Braxton continued to shake his head. “No, you don’t understand. Why didn’t she tell me? I could have sent her back before you married her.” His voice was filled with agony and despair. “I could have—”
“Send her back? To Boston?” Bradford was having difficulty following the disrupted speech. A feeling of dread settled around his heart and he jerked his father-in-law to his feet. “Tell me! You know something, don’t you? For God’s sake, tell me what you’re thinking.”
“It was a long time ago, and I waited until the last was dead before I had her return. So long ago, and yet it seems like yesterday in my mind. My wife had just died and the baby, too, and Caroline and I went to my country home. I had caused some problems for myself with my radical views on Ireland, and Perkins, one of the leaders who opposed me, didn’t take kindly to my interference. He owned land in Ireland, far more than any other nobleman, and the measure I had backed just passed, allowing the Irish Catholics ownership of their own land. I knew Perkins hated me but I didn’t know how evil he really was. To the world he was an upstanding citizen.”
The earl sagged back into his chair and again buried his head in his hands. Bradford forced himself to be patient. He poured his father-in-law another drink and handed it to him.
The earl took a large gulp and then continued. “Perkins sent some men after me. He was going to silence me once and for all. The lands he owned weren’t in jeopardy but he wanted to expand his holdings and I was gaining in popularity. He believed that I would find a way to get the land away from him. Odd thing was, I had already lost the heart for battle. My world was in shambles after my wife died, and all I wanted was to live in peace and quiet with my little girl.
“Caroline was only four years old. She was such a bright child, full of mischief.” The earl took a deep breath and then straightened. “They came during the night. There were only two of them. Caroline was upstairs sleeping but the shouts must have awakened her and she came downstairs. One of the men had a pistol and I knocked it out of his hand. Caroline got hold of it somehow and shot him. He died three days later.”
Bradford leaned back in his chair, clearly astonished by the story.
“It was an accident,” the earl said. “She was trying to bring the weapon to me. She was trying to help. The man had stabbed me and there was blood everywhere. Caroline started running toward me and tripped and the pistol went off.”
Bradford closed his eyes. “My God, she was just a baby.” He shook his head. “She’s never said a word to me.”
“She doesn’t remember.”
Bradford barely heard him. He kept trying to picture Caroline as a little girl and how the horror would have affected her.
His father-in-law’s statement finally penetrated. “I learned that she was terrified of pistols when she was younger. She considered that a flaw and worked until she overcame it.” Bradford’s voice shook and he was powerless to control it.
“Yes,” Braxton returned. “Henry wrote to me about that. My younger brother was the only one in the family who knew the real reason Caroline was sent to him. He didn’t even tell his wife.”
“What happened to the men involved? You said that one of them died three days later?”
“Yes, the shot went into his stomach,” the earl answered. “His name was Dugan.”
“Family?”
“No, Dugan was a loner.”
“And the others?”
“Perkins died last year. The third man was named McDonald. Didn’t have any family to speak of. Only been in London a couple of months. He admitted that he was paid by Perkins but was afraid to testify if I brought charges. As if I would! My baby exposed to such a scandal? Never! And I didn’t know if Perkins would send others or not. Couldn’t trust him, you see. So I packed Caroline off with two of my most trusted friends and then went after Perkins myself.”
“How? How did you go after him?” Bradford asked. His hands were gripping the arms of his chair and he forced himself to relax.
“I went to his home with my pistol. He had two sons and when I got Perkins alone I told him that I had already hired men to kill him and both boys if anything happened to me or my daughter. He got the message. He could tell I meant what I said.”
He waited for Bradford’s nod and then continued, “I thought that the threat was over but I still couldn’t take the chance. Caroline was all I had! I stayed out of politics and made the vow that my baby wouldn’t come home until they were all dead.”
Bradford’s manner suddenly became brisk, businesslike. His wife’s protection was uppermost in his thoughts and there wasn’t time to allow other emotions to interfere. The time for compassion would come later, when he told Caroline.
“All right. So Perkins and the men he hired are all dead. Where does that leave us?” He rubbed his jaw in a thoughtful manner and stared into the flames of the fire burning in the fireplace.
The sound of the clock chiming the hour was the only noise in the room as both men contemplated the puzzle.
“Are you positive that no one else knew what happened? Couldn’t Perkins have told anyone?”
Braxton shook his head. “He wouldn’t have dared,” he commented. “And I didn’t tell anyone but my brother.”
Bradford stood up and began to pace the room.
“What are you going to do?” the earl asked. He was wringing his hands together and Bradford thought he looked as old and fragile as the marquis.
“I’m not sure yet. But the letter makes sense now. Whoever wrote it promised revenge but there were so many other disjointed obscenities that I didn’t pay it any attention.”
“Oh, God, she still isn’t safe! She—”
Bradford interrupted his father-in-law with a curtness in his tone that he couldn’t contain. “Nothing is going to happen to her. Damn it, I have only just realized how much she means to me. I won’t let anyone touch her. I—”
“Yes?” the earl prompted when Bradford stopped.
