The Wagered Bride (The Clearbrooks)

by McCarthy, Teresa

  Milli came running into the room and glared at him. "What have you done to my sister?"

  Stephen took one last look at Elizabeth, turned, and strode from the room.

  Chapter Nine

  He weighs hardly anything at all," Stephen said as he sat on a bedside chair in Emily's chambers, holding the newborn in his arms. "The little imp. Richard is a fine name, Em."

  Emily sank against her pillow and smiled as she picked at her breakfast. "He may be small, but he has terrific lungs. My only concern was getting him into the world. Once he was here, I knew all would be fine. Elizabeth was wonderful, trying to soothe my nerves when I was in so much pain. I don't know what I would have done without her before the doctor arrived. But I must say, you amaze me. When did you ever hold a baby?"

  The baby cooed and Stephen softly patted the blanketed bundle. Elizabeth was wonderful. He never should have brought up Fennington's name last evening. It had ruined everything.

  "Don't you know? My friend Harry has had three of these. I am not without some education, Em. In fact, I have held some of Pearson's brood when they were only weeks old."

  Emily paused. "Hmmmm. If I didn't know better, I would think you wanted one of those little imps."

  Stephen stood, smiling as he rocked the baby in his arms. "One thing at a time."

  "Have you seen Jared this morning?" Emily asked.

  Stephen grimaced. "Your husband, madam, is inspecting the baby linens for cleanliness as we speak. The man is a veritable ninny when it comes to you and this babe."

  "Yes, he is," Emily sighed, her lips curving upward.

  Stephen's brows snapped together. "The man is also giving me advice that I would rather shove ... oh, never mind." The baby snuggled closer to Stephen's chest and let out a whimpering cry. "Jupiter, Em. He ... the ... my chest is soaked."

  Emily laughed. "So much for bravery. Call in Betsy, the nanny. She will change him. No need for a soldier like you to attend to such a dastardly job. Uncles do not attend to such weighty matters of everyday life. Clayton certainly would never do it. I am not certain about Marcus or Roderick either."

  Stephen's dark eyes danced. "You underestimate me. If I can ride into battle, I can certainly change a wee little infant. Just watch me and see how it is done by a master. But you are not to tell a soul, mind you. I would never live it down."

  Elizabeth stood in the hall, unexpectedly overhearing the conversation between brother and sister while catching a glimpse of Stephen holding the baby.

  "By Jove, Em, I didn't know a little thing could do so much damage. Er, perhaps we should call in Betsy after all."

  Elizabeth's heart swelled with tenderness for the man. This was the real Stephen Clearbrook. A man who loved his sister, his family, his nephew. For a moment last night, he had almost led her to believe a marriage between them would work.

  But he didn't love her. He was a man who needed her father's money. It was done all the time. The birth of his nephew was the joy she had seen in his eyes, not anything to do with herself. Her happiness had been shattered the minute he had mentioned Fennington's name.

  Tears pricked the back of her lids as she fought the emotions swirling inside her. As quietly as she could, she turned and made her way back to her room.

  His charm was her undoing. Lord Stephen had wrapped himself around her heart, and she didn't know how to extricate him.

  With just one smile from that rogue, her insides melted like snow on a summer day. And when he held her last night, her thoughts had spun like a windmill, making her forget the incident with Lady Odette. But the more she dwelled on it, the more she thought that perhaps Milli had misunderstood his instructions about Odette's drink. None of it made sense.

  Still, his charms were so remarkable he could hide almost any flaw in his character and it would be hard to detect.

  But there was one thing she would never forget. He wanted to marry her for her father's money and there was no changing that undeniable fact, charm or not.

  Closing the door to her room, Elizabeth sat at a small corner desk and penned a letter to Mr. Fennington. She would post it when she went into Town. After last night and especially this morning, she knew she had to do something. She had tried to keep her distance from Stephen, but it was all for naught because nearness or not, she still wanted him to love her. Seeing him holding the baby so tenderly touched her deeply. She had to leave.

  "What are you doing?" Milli popped her head into the room.

  Elizabeth quickly stuffed the letter into the drawer and turned to her sister. "I am writing a letter, Miss Nosy."

