Spring's Tender Heart (Seasons Book 2)

by Laura Landon

  “Why doesn’t he leave?” she cried in frustration. “He should know that even if he finds me, I’ll only run away again.”

  “Money is a powerful motive, Emma. You above anyone know to what lengths a man will go to get your wealth. You know what lies a man will tell to make you believe he loves you.”

  “Is that what you’ve done, Jonah? Lied with your kisses to gain my fortune?”

  Her voice held a teasing, playful tone, but Jonah was halted by her words.

  “Oh, Emma. How could I ever tell you anything but the truth? You’ve won my heart, it’s as simple as that. I could never betray you. And I’ll never let your brother harm you.”

  When she didn’t reply, Jonah threw the remainder of his brandy to the back of his throat. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. And never let her go. He wanted to hold her so she couldn’t leave him. But he’d promised himself that he wouldn’t beg her to stay. Not again.

  He’d already told her everything he needed to say. He’d told her that he loved her, and promised that in every way she was safe from him. But it hadn’t been enough. She didn’t trust him enough to believe he would protect her. And now it was too late. She would leave in the morning and he’d never see her again.

  “Are your satchels ready?”

  “Yes.”

  Jonah rose. He was afraid to look her in the eye, couldn’t bear to see her eagerness to take leave of him. But the sadness in her voice made him turn.

  She rose and took a step toward him, her hand beginning to rise as if she intended to touch him. He couldn’t allow it. One touch and he would shatter completely.

  “Good.” He turned away. “We’ll leave at first light. Now go to bed and get some rest.”

  It was so quiet Jonah thought he simply hadn’t heard her leave, but long before the twisting pain eased in his chest, he heard the rustle of her robe.

  She had left him for the last time.

  ~■~

  “Do you have your boarding papers?”

  They’d finally arrived in London. Soon, Emma would board the ship to America and this nightmare would be over.

  “Yes.”

  He knew she did, but he needed something to say. Their silence was driving him mad. He and Emma had never had a problem finding things to say to each other, but suddenly neither of them had the ability to carry on a conversation.

  “Wait in the carriage while I find the captain and someone to take your satchels.”

  “Thank you,” she said and Jonah left Emma behind while he went to find Captain Russell.

  You can survive this, he told himself for the hundredth time since they’d left Glassborough Estate yesterday morning. You can survive losing her.

  Jonah found Captain Russell and his wife and made arrangements for a deck hand to carry Emma’s satchels to her cabin. He gave his old commanding officer the small cache of money and elicited a promise that he wouldn’t give it to Lady Emmaline until they were well out to sea. When he was assured that she would be well taken care of on the journey to America, he returned to the carriage.

  “Your cabin is ready,” he said as he helped her to the ground. “Captain Russell and his wife will take care of you. Go to either of them if you need anything.”

  Emma nodded, then reached for his hand.

  “Jonah, I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

  “Emma—”

  “Don’t, Jonah. We’ve said everything we need to say.”

  Jonah swallowed hard, then looped her arm through his and walked her to the ship. Captain Russell and his wife came down the gangplank to meet them.

  “If anything goes wrong, send word. I’ll find a way to get you the help you need.”

  Lady Emma gave him a sweet smile tinged with sadness. Her lips trembled as she whispered her reply. “I know you would, dear Jonah. But I’ll be fine. Truly I will. Now please don’t wait here until I’m gone. You have business to attend to.” She laid her hand on his arm, and when it lingered there a moment longer he covered her hand with his. Their eyes met and held, and Jonah felt the urgent need to beg her to stay.

  But she saw it in his eyes and gave a slight shake of her head.

  Jonah nodded. With killing regret he forced his hand to ease away from hers, yet she didn’t move. As her eyes communicated one last farewell, she raised her hand and cradled his cheek. Her thumb stroked the long scar, sending a powerful message of love and acceptance that nearly took him to his knees.

