Mint.
It was a sign. She is here. She is waiting for you. Colin sprang for Hector and mounted, then yelped the gelding into a breakneck pace, sending the great horse’s hooves skittering on the cobbles like a puppy on a polished floor.
I’m coming, my rogue lady! Wait! Wait for me!
When Colin rode up to Brown’s, his heart fell as he saw Bailiwick step forward, ready to take Hector’s reins.
He swung his leg over Hector’s back and dismounted. “Bailiwick, have you been long back? Did she leave at once? Did she say where they were going?”
Someone cleared his throat. Colin looked up to see Wilberforce standing at the top of the steps, gloved hands behind his back, gaze fixed in the middle distance.
“Sir Colin, Miss Melody requires your assistance.”
Oh, God. Melody must be heartbroken to lose her beloved Evan! Colin strode up the steps, pulling off his gloves, hat, and riding coat. “I ought to have explained better,” he told Wilberforce mournfully. “I can’t seem to get that part right.”
“Indeed, Sir Colin. If you would, please—no one seems to be able to assist Miss Melody as she requires.”
“Good Lord, not even Bailiwick?” Melody must be shattered if her partner-in-crime Billy-wick couldn’t distract her.
Wilberforce only raised a brow. “So it would seem, Sir Colin.”
With a gust of worry, Colin headed for the stairs and the rooms above. He halted when Wilberforce cleared his throat once more. By God, the man had them all well trained, didn’t he?
Wilberforce inclined his head regally. “Miss Melody is in the kitchens, Sir Colin.”
“Kitchens?” Colin turned and followed the man. He’d raided the kitchens a few times when they were still trying to conceal Melody from the staff. They were cavernous tiled rooms full of sinks and stoves and tables. He entered the main kitchen right behind Wilberforce. It was hardly the sort of place Melody would run to when she needed comfort—
Melody stood on a chair at the stove under the supervision of the club’s cook, enveloped in a gigantic apron, stirring a pot so briskly that the steaming contents slopped enthusiastically over the rim to sizzle on the stove. Gordy Ann peeked warily from the pocket of the oversized apron that wrapped twice around Melody. Melody spotted Colin and gave him a big, sticky smile and a spattering wave of her spoon. “Uncle Colin!”
Colin blinked. His heartbroken little charge looked in fine form. Happy as a pig in mud, actually. He turned toward Wilberforce. “What is the meaning of thi—”
He saw her. Pru. She was standing at one of the tables, up to her elbows in flour, rolling out pastry with a giant rolling pin that made him have a sudden craving for ale. At least, that was what she had been doing before he walked into the room. Now she stood frozen, staring at him, the pastry dough falling from the raised rolling pin in useless clumps.
Everything inside Colin abruptly settled into place. In that moment, he knew precisely who he was and what his purpose was in this world. Calmly he moved forward and rounded the table. With one hand he took the rolling pin from her strengthless grip and set it on the table. With the other hand, he took his handkerchief from his pocket and began to wipe the flour from her beautiful, delicate features.
Her eyes were fixed on him as if he had risen from the grave. When he was done with her face, he started on her hands, wiping and scrubbing at them until the handkerchief looked more like a glob of dough than a square of linen.
Then he tugged at those hands until she followed him, pulling her from the room and into the hall that led to yet another kitchen. As they left, he heard Melody giggle excitedly. “I’m going to get merry again!”
Indeed you are, little mousie.
In the silent kitchen beyond, Colin turned a strangely compliant Pru so that the light from the window glowed on her face. “Miss Prudence Filby,” he whispered. “I did not wed Chantal. Melody is not my daughter. Chantal lied.”
Pru blinked at him. “Well, it’s hardly the first time.”
Colin smiled to hear her old asperity return. Pru without a ready retort wasn’t Pru at all. “I have something to say to you, Miss Filby. Will you shut it and listen?”
Her lips quirked. “Sure, guv, it bein’ your proposal and all.”
He tipped her chin and gazed into those beautiful eyes. “Do you know why I left you behind that second day?”
