“I prefer the door stay open,” she said.
Her cousin’s eyes narrowed. “I prefer what we say remains private between us.”
He walked toward her and the threatening look in his eyes gave her pause. But not as much as the murderous expression on his face.
Her heart beat faster, but she told herself she had nothing to fear. Mack was right outside the door. All she had to do was call and he would be here in an instant.
“Since this is not a social call, I’ll get right to the point,” he said when he took the available chair opposite her. “I’ve gone over the account books several times in the past few days, and come to the conclusion that it will be impossible for me to live on the meager income the estates bring in.”
Lorna’s temper bristled. “If you think I’m going to share—”
Her cousin smiled. “Oh, no. I have no intention of asking you to share your inheritance.” He stood. “I intend to have it all.”
Lorna rose. She glared at her cousin with a bravado she didn’t quite feel. “Get out.”
“Not so fast, my lady. I haven’t told you how I intend to get your inheritance.”
“You’ll never get your hands on one pound of what Father left me. Your plan to force me to marry Burlingdon failed. And everything else you try will fail, too.”
“Even if it means Mr. Baxter will die.”
Lorna’s heart skipped a beat. The malicious expression on her cousin’s face left no doubt as to his seriousness. “You are threatening to kill Hugh?”
The sneer on Chillbrook’s face left no doubt as to his seriousness. “Oh, it’s not a threat, dear cousin. It is a promise. The details have already been seen to. You are the only one who can alter the outcome.”
The knot in the pit of her stomach grew claws that gnawed at her insides. She tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come. Her legs didn’t have the strength to hold her body upright. She sank down on the chair behind her.
“In exactly four hours you will become Lady Burlingdon.”
“And how much longer before I meet with an unfortunate accident?”
Her cousin smiled down on her.
Lorna wanted to scratch his eyes out.
“Oh, you don’t have to fear that happening, my dear. Poor Burlingdon has lost his chance to marry his sweetheart. She is promised to another man. A person who has the wealth her Father demands.”
“So Burlingdon has agreed to marry me in exchange for a portion of my inheritance?”
“He demanded a larger share of the money for the inconvenience you caused him. But yes, he agreed to marry you. You have my word no harm will come to you. It only remains to be seen if you love Mr. Baxter enough to save him.”
Lorna clenched her hands in her lap and stared at the floor. She wasn’t looking at anything in particular. The tears in her eyes prevented her from seeing anything clearly enough.
“You have four hours, cousin. Burlingdon and the reverend will be waiting for you at Chillbrooke House. I thought you would prefer to be married in your childhood home.”
She heard the sound of her cousin as he moved across the room. “Four hours, my lady,” he said when he reached the door.
She lifted her head and glared at the man who’d just destroyed her life and her future. “If you harm one hair on Hugh’s head, I’ll kill you.”
CHAPTER 9
Hugh returned to Mack and Cora’s later than he intended. There’d been many details that needed to be taken care of. Thankfully his father was in town and had promised to get a special license so he and Lorna could marry yet this afternoon. He wanted his father, the Earl of Winsome, and his brother, Viscount Avery, here when he married. For the first time in a long time, he’d thought of his mother and wished she was alive to meet Lorna and see them marry.
He’d also sent word to the other brigadesmen to join him. Although he wanted Lorna to meet the men in his close circle of friends, he also wanted her to meet their wives and know she would always have their friendship to rely on.
Hugh stepped up to Mack’s door, but it opened before he could knock.
“I’m glad you’re back,” Mack said, closing the door when he’d entered.
“Is Lorna all right?”
Hugh felt a niggling of concern, but told himself it was nothing serious. If something had happened, Mack would have sent for him.
“She’s fine—I think.”
“You think?”
“Chillbrooke was here.”
“When?”
“Several hours ago.”
“What did he want?”
“He wanted to talk to Lorna.”
“And you let him?”
“Lorna insisted.”
“Did he harm her?”
