Angelina (28 page)

She didn’t bother knocking. Opening the door she slipped inside, then closed it and stood with her back pressed against the oak panels. “I wish to speak to you on a matter of great urgency, Thomas.”

Her husband turned and gazed at her. He looked haggard, she thought, and she briefly regretted the necessity to confront him when it was obvious Frey’s plight weighed heavily on his mind. Yet she knew his anger would know no bounds if word reached him from another source.

“What is it, my dear?” 

“I’ve been to see Mary Mellor.”

She held her breath when a startled look came into his eyes. Then his shoulders slumped and he said in a tired voice. “I should have ended the affair years ago. I didn’t intend to hurt you, Elizabeth.”

Encouraged by his words she crossed to his side. “The reason I visited her was to confirm the suspicions I had regarding Rosabelle.”

“Then you know.”  His voice was dull.

“I think I’ve always known.” Seating herself on the footstool she took her husband’s hand in hers. “Why did you do it, Thomas?”

His free hand brushed against her cheek. “You wanted a child so badly, and I was convinced Angelina would die.” He gazed with sadness on her. “I didn’t want you to suffer the pain of losing your infant daughter after what you’d been through.”

“So you found me another child.” Tears came to her eyes and spilled unheeded down her cheeks. “If Angelina had died we could have had another of our own?”

His voice strengthened as he said simply. “I didn’t want to risk losing you to childbirth, Elizabeth. I love you too much.”

“Oh, Thomas.” She laid her head against his knee. “All these years I’ve longed to hear you say those words. So much time has been wasted.”

“And now it’s too late.” The Earl sighed. “First I alienated you, then I sired a son who suffered because I couldn’t acknowledge him. If Frey dies it will be my fault. Now Rosabelle’s life is to be ruined. Tell me, Elizabeth, what I must do to put things right?”

Surprised by her husband’s defeated attitude she lifted her head. “To start with you must show some strength. James is not convinced he’s guilty. Go and talk to Frey, let him know you care. If you’re convinced of his innocence you must fight to save his life.”

“You’d be prepared to suffer the scandal?”

Elizabeth’s laugh had a slightly bitter ring to it. “I’ve lived with it for the past eighteen years. Frey wasn’t responsible for his parentage and must not be made to suffer because of it.”

Rising, she shook the creases from her gown. “Mary is on her way to London. I’ve paid her handsomely for her continuing silence. As for Rosabelle, she will marry George, and will never know she’s not our child.” 

Relief in his eyes, Thomas got to his feet. “I’ll do anything you ask of me, Elizabeth.”

“Then we’re agreed.” His unexpected declaration of love and loss of pride in her presence was somewhat uncomfortable. But while it lasted Elizabeth intended to take advantage of it. “There’s a condition I would impose upon you, Thomas.”

His eyes darkened a little, a sure sign his pride was returning. “Name it.”

“You’ll remember I’m your wife.” Her voice faltered a little when his mouth curved into a smile. She coloured. “You’ve not been a good husband to me in the past Thomas.”

“It will be my pleasure to change that, my dearest Elizabeth.”

There was such a surge of emotion in his voice that Elizabeth stared at him for a few seconds. Then he closed the space between them and took her in his arms. “Dear, God,” he whispered hungrily. “How I’ve longed for you all these years.”

“I have a confession to make first,” she whispered. “I burnt Mary Mellor’s cottage down today. I knew I wouldn’t be able bear the sight of it standing there, reminding me.”

He stared at her for a moment, then his eyes crinkled with amusement. Elizabeth’s heart missed a few beats as his lips tentatively touched hers, then he was kissing her with such tenderness and love she forgot all the hurt of the past. Sliding her arms around him, she pulled him close.

Neither of them heard the door open, nor gently close again. James, who’d come to inform him of the occurrence in the village, smiled to himself as he walked away. Elizabeth had chosen her moment, and had dispatched her rival with skill. Now she was about to consolidate her own position within the household. His business with the earl was not so pressing it could not wait, and he had the feeling his father would be a changed man when next he saw him.

Chapter Sixteen

William was amused by the look on Rosabelle’s face when Angelina announced her plan.

“Assist Frey to escape!” she gasped. “Lucifer”s oath! Are you insane?  They’ve sent a trained soldier to guard him because the watch-house is full.”