  The girl peeked over Elizabeth's shoulder. "To whom?"

  Elizabeth knew that Milli had taken a liking to Stephen, and the girl could easily drop a hint to that very man a letter was being sent to Mr. Fennington and that would ruin everything.

  "It's none of your affair to whom I write, Milli. But since our visit to the dressmaker's has been postponed for at least a few days, you might want to set aside some time and do the same. I would think your friend Grace would like to hear from you."

  "Yes, she is so lonely since her parents died. I shall write to her." Milli paused. "Good gracious, what is that horrid squeaking?"

  Elizabeth tipped her head to listen, her eyes twinkling. "I do believe that is Lady Bringston singing. The woman hovers over that baby as if it were her own. Lord Stonebridge has begged me to ride with his mother-in-law somewhere before she drives him insane. But for now, we are stuck here, so you had best gather your writing utensils and go to work."

  Milli's lids fluttered closed as she fell onto the bed with a silly smile. "The dressmaker. How utterly romantic. More romantic than writing letters. Perhaps Lord Stephen will see you in a gown of gold and fall to his knees, begging for a scrap of your love."

  Elizabeth doubted she would ever see the handsome lord on his knees for anybody, let alone her. He had too much pride.

  "Someday your acting will cause you trouble, Milli. Mark my words."

  Fine gray eyes stared back at Elizabeth. "Someday I will marry a prince who has fallen in love with me at first sight."

  "If you want a prince, you had best practice those dancing lessons Papa paid for and practice your writing."

  "Dancing?" Milli frowned and slid off the bed, heading for the door. "I am not a ballerina, you know. Oh, by the way, the duke was wondering how well you knew Mr. Fennington. He believes the man is only after money from rich heiresses, and he is very concerned about your relationship with the man, even though you are engaged to his handsome brother. And Lord Stonebridge—well, he evidently loathes the man."

  Elizabeth's face colored. "What did you say to the duke?"

  Milli huffed. "Well, I certainly did not tell him you fell out of that tree and onto his brother while you waited for Mr. Fennington to sweep you into the carriage and ride to Gretna Green, if that is what you meant."

  "Millicent, sometimes I would like to throttle you."

  Milli laughed, running from the room. "You would have to catch me first."

  Elizabeth pulled out her letter and stuffed it into her reticule. Obviously, this household had something against Mr. Fennington. And how could she believe anything Lord Stephen said? She would have asked Emily if her condition were not so delicate. The lady would surely know if the stories were true.

  But Elizabeth knew Mr. Fennington to be a fine man. He loved her. He did not love her money. Now Lord Stephen Clearbrook, with his devil-may-care attitude, wanted only her money. That charm of his was lethal to her well-being. Love was what mattered most in a marriage. Love and truth.

  Scowling, Stephen stood in the library and threw one boot onto the hearthstone, nursing a glass of sherry in his hand while Roderick hovered over him like some vulture picking at his prey.

  "And another thing, if you were not so thick in the skull, you would see what a gem you have on your hands."

  Stephen's cool gaze lifted. "Gem or not, Your Grace, I should be the one to choose my own wife."
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  "Who the hell cares what you want? Do you have any idea how well she handled the situation with Emily? You cannot jilt her."

  "You think I don't know what Miss Shelby did by keeping Emily calm until the doctor arrived? I am not stupid!"

  "Hell's teeth. Can you not even call the lady by her Christian name? You are engaged!"

  Stephen knew very well he was still engaged to the lady. The problem was she was in love with someone else. "Elizabeth. There! Are you satisfied?"

  He folded his body into the nearby chair, his gaze hard and unforgiving as he stared into the flames.

  Roderick slapped the fireplace mantel with his hand. "If I were not your brother, I would call you out."

  Stephen slowly lifted his head. "Why the devil don't you, then? It would make my life easier."

  The duke's eyes turned black. "You hurt that innocent angel and you will answer to me."

  Stephen laughed. "Oh, this is grand. She now has you in her corner, too. As well as Clayton and Marcus."

