by Jenna Brandt
Chapter 27
As they arrived at Michel’s estate, Margaret brought her fiancé into the entryway. Two of the female servants were passing by and saw their master’s condition, causing them to gasp.
“One of you needs to help me with the marquis while the other fetches the doctor.”
Both of the servants nodded and did as Margaret commanded.
“Take me into my study,” Michel requested. “I will lay on the couch. I cannot take the stairs at the moment.”
Once they were inside the study, Margaret helped Michel over to the sofa where he reclined.
Margaret kneeled down beside him. “I am so grateful you are not dead.”
Michel started to chuckle, but shortly turned into a grimace. “That makes two of us. I would hate to abandon you on the eve of our wedding.”
“You still want to marry me?” Margaret asked, skeptically.
“More than anything. I love you, Margaret,” he said as he leaned to the side and kissed her on the lips.
“I love you too, Michel.” Gently, she pulled away. “But, I think you need to rest rather than get married at the moment. You nearly died to night.”
“Do not tell me what I need. What I need is you,” Michel insisted.
Rolling her eyes, Margaret said, “You are probably delirious from the pain. Why don’t we talk about this after the doctor arrives and stitches up that wound. Rest now.”
A knock at the door drew Margaret’s attention. Margaret left the study to find Randall and Jackie entering.
Randall rushed up to his sister and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Margaret, what happened? Is everything all right?”
“No, everything is not all right,” she stated with exhaustion.
“What do you mean, mon chéri? Where is Michel?” Jackie asked, looking around.
“Michel was injured during an altercation with the duke, but he is resting in his study currently while we wait for the doctor to arrive.”
“What happened?” Randall asked in confusion.
“He ambushed us on the way back from the docks,” Margaret explained. “He planned the whole thing. He followed us, switched out the driver for the carriage, and then attacked Michel.”
“Oh no, Margaret. I am so sorry,” Randall said as he went to his sister and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Our driver knew something was wrong because the wheel on our carriage came off and it was not by accident. He must have planned for our carriage to break down, I think to separate us.”
“Where is Witherton now?” Jackie asked.
“I am not sure. I thought I stopped him.”
Randall confused look did not disappear. “What do you mean you thought you stopped him?”
“I stabbed him with a knife, but he disappeared while I was tending Michel. I have no idea where he is now. I was more concerned with getting Michel back here to see a doctor.”
“We will let Mulchere know and make sure to double security in the meantime,” Randall offered.
Margaret nodded. “I am going to go sit with Michel until the doctor arrives.”
Chapter 28
“Do you, Lord Michel Robineau, take Lady Margaret Wellesley, to be your wedded wife?” A thin man with grey hair and spectacles, stood before them and recited the wedding vows.
“I do,” Michel said with a large grin, squeezing Margaret’s hand with his good one.
True to his word, as soon as he was patched up by the doctor, Michel had sent for a justice of the court to preside over their nuptials.
Reluctantly, Monte was present, along with Jackie holding Henry, Randall, Alfred and Sarah. Everyone tried to ignore the nasty glares Monte was shooting at everyone present besides his brother.
Margaret could not take her eyes off of her soon-to-be-husband. Despite his bandaged arm, he still looked handsome in his dark grey suit that he changed into before the ceremony.
Jackie had gone to her traveling trunks and pulled out a pale green gown for Margaret to borrow for the special occasion, since her wedding dress was still with the dressmaker being altered. Though it was not traditional wedding attire, Margaret felt like the luckiest bride in the world as she stood in the satin gown ready to promise her life to Michel.
“And do you, Lady Margaret Wellesley, take Lord Michel Robineau to be your wedded husband?”
“I do,” Margaret proclaimed with a smile.
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, man and wife.”
Everybody, besides Monte, began to clap and cheer, excited to see the happy couple finally married.
Michel leaned forward and placed his lips on Margaret’s. The kiss was tender and filled with promises of love, protection and happiness.
“I am so glad you’re my wife.”
“Me too,” Margaret agreed.
There were giggles beside them, and Henry was clapping his hands and saying, “Yeah, yeah.”
Margaret reached out and took her son from Jackie’s arms. “Are you excited to have Michel be part of our family too?”
Michel’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Just part of the family? I was hoping, if you do not mind, that Henry might consider me his father over time,” Michel said, as he reached out a tapped the little boy’s nose, eliciting a giggle.
Tears of joy formed in the corner of Margaret’s eyes as she stated, “I think that would be wonderful.”
“I want you to know, the both of you are my life now, and I hope one day to add many more children to our lives.”
“I would love that,” Margaret agreed. “I want to spend the rest of my life raising our family together.”
For the first time in a long time, Margaret felt like her life made sense. She leaned forward and kissed Michel, as Henry wrapped his arms around both their necks, completing the perfect picture.
