“Where is she?” Roderick replied harshly.
The captain seemed to pause for a moment. “Do you mean to tell me you have not seen her in the last half hour?”
Something in the captain’s troubled gaze sent Roderick’s brows slanting in concern. “She left the ballroom unescorted? Without you?”
The captain scowled. “Obviously.”
Roderick stared at the man. The captain may be involved with Jane, but he had always been straightforward. Honesty was part of his character. But in truth, Roderick didn’t like the thought of this good-looking man having anything to do with Jane.
“Where is my sister?” Roderick finally asked. “She should have been with her.”
“I am not your sister’s keeper,” the captain snapped. “And you should have been the one with Jane, not me, and not Lady Emily. Devil take it, Roderick. If you were anything like Stonebridge, you would have swept Jane into your arms and departed for a place unknown.”
Roderick’s jaw stiffened. “Easily said. Perhaps you wanted to do the same.”
“Listen here,” the captain said, his expression turning hard. “I have had just about enough from you. Jane deserves better and you dashed well know it.”
Roderick was ashamed this man had to reprimand him over Jane. But he was not about to give in. “You are almost as good with your words as you are with your fists.”
They regarded each other with shrewd stares. The boxing ring at Gentleman’s Jackson’s had been one place they had exchanged cuffs and neither of them could have been called the winner.
The captain’s green eyes glittered with fury. “You had best set your anger aside. I am nothing to Jane, not in the way you are thinking. Nothing but a friend. And if you can douse that cursed jealousy of yours, you will know that the woman is in love with you.”
“You are not one to pull punches, are you?” Roderick replied in a harsher tone that he wanted. The man seemed to care more than he thought.
“Blast it all, I may be her friend. But do not fool yourself. I would rather be more.”
Roderick eyes flashed. “By Jove, you are truthful. I give you credit for that.”
“I know when the battle is lost. But if you dare hurt her or leave her, I will be there in a minute. Do we understand each other?”
A black fury swept through Roderick. “Oh, I understand. If you so much as touch her in any intimate way, I shall kill you. Do you understand?”
The captain laughed, looking not the least bit threatened. “Well, then, now that we have an agreement, I think we should look for your lost love. Some of these women can be quite catty and who knows what they will say to her. You have to marry her as soon as possible, you do know that?”
“Curse you, James. I think I can handle my own wedding.”
The captain frowned as he gazed over the crowd. “They are a cruel bunch, and they don’t even know it. I did warn her not to come. But she would not hear of it. She would battle the entire ton to see you. Personally, I think you a fool to let it go on this long.”
Roderick had no answer because he knew the man was correct. He should never have left Jane in such a predicament. It did not matter what she said. He was responsible for protecting her, and he had failed. Again. He thought about Cecile and felt more the fool than ever before.
“It’s quite an act of love, I must say,” the captain continued. “To come here and endure the gossip. This weekend will test her nerves because people have already been whispering cruel things. I would have taken some of them aside, but she was right there. I could not embarrass her more. It’s a deuced shame that men in these type of incidents barely take a black mark at all.”
Roderick felt about an inch high. He marched toward the doorway with the captain on his heels. He glanced over his shoulders. “If anyone dares to say anything about her, I will box the ears.”
The captain nodded, his face grim. “Finally, we agree completely.”
Roderick peered down the hall. Sconces lit the way to the various rooms. Worry filled him. “I believe if she had to attend to her womanly needs, she would have been done by now.”
The captain glowered at him. “She went looking for you. I assumed she was with you.”
“Then why the devil did you not escort her?” Roderick barked, his fear increasing. If Jane had retired for the night, she would have told someone, including the captain. Roderick did not like the notion of Jane having to communicate her whereabouts to someone other than him. Guilt wrapped around his heart, and he felt quite small indeed
The captain sighed. “Perhaps she found—”
A screamed ripped through the air, sending Roderick running. “It’s Jane!”
