Her Sudden Groom (Groom Series, BOOK 1)

by Rose Gordon

  “She has writing implements.” Alex furrowed his brow. “What are they doing over there, penning a book?”

  “No, not a book.” Andrew looked to Caroline to give him her next directive.

  A few minutes later, Benjamin came up to take Andrew’s place.

  “And are you going to tell us what’s so comical under the eaves, Your Grace?” Caroline asked with an enormous smile.

  He shook his head. “No. You’ll find out soon enough.” He kicked a stick off the side of the platform then looked to Caroline for his instructions.

  Alex and Caroline played another forty minutes, interrogating both Benjamin and Paul in between moves. Finally, Andrew came back up for his second rotation after Paul’s.

  “Are you almost done?” Andrew whispered so Caroline didn’t hear.

  “Almost,” he whispered back. “I was afraid if I let her win right off she’d grow suspicious. But then, I realized she was actually a decent player and losing without being obvious became harder than winning.”

  Andrew chuckled and went to move Caroline’s piece for her. “Think you might best him, Caroline?”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

  Alex moved his piece and waited for Andrew to move Caroline’s. “I think it will be over in two plays.”

  Andrew nodded and moved Caroline’s piece.

  “I wonder why all the laughing has stopped,” Caroline said loud enough for those up by the house to hear.

  “Because we don’t want to miss the end,” Brooke answered, kicking her foot in a way that the toe of her slipper kept peeking out from under her skirt.

  Alex made quick work of moving his next piece. He wanted to make it look like a lapse of judgment so she wouldn’t catch onto his plan.

  Caught up in the excitement, Caroline pushed her own piece over a square. “Checkmate!”

  “You win, Caro!” Alex picked her up and gave her a twirl.

  It took less than ten seconds for his family to be off their chairs and surrounding them.

  “Now, Alex, as loser of this game, it’s only fitting you kneel at Caroline’s feet and recite lines praising her and her win,” Brook informed him. “And since nobody expects her to think up on the spot what you should say to her, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to think of the lines for her.” She handed Alex a piece of paper.

  He grabbed the paper and quickly scanned the lines they’d collectively penned for him to say. He scowled. “I’ll not be saying this.” He shoved the paper in his breast pocket before someone could grab it back and show it to Caroline. “I’ll kneel at her feet and praise her. But the words will be my own, thank you.” His own words may not be as poetic or romantic, but they would be genuine, which, he was certain, would mean a lot more to Caroline.

  Swallowing his nervous pride, he took Caroline’s hands and dropped to his knees on the hard, wooden platform. He cleared his throat and looked up into Caroline’s blue eyes.

  “Caro,” he started, then paused to scowl at Brooke who was prematurely gasping. They all knew he was going to propose. Couldn’t she at least wait to gasp until he’d gotten the words out? He raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for her to get the unspoken message to stuff it until the appropriate time.

  Instead of a nod or some small gesture to communicate she understood, a rather bizarre noise erupted from Brooke’s throat and her finger pointed beyond Alex’s shoulder.

  Slowly, Alex turned his head over his shoulder at the same time Caroline raised her eyes and simultaneously their eyes followed the invisible line extending from Brooke’s outstretched finger.

  Beneath his grasp, Caroline’s hands turned cold and stiffened just as his eyes fell upon the worst thing his imagination could possibly think up at a time like this.

  He sucked in a breath. Hell’s afire. Walking straight toward them was Lady Olivia.

  Chapter 14

  Good gracious. Olivia was trotting at them faster than Caroline had seen her move in years, and she looked angrier than a terrier chasing a rat. Caroline glanced down. Olivia was not going to be happy about this. Alex was on his knees at her feet, holding her hands, with his entire family standing around. Olivia’s first thought would probably be that Alex was about to propose to Caroline, which he wasn’t, but to an outsider that’s exactly how it looked.

  She tried to jerk her lifeless hands from Alex’s, but he wouldn’t let go. He stood up and murmured something about everything turning out all right.

