If the Earl Only Knew (The Daring Marriages) (27 page)

“My father was blind in his last days,” said Kate. “He had no idea what he was signing.”

“So you say,” returned Bones.

“’Tis true!” Mrs. Hennings rose shakily to her feet. “He was blind at the end and grievous ill.”

Another gasp and titters arose from the villagers. Wynbrook considered it a shame they had not sold tickets for such a show. At least they were giving the village something to talk about for years to come.

“Thank you,” said Kate to Mrs. Hennings, who held her head higher.

“You will find the contract was also signed by your legal guardian, General Roberts,” said Captain Bones with an arrogant smirk. “There can be no question of it holding up in court. Good day to you all. I am staying at the Captain’s Rest. I will expect you soon to discuss payment.” He gave them a mocking bow and strolled out of the chapel to the hisses and boos of the villagers.

Wynbrook watched him walk away. There was something strangely familiar about him, but he could not quite place it. He turned to Kate to provide comfort, compassion, but any softness of her expression had been replaced by the steely eyes and rigid expression that had ruled her countenance when they first met.

His Kate was gone.

Kate watched the unfolding drama of the ruination of her wedding as if she was attending some tragic play. A cold numbness spread through her and all emotion slipped away. She retreated inside herself. Back where it was safe. She should never have tried to trust, never allowed her heart to feel such emotion—never allowed herself to hope. Was that not what Emma had said was produced by hardship? Hope, the worst of all emotions. It left one vulnerable and shaking when it all went wrong.

“Reverend, we must afford these two some privacy,” said Anne in an undertone, taking command of a situation gone completely awry.

The rector ushered them out a side door and into the rectory, a comfortable cottage only a few feet away. Kate, Wynbrook, Anne, and Tristan carrying Ellen quickly followed, leaving the capable butler, Mr. Foster, to dispel the boisterous crowd.

Tea was offered and accepted, and the rector graciously left the family alone in the rectory drawing room to collect themselves in private. Kate sat on a low couch and wondered if her legs would have the strength to lift her up again. Ellen was deposited beside her and patted her shoulder in sympathy, her eyes moist. Anne sat by the tea service, staunchly pouring tea while Wynbrook and Tristan paced the room.

“So what if he has a marriage contract signed by your father and this General Roberts so many years ago?” said Wynbrook, striding back and forth. “It doesn’t prevent us from getting married.”

“If we wed now, he can sue us for breach of contract. He could be entitled to my entire dowry.” Kate rubbed her temple; her head was starting to pound.

“So give him the dowry. I’m not marrying you for financial gain. All I want is you.” Wynbrook knelt down and took both her hands in his. “Kate, all I want is you.”

“That is easy for you to say,” said Kate briskly, releasing his hands. “Considering you have nothing to lose. If I marry you now, I have nothing.”

“Nothing?” Wynbrook turned silently and walked to the window. It was unusual for him to appear so somber and not to have a witty retort.

“We cannot marry if it means forfeiting my entire dowry,” said Kate, addressing his back. “Only a fool would do that.”

He turned to her, but his face was a distant mask she was unaccustomed to seeing on him. “Apparently, I am that fool.” He stalked out of the room.

Everyone was silent. Ellen became fascinated with a piece of lint on her gown. Anne arranged the biscuits on a plate. Tristan just stared at the contract, which had been tossed on the table.

Now she truly had lost everything. Losing her dowry was one thing, but the thought of losing John… She put a hand over her heart, for it hurt. She had heard the term “heartache” before but had not known that it actually hurt.

Ellen handed her a handkerchief with a look of empathetic concern that only made the ache worse.

“I am not inclined toward tears,” said Kate, refusing the white cloth.

“Then you are leaking,” Ellen said gently.

Kate took the handkerchief and blotted her eyes. She never cried. Never. She had the need to blot again. Strange.

“Thank you for alerting us to the danger. Whatever made you look at the man’s shoes?” asked Kate, trying to focus on something other than her pain.

Ellen gave a small smile. “Force of habit. I always notice people’s shoes, for I have none of my own. I suppose the habit was helpful today.”

“Indeed it was!” said Kate with sincerity. “I was almost ready to go into his coach and put myself at his mercy. I do not wish to think what would have happened without you here.”

Wynbrook entered the room once more. “May we have a moment alone?”

