by Bobbi Smith
With that Matt slowly closed the door, and Noah stood silently in the hall, lost deep in his thoughts.
CC nimbly climbed the tree’s supportive branches and with amazing agility levered herself into her bedroom through the unlocked window. As quickly as she could, she stripped off her disguise and hid it in the armoire before donning her dressing gown and sitting down at the dressing table to brush out her tangled locks.
She had thought that she would be calmer by the time she reached home, but even after stopping long enough to report back to Ryan, her emotions were still reeling from her contact with Noah. Though the memory of what had almost happened between them sent chills of excitement up her spine, she thanked heaven that Matthew had shown up when he had. If they hadn’t been interrupted, they no doubt would have made love, and CC knew that she could never let that happen again.
Drained by the strain of the night, she didn’t even bother to put on a gown, but curled up on the bed just as she was. Sighing, she hugged a pillow near and pulled the counterpane over her for warmth. Gradually she grew warm and the tension eased from her. In that last half-awake, half-asleep moment when her defenses were totally down just before sleep claimed her, CC whispered his name with the softness of a sigh. “Noah.”
Noah was awake. Try as he might, sleep would not come, and so he stood now at the window in the concealing darkness of his room, staring out at the star-studded night sky. The evening had been a total disaster. His unexpected encounter with CC, the discovery that they were being watched, and his subsequent fight with Matthew had left his nerves raw and on edge.
Noah bitterly resented Matt’s timing in walking in when he had, for he had been on fire with the need to make love to CC again. She was gone now, perhaps this time for good. Even though he knew that his desire for her had not lessened, his body still burned with passion for her and he was helpless to do anything about it. He could not go to her and seek her out, for he felt without a doubt that she would refuse his advances. With the heat of his loins throbbing in an almost painful reminder of the sweetness of her body curved so perfectly to his, he made his way back to the bed and lay down, trying to turn his thoughts to other things…to Matthew….
Matthew. A lurching emptiness filled him at the memory of his brother’s steely determination. He knew it had been pushing to ask him to stay away from Faith and the rebels for a time, but wasn’t the ultimate success of their venture worth the sacrifice? Even as Noah thought the question, he knew what Matt’s answer to it would be. There was no sacrifice too great for love. None.
Miserably, Noah closed his eyes and rested a forearm across his brow as he gave a low, defeated laugh. He had thought love was his purpose in restoring the Kincade name. He had grown up being tutored in the importance of family history and family traditions. He had been indoctrinated with the importance of carrying on the Kincade name, of maintaining the many estates and houses and, above all, of doing nothing that would detract from the honor of the Kincade family. He had been taught that his pride in being a Kincade went before all else.
His entire life until just recently had been directed by those teachings. Then the changes had come—first with his father’s death and then the discovery of his father’s betrayal of all that Noah had been told was important. The losses had been so vast that they had raped the Kincade fortunes and rendered the heirs near paupers. Noah, trapped by the cruel twist of fate that had stripped him of everything else, was left with only his pride intact. It was that pride that drove him on, relentlessly, to reclaim all that had been lost.
Still, as he lay alone in the silent blackness of his rented chamber, Noah could not help but wonder at the price he was going to have to pay to achieve the goal he had set for himself. His pride had already cost him Matthew, and he wondered if the final end would be worth it. He might very well restore the Kincade name, honor, and riches, but when he finally did, would anyone care?
The thought echoed hollowly through him, and he muttered a curse into the darkness. It had to be worth it. Just because his father had been weak didn’t mean that he was. He would not deviate from the course he’d set for himself. He would do what he set out to do. He would concentrate on business and rebuild it all. But even as he vowed to himself again to continue, his fervor was gone; instead, suddenly, it all seemed an uphill battle with little real reward at the end.
Troubled, Noah sighed deeply, seeking sleep but knowing that his thoughts were too confused to court real rest this night. When at long last sleep finally did come, he dreamed of England and Kincade Hall in the frigid, barren, lonely months of winter.
Chapter Eighteen
Matt swung down from the carriage as it drew to a stop before Faith’s house. Though he had just left her a short time before, he felt a driving need to see her again. His encounter with Noah had left him feeling jaded and slightly embittered, and he needed the warm, healing sweetness that only Faith could provide.
“You be wanting your trunk, sir?” the driver called down.
“No. I won’t be staying here. Wait for me. I shouldn’t be too long.”
Knowing that at this time of night there was little call for his services, the driver readily agreed to the delay.
Faith and Ruth were surprised by the knock at the door. Faith hurried to answer it, thinking that there must be an emergency of some kind for them to be getting a visitor at this time of night.
“Matthew?” Her surprise was as real as her delight to see him again so soon after they’d parted. “Come in…. Is something wrong? You look worried.” She took his arm and drew him into the welcoming glow of her small home.
“Faith? Did I hear you say that…Why, Matthew, it is you….” Ruth was puzzled as she greeted her future son-in-law.
“I’m sorry to bother you again so late in the evening, but I wanted to let Faith know that I’ll be changing residences.”
