by June Calvin
The true treasure would be Thorne s love, but I sadly fear I have destroyed what little hope I had of it, and helped deliver a fatal blow to his pride as well. Tears welled up in her eyes. The day they had found the treasure had been the last she had seen of Thorne. She had expected him to call upon her after supper that night to check on her well-being, if not to renew his proposal. Instead, he had sent over some liniment with his compliments and said that he would call on her after he and James returned from delivering the treasure to London for safekeeping.
Now he was back and expected momentarily. She did not look forward to that interview. Before excusing herself to give them privacy, Allison’s mother had lectured her at length about accepting his proposal, but she still did not know what she would say.
“Lord Silverthorne, madam,” Peterson intoned grandly. Thorne entered the room, a look of cool hauteur on his face.
“I have obtained a special license,” he informed her as soon as they were alone. “We will be wed the day after tomorrow.”
Allison had spent the entire week vacillating back and forth about her answer to Thorne's proposal. This cold command had the effect of crystallizing her thinking.
“I’m not going to marry you, Thorne. At least not right away.”
Thorne glared at her from his lofty height. “Yes, you are. You heard Agatha. Whatever your reservations, or mine, we will face a terrible scandal if we do not wed.”
Not a word about love! “Agatha said a great deal she shouldn't have that day.”
“She spoke some home truths, though. Not least about my spineless behavior. I should not have allowed you to go into the tunnels. I knew the risks. Believe me. I shall take better care of you in the future.”
“If women are not to be allowed to take risks, Thorne, why do men allow them to bear children? Speaking of which, what about that need for an heir? Nothing has changed in that regard, has it?” Thorne’s jaw worked. He clenched and unclenched his fists. “I am hoping that James will turn over a new leaf. Certainly he has the means to marry now and has as good as promised me to do so soon. Stop trying to fob me off. It is my responsibility to protect you. I failed to do so as regards the treasure, but I at least can protect your name. It is as Agatha said. Gossip will have already begun ..
Allison shook her head. “You took what she said too much to heart.”
“It is no more than I’ve said to myself many times. Surely you recall what I told you there in the vault. The fear of petticoat governance. much more than your barrenness, has held me back from acting on my love for you. But now my hand is forced, and I am glad of it.”
Now he speaks of love, but he looks as if he is about to be executed. “I wish you loved me and wanted to marry me because of what I am, not in spite of it! I love you too much to marry you, when it is all too clear you don’t want me for a wife. I don’t think I will be the bear-leader your stepmother became, but I can never be a meek little hearth-mouse, either.”
“You aren’t listening, my love. I know you can’t, and am resigned to my fate. Surely you will not turn down the chance to be worshiped and adored by your husband?”
Allison did not return his halfhearted smile, but only stared solemnly up at him. Confused by her reaction, Thorne rubbed his eyebrows between thumb and forefinger as if pressure there could bring comprehension. “Talk to me, Allie. Explain yourself.”
“Your worship would scarcely outlast our treacle moon. Whether one month, two, six months later—all too soon you would begin to resent what you saw as my dominance. I won’t be married to a man who sees love as a trap. I have pondered your concerns a great deal during this week while you were away. You may think you will be to me what your father was to Lydia, but I do not believe it. I do not remember your father well enough to know what he was like before he married Lydia, but if he did in fact marry your mother simply because his father wished it, that indicates a more biddable man than you! You might begin by yielding to me in everything, but you would soon resent what you see as a weakness.
Her voice grew husky with emotion. “I had enough of autocratic treatment in my marriage to Charles, who took every major decision without asking me. But he never questioned his right or ability to command me. I noticed that the officers who treated their men with the greatest severity were invariably the officers who lacked confidence in their own ability to command. My independent thought and forthright speaking might trigger a dictatorial response, such as you often displayed with Jamie. Would you be like the officers who had men whipped for minor infractions?”
“Whipped? That is nonsense!”
“Is it? Perhaps, but there are other unpleasant ways for a husband to enforce his will upon his wife. Before I began to love you, I was often annoyed at your autocratic assumption that you had but to speak and your will would be done. Frankly, I think it far more likely that you would be a dictatorial husband than an indulgent one.”
She rushed on before he could marshal his thoughts. “Even if it were not so, I don’t desire to wear the pants any more than I desire to be dominated. A weak husband would not suit me.”
Allison opened the door, indicating that he should leave. “You seem to think there is no other alternative in marriage than for one party to rule over the other. What I want is a marriage based on respect and love, not power. Would you respect my need to think for myself, to express myself freely, when you are frightened by it? If you can’t dominate, will you think you are dominated? Marriage should be a partnership. I thought we functioned that way in the tunnels, but you look back on it and see your role as one of abject surrender. I think we need to give ourselves some time, to see if we can learn to find a compromise, a middle ground.”
Thorne’s grey eyes were full of sorrow. He felt something precious slipping out of his grasp and questioned his right to reach for it. “You may be right, Allison. If we can’t, we both would be miserable. But what of gossip? Agatha will spread her poison as far and as fast as she can among her numerous correspondents, even if our servants would not. But they will. Gossip about their betters is social coin for servants. Even the best of them cannot resist spending it.”
