“Well, I won’t argue with the fool part, but you might start with finding the woman and telling her—”
Devon slapped his hand on the table. Hard. “I tried to tell her. She didn’t want to listen. And now I’m through with explanations.” Devon tipped the bottle to his lips. He’d slipped the footman a guinea to hand over the entire thing and now he drained it.
Jordan whistled and then he clapped. “Quite a performance. I haven’t seen someone polish off a bottle that quickly since … goodness, probably the last time I did it.” He smiled wryly.
Devon set the bottle down shakily and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Let’s go.” He stood on unsteady feet and lurched toward the door. “This place bores me. I have better brandy at home. My coat, if you please.” He tossed the same footman another guinea.
“Be careful, Colton,” Jordan warned, with a snort. “At this rate, you’ll be poor again before you know it.”
The footman bowed and rushed off to retrieve their cloaks.
Devon and Jordan made their way to the front door of the club and pushed it open, stumbling out onto the steps facing the street front of St. James.
Jordan glanced around the darkened street. “Damn that boy. You should take your coin back. The coach isn’t here yet.” He turned to summon the footman.
The sound of hooves slapping against the packed dirt of the street penetrated Devon’s drunken haze. The night was strangely quiet except for the noise made by the lone rider drawing nearer. The air was chilly. Images blurred in front of Devon’s eyes. He tried to focus. He leaned against the balustrade.
The glint of his signet ring drew his attention. He pulled it from his third finger and eyed it carefully. “Were you worth it?” he asked the inanimate object. “Were you?” He squeezed the ring in his fist.
When he let go, his hand slipped and the ring fell to the step in front of him. The pinging sound made his head turn. His stomach roiling, Devon bent to retrieve the ring just as the rider passed by and fired a shot.
At him.
Devon slumped onto the steps. The scene played out in slow motion. The sounds muted, the figures draped in shadows.
Jordan leaped down the steps, ripped his pistol from his coat pocket, and fired a shot at the rider. The rider fell to a heap in the street. Jordan turned, his cloak billowing behind him like a specter come to life. He yelled for help and the sound echoed off the building.
Jordan rushed toward him then, caught him by the shoulders, and hauled him up. Devon’s head slumped. Bright color caught his eye. His shirtfront was stained scarlet.
“A doctor! We need a doctor!” Jordan yelled, Devon’s blood trailing down his fingers.
CHAPTER 36
Lily rushed through the front door, nearly toppling the butler. Lifting her skirts, she took the steps two at a time. She barreled through Devon’s bedchamber door and came to a stop only when she saw him, resting quietly in bed. His eyes were closed, his dark hair fell over one eye, his chest rose and fell peacefully. He slept. She pushed her hand against her heart, closed her eyes, and released the pent-up breath she’d been carrying around for over a day since she’d received word that Devon was hurt. She’d heard the rumors during a stop in her journey from Northumberland. A traveler from London had been at the same inn with a copy of the Times in his hand. Apparently, the entire town was agog with the news that the Marquis of Colton had nearly been murdered.
Upon Lily’s entrance, Jordan Holloway stood up from a chair in the shadowy corner of the room. “You’ve come.”
Lily’s head jerked to face him. “Of course I’ve come, you fool. How is he?”
Jordan cracked a smile. “They tell me he will be fine.”
Lily rushed forward and took Devon’s hand. She rubbed her fingertips along his knuckles. “Who did this to him?”
“Gilbert Winfrey. But don’t worry. I killed the bastard.”
Lily pressed her lips together and swallowed hard.
Jordan eyed her. “I didn’t think you cared, Lady Merrill. You did leave him, didn’t you?”
Lily turned on him, her loose hair swinging over her shoulder. “I only left because, because … I was so worried for him. And I was right to be worried, look what’s happened.”
She squeezed Devon’s hand. It was warm. It felt so good. Slightly rough, and oh, so familiar. Grabbing it up, she rubbed the back of his hand against her cheek.
Jordan cracked another smile. “So, you do care, after all?”
“I refuse to dignify that with a response.” She kept her eyes trained on Devon’s face.
Jordan expelled his breath. “Ah, Lady Merrill, the truth is I’ve always known you cared about him. I saw the way you used to follow him around like a lovesick schoolgirl when you were seventeen. You adored him then and you adore him now.”
