Mistress of Merrivale (37 page)

“Yes, Mr. Sherbourne,” Woodley said.

Leo left the manor at a run, his mind rife with horrid possibilities. If something happened to Jocelyn, he’d never forgive himself. He sprinted through the garden, jumping the gate without breaking stride. Years of familiarity had him at the riverbank in less than ten minutes. The anxious snort of a horse drew his attention.

Voices.

Instinct slowed his steps. A scream propelled him to speed again. He burst around a bend in the path to see Hannah attempting to choke the life out of Jocelyn.

“Hannah!” He reached them in seconds, grabbing Hannah by her shoulders and tearing her from Jocelyn. Instead of struggling as he thought she would, Hannah turned to him with a radiant smile.

“Darling, you came.” She curled her arms around his neck and leaned against his chest.

He could hear Jocelyn, gulping for air. Alarmed, he thrust Hannah away and hurried to his wife’s side. “Are you all right, Jocelyn, love?”

Ignoring the shocked screech behind him, he slid his arms under Jocelyn’s legs and cradled her against his chest. The beginnings of another bruise marred her jaw and dirt covered her black gown. Her ripped bodice revealed the curve of one breast, and her breaths came in raw gasps. Bright red finger imprints spanned her throat.

An icy chill swept him as he catalogued the sight. The marks on Jocelyn’s neck—they were familiar.

“H-Hannah.” Jocelyn swallowed, speech taking great effort.

“Leo, she isn’t worth the trouble.” Hannah’s tone was cool. “She’s so plain.”

Leo was watching Jocelyn as he listened to Hannah. He caught the pain in her eyes and his heart ached. It wasn’t true. Jocelyn was beautiful, especially inside where it counted. “Can you stand?” he asked her.

Jocelyn nodded, and he helped her to her feet, angling slightly to keep an eye on Hannah.

“Leo, tell her,” Hannah insisted.

“Tell her what?” His grip tightened on Jocelyn, only loosening it when she winced.

“That we’re going to be together at last. Tell her I’m carrying your child.”

Jocelyn’s gasp cut through his stunned shock. “That’s a lie,” he snapped. “I have never shared your bed. Jocelyn, she’s lying.”

“Leo,” Hannah said. “I’ve made sacrifices. It was for us, so we could be together.”

The passion, the conviction on her face sickened him. At one time, he’d considered marrying her. Instinct had held him back. Her performance after his marriage to Ursula had brought a sense of relief at his escape. Marriage to Hannah would’ve been as hellish as his marriage to Ursula. Hannah’s exquisite shell hid a black heart.

Several footmen arrived, and he surreptitiously signaled them to stay back.

The truth. He had to learn what had happened.

Swallowing, he forced out the question that needed asking. “What happened between you and Ursula?”

Hannah sneered. “We argued.”

“About what?”

“She stood in the way of my marriage to you.”

“So you murdered her.”

The truth blazed on her face—a hint of triumph and smugness because she thought she’d been clever.

“Ursula didn’t love you,” she said. “All she wanted was the prestige of a good marriage.”

“Maybe so, but that didn’t mean she needed to die.” They’d been happy at first, but Ursula had changed after Cassie’s birth, chafing at their union. She’d wanted to attend balls and parties, and the seclusion of Merrivale had hampered the social butterfly.

Hannah studied him earnestly, hands outstretched in a pleading manner. “Don’t you see, Leo? It was the only way for us to be together.”

“But it was murder.” The casual ease with which she spoke of taking a life sickened him. She spoke of her sister’s murder as if it meant nothing more than squashing a bug. Her actions had almost destroyed him and cost Cassie a father as well as a mother. He signaled with a jerk of his head, indicating the footmen should come from hiding.

Hannah frowned. “What are they here for?”

“The constable will want to speak with you.”

Her brows winged upward, her forehead furrowing. “You’d turn on me? Betray me?”

“Restrain her,” Leo ordered.

“No!” Hannah darted out of reach and ran to her horse.

