Sylvie Sommerfield - Noah's Woman Read online

  Chapter Sixteen

  ''Charity, you've tried on three gowns and you look fabulous in all of them. For heaven's sake, choose one," Noah was complaining.

  "But I cannot go to see the queen if I don't have the right gown," Charity cried. They had been home less than twenty-four hours when Noah had come to tell her they were to go to Windsor Castle. "She will think me ignorant . . . and I don't want her to, even if I am."

  Noah laughed and came to her. He took her in his arms and held her firm. "Now, calm yourself. I am sure Queen Victoria will not only remember you, she will think you the charming innocent that you are."

  "Innocent," Charity scoffed. "Ignorant is what you mean."

  "No, innocent is what I mean, and she will be as enchanted as I am."

  "Noah, I don't want to shame you. Whatever shall I talk about?"

  "Tell her about your stay at the Round, and what a fine pickpocket you are."

  "Noah!" Charity looked at him in distress.

  "I am only joking, Charity. For God's sake, you're wonderful and you have nothing to worry about. I shall keep you no matter what the queen says."

  "Ohhh."

  Noah threw up his hands with a laugh. "No matter what I say, it seems to make matters worse. Perhaps I should send Kat and Elizabeth to help you choose."

  "I wish you would. Kat will know exactly what is right."

  "We only have a few hours, so you had better choose quickly." He then escaped the room gratefully.

  Kathy found Charity almost in tears, sitting on the bed. "Charity, what's wrong?"

  "I can find nothing suitable to wear," she moaned. "And I think I'm going to be sick."

  "You have plenty to wear. We have bought out almost every shop in London, and you are not going to be sick," Kathy replied firmly. "Now come on, up off that bed and let me see you in that rose-colored gown."

  "Of course." Charity brightened. "I had forgotten it, and I've never worn it before. . . . Oh, Kat, why must I do this?"

  "Because you are Noah's wife. He must see the queen often, and as his wife you must be beside him.

  Charity, it must sometimes look as if these visits are . . . social."

  Charity paused and looked closely at Kathy, and for the first time she realized what a help she could be to Noah as his wife. It was just the right thing for Kathy to have said. Kathy noticed her changed demeanor and realized that Charity would walk through hell for Noah. It was the first time she had truly seen how deep Charity's love for him went, and she was pleased.

  "I see," Charity replied. She calmed at once. "Kat, would you help with my hair? I want to be at my best."

  "Of course."

  When Noah returned an hour later, he was totally surprised to find a serene and smiling Charity.

  "Noah, I'm ready," she said. "We don't want to be late."

  While Charity walked into her dressing room to get her cloak, Noah turned to his sister. "What magic did you do?"

  "No magic, I simply told her what you should have told her."

  "And what was that?"

  "That you needed her."

  "She should know that by now," he replied softly.

  "Noah" Kathy smiled and put her hand on his arm. "You treat Charity like a beloved child."

  "That's not true."

  "Isn't it?"

  "I love her so much, Kat, sometimes I can't believe it."

  "And you would keep her away from anything that might upset her. Stop treating her that way or you will just make her unhappy when she figures out for herself how protective you've been. She wants to be part of you . . . your life . . . all of it. I think you can trust her to seek out the best for you always."

  Noah remained quiet, and Kathy kissed his cheek and left him. He remained still and thoughtful. Trust; how he wanted to trust Charity and know she stood beside him. But . . . He inhaled a deep breath and then smiled as Charity reappeared.

  "You look absolutely beautiful."

  "Thank you. Noah, I'm sorry if I acted like a giddy girl. I was just nervous. But I'm fine now, and I do believe it's time to go."

  "Yes, it is." Noah was impressed by her new self-control.

  They rode toward Windsor Castle in silence, their thoughts similarly engaged. Both were thinking about trust. It was then that Charity made a decision, and made herself a promise.

  When they arrived at Windsor they were told to wait, for the queen had just been given some correspondence that required her attention. They were escorted to the garden where a table had been set for an afternoon lunch.

  "The garden is lovely," Charity said.

  "Yes, Her Majesty has always been proud of it."

  "You have been in her service a long time, Noah?"

  "In a way. Actually, I'm in Lord Brandywine's service, but that requires some contact with her, and often some dealings on her behalf."

  "And Lord Brandywine, who is he?"

  "He is her . . . confidant, advisor, and most of all, her friend."

  "And you are his," Charity said softly. Noah meant to question the look he saw in her eyes, but the queen's arrival put an end to that. Charity dropped into a deep curtsy, without any sign of nervousness.

  Noah was still thinking about Charity's last words. Did this mean she knew of the assassination plot in the papers she had hidden? He longed for her to come to him and give her trust completely. Then he could tell her.

  "Noah," the queen was saying, "I wish to congratulate you on your marriage, and you as well, Lady Morgan. You have captured the handsomest rogue ever to grace this court."

  "It is I who have captured the loveliest creature in your realm, Your Majesty," Noah replied smoothly.

  "I believe you are the one who is right, Your Majesty." Charity smiled. "Noah is the handsomest man I know. As to being a rogue, I do not know. He seems less a rogue than a champion."

