The Earl's Runaway Bride

by Sarah Mallory

  She flinched, hurt by his scathing tone as much as his words. He crossed the room and stood over her.

  ‘What was your plan?’ he demanded. ‘Did you think to ensnare me? To entangle me in a web of desire before revealing yourself?’

  ‘No! I am even now writing a letter to you—’

  ‘More lies!’

  ‘No, I swear—’ She forced herself to stand up. It was not quite so intimidating, even though her eyes were only level with the snowy folds of his cravat. ‘Nathan, listen to me, please. I had no intention of ensnaring you. When I left Corunna I had no thought of ever seeing you again.’

  ‘Until I became an earl!’ he bit out. ‘You had no wish to be the wife of a poor army officer, but a countess—no doubt you find the title irresistible.’

  ‘That is not true!’ She stepped away, trying to ignore the sheer animal power that emanated from him. She said slowly, ‘Last night should not have happened. I meant only to dance with you.’ She winced at his bark of disbelief. ‘I thought, later, that there might still be some…hope for us. I have been trying to compose a letter to you.’

  ‘Do you think you can explain everything?’

  She was silent. The idea of baring her soul to this hard, angry creature was unthinkable.

  ‘I tried to find you,’ he said at last, rubbing at the scar above his eye. ‘I put notices in the newspapers. Did you not see them?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said unhappily, ‘but—’

  ‘I told myself there could only be two reasons why you would not respond. The first was because you were dead, the second that you did not want to be found. I had hoped it was the first.’

  She closed her eyes. How many times in those first months back in England had she indeed wished to die?

  ‘What did you do with the money?’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘My prize money. Every penny I had saved. I left it with you before I marched out of Corunna.’

  ‘I…spent it.’

  ‘Oh? How long did it last you?’

  ‘Six, seven months.’

  She shrank from the blaze of anger in his eyes.

  ‘By God, madam, you must have lived high to spend it all in so short a time! Well, I hope you enjoyed it, because you won’t get another groat out of me!’

  ‘I do not want your money!’ she shot back at him. ‘I want nothing more from you. Ever!’

  ‘Then why did you seek me out last night?’

  Felicity glared at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Her hopes and dreams seemed foolish now, but even so she could not bear to have him sneer at them.

  ‘Think what you like of me,’ she said coldly, turning away. ‘I do not need to explain myself to you!’

  He caught her shoulders and swung her round to face him. ‘By God, I think you do, madam! Last night you seduced me—’

  ‘I did not seduce you!’

  ‘Hah! Then what would you call it? No mere maid would know such tricks.’

  ‘If I used any tricks, sir, then I learned them from you!’

  ‘Do you expect me to believe there has been no man in your life since you left me?’

  She wrenched herself from his grasp. ‘I do not expect you to believe anything I say!’

  He folded his arms. ‘Then you wrong me. I am very ready to be convinced.’ He waited, and when she did not reply he said, ‘Perhaps you can explain what brought you to this household?’

  ‘Lydia—Lady Souden and I were at school together. When—when I came back to England I had nowhere else to go, so I contacted her and—and she took me in.’

  ‘And you have been her pensioner for the past five years.’

  ‘Not at all.’ Felicity’s chin went up. ‘Until very recently I was governess to Sir James’s two sons.’

  ‘And you call yourself Miss Brown.’

  She looked away. ‘I wanted to forget the past.’

  ‘You thought that could best be done by starting a new life, with a new name?’

  She shrugged. ‘I did not wish to be any trouble…’

  ‘Trouble!’ With a grunt of exasperation he turned and strode about the room. At last he stopped by the fireplace. ‘Did you think you would cause no trouble if you disappeared? Heaven and earth, do you have any idea how it was in Spain that winter?’ He stared down into the empty, blackened hearth. ‘We marched through hell to get back to Corunna, and all the time the French were snapping at our heels! My men were starving, we had scarcely one good pair of boots between us and we knew we would have to make a stand against the French with the sea at our backs. I expected you to be there, in Corunna, waiting for me—and then to find you gone! The town was in chaos, I did not know what to think, where to look. There were more than twenty thousand soldiers to be ferried out to the waiting ships and brought home. Do you think anyone had time to help me find one woman at such a moment? I prayed you had found safe passage back to England, but I could not discover it. Five years. Five years and not one word from you. Then I find you living here, right under my nose!’

