ensure the Beldersert lands remained intact, but surely selling your
soul for the promise of land was an act of pure greed?
He had talked of regret at the death of Lazarus’ boy so she had to
conclude he had some conscience. How could he bring himself to carry out these
sins in the name of duty? The more she observed him, the more perplexed she
became and she found herself anxious to know the truth.
Drifting back from the group of women, she moved towards the roaring
fire, watching the flames leap and flicker, mimicking the movements of the
merry dancers making their way across the Great Hall. Glancing around she
wondered if she would be able to escape without anyone taking notice but she
had noticed Tibald’s eyes on her on more than one
occasion and she knew she would be missed.
A chill swept through her. She could sense him before she saw him,
moving through the crowd of people towards her as if stalking a prey. He came
up behind her, a dark presence looming in the corner of her vision. She didn’t
turn to him, a sensation akin to fear preventing her from meeting his
penetrating stare. A shudder dashed through her as he spoke, his breath
caressing her ear as he leaned in to speak to her through the rowdy din of the
hall.
“Are you enjoying yourself Evelyn?”
“Does it seem that I am?” A wry smile touched her lips and she turned
to meet his gaze.
“You are most practiced at appearing so, it seems.” Gabriel’s eyes
crinkled in a half smile of amusement.
“I am a woman; it is our duty to appear happy in the company of
boorish men. I believe I am not the only one practiced in the art of
deception.” She gave him a knowing look.
“You believe me to be a liar?”
“Nay, not a liar but I think you as capable of deception as I am.”
“I know not how to deceive as a woman does.”
“And yet you are but a riddle to me, Sir. With one hand you will slay
and burn and with the other you will save and protect. Tell me, which of these
is the true Gabriel of Merston ?”
He bore down upon her, his eyes darkening. “Why do you wish to know?”
She studied him, undeterred by his piercing look. “I know not.”
“Does it please you to believe that I am playacting? That my actions
that you so deeply disapprove of are merely a ruse?”
“Please me? If your actions were part of a ruse then I would think it a
vile trick indeed. I think you capable of many things, but a ruse…? Nay.”
“Then mayhap, my lady, the only one here being deceived is yourself . I can offer no excuses for my deeds but that I
performed them in the line of duty.”
“You will continue to defend your misdeeds by way of duty?”
“Defend? Nay, I offer no such defence, I cannot excuse the inexcusable.
I simply offer explanation. I suspect such a justification to be deficient for
you, my lady, but here you have the truth.”
Evelyn looked at him in surprise, whilst Gabriel had never openly lied
to her, his brutal honesty and the admission of his guilt was far more than she
had expected.
He gave her a mocking smile when she answered him with nothing but
silence. “I fear mayhap the truth is a little hard for you to endure, my lady.”
Shaking her head and then tilting it, she studied him. “You have
little knowledge of my endurance; I assure you there is much I can bear, even
the truths that you keep so deeply hidden.”
“You would be wise to hasten your curiosity, Evelyn, lest you regret
the answers you may receive.”
“Are you trying to scare me, Gabriel?”
“Do I scare you?”
A look crossed his face, a confusing mixture of hope and anxiety and
Evelyn realised once more how difficult this man was to read. Jolting her out
of her reverie, he held out his hand.
“I will save you from answering as I fear your response will pain us
both.” He looked around the dancers jostling for space. “Will you not join me
in a dance?”
Before she was aware of what she had done, she took his hand. His
callused touch put her
soul for the promise of land was an act of pure greed?
He had talked of regret at the death of Lazarus’ boy so she had to
conclude he had some conscience. How could he bring himself to carry out these
sins in the name of duty? The more she observed him, the more perplexed she
became and she found herself anxious to know the truth.
Drifting back from the group of women, she moved towards the roaring
fire, watching the flames leap and flicker, mimicking the movements of the
merry dancers making their way across the Great Hall. Glancing around she
wondered if she would be able to escape without anyone taking notice but she
had noticed Tibald’s eyes on her on more than one
occasion and she knew she would be missed.
A chill swept through her. She could sense him before she saw him,
moving through the crowd of people towards her as if stalking a prey. He came
up behind her, a dark presence looming in the corner of her vision. She didn’t
turn to him, a sensation akin to fear preventing her from meeting his
penetrating stare. A shudder dashed through her as he spoke, his breath
caressing her ear as he leaned in to speak to her through the rowdy din of the
hall.
“Are you enjoying yourself Evelyn?”
“Does it seem that I am?” A wry smile touched her lips and she turned
to meet his gaze.
“You are most practiced at appearing so, it seems.” Gabriel’s eyes
crinkled in a half smile of amusement.
“I am a woman; it is our duty to appear happy in the company of
boorish men. I believe I am not the only one practiced in the art of
deception.” She gave him a knowing look.
“You believe me to be a liar?”
“Nay, not a liar but I think you as capable of deception as I am.”
“I know not how to deceive as a woman does.”
“And yet you are but a riddle to me, Sir. With one hand you will slay
and burn and with the other you will save and protect. Tell me, which of these
is the true Gabriel of Merston ?”
He bore down upon her, his eyes darkening. “Why do you wish to know?”
She studied him, undeterred by his piercing look. “I know not.”
“Does it please you to believe that I am playacting? That my actions
that you so deeply disapprove of are merely a ruse?”
“Please me? If your actions were part of a ruse then I would think it a
vile trick indeed. I think you capable of many things, but a ruse…? Nay.”
“Then mayhap, my lady, the only one here being deceived is yourself . I can offer no excuses for my deeds but that I
performed them in the line of duty.”
“You will continue to defend your misdeeds by way of duty?”
“Defend? Nay, I offer no such defence, I cannot excuse the inexcusable.
I simply offer explanation. I suspect such a justification to be deficient for
you, my lady, but here you have the truth.”
Evelyn looked at him in surprise, whilst Gabriel had never openly lied
to her, his brutal honesty and the admission of his guilt was far more than she
had expected.
He gave her a mocking smile when she answered him with nothing but
silence. “I fear mayhap the truth is a little hard for you to endure, my lady.”
Shaking her head and then tilting it, she studied him. “You have
little knowledge of my endurance; I assure you there is much I can bear, even
the truths that you keep so deeply hidden.”
“You would be wise to hasten your curiosity, Evelyn, lest you regret
the answers you may receive.”
“Are you trying to scare me, Gabriel?”
“Do I scare you?”
A look crossed his face, a confusing mixture of hope and anxiety and
Evelyn realised once more how difficult this man was to read. Jolting her out
of her reverie, he held out his hand.
“I will save you from answering as I fear your response will pain us
both.” He looked around the dancers jostling for space. “Will you not join me
in a dance?”
Before she was aware of what she had done, she took his hand. His
callused touch put her
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