“I love her.” Bradford let out a loud sigh. “I’ll not lose her now,” he added, making the statement as a vow. “Look, try your best not to worry. Tell the marquis that Caroline is suffering from a cold or something. Convince him that she’s out of bed now and intent on writing to him. That should appease the man until I can formulate a plan of action.”
The earl felt as if a weight he had been carrying since the beginning of time was finally being lifted from his shoulders. He nodded his agreement and walked to the door. “You won’t tell Caroline what I’ve confided in you? There isn’t any reason for her to know,” he stated. “My baby was an innocent in all this.”
Bradford nodded. “I’ll keep silent for now but later, when this is finished, I’ll have to tell her.”
He followed his father-in-law to the front door and made the comment, “Caroline didn’t tell you about the threat because she didn’t want you to worry. And I’ve said very little to her about my thoughts concerning her enemy because I didn’t want her to worry. Each of us has been so intent on protecting each other that we have all lost track. I’ve always insisted on blind trust—” Bradford halted as soon as the words were out of his mouth. He shook his head. “Blind trust. Her exact demand of me,” he acknowledged.
“What?” The Earl of Braxton looked confused.
“She’s given me her love and her trust,” Bradford commented. His voice sounded curt but it was the only way he could control the trembling inside. “Did you know that she sometimes calls me Jered?”
His father-in-law shook his head and frowned, obviously perplexed by the turn in the conversation.
Bradford coughed and gripped the door handle. “Look, I promise to keep you informed. Now go home and get some rest.”
The earl was halfway down the steps when Bradford stopped him with a question. “When exactly did it happen?”
“What?”
“The date, sir, when the men came.”
“Almost fifteen years ago now,” the earl answered.
&nbs
p; “No, I mean the exact date. The day, the month—do you remember?”
“February, on the night of the twentieth, 1788. Is that important?”
Bradford wouldn’t allow his face to show any reaction. “It might be. I’ll be in touch,” he promised, saying nothing more about his suspicions.
But as soon as the door was shut, his expression changed and his worry was clearly visible. He prayed he was wrong, shaking with anger. If his suspicions were correct, then there wasn’t much time left. Only six days to find the bastard! Six days until February twentieth.
Bradford’s hands shook as he made his list of what was to be done. He didn’t go to bed until well into the middle of the night. Tomorrow, after he had set his plan into action, he would return to his wife. That thought calmed him and he realized that he was looking forward to confessing his love and begging her forgiveness. He would go to her as both the Duke of Bradford and Jered Marcus Benton. He knew in his heart that she loved him. And if the power and the wealth and the title disappeared tomorrow, she would remain by his side.
Bradford felt such contentment, such peace of mind when he thought about tomorrow and how he would hold his wife in his arms. He began to think of all the different ways he would make love to her, and fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Milford arrived at Bradford’s townhouse just as his friend was preparing to leave.
Bradford quickly explained that he believed whoever was after Caroline would make his move in just six days’ time but he didn’t explain his reasons. He felt that his wife should be told first, and it would be her decision to tell Milford, or anyone else, about what happened so many years before.
“I would appreciate it if you would come with me to Bradford Place. I could use your help. The more trusted people around Caroline, the better,” he said.
“God, my backside’s sore from yesterday’s ride, but you know I’ll come with you,” Milford returned. “Besides wanting to help, I also wish to hear who apologizes first.” He saw his friend’s exasperation and laughed.
“What makes you think I’ll apologize?” Bradford asked, grinning.
“Because while you’re stubborn, my friend, you’re not stupid,” Milford returned.
Bradford surprised his friend by nodding agreement. “Then you are going to apologize?” he asked.
“On my knees if I have to,” Bradford announced. And then he laughed at his friend’s expression. “What’s the matter? I thought you would be tired of playing the mediator by now,” he commented as he slapped his friend on his back. “That’s why you went to Caroline, isn’t it? To get her to see reason?”
Milford looked sheepish. “Guilty,” he returned. “Now, Brad, no need to overdo it. You get on your knees just once and Caroline will have you there the rest of your life. Besides, she’s ready to come home. God knows, I love her, but she’s—”
“I do too,” Bradford interrupted him.
“What?”
“Love her,” he explained.
“Don’t tell me, man, tell Caroline.”
Bradford shook his head. “I would, my friend, if you’d get moving.”
The twosome barely spoke a word during the journey, taking several shortcuts that lessened the distance from London to Bradford Hills by almost an hour. With each mile that passed, Bradford’s mood lightened.
He walked into the drawing room of his mansion, shouting for Henderson so that he could give him new directions, and then poured himself a portion of brandy. After taking a healthy swallow, he turned to sit for a few minutes. His favorite leather chair was missing and he frowned when he sat in the low-backed chair. He took another drink from his glass and then turned to place it on the tripod table that was always there, next to his favorite chair. Only the table wasn’t there anymore, and Bradford didn’t notice that until he was about to drop his glass.
He frowned over the small inconvenience and then Milford walked into the room, asking his attention.
“Brad? You been inside your library yet?” he asked with mild interest.
