This was not going to end well, and Graeme couldn’t stand here and allow Vanessa to watch it happen. He pulled her to him, then ran back toward the castle. They skirted the outer edge of the building until they reached the forested area at the back.
As they rounded the corner, the drawbridge slammed into place, and Sam let out his final cry.
CHAPTER 16
Vanessa and Graeme returned to the village sometime after mid-morning. They hadn’t made it back in time to meet Esme and Fielding at the train station, but had received a note saying the couple had arrived safely. Additionally, the train ride had afforded Esme the time to make the acquaintance of the American man who had refurbished the abbey hidden up in the hills. He’d insisted that they stay with him, and they had readily agreed.
Esme had already accepted an invitation for all of them to attend a dinner party at the abbey that very evening. So it was that Graeme and Vanessa, along with the rest of his family, stood at the man’s door and waited for entrance.
“Oh, come in, come in,” the American said at the opened door.
Vanessa stepped into the abbey right in front of Graeme, his hand at the small of her back. The warmth of his hand seared her skin beneath her gown, reminding her what it felt like to have those hands touch her most intimately. Heat spread through her body and flamed in her cheeks.
This was no doubt why most women were content to stay at home and drink tea and gossip. Passion and desire had a way of melting your thoughts right out of your head.
“A duke and a duchess,” the American man said. “I’m such a goose I don’t even know how to address you.”
“‘Your Grace’ is the proper salutation,” Esme said. She stood slightly behind their host, a lovely smile upon her face. Fielding kept her close to his side with an arm snug about her waist.
“But there is no need for such formalities,” Graeme said. “You may simply call us by our given names, Graeme and Vanessa.”
“And I am George Randolph,” the man said. “Welcome to my castle.”
It was on Vanessa’s tongue to correct the man. This was an abbey and not a castle, but she was still contemplating what Randolph had said. A duke and a duchess?
“You’re a duke?” she whispered to Graeme. “And you never thought to bring that to my attention?”
He guided her forward with his hand, grinning. “I thought I had told you.”
She turned to face him. “I’m fairly certain we never had a conversation involving my being a duchess.” Then it hit her; that was why he called her so. It was not a term of affection as she’d assumed, but simply the truth. She swiveled herself back toward the rest of the party, putting her back to her husband.
Wouldn’t her mother absolutely love this? But she probably already knew. Hadn’t Graeme sent an announcement to her family and the newspapers? It was possible everyone in London knew before she did. She felt an utter fool.
“This must be your sister.” Randolph stepped up and took Moira’s hand in his. “Enchanté, Mademoiselle.” He bent low over her hand, brushing it with his lips.
Vanessa couldn’t help but be amused by the American’s weak attempt at flirting. Although she was hesitant to group their host with Jeremy, she briefly wondered if all American men were fools when it came to women.
Moira smiled prettily. “His mother, actually.” She looked around the foyer. “You’ve done truly amazing work with this place,” she said.
“You’ve been here before?” Randolph’s eyes lit with excitement.
“Aye. We used to play here as children,” Moira said. “I live just across the loch from here.”
He linked his arm with hers and led her forward. “You must tell me all about it. Everything. I did my best to match what had been here before, based on journals and drawings.”
“Fielding, Esme,” Graeme said as he came forward. “How charming of you to organize such a gathering.”
Fielding smiled broadly. “Esme does have a knack for making friends wherever she goes.” He playfully jabbed his elbow into Esme’s arm. “She and Mr. Randolph chatted nearly the entire duration of the train ride.”
Graeme chuckled. “This is Vanessa,” he said.
“Your wife,” Esme said with a huge smile. “It’s truly a pleasure,” she said as she gave Vanessa a tight squeeze.
Together they walked farther into the foyer.
Vanessa’s breath caught as she took in the ceiling overhead. It was a perfect rendition of a fresco painting. Bold colors accented the Biblical scenes. One in particular drew Vanessa’s eye. Adam and Eve stood in front of a massive tree, the green limbs spreading far across the ceiling. In Eve’s hand, she held a piece of fruit so ripe, so irresistibly red, Vanessa was certain that if she reached out, she’d be able to claim it.
It was a not-so-gentle reminder of her own life at the moment. She was finally in a position to do her research freely, and instead, she faced the distracting temptation of her new husband. She took her eyes away from the painting to glance at him. She realized with sudden clarity that he looked very much a duke tonight with his black coat and black trousers, a high sheen on his black boots and the white of his shirt at his throat.