Sir Michael's Mayhem

by Susan M. Baganz

  Michael awaited Marcus’s rage.

  Marcus smiled and stood. “You must have regained your memory. This is wonderful news.”

  “Excuse me? No pistols at dawn?”

  Marcus rounded the desk to put his arm around his friend’s shoulder. Standing taller than him this was easily done. “No, Michael. You suffered an injury and had lost your memory. Amnesia. You and Katrina married shortly after that. Before I found that out I was ready to put a bullet through you if you had not taken those vows. You already did the honorable thing about two months hence.”

  Michael broke the embrace of his friend. “I’m married? To Mouse?”

  “Up to this point, it seemed to be a state of being that agreed with you. You have been thoroughly enchanted with your bride.”

  Michael sat down. With elbows on his knees, he leaned forward to put his face in his hands and began to rock. “No. Something is wrong here. This can’t be.”

  Marcus came to sit across from him. “Michael. I’ve never lied to you, have I?”

  Michael shook his head.

  “Good. Trust me. You and Katrina were set upon. It was a trap by the Black Diamond. You took a conk on the head and suffered memory loss. You and Katrina ended up here at Rose Hill and because she had been compromised and you loved her, even though you couldn’t remember your history together, you married her that day. I came upon you both here a day later and you were blissfully happy.”

  Michael looked up. “If I loved my wife so much how could I wake today and not remember any of this? Why would I feel such horror and revulsion?”

  “My guess is that while you have regained your memory of what happened prior to the attack, you lost the memories of the past two months, which is most unfortunate because I don’t know when I have ever seen you so content, but when you are with her.”

  “I have a difficult time believing you.”

  “You are a married man. Go to the church and read the ledger. Look at the ring on her finger. Kiss her and see if you still feel that revulsion you spoke of.”

  Michael nodded his head. “I’ll ride to the church right now.”

  “Michael?” Marcus started. “Be careful. You still have an enemy out there.”

  “Which is worse, the enemy out there or the enemy of my mind that seems to be keeping me from some deeper truths?” With that Michael strode out of the room and the front door, bespeaking a horse from the stable.

  ~*~

  Michael read the marriage registry in the church with dismay. He married Katrina and had no memory of his wedding day or night. Confused, he rode the horse for over an hour around the Rose Hill estate. He returned to the stable with a horse covered in foam. He stayed to rub down the mare himself, finding the exertion helpful as he tried to puzzle out what happened and how he was to greet the woman who apparently was now his wife.

  ~*~

  Katrina awakened to find the bed empty and her husband gone. Strange. He rarely ever left her side without telling her. The night before had been wonderful. She felt blessed to find such joy in her husband’s arms. She summoned a maid to assist her in her morning ablutions and selected a lemon-yellow walking dress for this late August day. Her hair was styled and put up in a simple chignon that would probably not last for more than a few hours. That never seemed to bother her husband. He delighted in playing with the loose strands of her hair. She smiled as she thought of him. She wondered where he had disappeared to.

  She skipped down the stairs to the breakfast parlor and found Marcus and Josie seated there in quiet conversation. Their tone sounded serious.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?” Katrina slowed as she entered, hesitating before she helped herself at the buffet table.

  “No. Come in, Katrina.” Marcus motioned for her to help herself to the food.

  Katrina filled her plate and sat across from Josie and to the left of Marcus. “You seemed deep in conversation when I came in…”

  “Katrina, I’m afraid we have some disturbing news for you,” Josie started.

  Katrina heard the tone of voice and laid her fork back down. She glanced from Josie to Marcus. “It’s Michael.”

  They both nodded.

  “He regained his memory. Am I right?” Anxiety welled up inside.

  “Yes. He awoke me this morning and was greatly disturbed. He remembers prior to your kidnapping, but nothing since. He was shocked to find you in bed with him. He thought I was going to shoot him at dawn for stealing your virtue. He was startled to find you were actually married.”

  Katrina looked down at her plate of food. Her appetite gone, she shoved the plate away. Glancing up she whispered, “What am I to do now? He’s obviously repulsed to find he had me as a wife. It was as I feared it would be.”

  Marcus lay a hand on her arm. “Katrina, he loves you. He loved you before the accident and after he was not restricted by whatever was keeping him from fully loving you before. You have had two months to see the depths of affection for you untainted by his past. That was real. He just has to fight to get back there.”

  Katrina gave a shuddering breath. “Where is he now?”

  “He rode to the church to check the registry. He’s been gone for quite a while. I assume he’s been riding around the estate.”

  Katrina nodded. “So now I wait for him to come to me.”

  “And we pray,” Josie said. Bending their heads, they did just that.

  ~*~

  Katrina wandered into the garden and returned to the tree. The tree that had been the scene of so many significant encounters between her and Michael. A solid strong tree that had withstood the years and storms. Could her love for Michael be sturdy and last like this tree had? Would her children have a legacy of strength and perseverance to climb to new heights from?

  She rested a hand on her stomach. Would that she were pregnant. Even if she lost the affection of her husband she’d have a memory of their time in a child who was part of them.