  “I thought I told you to keep your hands off him,” Olivia snapped bitterly, putting her hands on her hips.

  “Olivia, stop. There is no need to make a scene.” Caroline and Olivia could argue about this another time, preferably without an audience.

  Ignoring her, Olivia shook her head and clucked her tongue. “I knew this would happen to you. Mama always said it would, but tender soul that I am, I held out hope you wouldn’t turn into the whore your mother was. I suppose she was right after all.”

  Blood pounding in her ears, Caroline didn’t hear what Alex said in response. She tried to force herself to pay attention to what was being said when suddenly an arm looped around hers. “Caroline, dear, why did you not say something sooner?” Brooke exclaimed. “I, myself, have heard several unsavory whispers behind my back—some of which included being called that same unflattering term you just were—after I got myself ruined at my uncle’s house party two years ago, or some such nonsense. I daresay this revelation has created a bond between us as deep as the bond I share with my sisters.”

  Olivia’s mouth fell open. Likely she’d never expected the countess to openly refer to herself as been called a whore. Quite honestly, Caroline was a bit surprised, too. But not enough to not accept the show of friendship Brooke had just extended to her.

  Olivia snapped her mouth shut and waved her hand dismissively. “Yes, I knew that about you, Lady Townson. I recognized you as a tart the night we met. The two of you shall have a very close friendship.”

  “You mean the three of us,” Liberty amended, stepping up to stand next to Brooke. “I think you forget I seduced a country vicar while my parents were out for the night. The story appeared in the Daily Times last year. If you require a reminder of the events, I’ll be happy to loan you my copy.”

  Olivia gasped. “That was you?”

  “Yes,” Liberty said proudly.

  Caroline nearly choked on a giggle as she glanced at the grinning face of Liberty’s husband then back to the horrified look on Olivia’s.

  “And to think I called you my friend,” Olivia said with a sniff. “You are just as despicable as your sister.”

  “Which one?” Madison asked, pushing forward to join the ranks. “The night my engagement was announced, I was openly accused of carrying on an affair with my sister’s husband. Thankfully, Benjamin was there and decided instead to make me his duchess. But that pales in comparison to my other premarital transgressions.” Her tone left no doubt in anyone’s mind she was being brutally honest.

  Caroline looked at the three sisters and hoped they could see in her eyes just how thankful she was to them for exposing themselves to ridicule for her. Nobody had ever stood up for her like this before and their willingness touched her deeply.

  “It’s amazing you three doxies were able to snag husbands,” Olivia said bitterly. “And two of rank.”

  “That’s because we’re just as depraved,” Andrew informed her jovially. “I once signed an agreement to accept payment to ruin an innocent girl without offering marriage.”

  “And I’m the one who was going to pay him,” Benjamin remarked, coming to stand behind his wife.

  Olivia’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. Then she brought out her fan. After three tries, she successfully snapped it open and fanned herself so fast one would think a light breeze was blowing through.

  “Don’t leave me out,” the vicar said. “As I like to remind my wife from time to time, I may be a man of God, but I’m still a man. And believe it or not, I’ve
had more than one scandal that would curl your stockings attached to my name.” He twisted his lips. “I’m not really sure which is the worst, so I’ll let you decide—”

  “There is no need, Mr. Grimes,” Olivia snapped. “This whole family is depraved.” She narrowed her eyes on John and Carolina. “I don’t even want to know the story behind your marriage.”

  “That’s good, because it’s not up for discussion,” John said tightly, garnering a little nudge from his wife as her face grew pink.

  Olivia blew out a deep, foul-smelling breath and looked at each of them with a disgusted scowl before her gaze fell to Alex, who looked as proud as could be of his scandalous family. Suddenly, Olivia’s face transformed and she carelessly flicked her hand in the air in front of her. “Alex, darling,” she said in a voice so sweet it could give someone a toothache, “I forgive you.”

  “Pardon?” he asked, his face completely blank.

