Gallant Waif Read online

  ISBN 0-373-29157-4 GALLANT WAIF

  First North American Publication 2001 Copyright © 1999 by Anne Gracie

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  Visit us at www.eHarlequin.com

  CLS 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Printed in U.S.A.

  Prologue

  Kent, England. Late summer, 1812.

  "No, no, Papa. I won't. You cannot make me!"

  "Please, my sweet, I beg of you. It will not take long and I fear he will take no notice of me."

  The tall dark-haired man waiting alone in the drawing-room reacted to the voices, which seemed to come from out­side. He turned sharply and let out a soft expletive, his face tensed in pain. Moving more cautiously, he flexed his leg carefully, supporting himself with his cane. His sudden pallor gradually disappeared as the pain ebbed slowly away.

  He glanced towards the sound of the voices and swal­lowed, tugging nervously at his cravat, thus ruining the effect that he'd taken hours to achieve. His clothes were of the finest quality, although somewhat out of date; they seemed to have been tailored for a slightly larger gentleman, for the coat that should have fitted snugly was loose everywhere ex­cept across the shoulders. The gentleman himself was rather striking to behold as he stood staring blankly out of the win­dow, tall, broad-shouldered and darkly handsome, yet thin, almost to the point of gauntness.

  Jack Carstairs had done enough waiting. It had been bad enough being closed up in a carriage for hours upon end to get here...then to be left closeted in the front parlour for almost half an hour was too much for a man who'd spent the last three years out of doors, commanding troops under Wel­lington on the Peninsula. He opened the French doors on to the terrace and stepped outside into the cool, fresh air, and was immediately rewarded by the sweet, melodic tones of his beloved.

  Jack stepped forward impatiently. Three years, and now the waiting was at an end. In just minutes he would hold her in his arms again, and the nightmare would be over. He limped eagerly towards the sound of the voices coming from the open French windows further along the terrace.

  "No, Papa, you must tell him. I do not wish to see him." Julia's voice was petulant, sulky. Jack had never heard it so before.

  "Now, now, my dear, I will speak to him and put him right, never fear, but you must see that it is necessary for you to at least come with me, for you know he will not believe me otherwise."

  Jack froze. He had received a letter full of sweetness and love from Julia, only a month ago, just before he was wounded. It was in the same batch of letters that had told him of his father's death. Months after the event, as was all mail received on the Peninsula.

  The lovely, well-remembered voice became more petulant, almost childish. "I don't want to see him, I don't. He's changed, I know, I saw him from the window."

  Her father's voice was coaxing. He'd always been wax in the hands of his beautiful daughter, but for once he was standing relatively firm. "Well, now, my dear, you have to expect that. After all, he has been at war and war changes a man."

  Julia made a small sound, which from anyone less exquisite would have been called a snort. "He . . . he's ugly now, Papa; his face is ruined."

  Unconsciously Jack fingered the harsh, still livid scar that bisected his cheek from temple to mouth.

  "And he can hardly even walk." Her voice grew soft and coaxing. "Please, Papa, do not make me speak to him. I cannot bear even to look at him, with his leg sticking out in that peculiar-looking way. It would have been better if he had died than to come back like that."

  "My dear!" Her father sounded shocked.

  "Oh, I know it seems hard," Julia continued, "but when I think of my beautiful Jack and how he is now I could weep. No, Papa, it's just not possible."

  "Are you sure, my dear?"

  "Of course I am sure. You told me yourself his father left him nothing. I cannot marry a pauper." She stamped her foot. "It makes me so angry to think of it—all that time wasted, waiting*. And, in any case, he can barely walk without falling over, so you can be very sure that he will never dance with me again as he used to. . ."

  Her voice tailed off as she recalled the magic moments she had spent on the dance floor, the cynosure of every eye, the envy of every other woman in the room. She stamped her foot again, angry at being deprived of all she had expected.

  "No, Papa, it is quite impossible! I am glad now that you would not allow us to announce the betrothal formally, though I thought you monstrous cruel at the time."

  Jack had heard enough. His face white and grim, he drew back the draperies which had concealed him and stepped into the room.

  "I think that says it all, does it not?" he said in a soft, deadly voice.

  There was a small flurry as the two absorbed what he might have heard. There was no telling how long he had been outside. Jack limped quietly to the door and pointedly held it open for Julia's father to make his exit.

  "I believe your presence is no longer required, Sir Phillip," he said. "If you would be so good as to leave us alone, sir?"

  Sir Phillip Davenport began to bluster. "Now see here, Carstairs, I won't be ordered about in my own house. I can see it must be a nasty shock for you, but you are no longer in a position to support my daugh—''

  "Thank you, sir." Jack cut across him. "I understand what you are saying, but I believe I am owed the courtesy of a few moments alone with my betrothed."

  The voice which had spent years commanding others had its usual effect. Julia's father began to look uncomfortable and took a few steps towards the door.

  "Oh, but. . ." Julia began.

