Secrets of a Wedding Night

by Valerie Bowman

  Devon laughed now. A full hearty laugh. He threw his head back and shouted with laughter while Lily watched him with ill-concealed ire.

  “Good God, Lily, don’t ever change. Only you would have the nerve to carry out such a ruse.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down. “It wasn’t a ruse.”

  “No, no, of course not.” His laughter finally died down and he looked serious again. “But you didn’t answer me. Why me? Why last night?”

  Lily looked away. Tears sprang to her eyes. Horrifying tears. She hadn’t felt the sting of tears since … Devon had come back into her life. She shook her head and turned her face toward the window so he wouldn’t see. “Don’t make me answer that, Devon,” she whispered. “Besides, you never answered me. Why do you need to be back in London by Saturday night?”

  He took a deep breath. “If you must know, I intend to play in a high-stakes card tournament in the Rookery on Saturday.”

  * * *

  “I’ll go in first and make inquiries. See if they’re here.” Devon pulled on his gloves as the carriage clattered to a stop in front of the Gray Horse Inn.

  Lily didn’t argue with him. Arguing would take energy. Energy she did not have. Instead, she waited until Devon left, slowly counted one hundred, and stealthily followed him. In the coach, she’d been lulled by him, momentarily lulled, by his kindness and care. But his reminder that a card tournament lay in his future was all Lily needed to recall her objections to the man. It was extremely kind of him to assist her in finding her sister, but she wasn’t about to surrender control of this operation to a man. Let alone one whose entire future rested on gaming hells.

  Lily arrived inside the inn to see Devon bestowing his most charming smile on a young woman who was obviously employed at the establishment. The two laughed as if they’d invented a jest. Lily sauntered up, arms crossed over her chest, and cleared her throat. Loudly.

  Devon turned to look at her, a partly surprised look on his face. “Lily, I was just asking this nice young lady if she’d seen a couple.”

  The girl smiled, revealing crooked teeth. She giggled. “And I told ye, I ’aven’t seen anyfing o’ the sort.”

  Devon flashed her his trademark grin. “Think about it a bit longer,” he persuaded. “Now do you remember?”

  The girl’s eyes widened and Lily could have sworn she batted her eyelashes at Devon.

  “The couple? Have you seen them?” he asked.

  The girl looked abashed for a moment before putting her finger to her cheek, appearing to contemplate the matter. “Why, yes. Now that ye mention it, I do recall seeing a young bloke. Fine-lookin’ man, I might add. And ’e with a nice, new young bride.” She guffawed. “’Course in these parts, everybody is already married, ye know?” The maid poked Devon with her elbow and laughed at her own joke. “Nobody’s on they way to Gretna, round ’ere. No, sir.”

  Devon nodded. “Which room are they in?”

  The crooked teeth reappeared in her lopsided smile. The girl pointed a finger toward the back of the inn. “First room at the top. Right up them stairs.”

  “Thank you,” Devon said with a wink before he grabbed Lily by the hand and pulled her with him toward the darkened stairwell.

  “I told you to stay in the coach,” he whispered, glancing back at her.

  Lily batted her eyelashes at him. “You didn’t actually expect me to listen to you, did you? And by the way, charming the servant girl? A bit predictable, isn’t it?”

  Devon rolled his eyes. “Come on.”

  When they reached the top of the stairs, he put a finger to his lips. He motioned for Lily to remain silent. She waited in the shadows beside a wooden table with a rusty, flickering lantern resting atop it.

  She took a deep breath. “I hope it’s them,” she whispered. “Or we’re about to rudely interrupt someone.”

  Devon rapped twice on the door. No answer. They waited in the silence for what felt like minutes before he rapped again. This time a muffled male voice sounded through the door. “Blast it. It’s the crack of dawn. Who is it?”

  Lily’s heart flipped. It was a young man’s voice. English. Aristocratic. She held her breath.

  “Eggleston?” Devon’s voice boomed through the darkness.

  Muttering and curses followed, then the door swung open. “Yes? What do you want?”

  Devon grabbed the boy by the throat and pushed him back into the room. Lily rushed through the door, hoping against hope she wouldn’t find her sister naked in a tangle of bed sheets.

