After his encounter with Jessamine, he defied Grandfather after all and skipped dinner. Once everyone was in bed, he had patrolled into the early morning, looking for any signs of the archer, but the attacker had not returned. Perhaps he was lying low, waiting for a more opportune moment to attack. Gareth only hoped that would be after Tabitha and all the guests were gone.
Gareth was passing the stable when he noticed Thompton setting down a crate and stopping to eye him. The man nodded when he saw Gareth looking, and Gareth returned the gesture. He had never interacted with the ruddy-looking man much. Thompton mostly stayed in the stables, and when he was in the house, Sarah did all the talking for him.
He wondered how old Thompton and Sarah were. They’d been a fixture at Waverly Park as far back as he could remember and yet still looked to be in their prime. Both were strong, hard working, and loyal. Gareth thought about the couple’s impending dismissal and felt it gnaw at his gut. When Grandfather had to cut everyone’s pay and all the other servants left, they’d stayed. He’d have to give them some kind of severance package for such loyalty, to help them until they found work. That and a letter of recommendation and they should be fine.
He pushed on toward Mr. Strong’s house, remembering the disarray there. Sarah and Thompton must leave, before they were hurt by whoever had attacked Gareth and harmed Mr. Strong. He couldn’t have another victim on his conscience whose only crime was being associated with him.
Gareth pushed himself up the ramp and sat in front of Mr. Strong’s door. He eyed a young woman walking along the road with a toddler. She nodded a greeting, and he nodded back. Gareth knocked on the door in pretense. His plan was to force the door open once they’d passed so he could further investigate but was not able to follow that through since the door opened soon after he knocked.
Gareth stared up from his chair into the face of Mr. Strong. Gareth’s breath caught.
“Gareth, so nice of you to come. I wasn’t expecting to see you until tonight.”
Gareth’s mouth hung open as his eyes refused to so much as blink.
The old man, very much alive and unharmed, stared back at him. “Are you all right? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
Gareth shook it off. “I…um… came by yesterday but no one answered. I was worried.”
The old man stepped aside and motioned for Gareth to enter. “No need to worry. I went home to visit my wife.” The old man grinned and punched Gareth in the shoulder. “Soon you’ll know all about the pleasures of matrimony.”
Gareth pushed his chair cautiously into the house, taking the room in. The cupboard was back in its place as was everything else. But on the floor where the pooled blood had been was a rug. “The rug is new.”
The old man smiled. “Yes, the wife sent it with me. She worries that the place looks too sparse.”
Gareth swallowed. “Right.”
He must have looked as distracted as he felt when he answered the old man. Mr. Strong stepped into his line of sight while he surveyed the rest of the room. “You seem out of sorts. Is it the wedding? Are you nervous?”
Gareth plastered on a stiff smile. “Aren’t most men nervous about their life coming to an end?”
Mr. Strong’s eyes warmed. “Marriage isn’t quite that. I suppose getting nervous about the commitment is normal, but I never was. I knew I was making the best decision of my life. You might find wedded bliss suits you.” Again the man punched Gareth in the arm. “And the benefits might leave you smiling enough to wipe that constant scowl away for good.” The man chuckled.
Gareth’s mind raced, trying to force some kind of logical explanation for what he saw and was now seeing. He was hardly listening to the man when it finally registered what the old man was implying. Heat rose into Gareth’s face.
The old man pulled up a chair to sit and look Gareth in the eye. “Do you have any questions or concerns about…tonight? You haven’t been like the other dandy men, chasing the skirts of easy women.”
Gareth’s temper flared. Who was this man to talk to him like that? He’d considered the man his friend and mentor, but he was obviously hiding something. The liar. What else about him was false? Was there even a wife?
“You don’t know what I’ve done or who I’ve been with. I don’t tell you everything.” Gareth spat the words at the man and backed his chair away from him.
The old man stood. “All right, All right. Didn’t mean to embarrass ye none. Just wanted to let ye know if you have any questions, I’d be willing to answer ’em.”
