Once Upon an Accident 01 - The Accidental Countess (5 page)

He forced the earlier sarcasm from his voice and gently asked, “Can you afford to lose your reputation?”

She sighed, and he had his answer.

“If people find out about what happened…”

“I’ll be ostracized. My life as I know it will be over. Everyone in the village will whisper behind my back, if they don’t spit in my face.” Her anger held him immobile and stunned him with its viciousness. She whirled around. “I’ll lose the only thing I have, my home. Happy now, Mr. Lord Ware? I understand exactly what my choice has cost me.” Unshed tears glittered in her eyes.

A beat of silence followed her tirade as Sebastian tried to formulate an answer. He understood her anger, but it did not change the situation.

“Miss Macgregor…Colleen…I—”

“Just go back to your estate and your strumpets, and leave me alone! I should have left you in the snow to die.”

The last ended on a sob. She covered her mouth, as if ashamed the sound escaped. He looked at her but said nothing. The woman had saved him. If it had not been for her, he would have surely died, and now his presence would very likely cause her to lose her home.

Marriage. He had never thought to marry again. Being second in line for an earldom there was no need. His cousin had married recently and was in good health. Sebastian’s marriage had taught him that he was not cut out for a long-term commitment. But…

She turned back to the window, her arms crossed beneath her breasts.

“You want to tell me why you disdain marriage?”

Her voice was wooden when she spoke, the earlier emotion drained. “My parents had a wonderful marriage, but when my father died, my mother was lost. Two years later, she met the drunk. It was horrible, but she was stuck with him. Then there is Deidre.”

“Deidre?”

“My sister. She became a mistress for a nobleman who was here for a while. When she became pregnant, she was so sure he would marry her.”

“What happened?”

The laugh that escaped reeked of bitterness. He found himself longing for the joy he’d heard earlier, even if it was at his expense.

“It seems he forgot to mention he was married to a woman he left behind in London. There was no way he would leave his wife for a tramp like her. When she threatened to tell his wife, he beat her. She lived long enough to lose the baby.” She glanced at him, then looked away and swallowed. “So you see, I’ve not seen a pretty picture of marriage.”

“No, I suppose not.” How could he convince this woman to let him do this? He understood her unique position. She had an independent life with no apparent need to marry. She had money to survive, a home, and that meant that she did not need a husband. It would take a miracle to change her mind. As he thought the situation over, an idea formed, one that would work if she were to agree to the deception.

“No one will know we married.”

She turned, her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that the idea?”

He glanced at the opened door. “Colleen, why don’t you come closer?” She shot him a suspicious look. “I just thought we should discuss this between ourselves, without others being able to hear.” He waited for her to draw closer. Lowering his voice, he continued, “I mean no one in London would know. I wasn’t planning on marrying again. But no one there would know.”

“And?”

“Well, I could leave, make up some story about having to go home, then I can send some sort of message that I died. You’d regain your respectability.”

She stared at him as if he had lost his mind. “Really, and once you have me sign the papers and say the vows, what then? You forget to leave, keep my house and expect husbandly rights?”

He chuckled. “No need to worry about that, love.”

She frowned harder.

“I have plenty of land to keep me happy and plenty of women to keep me busy.”

“Hmm. So, you would sign a contract allowing for me to keep the house?”

“No problem. It will work, Miss Macgregor.” He could see her contemplating her fate. She was going to take the bait, he just knew it.

“Well, as long as you sign a contract and swear that you will send the message you’ve died, I agree.”

“How about we seal the bargain with a kiss?”

“In your dreams, Lord Drunk.” She studied him for a moment. “Why would you want to marry a woman you hardly know?”

He searched his mind, but he really couldn’t come up with a logical conclusion other than the one discussed. “You will lose your reputation if I don’t.”

She sighed and turned to look out the window again. “There is that.”

He wished he could stand, cross the room and take her in his arms. Anything to wipe away the troubles that seemed to weigh so heavily on her mind. His need to comfort and reassure her made him pause. Other than his sister and mother, he had never wanted to soothe the troubles of another female.

“It really leaves us no choice.” Her back stiffened when he spoke, and he knew he was pushing her, but he didn’t care. He would not allow this woman to self-destruct because of pride.

“I…I really can’t understand why you would give up your chance for marriage. You must have the whole English notion of leaving heirs and a fortune to protect your women. Besides, I’m sure you are in the scandal sheets on a regular basis. Everyone will know that you are not dead.”