Chapter Nineteen
Roderick swore as he slammed his body against one of the salon doors, trying to turn the handle. “The blasted thing is locked!”
Blood pumped through his veins as he stared in horror at the captain. “Who the devil’s in there with her?”
Worried, the captain glanced over his shoulder and cursed. “A crowd is beginning to gather.”
“Does anyone have a key?” Roderick yelled, not caring a whit about the swarm of people filling the hallway. “I need the confounded key!”
Lady Vexfield hurried his way. “Who’s in there?” she asked, frowning and calling for the housekeeper.
“Saw Lord Garette in there earlier,” a man called out. “Was a bit foxed.”
Lady Vexfield took the keys from the housekeeper’s hands and passed them to Roderick. A few seconds later, he turned the correct key and with a quick push, opened the door.
“Jane,” he gasped, his eyes going wide at the sight.
Lord Garette was lying on the floor, motionless. Jane hovered over him, holding a fire poker in her hand, her gaze wild and jerky.
Roderick stared at her frightened face and torn gown. He swore beneath his breath as he strode toward her. What had the blackguard done to her?
Her entire body was trembling. She dropped the fire poker and looked up with a watery blue gaze. “He…he…”
Roderick gathered her into his arms, tucking her head against his chest. “It’s all right, sweetheart. It’s all right.”
“Is he dead?” she sobbed into his waistcoat. “I didn’t mean to kill him.”
Gasps of horror echoed off the walls as people peeked through the doorway.
“Garette dead!”
“Murdered!”
“Fallen woman!”
Lady Vexfield stepped into the salon and turned around to push the onlookers out of the room. Captain Argyle closed the door and stood in silence, watching.
Frowning, Lady Vexfield looked at Lord Garette and worried her hands against her gown. “Goodness, whatever happened? Did he drink too much?”
Roderick snarled. “I think it’s obvious what happened, madam. The man attacked my wife.” He dared Lady Vexfield to deny the situation or his marital state.
The lady opened her mouth, then decided to close it.
Captain Argyle bent down to examine Garette.
“Well?” Roderick asked, watching the captain.
Green eyes lifted and gleamed with regret. “Dead,” the captain whispered.
Jane groaned into Roderick’s chest. Her knees buckled and he swung her into his arms.
Lady Vexfield staggered toward the couch. “Impossible. I cannot have a man die at my ball! It just isn’t done!”
“I never struck him,” Jane sobbed, pointing to the fire poker. “He just collapsed. Before he fell, I tried to run, but he wouldn’t let me go. After he hit me, I lost consciousness. I was only out for a short time. I just don’t know. A few seconds, maybe…”
Roderick caressed her back and looked at the captain. “Well?” he asked, hoping the captain had some answers.
The captain stood and gazed thoughtfully at Roderick. “There is a dead man on the premises. Jane was here. There will be questions.”
“You mean he is truly dead?” Lady Vexfield gasped, looking horrified. She glared
at Jane. “You did it! We will have to call the magistrate! You will be charged in his death! I cannot have a killer walking about my party. It will ruin it.”
“Enough!” Roderick shouted. His cold gray eyes froze the lady to her spot. “Who is the magistrate?”
The lady blinked, lifting a haughty chin. “Why, my husband, of course. We cannot let something like this go unpunished. He is an earl, after all.
“She!” The lady pointed to Jane, “… is a fallen woman! The only reason I invited her was because the king insisted. I should never have done so.”
Jane’s face turned white with fright. She burrowed into Roderick’s arms, trying to find a comfort he could not fully give. Roderick felt his world turning upside down. A man was dead. The captain was correct. There would be questions.
He held Jane tight, knowing he had never loved her as much as he did at that moment. “You heard my wife,” Roderick said, his voice frosty. “She never hit the man. He attacked her. She tried to escape. Frankly, I fail to see how that makes her a murderer.”
Captain Argyle frowned. “We will have to call Lord Vexfield into the room. The other guests saw it, Roderick. We cannot hide what has happened.”
