Unexpectedly Wed to the Officer--A Historical Romance Award Winning Author

by Jenni Fletcher

  ‘I’m so relieved that you’re back,’ his mother continued once they’d gone. ‘We expected you a couple of days ago. Was the weather bad?’

  ‘Not very, but—’

  ‘I caught a bit of a chill.’ Henrietta interrupted. ‘Not much of one, but I didn’t feel up to the journey home straight away, so we stayed in Gretna for a few days. I’m sorry if we caused you concern.’

  ‘Ah, well, I’m just glad you’re back safe and sound, especially now. The weather’s taken a turn for the worse over the past couple of days.’ His mother held on to his gaze for a few moments longer than necessary. ‘In any case, I’ll let you get cleaned up before dinner, too. We’ll eat a bit early since I’m sure you’re exhausted after your journey.’

  ‘A little. All that sitting and bumping around is surprisingly wearing. Give me a ship any day. Come on, wife.’ Sebastian stood and tugged on Henrietta’s hand, pulling her to her feet. ‘We’ll see you at dinner, Mama.’

  He kept hold of her fingers as they climbed the stairs, not saying anything until they were inside their bedchamber—previously her bedchamber.

  ‘A bit of a chill?’ He spun around, catching her by the waist.

  ‘Yes.’ She laughed up at him. ‘Your mother would only scold if she knew the truth, and that’s my job from now on.’

  ‘Scolding me?’ He walked her backwards towards the closed door. ‘Is that what you intend to do?’

  ‘Among other things. Fortunately for you, I’m in a good mood at the moment.’

  ‘What a coincidence.’ He pressed his lips to the side of her neck, smiling as she tipped her head back against the wood, arching her neck to allow him greater access. ‘So am I.’

  ‘Sebastian...’ Her breath caught in her throat.

  ‘Mmm.’ He slid his hands down, pulling slowly on the fabric of her gown until it was bunched up around her hips.

  ‘It’s almost time for dinner.’

  ‘No, it’s time to get dressed for dinner. I believe that involves a bit of undressing first.’

  ‘Ye-es, but...’ She gasped as he pressed his tongue against the hollow at the base of her throat and then blew softly against it. ‘I suppose we are newlyweds...’

  ‘Exactly.’ He grinned. ‘Is that going to be your excuse for everything from now on?’

  ‘For a few months definitely. Shouldn’t we move to the bed?’

  ‘Not necessarily.’ He held her dress up with one hand, unbuttoning his trousers with the other while his mouth drifted back to capture hers. ‘Unless you want to?’

  ‘No, but how...?’

  ‘That...’ he pressed closer, sliding one hand behind her back ‘...is what we’re about to work out.’

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  ‘So, at the risk of sounding like Michael, what are your plans?’ Lord Tobias leaned back in his chair at the dinner table, peering at Sebastian through a cloud of cigar smoke. ‘Your mother told me she’s giving you Belles as a wedding present.’

  ‘Yes...’ Sebastian drew on his own cigar, knitting his brows together at the reminder. His mother had taken him aside when he and Henrietta had finally come downstairs for dinner, in even better moods thanks to some very effective manoeuvring, although he still hadn’t been quite sure what to make of her announcement. It seemed wrong not to at least share Belles with Anna, especially considering the years she’d put into the business, but as his mother had explained, as Countess of Staunton, his sister didn’t have any need of the income. In fact, she’d already approved the plan when his mother had drawn up her will.

  ‘Sebastian?’ His uncle looked faintly worried.

  ‘Sorry, Uncle, I was wool-gathering. I’m very grateful. I’m just not sure I deserve it.’

  ‘Your mother thinks you do, but if it makes you feel any better, it’s for you and Henrietta. You wouldn’t say that she doesn’t deserve it, would you?’

  ‘Good point. The truth is, I want to keep Belles in the family, but I don’t want to put anyone else out of work and I’d like to build something of my own, too. I have some money saved and I think a tea room would make Henrietta happy.’ He gave a low chuckle. ‘That appears to have become my main purpose in life these days.’

