Brotherhood 01 - When Love is Enough

by Laura Landon

  Gabriel read the invitation again, then leaned back against the rough rungs of the chair and smiled a bitter smile. Of course. Appearances were everything to the Duke of Chisolmwood, as they must be to his son, the marquess. How better to put the stamp of approval on his engagement than for his betrothed’s former suitor to be there?

  He swiped his hand over the rough planes of his face. If that’s what it took to get Austin and Harrison out from under Chisolmwood’s thumb, he’d do it.

  What choice did he have, after all?

  He tied the leather straps that sealed the folder and tucked it under his arm, then walked out to the waiting carriage. He needed to give the money to Harrison. Maybe if he were lucky, he’d be there when Harrison threw the money in Chisolmwood’s face. “Take me back to Etherhouse,” he said, climbing in.

  He rode through the city streets silently praying that when he reached Etherhouse, Lydia wouldn’t be there. It was one thing to know he’d have to pretend to be happy for her tonight when the Duke of Chisolmwood announced his son’s engagement.

  He didn’t think he was strong enough to fake such a reaction twice in the same day.

  CHAPTER 22

  Gabriel didn’t arrive at the engagement ball early. Hell, he almost didn’t arrive at all. If he could have, he’d have sent Culbertson’s invitation back with a message of his own, and he doubted either Culbertson or his father would have enjoyed reading what he thought of their manipulations. But what purpose would that serve? He’d played this game of theirs for more than a year, and when tonight was over, he’d be finished with them forever.

  After all, this was no different than some of the missions on which he’d been sent during the war. More than once he’d wanted to quit in the middle and give up, but that hadn’t been an option. Quitting wasn’t an option now either. He’d see this through to the end, and that meant standing in view of all of London as one of the well-wishers when the duke announced Lydia’s engagement to his son. Then he would have completed his final mission for the man he’d discovered to be the elusive Thorn.

  He relaxed his tightened grip around the handle of his cane and looked over the crowd one more time. He spied Harrison against the far wall and headed in that direction.

  “I was afraid you wouldn’t come,” Harrison said when he reached him.

  “I almost didn’t.”

  There was a serious expression on Harrison’s face. “When will you leave London? Yet tonight? Or will you wait until at least tomorrow?”

  Gabriel smiled even though he didn’t feel like it. “It depends on how long my presence is required here.”

  “Or how drunk you get after you leave?”

  Gabriel didn’t answer. The less said the greater success he’d have of concealing how much he hurt.

  “Mind if I join you?”

  “I make a lousy drunk but you’re always welcome.”

  “I’ll bring Austin. You’ll seem pleasant company by comparison. Have you given Chisolmwood the money?”

  Harrison patted his jacket pocket. “Culbertson met me when I arrived and asked that I wait to pay his father until after he announced his engagement.”

  “Did he give a reason why?”

  “No, and I didn’t ask. I don’t care when I pay Father’s debts, as long as I get the bastard out of my life.”

  “We’ll offer a toast to that happy occasion later.”

  “Until later,” Harrison said. “I need to find Austin. He’s no doubt outside. I don’t know what the bastards did to him in France, but since he returned, he doesn’t last but a few minutes confined indoors.”

  Gabriel followed Harrison through the crowded ballroom. They met Austin as he came in from outside. His eyes contained the same haunted look Gabriel had noticed often since they’d returned from France.

  “Just in time,” Austin said, swiping at the sheen of perspiration on his forehead. He pulled at the cravat at his neck, then nodded toward the makeshift dais placed against the wall and decorated with several huge bouquets of flowers. “The performance is about to begin.”

  Gabriel followed Austin’s gaze. Lydia stood amid several other young ladies, each of them dressed in their finest. But none of them compared. Lydia sparkled like a diamond in sunlight.

  The ache inside his chest hurt even more. He reminded himself that he didn’t have to watch when Chisolmwood announced his son’s betrothal, that he didn’t have to see the look of elation on Culbertson’s face when he claimed his future bride. He only had to remain in the crowded ballroom until the announcement was made, then he could leave before the festivities started.

