Despite her fatigue Sally smiled, and some of the doubts that had been assailing her during the drive began to abate. They had always shared the same sense of humour. They had also been friends. Perhaps they could be again.
* * *
Their room was a large one with two windows overlooking the street.
‘I hope the noise won’t disturb you,’ said Ben.
‘I doubt it will.’ Sally removed her hat and put a hand to her flattened curls. ‘I think I could sleep for a week.’
‘Oh, I hope not.’ As he reached out for her she turned away, but not before he had seen the panic in her eyes.
His hands dropped to his sides. Perhaps she was regretting her decision to come with him. He wanted to ask her, but was suddenly afraid of the answer.
* * *
They were achingly polite to each other while the servants brought in their dinner, and afterwards, when the table had been cleared and they were alone, he saw her eyes travel frequently towards the big curtained bed. The clock chimed eleven. He said gently, ‘Would you rather I bespoke a separate room for you?’
She quickly disclaimed the idea. ‘We are almost husband and wife, are we not?’ She managed a shy smile. ‘And I mean to be a good wife to you.’
He put his hands on her shoulders, saying gently, ‘I do not want a good wife, Sal. I want a willing one. Did I hurt you? Last night...did I frighten you?’
‘No—no.’
‘Then what is it Sal? What is worrying you?’
He watched the movement in her slender throat as she swallowed.
‘You told me you rescued me from Henry to...to thwart Papa. Is that why you are marrying me, too?’
‘Lord, no.’ Relief flooded through him. ‘You are the only woman I have ever desired for my bride. Last night I thought you wanted me, too. I would not have taken advantage of you.’
‘You are very kind,’ she said quickly.
‘Kind! Is that what you think of me?’
With a cry she threw up her arms, pushing his hands away.
‘I do not know what to think of you,’ she cried. ‘You burst back into my life, raking up all those memories, showing me how much I—’
‘Yes?’ Ben’s voice was little more than a croak and he held his breath waiting for her to finish the sentence.
‘How much I...love you.’
He closed his eyes, the breath draining from him. He had not been mistaken.
‘That is all I wanted to know.’
She gave a little sob.
‘I have always loved you,’ she said, ‘When...when I sent you away, two years ago—when I told you I did not care for you—I was lying. Papa...’ She bit her lip. ‘Papa said I had to make sure you would not come back, that if he found you near Markham again he would k-kill you, very slowly. And he meant it, Ben.’ She looked up, her eyes bright with unshed tears. ‘I had seen how cruel he could be, and I was terrified for you. I had to make you think I had been merely toying with you. I had to make sure you would not want me any longer. I c-could not risk you coming back. And I did not know that he would have his men waiting, that they would—’ She broke off, shuddering. After a moment she said quietly, ‘I do not deserve that you should still care for me.’
He caught her hands. They fluttered like wild birds in his grasp. ‘Darling Sal, I have never stopped caring for you. Yes, I was angry when I first saw you again, but that was only because I still loved you.’ He caught her chin in his fingers and gently pushed it up so that she was obliged to look at him. ‘Do you believe me?’
* * *
His eyes bored into her, their heat melting away the last of the ice around her heart.
‘I think so,’ she murmured. She ran her tongue over her lips. ‘Perhaps you could show me again?’
With something like a growl he dragged her into his arms and kissed her with a savagery that took her breath away. She gave herself up to him, melting into his embrace, and when he swept her up and carried her to the bed she clung to him, nuzzling his neck and planting kisses on his throat, the line of his jaw, until she found his mouth and allowed her tongue to explore and excite him the way he had roused her the previous evening.
* * *
A grey light was filtering into the room when Sally awoke. For a moment she lay still, afraid the happiness she felt was part of a dream that would be snatched away in an instant. Ben was asleep, one arm thrown possessively around her. Gently she eased herself away from him and went over to the open window, slipping on her wrap as she went. She leaned out, looking beyond the empty road to the fields that rolled away towards distant hills. The sun had not yet risen and a heavy mist lay like milk in the dips and dells.
She heard the creak of a board. The next moment Ben was behind her. He placed a hand on the sill on either side of her and kissed the back of her neck.
‘Good morning, wife.’
She blushed.
‘I am not that yet, sir.’
‘Not churched, perhaps, but I think we have now plighted our troth.’ He slid his hands over her hips and pressed his body closer. ‘Would you like me to remind you...?’
She giggled. ‘I would, of course, but first—’
‘So there you are, strumpet!’
Sir Henry was standing in the road, staring up at them.
‘Oh, lord.’ murmured Ben.
Sally shrank against him and he put his arm around her, seemingly unaffected by Henry’s sudden appearance. His composure calmed her and she faced her erstwhile abductor quite coolly.
‘Henry. What are you doing here?’
‘Searching for you, of course! I have had people looking for you since yesterday. When I had news of a couple calling themselves Mr. and Mrs. Woods, I just knew it would be you.’ He scowled. ‘That is just such a hoydenish trick as you enjoy, madam, is it not? To use the same name.’
‘Ah, now there you are wrong,’ said Ben, moving Sally aside. ‘That was my idea.’