Preview of The American Conquest (Book 3)
1865 Port of New York, America
Margaret Learingam held on to the ship’s rail with one hand and her toddler son with the other. As her family approached the New England shoreline, fear filled the pit of her stomach. Forced to flee to America, Margaret had no experience outside of Europe, where she had grown up in England and spent a year in France. She left everything behind, including her last name and titles, to keep her son from being taken away. And now, in just a few moments, she would be stepping foot into a new world that held the potential to offer her and her family a way to stay alive and together. It meant leaving behind her title, and the privileges that went with it, but she would do anything to protect her son.
Still haunted by the painful memories of losing the two men she loved, Margaret could not help but feel guilt over their deaths. Her late husband and fiancé were both killed by the invidious hand of the Duke of Witherton.
Her heart was broken when her husband, Henry, the Viscount of Rolantry, was killed in a duel over her “ruined” honor. She had wanted to die with him, but when she realized she was pregnant, she knew she had to force herself to live for her child’s sake. Fearful either the duke or her vengeful sister-in-law would take her son from her, Margaret fled from England to hide in France while she searched for her long-lost twin brother, Randall, whom she eventually found.
She thought she would never be happy after the tremendous loss of her husband, but she eventually found a way to live with the pain. When she met Michel, the Marquis de Badour, he showed her she could love again. But Witherton was not content to destroy her life only once; he had to do it again by killing Michel. In a cruel twist of fate, both men she loved were killed by the monster who had destroyed her life. After the second loss, Margaret shut her heart to the idea of finding love again, knowing the pain would be too crushing to warrant a third attempt. She had her son and brother, and they were the only two men she would need in her life.
The duke was still under the misguided assumption that her son, Henry, was his child, and he was determined to take him for himself. Knowing he would not stop until he got what he wanted, Margaret
chose to leave behind her life in Europe and flee to America.
The trip across the Atlantic Ocean had been long and grueling, as they had encountered several storms in the process, lengthening their journey and causing sickness to run rampant on board. In addition, due to Margaret’s appearance, she had been receiving constant unsolicited attention from the single men on the ship, which made her uncomfortable. Her dark violet eyes and long raven locks contrasted against her smooth white skin, and her petite frame had adjusted admirably into shapely proportions after childbirth. But she knew her attractiveness was not going to be able to save her when they reached the new land. In fact, she had the type of appearance that could get her into trouble.
Fortunately, she had a brother who gave up his life in France to keep her safe. Randall was her twin and, in some ways, the most important person in her life. Margaret had gone to France to search for him after he had been lost at sea eight years prior. The twins’ physical features were similar in almost every way, but it was where their identicalness ended. Randall was outspoken and a reformed philanderer, while Margaret was more reserved.
Accompanying them was Jacquelyn, or Jackie, as her family called her. She would argue that she alone could claim to be Margaret’s closest confidant. She was also Randall’s newlywed wife. Jackie was a fiery strawberry blonde with golden-green eyes, whose second nature was to use her voluptuous body and personality to her benefit. Margaret still marveled at how their relationship was the catalyst for both of them to change their noncommittal ways. They made a fierce partnership.
Two loyal servants, Margaret’s elderly butler, Albert, and personal servant, Sarah, chose to come with them. They were like family and had no ties to keep them in Europe. Together, all of them were going to forge a new life in the Colorado Territory with the land Margaret’s deceased father secretly left her.
Many people had done it before them, had left their homes and lives behind to escape the law, poverty, or oppression. But she was fleeing to the new frontier in hopes of finding a place she could hide and never be found. Once and for all, she was going to leave behind all the hurt, humiliation, and horrible things that had happened to her in Europe.
During their oceanic journey, something amazing happened to Margaret’s family. They met a preacher and his wife who were moving to America and wanted to start a church out west. And since the boat was mostly filled with young, unwed men moving to America to make quick and easy money, Pastor Nathan Thompson and his wife, Laura, decided it would be best to eat and socialize with Margaret and her family. Through their talks with them, Randall and Jackie came to know God, something Margaret had been praying for since she met Jackie and found Randall.
Margaret had accepted the Lord as her savior a couple years prior and wanted nothing more than to have the rest of her family feel the love, peace, and acceptance God offered. As Margaret watched the transformation in Randall and Jackie, it was incredible to see the changes in their lives. They hungered to read the Bible, to ask Pastor Thompson questions about God, and to embrace everything entailing being a Christian. Margaret was pleased and excited as she realized that their entire family was truly starting a new life as they approached the New World. As an added bonus, Randall and Jackie's thirst to learn more about God kindled Margaret's faith in a new way, giving her a desire to become close to God like never before.
She smiled as she looked out at the approaching shoreline. This was going to be the start of their adventure to find their new home.
“Look at those docks. It is disgusting how they keep them. I cannot believe I followed you here.”
Margaret rolled her eyes as she listened to her brother go on about how primitive the New World seemed to be. Personally, she found it fascinating. It was going to be so different than Europe. She had heard no one really paid attention to a person’s class or their station in life here. It was as if everyone was equal. It was disturbing while intriguing.
