by Regina Darcy
Theodora gasped, her eyes rounding at the vehemence in his expression. This was not the Jonathan she knew.
“I will not marry you,” she said, the words sticking in her throat. “Our engagement is at an end.”
To her horror, he chuckled and took a step closer, forcing her further from the door.
“You will marry me, my love, for if you do not, then I shall have my dear brother killed.”
“You would not do such a thing to your own flesh and blood!” Theodora exclaimed at once, refusing to believe him. “Your threats are empty.”
“I tried to do so once already,” he replied with an eerie calmness. “Would have gotten away with it, but the investigation has been too thorough unfortunately.” His lips twisted. “I should have expected as much, given his rank and his friends, but I had hoped to have him shot for treason.”
Theodora could not breathe, staring at him in utter horror. He had been the one to have William knocked unconscious on the battlefield, to have him appear as a traitor? She could hardly believe it.
“I could have just had him killed of course,” Jonathan continued, still moving closer to her. “But I wanted to see him suffer. I wanted to see him have the name of ‘traitor’ around his neck with no way to prove himself otherwise.” He frowned, his jaw clenched. “He was meant to be arrested, to be held in custody, with no way to find the help he needed.”
“But he outsmarted you,” Theodora whispered, remembering the first time she had met William. “He made his own way to Lord Raven’s and cleared his name. You have failed.”
“But I will not fail the next time,” Jonathan ground out, his arm snaking out towards her. “Your refusal to wed me will only hasten his death.” His smile made Theodora feel sick to her stomach. “If you do wed me, then I promise I shall not kill him. At least not right away.”
“I will not marry you,” Theodora exclaimed, stumbling back away from him. “William will know of all this. He will put an end to it. I shall tell him everything.”
“Not unless I make you mine first,” he replied with a leer. “I shall take you by force if I have to. Then what man will want you?”
Nausea climbed up her throat. As Jonathan moved closer, Theodora felt her back hit the wall, her fingers reaching for anything and everything she could find. She wanted to scream for her sisters, for the butler, for a footman, but her voice simply would not work. Throwing anything she could get a hold of at him, she saw with horror that he was still slowly advancing, his intent evident.
Her fingers grasped the cool steel of the fire poker, and lifting it as she would a foil, she pointed it at him, ignoring the look of mirthful surprise on his face.
“You do not think you can fight me with that surely?” he chuckled, believing she was no real threat. “A fire poker, Theodora? Come now, just give up and you might just find it enjoyable.”
Theodora drew in a breath and tried to remember everything that William had taught her. Pushing all of her energy into her arm, she lunged forward and swiped at him, forcing him to stumble back with a look of surprise on his face. When he tried to approach her again, she did much the same with the poker digging into his shoulder for a moment.
His smirk was slowly replaced with a look of frustration as she pushed him back yet again, her focus entirely trained on defending herself. She would be no match for him in the long term, for she could already begin to feel her arm grow painful with the weight of the poker. But she was determined to go on for as long as she could. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the door to her left, and attempting to move towards it, heard Jonathan’s low growl.
“You would not dare to hurt me,” he muttered as she jabbed at him again. “Do not think you can get away, Theodora. You are to be mine whether you like it or not.”
Theodora gritted her teeth and tried to ignore his words, feeling sweat slowly trickling down her back. When he made to bat the poker out of the way, she ducked and struck him in the side, hearing him cry out in pain.
“Do not think that I will not defend myself, sir,” she replied, breathlessly, her back now at the door. “I have already told you that William will hear of this.”
She made to move to the door, only to see his eyes narrow and his face grow a mottled red as he stormed towards her, grasping the poker with one hand and wrenching it from her grip. She did not wait but ran for the door, her hand on the doorknob just as he caught her wrist.
“Leave me!” she cried, stamping on his foot with her own as anger and fear coursed through her veins. His grip loosened but he did not let go, although she continued to struggle so that he could not get closer.
The doorknob turned under her hand, and with a huge wave of relief, Theodora saw William step into the room.
“What is the meaning of this?” he said at once as Jonathan released Theodora’s hand.
She rushed into his arms.
Theodora saw his eyes take in the scene from the overturned chair to the fire poker now resting in the middle of the side table. She could not help but rest in his arms for a moment, feeling his strength seep into her bones. His arms encircled her waist, holding her tightly against him. Theodora took in one, two calming breaths before raising her head and looking up at him.
“Your brother,” she began, not quite sure what to say.
“He – ”
“Yes, I am well aware of what he has been doing,” William replied firmly, throwing a glance at his brother who was now standing, muttering under his breath and shooting angry glances at them both. “What was he trying to do to you, Theodora?”
“He very much wished to marry me,” Theodora said, dropping one of her arms so that she might see Jonathan better. “He has told me that he was the one involved in the set-up, William. He wanted to see you killed as a traitor so that your honour would be entirely gone and so that he might inherit.”
There was a prolonged silence.
“Do you truly hate me so much, Jonathan?” William asked softly, a deep sadness in his voice. “What have I done to you that would cause such a feeling?”