  “I know you cannot help who your relations are—” she cast Caroline a look that told her just what she thought of her relation— “but I’ll not count it as a point against. They’re only cousins, after all.”

  “Excuse me?”

  She huffed. “Alex, I’m telling you I’m willing to overlook this nuisance.” Her face scrunched as she said the word. “I know you’re not like them. You’re a good and decent gentleman who doesn’t have a scandalous bone in his body. I know that. I will grow to turn a blind eye to your family in time. Now, let’s plan this wedding of ours, shall we?”

  Alex stared blankly at her for a minute before flickering a glance to Caroline. Caroline’s throat went dry and the blood roared in her ears. He didn’t know Olivia like she did. He didn’t know how insincere she was being just now in order to get what she wanted. But Caroline knew, and all she could do was stand paralyzed while she waited for Alex’s response.

  “Lady Olivia, I’m sorry to hear that you dislike my family so much,” he said quietly, solemnly.

  “Yes, well, that can be overlooked,” she said, batting her lashes at him.

  “Is that so? Well, it’s not really of any import, because you see, I’m just like them.”

  She slapped him on the shoulder flirtatiously. “Don’t be silly. You’ve never done anything scandalous.”

  Alex’s response to her accusation wasn’t what Caroline expected. Quite frankly, it wasn’t what anyone expected. He squared his shoulders and, without so much as a blink, blurted, “A few years ago, I went to a nitrous oxide party and stripped off my clothes in front of all the other guests.” The grim smile he wore after he said those unbelievable words slipped when the entire group erupted in laughter.

  “Of all the lies you could have told, that was the worst, my beloved,” Olivia crooned after her laughter died. She brought her hands to his chest to smooth his lapels and fix his twisted cravat.

  He encircled her wrists and pulled her hands away from his body. He looked over at Caroline. “I don’t have to defend or explain myself to you. But if you do not believe my story, ask Marcus. He was there, too.” Even though his words were for Olivia, his eyes had been locked with Caroline’s and she saw the truth in his eyes. A truth that no words alone could expose.

  Where? When? Why? She wanted to ask all those questions and more, but instead she just smiled at him. He’d chosen her. For as odd a confession as that had been, it proved he’d chosen her, and the knowledge made her heart soar.

  Olivia’s face twisted in disgust. “Apparently Caroline was correct when she said there was more to you than I originally thought. Unfortunately for you, it’s not something I’d care to further explore. If you decide to come to your senses, I shall be waiting at Ridge Water to hear your words of apology, and if they’re good enough, I might consider forgiving you and going through with the wedding.” She turned to Caroline. “Come, Caroline, let’s go home. I suppose I’ll forgive you, even if you are the daughter of a whore and addict.”

  Caroline sucked in a breath, perhaps from the shock of Olivia’s comment, but most likely due to the loud clap of thunder overhead.

  “Come, girls, let’s go in before the rain starts,” Alex’s aunt murmured, pulling on the elbows of her two pregnant daughters.

  Reluctantly, the three sisters followed their mother inside, leaving Caroline, Olivia and all the gentlemen outside.

  “I agree,” Olivia said. “We need to go before the rain starts, Caroline.”

  “No,” Caroline countered firmly. “You go. I’m an invited guest.” She glanced up to Andrew and waited for him to nod his agreement. “As such, I intend to stay.”

  Olivia clamped her plump hand on Caroline’s upper arm. “Let’s go before my hair gets wet.”

  “Let go of me.” Caroline tried to yank her arm from Olivia’s grip. “You’re hurting me.”

  “Let go of her. Now,” Alex said sharply.

  Olivia’s fingers tightened their grip. “Make me.”

  Without breaking eye contact with Olivia, Alex asked, “Would someone please go ask her coachman to bring the carriage up to the house?”

  “Not me,” Andrew answered immediately. “There’s not a chance I’m leaving now.”

  “Me neither,” the duke inserted just as soon as Andrew’s last word had escaped.

  Alex’s uncle shook head. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Well, I’m not going to leave this fiasco in-the-making, either,” the vicar added, interest evident in his sparkling his green eyes.

