The Unintended Bride (11 page)

He sighed. "All I meant was that you both seem to enjoy puzzling around dusty bookstores and reading the writing of men long dead. I've seen marriages based on less do well."

For a moment, though she had been relieved to arrive home safely, Hero wanted to return to the bookshop. It might have been preferable to dry up into dusty, neglected mummies than be foisted upon a man who had told her not that long ago that she should marry someone else. "But, we — we were innocent. It was a mistake."

Or if not a mistake, then certainly a misunderstanding. Arthur did not want to marry her, no matter what he said now. His motive was her reputation. And who would speak of it, really? Arthur? Mr. Beasley? Certain not Simon, Miranda, or Hero. No, he was simply being chivalrous when there was absolutely no need to be.

She ignored the tiny part of her that wanted to agree. What woman in her right mind would wish for a husband who married her out of a misguided sense of honor? She could only remember how certain Arthur had been that Digby was the right husband for her. Those words were not the words of a man who wanted to be her husband himself.

Kiss or no, he had been clearly disinclined toward marriage. It was only the influence of those dratted books that had made him so bold. She could not hold him to a lifetime of marriage over one kiss. She would not.

"You have spent the night alone with a gentleman, Hero. It does not matter what transpired between you." The duke's eyes swept over her disarranged hair, Arthur's loosened collar, and his lips tightened. "You will marry."

"No — " Hero turned to Arthur. "Tell him what we agreed. Make him understand."

"Look at this." He slid a scandal rag in front of her, his finger pressed to a spot on the page.

She read, growing by turns hot and cold. She looked up at him, wordless.

Arthur's eyes held a deep sadness. "I'm afraid the scandal sheet makes a mock of our plans. There is no choice for us now. We must do what is right. We must marry. It will not be so bad, I promise you."

What is right. Not what he wished to do. What he must do. She hated to be thought of as an obligation to be met satisfactorily.

The duke nodded, as if the matter was settled. "You must both do the right thing." He hesitated briefly, and then asked Arthur quietly, "Your arrangement with Miss Delagrace . . . was that ever . . .confirmed?"

"No — it was an understanding between my grandmother and hers." Arthur shook his head. She wished she could tell from his voice or his expression if he was heartbroken. " I have made no formal request for Miss Delagrace's hand, so there is no impediment to an immediate marriage between Miss Fenster and myself."

Simon nodded and took Miranda's hand. They both looked to Hero as he said, "Good, I will secure the license immediately, and we will hold the ceremony in a week's time."

Arthur's lackluster agreement rang in her ears. He married her for duty. He wanted Gwen. "I will not agree."

"I think you will see reason by the time the ceremony arrives," the duke said blandly.

"I think it will cause exactly the scandal you wish to avoid when I do not appear at my own wedding," she retorted.

Arthur took out his pocket watch and stood. "I think we should be late for the meeting of The Round Table Society if we do not leave at once."

Hero looked at him, for the first time wondering if he truly was mad. She tapped the scandal sheet. "After this? We will be humiliated."

He met her eyes and she could not tell what he was thinking. "It will be worse if we do not go. Think of what they will say then."

To squelch any untoward gossip, Juliet was pressed into service as a chaperone, rather than a maidservant. Hero did not know how a notorious flirt would help her reputation, but she did not argue.

As she settled across from Arthur in the carriage, she noted that he was drawn tight with tension. She remembered, belatedly, that he had hoped to have the Malory manuscript to present tonight. In sympathy, she said, "No one knows about the manuscript."

"That is some consolation," he agreed. And then he added, "Of course, I will be able to announce that we are to be married."

She felt a quick rush of dismay. "Must you?"

"I cannot see the reason to put it off."

"Why do you not believe I will refuse to speak vows with you?"

Juliet interjected, "Because, Hero, you have always done what others expected of you. Why should we think this temper will last, never mind that it will cause you to embarrass your entire family by standing up your groom."

She looked at Arthur. "Can you tell me this is what you want? Not out of duty, but because it is best for both of us?"

