by Meara Platt
She gave a little huff as she reached his side. “You always were. Beast considers you and Nathaniel his closest friends. He thinks of you as a brother. Take a moment and tell me what happened.”
She turned on her slippered heels and motioned for him to follow her into the parlor. He had no choice but to obey, for he was not about to insult this formidable dowager. Besides, she was Beast’s aunt. To insult her would be taken as an insult to Beast.
He was still in a hurry to leave, so he began talking the moment her butler shut the door to lend them privacy. “Nothing official yet, but it seems I’m the Earl of Hume’s likely heir. At least, he’s treating me that way for the moment. Documents have been drawn up, and the Hume clan lairds have been told.” He shrugged. “I’ve never met any of them, and they’ve ignored me for all my life. I’m not certain how much of this news I can trust. However, I did also learn my brother and Caithness cousins are alive. Not that any of those old bastards bothered to tell me, although they’ve known it for weeks.”
Matilda took his hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Thad, dear. I’m so happy for you. I know how heavily their safe return had been weighing on your heart.”
“Augustus has been placed in command of the Greys,” he said, feeling quite proud of his brother. “They’ve been ordered to remain in France for now. My MacLauren cousins, Malcolm and Robbie, will arrive sometime today in Weymouth.”
“Returning with the injured.” She nodded. “That’s why you’re impatient to leave.”
“Aye, Your Grace. I’ll meet their ship and then ride up with them as far as Wellesford. There’s a little business I must resolve first. From there, we’ll continue north to Scotland.”
“What sort of business?”
He shifted uncomfortably.
She arched an eyebrow. “You’ll arrive in time for Goose’s surprise party. Wycke will be there, courting Penelope. I assume this is the ‘little business’ to which you refer. What do you intend to do about her?”
“It’s complicated.”
Matilda studied him for what felt like eternity before her eyes suddenly widened. “I knew it! You’re in love with Penelope.”
“Och, Your Grace. I said no such–”
She began to ring the little bell on the table beside her. “Of course, you’re in love with her. Lavinia and I have been waiting for you to do something about it. In truth, we were beginning to despair. Chrichton! Chrichton! We’re off to Wellesford! Where is that man when you need him?”
Bollocks. What was it about women and their fascination with love? And how had she known the reason for his stopping in Wellesford? Did she have the gift of sight?
Or was he that obvious?
Matilda shot to her feet with the spring of a gazelle. “I won’t delay you, for I know you must get to Weymouth. But don’t tarry there. Ride to Sherbourne Manor as soon as possible. I’ll leave today and hold off Wycke for you. But you must act fast. He’s going to propose to Penelope and then you will lose her forever.”
Thad rode out of London, holding Thor back while the roadway was crowded with carts and carriages already descending upon the town despite the early hour. He gave the big gray free rein as soon as they reached the outskirts, allowing him to gallop along the open roads.
Clouds gathered overhead, covering the sun. The air did not feel particularly damp, so Thad doubted there would be much rain to slow his progress. He’d reach Weymouth tomorrow. It would not take him long to find his regiment, for they would be housed for the night near the docks, assuming they’d sailed into port before sundown.
He broke into song as he rode, no doubt irritating Thor, for his voice was wretched. But he hadn’t felt this lightness of spirit in a very long time. Soon reunited with his kinsmen. Knowing the injured in his regiment would finally be home with their loved ones. And now he had Duchess Matilda assisting him in his courtship of Penelope.
Not that he’d asked for her assistance.
Nor did he particularly want her help or anyone’s, for that matter.
That Beast’s aunt had taken up the challenge, responding like a mother bear protecting her cub, had left a warm feeling inside of him.
Is this what mothers did for their children?
He’d never experienced a mother’s love before. Matilda’s fierce determination on his behalf was not something he would easily forget. It mattered not that he could take care of himself.
He’d been on his own for most of his life. He was also a man full grown and had no intention of clinging to a woman’s skirts. Still, her caring shot straight to his heart and made him feel…he supposed the best description was hopeful, happy. “What shall I sing next, Thor?”
