Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman

by Woodson, Wareeze

  Adron caught her hand. “I know. I left her maid trying to stay the flow of blood and George went for the doctor.”

  “She’s not dead?”

  “I hope not, but I couldn’t wait. Her maid told me Oather was after you.”

  Laurel couldn’t help being pleased that Adron had placed her safety before Rhonda’s well being and renewed hope welled up. When he’d offered her the chance, she should’ve accepted him, his strengths and weaknesses without letting the past intrude on her decision. “There’s always hope. Perhaps we can help Rhonda.”

  Laurel linked arms with him and descended the stairs. Purposely avoiding looking at Percy’s prone figure, she pushed to Rhonda’s side. “Let me see.”

  “Milady, I don’t know what to do?”

  After examining the wound, Laurel took charge and glanced at Adron. “Adron, carry her to her room. She’ll be more comfortable once we get her settled in her bed. And send the doctor up immediately when he arrives.”

  Moisture gathered on Laurel’s upper lip as she stripped Rhonda, sponged her down and tucked her into bed. At that moment, Rhonda’s lids fluttered open. “Laurel, why would you help me?” she asked in a voice little more than a whisper

  Laurel shrugged. “You’re Robert’s sister. Now keep still until the doctor comes.”

  Tears flooded Rhonda’s eyes. “That makes it worse.” She hesitated, averting her gaze and drew a breath. “Hate’s been eating me up. Perhaps it’s too late but I ask for your forgiveness. Finding that Robert had been murdered because of my greed and jealousy—well it opened my eyes.”

  “Rhonda. Don’t.”

  Rhonda ignored Laurel’s plea. “I hated you when Robert brought you home. I knew I would lose everything and I did. I harassed him until he left me in charge—but I knew. I knew you would win. And then you took Adron too.” Tears tracked down her face. “He’s my cousin but cousins do marry. I wanted him.” She stared into Laurel’s eyes. “I couldn’t see Jamie as Robert’s son, only yours and not a true Laningham. I considered myself the only remaining Laningham therefore the jewelry belonged to me.” Rhonda blinked back more tears. “My selfishness led to this. Blinded by bitterness, I never dreamed Percy and his uncle would murder Robert.”

  Laurel patted her hand. “Calm yourself. I think I hear the doctor now.”

  An hour later, Laurel descended the stairs and entered the parlor. Adron welcomed her with an anxious frown and she hated seeing the pain in his eyes. “The doctor isn’t sure but he said there is hope.”

  George stepped into her line of vision. “I can hardly believe that cur stabbed her.”

  Involuntarily she glanced to the spot where Percy had fallen, thankful he had been removed. Covering her face with both hands, she slumped into a chair as the housekeeper bustled into the room carrying a tray of tea.

  “Your Ladyship. It’s that glad I am to see you home and I came as soon as I gathered my things.” Mrs. Parson set the tray on a low table, wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron and curtsied. “It was my duty to come. Me that’s been serving here since I was little more than a girl.”

  “Thank you for the tea, Mrs. Parsons. I’m glad you’re back as well.”

  Laurel poured the tea with shaking hands and collapsed to gather her thoughts. As she related the day’s happenings, the distress in Adron’s eyes when she mentioned Rhonda’s part in the tragedy, filled her with sadness.

  “I realized there had to be more than one culprit involved, however I still find it difficult to believe Rhonda had a part in stealing from the estate.”

  Laurel shrugged. She tried to keep any accusation out of her tone. “However unreasonable her opinion, she felt the jewels should have been hers, partially from rarely hearing the word nay to anything she wanted.”

  Adron opened his mouth, but closed it again without saying a word.

  She recalled something more. “Oather said Edmond is waiting for him at the dock with the rest of the stolen jewels. When he gained the pendant, he and Edmond intended to sail away with the ill-gotten gains.”

  “Another I trusted.” Adron shook his head. “My record at recognizing a person of character is appalling. Perhaps all is not lost and the Runner can recover the jewels. He has time to reach Edmond before he realizes Oather isn’t coming.”

