His blood turned to ice at the thought. No! He couldn’t lose her now. Not now. Not ever. She was too important to him. She had become part of him. She had re-created a part of him he thought long dead, and filled it with her laughter and warmth. He would not lose that now. Her great-grandmother had promised him happiness and he intended to claim it. But, it depended on Tina for its existence. Without Tina there would be no joy, no happiness, no warmth, and…no love.
He nearly staggered at the force of his emotions. He loved her! He had not wanted to. Had not planned to, ever. All he needed to do was keep her happy and all would be fine. He did not want or need love. It was merely lust wrapped up in pretty phrases, after all. But he had been wrong and now he faced the truth. Without Tina, his life was worthless. Without Tina, he was only one-half of a whole. Without Tina, there was nothing left in this world for him, his life was over. They had to find her. He had to tell her how he felt.
He heard a sharp rapping on the wall beside him as he was approaching the next door. What would someone be doing to cause that kind of noise at this hour of the evening? Then it occurred to him it might be someone in trouble. Tina! Turning to the group behind him, he waved them to him and called, “This way,” then bolted the last few steps to the door. The group followed.
Locked! Damn! Twisting the handle furiously, he called her name and banged on the door.
“Let me, my lord,” Pymm came up beside him. Just as Pymm raised his foot and kicked the door, he heard Tina scream his name.
Pandemonium erupted. The door crashed open, he heard a gunshot, and his heart stopped. Then silence. Utter and complete silence—as if the world had stopped.
He rushed into the room, wildly scanning it while the policemen rushed in behind him. Someone lit a lamp at almost the same time he spied Tina.
She was crumpled against the fireplace, wedged beneath another body. For a moment, he couldn’t bring himself to look and he watched in a daze as Jon rushed past him and rolled Milton off of her.
Pymm dragged Milton further away and knelt down to check him. “He’s dead, my lord.”
Jay forced himself to move to Jon’s side and dropped down beside Tina. Blood was splattered across the front of her gown. Jon removed something from her hand and put it in his pocket. Then he did the same with the other hand, before turning to Jay.
“She’s still alive, but it looks like she’s hit her head.”
Jay couldn’t remember the last time he cried, but the tears would not be held in check. Oblivious to the others in the room, he gathered Tina’s limp, blood-covered form into his arms and cradled her gently as the tears streamed down his face.
Jon took control. He could see Jay was in no shape to do anything other than hold his wife. While relieved she still lived, he could tell she had hit her head, and head injuries were completely unpredictable. God alone, knew whether she would eventually wake up.
Chapter Seventeen
For the third night since bringing Tina home, Jay sat beside her bed and watched her sleep. He knew she was actually sleeping now as she had roused earlier in the day. She hadn’t asked for him, but he was heartened to know she had awakened. Milly informed him she had complained of a headache, taken some willowbark tea and toast, then fallen asleep again.
His thoughts went back to the night of the masquerade and its aftermath. To the moment when Jon handed him two small pistols and told him they belonged to Tina. She had been holding both, he said, but only one had been discharged. She had only needed one shot. It had gone right through Milton’s heart. His pistol had not been fired.
She had taken matters into her own hands and he had been none the wiser. Why hadn’t she told him? Why hadn’t he guessed? He had seen Felicia threaten Milton with a pistol. Why hadn’t it occurred to him Tina would be just as proficient? Because he hadn’t trusted her. He’d wanted to protect her himself. He wanted to be everything to her and believing she could actually do some things for herself did not fit well into that scenario.
She looked at him so often with complete trust and confidence he had begun to believe he was invincible. And, for her, he had tried to live up to the person he thought she wanted him to be. But, he hadn’t trusted she might be able to handle some situations herself. If he’d known she was armed, would he have been so angry at her costume? Now he knew why she seemed to dance without a care, and enjoy herself without fear.
Dropping his head into his hands, he relived again the terror that enveloped him when he had burst into the room and heard the gunshot, Tina’s scream still echoing in his ears. He thought he’d lost her. When Jon rolled Milton’s body off of her and he had seen all the blood, he’d thought the worst. But it had all been Milton’s blood.
Now, he kept vigil. Watching her sleep night after night. Tonight there was a little color back in her cheeks, but she was still far too pale. Milly had braided her hair into a long, fat, rope. It lay coiled beside her head like a snake. She was turned slightly to her side, her hand resting on the pillow in front of her face. He hoped when she awoke, she would want to see him.
The last time he had seen her in the ballroom, he had been so angry at her chosen costume he could barely speak to her. Indeed, he had remained silently censorious in the face of her laughter, until her partner had claimed her for the next dance. He regretted they had parted so. He wanted to see her smile again.
Resting his head against the back of the chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him crossed at the ankles, he closed his eyes.
Tina opened her eyes slowly. For a moment she saw nothing except shadows in the room. Laying still so as not to disturb her head, she let her eyes roam as far as they could. As they became accustomed to the gloom, she noted the chair drawn up near the bed. Jay sat, head back in a relaxed pose, eyes closed in sleep.
