If the Earl Only Knew (The Daring Marriages)

by Amanda Forester

  “Yes, yes, my family is well. Do forgive this bold intrusion at such a late hour,” said Wynbrook. “We come on a mission of some urgency. But please allow me to introduce you to my wife, Katherine, Lady Wynbrook.”

  “So tell me. Is it true? Did you run to Gretna Green?” asked Lady Roberts, leaning forward with anticipation. “I have been following your adventures in the papers.”

  “Have you been reading the society papers again?” chided Sir Antony with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Oh yes, and if you did too, you would know of the great news Wynbrook has made running with the daughter of an earl.” Lady Roberts laughed in a manner even Kate found a bit gauche.

  “The rumors of our elopement have been much touted, but in truth, we left quickly because Darington was held up by bandits on the road and shot. Fortunately, he is doing well,” Wynbrook said with unruffled calm.

  “Lord Darington was shot?” exclaimed Lady Roberts, clearly delighting in this new piece of juicy gossip.

  “Darington?” Sir Antony asked, clearly confused. “What is this about Darington?”

  Kate stared at the kindly looking man before her. He did not look a villain. She took a deep breath. “Perhaps you knew my father, Lord Darington.”

  Sir Antony’s face darkened. All was quiet in the room save the methodical ticking of a grandfather clock. “I was the best of friends with Darington. But is it really Lady Katherine? I have written many a letter to you and your brother, but I have never received an answer.”

  Kate produced his last letter from her reticule. “Was this one of your letters?”

  Sir Antony took the letter. “Yes. But you never opened it?” He stared at her, questions in his eyes.

  “Forgive me. I never opened any of them,” Kate confessed. The clock ticked on as everyone stared at each other in silence.

  “Let us call for some hot rum punch,” suggested Lady Roberts, breaking the awkward silence. “Please, everyone, do make yourselves comfortable. I am sure this problem will go down better with something warm.”

  It was the first thing Lady Roberts said that Kate agreed with. They sat in the cozy sitting room, and the ingredients for punch were brought. Wynbrook stood to do the honors of making the preparations.

  “It has taken a long time to understand the nature of what happened,” said Kate. She retold the story of Captain Harcourt’s revenge in bankrupting their family and the death of her father succinctly, leaving out several aspects such that she didn’t wish to have repeated, for Lady Roberts was clearly enjoying the tale.

  “But this is infamy!” Sir Antony was on his feet and began to pace in an agitated manner. “Such things cannot happen. This is England!”

  “I believe I said the same,” said Wynbrook. “Here, do sit down and take some rum punch. It will do you good.”

  Sir Antony was tempted by the fragrant aroma wafting from the warm punch bowl Wynbrook was mixing. He accepted a cup and regained his seat.

  “Directly after my father died, we returned to find our inheritance stolen and our estate deep in debt. We traveled to London to meet with you but were told you were too busy to be concerned with us, and we ended up in Fleet Prison.”

  “What?” roared Sir Antony, jumping to his feet once more. “Impossible!”

  “I assure you it is possible. We managed to escape, but we thought you had abandoned us when we most needed it, so I was out of charity with you and refused ever to open your letters.”

  “My dear girl. My dear, sweet girl.” Sir Antony buried his face in his hands. “Oh, I am so sorry. Darington was my dearest friend. He even named his son for me and made me your godfather.”

  “Oh,” said Kate. “I never knew Robert was named for anyone.”

  “Please believe me when I say I never knew of this. I was injured in the war and it took a long time to recover. When I finally returned home, I learned of Darington’s death. I was told in a letter from his steward that the children had gone to live with some relative of his wife’s. I had no reason to disbelieve it, but I wish I had looked into the matter further.”

  “Indeed, you must not blame yourself,” his wife chided. “For did you not come very close to death yourself? We have only been married a few months,” she explained to Kate and Wynbrook and blushed as any new bride should do.

  “I wish you great felicitations,” said Wynbrook. “And you may also wish us happy, for we were wed just today.”

