by Carol Arens
Over in the corner was a small black stove.
She looked longingly at it, wishing it had a fire blazing. Leaving the house as quickly as they had, neither of them had taken the time to put on a coat.
Ever since the lifeboat, she hated being cold, feared it, really.
Although snow was cold, she was eager to see and touch it, perhaps catch a flake on her tongue and taste the ice.
‘Would you like a blanket?’ Before she could answer, he opened a cupboard, took one out and placed it over her shoulders.
Kneeling in front of the stove, Rees opened the squeaky iron door, then stacked small logs inside. He poked them about to get the flames going.
‘What is this place?’ Being so small, it brought to mind their cabin aboard the Edwina. The cosy intimacy was the same.
‘My second study. The one in the house can get busy with people wanting my attention.’ He glanced over his shoulder, shot her a smile that made her insides tickle in the oddest way. ‘I come here when I want to be alone.’
Standing, he crossed the room and locked the door.
All of a sudden, she felt hot. That was odd since the stove hadn’t had time to heat the room.
Nerves had to be the cause. She was about to say something that would change her life. Certainly something like that would account for the dampness slicking her skin.
A spring creaked when Rees sat down beside her. He laid his arm over the back of the couch, but did not touch her as she would have liked. Oh, but the way he looked at her made it seem as though he was touching her and in a way that went deeper than mere flesh.
Apparently a woman did not need a glowing stove to warm her. The intensity of that blue-eyed gaze was enough to singe a lady’s undergarments.
‘This reminds me of our cabin aboard the Edwina.’ Of the times when she wore no undergarment, but his shirt only.
Now that her heart and her mind were in agreement over what she wanted, well, she was glad that the door was locked and the curtain over the window drawn.
He plucked a pin from her hair, then another and another. When it was loose he drew it out of the fashionable coil, wove the freed strands between his fingers.
‘You’ve told me you love me, Madeline.’ He stared intently at the hair wrapped up in his fingers. ‘Do you still? Now that we are here, settling in at Green Knoll, with my children and all the rest of the household—would you be happier living with your own family?’
His gaze shifted from her hair to her eyes. Worry lines creased the corners of his mouth.
The sight fairly crushed her since she was sure that she had caused them.
‘I still love you.’ She cupped the side of his face in her palm, watched his eyes close, his lids press together and then slowly open again. ‘There is no place—there is no one—I want to be with more than with you.’
‘But I can’t imagine why you would trust me.’ He stood up suddenly, walked back and forth, looking down at her. ‘After everything, you would still?’
‘Yes, completely.’
‘Why? What if I fail you again?’
‘You are afraid I will run. I’m sorry, Rees. I’ve given you no reason to believe I would not.’
‘I’m not a perfect man, you know that. What if—?’
‘There is no what if—I promised myself and now I promise you. I know, it took too long for me to figure this out, but—’ She rose from the couch, standing in front him to stop his pacing. ‘Love does not run. I will not run.’
‘But I—’ His voice sounded ragged and it broke her heart.
‘Let me just tell you—’ She silenced him by placing her fingertips over his mouth.
Tears moistened her eyes, but there was nothing to be done about them.
How could she not wonder if, upon reflection, he feared trusting her with his heart, even more with the twins’ hearts?
It did not seem so, he had never given indication it was true, but she could be very wrong.
Clearly he had something to say and she’d stopped him.
First she would say what she needed to, and then, if he still wished to say it, she would remove her fingers from his lips.
If after he’d heard it, if he changed his mind about wanting her, so be it. She would leave, but she would not flee.
‘I do not want an annulment. I want to be your wife.’
There, it was done. One by one she withdrew her fingers from his lips.
Rees stared, gravely silent, at the weave of the curtain with his hands shoved deeply into the pockets of his trousers.
Why would he not even look at her?
Her chest felt heavy, like cold lead encased her heart. She walked towards the door, feeling so numb that that she was not aware of the wood floor under her shoes. There was no one to blame this on but herself.
Rees caught her elbow, swung his gaze up. Even had he not been gripping her, she would have been unable to walk away from what she saw in his eyes.
How wrong she was to believe, even for a moment, that he did not want her. It was not rejection, but utter relief she read in his expression.
He yanked her to his chest, pressing her close to his heart. His breathing came hard and fast.
‘But what if I—?’ Whatever he had been about to say seemed caught.
‘And what if I do? Rees, we are married. I am yours and you are mine.’
‘You are certain?’ At last the smile she loved spread across his face, slowly like dawn rising on a new day.
‘Vows spoken, my husband, commitments agreed upon. I will continue to be your wife, come what may.’
‘I promise to do my best to make sure whatever comes brings you joy.’
He led her towards the couch, drew her down with him.
‘I’ve been carrying this around just hoping. I’m surprised it’s not worn out by now, but—’ He dug about in his pocket, drew something out. It was the cigar band he had given her when they recited vows.