‘And one you will regret, sirrah, since it has led me to you.’
‘Not at all,’ Ben retorted. ‘My only regret is that we did not conclude this yesterday. Give me five minutes to dress and I shall meet you in the coffee room.’ He began to throw on his clothes. ‘You had best stay here, Sal. This may not be pretty.’
‘You cannot fight him!’
‘Oh, can’t I? After what you have told me he will be lucky to escape with his life!’
She stared at him and read murder in his eyes. He shrugged himself into his waistcoat and headed, without jacket or hat, for the door. It would be useless to argue. Instead she hurried into her own clothes and set off down the stairs only minutes behind him. As she approached the coffee room she could hear the sound of a commotion from within. An anxious waiter hovered by the door.
‘M-Mr. Woods said they was not to be disturbed.’
Sally pushed past him and went in. A scene of devastation met her eyes. The table and chairs were overturned, broken cups and saucers scattered the floor and the coffee pot was lying dented in the empty fireplace. Henry was sitting on the floor, a bloody handkerchief held to his nose while Ben stood over him, chest heaving and fists clenched.
‘Oh, good heavens, what have you done?’
Ben pointed to a small silver-mounted pistol lying on the floor.
‘Damned villain tried to shoot me.’
‘You did not think I would meet you unarmed?’ muttered Sir Henry through his handkerchief.
‘Much good it did you,’ growled Ben.
Sally touched his arm.
‘Do let him get up. He should go back and tell my father that his horrid plan has failed.’
‘Aye.’ Ben stood back and watched Henry climb unsteadily to his feet. ‘You can tell the viscount that Miss Coale is going to marry me—’
‘The fact is that she eloped with me!’ retorted Sir Henry.
‘You tricked me into coming with you,’ declared Sally, firing up.
‘True, but only because there was no alternative,’ returned Sir Henry, cautiously checking to see if his nose had stopped bleeding. ‘I still intend to marry you, despite all that has occurred here.’ He added conscientiously, ‘You know I have always adored you.’
‘You have always adored my fortune,’ she retorted.
‘I won’t say that isn’t important, but—’
‘But nothing,’ Ben interrupted him. ‘I suggest you take yourself off now, Nettleton, unless you want another beating...’
He stepped forward menacingly and Sally grabbed his arm.
‘Enough,’ she cried. ‘Please Henry, just go and leave me in peace.’
Henry glowered at her.
‘You do not understand, Serena. I am here with your father’s blessing, you must marry me or face the consequences. I shall summon help. You and your lover won’t get twenty miles before you are apprehended, and we’ll see what your father and his doctors say about your latest escapade.’
Ben shook off her restraining hand.
‘Wait outside, Sal. I will finish this once and for all.’
‘No, Ben,’ she said, stepping in front of him. ‘That would put you in trouble with the law, and I cannot marry a felon.’
‘I am glad to see you have some scruples left, madam,’ retorted Henry, ‘If you have any sense you will send this, this villain on his way and I will take you to Gretna.’
A drawling voice interrupted him.
‘Sorry to disappoint you, Nettleton, but you are not taking our sister anywhere.’
All three turned and stared at the two gentlemen standing in the doorway, their fashionable topboots and elegant riding jackets dusty from the road. Sally gave a little gasp.
‘Jasper, Dom—what are you doing here?’
‘We’ve come to fetch you home, my dear.’
‘Begging your pardon, gentlemen.’ The landlord pushed his way past the two travellers and stopped, goggling at the disordered room. ‘What the—!’ He drew himself up, saying severely, ‘This is a respectable house, sirs, and I would be obliged to you all if you would leave. Now.’
‘Oh, go to the devil.’ Jasper waved him away. ‘You will be paid for the damage, never fear.’
‘Aye, go and bring us some ale!’ barked Dominic. ‘Riding hell for leather on these dry roads is thirsty work.’
Ben watched the two men bustle the landlord out of the room and close the door. He knew Sally’s brothers, of course.. Identical twins, they were tall, athletic and devilishly good-looking. Even after five years at school together he had difficulty telling them apart. Only the cut of his superbly fitting coat and a certain neatness about his dress distinguished Dominic the soldier from his more flamboyant brother. Ben suddenly found two identical pairs of eyes slide from Nettleton and come to rest upon him. Recognition followed quickly.
‘Hensley. What the devil are you doing here?’
‘Good morning, Dom,’ he replied calmly. ‘I am on the same errand as you. To rescue Sal from Sir Henry.’
‘But what are you two doing here?’ Sally broke in. ‘I thought you were both in London.’
Jasper Coale grinned as he stripped off his York tan gloves.
‘We arrived at Markham unexpectedly, only to be told you had eloped with our neighbour, so we set off in pursuit. You’ve been in some madcap scrapes before, Sis, but nothing like this.’ He shook his head and added gently, ‘Nettleton ain’t the man for you, Sal, so we’ve come to fetch you home.’
Sally clasped her hands together.
‘Jasper, I cannot go back. You have no idea how awful it has become at Markham.’
‘Yes, but don’t see why you had to run off with Nettleton,’ objected Dominic, throwing his hat and gloves onto the table. ‘If Pa was cutting up rough, why did you not apply to us?’
