His Jilted Bride (Historical Regency Romance) (5 page)

“
How charming,” she said under her breath.

“
I try,” he said with a smile. He reached into his pocket and
pulled out his penknife. “Ready?”

She nodded as nervous excitement
coursed through her. It was bad enough she'd been jilted today.
It'd be even more awkward if someone were to enter the room at this
very moment and see her holding her heavy skirts up so Elijah Banks
could reach in through the window and cut her stays away. If her
bridegroom not showing up wasn't enough to make her a laughingstock
already, this particular situation would get her name whispered
behind fans for generations.

The sharp sound of cloth—not just any
cloth, but the cloth under her gown—being torn sent chills up her
spine. Chills of excitement or danger or uncertainty, she might
never really know.

“
Turn,” Elijah commanded.

She turned and he continued cutting
the fabric until suddenly the sound of fabric-covered metal hitting
the wooden floor floated to her ears.

Elijah put his knife away and then
reached up toward her. “Let's go.”

Without hesitation, she leaned out the
window, wrapped her arms around Elijah's neck and let him pull her
out of the church and away from the public shame and embarrassment
she'd be condemned to as a jilted bride.

Chapter Four

Blood thundered in Elijah's ears. How
far would they get before Elijah's absence was remarked on and the
bride was found missing? They'd never make it to Gretna Green
without being discovered. It was too far, and with only Elijah's
horse, they didn't have a chance of arriving there
anyway.

He'd be sure to send up a prayer of
thanksgiving tonight that she'd been so easy to convince. But then
again, she hadn't really had much of a choice because if she'd been
her stubborn self and refused his offer, she'd have ended up a
pariah for the rest of her life.

He twisted his lips. Thinking of it
that way, her acceptance wasn't nearly as flattering as he'd like
to pretend.

But that didn't matter. His offer had
already been made, she'd accepted it and now they'd just have to
ride three hours east to the Archbishop of Canterbury's residence,
the only man close enough to issue a special license and marry them
tonight.

“
He's not home. He's visiting his nephew in Dover,” the
archbishop's purse-lipped butler intoned when Elijah and Amelia
arrived on his doorstep.

Elijah graciously thanked the man and
tried his best to reassure Amelia everything would be all right as
he helped her back onto his horse.

Blessedly, Elijah had attended school
with the bishop's nephew, Lord Templemore, and was counting on that
very old and thin connection to help him gain an audience with the
archbishop while he was visiting his relations. It might also
secure the man's approval for a special license, he thought as he
directed his horse down the lane. And if that didn't work, he'd
tell the bishop there was a possibility she was
increasing.

Chancing the occasional glance over
his shoulder, he rode on. It would likely be nightfall before they
reached where the bishop was staying. No matter. Just as long as
they reached him before anyone found them, everything would be
fine.

Three and a half hours and one
horrible case of muscle cramps later, they arrived at Templemore's
residence, where the archbishop was staying.

“
Banks,” Templemore greeted, coming into his study.

Elijah nodded. Templemore had attended
Eton with Elijah and Henry. Templemore stood at least six feet tall
with black hair and green eyes and was of exceptional intelligence.
The young ladies swarmed to him in his first Season, but he hated
the attention and chose to keep to himself, doing God only knows
what in his townhouse. So it was to Elijah's surprise that when he
returned home a few months ago he learned that Templemore had
actually married last year, but it was not so surprising to find he
was now spending the first part of the Season still in the country.
“This might seem an odd request, but is your uncle in
residence?”

“
Of course,” he said automatically, craning his neck around to
get a good look at Amelia. “He's in the library right
now—praying.”

Elijah and Amelia exchanged looks. “Do
you think he'll be finished shortly?” Elijah inquired.

“
I suppose,” Templemore said with a shrug.

If Elijah wasn't so tired from riding
a horse all day, he just might strangle the man. Templemore had
always been insolent, rivaling only Henry with his trite answers
and infuriating quips. “Do you suppose you could go fetch
him?”

“
I suppose,” Templemore said. “But do
you
suppose you might introduce me
to your companion first?”

Elijah flushed. “Of course. Amelia,
this is my friend Caleb Law, Earl of Templemore. And, this is Lady
Amelia Brice, soon-to-be Mrs. Elijah Banks, I hope.”

“
I see,” Templemore said, drawing out the words.

Just then, a dark-haired, lady joined
them in the drawing room. “Oh, excuse me; I didn't realize you had
company,” she murmured to Templemore.

“
Anne, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Elijah Banks and
his...er...intended, Lady Amelia Brice.” Templemore pulled the
woman closer to him. “Elijah, Lady Amelia, this is my wife, Anne,
Lady Templemore.”

“
It's nice to make your acquaintance,” Elijah said
automatically. Surely, Amelia said something to her, too, but
Elijah didn't hear her. He was still in shock that Templemore had
found someone who could actually tolerate him well enough to marry
him.

“
Thank you.” Amelia's voice floated to his ears and he shot
her a questioning look. “He's sending the butler to find the
archbishop.”

“
Very good. You two don't mind being witnesses do
you?”

“
Do we have a choice?” Templemore asked.

“
No. Not really.”

“
Well then, we'd be honored,” Templemore said
dryly.

A few minutes later the Archbishop of
Canterbury lumbered into the room. “I understand my presence has
been requested.”

“
Yes, sir,” Elijah rushed to say before Templemore could say
anything that might dissuade the old codger from performing the
ceremony. “Lady Amelia and I would like for you to marry us.
Now.”

