by test
“Mother, please! Just let me explain my position to you .…”
She cleared her throat. “Now, now, Hart, I’m not finished. You took off to England before I could talk some sense into you. Then, I hear you went straight to Scotland. You could have been recognized—you should have been recognized. You might think everything has gone according to your plans … you might think you picked the perfect time to act out on Mallory—but something went wrong—I can tell that by not even asking. You didn’t hurt anyone did you?”
A pregnant pause hung between them. At length, he broke the silence.
“Might I speak now?” he asked tiredly.
“I just asked you a question, of course you can speak now … really, Hart.”
“No one was hurt.”
“That little boy looks like he’s been scared witless. Mallory and Gemma are connected, aren’t they?” She screwed her face up in concentration. “Oh, no, Hart.
Gemma is Emma St. Martin, isn’t she?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know why I’d be able to pull the wool over your eyes, mother,” he chuckled nervously, clearing his throat. “One thing I can assure you of, mother, is that Gemma’s name is Gemma.”
“I have the papers announcing her engagement to that Kilworth fellow around here somewhere … I know they referred to her as Lady Emma St. Martin, the eldest of the St. Martin girls. I believe there are five other sisters?”
“Yes. The writer of that article was mistaken or they did it on purpose. Go ahead though, call Gemma, Emma and I’m quite certain you’ll get a roaring good reaction out of her.”
HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 90
“Okay, then. She’s Gemma St. Martin, I’ll take your word for it.” She inclined her eyebrow at him, doubt still glittering in her eyes.
“Take my word for it, she’s married to me—I had to get the license issued, and thanks to Mallory, he gave me all of the pertinent details such as date of birth, and full Christian name.”
“Mallory? You had him helping you to take your revenge against him?” she
sighed. “I shouldn’t want to know … I shouldn’t ask how you managed that … but I can’t help myself, I must know more details.”
“It’s a complicated matter, mother. Mallory didn’t like Lord Kilworth and in that regard, I completely agree with him. He was right in not wanting his sister to be chained to that despicably wretched man. I saw an opportunity, and I pounced on it.”
“You said you were going to go and just give Mallory the fright of his life. Does he even know that his sister is alive?”
“You wanted me to get back at Mallory,” he pointed out.
“I’ve been agonizing over that decision for days, Hart. It’s taken us years to put our wheels in motion, and then, when it came to actually making our plans come to fruition, I got skittish. Hurting one of Mallory’s family members wouldn’t just hurt Mallory it would hurt his mother, and his wife as well. What right do I have to do that? I have no ax to grind with the rest of the St. Martin’s. By all appearances, Gemma looks like a lovely lass. She certainly was granted the infamous St. Martin beauty. As for Charles—he shouldn’t be living in fear here. I take it he’s the boy the Duke adopted? I want you to make it quite clear to him that no one’s life is hanging in the balance. Then, I’d like you to send a message to Mallory’s mother. You must assure her that Gemma is safe and sound. You don’t know how mothers worry about their children. For all she knows right now, Gemma could be dead or worse—”
“I know.” He heaved out a shattering sigh. “I see what you’re trying to say, mother. I will send a message to the Dowager Duchess straightaway.”
“Thank you. As for the Duke, we will make him stew it out a bit longer. I’d like to see him sweat a while. He doesn’t sound like the sort of man I’d like to know—and now we are related to him by marriage. Thanks so much for that, my dear.”
“He will be coming for me.”
“Well, if you think I’ll let him take another son from me, he’s got another think coming. If he is intelligent enough to figure out where you are, then, he will have to face me. I have a big bone to chew with him.”
Her eyes filled with pain … he hated seeing her look this way. “Mother, I will make him pay. I will make him feel the pain you’ve felt.”
“If he loves his sister like I suspect he does, you are already making him pay.
You showed him that he is not as powerful as he thinks he was—you successfully knocked him down a peg or two—I’m sure he’s been properly humbled. Now, do go and fetch your brother back from that little slut’s bed. He needs to get an earful from me as well. Maeve has told me what he did at Mallory Hall. I know Maeve was out in the thick of it, watching to make sure the two of you didn’t get yourself killed. Shooting the butler! Drawing Mallory’s blood—I swear, his viciousness sometimes scares me. I don’t know what to do with him when he gets into one of those moods.”
“He would never hurt you, mother.”
“I know—the bloody braggart adores me, but sometimes, he leans a little too far HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 91
toward his mother’s wayward ways. You know how she ended her life.”
“I know. We will keep an eye on Richard and ensure that he walks the line. He has never demonstrated his mother’s mad ways. He’s never tried to kill anyone the way she tried to kill you. And, as long as we keep a watchful eye on him he will be fine.”
“That relieves some of my worry. As long as you always stay close to him—he shouldn’t give into the little monster that always sits on his shoulder.”
“That will happen over my dead body.”
His mother shuddered. “Do not jest over such grave matters, Hart. Don’t ever gamble with your life. I’ve lost one son … I refuse to lose another. Gambling with your life is sheer recklessness .…”
“I already have gambled with my life. I married Gemma.”