Silently, she studied him. He looked tired. Shadows had developed under his eyes, and she noted the stubble on his chin. The sharpness of his features were relaxed in sleep and her gaze touched them lovingly. Despite what Milton had told her, she still loved him. She suspected she always would. But would the betrayal she felt ever completely disappear?
She sighed aloud and Jay awoke instantly at the soft sound. For a long moment, he stared down into her eyes and relived the last moment he had seen them in a crowded ballroom. This time, however, instead of laughter, they contained a wariness he had never seen before.
Moving toward her, he asked softly, “How’s your head?”
She moved and winced slightly. “Better than earlier,” she murmured. “The pain is not as bad.”
“Would you like anything?”
“No.”
Jay sat gingerly beside her on the bed and cupped her jaw in his large hand. “You gave Jon and I quite a scare, you know. I’m sure in the space of thirty minutes, we both aged ten years. I don’t know about Jon, but I didn’t have those ten years to spare.”
She smiled sadly. “I’m sorry. But, I had to do something.” She stared up into his face for a moment. “What happened?”
Jay recognized the question behind her question. “Milton is dead. You shot him.”
“Oh.”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
“I remember calling you because I thought I heard your voice. Then Milton came at me and I fell.”
“You hit your head on the fireplace, but apparently shot Milton before you lost consciousness. He landed on top of you.”
Tina rolled onto her back and looked up at him. He was dressed in a black silk dressing gown over baggy silk trousers. Probably so as not to embarrass Milly, she thought. He usually wore nothing at all under his dressing gown.
She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to remember. If Milton was dead, she didn’t need to. She was free. Free to live without fear. Free to love Jay. Even her worry about disregarding Nona’s edict faded into the distance.
Jay’s touch was warm on her cheek and she turned her face into his hand. She needed his touch as much as she needed air.
Despite her doubts, she would always need him.
Tiredness washed over her again and she shivered. Opening her eyes, she reached toward him. “Come to bed, please.”
Jay noted the fatigue in her eyes and voice and understood what she wanted. Making love to her had not entered his mind, but he did want to hold her, to assure himself that she was still here, still alive, and still his.
Shedding his robe, he slid into the bed beside her and gathered her into his arms. Just as she had the night they returned to Kenwyck, she curled up against his side and relaxed completely. Within moments her deep even breathing told him she was asleep again.
“Sleep well, my love. You will always be safe here,” he whispered tenderly, then allowed himself to relax and drift into slumber as well.
*
Tina awoke the next morning feeling rested and hungry. When Milly entered the room in response to her summons, she found Tina sitting on the side of the bed, preparing to rise.
“Here, m’lady,” she rushed to Tina’s side. “You should not be up.”
“I cannot stay in bed, Milly,” she responded reasonably. “I need to be up and about. How many days have I been abed already?”
“It’s been three days since his lordship brought you home.”
“Three days! There is too much to do to stay abed.” Her soiree was planned for two days hence. “I won’t go any further than the downstairs drawing room,” she promised her maid, “but I must get up.”
Jay was surprised to see her enter the breakfast room a short time later. Urging her to sit, he filled a plate and set it before her, while a footman was sent for tea.
“I did not expect to see you this morning,” he ventured.
“I just couldn’t stand the thought of staying in bed all day. If Milly had her way, I would not be up for another week, then I would truly go mad.”
“Another day wouldn’t have hurt.”
“I’ve already lost three days of planning,” she told him. “My soiree is now only two days away. I’ve a lot to finish up.”
He looked at her closely for a minute. “Are you sure?” he asked. “I don’t think anyone would mind if you cancelled—considering the circumstances.”
She looked up sharply, grimacing at the mild discomfort sudden movement still caused. “Don’t tell me everyone knows what happened?”
“I’m not exactly sure what anyone knows—I do not listen to gossip. But, there are rumors out there. I suspect the duchess and Lady Weston could fill you in.”
“Hmmm,” she contemplated his statement. “I will send around a note and invite them both to visit this afternoon. But, that is all the more reason to continue planning the soiree. The ton must see that I’m fine. It will squelch any rumors that might hint otherwise.”
“You should not care about the ton’s gossip mill,” he told her firmly.
She did not answer him. He probably wouldn’t understand she didn’t care for herself, but she did not want him to be thought less of.
“I don’t,” she replied, then changed the subject. “I don’t suppose you will see Jon sometime today? I’d like to see him and he’s so hard to track down some days.”
Jay sighed. “I might. Shall I inform him you command his presence?”
She looked up, laughter in her eyes. “Yes, please do.”
Jay left shortly afterwards, heading for his shipping offices, but promising to be back for luncheon.
Tina spent the morning going over menus with the Cook, meeting with Mrs. Greaves and Keyes over the soiree preparations, and going over lists from the caterers and flower vendors. Jon arrived shortly before luncheon.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, holding her close for a hug. It wasn’t the same as Jay, but the brotherly comfort was welcome all the same. “You gave Jay and I the fright of our lives, you know.”
“I know. I’ve already told Jay I was sorry, and now I’ll say the same to you. I’m sorry, but I knew I was the best person to draw him out. You would never have caught him otherwise.”
