“Which brings me to something I wanted to ask earlier but didn’t.” Candace waited for Anna to sit next to her on the bed then continued, “How did you find out I was here?”
“It wasn’t easy. We would have been here sooner if we had been able to deduct what happened to you quicker. You were supposed to pay me a visit the day after the ball, and when you didn’t show up, I went to your townhouse. I was alarmed to find out your carriage had been abducted. It wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the Tittletattle, and if it should have been mentioned somewhere, it should have been the scandalsheets. Anyway, the coachman and footman said three gentlemen, whose identities were concealed with their hooded cloaks, took you out of London. They had reported it to the police, and the police were looking for you. I decided that I would investigate the matter on my own. So I went to our friends to see if they had heard from or saw you, but they hadn’t. Then Jason and I went to Corin’s townhouse. I thought perhaps Corin was keeping you there so he could coerce you into trying for an heir. But as it turns out, he was not there. His footman said he had run out to his country estate to take care of his brother. That’s when Jason and I started to go to Corin’s friends. His friends were surprisingly secretive on the matter.”
“I’m not surprised,” Candace replied. “It was Lord Worsley, Lord Erandon, and the Duke of Lambeth who brought me out here.”
“Lord Worsley was the one who finally confessed. He was so distraught. I could tell he hadn’t wanted to do it.”
Recalling the way Lord Worsley had been groaning and hiding his head in shame the day she had arrived here, Candace knew that was true. “No, he didn’t. I think he was forced into doing it. Though, the other two were more than happy to do their part.” A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I don’t think we can be too hard on them. Their motives were good. They were sure that once Corin and I got to know each other, we would get along very well, and it turns out they were right.”
“Lord Worsley said it was his sister’s idea.”
“Yes, it was. Apparently, she had a hand in the scandal that forced Corin and I to marry. It was her way of making amends.”
“I’m not familiar with her. Do you think she’s a nice lady?”
“I’ve never had any disagreements with her. She always seemed fine to me. Though, as I think back on it, I do recall her mentioning something about being in love with Corin.” It was funny that Candace hadn’t even remembered that until now. Perhaps if she had thought of it sooner, she wouldn’t have been so eager to point the finger at Corin for the scandal. “Her husband, Lord Erandon, said the whole thing with the scandal was a misunderstanding. And he was right. Corin and I assumed things that really didn’t happen. I assumed he brought me to the den to have a dalliance with him and Mr. Bachman, and he thought Mr. Bachman had led me there so I could marry Corin for his money.” She chuckled. “When I think about it, the whole thing is amusing.”
“I’m just glad it wasn’t what we believed. I want so much for you to be happy, and I’m glad that you finally found someone who treats you the same way Jason treats me.”
On impulse, Candace gave her friend a hug. “I can’t think of a better friend than you. No one else would come all the way out here to return me to London.”
“I know that you would do the same for me.” Anna stood up. “What do you say we take a break from putting my things away and go to our husbands?”
“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.” And even better, both of them were going to the gentlemen they loved.
Chapter Twenty
Candace couldn’t believe how quickly the three months had flown by. With only a week left to be at the country estate, she found herself missing the place already.
She snuggled up to Corin as they rested on the blanket by the lake. Reuben had been with them earlier, but when it had come time for him to do his lessons, he had returned to the manor. That left her alone with Corin, and one thing led to another, and they had spent the next hour making love. Now, they were lying in each other’s arms, her head resting on his shoulder and her arm settled around his waist.
“Are you looking forward to going back to London?” she asked.
“I am looking forward to making business ventures again and there are some gentlemen I miss talking to, but I am going to miss being here.”
“I am, too. It’s been such a wonderful three months.”
He chuckled. “I don’t recall the first month going all that well.”
Smiling, she shrugged. “So there was a period of adjustment as we got use to each other. All things considered, I think we did very well.”
He squeezed her shoulders affectionately. “I wouldn’t trade this time with you for anything. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Celia actually did something good.”
“She did.” After a moment, she continued, “I’m glad that you’re the one who was in that den when Mr. Bachman dragged me into the scandal.”
“I suppose sometimes it takes a scandal to find a love match.” He kissed the top of her head and added, “Though, it took some manipulating from several people to get us to where we are today.”
“And three gentlemen in particular will be coming to retrieve us next week. Do you think they’re going to show up at the exact three month mark or do you think they will show up sometime during the week?”
“If Anthony has anything to say about it, it will be the exact day the three months are up. We can plan on Wednesday for their arrival.”
“They’re bound to know the whole plan was a success in nine months when I have your son or daughter.”
She had just found out the other day that she was expecting a child. Between Corin, his mother, and Reuben, she didn’t know who had been the most excited when she gave the announcement. All three of them had hovered around her and started making a lot of plans on what they wanted to do with the baby. One thing they all agreed on was bringing her back out to the country so they could all be together when she gave birth, something she was more than happy to agree to. She could think of no better place to have her child than here.
