Debra Mullins
Page 26
“Excellent idea, daughter. Begin as you mean to go on.”
Anna found his lordship in the garden. She paused on the path, the leaves of a hedge hiding her from sight. He was not alone.
“I cannot fathom the events of last night,” Charlotte said. She sat on a stone bench with a handkerchief crumpled in her two hands. “Dennis insists we leave today.”
Haverford sat next to her, leaning forward, their shoulders barely touching. His clasped hands dangled loosely between his knees. “I’m sure your brother just wants you to be safe.” His gaze swept Charlotte’s face in a moment of unveiled affection.
“But the danger is past. I do not understand his haste to be away from here.”
“Would you like me to talk to him?”
“Oh, would you?” She turned to face him, her lovely face filled with hope.
He nodded, clearing his throat. “Of course.”
Silence fell between them, and such an intimate silence that Anna wondered why she had not seen it before.
“Thank you, my lord,” Charlotte finally whispered.
Haverford just nodded again.
Anna came forward, deliberately scuffing her shoes against the stone pathway. The two jolted, and Haverford sprang to his feet, guilt flickering across his face as if he’d been caught with his hand in her reticule.
“My lord, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.” Anna smiled at the other woman. “Good afternoon, Charlotte.”
“How are you, Anna? I trust you have recovered from your terrible ordeal last night.”
“I am well, thank you.” Anna looked at Haverford. “May I speak to you a moment, my lord?”
“Of course.”
Charlotte got to her feet. “I’d best go find my brother.” She glanced one last time at Haverford. Anna only caught a moment of it as the woman turned toward her, but the longing and misery in Charlotte’s eyes matched what she saw in her own gaze in the mirror.
How could she have been so blind?
Haverford watched Charlotte walk away, then gave Anna a benign smile. “How can I help you, my dear?”
“I’d like to know how Rome is doing.”
Haverford’s expression grew serious, and real worry deepened his voice. “Not well. He’s been running a fever since last night. We must hope for the best.”
“Will he die?”
“I won’t lie to you. It’s a possibility.”
“Dear Lord.” She turned away from him, taking a moment to tame her unstable emotions before she betrayed herself.
“I didn’t realize you cared so much for my cousin, Anna. It pleases me that my family is so dear to you even after so short a time.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. How could she bear it? The man she loved lay on the brink of death, and she could not even comfort him. How would she go on without him?
“Anna? Are you all right?”
She opened her eyes, and through her blurry tears, saw the sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring on her finger. How could she go forward with her life, living a lie?
She turned to Haverford, searching his face for some grain of truth. “Why did you ask me to marry you?”
His unguarded look revealed a moment of surprise before the polite mask fell back into place. “Because I admire you, of course.”
“I don’t think that’s the only reason.”
He frowned. “Anna, what are you about? These questions are most unseemly.”
“Not as unseemly as marrying for the wrong reasons.” She took a deep breath and plunged forward. “I don’t love you, Marc.”
His expression cleared. “Is that all? Love will come, Anna. I believe mutual respect and friendship make for a harmonious union.”
“And I believe the truth makes for a harmonious union. So please trust me enough to tell me. Did you offer for me because you want me to be your wife, or because you were honoring a promise made by your father?”
“Well, of course, honor comes into it,” he blustered. “I’ve always known I would ask you to marry me when the time came.”
“And I’ve always known I would accept.” She looked down at her ring, then slid it off her finger and handed it to him. “But I realize now I made a mistake. I would make you a terrible wife, Marc.”
Shock wiped the courteous façade from his face. “But you have accepted my offer! Are you jilting me?”
“I am.” She folded her hands over his, closing his fingers over the precious heirloom. “I love your cousin, Marc. I am hoping you will not be angry about that. We met and developed feelings for each other before you ever proposed marriage to me, and I was wrong to accept you when I knew my heart lay elsewhere.”
“You’re in love with Rome?” He nearly shouted the words. He raked his hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture she had never seen him use.
“Yes.” She stared imploringly at him. “Neither one of us chose this, and neither of us wants to hurt you. Rome may die—” The words nearly choked her. “He may die, and I would rather live the rest of my life alone with the memory of our love than wed for the wrong reasons.”
“I don’t know what to say. I cannot fathom it. Twice this has happened to my family. Twice!”
“It’s not the same. Look past your wounded pride.” She pried open his fingers so the sapphire glittered in the sunlight. “Isn’t there someone else you would rather give this to? Someone your heart longs for?”
“I…it doesn’t seem right.”
“Nothing could be more right.”
“You love him that much?” Marc asked. “Enough to withstand the gossip that may surely come of this?”