  Devon lit a match and a lantern sprang to a soft glow in the corner of the room. Annie sat up in the bed, quite properly dressed in a night rail that covered every bit of her from head to toe. A pallet on the floor strewn with blankets and a pillow clearly indicated where Mr. Eggleston had been sleeping.

  Lily let out a deep sigh. “Thank heavens.” She raced to the bed, grabbed Annie by the shoulders, and hugged her fiercely. Then, just as quickly, said, “What were you thinking, you little fool?”

  Annie hugged Lily back and sobbed.

  Eggleston had managed to wrangle himself from Devon’s grasp and he stood huddled in the corner, rubbing his throat and eyeing his captor. Devon paced back and forth in front of him like a lion guarding his prey.

  Tears streaked down Annie’s face. “I’m sorry, Lily. Truly I am.”

  Lily hugged her sister again, but she wanted to shake her. “Do you know what this escapade could do to your reputation if it ever got out?”

  Eggleston cleared his throat. “We know, Lady Merrill, but with all due respect, it’s your own fault. If you hadn’t threatened Anne with exile, we wouldn’t have had to put her reputation at risk.”

  Devon growled and lunged at the boy, but Lily got there first and slid between the two. She pointed her finger firmly in Eggleston’s face.

  “How dare you accuse me! You know nothing of Annie’s situation. I am her guardian and I am doing the best I can for her. I daresay living in Northumberland is a far sight more respectable than running off to Gretna Green. Besides, I thought you’d heard a rumor that Annie has no dowry. You didn’t seem interested at her come-out ball.”

  Arthur straightened his shoulders and raised his chin. “That was all a misunderstanding. Anne knows that. I don’t care if she doesn’t have a dowry. Anne wants a family. And so do I. We are in love. We plan to marry with or without your consent, Lady Merrill.”

  Lily eyed the boy with disdain. “Don’t make me regret stopping the marquis from throttling you, Mr. Eggleston.”

  Devon kept his eyes narrowed on the younger man. “Say the word.”

  Annie leaped from the bed. “Please, Lily, don’t blame Arthur. He was only doing what I asked of him. It was I who wanted to go to Gretna.”

  Lily paced across the floor. “Well, you’re not going to Gretna. Lord Colton and I have come to take you home.”

  “But Lily, I don’t want to go home. Home isn’t even home any longer. Northumberland isn’t our home.” Annie burst into tears.

  Lily hugged her sister. “Oh, Annie, you must believe I only want the best for you.”

  “I know you think you do, Lily,” Annie sobbed. “I believe that. But just because marriage and family were not what you wanted, doesn’t mean it’s not what I want. I’m afraid you’ll never understand. I had to show you just how important it is to me.”

  A lump clogged Lily’s throat. She hugged her sister more tightly. “Oh, Annie. This was not the way to do it.”

  Annie pulled back to look at Lily, and Arthur rushed forward to offer a handkerchief. “I know that now,” Annie said. “But I didn’t think … No, I knew you wouldn’t listen any other way. I had to do it. I am so grateful for you taking care of me, Lily. I will always be. But I must live my own life now.”

  Lily slumped onto the bed. Mr. Eggleston was right somehow. She had pushed her sister into this. Made Annie desperate enough to flee in the middle of the night without any regard for her reputation.
And Annie thought Lily had never wanted a husband and family. She had wanted both of those things once, very much.

  Yes, Arthur was right. It was Lily’s fault. She was the one who had become inebriated and told Annie they would be leaving for Northumberland. She was the one who had made all the decisions and issued the decrees. But she was the elder sister. She was the one with the responsibility. And she’d never imagined Annie would react like this.

  Lily straightened her shoulders. She must rectify this awful mess. She swung her cloak off her back and draped it over Annie. “We’ll fix everything, Annie. Somehow. But not like this. Come with me, now. We must go.”

  Annie hung her head and nodded and Lily ushered her sister from the room.

  * * *

  Devon glared at Eggleston. His arms tightly crossed over his chest, he watched the young man through narrowed eyes.

