Claiming the Chaperon's Heart (19 page)

‘You know I shall,’ she said and kissed his cheek. ‘But if Adam is to return to India, how will you manage your stables?’

‘Perhaps he will have me for his partner,’ Jack said, coming to the doorway to look at them. ‘We have them all under control, my friend. The magistrate is on his way—and perhaps Lady March should be if you wish to protect her good name...’

‘Yes, of course,’ Paul said and gripped Jack’s arm. ‘Take her down to the carriage, my friend, while I see that he is taken care of...’ A moan from the man lying on the floor gave warning that he was coming to his senses. ‘I’ll bind his wrists and bring him down—and then we’ll talk...’

Chapter Fifteen

‘O
h, Jane, I am so glad to see you back,’ Sarah said and rushed to embrace her. ‘I wanted to come to find you, but Will said I must stay here in safety. He would not hear of my coming but I have been so anxious for you all...’

‘There was no need,’ Will said. ‘Between us we had more than a dozen men, all armed and ready to do whatever was required of them, but no blood was spilled—except that of the rogue who began this. He was wounded in the leg and will be lame for what little time remains to him. If my evidence has anything to do with it, he will pay the ultimate price for his perfidy.’

‘I am surprised he still lives,’ Sarah said. ‘I thought one of you would kill him, for you were all so angry—as you should be. He treated you shamefully, Jane.’

‘It was through my own foolish fault,’ Jane said and laughed as Sarah looked outraged. ‘If I had stayed safe inside the house instead of rushing out like a fool he could not have taken me so easily.’

‘Yet he would have found a way,’ her brother told her gravely. ‘If he meant to harm you both he would have waited—and you could not live your life under the shadow of fear, Jane. Had Paul begged you to be careful it would have irked you.’

‘Yet he would have done so had he thought it necessary,’ she said and smiled. ‘No one could have guessed what would happen. I wonder that a man should bear a grudge so many years.’

‘Yet perhaps it was because of his run of ill luck of late,’ Will said. ‘He had nursed various grudges against Paul for a long time yet did nothing. Only when his fortunes fell so low did he think of such wickedness. I am not sure what he hoped to gain from it, but perhaps he thought, as Paul’s ward, Melia might inherit his fortune when he died. I believe she would have wed Hershaw had he asked...and with a fortune to call his own he could have done anything. In time he might have seen her dead and returned to India in the hope of securing Annamarie’s affections...’

‘She must be very beautiful,’ Jane said, ‘to play on the hearts and minds of so many men—Adam Hargreaves and Hershaw, and who knows what others lie victim to her charms?’

It was in her mind that the beautiful girl had wanted the only man who had resisted her. Yet was Paul completely blind to her charms? For a moment jealousy raised its ugly head, but she squashed it before it could take root. She could not doubt that Paul loved her and she would not let herself wonder any more. Instead, she would think about the future with the man she loved...

* * *

‘I suppose you think you have won.’ The injured man threw Paul a look of hatred as he was pulled roughly to his feet. The magistrate had taken his evidence and a secure coach was waiting to take the prisoner into custody, yet still he was defiant. ‘She promised to reward me if I made you suffer—she wants your life, Frant, and I doubt I’ll be the last to be swayed by her.’

‘She is another’s wife, not mine—and her child was his,’ Paul replied. ‘Do not blame her for your decisions, Hershaw. She knew of your bitterness and played on it. All that has happened to you has been your own fault, because you resented me and thought to gain great riches from the woman you wanted. I doubt she would have kept her word, for her story was built on lies.’

‘Damn you!’ Hershaw said and tried to lunge at Paul even though his wrists were bound, but was restrained by the magistrate’s men. ‘You were always my enemy.’

‘No, you were your own enemy,’ Paul said and turned away as Hershaw was taken off, cursing and spitting defiance, his injured leg dragging on the ground.

‘He will trouble us no more,’ Jack said with satisfaction. ‘You and your lady may walk in safety now, my friend.’

‘Yes. I thank God for it—and you, Jack. Had it not been for your quick wits, I might have been searching for weeks and still not found her.’

‘Oh, he would have let you know eventually, for your death was his intention, but she might have suffered in the meantime. I do not like to think what he had in mind this evening.’

‘She had found a weapon from somewhere and was defending herself, but I think he must have overcome her resistance in the end.’

