Mark of The Marquess (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)

by Deborah Wilson

  Charles looked surprised. “I was only asking after their wellbeing. Surely, it is not a crime to ask if the other men have become so… well-adjusted since the kidnapping.”

  James narrowed his eyes and wondered what the man was implying. Did he not think James well-adjusted or even sane? What was he plotting?

  James stood. He’d been clear about what he would expect from Kim’s family upon their visit. If they could not be civil, they would be dismissed, and he would toss them out with his bare hands if need be.

  Kim popped out of her chair as well. “James, there’s a tear in my dress. Please, help me from the room.”

  He turned to her and saw the panic on her face. Immediately, his anger vanished. He took her outstretched and took them down the hall. “Show me.” He’d paid good money for her clothes.

  She showed the tear to him. It wasn’t so bad, not worth the amount of fear that had been in her voice. A maid with a steady hand could repair it easy enough.

  “I tore it myself,” she said. “So that I wouldn’t be lying to you. But I brought you out of the room before you could bring harm to my brother.”

  He pulled in a hard breath and met her eyes. Of course, he was a brute. Never mind what her brother had said. She clearly would take the side of her own flesh than that of her scarred husband.

  Their morning together felt meaningless now. Pain radiated through his chest. He had to clench his fists to his sides to keep from rubbing that wounded part of him.

  It didn’t matter what he felt or what she felt. This was his home, and he would not allow anyone to make him out to be inferior. “I warned your family. If they cannot abide by my rules, I will send them all away, with or without their things.”

  Her eyes widened. “James, please don’t. My mother has done no harm.”

  “She looked at me like I’m a beast!” he shouted, swinging his arms out. “She makes me feel like an animal in my own home. I don’t like it.”

  Kim hadn’t done more than blink at his shout, though he was sure everyone in the breakfast room had heard him. The house had likely shaken with the ferocity of it.

  The woman had the audacity to put her hands on her hips in the face of all that. “Well, perhaps if you’d smile more.”

  He lifted a hand. “I want them gone. Within the next hour.”

  “James.” She scrambled for her next words. “D-don’t do this. I thought you wanted their blessing.” Her eyes were wet. “I’ve not spoken to my mother yet. Or Sarah.” Her lips trembled.

  His anger fled. He felt the urge to reach out for her, but he didn’t. He didn’t deserve to touch her after what he’d said to her. He’d made her cry.

  He backed away. “I have no qualms with your friend Sarah, but I imagine she will not remain while her husband has been banished from this home. Therefore, I want them gone by the end of the day. I shall write to your aunt. They should be able to stay with her. You may visit them as often as you wish. That should give you enough time. Get your affairs in order where your family is concerned.”

  “So, that is it?” she asked. “You’re giving up on them completely?”

  “It is clear they did not come to give me a chance,” he said. “So, I’ve no reason to give them one. But you are mine, and I will not let you go. I was willing to share a portion of you, but that is all. Do you understand? You are my wife. You are not to leave me.”

  She frowned. “I won’t leave you, James.” When she reached out, he moved away.

  He could not take her touch right now. If she made a request—like to allow her family to remain—he’d allow it. He’d give in to her, even knowing it would damage everything that had grown between them. “I want them gone,” he said again. Then he left, heading for his office. He had work to do.

  His guests. He’d not invited any of them. They could entertain themselves for all he cared.

  * * *

  Kim remained where James had left her for a moment and gathered her thoughts.

  She understood his anger. His pain. She’d wanted to weep when she’d realized just how much of a toll this visit was taking on him. Her family was an issue, and it was one she could not afford if she wished to have a happy marriage.

  She closed her eyes and remembered the rage that had been on James’ face when he’d spoken about her mother. It was true. Dowager Lady Peckshire feared him, but even Kim had noticed her mother had been trying. The dowager simply didn’t seem capable of getting past James’ appearance. Her mother had always liked pretty things. She’d complained about their tiny cottage. She’d liked Lord Louvell, even though the man had had little to offer conversationally that wasn’t about himself.

  There was a chance Kim’s marriage to James would never sit well with her.

  What could she do?

  She knew one thing she wanted to do. Make her brother apologize. She was so furious with him, she had thought to toss her brother from the house herself. But he was her brother, one who’d loved and raised her after her father died.

  Many times over the years, he could have married her off in order to gain a financial connection, but he hadn’t. It was only when her family thought Louvell a good match that they’d plotted without her knowing.

  However, everything her family had done for her didn’t excuse the disrespect they were showing in her very home. To her husband.

  She stopped a servant and sent off a note to Lady Macy’s before returning to the breakfast room. Putting on a smile she didn’t feel, she said, “If my family would be so kind, I would ask you all to join me in the drawing room.” She departed before anyone could disagree with her. The breakfast room had been silent when she’d entered. No doubt everyone wondered what she would say.

  Kim only prayed she would use a calm voice when she did address her family, even though everything within her wanted to shout.

