The Wicked Cousin

by Stella Riley

  She gave a shrill laugh. ‘And just who might you be?’

  ‘The Earl of Sarre, Madam – and absolutely not at your service.’

  Miranda shrugged and her gaze returned to Sebastian. She said again, ‘Send them away. If you do that, we’ll talk.’

  ‘If I do that, I’ll probably resort to violence,’ came the swift, hard retort. ‘I’ll give you five minutes to dress and leave – otherwise Lord Sarre and I will take you back to Bow Street exactly as you are. You were released on condition you left me alone. Since you haven’t, this time I’ll press charges and make sure they throw away the key.’

  ‘You won’t. You didn’t want your name in the newspapers before and you won’t feel any differently now.’

  ‘Before, it wasn’t my name that bothered me. Hasn’t anyone told you that your scheme to tie Richard Penhaligon to – to my cousin didn’t work?’

  Her mouth set in an ugly line. ‘That doesn’t make any difference.’

  ‘Actually, it makes all the difference in the world,’ corrected Adrian, ‘Tell her Sebastian. It’s the only thing that might cure this mad delusion – so just tell her.’

  Sebastian hesitated. He didn’t want Cassandra’s name brought into this unholy mess but it was possible that Adrian was right.

  ‘Tell me what?’ demanded Miranda.

  He hauled in a breath and then loosed it.

  ‘I’m getting married the day after tomorrow.’

  ‘Married?’ She gave a jeering laugh. ‘To that whey-faced so-called cousin?’

  He wondered if she knew how very close he was to hitting her.

  ‘To a lady who is everything you are not,’ he snapped.

  ‘You’re a fool! You’ll be bored within a week – and wishing you had me back within two.’

  ‘No. You just can’t see it, can you?’ Sebastian folded his arms and summoned the most insulting tone he could find. ‘I don’t know how much plainer I can make it – but let’s try this. There isn’t a woman in the world who wouldn’t be preferable to you, Miranda; to put it bluntly, I’d rather lie down with a doxy from the gutter. So stay away from me. If you don’t … if you ever come near either me or my wife again, I’ll probably kill you.’

  Very slowly, she sat up to stare at him for countless seconds out of eyes grown utterly blank. Then, from beneath the pillow, she produced a pistol and, holding it steady in both hands, aimed it at his chest. She said calmly, ‘Say goodbye to your wedding, darling. If I can’t have you, no one will.’

  Sebastian froze; Adrian swore, his gaze riveted upon the pistol; and Caroline said, ‘Stop! Think! You won’t get away with this. They’ll hang you.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ said Miranda, her eyes still locked with Sebastian’s. ‘Perhaps. But that won’t help you, will it?’

  And she pulled the trigger.

  In the instant he saw her grip shift, Adrian used the full weight of his body to send Sebastian crashing sideways into the wall; the bullet tore through Adrian’s own sleeve just above the elbow before burying itself in the door; and Caroline cut off Miranda’s howl of frustration by grabbing the nearest object and, with a furious scream of her own, slamming it against the other woman’s head.

  Miranda keeled over, semi-conscious. Caroline stood beside her, breathing hard and still holding the leather-bound tome she’d used as a weapon. Then the footman rushed through the door and she snapped, ‘Thomas – get the pistol and find something to tie her hands with.’ And flying to her husband’s side, ‘How bad is it?’

  ‘A flesh-wound,’ grunted Adrian disgustedly, clutching his arm and peering down at the blood seeping through his fingers. ‘Hell. I was quite fond of this coat.’

  ‘Damn the coat,’ said his wife, deftly removing it.

  ‘You idiot!’ Sebastian’s face was bone white. ‘The bitch could have killed you!’

  ‘But she didn’t – whereas she would have killed you, since you were behaving as if your feet had been nailed to the floor. Ouch! Caroline – that hurts!’

  ‘Well you shouldn’t go round getting shot,’ she said crossly whilst blinking tears aside. ‘Twice in six months, for heaven’s sake!’

  ‘Sorry.’ He gathered her into his sound arm and kissed the top of her head. ‘I’ll try not to make a habit of it. Meanwhile, I’ll get over the destruction of my coat … but can you please help me not to bleed all over my vest? It’s new.’

