The Bride Star

by Piper Davenport

  “If it is your wish to go back, Rayne, I told you I wouldn’t stop you.” He moved around her, opened the door, and walked out of the room.

  The quiet click of the latch catching in the door made Rayne’s heart break. She’d gone too far. She sat in the chair and stared at the fireplace for several minutes. Dropping her face into her hands, she realized she couldn’t even cry. She was angry at her own behavior, the conviction of her actions overtaking her mind. Rayne knew Sam had no interest in Gwen, but she had allowed her insecurities to overtake her common sense.

  She took a deep breath, stood, and straightened her shoulders.

  She had to find Sam and apologize. She couldn’t stand the thought that she’d hurt him, all because she was having a temper tantrum. Walking into the hall, she approached their bedroom, but was stopped by Sophie as she crested the stairway.

  “Hi Rayne,” Sophie said. “Everything okay?”

  “It will be when I find my husband.”

  “He left a few minutes ago.”

  Rayne’s heart raced. “Did he say where he was going?”

  “No. The only reason I know he left is because I passed him in the foyer. What’s going on?”

  “We had a disagreement.”

  Sophie grasped her arm. “A bad one?” she asked gently.

  “It’s really no big deal,” Rayne said. “I’m sure he went to walk it off. I’ll be right back.”

  Before Sophie could respond, Rayne rushed down the stairs and out the front door. She was confronted by freezing rain and debated returning to the house, but she saw Sam in the distance and knew if she didn’t catch him and apologize, she’d regret it.

  “Sam!” She jumped from the porch and rushed to join him.

  He didn’t answer, so she called again. No response. The wind was whirling and she knew she’d need to get closer for him to hear her. She started to run, her lungs protesting the freezing air being drawn into them.

  “Sam!” she yelled louder, and finally he turned.

  * * *

  Sam’s heart raced when he turned to see his wife running toward him, soaking wet and without coat, gloves, and hat. “Rayne,” he growled as he moved toward her, removing his heavy coat at the same time.

  She threw herself into his arms. “I am so sorry. I should never have threatened to leave you. I was angry and I wanted to hurt you, so I lashed out, which was totally unfair. Shaye has always warned me that if I continued to act the diva, it would get me in trouble.”

  Sam wrapped his coat around her as she grasped his shoulders. “Diva?”

  “Spoiled brat might be more accurate.” Settling her hands on his chest, she stared up at him. “Will you forgive me?”

  He wanted to say “no.” He wanted to stay angry, if for only a little while longer, but as he stared into her beautiful eyes and watched the water stream down her face and her body shake with cold, he couldn’t make her suffer. He would never be able to hurt her, even slightly, for a moment’s vindication.

  “Silly girl,” he said with a sigh as he wrapped his arms firmly around her. “Come inside.”

  She shook her head. “Not until you say you’ll forgive me.”

  “Rayne. You’re freezing and I don’t want you ill again. We’ll discuss this inside.”

  Her lip shook as she dragged it between her teeth. “Nope. Not going anywhere until you say you forgive me.”

  “Angel, don’t do this,” Sam implored, wrapping his coat tighter around her. “You’ll come inside and Tandy will organize a warm bath.”

  Teeth chattering and eyes squinting from the water streaming down her face, Rayne wouldn’t move. “I will go inside and take a bath when you say you’ll forgive me.”

  “You are the most vexing woman!”

  Rayne grasped the front of his shirt. “Noted.”

  “I forgive you, Angel. Now, let’s go inside.”

  She nodded and let him lead her to the porch where Sophie and Tandy were waiting.

  “A hot bath is bein’ prepared for you, missus,” Tandy said.

  “Thank you,” Rayne said quietly.

  Without comment, Sam guided her up the stairs and to their bedroom. The tub was set up in the large dressing room and Sam frantically peeled her clothes from her body. “Sweetheart, you’re frozen to the bone.”

  She groaned through chattering teeth and blue lips. “I know.”

  As Sam unlaced her corset, Rayne pulled the rest of her clothing off and had to hold herself back from running to the dressing room and jumping into the tub, but the staff was still filling it.