He chuckled at the thought that his mother and younger sister needed him to survive. “Yes, but not by the name you just introduced me. I am Lord Penwyth as per my family title. Not Ware. They’ll never know.

“And because I have an uncle with a very healthy, albeit, distant cousin, one who married just last year, I have no title really to leave an heir. My ‘women’ as you call them would resent that you think they need me.”

She paced in front of him. “Why? Why would you do this? You will not lose anything if you jump on a horse tomorrow. So why don’t you go?” She stopped in front of him at the end of her question, her grey eyes shining with bewilderment and uncertainty.

After hearing some of her experiences, he realized she had not had many reasons to depend on a man, or even trust him to do the right thing. Until this moment he never thought he would be a man who would aspire to change her misconceptions.

“Listen, Colleen.”

She fisted her hands and placed them on her hips. “I did not give you leave to use my first name.”

“Well, we are to be married, are we not?” She still glowered at him, but he decided to forge ahead. “You saved my life. I never want to marry again. Elizabeth was a conniving, duplicitous bitch who cared nothing for anyone, even herself. My parents had a wonderful marriage, but they are rare in the ton
.
” He paused, trying to formulate an answer that would help his case for marriage.

“I don’t ever want to go through what I went through before. No one will suspect in my social circles, mainly because it is well known I have sworn off marriage. What I do understand is obligation. You saved my life, even when you thought I was a drunk. Let me do this for you. I will marry you, leave for London, and never bother you again.”

*

Less than a week later, Colleen found herself a married woman—the one thing in the world she thought she would never be. She sat at her dining table staring out at the melting snow, wondering what her mother would think about this turn of events. Knowing her, she would be overwhelmed with joy that a man had finally come to Colleen’s rescue.

Mrs. Pearson and Gerty had thrown together a small wedding and reception. It had ended an hour earlier, her husband retiring to pack his things for his trip tomorrow. If anyone thought it strange her husband was leaving the morning after his wedding they didn’t mention it. Oh, she was sure Mr. Pearson was chomping at the bit to voice his opinions on the illustrious Mr. Ware, but either he decided to let it go or Mrs. Pearson had threatened him. More than likely it was the latter.

Most of York was still recovering from the snowstorm that hit Sunday last, but the roads were clear enough for travel. Sebastian had used the excuse of riding back to London to deal with some business matters. Since he had been gone a over a fortnight, he needed to return and tend to things. He explained that he would return soon, but it had been so long, he worried his family would think him lost and begin to panic.

Sebastian had relocated to the inn as soon as the snow had been cleared, but he had moved back to her cottage earlier that day. They had yet to settle the business of her home. She hoped he held to his agreement because she really didn’t know what people would think if she coshed her husband on his head on their wedding night.

Her thoughts drifted to her wedding ceremony and the kiss to seal the vows. Sebastian had looked down into her eyes, a trace of apology in his. She had tensed when he bent his head. Her nerves had caused her to lick her lips and she heard a small groan from Sebastian as his gaze followed the movement.

His mouth was undemanding at first. No intrusion, no attack. She had relaxed thinking because of the occasion he would behave. Then, his tongue traced the seam of her lips and without a thought, she willingly opened her mouth to allow him access. It was Sebastian who put a stop to the kiss, pulling back from her with a confident smile.

She could still feel the impression of his lips against hers, and she did not like it at all. Just remembering the kiss lit a fire in her blood. A tingle of something she did not quite understand slipped down her spine. Shifting on her chair, Colleen tried her best to force the memory from her mind.

A soft knock sounded at the door, thankfully breaking into her thoughts of lips, tingles and tongues. Knowing Sebastian had asked John to come by to take him into town, she sighed and slowly stood.

She walked to the door, wondering why her stomach clenched in panic when she thought of Sebastian leaving. It was exactly what she wanted, what she needed. She didn’t need some rake flirting with her, kissing her silly, driving her mad with ideas of just what was beyond the kisses he offered.

She opened her front door and found a stately woman dressed in unrelieved black standing on her doorstep. Beside her stood a woman close to Colleen’s age, perhaps slightly younger, anxiety in her ice blue eyes.

“Young lady,” the older woman said in a perfect aristocratic accent. “I’ve been told Mr. Sebastian Ware is residing here.”

