Caspian felt as though his heart was in his throat. At the moment, nothing made sense. Sure, he was capable of putting the story together and figuring out how it all worked. But his emotions couldn’t remain steady. Anger and hurt tore at his heart, as he gazed upon his brother.
His only brother, his younger brother. The man who’d just pointed a pistol at Lady Gwendoline, who was so charming and beautiful that it seemed impossible to think that any man might wish to do her harm.
“He tried to kill both of us,” Lady Gwendoline said quickly. “He’d hoped that he could assert his birthright and inherit both the Elderdale and Newhost properties as his own.”
“I deserve them!” Noah snapped. “If you truly cared about this mystery of theirs, you’d agree with me. Our families tore my parents apart.”
“And they shouldn’t have done it,” Caspian replied. “I agree. But that it neither my fault nor Lady Gwendoline’s. And I can scarcely believe that you’d undertake such horrendous actions to obtain an inheritance. Would it have even been worth it to you if you’d lost everyone you loved?”
“And if you’d known the truth, would you have done anything differently? Would you have supported me in my bid to inherit Newhost? Your father knew about all of this and never said a word,” Noah sneered.
Noah shakily climbed to his feet and pointed a finger at Lady Gwendoline. Caspian shifted his stance, preparing himself to protect her if the need arose.
“If what you say is true, Lady Gwendoline is your cousin, and you ought to have treated her as such. You ought to have opened your arms to her and accepted her as a part of your family.”
“So I could see her marry and squander away my rightful inheritance?” Noah asked bitterly.
Noah took a couple of steps back. He was standing, but he remained unsteady still. It might be a trick, though, and Caspian wasn’t going to risk that.
“We could have ended the feud between our families together,” Caspian argued. “We could have been great together. The three of us might have ushered in something new and wonderful.”
Noah’s eyes darted between Lady Gwendoline and Caspian, who anticipated a fight. With the pistol gone, he and Noah would be on more equal footing.
“We’re returning home,” Caspian said slowly. “We’ll settle the matter there. For God’s sake, Noah, I can’t—”
“And what? We’ll just pretend it never happened?” Noah laughed bitterly, the sound edged with gasps for air.
Lady Gwendoline fidgeted with the reins of Caspian’s mare.
“No,” Caspian said. “Not after you have done this. We can’t simply pretend that nothing has happened.”
Without warning, Noah bolted into the brush. Caspian was after him in an instant. Together, they crashed through the undergrowth. Sticks, thorns, and edged leaves tore at Caspian, snagging his clothes and cutting his skin as he fought to catch his brother once more.
I have done all I can do. There is nothing else that I can try. My brother is gone, truly gone, and I can never forgive him after how he’s hurt Lady Gwendoline.
Caspian dove forward, sending his brother pitching to the ground. Sticks and bushes tore beneath them. Noah twisted and struggled, flailing wildly in his attempts to escape. But Caspian seized Noah’s shirt and tried to haul him back.
“I won’t let you stop me!” Noah shouted. “After I have come so far! I’m not going to let you!”
His fist collided with Caspian’s jaw and sent a dull ache shooting through his face. Caspian steeled himself and managing to rise slightly, he kicked his brother in the shoulder. Noah struck again, each wild blow sending leaves and grass flying around them.
He bolted to his feet, and Caspian gave chase. When his brother’s favorite horse swam into view, Caspian realized what Noah’s goal was. He’d hoped to loop back to the lake and retrieve his horse. Mustering all the energy he could, Caspian dove again at his brother. Once more, they both fell to the ground, fighting and grappling with one another.
Lady Gwendoline shouted something, and Caspian heard the sound of hooves pounding on the ground.
I must keep him away from her.
Noah’s movements grew clumsier. He was tiring, but so was Caspian. His head felt as though it had been struck with a hammer, and every movement sent a violent lurching through his belly and chest.
“Get me the bridle, Gwendoline!” Caspian snapped, forgetting all sense of propriety in the heat of the moment.
He couldn’t wait to see if she’d done as he asked. Instead, Caspian ducked a punch aimed at his face. Noah was attempting to strike Caspian’s head, probably realizing how badly the wound still hurt. They rolled on the grass, Caspian coming on top.
“Here!” Lady Gwendoline exclaimed.
With one hand, Caspian reached for the leather of the bridle. Beneath him his brother twisted and struggled. “I’ll never forgive you for this!” Noah snarled.
As if Caspian would ever desire forgiveness after everything Noah had done. If it had been only himself who’d been betrayed, Caspian might have been able to forgive and forget. But not with Lady Gwendoline’s life and happiness also at stake.
Caspian managed to force his brother onto his belly, and for a long moment, Noah lay against the grass, drawing loud pants of air. After wrenching his brother’s right arm behind his back, Caspian curled the leather of the bridle around Noah’s wrist and pulled the leather taut. Noah twisted, attempting to knock his hands away, but Caspian had already bound his brother’s wrists together.
