Ruby McBride (19 page)

Finally, Ruby heard the woman say, ‘Oh dear, I really mustn’t twitter on any further, nor presume any longer upon your good nature, dear Sir Joshua. I’m sure a busy man such as
yourself has a great many more calls upon his time. Perhaps you would like my butler to show you around now, without further delay?’

‘That would be most kind.’

A slight puckering of her smooth brow. ‘Would it not be inconvenient for you to live here? It is rather far out. Did you say that you worked at the dock office by the Canal or in the Company office on Spring Gardens?’

‘It would be ideal,’ Bart assured her, without answering her question. ‘I have been fortunate enough to be left a legacy. Of modest proportions, you understand, but sufficient to provide my dearest beloved with, shall we say, more appropriate accommodation than can be found in the city centre.’

‘Oh, how very splendid! Indeed, splendid.’ She quite perked up at the mention of a legacy, clearly hoping it was not too modest and could stretch to the price she had in mind. ‘Shall we proceed?’ she trilled.

‘Indeed. Perhaps we could begin with the study?’ Bart swung around, indicating a heavy oak door set in the corner of the room.

Jessica Pickering looked surprised. ‘How did you guess that was my husband’s study?’

For the first time, Ruby saw confusion on his face, as if he’d been caught out in some mistake, and wondered anxiously if the woman would notice but then he brushed the awkward moment aside with a dismissive bark of laughter. ‘Seemed logical. A gentleman knows these things, ma’am.’

‘Of course.’ Seemingly unconcerned, she sailed before him into the room, and Ruby followed more thoughtfully.

The tour seemed to go on indefinitely, with Ruby trailing along behind, attempting to look suitably impressed and even, at times, enchanted by the delights of the property he was promising to purchase for her. Afterwards they were offered luncheon, which Bart reluctantly declined due to yet another board meeting he must attend that very afternoon, he ruefully explained. He promised to be in touch soon, via Mrs Pickering’s solicitors, and courteously took his leave. To Ruby, the whole thing seemed to have been a complete waste of a morning.

‘What was all that in aid of?’ she asked, as they bowled back into town. ‘All that rubbish about board meetings, a summer wedding, and a honeymoon on the Isle of Wight. Got a bit carried away, didn’t you?’

‘Perhaps I did, but I became quite engrossed by the whole notion of a honeymoon, Ruby. Perhaps we should consider it. Why not?’

She chose to ignore this comment. ‘Have you ever been in that house before?’

His hand tightened on the reins and Ruby knew that he lied when he said, ‘No, of course not. Whatever put such an idea into your head?’

‘Only that you seemed to know where the study was.’

‘Such rooms are generally found off the main living room, are they not?’

Ruby hadn’t the faintest idea where a study might be found, since never in her life had she been in such a grand house before. Judiciously, she let the subject drop. ‘Thought any minute you’d be describing what the bridesmaids would be wearing.’

‘Perhaps that’s because I was engaged once before but it ended tragically so I was hoping for better luck this time, that we could perhaps achieve a happy marriage.’

The smile slid from Ruby’s lips. ‘Happy marriage? Don’t talk daft. Look, you can stop this game right here. We’re on our own now. You’re talking to me, Ruby McBride, not Lady Muck in there.’

‘It’s no game, Ruby. It’s true. Give me the chance, and I’ll do my best to make you happy.’

‘What happened to her then, your fiancée?’

It was some moments before he answered and then it was in a hushed, quiet voice, barely above a whisper. ‘I was very young and recklessly, heedlessly, in love. Tragically, she went into a decline and the wedding was called off.’

‘What sort of decline?’

‘She became depressed over the fact that our respective families were against the match, which finally resulted in some sort of breakdown. After months of ill health her doctor advised against marriage, saying she was quite unsuited to the sort of demands it would impose upon her. It was all pretty dreadful. I was utterly devastated and swore I would never allow myself to love again. Which is how I came to acquire the barge. I needed a fresh start, a new beginning.’

For a moment Ruby couldn’t speak, surprised by these revelations as it was the most she’d ever learned about his past and she itched to know more. But seeing him with his mouth compressed and shoulders drooping, she guessed that for once he might well be telling her the truth, and that it pained him to do so. ‘So why did you want to wed me?’ she asked instead.

He slowed the mare to a walk before cocking his head sideways, so he could consider her in all seriousness with his brandy-coloured eyes. ‘Perhaps I was attracted to your sharp brain.’

‘You married me for me
brains
?
I’ve never heard anything so daft in all me life.’ A gurgle of laughter bubbled up in her throat and Ruby simply couldn’t resist laughing, swaying backwards in the carriage so that her body arched unconsciously in provocative abandonment while, unnoticed by her, his eyes slid lingeringly over the curve of her throat and breasts. After a moment, Ruby wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes with the flat of her hands. ‘More likely you picked me ‘cos you fancied me. But you can
stop slavering ‘cos you ain’t going to get me.’ There was steel behind the camouflage of humour, which he duly recognised. Yet he had the grace to smile.

‘It’s true, I did fancy you from the first moment I set eyes on you. But then you aren’t simply pretty, Ruby, you’re beautiful. Didn’t anyone ever tell you?’

‘Sister Joseph certainly didn’t, that’s for sure. Nor did anyone in the reformatory, no,’ Ruby drily remarked. ‘But then there aren’t many good-looking fellas in there, and what chance have I had to meet any out here, with you watching every move I make?’

‘I like to keep an eye on what belongs to me.’

‘I don’t belong to no one,’ she snapped.

‘Yes, you do, Ruby. You are mine. Exclusively. Make no mistake about that. My reaction to you certainly came as a surprise, particularly in the circumstances. However, having decided that I wanted you, I had every intention of getting you. I’m not a man who takes no for an answer.’