Oh, Lord, was this the Beatrice he spoke of? This woman was old enough to be his mother! Yet, she could understand the attraction. Small boned with blonde hair, and the delicate features of the typical English rose, the woman would draw the eye of most men. Even though she placed the woman’s age over fifty, a woman like this would attract men for years to come.

“He is at the moment.” She noticed the younger woman relax and shiver. Realizing the wind had turned a bit cooler, she decided she couldn’t leave the women standing outside. “Forgive me. Come out of the cold.” She hurried the women into her parlor and urged them close to the fire.

“We would appreciate if you would retrieve him for us,” the younger woman said. Colleen glanced at the younger woman who was also dressed in black. Both women wore the latest fashions and the finest fabrics. The dark colors suggested they had lost a family member.

Dreading the idea of hosting Sebastian’s lover in her home didn’t erase years of good training from her mother.

“I would be more than happy to if you would be so kind as to give me your names.”

“What the bloody hell are you two doing here?” Sebastian boomed from the entrance to the room. He strode forward and stopped when he reached her side. His fisted hands rested on his lean hips and his eyes narrowed as he looked at the two women.

“Sebastian, is that any way to speak to your mother?”

Sebastian stared, his mind completely fixed on the idea that he’d had quite a bit of bad luck lately. It apparently wasn’t getting much better. When he’d heard his mother’s cultured voice as he descended the stairs, he thought he’d been mistaken. There would be no reason for his mother to be in York, in the home of his wife, asking after him. He had worried he was having a relapse.

But there stood his mother, along with his meddling sister who beamed up at him.

“Sebastian,” Anna fairly shouted as she ran and jumped into his arms. He picked her up off the ground and then set her back down, giving her a kiss on her cheek. He looked at his mother, and she was dabbing her eyes. “We’ve been looking for you forever, Sebastian. Mother had to hire someone to find you.”

“I am only a few weeks late.”

“Yes, but we could not find you,” his mother said, her voice wavering. “And there has been…been so much…”

His sister hurried over and comforted their mother. A feeling of dread settled over him. His mother was not a wilting flower of a woman, and for her to behave as such, something horrible must have happened.

Anna looked at him, tears lingering in her eyes. “When Uncle Albert died, then Cousin Gilbert, well, Mother thought the worse.”

“Uncle Albert died?” Grief swamped him as his throat closed. His father had died when Sebastian was only seventeen, and Albert had stepped in and guided him through the next few years, making sure the family was settled. He swallowed. “Gilbert?”

Anna stared at him and then glanced behind him. He looked over his shoulder. Colleen had distanced herself from the three of them, moving almost all the way out of the room. She appeared ready to bolt and leave him to his family.

Although he understood her reaction, he did not like it. His wife should be standing by his side. It was an irrational thought, but he couldn’t help it.

Good Lord. He’d forgotten he’d married.

“Colleen, please come forward and meet my mother and sister.”

She hesitated, just enough to irritate him, but she eventually walked to his side, albeit sullenly. That broom handle stiffened in her back. She glared up at him, and the light glinted off her lenses. Her brow furrowed in a scowl, warning him he would pay for this later.

“Mother. Anna. This is Colleen Macgregor. Colleen Macgregor Ware.” His mother’s eyes widened as she looked from him to Colleen and then back. For once, his mother held her tongue. “Colleen, may I present my mother, Lady Victoria, and my sister, Lady Anna.”

Silence filled the room. Uncomfortable with the study his mother was giving Colleen, he draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her close to his side. The smell of cinnamon and honey surrounded him, and the heat of her body warmed his. It had him thinking of things he shouldn’t.

It reminded him of that kiss. That one little clumsy kiss she gave him at the wedding had him regretting his agreement to not demand his husbandly rights.

Lord knew he’d been kissed by women who had been trained to tease, to entice. It was clear that Colleen had not been kissed often and was completely untutored in the art of seduction. But the moment she opened her mouth and accepted his tongue was one of the most erotic experiences of his life. The memory sent fire racing along his nerve endings. He shifted, trying to ease the tightness of his britches. How this one, too tall, judgmental, red-haired prude did this to him, he didn’t know. But she did.

His sister rushed forward once more, breaking his thoughts. “Oh, Sebastian, is it true? Did you really marry?” She hugged him again and then grabbed his wife and hugged her. She released Colleen and clapped. “Oh. Oh, a sister. I have a sister!”

Colleen wore an expression of wary amazement. Sebastian knew the feeling. Everyone, save his best friend Daniel, was usually held speechless when his sister went full force. Anna was far and away one of the most demonstrative people he knew, especially in the constricting environment of society. But he was also thankful. She’d smoothed over an awkward moment.