  Gabriel watched Culbertson walk to where the Duke of Chisolmwood waited. When Chisolmwood saw his son approach, the older man’s face lit with a glow that caused the pain in Gabriel’s stomach to tighten. He wanted this over. He wasn’t sure he could watch what he knew was about to take place.

  “It’ll be over soon,” Austin said as if his feelings were obvious for all to see.

  Gabriel didn’t show that he’d heard his friend but stared at the spot where Lydia would join the Marquess of Culbertson when their betrothal was announced.

  As people pushed closer, Gabriel felt their excitement grow in anticipation of the momentous event. Tonight’s happenings would undoubtedly be retold in every sitting room in London for weeks to come.

  The clenching knot in his stomach made him want to walk away as fast as he could. Instead, he leaned against his cane and waited for his world to end.

  He looked at Lydia, at the expression on her face, praying to read her innermost thoughts. Was she happy? Was this as difficult for her as it was for him? Was that a look of pain in her eyes, or was she secretly hopeful as she considered her future as the Marquess of Culbertson’s wife?

  He wanted her to look at him, thought she would feel his presence as was usual when they were near each other. But she didn’t search him out. She continued her conversation with the other young ladies as if she were enthralled with whatever they said.

  Maybe it was just as well. He wasn’t sure he could survive if she looked at him and he saw…happiness.

  He turned away from her. The Duke of Culbertson stepped onto the platform with his son at his side. This was it, then. The final chapter. The last time he would have to give her up.

  There was a loud murmur from the excited crowd followed by a cacophony of shushing sounds. Finally the room stilled enough that one could hear the proverbial pin drop to the floor. Chisolmwood stepped to the center of the stage and held up his hands. The room went silent.

  “Friends, thank you for coming. This is indeed a joyous occasion. I’m glad you are here to share in my happiness. I had an exceedingly long, and monumentally impressive speech prepared for tonight’s event.” He paused while the crowd tittered and guffawed. “But my son convinced me my glowing accolades would only serve to embarrass us both.”

  There was another round of laughter and applause, followed by a gradual quieting before the duke continued. “I intended to tell you how pleased I was that my son had finally chosen a woman with whom to share his life—”

  He held up his hands when several in attendance started to clap.

  “…but he informed me that news of this magnitude should be his to make.”

  There was general laughter at that.

  “So, I’ll let my son, the Marquess of Culbertson, announce his intentions and say nothing more, except to state for all the world that I couldn’t be happier with his choice of a wife. Not only is his future bride a vision of loveliness and the perfect choice to be the future Duchess of Chisolmwood, but she is the woman with whom I’ve dreamed my son would share his life since the day she was born.”

  The crowd broke out in applause as the duke stepped back to allow his son to take the stage.

  The man who was about to announce his engagement to Lydia stepped forward.

  Gabriel couldn’t watch this. He’d had to give her up time and again and it had hurt more each time, but th
is was the worst. Before, when he’d separated himself from her, she’d still been free, there’d still been a glimmer of hope that he could win her back. After tonight, she’d belong to another man.

  He stepped back, preparing to barge through the bodies pressed behind him in his attempt to escape. As if Austin realized his intent, he moved closer.

  “Soon,” Austin whispered just loud enough for Gabe to hear. It was the voice of reason he needed. For Liddy’s sake he had to put his stamp of approval on her match. For Liddy’s sake his presence was necessary so no one would think there were any lingering feelings between them. For Liddy’s sake—

  Gabriel forced his mind to concentrate on the Marquess of Culbertson’s speech.

  “Welcome friends. As my father said, you have been invited here tonight to be a part of a celebration. This is indeed a most joyous occasion, especially for my father, who despaired that this day would ever come.”