“What?” Both women were astonished and confused. “But why?”
“Noah and I had a disagreement of sorts, and I decided to sever my connections with him. I’ve moved out of the Red Lion, and I’ll be taking a room at the inn near here,” he tried to explain.
“Your argument with Noah must have been very serious for you to take such drastic measures,” Faith said softly as she took Matt’s arm and guided him into the parlor. The muscles in his arm tensed beneath her hand at her words. Though he said nothing else immediately, she quickly perceived the gravity of the situation. “You and Noah are very close, aren’t you?”
“We used to be,” he supplied grimly.
“Can you tell me about it?” she urged, wanting him to be open and honest so she could somehow help to ease the distress he was obviously feeling.
Matt raked a hand nervously through the thickness of his dark hair. “There isn’t much to tell. We had a major falling out over something, and I decided that it would be better for us to part.”
A pain seared through Faith as she thought she knew the reason for their separation.
“It’s because of me, isn’t it?” she asked, her eyes trapping his and forcing the truth from him.
“Only indirectly,” Matt managed, glancing toward Ruth and then back to Faith. He knew he owed her the complete truth, for only then would she be able to understand everything.
“I don’t understand….”
“You know how I explained to you about Noah’s and my situation.” He waited until she nodded. “Before we left England Noah was determined to make as much money as he could very quickly. He discovered while making inquiries into the most profitable goods to ship that some of the groups supporting revolution here would buy arms at a premium price.”
“Yes, so?”
“I need your secrecy on what I’m about to tell you.”
“Yes, of course. You know we’d do nothing to harm you or your brother.”
Matt knew he could trust them implicitly and told them, “Noah has contracted to sell the Sea Pride’s arms shipment to the rebels here.”
The news pleased both the women. “But that’s good news, Matt. He’s not as averse to our cause as you led us to believe,” responded Faith.
Matt couldn’t prevent a weary laugh. “I’m afraid you’re reading nobility into this where there is none, love. Noah didn’t do it because he cared, he did it to make money. Period. He’d sell the damned weapons to the devil himself if there was a profit to be made.”
The pleasure of the moment faded before his explanation.
“Anyway,” Matt continued, “Noah just found out that someone has been following him, keeping track of his movements about town.”
“But why? Did someone find out?”
“We don’t know, but logically it fits since I am getting involved in things with Ben and we are engaged….”
“You think they’re watching Noah because of you?”
“It’s the only possibility that makes sense,” he sighed. “The arms are due in at any time now. Noah wanted me to stop seeing you and to stop attending the meetings until all the business transactions had been completed. I refused.”
Faith’s expression was troubled as she met his gaze. “I do not want to come between you and your brother.”
“You didn’t, Faith,” Matt told her firmly. “There was no reason for me to stop seeing you. Though your father was involved in the movement, you’re not in any way. I told him it was ridiculous to ask that of me, especially since we are to be married so soon, but all he was concerned with was the arms deal.” He shook his head slowly in remembrance of their conversation. “So in an effort to help him, I told him I would sever all connections between us. That way whoever was watching him would know he was not in any way involved with my activities.”
“And he didn’t argue the point?” Faith was amazed that Noah would let Matthew do this.
“I didn’t want to argue. He was trying to force me to do things his way, and while his way may work for him, it isn’t always the right way for me.” He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on Faith’s cheek. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Tears filled her eyes as she realized that he had just sacrificed his own brother for the love of her. “Matthew…I don’t want you to do this. You love your brother….”
“It’s done, Faith, and I’ll hear no more about it.” He stood up. “Now I’d better be going. The carriage I hired is waiting outside. I’ll get in touch with you in the morning and let you know where I’m staying. Good night, Ruth.”
“Good night, Matthew. I’m sorry things have turned out so badly for you.”
“Things haven’t turned out badly,” he denied, looking down at Faith with his love for her clearly reflecting in his eyes. “Things have turned out perfectly. I love your daughter, Ruth, and she will soon be my wife. Nothing could make me happier.”
“Matthew, wait….” Faith tugged on his arm when he would have started from the room.
“What?” He frowned, wondering at her anxiety.
“There’s no reason for you to go to another inn,” she insisted, her eyes glistening with tears of love and admiration for him.
“Of course there is, and it’s getting late.”
“No. Matthew, marry me tonight. Then you can stay here with us.”
A lopsided grin quirked his lips. “Tonight?” The thought was not without appeal, for the long days until the wedding had seemed to stretch endlessly before him, barren and empty.
“Mother?” Faith turned quickly to her mother as she still clutched at Matt’s arm, refusing to let him go. “Will you care? We could go to a minister tonight and everything would be perfect….”
“But the wedding?” Ruth was bewildered by her daughter’s sudden plea.
“We could still have the party here, Mother.” She looked hopefully to her.
Understanding the poignancy of the moment, Ruth agreed with a light chuckle. “If Matthew has no objection to accepting your brazen proposal, neither do I.”
The idea, so unexpected and so welcome, filled Matt with a glow of joy. He swept Faith into his arms and spun her quickly about.