‘You kept it?’ For some reason, the fact that he had made her want to weep, more than she already did.
‘It meant something to me, even then.’ He slipped it on her finger. ‘I think I loved you from the first, Madeline.’
‘And I will love you to the last.’
Then, all of a sudden, words died between them.
* * *
His wife wanted him—not the annulment.
The master of Glenbrook, always in charge and in control, could not control his shaking fingers when he reached for the buttons on the front of her dress.
In this moment, perhaps control was better forgotten.
They had pledged their futures to each other, standing before the Captain of the Edwina as strangers. Seconds ago, they had done it again, this time in full knowledge of each other, of their virtues and their weakness.
Love would stand against anything.
Not so the frilly gown she wore. It melted away under his fingers as if of a mind to desert its wearer with all haste.
He hadn’t noticed when his clothes deserted him. One moment they were a hindrance and the next they lay pooled on the floor.
The thought flitted across his mind that he must surprise her with a reunion with her family as soon as possible.
Flitted, then vanished because her skin smelled like heaven when he slid her down beneath him on the couch.
Ah, but the feel of her smooth, soft body under his fingers, that was earthy, carnal and consecrated.
* * *
Madeline woke up in her bed, stretched and felt delightfully sore all over. Judging by the way light filtered through the curtains, they had missed breakfast.
Certainly no one would wonder why. They had missed dinner, as well.
Madeline doubted that they were the first newlyweds to miss a meal or two.
As much as she hate
d to, they must rise and go downstairs. Surely the twins wanted to see their father—and mother. She could hardly wait to see the girls for the first time, knowing they were hers for all time.
‘Wake up, Rees.’ She pinched his bare behind. ‘We can’t leave your mother to do everything.’
With a grunt he shifted to his side, gave her a big blue-eyed wink along with a smile that made her wish she had not mentioned getting out of bed.
‘There’s the servants. She’s not alone.’
‘The children—they will wonder where we are.’
With that, he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her to him, belly to belly.
‘Won’t take long,’ he murmured against her neck.
No doubt. Passion tended to spark between them like flint to tinder.
All right, what harm could it do to go down after lunch than before?
In the middle of a deep kiss, a noise from outside caught her attention. She jerked her mouth free.
‘Did you hear that?’
‘No.’
‘Listen!’
‘Hmm...’ he drawled, seeking her lips again. ‘We have a visitor, apparently.’
‘Not just any visitor, Rees.’
All of a sudden, he sat upright. ‘Langerby!’
That disagreeable voice could belong to no one else.
He scrambled from under the covers, pinched her behind on the way. Good for the goose and all that, she figured.
‘Quick, let’s spy on our sister-in-law,’ he said.
‘How?’
‘We’ll figure it out on the way down.’
Even though Madeline was not one to curse, she might take it up. To think of how Bethany must feel as he made such evil suggestions to her, which he had now evidently woven into a plan.
How conflicted she must be over it—it just broke Madeline’s heart.
* * *
Hurrying out of the house, they stood at the top of the steps, listening.
For all that Milton Langerby had spoken loudly before, he was silent now.
Rees went down the steps, squatted and stared at the dirt.
‘There.’ He pointed to the path leading to the garden. ‘His footprints go that way. Step quietly.’
Really? Did her husband not think she knew how to sneak about?
What she would not give to be able to arch her brows the way Grandfather and Clementine did. If the day came when she was reunited with Clemmie, she would ask her how to do it. Now that she was a married woman, she would need the skill.
She grabbed his sleeve, motioned that she ought to be the one leading the way.
He shook his head, auburn hair flying wild about his face. Since he had longer legs and quicker strides, she had no choice but to fall in line behind him.
When he would have gone crashing down the path, she indicated with a tip of her head that they should tiptoe discreetly down a tunnel-like space between the shrubs. They were tall and dense, so it would be easy to spy. If they were not to be heard, Rees would need to tread more quietly on the fallen leaves.
From where Madeline stooped, she could make out three shapes. There was Bethany. Her eyes looked dark, worried. The second was Langerby. She saw his profile well enough to make out his malicious expression.
The third was a small dog, held firm in Langerby’s grasp. The scruffy brown creature wriggled in an attempt to get free of the bony fingers clamping its chest.
‘Why have you come, Uncle? Why have you brought Spiffy with you?’
‘I told you I would come. Surely you recall. I’ve come up with a plan for you to regain the title. The dog is here to make sure you agree to it.’
Langerby lifted the pup in the air when Bethany tried to grab it. ‘Oh, careful now. He’s a fragile little thing. Think of the harm a fall might cause him.’
The pup whimpered.
‘I never had the title to regain it.’
Beside her she felt Rees turn rigid, his muscles grow hard and tense.
‘Only because you did not ensure Glenbrook could not back out of it. Now listen closely. I will not repeat this.’
‘I have no wish to hear anything you have to say.’