  Jonah swallowed hard, choking off the pleas that threatened to escape his lips.

  And then her hand slipped away. She turned toward the ship. Toward freedom. And left him standing there with a heart drowning in its own tears.

  Somehow Jonah managed to find his carriage through eyes clouded with loss. It wasn’t too late yet. He could abandon everything he knew and go with her. He knew she’d let him, though she never would have asked. All he had to do was—

  Jonah braced his hands on either side of the carriage door and waited the interminable minutes until he heard the scraping sound of the gangplank being pulled from the dock. Heard Captain Russell bellow the final orders to set sail. Heard the ship’s warning bell ring for a final time. Then, heard the sounds of the sleek ship moving away from the dock. Small waves slapped against the wharf as the vessel was released from its moorings and the sounds quieted as the ship slid out into the channel.

  Jonah stood as if he’d turned to marble, unable to move or feel. His fingers clenched the sides of the carriage so tightly he couldn’t force them to release the wooden frame. If he didn’t move, maybe he could pretend Emma wasn’t really gone. Maybe he could pretend he could turn around and she’d be there. But, he knew that was impossible.

  At last he forced his fingers to release the side of the carriage and moved to step inside. He had one foot on the step and one foot still on solid ground when a voice spoke to him.

  “Excuse me, my lord. But I seem to have missed the ship on which I intended to sail.”

  Jonah turned and his gaze rested on the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen—a sight he thought had been lost to him forever.

  “Emma?”

  “Yes, Jonah,” she said, then took her first running step toward him.

  Jonah met her with his arms open wide. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her with the immense depth of passion that defied words. He kissed her once more, then deepened his kiss to emphasize how much he loved her.

  “I couldn’t leave you, Jonah,” she said when he lifted his mouth from hers. “I love you. My life wouldn’t be worth living if you weren’t a part of it. I would miss you too much.”

  “Dear God, I didn’t know how I’d live without you, Emma. Truly.”

  He kissed her once more, then looked into her eyes. “You know that I will never betray you. I promise you will never regret marrying me.”

  “I know I won’t. Just as you will never regret marrying me. Even if I gave everything away and we had to live like two foolish paupers.”

  “We’ll be the happiest paupers ever,” Jonah whispered.

  He kissed her once more, then she looked up at him and their gazes locked.

  “Take me home, Jonah.”

  Chapter 11

  But he did not take her home.

  Not immediately, at any rate.

  Securing a special license to marry had been easier than either of them had anticipated, but it still took several days. In the intervening time before the marriage ceremony could take place, Emma had stayed with Mrs. Russell’s housekeeper, and Jonah lodged in a rooming house across the street from Captain Russell’s modest home. For five days the space between her door and his was the furthest they would allow themselves to be from one another. The world fell away, and nothing held their interest except the opportunity to know each other better. When at last they arrived back at Glassborough, they were truly husband and wife. The marriage license they had now was completely authentic.

&nb
sp; The next few days were the happiest of Emma’s life. Jonah had made her his wife in every sense of the word and for the first time ever she knew what it was to be truly loved. Her days were charmed and her nights were filled with wonder and amazement.

  “Did you sleep well, my love?” Jonah asked when she entered the breakfast room the third morning after they were married.

  Emma felt a blush rise in her cheeks. “Yes, very.”

  Jonah stood while she filled her plate, then helped her to a chair next to his. She’d put more food on her plate than she usually took, but she was starving. It wasn’t until she looked at the food on Jonah’s plate that she realized she had nothing compared to the mounds of eggs and bacon and ham and potatoes on his plate. She laughed aloud, loving the very sight of her husband eating his fill.

  She and Jonah ate in companionable intimacy, sharing unspoken words with smoky glances. They had thoroughly discussed preparations for a small reception they were to hold the next afternoon to celebrate the announcement of their marriage. All was in readiness. The few landowners and village dignitaries they had invited had replied positively. Now it seemed to Emma that all they had to do was get through today.

