Secrets of a Runaway Bride

by Valerie Bowman

  She pulled the trigger and the pistol reverberated and pushed her back a pace. When the smoke cleared she eyed the mark. Just a hint off center. Blast it.

  “Not bad.” Jordan whistled.

  Annie shrugged.

  “Do you want me to show you my secret?” he asked.

  Annie nodded. Slowly. Then she swallowed. Jordan was looking far too good today with his dark hair windswept, his white lawn shirt open at the neck, and wearing chocolate-brown breeches and black top boots. She glanced away.

  He grabbed up a medium-sized pistol and brought it back to the mark where Annie still stood. He moved behind her and carefully placed it in her hands. Then he put his arms around her and positioned her arm with both of his own. The smell of soap and horse leather emanated off him and Annie breathed it in. He made her tremble. Oh, why did the man have to be so good-looking? It was like getting shooting lessons from Adonis. Completely intimidating.

  “Do you feel that?” His breath came hot on her neck and cheek and Annie shuddered.

  “Ye … yes.” But she wasn’t exactly sure what he was asking. She felt quite a lot at the moment.

  “Do you feel how the pistol is like an extension of your hand when you hold it this way?” he asked.

  “Uh-huh.” All she could do was nod. She wanted to turn and bury her face in his neck, but instead she swallowed and kept her eye on the target.

  “Cock your thumb, like this,” he breathed, and Annie closed her eyes briefly while he nudged her thumb with his forefinger. “Now stare down the target.”

  She nodded and bit her lip.

  “Keep your eye trained along the top of the pistol. Do you see?”

  She could barely get a yes from her dry throat.

  “Lock your arm,” he commanded, moving his strong, warm hand down to her elbow and squeezing.

  Annie gulped. “All right.”

  “Now,” he said. “Keep your eye on the pistol and the target at the same time.”

  Another nod.

  “Fire!”

  Annie squeezed the trigger, and this time when she was thrown back, it was into Jordan’s arms. He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. The smoke blew into her face and she coughed.

  “Excellent job,” Jordan said, pulling his hand from around her waist. Annie looked toward the target. She’d been so distracted by Jordan’s touch, she hadn’t bothered to see how she’d done. She blinked. A perfect hit in the center, overlapping Jordan’s previous hit.

  “I did it!” she exclaimed, carefully handing him the pistol before twirling around in a circle.

  “Of course you did,” he replied.

  “Thank you,” she said, suddenly self-conscious. “For showing me your trick.”

  “It’s not a trick, it’s a secret,” he replied, a sensual smile on his face.

  Annie glanced away, biting her lip again. “Yes, of course.”

  “Seems you were telling the truth. You are an excellent shot.”

  Annie curtsied. “Thank you.”

  Jordan’s answering smile made Annie wish they were alone in a secluded alcove.

  “My mother was a great shot too,” he said.

  Annie smiled at that. “Ah, no doubt that’s where you get your ability.”

  Jordan threw back his head and laughed. “Yes, no doubt. But you should see Charlie. He’s nearly as good as I am.”

  Annie’s smile faded at the mention of Lord Ashbourne’s third brother. It reminded her that Jordan was intent on finding someone for her to marry, getting her out of his life. And here she was enjoying herself when she should have been writing another letter to Lord Medford asking him to come and retrieve her.

  Annie shook her head. But there was no sense in not enjoying herself, was there? It wasn’t as if she would have such an opportunity again, having London’s most famous shot (and rake) give her personal shooting lessons. A smile played on her lips and a shiver traced along her spine. “Will you show me again, Jordan? I’m not quite sure I’ve got it yet.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Annie was speaking with Jeffries, the butler, when Jordan rounded the corner and found her the next day. He raised a brow. Mr. McGivens and Mrs. Phillips might have been perfectly content with Annie nosing into their affairs, but Jeffries came from a long line of distinguished butlers, all of whom had been in service to the Earl of Ashbourne for generations. Jeffries would not stand for any questioning of his methods or his authority.

