Redemption of a Fallen Woman Page 0,86

same way, but for the grace of God, he might have lost Elena. The parallels were uncanny and he felt suddenly cold.

'I'm sure you did all that you could,' he said. 'What happened afterwards?'

'I continued with our mission. Jamie insisted that if anything were to happen to one of us, the other would ensure that the task was completed. I knew I must keep faith with him. Therefore, as agreed, I reported in with the military information and informed the authorities of his loss.'

'Another of my older brothers was serving in Spain at the time. He tried to find you after he was given the news, but could not.'

'Sir George had more work for me to do and, as usual, I was not permitted to divulge its nature to anyone, nor where I was going.'

Harry could well believe it. Personal grief had no bearing on the machinery of war, and Scovell would never have employed a man who could not be discreet.

'I feel privileged to have met and worked with your brother, a man both trustworthy and likeable.'

'Thank you.' Harry smiled faintly. 'He had that effect on many people.'

'You must have cared for him very deeply, I think.'

'Yes.' Just then Harry found it impossible to articulate his feelings. Although he had known the broad outline of the story for a long time, hearing it related at first hand brought it home more sharply than ever before, underlining the reality of his brother's death. With an effort he gathered his thoughts. 'Will you set down the facts in writing, and then swear to their veracity in front of witnesses?'

'If you wish.'

'It is imperative. My family needs to know the truth.' He paused. 'One more thing...what can you tell me about my brother's marriage?'

Xavier regarded him in surprise. 'I know nothing of the matter, my lord. My conversations with your brother were concerned with our work.'

'But you knew he was married?'

'I assumed he might have a wife back in England. It was not unusual among the officer class.'

'Not England. Not then anyway. My brother was married in Burgos, during the war.'

'In Burgos?'

'Yes, to a Miss Alicia Walters.'

'I regret that I never had the pleasure of meeting the lady.'

'It was something of a whirlwind romance, I understand.'

'It must have been, my lord. We were there for less than three weeks.' Xavier gave a self-deprecating smile. 'I imagine he must have met her some time before that.'

Harry stared at him. 'You were with Jamie in Burgos?'

'Yes, I was with him. Well, not all the time, of course. As he was an officer we mixed in rather different social circles.'

'But surely, if he had married you would have known about it?'

'Not if he chose to keep it a secret. Besides, it was never my place to enquire about such things.'

'No, I suppose not.'

'All attention was on the advance into France. If a couple chose to slip away and marry they might have done so without attracting undue attention.'

'I believe the wedding was performed by an army chaplain. It would not have gone unremarked.'

'Stranger things have happened in times of war,' replied Xavier. 'You could ask the man.'

'So I could - if he were alive.'

'The witnesses, then.'

'Dead too, I understand.'

'Your brother was always discreet, my lord, and silence can be bought when necessary.'

'True - on both counts.'

Xavier nodded. 'I will reproduce this story in writing and bring the document to you tomorrow. Then, if you wish, I will swear to its veracity before witnesses of your choice.'

'I'm obliged to you.'

'I think the obligation is mine, my lord.'

The two men rose and shook hands, arranging to meet at eleven the following morning. Then Harry took his leave. Jack was waiting in the courtyard and now threw his master a quizzical look. When it appeared to go unnoticed he claimed the privilege of a trusted aide.

'Might I ask if your visit was a success, my lord?'

'Yes, Jack, it was. I have the information I came for. The formalities will be concluded tomorrow.'

'That's splendid. Congratulations, my lord.'

'Thank you.'

'Journey weren't a wasted effort, after all.'

'Indeed not.'

For all that the tone was level Harry's mind was whirling as he tried to assimilate what he had learned from Sanchez. Jamie had always played a deep game and always for his own reasons, but this was beyond everything. Had he kept his marriage secret because he knew his family would disapprove of his bride's lowly connections? Was he intending to wait until it was a fait accompli before breaking the news? It seemed