The sudden influx of people, the shouts and the rush of movement spooked the creature. He reared, jerking the reins from Hannah’s grasp. His front hoof struck her shoulder, and she fell with a pained screech.

Leo thrust Jocelyn behind a tree and lunged for the horse before it hurt someone else. Two footmen subdued Hannah. She kicked and struggled like a wild thing. An animal-like shriek rippled from her throat, echoing through the riverside clearing.

The footmen dragged Hannah to her feet and hustled her toward the manor. Another footman took charge of her horse and led it off.

“Jocelyn, you can come out now,” Leo said.

Jocelyn limped from behind the sturdy tree trunk. “Have you seen Tilly? Did…did Hannah kill her too?”

“Tilly is at the manor. She raised the alarm.”

She clapped a hand to her chest, tears sparkling in her eyes when she looked at him. “Hannah killed my mother.”

Leo went to hug her, but she jerked away.

“Hannah said you and she laughed about me. Do you love her?”

“No! I almost married her before Ursula returned to Hartscombe, but instinct stopped me. I was right to hesitate.” He stroked her cheek with the fingers of one hand. “The only woman I want as my wife is you. Come, let me take you back to the manor.”

“Do you hate looking at my plain face?” Her voice trembled, and his heart turned over at the anguish in her expression. “I’m sick of people lying to me.”

“We’ll discuss this later after we return to the manor.” This time he didn’t allow her to balk. Taking her arm, he set off for the house. When she limped painfully, he swept her into his arms and carried her.

When they arrived, Woodley and Mrs. Green appeared instantly.

“We’ve secured Hannah, and I’ve sent for the constable,” Woodley said.

Leo gave a grateful nod.

“How is Tilly?” Jocelyn wriggled and tugged from his grip once he set her down, putting several feet between them.

“She has a bad bump on her head,” Mrs. Green said. “I’ve put her to bed, but she’ll recover without serious harm.”

“I’ll go to her.”

“A quick visit,” Leo said. “You need to rest. I’ll see you in your bedchamber as soon as I’ve spoken with Hannah.”

Jocelyn’s quick frown told him she wanted to argue, but he didn’t intend to let her retreat. They would talk about Hannah, and by the time he’d finished, Jocelyn would have no doubt as to his feelings for her.

“Thank goodness you’re all right, Tilly. I thought Hannah had killed you.” Tears welled in Jocelyn’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why? You didn’t hit me.” Tilly struggled to sit, and Jocelyn rushed to help. “Look at your face! You should be abed, not fussing over me.”

“I’ll heal. She didn’t hurt me.” But that wasn’t quite the truth. Hannah had inflicted invisible wounds, ones that quietly festered and held the power to wreak havoc.

“You should still be in bed, resting.”

“Soon.” Jocelyn dismissed Tilly’s concerns. “Tell me what happened.”

“Hannah crept up behind me and struck me over the head. I heard a noise and moved at the last minute or it could have been worse. I fell, and I think she thought she’d done me in because she left.”

“Oh, Tilly.”

“The woman has a black heart.”

“She has no heart,” Jocelyn retorted, her mind on the painful revelations. Of course she was plain. Her sisters’ taunts flooded her thoughts, still holding the ability to hurt like stabs of a sharp knife. Unable to change the truth or her looks, she did what she always did. She drew herself up and contained her pain, inside, where no one else could see it.

A dull ache throbbed at her temple.

“Go to your chamber and rest for a few hours. You need to look after yourself, for the babe’s sake.”

“Do you need anything?”

“Mrs. Green has everything in hand,” Tilly said. “Please, I’ll feel better if I know you’re resting.”

Jocelyn forced an encouraging response, her lips flexing upward. “I’ll check in on you later.” She left the room, exhaustion striking her. When she reached her chamber, Susan was waiting for her, an apologetic expression fixed on her face.

“Oh, Mrs. Sherbourne.” She wrung her hands. “You look pale. Let me tend your face.”