  His gallant brothers had made a point of pulling him aside after breakfast, telling him he was one lucky fellow to have a woman with a head on her shoulders.

  "Why do you dislike her so?"

  Stephen's lips thinned. "You don't understand, do you?"

  "You were always the cocky child, Stephen. It's time you took responsibility for your actions."

  Stephen shot from his seat, his finger stabbing the air. "Oh, I see. You wish to become my father, telling me what to do. Well, don't you dare try to interfere in my life. I can handle everything myself. As a matter of fact, if I ever come to you asking for money or a favor again, you may well deduce that I am at death's door with a bayonet in my back."

  "Then I give you fair warning," the duke replied, his tone sharp, "you'd best not hurt that girl."

  "Yes, you have already told me you were her champion. Well, hell, Roderick. Where was Mother's champion when she needed him?"

  "What the blazes are you talking about?"

  "Don't be an idiot! Where was Mother's help when she married our father? Where the hell was the love he was supposed to give her? Were you too blind to see how it was? How could she have fallen in love with a man who did not love her? Did you know her heart ached for his love every day he lived with her?"

  Roderick's face paled. "Let it go, Stephen."

  "Truly, do you think me a peagoose? Ask Mother if you do not believe me. But believe this, I will not enter into a marriage without love between both parties. I will not enter into a life like mother did and while the time away with a broken heart. Do you take my meaning?"

  "I take your meaning, little brother. The question is, do you take mine?"

  "Indeed, Roderick. I have eyes and ears. But do not fight me on this. You have a wife who loves you. How dare you interfere in my life."

  "No, Stephen. That is where you are wrong. It is two lives—yours and Elizabeth's."

  Stephen knew Roderick was right. And plague take it, if he were not a gentleman he would leave for the Continent first thing tomorrow morning. But truth be told, he was falling for Miss Elizabeth Shelby, and the crux of the matter was, the lady could not stand the sight of him.

  A week later, with the duchess by her side, Elizabeth stood inside a fitting room at the dressmaker's shop and bit back a groan of discomfort as the French seamstress pinned and tucked her until she felt like an overstuffed sofa cushion.

  "You will look wonderful in silvers and blues," the dressmaker said, her smiling eyes taking in Elizabeth's proportions. "For the engagement ball you will be a diamond of the first water."

  "We have postponed the ball for another week, but we must have these gowns as soon as possible," Jane added as she stood beside the dressmaker, offering her own opinions on Elizabeth’s apparel.

  Elizabeth managed a smile. Her engagement ball. The entire situation with Lord Stephen was making her extremely nervous. Something had to be done soon.

  The young duchess gave her a sly wink. "I know you are tired, dear, but if we want Emily to have any peace at all, we must keep my mother-in-law away from the house as long as possible. I declare, Jared was ready to throw his fist through the wall. My dear mother-in-law has been cooing and fluttering about that baby as if it were one of Egypt's kittens."

  Elizabeth chuckled, recalling one of the kittens that was to be given to Milli when it was ready to leave the litter. The kitten was solid black with almond-shaped amber eyes and a speck of white at the end of its tail. Milli called it Cleopatra. The name suited the small feline perfectly. The kitten already acted as if it were queen of the litter, making its own way in the world.

  "I cannot believe your mother-in-law wants to go on with the engagement ball," Elizabeth said to the young duchess as the dressmaker finished and left the room. "Two weeks from now seems barely enough time to prepare after all that has happened."

  Jane laughed. "The preparations will keep her entertained while her husband is away. She misses him so much. It seems there has been some trouble at one of his estates and he will be gone away longer than he predicted."

  Milli ducked her head inside the fitting room. "Excusez-moi, but if you hurry back into your things, Lizzie, maybe I can show you what I found out here. It's simply enchanting!"

  The duchess laughed as Milli skipped back into the shop. "She's a wonderful girl, Elizabeth. Go on and get dressed. I'll try to keep my mother-in-law busy on the other side of the shop."

  Elizabeth finished dressing and tried to compose herself as she left the fitting room to search for her sister.