His family vanished like smoke—even Ellen, which was impressive.

“I’m sorry,” said Kate. She was not exactly sure why, but she knew she had hurt him, pushed him away once too often.

“No, it is I who am sorry.” John sat next to her and held her hand. It felt good, but there was a stiffness to his manner, a reserve to him that had not been there before.

“I simply cannot enter into a marriage without my dowry. Without any protection. Robert and I worked so hard to rebuild our lives. I cannot walk away with nothing.”

“Of course not. What if I paid the amount? You keep your dowry.”

“Give fifty thousand pounds to the son of the man who murdered my father? To the family who tricked my father into signing this marriage contract and then killed him? Unthinkable!”

“Unthinkable,” John agreed with resignation.

“We shall just have to fight it in court,” said Kate firmly. She looked up at him, a cloud coming over her eyes. “This is more drama than even your lurid novel could endure. I understand if you wish to walk away.”

“You must know that is impossible.” John squeezed her hand.

Kate sighed. “I would not blame you if you just called it off.”

“I hope you know me better than that by this time. Besides, we could potentially have more than just ourselves to consider.”

“You mean your family?”

“I mean after last night, we could be expecting an addition to the family,” he said softly.

Kate thought there was nothing left that could surprise her. She was wrong. She had not considered the ramifications of the night before. Why should she? She was getting married.

“You do not think… It could not be possible that… No, I am certain I could not… Oh no, I could!”

“That’s probably why the Bible says not to anticipate the wedding vows,” said John wryly.

“But I intended to marry you!” she defended.

“I think it would be best if we marry as soon as may be,” said John gently.

“Yes, but oh, the court case could go on for a while.” What was she going to do?

“Perhaps we could be married and then fight the contract in court?”

“But we would have a stronger case before we are wed. And if we fail…I cannot wed without my dowry safe from that man!”

“Forgive me.” Tristan rushed back in the room. “But this General Roberts who signed here. Do you think that could be Sir Antony Roberts?”

“Sir Antony?” John rose and stared at the parchment in Tristan’s hand.

“Who is Sir Antony?” asked Kate.

“Friend of the family,” answered John. “We could ask if he signed this and under what conditions.”

“My godfather is an uncaring bastard,” spat Kate.

“How do you know this?” asked John, suspicious.

Realization dawned. “The damn steward. He lied about everything else. Why not this too?” She rose to her feet, fresh anger an easier emotion to manage than sorrow.

“But did he not marry a Scot for a wife? They may be far off,” said Tristan.

“No, he is wintering in Sussex,” said Anne, entering the room.

John’s eyebrows raised. “You truly do know all in society.”

“Yes, and he was invited to Jane’s wedding. Sent his regrets saying they were in Sussex, though I do not know the address.”

“I do,” said Kate, to the surprise of all. “He wrote me recently. In truth, I have received many letters from him throughout the years, but I could never forgive him for abandoning us when we needed him, so I never opened them.”

“Sussex is not far,” commented John.

“Care to go for a drive?” asked Kate.

A half hour later, they were packed in the coach, this time with a proper coachman and them on the inside with a large basket of goodies, intended for the wedding breakfast, and a warmer at their feet.

She had always thought of General Roberts as something of a villain, but now she very much hoped she was wrong. This had to work. They had to get this contract nullified and then they had to get married.

Wynbrook sat stiffly, looking out the window. Gone was the lively banter and playful manner. She needed to preserve her dowry, but what if the price was the man?

They drove on for hours. The roads were poor, but they had frequent changes of horses and made steady progress toward their object. Wynbrook was unusually quiet. He seemed content to stare out the window. Even when she suggested he look at his shocking novel, he only replied that he had experienced enough excitement for one day. He didn’t even look at her when he said it.

It was time to get back to doing what she knew. She needed to make a list. Perhaps everything in her life had gone higgledy-piggledy because she had abandoned her practice of the cold comfort of making lists. She searched the pockets of her wool pelisse for a pencil and a notebook.

She found a stub of pencil and bit of paper. It would do. She went to work on her list for the day.

1. Nullify contract.

2. Restore dowry.

3. Send Silas Bones to perdition.

4. Marry the Earl of Wynbrook.

5. Get said earl to stop looking out the window and talk to me
.

She observed the silent Wynbrook as they rattled along in the coach, being jostled to and fro as it bumped over the rough road. John had instructed the coachman to make haste, and the man was clearly following that instruction.