Colleen cleared her throat, and a fine blush worked up her cheeks. She shot him a dirty look. “Thank you, Lady Anna. Why don’t you make yourselves comfortable while I make tea?”

“Oh, that would be wonderful, Colleen. You know, it is so very cold outside, and Mother and I were wandering forever trying to find this place. There is a lot of confusion here because of the blizzard. Do you want some help fetching the tea?”

He almost laughed out loud when Colleen agreed, knowing his sister would drive her batty. Anna linked her arm through Colleen’s and winked at Sebastian as she passed him. He watched them leave, and as soon as the door clicked, he knew his mother would not hold back any longer.

“Sebastian, what on earth is going on?”

He turned and looked at his mother. In her late fifties, she was still a very attractive woman. On any other day, there was a sparkle in her blue eyes, and she was always ready with some sort of witty joke. Her sense of humor, along with what they called bluestocking ways, had made her an Original during her first year in the ton. The story was that his father apparently had to fight off several suitors, many of whom started reappearing within a year of his father’s death. Although he knew she’d had more than one or two offers of marriage, she’d turned down every one.

She was a good mother, patient and loving, tender but strong. Since reaching majority, he had enjoyed their relationship. At the moment though, memories of being called onto the carpet flitted across his mind. He felt as if he were eight years old again.

“Mother, let’s get your wet cloak off of you, and then I’ll explain.” He helped remove her cloak, then escorted her to a pair of comfortable chairs near the fire. After she was settled, he joined her in the chair opposite. “A week ago, Miss Macgregor found me passed out in the snow, the day the blizzard struck.”

She frowned at him, her finely arched eyebrows wrinkled in disapproval. “
Sebastian
. You’ve never been given to drink.”

“Well, I hadn’t then, either. I’d been hit on the head. She brought me inside and nursed me back to health.” He went on to explain how sick he had been, and just how much Colleen had done to save him. “Unfortunately, the vicar found me with her in her bedroom, and so the marriage was forced.”

“She trapped you into marriage?” Outrage filled her voice.

He laughed, and his mother’s eyes narrowed. “No, I can assure you she did not. She’s none too happy about being married to me.”

Immediately her outrage turned another corner. “Why, what is wrong with the girl? I’ll have a talk with her and set her straight. She should be overjoyed to have you as her—”

He laughed again, stopping her defense of him. “Thank you, Mother, but that’s really not needed. No, really,” he said, grabbing his mother’s hand as she rose from her chair. She reseated herself and gave him a good frown. “No, listen, the idea was I would send her news of my death when I returned to London. She wouldn’t marry me without that one promise. I didn’t know what else to do, Mother. If I did not marry her, she would have lost her reputation and probably this house. It is the one thing she has left in the world. That is not the way to pay back a woman who saved my life.”

Her eyes softened, a slight smile curving her lips. “You were always such a good lad.” She raised her hand to his cheek as she had when he was young. “Always taking in those strays. Drove your father mad when you snuck in that mongrel… What did you name her?”

“Winifred.”

She stood and walked to the window. “Winnie. She was a good dog.”

“Yes, she was.” He remembered sneaking her in, and the staff helping him to hide her for a week. “Father was furious for a whole day.”

His mother chuckled. “Yes, yes, he was irritated with you on that one.”

“Mother.” He waited for her to turn. “What are the two of you doing here?”

“Well, we sent word to you about Albert, but we never heard back. It’s been so long since we’ve seen you.”

He had left over six months ago. Usually happy to pursue town interests, Sebastian had an overwhelming surge of restlessness fill his blood during the last year. After a brief stint through continental Europe, he’d traveled to Freddy Crammer’s house for a party. Just two days before his mishap, he had made arrangements to return to town. Although not very eager to resume his old life, he had missed his mother and sister.

“I know, Mother. I missed you and Anna. That was why I was coming home last week. Now, what is this about Albert?”

“Your uncle had the accident, then…” She sighed, her cool tone melting in a wave of sadness Sebastian could feel in his soul. “…then, Gilbert. We never expected it to happen to both of them so close together.”

“Both of them?” Dread settled in his stomach. “What happened, Mother?”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “They are dead, Sebastian. You are the new Earl of Penwyth.”

*

“I’m so very excited to have you as a sister.”