Gareth stared at him. The accent change brought back memoires of the swordplay, and the times the man had charged at him with a sword, forcing Gareth to use his flight or die. Had the man noticed or known all along? Or was Mr. Strong trying to kill him all those times? Gareth spun around in his chair. “I’m sure I’ve got it under control. I should get back.”
Mr. Strong opened the door, but stepped in front of him and blocked the entrance. “But you just got here.”
“I just remembered some things I need to settle before this evening.”
The old man grinned. “I’ll see you this evening at the wedding. Say, why did you come by if it wasn’t for some advice about tonight?”
Gareth shook his head. “No reason.” He glanced at the rug and then back up at the old man before making his way down the ramp.
Mr. Strong knew something about it all. Was the old man in on the attack? What was he hiding?
The next question came to mind—whose blood was pooled on Mr. Strong’s floor if it had not been that of Mr. Strong?
Gareth’s mind was a mess. He wheeled into his drive. The place was even more crowded with people.
“Bloody hell!”
Gareth wheeled to the back and entered through the kitchen, but that too was packed worse than a can of sardines. At least by that evening, the whole event would be over. But now what was he to do? Mr. Strong wasn’t in danger. Did that mean the rest of the household was safe? Or was Mr. Strong the source of danger?
He hid in a corner, waiting for a chance to fly to his room, but there was none. People dashed in and out of the foyer constantly.
“Do ye need help up the stairs, sir?”
Gareth looked up to see Thompton. “No, I’m quite all right. Go on back to your duties.”
“I’ve been run out of me stable as it’s being rebuilt.”
Gareth gaped up at the man. “Rebuilt?”
“Aye, yer fiancé is having it made into a garage fer her automobiles.”
Gareth glowered. “So she’s already taking over.”
“Aye, it would seem. Wives are known ta do that. Sarah told me ta make sure ye were gettin’ ready. I dona think ye can do that down here, and I dona want to get in trouble with the missus.”
Gareth had no choice but to allow Thompton to carry him up. He hated that. The man never looked Gareth in the eye when he had to carry him. At least he had that. Thompton sat him in his wingchair.
“Will there be anythin’ else?”
“No, thank you.”
Thompton bowed, before leaving and closing the door behind him.
Gareth hopped up and flew to his trunk. He pulled out the claymore and swung it about to let the tension out. Then he took it in both hands to examine it. “Where did you come from? And what kind of trouble did you bring with you that day?”
There was a quiet knock on Gareth’s door.
“Go away.”
Whoever it was, left, and Gareth continued his swordplay. The only problem in his mind was the question; who was his enemy? Then he thought of Mr. Strong. Who were his friends? Or did he even have any?
Gareth had to figure it out soon. But first he had to gain a wife and do all he could to be rid of her.
Chapter 11
Gareth sat in his chair at the bottom of the foyer as the music played. He did his best to smile, but it felt so unnatural, he finally stopped.
Tabitha was the first to descend the stairs in a stylish floral gown,
her blonde hair pulled up in an elegant coiffure. She smiled at Gareth as she took her place to the side. Gareth thought about how pretty she looked. The dress was more expensive than any she’d ever worn before. Probably a gift from Jessamine. He wished he could have provided it for her. She deserved to have pretty things and a new life in America. No one there would know her sordid beginnings or care. She’d be foreign and accepted as a lady by Americans impressed by her link to the Kellers, whose daughter would hold an English title. Tabitha would find a respectable husband who adored her and be happy.
He swallowed the emotions which followed that thought. Tabitha was his only companion—the only one in the whole house who had ever fully accepted Gareth. And in two days, she would be gone. He swallowed the thought away. It was selfish. He couldn’t hang on to her for his sake. She’d go and be happy, and he would be alone.
The music changed. Everyone stood and turned. Jessamine descended the stairs in a corseted white, lace dress which hugged her figure in all the aesthetically pleasing areas. Gareth’s breath caught as his eyes swept over her. She smiled a warm greeting to all the attendants before making eye contact with him. Her dark eyes took on a different appearance when she looked at him. She smiled and bit her lip before a blush flushed her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze to watch him again under long, dark lashes. Gareth had a sense of déjà vu.
