The Reluctant Bride Collection

by Megan Bryce

  What would George have done if it was Anala lying there and the man responsible was lying at his feet?

  She didn’t know. But she knew what he wouldn’t do.

  She called her dogs to her, scratching their heads when they flanked her and using them to push herself to her feet one more time.

  She turned away from her brother, his gun still in her hand, his cries still following her.

  She turned away, and George was running toward her.

  She held up one bloody hand to stop him but he never did, simply barreled right into her. He lifted her bodily around the waist, hefting her up onto his shoulder, and ran.

  He gave one sharp command to her dogs and they followed, running right behind him.

  He ran until she couldn’t see her brother, couldn’t hear his angry screams, couldn’t see Retribution.

  He ran until they were deep in the trees, until he found a stream and set her down right in the middle of it.

  “Sinclair, this water is freezing!”

  He scrubbed her bloody hands between his own, wiped her face and hair until she was a dripping, shivering mess.

  “George,” he said, and when he met her eyes, she said, “George, this water is freezing.”

  He stripped her dress from her body, shrugged his greatcoat from his shoulders and wrapped it around her.

  She patted the pocket and when she found it empty, whispered, “Please don’t tell me we’ve lost Anala somewhere in the forest.”

  He said gruffly, “She’s at home. I can’t keep a dog in my pocket.”

  Elinor shivered. “He killed Retribution.”

  “Jones and I will come back for Retribution. We’ll bury him here in the Regent’s Park, under the trees, and he can dream of squirrels.”

  More tears. More reasons why they would never stop.

  She whispered, “I didn’t know what you would do.”

  “I would get you away from him. I would make sure you were safe.”

  She never would be.

  “He’ll never leave me alone.”

  “He will. If he doesn’t know where we are. It’s easy to get lost in India.”

  “You can’t leave England, George. Not with me.”

  “I can. And I will.”

  She said softly, “You can’t. Because your son will be the earl.”

  “An earl can be raised in India.”

  She shivered again and George hefted her up onto his shoulder. Called her dogs and trudged off, ignoring her protests and muttering, “No law says he can’t be.”

  George deposited Elinor at home, ordering her a bath and a brandy. She’d said no words on the ride home, her tears leaking silently down her cheeks.

  He wasn’t sure she even knew she was crying.

  He let Mrs. Potts fuss over Elinor and took Jones back to the park. To take care of Retribution and Alan Rusbridge.

  They found Retribution where he’d fallen but Rusbridge was nowhere to be seen, and Jones spit, putting away his gun.

  They buried Elinor’s loyal dog under the trees and George promised he would keep Elinor safe. Told Retribution to only worry about chasing squirrels because he would take care of the rest.

  Jones eyed him. “Just how you going to do that?”

  “I’m taking her to India.”

  “India! She won’t go. She’ll think it’s running. Hiding.”

  George nodded, knowing that’s exactly what she would think. “How do you feel about spiriting away your employer?”

  Jones cocked his head. “Seems like a good way to get dismissed. ‘Course, if she’s leaving anyway. . .”

  Fifteen

  George had two visits to make.

  He began with Miss Westin, and though her mother rushed from the room as soon as she was able, Miss Westin merely looked at him and pinched her lips together.

  “Somehow I think Mama was mistaken about your reason for visiting this morning.”

  “You are more astute than your years would suggest.”

  She settled back in her seat, looking as if she was discussing tonight’s menu.

  “Honestly, seeing you dance with Lady Haywood that night was a relief. I couldn’t ever figure out how to get you to lose your mind over me. It was vexing.”

  George smiled. “If you’d only been a few years older we might have had a go of it.”

  “Or perhaps if you’d been a few years younger.”

  He nodded at her barb. “Or that. But now you can go back to your young swains and find one to wrap around your finger permanently.”

  “I know I’m supposed to, aren’t I? But I had too much fun with them all to pick just one now that I’m free of you.”

  Sinclair looked down at his boots and tried to keep from laughing. She was much better at jousting with him now that she’d been jilted. Perhaps it wouldn’t take five husbands after all.

  He said, “I’m off to India,” and she exclaimed, “India! Now I am even more pleased you didn’t offer for me. I think Mama will find she feels the same.”

  He bowed. “Miss Westin, should I ever return to England, I know I will find you sitting in the center of any room, a passel of men running around mindlessly doing your bidding.”

  She bowed her head to him. “Thank you, Mr. Sinclair.”

  He turned, making it to the door before she said, “I hope you and Lady Haywood are always as happy as you were that night. I hope one day I will find a man who looks at me like that.”

  “I hope the same, Miss Westin. For the both of us.”

  He opened the door, bowing to Lady Westin as he passed her in the hall, hanging his head and trying to look rejected and dejected.

  Lady Westin gasped and rushed into the room to question her daughter. George heard a muffled, “Hetty?”

  And then a loud, “Mama, he’s going back to India!”

  “India?!”

  “I had to say no.”

  George took his hat from the butler and said sadly, “She had to say no.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The countess was gone visiting but George asked if Lady Camilla was taking visitors and then was escorted to the nursery where four girls were playing much louder than any man could expect.