  The crowd broke out in loud laughter. When they quieted, Culbertson turned to face his father. “Your Grace, thank you. For everything. Especially for declaring publicly how pleased you are with my choice of a bride. Your acceptance and approval has always been of the utmost important to me.”

  The Duke of Chisolmwood smiled with fatherly pride as the crowd erupted into a lengthy applause.

  After several moments, the Marquess of Culbertson held up his hand for silence. “Everything my father said about the woman I have chosen as my bride is true. She is an exquisite vision of beauty. Her grace and elegance make her the perfect woman to be my marchioness. But those are only physical attributes and not what is important when choosing a woman with whom you will spend the rest of your life.

  “Finding a woman who captures your heart and soul is much more complicated. Many of you know finding a love such as this is often as elusive as capturing the mist. But when you have found that other part of your heart, you are the most fortunate of men. My father, more than anyone, knows what I mean…” The marquess turned to face his father. “…because he once found a woman he loved with all his heart and soul, as I have.”

  There was a rush of sighs from the crowd and Gabriel fought the urge to leap onto the small dais and stifle Culbertson’s declaration of love. How could he profess such a love when the woman he claimed he couldn’t live without didn’t share that same passion? Or had Liddy told him she did? Gabriel gritted his teeth and listened while the marquess continued.

  “I consider myself the luckiest of men because I have found a woman I love with all of my heart.”

  After a series of sighs, the crowd exploded into a thunderous ovation.

  “Thank you for accepting my offer of marriage,” he said, turning his gaze to the corner beyond the small dais where Liddy stood amongst a group of her friends. “You have made me exceedingly happy. I will always be humbled that you found it in your heart to return my love.”

  Everyone knew the marquess intended to marry Lady Lydia Landwell, and they strained to catch a glimpse of her. But Gabriel didn’t look. He didn’t want to see her expression when she smiled at Culbertson. He didn’t want to see the glow in her eyes, whether real or not.

  “The love of my life,” Culbertson said, walking toward the gathering of females with his arm extended and a broad smile on his face. “Lady Emmeline Frendsdale.”

  Gabriel’s heart skipped a beat. Amidst the explosive gasps of surprise that came from the crowded room, he wasn’t sure if it had resumed beating or had forever stopped.

  Strong fingers grasped his arm and he looked first at one brother, then the other. Their expressions turned from ones of surprised shock to elation. Their held breaths erupted in peals of laughter as they realized the ramifications of Culbertson’s announcement.

  “Congratulations!” Austin yelled out, and from all around them hundreds of voices echoed his salutation. Within seconds, the room exploded in thunderous applause and boisterous shouts of approval.

  Had the Duke of Chisolmwood known his son intended to marry Emmeline Frendsdale? Gabriel looked to where the duke stood and realized at a glance he hadn’t. Although there was a smile frozen on his face, anyone with an inkling of what had just happened knew the look of happiness was for the sake of appearances. His sallow complexion and the blazing glare in his eyes said this was as big a shock to him as it was to everyone else in the room. Everyone except Lady Emmeline Frendsdale, whose eyes brimmed with adoration as she focused on the man who’d publicly declared his love for her.

  Gabriel searched for Liddy. He found her adding her enthusiastic applause to the loud cheering in the room. She stood close to Lady Emmeline, and a moment before Culbertson reached them, she gave the marquess’s betrothed a warm embrace.

  The room seemed fixed on the scene before them, watching the interaction between Lydia and Lady Emmeline with rapt attention.

  When Culbertson reached them, he brought Liddy’s hand to his lips as a show of affection, then turned to his betrothed and took her into his arms.

  The onlookers broke into thunderous applause.

  “Follow me, Austin.” Harrison patted the money in his pocket. “We have an appointment with the Duke of Chisolmwood and I don’t want to be late.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Lydia leaned against the low cement balustrade on the terrace and waited. The muffled roaring of excited voices still echoed from behind the patio doors as the guests offered their congratulations on Culbertson’s announcement. It had indeed been a shock to everyone.

  Especially Gabriel.