Jessamine took her father’s arm at the bottom of the stairs, and he escorted her to the altar. She stood beside Gareth’s chair and faced the vicar. The ceremony was a blur. Each gave the proper response until Reverend Piper told him to kiss her. Gareth glanced about and then up at Jessamine. She grinned down before bending toward him. Just when her face was at his, she whispered, “Do not make a spectacle of my wedding. You’ve behaved so far. I won’t attach any meaning to this gesture. So if you so much as flinch, I will make you regret it.”
Gareth nodded, trying to make out her words, but the cloud of her warmth and scent made him dizzy. Then her warm, soft lips touched his. He hadn’t expected to respond, but without thinking, his hands held her face to his, and he kissed her in return. She stood, and too quickly, it was over. His mind was left a muddle, and his body felt chilled so far from the warmth of hers. The disappointed tug in his gut surprised him as he watched her stand and smile at the guests.
Tabitha rushed toward them, hugging Jessamine first and then Gareth.
Tabitha brushed a loose blonde curl from her blue eyes as she stood. “Gareth, I know you’ll be so happy with Jessie once you get to know her. She’s perfect for you. I’ve prayed for you for such a long time, that God would send you someone who could see past the chair and your grumpiness, and He has. She’s someone you can be yourself with. I promise. Don’t throw this away before giving her a chance.”
Gareth wasn’t sure how much Tabitha knew about the whole arrangement. He doubted she understood that her new friend was simply after his title, or that his agreement to the marriage was for Tabitha’s financial security. She was young, romantic, and naïve, believing her friend truly wanted a love match.
Gareth only smiled at his young aunt. He couldn’t crush her belief in happy endings.
Everyone was escorted to the dining hall where Gareth rolled himself up on the dais. Jessamine took her place beside him. She leaned into him and said, “Thank you for not making a scene at the wedding.”
Gareth whispered in her ear, “Better to just get the whole bloody thing over with.”
Jessamine smiled at him and placed her hand on his. “You are such a romantic.”
Dinner was served. While they were eating, Jessamine said in passing, “I want you to know that I respected your wishes today.”
Gareth sliced the meat on his plate, not bothering to look at her. “And how did you do that? Did you book your passage back to America with your father?”
“No, when you said, go away…I did.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” He concentrated on his bite of ham and avoided looking at her.
“Today I came to tell you something. I’d wanted it out of the way before the wedding, but you wanted to be alone. Now it will have to wait until you’re alone in the bedroom with me.”
Gareth smirked at her and shook his head. “You are mistaken if you think we will actually be sharing a bedroom.”
Jessamine leaned in. “You are mistaken if you think we won’t. At least for tonight anyway.” She gestured out at the dining hall. “Many of our guests are staying the night. They had to use my room for another couple. Sarah moved my things over to your room.”
Gareth only glared at her in response. He didn’t speak to her for the rest of the meal.
The meal gave way to music and chatter. They had not arranged for dancing because of Gareth’s condition. It wasn’t until later that Gareth broke his silence toward Jessamine, when he saw Mr. Strong take his bride’s hand and kiss it. Gareth pushed his chair hard, nearly knocking guests over as he made his way to Mr. Strong and Jessamine.
“Gareth! I was just introducing myself to your lovely bride.” The old man grinned wide.
“I’d love to hear some of your stories about Gareth. I’m sure you have many,” Jessamine said to the old man and nodded.
“Indeed I do.” The old man placed a hand on Gareth’s shoulder. “Your bride is enchanting.”
Gareth knocked the old man’s hand from him. “Yes, she is. Please excuse us.” He took Jessamine’s hand and led her away.
Jessamine pulled away from him once they were alone in the library. “That was rude.”
Gareth scowled at her as he spat the words, “Don’t talk to that man.”
