Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series)

by Richards, K. R.

  So he continued, “You carry a child. In the eyes of the Crown and the Government, the child you carry belongs to your husband, no matter that it is not his. It was conceived before the divorce. If he found out about your child, Catherine, Burrow could take it from you as his heir. He could claim he fathered it and none could dispute it. He would do so to get you back into his clutches. He was not happy to sign the divorce papers. You will have no legal recourse regarding your child, unless you marry right away.”

  “No!” Catherine jumped up. She shook her head vehemently.

  “I will never marry again, Marrek. Once was enough and I could never marry a stranger I hardly know, and it would have to be a stranger to marry immediately. I am free. I want to be free, forever. I want my child to be free.” She paced and wrung her hands. “I want to be free, Marrek, not controlled again!” She stomped her foot. “I will never be controlled.”

  Marrek saw the tears welling in her eyes. He saw her fear. He saw anger in those eyes, the color of a moss agate. Not gray, not green, but a mixture of both. “Kitty, calm down, please, I’m afraid I’ve bungled everything quite badly. I have never proposed before.”

  Catherine stopped pacing and swung around to face him as the realization crashed in upon her. She thought for a moment then asked him, “What did you just say?” Catherine looked to Marrek in amazement.

  He smiled as he gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “Kitty, you and I shall be married tomorrow morning. You will be free. I hope you know me well enough to know I shall never try to control you. I’m certain you know I will never harm you. I will make certain that both you and your child are happy. Your child will carry my name, and I will welcome your child as my own. Catherine Hewett, Lady Burrow, shall simply disappear. Catherine Feywood, Kitty, will become Lady St. Erth.”

  “Oh, Marrek, I am flattered. I do care for you a great deal. You are my dearest friend, but I – I am afraid that right now, I could not, um, be a proper wife to you,” she struggled for words as a blush crept to her cheeks.

  “Kitty, please, let me explain everything. Look at me.” Marrek watched until her striking eyes, more gray than green tonight, met his gaze.

  “Our urgency in marrying is to protect your child, our child. I will be the babe’s father, and happily so. I do not expect you to perform your wifely duties until you are ready. My hopes are, that in time, when you have healed from Charlie’s loss you will wish to be my wife completely. I will never force you or harass you to do so before you are ready, Kitty.”

  “Oh, Marrek, I don’t want you to give up your life for me and my baby. I admire you far too much. You were the only light in my dark, dreary life aside from the times I saw Charlie. I lived for your letters. I don’t think I would have made it these four years were it not for you. What if I never trust after Burrow, or I never heal from Charlie’s loss…what if I can’t be…a good and proper wife to you?”

  “Kitty, you will heal. It may take time, but you will heal. We are friends. Dear friends who care for one another, that in itself will allow our marriage to work for us both, even if we are never more than that.” He realized he sounded desperate. He was. He wanted Catherine, his Kitty, in his life. “There are many who are married who do not even like one another.”

  Catherine nodded. She looked into his dark eyes. She did trust Marrek. She did. “Very well.” She nodded.

  “You will marry me?” He smiled down at her.

  Marrying a stranger or someone she barely knew frightened her. Marrying Marrek did not. Aside from Charlie, he truly was the only other person who knew her best and she knew him just as well.

  “Yes, I have nothing to fear from you, Marrek, and I must protect my babe.”

  He sighed in relief. “Good. We will leave at ten o’clock tomorrow morning to go to the church at St. Cleer. My cousin, Jonas, will perform the ceremony. I have a special license. We will only tell Aunt Morva and Trevan when we return. Trevan will quietly alert the gentleman in our circle, the married ones will tell their wives. We will keep everything about the babe quiet for now.” He stopped then chuckled after he thought for a moment. “Ah, just so you are aware, you will have a large family now.”

  Catherine managed a smile. “I like your family, Marrek. I believe your Aunt has introduced most of them to me during the days since our arrival. Mostly, I have rested, yet I did go down to dinner these two nights past.”