  She watched him as Culbertson made his announcement and recognized the restrained fury he kept from escaping. His years in the military had trained him to take charge of any situation, to accept nothing less than victory, so she knew how helpless he felt having to stand by while another man announced his engagement to her.

  If the roles had been reversed, she wouldn’t have acted nearly so nobly.

  Her breath caught and she clamped her hand over her mouth to stop the nervous laughter that wanted to escape. She couldn’t believe things had turned out the way they had. Only a few days ago she thought she was the one Culbertson would announce as his future wife. And last night in the dark, she’d told Gabriel goodbye for the last time. Until Culbertson saw her and told her his plan for both of them to escape a life separated from the person they loved.

  God did indeed answer prayers, and the Marquess of Culbertson realized he was as loathe to spend the rest of his life apart from the person he truly loved as she was.

  If everything went as Culbertson had planned, this would be the last time she’d ever have to go through a night like this.

  She paced from one end of the flagstone terrace to the other, stopping before the open doors to listen for his footsteps. The longer she waited, the more anxious she grew. She clutched her fingers around the cement railing and—

  The ballroom doors opened and excited voices from inside spilled into the nighttime silence. She took a deep breath in anticipation, then turned around when the determined thud of his cane hit the flagstones behind her.

  “Have you finally come for me?” she asked.

  “Yes, my lady. I’ve finally come for you. And I don’t intend to ever let you go again.”

  “Good.” The tears she swore she wouldn’t shed ran down her cheeks and she quickly swiped them away.

  He took several steps toward her and stopped when he reached her. “How long have you known Culbertson was going to announce Lady Emmeline’s name instead of yours?” he asked.

  “Since last night.”

  “I see.” He breathed a heavy sigh. “I should be exceedingly angry with you.”

  “You should?”

  “Exceedingly. The torture you put me through took several valuable years off my life.”

  “I have suffered more,” she said as a rebuttal. “Your discomfort doesn’t come close to matching the torture you put me through when you told me you didn’t love me and left me a year ago. Then when Austin brought you back more dead tha
n alive. Then again when Jean-Paul returned with Austin and Geoffery but you weren’t with them. And once more when you delivered us safely aboard the Silver Star and we sailed without you. And last night when you told me goodbye a final time. When I tally the score, you owe me far more in years than I owe you.”

  He smiled. “Let it never be said that I don’t pay my debts. I intend to devote the rest of my life making up for my rudeness.”

  “You most assuredly will. I intend to make sure you do. You may start this moment.”

  He arched his brows in a devilish gesture. “Of course. What service may I offer?”

  “You may begin by holding me.”

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  He gathered her in his arms and his warmth enveloped her. She sighed with relief. “How do you think Chisolmwood will take his son’s announcement?”

  She heard his chuckle beneath her ear. “Publicly? Joyous elation.”

  “Privately?”

  “I don’t know. Your brothers can fill us in on the riveting details when they return.”

  She lifted her head in alarm. “The money! Do they have the money to repay His Grace?”

  “Yes. Culbertson sent Harrison the amount to pay their debt.”

  A heavy weight lifted from her. “Oh, it seems I’m more indebted to Lord Culbertson than I thought.”

  “We’re all indebted to him. Especially me.” He placed his finger beneath her chin and lifted until her gaze locked with his. “I love you, Liddy.”

  “And I love you. I always have. But what I feel is more than love. It’s… it’s…”

  He ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “What do you feel, Liddy?”

  She thought a moment then said the only word that came to her mind. “Consumed.”

  “Consumed by what?”

  “Not what,” she said. “By whom. By you.” She nestled her face against his chest. “Do you know what it’s like to be consumed with thoughts of you day and night? It’s been more than a year since you walked away from me that first time and there hasn’t been a day— No, there hasn’t been an hour that I haven’t wondered what you were doing. Where you were. If someone else was taking care of you, talking to you, laughing with you…” She stopped and swallowed hard. “…holding you.”