“Oh, Rand, sometimes you are such a baby. You should be excited, like I am, about all the possibilities that this new place holds for us. Do you realize that here there are no titles or nobility? We are just like everyone else.”
“You forget I only came into my title a few months ago. I barely got to use mine before I gave it up.”
As they made their way down the gangplank, Jackie said, “Margaret is right, Randy. This place has charm.” Jackie sniffed in distaste as a cart carrying dead fish was pulled by them. “Even if it is masked by repugnant, disagreeable bits and pieces.”
“Well, Mags, what do we do from here?”
“Yes, Maggie”—Jackie had picked up Randall’s habit of calling her by the nickname—“what is on the agenda?” she said in her noticeably thick French accent.
Margaret opened her parasol and placed it on her shoulder, saying, “We are going to get the supplies and men we need in order to join the wagons going west to the Colorado Territory.”
“All right, but how are we going to afford that? Have you forgotten that we have no money?”
“I have a little bit left from what I saved up in France, and I have this.” She pulled out the key that she had placed around her neck and hidden under her dress.
“Fetching necklace, my lovely sister, but what will that get us?”
She smiled slyly. “A few men who are willing to take the risk to see what is in our safety deposit box in Boulder.”
“You have a safety deposit box there? How?”
“Father left it to me along with the deed to our land and new home.”
“Well, what is in it?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea, but no one else knows that.”
“We are going to promise American profiteers, who are just looking for an excuse to shoot up anything or anyone, money that we do not even know we have? I think the heat has gotten to you, because that is completely insane.”
She tensed her lips. “No, it is completely brilliant. If nothing else, we can sell some of my dresses and jewelry in order to pay them.”
He frowned. “You do not have any left. You sold the majority of your possessions to pay for our passage over here, as did we all.”
“I still have Charlie.” She thought of her expensive and precious mare that she had raised since she was a colt. The thought of selling Charlotte’s Pride made her inwardly cringe, since she had staked her plans for a horse ranch in Boulder on the mare. “She could fetch a nice sum, I think.”
She glanced down at her left hand and looked at the engagement ring her fiancé, Michel, had given her, then over at her other hand where she wore her wedding ring from Henry. “And I have my rings. They should help enough to get us to Colorado.”
Randall shook his head. “No, I will not let it come to that. You will never have to part with your rings or your horse. It is all you have left. Not over my dead body.”
“Then we have to go with my idea.” She looked up from staring at her hands. “Besides, admit it. What really bothers you is that I came up with the plan, not you. You have always been the one to get us out of a tough spot, and it hurts your pride that I am going to do it this time.”
“No, that is not it. I only—”
Tucking a piece of her curly strawberry blonde hair behind her ear, Jackie interrupted their argument. “All right siblings, quit squabbling. I think we need to move on now.” She turned to Randall and said, “Unless you have a better idea, I suggest you be quiet. Now, let us go find a way to barter for our supplies.”
As they made their way down the docks, Randall decided the best place to recruit men for their expedition would be at the nearest tavern.
“We are only going to have one shot at this, so let me do the talking. They will receive everything better from a man, and they will probably feel more comfortable striking a deal with me.”
Margaret bit back her sharp reply that she was as good as any man and it was her money that he would be bargaining with, opting to say nothing instead. Even though she hated to admit it, it was true t
hat Yankee men would receive the offer better from him. In the end, it might be the deciding factor.
“As you wish, Rand. But please, do not do anything that will compromise our position.”
He winked at her. “I would not dream of it.”
She said a silent prayer. Lord, please help my brother not to wreck our chances at gaining the help we need to reach the Colorado Territory. He has a way of making things more difficult than they need to be, so please help him to handle this situation in a productive manner.
Margaret could not believe things had come to this. She was standing in a Yankee tavern surrounded by harlots and scoundrels, and her own brother had deserted her in order to gamble away the last of their money.
She winced as she saw Randall lose another hand. No wonder her brother had owed so much money to so many hooligans back in France. He was a horrible poker player. Margaret, who was a woman and had played the game only a handful of times in her youth, could have had a better chance at winning than her brother.
Sighing heavily, she wondered what they were going to do. If he lost all their money, which it seemed he was bound and determine to do, then they were going to be worse off than they already were. It was time for her to intervene.
Margaret walked over from where she quietly had been watching to stand behind her brother. She put her hand on his shoulder and whispered firmly, “Rand, I think we should address the issue as to why we came in here.”
He leaned his head back and glanced at his sister. He then returned his attention back to his hand. “Maggie, dear, I think that our luck is about to change.”
She glanced at his cards and frowned in puzzlement. It had been such a long time since she had played cards. She had been seven and the stable boy had been teaching her how to play five-card draw. At least, until her tutor found out and put an end to it, saying it was “improper” for a well-bred young lady to play games of chance.