“Then, you are properly married to her?”
“As properly as you and father were married.” She nodded her head in
understanding.
“It would seem then, that the two of you are stuck together through thick and thin, until death do you part. I still miss him—it’s probably why Richard scares me sometimes. He is so like his father in some ways, and in other ways, he follows his mother. He does have that charismatic charm that your father possessed. I can only take solace in the fact that Joseph is now keeping your father company in heaven.”
“The two of them are both keeping an eye on all of us.”
“Speaking of keeping an eye on people, did you allow Gemma to have full run of the grounds?” Her eyes filled with curiosity, as she craned her neck to look at the windows.
“No … why?” Apprehension flared through him. His mother looked behind him.
“Because, at the moment, she’s leading Charles out onto the grounds, and I think she’s going to take your horse.”
“My horse? No one can get near Warrior except for the ones that he knows—he doesn’t know her.”
“Well, he’s letting her mount him. She’s some horsewoman if she even managed to get near Warrior.”
“Indeed. She’s a hell of a horsewoman. I’m not that surprised that Warrior has allowed her to mount him.”
“And yet, you aren’t worried—” she sighed. “The calm you are displaying is quite puzzling, Hart, my dear. This just isn’t like you .…”
“I’m not worried because she isn’t going anywhere .…”
“She’s a hell of a woman if she thinks she’ll get off this island without you knowing about it. Did you tell her that our family runs this island?” she asked, humor curling her lips into a faint smile. “She’s got gumption, I’ll give her that boon.”
“I might have failed to mention the fact that we own and run the island. She thinks we’re in Ireland,” he chuckled.
“It would seem to me Hart MacKinnon that you’ve failed to mention a lot of
t
hings.”
“Maybe,” he said carelessly, giving her a lopsided grin, to which she snorted at.
“You will never get her to fall completely in love with you when you’ve based your relationship on lies.”
“Why not? Her brother managed that with his wife. I might as well follow his HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 92
stellar lead.”
“You are not Mallory St. Martin . Remember that … and never aspire to be like him. Never! To jest of such things is just ridiculous! Mallory St. Martin is a man that I want as far away from me and mine as possible. If I see him walk on these grounds, you won’t have to worry about taking action against him. I’ll be showing him a thing or two!
Pray, never say you’re following in his footsteps again! It’s enough to get Maeve to pull out the smelling salts on me!”
“I won’t, mother, don’t fret,” he said softly.
“Now, would you like to go after your wayward wife, or would you like me to help you?”
“I can handle her on my own, but thank you for the offer.” He laughed.
“You are welcome, just a word of the wise. Gemma’s not the type of woman that will sit idly by while you tell her when to jump or talk … she won’t be controlled.”
“I know. But then, why should I expect her to tow the line that most wives tow?
She’s just like you.”
His mother’s blue eyes flashed. “I will take that as a compliment, since she’s already halfway to town.”
“Damnation.” He jumped up and flew out the door.
* * * *
“Aunt Gemma, how are we going to get back to England?”
She kept a firm hand on the reins while she considered this decision. Charles sat in front of her while she had her arms wrapped around him to reach the reins. The horse had been troublesome at first but he’d soon settled down.
“I don’t really know, Charles. You are the one that is adept at sea travel.”
“I can’t sail a ship when I don’t know where we are going … besides, I’m too young to run a ship, especially when we don’t have an able crew we can trust. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find one of your—one of Mallory’s ships when we get to the docks,”
Charles said hopefully.
“I don’t think so. I doubt Mallory even knows of this island. Do you happen to know where we are, Charles?”
Their voices carried over the whipping wind. A gale was starting to brew, and soon they’d be doused with water.
“I think we’re off the coast of Scotland, Aunt Gemma. I could be mistaken
though.”
“Then, we’re on a Scottish Isle.” She nodded her head thoughtfully. Of course, it all made sense. Hart’s family most likely ran this Isle. Apprehension tickled her scalp.
“Probably.” Charles shivered.
“I know it’s getting chilly, Charles. I shouldn’t have run … I’m sorry.”
“You are supposed to try to escape your kidnapper—but I don’t think you’re
supposed to escape your husband. Aunt Elizabeth never tries to escape Uncle Mallory.”
“Maybe she should. It’s actually quite nice not having Mallory watching over my shoulder to see every move that I make. He takes stock of every little move I make, I swear he just hovers so he can find something to give me a chastising for!”
“Then, why are you trying so hard to find your way back home? We’re okay …
Hart’s mother is actually quite nice. She told me to call her Mother Margaret.”
“Mother Margaret? So that’s her name? Margaret Lennox MacKinnon.”
HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 93
“I guess so.” Charles sighed. “I’m awfully cold … couldn’t we just go back to Skylark Castle? I’m so tired and cold. I’ve gotten soft since Uncle Mallory found me and took me away from my wretched mother—I’ve grown accustomed to the pampered life. No more sleeping on the floor of a ship for me!” He yawned. “I was promised some pudding too, that I didn’t get before you whisked me away. I want to go back to being catered to.”