  She did not have to wait long for their arrival. They came together. Her mother looked around, worried, and Kim knew she feared James to be in the room. That look almost made her snap. But she refrained from doing so.

  Sarah moved to her side, concerned. “Are you all right, Kim?”

  Kim put on a tight smile. “Please, have a seat.”

  Charles didn’t sit. “What is this about?” he asked from the doorway.

  Kim crossed her arms. “It is about you and the disrespect you are showing me and my husband.”

  Her brother straightened. “I’ve done no such thing.”

  “I have asked you to kindly take a seat and you have not,” Kim told him. “What is that?”

  Charles glared. “You will watch your tone with me, Kimberley Clemens.”

  Kim began to lower her chin. She’d never spoken to her brother or anyone this way.

  Except perhaps James.

  Thinking about his pain had her holding her head up. She also crossed her arms. “It is Lady Denhallow to you and if you cannot remember that, then you are free to address me as my lady.”

  Either Sarah of her mother pulled in a breath. Maybe both, but Kim was far too angry to look away from Charles.

  Her brother glared. “I don’t recall you having a temper before. It is clear your husband has had a great influence on you.”

  Kim’s heart raced, ached, and she pressed her lips together to keep her ‘temper’ from exploding on everyone in the room. How dare her brother come into James’ home and speak poorly of him? James’ callous decision had been a good one.

  Kim had heard enough.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  2 6

  “You are to leave my house within the hour,” Kim said. “Aunt May does not live far, and she will likely be willing to accommodate you.” She was not ashamed by the way her voice wobbled at the end or the sadness that began to grow inside of her.

  This was her family, but if they could not accept her decisions…

  “Kim,” her mother whispered with tears in her eyes. “You would truly remove your own mother from your home?”

  Kim’s throat closed, an
d she was forced to fight to clear it. “I will not tolerate anyone who brings my husband pain. You can barely stand to look at him and in his own home. Is it right that he has to avoid you in a place that should be safe for him?”

  She finally understood why James did not wish to join society. Her own mother was a prime example of that. People would judge him for his scars, not caring where they’d come from or what he’d had to endure to survive.

  “You stare as though he is a monster when it was a monster who carved into him,” Kim went on.

  Her mother lowered her head and then burst into tears.

  Sarah took the dowager’s hand. The action pained Kim, because it should be her comforting her mother, but she couldn’t at the moment. She was too angry.

  Her friend looked up at her. “You’re right to be upset, Kim, but we do not know the marquess as you do. It will simply take us time to see him as you do.”

  “Is there no compassion to be had?” Kim asked. “After everything he’s been through—”

  “We’ll leave,” Charles declared. “If you wish us gone then there is no reason to remain.” He turned to Sarah. “Come. Mother? Let’s go get our things. As Kim has said, we should be gone within the hour.”

  Kim could take no more. She ran room the room. Her vision was blurred, but somehow, she made it to her rooms and closed the door before the first sob broke from her lips.

  Why did she always feel as though she were ruining everything, at least where her family was concerned? All she wanted was for everyone to get along, but it seemed she’d done nothing but drive them further apart.

  She went to her bed and sat down. Covering her face, she wept as she imagined her family leaving her, likely to never return again.

  There was a knock at the door.

  Kim sniffed and hoped it was her mother on the other side. She wanted to apologize for making her mother cry but didn’t know what to say. She stood by everything she’d said.

  It was not her mother who came in, but Lady Valiant.

  Kim felt both disappointment and relief.

  Valiant’s smile was gentle as she approached. “I hope you don’t mind me coming to see you. Your brother announced that they were departing. I wanted to see how you were faring and if there was anything I could do to help.”

  Kim stared at Valiant and thought her a wonderful person and clearly a good friend to James. It made Kim think of her own friend Sarah and how she’d just dismissed her from her life.

  Along with her mother and brother.

  The tears came again, but Kim found enough strength to say, “Thank you, my lady, but I don’t believe there’s anything you can do to help me.”

  Valiant went to the sideboard by the window and returned with a handkerchief and a glass of water. Kim took both and tried to make herself more presentable.

  “I could tell you about my family and how hard they worked to keep me away from Anthony before we were married,” Valiant told her.

  Kim lifted her head in surprise. “They tried to keep you and the duke apart? But he’s a duke.”

  Valiant laughed. “And James is a marquess. Both are powerful men, but it seems our brothers don’t care. My brothers didn’t trust Anthony.”

  “Why?” Kim asked.

  “Because he killed his father,” Valiant said.

  Kim stopped breathing. The Duke of Cartelle. Now that Valiant mentioned it, she did recall hearing something about the long-ago incident being whispered about while she’d been in school.

  “He doesn’t look like a murderer,” Kim said. Yes, Anthony’s gaze could be chilling. His eyes were a striking gray that Kim knew were capable of chilling blood, but when Kim saw the way he looked at Valiant… There was so much love.

  Valiant took her cup of water and went back over the sideboard. “It’s a long story, but Anthony is one of the most loving men I’ve ever met.” She put the cup down and returned. “My brothers, while I appreciate their concern for me, could not control my heart. Do you love James?”