  Michael came striding from the stables, across the lawn to where she stood. She leaned her back against the rough bark, biting into her skin. She welcomed the pain.

  “What is it with you and this tree? No climbing today, Mouse?”

  Katrina flinched at the nickname. Two months of no Mouse and it was back. It stung.

  “I’m sure you already realize I regained my memory.” Michael’s voice was edged with ice. He cleared his throat.

  “And lost the ones we made,” she whispered.

  He nodded. “It is of little importance, really, except that somehow I acquired a wife during that time.” He picked up her left hand and his thumb touched the opal ring there. “At least the ring I selected fit.” He dropped her arm.

  She waited. Michael took a few steps back and ran a hand through his hair. When he looked up his brown eyes were penetrating and held her to the tree. “Why?”

  “Why?”

  “Why did you marry me?”

  “I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.”

  “Did I want to marry you or did I feel obligated?”

  “You wanted it.”

  “Marcus says I was blissfully happy.”

  “I had thought we were mostly happy.”

  “Mostly?”

  “You struggled with not having any memories of our past.”

  “And you didn’t share them with me?”

  “Would it have been fair to give you memories that were mine and not yours?”

  Michael looked up the tree and shook his head. “Did it occur to you that I might resent being married?”

  “It did. You assured me you wouldn’t and I desperately wanted to believe that was true. You posted banns and bought a ring. I took a risk and said yes.”

  “And now?”

  “I guess the future of our marriage is up to you, Michael.” She swallowed. “I will remove my belongings from your room if you are uncomfortable with me being there.”

  He stared at her with a frown on his face. “D
o as you wish. I’m departing for London within the hour.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  “Someone attacked and kidnapped us.”

  “The Black Diamond.”

  “Do you want to explain what happened after that and how we escaped with our lives?”

  Katrina told him the bare bones of their escape. She left out the kisses and sleeping in the hut together. Michael laughed at Fidget’s coming to her defense and did not seem disturbed that she’d been assaulted.

  “The journal he was after, Katrina. Have you seen it?”

  Katrina nodded and averted her gaze.

  “He didn’t get it, did he?” Michael asked with an edge of a threat to his voice.

  “No. It is in the drawer to the left of the bed. I found it beside you when we were taken and I had hidden it in my bag.”

  Michael sighed. “Good girl. You have been an invaluable partner. Thank you.” He stepped forward and touched her cheek with his finger. He shook his head slightly and walked away.

  Katrina hugged her arms around herself and let the tears fall.

  ~*~

  Michael had a fresh mount, a bag with the journal, and a few belongings packed. He pulled up his horse before departing through the gates of the estate and saw Katrina beneath the tree, sitting now. My wife. He still wasn’t sure what to do about that. He turned the horse and galloped out of the yard.

  Michael stopped at his townhouse after he bolted from Rose Hill and Katrina. The house was in tatters. He grabbed a few belongings and went underground, disappearing into the Rookery where many of his contacts were. He needed to discover the identity of the Black Diamond. Only then would he try to figure out what to do with his wife.

  He struggled to accept that they had been happily married. That he had slept with her. Not that he hadn’t wanted to all along. He used to dream of the day when he would wake up with her by his side. But the reality of doing so without remembering going to bed with her, disconcerted him. Had he hurt her feelings? But what about his? Would she ever begin to understand how unworthy he was to be her husband? What had those two months been like? There was a corner of his mind that remembered and fought against that truth being revealed. The Black Diamond was his goal. Eliminate that threat and he might consider the possibility of marriage to Katrina.

  Except he already was married. He could petition for an annulment. Katrina should be free to marry someone more worthy. He shook his head. Could he imagine anyone else loving her? The thought made him furious.

  ~*~

  Several weeks later, Katrina found herself in a ballroom flanked by Lord and Lady Westcombe on one side and Lord and Lady Remington on the other. She was wearing a gown of the finest silk and tulle that possessed a modest neckline to hide her brand and yet made the most of her curves. Her hair was swept up and anchored with what felt like a thousand hairpins and her face was one of serene aloofness. If anyone amongst the beau monde had ought to say against the marriage of Sir Tidley to Lord Remington’s cousin, they would be loathe to do so now with the wall of unity they presented. Of Sir Tidley himself, there was no word. No one had seen him at any public event since his bride emerged on the scene.

  Other men, however, swarmed around Mrs. Tidley like bees to honey. The Mouse that so easily used to hide in the background was unable to do so anymore. Titled or not, they begged for her favors and sought her to dance.

  By the end of the evening, Katrina’s feet were sore, her slippers worn, and her toes bruised from being stepped on by young men. She lay her head back against the squabs of the Remington carriage. “I’m exhausted. How many more of these do we need to attend?”

  Josie chuckled. “You were the belle of the ball, Katrina, we wouldn’t want to wear you out though. Tomorrow night we will be home.”

  Marcus sat across from the ladies and grinned, his white teeth showing clearly in the dark of the carriage. “You really did shine tonight, Katrina, and have developed quite a bevy of admirers.”