Jocelyn stoically sat through Susan’s ministrations. Five minutes later she was tucked between the sheets. Alone, the nagging ache engulfed her, tears streaming from her eyes, dampening her pillow. She’d thought Leo liked her and was as excited about their child as she. Her instincts had failed her.

Leo stalked into her chamber, shutting the door with a decisive click.

He didn’t give her a chance to speak. “Why would you believe Hannah rather than me? Ever since you arrived at Merrivale, she’s treated you with disdain. I made a mistake. I should have made it clear to her you were my choice. My only choice.”

“I thought our marriage delivered that message,” Jocelyn said.

“We married quickly and quietly. Hannah thought it meant I didn’t care about you.”

Jocelyn shrugged. “I have no illusions. You were quite clear at the start that ours would be a marriage of convenience.”

“Jocelyn.” Leo dragged a hand through his hair, his agitation finally propelling him to motion. “I thought I wanted a practical marriage. I’d done passion and it didn’t work. My marriage with Ursula was a disaster. She was headstrong and rebellious, and we wanted different things.” He paced in front of her bed before rounding it to stand at her side. “Please don’t let Hannah’s words and actions poison what we have together.”

The ache in her chest grew bigger, more painful. It was like a weight pressing down, threatening to suffocate her. “I can’t help the way I look. People laugh behind my back.”

“Jocelyn, stop.” He plonked on the edge of the bed, the scent of the outdoors wafting to her.

Her eyes welled with renewed tears. “I’m merely speaking the truth. I’m not beautiful.”

“Not my truth.” He reached for her hand. “I might have started our marriage with the intent of a convenient arrangement, but I soon changed my mind. I’m proud to call you my wife. When I look at you I see your glorious blue eyes and the goodness shining from inside you. I feel your silky skin and the way your quim clings to my cock. I hear the sound of your laughter, the passionate cries you produce when we make love. I see the joy you’ve brought with you to Merrivale. I love you, Jocelyn. Please let me show you.”

She stared at him, trying to gauge his sincerity. “I don’t know what to believe.”

“Believe this.” He leaned close and kissed one cheek. “I. Love. You.” Between each word, he kissed her again, moving nearer to her mouth. Finally his lips settled over hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. His flavor and outdoors scent flowed over her, and she sighed. She’d always enjoyed his kisses, the way he took his time and teased, driving her mad with desire. He used his hands to stroke and caress.

He was always touching her, she realized. A pat on the shoulder, an arm slipped around her waist, the subtle guiding of his hand at the small of her back.

Groaning, he continued kissing her, tangling their tongues. He stretched out alongside her and wrapped his arms around her. He licked her mouth, trailed kisses down her neck and nibbled at a sensitive part of her neck until she focused entirely on him and the feelings his touch engendered. He wasn’t acting as if he couldn’t bear to look at her.

Pulling away, she turned her face to the window, knowing the light would strike her with merciless attention, highlighting her red hair and freckles.

Leo smiled and cupped her cheek, not even hesitating in his attentions. “Let me love you.”

“Now?”

“Of course, if you feel up to it. I can’t think of anything I’d like better.”

“Yes.” She melted under his determined charm, letting him remove the clean chemise Susan had helped her don. A few aches and pains from her bruises confirmed she was alive. Others weren’t so lucky. He surged off the bed and hurriedly yanked off his boots. His jacket and waistcoat flew in different directions, his haste bringing a warm sensation to Jocelyn’s chest.

Leo joined her again, rolling them together and kissing her hungrily. His hands wandered her back, her bare bottom. He kissed her as if he craved her more than anything or one else, and it was a potent sensation. Gaining her confidence again, Jocelyn touched Leo in return. She ran her hands over his shoulders down to bulging biceps, gulping in air when he rearranged her body and settled in to feast on one breast. His mouth closed around her nipple, and he drew hard. A strangled note of pleasure emerged from her.

She clasped his head to her. “Leo.” When he looked at her the passion and yearning she saw left her breathless.

“I love you, Jocelyn. If I have to spend every day for the rest of my life showing you how much I adore you, then so be it.”