  “What were you thinking?” Sam admonished. “Running outside in this weather.”

  “I wasn’t. I just didn’t want you to leave me.”

  He raised an eyebrow at her as he pulled his wet shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor. “I will never leave you.”

  Rayne grimaced. “I’m sorry… not for arguing, but for threatening to leave… I want to make that clear.”

  “I’d like to make it clear that I am not angry about you arguing with me.” Sam smiled. “And you have nothing to fear from Gwendolyn Butler.”

  “I know. I shouldn’t have even brought it up. It’s old insecurities rearing their ugly heads.”

  Once the last of the housemaids left the dressing room, Rayne rushed for the tub, slipping into the water with a contented sigh.

  Sam knelt beside the bath and ran his finger down her chest, slipping his hand under the water. “You have nothing to be insecure about.”

  Rayne sighed and bit her lip, trying to stop a moan. She failed. “You are so, so good at that.”

  Sam kissed her, moving his hand farther down her body. Rayne stayed his hand with a groan.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I want to talk before we have make-up sex.”

  Sam sank back on his heels. “All right, Angel. Just as long as we talk quickly.”

  Rayne reached over and laid a wet palm on his chest. The gentle touch caused a physical reaction and Sam narrowed his eyes at her.

  Rayne sank farther under the water and turned her head to face him. “Will you please tell me what’s wrong with Jacob?”

  Sam sighed. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Jacob Butler, sweetheart, but my parents will never accept him for Amelia.”

  Rayne groaned. “What does that even mean?”

  “You’re really not going to let this go, are you?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  Sam ran his hands through his hair. “Jacob Butler’s father is my father’s sworn enemy.”

  “What?” Rayne sat up quickly, sloshing water over the side of the tub. “Why?”

  Sam dropped a towel on the floor and mopped up the water. “He married Wilhelmina.”

  “Mrs. Butler?”

  Sam nodded. “Yes. My father was courting her when Vincent swept her off her feet and married her. My father has never forgiven him… or her.”

  Rayne gasped. “Oh, my… I would have never guessed. A love triangle, right here in the nineteenth century.”

  Sam stoked the fire and added another log. “So you see, he would never allow Amelia to marry a Butler.”

  Rayne shifted in the tub so she could see him through the doorway of the dressing room. “How did you get around it?”

  Sam frowned. “Get around what?”

  “Courting Gwendolyn… if she was forbidden.”

  Sam turned to face her and crossed his arms. “My parents knew nothing of our courtship, if you could call it that. It wasn’t long enough to be classified as anything but a brief friendship.”

  Rayne pursed her lips. “Nice save.”

  Sam smiled. “Now, no more talk of Amelia and Jacob.”

  Rayne sat up. “But how romantic would it be, Sam? A real life Romeo and Juliet.”

  Sam snorted. “Do you not remember what happened to Romeo and Juliet?”

  Rayne giggled. “Okay, fine, but that wouldn’t happen to Jacob and Amelia. We wouldn’t l
et it.”

  “I think you may be rushing things, Angel.” Sam made his way back to the tub. “They don’t even know each other.”

  Rayne waved a hand dismissively. “You didn’t see the look he gave her.”

  Sam narrowed his eyes. “I thought they didn’t meet.”

  Rayne grinned. “Doesn’t mean he didn’t see her.”

  Sam groaned. “Rayne, don’t encourage her. Please. It will only turn to heartache.”

  “Maybe your dad’s over the whole thing? I mean, he married your mom and they’re happy, right?” Sam frowned and Rayne gasped. “They’re not happy?”

  “They’re miserable.” Sam pulled a chair to the tub and sat heavily into it. “He still loves Wilhelmina.”

  “What? No way! How do you know that?”

  Sam wagged a finger at Rayne. “You’re really pressing for all my family secrets, aren’t you?”

  Rayne giggled. “Most definitely! I love scandals… now, spill.”

