The Tantalizing Miss Coale (The Notorious Coale Brothers) (6 page)

She gave a little sob.

‘I have always loved you,’ she said, ‘When...when I sent you
away, two years ago—when I told you I did not care for you—I was lying. Papa...’
She bit her lip. ‘Papa said I had to make sure you would not come back, that if
he found you near Markham again he would k-kill you, very slowly. And he meant
it, Ben.’ She looked up, her eyes bright with unshed tears. ‘I had seen how
cruel he could be, and I was terrified for you. I had to make you think I had
been merely toying with you. I had to make sure you would not want me any
longer. I c-could not risk you coming back. And I did not know that he would
have his men waiting, that they would—’ She broke off, shuddering. After a
moment she said quietly, ‘I do not deserve that you should still care for
me.’

He caught her hands. They fluttered like wild birds in his
grasp. ‘Darling Sal, I have never stopped caring for you. Yes, I was angry when
I first saw you again, but that was only because I still loved you.’ He caught
her chin in his fingers and gently pushed it up so that she was obliged to look
at him. ‘Do you believe me?’

* * *

His eyes bored into her, their heat melting away the
last of the ice around her heart.

‘I think so,’ she murmured. She ran her tongue over her lips.
‘Perhaps you could show me again?’

With something like a growl he dragged her into his arms and
kissed her with a savagery that took her breath away. She gave herself up to
him, melting into his embrace, and when he swept her up and carried her to the
bed she clung to him, nuzzling his neck and planting kisses on his throat, the
line of his jaw, until she found his mouth and allowed her tongue to explore and
excite him the way he had roused her the previous evening.

* * *

A grey light was filtering into the room when Sally
awoke. For a moment she lay still, afraid the happiness she felt was part of a
dream that would be snatched away in an instant. Ben was asleep, one arm thrown
possessively around her. Gently she eased herself away from him and went over to
the open window, slipping on her wrap as she went. She leaned out, looking
beyond the empty road to the fields that rolled away towards distant hills. The
sun had not yet risen and a heavy mist lay like milk in the dips and dells.

She heard the creak of a board. The next moment Ben was behind
her. He placed a hand on the sill on either side of her and kissed the back of
her neck.

‘Good morning, wife.’

She blushed.

‘I am not that yet, sir.’

‘Not churched, perhaps, but I think we have now plighted our
troth.’ He slid his hands over her hips and pressed his body closer. ‘Would you
like me to remind you...?’

She giggled. ‘I would, of course, but first—’

‘So there you are, strumpet!’

Sir Henry was standing in the road, staring up at them.

‘Oh, lord.’ murmured Ben.

Sally shrank against him and he put his arm around her,
seemingly unaffected by Henry’s sudden appearance. His composure calmed her and
she faced her erstwhile abductor quite coolly.

‘Henry. What are you doing here?’

‘Searching for you, of course! I have had people looking for
you since yesterday. When I had news of a couple calling themselves Mr. and Mrs.
Woods, I just knew it would be you.’ He scowled. ‘That is just such a hoydenish
trick as you enjoy, madam, is it not? To use the same name.’

‘Ah, now there you are wrong,’ said Ben, moving Sally aside.
‘That was my idea.’

‘And one you will regret, sirrah, since it has led me to
you.’

‘Not at all,’ Ben retorted. ‘My only regret is that we did not
conclude this yesterday. Give me five minutes to dress and I shall meet you in
the coffee room.’ He began to throw on his clothes. ‘You had best stay here,
Sal. This may not be pretty.’

‘You cannot fight him!’

‘Oh, can’t I? After what you have told me he will be lucky to
escape with his life!’

She stared at him and read murder in his eyes. He shrugged
himself into his waistcoat and headed, without jacket or hat, for the door. It
would be useless to argue. Instead she hurried into her own clothes and set off
down the stairs only minutes behind him. As she approached the coffee room she
could hear the sound of a commotion from within. An anxious waiter hovered by
the door.

‘M-Mr. Woods said they was not to be disturbed.’

Sally pushed past him and went in. A scene of devastation met
her eyes. The table and chairs were overturned, broken cups and saucers
scattered the floor and the coffee pot was lying dented in the empty fireplace.
Henry was sitting on the floor, a bloody handkerchief held to his nose while Ben
stood over him, chest heaving and fists clenched.

‘Oh, good heavens, what have you done?’