‘I’d noticed.’

He gave a lazy smile. ‘I can understand your resenting my forcing you into marriage. How was it Miss Crombie described you? Ah, yes, as having an “individual and determined nature”. But I think you will come to see that our arrangement is for the best.’

Ruby made as if to interrupt at this point, wanting to protest that surely she should be the one to choose what was best for herself, but he held up one hand to silence her.

‘It will be worth it in the end. I shall see that you want for nothing. A house, carriage of your own, servants. I’m a man of means, Ruby. I’ve kept my promises thus far, have I not? Not laid a finger where I shouldn’t. Provided you with a home and employment, food in your belly and clothes for your back. Perhaps it’s time we sealed the bargain. Time you gave me something in return for my
generosity. I haven’t even kissed you or tasted any of your charms, and I am your very own, loving husband after all.’ He reached for her and she slapped his hand away, her voice filled with loathing.

‘
You
, keep your promises?’ she sneered. ‘Pull the other leg and see if that’s got bells on it. I told you, you don’t touch me till I say you can, which will be when hell freezes over and not a day before.’

‘Whatever the weather in heaven or hell, Ruby, I mean to have you.’ The glitter in those liquid eyes was ominous as Ruby returned his glare with loathing, yet there was a tremor of excitement within her that she didn’t quite understand. She was breathing fast and furious as she desperately strove to stem the tide of
 
panic, which was surely all she was suffering from. Could he be serious? How much longer could she hold him off? She did not ask herself how she would react if she failed in that task. She dare not.

‘What about our Pearl? You promised you’d give my sister a home too, if I behaved myself. Which I have, so when are you going to do something about that?’

‘You drive a hard bargain, Ruby. It would be a shame if we were to have a falling out, when we’ve been getting along so well.’

She edged away from him on the narrow seat, making sure no part of her dress touched him. ‘Not for one minute do I believe all this fanciful talk of fine houses, and I’ve seen little sign of respectability or security. I’m living on my nerves here with all your nasty goings on.’

He seemed to consider this remark for some time before answering in softer tones. ‘What does a chap have to do to win your heart, Ruby?’

‘Try going straight.’ Seeing his eyes narrow dangerously and feeling again that tremor akin to fear, she deliberately adjusted her tone, attempting to lighten it, even managing to smile flirtatiously up at him. ‘A bit of honesty wouldn’t go amiss for a change, now would it?’

‘Why do you always see the worst in me? That is so sad. When you smile at me so enticingly, I melt inside. I’m a man with a heart, Ruby, like any other. What was it that Shakespeare said? Something along the lines of, “If you prick me, will I not bleed?”’

Ruby snorted her disdain. ‘Who’s he when he’s at home? We didn’t do no Shakespeare in the reformatory, and I’ll believe you have a heart when I come across a pig what can fly.’

‘Perhaps I have good reason for what I do, have you considered that?’

‘Aye, to make your pocket fatter.’

‘I mean, you didn’t know about my union involvement, did you?’

‘Is that what this is all about? Is that the whole reason why you steal and play tricks on folk? Is that what this morning’s trip was about, union business?’

He sadly shook his head and she slumped back in her seat, eyes blazing with triumph. ‘Thought not.’

‘But maybe you don’t know everything about me, even now. Maybe there are a few more layers still to peel off - rather like an onion.’ He smiled as she lapsed into confused silence, then clicked the reins, urging the mare to a brisker trot. ‘As for that other, more personal matter between us, my patience will not last forever, Ruby McBride. You’d best start expecting a visitor one night to that chaste cabin of yours. And don’t think you can keep me out by locking the damned door. I’ve my own key. Make no mistake about that!’

Ruby gasped, this thought never having entered her head. ‘Drat you, ... I’ll have a bolt fitted on the inside.’

‘The panels are not robust. I can easily take the door off at the hinges once I’m ready to come to you. Oh, and I almost forgot, you may have these as a wedding gift.’ Dipping into a pocket, he pulled out a pendant of sparkling gems which he laid in her lap. ‘It’s a ruby I believe. Appropriate, don’t you think? Not such a wasted morning, after all, eh?’

She had thought herself so clever, imagined she could hold him off, even persuade him to go straight by working hard with the tug and the barges, and then he’d handed her the pendant. Ruby realised, in that moment, that she had absolutely no control over what he did with her, and never would have. Her desire to reform him suddenly seemed foolish, her efforts at obedience in order to win his assistance in finding Pearl utterly naive. What a soft fool she’d been to imagine he’d even listen to her. Oh, but she was in a proper pickle this time, that was for sure. Escape from the baron would be nowhere near as easy as her previous attempts at flight. He was surely an expert in utter ruthlessness.

She’d been appalled by the gift. Never, in all her life, had she knowingly performed a dishonest act, no matter what the authorities might accuse her of, nor had she any intention of starting now. Ruby refused, absolutely, to accept the pendant, arguing that he should never have stolen it in the first place, and should take it back. which he seemed to think most amusing. ‘Are you accusing me of stealing it?’

‘I’m not stupid, I know you stole it. You must take it back this instant.’

‘And what would I say to her, Ruby my love? “Well, would you believe it, missus? This ruby pendant fell into me pocket, just as I was being shown around your lovely house. Fancy that!”’

Ruby thought about this for a moment. ‘You could ask for another viewing, and slip it back when no one was looking.’

‘That wouldn’t be appropriate.’

‘Why wouldn’t it?’

‘Because I say so. My skill lies in discretion and speed. Once having formulated a plan, I move in quickly, carry it out and leave with equal speed. Not even that hawk-eyed butler saw it go, now did he?’

‘Soon as they realise it’s missing, they’ll guess it was you what took it,’ Ruby warned.