  "Oh, Lizzie, look here," Milli proclaimed. "You must have this silver-blue ribbon to go with that matching material over there. It will go so well with your eyes. Stephen will simply die when he sees you in it." The girl's eyes fluttered closed, as if she were caught in a delicious dream.

  "I thought you were on my side! And he is Lord Stephen Clearbrook to you."

  Milli picked up a handful of buttons. "I am on your side. But as to Mr. Fennington, I believe Lady Emily is correct. I now have proof he is a villain. Lady Emily has confirmed it."

  "What has Lady Emily got to do with this?" Elizabeth replied, lowering her voice.

  "She told me that Mr. Fennington broke into her chambers one night, intending to carry her away to Gretna Green."

  Elizabeth felt her heart sink. "And?"

  "And her four brothers found the man, right there in her chambers! Truly, I am not fibbing, Lizzie. Lady Emily told me so. Needless to say, Mr. Fennington wiggled his way out of that mess and into another when he tried to kidnap Lady Emily just before her wedding took place. Luckily, her brothers found him again before Lord Stonebridge appeared, and they tied Fennington up until after the ceremony."

  Elizabeth did not realize she was wringing her hands around the silver ribbon until Milli gave a deliberate swoon over the counter and closed her eyes.

  "Lord Stonebridge," Milli said, opening one eye, "wanted to draw and quarter the man, but Lady Emily asked that he be deposited in the nearby village and left alone. She spared his life. What a saint."

  Milli opened the other eye and peered across the room past the window where the youngest of the Clearbrook brothers waited for the women. "I have been thinking it over—your marriage, that is," Milli continued, "and I believe you should marry Lord Stephen Clearbrook instead. He is as handsome as any prince. And agreeable, too."

  "Agreeable? After what he did to Lady Odette. How can you say such a thing?"

  Milli had the grace to blush. "Well, he is not the ogre you think, Lizzie. I may have overreacted a bit."

  Elizabeth's stomach twisted. "Milli?"

  Milli chewed her lip and shot a wary glance toward the man outside. "He had nothing to do with Lady Odette's drink. She treated you horridly, so I put the cherries in her drink all by myself. It was later when I thought of Lord Stephen. I thought... well, thought you would be flattered that he liked you enough to seek a tiny bit of revenge against Odette. So, I said he did it!"

&nb
sp; "Oh Millicent, how could you?"

  "She was mean to you in Bath."

  Elizabeth put a hand to her cheek. "And all this time I thought he had done such a despicable thing. I had my doubts, but—" Her lips thinned as she glared at her sister. "You had best apologize to the man."

  "Me?" Milli looked up horrified. "Apologize to him?”

  "Yes, and do it now before his mother steps outside."

  "B-but he has no idea what I said."

  "That's all the more reason to apologize."

  Milli's lips tightened. "If he beats me, I will blame you."

  "You deserve a beating, young lady. Now, go to it."

  Elizabeth watched as Milli stomped across the room and out the door. The bell chimed as the door closed and Stephen looked up from the walk, making his way toward Milli.

  "Pssst. Miss Shelby."

  Elizabeth jumped. She glanced over her shoulder, behind the bolt of green muslin, and her mouth dropped open in shock.

  "Elizabeth, I must speak with you."

  "Mr. Fennington, what in the world are you doing here?"

  The man had wedged himself between the bolts of material and the small dressing room, his blond head peeking over the lace.

  The word "coward" came to mind as Elizabeth paused and surveyed the man as if it were their first meeting. After Milli's assessment, Elizabeth had begun to rethink her own plans and her heart. Perhaps this man was not who she thought he was. Perhaps he did want her papa's money and did not love her at all.

  "Mr. Fennington, I cannot come to you," she said, lowering her voice. "It is not proper."

  "I cannot very well talk to you in the open when he"— the man tilted his head toward the window—"is guarding the door."

  "He is not guarding the door," Elizabeth said hotly, stalking toward the cowardly man, more aware than ever that he was a fraud. "He is waiting until we finish our shopping."

  "Well, then." Before Elizabeth knew what had happened, Mr. Fennington had grabbed her hand and hauled her into the nearby dressing room. "Dearest Elizabeth, you must speak with me."