The Engagement - Regency Brides 02

by Kimberley Comeaux

  Once he reached his home, Thomas took a few minutes to think about what to say to his brother. He had rushed to the castle in haste and out of anger, but he could not be sorry he had asked Katherine to marry him. His argument with his brother only hastened him to do what he desired to do in the first place.

  He was to marry Katherine Montbatten, the woman he truly loved with all his heart.

  If his brother could not accept it, then that would be something left for Nicholas to deal with. His brother had found true love and happiness; now Thomas had, also.

  But surely his brother would come to accept his choice. They were both Christian men, and they knew God put people in their lives according to His will and not the dictates of men.

  “Are you going to stand out here all day, or have you gathered enough courage yet to face me?” Nicholas spoke from behind Thomas, startling him.

  “Itʼs not courage I am gathering, Brother,” he countered.

  “Iʼm trying to remember my defensive training from the war in case you decide to try a hit at me.”

  Nicholas chuckled while shaking his head. “I suppose youʼve gone and done the deed, havenʼt you?” he said, getting to the point of the matter.

  Thomas lifted his chin. “I have.” The two men stared at one another. “Will this drive a wedge between us, Nick?”

  Nicholas glanced away for a moment, and when he looked back, Thomas saw the emotion he was fighting hard to hide.

  “I suffered for a year thinking my only brother had been taken from me. Do you honestly believe I would allow anyone-even an ex-fiancée—to drive a wedge between us?”

  Thomas was blinking back tears of his own as he and Nicholas embraced. Then with a hearty slap on the back, Nicholas declared, “Come! We must go and tell Tyler he will soon gain not only a new mother but a new cousin as well!”

  Thomasʼs eyes widened. “Then it is true? I am to be an uncle?”

  Nicholas nodded proudly. “Yes, and this time I will not hire a nanny who repeats the same word with every sentence! I was almost driven mad when Mrs. Sanborne was living at Kenswick!”

  Thomas laughed and led his brother into the manor. “I think she is quite endearing.”

  Nicholas snorted. “Why does that not surprise me?”

  ~

  “What are you doing back down in the moat?” Theodora called from above. Katherine squinted up from her seat on the ground where she had been trying to sort out her feelings in peace.

  “I am trying to think, if you do not mind,” Katherine returned waspishly, not caring whether or not it angered Theodora.

  “But I do mind!” Katherine turned in time to observe Theodora stumbling down the incline again-invading her sanctuary. “We must discuss where to go next with our plan.”

  Katherine drew her knees up and buried her head in her folded arms. “I do not want to discuss it. Not now!”

  “Yes, now!” her cousinʼs shrill voice demanded. “Cameron has returned from town, and it is the perfect opportunity!”

  Katherineʼs head snapped up. “What does Cameron have to do with this?”

  Theodora smiled as she peered down at her. “He is the second part of our plan, dear Cousin. Cameron will not be happy about your engagement since he truly hates all ·the Thorntons for what they did to you.”

  “What he did, Dora. Nicholas. Heʼs the only one who hurt me,” she corrected. .

  “That is neither here nor there, Kate. What matters is that Cameron is bound to stir up trouble. Heʼs already issued two challenges to the earl. He was humiliated by his not accepting, so I would wager he will turn his anger toward Thornton.”

  Katherine stared at her cousin with horror. ʻʼAre you hoping Cameron will shoot Thomas in a duel?”

  Theodora laughed. “Of course I am not saying that.” She shrugged. “But if one does occur ... “ She let her sentence drift off to be left to Katherineʼs imagination.

  Katherine jumped up with her hands on her hips. “And what if it is Cameron who is shot or even killed?”

  “Perhaps theyʼll choose swords! You know how good Cameron is with those!”

  Katherine began to walk away from Theodora, back up the steep hill. “Your words are evil ones, Cousin, and I will listen no longer.”

  Theodora was clambering to keep up, but sheʼd gone only a few steps before she tripped and rolled a short way back down the incline. “Arenʼt you going to help me?” she screeched when Katherine glanced back but kept on walking.

  Katherine did not answer her, so upset was she over Theodoraʼs callous attitude. In fact, she didnʼt even see Cameron until she collided into him.

  “Oh! I did not know you were there!” Katherine gasped as she grabbed onto his strong arms.

  Cameron smiled fondly at his sister as he helped her gain her balance. “I am afraid I was preoccupied myself, wondering what all the screaming coming from the moat was about.”

  Katherine sighed, feeling a little guilty. “Theodora fell partway down the ditch, and I was so angry at her that I did not stop to help her.”

  “I do not know why you put up with her at all, Kate. Iʼve never met anyone quite so unpleasant as she!”

  Katherine stared up at her brother, who was two years older than she and whom she had always admired. He was a big man, muscular from working with his horses and fencing, and so very handsome with his curly golden hair and light green eyes. From her earliest memories, she saw Cameron as her protector, someone who was kind and gentle with her but would fight to the death if anyone or anything tried to harm her.

