* * *
Jonathan awaited his wife at the foot of the stairs, but his gaze wasn’t on the beautiful woman ascending the steps. No, his eyes watched the faces of those standing next to him.
Anne’s jaw dropped as did Patrick’s. “But she’s dead,” Anne blurted.
Jonathan grasped Anne’s arm and twirled her to face him. “And how would you know that, Anne?”
“Well, she’s been... I mean...she’s been missing. Gone. And now she’s returned here?”
“You know full well she tried to return here. You saddled her horse for her. You even purchased Winter from the man Edgar sold her to. Now what makes you think she didn’t come home, Anne, dear?”
“But...I saw her.”
Patrick pulled her from Jonathan’s hold. “Shut your mouth! Do not say another word, Anne.”
Toward the bottom of the staircase, Payton stopped. “Jonathan?” And then she started to fall.
He leaped the three stairs and caught her. “Payton, darling?”
Her lids fluttered, all the while Patrick and Anne shouted from one to the other.
“You fool! You said she wouldn’t make it back alive,” Anne screamed at him.
Patrick yanked her arm until her face lost all color. “You didn’t give her enough. Never leave to a woman a man’s job.”
Jonathan cradled Payton in his arms, but it didn’t stop him from confronting Patrick Dowdy. “Enough of what, Patrick? What did you give my wife?”
Anne lost her footing, sliding onto the floor. “She was so sick. So full of laudanum. She shouldn’t have arrived home.” Her face, the color of snow, couldn’t hide what she had done. As her gaze sought Dowdy’s face, Wallace stepped away, putting space between himself and the two foolhardy plotters.
“I swear, Jonathan,” Wallace stammered. “I knew nothing of their plans and actions. The only thing I ever did was to kiss Alithea.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he stopped, stared and backed farther from them. “I mean. She kissed me. Uh, I...”
Jonathan called for Mrs. Brewster to take Payton into the great room. He stood to his feet. “Wallace, you have one chance to tell me about your relationship with Alithea. If you don’t, I’ll shoot you where you stand.”
Apparently Wallace believed him. “You see—”
Anne scrambled to stand and clawed at Wallace’s face. “You can’t! Not now. I’m so close. You can’t tell Jonathan.”
Duncan pushed through the crowd and restrained Anne.
Wallace turned to Jonathan. “It started out to be a prank, Jonathan. Just to make you a wee bit jealous, Anne said. I was to kiss Alithea when you came into the room, but then, she and Patrick cooked up a plan. Patrick wanted Alithea and Anne wanted you. Patrick cornered Alithea, and after what happened with me, they thought you’d believe she was...well...dallying with your feelings. Patrick intended to force her away but then you caught up with them. Not part of their plan.” He glared from Dowdy to Anne. “I swear I didn’t know about all this trouble with Payton. I’m sorry, Jonathan.”
Anne fought against Duncan’s iron hold, but he held tightly. “You!” she screamed at Dowdy. “You killed them for naught.”
“Killed who?” Jonathan reached for her, but she pulled back. “Who, Anne?”
“That weasel, Edgar Whittard. Niece or not, he had every intention of killing her for the money if need be. He tried to get money from me when he couldn’t get it from you. Patrick had no choice. That’s when Payton found me in Colchester.”
Jonathan’s hands fisted at his sides. “So he was her uncle after all. How can I believe you, Anne? You’ve done nothing but lie to me.” A groan slipped from his lips.
Anne pulled from Duncan’s grasp and flew to Jonathan’s side. “Don’t you see? I did it all for you, darling. All for you.” With the last words, her eyes glazed and her mouth flopped open. “You would have restored Newbury, but Alithea didn’t care a whit about it. She only wanted you!”
He wrenched her hands from his arms, pressing them tightly against her sides. “And you are the one who tried to frighten Payton away from Kent with talk of Alithea not wanting her here.” His hands tightened. “How could you, Anne? After all our families have been through. How could you!”
Anne’s face hardened. How had he ever believed her to be beautiful? All the while she was plotting against his late wife, her own sister. He’d been so wrong about Alithea. It was all he could do not to throttle Anne.
“Sir, I’ll send Birdie for the sheriff.”
“I think that’s best. I don’t trust what I might do if she stays another minute.”
Wallace stepped in. “I’ll keep my eye on Patrick. It’s the least I can do, Jonathan. I’m so very sorry.”