“I’d be delighted to marry you tonight, Miss Hammond,” he pledged as he gave her a quick kiss, and Faith laughed delightedly at his play.
“Mother? Do you know…?”
“Yes, dear, and I’ll give Matthew directions for the driver while you go gather up a few things to take with you,” Ruth answered in anticipation of her question.
When Faith returned to the room a short time later with a small bag packed, Matthew had already instructed the driver to bring his trunk inside and had given him the necessary directions to the minister in the country Ruth had suggested.
“We’re ready if you are, Faith,” Matthew told her.
Faith hugged her mother quickly. “Thank you.”
“Your happiness means everything to me. Now, go and be with your man,” Ruth whispered.
With stars in her eyes, Faith gave her mother one last kiss and then flew to Matt’s side.
“We’ll be back sometime tomorrow,” Matt told Ruth as he helped Faith with her cloak and then ushered her from the room.
“God bless you both,” she called out as they climbed into the waiting carriage, and she watched as the coach rumbled off down the street.
Candles flickered mellowly, casting unsteady shadows upon the walls, as the words being spoken in hushed adoration echoed in the unheated chamber. Matthew and Faith were unaware of the chill in the room, though, for they were wrapped in the fire of their love. Standing slightly apart, they repeated their vows. Their gazes were solemn upon each other, and their hearts were pounding in excited anticipation as Matt slid his signet ring upon her finger, claiming her as his for all eternity.
At that moment, for the first time, Matthew regretted the fate of the Kincade fortunes, for he would have loved to present Faith with his mother’s diamond-studded wedding band on this, their wedding night. The band, which had been in the family for generations, was to have come to him as part of his inheritance. It hurt him now that it had had to be sold to pay his father’s debts. How proud he would have been to be able to present Faith with such a fabulous token of his love….
Matthew focused on his beloved then, and though she wasn’t wearing a white lace gown or carrying a bouquet of fragrant flowers, he knew Faith had never looked lovelier to him. Her hair was down, framing her face in a soft torrent of raven curls and emphasizing the wide glory of her sparkling eyes. It was from his heart that he had pledged his life and his love to her. He longed to take her in his arms and never let her go.
Faith smiled as they were pronounced man and wife. She had never quite believed that this moment would ever happen, and she felt as if she were in a dream from which she hoped that she’d never awaken. With Matthew as her husband, her life was perfect.
As she gazed up at him, her pulse quickened. He was now and forever her husband. They were bound to each other for the rest of their lives. The thought brought comfort as well as excitement. He was so strong and so handsome, and she loved him so much. Surely, as long as they had each other, they would be happy.
Tenderly, unable to resist another moment, Matthew bent to Faith and kissed her with gentle promise as he murmured in a low tone just for her, “I love you….”
The thrill of knowing that they would soon be man and wife in more than name only left Faith breathless. It seemed an eternity to her before the papers were all signed and their business finally concluded. When at last Matt whisked her from the small chapel and back into the coach, he drew her across his lap and held her close.
“We’ll be at the inn soon,” he promised, kissing her softly.
“I know,” Faith returned, looping her arms about his neck and hugging him tightly.
Suddenly serious, Matt loosened the loving grip she had on him and held her slightly away. “Faith?”
“What?” She was surprised by his move.
“You’re not sorry, are you?” His eyes were dark with the worry that was
besieging him.
“Sorry? About what?”
“Sorry about not having a proper wedding…sorry about having to run off like this…” His gaze searched hers for the answer.
“Matthew!” she scolded lovingly, reaching up to caress the leanness of his cheek. “If you’ll remember, this was my idea. I was the one who proposed it. I love you, and I couldn’t bear for us to be apart another minute.”
“Ah, Faith!” He turned to press a kiss to the palm of her hand and then growled as he crushed her to him. “I love you so much.”
His lips sought the sweetness of hers in a fervent kiss of love and need, and Faith gave a low purr of satisfaction deep in her throat in knowing that he did love her. That was all that mattered.
It was long after midnight when at last they drew up in front of an inn. After one last heart-stirring embrace, Matt tore himself away from Faith to secure them lodging for the night, leaving her safely ensconced in the carriage while he tended to it. At first the innkeeper, a bony scarecrow of a man named Carson, was not overly pleased to be roused at such a late hour, but when he discovered that his customer was an English lord, he immediately hurried to see to his needs. While not the fanciest of inns, it was clean, and Matthew chose the best room the tavern had to offer. He directed that a hot meal be sent up to them as soon as possible, along with a bath for his wife. After paying for the room, he went back out to escort Faith inside.
The room on the second floor was spacious. By the time Matt and Faith entered, a small fire had already been set in the fireplace and several lamps lighted for their convenience. Brightly colored scatter rugs adorned the dark, highly polished hardwood floor, and the bed had been turned down, its wide softness beckoning the lovers to test of its comfort.
“Matthew, the room…It’s lovely.” Faith murmured her approval of the cozy interior. A faint blush pinkened her cheeks as her gaze lingered on the bed and she tried to imagine the intimacy of sharing it with Matthew this night.