“Then get the king in here too,” Roderick replied to Lady Vexfield, his harsh tone making her step back.
Lady Vexfield huffed and started for the door. “His Majesty will not want to become entangled in this.” She narrowed a meaningful gaze toward Jane. “Not with the likes of her!”
Roderick clenched his teeth and spat out his words. “If you were not a lady, I would call you out at dawn.”
Lady Vexfield gasped in outrage. “Well, I never!”
Roderick spoke in a mere whisper, but his words held such venom, even the captain flinched. “You, Lady Vexfield, will never have another party here, or in London, if you say another word about this lady. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
“Is that a threat?” the lady asked, her voice shaky.
Roderick gathered Jane and placed her gently on the sofa. He angled a meaningful gaze toward the captain, silently asking the man to watch over her. The captain nodded and poured out a glass of wine, handing it to Jane.
In the meantime, Roderick walked toward Lady Vexfield. He towered over her, not feeling a bit sorry for his host. A man had died, yes. But this lady wanted to label Jane a murderess without any facts. Well, not his Jane. Not now. Not ever. “Get your husband, madam. I believe the last I saw of him, he was with Lady Trayton. And bring the king as well.”
The lady’s eyes went wide and her face drained of color. With a huff, she spun on her slippers and yanked open the door to leave.
Frowning, Roderick spun around and regarded Jane’s trembling body.
The captain’s expression was dark as he took Roderick aside. “Get her out of this room. Now.”
Roderick’s lips thinned as he glanced at Garette. “I can take her up to my chambers.”
The captain raised his brow. “That will only make tongues wag more than they are now.”
“I don’t care a devil about what people say,” Roderick snapped in a low voice for only the captain to hear. “She is my wife, confound it! She will always be my wife! When you leave here, fetch the vicar. No, wait. Find Agatha! If anyone can move mountains, it’s that lady.”
And with that, he swept Jane into his arms, tucked her head against his chest and hurried her along the hall, up the stairs and into his bedchambers.
Agatha knocked on the door of Roderick’s guest chambers and pushed her way inside, without waiting for an answer.
Roderick stood by the bed and glanced her way. “Devil take it, madam. You take your liberties too far.”
Agatha closed the door and stared in concern at Jane lying on the bed with eyes closed. The older lady clasped her hands together. “Jane,” she cried, her tone shaky.
Roderick brushed a worried hand over his forehead and sat on the bed beside his wife. “She fainted downstairs,” he said, whispering. “She was delicate before, but I fear her health is still quite fragile. Has she been ill? She woke for a few minutes. I had to hold her hand until she fell asleep.”
Agatha’s eyes filled with tears. The lady seemed to be having trouble speaking. “Well, I would not say she has been ill, per se. But I do have something to say, so if you would please not interrupt me, let me tell you the entire story.”
Roderick shot her a suspicious look. “Jupiter, Agatha. You look as if you have killed someone? You did not have a hand in Garette’s death, did you?”
Her expression turned angry. “Wish I had.” She bit her lip. “Is Jane…all right?”
Roderick grimaced as he took in Jane’s pale face. “I believe the man did not violate her to the extent we are thinking.”
Agatha let out a relieved breath. “She has had a hard time of it, you know, and some of it is my fault.”
Roderick frowned. “Go on.”
He stood and gave her a chair that was near the wardrobe. “I am all ears,” he said softly, taking his seat beside Jane.
“I know that we have not agreed on everything,” Agatha replied, keeping her voice to a whisper. “But you must admit, I have always had Jane’s welfare utmost in my mind.”
Roderick grasped Jane’s hand in a gentle hold. “She is everything to me, Agatha,” he said quietly, staring at Jane’s face. “She will marry me, even if I have to force her. It is for her own good.”
“I agree, but—”
“There will be no buts,” Roderick said in a hushed tone as he turned back to the older lady. “With Garette dead, there are those who would want to see her tried for murder. I won’t have it. With my name behind her, she will have a better chance. It is imperative.”