  “Then flip a coin,” Alex bit off.

  “Excellent idea,” Andrew agreed. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a silver coin.

  The four proceeded to act like schoolboys and have a series of coin tosses that resulted in the duke being pronounced the loser. “I’ll be right back, nobody move or say anything while I’m gone,” Benjamin warned before scampering away in search of the coachman.

  The five minutes he was gone seemed to last forever as the six of them who remained stood silent.

  Equal parts relief and nervous excitement coursed through Caroline as Olivia’s carriage came into view, the duke grinning as he rode up on the coachman’s bench. The coach stopped by the house where the drive ended, about two hundred yards away from where they were standing. Before the brake was set, the duke was down and practically running over to rejoin the group.

  “Very good,” Alex said, still holding Olivia’s daring gaze.

  With no word of warning, Alex reached over, grabbed Olivia’s hand, and yanked it off Caroline’s arm. Not letting go of her wrist, he raised it in the air and wrapped her arm around his neck. He put his free arm around her midsection, hoisted her into the air, and slung her over his shoulder. Without a hint of strain or discomfort, Alex walked in the direction of the carriage. Everyone stayed close at his heels, watching in keen interest as he carried a kicking and screaming Olivia atop his shoulder to the carriage.

  Thankfully the coachman had had enough foresight to open the door to the carriage. Alex only had to pull her off his shoulder, toss her up inside, and swiftly close the door. With a quick flick of his wrist, he locked the door from the outside and called to the coachman to drive on, heedless to Olivia’s banging on the glass and demanding he let her out.

  The coach was only about ten yards down the drive when Alex turned around. “Is everyone ready to go inside?” he asked as if nothing had happened.

  “Are you all right?” Andrew asked, concern filling his face and his voice.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Because you just hoisted something at least fifteen stones over your shoulder and carried it more than two hundred yards,” the duke retorted, a newfound admiration for Alex shining in his eyes.

  “Actually, the physician said she’s seventeen stones,” Caroline blurted before she realized what she’d said and to whom.

  “When there’s that much mass, it’s hard to tell a difference,” Alex said with a flick of the wrist.

  She blushed and flashed him a grateful smiled. He’d only said
that to make her feel better about what she’d just publicly revealed about her cousin. She looked at the four other gentlemen standing by Alex. They all shared that same gleam of admiration for Alex. She nearly laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

  “Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Paul asked, his unblinking green eyes wide behind his spectacles.

  “I’m sure. Now let’s go inside before we get wet.”

  Caroline held her palm out and caught half a dozen raindrops almost instantly. She’d been so absorbed by the excitement of Alex’s dispatching of Olivia she hadn’t noticed it was raining.

  Alex held his arm out for her and they followed the other four men, who, like little boys, insisted on telling each other the story from their point of view of the events.

  “You can tell me if you’re hurt,” Caroline whispered to Alex.

  “I’m not.” He brushed a kiss on her temple.

  She chose to believe him and let the matter drop.

  “Caro?” Alex pulled her to a stop once they were inside the house. “If you need a few minutes of privacy, I’ll wait.”

  She shook her head. Why would he think she required a moment of privacy?

  “Very well.” He tugged her into a little dark area hidden in the shadows. His arms snaked around her and pulled her up against his chest. “Caro,” he said raggedly, tracing her shoulder blades with his fingertips. “I wanted to talk to you about something. Something important.”

  Caroline blinked at him. His brown eyes looked more intense than she’d ever seen them. Why did she get the impression he didn’t merely want to talk about something as trivial as the membership to the Society of Biological Matters? “Yes?”

  Alex swallowed hard, and for some reason, his nervousness caused a jolt of excitement to shoot through Caroline. Just what did he have to say? “Caro, will you—”

  “Hurry up, you two,” Andrew called down the hall. “Mother has taken it into her head we need to dance.”

  Andrew’s footsteps were coming closer and Alex released her. “We’re coming,” he called to his friend.