Jessamine glowered back at Gareth, placing her hands on her hips. “Why not?”
“I don’t…” Gareth choked on the words. “I don’t trust him.” He swallowed the bile back as he said the words about his former tutor. A man who had helped shape him into an adult.
“But he was your tutor and seemed so genuine and friendly.”
“Yes, but I’ve outgrown tutors so there’s no need for any further contact. There’s no reason for him to remain in town any longer. He should move back home to his wife.”
Jessamine’s dark eyes grew into giant, black dots of coal as she glared back at him. “And when we go back out there, what would you have me do? Refuse to speak to the man?”
Gareth glanced at the door. Being in the same room with that man wasn’t anything he could stomach at the moment. “We won’t go back out there. I’ve had enough of everyone for the evening. We should retire. Then when we wake, this will all be over.” At least the wedding party would be, anyway.
“Not returning would be rude. Won’t people think it strange if we don’t at least say goodbye?”
Gareth grinned a mischievous smile, “They will think it rude of me, but they won’t think it strange of me.”
Jessamine burst into laughter. “I’m sure that’s very true. But you don’t expect me to be so rude to our guests in the future, do you?”
“I don’t expect us to have any guests in the future.”
“Well, let me go up first so I can ready myself for bed.” Jessamine headed for the door.
Gareth pushed his chair in her way. “No, I will go first. I’ll send Tabitha when you can come up.”
Jessamine’s shoulders sagged in exasperation. “But it’s our wedding night. I need to change and prepare myself.”
Gareth turned the chair away from her in dismissal. “It’s not a real wedding night so don’t trouble yourself with any preparation other than that which is needed for sleep.”
He wheeled his chair out of the room, leaving Jessamine with what he imagined to be a look of disappointment on her face. Tabitha met him in the corridor.
“Gareth, I was looking for you and Jessamine. Grandfather wants to propose a toast to you both.”
“Well, he’ll have to do it without us present. Tell him we have retired for the night. Please give everyone our regrets and thank them for attending… bla
h, blah, blah. You know, the kind of things you would say and I never would. Now help me watch for people so I can get up to my room. Then you can go get Jessamine and send her up.”
Tabitha’s pink lips grew into the biggest smile. “She’s planned the biggest surprise for you. I can’t wait to hear about it all tomorrow morning.”
Gareth’s eyes widened. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about this sort of thing with you.”
Tabitha giggled as she pushed Gareth behind the stairs and looked about for others. “I’m not talking about what you think I’m talking about, I assure you.” She walked the perimeter. “It’s all clear.”
Gareth escaped up the side of the stairs to the upper floor and went straight for his room. He noticed that Sarah or Thompton had brought in a dressing screen and had placed Jessamine’s trunk behind it. He then noticed a hairbrush on the nightstand and perfume beside it. He stood by it and picked up the bottle and sniffed. It was that smell, the one which clouded his thinking.
He quickly changed to his pajamas and climbed into bed. How would they work this out? He couldn’t ask a lady to sleep on the floor and blast it if he would give up his bed for the woman. Maybe he would tell her to sleep on the floor. Perhaps that could be the end of it all, and she’d leave on her own the next morning.
Jessamine knocked on the door before peeking in. “Is it all right if I enter now?”
“No, but I have no choice in the matter.”
She pushed the door closed behind her and looked at the bed, and Gareth in it. “Wow.” She swallowed hard. “You’re already in bed.” Her cheeks flushed as her long lashes fluttered. She bowed her head and bit her lip. “I guess I’ll get ready behind that screen.”
Gareth picked up a book and pretended to read. “Or go to bed fully dressed if you like. Makes no difference to me.” He didn’t bother to look at her.
A few moments later, silk rustled and Jessamine’s dress appeared, hanging over the screen. He swallowed and perspiration broke out on his forehead. He shook his head and tried to concentrate on the book in front of him rather than the thought of the beautiful woman disrobing in his room. He could hardly make out the words in the book when he heard her walking toward the bed. He refused to look at her at first.
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