  He hugged three of them, kissed dollies, and even endured having his hair brushed for a long minute.

  Camilla watched him and finally said, “You’re going away.”

  He nodded.

  “Why?”

  “I’m going home.”

  “I’d like to see India someday. Perhaps.”

  “I hope your father brings you to visit one day.”

  She thought about that for a moment, silently, and George had to agree he couldn’t see his brother in India, either.

  She looked down at her shoes and said, “He’ll be very angry with you, won’t he?”

  “Very.”

  “And you’re still going to go?”

  “Yes. The world won’t end if you’re not good all the time, Camilla.”

  She didn’t look convinced and he scooped her up into a giant bear hug.

  “I wish I could stay, my serious little butterfly. Will you give your mother a great big hug from me?”

  She nodded. “And papa?”

  “And papa. Tell him. . .tell him that he is too serious and he should come play with your dolls more.”

  She nodded again obediently and said, “Will you write me a letter while you’re on the ship?”

  “I will. And from India. And send you little trinkets to carefully wrap and put away and never, ever wear.”

  She thought about it for a long moment, then said, “I’ll wear one if you’ll send two.”

  He chuckled. “I’m on to you, Lady Camilla.”

  “One is never enough, Uncle George. Isabel likes to break things.”

  “She’ll grow out of it.” He looked at the one-year-old as she crawled around on the floor, dragging a doll by its hair. “Probably.”

  “If she does, I’ll write you a letter to tel
l you about it.”

  He smiled sadly and squeezed her again. “I look forward to every letter you send with bated breath.”

  “And I look forward to yours.”

  He put her down and she curtsied. The perfect hostess, just like her mother.

  “Goodbye, Mr. Sinclair.”

  “Goodbye, Lady Camilla.”

  He walked to the door, trying not to cry. Trying not to think of what he was going to miss.

  The next time he saw Camilla, if he ever did see her again, she’d be another eight years older.

  Camilla stopped him at the door. “Uncle George, does you leaving mean you’re not the hero?”

  He stuffed his emotions down and thought he’d start sending her plays along with the trinkets.

  “It depends on who you ask but I’m nearly certain that’s exactly what it means. I’m nearly certain it has always been your father.”

  Sebastian was in his library of course.

  George let himself in and then stood just inside and looked at his brother.

  Sebastian said, “I’m not going to like whatever you have to say, am I?”

  George shook his head.

  Sebastian went back to his figures. “I can’t even imagine what else you could possibly heap upon me. I’ve already resigned myself to the widow at my table should she ever decide to show and possibly even as a sister--”

  He choked, then cleared the air as if trying to erase that possibility.

  “But both you and Flora seem happy with my acquiescence. I shall simply have to hope that you can defy the odds and produce an heir. The widow’s son is better than no son.”

  “Elinor says my son will be steady and responsible, just like all the Ashmore earls.”

  Elinor had also said it wouldn’t be her son, but George knew she was wrong. Knew it in his bones and wouldn’t believe otherwise even if she had finally decided to.

  Sebastian said, “We can but hope. And if not, there is always a cousin. The title will not end, at least. And as you say, the passing from our branch is most likely inevitable anyway.”

  Inevitable. Some things were.

  Sebastian sighed. “Come inside and tell me whatever it is I am not going to like. I’m as prepared as I’ll ever be.”

  George didn’t move. “I’m going back to India.”

  Sebastian didn’t look up but his pen stopped.

  “It was. . .inevitable. I don’t want to belong here.”

  Sebastian continued to look at his paper. “When?”

  “There’s a ship set to sail tomorrow morning. I’ve booked us passage.”

  Sebastian put his pen down gently and whispered, “They warned me. Do not underestimate him, they said.”

  “Who?”

  “My wife. Your widow.” He looked up. “I hope she will not become your widow in truth, George.”

  “That makes three of us.”

  Sebastian nodded. “She said you would do anything for those you love. You must have a good reason for leaving us. Me. Again.”

  And what could George say? That he’d chosen a woman over his brother? That he’d jumped at any excuse to go back to the life he missed?

  “It’s not good or right or tolerable. It’s love.”

  “It’s a damn shame you couldn’t have fallen in love with a perfect countess,” Sebastian said, but there was no heat to his words. As if he could see, now, that that had always been impossible. “Will you stay until Flora returns? She’ll want to say goodbye.”

  “I can’t. I don’t know how I’ll have everything done by tomorrow in the first place. But I’ve instructed Camilla to give her mother a fond farewell for me. And I know Flora will write me every fortnight and expect me to do the same.”

  Sebastian nodded, pushing his chair back and standing to say, “I did not say goodbye to you properly the first time. It was regrettable, but in my defense I did not think you would really go. I do not have any such illusions this time.”

  George stiffened. “Is the proper way a fist to the nose? The bruising has only just gone down.”

  Sebastian came around his desk. He grabbed George in a manly hug and said softly, “Write to me as well, brother.”

  “Yes. And you.”

  “You won’t be able to get away from me. I’ll need reams of paper to impart all my knowledge.”

