Page 109 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle
‘All I’ve done so far is soldiering. Younger sons traditionally go into one of the professions, but the law requires years of training and I’m too old for that. And the Church requires something else that I’m not prepared to give.’
‘No, I can’t see you as a churchman. What’s left?’
‘I don’t know. Dear me, how serious this conversation has got. Let’s talk about something else.’
Nina didn’t oblige. ‘Perhaps you could marry an heiress, like your brother.’
‘That bordered on the sharp, Miss Sanderton! The trouble is, he has a title to exchange, and I haven’t. No, if anyone marries me, it will have to be for love. And I don’t think I’m very lovable.’
‘If you’re fishing for compliments …’
He grinned. ‘How refreshingly frank you are! I wish I could marry you. If only either of us had a fortune … I could marry you and save you from becoming a teacher.’
‘If I had a fortune, I shouldn’t need to marry you,’ she pointed out.
He pouted. ‘Now you’ve hurt my feelings. Don’t you want to marry me?’
‘You’d be very high on my list, I assure you …’
‘… if you had a list,’ he finished for her.
*
Giles had given James a present of money to thank him for his part in rescuing Kitty, and enjoined him not to talk about the incident. ‘Of course not, sir,’ said James, with his most loyal look.
Of course, everyone downstairs at the villa was talking about nothing else, in a mixture of English and Italian, and he enjoyed his moment in the spotlight as sole eye-witness and hero of the hour. Since no-one else had been there, he was able to adjust his part in the rescue until his lordship was little more than an onlooker. The Lombardi staff were impressed by James’s courage and endurance in undertaking a long and dangerous swim to rescue the little contessa, and even more by his modesty in insisting it was nothing, really. That was so English! They couldn’t hear the story often enough.
Marie gave him a cynical look as they were cleaning shoes together one day. ‘You’ll get caught out one day, telling all those lies.’
‘What lies?’ he said defensively.
‘You told me you couldn’t swim.’
‘I can swim a bit. And when danger threatens like that – well, you find inner resources.’
‘Inner resources? Where did you learn that piece of flannel?’
‘Has her ladyship said anything to you?’ he asked uneasily.
‘Course not. Tight as an oyster that one, when it comes to anything to do with his lordship. I just know you, that’s all. You’re not the hero type.’
‘Well, his lordship thought so. You saw the money he gave me.’
‘For helping. Never mind, you can tell whatever story you like – I don’t care. I’ll just be glad to get away from this place. There was one of those lizards on the ceiling again this morning.’ She shuddered.
‘They don’t hurt you. That gardener, Jacopo, says they’re a good thing – they eat the scorpions.’
‘I don’t want scorpions in my room either, thank you very much.’
‘You’ve changed your mind about getting a place out here, then?’
‘I’m sick of being in service. From what I gather, my lord and lady mean to spend most of their time down in the country. That doesn’t suit me at all.’
‘Don’t you like the country?’ She shrugged. ‘You could get another place.’
‘That Miss Latham hinted she was looking for a French maid, but I’d still be a lady’s maid, and she’s not even a ladyship, so I’d be worse off. No, I want a real change.’
‘Look here,’ he said, ‘why don’t we make plans together? I’m sick of being in service, too. With that money his lordship give me, I’ve got enough now. I dare say you’ve got savings, too.’
