The Lady Plays Her Ace (The Langley Sisters) (19 page)

"I know that," William Ryder said, surprising him. "If I did not at least believe that, he would not be marrying her no matter what my elder brother says."

"I will never hurt her," Ace found himself saying.

"Not physically, no," he added. "But I believe you could hurt her badly in many other ways."

"My past…" Ace tried to find the words. "It has not—"

"Dillinger, I have shot two men and drowned another when he attempted to remove Luke’s head from his body. Do not speak to me of pasts, as mine is no doubt as dark as yours."

"I doubt that, my lord."

"It matters not." He slashed a hand through the air. "My sister is all that matters, and I wanted to let you know that you may be marrying her but you get the rest of us with her, and you will be seeing a great deal of us. Do you understand."

Ace said nothing, just looked at him with thoughts spinning around inside his head.

"Has the man who tried to shoot you been located?" Will then asked Ace.

"None of my contacts have heard anything, not even a murmur," Ace said, frustrated. Before he only had himself and his family to protect, but now he would have a wife also, and the thought of anything happening to Thea was not something he could contemplate. "I will ensure her safety, Lord Ryder, in that you may feel reassured," he added.

"Ted will come with her, Ace. He knows her better than anyone and would do anything to keep her safe," Lord Ryder said.

"Yes, I have already spoken to him and he is happy to do so."

The four men fell silent as William Ryder looked at him. Ace did not lower his eyes, instead keeping them steady.

"I respect you, Dillinger. See that you do nothing to change that."

"Just so we are clear, Lord Ryder," Ace said as the man turned to leave. "I won't be a puppet to you and your brother. I may not wish to marry your sister, but I understand my responsibilities towards her now I have compromised her."

"Just so we're clear, Dillinger," Will said throwing his words back at him. "If you harm her in any way I will track you down and shoot you."

"I would expect you to," Ace added. "But remember that I am not of your kind, nor have I ever tried to be. Therefore, I don't necessarily live by the same set of rules. I will care for your sister and ensure she has everything she needs, but If you and your brother insist that I wed her, then we will live as I choose."

"I'm probably not the brother you should say these words to." There was a small smile now on Will's lips. "And while you say you don't live by our rules, I say you do. In fact, more so than I."

"Your brother may be a duke, Lord Ryder, but that means very little to me. Therefore, I will not hesitate to tell him my thoughts on this matter if need be." Ace needed to make sure that Thea's family understood the consequences of enforcing this match.

"Now that is a conversation I do not want to miss." Will held up a hand as Ace opened his mouth to speak. "I see no reason for interference if my sister is happy, Dillinger, therefore I suggest you make sure she is."

"I don't need your threats to ensure that, my lord ."

"I'm glad we understand each other, then. I shall wait outside for you, Luke. See that you don't blacken his eyes as the wedding is in two days, and I have no wish for my sister to be even more upset than she currently is," William Ryder said to his best friend, and then he was gone.

"Now that is a man I would not like to cross," Daniel said.

"He’s the best of men," Luke said quietly as he pulled on his jacket. "A man I would give my life for without a thought," he added, patting Ace on the shoulder. "Your future brother-in-law is a man you want on your side, Ace. I would remember that were I you."

Luke shut the door softly behind him.

Ace went to the wall and slid down it and his brother did the same beside him.

"I can see why she is the way she is now," Daniel said.

"What?"

"Lady Althea, she was nice that day father carried her into the house. She never looked down her nose or expected us to wait on her like servants, and at the theatre, she tried to make me feel comfortable. I believe she gets that from her brothers…well, at least that one. He is not a man to judge either, it seems."

"She was injured, Daniel. She was hardly aware of her surroundings that day in the park."

"No, it wasn’t like that. She was comfortable with us. Even when I got on the floor and gave Liam a ride, she just smiled and let mother put that vile paste on her jaw."

"I’m not worthy of her, brother. Trust me when I say that."

"And yet in two days you are to wed her, so perhaps you had better try."

…

Ace was not sure what money had changed hands or promises made for him to marry Lady Althea Ryder in St George’s church in Hanover Square, one week after his betrothal. He had once made his living with his fists and shared his life with whores, but here he stood within these exalted walls, with Daniel at his side. The duke had procured a special license because Ace did not have the connections to do so—and that had annoyed the hell out of him, because he never liked to rely on anyone for anything.

Luke had told Ace there were plenty of untitled people married here which was supposed to make him feel better, but didn’t. His wedding to Thea would be news for a while, his friend had assured him, and then some other fool would do something and he and they would be forgotten. Ace knew that was not quite true. He was a man who just stepping into a room created a stir, and not always in a good way. Therefore, his hasty marriage to the Duke’s sister was going to be on the lips of many for some time to come.

Behind him were seated both his and Thea's families, but no other guests were attending as most were out of town for the winter and would hear of this hasty wedding before the first drop of wine was poured at their Christmas day meals.

His mother had wept when he'd told her and said that she thought Lady Althea a lovely lady, and his father had simply hugged him hard and said that he was worthy of her, which of course was untrue, but no one was quite as blind as a loving parent.

He looked around the walls, aware that if this wedding had taken place during the season then the seats above would also be filled, whether they were invited or not. Titling his head back, he looked at the windows, the stained glass filtering the gray light of the London day through them and creating shadows on the tiled floor at his feet.

Dear God, he was to marry her today.

"Did you know that John Nash, the architect, was married here, Ace?" Daniel said.

