Never Marry a Stranger (23 page)

“He can make people believe and do anything.”

“And then he offered me a share of the money.” Mr. Derby’s expression turned bitter. “I told myself all along that I wouldn’t take it, but…I don’t know what I would have done in the end. I took that note to Madingley Court for him. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but Matthew, you only seemed happier as each day passed. I questioned my choices constantly. At last I challenged Stanwood, and he got the best of me.”

“He had a gun,” Emily said. “And you tried to help us. You have my gratitude.” She stared with concern at his arm. “Is your wound still bleeding? You must see a doctor.”

“It looks worse than it is,” he said. “I deserve what I got for being fool enough to think I should handle everything on my own, that I knew better than you did, Matthew. I ask your forgiveness, although I would understand if you cannot grant it.”

“Of course you have our forgiveness,” Emily said before Matthew could speak.

She felt Matthew’s arm squeeze her shoulders.

“I do understand,” Matthew said. “You made a
bad choice, Peter. But what about your choices from now on?”

Mr. Derby closed his eyes for a moment, leaning his head back against the wall. “I don’t know. I’ve made a mess of things.”

“You need to find a life of your own. Cambridgeshire might be too small for you, as it was for me. Go to London, Peter. Come talk to me there. I can help you find something to do with your life that doesn’t make you feel beholden to your brother. I know people in the military and in business. Let me help you.”

Mr. Derby nodded and sighed. “It’s good of you to offer, Matthew. I need to think about what I’ve done—what I want to do. I promise to never reveal your secrets.”

“Let’s have the innkeeper send for a doctor,” Emily said, looking between the two men with relief. She was not surprised at Matthew’s generosity. He’d forgiven her, and she’d committed a much graver sin than Mr. Derby had.

In their room, the coal grate gave off welcome heat, and Emily sat near it, dressed in a dry gown but still shivering.

Matthew was preparing her cup of tea with the cream and sugar just the way she liked it. When had he learned that? she wondered, feeling dazed.

He put the cup and saucer beside her, then gently turned her face into the light coming through the window and examined her cheek.

His face darkened. “He bruised you. My God, if only I’d arrived earlier—”

“Matthew, please.” She took his hand and held it against her face. “You’ve said that ten times. Everything is all right.”

He gave a tired nod. “Because of you, my little survivor. It still amazes me that you were able to knock him from the bridge.”

“Desperation will do that to a person,” she said wryly.

He sobered. “You’ll never know desperation again, I swear it.”

She looked into his warm hazel eyes, so changeable, no longer unreadable to her. She found herself tongue-tied, hesitant, not knowing what he intended, now that he no longer needed to marry her. Did they have a marriage worth saving, or did he mean to just let it go?

To her surprise, he dropped to his knees in front of her and took both her hands in his. “Emily, I almost lost you.”

Her lips began to tremble even as tears stung her eyes. “But you didn’t, Matthew. I’m here.”

“I love you,” he said, his voice husky with emotion.

She inhaled, feeling shaky with wonder and dawning happiness. “I love you, too.”

“I want to go to Gretna Green and marry you for real. It wasn’t just an excuse to escape a madman’s plot. I’ve never met anyone who had to fight so hard to save herself—and I’m including soldiers.”

She giggled through her tears.

He didn’t smile, his expression so solemn. “I thought I left England to escape the restrictions put on me by my family. But really, I was escaping myself, the man I’d let myself become. So repressed, so controlled, worried about the decisions I’d make. I changed myself, but then I made the mistake of not thinking about the consequences of what I did. It’s one thing to do as I wish, as long as no one is hurt. But people got hurt. I didn’t look deeply enough at Rahema, just saw what I wanted to. And then when I returned and discovered you here with my family, again I didn’t think—I just did as I wanted, just told everyone I had amnesia. I compounded one lie with another, risking everything.”