Mack shook his head. “But she was visibly shaken when he left. I think they had words. I stood by the door, but couldn’t hear what they said.”
Hugh started for the morning room. “Where is she now?”
“In her room.”
Hugh turned and walked to the stairs.
“Cora tried to talk to her earlier, but she told her she needed to be by herself. She said she’d see her at dinner.”
The concern eating at him gnawed harder. It wasn’t like Lorna to go into hiding. The last time she’d wanted to be alone she’d—
Hugh raced up the stairs. The last time, she’d run away. The last time, he’d almost lost her. The last time—
He threw open her bedroom door without knocking. The room was empty.
He knew before looking that he wouldn’t find her there. Something had happened. Her cousin had told her something that made her run. But what? And why would she run away when she was safer here than anywhere.
Lorna wasn’t a fool. She was one of the most level-headed women he’d ever met. She wouldn’t have left here…unless she thought being here put someone else in danger. Cora? Mack? Him?
Hugh raced down the stairs. “She’s gone.”
Mack ran to his study and came back with a pistol. “What do you want to do?”
“I’m going after her.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“I’m going to try Chillbrooke House first. If Chillbrooke has her, he’s dead.”
“Wait, Hugh. I’ll go with you.”
“The rest of the brigadesmen are on their way. So are my father and my brother. Stay here until they come, then follow me.”
Hugh didn’t wait for Mack to answer, but ran out of the house and mounted his horse.
In the back of his mind, he knew why Chillbrooke had her. He knew Burlingdon would be there, too. He just prayed he wasn’t too late.
. . .
Lorna sat in an oversized chair in her father’s library and stared at the two men at the front of the room. Her cousin and Lord Burlingdon were discussing something in private. No doubt determining how long it would be before her money transferred over to her new husband.
Burlingdon said something her cousin didn’t approve of and there was a hostile bite in Chillbrooke’s answer.
Lorna doubted Burlingdon noticed. He was already drunk, and hadn’t stopped filling his glass since she’d arrived. Hopefully, he’d be too inebriated to come to her bed tonight. After what she and Hugh shared, she wasn’t sure she could allow another man to touch her.
They were waiting for the reverend to arrive and her cousin was getting angrier the longer they had to wait. He’d already sent out one of the staff to see where he was and bring him right away. Lorna couldn’t help but pray that there had been an emergency and the clergyman wouldn’t arrive to perform the ceremony. Not that that would prevent it from happening. Her cousin would just find another man of the cloth. And she’d have to agree to the wedding if she wanted Hugh to live.
“Where the hell is he?” Burlingdon bellowed. “Let’s get this farce over with so I can take my bride home.”
A chill raced down Lorna’s spine.
“He’ll be here any moment. But if you don’t stop drinking, you won’t be sober e
nough to say your vows.”
“Ha! I can’t afford to be sober. Liquor is the only thing that’s giving me the courage to marry your cousin. You’re not the one who’ll have to look at that face for the rest of your life, Chillbrooke. I am!”
“You’re being well paid for making the sacrifice. Not every man marries a wife who comes with a dowry of one-hundred-fifty-thousand pounds.”
Lorna tried to ignore their comments, but couldn’t. A little piece of her heart died inside her.
The door opened and the butler announced the arrival of Reverend Cunningham.
Her cousin wasted no time in showing the Reverend to the front of the room, then grabbing the glass from Burlingdon’s hands and shoving him where he needed to stand.
“Take your place, cousin,” Chillbrooke said, towering over her.
Lorna slowly lifted her chin. She didn’t want to evaluate her feelings for her cousin. The hatred she felt, along with disgust and revulsion weren’t emotions she was proud she let consume her.
“I want your promise in writing,” she said.
“What?”
“You heard me. I want your written promise that you won’t hurt Hugh if I marry Burlingdon.”
“That’s absurd!”
“It’s my demand! If you want me to say my vows, then you will give me your word that nothing will happen to Hugh. In writing!”
“This is ridiculous!”