Allison gave her head an impatient shake. “As for scandal, there was already gossip abroad about our relationship before I left London, yet I was received. The tabbies may have a feast, but I suspect my newfound wealth will open up some doors, even if others close to me. I shall be sad if we cannot work out our differences, Thorne, but I won’t marry merely from fear of scandal. Mother and I plan to remove to London right away. Perhaps you will call on me there. We can learn to know one another better, then see whether we can learn to compromise.”
Thorne looked mournfully down at her. The sapphire eyes were filled with tears. He longed to pull her into his arms and declare that none of the problems they both feared would ever come to pass. But deep inside, he thought it would prove to be a lie. Bidding her good night, he silently closed the door behind him.
Chapter Twenty
Nine people sat around the large, highly polished oak table, listening intently as Thorne’s solicitor read aloud while Allison, James, and Thorne followed along on their copies of the settlement papers.
It had taken eight months to reach the point of final evaluation and distribution of the treasure. In that time she had seen Thorne a half dozen times, never privately, and he had always treated her with the utmost formality.
I hoped he would continue to call on us, she reflected ruefully. I made it abundantly clear that my reservations might be overcome. But apparently Thorne had not thought it worth his time and effort to do so. Sometimes she bitterly regretted having refused his proposal, but each time she thought their problems through, from the question of an heir, to his fear of marrying for love, to her fear that he might develop into a domestic tyrant, she decided she had made the right decision. As she watched him today, she knew that her refusal had been justified by his subsequent indifference.
“The results of the auction of antiq
ue jewelry and plate exceeded our highest expectations,” Mr. Holmesly was saying. “It seems that half of the ton wished a souvenir piece of the Silverthorne treasure. They bought most of the plate and jewelry at prices far above the value of the gold, silver, and gems as raw material.”
Thorne had been one of the most prominent bidders, purchasing many fine pieces for return to the D'Aumont family. She had bought only one item for herself, an emerald pendant the size of a robin’s egg, set in a heavy silver frame.
She looked down the table at where James sat, leaning back in his chair with one hand on his hip and his eyebrows raised in astonishment. Clearly he is pleased at the final amount. I wonder what he will make of himself now? Allison had seen little of James since the treasure had been found.
I’m sorry. I’ve been woolgathering,” Allison admitted when she realized every one in the room was staring at her expectantly.
“I asked if there were any last-minute objections to the settlement?”
“Oh, no.” Allison shook her head vehemently. “It seems a princely sum to me. I shall be very glad to have this matter behind me.”
“Well, then ...” The lawyer held out a pen to Thorne, directing him and the other two heirs to sign above their names and then exchange copies until all copies were signed. The banker then presented them with a draft and unctuously invited them to leave it in his bank. He began to extol his prowess at investing capital, but Thorne cut him off.
“Thank you, Mr. Lloyd. I am sure we will be in touch with you soon.” He stood, a signal that the meeting had ended.
Everyone began shaking every one else’s hands, but Allison noticed Thorne carefully avoided shaking hers. As the banker pumped James’s hand, he began probing once more about investment opportunities. “I daresay you haven’t the least notion what to do with that much capital, my lad. Won’t you allow a wise old head to guide you?”
“Know exactly what I’m going to do with it,” James asserted, pulling his hand free. “Going to pay off the debt on my estate and purchase additional land. Prices are down now—a good time to add to my holdings. Then I am going to invest in some modem equipment and stock for my tenants. My cousin will advise me on that.” He looked at Thorne with admiration. “Knows all there is to know about crop rotation and animal breeding, you see.”
“I see.” The banker turned expectantly to Allison, who ducked behind her solicitor. She let the banker engage him in a lengthy discussion of possible investments while she made her way to James’s side.
“So you are to become a farmer. Jamie!” She quizzed him with laughing eyes, but before he could take it as a criticism, she hastily added, “I think it is famous. Perhaps I shall invest in some land, too. Perhaps you can advise me.”
Before a startled James could reply, Thorne joined them. He held out his hand to Allison at last for a perfunctory shake, before turning and clapping James on the shoulder. “He is becoming well qualified to do so, I assure you. And to manage it, though I doubt he will have time, once he adds to his own holdings.”
Allison knew her mouth was open, but couldn’t help her astonishment. James had become Thorne’s willing pupil? Thorne spoke approvingly of him? Finally, she managed to stammer, “I am delighted to see that you are taking such an interest in the land, Jamie.” Thorne excused himself to speak to the crown’s representative.
“And surprised, I see.” James chuckled. “I’ve said nothing because I wanted to be sure I could give up my wicked ways and become a responsible landowner before I began bragging about it.” A pensive look came across his face. “Lord knows, I’ve caused Thorne enough grief. That day when I thought Newcomb had killed both of you, it shook me to the core. All my sins rose up to accuse me, and I knew I must change my life. Thorne has been a brick! Patient to the fault in training a very inept pupil.”
Thorne turned back to them. “Ready to go, James? You promised to help me select a new hunter. Tattersalls is calling. Allison.” He bowed quickly, formally, to her and strode out of the room.