  George smiled tearily. “If you die and make me come back to this God-forsaken country as an earl, I will never forgive you, Sebastian.”

  Sebastian pushed him away. “God-forsaken country. This is the home of the British Empire!”

  “It’s cold and wet.”

  “And the sheep, I know. I know.”

  George thumped him on the back and whispered, “Goodbye, brother.”

  “Goodbye. My friend.”

  It was still dark when George came for Elinor. Too early for anyone to be awake and dressed, except for those who had somewhere to go.

  “My lady. Mr. Sinclair is here for you.”

  She’d lain awake all night, knowing he was scrambling to get things ready when she had already decided she wasn’t going. That she couldn’t go.

  She’d thought that she could give up everything for him. She’d been preparing herself to give up society and respectability.

  She hadn’t expected to have to give up her home, too.

  She’d had a plan and while she hadn’t quite come to terms with it yet, it had been at least realistic.

  India was not realistic. India was impossible.

  India meant no children, for either of them.

  “Let him in.”

  “He won’t come inside. He is waiting for you outside.”

  She nodded, and didn’t get up.

  She hadn’t stopped crying. Her daughter’s grave, and then her brother and Retribution, and now George leaving.

  She’d thought that it would have been worse to lose him to Miss Westin than to India, but now she knew. She’d been wrong.

  She finally pushed herself to her feet slowly and shuffled to the door. An old woman. A widow, finally. A woman who’d lost everything dear to her.

  Jones gently draped a shawl around her shoulders and opened the door for her.

  George stood down on the pavement, Anala tucked in one arm. His greatcoat once again sitting stiffly on his shoulders, his hat covering his hair. He didn’t say a word, simply met her eyes and waited.

  Waited for her to leave everything for him.

  She looked at him through the tears, painted a picture of him in her mind, just like this.

  “I won’t come.”

  He looked up. “The sky is a different color in India. I don’t know why.”

  Elinor whispered, “I won’t let you give up everything for me. And I can’t give it up for you. It is not in me. Not for only a chance at happiness.”

  He kept looking at the sky and petting Anala.

  He said, and he sounded like he was still talking about the color of the sky, “It’s not a chance. It is happiness.” He sighed. “But if you don’t want to see it.”

  His eyes met Elinor’s and he came up the stairs, holding Anala out. “She’ll be lonely. And two dogs is not a pack.”

  Elinor’s hands went up reflexively, taking the little dog and holding it to her chest. The dog licked and licked and squirmed and yapped.

  And Elinor cried more tears.

  George kissed her cheek lightly, right there in front of her townhouse.

  “Elinor, my love,” he whispered. “I am going with or without you. I am going home, and I will be so lonely without you.”

  He waited. Waited for her to say she would go with him.

  She wouldn’t, and then she watched him walk away.

  The sky lightened slowly and with it the room Elinor sat in.

  No maid came to light the fire. No Mrs. Potts asking about breakfast.

  Jones pushed the door in slowly. “My lady?”

  “Yes?”

  “This is your last chance. The ship leaves in less than
an hour.”

  “The ship left a few husbands ago, Jones.”

  A few lifetimes ago.

  They called her scandalous, but she only was in the confines of her society.

  Here she knew the rules; here she knew how, and how much, to flaunt them. She knew the costs should she go too far.

  Jones sat down in the chair across from her and she raised her eyebrows at him.

  Mrs. Potts came in with tea and then sat down next to Elinor on the sofa and began pouring.

  She handed Jones a cup and then settled back with a cup herself.

  “The maid and I have loaded as much as I could into your chest. We’ll send the rest on the next ship. Though I don’t doubt that Mr. Sinclair will enjoy taking you shopping in the meantime, the way he goes on about the markets.”

  Elinor looked between Jones and Mrs. Potts, and then shrugged and poured herself a cup.

  “Did he put you up to this?”

  “Oh, no. But I was sure he’d talk you into going. Never met a man who could talk himself into the kitchen before.”

  Elinor couldn’t stop her laugh in time. “No. I doubt anyone has.”

  Mrs. Potts took a long, satisfied sip. “There is a certain something about Mr. Sinclair.”

  Jones nodded. “A certain something.”

  “Why, he brightens a room when he walks into it, makes everyone at ease, and makes lonely women fall in love with him.”

  Elinor flicked her eyes to Mrs. Potts but refused to say anything.

  “Even when those lonely women are too stubborn to admit it.”

  “I’ve admitted it. Not much else I can do about it.”

  Mrs. Potts poured more tea for Jones and whispered loudly, “Love’s scared her stupid.”

  “Aye.”

  “That is really enough from the two of you.”

  Jones said, “Won’t be enough until you get off your duff and go after him.”

  Elinor sat back and stared at her two servants. They’d been with her far longer than any husband. They’d been her confidantes, had nursed her through ill times, and had tried to protect her from danger.

  She’d never sat down to tea with them before but she couldn’t count how many times she’d gone looking for George in the last few months only to find him down in the kitchen chatting with Mrs. Potts. Or discussing something with Jones in the hallway.