Jonathan said nothing but simply turned his back on them both, his silence deafening. He was defeated.
William took both her hands in his and turned to look down at her. Theodora felt the shaking in her soul begin to lessen at his embrace, seeing a mixture of sorrow and pride in his eyes.
“I am sorry for what he tried to do to you, Theodora,” William murmured quietly. “He should never have done such a thing. If I had but known ….”
“I used what you had taught me,” Theodora replied softly, aware that she was now quite free of Jonathan. “If you had not been so willing to teach me to fence, then I should have been quite defenceless.” She shuddered at the thought, closing her eyes tightly for a moment. “So it has all come good in the end.”
He nodded but did not say anything. Theodora’s heart grew sad for him. She could not even imagine what must be going on in his head and his heart, knowing that it was his own brother responsible for what had occurred. Had he succeeded, William’s life would be in the balance, tipping closer towards death with every day that passed. It was not even worth thinking of.
“I must speak to my brother,” William said softly, squeezing her hands. “Something will have to be done about him and what he did, and so I must ask you to wait. Can you do that for me, Theodora?”
“Of course,” she replied at once, aware that she was going to have to explain all to her father and sisters. “I – I am sorry for what you are facing, William.”
His lips brushed across her cheek in a gentle kiss, although when he lifted his head, his eyes still remained sorrowful. “I thank you, my dear Theodora,” he said softly. “I promise I will not be long.”
Theodora left the room at once and closed the door firmly behind her, instructing two footmen to wait outside it should William require any further help. Then she set off in search of her father, only to hear his carriage pull up outside the house.
She made h
er way to the front door, and just as she reached it, it was flung open and her father stepped inside looking utterly terrified.
“Theodora!” he exclaimed, grasping her hands and pulling her into his arms. “Thank goodness! Is your betrothed here? You must not allow him entry, for I believe he intends his brother harm.”
“He is here, Papa,” Theodora replied quietly, pulling away from him a little. “But have no fear. William is here also and they are ensconced together.” Theodora did not want to tell her father all that had occurred, seeing the fear and dismay in his eyes. He did not need to know what she had gone through, for that would only bring him more distress.
“I am quite well, Papa, I swear it to you,” Theodora said softly, stepping away from him. “Come now to the study I think. A good brandy will help.”
EPILOGUE
Theodora waited for a good hour or so before she heard a carriage roll away, and rushing to the window, was sure she caught a glimpse of Jonathan inside.
“I have sent him away,” came a voice from behind her. Spinning around, Theodora saw William standing in the doorway, his face haggard. “He will not try to hurt either of us again.”
Such was the wretched expression on his face that Theodora could not help but wrap her arms around him, wanting to comfort him somehow. Slowly his arms reached around her waist and held her tightly, as though she was the balm to his pain.
“Where did you send him?” Theodora asked quietly, pulling back from his embrace so that she might look into his face.
William gave a rueful smile. “Scotland,” he replied quietly. “He is to go immediately. I have a man at my disposal who has gone with him already, to ensure he gets there.” He shook his head and walked towards the window. “A pistol will ensure that my brother does everything he is told. Once he reaches the estate in Scotland, he will settle there, and I will have men guarding him and the house for the rest of his days. Should he even correspond with someone untoward, then I shall know about it.”
“You are too kind, William,” Theodora said softly, taking his hand as she stood next to him. “The man tried to have you killed!”
“And yet I found that I could not respond in kind,” William replied quietly. “He is my brother, my mother’s son, and the pain it would have caused her would have been too great. It is best she knows none of this.” He turned to her, his eyes serious. “I must ask you not to reveal what you know.”
Theodora grasped his hand with the two of her own. “I will say nothing.”
“Your Father will not either,” William said with a slight smile. “He was present when I discovered my brother was behind the plot for my destruction.”
Theodora blinked a few times and stared up at William, not quite sure she had heard him correctly.
“I believe your Father became privy to our meetings,” William continued softly. “He was not best pleased.”
“Goodness,” Theodora breathed, thinking that it must have been her sisters who were responsible. “I had not thought for a moment that he would find out! Someone must have told him.”
“He told me that you were quite dejected over the thought of your marriage to Jonathan,” William continued, moving fractionally closer. “But that you were willing to do so for the sake of your sisters.” He smiled gently. “Your Father is something of a romantic under all those layers. He did not wish you to be unhappy.”
“He – he wanted you to marry me?” Theodora gasped, hardly able to believe it. “Even though it would cause a scandal?”
“He asked me to keep it as quiet as I could, and even though Jonathan’s motives are now revealed, I intend to keep it that way. Although, I am aware that I have not asked you yet.”
Theodora’s heart began to beat so quickly in her chest that she was quite sure he could hear it, although his gaze never left her. Their eyes met and the love she saw in them shot straight through her making her hot all over.
“My dear Theodora,” William began softly. “I have never found another lady like yourself. You surpass my every expectation. Your love and devotion to your family bring joy to my heart, your character is one that is both noble and true.”
Blushing furiously at the compliments, Theodora tried to laugh. “Even though I am less than proper in seeking fencing lessons?”
