Moonspun Magic by Catherine Coulter Page B

matter.”
    â€œPerhaps even if she were twenty-one, ma’am, it wouldn’t be enough. We have no idea as yet what the terms of her father’s will are.”
    â€œYou are quite right, my boy. Didier! Bring some of that Spanish port I laid down twenty years ago. I do believe it ready for drinking. No, Captain, the ladies won’t leave you. I drank port with my father and have a great fondness for it. I believe you gentlemen have convinced females that it’s unladylike to drink port so that you may have all the more.”
    â€œMa’am, you wound me.”
    â€œI just happen to have some in the pantry, my lady.”
    â€œOh, you do, do you? You are a great deal too smart, Didier.”
    â€œCertainly, ma’am.”
    Didier turned at the doorway and said calmly toRafael, “Her ladyship has the finest cellars in London, sir. You will see shortly.”
    â€œThat is true enough,” said Lucia, mollified. “I begin to wonder when the two of us will begin to resemble each other. I have heard it said that people who are together for a great many years do begin to look alike, and, horror of horrors, think alike.”
    â€œWill you soon look like Flash, Rafael?”
    â€œDon’t be impertinent, Victoria.”
    â€œFlash? What is this?”
    Victoria giggled, and Rafael shook his head at her in mock reproof. “My valet, ma’am.”
    â€œA former pickpocket, ma’am.”
    â€œYou two won’t bore me, I see. Ah, here is the port. My dear, you shall try just a bit.”
    Rafael kept his opinion to himself, but couldn’t prevent his frown when Didier poured the rich port into Victoria’s glass. Under his fascinated eye, Didier very calmly added water to her glass.
    He already acts the doting husband, Lucia thought, quite pleased. The coming days stretched out pleasurably in her mind. This quite likely would be far more interesting than the best gothic novel.
    Rafael left shortly after tea that evening. Before he took his leave, he said to Victoria, “I won’t be able to visit the solicitor tomorrow. As I told you, I have business here, and it cannot be put off.”
    â€œWhat sort of business is so urgent?”
    â€œVictoria, don’t pry.”
    She looked quite ready to do so, but Lucia interrupted, saying to Rafael, “I shall expect you for dinner tomorrow evening, my boy. Don’t worry about Victoria. I am taking her to my modiste.”
    â€œExcellent. I’ll bid you good night then, ladies. Ma’am, my profoundest thanks for your assistance.”
    Lucia grinned at him. “Yes, my boy, my assistance. In all matters.”
    â€œYou terrify me.”
    â€œI’ll walk you to the door, Rafael,” said Victoria, still ready to probe his urgent business.
    â€œNo, Victoria,” he said shortly upon reaching the front door. “Mind your own business. All right?”
    â€œVery well, but I don’t want to.”
    â€œI see that you don’t.”
    â€œWhere did you get your evening wear? Surely it wasn’t packed in that small valise of yours.”
    â€œDidier is a fount of information.” He lightly touched his fingers to her cheek. “Don’t worry, Victoria. Everything will work out, I promise you.”
    She turned her face slightly and rested for a brief instant against his open palm. “You’re very good to me,” she said.
    Rafael felt a surge of protectiveness so great that he stepped away from her as if scalded.
    â€œGood night,” he said, and was gone in the next instant.
    Victoria cocked her head, wondering at his abruptness. Didier, with as many years in his dish as Lady Lucia, said gently, “Take yourself to bed now, miss. You will see the captain soon enough.”
    As for the captain in question, he was walking as fast as he could toward his rooms on Courtney Street. He was thinking furiously that he much preferred feeling good honest