Ben pointed to a small silver-mounted pistol lying on the
floor.

‘Damned villain tried to shoot me.’

‘You did not think I would meet you unarmed?’ muttered Sir
Henry through his handkerchief.

‘Much good it did you,’ growled Ben.

Sally touched his arm.

‘Do let him get up. He should go back and tell my father that
his horrid plan has failed.’

‘Aye.’ Ben stood back and watched Henry climb unsteadily to his
feet. ‘You can tell the viscount that Miss Coale is going to marry me—’

‘The fact is that she eloped with
me
!’ retorted Sir Henry.

‘You tricked me into coming with you,’ declared Sally, firing
up.

‘True, but only because there was no alternative,’ returned Sir
Henry, cautiously checking to see if his nose had stopped bleeding. ‘I still
intend to marry you, despite all that has occurred here.’ He added
conscientiously, ‘You know I have always adored you.’

‘You have always adored my fortune,’ she retorted.

‘I won’t say that isn’t important, but—’

‘But nothing,’ Ben interrupted him. ‘I suggest you take
yourself off now, Nettleton, unless you want another beating...’

He stepped forward menacingly and Sally grabbed his arm.

‘Enough,’ she cried. ‘Please Henry, just go and leave me in
peace.’

Henry glowered at her.

‘You do not understand, Serena. I am here with your father’s
blessing, you must marry me or face the consequences. I shall summon help. You
and your lover won’t get twenty miles before you are apprehended, and we’ll see
what your father and his doctors say about your latest escapade.’

Ben shook off her restraining hand.

‘Wait outside, Sal. I will finish this once and for all.’

‘No, Ben,’ she said, stepping in front of him. ‘That would put
you in trouble with the law, and I
cannot
marry a
felon.’

‘I am glad to see you have some scruples left, madam,’ retorted
Henry, ‘If you have any sense you will send this, this
villain
on his way and I will take you to Gretna.’

A drawling voice interrupted him.

‘Sorry to disappoint you, Nettleton, but you are not taking our
sister anywhere.’

All three turned and stared at the two gentlemen standing in
the doorway, their fashionable topboots and elegant riding jackets dusty from
the road. Sally gave a little gasp.

‘Jasper, Dom—what are you doing here?’

‘We’ve come to fetch you home, my dear.’

‘Begging your pardon, gentlemen.’ The landlord pushed his way
past the two travellers and stopped, goggling at the disordered room. ‘What
the—!’ He drew himself up, saying severely, ‘This is a respectable house, sirs,
and I would be obliged to you all if you would leave. Now.’

‘Oh, go to the devil.’ Jasper waved him away. ‘You will be paid
for the damage, never fear.’

‘Aye, go and bring us some ale!’ barked Dominic. ‘Riding hell
for leather on these dry roads is thirsty work.’

Ben watched the two men bustle the landlord out of the room and
close the door. He knew Sally’s brothers, of course.. Identical twins, they were
tall, athletic and devilishly good-looking. Even after five years at school
together he had difficulty telling them apart. Only the cut of his superbly
fitting coat and a certain neatness about his dress distinguished Dominic the
soldier from his more flamboyant brother. Ben suddenly found two identical pairs
of eyes slide fro
m Nettleton and come to rest upon him.
Recognition followed quickly.

‘Hensley. What the devil are you doing here?’

‘Good morning, Dom,’ he replied calmly. ‘I am on the same
errand as you. To rescue Sal from Sir Henry.’

‘But what are you two doing here?’ Sally broke in. ‘I thought
you were both in London.’

Jasper Coale grinned as he stripped off his York tan
gloves.

‘We arrived at Markham unexpectedly, only to be told you had
eloped with our neighbour, so we set off in pursuit. You’ve been in some madcap
scrapes before, Sis, but nothing like this.’ He shook his head and added gently,
‘Nettleton ain’t the man for you, Sal, so we’ve come to fetch you home.’

Sally clasped her hands together.

‘Jasper, I cannot go back. You have no idea how awful it has
become at Markham.’

‘Yes, but don’t see why you had to run off with Nettleton,’
objected Dominic, throwing his hat and gloves onto the table. ‘If Pa was cutting
up rough, why did you not apply to us?’

‘No time for that,’ said Sir Henry unexpectedly. ‘Markham was
trying to force her into marriage, so I had to act. Damned scoundrel threatened
to have his doctors declare her a lunatic.’