  "As far as I am concerned our betrothal has not yet been dissolved and I believe I have the right to be told of it in person." Jack gestured again for her father to leave. Observ­ing that gentleman's hesitation and concern, his Up curled superciliously. He added silkily, "I assure you, Davenport, that, while I may be changed in many respects, I am still a gentleman. Your daughter is safe with me."

  Sir Phillip left, leaving his daughter looking embar-rassed and angry. There was a long moment of silence. Julia took a quick, graceful turn about the room, the swishing of her skirts the only sound in the room. The practised movements displayed, as they were meant to do, the lush, perfect body encased in the finest gown London could provide, the fash­ionable golden coiffure, the finely wrought jewellery encir­cling her smooth white neck and dimpled wrists. Finally Julia spoke.

  "I am sorry if you heard something that you didn't like, Jack, but you must know that eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves." She shrugged elegantly, glided to the window and stood gazing out, seemingly absorbed in the view of the fashionably landscaped garden beyond the ter­race.

  Jack's face was grim, the scar twisting down his cheek standing out fresh and livid against his pallor.

  "God damn it, Julia, the least you could have
done was told me to my face—what's left of it," he added bitterly. "It's partly because of you that I'm in this situation in the first place."

  She turned, her lovely mouth pouting with indignation. "Well, really, Jack, how can you blame me for what has happened to you?"

  His lips twisted sardonically and he shrugged, his powerful shoulders straining against the shabby, light, superfine coat.

  “Perhaps not directly. But when my father ordered me to end our betrothal you cast yourself into my arms and begged me to stand firm. Which of course I did."

  "But how was I to know that that horrid old man truly would disinherit you for disobeying him?"

  His voice was cool, his eyes cold. ''That horrid old man was my father, and I told you at the time he would."

  "But he doted on you! I was sure he was only bluff­ing. . . trying to make you dance to his tune."

  His voice was hard. "It's why I purchased a commission in the Guards, if you recall."

  The beautiful eyes ran over his body, skipping dis-tastefully over the scarred cheek and the stiffly extended leg.

  "Yes, and it was the ruination of you!" She pouted, avert­ing her eyes.

  He was silent for a moment, remembering what she had said to her father. “I am told that I will never dance again. Or ride."

  "Exactly," she agreed, oblivious to his hard gaze. "And will that horrid scar on your face go away too? I doubt it." She suddenly seemed to notice the cruelty of what she had said. "Oh, forgive me, Jack, but you used to be the hand­somest man in London, before. . .that." She gestured distaste­fully towards the scar.

  With every word she uttered, she revealed herself more and more, and the pain and disillusion and anger with himself was like a knife twisting in Jack's guts. For this beautiful, empty creature he had forever alienated his father. Like Julia, he had never in his heart of hearts believed his father would truly disinherit him, but it seemed his father had died with Jack unforgiven. It was that which hurt Jack so deeply; not the loss of his inheritance, but the loss of his father's love.

  Feeling uncomfortable under Jack's harsh scrutiny, Julia took a few paces around the room, nervously picking up or­naments and elegant knick-knacks, putting them down and moving restlessly on.

  Jack watched her, recalling how the memory of her grace and beauty had sustained him through some of the worst moments of his life. It had been like a dream then, in the heat and dust and blood of the Peninsula War, to think of this lovely, vital creature waiting for him. And that's all it was, he told himself harshly—a dream. The reality was this vain, beautiful, callous little bitch.

  "Oh, be honest, Jack." She twirled and stopped in front of him. “You are no longer the man I agreed to marry. Can you give me the life we planned? No."

  She shrugged. “I am sorry, Jack, but, painful though it is for both of us, you must see it is just not at all practical any more."

  "Ahh, not practical?" he echoed sarcastically. "And what exactly is not practical? Is it my sudden lack of fortune? My ruined face? Or the idea of dancing with an ugly cripple and thereby becoming an object of ridicule? Is that it, eh?"

  She cringed in fright at the savagery in his voice.

  “No, it is not practical, is it?'' he snarled. “And I thank God for it."

  She stared as she took in the meaning of his last utterance.

  "Do . . .do you mean to say you don't want to marry me?" Her voice squeaked in amazement and dawning indignation. It was for her to give him his conge, not the other way around.

  He bowed ironically. "Not only do I not wish to marry you, I am almost grateful for the misfortunes which have opened my eyes and delivered me from that very fate."

  She glared at him, her bosom heaving in a way that had once entranced him. "Mr Carstairs, you are no gentleman!"

  He smiled back at her, a harsh, ugly grimace. "And you, Miss Davenport, are no lady. You are a shallow, greedy, cold little bitch, and I thank my lucky stars that I discovered the truth in time. God help the poor fool you eventually snare in your net."

  She stamped her foot furiously. "How dare you? Leave this house at once . . . at once, do you hear me? Or crip— wounded or not, I'll have you thrown out!"

  He limped two paces forward and she skittered back in fright.

  "Just give me back my ring," he said wearily, "and your butler won't be put to the trouble and embarrass-sment of man­handling a cripple."

  She snatched her left hand back against her breast and covered the large diamond ring with her other hand.