The wicked creature tried to buck him out of the saddle. “Verra well,” he said with a laugh, “no more singing. Settle down, ye crazed devil.”
The rest of his journey passed uneventfully. He reached Weymouth early the following morning. A mist hung over the distant harbor as he approached the outskirts of town. But the heat of the sun soon melted away the lingering haze, and it wasn’t long before the sun’s rays broke through and shone upon the white-capped waters with dazzling brilliance.
As it turned out, the ship carrying his regiment was only now sailing into port. He watched it cut across the expanse of shimmering blue like a sleek leviathan.
“There she is,” he said in a reverential whisper and spurred Thor toward the slip where the vessel was expected to moor.
He arrived well ahead of it, and began to pace impatiently along the wooden slats of the dock, causing them to groan and squeak beneath his heavy footfalls. Waves lapped against the pilings with a soft slush, slush, soon drowned out by shouts and footsteps as workers began preparing for the majestic vessel’s arrival.
Thad’s heart was firmly lodged in his throat as he watched ropes being tossed down, the anchor dropped, and the vessel properly secured.
His cousin Malcolm must have noticed him tramping up and down the dock, for he ran down the gangplank the moment it was dropped. He whooped with joy and hauled Thad into his beefy embrace. Thad was a big man. Malcolm was even bigger, a mountain of a man. He lifted Thad as though he were no heavier than a sack of grain, practically slinging him over his massive shoulder. “Malcolm, put me down! Gad, ye’re an arse!”
When his cousin finally did so, he had a big grin on his face. “Ye look good, ye skinny runt. What happened to ye? One moment, ye’re leading our regiment, and the next, we hear ye’re in London. What idjit took command of the Greys away from ye? I know ye weren’t caught sleeping with a general’s wife. That’s more Robbie’s style. Anyway, do ye ken, yer brother’s in charge now? He isn’t much of a field commander, but I suppose it canno’ matter much now that we’re at peace. Hope it holds. The French are still restless. There could be trouble.”
“Augustus can handle it.” He clapped Malcolm on the back as they both headed toward the vessel to greet the others. “How’s Robbie? Is he with ye?”
“Aye, but he has a lame leg. Tripped over a cannon wheel aboard ship and fell hard on his knee. So he’s now on the injured list.” Malcolm’s grin faded and he cleared his throat. “At least he’s alive. We’ve only brought back the injured. The dead will be returned home eventually. Wellington decided it was safest to bury them in Flanders for now. Their loved ones won’t be pleased, but there’s no help for it. Disease is too widespread. We’ve lost more men to cholera and dysentery than to actual battle.”
Thad nodded. “This was my greatest fear.”
As they strode up the gangplank, Malcolm continued filling him in on all that had transpired. “Well, at least we’ll get the injured home faster. The best medicine for them is to see the Highlands again.” He patted his breast pocket. “I have the list of the dead. As soon as we’re home, Caithness and I will ride from croft to village until we’ve paid our respects to every last family who’s lost a soldier. Have ye seen our Uncle Caithness?”
Thad nodded. “Aye, in London a few days ago.�
�
After greeting Robbie, he told his cousins all that had happened to him in these past days. “So we’ll be stopping in Wellesford while ye court Lady Penelope Sherbourne?” Robbie scratched his head. “Does she have any sisters?”
“No.”
Robbie was as big as Thad, and had an eye for the ladies, just as they had for him, for he was considered quite handsome by most. “Too bad,” he said with a frown. “Malcolm’s also in need of a wife.”
His brother cuffed him. “Worry about yerself. I’m not in need of a wife.”
Thad sighed. “Aye, ye are. Robbie’s right.” He told his cousins the rest of Castlereagh’s plans for quelling the Scottish instability.
When he finished, Malcolm grinned at him. “Are ye keen on leg-shackling yerself to Lady Penelope?”
“If she’ll have me,” Thad said, frowning. “I hope she will, but I’ve handled things badly. She won’t be pleased.”