‘The devil he did!’ exclaimed Jasper, his handsome face
suddenly grim. ‘Is this true, Sal?’

She nodded. ‘Papa told me I must marry Lord Cromer, but—’

‘That old roué!’ Dominic glanced at his brother. ‘Doing it far
too brown, Jas.’

‘He had a special licence ready,’ added Henry. ‘Said if she
didn’t marry Cromer then he would call in his doctors. She would be locked
away.’

‘Aye, he would do it too.’ Jasper rubbed his chin. ‘You know
what a rascal Doctor Rathbone is. Cunning old devil! Well you have no need to
worry now, Sal. Dom and I will protect you.’ He nodded to Sir Henry. ‘Good of
you to offer to help her, Nettleton, but no need for you to fly to the border
now. We’ll look after her.’

Sally threw up her hands.

‘He did
not
look after me. Henry
was part of the plot and had the doctor’s letter with him. If Ben had not come
along he was going to make me marry him.’

‘Well that’s not going to happen now, Sis.’ Jasper turned to
Sir Henry. ‘You may as well go home, Nettleton.’ He grinned. ‘But I should stay
out of Father’s way for a bit. He’s not likely to be too pleased to see
you.’

‘Aye, get out,’ growled Ben. ‘And you had best keep out of my
way, too, or the next time we meet I will be calling you out!’

Jason held open the door.

‘It seems pretty unanimous, sir. Your presence is no longer
needed.’

‘In fact,’ added Dominic, frowning, ‘from what Sal has told us,
we have every reason to seek satisfaction. Best go now, before one of us does
just that.’

Sir Henry stalked towards the door.

‘All right, I shall go, but when Lord Markham asks what
happened I shall tell him it was
you
who spoiled his
plan.’

‘Aye, do that by all means,’ said Jasper cordially. ‘We will
deal with that when we bring our sister home.’ With a chuckle he shut the door
upon Sir Henry. ‘The man’s a fool if he thinks Pa will listen to anything he has
to say. Now, Sal, let’s get you home.’

‘Just a moment.’ Ben stepped forward. ‘You may send Sir Henry
away with my blessing, but he’s not the one who is going to marry your sister. I
am. I have a curricle waiting and we mean to be wed before nightfall.’

The twins turned to look at him, surprise and amusement
lighting their faces.

‘You, Hensley? Not possible, old friend.’

‘Not only possible,’ he said calmly. ‘A certainty.’

The brothers instinctively drew closer.

‘Do you think you can take us both on, Hensley?’ drawled
Jasper.

‘If I have to.’

The tension in the room was palpable.

‘You would fight them both, for me?’

Sally asked the question softly, and the look in his eyes set
her spirit soaring.

‘I would fight the whole world for you, Sal. I won’t let you go
again.’ Smiling, she slipped her hand into his and he squeezed her fingers. ‘Go
and pack your trunk, Sal.’

‘Aye, go and pack, Sis. You are coming home.’

‘No,’ she turned to face her brothers. ‘I won’t leave with you.
I am going to marry Ben. I love him. I don’t care what you say, Jasper, nor you,
Dom. You cannot protect me from Papa. He is my legal guardian, and if you take
me back he will have me locked up.’

She raised her chin, giving them back look for look, her
fingers securely locked within Ben’s comforting grip.

Dominic looked at his brother.

‘She has a point, Jas. If she marries Hensley...’

‘When
she marries me, I shall
become responsible for her,’ stated Ben.

‘No point in asking if he can afford a wife,’ murmured Dom, an
irrepressible dimple creasing his cheek. ‘Known him forever. He’s amassed quite
a fortune these last few years.’

‘Aye,’ said Jasper slowly. ‘But how do we know Sally’s in
earnest? She’s been in love before—remember how she broke her heart over some
fellow a few summers ago? When it came to nought we thought she was going into a
decline.’

With a little huff of frustration Sally stamped her foot.

‘Oh you zanies, that was
Ben
! Papa
made me end it.’ She turned towards him, adding softly, ‘How I wish I had been
stronger and eloped with you then.’

‘We cannot change the past, Sal, but we shall be married as
soon as we reach the border.’ Ben looked up, his chin jutting pugnaciously.
‘With or without your brothers’ consent.’

‘Don’t be a fool, Hensley,’ said Jasper. ‘You cannot fight us
both.’