His answer was less than satisfactory. "It is the right thing, Hero. I know it. We will come to accept it. I promise to make you proud to call me husband, even if I cannot do it tonight."

Why was she arguing the matter here, when he had other issues on his mind? Her own troubles paled in comparison to his. Not only was he in the same predicament as she, he also had to face the society without the manuscript he had hoped to have in his possession.

"I'm sorry. I know this isn't the right time for this discussion." However, as they climbed out of the carriage, she stopped him with a hand upon his arm. "Please, do not make any announcement about us. I still hope to make the duke see reason."

He said softly, "Everyone already sees reason, but you."

She could say nothing more, because Digby greeted them. "Watterly, Miss Fenster. So good to see you."

"And you, Digby," Arthur said in an utterly unconvincing manner as he led Hero into the meeting room for the first time.

The members crowded about an inadequate round table. Some eyes grew larger with shock to see Hero — a woman — invade their sanctum. But more had voted to allow her to join. She was glad that Digby had helped her with the scholarly paper required to meet membership. This looked like an exacting crowd. She hoped that they saw clearly that Arthur would make a good leader for the group. He was more devoted and more knowledgeable than any Arthurian scholar she had ever met before.

She would never know whether Arthur would have honored her request not to announce the impending wedding. For, with Digby standing at her elbow, a man she had never met before, but who obviously knew Arthur, said heartily, "Congratulations, Watterly, I hear you and Miss Fenster are to be married. Lucky man." He gave Hero a friendly look, completely unaware that she wanted to kick him in the shins until he was forced to hobble out of her sight.

Digby's face grew pale. "Is this true?"

Recognizing with sick horror that Juliet was right, Hero could not humiliate Arthur or her family by denying such a thing, she said in a low voice, "Yes." She wanted to explain, but not here, not in a crowded room. "It was most unexpected."

Before he could reply, the sound of a gavel striking silenced the members, and they all began to file toward the society's round table.

Nervously, she took a place beside Arthur. Juliet, fortunately, had elected to sit in an anteroom, as she was not a member — and not in the least interested in the proceedings either. She had brought a Dickens novel to keep her from being fatally bored. But there was a look of mischief in her eye that Hero hoped would die out quickly. At least, she comforted herself, her sister had not seen her confess to being betrothed. Juliet had an unfortunate tendency to crow when she was proved right.

An older man with flowing silver hair and a tunic of deepest blue stood to speak, and all the members grew quiet. He began by welcoming the new members; there were two in addition to Hero. A small knighting ceremony was held, and then the important announcement that all the members had been waiting to hear. "As you know, I must retire. We must find a new Arthur to head this group." He inclined his head toward the four men sitting at his right. "Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, Sir Galahad, and Sir Gawain will make the final decision, along with me, about the man who has proved himself worthy of the honor."

"The membership must ratify," said a portly man.

Hero recognized him with a start — Fenwell Delagrace, Gwen's father. He was sitting next to Digby, and the look he gave to Arthur was none too friendly. Apparently, he, too, had just learned about the engagement.

With quiet dignity, the white-haired man said, "Of course, the chosen member must be accepted by all. But which of us would not accept the candidate who has accepted and performed the three challenges required? It is a rare man capable of such feats."

Hero wondered what the challenges were, but dared not ask Arthur. His attention was focused upon the speaker with complete gravity.

"The challenges of Honor, Chivalry and Valor will begin at the end of this meeting. Each of the two candidates for head of the Round Table Society must meet each challenge, as well as prove that they have met each at our assembly here, in three months-time."

"Three months' time! That is too long." Again, Fenwell Delagrace interrupted, ignoring the black glances being sent his way by other members.

With patience, the speaker said, "One month for each challenge, that is the way it has always been. Fenwell, do you dispute it?"

He sat back in his chair, obviously not pleased, but he muttered, "No, my liege."

"Good. Then it is decided. In three months' time we shall decide who is worthy to be the new Arthur. Gabriel Digby, Arthur Watterly are you prepared to meet the challenges?"

