by Cheryl Holt
“Bound for where? I have no money but for the tiny stipend I received from my late husband. What is to be done with us? Shall we be put out on the streets?”
“Had it been left up to me, that is precisely what would have happened. Instead, the earl is offering you the Dower House at his property in Yorkshire. But only the house. For your financial needs, you will have to survive on your stipend.”
Maud had been to the property once. It was a cold, dreary residence located at the end of the earth. She would be broke and isolated, with boring, fussy Miriam as a companion. The resolution was the cruelest one imaginable.
She wrestled away and stood.
“I won’t go.”
“Fine. You may fend for yourself, and if that is your choice, you should expect no compassion—or support—from Lord Hastings.”
“You are trying to be rid of us.”
“Yes, we are. We make no bones about it. We won’t have you on the premises and creating mischief.”
Maud teemed with rage. If she were a man, she’d pummel him into the ground. He’d stolen everything from her: her home, her authority, her position in the family. Most despicably, he’d diverted Michael’s esteem, and without it, all was lost.
“This is because of Helen Hamilton, isn’t it?” she sneered. “You’ve caused all this trouble just so you can lift her skirt a few more times.”
“Be silent.”
“I won’t be! She came here as a beggar, as a charity case, and you raised her up above everybody. She is a—”
In a flash, he grabbed her by the throat, his large palm applying pressure, cutting off her air. She scratched at him, struggling to escape, but she couldn’t fight him off.
“I haven’t implemented the punishment I wished,” he whispered in her ear, “because Lord Hastings asked me not to, but hear me and hear me well, Maud Seymour: If you ever mention Helen Hamilton’s name again, I will sneak into your bedchamber in the middle of the night and smother you in your sleep.”
He pushed her toward the door.
“You sicken me,” he said. “Get out of my sight.”
Maud staggered away and went into the hall, where she was irked to find Lydia dawdling. As Maud started for the stairs, Lydia followed, dogging her heels.
Maud swatted at her. “Leave me be, you wretched girl.”
“The captain ordered me to watch you pack—so that you don’t steal anything.”
Maud inhaled a sharp breath, and she glanced over to see Odell casually loitering in the library doorway, observing all.
“I won’t have this unfaithful tattle near me,” Maud declared.
“She is rather fickle in her loyalties, isn’t she?”
Lydia absurdly proclaimed, “I’m accompanying you to Yorkshire, too.”
“You are not. I never intend to set eyes on you again, and you are most certainly not welcome in my new home.”
Slyly, Lydia grinned. “Ask the captain. He’ll explain it to you.”
“I gave Lydia a choice,” Odell said. “I could have her arrested, or she could indenture herself to me for the next seven years.”
“I chose the seven years,” Lydia bragged. “It was a better conclusion than prison.”
“She’s indentured to you?” Maud was aghast.
“Yes,” Odell admitted.
“In what capacity?”
“She will be employed at the Dower House, where you will be residing, and her main duty will be to report on your conduct. I won’t have you meddling in Lord Hastings’s affairs, so her presence will guarantee that you’re behaving yourself.”
With Maud reduced to penury, there would be no way to sway Lydia, no way to bribe her. She would make Maud’s life a living hell.
“Seven years!” Maud wheezed. “She will spy on me for seven years?”
“Yes.”
It was the ultimate humiliation, the ultimate insult.
“No, absolutely not. She will not come; she will not report.”
“Then you will not have the house.”
Maud stared at Odell, wondering how she could ever have fancied him, how she could ever have assumed they might have had a future together.
“I’ll talk to Michael,” she threatened. “He’ll overrule you.”
“The arrangement was his idea.”
Odell strutted away, while Lydia gestured for Maud to hurry.
“The captain is having the coach brought ’round,” Lydia nagged. “We mustn’t keep him waiting.”
“Your precious captain can sod off.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him you said so.”
Chapter 24
JANE sat at her dressing table, brushing her hair.
She’d been fed, and she’d bathed—three times—but she didn’t think she’d ever feel completely clean again.
Odell had retrieved their clothes from Rafferty, so she was bundled in a comfortable nightgown and a warm robe, with thick woolen socks on her feet.
The horrid ordeal was at an end. She and Helen were safe. Amelia was with them. Clarinda, too. They were in Michael’s town house, and she was settled in her bedchamber, but for how long? What would happen next?
Michael and Captain Odell had whisked them out of the prison, and Michael had escorted her to his mansion, but she hadn’t spoken to him since. Now, it was evening, and she was waiting.
For what, she wasn’t sure.
What was her position in the household? What was Helen’s? How was Jane’s relationship with Michael to proceed? Would they even have a future?
She was terrified that Odell had brought them home merely to be shed of them again. Most likely, he’d shuttle them off to a cottage in the country, with a tiny allowance and the scandal squelched, which Jane couldn’t bear to imagine.
She wanted to take action, to assert herself and make her opinions known, but instead, she was loitering in her room like a frightened mouse.