  ‘I did not plan this!’ she cried.

  ‘Then why did you come to London?’

  ‘Lady Souden is in a—a delicate condition and asked me to accompany her, to be with her when Sir James cannot be at her side.’

  ‘No doubt you both thought it a good jest to bamboozle me.’

  ‘Not at all! I—I did not want to come to town. I knew it might be difficult but Lydia begged me—and I owe her so much.’

  ‘Well, consider that debt paid. It is time to consider what you owe me.’ He held out his hand to her. ‘Come.’

  She eyed him warily. ‘I do not understand you.’

  He grabbed her wrist. ‘I am taking you back to Rosthorne House with me.’

  ‘No! It is far too late at night. What will everyone think?’

  ‘I neither know nor care.’

  She tugged against his iron grip. ‘No, I will not go with you!’

  ‘And I say you will.’

  He pulled her towards him and lifted her easily into his arms. Felicity gasped, then began to kick and struggle, but it was useless. His hold tightened, pinning her against his chest.

  ‘Be still, woman. You did not fight me thus last night.’

  She gave a sob. ‘Let me go, you monster!’

  He laughed harshly. ‘Monster, madam? I am your—’

  ‘What the devil’s going on here?’

  Sir James Souden stood in the open doorway, Lydia behind him, her eyes wide with amazement. Felicity’s cheeks flamed. She stopped struggling and glanced up at Nathan. He seemed quite unperturbed.

  ‘I am sorry to tell you, Sir James,’ he said, ‘that you have been harbouring an impostor.’

  ‘Have you been drinking, Rosthorne? Put Miss Brown down immediately.’

  Nathan merely tightened his hold. ‘Ah, now there we have it. This is not Miss Brown.’ His angry gaze scorched Felicity. ‘This is my wife, the Countess of Rosthorne.’

  Chapter Six

  Sir James’s brows snapped together. ‘Good God, man, now I know you are foxed!’

  A sardonic smile stretched Nathan’s mouth. Felicity wished she could free her arm, for her hand itched to slap his face.

  ‘Not at all,’ said Nathan smoothly. ‘Ask Lady Souden. I believe she knows the truth.’

  Lydia pulled her husband into the morning room and shut the door upon the interested gaze of the footmen standing in the hall.

  ‘I was aware of a connection, but not…’ She stared at Felicity. ‘It is a little complicated…’

  Sir James had been a diplomat for too long to be shocked by anything. With a sigh he gently disengaged himself from his wife’s grasp and turned again towards Nathan.

  ‘Very well, then I demand an explanation of just what is going on in my house. Rosthorne, kindly unhand the lady and tell me what this is all about.’

  Sir James’s calm tones had their effect. Nathan set Felicity on her feet. She stepped away from him, smoothing
down her crushed skirts and glowering fiercely.

  Sir James smiled. ‘Well now,’ he said, at his most urbane. ‘Shall we send for some wine?’

  Nathan waited silently while Sir James rang the bell. The speed at which its summons was answered suggested that the footman had been standing very close to the door. Probably with his ear to the panel. Lady Souden had coaxed Felicity to the sofa where she sat very stiffly, her eyes downcast. With her disordered curls tumbling about her shoulders and a delicate flush on her cheeks he thought she had never looked more tantalising. Damn her.

  Nathan had been perfectly ready to carry the wench off to Rosthorne House, but as his white-hot anger cooled he realised the situation would have to be handled much more delicately if they were to avoid a scandal. His only thought in calling at Souden House had been to prove that his guess was correct, but the shock of finding Felicity had been overwhelming. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, her face a little thinner, the cheekbones more defined, but those huge grey eyes still had the power to send his thoughts crashing into disarray. And remembering her passion last night on the terrace he had become prey to such a bewildering array of emotion that he had quite lost his usual iron control. Relief, joy, pain and anger had all fought for supremacy. Anger had won the first victory.