“He’s our brother.”

“Frey’s a bastard,” he reminded her. “He has no claim to family name or estate, so why should we help him?”

“Because he’s innocent of the charge against him.” Angelina sounded desperate. “I saw the highwayman’s face, Will. I swear it was not Frey.”

Rosabelle turned to stare out of the window. “If you can identify the felon, why don’t you?”

“It was only an impression I got, yet I know the highwayman wasn’t Frey.”

“You expect us to risk our lives on one glimpse in the dark?” Rounding on her, Rosabelle gave a scornful laugh. “Your brain is as addled as a stale egg if you expect us to endanger ourselves over Frey Mellor.”

“And yours is so swollen with vanity and self-importance there’s no room in it for anyone but yourself,” Angelina hissed.

William laughed when they glared at each other. Angelina’s insult had hit its mark for Rosabelle looked as sullen as a thwarted child. Her dark eyes glowed with a barely disguised animosity.

Angelina reminded him of a feral cat, hackles raised, eyes both wary and deadly. If she’d suddenly pounced into a spitting, scratching ball of fury, he wouldn’t have been surprised.

He was tempted to encourage them to trade insults, but it would serve for nothing but his own amusement. Given the choice he’d have placed his money on the sharper-minded Angelina.

Her scheme to save Frey, though foolhardy, touched him. Angelina had embraced the family with a loyalty he found hard to grasp. Someone prepared to risk life and reputation in such a futile cause had his admiration.

The plan she’d proposed was simple. She would lure the soldier into the garden, then Rosabelle would unlock the cellar door and guide Frey to a horse he had saddled and waiting. Frey would be hidden at his stables until he could be put aboard a ship and sent to foreign parts.

She’d under-estimated the intelligence of the soldier, and over-estimated her power to execute such a plan. Even if she managed to lure the soldier away, she’d given no thought to the danger she’d placed herself in. He simply couldn’t allow it.

“Squabbling will serve Frey nothing,” he said. “Your plan is unworkable.” Did you really think I’d allow you to place yourself in jeopardy with a rough soldier.”

His eyes brooded over her disappointed face. He’d already incurred a tongue-lashing from her over his treatment of Frey, so why was she appealing to him for help? He didn’t care whether Frey lived or died. He shrugged, wishing it could be otherwise. “If Frey’s not the highwayman, chances are the man will strike again and prove his innocence beyond all doubt.”

“How clever you are, Will.” Rosabelle clapped her hands and smiled, her spate with Angelina forgotten. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she gazed his way. “I’m sure the man will show up again in time to rescue Frey. What fun it will be, like a melodrama at the playhouse. Can you imagine the despair Frey will feel when he walks to the gallows? Right at the last minute the highwayman will strike, and he’ll be saved. It will serve Frey right for thinking he was as good as us for all these years.”

“He’d better show up long before Frey goes on his last walk,” he remarked. “The wagon will be coming to take him to London before the week’s out.”  

Rosabelle dissolved into laughter and he grinned. 

   Angelina didn’t see any humour in the situation. “You disgust me,” she snapped, “Our brother is facing death and all you can do is jest. If it were your neck destined for the noose, William, it would not be funny.”

“You’re right.” He uneasily loosened his stock with his finger. “I daresay I should find the experience most unnerving.” He shot a glance at Rosabelle. “How about you, Rosie, do you relish the thought of dancing on air at Tyburn?”

Her smile faded and her face paled. “I suppose we must think of some way to help Frey,” she muttered. Her face suddenly brightened. “George is taking me to the horse sales today, perhaps I can persuade him to drop the charges.”

Angelina’s relief was evident in her voice, before reluctance seeped into it. “Nicholas Snelling has taken up residence at the inn again, and seems disinclined to leave. If I send him a letter beseeching him to withdraw his statement, he may find it in his heart to be agreeable.”

Rosabelle send a glance of genuine sympathy her way. “The man’s persistent. Beware, he may appear a fool, but he’s capable of exacting a price in exchange. I’ve heard he intends to stay until you agree to his proposal. He’s quite besotted with you.”

“If that’s the sacrifice I have to make for Frey’s freedom, I will.” She gave a delicate shudder. “Neither of us is in a position of making a choice, it seems.”