  “Is the Runner still about?” she questioned and tried to keep her voice from thinning. “He didn’t come when Oather killed Percy. He must have heard the shot.”

  “That’s because Percy hit him over the head earlier. We found him trussed up. That remains me I must send Horace along with the Runner after Edmond. Please excuse me.”

  At last the house fell silent and Laurel sighed. Laurel was comfortable now the bodies had been removed from the manor, but found herself too restless to sleep. The needless deaths at Oather’s hand and his corrupting influence on his two nephews preyed on her mind. She only hoped Horace and the Runner had intercepted Edmond before he made off with the treasure.

  Tension crackled the air around her and she stirred with restless unease, as if there was more to come. Unable to meekly crawl into bed, she wrapped her robe closer to her body and glanced about.

  A sharp rap sounded at the door. Almost with relief from the unsettled atmosphere of her chamber, she opened the door. Adron stood on the threshold. Without realizing it, this was what she’d been waiting for.

  He hesitated but when she smiled into his eyes, he gathered her in his arms, not forcing, but gently holding, allowing her to accept or reject his embrace.

  Laurel placed her palm against his cheek and gazed into his eyes. “Adron, I’m going to marry you.”

  Adron seemed to freeze for a moment, slowly puffing out an inhaled breath. “You certainly know how to pick your times, my sweet. Why now?”

  “Because I love you,” she whispered.

  With a relieved smile he patted her behind. “You’ve loved me for ages. But admit you’ve been in a huff ever since I offered for you in such an unromantic manner.”

  “True.”

  “You’ve been so brave, my love,” he whispered and gently kissed her.

  It had been so long since he’d held her and being in his arms, accepting his kiss seemed so right. She never wanted the kiss to end. She touched his throat with her fingers, feeling his pulse quicken and he deepened the kiss until she could hardly catch her breath.

  He lifted his head, staring down at her. “I love you.”

  She ducked her head and sobs shook her shoulders. “You sent me away. Everything has been completely horrible.”

  Adron lifted her chin with one finger and tenderly wiped the tears from her cheeks. “A very foolish move on my part. I had been wrongly led to believe you loved George but then I allowed myself to be wrongly led about several things.” He still held her with one arm. “I have quite a lot to say to you but I’m not sure where to begin.”

  “The beginning.” She grinned.

  “The beginning brings on a bout of shame so I can barely lift my head. I should be shot for the way I’ve treated you. I fell for you the moment you peered up at me from the over-turned coach. Those big blue eyes so frightened but so brave.” He kissed her brows, one then the other. “I fought my feelings. You couldn’t be trusted. I’d been told you brought my cousin low and I wanted to believe ill of you else I was lost.”

  “Oh, Adron.”

  “My mother set the pace; a beautiful blonde more intent on her own pleasures than with motherhood and then the woman I wanted to marry was the same deceiving witch.”

  “All women aren’t cut from the same cloth.”

  “I know but your presence overwhelmed me. I treated you as horribly as I could, made you work as an unpaid domestic hoping you would show me how right I had been about you. Almost against my will, I lured you into bed. I’m asha
med to admit I hoped to purge you from my system and get on with my life. After all you’d been married. You weren’t innocent and I excused my behavior with those reasons.”

  She gasped. “Outrageous. I’d only been married for two weeks when Robert left for the war. You were a swine.”

  “I know, my darling. I hurt you. I used you for my own ends, but you made me pay for that foolishness. You worked your way inside my heart. I beg your forgiveness.”

  Before she could reply, he kissed her again. When he ended the kiss, he gazed deeply into her eyes, bowed on one knee. “Will you marry me? I pledge my love and honor to you forever.”

  “Very romantic, a sentiment completely absent from your first proposal, and I wholeheartedly approve. In fact, it was quite unexceptionable, and I accept,” she laughed, drawing him to his feet and wrapping herself in his embrace. She unbuttoned his shirt and slid searching fingers against his skin before throwing her arms around his neck.

  He grinned. “Tomorrow we marry, I promise.” Closing the door at his back, Adron carried her to the bed and joined her there. As far as she was concerned, that was the perfect ending for an otherwise horrid day.