“If tongues wag, I shall not care. But I don’t think there will be any gossip. The only people who know you and I were engaged is the intimate circle of friends and family here with us. A notice was never sent to the newspapers.”
“No, I had planned on doing that once we returned to London.” A hint of hope lit his features as he stared down at the ring.
“Even if it meant I would be branded a jilt for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t change my mind.” Anna touched his hand, then waited as he raised his gaze to hers. Joy glowed in his eyes as he began to accept the possibilities, and she smiled, glad that someone might find happiness in this complicated tangle. “Go and find her, Marc. Ask her to be your bride. Follow your heart.”
Still he hesitated, searching her eyes. “Are you certain, Anna?”
She laughed. “How typical of you, Marc, to still question the rightness of this. I am more certain than anything in my life.” Her eyes misted. “There will be no scandal. Go and ask Charlotte to marry you. And whatever happens, be happy.”
He closed his hand around the ring. “If you’re sure this is what you want.” He started to walk away, then stopped and turned back to face her. “About you and Rome…I understand. And if it all works out, you have my blessing.”
“Thank you.”
He hurried off, his pace as animated as a schoolboy’s.
And Anna let the tears finally fall.
“You did what?” Henrietta shrieked.
Anna didn’t even flinch at her mother’s shrill tone, having known when she returned to the parlor that the news would not be taken well. “I have given Lord Haverford back his ring. We are no longer engaged.”
“I cannot fathom it. This is a nightmare. That my daughter could be so foolish as to jilt an earl!”
“I didn’t love him.”
“Love! Dear God, I have birthed a romantic!” Henrietta laid a hand over her eyes and slumped on the sofa, moaning softly.
Anna sighed, well acquainted with her mother’s histrionics. She went to the door and caught the attention of the butler. “Leighton, please have Bliss fetch my mother’s hartshorn. Oh, and if you know where my father is, would you send him here?”
“Right away, miss.”
She turned back to her mother, who lay barely moving on the sofa. “I have sent for Bliss, Mother.”
“You have k
illed me,” Henrietta moaned.
Anna shook her head and moved to the window to look out on the sunny gardens. She caught a glimpse of Marc walking with Charlotte, both of them chattering and laughing. The sapphire ring glittered on Charlotte’s left hand.
A small smile touched her lips. Whatever happened, she had done the right thing.
The admiral rushed into the room, Mr. Vaughn on his heels. “Henrietta? What’s happened?”
“I’m afraid I gave Mama some bad news,” Anna said, turning away from the window.
The admiral sat on the sofa beside his wife and patted her hand. “Henrietta? Henrietta, it’s Quentin.”
“I’ve broken off my engagement to Lord Haverford,” Anna said.
“What? Well, no wonder she swooned.” Her father patted Henrietta’s cheek. “Come now, my dear. It isn’t as bad as all that.”
Bliss entered the room, as implacable as ever. “Here is the hartshorn.” The admiral took it from her and waved it under her mother’s nose.
Henrietta sat up, coughing, waving away the pungent agent with one hand. “Enough, enough!”
“There you are.” Quentin handed the smelling salts back to Bliss, who sat down on the other side of her mother and began comforting her.
“My word,” Vaughn said with a shake of his head. “And I thought all the excitement had already happened this morning!”
Anna’s puzzlement must have shown on her face.
“We searched Emberly’s things,” her father said, “and we found a membership list for that dratted society. Emberly was the leader.”
“I have the list in a safe place.” Vaughn grinned, a glint of danger in his eyes. “We will disband the villains soon enough, and the other two leaders will be arrested as soon as I get back to London.”
“My heavens,” Anna whispered, raising trembling fingers to her locket. It had been so long since she had first started her quest, that it was hard to believe it had come to an end.
“Have you all lost your senses?” Henrietta rasped, still catching her breath. “Does no one else understand that my daughter has thrown away her future?”
“Now, Mama.”
“A countess!” Henrietta exclaimed, spreading her hands. “You would have been Lady Haverford! Love comes, Anna. You don’t always have it at the beginning, but over time—”
“I’m in love with someone else.”
Silence greeted her words, then Henrietta exploded to her feet. “Someone else! Who?”
Anna swallowed hard as all eyes focused on her. “Roman Devereaux.”
“Mr. Devereaux? You had an earl for your fiancé, and you jilted him for a mister?” Henrietta’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she swayed again. The admiral and Bliss caught her beneath the arms and helped her sit down on the sofa.
Vaughn stepped forward as everyone else fussed over her swooning mother. “Devereaux is a good man,” he said quietly. “He will make a good diplomat. I wish you all the best.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vaughn.”
“A mister!” Henrietta cried again.