  Eggleston cleared his throat. “I’m qu … quite sorry, Lord Colton. Please believe, I meant no harm. Anne and I are in love, my lord. We only wished to be together.”

  Devon afforded him his most withering stare. The lad looked frightened out of his wits.

  Good.

  “On the contrary, Eggleston, you must believe that had you actually caused any harm, we would not be having this highly civilized discussion at the moment.”

  Eggleston’s Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly in his throat and the first bead of sweat dripped from his shiny, young forehead. He nodded rapidly. “I understand, m … my lord.”

  “Do you?” Devon shot back. He paced, his hands clasped behind his back. “Do you understand the enormity of what you’ve done? You might have ruined Miss Andrews’s reputation, her future, her life.”

  Unshed tears shone in Arthur’s eyes, but he pushed up his chin. “I never intended to harm her, my lord. I love her.”

  “Marriage is important, Eggleston. It’s hardly something to be entered into lightly, and certainly not the way you attempted to go about it.”

  A long sigh came from Eggleston’s throat. “But Lord Colton, haven’t you ever been in love?”

  Devon cursed under his breath. “Damn it, lad. Yes. Yes, I have.”

  Eggleston nodded shakily. “And what did you do, my lord?”

  Devon exhaled slowly and shoved his fingers through his hair. “Bloody hell, Eggleston. I had planned to do the same damned thing.”

  * * *

  Devon informed Eggleston of their plans and left to allow the younger man to dress himself in private. Devon shut the door to the room and pressed his back against the wall in the hallway. Expelling his breath, he slid down to the floor and sat with his knees up, his wrists resting atop them. For the first time in the last two days, Devon allowed himself to really think.

  Life was ironic. He was halfway to Gretna Green with Lily Andrews. Damn it. Why couldn’t it be five years ago?

  He could just keep going. He shook his head. Thoughts like that were purposeless. No, instead he was rescuing Lily’s sister, trying to talk an impetuous young lad out of doing the same thing he’d wanted to do once upon a time, and attempting to keep Lily from running off to Northumberland.

  Why?

  How had he gone from trying to convince that woman to write a retraction to her silly pamphlet, to ending up being seduced by her at the Atkinsons’ house party? His intentions of shaming her, rejecting her, leaving her, he’d abandoned them all the moment he recognized her vulnerability on the balcony at the house party.

  She’d turned to him, her lavender gown making her look like a goddess come to life. After telling him she’d been in love with him five years ago, she’d said, “My heart was broken when you took off for the countryside.”

  It didn’t make any sense. His father had told him Lily was engaged to Lord Merrill and Devon had written to her, sent a footman out in the middle of the night to reach her. And he’d received his answer. A letter informing him she was, in fact, engaged to the earl, and she must end her flirtation with Devon. Devon had lived with that betrayal all these years.

  But Lily had been telling the truth on the balcony. He knew it. She had been waiting for him that night. But how? And why?

  He scrubbed his hands across his face. Lily couldn’t marry Medford. The man would drive her insane with his constant perfection. Blast it. Why should Devon even care if she married him? Medford was the best choice for her. The pillar of Society. Not a rake or a gambler.

  Besides, Devon needed a mother for Justin. And Lily didn’t even know about the boy. How could he tell her about him and the circumstances surrounding his birth? Damn it. What did it matter? Lily hadn’t been for him five years ago and she wasn’t for him now.

  Fine. Devon had felt something for her last night. A lot of something, and he’d remembered why he felt so much for her years ago. But the fact remained, Lily had jilted him. She didn’t want him now any more than she had back then. The night they’d spent together didn’t change that.

  But, God, last night. It had been unimaginable. Unlike anything he’d experienced before. It had changed him. For good. After last night, how could she sit across from him in the coach the past day, tempting him beyond all that was holy with her pert nose and pretty lips, and tell him she had an offer of marriage from Medford and planned to go to Northumberland?

  Devon leaned his head back against the wall. She was running away from life. That was all. She thought she’d be safe, she and her sister, if they escaped town and all men. But if she was so intent on keeping men out of her life, why the hell had she climbed into his bed last night? What was she trying to do, drive him mad? If so, she was doing a stellar job.