‘No time for that,’ said Sir Henry unexpectedly. ‘Markham was trying to force her into marriage, so I had to act. Damned scoundrel threatened to have his doctors declare her a lunatic.’
‘The devil he did!’ exclaimed Jasper, his handsome face suddenly grim. ‘Is this true, Sal?’
She nodded. ‘Papa told me I must marry Lord Cromer, but—’
‘That old roué!’ Dominic glanced at his brother. ‘Doing it far too brown, Jas.’
‘He had a special licence ready,’ added Henry. ‘Said if she didn’t marry Cromer then he would call in his doctors. She would be locked away.’
‘Aye, he would do it too.’ Jasper rubbed his chin. ‘You know what a rascal Doctor Rathbone is. Cunning old devil! Well you have no need to worry now, Sal. Dom and I will protect you.’ He nodded to Sir Henry. ‘Good of you to offer to help her, Nettleton, but no need for you to fly to the border now. We’ll look after her.’
Sally threw up her hands.
‘He did not look after me. Henry was part of the plot and had the doctor’s letter with him. If Ben had not come along he was going to make me marry him.’
‘Well that’s not going to happen now, Sis.’ Jasper turned to Sir Henry. ‘You may as well go home, Nettleton.’ He grinned. ‘But I should stay out of Father’s way for a bit. He’s not likely to be too pleased to see you.’
‘Aye, get out,’ growled Ben. ‘And you had best keep out of my way, too, or the next time we meet I will be calling you out!’
Jason held open the door.
‘It seems pretty unanimous, sir. Your presence is no longer needed.’
‘In fact,’ added Dominic, frowning, ‘from what Sal has told us, we have every reason to seek satisfaction. Best go now, before one of us does just that.’
Sir Henry stalked towards the door.
‘All right, I shall go, but when Lord Markham asks what happened I shall tell him it was you who spoiled his plan.’
‘Aye, do that by all means,’ said Jasper cordially. ‘We will deal with that when we bring our sister home.’ With a chuckle he shut the door upon Sir Henry. ‘The man’s a fool if he thinks Pa will listen to anything he has to say. Now, Sal, let’s get you home.’
‘Just a moment.’ Ben stepped forward. ‘You may send Sir Henry away with my blessing, but he’s not the one who is going to marry your sister. I am. I have a curricle waiting and we mean to be wed before nightfall.’
The twins turned to look at him, surprise and amusement lighting their faces.
‘You, Hensley? Not possible, old friend.’
‘Not only possible,’ he said calmly. ‘A certainty.’
The brothers instinctively drew closer.
‘Do you think you can take us both on, Hensley?’ drawled Jasper.
‘If I have to.’
The tension in the room was palpable.
‘You would fight them both, for me?’
Sally asked the question softly, and the look in his eyes set her spirit soaring.
‘I would fight the whole world for you, Sal. I won’t let you go again.’ Smiling, she slipped her hand into his and he squeezed her fingers. ‘Go and pack your trunk,
Sal.’
‘Aye, go and pack, Sis. You are coming home.’
‘No,’ she turned to face her brothers. ‘I won’t leave with you. I am going to marry Ben. I love him. I don’t care what you say, Jasper, nor you, Dom. You cannot protect me from Papa. He is my legal guardian, and if you take me back he will have me locked up.’
She raised her chin, giving them back look for look, her fingers securely locked within Ben’s comforting grip.
Dominic looked at his brother.
‘She has a point, Jas. If she marries Hensley...’
‘When she marries me, I shall become responsible for her,’ stated Ben.
‘No point in asking if he can afford a wife,’ murmured Dom, an irrepressible dimple creasing his cheek. ‘Known him forever. He’s amassed quite a fortune these last few years.’
‘Aye,’ said Jasper slowly. ‘But how do we know Sally’s in earnest? She’s been in love before—remember how she broke her heart over some fellow a few summers ago? When it came to nought we thought she was going into a decline.’
With a little huff of frustration Sally stamped her foot.
‘Oh you zanies, that was Ben! Papa made me end it.’ She turned towards him, adding softly, ‘How I wish I had been stronger and eloped with you then.’
‘We cannot change the past, Sal, but we shall be married as soon as we reach the border.’ Ben looked up, his chin jutting pugnaciously. ‘With or without your brothers’ consent.’
‘Don’t be a fool, Hensley,’ said Jasper. ‘You cannot fight us both.’
Ben gave a slow smile. ‘Try me.’
Sally held her breath, looking at the three men. Slate-grey eyes clashed with ice blue, neither giving ground.
‘You shall not fight,’ she declared. ‘It is preposterous that the three people I love most in the world should fall out over me. Dom, Jasper, I tell you I shall marry Ben, forsaking all others, and if that means I have to say goodbye to you forever, then so be it.’ Her voice wavered a little. ‘But please don’t make me choose between you.’
‘Bravo, my love.’ Ben raised her hand and kissed her fingers. ‘Well, gentlemen, the lady has spoken. It seems she and I are of the same mind.’
The Tantalizing Miss Coale (The Notorious Coale Brothers) Page 5