* * *
All the while Payton stared, wide-eyed at the interaction between the guests and her husband. Anne had drugged her? No wonder she couldn’t remember anything after Anne took her to Newbury. And Mr. Dowdy! “Oh, Jonathan. I’m so sorry about Alithea.”
He pressed her into his shoulder. “And it might have been you, as well, my darling.”
“But Anne said you only married me because of Father.”
“Your father? What about your father?” His frown, like boiling anger, washed over her, frightening her.
“She said that he...he made you promise. Promise to take care of me. If anything happened.”
Jonathan cuddled her closer. “When I first arrived at Kent Park, he asked me to be your guardian, as well as your brother’s, I might add. It was a formality, Payton. I didn’t marry you out of obligation. Don’t you see how much I care?”
She gratefully tucked herself beneath his arm. “I’d like to go up to our room, Jonathan. I’ve had quite enough excitement for one night.”
He didn’t walk with her; he carried her up the entire staircase. “I’ll not let you out of my sight, Payton. Not ever again.”
His kisses rained down on her head and, finally, her lips. He carried her gently to the room and placed her on the settee. Then he sat on the edge, gazing into her eyes.
“Jonathan, how could she?”
“Mrs. Lambrick?” He smiled.
“Yes?”
“I don’t care about Anne or Patrick or anyone else right now. I only care about you.” He lowered his head to hers as her heart galloped a steady rhythm. When she closed her eyes, his lips covered hers, gently at first, then in a commanding manner that told her Anne and Dowdy had better be careful.
Chapter 17
Winter’s sides heaved as Payton pressed her to beat Jonathan and Storm to the wooded glen. She was so glad Winter had found her way home. She turned and laughed as Jonathan and Storm drew closer. The horses’ hooves beat into the ground in a thunderous explosion of dirt and grass. At last, they arrived at their favorite hideaway. Jonathan was laughing and reaching for Payton to help her down. Hope ran about them in circles, barking and nuzzling their legs.
Payton bent at the waist, drawing the hound into her arms.
Jonathan patted Hope’s head. “You funny little thing.” He ran his hand over Payton’s shoulder. “And here is my beautiful bride.”
“Bride?” She fluttered her eyelashes and grinned. “That was some time ago, Mr. Lambrick.”
“Bride I said, and bride I mean. Come here.” He curled her into his grasp and led her to a small opening in the trees. Spring wildflowers covered the ground. Mostly violets, but smaller white blossoms dotted in between the violets and greens. Jonathan pulled a length of white fabric from a leather bag and draped it over her hair. He took the hound from her arms and set her on the ground. Then he bent low and plucked a handful of blossoms. He tucked them into the gauzy fabric that trailed over her leather jacket and breeches.
Payton breathed in the delicious scents and smiled. “Well, husband, d
o I look pretty enough to be your bride?”
He ran his thumb across her jaw before dropping a kiss on her forehead. Her eyes widened.
“Listen. I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?”
“Over here.” He placed a blanket onto the spread of flowers. Tucking her hand into his, he dropped to his knees, pulling her down next to him. “Miss Payton Whittard, when I took my vows days before Christmas, I meant every word. I would be faithful and love you but in my heart was an empty space. I didn’t know how to fill it.”
She waited for him to continue.
“Then, little by little, you filled that space. By caring, encouraging me, loving me more than I deserved. And now, I want to take our vows again. This time knowing just how much you mean to me.”
“Oh, Jonathan.”
“Payton, I will love you the rest of my life through all the good but, more importantly, through the bad, as well.” He grinned. “I think, perhaps, we’ve had all the bad, haven’t we?” Jonathan dropped a peck on her cheek. “I long to have a life of babies, grandbabies and rides through the meadow with you in leather breeches and boots. I promise to love you and offer you all that I possess. Payton, will you marry me again, today? Here, in front of God and everyone?”
Tears welled in her eyes. This man had become part of her, her better half. A love that wouldn’t end. Payton used the end of her veil to swipe at her eyes. “I will marry you again, Jonathan. And I will love you forever...I vow...here in front of God and everyone.”
Her arms rose and encircled his neck, drawing him to her. As their lips met, sweeter than the violets beneath their feet, she managed to murmur one more time, her breath mingling with his, “Forever, Sir Jonathan.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460333907
BRIDE BY NECESSITY
Copyright © 2014 by Linda S. Glaz
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