  Kim blew out a breath. “I don’t know, but I care for him.” Her heart felt as though it were breaking. “I don’t like to see him hurt.” She looked up at Valiant. “Oh, how rude of me. Please, sit down.”

  Valiant took a position at Kim’s side. “I’m glad to hear you care for him. When we saw the announcement of your wedding in the papers, we wondered about you.”

  “We were in the papers?” Kim whispered.

  Valiant nodded. “Someone close to you must have made the announcement.”

  Likely her aunt.

  “We came to see what you were like with James, if you were good for him.” Valiant smiled. “After what just happened, we all firmly do. Your brother’s questions lacked taste.”

  Kim frowned. “Don’t hate my brother, please. My family truly cares for me. They just…”

  “We understand.” Valiant patted her hand. “It is hard to stand up to one’s family. Trust me, I know. As do Beatrix and Brinley. Ask them about their own stories and they will tell you. To love one’s family is sometimes not the easiest thing to do.”

  Kim thought about that and wanted to blame herself. But instead of thinking about that, she asked, “How long did it take?” she whispered. “For your brothers to come around?”

  “Well, Lore liked him immediately, because he could see how much I liked him.” Valiant wrinkled her nose. “The others? It took them a few weeks, but once it was clear that Anthony would die for me, they knew I was in good hands.”

  Kim was sure James would die for her, but she couldn’t think of a way to prove that to her family, neither did she wish to be in the position where it could be proven. She wanted James safe. “Thank you.” Kim squeezed her hand. “For being James’ friend. I’m so glad you came, that there are others who care for him.”

  Valiant smiled and returned the gasp. “You’ll have to tell me and my sisters-in-law how you two met, for we are going mad while trying to guess.”

  Kim laughed, which was something she’d thought she’d never do again and surely not so soon after dealing with her family.

  Valiant’s warmth soothed her spirits and allowed her to see more clearly. She would find a way to reach out to her kin again, but she’d not worry about it now. At the moment, she had guests to see to and a husband to care for.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  2 7

  James paced the office while Asher, Anthony, Lore, and Hero occupied the various chairs in the space. They’d found him here moments ago to see if he was all right.

  And to their surprise, and to his own astonishment, he was well.

  Better than well.

  Happy.

  But troubled.

  He’d heard the meeting Kim had held with her family. She was clearly unaware that he’d gone to his office, which happened to be right next door to the drawing room she’d directed her family to.

  She defended him and cast them out.

  He’d nearly pitied her family and had called himself all manner of foul names for the gladness that had filled him. Though he didn’t wish ill on her family and would have enjoyed gaining their acceptance—solely for Kim’s sake—he was glad she’d stood beside him in the end.

  It had been so very unexpected.

  He’d not heard what had happened at the end but had heard the footsteps rushing from the room. Kim, his heart had cried, sure she was distressed after what had taken place. But he’d been unable to leave the office, because his way had been blocked by his male guests.

  “Valiant wishes to speak to her alone,” Anthony had told him before coming into the room without permission. “Let the women have their time together.”

  The other men had followed Anthony in.

  James had almost gone anyway to see to Kim himself, but he knew the healing power that Valiant had and decided that perhaps a few minutes with the Duchess of Cartelle would be all right.

  But he had no idea what to do about his current company. Usually, if he’d been himself, he’d have
entertained with ease, told a joke or two. Now, he hardly found anything of humor. His old ways seemed foreign to him now.

  And even if he could find the spirit to be all that he’d once been, now that he was married, the man he’d been no longer seemed to fit. It was as though his old self was the well-worn coat of a boy and now he was a man.

  “Where in the world did you find her?” Lore asked from where he lounged on the couch. “I wholeheartedly approve of your wife, which is something I never thought I’d say.” He smiled.

  Hero sat in a wingback chair by the fireplace, grinning. “When she came into the breakfast room and announced she wished to speak to her family alone, I nearly got chills myself.” And that meant something coming from the man who’d fought Napoleon.

  James would have liked to see his little Kim putting her family in their place.

  “I’ve never seen her before.” Anthony was by the window. “She’s very beautiful.”

  James’ reaction was swift. “Keep your eyes to yourself, Cartelle, or I’ll shoot you again.” He’d shot Anthony in the leg two years ago, after he’d thought Anthony the reason for his kidnapping. The true criminal had set them both at each other, wanting James to destroy Anthony through revenge. James was glad to see that Anthony seemed fine. He walked without the hint of a limp. Otherwise, James would have never made the comment.

  Anthony grinned. “It was just an observation, my friend. An observation anyone with eyes could make.”

  Lore asked, “Where did you meet her? In London?”

  James crossed his arms. “She’s never been to London.”

  “How fortunate for you that she never had a Season,” Ayers said. He was leaning against James’ desk. “That she didn’t have to witness the wild man you once were.”

  James knew that to be the truth. If he thought her brother was being hard on him now, he was certain Lord Peckshire would have kept his darling sister from him then.