Agatha pinched her lips together. “We shall handle that in good time, but the reason I am here is because of that marriage license situation.” The lady looked up at the ceiling, anywhere but in Roderick’s general direction. “It is all rather complicated.”
Roderick watched in astonishment as the lady fidgeted with her gown. Jupiter and Zeus, he had never see the lady so nervous before.
A sudden thought occurred to him, and he scowled. “You were the one who had the marriage license examined, were you not?”
“In a way,” she said, sounding regretful. Her gray eyes blinked back tears as she gazed toward the bed. “I admit, I was wrong to have interfered.”
“Indeed, madam. But what’s done is done. The license was at fault, not you.”
Agatha chewed her bottom lip and stood, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. “Ah, but there is something else I must tell you.”
Roderick let out a light chuckle. “Does this have something to do with the king?”
“You know?” she asked in shocked surprise.
He lifted a curious brow. “I do not know exactly what you have on him. But I have often wondered why the man shakes when you enter the room.”
Agatha gave a trembling laugh. “Oh, on that. It is best I do not tell you a thing.”
“I see. So you do hold some power over the man. Truthfully, I think it hilarious he has to answer to someone other than Parliament. And, someone who is not his mother. By the way, how is my mother?”
“Have you not heard? She has taken that voyage to America with Bringston. In fact, she never heard about your marriage troubles until she was almost on board. I believe some acquaintance of Bringston’s sent a letter. I, uh, assured her the matter would be taken care of.”
“Thank you for that, madam. But what do you have to tell me that is so important?”
An anxious look crossed the lady’s face, and Roderick felt his world tilt. “By Jove,” he hissed in alarm. “Does Vexfield believe Jane murdered the fellow?”
“He is still investigating the scene of the crime.”
Roderick shot from his seat. “There was no crime,” he blurted out, looking back at Jane. “Unless it was a crime against Jane.”
Agatha stiffened. “Of course, Garette is the villai
n in all this,” she said hotly, lowering her voice. “Our Jane would not hurt anyone unless she had a reason.”
Roderick frowned. “Oh, she had reason. But I did not see anything but a scratch on his face.”
“Yes, yes,” Agatha, said, taking a turn about the room. “But that is not the only reason I have come.” She spun around, her gray eyes accusing. “Would you please let me finish?”
Roderick leaned against the bedpost. “Go on.”
Well,” the lady said. “You do know how much I love Jane. Like my very own daughter.”
“Indeed. You have made that point numerous times.”
Agatha looked ready to cry. “Well, um, you see, I do have quite a temper.”
Roderick pursed his lips, trying not to chuckle. “I cannot disagree.”
“Of course,” the lady continued, giving him a shaky smile. “You could ask Clayton about what happened before he married my godchild Briana.”
The memories made his smile. “I have been on the other side of that temper, and your parasol, madam. By the way, where is your weapon of choice?”
She growled. “I had it. But the king confiscated it. He said the only way he would stay was if I gave it to him until I departed.”
Roderick bent over in laughter. He quickly caught himself and walked closer to Agatha. “I knew there had to be something I liked about the man.”
She straightened. “Well, he has no idea I have a spare in my trunk.”
Roderick tried to contain his laughter. He did not want to wake Jane. “Ah, a woman of means, I see.”
The lady shot him a frowning gaze. “This is not a laughing matter.” Her face turned serious as she peered over at Jane. She shifted her determined gaze back to him. “I will fight anyone, and I mean anyone, who causes her pain.”
“I understand perfectly. Go on.”
The lady glared at him. “Well, you, my good man, have caused her pain.”
Roderick’s jaw tensed. “Aren’t you being a bit harsh? I love the woman.”
“Do you think loving her means giving up your life together?” she asked bluntly, lowering her voice. “Sleeping in different rooms? Denying her the right to have children?”
The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks) Page 19
