Love's Fortress Read online

  Love’s Fortress

  Samantha Kane

  Brothers in Arms, Book Seven

  Gideon North wants a wife. She must be practical and hardworking. But above all, she must have a hearty constitution. Horribly injured and scarred from his Peninsular War service, Gideon does not want to deal with a wife who flinches every time she looks at him.

  Gideon’s estate manager Charles Borden was his sergeant in the war. Inseparable but almost always at odds, the two men agree that Sarah Whitley is the perfect wife for Gideon. Strong, beautiful and intelligent with a dry sense of humor, Sarah bears her own marks from a life spent in the shadows.

  When Sarah learns to let go of her past fears, she frees both men to acknowledge the love and attraction that has always existed between them. The three become intimate but the eroticism of their encounters in the bedroom does not guarantee happiness. Gideon’s defenses mire them in the past. Only together can Sarah and Charles break through to build a future with Gideon.

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Love’s Fortress

  ISBN 9781419928352

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Love’s Fortress Copyright © 2010 Samantha Kane

  Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book publication July 2010

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  LOVE’S FORTRESS

  Samantha Kane

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to today’s wounded warriors, service men and women who have been severely injured in the line of duty. May you find as much happiness as my fictional hero. And to those who have dedicated their lives to making that happiness possible for these real-life heroes, I salute you. For more information see the Wounded Warrior Project at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.

  This one also goes out to Bernard Cornwell and Sean Bean, whether they want it or not.

  Acknowledgements

  I have to give credit where credit is due. Thanks go out to my siblings, who all helped in the creation of this book. My older brother Will, who first told me about the Forlorn Hope also named this book. My oldest sister Jeri, who named my last Brothers in Arms (Love in Exile) and who helped me figure out how Gideon was injured in a brainstorming session at the beach with our other two siblings. That session included my sister Charlotte, who is an active service member. She told me about the Wounded Warrior Project.

  I created a playlist for this book because my three main characters were all so different and setting a mood when I was in each of their heads helped me stay true to each one. But the most important song was The Beatles’ “Blackbird”, which was Gideon’s song. I’d like to think that by the end of the book he’d found his moment to be free.

  And to Jules, you were invaluable while I was writing this book. Your encouragement and advice helped get me to The End.

  As always, none of it would have happened without the love and support of my number one fan, my husband. Every one is for you, honey.

  Chapter One

  “You did what?” Gideon was very much afraid that he had not misunderstood her at all.

  “She will make you a fine wife, North,” Anne, Duchess of Ashland, said crisply as she poured a cup of tea.

  They were sitting in the gazebo at Blakeley House, Gideon’s estate, watching the grooms try to catch the horses in the adjoining pasture. Gideon would have turned his look of horror on the duchess, but he didn’t want to take his eyes off the horses. They were his livelihood, after all.

  “It isn’t as if you didn’t advertise for a wife, North,” she said with exasperation.

  They’d been friends for nearly a year, ever since Gideon had proposed to her. She’d turned him down, of course. She’d been madly in love with Ashland and Brett Haversham, and told him so. He gave her credit for her honesty. Unfortunately she felt his declined proposal gave her the right to interfere in his life.

  “You had no right and you know it. I will find myself a wife, thank you.” Gideon didn’t try to hide his annoyance. She was a very managing female. “I’m going to have to talk to Ashland about keeping you in check,” he told her, quite disgruntled by the whole conversation.

  The duchess’s laughter was hearty and genuinely amused. “Yes, you do that, North. I’m sure that shall curtail my endeavors. Truly. I am chastised.”

  “Are you sowing the seeds of Gideon’s discontent, Anne?”

  Gideon’s back straightened and he gripped the arm of his chair with his good hand as his estate manager Charles Borden took the seat next to Anne at the small table containing the tea service. Gideon didn’t look—he didn’t have to. He could see the expression of amusement and exasperation on Charles’ face in his mind. He’d seen it a thousand times before and surely would see it a thousand times more.

  “I suppose you were part of this?” Gideon asked tightly.

  “I was not. I heard Her Grace as I was walking up,” Charles said, sounding far too superior for Gideon’s liking. Charles was worse than the duchess when it came to trying to manage Gideon’s life. Charles had been his sergeant in the war. After Gideon’s injury Charles had come home with him, nursed him back to health and somehow become Gideon’s left hand, replacing the almost useless one he’d brought home from the war. Now he refused to leave. Gideon had dismissed him so many times he’d lost count, and yet every morning to his consternation he found Charles smiling at him over his morning fare. It was damned irritating.

  “If I had known it would annoy you so much, however, I would have gladly helped the duchess in any way I could.” Charles sounded so happy about the situation it made Gideon grit his teeth and he felt his cheek twitch.

  “Splendid,” Gideon bit out. “It is my greatest joy in life to amuse you both with my annoyance.”