  Jordan glanced at the butler’s face. By God, the man actually wore a … smile. Jordan hadn’t seen Jeffries smile since … ever.

  “I’d never quite thought of it that way, Miss Andrews,” the butler was saying.

  “Thought of what what way?” Jordan asked before he could stop himself.

  Seeing his master, Jeffries straightened to his normal regal position. “My lord.” He clicked his heels together and bowed.

  Annie glanced up, a slightly guilty look on her pretty face.

  Jordan waved away the formalities with his hand. “No need for that, Jeffries. What were you discussing? I’m curious.”

  Jeffries cleared his throat. “Why, Miss Andrews was just pointing out that were I to allow some of the footmen to oversee the less important aspects of my position, I would be free to perform the more important tasks with much more care and precision.”

  Jordan shook his head. Jeffries had been famously into everything for as long as Jordan could remember. The footmen detested his overly fastidious manners and the housemaids were unhappy with the way he told them how to do their work. But Jeffries was the head of the household servants and Jordan had always allowed him to handle everything as he saw fit. Now, somehow, Annie had managed to get the butler to see reason? It was nearly impossible to believe.

  “I’m so pleased you agree,” Annie replied to the butler with a tinkling laugh. “Mrs. Phillips has already agreed to ensure the housemaids meet their standards.”

  “It should be quite a relief to me, Miss Andrews,” the butler said with a bow. “Not to have to worry about such things any longer. Seeing to the wine and the silver alone take half my day.”

  Annie beamed at him before taking Jordan’s arm and allowing him to lead her away.

  “I’ve never seen Jeffries so amenable,” Jordan said as they walked toward the terrace.

  Annie flashed him a bright smile. “Mrs. Phillips has just been beside herself dealing with his, ahem, attention to detail, and I thought I might convince him if I appealed to his vanity. After all, butlers are meant to be butlers.”

  Jordan shook his head. “I don’t know what my household did before you came along.”

  Annie playfully slapped his sleeve.

  “No, I’m quite serious,” Jordan replied. “You’ve managed to charm the gardener, the housekeeper, and the butler in just a matter of days. In addition to your driving and shooting skills, I stand very much impressed by you, Miss Andrews.”

  Annie couldn’t squelch her smile. She shrugged. “I’ve got to do something to occupy my time while I’m … visiting.”

  Jordan flashed her a grin. “I’m just glad you’ve stayed out of trouble.”

  “Who says I’ve stayed out of trouble?”

  He winked at her and Annie swallowed.

  They came to the French doors that opened onto the terrace behind the house and Jordan pushed one open and allowed Annie to precede him through it. “Charlie is here and I thought we’d meet outdoors. Perhaps the air will be good for all of us today.”

  Annie nodded and pasted her most enchanting smile on her face. But Jordan frowned. For some reason Jordan didn’t like the idea of her meeting Charlie today after all. He didn’t like it one bit.

  * * *

  Like his older brother, Charles Holloway was tall, dark, and handsome. Unlike his older brother, he had dark brown eyes, a cleft in his chin, and a friendly, welcoming smile. He was a beautiful man. Certainly second to Jordan himself, but she couldn’t help that that rogue was so good-looking.


  “How do you do, Mr. Holloway?” she said with her usual curtsy. “Your brother thinks we should marry.”

  Charlie looked twice, something that reminded Annie of a gesture she’d seen Jordan make a time or two.

  “Pardon?” Charlie said.

  “I’ve beaten you to the chase today, Annie,” Jordan replied with a smug smile. “I met with Charlie before I came to find you and he is neither preoccupied with sports nor in love with another woman.”

  Annie opened her mouth to speak.

  “He’s not that either,” Jordan said with a disapproving stare.

  Annie shrugged.

  Charlie cleared his throat. “Yes, well, now that we’ve established that I’m eligible, Miss Andrews, I would be honored if you would come for a walk with me in the gardens so we might have a chance to speak.”