John was not happy. And he was quiet. She had not known he could be so silent. He had always been ready with lively discourse, but now, nothing.

She looked over the list again. Was she missing something?
Nullify contract
. That was important.
Restore dowry
. The same dowry she had been mad as fire her brother had given her. The dowry Wynbrook cared nothing for and was willing to marry her without.

Kate absently spun the pencil in her fingers. She had objected to a dowry when she had no intention of marrying. Now that her world had changed, to enter into the marriage without the dowry was to leave all security behind. It meant she would have to rely on another person, trust someone else to take care of her. The mere thought made her queasy with fear.

John said he loved her.
Loved
her. Truth was, she loved him back, and that was scarier than anything she had yet experienced. Would she sacrifice love on the altar of fear?

She glanced down and saw that on the other side of the paper was the verse Emma had given her.
All things are become new.

Become new? That was a laugh. She was not new in the least. She would never be free of the past that haunted her.

And yet…John did not believe it. She also had begun to believe she could walk free of fear and doubt. She had thought she could never tolerate being vulnerable with a man, but last night had shattered that fear. She definitely had no problem with it. At least, not with John.

Lord, I know I have not prayed often
. After everything that happened in her past, she had always assumed God was not particularly interested in her welfare. Or really didn’t like her. Either way, it seemed best not to draw too much attention to herself.

But what if Emma was right? What if everything she had endured had given her the experience and drive to chase after Robert when he had been shot? And what if she had helped save his life? Was everything she had experienced, as miserable as it was, worth it if it meant saving her brother’s life?

Lord, give me a sign. What shall I do?

Out the window on a little rise ahead of them stood a quaint, white church. A man, a curate by his cloth, walked outside the church and raised both hands to the sky.

“Stop the coach,” said Kate, not even realizing she was speaking.

“I beg your pardon?” asked John.

“Stop the coach!”

He rapped on the ceiling with his cane and the coach slowed to a stop. He looked at her, questioning.

Kate took a deep breath. This was it. She was crossing a threshold from which she could not recover. She was doing a new thing.

“I just realized I love you.” She gulped down fear.

He said nothing, but his face became alive once more and his eyes shone with emotion.

“I love you more than money. I’d rather be poor with you than rich and alone.”

“Oh, Kate.” He gathered her up into his arms and kissed her until her head swam and she wished they were back in bed once more. They definitely needed to get married now. “But, dear, I am not poor,” he added.

“Apparently, I am. Would you be willing to marry me anyway?” She pointed to the little church.

He patted his breast pocket that contained the special license. “Anytime, anywhere.” He beamed at her—the smile she had missed. It was worth her entire dowry.

Wynbrook hopped out of the coach and offered a hand to Kate. Together, they walked arm in arm to the little church. The wind rustled about in a fervent manner, ripping through the trees and tugging at her bonnet. The reverend was standing before the church with his back to them. When they drew nearer, it was clear he was praying.

“I’ve tried to follow you, Lord. I’ve tried to serve the needs of these people. How have I failed you? How could you let this happen?”

Wynbrook cleared his throat loudly to announce their presence.

The young man spun to face them. “Oh!” He was a wiry man of average build and height. He even had a rather average face, with brown hair and eyes, except for a white scar that slashed at an angle across his forehead.

“Forgive us for disturbing you,” said Wynbrook calmly. “But we would like to be married.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” said the reverend, still recovering from his surprise at being caught praying aloud in a desperate manner. “Do come back tomorrow to the rectory. There will be a new rector installed soon and he will be able to help you set a date.”

“We would like to be married now,” explained Kate, holding her bonnet so the wind could not carry it off.

He motioned for them to step into the small church, limping as he went. “What is this, now?”

“Perhaps introductions are in order,” said Wynbrook with his usual easy charm. Kate was relieved it had returned. “I am John Arlington, Earl of Wynbrook, and this is my fiancée, Lady Katherine.”

“Tim Dawkins. Soon to be unemployed curate,” said the morose man of the cloth.

“Forgive me, but we could not help overhear,” said Kate. “You seem to be in some trouble. Can we help?”

The man sighed. “I have been the curate here under the rector for five years, waiting for the elderly rector to retire. The rectory was promised to me when it fell vacant, but when it came available, the living was given to another.”