Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle

by Bronwyn Scott

‘Get out. The clock is running,’ Julia ordered in a last attempt at bravado.

  He snorted. ‘You can be high and mighty now—it won’t last much longer.’

  The door shut and Julia sighed. She might have done better to probe for more information instead of antagonising the guard. Why sunset? At least she had confirmation of what was going to happen to her. She was going to be moved to another place. Sunset wouldn’t matter in this windowless room.

  Compliance was her best option at present. She’d learned through unfortunate consequences the foolishness of her resistance at the house. If she’d gone willingly, she would have kept her consciousness. Perhaps she could even have attracted attention or called out for help. Unconscious, she made things easy for Oswalt.

  Anxiously, she lifted the box lid. The gown was more of a robe than it was a dress: a sleeveless, shapeless robe of white silk. In the bottom of the box was a girdle of twisted gold set with gems every few links and two large gold arm bracelets set with turquoise. The ensemble looked like something a Druid priestess might wear, like something she’d seen a history book before regarding early Britons.

  The notion sparked something. Druids. Midsummer. The solstice. She frantically tried to recall the date. Oswalt’s idea of a wedding was becoming clear. She was certain today was June 21. It explained the odd gown and the desire to perform the wedding at sunset.

  ‘Fifteen minutes!’ the guard shouted through the door.

  She needed to hurry. She didn’t doubt the guard would make good on his threat to haul her downstairs naked or that anyone would mind terribly much.

  Julia dressed swiftly, trying to push her thoughts away from the impending events and what they meant. The horror was too overwhelming. If she dwelled on them, she’d be paralysed with fear. She needed to stay alert, she needed to look for any opportunity to run or to defend herself. She bit her lip. She hoped she had the courage to do whatever needed to be done and, if there was a chance to kill Oswalt and free herself, she hoped she had the courage to take it.

  The guard came for her as she was fastening on the last of the bracelets. He brought friends. Two of them. She was sandwiched between them as he led the way to a room two flights of stairs down from the attic.

  ‘Where’s Oswalt?’ Julia asked, quietly looking about her during the walk, remembering corners and turns, anything that might prove useful in the future, but the house was unhelpfully blank. She wondered if Oswalt had done that on purpose. No pictures or colours on the walls that might provide a visual memory—what was it Paine had called it? An aide-mémoire? ‘No, don’t think of him,’ she cautioned herself. Thoughts of Paine would only bring tears.

  ‘It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.’ The guards laughed at their joke. ‘You’ll be seeing him soon enough.’

  They led her into a bedroom done in stark white. The large poster bed was white, the coverlet on it was white satin. The curtains were white. Ah, good, Julia thought. A window and bed sheets. Things were looking up.

  One of the guards seized her hands. ‘What you are doing?’ Julia cried, shocked by the swift movement.

  ‘It’s orders. You’re not to be trusted.’ He looped tight cords of twine about her hands and bound them to the bed post.

  ‘Please…’ Julia protested against the indignity. But the protest was merely for form’s sake. These men would not be swayed by any gentleman’s code of honour.

  One guard jerked his head towards the window. ‘You’ve got nothing to complain about. You’ve got a view of the ceremonies. You can watch them set up for the wedding. The physician will be here shortly to keep you company.’

  The horror was real. Julia fought despair. Being left alone was a certain torture of its own. Too much time to let her imagination run riot. But Oswalt was a master at this. He knew exactly what he was doing. She couldn’t give in to the terror. He couldn’t make Paine come and he couldn’t make her be frightened.

  The sky became her enemy as the sun inched closer to the horizon. Nature’s hour glass. Someone came to set out lanterns in the yard below. It wouldn’t be long. A half-hour, maybe a few minutes more.

  The door opened. Julia couldn’t turn to see who was there. An ancient crone older than Oswalt himself came into her line of vision, crabbed and wrinkled. ‘Hello, dearie, I’m the physician. I’m here to check, shall we say, on the status of things?’ Julia fought the urge to cringe. Oswalt must be mad to call this forest witch by such a title.