Suddenly, to her great surprise, she heard someone out on the balcony. She whipped around, seeing a man attired all in black, but she wasn’t alarmed. With that blond hair and lanky physique, she knew exactly who it was, and her heart thudded with joy.
She jumped up and hurried over as Michael opened the door and entered, the cold night air whooshing in behind him. He swooped her into his arms, then he was kissing her and kissing her as rapturously as if they’d never been separated a single second.
“Oh, Jane,” he murmured, “I thought we’d lost you. I thought I’d never see you again. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re forgiven. For everything.”
“I can’t believe Maud did this.”
“She always loathed us.”
“I realized it, but I didn’t understand the danger she posed.”
He broke away and led her over to a chair. He helped her to sit, then he pulled up a chair and sat, too.
“I hate to seem so rushed,” he said, looking grim, “but we need to talk. Fast. There’s something you have to know.”
She took a deep breath, let it out slowly. Was this good-bye? After all she’d been through, it couldn’t be over. Not like this.
“What is it?” she cautiously asked.
“I haven’t behaved very well toward you.”
“No, you haven’t,” she dared to reply.
“Initially, I told myself we were engaged in an innocent flirtation.”
“It was never innocent—not from the very first day.”
“Then, as we became more involved, I wanted to bind myself to you in some way, but I couldn’t figure out how.”
“And now?”
“Now I want you to know that I... I... love you.”
She gasped. “You do?”
“Yes, so very much.”
She smiled, unable to hide her relief. “I love you, too.”
He dropped to one knee and clasped her hand.
“Will you marry me?”
She started to tremble. From the moment she’d met him, she’d dreamed of hearing that very que
stion, but in light of all that had occurred, she’d been forced to accept that it would never come to fruition.
She didn’t have to mull over her response. She knew what she wanted, what she’d always wanted.
“Yes, yes, of course I will.”
He was trembling, too, and he leaned in and kissed her.
“I was so afraid you would say no.”
“Are you mad? I never would have.”
“At Hastings Manor, I asked Tristan if I could propose, but he wouldn’t let me.”
“What changed his mind?”
“I have no idea. Out of the blue, he said I was old enough to make my own choices—and my own mistakes.”
“This will never be a mistake.”
“No, it won’t.”
“I swear I will make you happy every day for the rest of your life. It will be my only goal.”
He eased away and sat in his chair again.
“We still have a problem, though,” he insisted.
“I thought Captain Odell had decided it was all right.”
“Tristan is fine with it. It’s your sister Helen who’s balking.”
“Helen?”
“Yes. Just after supper, I spoke to her and requested your hand in marriage, but she—most regretfully-refused my suit.”
“She didn’t.”
“She did.”
“I am absolutely mortified.” Jane flushed with embarrassment. “Did she give you a reason?”
“She believes I’m a philandering roué who’s not ready to settle down and who will bring you decades of misery.”
“She said that?”
“Well, not that precisely, but her underlying message was loud and clear. I might have fared better if Tristan hadn’t been present. She’s very angry with him, and I think she declined the match just to spite him.”
The news had Jane in a furious temper. Didn’t Helen comprehend that marriage to Michael was the answer to all their prayers? It would provide Helen and Amelia with financial security, and since Jane was ecstatically in love with Michael, it was the perfect conclusion.
She stood, prepared to march down the hall to give Helen a tongue-lashing.
“Where are you going?” Michael inquired, pushing her down into her seat.
“To punch my sister in the nose for insulting you.”
“Don’t worry about her.”
“But I don’t want to spend weeks or months begging her to relent”
“Neither do I. So I have a suggestion.”
“Anything,” Jane vowed. “I will do anything you ask.”
“Good girl.” He turned her hands, palms up, and he kissed the centers. “I would like us to elope to Scotland.”
“Elope!”
“If we ride on horseback, we can travel fast, and no one will be able to stop us.”
“When would we leave?”
“Right now. I have two mounts saddled and waiting out in the stable.”
“We’d simply gallop away?”
“Yes. It’s a scandalous way to start out, but when we came back, the deed would be done, and Helen couldn’t prevent the union.”
“I’ve always dreamed of having a big church wedding. Could we have one when we return?”
“Certainly.”
Jane walked over and opened her desk, yanking out ink pot, paper, and quill.
“What are you doing?” Michael queried.
“I have to write a letter to Helen, informing her of where I’ve gone.” She grinned. “Then I’ll need a minute to change my clothes and pack a bag.”
ROSE peeked in Amelia’s room, checking to ensure that her friend was sleeping soundly. Amelia had been so exhausted that she’d dozed off over her supper tray. Rose had tucked her into bed, and she hadn’t stirred.
Rose smiled with satisfaction, feeling that all was right with the world again, then she tiptoed to her own room. As she entered, she was aggravated to note that Tristan was in a chair over by the window.
Since he’d discovered her sneaking away, they hadn’t spoken. He’d been busy with Helen, with Maud and Miriam and Michael. Everyone had priority over Rose, so she hadn’t been able to ask what had transpired at the prison, how he’d rescued Helen and Jane or, most important, what would happen now.