James started after him, but Allison stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Would you call on me soon, Jamie?”
“Tomorrow morning? I don’t want to fight all of the fortune hunters who flock to your drawing room every afternoon.”
Allison's mouth tilted sideways in a half-disgusted smile. “Neither do I. I wish you would tell me how to avoid them. Even mother has fortune-hunting suitors. Eleven o’clock, then?”
Allison was in high fidgets by the time James arrived, forty-five minutes late. Peterson announced him, muttering as he did so, “Always late, is Mr. James.”
James followed him in. “Why haven’t you pensioned off that old grumble-buss?”
“He refused to go. Said new servants would steal us blind, were he not here to watch over us.”
“I daresay he is right. I had to dismiss two overseers before finding an honest one. No wonder Thorne wished I would work for him. I always thought it was just a ploy to get me away from the ivory turners before I gambled away his fortune as well as my own.”
“You and Thorne seem to be as thick as inkle weavers now. It is very gratifying to see.”
“Yes, ain’t it!” James lounged back in his chair, crossing his legs at the ankle and studying his boots thoughtfully. “He’s really not such an old stick. Feel sorry tor him in a way.”
Allison frowned. “Why?”
“Thorne has everything, it would seem. Handsome, intelligent, well-breeched. Everything but love. He’s a lonely man.” James looked directly at her then, a challenge in his eyes. “Why didn’t you accept his proposal, Allie?”
Allison sighed. “Don’t you remember the reason he gave from the first for not wanting to marry me? He wants a biddable wife. He feels that I would attempt to rule the roost. He has even managed to convince himself that he would allow it.”
“All because of that vicious Agatha. It’s rot, you know. True, you are a spirited female, but not an unreasonable, foolish creature like his stepmother. And the notion of Thorne being ruled by you or anyone passes the ridiculous. He’d rule you with an iron hand. Not a pleasant man when crossed, either.”
Allison shuddered. ‘That, I must confess, also seems likely to me.”
Blithely unaware of her reaction. James continued. “But what I resented from him, you will find reassuring, for a woman wants a strong man to protect and guide her.”
Allison was not reassured. Somewhere between guidance and dominance, between protection and tyranny, lay her ideal relationship between a man and a woman. It was too complex, too subtle a problem to explain to James, so she turned to the other reason for not marrying Thorne. “There is the matter of an heir.”
“Been thinking about that. Understandable concern when I was behaving like a hell-born babe. But now he seems well pleased with me. You heard him yesterday. Says he won’t need to marry for an heir now.”
“And what of the army?”
An odd look came into James’s eyes. “Well, as to that... perhaps I just wanted to get away from Thorne. Nothing to say that I can’t travel later. When I’ve an heir and a spare tucked away, no one could reproach me for seeing a bit of the world, eh?”
“Oh, Jamie, it is all loo ridiculous, isn’t it? When I refused him, it should have freed him to find a woman who could give him an heir, and one who would be more the kind of wife who would suit him.”
“I doubt he will marry anyone else. He as good as told me he felt it would be unfair, loving you as he does.”
“He doesn't appear to be wearing the willow for me. In fact, I haven’t seen the least indication that he thinks of me at all.”
“Oh, he thinks of you. Speaks of you, too.” James sighed. “Tricky business, marriage. I expect I had best begin looking about me, but I dread it. Want to find a good woman, you see. That is, if I can find one to have me after all my excesses of the last few years.”
“Silly boy!” Diverted from her train of thought, Allison smiled fondly at him. “Show yourself in L
ondon long enough, and we shall have to call out the guards to protect you. You’re young, handsome, and now exceedingly wealthy. You’ve but to snap your fingers to have the pick of the ton’s diamonds.”
“I hope you are right. A good wife can confirm a man in his virtues, a bad one in his vices. That’s what Thorne says, anyway, and I daresay he’s right. He usually is.”
“Can you really be James, or has some changeling taken your place? To hear you speaking of Thorne so! And I’ve not heard one breath of scandal about you since we discovered the treasure.” Though this praise obviously pleased him, James waved a deprecating hand. “Easy to behave in the country, looking after business. No time for rioting then. By the by, did you read about the prison ship riots in the paper? Newcomb proved himself as inept at rebellion as he was at robbery.”
Allison shuddered. “Hanged. He certainly didn’t take advantage of the second chance the crown gave him.”
“Gallows bait, that’s all he ever was. He and Paddy should have hanged side by side, no matter what his military service to his country. He only got what he deserved. Beg pardon, know you don’t approve of hanging.”
Allison didn’t respond. When it became clear that she was lost in her own thoughts, James stood and crossed to her side. He sat on the sofa beside her and kissed her cheek.
“Have to go. Late for an appointment with Weston. He suddenly finds time to make me all the coats I want, now that I've paid my shot with him. Think over what I said, Allie.”
Allison smiled ruefully. “We speak as if I had but to crook my finger and Thorne would come on bended knee. But I have not even heard from him about my finances, much less seen any signs that he wishes to discover how we might deal together. Instead, he has stayed strictly away from me. Whatever he says to the contrary, I suspect he thinks himself well out of it.”