Malcolm shook his head in dismay. “And what of me? Has Caithness truly agreed to my marrying a Sassenach? I won’t believe it until I hear it from his own lips.”
“He’s set on it. He was left no choice but to agree to Castlereagh’s demand. In truth, these Sassenach women aren’t all bad.” He ran a hand through his hair in consternation, something he seemed to be doing a lot lately. He wasn’t afraid of battle. He wasn’t afraid of facing an enemy. He was afraid of one thing only…facing Loopy.
His stupid lie was going to hurt her.
She’d been toting around The Book of Love, believing in connections and deep commitment, and what had he done? Told everyone about his proposal except the one person he needed to tell.
She’d never forgive him for spouting the lie.
After making a quick inspection of the injured, he and Malcolm arranged for carts to carry those who couldn’t ride. Since the Greys were a light cavalry regiment, most of the men had horses brought over on the same vessel and would be able to travel fast on horseback despite their injuries. Those who’d lost their mounts in battle were assigned to ride in the carts for now.
It took several more hours to arrange for food and supplies, but all the men were eager to return to their homes, so the regiment began their journey north by midday.
Thad considered what he would say to Loopy.
Perhaps the sight of injured soldiers, and the knowledge that his cousins were alive and healthy, would temper her anger. He’d introduce her to Malcolm and Robbie, of course. Perhaps Robbie’s limp would soften her heart.
She didn’t have to know he’d been injured tripping on a cannon wheel.
Well, he had a few days before they reached Wellesford, for the carts would slow them down. He knew what he needed to say to her. He was a Scot, after all. Not a false-tongued London dandy. The Scottish way was to be direct. Loopy, I love ye. Forget Wycke and marry me.
Then he’d kiss her.
He’d already kissed her once and knew she’d liked it.
How hard could courtship be?
*
“Holy Hannah,” Thad muttered two days later as he dismounted from Thor and saw Penelope marching toward him. He, Malcolm, and Robbie had ridden ahead to Sherbourne Manor, hoping to arrange an encampment for his injured men in one of the meadows outside of Wellesford.
He knew Nathaniel would agree to anything he asked. Beast and Olivia would also lend assistance, offering the field behind Gosling Hall since the land was flatter and had a stream running behind it with fresh, flowing water.
The entire regiment would arrive tomorrow. Thad had purposely left them behind, allowing them to rest overnight in one of the quaint market villages a short distance south of Wellesford. Today was the day of Olivia’s surprise party, and the Sherbournes already had a swarm of guests, including Wycke and his family, to entertain.
They didn’t need a horde of bedraggled Scots jumping naked in the stream and ruining their party.
“Who is she, Thad?” Malcom asked with a chortle. “That is the angriest woman I’ve ever set eyes upon in my entire life.”
Thad arched an eyebrow and winced. “That’s Lady Penelope.”
“Your beloved?” Robbie snorted. “Ye’d better run. I think she’s going to kill ye. I see steam pouring from her ears. Och, Thad. Ye’ve always had a way with women.”
“Shut up, Robbie.” He strode toward Loopy, hoping to draw her aside to speak in private. What had he done to rile her now?
This was going to be bad. She was already fuming and didn’t yet know about his London meeting with Castlereagh and his kinsmen.
He would have to rethink his courtship plan.
“Loopy, I–”
“You wretch!” She looked ready to punch him. “Are you deranged? Do you realize what you’ve done?”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Och, lass. Ye might explain it to me.” Bollocks. If she was angry now, and he hadn’t a clue what spur had pricked her very pretty backside this time, she’d be furious when he told her what he’d said to his uncles in London.
“You knew the Earl of Wycke was courting me.” Her eyes began to tear, but the lass had spirit and would never cry in front of him, and certainly never in front of his cousins who were strangers to her.
He took her arm, attempting to draw her toward the towering oak near the pond, but she refused to budge from her spot. His cousins were gawking at them, having too much fun over his discomfort to step away and give them a moment of privacy. “Who are those men?”
