just a one-night stop on the road to Portsmouth. On the road home.
“If you get yourselves inside and perhaps start a fire, I will ride into Witley and see what food and supplies I can rustle up for us. Hopefully, my estate keeper’s wife will have done some baking today,” said Stephen.
“Good idea,” replied Lisandro.
Stephen disappeared around the side of the small manor house, leaving Maria and Lisandro alone at the front door.
They exchanged a shy smile. Maria drew comfort from it. Considering that he stirred strange emotions within her, it was nice to know that Lisandro also felt somewhat awkward when they were alone. She was supposed to mistrust and dislike this man; instead, she found herself secretly longing to be with him.
I wonder if he also senses this odd tension between us. This magnetic pull.
When he held out his hand to her, Maria hesitated. They had spent the better part of the day sitting in silence in the coach. Lisandro had slept for most of that time while she had watched the green English countryside as it passed by.
He let out an obvious huff of frustration. “Since you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next couple of weeks, may I suggest that you consider lowering your guard.”