Corin gave her another kiss. “Yes, there’ll be no hiding the proof that Celia’s plan was a success when they see you with child. Although…”
Intrigued by the tone in his voice, she lifted her head and peered down at him. “Although what?”
He glanced at her, a twinkle in his eye, but then he said, “No, I can’t do it.”
“Do what?”
“It’s so unlike me. It’s something I would never do.”
“Which has me all the more interested.” She nudged him in the side. “You have to tell me. I’ll die of curiosity if you don’t.”
Laughing, he turned toward her and brought her into his arms. “We don’t want that.” He kissed her lips then her cheek and then her neck.
She giggled. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
“All right, I will, but I’m not actually going to do it. I was thinking that it would be funny if we pretended that I went insane and killed everyone. Then they would think their plan had been a complete disaster.”
“Oh, that would be hilarious. I would love to see the looks on their faces if they believed such a thing.”
“I would, too. But it’s a mean trick to play on someone, even if they do deserve it for making me think my brother was on his deathbed and abducting you the way they did.”
“Let’s do it. I’d love to be hiding in the room so I can see their faces when they think you’ve lost your mind.” He seemed to be considering it, so she hurried to add, “I think we can talk your mother and Reuben into going along with it.”
“You think so?”
“I do. They have a good sense of humor.”
“Well, mother has been in a very good mood ever since she found out she’s going to be a grandmother.”
“And Reuben will do whatever you want.”
He shot her a devilish smile. “All right, you talked me into it. It’s time we let
them worry for a change.”
***
On Wednesday, the sky was cloudy. In fact, it had been threatening to rain all through the day. It even started to sprinkle by the time Anthony, Lord Erandon, and the Duke of Lambeth pulled the carriage up to Corin’s estate. The sun had not set yet. There was still sufficient light for Corin to see them as they came onto his property.
A flash of lightning shot across the sky, which was a nice bonus. He could not have planned the weather better if he had been in control of it himself. It looked like everything was going to go exactly according to plan.
He gestured for Candace to hide behind the drapes in the den, and his mother and Reuben went to the drawing room. He closed the doors to the drawing room so that their visitors would not see them when they came into the manor. His footman, being in on the ruse, would lead the three gentlemen directly to the den.
In fact, all of the staff was in on the plan, and each had their part. The maid, for instance, had ruined one of Corin’s older outfits so that it looked tattered and worn, as if he had been wearing it every day for the past three months. And he had spread some dirt on his face and his hands, and then, for added effect, he sprinkled brandy on his shirt so that the smell of alcohol would be strong on him. He also ran his fingers through his hair and had decided not to shave for the past week. When he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he didn’t even recognize himself. It was perfect. He looked like a madman.
He hurried to the den and sat in the chair behind his desk, slouching down in it. He glanced over at the drapes just to make sure no one would notice Candace. Only someone who knew she was hiding behind them would know she was even there.
A clap of thunder rumbled through the sky, and he noticed a slight jerk from behind the drapes. Perhaps the drapes were not the best location for her to be hiding.
Since the gentlemen were not in the room yet, he whispered, “Maybe you should hide under the desk.”
After a moment, Candace hurried from the window and slipped under the desk. “Usually, a storm doesn’t bother me.”
“That’s because you’re not right in front of the window when the storm comes. Just stay under the desk and everything will be fine.”
Thinking it might add to the spooky atmosphere, he jumped out of the chair, blew out the candles, and parted the drapes. It was twilight. There was still some light left in the sky, so even with the storm brewing, the three gentlemen would be able to see him.
He made it back to the chair just in time to hear the footmen warning them, “I’m afraid Lord Durrant isn’t the same as he was when you left.”
“What do you mean by that?” Corin heard Anthony ask.
The door opened, and the footman said, “I don’t know how I can prepare you for what you’re about to see.” He opened the door further and gestured to Corin, who was slouched over in the chair. “Perhaps today he will speak.”
Corin couldn’t look at Candace. He had to lower his gaze to the floor. All it would take was one look, and he would burst out laughing.
“My lord,” the footman said, turning to face him, “You have three visitors. Lord Worsley, Lord Erandon, and the Duke of Lambeth.”
Corin kept his head bowed, opting not to answer.
After a moment, the footman turned to the three gentlemen. “He hasn’t said much since the incident. If I can be of any assistance, pull that cord on the wall.”
The footman gestured to the cord that would summon him. Then, he bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him, which also happened to trap the three gentlemen in the room.
Lightning flickered across the sky, and the room lit up in response. Seconds later, thunder rumbled. Pelts of rain started to hit the window in earnest.
“It looks like we arrived just in time,” Lord Erandon spoke up. “You’ll be happy to know that you’re free to return to London. We plan to head out first thing in the morning after we eat.”
Corin didn’t answer.
“Oh, for heaven sakes. You can’t still be sulking because we left you here for three months,” Lord Erandon said.