  They waited in silence until refreshments were served. As he sipped at his brandy Nathan noted that Felicity’s hands were not quite steady when she took a glass of burgundy. It was some consolation to know that she was suffering too.

  ‘Now,’ said Sir James, sitting back at his ease and smiling at the company. ‘Who is going to explain? Lady Rosthorne, perhaps you would like to begin.’

  Lady Souden sat up, her eyes shining. ‘Rosthorne rescued Felicity from a group of desperate bandidos in Corunna!’

  ‘Perhaps, my dear, you would allow the lady to tell her own story.’ Sir James turned to the Felicity. ‘I think I should like to know what you were doing in Spain in the first place—succinctly, please. It has been a long evening and I would appreciate brevity.’

  Felicity was very still for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. ‘My parents died when I was very young. I was left in the guardianship of my uncle, but he was a bachelor and could not be expected to take me in. However, my parents left sufficient funds for me to live at an excellent school.’

  ‘The Academy,’ nodded Lydia. ‘Where we met. She was Felicity Bourne then, of course—’

  ‘Thank you, my dear,’ said Sir James. ‘Please continue, my lady.’

  ‘I travelled to Spain in June in the year ’08 with my uncle, Philip Bourne. He is—was—a clergyman. He had planned to go to Africa, as a missionary, but our ship docked at Corunna and we came ashore. Uncle said we would remain there, that it was his calling. He hired rooms for us and talked of opening a church, to cater for English travellers, but somehow it never came about. He was never well enough. He caught a fever within weeks of arriving in Spain, you see, and never recovered fully. In October he fell ill again and this time—’ Felicity bit into her lower lip but Nathan observed how her little chin trembled. ‘My uncle was not the best at keeping his accounts. I did not know how little money there was until—’ She sighed. ‘By the time I had paid the doctor and buried Uncle there was not enough left for my lodgings.’

  Nathan watched as she collected herself and settled her hands once more in her lap. Pity stirred; this was difficult for her. There was a look of great determination in her face as she continued.

  ‘I sold everything I could, hoping the money would last until I could find some kind of employment, but I was too young.’ She raised her head. ‘I was nineteen. If I had remained at the Academy I would have had charge of the younger girls by then, and in Corunna I saw women of my age with families of their own, but it seems that I was not to be taken seriously, except for…’

  Nathan’s hands clenched into fists. He had heard this. He knew what she was about to say.

  ‘Except for?’ Sir James prompted her gently.

  Felicity shuddered. ‘Our landlord said I could stay on in the rooms if—if I allowed him certain…favours. So I left. I was on my way to the town centre when I was accosted, and my bag was stolen.’

  ‘Which is when the then-Major Carraway came to your aid.’

  ‘Yes, Sir James. We…we were married a week later.’

  Sir James sipped at his wine. ‘Incomprehensible,’ he murmured at last.

  Nathan leaned back and shut his eyes.

  Incomprehensible indeed, when stated so baldly. But not then. Then it had seemed the most logical thing in the world.

  He had taken Felicity to Casa Benitez, fed her and put her to bed, removing her muddied clothes, bathing the dirt from the cuts and bruises on her arms. He held her when she awoke, terrified, from a nightmare, and watched over her when she drifted back to sleep. Even now he remembered staring at her exquisite profile with its straight little nose and determined chin, and her hair fanned out over the pillow like a deep, golden storm.

  He had planned to be the perfect gentleman, but when she woke up and gave him a sleepy smile, he leaned over to drop a kiss on her forehead. Her eyes widened and he recognised the spark of desire in their grey depths. Her mouth had formed a little O of surprise and Nathan could not resist. He brushed her lips with his own and when she did not recoil he slid his mouth over hers. A little tremor ran through her, then she was kissing him back. Her inexpert embrace ignited his soul. He sensed the passion within her, wild and untamed and he wanted to be the one to release it. Their first, long kiss was deep and satisfying, but her inexperience tugged at his conscience and he broke away. She lay back against the pillows, breathing heavily, her eyes the colour of a stormy sea. Reluctantly he pulled himself away from her.