"No, but thank you for that useful piece of information," he muttered.

"Just trying to take your mind off the upcoming event," his brother whispered.

"Yes, because there is every chance you can do that whilst I am standing at the altar about to be married."

Ace had still heard nothing from his contacts regarding the man who had shot at him that day, and that worried him. He knew many people from his old life and most had their ear to the ground, yet in this matter, everyone was remaining silent. He had ensured that Ted, and his footmen and drivers, knew what was happening and to stay alert. He'd also employed another man to drive Thea if she left the house without him, which he would ensure she did not do. In fact, if he could keep her inside most of the day he would be able to breathe easier.

Daniel looked behind him and Ace knew Thea had arrived at the church. Resisting the urge to spin on his heel, he turned slowly to watch Bella lead the party with the Duke of Stratton bringing Thea down the aisle behind her.

It was not a long walk, but it seemed to take an age for her to reach him. The Duke stood at her side, his grip tight on his sister as if loathe to part with her, but then she patted his hand and he reluctantly released her. He stepped back, and it was then that she turned and looked up at him, her gray eyes wide as they held his

God, she was beautiful.

She wore cream, the hem of her dress embroidered with tiny rose buds and her veil was short, reaching her shoulder blades. She was perfection to Ace's eyes. Every inch was exquisite, down to the toes of her satin slippers.

He didn't want to blink in case she looked away from him. He wanted to touch her, tell her all would be all right, but even that small space between them seemed such a great distance after everything they had been through.

She'd tried to talk to him before the wedding, but he had been consumed with worry and he'd been cold and uncommunicative, and her eyes had told him he'd hurt her.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation," Reverend Dewberry began.

Ace held his breath as the words, ‘
let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace,’ were spoken, and hailed himself a fool for it. She deserved another—not he, a man who had killed with his bare hands.

She had three names—Althea Lydia Elizabeth Ryder—which he repeated to the Reverend, as she did his two, Oliver Mathew Dillinger.

They both said ‘I do,’ in clear voices, and then he held her hand in his and placed the ring Daniel gave him onto her finger, feeling it tremble as he did so. At least he had picked the ring, and the other, a diamond cluster that he had in his pocket, to give her later. This he would accept no interference on.

Ace heard the words, ‘I pronounce that they be man and wife,’ and inhaled deeply. She was his bride now. No matter what the future held, she was his to protect and care for. His responsibility until she or he drew their last breath.

What would he say to this woman across the table while they ate their meals? How did he, a man with his past, even begin to know how to care for such a woman? She had known only the best, and he could offer her that, the trimmings she was accustomed too, but he was no gentleman no matter how much he had trained to be one. In marrying her, he was taking her from what she had always known. Many doors were now shut for Lady Althea Dillinger.

"You may kiss the bride."

Ace turned to face his bride as she looked up at him.

"Thea." He took her hand in his, pulling her closer.

"Oliver," she whispered as he lowered his head.

It was soft and sweet and made him shudder, and her sigh whispered over his lips as he lifted his head.

Thea had been nervous before. She’d had her palms go hot, her legs shake, and not been able to swallow due to the lack of moisture in her mouth, but this was something completely different. Her limbs appeared to have frozen and her fingers were tingling.

She’d walked into the church with her fingers digging into Joe’s arm, and seen the big man standing waiting for her and thought that she may very possibly be ill in one of the flower arrangements. Her head was light, and her body did not feel as it should.

She had managed to stutter out her vows and the Reverend had pronounced them man and wife, and then Oliver had kissed her and she was suddenly warm again.

"Thea, follow your husband and sign the registry."

She heard Bella in her ear and the gentle hand she placed on her spine, nudging her forward. And then they were finished. The service was completed, and Oliver took her arm and they were walking back down the aisle.

"My lady." Oliver’s mother was the first to greet her, one of her hands taking Thea’s.

"How lovely that I now have another family," Thea said, leaning forward to kiss the woman’s cheek. She would not upset her by showing the uncertainty and fear that coursed through her veins.

"We are so pleased to have you join us, too."

She meant it, Thea realized in surprise. The expression on Sarah Dillinger’s face was genuine.

"Well as you are my daughter-in-law now, I will take the liberty of calling you Althea, if I may," Mathew Dillinger said from beside his wife.

"I-I would like that very much, Sir, or Thea if you feel comfortable enough, too."

"Thea, then," he said, kissing her cheek and squeezing the hand his wife had just released. "You are a welcome addition in our lives, and it is my belief that after a few wrong turns you and Oliver will be very happy together."

Thea swallowed the lump in her throat and managed a wobbly smile for him. Oliver had released her arm and was now shaking hands with Luke.

"I look forward to getting to know you better, Thea." Daniel Dillinger stepped forward and kissed her cheek.

"Oh, yes, I look forward to it also." Thea was sure her smile was brittle but she kept it on her face, determined to let no one see what lay inside her.

She was then introduced to the members of Oliver’s family that were able to make the wedding, even though it had been at such short notice. Names and faces appeared and she tried to remember each, but knew she would fail horribly and then Penny was there, her wonderful sister-in-law.

"Hello, I’m Thea’s eldest brother’s wife, Penny. It is a pleasure to meet you all." She was holding Will's son Henry and handed him to Thea, who instantly hugged the boy close. She felt the tension inside her start to ease slightly, with his warm weight pressed to her chest, his little arms wrapped around her neck.