“I could never forgive you anyway,” Caspian said quietly. “Even if that is cruel of me to say, I know in my heart that it is true.”
Just as he knew that he loved Lady Gwendoline more than any lady who’d ever lived. And now, Caspian realized that if any ill had befallen Lady Gwendoline, he’d have never forgiven himself.
But she’ll be home. I’m sure that she is frightened, but I will see her safely home.
And hopefully, after everything that had happened, they’d be able to work together for the betterment of their families. Hopefully, Noah’s actions wouldn’t make everything worse.
Noah turned on his back, kicking out. Caspian grimaced as his brother’s foot struck his shin.
“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” Caspian asked.
“I have nothing to lose now,” Noah replied, practically snarling.
With a scowl, Caspian took his own shirt in hand and pulled hard until the fabric gave. He tore the fine material into two strips, and when he crouched, Noah attempted to kick him again. Caspian seized his brother’s ankle and tied a strip of cloth around it. Then, taking his brother’s other ankle, Caspian bound them together.
His brother now bound and immobilized, Caspian finally allowed himself to let out a slow, steadying breath. He looked toward Lady Gwendoline and felt himself soften as he gazed upon the Lady’s fair face.
“Are you unharmed?” Caspian asked.
She nodded, and Caspian drank in the sight of her for a few seconds, just to reassure himself that she really was truly fine. When he found no signs of harm on her, he finally let himself breathe a little more smoothly. The Lady was fine, really fine. Now, he just needed to take her home.
And I can’t imagine I’m going to receive a very welcome reception.
Caspian seized his brother by the arm, ignoring Noah’s protests, and hauled him over the back of his mare. Then, he turned to survey the area. Noah’s horse had fled at some point during the scuffle. When, Caspian couldn’t have said.
Caspian extended his hand to Lady Gwendoline and offered her his best smile, although he felt that the expression probably looked more like a grimace. She took his hand all the same, and hooking her foot into the stirrup of the saddle, Lady Gwendoline pulled herself onto the horse, giving Noah a wide berth. Unfortunately, Noah’s horse had fled sometime during the fight, so they had only one mount.
“So this is it?” Noah asked. “You’re just going to ride back home with me like this?”
“That is the plan,” Caspian replied, hauling himself between Lady Gwendoline and Noah.
With three riders, Caspian knew his mare couldn’t move too quickly, but they made steady progress on the return journey to Hyde Newhost. Lady Gwendoline wrapped her arms around Caspian’s waist. Her embrace was just barely there, a phantom encircling of her arms that still sent delightful shivers coursing up and down his spine. Somehow, the lightness of her touch seemed to make the contact even more intimate.
The horse moved steadily, her hooves faint on the cobblestones. Dawn was breaking on the horizon. Soon, the households would all be awake, if they were not already. Lady Gwendoline would be soon discovered.
“Caspian,” Noah said. “Are you really going to do this?”
Caspian felt as though his breath had left him. No, he didn’t want to do this. He didn’t want to take his brother home and reveal every terrible thing that had transpired throughout the night. His head hurt so fiercely that he felt as if he’d fallen off his horse once more.
“You brought this on yourself,” Caspian said, his voice not coming as strongly as he wanted it to.
While Caspian’s resolve to do the right thing, the good thing, never wavered, he wondered if his heart would be able to endure the pain of separating himself from his brother, of never seeing him again.
I must be strong, though, and remember that it is not only myself who he has hurt. He threatened Lady Gwendoline.
As if she’d heard his thoughts, the lady raised a hand and brushed her delicate fingers along Caspian’s right arm. The slight touch made his heart race.
I love you.
And it had only really occurred to him when he’d seen Noah’s pistol levelled at her, when Lady Gwendoline had been only a couple of seconds away from death.
Caspian shivered when he thought of how horribly everything might have gone if he’d been even seconds later in his arrival, and it was luck that he’d even awakened and found them so quickly. If Noah had taken Lady Gwendoline somewhere else, Caspian doubted he’d have found her so easily.
I almost lost her.
It seems nearly like some sort of pre-ordained trade, his brother’s affection and love for Lady Gwendoline’s. But she was here, alive and safe at last. No one would ever threaten Lady Gwendoline again. Caspian would be sure of that.
They reached Hyde Newhost wrapped in the delicate light of dawn. Caspian hesitated at the edge of the property and with a quiet word, sent his horse forward once more. He led the mare directly to the entrance of the grand estate. It was different being so close to the manor and seeing it during the daylight rather than cloaked in nightfall.
“I’ll wake my parents,” Lady Gwendoline said, dismounting from the mare.
For a moment, Caspian didn’t answer. He simply looked at her fair face and dark eyes. The dawn rose behind her, framing her dark locks of hair in a peachy-pink light so that there was something fiery and otherworldly about her. Caspian remembered that night which had begun this all, when he’d intentionally provoked her. That felt like an eternity in the past.
“I’ll wait for you here,” he said, although an ache twisted in his chest as she walked away.
