The Scarlet Bride

by Cheryl Ann Smith

Laura smiled and pulled a second pistol from her pocket. She placed it on a table. “They are lovely pieces, and quite accurate. My father would be proud to know I remembered his training and managed to vanquish Henry before he could harm others.”

  Kathleen nodded. “My husband does like his weaponry. Thankfully, you managed to get to them in time.”

  The women shared a smile before returning their attention to the activity around them. A pair of footmen gathered up the body after rolling it up in the expensive, and bloodstained, Oriental rug on which it lay.

  “We shall look through this new evidence and make a determination of guilt.” The shorter of the two Runners sent Laura a warning frown. “Stay in London until this matter is concluded.” They followed the body out.

  Once the household was left to the family once again, they all gathered in the library.

  “Will someone please tell us everything that happened here?” Miss Eva said. She and the duke had arrived late. “We return from the funeral to a household in upheaval and a dead man in the parlor.”

  “Laura shot the man,” Simon informed them.

  His Grace settled his wife in a chair. “I assume he was our missing murderer?”

  All eyes turned to Laura. She sat on a settee, her hand in Simon’s. “Yes, he was Westwick’s killer and boastfully admitted such. Henry came to kidnap and wed me, hoping to steal Westwick’s fortune.”

  “How odd,” Brenna said.

  “At first I thought he was mad,” Laura said. “Now it appears my marriage to Westwick was official after all. The false ceremony had been part of an elaborate ruse.” She quickly explained everything Henry had told her.

  “Then you are Lady Westwick?” Brenna asked and darted a glance between Laura and Simon. A small smile tugged her mouth. “You never were a courtesan. Imagine the implications of that news?”

  Laura didn’t take offense. “It’s true, though it changes nothing about my life with Westwick. He was still a vile man.”

  “True, but now Simon can wed you,” Brenna pressed. There was a wicked glint in her eyes.

  Simon leaned forward to scowl at his sister. “What Laura and I do is none of your concern. And it does not change my wish to see you marry Chester Abbot. He will open many doors for our family.”

  Brenna’s mouth turned downward. She glared at her brother. “Then I am off to the docks. I understand that an entire fleet of pirates has just landed on these shores. Surely one of them has the virility to get me with child.”

  “Brenna!” the countess gasped. She stood as her daughter strode from the room, and frowned at her son. “Did you have to get her riled? The last time you fought about this, it took me two days to convince her not to row a boat out into the channel in search of a Jolly Roger. Pirates indeed.”

  She walked quickly after Brenna while the duke, the earl, and Simon all chuckled in her wake.

  Laura frowned. “You are horrible, Simon.” She indicated Miss Eva. “You have a duke and duchess to polish up the family reputation. You do not need Chester Abbot. Certainly you can allow Brenna to choose a man for love.”

  He grinned. “Perhaps. I’ll give it some consideration.”

  The conversation turned back to Laura, with the men commenting on her skill with pistols and the women just happy that Laura and Aunt Bernie were safe.

  Finally, the duchess turned to her husband. “I am very tired. I think it is time to return home.”

  Walter rose and helped Miss Eva to her feet. The duke walked to her and took her arm. He led his wife away.

  “I think I shall post a footman outside Brenna’s door,” Walter said. “That girl is far too headstrong for my comfort.”

  “You might also set a guard in the bushes below her window,” Laura offered lightly. “I do not know her well, but she is most determined to thwart a marriage with Lord Abbot. She may use the window to make her escape.”

  The earl nodded, his eyes filled with humor. “Too true. That girl is the reason my hair is sporting gray.”

  The family dispersed, leaving Simon and Laura alone. He stood, pulled her up from her seat beside him, and then eased her down into his lap.

  “Simon, this is entirely inappropriate. Someone could return and catch us.” She pushed against his shoulder. It was no use. He already had his hands locked tightly around her. She stopped struggling. “You are impossible.”