Pru frowned at him. What was he about, reminding her of that horrible day now when she was so happy to see him? “Yes. Because we were in your way . . . your way to Chantal.”
He smiled. “Exactly.” He took her shoulders gently in his large hands. “You got in my way. I held you in my arms that first night and fed you broth sip by sip and watched you sleep and knew that if I didn’t get you out of my way, I would lose sight of the most important thing in the world to me.”
She relented. “I know how much you love Melody. You longed to believe she was yours.”
“Yes . . . and no.” He laughed at her puzzlement. “I love you. There, I said it. I love you. I fell in love with you . . . oh, probably when you called me a ‘lout.’ ” He kissed her frown away. “When I had to leave you behind again—”
“Sir Colin, I’m beginning to remember why I don’t like you!”
He pulled her close. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again!”
She began to laugh, the helpless laughter of one outsmarted by fate. She dropped her forehead against his neck and laughed herself limp in his arms.
“Now . . .” He went down on one knee, enjoying the thrilled uncertainty on her face. When he pulled the small box from his pocket he could hardly keep from laughing himself at the riot of emotions that crossed her expression.
He extended the box. She drew back from it. “I don’t want Chantal’s ring. I couldn’t bear it.”
Smiling, he opened the box. “I found this one earlier today. For you.”
Her expression went rather blank. “But . . .”
“I didn’t know where you had gone but I thought that if I started looking immediately, I might find you in time.”
She sniffled. “In time for what?”
He took the beautiful, delicate moonstone and diamond ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. “In time to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He stood and drew her into his arms again. “I love you, Miss Prudence Filby, rogue lady. I shall love you until your russet hair turns white and your freckles fade.”
She laughed. “You’re in for the long haul then, guv.” She hugged him, then pulled back when a sharp scent bit at her nose. “What’s this?” She reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a crushed green stem. “Why in the world are you carrying this about?”
He smiled easily but there was a hint of embarrassment in his face. “It reminded me of something, that’s all.”
She frowned at the sprig until he plucked it out of her fingers, tossed it over his shoulder, and swept her back into his arms.
“Where were we?” he murmured into her neck.
She took his hands and placed them firmly on her backside. “About here, I think, guv.”
EPILOGUE
Colin sat at a table in one of the unused card rooms at Brown’s. He reached his right hand out and stretched his fingers from the cramped claw they’d fixed themselves into.
A knock sounded at the door. “Go away,” he replied grumpily. “I have to finish this!”
The door opened anyway and Pru danced into the room, wearing one of the new gowns he’d purchased for her from Lementeur. It was a rich and shimmering emerald green and made her every inch the lady she truly was.
“What do you think?” she asked, twirling. “I wouldn’t presume to criticize Lementeur, but I wonder if it isn’t just a bit snug in the bust?”
Colin ignored that question. After all, he’d paid the dressmaker a good bit extra for just that purpose. “My lady, you look stunning.”
She grinned. “You bet yer arse I do!” She
spun, then landed in his lap. “Lementeur delivered them personally. Then he stayed for tea. We had the most wonderful chat. You never told me that Lady Madeleine was kidnapped! Imprisoned right here, in the club!”
Colin patted the manuscript that continued to grow on the desk. “The entire tale is in here . . . well, a fictional version of it, anyway.”
She brightened. “Oh, wonderful. I do love a good kidnapping!” She eyed the book for a long moment. “You do realize that if—when!—your brilliant stories get published, it is entirely possible that Melody will read them someday.”
Colin smiled. “Oh, I doubt she’ll remember the true events. She’s such a tiny thing. To her it’s all a bedtime story.”
“Speaking of which, Button brought her a new outfit as well.”
Colin nodded without surprise. “That’s nice. I’ll wager she looks nearly as pretty as you.”
“Well . . .” Pru tilted her head. “I don’t—”
The door burst open and a tiny pirate ran through the room, clad in purple striped breeches, tiny high black boots, and waving a disturbingly real-looking sword. A filthy knotted rag dangled from the pirate’s belt. It wore a tiny eye patch. “Avast, you swine! Black Jack will run you through!”
“Oh, bother,” Colin said mildly. “And this is a new weskit.”