  Sam sighed. “About a year ago, I came home for a visit… prompted by a disturbing letter from Amelia. Our parents were arguing and apparently, Mama had broken her wedding china. I arrived to nothing out of the ordinary… other than, of course, new china. Amelia was inconsolable, certain that Mama was going to kill our father.”

  “Seriously?”

  Sam shook his head. “Amelia can be prone to the dramatic, so I did my best to calm her down and promised I’d stay a few days to observe our parents.”

  Rayne bit her lip. “I’m assuming Amelia wasn’t entirely off the mark?”

  “No.” Sam leaned forward in his chair with a grimace. “I was preparing to return to D.C. when I passed by my father’s office. His door was open, and I heard arguing coming from inside. My mother was accusing him of still holding an affection for Wilhelmina and claiming that she’d lived under the woman’s shadow for entirely too long. My father reacted badly, telling her she was half the woman Wilhelmina was, and he’d never loved anyone but her.”

  Rayne covered her mouth with her hands and groaned. “He didn’t.”

  Sam nodded. “There was a loud crash and then my mother ran from the room. She was so upset; she didn’t even notice I was standing in the hallway. I knocked on my father’s door and went inside to see him picking up shards of glass. The worst part of it was that after that day, my father seemed to have had the world lifted from his shoulders, but my mother started to become bitter… more so than she was before.”

  “Could you imagine, Sam? She’s spent over twenty years with a man who never loved her, and she is reminded of that fact every day.” Empathy filled Rayne. “Your poor mother! I’m sorry, Sam, but your dad’s a major jerk to do that to her.”

  “I don’t disagree.” Sam sighed.

  “I wonder what Mrs. Butler would think. Do you think she has any idea?”

  Sam stood and retrieved a towel. “I can’t imagine how she would. I always wondered how it was that I never came across any of the Butler brothers before I met Chris several years ago, but I realize now it’s because Amelia and I were purposely kept away from them. I’m not certain if that was my father’s doing, or Mother’s.”

  Rayne stepped out of the tub and wrapped the towel around her. “It might have been both.”

  Sam nodded. “You could be right.”

  Rayne laid her head on Sam’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You may never fall in love with anyone else, and if you do, you must divorce me. Don’t make me suffer.”

  Sam raised her chin with his finger. “Rayne Elizabeth Powell, I will never love any woman but you.”

  “What if I get super fat and have saggy skin? What if I suddenly turn into a troll?”

  Sam choked as he tried not to laugh. “Angel, I don’t care if you suddenly turn into a troll, I will always see you as you are…” He tapped her chest, “… inside. You’ll always be the most beautiful woman in the world. That will never change.”

  Rayne kissed his chest. “I love you.”

  Sam moved one of the chairs close to the fire. “Come and get warm.”

  Rayne pulled a chemise on and then sat down with a sigh. “We should really get downstairs, don’t you think?”

  Sam picked up his wet shirt and set it on the back of a chair. “Dinner won’t be served for another thirty minutes, we have time.”

  Rayne nodded. “I’m sorry I got you all wet.”

  He smiled. “I was the one who went for a walk in a downpour.”

  “Yeah, but only because I made you mad.”

  Sam made his way to the chair and leaned down to kiss her quickly. “That’s over, sweetheart, and I’m dry now.”

  She reached up and laid a hand on his chest. “And too sexy for your own good.”

  Sam grinned. “If you continue with that line of conversation, we’ll miss dinner.”

  “The thought has possibilities.” Rayne rose to her feet. “But I know Emma should be arriving soon, so we should probably play host.”

  The couple dressed in dry clothes and made their way back downstairs to their guests.

  FRIDAY ARRIVED AND the house pulsed with excitement for the party. There was plenty of room for the out-of-town guests between the Butler Plantation and the Powells’. Victoria and Hannah arrived at sunrise, immersing themselves in preparations.

  Guests would begin to arrive that night and early the next morning. Rayne was thrilled to have their small group together without any distractions. She could be herself, without having to watch what she said.

  Sitting in the parlor penning name cards, Rayne handed a few blank cards to Amelia and smiled at Sam, who was sitting with Christopher, playing poker. Hannah set her pen down and rubbed her stomach just as a few of the early risers arrived back from a morning ride.