  ‘As it should be.’ Lord Tobias rested his cigar on an ashtray. ‘I’d like to invest.’

  ‘Really?’ Sebastian almost dropped his own cigar in surprise. ‘You mean like a business partner?’

  ‘A silent business partner. The money will be yours one day anyway.’

  ‘It will?’

  ‘Yes. I intend to make you my heir.’

  ‘Your heir?’ It was a good thing he’d tightened his grip on the cigar, Sebastian thought, or he would definitely have singed his trousers. ‘Me?’

  ‘You’re my nephew.’

  ‘Yes, but...’

  ‘I’ve no children and I’m not likely to marry now.’

  ‘Still... I don’t know what to say...’ Sebastian felt vaguely dumbstruck. ‘Did you never want to marry, Uncle?’

  ‘No, I was always more interested in my studies. Of course, I was forced to endure a few London Seasons in my youth, but fortunately my brother married and let me off the hook quite early.’

  ‘But won’t he mind if you make me your heir?’

  ‘He won’t be happy about it, but if you knew my brother then you’d know he rarely experiences that emotion anyway. For once, however, there’ll be nothing he can do.’

  ‘Does my mother know about this?’

  ‘We discussed it while you were in Scotland.’ Lord Tobias sat forward. ‘Sebastian, I’m not trying—I would never try—to replace your father, but this way you’ll have a legacy from both sides of your family. It would make an old man very happy, too. So, what do you say?’

  ‘I can hardly refuse.’ Sebastian held a hand out to clasp his uncle’s. ‘Thank you. I’m honoured.’

  ‘Then it’s agreed. With only one condition...’ Lord Tobias smiled. ‘That you’re not allowed to leave before the new year. I’d like a chance to introduce you to my friends and neighbours. I want everyone to know that you’re my heir with my blessing.’

  ‘I’ll need to speak with Henrietta, but I’m sure we can stay.’ Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. ‘We’re not allowed to go anywhere until after the play anyway and I’m told it needs a few more rehearsals. I’m actually starting to think—’

  He didn’t finish the sentence as the butler cleared his throat from the dining room doorway.

  ‘Yes, Dennison?’ Lord Tobias glanced up expectantly.

  ‘Forgive the intrusion, sir, but there’s someone at the servants’ entrance asking to see Mrs Fortini. The younger Mrs Fortini, that is.’

  ‘Henrietta?’ Sebastian got to his feet in surprise. ‘Did they give a name?’

  ‘Yes, sir. I believe he called himself David Gardiner.’

  ‘What?’ He made a grab for the back of his chair. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Perhaps you could invite our guest to join us in here?’ Lord Tobias stood, too, addressing the butler before turning to Sebastian. ‘Should I call Henrietta?’

  ‘No.’ He was vaguely aware of his fingers tightening around the wood. ‘Not yet. I need to be sure he’s who he says he is first.’

  ‘Of course.’ Lord Tobias agreed, waiting at his side for what felt like an interminable period of time until the butler returned, leading a man with untidy blond hair and such an uncanny resemblance to Michael that it left not the tiniest shred of doubt about his identity.

  ‘Mr Gardiner.’ Lord Tobias spoke when Sebastian just stared.

  ‘Yes, sir.’ The other man darted a look between them, his expression somehow both defiant and apologetic at the same time. ‘I’m looking for my sister and boys. I was told they were here.’

  ‘They are.’ Sebastian found his voice at last, though it sounded strange even t
o him. Harder and confrontational, but then he was feeling remarkably, uncharacteristically, belligerent. Coming so soon after his mother’s gift and his uncle’s announcement, the unexpected sight of David Gardiner made him feel as if the ground beneath his feet had just shifted, as if he were standing on a deck and a giant wave had just hit the side of his ship. He had the horrible feeling that if he did the wrong thing now then he might topple overboard, as if the life he’d envisaged for himself just a few minutes ago might disappear into thin air. He’d never experienced sea sickness, but at that moment he felt distinctly nauseated.

  ‘Are they all right?’

  ‘Your sons are upstairs in bed, safe and sound.’

  ‘Thank goodness.’ The man’s mouth contorted before he let out a strangled sob and put his hands over his face.