“You may be as improper as you like,” he replied with a grin. Mirth flashed in his eyes as one eyebrow rose, making heat rise to her face once more. “But say that you will be mine, Theodora. I cannot have you away from me again.”
Theodora smiled and tried not to let her vision blur with the tears that were already threatening. “I would be honoured to be your wife, William.”
He reached out and brushed the moisture from the corner of her eye, his gentle smile making her heart ache.
“I was never so alone than when I knew you to be engaged to my brother,” he said, capturing her face with his hands. “It was only then that I truly realised just how much I felt for you, just how deeply my affections for you ran.” He shook his head, dropping his gaze for just a moment. “I thought some weeks apart would help me, but all it did was make my love grow stronger.”
“I love you too, William,” Theodora replied, letting her hands twine around his neck. “Since the very moment we met I believe.”
“Since I was a beggar, desperate to get to Lord Raven’s,” he retorted, making her laugh.
“Yes, since that very moment,” she confirmed, seeing his eyes darken with intensity as he began to lower his head. “My William.”
His lips brushed hers gently for a moment, and Theodora felt the deep wounds in her heart begin to heal completely. His lips touched hers again, more firmly this time, until Theodora was quite lost in all the sensations that flooded her. Holding on to him like a drowning woman, Theodora kissed her betrothed back, safe in the knowledge that one day soon she would be his bride. She had found the way to her duke’s heart.
The End
PREVIEW: A FAITHFUL MAIDEN FOR THE BROKEN EARL
ONE
Miss Caroline Winters tried to smile as her younger sister, Miss Beatrice Winters, collapsed back in her seat, clearly overcome with joy.
“It is quite wonderful,” she heard their father, the Viscount of Lockley say, aware that everyone was smiling with delight and joy save for her. “The banns are to be called very soon and we do not have a good deal of time to prepare!” He chuckled, his hands resting contentedly in his lap. “Not that I have a great deal of understanding of what is required.”
“Mr Percival is more than suitable,” Caroline finally managed to say, praying that it would be an acceptable comment for a time such as this, for she could think of nothing else to say. “The younger son of the Viscount of Raeburn, is he not?”
Beatrice nodded eagerly, managing to summon the strength to push herself back up into a sitting position, her eyes bright with the happiness that came from finding herself now betrothed. “Indeed, he is. But he is wealthy enough and shall take orders soon.”
Caroline fixed her lips into a smile. “I am truly happy for you,” she said, honestly, wishing that she felt more than just the twist of agony within her heart. She was truly glad that her sister had found such happiness and was certain that the match would be a good one, for Beatrice was kind and loving and, from first impressions, Mr Percival seemed to be also.
“Theodora will be present too, will she not?” Beatrice asked, as Caroline rose from her chair and wandered towards the large window that overlooked the streets below. “She is in town, is she not?”
“I am certain that Theodora will do all she can to assist you in your preparations,” the Viscount said, firmly. “You need not fear, Beatrice. You shall not be alone in this!”
Beatrice laughed softly and Caroline was forced to close her eyes in an attempt to stem her tears.
“I am glad, Papa,” she heard Beatrice say, as she swallowed hard in an attempt to remove some of the pain from her heart. “Theodora has always been so very kind.”
“If you will excuse me, I think I have something or other to do,” she said, without giving any real explanation as to why she was quitting the room. “Theodora is to be expected soon, is she not?”
Her father nodded, his smile fading away as he fixed his gaze on her. Caroline could not force a smile to her lips, not even when she knew that doing so would remove the trace of concern from his face.
“I shall wait for her in my chamber,” Caroline explained quickly. “Would you like me to send for more tea?”
Beatrice laughed and shook her head. “No, I think not. I have drunk copious amounts already with the many well-wishers that have called!” Her eyes twinkled as she looked towards Caroline. “I think I shall wait until Theodora arrives.”
Caroline nodded. “Very well,” she said, moving quickly towards the door and praying silently that her father would not prevent her from leaving. “I shall return promptly, as soon as she makes an appearance.”
Thankfully, the Viscount did not say another word and certainly made no move to prevent her from quitting the room. The stillness of the hallway greeted her, the silence attempting to comfort her as she hurried along it towards the library – her one refuge. Yes, she had her bedchamber but, for whatever reason, it did not bring the same feelings of quietness to her heart as being surrounded by books. Her sister, Beatrice, did not frequent the library very often at all and her father never did. It was smaller than their library back at the estate but still, it brought Caroline peace.
It was a peace she needed desperately now. Her heart was sore, her mind filled with regret and pain. She could not allow her sister to see it, could not let Beatrice realise that her joy and contentment was slicing through Caroline’s heart as though they were sharp blades. Beatrice had found a happiness that Caroline knew she would never have. After three years of attempting to find herself a suitable match, she knew all too well what waited for her now. She would never have the joy that now filled Beatrice’s heart. There would never be a need to plan a wedding of her own, to consider all that needed to be done for such an important day. She would never enjoy that. She carried no hope within her heart that such a thing would ever occur.