  “Taking into consideration my promise to keep my hands to myself, I will forgo seduction and be the first man to steal a kiss from the new Lady Westwick.”

  Laura’s lids narrowed. “I will allow one kiss. However, if you call me Lady Westwick again, I shall rearrange your nose.”

  “Such a violent nature you have.” He nuzzled her neck. “Now that we are free of the shadow of Westwick and his evil brother, I intend to marry and compromise you for the rest of your life.”

  Marry her? Laura’s stomach flipped. She put her hand between them as he leaned in for the kiss. “Oh, Simon. You are only proposing because I am no longer a courtesan.”

  His eyes darkened. “Is that what you think?” He slid her off his lap and stood. “You think my feelings for you have changed because you’re titled?”

  Laura didn’t know what to believe. He’d mentioned a future together, but she’d assumed as lovers. Any thoughts of marriage had been just that, fanciful thoughts. Now he was proposing marriage on the same day they’d finally rid her of the terror of arrest?

  The proposal was ill-timed and suspicious.

  She crossed her arms. “Your entire focus since I’ve known you has been to marry well. You’ve never spoken seriously of marriage to me until now. Suddenly, my position has altered and you cannot wait to wed me. What am I to think?”

  With angry strides, he walked several steps away. She saw his anger in his posture, felt it in his carriage.

  When he finally turned back to her, there was resignation in his face. “I’ve been falling in love with you since the morning after I left you at the courtesan school. You were standing at the window with such sadness in your eyes that it tugged at my heart. I felt drawn to you as I’d never been drawn to any woman. I couldn’t stay away.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Leaning, he placed it on the sofa table. “I never saw you as a courtesan, a whore. You have always been so much more to me.”

  As Laura sat, stunned, he left the room.

  Slowly, she reached for the box and opened the lid. The ring was magnificent, a ruby surrounded by diamonds in an intricate gold setting. Tears came and, with them, shame. How could she have doubted his feelings? How could she have questioned his desire to wed her? Everything he’d done since the night of the rescue had been for her. Everything. And he’d never asked for anything in return.

  “Simon,” she exclaimed as she slid the ring onto her finger, jumped to her feet, and ran from the room.

  She darted through the house, drawing the curious stares of the servants. She was halfway up the staircase when Dunston called up to her from below.

  “My lord has gone to the mews,” he said and stepped back as she took the steps down and brushed past him.

  “Thank you, Dunston,” she called out as she rushed to the door, jerked it open, and hurried out of the house.

  Thankfully, Simon was still waiting for Horse to be saddled when she stumbled into the stable. She stopped, catching her breath, relieved she’d not have to chase him all the way to Surrey to have her say.

  “Simon.” She slowly approached him. He stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a stall, his annoyance palpable.

  The groom must have sensed the tension. He left them.

  “I’m so sorry,” she began, a hand on her chest. “I’ve spoken without thinking and made you angry.” She clasped her hands behind her back to hide the ring. “Not once since you rescued me had I considered that you’d ever truly want to marry me. And when you blurted it out, I was stunned. If you would like to ask me again, I promise I will give the matter careful consideration.�
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  Simon snorted. “Why would I marry you now?”

  Laura looked at him sidelong. “Because you love me?”

  His eyes flicked upward and he sighed. “There are several women out this season who would make me an excellent wife—all sweet natured, lovely, and ready to bear my children. I would never suffer a moment’s aggravation with one of them at my side.”

  “Yes, those are excellent points.” Laura walked over to him and reached a tentative hand out to his chest. “Still, what about passion and fire and love? Are those not important, too?” She slid her palm down to his waistband. “I do love you madly, Simon Harrington. I want to be your wife.”

  A low grunt rumbled in his throat. “I should have left you to the footmen that night in the rain.”

  She smiled. He was bending. “You’d not change a moment of adventure with me.”

  His hands moved up to span her waist. He drew her nearer. “No, I would not. You’ve stolen my heart. I love you.”

  With that, he dipped his head and kissed her. Laura melted against him with a whisper of a moan. “And I love you.”