‘Then it was a mercy we arrived when we did,’ Jack said and jerked his head at the woman and her husband, who had been silently watching the proceedings awaiting their fate. ‘What do you want to do with this pair? The other rogue ran off when we arrived.’

‘That was my brother, sir.’ Sophie spoke up. ‘It was I gave milady the weapon to defend herself. She came to no harm in this house. We but did what that devil commanded, my lord—he would have killed us all if he’d known.’

‘Yes, I imagine so,’ Paul said. ‘Jane told me that you had helped her and I shall not move against you this time—but the magistrate warned you of your fate if you break the law again.’

‘If my man attempts such a thing I’ll take my hand to him,’ Sophie said and gave her husband such a look that he jerked back as if he believed her.

Paul hid his smile. ‘Very well, woman. Keep your man on a leash, because if he ever comes near my lady again I shall kill him.’ He turned back to Jack. ‘Gather the men. I would return to London and speak with Jane...’

* * *

Jane was sitting in her parlour at her writing desk when Paul was announced later that evening. She turned, gave a cry of pleasure and ran to him. His arms opened to receive her, holding her close to him for a moment before he spoke.

‘You are safe now, my love. Hershaw is safely locked away and will harm neither of us again. He was a bitter, twisted man and a dangerous enemy, but I did not expect he would use you so ill, Jane.’

‘That was my own fault. If I had not allowed Lady Catherine to distress me I should not have laid myself vulnerable to his schemes.’

‘She has a vicious tongue and meant to hurt you, but I doubt she knew what lay in his heart, or what he was capable of.’

‘No, I am sure she did not. Lady Catherine spoke out of spite and jealousy. I think you must have slighted her, Paul...or I have done something to arouse her hatred.’

‘She was at the theatre with Hershaw. Perhaps she thought we might speak of it to her betrothed and spoil her marriage plans, for he was merely an amusement to her. She would not have married him, because she requires a prestigious title and a fortune.’

‘I should never have dreamed of such a thing,’ Jane said. ‘Let us forget her and the other one...though I think her the more dangerous of the two. If Annamarie would move a man to murder because of some imagined slight...’

‘It was the reason I could never like her,’ Paul said. ‘She is proud and beautiful in her way, but I thought her cold of heart. She offered herself to me and I refused her... I knew it angered her but did not imagine she would inspire a man to murder because of it.’

‘Yet if he had not already hated you, she could not have done it. Adam loves her and has every reason to feel jealousy, but he does not hate you...’

‘No, I must admit that for a while I thought he might be my enemy but, despite knowing that the woman he loves preferred me, he did not turn completely from me. I can only pray that his love for her will overcome her nature—for otherwise I think he will know only unhappiness...’

‘What kind of a woman could be so vengeful?’ Jane marvelled at it for she could never understand such wickedness. ‘I could never urge a man to kill another, even if he had slighted me.’

Paul smiled softly at her. ‘I know and it is that precious difference between you that makes me adore you, my sweet Jane. I loved you from the moment we met and if you had not found it in your heart to love me, I should never have married.’

‘Oh, Paul,’ Jane said, her throat catching. ‘You know that I loved Harry. I never thought to love again, but I do—and as deeply. Harry was the mad, sweet love of first youth and you are the man I love now and will love all my life.’

‘I thank God for it,’ he murmured and bent his head to kiss her lips. ‘How soon will you marry me, Jane?’

‘We go down to the country soon and you must visit Melia and her aunt or she will think you have deserted her. As soon as you come to me, we shall set the banns and then we can begin our new life together...’

‘Yes, you are right,’ he said and sighed. ‘The responsibilities of a guardian weigh heavily upon me, Jane. I would that I might stay by your side, but I must do my duty.’

‘Do what you must and come to me,’ she said and lifted her head so that he could kiss her again. ‘I shall look for you every day so do not tarry longer than you need, my dearest one.’

‘You have my promise on that,’ Paul said. ‘We shall spend tomorrow together and then I really must leave for the country—when next we meet it shall be at your home...’

* * *

‘I will accompany you to Miss Bellingham’s home,’ Adam said the following evening. ‘I must make my peace with her—and then I shall sail for India. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me, Paul. You have stood as a good friend to me and there were times that I did not deserve it.’

‘You loved a woman you knew had feelings for me and it caused you grief,’ Paul said. ‘Yet be comforted by the knowledge that I never once laid hands upon her. She is your wife and she must care for you or she would not have come to you that night, nor would she have wed you.’