  “Good, I’m happy you like them for they will be around often, I fear!” He smiled.

  “I will welcome family. If you remember, I haven’t any left.”

  For all practical purposes, Kitty was alone in the world. An only child, her father had passed six years before, and her mother, three. She truly had no family. That would change tomorrow. She would have him and a very large family. His family would love her. He already did.

  “It is late. You need your rest, Kitty. I will see you tomorrow morning. May I walk you down to breakfast before we set out for the church?”

  “Yes, I would like that. Good night.” Catherine looked up at him. He bent his head. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. She felt a rush of panic. He placed a quick, swift kiss to her temple. Afterward, Catherine felt at a loss that he hadn’t kissed her on the lips.

  “Good night, Kitty. Sleep well.” He turned to regard her before he left her room.

  Chapter Ten

  Swandown Manor, Devon July 1834

  Tuesday Inwood stood in her bedchamber. It was still dark as pitch outside, yet she looked out her window despite that. There had been an empty ache inside her since they heard the news. Charlie had been killed.

  It had been a little over two weeks. She had cried until she didn’t know if there were any more tears left inside her.

  Charlie had been her hero. She was very close to her older brother. They had spent hours talking of ancient history and many other things.

  Whenever he returned from his Avalon Society trips or meetings, he always shared what he learned with her. Her father didn’t always approve of her love of history and books.

  Not only did Charlie approve, but he also encouraged her. She could talk to Charlie about anything. He was incredibly wise and very understanding.

  Two summers ago, Richard Hastings, one of their handsome, eligible neighbors was paying her a great deal of notice. Tuesday had been terribly excited by his attentions. She had even fancied herself in love. Charlie had talked to her often about the ways of men and she knew her brother watched her very closely during that time.

  When Richard Hastings went to London during the little Season, offered for, and subsequently married Miss Marjorie Monkshead, of the wealthy Derbyshire Monksheads; Charlie had been there for her. He had taken her with him to stay an entire week at Roseland Abbey with their friends, the Darringtons. Owen and Charlie had included her and Libby in all of their research and discussions. They had a wonderful week. It helped to ease her wounded pride and what she thought was a broken-heart.

  On their trip home to Swandown Manor, Charlie told her she deserved to marry a man much better than Richard Hastings. He told her that if you experienced heartache, it only helped you realize what true love was later. He had kissed her cheek and told her he wasn’t ready to give up his best girl just yet anyway. He hadn’t teased her or belittled her. He had just been her wonderfully sweet brother, Charlie.

  Charlie had been just as kind to her four summers ago when she was infatuated with Jack Drayton, the Earl of Elveston. Of course, Charlie had warned her away from Elveston from the beginning. He said Elveston was not remotely ready to settle down. He also mentioned something about having to kill him if he touched her.

  Lord Elveston had been kind to her a few times and had even asked her to dance when they visited at Roseland Abbey that time. Being young and quite foolish, she had fancied herself in love with him and had been overjoyed when he paid attention to her. She was crushed when he avoided her after that dance. Soon after that Elveston, Charlie, Owen, Micah and Lyon had l
eft for a long trip to Italy.

  Tuesday fingered the ancient Roman coin, which hung on a dainty gold chain around her neck. Charlie had given it to her when he returned from that trip to Italy.

  Tuesday had seen Lord Elveston a few times during the past four years. He had been polite and so had she. Though she still thought him terribly handsome, she long ago gave up the notion of any kind of romantic relationship with him. Even though he had been overly kind to her last week, she cautioned herself that nothing could ever truly come from her being interested in Jack.

  She had heard a good deal of gossip about Lord Elveston when she, mother and her sister joined father in London. Jack was a notorious rake and in truth had well earned the title given to the members of the Avalon Society by the ton, the Lusty Lords of Avalon. His numerous indiscretions and affairs with the matrons of the bon ton fueled the rumor that Jack, the heir to the Marquessate of Brampton, was the original Lusty Lord of Avalon. It was said he preferred experienced women, sought only pleasure and had sworn off marriage until he was old and gray.