  “Well, it pleases us to give you joy, North,” the duchess said, “whether you like it or not.”

  Charles laughed and the sound sent a shiver down Gideon’s back. He closed his eyes and took a moment to calm down.

  “I will see her,” Gideon announced. “But I will make you no promises, Anne. You know my requirements in a wife.”

  Anne sighed in that long-suffering way of hers. “Yes, Gideon. I have heard it enough to commit it to memory each time you have rejected an applicant.” She ticked the items off on her fingers as she began to recite. “She must be practical and hardworking. No ladies with soft hands who’ve never known a day of work. She must be of a hearty constitution. You do not wish to be met with a case of the vapors every morning over tea. She must not be a talkative woman. You have no use for end
less prattle about dresses and such. She must be able to handle the servants and know all about the running of a farm. And she must be self-sufficient, as you need a wife to make your life easier and not to become another burden on your shoulders.”

  “Like Charles,” Gideon added drily.

  “Ha,” Charles said without rancor. “The burden is mine.”

  Anne stopped her recitation to nod. “I must agree with Mr. Borden, North. You are a trial.”

  “I am the very soul of generosity,” he argued, reaching for a biscuit. “After all, I put up with you two.” He pretended not to see the look that passed between them.

  “I have assured her father that this is a splendid opportunity for her.” Anne’s voice was stern. “Do not make a liar of me. From what Mr. Matthews says, she is a sweet-natured lady who wishes to marry and establish her own home. I cannot say if she meets all your requirements, not having met her myself. But in my experience a man’s requirements in a wife rarely coincide with his choices.”

  Charles snorted beside him.

  “She will be here with her father in two weeks’ time,” Anne continued. “I have agreed to sponsor her introduction and they will stay at Ashton Park. I only ask that you keep an open mind and remember that she is here at your request.” Gideon raised a brow. “You did advertise for a wife, North. I merely wrote to the Reverend Whitley and brought your advertisement to his attention.”

  Gideon sighed in irritation. “I have said I will see her, Anne. That is all I can do.”

  “Hardly,” Anne retorted. “That is all you are willing to do.”

  Gideon blinked innocently at her. “I fail to see the difference.”

  “You would.” Charles spoke drily as he rose from his seat. He tapped his thigh impatiently, as if sitting with them had cost him dearly. Gideon tried to ignore the sight of his tanned hand with its strong, thick fingers patting his perfectly formed, heavily muscled thigh. Charles was the son of a well-to-do farmer, had grown up knowing hard work and enjoyed it still. It showed in his physique. Part of Gideon’s discomfort over his obsession with Charles’ physical attributes was the jealousy that struck him each time he admired Charles’ perfection. He refused to examine the other emotions causing his discomfort.

  “As long as you agree to see her, Gideon,” Charles told him with a little too much tone of command for Gideon’s liking, “and you don’t act like an idiot while she is here, I shall be happy.”

  “Once again,” Gideon responded with a bland expression, “your happiness is of the utmost importance to me in this matter.”

  Charles’ grin brought out the fresh-faced boyish charm he hadn’t lost, though he was nearing thirty. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said with a wink in Anne’s direction.

  Anne’s laughter filled the silence as Gideon watched Charles walk away and tried not to think about how important Charles’ happiness truly was to him.

  Chapter Two

  She was too bloody quiet.

  Sarah Whitley sat across from Gideon, his desk separating them. She wouldn’t look at him, had hardly spoken and still wore the most disgusting bonnet he had ever seen. One of those excessively large things women referred to as “poke” or some such nonsense. Apparently because their faces were so hidden within the depths that you couldn’t even poke them in the eye. She wasn’t a dainty thing at least. She was tall and well built. But he wished she’d take the damn hat off.

  “Her Grace assured us that our visit would be welcome, sir,” her father said gravely. “Your letter of two weeks past seemed to imply the same. I hope we have not inconvenienced you.” Her father, the Reverend Whitley, was a humorless man, although inoffensive Gideon supposed. His demeanor and comment made Gideon realize he’d let his dislike of Miss Whitley’s bonnet show.

  “You interpreted my correspondence correctly, sir,” Gideon reassured him. “I was pleased to receive your inquiry into my advertisement.” He looked at his butler. “Anders, please take Miss Whitley’s pelisse and hat.” He looked at her and caught her flinch. Her father started to reach for her arm, in concern it seemed, but stopped himself. “I hope you will join me for tea,” Gideon continued politely.

  Miss Whitley sat there, still as a stone. Gideon looked over at Charles, who was standing quietly just inside the study door. Charles gave a small, confused shrug in response to his look. Clearly he did not know what to make of Miss Whitley either.

  Perhaps she had not wished to come. Or, more likely, regretted her decision at her first sight of Gideon’s face. The burn scars covered the left side from his cheekbone to his neck, and he kept his hair short, not bothering to try to conceal the disfigurement. It would have done no good, and he saw no reason to pretend to be something he wasn’t. She hadn’t even seen his leg yet. Or what was left of it, anyway.