‘She wed me because she was carrying a child.’ Adam frowned. ‘I think she came to me out of temper and a wish to hit back at you through me—perhaps she thought I would be turned against you, but she never asked me to take your life.’

‘You were not Hershaw and would not have done it,’ Paul said. ‘You had opportunity to see me dead by another’s hand, but you did not take it.’

‘No, for I am no murderer,’ Adam said ruefully. ‘I know Annamarie’s faults, Paul. She can be both spiteful and cruel, but she has been taught harshly by her father’s people when they turned her from the palace after her father’s death. Now that she will have a palace of her own and my title, I can provide her with the life she wishes, I believe she will be content. Besides, she is my wife and, if Hershaw speaks the truth, she is desperately ill. If she still lives when I return, I shall do my best to make her happy. I can only hope that illness will have driven the bitterness from her heart.’

Paul kept his silence. He was not sure that Adam would ever find happiness married to the beautiful but vicious woman he so obviously adored, but love was blind. Words would not change Adam’s heart nor would he wish to try. Love was a strange but glorious thing, which brought both great happiness and terrible grief. Adam loved his wife despite all and he could only send him on his way in friendship.

‘Very well, if you wish to say goodbye to Melia you shall come with me,’ Paul said. ‘We shall ride together, Adam—and then I shall take my leave of you, because I stay only one day before I join Jane at her home...’

* * *

The man looked down at the battered body of the fool he had so easily duped into bringing him the only weapon he needed—a bottle of wine. It had been a pity to waste good claret on the oaf but, broken over the head of the obliging turnkey, it had proved sufficient to gain his freedom.

He took the keys to the outer door. His prison had proved no stronghold and he’d known immediately that money would sway the fool they had given charge of him. All he had to do was steal a horse and he would be away. Then he needed clean clothes and money, which he had hidden safely in case he had need of them.

The horses were in the stables behind the magistrate’s house. No guards patrolled the grounds and there was only one unsuspecting groom in charge of the stables that night. It was a matter of a swift blow to the neck with the broken bottle and the fool fell to the ground, blood seeping from the wound as he tried to call out but could not speak.

Once upon his chosen mount, the man sped away from house and stable to open countryside. His first plan had failed and that bitch Frant planned to marry would be on her guard, but there was one other who would not be so wary. He might yet find a way to ruin her and bring Frant to his knees.

Annamarie’s promise was in his mind as he sped through the darkness.

‘Kill him for me and I will share everything I have with you...’ she’d whispered as they lay together in the darkness. ‘I will take you for my husband and you will live in a palace...’

He had been mad for her from the first time he saw her, when he was sent with a diplomatic mission to her mother. At first the girl had not seemed to notice him, but then one night she had waylaid him as he returned home from dinner at the Governor’s house. Her smile had sent his wits spinning and when she offered herself to him in return for a favour, he had not stopped to think. He would have killed anyone for her at that moment—but when she spoke the name of the man she hated, he’d laughed with pure delight. Frant deserved all that was coming to him.

He had taken his time planning the downfall of his enemy, but somehow luck had been on Frant’s side—but this time he would no doubt be planning his wedding to that bitch and would know nothing of his ward’s elopement until it was too late.

Melia was a flighty little thing and he did not doubt that he would have her eating out of his hand within a few minutes of speaking to her. She would run off with him...and then he would make Frant pay, both in money and with his life. A ransom first and then a ball in his heart...

* * *

Melia was annoyed. She had expected that Lord Frant would be here sooner. The plans for the wedding could not go ahead until he came and the marriage contract was signed. Her aunt was strict about keeping the proprieties and she said it would be discourteous to speak to the vicar or plan anything until Lord Frant arrived—and her betrothed agreed.

‘Your aunt is correct, dearest,’ he’d told her. ‘Besides, what does it matter? We have a lifetime ahead of us—and it is but a few days’ delay.’

Melia did not know why she felt so frustrated. Until they came down to the country she hadn’t truly known either her betrothed or his sister very well. Spending each day in their company, she was beginning to be bored. Anne was forever with her nose in a book, and her brother spent most of his time riding or speaking to the grooms. He did walk with Melia in the afternoons and was attentive in the evenings, but that was almost worse than when he left her alone to go riding or played cards with her aunt’s guests.