  Annie nodded and gave Charlie another bright smile. “I should like that immensely. I have quite a lot of questions regarding how your older brother got to be the way he is. I suspect your mother dropped him on his head or something. Though of course I assume it was entirely accidental.”

  Jordan growled at her. “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  “Immensely.” She narrowed her eyes on him.

  Charlie glanced back and forth between the two of them.

  “I’ll be back soon, my lord,” she called in a singsong voice.

  Charlie offered her his arm and they took off together, strolling down the path out into the meadow. Annie was suddenly nervous to be alone with him. Charlie was too good-looking. He reminded her of being alone with Jordan.

  “I trust your journey here was uneventful,” Annie began.

  “Indeed,” he answered. “I always enjoy visiting Ashbourne Manor.”

  Annie bit her lip. “I must warn you, if you meet Aunt Clarissa, she might well say … inappropriate things to you.”

  “If Aunt Clarissa is the older lady I met earlier carrying around a bottle of Madeira, she’s already said a handful of things to me and, yes, all of them inappropriate.”

  Annie flushed. “I’m so sorry.”

  “No need to apologize. I have to admit it was … entertaining, actually. But tell me, how are you enjoying your time here, Miss Andrews?”

  “Your brother has been an excellent host,” she replied, swallowing.

  Charlie looked suspiciously as if he were fighting a smile. “Ah, that’s interesting, considering Jordan told me you’d probably inform me you’d been abducted by him.”

  Annie’s eyes went wide and she clutched Charlie’s sleeve. “He told you that?”

  Charlie nodded. “Yes.”

  Annie began walking again. “I’m surprised he was so … forthcoming.”

  “So, tell me, do you consider yourself abducted?”

  Annie stopped again. This time she bent to pluck a pink aster from the ground and pushed the pretty flower behind her ear. “Abducted? No. More like … diverted.”

  “A nice way to put it.”

  Annie expelled her breath. “I cannot blame your brother for losing his patience with me, Mr. Holloway. My sister asked a very large favor of him and he’s just doing his best to keep his promise.”

  “You sound resigned to your fate. A very different picture than Jordan painted. I think he expects you to bolt at any moment.” Charlie chuckled.

  Annie smiled at him. “I wouldn’t give your brother the satisfaction of telling him I’ve changed my mind.” She winked.

  “So it’s like that between you?”

  Annie slid her arm back through his and resumed their walk. “If you mean combative, then yes. Your older brother can be quite dictatorial, or haven’t you noticed?”

  Charlie laughed then and Annie once again thought how handsome and friendly he was. “Yes, I’ve noticed, Miss Andrews, or do you forget I grew up with him? Jordan’s only a year older than I am. But he’s always been quite sure his way is best.”

  “I know how you feel,” Annie replied, with a sigh. “My older sister, Lily, is the same way. She’d live my life for me if she could.”

  “Forgive me, but I take it your sister isn’t any more fond of Arthur Eggleston than Jordan is.”

  Annie’s face heated. She glanced up at Mr. Holloway. “He told you about Arthur?”

  Charlie nodded. “Yes. I hope you don’t mind. Jordan was just explaining to me why he was looking about for other—shall I say?—eligible gentlemen.”

  Annie expelled her breath. “I should have expected that. Once again, he’s quite sure he’s right.”

  Charlie helped her step over a log that had fallen across the trail. “And you’re so sure he’s wrong?”

  Annie turned to face him. “The truth is, Mr. Holloway, just between you and me, of course.”

  “Of course,” he promised, laying his hand over his heart. “On my honor.”

  Annie glanced back toward the house. “The truth is I do think he’s right. About Arthur, that is.”

  Charlie nodded. “Why the change of heart, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. I’ve only just met you. You’re very easy to talk to. Do you know that?”

  “Both a blessing and a curse, I assure you. However, in this case, it is decidedly a blessing.”

  Annie glanced back at the house again. The wind blew the curls around her face and she pushed them aside with the tips of her fingers. “Arthur promised me he wouldn’t let anyone come between us ever again.”