  Tuesday looked to the small bag she had packed earlier. It sat beside the door. Her clothes, borrowed for her journey from one of the stable lads without his knowledge, lay upon her bed at the ready. She would change in a few minutes so she could leave in an instant if need be. The note she left for her family was on the dresser. They would be upset. Tuesday couldn’t explain why she was doing this really. Only that she knew it was something she just had to do. For Charlie.

  Lord Elveston had arrived yesterday. He did not leave with the others for Cornwall over a week ago for he had other business to tend to in Wiltshire. Having heard him tell her brother-in-law Marcus that he would stop by Swandown to check on her, her sister and her mother on his way back to Cornwall, Tuesday had then formulated her plan.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her brother’s fellow Avalon Society members to avenge Charlie’s death as they all vowed to do. She knew them all to be quite capable.

  Quite simply, Charlie was her brother, her only brother. She would be there when the mysterious Brown Coated men who were responsible for his death were brought down. In some way, however small, she had to be involved in bringing the group responsible for Charlie’s death to justice. She had to see it done.

  At dinner, many hours before, Lord Elveston announced he would leave with the dawn to make his way to Cornwall. He bid his good-byes to Lady Stanbridge, Tuesday and her sister, Wednesday, before he retired. Tuesday was polite to him this afternoon and evening, but she kept her distance. She did not want him to suspect she was up to something.

  She would leave Swandown at dawn after he did. By the time Lord Elveston figured out she was following him, it would be too late for him to return her to Devon. She knew he would not send her back on her own.

  She knew he was carrying something very important that he must get to Cornwall quickly. By complete chance, she overheard him conversing with the Duke of Penrose in the entry hall before the other members left Swandown on the day that Charlie was buried. She was going to Cornwall. She would follow Lord Elveston.

  Jack suspected he was being followed hours earlier. At times, he thought two people were following him. He stayed alert and pushed aside thoughts of Tuesday Inwood that had plagued him the entire week he was on his own. He realized his mysterious attraction and reaction to being near Tuesday was still with him after four years. He did not understand why.

  For the last week, her beautiful face and shapely figure had haunted his dreams. He thought he had buried his attraction to Tuesday four years ago in Italy with an Italian mistress with dark eyes and a luscious body. He hadn’t. Once again, he could not get Lady Tuesday Inwood out of his mind - or his dreams. He was eager for the Brown Coat business to be completed so he could return to Swandown and offer for her. Make her his.

  By the time Jack arrived at Camelford in the early afternoon, he decided to lay a trap for his pursuer. He knew there was one, though he suspected there could be two. He knew the Arms well. He had stopped here many times while traveling from his home, Dartleigh Castle in Dorset, to visit the Chynoweths in Cornwall.

  He requested a private parlour, ordered a meal and a pint then hid his bag containing the Avalon Society’s precious cargo in a small cupboard. He waited on the other side of the doorway, a pistol in his waistband and a knife in his boot. After five minutes, he heard light footsteps approaching the door.

  He remained where he was so he would be behind the door when it opened.

  The door opened slowly. His hat and gloves sat upon the table. The pursuer, dressed in a brown coat that was two sizes larger than needed for his small frame stepped into the room. Jack guessed him to be a lad no more than fifteen years. The lad pushed the door closed without turning behind him to look. Elveston sprang upon his pursuer then.

  The lad wriggled and kicked. The boy’s coat came unbuttoned as Jack struggled to get a good hold on him through the fabric. He ended up with a handful of soft, plump breast.

  A woman!

  “What in the bloody hell?” Jack spat.

  He spun her around and flipped the hat from her head. A long sandy-colored braid fell to drape across her shoulder and the very nice breast he had just held in his hand. He looked into familiar French blue eyes.

  “Tuesday. Inwood,” Jack ground out through gritted teeth.