  "Oh, but I am very attached to this ring, Jack," she said in a little-girl voice. "I did love you, you know. Surely you want me to have something to remember you by?"

  He looked at her, disgust filling his throat, then turned and silently limped from the house.

  Chapter One

  London. Late autumn, 1812.

  Good God! Do you mean to tell me my grandson did not even receive you after you'd travelled I don't know how many miles to see him?'' Lady Cahill frowned at her grand­daughter. "Oh, for goodness' sake, Amelia, stop that crying at once and tell me the whole story! From the beginning!"

  Amelia gulped back her sobs. "The house is shabby and quite horrid, though the stables seem well enough—"

  "I care nothing for stables! What of my grandson?" Lady Cahill interrupted, exasperated.

  "His manservant told me Jack saw no one."

  The old lady frowned. “What do you mean, no one?''

  "I mean no one, Grandmama, no one at all. He—Jack, that is—pretended to be indisposed. He sent a message thank­ing me for my concern and regretting his inability to offer me hospitality. Hospitality! His own sister!"

  Amelia groped in her reticule for a fresh handkerchief, blotted her tears and continued, "Of course I insisted that I go up and tend him, but his man—a. foreigner—would not even allow me up the stairs. I gathered from him that Jack was not ill . . .just . . . drunk! He won't see anyone. And, ac­cording to his manservant, he's been like that ever since he returned from Kent."

  There was a long pause while the old lady digested the import of this. "Kent, eh? I wish to God he had never set eyes on that poisonous little Davenport baggage." She glanced up at her granddaughter. "I take it, then, that the betrothal is definitely at an end."

  "Unfortunately, yes, Grandmama."

  "Good!" said Lady Cahill vehemently. "He's well rid of that little harpy and you know it."

  "But, Grandmama, it appears to have broken his heart."

  "Nonsense! He's got a fine strong heart. He's got my blood in him, hasn't he? When you're my age, you'll stop prating of broken hearts and other such nonsense. Bodies mend and so do hearts."

  There was a long silence.

  "But that's just it, isn't it, Grandmama?" Amelia said at last. "Bodies don't always mend, do they? Jack's servant said that Jack's leg is still very bad and painful, although he can walk."

  Lady Cahill thought of the way her favourite grandson had looked when he'd come back from the wars in Spain. Such a fine tall, athletic lad he had been, too, before he left. But now . . .

  She glared at her granddaughter. "Don't let me ever hear you speaking such rubbish, do you hear me, gel? Never! That boy is as fine a lad as ever he was, you mark my words! He's got a fine fighting spirit in him."

  "I saw no fighting spirit, Grandmama."

  “Do you try to tell me, gel, that my grandson has had the stuffing knocked out of him and hides himself away from the world merely because his betrothal to that beautiful, heartless little viper is at an end? Faugh!" Lady Cahill snorted. "You'll not make me believe that, not in a month of Sun­days."

  "No," said Amelia slowly. "But that, on top of every-thing else. . . He will never ride again, they say. And so many of his friends have been killed in the war. . . And, Grandmama, you know how much Papa's will hurt him—to be left with virtually nothing. . ."

  "Lord knows what maggot was in your father's mind at the time," agreed Lady Cahill. "Bad enough to disinherit the boy, but to
leave him 'whatever is found in my pockets on the day I die'". . . Faugh! Utter folly! "Twas the veriest co­incidence that he died after a night of cards at White's. Had he not just won that deed to Sevenoakes, the boy would not even have a roof over his head!"

  Lady Cahill snorted in disgust. Yes, Jack had taken some terrible blows, one on top of another. But even discounting Amelia's dramatics it seemed he was taking it badly. He could not be allowed to brood like that. He needed something to snap him out of it.

  There was a soft knock at the door. "Yes, what is it, Fitcher?'' the old lady snapped, her temper frayed by concern for her grandson.

  "Pardon me, milady." The butler bowed. "This letter was delivered a few moments ago." He bowed again, proffering a letter on a silver salver.

  Lady Cahill picked up the letter, wrinkling her nose in disdain at the undistinguished handwriting which gave her direction. "Humph," she muttered. "Not even franked."

  She turned it over and broke the seal. She frowned over the letter, muttering crossly to herself as she did. Finally she threw it down in frustration.

  “What is it, Grandmama?''

  “Demmed if I can read the thing. Shockin' bad hand and the spelling is atrocious. Can't think who'd be sending me such rubbish. Toss it in the fire, girl!"

  The young woman picked the letter up and smoothed it out. "Would you like me to try?"

  Taking the snort she received from her grandmother to be assent, Amelia read it out, hesitating occasionally over mis­spellings and illegible words, of which there were many.

  Milady I be right sorry to be addressing you like this it being above my station to be writing to Countesses but I cannot think of who else to turn to. . .

  "A begging letter!" the Dowager Countess snapped in outrage. "On to the fire with it at once!"

  "I think not, Grandmama," said Amelia, scanning ahead. "Let me finish."

  . . . for my poor girl is now left all alone in the world with no kin to care what become of her but it do seem a right shame that the daughter of gentlefolk should have to skivvy to stay alive. . .