Lucy heard the barely controlled anger in Ralph’s voice when he spoke again.
‘So when she came to meet you, to tell you it was over, you killed her.’
‘No, no. It was an accident. She slipped. It had been raining, do you remember, Cousin? The rock was wet. She came to tell me she would not leave you, that she would do her duty as your wife. Your wife!’ His gaze shifted to Lucy and he said savagely, ‘After all I did for her, the chances I took to meet her, to court her, I thought she loved me. I slipped away and came here to wait for her, but when she arrived it was to tell me she wouldn’t leave. Adversane was a good man, she said. He was trying to make her happy, so she wanted to do her duty by him. Don’t you see, Lucy? If he hadn’t persuaded her to stay with him she wouldn’t have refused me, we would not have quarrelled and she would not have slipped over the edge!’
Adam dropped his head in his hands as his tortured confession continued.
‘I tried to reason with her, but she said she was going back. She refused to meet me again, save as your wife, Adversane. Even though it would break my heart. I tried to stop her, tried to kiss her, but she pushed me away, only she was standing too close to the edge, and lost her footing...’ He fell to his knees and began to sob. ‘I loved her. I have never loved anyone else. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t wish I had died with her!’
Ralph stared down at him, his anger giving way to pity as he regarded the wretched figure crouched on the ground.
Harry pulled Adam to his feet.
‘Come along, Cottingham,’ he said. ‘Let’s get you back to the house.’
He and Greg began to lead Adam away. He walked quietly between them, his shoulders drooping, all resistance gone.
Ralph felt Lucy sag against him, and his arm around her tightened.
‘What’s this?’ he muttered. ‘You are not going to faint on me now?’
Her brave chuckle tore at his heart.
‘No, indeed, but I am still feeling a little dizzy. He drugged me, you see, by putting something in the punch. Thankfully I did not drink it all.’
‘My poor darling. Would you like to ride back? Jupiter has no saddle but there is Greg’s horse, or Colne’s.’
‘No, thank you. I think I would be better walking it off, if you will help me.’
* * *
Lucy was grateful for Ralph’s arm about her as they followed the others back to Adversane. As they walked Ralph recounted his meeting with Lady Preston.
‘So you were in no way to blame,’ said Lucy when he had finished.
‘Except that my warning, coupled with her mother’s scolding, drove Helene to tell Cottingham she would not run away with him.’
‘From what Adam said it was your forbearance that persuaded her, Ralph. Helene recognised that you were trying to be kind to her.’
‘She did.’ He let out a long breath. ‘We were not suited and I regret what happened, but I no longer hold myself responsible for her death. I shall try to do better by my next wife, I promise you.’
She stopped and turned to throw her arms about his neck.
‘Oh, my darling, I know you will.’
He kissed her then, swift and hard, and her heart sang for the love conveyed in that one embrace.
* * *
The house was in sight, and they walked on in silence, following the others around to the side hall, where it was agreed they could more easily slip in unobserved. As they neared the house, Lucy was surprised to hear the scrape of fiddles coming from the open windows of the white salon.
‘I thought the dancing would be ended by now,’ she murmured.
Ralph took out his watch. ‘No, we have not been away that long. Supper is over, but the dancing will continue for an hour or so yet.’
‘Heavens,’ she replied faintly. ‘I thought it must be nearly dawn.’
‘It will be by the time everyone departs.’
A figure ran across from the stables and Lucy recognised Robin. He tugged his forelock.
‘Mr Greg said I was to keep an eye out for you,’ he said, his astonished gaze fixed on Adam, standing passively between the groom and Harry Colne.
‘Aye, well, take the horses back to the stable and keep your mouth shut,’ ordered Greg.
The stable lad had just led the horses away when the side door opened and Judith Cottingham appeared.
‘I was looking out for you.’ She stepped back for them to enter, and Lucy noted how grey and drawn she was. She stared at her husband, then raised her anxious eyes to Ralph’s face. ‘Is it over?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘He has told us what happened. It was an accident, as you thought. Helene slipped and fell.’
Judith sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, then she stepped up and took Adam’s arm. He was gazing before him, his eyes not seeing anything. Lucy thought she had never seen such a broken man.
‘Let me take him to our room,’ said Judith. ‘I will look after him now.’
‘If you would rather not—’ Ralph began, but she stopped him with a shake of her head.
‘He is my husband,’ she said simply.
She led him away, and Ralph turned to Greg.
‘Find someone to help you stand guard on Cottingham’s door. Make sure he does not leave his room again tonight, and assure Mrs Cottingham that she may call upon you should she require assistance.’
‘Should we inform the magistrate?’ asked Harry, as Greg went off.
Ralph looked at Lucy, who shook her head.
‘Not on my account,’ she said.
Ralph agreed. ‘I shall make arrangements for him in the morning, but now we know the truth I do not think he is any longer a threat. However, I would like to keep tonight’s little escapade quiet, if we can.’
‘Then we must go back to join your guests,’ declared Lucy.
‘No,’ Ralph objected, frowning. ‘You should rest now.’
‘I do not want to rest, and my continued absence might well give rise to conjecture.’
‘Then I shall make some excuse for you—’
She put a hand against his mouth, saying with a smile, ‘This is my adventure as much as yours, my lord. You shall not deny me my part in it.’