  After Jonah’s valet—who also served as footman—removed their breakfast plates and refilled their cups, the newly wed couple were alone in the room.

  Emma watched with curiosity as Jonah’s face clouded. When his hand began to fidget nervously with the table linen, she could no longer wait for him to speak.

  “Is something wrong?” Emma asked, praying there was not.

  Jonah cleared his throat. “Your stepbrother has found your horse.”

  Emma felt the blood rush in her veins, setting her heart throbbing and her head spinning.

  “My horse! Dear Lord, I…I had thought it would have been safe to sell.” She stood looking frantically for a way out of the trap Jonah had unwittingly set. It should have been safe, since she had expected at the time to be a thousand miles away before anyone discovered the horse.

  “Didn’t you tell them—”

  “Yes, luv, I told the buyer not to take the horse out for two weeks, until after the previous owner had left the area. He seemed to understand my feeble story that it might upset you if you were out and about and saw someone else astride your favorite mare.”

  “Then why would he—”

  Jonah rose to stop her pacing and caught her gently by the arm.

  “He didn’t, luv. But his young son didn’t get the message. He hitched the horse to a cart to deliver eggs to his customers in town. And Marquardt saw them. You can hardly blame the man for recognizing such a grand animal.”

  Emma slowed her breathing, trying desperately to feel the calm that Jonah attempted to induce in her. His hands ran softly up her arms, leaving a trail of warm comfort that she wanted badly to absorb. But she could not.

  “Jonah, what will we do if he finds out where I am?”

  “He’s already found out, luv. He—”

  She stumbled out of his grasp. “How do you know that?”

  Emma watched in horror as Jonah pulled a note from his waistcoat pocket.

  “Because he wrote me saying he would be pleased to attend our Sunday reception.”

  “He what!”

  Emma clung to her husband as he pulled her into his arms.

  “He’s coming, luv. I’m so sorry. But he’s coming. Tomorrow.”

  ~■~

  Emma dressed carefully for the Sunday reception. She had widened the pocket opening of her peach gown to accommodate the small handgun she intended to carry. But when she practiced drawing it out, the small pistol continually snagged on the fabric until she replace the pocket lining with a soft leather insert. Now she could draw it smoothly ten times out of ten, though she hoped she wouldn’t need to draw it even once.

  Jonah stepped into her dressing room, for a moment casting away Emma’s dread as she took in his handsome presence. Even in his pre-war fashion he cut a stunning figure. He came close to draw her to him, even as he dropped his head to touch his forehead to hers.

  He spoke again the simple words that had calmed her each time she’d wakened in the night shivering.

  “Remember that you’re my wife now. Nothing can harm you.”

  She relaxed her hands and brought them up to cup his face.

  “I’m your wife now. Nothing can harm me.”

  She rose on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, but he stopped her and dropped his forehead to hers.

  “All drama aside, are you happy?”

  Emma smiled at the question and looked into Jonah’s eyes. There was no fear, no worry. She saw only a reflection of her own happiness.

  Her answering smile widened his grin as she moved a finger to trace the rough planes of his face. She loved it when he smiled, and kissed him softly. “And there, sir, is the answer to your question.” She kissed him a second time, drawing her hand through his hair to press him closer. She wanted him to feel the full spirit of her reply.

  “We have the upper hand, you know.”

  “Hm?” Emma had been fully distracted by his kiss and failed to understand his statement.

  “We’re in the right here, my love. And we’re on our own territory. In our own house. Gerald will be the one who is out of place. We’ll show him the license and he will not be able to deny its authenticity. He’ll leave in a huff and we will put it behind us and enjoy our guests. Right?”

  “Mm. Yes. Right.”

  With a sudden shift, Jonah sat on the bed and lifted her onto his lap. “Let’s tell Mrs. Jefferies we’ll take a light dinner in our room tonight, shall we?”