Noah made a disgruntled noise, which Caspian chose to ignore. He wasn’t sure if he could stand to look at his brother at the moment, much less speak with him. Because despite it all, Caspian feared he might be too fond of his brother and forgive him too much.
“Caspian,” Noah said, his voice soft and plaintive.
Caspian shook his head, still unable to look at his once beloved brother, the one who’d caused such pain not only to Caspian but also to Lady Gwendoline. And doubtlessly, this would hurt Lord and Lady Elderdale, also. “There’s nothing more to say,” Caspian said at last. “Perhaps, I might have learned to forgive you if you had only pointed your pistol at me. But do you think I could ever forgive threatening a lady like her?”
When Lady Gwendoline entered the manor, a sharp cry sliced through the air. Caspian tensed as the door to Hyde Newhost opened wider, and for the first time, he saw the foyer of the grand manor. He steadied himself and prepared to meet his family’s greatest nemesis, Lord Newhost.
Chapter 29
Gwendoline’s absence had been noticed, for the moment she entered the manor, most of the household seemed to descend upon her. There were sharp cries from maids, the doting tuts of Gwendoline’s governess, and more than a few shocked stares.
“Is that Lord Caspian?” someone gasped.
“The Lockwood son? No.”
Gwendoline opened her mouth to speak, but her father’s appearance caused any words she might have uttered to wilt inside her mouth, unspoken, like flowers falling before a sudden frost.
“Gwendoline,” he whispered, speaking as if he’d just woken from some terrible nightmare.
With a twinge of guilt, Gwendoline realized that might have been the case. Her dear father had woken to find her gone, and although he did not realize everything that she and Lord Caspian had been involved in over the past few months, he must have surely thought that something dreadful had befallen her.
And he’d be right, Gwendoline admitted. But at least, Lord Caspian saved me from any danger.
Now, she might have to save Lord Caspian from her own father. Lord Newhost cleared the space between Gwendoline and himself quickly, the staff respectfully parting ways for him. Without warning, he enveloped Gwendoline into a tight hug, and for a few moments, she simply clung to him, breathing in the scent of his clothing. Her father smelled like rosewater.
When he stiffened, his muscles tensing in the embrace, Gwendoline knew he’d finally seen their guest.
“By God, what have you done?”
Lord Newhost looked at Gwendoline as if she’d grown a second head, and although that was certainly untrue, Gwendoline had to admit that the night was far more exciting than anyone might have anticipated. And it must look rather strange to her father.
Not only had Gwendoline returned, her hair disheveled, the hem of her night gown and coat muddied, but she’d come with both Lord Caspian and Lord Noah, who was presently still tied up and thrown over the back of a horse.
Lord Newhost’s face reddened. “Is that Lockwood?”
“Father—” Gwendoline began.
The Lord moved past her as if she hadn’t spoken. Gwendoline dug her nails into the palms of her hands. “Lord Newhost, wait! Father, please! Lord Caspian has done nothing wrong!”
Lord Newhost scowled at her before returning his attention once more to Lord Caspian, who stood beside the horse, bridle in hand.
“I would bid you hold your anger for a moment, My Lord,” Lord Caspian said, smiling politely. “Much happened last night and this morning, and I think it’s best that we consider these events with due patience and consideration.”
“Patience and consideration?” Lord Newhost asked, his voice thick with disbelief. “After you have returned with my daughter in such a state and with—is that your brother?”
“It is, indeed,” Lord Caspian replied. “And I think it’s for the benefit of us all that he remain as he is. Might I borrow a footman? I wish to summon my parents, and once they are here, we might manage to settle the whole manner.”
Lord Newhost’s brow furrowed, and his lips stretched into a tight frown. He looked like having the Lockwoods on his property would be the worst thing in the world, and for him, it might be.
Gwendoline approached her father and took his hand. When his eyes snapped to her, he glared witheringly. Gwendoline swallowed hard. She felt like a little girl once again, and yet her father’s affection, the kindness she remembered from her girlhood, still remained absent. “Please,” she said softly. “My dear Father, please, let Lord Caspian borrow a footman and summon Lord and Lady Elderdale. Everything that has happened tonight was for our benefit.”
Gwendoline paused and looked at Lord Caspian. The morning light caused the golden flecks in his green eyes to shine and caught in the lighter strands of
his hair. He looked so handsome that Gwendoline felt as though her heart would burst.
“Please, Father,” Gwendoline said. “Believe me. I would do nothing that might cause harm to our family’s good reputation.”
Lord Newhost’s eyes lingered on her. Then, he gave an awkward, jerking nod. “Thomas,” he said.
Thomas, the footman, immediately peered from the foyer. “Yes, My Lord?”
Lord Newhost glanced to Lord Caspian and then, back to Gwendoline. “Make all haste to Lord and Lady Elderdale. Wake them from their beds and tell them that they must come to Hyde Newhost at once to settle a matter involving both of their sons.”
Thomas nodded. “At once, My Lord.”
The Earl That Overruled My Destiny Page 26