  ‘Sit down.’ Lord Tobias pulled out a chair. ‘Port?’

  ‘No.’ He shook his head, recoiling as if he’d just been offered poison. ‘No, thank you. I’d like to see Henrietta.’

  ‘Not yet.’ Sebastian answered heavily. ‘Not until you explain yourself and what you’re doing here.’

  ‘I’d rather speak to her. She’s my sister.’

  ‘But under my protection.’

  ‘What does that mean? I’ve never met you before.’

  Sebastian drew himself up, deriving a savage sense of satisfaction from the other man’s shocked expression. ‘I mean that your sister is my wife. We were married a few days ago in Gretna Green.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Perhaps you could have a room prepared for Mr Gardiner?’ Lord Tobias gestured discreetly to the butler still standing in the doorway.

  ‘As you wish, sir.’

  ‘I looked for you.’ Sebastian narrowed his eyes accusingly. ‘One of your friends said that you’d boarded a ship for America.’

  ‘I did.’ David Gardiner stared heavily at him for a few seconds before continuing. ‘Although I did a lot of drinking first. Then I got all the way up the gangplank before I came to my senses. So I got off again.’

  ‘Then where the hell have you been since?’

  ‘I had no money left so I had to walk back to Bath.’ David pushed a hand through his hair. ‘I went to the biscuit shop and the woman there told me Henrietta had left with you and sent me to Redbourne’s store. She said you were friends with the owner and that he’d be able to get a message to you.’

  ‘And he sent you here instead?’

  ‘He paid my coach fare, yes.’

  Sebastian scowled. Typical of James to do the right thing, sending David to be reconciled with his family. It was the right thing to do, but now he was aware of an unreasonable surge of resentment. How dared David come back and just walk into Henrietta’s life as if nothing had happened? As if she hadn’t spent the past few weeks working and worrying and struggling before finally moving on with her life? How dared he come back and shatter their plans for the future? He’d given up his freedom for those plans and now David’s arrival threatened to destroy everything.

  All of which made him want to pick up the chair he was still clutching and smash it to pieces.

  ‘Perhaps it’s time to fetch my wife?’ he said instead, forcing his fists to uncurl as he glanced at Lord Tobias. ‘If you don’t mind?’

  ‘Of course not.’ Lord Tobias looked as if he were eager for an excuse to flee the room. ‘I’ll send her directly.’

  ‘Henrietta never mentioned you to me before.’ David looked up from the table, sounding as combative as Sebastian felt.

  ‘Really?’ He folded his arms. Of course, it would have been impossible for Henrietta to have mentioned him since they’d only met at the same time David had left, but damned if he was going to tell him that. He wasn’t the one with explaining to do... He took a step towards the open doorway to make sure that Henrietta would see him first.

  ‘Sebastian?’ She appeared after only a few minutes. ‘Tobias said you wanted to see me.’ She stopped at the sight of his face. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘Come and see.’ He reached a hand out, telling himself that he needed to hold her steady in case she swooned with surprise. Not that she’d ever swooned before, or seemed prone to swooning in general, but there was a first time for everything. It wasn’t that he just wanted to hold her. To hold on to her...

  ‘David!’ Her fingers had barely grazed his before she tore them away again. It was necessary in order for her to run across the room to her brother, but for the life of him, Sebastian didn’t think he could have released her if she hadn’t pulled away first. It was all he could do not to clamp his fingers around hers in protest. Instead, he stood watching, half of him knowing that he ought to leave and give them privacy, the other half absolutely refusing to budge as much as an inch.

  ‘Oh, David.’ Henrietta clamped her arms tight around her brother’s neck, though her voice had a definite tremor. ‘You’re here! You’re actually here.’ She pulled back after a few seconds, staring hard into his face as if she daren’t believe the evidence of her own eyes. ‘What happened? Why did you leave?’

  ‘I’ll explain it all later.’ Her brother tried to take a step back, though she didn’t let him go far. ‘At the time I felt desperate, but it wasn’t fair of me. I’m sorry, Henrietta, truly, but it won’t happen again. I’m a different man now.’