“I gave you no choice! You were trying not to hurt your family. Don’t blame yourself for that. In India you married the woman you loved. How could you have foreseen the consequences that would develop?” She cupped his cheek. “I love you, Matthew. I love you for giving me the chance to prove myself. I love you for wanting to help Susanna—and for accepting that she has to do some things on her own.”

He closed his eyes and kissed her palm. “Nothing
will stand in the way of our happiness. I grew up thinking marriage was painful, that each day was only something to be gotten through. I thought my life had to be more exciting—but each moment with you is that for me.”

“Matthew, up until now I’ve been a challenge to you. What happens when you see me day in and day out? You’ll know everything about me. You might regret being tied to me for eternity.”

He grinned. “We’ll live our own adventure in marriage. I’ll never tire of learning everything about you.”

Her face was hot with embarrassment and a love that seemed to want to burst from her. But she forced herself to take it slowly. “Susanna knows about me,” she said. “What about the rest of your family, Matthew? Will you tell them the truth of how I came to be married to you? Honesty is so important in a relationship. I vow to you you’ll always have that from me.”

He leaned forward to kiss her gently. “Thank you. But how we met and fell in love is our secret. I will speak with Susanna. I am lucky to have you, however unorthodox our courtship.”

“But I’m not afraid of the truth any longer, Matthew. They’re your family, and I don’t want a lie to wedge a wall between you and them. They’re like a gift to me from you, and I treasure them and your relationship with them.”

He smiled tenderly. “Then every year on our anniversary, we’ll reconsider our secret. Perhaps for now I want just the two of us to savor our unusual love story.”

“That is so romantic,” she said, chuckling, even as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “You have made me feel so safe, Matthew, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way. And even my guilt is gone, for after all, if I wouldn’t have become your wife, marrying a stranger, we would never have found each other!”

They shared laughter and kisses, holding each other close, and she knew at last that she would never have to let him go. She felt secure in Matthew’s love, secure in the world she’d created for herself. Now all they had to do was get married—for real.

S
he’d had more than her share of weddings, Emily thought, walking beside her dear husband toward the main drawing room of Madingley Court. She had a false wedding that brought her into the life of Matthew Leland, where she found love and security beyond her wildest hopes. She had their secret wedding in Scotland, where they made their relationship legal and pledged themselves to each other forever.

And now he was giving her a gift, a secret that he refused to reveal. And since he was a man who did things on impulse, who surprised and delighted her every moment of each day they were together, she didn’t know what to expect.

He grinned at her one last time before he threw open the drawing room doors.

She gasped. His entire family had arrived without her even knowing it. The Lelands, the Cabots, and the Throckmortens were gathered together, all smil
ing at each other and at her. Peter Derby had gone to London, but Lieutenant Lawton was there, escorting Lady Hollybush, the widow he’d been courting in secret because he was worried she was too far above him. From the lady’s adoring expression, Emily didn’t think the lieutenant had anything to worry about.

“What is going on?” she asked as Matthew took her hand and drew her forward. She looked helplessly at Lady Rosa, who was openly crying in the professor’s arms. Susanna and Rebecca were holding hands.

“Since I don’t remember our first marriage,” Matthew began, giving her a secret smile that no one could see but her, “and my family wasn’t a part of it, I wanted to celebrate it again with everyone I love.”

Emily’s eyes started to sting. “But—”

“No protests,” he said. “You are special to me, Emily. I want everyone here to know it. I don’t remember falling in love with you the first time—”

She winced.

“—but it must be a sort of magic, a destiny, because it happened all over again. Weddings are about family, creating a new family within the ones already established. I wanted you to know that you will always have me, and all of my family. We’re yours now.”

Tears blurred her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
“Oh, Matthew,” she whispered. “I love you so much.”

He put his arms around her. “Good, because the vicar is here.” Lowering his voice, he said, “Marry me, Emily, and not because you want to make things right. Marry
me
.”

“I will—I do. Oh Matthew!” She threw herself into his arms, his strong body her shelter. She was so blessed. How many women could marry the man they loved—several times! Everyone clapped and cheered, even as she thanked God for giving her a husband, a new family, and love.