  The kiss lasted only long enough for Horse to get restless and nudge Simon. They broke apart with a laugh as the beast nudged him again. “No you don’t, you jackanape. You hurt me once. I’ll not have a repeat of your bad behavior.”

  Simon shifted them out of reach and snuggled her close. “We need to get the ring. I want everyone to see proof of my devotion.”

  She lifted her hand and wriggled her fingers. The ruby sparkled in the dim light. “I’d hoped you’d still want to marry me, because I’m never taking it off.”

  The engagement was met with tempered happiness. Of course, the family was thrilled. However, until the investigation was officially closed, the threat of Laura’s possible arrest cast a lingering pall over everyone, mixing with the sadness over losing Uncle Arthur.

  It was the pleasure Aunt Bernie showed to Simon and Laura upon hearing the news that ultimately eased their minds. The loss of her brother was not diminished, but she knew life continued forward, and she was eager to see Simon and Laura happy.

  Laura was relaxing in a small sitting room at the back of the town house when Simon found her a week after their engagement. She was curled up in a chair overlooking the garden, a book in her hand.

  “There you are.” He walked to her and kissed her head. “I was told I might find you here.”

  She smiled and smoothed out her deep blue dress, one of several new and colorful gowns gifted to her by Simon. She’d first felt out of place with the other women all adorned in black, but the countess insisted she not let their mourning shadow her wedding day. She was entitled to be happy.

  Laura reluctantly agreed, though wore only the darker-colored gowns out of respect.

  “Your mother and Aunt Bernie are twittering over wedding plans, and I found that I needed a reprieve. Though your family is wonderful, you were right. It takes time to get used to the bustle of your household.”

  Simon pulled up a chair beside her. “As soon as the wedding is over, we will use the house in Surrey as our primary residence. It will be more peaceful there.”

  “I am not complaining,” Laura rushed on, her eyes troubled. “I adore your family.”

  “I know you do,” he said to ease her mind. “Still, we must get you used to them slowly. Until we are wed, you may yet flee in terror.”

  Laura smiled and set the book aside. She scanned his face. “You did not come to speak about the many colorful Harringtons. What did you find out from the bankers and solicitors?”

  Simon rubbed the side of his neck. “That they are a humorless lot.”

  “Simon,” Laura said with thinly veiled impatience. “You know that wasn’t what I was asking. Will you leave me in suspense forever?”

  He grinned. “I fear I have both good and bad news. First, you have been recognized as Lady Westwick, legal heir to the late Lord Westwick. The parson was found and the page from the registry confirmed to be official.”

  “That gives me some comfort,” she admitted. “As comforted as I can be while knowing that for over a year, I was tormented by thinking I was a courtesan.”

  It was impossible for Simon to believe any man would not treasure her as a gift. As he looked into her sweet, upturned face, his heart tugged. He would cherish her always.

  “You not only won, sweet, but exacted your revenge.” He hadn’t been allowed to beat Westwick for his mistreatment of Laura but savored a small measure of revenge anyway. “The squire’s daughter became a countess. Westwick would be livid to know that you now carry his name.”

  “There is some satisfaction in knowing Westwick is likely haunting his town house, rattling chains and raging over this turn of events,” she admitted.

  They shared a smile. Then Laura pressed, “Please continue.”

  Simon quickly obliged. “The second piece of news is that Crawford found Josie. She admitted that she’d led Smoot behind the warehouse, but denied knowing Henry planned to kill him. As Henry’s puppet, she is unlikely to face much imprisonment over the matter, and Mariette is keeping her daughter, Marie, until the case is resolved.”

  This was grand news. Knowing little Marie was safe and well was worth everything she’d been through. “If there is anything we can do for them—”

  “Eva has assured me that Mariette’s husband will care for them both. Eva has also offered to help Josie find a more suitable situation for her and the child once her troubles have been settled.”

  Laura sighed. “Your cousin is an angel.”