  ‘Then that’s all that matters.’

  She embraced him again, missing Sebastian’s snort of disgust. Was that it? No argument, no condemnation, no judgement at all? He wanted her to rail at her brother, but instead she was all smiles, as if he’d only been away on a holiday. As if he’d never abandoned her in the first place!

  ‘Come on.’ Hard as it was to stomach, her smile spread even wider. ‘I’ll take you up to the nursery. The boys are probably asleep by now, but I can still show you they’re all right.’

  Sebastian stiffened as they passed. He had a horrible feeling that his wife had already forgotten he was there. I, she’d just said. I’ll take you up. I can still show you they’re all right. One glimpse of her brother and all of a sudden they’d stopped being we.

  A horrible sinking sensation told him this was only the start of it.

  * * *

  ‘They’ve missed you.’ Henrietta whispered, standing shoulder to shoulder with David in the doorway of the boys’ bedroom.

  ‘I’ve missed them.’ He sucked in a breath and let it go again slowly. ‘I don’t know how I’m going to explain to them what I did.’

  ‘I told them you were sick.’ She gave him a sidelong look. ‘Which was the truth, wasn’t it? And now you’re better?’

  ‘Better than I was. I’ve given up alcohol. It wasn’t easy, but it was the only way.’

  ‘Good. Then all you need to tell them is that you love them and that you won’t leave again.’

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. ‘I should probably say it to you, too.’

  ‘Yes, you probably should.’

  ‘I love you and I won’t do it again. I promise.’

  ‘Thank you. Now come away before we wake anyone.’ She stepped back into the nursery, closing the door to the bedroom softly behind them.

  ‘Thank you for taking care of them.’ David looked sombre again.

  ‘It wasn’t just me. Sebastian’s been a great help, too.’

  ‘Mmm.’ David’s face twisted. ‘You never told me you had a beau.’

  ‘I didn’t before. It all happened very quickly.’

  ‘How quickly?’

  ‘Well... I met him the night before you left actually, but—’

  ‘And you’re already married?’ David’s expression turned into that of an angry big brother. ‘Why? Just because you needed his help?’ He shook his head. ‘If I’d known you’d do something like this...’

  ‘It’s not something like anything.’

  ‘It’s all my f
ault.’

  ‘It’s nobody’s fault!’ She blinked at the harshness of his tone. ‘That’s entirely the wrong word. Your leaving brought us together, I don’t deny that, but I’m glad that it did. Sebastian wanted to help me and we became friends and—’

  ‘He didn’t have to marry you to be your friend.’ David’s eyebrows snapped together ferociously. ‘What else did he want? Are you certain you’re really married?’

  ‘Yes!’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘We decided that marrying was the right thing to do for the boys. We thought that you weren’t coming back.’

  ‘It still doesn’t make sense. Why does a gentleman marry a shop girl just so that he can help raise her nephews? Why would he care?’

  ‘Because he did! And he’s not a gentleman. He’s a sailor.’ She frowned. ‘Or he was anyway.’

  ‘A sailor whose family live in a place like this.’ David looked around at the nursery. ‘My whole house is smaller than this room.’

  ‘I know.’ She felt vaguely uncomfortable at the observation. ‘But Sebastian and I have decided to build a life together. We care for each other and we’re equals.’

  David gave her a sceptical look. ‘You can’t be in love, not after less than a month.’

  Henrietta opened her mouth and then closed it again. Why couldn’t she be in love after less than a month? Because she was, she realised suddenly. She was very much in love. Only she wanted Sebastian to be the first one to hear the words, not her brother.

  ‘Does he treat you well? Is he good to you? Because if he isn’t...’

  ‘He treats me very well.’ She folded her arms, struck with a sudden sense of foreboding. ‘Trust me, in a few days, you’ll be the best of friends.’

  * * *

  ‘All settled?’

  Sebastian was standing beside the fireplace, hands clasped behind his back, as Henrietta entered their bedroom. He was wearing an entirely un-Sebastian-like expression. The lines of his face looked uncharacteristically tight and rigid.