One wide blue eye glared at him happily. The other was covered by a black silk patch. The little sword, which Colin was relieved to see was merely gilded wood, pointed at him with pirately ire.
“Keelhaul him! Make him walk the plank!”
Colin saluted. “Yes, Cap’n Melody! As soon as I’ve had my tea.”
The sword dropped slightly. “Tea? With lemon seed cakes? Pirates love lemon seed cakes.”
“Ah, then, I foresee a brief cease-fire,” Pru said dryly, “for Cook did indeed bake lemon seed cakes this morning.”
Colin brightened. “Really? Because novelists love lemon seed cakes as well.”
Pru laughed. “Cap’n Mousie, please tell Evan it’s teatime. I’m sure he’s hungry.”
“He’s always hungry. Evan!” The tiny pirate dashed from the room, narrowly missing the legs of Wilberforce, who was just entering the study.
Wilberforce, of course, took the miniature marauder in stride, as he did everything. He bowed. “Sir Colin, Lady Lambert, I am here to report that although Lord Aldrich’s wedding is imminent, he is not quite ready to depart his rooms on the top floor. In fact, he has requested that he be allowed to keep them, ‘should life with the Dowager Countess Blankenship occasionally prove overpowering.’ I quote.”
Pru smiled. “Of course. We’re only planning to expand into two apartments, after all. And Lord Aldrich is on the other side of the hall.” Then her brow clouded. “Oh, I see. That would be Aidan and Madeleine’s side.” She turned to her husband. “Colin, I daren’t speak for them. I’ve never met them, after all.”
Colin grinned. “Oh, I dare. I dare all the time. Wilberforce, tell Lord Aldrich that he is more than welcome to keep his rooms. No one will be more sympathetic to the need for occasional respite from Lady Blankenship than Aidan and Madeleine.”
Wilberforce nodded. “Indeed, sir.”
Pru smiled at the head of staff. “How was dining room etiquette with Evan, Wilberforce?”
“Master Evan is learning quickly, albeit reluctantly. At the moment he is taking his chess lesson with Lord Bartles and Sir James, while being instructed in the kings and queens of England. They speak highly of his scholarship. Lord Aldrich reports great progress in mathematics, as well. I daresay Master Evan will be caught up in no time. I shall be sorry to see him sent away to school. I find him very useful in wearing out Bailiwick.”
“Oh, dear.” Pru wrinkled her nose. “School. Melody won’t like that.”
Colin blinked. “Neither will I. I’ve only just got him.” He frowned. “I’ve so enjoyed teaching him to ride every afternoon.”
Pru smiled at him tenderly. “Don’t worry. He worships Hector . . . and you, too. And he needn’t go right away. Next year will be soon enough, or even the year after. Isn’t that right, Wilberforce?”
“Oh, indeed, my lady. There is still much to do.”
Pru patted Colin on the chest. “See? All better.”
At that moment, noises rose in the entrance hall. Colin listened curiously for a moment, then smiled widely. “They’re home!”
He lifted Pru from his lap and dropped a kiss on her nose. “Come and meet the rest of the family!” He rushed from the room.
Pru followed Colin into the entrance hall more slowly. There she saw her husband greeting a tall, dark-haired man by clasping his forearm and clapping him on the shoulder.
“You look like hell, you bastard.”
Ah, yes. Man-speak for “I’m very glad to see you again.”
Then her adoring, loving husband turned to sweep a stunning woman into his arms. Pru watched in shock as he planted a sound smack on someone else’s beautiful lips.
“Madeleine!” Colin set her back at arm’s length and grinned at her. “You’ve returned to me at last, you vixen! Are you done toying with this lout’s emotions and ready to admit your true feelings for me?”
Pru folded her arms and cleared her throat loudly. She narrowed her eyes at Colin when he turned. “Darling.” She smiled sweetly. “I have pointy boots and I know how to use them.”
He laughed aloud. “Too bloody right, you do!” He held out his hand to her and she came to him, smiling up into his face. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, still smiling.