“Not important.” His cousins could wait to be introduced. Calming Loopy seemed more urgent. “Has Wycke said something to insult ye, lass? I’ll–”
“Him?” Her hands were curled into fists. Thankfully, she still made no attempt to swing at him. “He’s been a complete gentleman. It’s you who…how could you?”
“I’d answer the question if I had a clue what ye were talking about. Come with me.” He took her hand, giving her no chance to draw it away, and strode to the pond and the fallen log. He nudged her onto the gnarled trunk and stuck his booted foot beside her to keep her from running off. Not that she had a mind to run. No, she wasn’t finished railing at him.
“Did you or did you not tell your kinsmen that we were betrothed? And now they’re both here, demanding explanations why I am entertaining Wycke’s suit when I’m promised to you.”
Thad’s stomach sank. “My kinsmen? Ye can’t mean the earls, Caithness and Hume?”
She nodded. “The very ones.”
Well, that explained her temper. “Blessed saints! What are they doing here?”
“Besides checking my teeth and my gait? As if I were a filly at auction?”
He ran a hand through his hair and looked over her toward the manor house where the two old men had to be doing their worst. “Loopy, I’m sorry. I never realized–”
She jumped up and gave a shove to push him away. “Don’t call me that. My name is Penelope. Lady Penelope. And I’ll never forgive you for humiliating me the way you have.”
She turned and ran back to the house.
Blasted kin had ignored him his entire life. Why did they have to take an interest in him now? He wouldn’t blame Loopy if she never spoke to him again.
He returned to his cousins who were waiting for him by the front door. “Ye should have kissed her,” Robbie said.
“Shut up, Robbie.”
“I would have kissed her,” Malcolm agreed.
Thad strode inside. He needed to find Nathaniel and explain this mess before Caithness and Hume realized he’d arrived and trapped him.
He made his way through the hall into the music room, his cousins following close behind, no doubt gawking at the elegance of this ‘simple’ country home. Few Scottish estates could boast such finery.
He paused to peer out the long windows that opened onto the garden.
The day was warm and sunny. Olivia’s party appeared to be a lively affair. Tables laden with food were set out in the rear field between the Sherbourne garden and the back road to Wellesfor
d. Servants were running in and out of the kitchen carrying tankards of ale, bowls of ratafia punch, and trenchers laden with meat and fish.
Much of the town was in attendance.
The sun was shining over the garden, but Thad stood in the shadows, preferring to remain unseen. He continued to peer through the music room window, easily spotting Matilda and Lavinia holding court while seated beneath one of the large shade trees.
How much had Matilda told everyone?
Periwinkle was snuggled on Lavinia’s lap, as always.
Pip was in the distance, showing Monarch off to a group of village boys. Good. The lad needed to play with children his own age.
His attention returned to the two dowagers and the guests seated beside them. He recognized Lord and Lady Plimpton, Goose and Poppy. Wycke and his mother and sister. Standing just behind them were Beast and the two earls, Caithness and Hume.
Was it Castlereagh’s brilliant idea to have them come here?
Nathaniel approached him and clapped him on the shoulder. “I thought I made a fool of myself while courting Poppy. You, my friend, make me look brilliant. Care to fill me in on what happened?”
“Och, Nathaniel. Ye’d better lock yer pistols in their cabinet. Loopy’s angry enough to shoot me.” He introduced Nathaniel to his cousins, then they all retired to Nathaniel’s study to hear Thad’s explanation of the quagmire he’d created for himself.
To his relief, Nathaniel seemed more amused than angry. “Wycke now believes he has competition for Penelope’s affections. I suppose it’s a good thing. Makes her more desirable to him. Frankly, I haven’t seen much fire in the man. I’m not sure he loves her.”
Thad dismissed the notion. Not all men were flaming arses such as himself. Wycke was the deliberate, cautious sort.
“Despite the fact that she presently wishes to cut your life short, Penelope is tender-hearted when it comes to you. She always has been. As angry as she is, she’ll never betray you.”
Thad grunted.
Indeed, he was her big, dumb Scot. No one was going to kick his arse but her.