  A movement caught Julia’s eye out on the lawn. It was slight and then gone, but she could have sworn a man with raven hair had looked up at her window, studying it before blending back into the lengthening shadows. Paine had come—maybe. It was the only scrap of hope she had at the moment and so she clung to it. If Paine was down there, looking for her, she could endure a little while longer.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Paine drew back into the shadows of the lawn. He was certain he’d seen Julia in the upstairs window. Crispin confirmed it, tossing him a robe and hood as he returned from his short reconnaissance mission. ‘I overheard some of the guards talking. The location sounds right. Put these on.’

  ‘Druid robes?’ Paine asked, shaking out the garment.

  ‘For the ceremony. We’ll blend in,’ Peyton said, slipping into another set.

  ‘How did you get these?’ Paine asked, slipping on the robe.

  ‘Let’s just say three men have a little less to wear than they did a few minutes ago, but I doubt they’ll be missing their clothes for a while,’ Crispin said with relish.

  Paine grimaced. ‘How many people will be here? We’ll stand out if it’s only a handful. Oswalt expects us. He’ll be on the lookout for anything out of place.’ He didn’t like the idea of waiting that long, not only because of the torture of watching Julia engage in this ritual and being unable to help her, but also because they would be enacting their rescue surrounded by many people who would have other interests to support.

  He glanced at the sky, streaked pink from the setting sun, and made a decision. ‘I am going up after her now. We haven’t the same odds of success if we wait.’

  ‘We’re coming with you,’ Crispin put in.

  Paine shook his head. He couldn’t risk his brothers. ‘No. You stay hidden here and proceed with our plan if I don’t succeed, and get Julia away from here.’

  ‘Better hurry, then.’ Peyton nodded to the lawn where people dressed as they were in robes started to mill about.

  The sight made Paine’s skin crawl. He put on his hood to obscure his identity and set off in the direction of the house. Julia, I am coming.

  His plan had certain merits. The house was busy with last-minute preparations. Guards were distracted, checking in guests and stabling horses, even though it looked to be no more than fifty men were expected. Better yet, everyone looked the same in their robes and hoods. Paine fully understood why no one would want to be openly associated with such an event. Most were on the lawn, however, making his movements more obvious and suspect the closer he got to the house.

  Paine used the back entrance and went up a servants’ stairwell, counting landings as he went and trying to outguess Oswalt. What did he think the plan would be? Would he be anticipating an attempt before the ceremony or during? He gained the landing and stepped out. The hall was deserted. Had this been too easy or just natural since Oswalt didn’t want his guests prowling the house? Either was a viable option. Paine surreptitiously checked the pistol and knife beneath his robe. It was comforting to know the weapons were there. He only hoped he’d be able to get to them fast enough.

  The window he glimpsed her in had been towards the middle on the right. Paine began trying door handles. One of them gave. Warning shivered down his spine. This was too easy. While he had the chance, Paine slipped the pistol into his hand and eased the door open slowly, not sure what he’d find.

  ‘Julia?’ He dared a whisper, but there was no doubt it was her. Even in the fading light, her auburn hair was unmistakab
le, hanging loose down her back in thick waves.

  She struggled to turn, a little screech escaping her when she saw the hooded figure. ‘It’s me, Paine,’ he assured her, finally seeing the reason she hadn’t turned fully on his entrance. ‘The bastard bound you.’ Paine pulled his knife free and sliced the ropes. ‘Are you all right?’ He took a precious second to hold her once the ropes fell away.

  ‘I am more scared than hurt,’ Julia confessed, sinking into the safety of his embrace. ‘Paine, Oswalt expects you to come. He’ll be looking for you. We have to hurry.’

  She no sooner spoke when the door handle turned. ‘Hide, Paine,’ she whispered fiercely.

  The idea was distasteful to him, but he ducked swiftly down on the far side of the bed, tense and waiting for the time to strike.

  ‘I see the crone left you untied. Unwise of her.’ That was Oswalt. Paine tightened his grip around both of his weapons. If Oswalt was alone, he wouldn’t get a better chance to strike.

  ‘My man is here to take you down, my little virago. But first we have things to talk about.’

  Paine could practically hear Julia flinch. He imagined Oswalt’s hand with its yellow nails stroking her cheek.

  ‘I am no good to you, Oswalt. I’ve been with Ramsden. You need a virgin,’ Julia argued defiantly.

