Adrianna smiled shyly.
"It greatly relieves my mind that I will not be the only foreign guest in this fine home."
"If you are Madeline's sister," Morgan said, bending gallantly over her hand, "you are more than a guest in my home. You are with friends."
"You are most kind." When she lifted her gaze to her stern host's face her cheeks had turned a becoming shade of pink.
Adrianna was small and slender, with hair more red than brown. It fell in long ringlets to her waist. She wore a gown of green satin that caught the green glints in her amber eyes. There was a sweetness about her that added to her artless beauty.
"I am most grateful for your hospitality, my lord."
From the corner of his eye Morgan saw another figure emerge from one of the queen's carriages. Though he felt the anger surge through him, the only sign he gave was a slight narrowing of his eyes.
Lord Windham made a great ceremony of greeting Brenna. Lifting her hand to his lips, he grazed her flesh and pressed her fingers between his.
"You look lovely, my lady." His gaze raked her and Brenna felt a shiver of revulsion at his intimate look.
From the earliest days of his manhood, Windham had known how to play the parlor games that enticed the women at Court. This one, he told himself, was no different; merely more clever at masking her feelings.
"What a delight," Lord Windham said, turning to include the others.
"Traveling with so many beautiful women has my blood eager for the hunt."
"Ah, but we will be hunting four-legged creatures," the queen said with a laugh.
"Perhaps so, Majesty. But I see no harm in adding a few other lovely creatures to the hunt. Do you. Grey?"
Morgan turned a cool look on Windham, then said to the queen, "If you will allow me, Majesty, I will escort you into my home."
Stung by Morgan's snub, Windham offered his arm to Brenna, who pretended not to notice. Instead she caught Madeline's hand and the two women followed Morgan and the queen through the open portal.
Brenna tried to shake off the trembles that went through her at the thought of Windham. Why had the queen brought him along?
"What a treat this will be, Brenna," Madeline whispered.
"I have so longed for a visit to Morgan's home."
Madeline's sister and brother joined the ladies and the others who trailed the queen into the house. Charles strolled leisurely behind them, joined by a scowling Lord Windham, while Mistress Leems stayed behind, issuing orders to the servants to deal with the baggage.
When they entered the house, Lord Windham glanced about admiringly at the tapestries that adorned the walls. Beneath their feet a fine rug cushioned their steps.
"So this is Grey stone Abbey. I wonder, since it is so beautiful, why Grey has refused to entertain guests in his manor house?"
A voice from across the room startled him.
"Perhaps my brother did it to protect my privacy."
"Brother?" After the bright sunlight, the guests had to strain to see the figure seated before the fire.
"Aye." At a curt command a servant pushed the wheeled chair closer.
The figure in the chair bowed his head to the queen.
"Welcome, Majesty."
Elizabeth greeted her old friend, then turned to the others.
"This is Lord Richard Grey, Morgan's brother."
Many in the crowd shifted uncomfortably. Several of the ladies turned their heads away, unwilling to be caught staring at the man who could not stand and bow before the queen.
A fierce sense of protection welled up inside Brenna. She hurried forward to stand beside Richard, placing her hand upon his shoulder in a proprietary manner.
Her reaction was not lost on Morgan, who stood in the doorway watching.
"Ah. I have often heard about Morgan's handsome brother," Madeline said quickly, to fill the sudden silence.
"But I did not know you resided at Greystone Abbey. A pity to hide such good looks away' from the world."
Richard gave her a warm smile, easily dismissing her compliment as an act of kindness by a gentle woman.
"You are too kind, my lady."
As she offered her hand, Richard brought it to his lips.
Madeline lifted an arm to indicate the two who moved to stand beside her.
"This is my brother, Cordell, and my sister, Adrianna."
Cordell and Richard exchanged greetings. When Richard took Adrianna's hand, he felt the jolt, sudden, unexpected. It had been a long time since he had felt that rush of sexual excitement. Taken by surprise, he studied the young woman for long moments.
There was about this French girl such youth, such innocence, he felt as if a stray sunbeam had suddenly found its way into the room.
As Richard held her hand he thought about the ease with which he had once charmed all women. There had been a time when women young and old had flocked around him, eager to be a part of his teasing manner, his roguish laughter. But that had been a lifetime ago, when he was whole and his future had been as bright as the morning star.
He reminded himself that that part of his life was over. Any chance he had with women was as dead as the lifeless limbs that could no longer support his weight. He would not be the object of a lady's pitying glances.
With studied casualness he lifted Adrianna's hand to his lips.
"Welcome to Greystone Abbey, my lady." Summoning all his willpower he forced himself not to react to the flare of heat.
"Merci." From beneath a fringe of lashes the Frenchwoman watched him.
At the mere brush of his lips over her hand she felt a little pulse flutter in the pit of her stomach. She chided herself for her foolishness. It was obvious that he had not felt anything.
Adrianna's cheeks, Brenna noted, were flushed when Richard released her hand. She studied the way the two looked at each other when they thought no one was looking.
"You will wish to refresh yourselves after your journey," Morgan said.