  “Yes.” Katrina’s voice was flat. “A lot of admirers.” She yawned.

  ~*~

  The next morning Katrina stayed in bed late. She was sore from all the dancing, night after night. She had cried herself to sleep, so lonely by herself after two months of wonderful closeness with Michael. He had not contacted her and no one had heard from him. He had not been at his home either, which had been ransacked.

  Katrina sat up quickly and hopped out of bed. Lord Hughes! Of course. She needed to see him. He might be able to give her insight into why the Black Diamond was after her husband and maybe, just maybe, she could be valuable to him again. He could help save Michael. She changed into a modest, dark blue walking dress. Sneaking out the back gate was easy and she hired a carriage to take her to Whitehall.

  She waited, pacing in the waiting area outside Lord Hughes’s office at the Ministry of Defense. When she was admitted, she was enfolded in a warm embrace.

  “Katrina!” Lord Hughes stepped back and blushed a little at his faux pas. “Pardon me, Mrs. Tidley, but I’m so pleased to see you well. You positively are glowing. Marriage must agree with you, although why you would choose someone like Michael…” He laughed as he sat down and motioned for her to do likewise.

  “Lord Hughes, have you been in contact with my husband?”

  The smile disappeared from his face. “Not since he resigned his commission about four months past.”

  Katrina fidgeted with the strap of her reticule. “Lord Hughes, I was set up and Michael ambushed. We were kidnapped and transported by the Black Diamond’s cohorts. Michael suffered amnesia in the process. By some miracle, we escaped but only after the Black Diamond indicated he wanted a journal from Michael’s mother. By all rights, we should both be dead now.” She took a deep breath and continued. “We escaped and ended up at Rose Hill. We married. Several weeks ago, Michael regained his memory, but lost all recollection of our time together during the past two months. He left and has not been seen since.”

  Lord Hughes leaned back in his chair. His brow was furrowed and he scowled and shook his head. “If you came here looking to see if he has taken an assignment again, he hasn’t.”

  “I fear for his life, Lord Hughes. Is there any way you can help us?”

  “The Black Diamond has eluded us for many years, but it sounds like this battle is now personal and not political. What could his mother’s journal have to do with our war with France?”

  “I don’t know. I read through the journal and there are no names or dates or anything incriminating of anyone amongst the beau monde. Miss Tidley did nothing to expose the man if that is what he fears. And with Michael not serving the crown anymore, he shouldn’t be perceived as a threat either. There is nothing you can do to help me?”

  “My staff is all on assignment. I have no one available who could assist you. Because this is personal, it would be inappropriate for me to do so even though my concern over the disappearance of your husband is great. You might consider going to Bow Street.”

  Katrina nodded and swallowed hard. “Thank you for your time, Lord Hughes.”

  Lord Hughes rose as she did and escorted her to the door. “I wish I could help.”

  Katrina left.

  ~*~

  Katrina walked slowly down the street, opting to forgo the carriage although the walk home was long and she was unaccompanied. She stopped at a small park and plopped herself down on a bench. People passed by walking dogs, and nannies were out with their charges. She lay her hand on her stomach. Over three months since their marriage and she had not had her monthly courses. She tired easily but had no other symptoms. Was it possible she would be with child? How could she do that without a father?

  Miss Tidley had done it. If Michael’s mother managed to raise a son alone, Katrina could do it too. She had the resources. Her income was sufficient. She would live a humbler life than she did right now, but she would be content. She’d have the title of “Mrs.” that Michael’s mom lacked. She’d be lonely but comfort
ed by two months of memories to last her a lifetime. She inhaled deeply and smiled. Nodding to herself she rose and walked the rest of the way home.

  Entering the front door, she surprised Marcus as he walked across the foyer to his study.

  “Katrina? Where have you been?” He stood there much like her father would have. She smiled.

  “I’ve been out searching for my errant husband and I have come to a decision that I wish to discuss with you and Josie.”

  “I’ll have her summoned and we can talk in my study.”

  “Thank you, Marcus.”

  Entering the study, she came upon the local newspaper, the London Times. The gossip column was laying there open and she spied her name.

  A certain Mrs. T, the wife of Sir T, has been seen around town on the arms of various men. But not a sign has been seen of her husband. Has the hen flown the coop? Where is the rooster? And which one of her cisibos is warming her nest at night?

  Katrina set the paper down with a thud. “Well, that seals it.”

  “Seals what?” Josie had entered, followed by her husband.

  Katrina turned to her dear friends. “I’ve come to a decision about my future.”

  ~*~

  Katrina packed her belongings and planned for a ride back to Rose Hill. She had told all of her admirers that she was retiring to the country on a repairing lease. She deflected all questions about the whereabouts of her husband and begged off any more invitations to balls and soirees. She looked at the ring on her finger. Deep pain stabbed her heart as she fingered the pale milky stone. She reminded herself. He loved me. For two wonderful months. Wonderful for whom? She remembered his frustration and how imprisoned he was by his lack of memory. Now he had his memory and she was the one lost and moorless, her anchor gone. God would be with her. She comforted herself with that.