  ‘I know, but since I have assurances you are not with child, you can be purified. Do you see everything out there? You have an excellent view. The high priest will do the ceremony in front of that altar block. Afterwards, you’ll mount the block for an old purification ritual. It can only be done on midsummer. Would you like to hear about it, my dear? I think it will go quite far in restoring you to a more biddable nature. Perhaps you would prefer to be surprised? You look lovely.’

  ‘Don’t touch me,’ Julia snapped. Paine quietly cheered her bravado. Julia had confessed how much the proceedings had unnerved her, but still she found courage to fight back.

  ‘I am surprised that your gallant lover has not ridden to your rescue. He’s leaving it rather late, isn’t he?’ Oswalt mused cruelly.

  ‘He’s not coming. It was never more than business between us,’ Julia said staunchly. ‘Why should he risk so much for me?’

  Oswalt chortled. ‘Firstly, because you’re a lovely bit of baggage, enough to muddle any man’s mind, especially a rutter like Ramsden who thinks primarily with his cock. Secondly, aside from his feelings for you, he detests me and blames me for his exile. This would be a grand opportunity to strike back for all those wasted years.’

  ‘They weren’t wasted. He became a man of self-made wealth,’ Julia retorted. ‘Perhaps he’s outgrown the need for revenge. Certainly that should be a relief to you. You won’t have to fight him a second time. You’ve had your victory.’

  Paine wanted to applaud. His Julia was turning out to be a fine interrogator. Even under pressure, her bold manner had Oswalt’s hackles up and the man couldn’t resist the urge to brag.

  ‘My dear wife, I’ve decided exile isn’t good enough for Ramsden. He must die. I can’t afford to have him live with all that he knows. And since I am to be married to you, I would find it deuced uncomfortable to have him lurking around, insane with jealousy over my good fortune.’

  ‘You can hardly call this wedding legal. The church will never recognise it,’ Julia pointed out.

  ‘We’ll have the small ceremony I promised your uncle in a few days once the shock starts to settle regarding Gray’s ship. Just think of all the good you’ll be able to do your family in their time of crisis.’

  There was a length of silence, a squirming sound from Julia that caused Paine to grit his teeth and then a resounding crack. ‘I told you to take your hands off me!’

  That was his cue. Paine leaped from behind the bed, thankful the light was behind him. ‘Let her go!’ He levelled the pistol at Oswalt and hefted his knife with the other. There were just the two of them—Oswalt and the guard. The guard he recognised from the club, the one who had bribed Gaylord Beaton. The man held a pistol like his own.

  Oswalt grabbed Julia as a shield. ‘I doubt your aim is that good in the dubious light,’ Oswalt sneered, ‘None the less, I am delighted that you came.’

  ‘Sam, bring our guest downstairs. I want him to have a front-row seat for my nuptials. Then afterwards, take him out and shoot him. That is, unless you’d prefer to be shot beforehand.’

  Paine shifted his pistol’s focus to Sam Brown. He could shoot the man accurately at this distance. If he could shoot, then so could Oswalt’s guard. He doubted he could dodge the bullet at such close range. And the pistol fire would bring too many people to Oswalt’s aid.

  He gave Julia a look, hoping to convey to her his choice. If he could bring the big man closer, he could deal with him more effectively, perhaps be able to use his knife. Paine made a show of lifting his arms in surrender and placing the weapons on the ground.

  Oswalt ordered the man to pick up the weapons. ‘We don’t want him getting them back.’

  The big man moved forwards, stuffing his own pistol back into his belt, clearly confident in his bulk to sustain him in a fight should Paine choose to play the hero.

  Paine chose his moment carefully. When the big man bent over, Paine landed a hard kick to the man’s nose, sending blood spurting everywhere. The man writhed on the ground, clutching his broken nose.

  ‘Now, Julia!’ Paine cried, lunging for her before Oswalt could recover the situation.

  Julia brought her foot down on Oswalt’s instep. It was enough to cause the older man to release her. Oswalt drew a knife and Paine threw Julia behind him, careful to keep the door at his back. If nothing else, he had to secure Julia’s escape.