  Emma and Clayton were whispering frantically as they came inside, and Victoria sighed as she flopped down next to Rayne.

  Rayne raised an eyebrow. “Good ride?”

  Victoria nodded. “Yes… well, sort of.”

  “What happened?”

  Emma sat next to Hannah, scowling. “We met Jimmy Atwood and his entirely-too-young wife.”

  “Jimmy Atwood?” Hannah asked.

  Rayne frowned. “Why does that name keep coming up?”

  Victoria swore.

  “Rebel,” Quincy admonished.

  “Do not censor me, Quincy. The man is swine!”

  Amelia’s hand flew to her lips and Rayne couldn’t help but smile sympathetically. “Ignore Victoria. She tends to over embellish.”

  Sam laid his cards face down and leaned back in his chair. “He is trouble.”

  “It’s true,” Quincy agreed.

  Rayne glanced at him. “How so?”

  Christopher tapped his fingers on the small table. “He likes to hurt things weaker than himself and he doesn’t discriminate. Most days it’s his wife, other days, it’s his mistress—”

  “He has both?” Rayne said.

  Christopher nodded. “Yes. He’s newly married, less than a year. She’s very young. I’m somewhat certain she had no idea what she was getting into.”

  “Jacob’s having a devil of a time not physically hurting Jimmy. Alice has been like a little sister to us ever since her father bought the neighboring farm,” Quincy said.

  Rayne sat forward, her skin instantly cold. “We need to get her away from him!”

  Sophie grimaced. “Easier said than done, Rayne.”

  Sam shook his head. “I don’t want you getting involved with him, Rayne.”

  “I have no intention of getting involved with him, baby.”

  Sam waved a hand toward her. “Angel, you need to beware. He enjoys beating his slaves and their children. He’d have no issue with hurting you.”

  Rayne glanced at Victoria. “She’s exactly the kind of person we want to help. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Victoria nodded. “Exactly. He should be prosecuted, and she should be protected.”

  Sam shot an evasive look toward Christop
her and then rubbed his forehead. “You don’t actually think he’ll be prosecuted, do you?”

  Rayne leaned back in frustration. “Why wouldn’t he?”

  “Because they are his property.”

  Rayne scowled. “Even his wife?”

  “Yes, Angel.”

  “You can’t be serious,” she said in surprise. “Does that mean I’m your property?”

  Sam chuckled. “You’re my wife and I love you. I see you as my partner, even if you don’t believe me.”

  Rayne wagged a finger at him. “You’re lucky you just said that.”

  Victoria squeezed Rayne’s hand. “We have to do something.”

  Quincy narrowed his eyes at his wife. “Victoria, Jimmy Atwood is a very dangerous man. I don’t want you to do anything that might anger him.”

  “Like what, Gus?” Victoria asked. “The whole point of our shelter is that no one knows it’s us. It’s not like we’re going to announce anything.”

  Sam faced Victoria. “I agree with Quincy. You both need to watch out for him. You must not go after her or alert Jimmy in any way.”

  “Okay, but what if his wife comes to me for shelter?” Rayne asked. “I have to help her.”

  Rayne saw the flicker of a smile cross Sam’s mouth before his expression turned stern again. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, but this all needs to be done carefully.”

  Rayne grinned. “Since we have the smartest men we know together in one room, how about we make those plans?”

  Jamie laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

  * * *

  Stephen and Christine arrived Saturday. Tired from the trip, they relaxed in the parlor with a cup of tea. When Andrew and Gwendolyn arrived a bit later, the house was bustling with chit-chat and laughter while the house staff worked doubly hard to get the costumes sorted and ready.

  Stephen and Jamie refused to tell anyone what costume each of them would be wearing. In fact, it was noted they would dress at the Butlers’ in an effort to surprise their wives. In the end, it was decided the girls would dress at the Powells’.

  Spirits were high and everyone couldn’t seem to wait to show off. The girls found themselves in uncontrollable giggles as they put their costumes together.