Vaughn turned his attention on her mother. “Yes, a mister. Mrs. Rosewood, that mere ‘mister’ saved your daughter’s life and brought a dangerous criminal element to justice. You should be grateful your daughter has such good taste.”
“But the earl—” Henrietta began.
“The earl is engaged to Miss Fellhopper,” Anna said.
“Miss Fellhopper?” Her mother’s eyes bulged. “I told you she was dangerous,” she muttered.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I know you wanted me to be a countess, but my heart did not agree.” Anna folded her hands in front of her and held her mother’s gaze. “I’m in love with Rome, and if he asks me to marry him, I will accept.”
“You will not! I—”
“Henrietta,” the admiral said quietly, stopping her midbreath. “Leave Anna alone.”
“But…”
“She was right about Anthony, and we didn’t listen.” He took his wife’s hand and squeezed it. “Any fool could see she was miserable with Haverford. Roman Devereaux is clearly a good soldier and fully capable of taking care of our daughter.”
“But I wanted so much for her.” Her mother’s voice broke, and she looked at Anna. “Do you really love him?”
“I do,” Anna said, lifting her chin with pride.
Henrietta sniffled. Well,” she acquiesced after a moment, “at least he is related to an earl.”
Sunlight beamed in through the window, blinding him as he opened his eyes. With a groan, Rome tried to turn over, but a stabbing pain in his shoulder stopped him cold.
It all came back to him. The Black Rose Society. The swordfight. Marc. Emberly.
“You’re awake.” A soft, feminine hand brushed the hair from his forehead. “The surgeon said you were out of danger, but I didn’t dare believe him while you slept so deeply.”
He blinked, certain he was dreaming as the face of his beloved slowly came into focus. “Anna? What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you to wake.” She bent and kissed his forehead. “You scared me,” she whispered.
“How did you get in here? Does Marc know?”
“He’s the one who told me to stay by your side.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m no longer engaged to him.”
“But…” He glanced at her bare finger. “Your ring?”
“I gave it back to him. He’s proposed to Charlotte.”
“Charlotte!” His mind stumbled, and his heart seized with hope. Did that mean…? Impossible! “Marc would never go back on a promise.”
“I’m afraid I’m the one who broke the promise. I told him I was in love with another man.” She leaned close and nuzzled her cheek near his. “So, my love, it seems I am a jilt. What do you think about that?”
Her playful whisper unleashed the joy he could no longer contain. He curled his good arm around her, holding her close, amazed at the change of circumstance. “I think you should marry me straightaway to avoid the scandal.”
She laughed. “I’m glad you offered, since I told my parents I intended to accept if you proposed.”
The bedroom door clicked open, and someone cleared a throat loudly. Anna straightened, and Rome’s arm slid back onto the bed. “Yes, Bliss?”
Without a word, the maid entered the room and made herself comfortable on a chair. Her unflinching dark gaze never left the two of them.
Anna sighed. “I believe my mother has sent Bliss to chaperone us.”
“A good idea. I wouldn’t want any rumors of a hasty wedding to plague our future.” He smiled at her, but his eyelids were already growing heavy. “How is Vin?” he managed to ask.
Anna sighed. “Not too well. She is devastated, of course. Your mother is with her.”
He nodded, then reached for her hand, playing with her fingers. “And Marc? He really understands?”
“Yes. He’s very happy with Charlotte. They talk about sheep all day long.”
He gave a sleepy chuckle. “I thought it was he for a moment, you know.”
“What?”
“I thought Marc might be the leader.” He yawned, then tilted his head to better see her. He could barely keep his eyes open. “I broke into his room for a sword, and he wasn’t in bed.”
“He was with my parents and me, checking on everyone else.”
“Huh. Typical.” He closed his eyes just for a moment.
“Rome?”
“Hmmm?”
“Are you going back to sleep?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He felt her fingers slipping away from his and tightened his grip. “No. Stay.”
“You want me to stay with you?”
“Mm-hmm. Forever.”
“All right, my love.” She stroked her fingers through his hair again, her other hand curled softly in his. “I’ll stay forever.”
He closed his eyes in utter contentment.
All his dreams had finally come true.
&nb
sp; About the Author
I have wanted to be a writer ever since I was a girl, when I used to write stories about my favorite television show, starring my friends as supporting characters. Over the years, I dreamed of someday being published so I could share my stories with the world. Now that dream has come true.
I love to hear from readers. Check out my website at www.debramullins.com.
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SCANDAL OF THE BLACK ROSE
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DONOVAN’S BED
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Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SCANDAL OF THE BLACK ROSE. Copyright © 2006 by Debra Mullins Manning. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.