  That was why she was so terrified to tell him about the engagement. She had no idea of what his reaction would be.

  “Theodora has no one else, Cameron-you know that. I fail to notice her undesirable qualities, I suppose,” she said in response to his comment.

  “You are a far better person than I, Kate,” he said with a grin as he tucked her hand into his arm and began escorting her to the castle. “Now tell me—what is all the excitement about around here? The servants are running about like mad whispering, and neither Papa nor Mama has time to answer when I ask. They all refer me to you. So what is going on?”

  “I have become engaged, Cameron,” she said quickly.

  “That is wonder-“

  “Stop!” she interrupted with a cry, halting their walk. “First let me tell you who the man is.”

  “Kate, do not be so anxious. I know I am protective of you, but I promise I will accept anyone who has broken with the attitudes of the ton and has chosen to pursue you,” he tried to assure her.

  “Remember you promised, Cameron, for the man is Thomas Thornton.”

  It was as if a thundercloud came and sat upon her brotherʼs head. “Surely you cannot be that stupid!” he roared, shaking her hand from his arm and glaring at her as if she were poison.

  “The Thorntons are our enemies! What can you be thinking?”

  Kate tried to reach out to her brother, but he backed away from her. “Please, Cameron, Thomas is not like his brother.

  He—“

  “Kate, has it become this desperate?” he asked in a calmer voice, ·as he appeared to be trying to fight his anger. “Do you believe Thornton is the only man who will ask for your hand?”

  Kateʼs eyes filled· with tears at seeing her brotherʼs disappointment.

  “It is not like that, Cameron.”

  “Then how is it?” Cameron charged but turned away, as if trying to collect his thoughts. “If I had known this earlier, then I would deal with it, but now I cannot. I have to finish out the semester.” He pointed his finger at her sternly. “But I will see to this matter, Kate. Do not get married before I return!”

  If her brother only knew about the plan. Katherine contemplated telling him, but because she was beginning to like Thomas, she did not. Perhaps she was holding out for a miracle.

  “And how long will you be gone?” she asked faintly.

  “Four weeks before the summer break.”

  Katherine an
d Cameron separated when they entered the castle, for he had to instruct the servants on his luggage.

  What she didnʼt expect, after he had gone from her sight, was her mother rushing toward her. “Is Cameron in his room?”

  Katherine blinked with puzzlement. “Yes, but-“

  “Lucy has told me about your conversation!” her mother said in a loud stage whisper.

  Katherine gaped in amazement. “That little scamp! Was she eavesdropping on me?”

  Her mother waved her handkerchief back and forth, giving Katherine a dismissive glance. “That is inconsequential at the moment, dear! Whatʼs important is that we must set the date of the wedding posthaste!”

  “What do you mean?” Katherine asked, fearful of the determined gleam in her motherʼs eyes.

  “I mean that we must set the wedding date for the thirteenth of June. It will give us four weeks to plan it!”

  Katherine shook her head, feeling herself being sucked deeper and deeper into trouble. “It is too soon, Mama. You must let us have time to know one another!”

  “Get to know him after youʼre married. It is what I did and what my mother before me did. It is simply the way of things, dear,” her mother instructed her with a shrug. “And, besides, we have to do this before Cameron arrives and tries to challenge him to a duel.”

  “Where did North pop off to?” Christina asked the next morning when they were all sitting down for breakfast. She was quite stunning in her light green morning dress that complemented her red hair and bright eyes. Though Thomas could tell she had polished up a bit from when he first met her again at their wedding, after knowing her in his younger days, she still had the ability to say and do the oddest, most unladylike things.

  Just the day before, heʼd found her in his stables inside Sultanʼs stall, examining his front leg. She hid gotten completely dirty from head to foot and was busy smearing a smelly mixture on his leg. Sheʼd explained later it was a medicine to help heal strained muscles-that his horse had been

  “standing oddly” were her words.

  Despite her unladylike behavior, she was still one of the most unusual and charming women Thomas had ever known.

  He was glad his brother had pushed aside societyʼs expectations and married the vicarʼs daughter. She obviously adored him, and Thomas wondered if Katherine would be the same loving wife as his sister-in-law was with his brother.

  “North is always jotting here and about visiting his friends before he embarks on his trip to America,” Thomas explained.

  “He tells me he will be stopping by Kenswick Hall in a fortnight or so.”

  “Excellent,” Nicholas stated his approval. “He was a good friend to me during my dark time when Father died and I thought Iʼd lost you, too. Iʼm glad heʼs been here for you, also.”

  83

  “Indeed,” Thomas agreed. “And though I know he was disappointed he could not go to America months ago because of the war still raging, I am glad for myself heʼs been able to visit us here at Rosehaven and in London.”

  “I wish he wouldnʼt go over there!” Christina interjected, surprising both brothers at the irritation that was behind her words. “He needs to stay here in England and find a nice girl to marry!”