  And what was she playing at, pretending not to take Medford’s suit more seriously? A life in Northumberland wasn’t right for her. Didn’t she recognize that? Devon shook his head. It didn’t matter. Whatever Lily chose to do with her life from here on out was her affair. He had a promise to fulfill, a tournament to win, a child to raise. He’d spent enough time with his blasted memories.

  Devon hefted himself up, a renewed burst of energy flowing through his veins. He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do, rescue Lily’s sister. Now, he must concentrate on his own priorities, the first being to return to London as quickly as possible.

  He took the stairs two at a time and pushed his way through the inn’s front door to find Lily and her sister standing next to the carriage. Jordan Holloway stood a few paces away, leaning against a low, stone wall. His legs were crossed at the ankles and he had a decidedly annoyed look on his face.

  “Ashbourne, you made it,” Devon called out.

  “Yes, and I’m deuced unhappy to realize I came in second place. I was so hoping to be the knight in shining armor in this little escapade,” he said, the annoyed look replaced with a grin.

  Annie gave him a narrowed-eyed glare.

  “Thank you for your help, Lord Ashbourne,” Lily said. “We expect you will keep this unfortunate incident to yourself, please.”

  Jordan stood up straight and bowed at the waist. “My pleasure, Lady Merrill. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s been no unfortunate incident. This entire journey never happened.”

  Lily smiled and nodded at him and Annie grudgingly mumbled her thanks.

  Jordan bowed to Annie. “Ah, I see you’re just as happy to see me today as you were the other night at the house party when I asked you to dance, Miss Andrews.” He threw his head back and laughed. “You sisters are not easy to please, I tell you. Not at all.”

  Annie gave him a tight smile.

  Lily turned to Devon. “We’re close to Northumberland. We’ll hire a coach. We’ll go straight there.”

  “Lily, please!” Annie clutched at Lily’s hand.

  Devon leaned against the side of the carriage. “You cannot go to Northumberland.”

  Now, what the devil had made him say that?

  Lily’s head snapped up to face him. “What are you talking about? Why not?”

  Devon inclined his head. If he was going to make this argument,
he might as well be convincing. “If you don’t return to London, the entire ton will flay you alive. The rumors will run rampant. Annie’s reputation will be beyond repair.”

  Lily opened her mouth, most likely to issue a retort, but soon clamped it tight again. She slumped against the side of the conveyance, her brows furrowed. “I don’t care about the ton.”

  Devon shook his head. “You don’t now, but you will when the rumors follow you to Northumberland. Rumors about Annie. She must come back to London to be seen again. Otherwise, God only knows what sort of outlandish stories people will invent.”

  Annie’s face was ashen. She buried her face in Eggleston’s handkerchief. “Oh, I cannot bear to think about it.”

  Lily paced away from the coach. “What is best for Annie?” she whispered, pulling nervously at her own handkerchief.

  “Returning to London is what’s best for Annie,” Devon replied quietly. “You know it is, Lily.”

  Annie’s face brightened. She looked as if she might hug Devon. “I think Lord Colton is absolutely right.”

  Lily glanced beseechingly at Ashbourne. “I must agree with them,” he said.

  Lily marched back toward the carriage. “Very well. I refuse to argue with all three of you. We’ll go to London. We can stay at Medford’s property. But as soon as it is seemly, we’ll be leaving for Northumberland. Do you hear me, Annie?”

  Annie, obviously pleased with her reprieve, nodded eagerly.

  The two ladies waited near the carriage while Devon spoke with the innkeeper, arranging for the horses to be changed out. It was the right thing, for Lily to bring her sister back to town. He might not care about her future any longer, but surely there was no harm in performing one more chivalrous act for Annie. She was a nice young lady. He’d just have to ignore the fact that Lily would be staying with Medford.

  Devon made his way back to the coach just as Eggleston reappeared.

  Devon eyed the younger man. “We’re nearly ready to leave, but first let me make myself clear. It should go without saying, Eggleston, that you will not mention a word of this ill-advised journey to anyone.”