Bradford shook his head. His mind was filled with pictures of his wife and he was trying to formulate the way he would tell her what a fool he had been, without sounding like one. He found himself getting nervous, realized he was still uncomfortable with the thought that he was soon going to bare his heart and his soul to the woman he loved. The problem, as he sat there and analyzed it, was that he hadn’t had much practice.
Milford wouldn’t allow him a moment’s privacy and insisted, between bites of the piece of bread he held in his hand, that Bradford follow him into the library. “I believe there’s a message in there for you but I can’t quite figure it out,” he mumbled.
Bradford gave in and followed Milford to the doorway of his study.
“What the devil? Henderson?” Bradford’s shout brought only an echo for a reply.
He slowly walked into his sanctuary, looking around with astonishment. The room was completely stripped. The desk, chairs, books, papers, and even the drapes were missing.
Bradford turned to Milford and shook his head in bewilderment.
“Henderson’s probably hiding somewhere,” Milford decided aloud. “What’s going on?”
Bradford shrugged, frowning still. “I’ll have to hunt down the reasons later. Right now, all I want to do is change and leave for Bradford Place.” He started up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and called over his shoulder, “You’re welcome to one of my shirts if you want to change.”
Bradford paused when he reached the door to Caroline’s room. On impulse, he opened it and took a quick glance inside. Everything was exactly where it should be, and still he frowned. He shut the door and continued to his own bedroom. As soon as he opened the door, he started to laugh. The room was as stripped and bare as his library.
Henderson appeared on the run, with Milford at his side.
“It will not be possible to change, your Grace,” Henderson announced with a dignified air. His face was ruddy red, as if he had been standing out in the cold all morning.
“And why is that?” Bradford asked. He continued to laugh until tears gathered in his eyes.
“Your wife requested all of your belongings transferred. I believed, sir, that it was by your order.”
Bradford nodded. “Of course you did, Henderson.” He turned to his bewildered-looking friend and said, “She took only my things, Milford. It’s a message all right, and not too subtle.”
“And what’s the message?” Milford asked, finding Brad’s laugh infectious. He started to chuckle and didn’t have the faintest clue why.
Bradford showed his exasperation. “All my things were taken to Bradford Place. An imbecil could figure it out. She’s telling me where I belong.” He whacked his slow-witted friend on the shoulder and started down the hall. “How’d they ever get my bed down the stairs, Henderson? Must have taken at least four men.”
Henderson was vastly relieved that his employer had found humor in the situation. “Five, actually,” he confessed. He cleared his throat and then added, “They tried to nab me as well, your Grace. I’m embarrassed to admit that I was forced to hide in the pantry until they had left.”
“Hiding won’t do you any good, Henderson,” Bradford announced when he had controlled himself. “She’ll get you sooner or later. If her mind’s set on having you at Bradford Place, then you might as well accept it.”
“And where will you be, if I may inquire?” Henderson said.
“With my wife,” Bradford said, grinning.
Milford and Bradford set out again, using fresh horses, but it took the full length of time to get to Bradford Place, as the hills in between didn’t allow cutthroughs.
It was close to the dinner hour when they entered the bleak-looking fortress. Only it wasn’t a fortress inside at all. It was a home.
Bradford stood transfixed in the center of the foyer. “She took the beast and turned it into a thing of beauty.”
“Are you referring to yours
elf or our home?” The question echoed from above, and Bradford turned to look up at the top of the steps.
His wife stood there, waiting for his answer. Bradford’s chest constricted and he couldn’t form a single word.
Caroline wanted nothing more but to run down the stairs and throw herself into her husband’s arms. She waited, wishing to see if he was angry or pleased with her first. Her husband continued to look up at her and the longer the silence lasted, the more awkward she felt. She had just changed into a simple yellow gown that made her complexion look sickly. If only she had chosen the blue instead, she berated herself. If only she had known that he was coming! Lord, but her hair wasn’t even combed properly and she knew she looked frazzled.
“You took your sweet time getting here,” she called out, putting the issue of her appearance aside. If she looked a mess, then it was his fault, not hers.
She came down the steps and stood right in front of her husband. He wore such a serious, intent expression, but there was tenderness in his eyes as well. It put her off balance, and she decided that he obviously hadn’t stopped at Bradford Hills on his way here. Otherwise, he would surely be yelling at her now.
Caroline curtsied and smiled up at her husband. “Welcome home,” she said.
She didn’t dare touch him. She knew that once she was in his arms, she would forget all about the speech she had prepared, and she was determined to see that task through first.
She kept her gaze directed at her husband when she greeted Milford. “And did you bring me the money you owe me?” she asked.
Bradford heard Caroline’s question but had difficulty understanding just what she was saying. He could only concentrate on her nearness. She looked so lovely! And, he realized with his first grin, she appeared to be somewhat nervous. He wondered what was going through that delightfully complicated mind of hers.
He didn’t have to wait long for his answer. “You came directly from London? You didn’t stop at Bradford Hills?” Caroline asked the question of his jacket, staring intently at one of the buttons.
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