That they were pawns in the game of marriage seemed to unite the two girls. William couldn’t believe his eyes when they exchanged a spontaneous hug.

   He couldn’t imagine Angelina married to the fop, and be damned if he’d let her make such a sacrifice! He scowled. Much as it went against the grain, he intended to say as much to James. He’d run Snelling through before he let him ruin Angelina, and to hell with the consequences!

“Rosabelle?” 

They all started when Elizabeth bustled into the room.

“You’ve kept the dressmaker waiting several minutes. Come and choose the design for your wedding gown before I run out of patience.”

The boredom in Rosabelle’s voice was unmistakable. “You can choose it, mama. I care not what I wear.”

Elizabeth’s eyes swept her from head to toe, her mouth curled in distaste. “As I can see. That gown is dreadfully creased, and the bodice is soiled.”

She sent her mother a sullen look. “You should have listened when I told you my maid was incompetent?”

“I’ll talk to the girl after we’ve seen the dressmaker together,” Elizabeth said firmly. “If necessary, another maid will be hired.”

Rosabelle was all smiles now she was to get her own way. “Let us go and chose a gown. If I’m to be sacrificed at the altar, I might as well do it in style.”

Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully in on Rosabelle. William wondered what she was thinking. His stepmother had always seemed a remote figure to him, not a person he could confide in or relate to.

 He’d been too young to remember his own mother. The studious James had been too engrossed by his studies to be companion to him, and he’d experienced a life of loneliness until Rosabelle had arrived.

He’d adored her right from the start and she’d loved him without reservation. He’d guarded her love possessively. Gradually, he’d undermined her feelings towards Elizabeth, paying his stepmother back for taking his father’s love from him.

Now he saw the strength in Elizabeth and knew he’d been wrong all these years. He experienced an uncomfortable twinge of conscience for considering her an outsider. She was his father’s wife, her loyalty to the Wrey name, unquestionable.

Moving towards the door he gazed down at her, his smile bringing a startled look to her face. There was something different about her today, he thought. Her eyes had lost their wary expression and were alive and sparkling. She looked quite beautiful.

He stooped to kiss her gently on the cheek, grinning at her surprised expression before moving into the hall. He had to get to Rosabelle’s maid before she did, and he didn’t have much time.

* * * *

“I can only imagine you’ve completely lost your senses. Under no circumstances will I allow you to become the wife of Nicholas Snelling.”

“But, James...” Angelina’s chin tilted. “If we’re to save Frey’s life -”

“You’ll not sacrifice yourself for Frey.” James was at his wit’s end. Although he’d been primed by Will, and had prepared a perfectly rational refusal, he’d been obliged to argue the point for the last ten minutes and his temper was beginning to crack. “You were wrong to write to him, and as for him?” He scowled at her. “Snelling has demonstrated he’s a man completely without honour.”

“Rosabelle has persuaded the Marquis to retract his statement.” Her eyes filled with tears as she pleaded, “Dearest, James, let me do this for our brother.”

“Definitely and unequivocally no!” Her tears would not sway him this time. “You will not wed that man, and I’ll hear no more on the subject.” He stood, pointing his quill towards her as if it were a sword. “I intend to inform your mother of this rash action and you must suffer the consequences of your folly.”

Without moving an inch she gazed at him in wounded silence. A tear glistened as it slowly rolled down her cheek. Feeling like a bully, he sighed, adding lamely. “I daresay Elizabeth will only guide and comfort you.”

“Mama will lecture.” She moved closer to the desk. “I didn’t think you would be so intractable. I’ll have to marry someone eventually.”

He sighed. “You once exacted a promise from me to allow you to marry only for love. I intend to honour that promise, and no stretch of the imagination will lead me to believe you love Nicholas Snelling.”

“Perhaps I could learn to love him,” she responded artfully. “As I learned to love you, dearest James.”

Her blatant attempt to appeal to his emotions made him smile. “Love of family is different, we’re united by blood ties.” Dropping the quill he emerged from behind the desk and took her hands. A tiny gleam of triumph surfaced in her eyes and his smile became broader. You won’t outsmart me this time, he thought, as he administered the
coup-de-gras
.

“I learned to love you too, Angelina. Because I love you I cannot allow you to wed Nicholas Snelling. From now on you will make no attempt to correspond with the man, and shall accept no correspondence from him. Do you understand?”