  ‘Felicity. Listen to me: I have work to do this morning, but later today I shall take you to the British Envoy and we will explain your situation. Once he takes you under his protection you will be safe.’ He turned, afraid that if he looked into her huge grey eyes again he would forget his honourable intentions. ‘I must go out now. I have to talk to the local council about bringing our men ashore. You must remain indoors, do you understand? You must stay here where I know you are safe.’ He heard her sigh and added more gently, ‘I am sorry I have to leave you here, but I have a job to do.’

  ‘Of course,’ she said quietly. ‘I understand that you must do your duty, Major.’

  Three hours later Nathan had returned to the Casa Benitez, grinding his teeth in frustration and consigning all bureaucrats to the devil. He ran quickly up the stairs to his apartment to find Felicity waiting for him. As he entered the room she gave him her wide smile. It was like a burst of sunshine. Suddenly the day did not seem quite so bad. He felt his tension draining away.

  ‘Is that your old dress? It has come up very well.’

  She spread her skirts and dropped him a little curtsy.

  ‘Thank you, Major. Sam managed to get nearly all the dirt out of it, and I have reworked the lace that was torn around the neck.’

  ‘Very ingenious. Has that taken you all morning?’

  ‘Most of it.’ She pointed to the enclosed balcony. ‘Since then I have been sitting in the mirador, looking out for you.’

  He grinned. ‘A tedious job!’

  ‘Not at all. The Canton Grande is very busy, so there is always something interesting to be seen.’ She indicated a little tray. ‘Sam brought in your sherry. He thought we should fortify ourselves before we go off to see the British Envoy.’ She poured out two glasses and handed one to Nathan. ‘I admit I am a little nervous.’

  ‘There is no need—Hookham Frere will find you charming,’ said Nathan.

  She sighed and put down her glass. ‘I have had time to reflect upon my situation, Major, and I can quite see that you might not wish to be associated with me.’

  His brows snapped together. ‘What the devil—?’

  She put up her hand. ‘You have done more than enough for me already, sir, and I k
now you are very busy. I have no wish to importune you further, so if you would give me Mr Hookham Frere’s direction I will make my way there alone and ask for his protection. If I can find someone to lend me the money for my passage home, I can contact the family lawyer; it may be that there is something left of Uncle Philip’s estate to allow me to pay my debts. And if not I can return to the Academy and earn my living as a—’

  ‘No!’

  She turned her clear grey eyes upon him. ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘You should not do that.’

  ‘You are being nonsensical, Major. I must do something.’

  ‘Then you should marry me.’

  ‘You said something, Lord Rosthorne?’

  Nathan opened his eyes to find Sir James and Lady Souden watching him.

  ‘The chaplain married us,’ said Nathan crisply. ‘It was a drumhead wedding, but perfectly legal. I marched out of Corunna with my regiment later that day, and that was the last I saw of my wife. I could find no trace of her and was forced to assume that she was dead. Until tonight.’

  ‘And do we know why the lady ran away from you?’ Sir James asked quietly.

  Nathan glanced at Felicity. There was a hunted look in her eyes. No doubt she expected him to announce to all the world that she had stolen his prize money!

  ‘A misunderstanding,’ he replied curtly.

  Her grey eyes flickered over his face. ‘Yes,’ she whispered miserably. ‘A misunderstanding.’

  Sir James bent an enquiring gaze upon his wife. ‘And you knew all this, my dear?’

  Lydia plucked nervously at her skirts. ‘Not everything. Felicity came to me for help, and I could not refuse her.’

  ‘Please, you must not blame Lady Souden,’ Felicity put in. ‘She knew nothing of my marriage.’

  ‘Besides,’ said Lydia. ‘Lord Rosthorne—or Major Carraway as he was then—had returned to the Peninsula by the time Felicity wrote to me, so—so there really was nothing else to be done.’