  Simon screwed up his face. “After what she put me through with you these last weeks, I would not call her angelic.”

  She knew he deeply admired his cousin and any barbs they leveled at each other were all in fun. He’d grown fond of the prickly duchess over the weeks Laura had been in her care. “For Eva’s help and protection, I will always be grateful.”

  Laura realized everything that happened to her from first meeting Westwick, to her escape and the murder, had led her here. Fate had certainly pushed her down a rutted path to happiness.

  The wind fluttered the curtain as Laura stared at the muted sunshine streaming through the window and finally placed the last of the pieces of the mystery together in her mind.

  “Though I am relieved to have been cleared of the murder and legitimized as a wife, I will forever hate the name Westwick. We must wed quickly so I can shed it. I want to be Lady Seymour instead.”

  “All in good time, love. First, we must present you to society at tonight’s party. Please do not scowl,” he urged. “With the family in mourning, there will only be one hundred of our closest friends and family, so you will not feel overwhelmed.”

  One hundred? She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Do not remind me. I have had knots in my stomach since your mother announced I’d be presented at a soiree at Collingwood House. Thankfully, I know how to laugh prettily and discuss the weather; otherwise, I’d be racing for the Scottish border.”

  Simon cocked a brow. “You are a remarkable woman. Everyone will see that. And I will not leave your side all night.” He paused. “Now do you want to hear the bad news?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “The missing guard was found dead in an alley just down from the dress shop. He’d been covered by some refuse. We suspect he was somehow lured there by Henry and killed.”

  “How dreadful,” Laura said sadly. “He died protecting me.”

  Simon squeezed her shoulder. “And you gave him justice.”

  Silence fell over them. Henry had hurt so many in his brief life. Both he and Westwick would not be missed. Finally, she lifted her head. “There is more news?”

  “Unfortunately, Westwick was financially incompetent. He was a man who fell into bad investments,” Simon paused. “There is little left in his coffers.”

  “This was not unexpected.” Still, it irked to think of the misfortune that might have been avoided had this news been known to H
enry. “After all Henry went through to steal the Westwick fortune, there was nothing to steal.” Her fists balled. “I spent over a year under Westwick’s heavy hand, followed by weeks of watching behind me while the killer haunted me. Then I killed the man in the Harrington parlor and it was all for a grand estate that wasn’t.”

  “Do not look so grim, love,” Simon urged. “There are three properties Westwick owned: the one in Suffolk, which is dilapidated; one in Kent, which is fairly profitable; and the town house. You will certainly share a portion of those with whatever Westwick cousin inherits the title.”

  Laura sat for a moment in contemplation. “Whatever I inherit will be sold immediately. I want to be free of anything Westwick touched.” She unfolded from the chair and settled in Simon’s lap on the settee. “I never want to think of him again.”

  She pressed a kiss on his cheek. “I have another reason for wanting to marry quickly. We have not made love since the night of the storm. I am eager to share your bed.”

  Simon ran a hand down her side, taking a moment to cup her breast. “As am I. However, I will not touch you again until you are my wife.”

  “You are a noble man, Simon Harrington.”

  With a last caress, he removed his hand. “There are times when I wish I wasn’t.” He kissed her soundly, then eased her off his lap. “We must ready ourselves for the party. Eva will be put out if we are late.”

  The sounds of music drifted up the stairs as Laura paused on the landing, smoothing the bodice of her gown before settling her gloved hand over her fluttering stomach. This was her entrance into society, and she was certain she wasn’t ready.

  “You look lovely, my dear,” Kathleen said, placing a hand on the small of Laura’s back. “My son will not be able to take his eyes from you.”

  The words were meant to encourage her, yet she felt no comfort. “I told Simon that when I was finally free of poverty, and Westwick, I’d never again be drab.” She looked down at Mrs. Jensen’s bright scarlet French satin creation, bedecked in tasteful ribbons and bows. “Now I think I should change into something more demure. It will be easier to pass the evening unnoticed.”