The older man pursed his lips and
cocked his head to the side. “I'd be honored to perform the
ceremony, but this is hardly the time or place, son.”

“
Is it not?” Elijah challenged. He heaved an exaggerated sigh.
“I suppose you're right. Come along, sweet. We'd better start for
Gretna Green now if we'd like to arrive in the next fortnight. Lady
Templemore, do you happen to like Lady Amelia's gown? I think it's
far too extravagant for her to ride across the country in while
sharing a horse with her groom-to-be.” He dropped his voice to a
stage whisper. “Not to mention it might be too heavy for her to
wear at night and she—”

“
That is enough, young man,” the archbishop snapped. He ran a
hand over his wrinkled face. “Your point has been received. The
wedding shall take place tonight.”

“
Excellent,” Elijah said, beaming at his bride, who looked too
travel weary to counter the not-so-flattering insinuation he'd made
to the archbishop.

A few minutes later, the ceremony had
begun.

Despite her ripped and dusty gown and
wind whipped hair, Amelia made a beautiful bride. He squeezed her
hands. She looked just as ragged as he felt. They'd both sleep very
well tonight. Which was a good thing considering all the gossip
they'd have to start fending off in the next few days.

“
Elijah,”
Templemore all but
shouted.

Elijah started. “Yes?”

“
You may now kiss your bride,” the archbishop said for what
Elijah was certain wasn't the first time.

“
Right,” he said, meeting Amelia's grey eyes. A long ago
memory of her chasing after him and threatening to kiss him
suddenly came into his mind. She'd gotten him once or twice, too,
if he remembered right. And always in front of someone, too. Of
course that made it worse as he had an image to protect; and he'd
always been sure to make a show of wiping off his mouth, or cheek,
or forehead, or wherever it was her lips had landed. He shook his
head to rid himself of the juvenile thought and pressed a quick,
chaste kiss to her lips.

At least that's how he'd intended the
kiss to be. But even for how fast and devoid of any tender emotion
he'd intended to make it, he found himself craving more. Which
would not do. While he desired her with his entire being, now
wasn't the time to let her know.

“
Do the two of you have any plans for the evening?” Templemore
asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the
doorjamb.

“
Just to go to bed,” Elijah said without thought. His eyes
flared wide and his face burned when he realized what he'd said,
and how the unintended meaning his friend—and the bishop—likely
took from his words. “That is— I mean—” He cleared his throat.
“We've been traveling most of the day, I should think we'd like to
have baths then go to bed.”

Templemore's green eyes danced with
laughter. “You're welcome to stay here tonight, if you'd like,”
Lady Templemore offered.

Elijah looked over to Amelia. She had
dark circles under her eyes from their travels. It'd be at least
another hour ride to the nearest inn, and that was if there was any
vacancy. For as awkward as it might be for her to spend their
wedding night in his friend's home, the bed would be far more
superior and so would their fare. “Thank you. We'd love to
stay.”

Templemore nodded, then rang for
Bennett, his butler. When he arrived, Templemore whispered some
commands to him and only a short time later, Bennett was leading
them up the stairs.

“
You'll sleep much better this way,” he whispered to her as
they followed Bennett to the guest rooms.

She nodded but didn't say anything
else.

Bennett moved the large brass
eight-candle candelabra he carried to his left hand and opened the
door to a large room with an oversized bed.

Elijah swallowed.

“
This will be your room, Mrs. Banks,” Bennett intoned. “And
now if you'll come with me, Mr. Banks, I'll show you to
yours.”

For the best, he supposed. It might be
their wedding night, but they'd been traveling all day and were in
the residence of one of his friends, for pity's sake. No lady would
wish to be deflowered under such circumstances.

He stepped into the room the butler
indicated as his and looked around. It was arranged much like his
wife's with a large poster bed made out of mahogany that matched
the wardrobe and vanity perfectly. The coverlet was the same shade
of crimson as hers had been; and just as the basin and pitcher in
her room were royal blue with six white lines creating a decorative
border at the top, his were identical. Everything in this room was
much like the other, only it lacked one thing: Amelia.

He sighed and fell onto the bed,
exhausted. She'd acted just as tired as he. She'd probably
appreciate—and perhaps expect—a slight reprieve for the evening.
Besides he wasn't exactly in a hurry to share intimacies with her
as clearly his feelings for her weren't returned. They'd need to,
of course, if she was to— He closed his eyes to extinguish the
thought. Tomorrow. He'd initiate intimacies with her tomorrow night
and then all would be well.

***

Amelia willed the knot in her stomach
to go away and stared blankly at the tapestry above her bed. It was
too dark in the room to actually make out the designs embroidered
into the fabric, but still there was enough of an outline to study
to rid her mind of thoughts of her husband.

Oh, who was she trying to fool? She
could no more forget his presence in the room next to hers as much
as she could deny that she was the one who put that scar above his
left eyebrow when he snuck up behind her, startling her so much she
threw a rock at him.

Would he visit her
tonight?
She'd peeked in the hall to
confirm that Bennett had put him in the room next to hers...with
the adjoining door. So where was her groom? Mary, Lady Templemore's
lady's maid had helped her undress and left her to wait more than
an hour ago.

She'd spent that time thinking of what
she'd say to him once he entered, and still couldn't decide. Should
she try to put him off tonight or tell him all of her shame and
live with whatever consequence came from it?

She flipped over and
shoved a pillow under her stomach, but it did nothing to alleviate
the nausea that swirled in her gut. All day Elijah had been nothing
but kind to her; and how was she going to repay him? With a cuckoo.
Now,
that
would
endear her to him for life, to be sure.