  “Yes, Lord Elveston?” Tuesday refused to be cowed by the anger revealed in his flashing eyes. She remembered his eyes to be a golden brown, the color of rich amber, but at this moment, they were rather dark, like a fine brandy. His jaw was rigid as he glared at her. Obviously, he was quite unhappy with her.

  “What are you doing here?” He pointed to the floor they stood upon.

  “I am going to Menadue. I insist on being there when Charlie is avenged. I followed you because I don’t remember the way there. It has been some years since I was last in Cornwall. I assumed we were far enough along that I could join you. I was hungry. I hadn’t much coin to bring along. I could hardly ask Papa before he left for London. I think I am being followed, so I thought it best to make myself known to you.”

  “No.” Jack shook his head. “You are not going to Menadue. We are eating a meal and we are getting back on our horses and I am taking you back to Swandown Manor, to your Mama.”

  “I will not go back to Swandown.” Tuesday looked him in the eye and lifted her chin. “You will escort me to Menadue.”

  “Again, no, Lady Tuesday. I will not.”

  “Fine then, I will get to Menadue on my own. I will simply ask directions.” Tuesday turned on her heel and prepared to walk toward the door.

  Jack was so busy inspecting her long and very fine trouser-clad legs that she got out of his arm’s reach. He sprung ahead and made it to the door first. He placed his hand upon it and leaned into it. He smiled wickedly after she turned to regard him when she was unable to pull the door open.

  “Let me leave!” She demanded, stomping her booted foot for emphasis. He leaned in closer, his body was now just inches from hers.

  Jack watched her heaving bosom below him for a few seconds. His gaze then moved to her rosy lips. He wanted to kiss those luscious lips. His body was aflame. He remembered another time some years ago when Lady Tuesday had the exact same effect on him. He had not then, nor did he now understand why being close to her caused his body to burn for hers.

  “Oh, you’re going to Swandown, Lady Tuesday. You are going with me after we take our meal if I have to carry you belly down like a sack of flour across me all the way to Devon.”

  “I’m no longer hungry.” Frowning, she crossed her arms over her chest. She suddenly felt scantily clad under his burning gaze.

  “You will eat, nevertheless.”

  “You cannot tell me what to do, Lord Elveston.”

  “I am telling you what to do. You are the sister of my good friend. I will do what I know he would want me to.”

  “You are not my brother!”

  “No,
I am not.” A brother would never be thinking of doing the things to Lady Tuesday that he currently was. He could feel the heat of her body as he leaned closer. He was already imagining what it would be like to have her naked beneath him. He had no idea why this particular woman always stirred up such lustful feelings inside him.

  “Your brother would not want your reputation ruined,” he wished his voice wasn’t quite so deep and thick when he said that.

  Tuesday was angry. She dropped her arms to her sides and took a small step closer to Lord Elveston, glaring at him all the while. Her body was almost touching his. She poked him in the chest with one long, slender finger. “You are a family friend, and nothing has happened. This was not planned. I left home on my own. My reputation is not ruined.”

  “There is no one here save you and I, Lady Tuesday, to know what has happened. No chaperone. In many eyes, your reputation is already in shreds. I will get you back to Swandown before night falls for I do not want to have to offer for you in this manner.”

  “I wouldn’t marry you in any case,” Tuesday quipped.

  “You would, if your reputation was ruined, Tuesday,” Jack said pointedly.

  “It is not ruined.”

  “That’s questionable. However, I can remedy that, Tuesday,” his voice was a deep whisper. Lord, but she was lovely when she was angry or determined or whatever it was, she was feeling at this moment. He wanted to kiss that defiant chin and those beautiful and perfectly formed rosy lips.

  “You would never harm me!” Tuesday crossed her arms once again and stood confident before him.

  Jack leaned even closer to her, until they were touching. His lips were inches from hers. He could smell the subtle scent of violets. The fact that his body reacted even more to her scent angered him. This was the only woman who had ever held such power over him.