  “Today! Holy Saint Andrew! What are ye doing here now, luv?” cried Lady Roberts, letting her Scottish accent slip.

  “Always welcome,” said Sir Antony hurriedly. “But I wish I could have witnessed… Would have been honored to walk you down the aisle…but why are you here now?”

  “Our ceremony was interrupted by a Captain Silas Bones who produced this paper.” Wynbrook handed Sir Antony the contract. “It is a marriage agreement between Lady Kate and Bones. I must add that Silas Bones is the son of Dr. Bones, the alias used by Harcourt to gain entry into Greystone to kill Darington.”

  “That damn bastard son of a—Forgive me. Should not say in front of the ladies!” cried Sir Antony.

  “The document appears to be signed by you,” said Kate.

  “What the—?” Sir Antony scanned the document with a scowl. “This is not my signature. I never saw this document before in my life. Besides, on the date of this paper, I was overseas getting shot in a disastrous campaign.”

  “And you would be willing to swear to it in court to have this contract invalidated?” asked Kate.

  “Invalidated, repudiated, and utterly dismissed! Go to London myself tomorrow!”

  Kate breathed easy for the first time in days. It was done. Settled. All was well.

  Lady Roberts’s attention was caught by a scratching at the window. She stood to look out the heavy drapes, commenting, “I do believe there was a man out there. I wonder who could be peeking in at our window at this time of night?”

  Kate did not have to wonder at all. She looked over at Wynbrook.

  “Silas Bones.” They spoke as one.

  Forty

  Kate jumped up, ready to give chase, but Wynbrook caught her arm. “Kate, please, for once, stay where it is safe and let us handle it.”

  “I am perfectly capable—”

  “I know you are. But I am incapable of seeing you hurt, so as a wedding present to me, please stay by the fire, where I know you are safe.” He held both her hands in his.

  How could she deny him when he put it so prettily? “As you wish,” she grumbled. “But stay safe yourself.”

  “Let us find your Captain Bones,” said Sir Antony. “Always some excitement around Darington. I see his children are no different.”

  “I shall tell the housekeeper to ensure the doors and windows are locked,” said Lady Roberts briskly. She followed the men out of the room, leaving Kate to sit by the fire.

  “This is what being a lady is like,” Kate said to herself. “What a dead bore.” For the first time, she began to understand Emma’s desire for adventure. Her upbringing, though unconventional, suited her better than the one generally afforded to gently born ladies.

  Outside she could hear the men whacking the bushes and calling to each other as they searched the grounds around the house. If Silas Bones had any intelligence whatsoever, he would have made a run for it. She heard a horse galloping away followed by the shouts of men, and she knew Captain Bones had taken flight with the men in hot pursuit.

  She was relieved that the contract had been proven invalid, but it was a discomfort to know Silas Bones was loose somewhere, waiting to cause mischief.

  The door opened and a young chambermaid shuffled in, her eyes wide with fright. Something was wrong.

  “What is it?” asked Kate, rising to her feet.

  The girl opened and closed her mouth, no words forming. She continued to shuff
le into the room followed by a figure wrapped in a black cloak. The cowl fell from his face, sending a ripple of fear through Kate.

  Silas Bones stood in the doorway, a pistol pointed at the maid’s head.

  Kate’s mind whirled, trying to keep up with the situation. So much for staying safe. “Captain Bones, you are becoming tiresome.”

  “I-I’m sorry, milady,” stammered the terrified maid. “I was going to lock the cellar door like Lady Roberts told me when he g-grabbed me.”

  “Do not worry. This is not your fault,” said Kate gently, trying to calm the maid.

  “Since you have found a way to invalidate the marriage contract, I am forced to take a different course of action,” said Captain Bones without emotion. “You owe me fifty thousand pounds, and I will not stop until this has been achieved. The number of people hurt in the process is up to you.”

  “You wish to hold me for ransom?” asked Kate. “Let the girl go. She has no part in this.”