Digby stood, and said in a strong, carrying voice, "I am."

Arthur stood. His voice was quieter, but just as certain. "I am."

The look that the two men gave each other made Hero's heart drop. This was more than a quest to be leader of some dusty old society. This was a personal matter of honor. And one of them must be beaten in the end.

Once again, Hero attempted to halt the wedding plans. Now that she understood how betrayed the Delagrace family felt, she could not stand by and allow Arthur's chances for success and recognition to be lost because he had had the misfortune to be locked with her overnight in a bookshop attic. Truly, it was ridiculous.

She made a desperate attempt to explain it to her brother-in-law and her sister once again. "Please, I beg you. Arthur has been all but promised to her for years. Her father will never forgive him."

The duke sighed. "Arthur knew that when he agreed to marry you, Hero. He accepted it."

"This is not fair. Certainly you understand how foolish this is. No one knows — " She broke off Simon did not look as if he could hear a word she said; it was obvious he had made up his mind before she had begun speaking, and nothing she could say would change it.

She looked to her sister for aid. Miranda, of all people, must see how impossible this whole situation was. "We should not hold Arthur to this promise. It was made out of guilt."

"Why would he feel guilt if all was as innocent as you say?" he probed.

Hero did not want to follow where that path led. "I know we will all regret this if we proceed."

Miranda clucked softly, her face a study in miserable sympathy — but she said nothing in Hero's defense when her husband said harshly, "I know, Hero. Your sister knows. I'm sorry if you would have preferred someone other than Arthur for your husband. But I am sure the two of you will suit well enough."

Suit well enough? What did he know? She would gladly have married Arthur — if he had wanted her.

"I will not do it." She crossed her arms stubbornly in front of her. "I will go back to Anderlin if I have disgraced your household. But I will not marry when I have done nothing to warrant a hasty marriage. Valentine will understand — "

Miranda laughed softly. "Don't count on our brother to do anything but support him in this decision, Hero." Their eyes met, and Hero remembered with a rush that Valentine had supported the marriage between the duke and Miranda even against Miranda's wishes . . . at least, at the time. "But — "

Miranda shook her head and said sympathetically, "He is quite fond of Arthur. And everyone with eyes can see how well you two get along. No one can sensibly object to the union, especially knowing that your reputation is at risk."

Her reputation. What a useless thing that was. She almost thought she'd be better off without it. It would solve so many of her problems. Even Digby wouldn't propose to someone who had been quite thoroughly, openly, ruined. "I don't need a reputation — all I need are my books."

Her sister smiled, almost as if against her will. "You believe that now, perhaps."

"I do. With all my heart."

"But one day you will want children. I think then you will be glad to have a husband like Arthur, who can be counted upon to do the right thing." Miranda's eyes were shadowed.

Children. Hero's imagination raced ahead to a future surrounded by little boys who looked like Arthur. She would read to them. And Arthur would listen raptly —

What a fantasy her mind could conjure, even knowing Arthur did not want to marry her. "What of your promise that I should marry only for love?" Miranda did not make promises lightly. Would she keep this one no matter what her husband decreed?

Miranda hesitated then, glancing at the duke. For a moment Hero thought she would speak up at last to stop this travesty. But instead, she turned her gaze back to Hero. With an impatient sound, she grasped Hero's arm and pulled her away so that they could talk privately.

Hero waited to hear her sister tell her that she would help her avoid marriage. Instead, Miranda said sharply, "Tell me that you do not love Arthur, and I will intervene for you in this matter."

Hero sighed. Of course she loved Arthur. But she dared not say it. Not to Miranda, with her romantic heart and belief in happy endings. "Arthur does not love me."

Unfortunately her sister was not satisfied with the evasion. "I am not speaking of whether Arthur does or does not love you. I am speaking of you and your heart."

She did not want to answer. Her sister had always treated her well and she had never lied to her before. Yet to tell her the truth was impossible. "But — "