Lorna stood. “Do it! I want your promise in writing!”
With an angry growl, Chillbrooke stormed to a writing desk and took a piece of paper and a pen, then wrote. When he finished, he returned to where she stood and shoved it at her.
She looked at it. Read his promise. Saw his signature. Then, took it to Reverend Cunningham and waited until he witnessed it.
“Are you satisfied?” her cousin said after she folded the paper and held it securely in her hand.
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Nothing would satisfy her other than escaping the nightmare her life had become.
Her legs trembled beneath her, but she forced herself to stand next to Burlingdon.
Her cousin barked an order for the clergyman to begin the ceremony, and Reverend Cunningham opened the book in his hands and began.
Lorna blocked out the words while her mind screamed for her not to repeat the vows. Not to allow Reverend Cunningham to reach the portion of the service where she would be required to promise to love and obey. How could she promise to love the Earl of Burlingdon? How could she promise to love anyone except Hugh?
But it was too late. The reverend said that she was to repeat after him.
“I, Lady Lorna Willis…”
She opened her mouth, but the words refused to come.
“My lady,” Reverend Cunningham whispered, “please. Repeat after me. I Lady Lorna Willis…”
Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t help. Nothing would. If she wanted to make sure no harm came to Hugh, she didn’t have a choice.
“I Lady Willis,” she said in a pain-filled voice.
“Take thee—”
“No!”
There was a commotion at the front door, followed by a crashing sound, then Hugh burst into the room with a loud angry bellow.
“No! Lorna, come here!”
Lorna turned to run to Hugh, but her cousin gripped his fingers around her arm and pulled her back.
“You’re just in time, Mr. Baxter. My cousin was about to become the new Lady Burlingdon. Weren’t you, Lorna?”
Lorna looked at the violent expression on Hugh’s face. She knew he would do everything in his power to stop the wedding. She also knew she couldn’t allow it. She didn’t doubt her cousin’s threat to kill Hugh. Three hundred thousand pounds was too great an amount for someone as greedy as her cousin to let slip from his fingers. He’d kill Hugh to get it.
“Let her go, Chillbrooke,” Hugh demanded.
“I can release her, but she won’t go to you. She’ll marry Burlingdon because it’s what she wants to do. Isn’t it, Lorna?”
Her cousin gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed.
“Isn’t it, Lorna? Tell Mr. Baxter that you have no intention of marrying him.”
Lorna looked at Hugh. She would remember his powerful stance and determined expression for the rest of her life. Just as she would never forget the desperation she saw in his eyes. The love he felt for her, and the agonizing fear that he was going to lose her.
“Come here, Lorna. I won’t let him hurt you. You know that. I promised that I’d keep you safe.”
Hugh’s face swam before her eyes.
“Trust me to keep that promise, Lorna. Please.”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
Her heart was breaking. Her world was crashing down around her.
Before she could utter her final words of rejection, the room filled with a crowd of strangers. First to enter were five broad-shouldered men who formed a line on either side of Hugh. Mack Wallace was there, as was the other investigator she’d met, Roarke Livingston. The other three must be the men Hugh had called Jack, Briggs, and Quinn.
Two more men crowded in behind them. Lorna assumed these men were Hugh’s father and brother. Their dress indicated they were nobility, and Hugh’s resemblance to them both was undeniable.
“What’s the meaning of this?” her cousin bellowed. “I demand you leave my house immediately.”
Mack Wallace stepped forward. “I’m afraid we have no intention of leaving without Lady Lorna.”
Her cousin laughed, but the sound of his laughter held no humor. “Then by all means, have a seat. You’re just in time for her wedding. Lady Lorna is about to become Lady Burlingdon.”
Hugh took a step closer. “Lorna?”
The agonizing sound of that one word pained her as if gnawing fingers ripped at her heart.
“I can’t, Hugh. I…can’t.”