  “She is to remind you to mind your manners.” Silas touched the barrel of the pistol to the girl’s head. “Take that knife you have tied to your ankle and drop it to the floor.”

  Kate froze a moment, surprised he knew so much about her. He must have gotten a report from the men who initially tried to abduct her. She had no choice while he held a gun to the girl’s head. The knife fell to the ground with a clunk.

  “Slide it to me,” said Bones evenly.

  Kate kicked it to him with the toe of her boot. “Why are you doing this? Your father made this accord and you know it to be false. I owe you nothing.”

  “You owe me everything,” he hissed. “Where do you think your brother got his treasure? By raiding ships. My ship! I am just returning the favor.”

  “My brother only fought the enemies of England,” cried Kate. “He would not have attacked your ship unless…unless you were sailing for France.”

  “After your father ruined my father’s life, we had no choice but to serve as privateers for the French crown.”

  “Then you really are a traitor!” Kate seethed, her pulse pounding in her ears. “You will get nothing from me.”

  “I’ll not be asking you. I’ll be demanding it from that new husband of yours. If he wants you back, he’ll pay. You just better hope he wants you back. Now tie up the maid.” He grabbed the girl’s jaw and held it close to his menacing face. “Say nothing of what you have seen or I will return and cut your throat.”

  “No need to scare the girl,” Kate reprimanded, but she complied with his request. Between tying her up and shooting her, tying was the best option for the maid. “He will not harm you,” she whispered to the frightened maid. Kate worked as slowly as she thought she could get away with and made the bonds loose.

  “Good enough,” snapped Silas. He motioned for Kate to step away and tightened the ropes while keeping his pistol and one eye on Kate. He walked up to her, his pistol leveled at her heart. Her pulse pounded loudly in her ears.

  “Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” he demanded. “Fight me and I shoot the girl.”

  She had no choice but to comply, and soon her hands were bound behind her.

  “Now we are going to take a little trip. If you are well behaved, you shall return home in one piece.”

  Kate walked before him as he directed. He kept a hand on her shoulder and the pistol touching the back of her skull. It did not afford many opportunities for escape. Where were Wynbrook and Sir Antony now? Probably chasing some poor riderless horse around in the dark.

  She wondered how he was going to get her out of the house without being seen, but instead of walking to the door, he pushed her toward the large bay window.

  The large, leaded glass window was formed with smaller diamond panes, forming a crisscross pattern. He undid the latch and it swung open on side hinges. Since they were in a cottage, the first floor was the living quarters and the large window opened into a bit of garden.

  “Step outside.”

  Kate did so, struggling a bit with the form-fitting silver gown, especially with her hands tied behind her. With an absurd sense of irony, she realized she was still wearing her wedding gown. The lace overlay tore as she climbed out the window and into a rhododendron. “Oh, Anne is going to kill you,” she muttered.

  “Would not that be the job of your new husband?” growled the man behind her.

  “You don’t know how strongly Lady Anne feels about lace.”

  She pushed past the shrub and out to the front of the house. She glanced about, hoping to catch sight of Wynbrook or Sir Antony or anyone. A bright moon hung low in the sky and all was quiet. She was running out of time.

  Silas said nothing, but the firm hand on her shoulder and the cold pressure of the pistol to her head got her moving again. He led her around the side of the house. There, he had a curricle waiting.

  “Get in.”

  A horrible screech pierced the night. “Heeeeeeeelp!” screamed Lady Roberts. “Sir Antony! Wynbrook! Lady Kate has been stolen!”

  The scream momentarily startled him, and Kate used the distraction to fall to the ground and swing her legs around, knocking him over. She rolled to her feet and took off running back to the house. He was faster though, and she was tackled from behind.

  Kate let out a scream and struggled against him as best she could with her hands tied behind her. She was dragged up to standing and she screamed again, fighting him all the way.