‘We wouldn’t dream of it, Miss Halbrook,’ put in Harry before Ralph could respond. ‘If Wetherell and Sir Timothy have done their work well, then it is possible we have not been missed.’
Ralph’s eyes narrowed.
‘Outmanoeuvred, by heaven!’
Harry laughed.
‘Indeed, Adversane! I should admit defeat graciously if I were you. And I had best find Francesca and let her know that all is well.’
Ralph nodded. ‘Very well, you go and do that now, Harry. Tell Wetherell and Finch that we are back, too, but pray keep this from my sisters if you can. I do not want them quizzing us about it just yet.’
As Harry went off, Ralph glanced down at Lucy’s gown. The scarlet silk was torn and dirty from her ordeal.
‘You cannot go into the ballroom like that, and if you change your gown people are bound to notice.’
She shrugged. ‘They will, of course, but I shall tell them I spilled a glass of punch.’ She added with a glimmer of a smile, ‘Ruthie will help me and I am sure I can rely on her discretion. She has the makings of a very good lady’s maid.’ She saw the concern in his eyes and took his hands between her own, saying urgently, ‘I want to do this, Ralph. For you. For us.’
She met his eyes steadily, trying to convey all that she felt for him. Gradually, she saw his hard glance soften to something much warmer.
‘Very well.’ He lifted her hand to his lips. ‘Go, then. I will meet you in the ballroom.’
Chapter Fourteen
Twenty minutes later Lucy walked into the white
salon, the scarlet gown replaced by midnight-blue. Ruthie had re-dressed her hair and even managed to fix the silver stars amongst her curls and they winked and sparkled in the candlelight. She looked magnificent.
Ralph felt a sudden tightness in his chest as she walked towards him. She was smiling, and he marvelled that she should look so calm and serene after all that had occurred. If anything, her green eyes glittered with an added brilliance. She positively glowed with happiness. Had there ever been a time when he had not loved her, this brave, intelligent girl who challenged him at every turn?
He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor, aware that those around them were smiling and nodding their approval. By this time formality had disappeared from the ballroom and the final dance was noisy and energetic. He watched Lucy closely, determined to whisk her away at the first signs of fatigue, but she skipped and twirled and smiled as if it was the first dance of the evening rather than the last. Ralph wanted to tell her, but whenever they came together he found himself merely smiling at her like a mooncalf.
At last the music ended, everyone applauded the small orchestra and the ballroom began to empty.
‘I must take my leave of my guests,’ he murmured to Lucy, reluctant to let her go. ‘Come with me.’
‘If you wish.’
Her smile lifted his heart. Caroline and Margaret were standing with their husbands by the door, and as he took Lucy past them Caroline put her hand on his arm.
‘A pity you did not announce your betrothal to everyone after the play tonight, Brother. Meg and I were most disappointed.’
‘I think Adversane had other things on his mind,’ remarked Lord Wetherell.
‘I cannot think what that might be,’ she replied saucily, ‘especially when the two of them have been smelling of April and May all evening. Why, when they were dancing they could not take their eyes off one another!’
With a laugh Ralph carried Lucy away. He sent a footman running for her shawl and draped it carefully about her shoulders before allowing her to stand by the open door to say goodbye as their guests filed out.
* * *
A rosy dawn was already lighting the eastern sky by the time the last guests took their leave. Lucy managed to stifle her yawn until the last carriage rolled away. Ralph put his arm around her.
‘Tired, love?’
‘A little,’ she admitted.
‘Too tired to walk with me? Ariadne and the family are waiting for us in the drawing room, but I want you to myself for a little while.’
‘Oh, yes, and your brothers-in-law will have told them everything by now! By all means let us stroll around the lawn. I would rather do that than answer their questions just yet.’ She put her hand on his chest. ‘But you must be exhausted. How did you manage to climb that cliff—and in the dark, too?’
He stopped and pulled her closer. ‘It was easy, knowing you were waiting for me at the top.’
She closed her eyes as he kissed her, melting into him. When he stopped, she sighed and leaned her head against his chest. ‘Oh, Ralph, it is quite horrible to think that Adam and Helene—’
‘Then do not think of it. The Cottinghams will leave Adversane in the morning and it will be a very long time before they are allowed back again, I promise you.’
She raised her head, peering through the darkness to search his face. ‘Are your ghosts laid to rest now?’
He nodded. ‘Quite gone, my love.’
‘Adam’s revelations were very dreadful.’
‘But not as bad as I feared.’
‘Do you believe him, then? That it was an accident?’
Ralph nodded slowly. ‘I do. I only wish he had confessed it all at the time.’
‘Then we might never have met.’
‘Oh, I think the Fates would have found a way.’
She smiled up at him
‘Fates, my lord? I thought you only believed in reason and logic.’
With something like a growl, he pulled her closer.
‘You have changed that, darling Lucy. Now I believe in love, too.’
* * * * *
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Historical.
You dream of wicked rakes, gorgeous Highlanders, muscled Viking warriors and rugged Wild West cowboys from another era. Harlequin Historical has them all! Emotionally intense stories set across many time periods.
Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Historical every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
ISBN-13: 9781460335048
THE SCARLET GOWN
Copyright © 2014 by Sarah Mallory
All rights reserved. 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 publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
The Scarlet Gown Page 25