  “You’re like a little boy who can’t wait to get out of his church clothes,” she chided.

  He kissed her gently. “After this afternoon’s folderol I thought you might want me all to yourself.” He sneaked another kiss as she gaped at his risqué statement.

  Emma leaned away. “Folderol? Celebrating our marriage is folderol?”

  She swatted him playfully on the arm and pulled him with her into the hallway. “Then let the folderol begin!”

  As they reached the bottom of the staircase Emma was about to capture Jonah for another kiss when Jonah stopped her.

  Carter stood in the center of the foyer, clearly distraught. “My—um, my lord?” His voice sounded strangely different. As if it contained a warning.

  Out of instinct, Emma took Jonah’s hand. They turned toward Carter, and Emma’s heart catapulted in her chest when the saw the man crowding past their agitated butler.

  “Oh my, sister dear,” the man sneered. “You’ve been here all the time, have you? With that look of domestic tranquility you possess one might almost believe you are married.”

  Gerald Marquardt stepped across the vestibule, treading on Jonah’s newly polished Italian slate with his muddy riding boots and bringing with him all the menace Emma had hoped to evade.

  “But you see, I happen to know that no such marriage has been solemnized in the entire County of Essex in a fortnight.”

  Jonah drew Emma close, then stepped in front of her to protect her.

  “I’m sorry, my lord,” Carter said. “I told the gentleman you were entertaining privately, but he refused to leave.”

  “That’s alright, Carter. We’ll see to our guest. But do let Fielding know that I wish him to join us.”

  Emma felt a tremor of alarm. Fielding was the guard. Why had he allowed Gerald to come into the house unescorted?

  If she hadn’t been looking his direction, Emma might have missed the signal Carter gave in return. Something had happened to Fielding. They were on their own.

  Carter hung back, looking as if he hoped to be swallowed up by the very wall near which he hovered. It was just the three of them in the foyer now. Emma stared at the man who had tormented her every day since her father had died. There was a wild look in his eyes as well as a gray paleness to his features. No doubt from too much drink and a lack of proper meals. If she had to find a word to des
cribe how he looked, it would be demented.

  “If you’ve come to see our marriage license, brother, we’ll be happy to produce it for you,” Emma said.

  “Ha! Do you think I would simply take your word that you were married, sister? Do you think I would trust any flimsy document you tried to foist upon me to support your…your fictitious marriage?”

  Emma bristled at his gleeful gloating.

  “No. I had no delusions that you would be so trusting.”

  Jonah placed his arm around her waist and led her toward his study. “Please,” Jonah said as he beckoned to Gerald. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll get our marriage license.”

  “So you insist upon carrying out this ridiculous charade, eh? Well then, by all means. Lead the way,” Gerald said with a sweeping bow.

  When they entered Jonah’s study, Jonah led Emma to the chair behind his desk. But she couldn’t sit. She need to stand in case it proved necessary that she retrieve her pistol.

  “You may have a seat if you’d like,” Jonah said, pointing to one of the wing chairs some distance from Jonah’s massive oak desk.

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Lord Glassborough? Get me off guard, relaxed, at a disadvantage. So thank you but no. I prefer to stand.”

  “As you wish.”

  Jonah stepped around Emma and opened the right-hand desk drawer.

  “Be careful,” her stepbrother said in warning. “Only remove a paper, Lord Glassborough. Nothing more.”

  Emma turned toward her stepbrother and froze. He had quietly moved closer, and held a wickedly long knife-blade in his hand.

  Jonah gingerly removed the formal-looking document from the top drawer and held it out to her stepbrother.

  Emma enjoyed seeing the look of surprise on her stepbrother’s face when he viewed the marriage license with its official seal of London’s Registrar General. She took pleasure in knowing he never expected her to have married. And most of all, she took pleasure in seeing his reaction when he realized he’d never get so much as a shilling from her.