Sulking? Was that what they thought? Here he was hoping for the spooky effect, and they were accusing him of sulking. Finally, Corin lifted his head. He settled back into his chair and made eye contact with them. Lord Erandon and the Duke of Lambeth just stared back at him, their expressions not giving him any hint as to what they were thinking. Anthony, however, was a different matter.
“Corin, are you feeling all right?” Anthony asked in concern.
“I feel fine,” Corin replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
Anthony turned to the others. “Does he look fine to you?”
The Duke of Lambeth scanned Corin up and down. “He’s never looked fine to me, but then, I don’t know him that well. Is this normal for him?”
Anthony shook his head in bewilderment. “How can you think this is normal? His clothes, his hair, the dirt on his face… That is not normal for anyone.”
“Yes,” the Duke began, “he doesn’t look normal if you’re talking about a gentleman who isn’t sulking. But if he is still upset about what we did three months ago, then this is probably normal for him.”
“This is absurd,” Lord Erandon said. “We’re talking about him as if he’s not even in the room.” His attention went back to Corin. “I take it my wife’s plan wasn’t a success.”
“Of course, it wasn’t a success,” Anthony told him. “I don’t know why you thought it would be. Corin didn’t want to be with Candace any more than she wanted to be with him. I told you this was a bad idea. When we dragged her to this estate, I argued that this wouldn’t work. But nobody listened to me. Absolutely no one. Not even my own wife!” Anthony threw his hands up in the air in frustration.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Lord Erandon replied. “I’ve had lads on my ship who haven’t complained as much as you do.”
Anthony huffed. “That’s not fair. You can’t compare me to your crewmen.”
“I can, and I will. It’s no wonder your sister had to get after you to get things done. Even though you can see something is good for someone, you hesitate to do it. And bringing Corin and Candace together was a good thing.”
Corin had not expected a fight to erupt between them. He glanced under the desk and saw a surprised Candace give him a shrug. He didn’t know what to think of it, either. But there was really no need for the argument, so he supposed he should step in before things got out of hand. Anthony wasn’t one to throw a punch, but who knew what Lord Erandon might do? Lord Erandon, after all, had been the captain of a ship.
“Why did it take you so long to get here?” Corin asked.
“Pardon?” Lord Erandon asked, turning from Anthony.
“You told me you would return in three months,” Corin replied. “But it’s been two years. Two very long years.”
The three looked at him as if they were trying to figure out what he was saying.
Corin stood up from his chair and made his way over to them, making sure he limped as he did so. “Two years I have been here. Believing you to be gentlemen of your word, I waited and waited and waited, but you never came.”
The flicker of lightning lit up the room, and Anthony jumped.
The Duke of Lambeth shook his head at Anthony. “He’s playing us for fools. He’s upset, and this is his way of getting even with us. A very childish thing to do, if you ask me.”
Anthony didn’t seem convinced. “It is possible that he could’ve lost his wits being stranded out here with someone he didn’t want to be with.”
Thunder crashed, and Corin decided this would be a good moment to say, “Ah, I know who you speak of. It was that lady I was forced to marry. Well, there’s no need to worry about her. I took care of her a long time ago.”
At this announcement, the duke and Lord Erandon studied him. “What do you mean by that?” the duke asked.
“It was a long time,” Corin said. “A very, very, very long time. I didn’t think
two years could drag on like that, but every day I marked a notch on my wall in the bedchamber. Each day, each mark, totals seven hundred and thirty days. That is exactly two years after you brought me here.”
“No,” Lord Erandon told him. “It’s been exactly ninety-two days. That’s exactly three months.”
Corin turned his gaze to him. “Then why do I have so many markings on my bedchamber wall?”
“Because you’re not normal?” the duke suggested.
“He’s right,” Anthony told Lord Erandon. “Corin isn’t normal. He isn’t normal because we brought Candace out here to be with him for three months.”
Corin snapped his fingers. “That’s right. Her. I remember. I remember what I did with her now.” He let out a deep laugh and ran his fingers through his hair. “I made sure she would never bother me again.” Then, hoping to make things even spookier, he snickered. “She hasn’t been a problem in years.”
After a moment, the duke glanced at Anthony and Lord Erandon. “Come to think of it, we didn’t see her on the way into this den.”
Anthony’s eyes widened and he looked at Corin. “Where is she? Where is Candace?”
“Gone,” Corin said.
“What do you mean by gone?” the duke pressed. “Do you mean that she already left for London?”
Corin laughed. “She’s just… Gone. Not a problem. Away.”
“Where is away?”
“Far away from here.” Then he lowered his voice and whispered, “I made sure she was never going to bother me again, and she won’t bother anyone else, either. Where I took her, it’s dark, cold, and,” he paused for emphasis, “eternal.”
This time when the lightning flashed, all three gentlemen jerked.
Lord Erandon chuckled and put his hand on his stomach. “This is nonsense. All we have to do is ask the footman to get her. We can’t take his word for it. He thinks he came here two years ago.”
“But what if he actually killed her?” Anthony asked.
Lord Erandon shook his head. “No, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He didn’t.”
If It Takes A Scandal Page 18