  “And?”

  “And when Jordan came to get me, Arthur just … left.”

  Charlie winced. “It doesn’t sound very noble of him.”

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t believe it. And the truth is, your brother has seemed much more concerned about my reputation than Arthur ever did.”

  “Jordan may be controlling, but he is full of honor. Of that I can assure you.”

  Annie eyed him carefully and decided to ask the question that had been lingering on the tip of her tongue ever since she’d been alone with Charlie. “Do you know what happened? With Jordan, years ago? Who he made a fool of himself over, I mean?”

  Charlie’s eyes went wide. “Who told you Jordan made a fool of himself?”

  “He did.”

  “I wouldn’t say he made a fool of himself. Just a bad decision. A mistake. We all make them. But Jordan tends to be extremely hard on himself when he does.”

  Annie searched Charlie’s face. “What happened?”

  “Now that, Miss Andrews, I cannot tell you. You’ll have to ask Jordan himself. It’s not my story to tell. But I know he likes you very much. He told me so. I’m sure he’ll answer whatever questions you have.”

  Annie’s face fell. She hitched up her skirts in her hand to avoid dragging them through a mud puddle. She wasn’t about to ask Jordan to tell her the story. She sighed. “Yes. He’s done everything to help me, including bringing me out here and even introducing me, to you and your brothers. I’ve only now realized what high regard he must have for me to do so.”

  Charlie gave her a conspiratorial grin. “You know what I think, Miss Andrews? Just between the two of us?”

  Annie smiled. This time she placed her hand upon her heart. “Upon my honor.”

  “I believe my brother holds you in very, very high regard indeed.”

  * * *

  “So what did you think of her?” Jordan asked Charlie several hours later when the two brothers were kicked back in Jordan’s study enjoying a brandy.

  Charlie propped his booted feet on the desk in front of him. “I think she’s lovely, intelligent, funny, and quite nice.”

  Jordan felt a twinge of jealousy. Unexpected and entirely unwelcome. He forced himself to relax back in his leather chair and smiled a smug smile. “There. I knew at least one of my brothers would have some sense.”

  Charlie cleared his throat. “The more important question, however, is what do you think of her?”

  Jordan bli
nked. “What do I think of her? What does that matter?”

  Charlie took a long drink. “I think it matters very much.”

  Jordan’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

  “For one thing, I haven’t seen you this interested in a young lady for about, oh … five years.”

  Jordan allowed a dark scowl to creep across his face. “Interested?” He snorted. “Hardly. You know Colton set me to watch after the girl. She’s his sister-in-law, for God’s sake.”

  “Yes, and did you not tell me last month you planned to check in on her once or twice and leave it at that? And now she’s living here?”

  Jordan rolled his eyes. “She’s hardly living here. She’s merely proven more difficult to manage than I’d anticipated. She’ll be gone in little more than a week.”

  Charlie shrugged. “Proving more difficult to manage than you’d anticipated I can well believe, but it seems to me that trying to marry her off to your brother is beyond your promise. Is it not?”

  Jordan tossed back his drink and shrugged this time. “I told you, the girl fancies herself in love with Arthur Eggleston of all people.”

  “So?”

  “So, Eggleston is a twit. He’s proven that time and again.”

  Charlie gave him a skeptical glance. “So the only reason you’re interested in this girl’s future is to keep her from making a match with Eggleston?”

  “It’s as you said—she’s smart, pretty, clever. She’d make an excellent wife and mother.”

  “I agree.”

  Jordan swallowed. He’d expected this to happen. Planned it, actually, but now that the moment was here and Charlie seemed to be smitten with Annie, he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of … regret. He cleared his throat, a dark mood suddenly coming over him. “So, you do want to offer for her?”

  Charlie threw his head back and laughed, then downed the last of the amber liquid in his glass. “Absolutely not.”

  Jordan scowled at him. “But you just said she’d make an excellent wife and mother. She could be the mother of the future heir to the earldom.”