Jon led her over to a small settee and the two of them sat down. “I will overlook your not letting me know what you were up to, but you should have let Jay know what you were doing.”
She shook her head slowly, mindful of the dull headache she still had. “He would not have agreed. As it was, I didn’t even dare let him know I had the pistols.”
“Well, he knows now. I gave them to him after I took them out of your hands.”
She looked at him in resignation. “I was hoping you would have just pocketed them and returned them to me.”
“Too many secrets, Tina. It’s not good for your marriage. You should have told him you were proficient enough with them. He might not have worried so.”
“Just as he should have told me about his father’s will?” she asked. He was a fine one for secrets. He probably knew about the will, too.
Jon was suddenly wary. “What about his father’s will?”
“Are you telling me you don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“That Papa conditioned Jay’s inheritance upon his marriage to me?”
Jon’s silence told her what she wanted to know.
“Don’t prevaricate,” she told him. “Just tell me the truth.”
She noted the shuttered look that entered his eyes, the same look she’d seen in Jay’s when he didn’t want to tell her something unpleasant.
“What do you want to know?” The resignation in his voice told her much more than he likely intended.
She couldn’t keep the hurt out of her voice. “Milton told me not only did he kill Aaron to keep him from marrying me, but he also killed Papa because Papa caught him stealing. Then he told me Jay had no choice but to marry me because he would have forfeited everything if he hadn’t.” The lump in her throat made it difficult to speak. “So, is it true? Did you know?”
She was confidant Jon wouldn’t outright lie to her.
“Yes,” he sighed, “I knew. Mama didn’t want you to know, so I promised not to tell you.”
Confusion set in. “But, how? Why?”
“Jay’s father created a new will shortly before he died—or was murdered, I guess. It required that Jay honor the betrothal contract within five years of his death or you would inherit everything.”
“Me? Why not Felicia? She was his daughter.”
“I know, but you were the one he promised Thane Park to. Felicia could not marry one of her brothers and keep the properties in the family, so I’m guessing he thought if Jay refused to marry you, the property might as well be yours.”
Tina looked away, across the room, gazing sightlessly at the windows. “So Jay only married me to get back property he should have inherited anyway.” Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
Jon didn’t answer.
She turned back to him. “That was it wasn’t it? That was why he wanted to marry me. Why he wanted the wedding to take place so soon. It had nothing to do with me at all.
“And I fell for it,” she whispered. “I wanted it not to be true.” Her eyes took in the room without seeing it. She couldn’t look at Jon—it hurt too much. Betrayed by her own brother. “I didn’t want to believe Milton. But I knew. I knew I should have been suspicious he wanted to marry me. But, I—I thought, foolishly, that—that—”
“Tina, don’t do this to yourself.” Jon’s voice was strained. She looked back up at him, blinking rapidly to restrain the tears. “You didn’t see him the night of the masquerade. He was frantic.”
“That’s only to be expected,” she dismissed his words. “I’m his wife. To everyone else he has to at least pretend to care.”
“Tina,” Jon reached out and grasped her shoulders, “Tina, grown men do not cry, but I saw him.” Tears spilled unheeded down her cheeks. “There was no one to put an act on for when we found you in that back room at the Thurston’s. He was devastated. He picked you up and just held you and cried. I don’t think the policemen knew quit
e what to do.”
“Then why hasn’t he told me the truth?” she sniffed. “Why didn’t he trust me with the truth before we were married?”
Jon had no answer for that and his hands dropped from her shoulders. “I don’t know,” was all he said.
She searched her pockets for a handkerchief and found one. Blotting her eyes, drying her face, and blowing her nose, she regained her control and faced him again.
“Someone should have told me. Now I understand why Milton wanted me to marry him even though he hated me.”
“What!” Jon sat up, his eyes glittering like cold emeralds.
“And I thought it was because he wanted to control Felicia. To control her inheritance somehow. I never dreamed it was because…”
“Tina, don’t,” he pleaded. “You’re creating suppositions out of nothing.”
She jumped to her feet, ignoring the discomfort in her head. “What is it about me that makes people leave things to me and then don’t tell me?” she demanded, ignoring his words and pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
Jon didn’t answer. The question was rhetorical. He was too busy scrambling for answers he didn’t have. Why hadn’t Jay told her by now? They’d been married for months. What was he waiting for?
“It’s because I’m a woman and we are all supposed to be idiots who care about nothing except fashion and parties. Am I right?” she demanded.
Jon knew better than to jump in. She had left her hurt and pity behind and was now working her way to anger and beyond. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be here when Jay got home. It had been a long time since he had seen her so animated about anything, but he remembered the explosive temper she’d once had as a child.
“Of course I’m right!” she declared. “You all think alike. You think women are nothing but pretty ornaments to be clothed in bright colors and given pretty things and displayed for public view. Even dear Papa, for all that he wanted me to have Thane Park, thought the same. But, heaven forbid we have an intelligent thought in our heads. If it wasn’t for the fact we bear children, we would be useless to you.”
The Gypsy Legacy: Marquis Page 28