‘Oh, surely you do—it is to your benefit, to say nothing of Spiffy’s.’
The dog yelped, scrambled to be free.
‘Please, put him down!’
Glancing aside at Rees, Madeline saw the anger building inside him, felt it radiating from his body.
‘After you have heard me out and agreed to what I tell you to do.’
In the instant she thought Rees was going to make a rush for the man, she heard laughter.
Victoria Rose and Emily Lark came skipping around a corner, dolls tucked under their small arms.
All at once, they stopped, stared wide eyed.
‘Doggy!’ Victoria Rose shouted.
The girls dashed forward. Victoria Rose yanked on Milton Langerby’s trouser leg while Emily Lark took the moment to go up on her toes and neatly pluck the pup from her captor.
‘We has a puppy!’ Emily Lark declared joyfully as both the girls dashed back towards the house.
Lord Langerby appeared perfectly stunned. So did Rees.
Madeline wanted to applaud her sweet, clever daughters. She would have had she not wanted to know the next thing Langerby was going to say even more.
Halfway back to the house, the dog scrambled out of the eager arms gripping her middle. She ran headlong towards Lady Glenbrook, who neatly swooped her up.
‘There you are, my little scamps! What is this you have found?’
‘A puppy, Grandmama!’ Victoria Rose hopped up and down, clapping her hands.
‘Poor thing looks thin. Come, let’s give it a bite to eat.’
Shooting a fast glare at her red-faced uncle, Bethany spun about and strode after them, but he grabbed her elbow.
‘You will seduce the Viscount, keep at it until you are with child. He will divorce the American and marry you. We will think of what to do about your husband if he refuses to let you go.’
‘You have gone mad! I will not do this.’
Red-faced, Langerby yanked her down so that he was nose to nose with her. It appeared he was within an inch of having an apoplexy.
Beside her, Madeline felt movement.
Rees stood up, then walked through the thorn bush as if it was of no consequence.
‘Release my sister-in-law.’ Rees’s voice sounded like a blade.
Langerby jumped away from her as if, indeed, he had been sliced.
Madeline rushed for Bethany, drawing her further from the men since she was not sure what was about to happen.
‘You will leave my property and never return. If the misfortune occurs when we meet in public, you will not address anyone who belongs to me.’
‘I’m sure, Lord Glenbrook, you misunderstood the conversation with my niece. Perhaps she had poisoned your heart against me for some reason I do not understand.’
‘Understand this. Under no circumstance will I betray Lady Glenbrook. Nor will I betray my brother or his wife.’
‘I did not mean—’
‘He did mean it!’ Bethany shouted. ‘You have always meant to use me to your gain.’
‘No, you misunderstood my affection for you, my girl.’
Rees was fuming now. It was only a wonder he did not pound Lord Langerby into the dust.
Madeline would do it if she were able.
Rees gripped the wicked little man by the collar of his coat, lifting him off the stones.
Oh, Rees Dalton was magnificent. She had never seen anyone more valiant.
‘There is no gain to be made here. You may leave here under your own power or I will escort you out, just this way.’ Rees gave the villain a quick shake.
Langerby resemble
d a toy that small Spiffy might shake about.
Had the situation not been so serious, she would have laughed aloud.
‘I’ll go.’ Rees set the man down quite a bit more gently than he had snatched him up.
Bethany spun about and rushed for the house. It was a shame she had fled so quickly, otherwise she might have seen her uncle trip in his hurry to get away. Very likely she would have appreciated the way he scrambled for footing and landed on his rump.
Madeline covered her mouth, but the giggle escaped.
Rees came to her, a frown narrowing his eyes.
‘This is a serious matter. You should not—’ His mouth ticked up on one side for all that the matter was severe.
‘Well, it’s not as if his scheme would have succeeded. It would mean that I would have to be out of your bed in order for someone else to be in it.’
Just there, he burst into a marvellous grin.
‘You, my angel, have taken my plain life and made it brilliant. I love you more than you can imagine.’
Chapter Twelve
Later that afternoon Rees left the stable office, where he had gone with Bethany to help explain all that had taken place. His sister-in-law had not seen a bit of humour in anything and was quite shaken. Of course, she had not seen her tormentor hit the dirt. It might have made a difference.
He curled his coat collar up around his neck. Dark clouds massed on the horizon, so low they appeared to be sitting on the distant hilltops.
Biting wind whipped under his coat while he ran towards the house. Smoke curling from several chimneys promised warmth and welcome.
Coming inside, he crossed the grand hall and entered the parlour.
It was as warm and welcoming inside as he imagined it would be, but the heat did not emanate from the fireplace. Madeline stood in front of the Christmas tree, gazing up at the angel on top and cradling a cup of steaming tea in her palms. The room could have been stone cold and all he’d feel was a gut-deep simmer.
She appeared to be lost within her thoughts and did not hear him come in.
‘Merry Christmas,’ he said. ‘A day early.’