  Thomas was vexed by her outcry, but when he looked toward Nicholas, he saw his brother was not. “Ah.” He nodded sagely. “Still holding out hope for your friend Helen, are you?”

  “Who is Helen?” Thomas asked.

  Christina bristled and shot her husband a piqued glare.

  “Helen is my very best friend, and she happens to be in love with North.”

  “Helen is the daughter of Mr. Rupert Nichols, a very nice gentleman farmer but poor. North knows his obligations. His family has a tradition of marrying either royalty or the highest of noble families; it is whatʼs expected of him,” Nicholas gently reminded his wife.

  “You did not do what was expected of you! Did he not, Thomas?” She suddenly turned to Thomas, peering at him with expectant eyes.

  Thomas looked from Christina to his brother. “I donʼt think I want to answer that. Nicholas may try to challenge me to a duel or something.”

  Christina gasped, and Nicholas seemed irritated: “Thomas, you know that was a long time ago! He is a Christian man now,” she explained in her husbandʼs defense.

  “I was only teasing, Christina,” Thomas said, knowing his brother had changed from the angry, bitter man he had been after the war when those duels had taken place. He then said, with a twinkle in his eye, “Besides, while he is good with pistols, I am better with the sword. So you see-it would not be a fair fight either way.”

  Christina started to say something, but she closed her mouth as suddenly as she had opened it. ʻʼYou are trying to get me off the subject, are you not?”

  Thomas grinned, not feeling the least bit guilty for it. “Yes, did it work?”

  “No, and I still-ʻ-“ she started to say when Nicholas broke in.

  “Getting back to the subject of marriage, are you still in agreement your engagement should be a long one?” Nicholas gave Thomas a look that only older brothers could get away with. A look that told him since their father was gone, he was the one dispensing guidance, so Thomas should adhere to it.

  Thomas didnʼt require his brotherʼs interference, however.

  Because of Katherineʼs inconsistent behavior, he, too, saw the need of waiting a bit to know her better and she, him. “I think I shall suggest we wait for at least four months. Perhaps in that time I can get to know Sherbrooke, too, and bring some sort of mending to relationships with him.”

  “I think that is wise,” Nicholas told him, and Thomas could tell he was still not pleased with the whole situation.

  “I hope you will be happy, Thomas, as Nicholas has made me happy. I believe God leads the right person into our lives, and when He does, we know it.” She reached across the table and put her hand over his. “Do you know, Thomas? Do you have the feeling God has sent her to you?”

  Thomas smiled. “Indeed, I do. Even when she was engaged to Nicholas, I thought she was a special person. And when I met her again, it was as if the whole room darkened and one lone light shone directly from Katherine to me.” He squeezed her hand gently. “I know God has sent her to me.”

  Christinaʼs eyes filled with tears. “Oh, my. That was quite a romantic thing to say, Thomas. You should be a poet.” She pulled her hand back and started dabbing at her eyes with her napkin.

  Nicholas frowned. “Youʼve said the same thing to me, Christina! It doesnʼt seem quite as special if you are going to be spreading the sentiment to every poor sap who pours out his heart to you!”

  Thomas threw his head back and laughed. “You have never been accused of being romantic! Love must be blind after all,”

  he roared, laughing harder when Nicholas jumped up from his chair and leaned menacingly over the table.

  Expecting such a reaction, Thomas was quick to push his chair back and stand away from Nicholas.

  “I am a changed man, little brother. Tell him Iʼm a changed man, Christina,” Nicholas ordered in a loud, commanding voice.

  “Heʼs a changed man, Thomas,” Christina parroted dutifully, but the sincerity of the statement was lost when she, too, started to snicker. “Now sit down, dear, before you do something to make us both liars.”

  Nicholas dragged his glare away from Thomas to his wife.

  Suddenly he grinned, letting them know heʼd been teasing them both. “Iʼll sit, but you must promise not to pay him any more compliments,” he groused but with a playful gleam in his eyes.

  “I promise.” She turned and gave Thomas a stern frown.

  “You sit down, too, Thomas, and behave yourself. I fear I must take back the compliments, but I'm sure you will understand."

  "I think I do-" he began to tease as his butler, McInnes, came into the room with a slight cough.

  "I beg yer pardon, my laird, but dinna ye sae ye'd be wan tin'

  ta see the Times this m
orn?"

  Thomas nodded. "Of course, McInnes. Bring it to me."

  The wily Scot who'd been butler at Rosehaven for four years walked with his usual swagger and dropped the paper beside his employer's toast. "Ye might be wantin' ta look 0'

  page four, my laird," McInnes whispered in his ear, and before Thomas could question him on it, he was out of the room.

  "I still don't understand why you have a Scot for a butler. I don't believe they have the proper disposition for such an important duty. Did you know he scolded me yesterday for getting dirt on the rug after my morning ride?" Nicholas told him, clearly irritated by the incident.