  Noah was surprised at Charity's command of this repartee, but he shouldn't have been. She had always been an accomplished actress. He soon realized that Victoria was regarding Charity with a smile.

  "Yes, I see him in much the same light. Noah, I'm afraid that before we can sit and enjoy our short time together, Lord Brandywine has asked for a few words with you . . . in private. I have bid him wait in my private office."

  "I shall tend to it at once. If you will give me leave to go?"

  "By all means, go. Your charming wife and I will discuss you at our leisure." Her laugh was soft and contagious enough to make Charity laugh too.

  "I trust you not to tell her too many of my secrets."

  "Why, Noah, that is precisely my plan, to tell her all I know of you." She laughed again at Noah's look. "Go and see Charles, there is nothing I could tell this girl that would not make her love you more than she obviously does."

  Noah left, and Victoria went to Charity's side. "Come, let us walk for a while. It is not often I get this much time to myself. Not that I do not enjoy my children, but at times they can be a trial."

  "You must tell me about your children, Your Majesty . . . and your husband."

  Charity saw the queen's eyes light, and knew she had struck just the right chord. It was clear that this queen loved her children, and loved her husband even more.

  When Noah stepped into the room, Charles Brandywine was standing by the huge windows that looked down on the garden. Obviously he had seen Noah and Charity arrive, and was waiting for him.

  "Noah, I am glad to see you. I received the message you sent. It was a bit puzzling, I must admit."

  "Puzzling, yes, I suppose it was. But I am always fearful that someone will intercept our correspondence and foil our plans."

  "Come, let me pour you some wine, so you can tell me just what is going on."

  "Thank you, no, I want no wine. My message was to relieve your mind."

  "Then you've traced the plot to its source?"

  "Yes, and my news will astound you."

  "I am not astounded by much the human race can contrive."

  "Neither am I, but jus
t listen and you might change your mind."

  "Noah, I must assume you have decoded the letters."

  "Your assumption is right. But you see, there are a number of extenuating circumstances, and I beg your leave to explain some things before we go on."

  "If this little intrigue has you so caught up, it must be an interesting story."

  "It is. You know that decoding the letters took a long time. I knew our plotters must have had someone trying to get them back in the meanwhile."

  "So you hid them well."

  "No, I made them obvious."

  "Why?"

  "To catch whomever came for them."

  "And you caught him?"

  "I caught her."

  "Excellent."

  "I not only caught her . . . I married her."

  There was a stunned silence as Brandywine studied Noah's face. Then he smiled. "I think we had better sit down. This promises to be a most interesting story."

  "It is," Noah said as he sat down opposite Charles. "I want you to know, first, that you are in as much danger as we suspected. But now that we know their plans, we can not only stop them, we can get the whole group . . . if we handle this right."

  "But I thought the letters were stolen?"

  "That is what they believe as well. You see, I made copies and . . . allowed the others to be taken."

  "I don't understand."

  "I have decoded the letters, and we could at any time put our hands on the traitors. I . . . I just need a little more time."

  "Noah, you know by now that you can ask what you want and I will try to accommodate you. But I think I need to hear the whole story. You say your wife is involved."

  "No, not involved; used like an innocent pawn."

  "Then we need only go to her and tell her what she has done and"

  "No, it's not as simple as that, at least not for me," Noah answered quietly. Brandywine looked closely at him for a minute.

  "You see, I want her to tell me of her part in this of her own free will."

  "You love her and trust her that much?"

  "Yes, I do. She will come to me . . . I have all the faith in the world in that."

  "Enough to jeopardize lives?"

  "Enough to lay my own life on it, if I must."

  "We can still protect ourselves?"

  "Now that we know the full scope of their plans,

  yes. There is no danger of the threat being completed. I ask only for time."

  "Then you have it. I would like to know the names of those involved."

  "Of course. Douglas Van Buran is the mastermind, along with Lord Sussex and Lord Mileston, all of whom want you out of the way. They are aided by Gregory Hamilton, and I believe his mother, Glenda Hamilton."

  "You have suspected Hamilton all along, haven't you?"

  "Yes. I have never liked or trusted him. It was he who involved Charity."

  "Let me hear the rest; I'm intrigued."

  Noah went on to explain how he had learned that Charity was involved with Gregory. "He meant to use her because"he smiled"she is a wonderful actress and she had learned to be light-fingered. He expected her to bring the letters to him. Then we met and fell in love, and I believe with my whole heart that she changed her mind. I do know she did not deliver the letters to Hamilton."

  "Good Lord! You are protecting her, aren't you? Hamilton can be merciless and very unforgiving."

  "He will have to get through me before he can get to her . . . I will see him dead before he touches a hair on her head."

  "Noah, what if"

  "No! Charity will not betray me."

  "You are so certain of her love?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "Then I will put my trust with yours. We will see these plotters confounded."

  "Then I will have the time I need?"

  "When is this . . . assassination to take place?"

  "In twelve days, and do not confide any more in Lord Ferrier."

  "He is involved?" Brandywine's tone was shocked.

  "No, he's not. But it seems the lovely Anne would like to keep his fortune and position, and rid herself of him. He is to be with you at the dedication where you both are to meet your deaths."