  * * *

  Tied, gagged and half-naked beneath an enveloping blanket, Sebastian and Thomas delivered Miranda back to Bow Street. Since it was turned midnight it was a surprise to meet Sir John Fielding at the door, just in the act of leaving.

  He eyed the wriggling, squealing bundle with resignation and said, ‘Oh dear. I was hoping we’d seen the last of her. What has she done now? Or no. Don’t tell me. Just bring her into my office. I’m likely to need a chair.’

  Sebastian remained silent until he and Thomas had hauled Miranda inside and dumped her unceremoniously in a corner.

  Then, his voice cold and hard, he said, ‘Earlier this evening Lady Silvarez broke into my home where she attempted to kill me. As you can see, she failed in that. Instead, she managed to put a bullet in the Earl of Sarre – as I and the Countess can testify. Both the earl and I want her charged and sent for trial. I don’t know if she belongs behind bars, on the gallows or in Bedlam. But I’ve reached the point of not caring which it is – so long as the only time I ever see her again is in court.’

  ~ * * ~ * * ~

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  ‘How is your arm?’ muttered Mr Audley, resisting the urge to tug at his cravat.

  ‘Sore but functional, thank you,’ replied Lord Sarre.

  There was a pause. Then, ‘I’m going to be sick.’

  ‘No, you’re not.’ His lordship’s amusement wasn’t without sympathy. He remembered how he’d felt in the last hour before his own wedding – his main fear being that, at the crucial moment, Caroline would say I don’t instead of I do. ‘Take a few deep breaths.’

  ‘I can’t. My cravat is strangling me.’

  Adrian grinned. ‘It’s not. But you wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t think so.’

  Around them, the room was filling up with guests.

  Sebastian knew about half of them; Rockliffe, Amberley, Jack Ingram and Harry Caversham, all with their wives … Dolly Cavendish, Charles Fox and Nicholas Wynstanton. Caroline, of course, was somewhere above stairs with Cassandra.

  Then there were a clutch of Delahaye relatives of whom, despite having been introduced to all of them, he could name but two. One was Aunt Almeria who didn’t look at all the sort of female prone to the vapours; and the other was his one-time partner in reckless folly, Cassandra’s brother, who eyed him quizzically and said, ‘It’s been a while, hasn’t it? But you and Cassie? That’s not something I’d ever have expected.’

  ‘No. I didn’t exactly expect it myself.’

  ‘I don’t imagine one ever does.’ Gerald paused. ‘Father says you’ve given up hell-raising. I hope it’s true for your sake – or I’ll be putting your head through a wall.’

  Sebastian nodded. ‘If I deserve it, I’ll let you.’

  ‘Yes? Well, in that case – welcome to the family.’ And he held out his hand.

  Sebastian had known that his own family would be represented only by his father. He’d assumed that no one would be stupid enough to invite Blanche. And of his other sisters, Jennifer, Charlotte and Elizabeth all lived at some considerable distance and Beatrice was expecting again. If, as originally planned, the wedding had been in three weeks’ time, he supposed that one of them might have come … or then again, not. And then the door opened again and a dark-haired lady in blue launched herself at his chest saying, ‘I could murder you, Sebastian! And if I wasn’t so very happy for you, I would!’

  ‘Lizzie?’ Stunned, his arms closed round her while, over her head, his eyes met those of his brother-in-law. ‘How on earth --? No. This is … I didn’t dare hope.’

 
Jonathan prised his wife away from her brother before she could completely ruin his coat and, gripping Sebastian’s hand, said, ‘You didn’t think we’d miss it, did you?’

  ‘I never dreamed you could get here in time. Thank you!’

  ‘Don’t be idiotic,’ said Elizabeth, brushing away a stray tear and looking around. ‘Where is Cassandra? I want to meet her.’

  Realising that even they didn’t know what was about to happen, Sebastian grinned and said, ‘She’ll be here soon. Meanwhile … I don’t believe you are acquainted with, Lord Sarre. Adrian – Lord and Lady Holdenby.’

  Greetings were still being exchanged when the butler caught Lord Sarre’s eye across the room. Nodding in response, Adrian said quietly, ‘Sebastian – it’s time.’ And with a brief word of excuse for Elizabeth and Jonathan, he bore Mr Audley unobtrusively away while the butler successfully reduced the company to silence.