Colleen sighed as she lifted the tea tray. She knew Anna was excited about having her as a sister. She had told Colleen the same thing at least five times in fifteen minutes. Used to her solitary house with only Gerty with whom to visit, Colleen was not comfortable with someone so talkative.

Sebastian’s sister prattled nonstop about the most inane things. From the snow, to being happy she had a sister, to London, she talked, taking nary a breath. It was little wonder why Sebastian was so quiet. There was no way a person could get a word in edgewise with Lady Anna.

“Oh, and we will have so much fun shopping once we reach London. With your red hair and those eyes, you would look wonderful in green. It’s been five months since Albert’s death, three weeks since Gilbert’s, so you should be able to wear the darker shades and not cause a scandal. But,” she said, her brow furrowing as she studied Colleen, “I think you would look marvelous in black or something like amethyst.”

Anna followed Colleen and continued to blabber about everything they would do in London. Colleen didn’t have the heart to tell the young woman she would not be going with them. Although her incessant chatter was driving Colleen insane, there was a warmth about Anna, something totally accepting and loving that caused Colleen to hold her tongue.

After Anna opened the door, Colleen hurried forward, hoping to end this uncomfortable meeting. She knew his mother was not happy he married a no one from the wilds of York any more than Colleen was happy to have them in her drawing room.

Sebastian stood by the window, his mother in his arms as she wept.

“Ah, here’s Colleen and Anna with the tea. I’m sure she talked Colleen’s ear off.”

Colleen set the tea tray on the table.

“That is not nice to say, Sebastian. You haven’t seen me in months and now you complain.” Anna’s voice belied her comments, telling Colleen that the siblings enjoyed a warm relationship. She pushed away the pang of loss and jealousy she felt. Deidre and she had never shared a close relationship, at least not since their adolescence.

“Hush, brat. Even though you just proved my point.”

Anna smiled at her brother and wandered to a chair. After she was settled, he moved his attention back to his mother. “Now then, Mother, let’s take some tea.”

He escorted her to her chair while Colleen poured the tea. She turned to sit on the sofa and bumped into Sebastian. He took her arm, a smile twitching his lips. The heat of his hand warmed her through her sleeve. She shivered. He seated her and then sat beside her. For several moments, they drank tea in silence. It was almost unbearable. She knew his mother wanted to know how she’d trapped him into marriage. Why else would he marry her?

“Mother was telling me we had some unfortunate accidents in the family.”

She looked at Sebastian. He’d gained all of his strength back, and she had trouble concentrating when he stared at her. No longer weak, he was the epitome of male beauty. His color had returned, the golden hue reminding her of the moments she had seen him almost naked.

On more than one occasion, his cool blue eyes caused her tongue to tangle and heart to almost jump out of her chest. She tried to turn her attention away to gain her composure but found her gaze traveling to his lips. They were full and sensuous, and all she could remember was the way they tasted when he kissed her. She licked her lips at the memory. His then twitched slightly, and her gaze shot to his. The mocking glint in his eyes told her he knew what she’d been thinking.

Pulling herself from her thoughts, she asked, “Really, wh-what kind of accidents?”

Sebastian’s smile faded. She found herself regretting her question.

“Well, it seems that my uncle and cousin died recently.”

“Oh,” she said and looked at his mother and sister. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Sebastian stared down at her, irritated at the relief he heard in her voice. His continued presence worried her more than his dead relatives. Didn’t she even care that he was leaving? He was her husband for Christ’s sake.

Because of his irritation, his voice was a tad rougher when he spoke. “Yes, I have to take over the estate.”

“The estate?” Her voice rose as she asked the question. Both his mother and sister stared at her, then at him.

“Yes, dear, Sebastian must take up the reigns of the earldom.” His mother offered this.

Colleen’s eyes widened then narrowed when she looked at him.

“Earldom?” Her voice was hoarse.

“Yes,
darling
, you are the new Countess of Penwyth.”

Color seeped from her face, leaving her pale, and he felt a twinge of guilt. He wasn’t all that happy about the situation, but he would be damned if he allowed her to push him out now.

The need to gain her acceptance of their marriage rode high in his priorities. He knew it had more to do with personal feelings than their uncomfortable position. Just that thought alone was enough to make him uncomfortable. It wasn’t a dream come true for him, but he would appreciate it if the woman didn’t act as if she were being condemned to death.

Sebastian sat back with his arms crossed and enjoyed the show. This was one of the few times he had seen her at a loss for words.