  "My God, she is that cold-blooded?"

  "She is without a conscience, and she has a lust for wealth and power."

  "I would say she has other lusts as well."

  "I regret every moment I spent with her, and I cannot help but compare her to Charity. Out of jealousy Anne would see me lose my position at court, perhaps even my life."

  "We will follow your plan. I will tell Her Majesty when the right time comes. Until then, I would like to meet this lovely wife of yours. I would see the woman who has captivated Noah Morgan so completely that he will lay his life in her hands."

  "She is with Her Majesty right now. Shall we join them? You will soon see just how fortunate I am."

  The two left the room and went to join the queen and Charity.

  Charity had found herself warming to this small and delightful woman who was queen. She had a charm and a wit that surprised Charity.

  While Charity relaxed in her presence, the queen was studying her. Noah was very dear to her, and she wanted to judge for herself the kind of wife he had chosen.

  She had long ago thought that he would never marry, for he had had his choice of women and never seemed to give the deepest part of himself to any. Of course, being as involved as he was with Brandywine and the court, she assumed he trusted little and was in fact a bit jaded. But this sweet innocent was so disarming and charming that she could see how she would draw Noah.

  ''Where did you and Noah meet?"

  "At a masked ball given by Lady Ferrier."

  "Ah, Lady Ferrier. She is famous for her balls and parties."

  "And for her interest in Noah," Charity replied quietly.

  "So you know about that?"

  "There is little about Noah that does not interest me. I want to make him happy, and that means understanding him and learning what pleases him."

  "Noah is a very lucky man."

  "No, Your Majesty, if you will forgive me for contradicting you, it is I who am lucky. You do not know how lucky."

  "Perhaps you would like to tell me."

  "I am an orphan, Your Majesty. I have never known anyone of my blood. I was not raised to wealth, but in an orphanage. I never even dreamed of finding someone like Noah, and I intend to make him know every day that I am grateful for his love." Charity was

  not sure how the truth of her background was going to affect the queen or how it would affect Noah, but she had decided on honesty from this day forward, and talking of her past was the first step.

  "How interesting. Noah has not told me of this. I see he has done things in his own unique way again. I will be interested in your lives in the future."

  "I am grateful for Your Majesty's interest. I think Noah means more to you than he may realize."

  "You are right. I have cared a great deal for the rogue for a long time. I knew his parents well, and loved them."

  "I hear"Charity smiled"that Noah's father was a bit of a rogue himself."

  "That he was," Victoria laughed. "And he, too, found a remarkable wife in his adventures. Sofia has been a friend since he brought her to court. I think . . . Noah has been just as lucky."

  "Thank you. I hope to prove you right."

  "Do you intend to start a family soon?"

  "I think so. I have been alone most of my life and I would love to gather a family about me. I know Noah would like a son; what man does not?"

  "They can be a blessing."

  "I am sure."

  Before the queen could answer, voices came from behind them, and they turned to see Charles and Noah walking toward them.

  "You have completed your affairs, Lord Brandywine?" the queen questioned.

  "Yes, Your Majesty. Concluded them in a most interesting way."

  "And I am afraid there are some pressing things I must see to for Lo
rd Brandywine, so Charity and I must beg your leave, almost as soon as lunch is over," Noah said.

  Lunch was a pleasant affair, for Noah was his most charming and the queen enjoyed seeing the way Charity seemed to hang on his every word. Lord Brandywine watched Charity closely as well, and prayed that what he saw was the truth, for this delicate creature could do Noah more harm than any assassin could.

  When Charity and Noah had gone, the queen and Lord Brandywine sat in silence for a while. It was she who spoke first.

  "So, Charles, I believe there is something you need to tell me."

  "Only in the strictest confidence, Your Majesty, and with the request that you will let me see this thing to the end."

  "Is there danger for you?"

  "Not only for me, but for Noah as well."

  "Then you have our word."

  Charles began to explain and watched his sovereign's face go from surprise, to shock, to anger, and then to serious contemplation.

  "They seek to assassinate you and Lord Ferrier, and believe I know nothing of their true natures," she said. "How foolish they are. Lord Van Buran takes a great deal on himself to decide who would follow you. I know more of him than he thinks."

  "The assassination will never come about. Noah now knows all their plans."

  "Then why do you not seize them now? Newgate is too good for them, but they will be hanged soon enough."

  "I think, when you hear what I have to say, you will understand why we do not choose to move just yet."

  Charles went on to explain, and the queen was silent until he finished. "I see," she said quietly. "Much does rest on waiting."

  "Yes, the heart, and the faith, and the future of a man we both care for. Let us allow him to seek his happiness before we do anything. Our assassins will not move yet. I would see Noah get his reward before we end this."

  Yes, the queen thought, his reward . . . and I hope that reward is not betrayal.

  The next morning, Charity rose and dressed before Noah was awake. She sent for their carriage and left the house. Within an hour she arived at the Round and was welcomed by her friends there, including Tiny and Minnow, who surprised her by the warmth of their welcome. It was a while before she could get Amiee alone to tell her why she had come.