  He deliberately motioned with his scarred left hand for Anders to step forward, watching Miss Whitley. But she wasn’t looking at him, of course. She was staring at her lap. Suddenly she rose and turned her back to him. He thought she was going to leave, but instead she started to remove her coat. Her father stood and solicitously helped her. He seemed to care for her, and that allayed Gideon’s fears that she had been forced to come.

  Anders reached out to take her coat from her father just as Miss Whitley untied and removed that damned bonnet. He gasped and nearly dropped the garment, which was so out of character for the staid butler that Gideon half rose from his chair. He glanced over at Charles and saw a look of shock on his face. Charles took a step toward Miss Whitley just as she turned to Gideon.

  Gideon slowly sat back down. Damn. Damn it all to hell.

  “We would be happy to stay for tea, Mr. North,” she told him in a clear, strong voice, almost challenging him. But who was he to say anything? The dark, strawberry pink birthmark covering most of her right cheek was far less unsightly than his scars.

  Gideon cleared his throat. “Very good,” he answered. He reached for his crutches and stood, then slowly made his way around the desk. He stopped next to her. “I believe Mrs. Brown has our tea in the drawing room.” With a raised brow he indicated she precede him. She smiled wryly and in a swish of skirts and lavender, she did just that.

  ———

  Charles was shaken by this Miss Whitley. She was not what they’d expected. She just might work. And what if she did? What if Gideon married her? Charles had been working toward that goal for over a year now. And yet, now that it might become a reality, he was plagued by doubts. And fears. He couldn’t forget the fear. Fear that Gideon would no longer need him. Fear that the next time Gideon dismissed him he’d really mean it, and Charles would have nowhere to go. No life without Gideon.

  He took a deep breath and followed them all as they headed for the drawing room. Miss Whitley walked sedately next to Gideon, matching her pace to his effortlessly. She was terribly graceful. And attractive, even with the birthmark. He had been shaken to the core by the birthmark. She understood Gideon right now, after only a brief introduction, better than Charles ever could. She knew. She knew what Gideon went through every day, every time he looked in the mirror. It was a connection Charles could never make with Gideon.

  They passed the windows in the foyer and the sunlight glinted off her hair. It was an odd combination of light blonde and deep honey gold strands, as if it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. She had it pulled back rather tightly, exposing her mark for all to see. Another similarity to Gideon. But it looked as if it would be long and thick when it was free. Charles absently ran a hand through his curly blond hair. He’d noticed his forehead getting noticeably larger lately. He smiled ruefully at the thought. As if he was in competition with the lovely Miss Whitley. No matter how Charles felt, Gideon did not think of him that way. It was best he remember that. Best that he think about how good it would be for Gideon to have a wife like her, pretty and strong and seemingly unconcerned with his scars. It was what Charles had been hoping for, after all.

  ———

&
nbsp; Well, at least he hadn’t recoiled in horror. Although truly, that was the best Sarah could say about Mr. North’s reaction to her face. She’d thought she could be braver about the whole business, brazen out the fact that they’d withheld something so important from him. She’d known about his scars. The duchess had written to her and her father and described Mr. North’s injuries. She had imagined an infirm veteran, grateful that any woman would consider his suit.

  Instead she had been met by a man who carried himself as if he commanded the world. He had stood unsteadily behind his desk when they arrived but sat down immediately. From behind his desk he had glowered at them, broad-shouldered and lean. His scars pulled down the corner of his left eye and the corner of his mouth. She had almost convinced herself that was why he appeared so displeased at their arrival. But his eyes, so unusually light blue they seemed to shine from his face like a beacon, were hard and assessing. He had already found her wanting and he hadn’t even seen the birthmark yet.

  She knew an overwhelming sense of defeat sitting across from him. This man could pick and choose his wife. He need not take a disfigured girl such as her He’d been her last hope for a home and family of her own unless she considered marrying beneath her, which she was reluctant to do. Marriages like that rarely worked in Sarah’s experience. She wanted her own life but had no desire to be unhappy in it. When he had insisted she remove her coat and bonnet, Sarah had actually flinched in fear. But she was made of sterner stuff than that. She’d had the mark her whole life, had dealt with a wide range of reactions to it, and she knew in that moment she could deal with Mr. North’s as well.

  But she had cheated, just a little. She’d turned to that nice Mr. Borden, who had escorted them from Ashton Park, riding beside their carriage on his horse. She had been in the carriage with her father so hadn’t spoken to Mr. Borden, but the duchess was quite fond of him and he was so congenial to everyone they met on the road. So she let his reaction be the first she saw. It had not soothed her fears. The shock on his face was like a douse of cold water to her bravado. The pity that followed was no better. But she’d turned to Mr. North and she had been so proud of her calm and steady demeanor.