  ‘Do you know what’s on this blade, boyo?’ Oswalt advanced. ‘A little equaliser—after all, you have years of youth on me. I can’t possibly match physical strength with you.’ Oswalt waved the knife blade.

  ‘This isn’t a drug. This afternoon, you were lucky. This will kill you. It’s made from cobra venom among other deadly things and cost me plenty for an ounce. It won’t take that much to kill you. All I have to do is throw it.’ Oswalt weighed the blade. ‘I’ve been practising.’

  Paine flexed his shoulders, covertly assessing his height. Julia would be safe. He was too tall for Oswalt to accidentally hit her instead. He could charge Oswalt and hope the poison acted slowly enough that he’d be able to take the feebler man to the ground before the poison claimed him. Pinned beneath his strong form, Oswalt would be unable to go after Julia. It would give her a slight head start, enough time to get to Peyton and Crispin. She didn’t know they were there, but they’d be watching for her.

  ‘No, Paine, you won’t die for me,’ Julia said behind him as if she’d read his mind.

  ‘Oh, this is so touching,’ Oswalt mocked. He lifted the knife and Paine sprang into motion. This would be resolved once and for all. Paine leaped for Oswalt, making a sprawling target as he flew for the man’s throat.

  Several things happened at once and the world slowed.

  Julia screamed.

  The knife sailed through the air. Paine braced himself for the jarring impact. There was no way the knife would miss him at this range. But miraculously it did, falling to the ground. An explosive sound rang out and Oswalt fell to the ground beneath Paine’s weight, but he was dead already, a bullet through the back.

  The door crashed open and the world sped up again, revealing Peyton and Crispin, pistols drawn and hoods off.

  ‘Paine, are you all right?’ Julia rushed forwards as he gained his feet, quickly taking in the events.

  ‘I’m fine.’ He gestured to the knife. ‘Don’t touch it. It’s loaded with poison.’ He was alive. The thought rocketed through him like liquid lightning. Then he saw the reason. Sam Brown’s one hand held a smoking pistol Paine recognised as the one he’d laid down earlier. The other hand still clutched his nose.

  ‘You fired the shot?’ It made sense. Peyton and Crispin had arrived too late and from the wrong di
rection. In his arms, Julia trembled, quickly reaching the last of her reserves. ‘I am grateful.’ Not to mention perplexed. ‘Why did you do it?’

  Sam Brown got to his feet awkwardly. ‘He was a bad man. I’ve worked for bad men before, but he was the worst. I didn’t understand just how corrupt he was until recently. What he planned to do to your young lady and what he planned to do to her family wasn’t right. They’d done nothing wrong, they were just vulnerable, and I don’t hold any truck with preying on the weak. It was different before when it was those who deserved to be swindled out of a few pounds.’

  Paine wasn’t sure he completely agreed with Sam Brown’s entire code of ethics, but he was grateful the man had seen fit to act on his behalf.

  ‘All I ask is that I be allowed to disappear, go make another life somewhere, an honest life. I’ve tired of this one,’ Sam Brown asked humbly.

  ‘Absolutely, after one more duty,’ Paine agreed. ‘We still need to get out of the house. We have horses waiting. Ensure our safety.’

  Dressed once more in their hoods, and with Julia between them, Sam Brown escorted the Ramsden brothers to the edge of the property without mishap, stopping only once to explain to guards that they were escorting the long-awaited bride.

  They mounted up on their horses, Julia riding in front of Paine. ‘What will you do now?’ Paine asked Sam Brown.

  ‘I’ll go back to the house and tell the guards to disperse the crowd, that Oswalt has died.’

  Paine threw the man a leather purse. ‘This is to thank you for your silence.’ He wouldn’t suggest this was to buy the man’s silence, that was too risky. He didn’t want the man to think he could set up a lucrative blackmail scheme in the future, no matter how reformed he thought he was. But he did realise the man could tell everyone that the bride had escaped, rescued by the Ramsden brothers. That would cause a riot of scandal if it ever got out. It would only take one brash braggart admitting to being there for everything to become well known.

  Peyton seemed to realise it as well. ‘There’s a ship I know of leaving for America. A man who works hard can make a good life there. I’ll arrange for your passage. It sails at dawn with the tide.’