“There, you’ve heard it from the lady herself. Your scheme to elevate yourself beyond your station won’t work. Nor will your ruse to get your hands on my cousin’s inheritance.”
“My son doesn’t need to marry the late Lord Chillbrooke’s daughter to elevate himself. He is the son of an earl, and the grandson of a marquess.”
Chillbrooke’s face paled and his eyes blinked as if he just realized who his guests were. “Lord Winsome? I didn’t realize you were here.” Chillbrooke stuttered. “D…Did you say son?”
“Yes, Chillbrooke. I said son. And I resent the accusations you made that impugn his character, as well as his motives for wanting to marry the Lady Lorna. As he explained to me, he loves Lady Lorna and intends to make her his wife.”
Winsome turned his attention to Burlingdon. “Unlike the esteemed Lord Burlingdon, who is swaying like a drunken sailor. In his current condition, my guess is that he is incapable of repeating his vows.”
“I assure you, my lord, Lord Burlingdon is quite capable of getting married today, and that is exactly what will happen.”
Her cousin roughly pulled her back to him, then gave her arm a painful squeeze. “Now, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask all of you to leave. Lady Lorna has indicated her desire to be married.”
Hugh stepped forward. “No! Lorna, come here. Your cousin can’t make you do this. I don’t know what he’s holding over your head, but I’ll settle it. He can’t hurt you.”
“I haven’t threatened to hurt you, have I, cousin?”
Lorna fixed her gaze on Hugh, then shook her head. She loved him so much. More than she thought it was possible to love another human being. She would die if something happened to him.
Lorna slowly shook her head, then turned her back on Hugh. She had no choice if she wanted to keep him safe.
“No!” Hugh bellowed, then came up beside her and turned her toward him.
The paper in her hand fell to the floor and she bent to retrieve it. She couldn’t let him see what was written on it.
But Hugh was faster. He sw
iped the paper off the floor and unfolded it.
Lorna knew the exact moment he realized what Chillbrooke had done. Hugh pulled his arm back and swung it forward. His fist connected with Chillbrooke’s jaw with a force that dropped Chillbrooke to the floor.
Before Lorna could react, Hugh had her cocooned against him in a protective hold.
Hugh handed the paper that proved Chillbrooke was blackmailing her to Mack, then turned to her. “Don’t you ever frighten me so badly again, Lorna. I couldn’t have survived if I’d have arrived too late and you were already married.”
“I was so afraid. He said he’d put a price on your head if I didn’t marry Burlingdon. I couldn’t let anyone kill you.”
“Oh, sweetheart.”
“Am I to assume that this is my future daughter-in-law?” the Earl of Winsome said from behind her.
Hugh turned her. “Yes, Father. Allow me to present Lady Lorna Willis. Lorna, my father, the Earl of Winsome, and my brother, Viscount Avery.”
“I can’t tell you how happy we are to meet you, my lady,” Lord Winsome said.
Hugh’s brother echoed the sentiment.
“And,” the earl continued, “I just happen to have in my possession a special license that will allow you and my son to be married as soon as you’d like.”
Hugh locked his gaze with hers. “Today, Lorna? Now?”
Lorna thought her heart might explode with happiness. “There is nothing I’d like more.”
Winsome pointed to Reverend Cunningham. “Well, since there is a clergyman here and there are plenty of witnesses, I would be honored to give the bride away in marriage.”
“What about Chillbrooke?” Mack asked. “What should we do with him?”
Two of the brigadesmen stood as guards on either side of Chillbrooke.
“It’s your call,” Mack said to Hugh.
Hugh looked at her as if he wanted her to decide what action to take against her cousin. But she couldn’t.
“Lorna,” her cousin slurred through his bloodied lip. “You know I would never have harmed Baxter. But I needed the money. I just wanted to frighten you enough that you’d—.”
“Enough,” Hugh ordered, then looked at her.
He expected her to exact punishment on her only relative. She couldn’t do it.
Love Unbidden: Tales of the Bedford Street Brigade Page 25