She knew she should thank him for helping Amelia, for finally listening and intervening, but she was enraged that it had taken a grown-up—namely, Clarinda Dudley—to convince him of Maud’s duplicity.
When he’d first arrived in London, she’d been so happy, but he’d proved himself no different than the other adults in her life who’d ignored her and discounted her wishes.
She stared at him, her expression defiant so that he would understand he wasn’t welcome and she wasn’t glad to see him.
“Where have you been?” he inquired.
“I was checking on Amelia.”
“Is she sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been a good friend to her. I’m proud of you for that.”
The compliment pleased her, but she didn’t want him to know. She merely shrugged.
“I knocked,” he said, “but you weren’t here. I was worried.”
“I doubt it,” she scoffed.
“I thought perhaps you’d left me again.”
“What if I had? Why would you care?”
She went to her dresser and straightened items that didn’t need straightening. She could feel him observing her, his probing gaze annoying and disconcerting.
“If you ran away,” he claimed, “it would hurt me.”
“I expect you’d get over it.”
“You’re wrong. I’d hunt for you forever. I’d never quit searching.”
She hated it when he pretended to be kind, and she whirled around and glared at him.
“What do you want? Why are you in here?”
“I came to say that I’m sorry.”
“Fine. You’re sorry.” She gestured to the hall. “Now you can go.”
“You tried to tell me what Maud was like, but I wouldn’t listen.”
“No, you wouldn’t, and look at all the awful events that occurred because you didn’t.”
“I’m ashamed of how I acted. Will you ever forgive me?”
“Someday ... maybe.”
Tears flooded her eyes. To hide them, she walked over to the wardrobe and pulled the doors open and closed, open and closed.
“I sent Maud and Miriam away.”
“Good.”
“They’re never coming back. Maud will never harm you or Amelia again.”
Rose shook with relief. It was the very best news she’d ever had, the most wonderful thing he could possibly have done.
“Thank you.”
“I don’t suppose you’ll believe me, Rose, but after Father died, and I found out he wanted me to watch over you, I was afraid.”
She snorted. “Why would you be afraid of anything?”
“I don’t know much about little girls or what they need. I felt I was a terrible choice.” He paused, as if struggling over his words. “What’s your opinion of how I’ve behaved as your guardian?”
“You’re pretty bad at it.”
He’d brought Amelia to reside with them, but other than that one brilliant decision, he’d failed Rose over and over.
“Turn around, Rose,” he urged. “Look at me.”
“No.”
“Rose!”
With that hint of command in his voice, it was difficult to refuse. She spun toward him, swiping at the tears that had dribbled down her cheeks.
“How should we proceed,” he asked, “with you and Amelia and me?”
“I want Amelia to remain with us. Always.”
“Miss Hamilton won’t agree. She’s anxious to have her own home, her own place.”
“You could make her stay. You could order it.”
“I doubt she’d obey me.”
“If you were nicer to her, she’d stay.”
He chuckled, but no
t in a happy way. “She’s very angry, and she needs some time to calm down.”
“If she leaves with Amelia, I want to go with them. I want to live where Amelia lives. I want to be with Miss Hamilton.”
“Rather than me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know if I could allow it.”
“Why couldn’t you? You never wanted to take care of me; you said so yourself.”
“That’s not true!” He appeared furious, as if she’d insulted him. “You’re my sister. I do want to take care of you. I just don’t think I’ve done a very good job of it so far.”
“No, you haven’t.”
She began to weep, hating to be so sad, but she’d pinned so many hopes on him, and they’d all been dashed.
“Oh no,” he murmured. “Don’t tell me I’ve made you cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she fibbed. “I’m just tired.”
“Come here.” He extended his hand.
She was dying to walk over and clasp hold, to sit on his lap as if she was a young child while he told her everything would be all right, but she wasn’t young anymore, and things might never be right again.
“Rose, come!”
When he spoke that way, being imposing and strong, she couldn’t ignore him.
She took a step, then another, and once she was near enough, he grabbed her wrist and tugged her onto his lap as she’d been secretly wishing he would do.
He nestled her to his chest, as he rubbed a comforting hand up and down her back. He smelled marvelous: like leather and brandy and horses, how she’d imagined her father would have smelled if she’d ever been permitted to snuggle with him.
“It seems,” he said, “that all I do is make the women I love cry.”
“If you don’t want us to cry, you shouldn’t be so mean to us.”
“Out of the mouth of babes.” He chuckled again, and he sounded better, as if his mood was improving. He dried her tears with his thumb. “We’ll figure it out, Rose. I’ll reflect on a solution, then I’ll talk to Miss Hamilton about you and Amelia.”
“Could I live with them?”
It wasn’t what she actually wanted. She wanted to stay with him so that they could change their house into the home it had never been, but he probably wouldn’t be interested.
“We’ll see,” he hedged.