He turned them both to face the newcomers who were looking at her with great surprise. Colin laughed again at their expressions. “Aidan, Madeleine, I’d like you to meet my wife, Prudence.”
The tall man, Aidan, blinked. “You work fast. We’ve only been gone a few weeks.”
“What a lovely surprise!” Madeleine managed a graceful elbow to her husband’s midsection, all the while smiling at Pru in a friendly way. “And how are you liking Brown’s, Lady Lambert?”
I like her. I didn’t know if I would but I do. Pru smiled back. “I love Brown’s completely. However, I think perhaps that I am Pru and you are Maddie, so let’s not waste another moment with that ‘ladyship’ rot.”
Madeleine laughed, then patted Colin on the shoulder as she passed him. “Well done, you,” she murmured.
Colin grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Glad you like her. We’re your new neighbors upstairs.”
“Oy,” Aidan said wearily. “Paws off my bride.”
“Maddieeeee!”
A gaudily clad pirate missile landed in their midst. Madeleine was down on her knees in an instant. “Oh, my mousie darling! I missed you so!” She picked Melody up and stood, holding her tightly, her eyes closed. “No more honeymoons, Aidan. I couldn’t bear to go away again.”
Aidan, tall, lordly sort that he was, looked rather misty-eyed as well. “You look well, Lady Melody.”
Melody sprang across the short distance, landing on Aidan’s chest with unerring accuracy. She didn’t say a word, but simply twined her arms about his neck and laid her curly dark head upon his shoulder. He silently wrapped his big arms about her. Pru doubted he’d be letting go for a very long while.
Movement at the doorway caught her eye. She turned and gasped, making the others turn as well.
A dark silhouette of a man stood in the doorway, wearing a seaman’s greatcoat and holding a small valise. He was tall and very thin, almost wasted, though one could see that he would be very handsome if he were fit. Pru swallowed at the hollow emptiness she saw in his dark eyes.
Aidan let Melody slither down him to stand on the carpet. He stepped forward. “Jack.”
Pru felt Colin leave her side. The two men approached their old friend with a strange sort of care, as if he might bolt back out the door if startled.
He wasn’t looking at them, however. He was gazing between them and down, his eyes locked on the tiny girl who had plucked her silk eye patch f
rom her face in order to see him better.
He dropped his valise and moved toward her.
Colin cleared his throat. “Er, Jack, I don’t know if you got our letters—”
Aidan stepped up. “Jack, we discovered her a few weeks ago—”
Madeleine smiled up at him gently. “Lord Jack, you don’t know me, but may I present to you—”
Jack held up a hand and they all went very still. “I know who she is.” He knelt on one knee in front of Melody. “You look just like your mother,” he said softly.
Pru pressed a hand to her breastbone, her heart thudding. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Madeleine knot her hands together, her knuckles white. Neither dared utter a word.
Melody blinked her large blue eyes at the man before her, then reached out to stroke his thin face with her pudgy baby fingers. “You’re Cap’n Jack.”
He didn’t smile but only nodded seriously. “And you are?”
She put her other hand on his face, framing his darkness with pink softness. “I’m Cap’n Melody.”
“Hello, Melody. I am your father.”
Melody tilted her head and gazed at him for a long moment. No one in the room dared breathe. “I like ships,” she said finally. “Do you have a ship?”
He nodded again. “I have many ships.”
“Can I see them?”
“Certainly.” He stood and held out his hand. “I shall show you my flagship, Honor’s Thunder.”
“All right.” She took his hand and walked him to the door, then turned to wave at the assembled pairs of wide eyes. “I’m going to go see Papa’s ship. Bye!”
Wilberforce helped Melody into her little coat, then opened the door for them, bowing silently as the two passed from the club. Then he shut it behind them, the click of the latch sounding through the hall.
It was as though everyone exhaled at the same moment. Madeleine came to stand next to Pru. “Was that wise, do you think?” Her dark eyes were worried. “He’s very odd. What does he know of children?”
Pru shook her head, more than a little concerned herself. “I don’t know. But what right have we to say? He is her father.”
Rogue in My Arms: The Runaway Brides Page 30