  “Unhand her.” It was Wynbrook, not a hair out of place, immaculately attired in his gray, double-breasted tailcoat and silver-striped waistcoat.

  Silas held her neck in a choke hold with one arm, the pistol to her head with the other hand. He was breathing heavily and smelled of mud and desperation.

  She was happy to see Wynbrook, but she would have been happier to see him with a gun.

  “This is simple,” said Bones, breathing hard. “All I want is the dowry. Fifty thousand pounds and not a shilling less.” He began to drag her back toward the curricle. “I get the money. You get the girl.”

  “You are holding my wife,” noted Wynbrook. “I do not care for it.”

  Kate almost groaned. What was Wynbrook going to do? Talk him to death? She wanted him to get out of there before he got hurt.

  “You know what to do to get her back,” growled Silas.

  “It has taken me a while to remember where we met. Eton, was it not? I knew you as Silas Harcourt.”

  Kate stared at her husband. He was slowly walking forward as if they were having polite conversation at Almack’s.

  Silas stopped dragging her backward. Maybe he was shocked by Wynbrook’s manner as well. “I can no longer use that name. Her father made sure of that.”

  “I believe you were a few years ahead of me. Never went home. Spent all your holidays at Eton and then suddenly you were gone.”

  “Yes,” said Silas bitterly. “I was in my last year at Eton when her father turned in mine as a traitor. I was shipped off before I even knew what was happening. And it is all their fault!” He began to drag her backward again with Wynbrook keeping pace, casually adjusting his sleeve.

  “It was not fair for you to suffer because of something your father did,” agreed Wynbrook. “You saved the life of David Turnbull.”

  Silas stopped again. Wynbrook drew closer, speaking in the same nonchalant manner. “He fell into the river and nearly drowned. It was December and bitter cold. You jumped in and saved him.”

  “Why are you talking about that?” Silas was confused enough to stop and listen.

  “A truly bad seed would not have jumped into the frigid Thames to save the likes of Turnbull. He was in my class,” Wynbrook explained to Kate. “And a complete arse.”

  “He was just a boy,” muttered Silas.

  “Bunch of boys on the bridge that day. The only one who jumped in was you.”

&
nbsp; Silas was silent, but his grip on her loosened and she could no longer feel the steel of the pistol pressed against her temple. Wynbrook was talking him to death.

  “They rushed you both back to the house and began to strip the clothes off you,” continued Wynbrook.

  “Enough!” shouted Silas, his body tense.

  Wynbrook regarded him coolly. “Your back was covered with scars. Truly horrible.”

  “I said enough,” growled Silas.

  “Your father was Captain Harcourt,” said Wynbrook in a quiet voice. “That could not have been easy.”

  Silas’s hand that held the pistol dropped to his side. “My father is a hard man. Made resentments easily and never forgave. If I disappointed him, it was the lash. As you saw, I was a huge disappointment.”

  “You didn’t write the marriage contract. It was your father. You were not the traitor. It was him,” continued Wynbrook.

  “Darington ruined my life,” said Silas, but his tone was not as sure.

  “Darington did the only honorable thing he could by revealing treachery. All His Majesty’s subjects are required to do the same. Even you.”

  Beside her, Silas was breathing hard. Wynbrook, in contrast, was as poised as ever. She was not sure if she was impressed or agitated by his unflappable calm.

  “Your actions tonight are not like those of the lad I admired those many years ago,” said Wynbrook. “What is this about, Silas?”

  “Darington, Robert Ashton,” clarified Silas, “raided my ship and took the cargo. I need to get back that prize. At first I tried to find where they had stashed my cargo by looking at the captain’s log and ledgers. Failing that, I knew I needed to go for Lady Kate.”

  “Lady Wynbrook,” corrected John.

  “The cargo Darington took was my father’s. I cannot return empty-handed.”

  “Then do not return at all,” suggested Wynbrook.

  Silas said nothing but released his hold on her. Kate slowly stepped away from him toward Wynbrook. She could not believe John had defeated him with nothing but his words.