Bedazzled

'I know I don't,' Fortune agreed, 'but I do want to, India. You are my sister and I love you. We are only two years apart, and while we are very different, it doesn't mean I don't care what happens to you, because I do. Adrian Leigh writes you in a manner I do not believe he should be writing you. He behaves as if you were formally betrothed.'

'You haven't read my letters, have you?' India was outraged.

'Of course I've read them,' Fortune said matter-of factly. 'You don't hide them very well, India. If Mama didn't trust you, she probably would have read them, too, and then you should not be going to England for the coronation. This Adrian Leigh is very bold, sister.'

'He kissed me,' India said. 'The first time Rene caught us, and scolded me roundly. After that we were more careful. Ohhh, Fortune, I cannot imagine my life without him! Papa simply has to change his mind about Adrian. I cannot bear to think of marrying anyone but him.'

'But why?' Fortune was entirely perplexed. Certainly Adrian Leigh wasn't any more handsome than their brothers. His prose to India was just plain silly-her lips were two turtledoves-and his spelling was utterly atrocious. What in the name of all heaven was so special about him that India was behaving like a little ninny?

'I cannot explain,' India said helplessly. 'He is just too wonderful, Fortune, and I love him. You will understand one day.'

Fortune shook her head. 'You had best be careful, sister,' she warned her sibling. 'If you don't choose a husband, and you know it cannot be your swain, Papa will choose one for you. Parents still do, you know. It is their right. Mama and Papa have been very lenient with us.'

'It must be Adrian,' India replied stubbornly.

Fortune shook her head again. 'We shall have no peace in this house, I am thinking, until you are safely married, India.'

'To Adrian,' came the reply, and Fortune laughed.

'I hope to never have a daughter like you,' she said.

***

The duke and duchess of Glenkirk departed Scotland on the seventh of January, arriving at their house in London, Greenwood, on the thirtieth of the month. There was barely time for their clothing to be unpacked and pressed. Waiting for them upon their arrival was Viscount Twyford, filled with news. James Leslie was not pleased to see the young man, but listened politely.

The queen, it seemed, would not be at the coronation. Once again she had taken the counsel of her religious advisors, ignoring the pleas of both her mother and her brother, the king of France, who wanted her crowned with her husband. Henrietta, however, had been convinced by Bishop de Mende that the Protestant archbishop of Canterbury could not possibly place the crown of England upon her Roman Catholic head. Only he, a French Catholic bishop, could.

As that was completely unacceptable to the English, the queen would not be crowned at all; nor would she be in the abbey when her husband was. Of course the queen's behavior was outrageous. The duke of Buckingham was openly irate at what he claimed was an insult to England's church, and to Charles himself. The entire court was talking about it, Adrian Leigh told them, all the while throwing languishing glances at India, who kept sneaking peeks at him from beneath her dark lashes.

Adrian Leigh's mother had, to his annoyance, come up to London for the coronation. When she learned from her son that India would also be there, she began to advise him, and while he was no longer fond of her as he had been when he was a boy, he had to admit she was a wretchedly clever woman.

'Her stepfather will not even discuss the matter of marriage with me,' Viscount Twyford told his mother. 'I attempted to bring it up today when I went to Greenwood to welcome them back to London. I asked if we might speak privately, but he held up that big hand of his and said there was nothing I had to say to him that would possibly be of interest to him. How the hell can I ask for the girl's hand if he won't let me? India says he disapproves of our family because of the Lord Jeffers murder, and because of your poor reputation. Why the hell must you consort with men of such low station, madame? If you must take a lover, could it at least be one of noble blood? Could you not at least be discreet?'

'Blue blood runs cold,' MariElena Leigh replied dryly. 'Besides, Adrian, my lovers are not your concern.'

MariElena Leigh was still a beautiful woman with smooth white skin, dark hair, and large, exciting dark eyes. Reaching out with very long, slender fingers, she plucked a sweetmeat from the plate before her and popped it into her mouth, the pointed tip of her pink tongue catching a drizzle of honey from the corner of her sensuous mouth.

'When the scandals you create endanger my marrying one of the wealthiest virgins in England, madame, they most certainly do concern me,' he told her angrily.

'You cannot erase what has been, Adrian,' she said. 'If her family objects to you, you must take another tact, my dearest. I am surprised you have not considered it. Does the girl love you?'

'She believes she does,' he said thoughtfully, 'but I am the only man ever to kiss her, or try to court her. She is inexperienced, and has been very sheltered by her family. They have allowed her to refuse the eligible suitors who have come courting her. And why? She believes they were only after her wealth. I, on the other hand, have never mentioned her wealth. Although I am told by those who know that she is an heiress of considerable property.'

'A fat dowry could help us to rebuild Oxton Court,' his mother said slowly. 'Do you love her? Could you be happy with this girl?'

'She is perhaps a trifle too independent for my taste, but her wealth makes it possible to overlook her behavior. Besides, once we are married, and I have control over India, I will see she changes her ways. The women in her family are very fecund, and several children should take a great deal of the spunk out of her.' He laughed. 'I will enjoy having her in my bed. Aye, madame, I could be content with Lady India Lindley and her wealth.'

'Then you are going to have to reach out and take what you want, my son,' his mother said. She licked the sweetness from her fingers.

'What do you mean?' he demanded. 'Her stepfather will not even speak to me except when forced to do so, madame.'

'Adrian, if you do not take this girl while you have the chance to take her, I can guarantee you that the duke of Glenkirk will see you do not get another chance at her. Convince her to elope with you. Even if you are caught before you can marry her, her reputation will be totally ruined. No one else will want her, and you will win by default,' the countess of Oxton said to her son.

'I don't want to get caught,' he replied. 'I want to wed her, and bed her before her family can intervene. If we were stopped before I could accomplish those two things, the duke is quite capable of dragging India back to Scotland and marrying her off to some highlander who would know nothing of the scandal; and finding his bride a virgin, would be satisfied with the match. I must take her someplace that they are unlikely to look for us at first. But where?'

'Take her to Napoli, to my brother's house,' his mother suggested. 'Your uncle Giovanni will welcome you at Villa di Carlo. You can marry the girl, and bed her to your heart's content The Leslies of Glenkirk are unlikely to seek you there, for how could they know of it? When she has given you a son, then bring her home to England. Her family will be forced to welcome you then, Adrian.'

For the first time in many years, Adrian Leigh embraced his beautiful mother. 'You are so damnably clever, madame!' he said. 'You have always looked after my best interests. It is perfect!'