“You do?” She laughed. “You are still a little scalawag … but you’re right, you’ve become more lord than little scamp. We shall go back … the next time I’m foolish enough to runaway, I’ll go without you, and come back for you.”
“I don’t think you should go at all, Aunt Gemma.” She slowed the horse to a canter. “Uncle Hart loves you.”
“Now he’s Uncle Hart? What happened to you, Charles? Did Hart’s mother
bewitch you? With those crystal blue eyes of hers, and her flaming red hair, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was part witch .…”
“I don’t know why I’ve changed my opinion of him—I guess he’s grown on me.”
“He’s threatening you, isn’t he?”
“No. He told me that he wasn’t going to hurt me, and then his mother told me the same thing. They’re not frightful people, Aunt Gemma. They are so nice. I think they’re just as nice as your family. Why do they hate Uncle Mallory so much?”
“Because they think he took something very precious from them.”
“Did he?”
“I believe so.” Fear rippled through her heart, coupled with a thundering dread.
“Then, he should give something precious to them in order to make up for the sins of his past. He should give you to them. It’s only proper—it’s the only honorable thing to do.”
“I’m not his to give.”
“Aye, but he thinks you are. Uncle Mallory thinks the world of you, Aunt
Gemma. He really does care about you. He cares about all of his sisters. I wish I had a sister.”
“You have Susan.”
“I guess.” Charles leaned back into her. “When we get back to Skylark Castle can we have some of Maeve’s hot chocolate?”
“Yes. I think we just might be able to get Maeve to make us some of her hot chocolate.”
“She’d give Seamus some great competition. He thinks he’s the best hot
chocolate maker in the seven seas … he’d be a might bothered to know that someone is vying for his crown.”
“I think he would.” She laughed. She’d turned the horse around and now was riding back in the direction they’d come from. That’s when the heavens opened up and poured buckets of rain down on them.
“Now, I’m really cold.” Charles’s teeth started to chatter. She inwardly agreed with Charles. She was numb to the bone. The rough sea wind from the coast was making it hard for her to see one foot in front of her.
“Just hold on, and we’ll be back to the castle in no time.”
“Okay .…” His voice was lost on the howling wind.
She wrapped the cloak she wore closer around him. Her hood fell off and rain HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 94
drenched her head. She sneezed. She was going to catch her bloody death.
“Gemma!”
She heard Hart’s call with relief flowing through her heart. She was so happy to hear his voice, that she even welcomed facing his wrath. He had done his research well when he’d chosen to whisk her away to this isle. They were screwed royally. She couldn’t escape him no matter how hard she tried, or how far she ran. He’d always find her and haul her back to his side. Her body was growing weak.
“Aunt Gemma? Are you okay? You’re shivering really badly. I guess you aren’t used to this harsh and damp weather. We used to get rained on all the time back when I was on my ma’s ship. She never let me sleep below … so I was stuck trying to find someplace to sleep on deck that wasn’t too cold or wet. I don’t think you have the constitution for this type of weather though .…”
“I’m fine, Charles. I just feel a bit under the weather.”
“Well, it’s a fine time to feel like that when we are out getting the worst of the elements.”
“I know, Charles.”
“You should stick close to Uncle Hart from now on. He really does know best.”
“You know, Ch
arles, Hart isn’t the boss of me.”
“I know—you think you’re the boss of him,” Charles chuckled.
She fell silent. How could she argue with Charles? He was right. Hart and she were at each other’s throats because they both wanted to be the one in control. Maybe if each of them just came halfway, they’d be set.
“He’s a good man,” Charles said.
“And you’re a good lad.” She slumped forward on the saddle. Her lungs were burning again, and instead of feeling cold, she was now feeling oh so cold. Her fingers felt like they were going to freeze right off. How could it be this cold in March?
“Charles, I think you should take the reins, until Hart gets here.”
He turned to look back at her. “You’re burning up with fever … what’s
happening to you?”
“I think I must have caught something before we left England … and now it’s finally hitting me.”
She coughed. Had Susan been sick? Now, the entire hall could be down with a fever. She only prayed that Susan would be able to weather the storm.
“You’ll be alright, here comes Uncle Hart … and oh, no, that wicked Spaniard is with him.”
“My dear, that wicked Spaniard is his brother.”
“I know … but that doesn’t make him any less wicked.”
She smiled. Hazy images filtered through her fevered brain. Images of England, and Scotland … they all melted into each other. She could hear Mallory and Andrew laughing as they chased her through the St. Martin Castle gardens.
“Gemma?” She was slipping off the horse, even though Charles was trying to
keep her from falling.
“Uncle Hart, she’s really sick … she’s just raging with fever.”
“We have to get her to mother and Maeve.”
“I’m worried for her .…” Charles cried.
“She’ll be fine, boy.” She could hear Richard speaking in the background. “She’s HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 95
just too bitchy to die.”