  Stepping forward, Lord Wingham said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, you may think it odd that it is I who am addressing you now rather than Sir Charles – but the fact is that you have all been brought here under false pretences. In short, we will not be celebrating a betrothal this evening.’ He paused to absorb the startled expressions around him and then went on. ‘It is my especial pleasure to announce that Sebastian and Cassandra have chosen to uphold the Audley tradition of the last two generations – and dispense with a betrothal. Instead, Sir Charles, Lady Delahaye and I invite you to witness their wedding.’

  There was an instant of acute silence and then, not bothering to lower his voice, Nicholas said, ‘Sebastian still can’t quite resist setting the world by its ears, can he?’ And the hush dissolved into a buzz of shocked chatter and a scattering of laughter.

  Precisely on cue, footmen opened the double doors to the next room where chairs were set out amidst huge vases of white roses while a pair of violinists burst jubilantly into the Vivace of the Bach double concerto and the Reverend Sir Henry Brockhurst awaited them, smiling.

  ‘I suppose,’ said Serena resignedly to Rockliffe, as everyone took their seats, ‘that you’d guessed?’

  ‘Let us merely say that I had … wondered,’ came the suave reply. ‘After all, if Mr Audley became completely conventional one might be a trifle disappointed, don’t you think?’

  Standing ramrod straight beside Adrian and refusing to look behind him, Sebastian hissed, ‘Did Lizzie knock my cravat askew or crease my coat?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes. For God’s sake - if you looked any prettier, you’d outshine the bride.’

  Sebastian managed something that was almost a smile. ‘Not possible.’

  ‘I know. Now relax, will you? Trust me. This will be over before you know it.’

  The music transitioned smoothly into the haunting Largo and, behind him, Sebastian heard a rustle of movement as the guests rose. She was coming. Drawing a very deep breath, he turned slowly and found Cassandra’s eyes. She smiled at him – so radiantly that everyone else in the room ceased to exist. If he’d been asked, in that moment, what she was wearing he couldn’t have answered. He only saw the joy and love in her face … and his heart swelled up until it seemed to be filling his entire chest.

  Walking slowly on her father’s arm between the smiling faces of their friends and relations, Cassie’s gaze never strayed from the man waiting for her before the cleric. His coat was of dull gold brocade, worn over an extravagantly embroidered vest; the twilight eyes called to her and, in the candlelight, the dark wine-red hair glowed like embers of fire. He was so utterly beautiful that, for one fleeting moment, it seemed impossible that he was waiting for her. Then she was at his side, his fingers closing warm and firm about hers; and she knew she was home.

  The guests sat down, the music stopped and, waiting until he had the attention of the bridal pair, the Reverend Brockhurst embarked on the solemnisation of marriage.

  ‘Dearly beloved, we are gathered together in the sight of God …’

  Gradually, thanks to the familiar ritual and the feel of Cassandra’s fingers in his, Sebastian’s nerves began to relax. Then came, ‘If either of you know of any impediment why you may not be joined together,’ and all his muscles went into spasm again.

  He told himself he was being stupid. Miranda isn’t here. She can’t be. But if she could find a way into my house …

  He held himself motionless through the silence; those seemingly endless seconds when someone could stop the wedding. Then the vicar said, ‘Sebastian. Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife …?’

  And after that, it was easy. He smiled down into Cassandra’s eyes and said, ‘I will.’

  His voice was perfectly-pitched and steady. Cassie’s was less so but her gaze didn’t stray from Sebastian’s and she managed his full name without stumbling.

  ‘I take thee, Sebastian Gervase Montfleur Audley ... to have and to hold from this day forward … and thereto I give thee my troth.’

  And in no time at all it seemed, the ring was on her finger, the reverend was pronouncing them man and wife and without waiting for permission, Sebastian scooped her into his arms and kissed her, long and hard.

  ‘Behave, Sebastian,’ called Nicholas, over a scattering of male applause.

  And, ‘Save it till later,’ advised Harry. ‘Let Sir Henry finish.’

  Reluctantly releasing her mouth, Sebastian whispered, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you. Thank you for loving me too.’ And wanted to shout out in sheer exultation when, with tears of happiness sparkling on her lashes, Cassandra whispered back, ‘How could I not?’

  They knelt for the blessing and signed the register. Then, walking from the room between the smiles of their friends, Cassie looked up at him and said, ‘Montfleur? Really?’

  ‘Thanks to one of the Conqueror’s hangers-on, all the Audley men get that. But Gervase isn’t too bad. Poor Theo got stuck with Augustine. When I was being particularly repellent, I used to call him Gussie.’

  He realised with a jolt that it was the first time he’d been able to speak of his dead twin without pain. He thought, I wish you were here now, Theo. I’d have liked for you and Cassandra to know each other.

  And then they were in the antechamber where refreshments had been laid out for the wedding guests and Cassandra was wrested from him by the ladies, while the gentlemen shook his hand or clapped him on the back – or, in the case of Nicholas, both.

  Nell eyed Cassie unsmilingly. She said, ‘You might have told me.’

  ‘I know – and I’m sorry. But it was all decided very suddenly and Mama insisted it should be kept secret if the whole of London wasn’t to know before it even happened.’

  ‘You told Lady Sarre.’

  ‘Since Lord Sarre was to be Sebastian’s groomsman, that was unavoidable.’ Cassie sighed. ‘Don’t be cross, Nell. If you recall, the first I knew of your betrothal to Harry was when it appeared in the Morning Chronicle. So --’

  Nell’s face broke into a smile. ‘I know. And I’m happy for you. I just couldn’t resist teasing a little. But honestly, Cassie – engaged and married inside a week? How on earth did Mr Audley manage to persuade you?’

  ‘He didn’t. I persuaded him,’ confessed Cassie. And turned away to accept the good wishes of Althea Ingram and the Duchess of Rockliffe.

  Adeline kissed her cheek and said, ‘Well, you had us all nicely bamboozled – and I don’t blame you in the least. It was a lovely wedding, my dear. And aside from clearly being head over heels in love with you, Mr Audley is an extremely remarkable man – and exactly the sort of husband you deserve.’

  ‘Thank you,’ replied Cassie. ‘I am … I know how very lucky I am.’

  ‘And so does he, I should hope,’ remarked a vivacious lady in blue, smiling and holding out her hand. ‘I’m Lizzie Holdenby. Sebastian’s sister – and now yours.’

  Cassie clasped the outstretched hand, saying, ‘Oh! We so hoped one of you would come but Lord Wingham wasn’t sure it would be possible. Does
Sebastian know you’re here?’

  ‘He does. He also knows I’ve been waiting for him to introduce us – but the other gentlemen have him surrounded so I decided to do it myself.’ Elizabeth’s grin bore a striking resemblance to that of her brother. ‘Trixie, Lottie and Jenny are sorry they couldn’t attend but have asked me to represent them and furnish them with every detail. As for Blanche, she’s always so horrible to Sebastian that he wouldn’t want her here.’

  ‘Horrible?’ Cassie frowned. ‘Why?’

  ‘It’s just her nature,’ shrugged Elizabeth, clearly unwilling to elaborate. ‘This is so like Sebastian. The only real surprise is that he didn’t carry you off over his saddle-bow. But from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think you’d have minded, would you?’

  ‘No,’ agreed Cassie simply. ‘I wouldn’t have minded at all.’

  Sebastian waited until he thought that both he and Cassandra had spoken to most people and then, unable to wait any longer, he drew her away, murmuring, ‘Father says that he and your parents have gone to receive the other guests – but we are to stay here with those who attended the wedding, thus guarding the secret until Sir Charles is ready.’

  ‘Yes. That’s what was arranged.’ She looked up at him, wondering but not really caring where they were going. ‘I like your sister. But why did she say that Blanche is horrible to you?’

  ‘Because she is.’ Sebastian whisked her inside Sir Charles’s study and closed the door behind her. ‘I’ve better uses for our moment alone than talking about Blanche.’

  ‘Oh?’ She linked her arms about his neck. ‘Such as what?’

  ‘Such as telling you how beautiful you look.’ His lips cruised across her cheek to her ear. ‘And how much I love you.’ He feathered kisses along her jaw. ‘And how happy you’ve made me. And … kissing you.’

  Finally, his mouth found hers and Cassie leaned closer, absorbing the scent and taste of him … and more than that, the promise of what she hoped would come later. Sensing that she was in no greater hurry to re-join their friends than he was, Sebastian took his time, moulding the line of her spine with his hands and looking forward to doing the same thing in a few hours’ time without the impediment of a corset.