Lily’s head snapped up. “If you thought that, Lord Ashbourne,” she asked, feeling a sudden newfound respect for Devon’s closest friend, “why did you doubt that I cared?”
He winked at her. “Because I’ve never been called a fool by anyone so lovely before.”
Lily caught herself smiling back. “Then you are obviously consorting with the wrong ladies.”
“Oh, without a doubt.” He bowed to her. “Now, I’ll leave you alone with him.”
“Thank you, Lord Ashbourne,” she whispered.
“Please call me ‘Jordan.’” He nodded toward Devon on the bed. “He’s doing much better. But don’t let him fool you. The bullet went straight through his shoulder. If he hadn’t bent over when he did, I’m afraid he wouldn’t be with us now.”
Lily smiled and squeezed Devon’s hand even more tightly. “Thank you for taking care of him, Jordan. And you may call me ‘Lily.’”
Jordan nodded once. “By the by,” he said with a much lighter tone to his voice. “How’s that spirited sister of yours? Did you bring her with you or is she off causing havoc elsewhere in the kingdom?”
Lily smiled at him. “Annie’s fine. And I thank you again for your help on the way to Gretna.”
“It was my pleasure entirely.” Jordan winked at her again before stealing away from the room.
Lily dragged a chair over to the bedside and sat rubbing Devon’s hand for what seemed like an hour. Finally, his long, dark lashes fluttered open and he blinked at her a few times.
“Would you like some water?” she offered, hurrying over to the side table to pour him a glass from a pitcher left there.
Devon struggled to sit up. His face was blank. “Why are you here, Lily?”
She rushed back to his side. “No, no. Don’t move. You mustn’t strain yourself. I spoke with the doctor. He said the less active you are, the faster it will heal.”
He grunted. “I’m not about to languish in bed for a fortnight.”
“Devon, you were shot. You won’t be yourself for a bit. You must rest.” She paused for a moment and glanced down at her hands. “I heard Winfrey was killed.”
Wincing, Devon relaxed back against the pillows. “Yes. Most unlike him to come at me himself. I was sure he would’ve sent a lackey to do his dirty work. He must have been consumed with revenge to try to murder me in the middle of St. James. Nearly succeeded too.”
Lily shuddered. “Don’t say that.”
“Well, he did, but he paid for it with his own life. Jordan’s a crack shot. Amazing aim, really. It was dark as sin that night.” He took a deep breath. His voice was flat. “Lily, why are you really here?”
Lily’s hand trembled. She rested it atop his. “I’m sorry, Devon.” She struggled to say each word. “I never should have left. I was just so worried—”
Devon pulled his hand from hers. “Stop, please.”
“No. I need to say this.”
“No. You don’t. Why are you really here?”
“Devon, I don’t care about the gambling, the money. We can work it out. Justin, everything. When you got hurt, it made it even more clear to me. I love you.”
“Lily, damn it, I
’m not a gambler and I never was. It was all an act, all—” He stopped, his eyes narrowing on her face. “None of that matters now.”
Lily winced at the anger in his voice. “Why?”
“You’ve never been willing to trust me. You jilted me twice. We were never meant to be together.”
Lily’s hand flew to her throat. “No,” she whispered. “Don’t say that. You cannot think that.”
His eyes were cold. “Yes. I. Do.”
Lily shook her head. “It’s not true. Please, Devon. You must give us another chance.”
His voice was emotionless. “No.”
Lily dug her fingernails into her wrist. “Can’t we go back? Start again? Pretend the last five years never happened?”
He stared at the wall. “Impossible.”
Lily grabbed up her skirts, squeezing the fabric in her fists. “But it doesn’t have to be. You asked me to trust you, Devon. To listen. I’m here now. I’m ready to listen.”
Devon turned his head away from her on the pillow. His voice was solemn. “I have nothing more to say.”
A weight crushed Lily’s chest. She couldn’t breathe. She closed her eyes.
Oh, God. She was too late.
CHAPTER 37
Lily arrived on Lord Medford’s doorstep with her sister, two aging servants, and two rambunctious dogs in tow. “I’ve nowhere else to go,” she said, her head hanging low. In a matter of hours, Medford had her entire little ragtag household set up in the town house they’d formerly occupied.
“I do not know how I can ever repay you for your kindness, James,” Lily said that afternoon as they sat down to tea. She’d just finished telling him the whole sordid story of her attempt to get Devon back. And her subsequent humiliating failure.
“No need to thank me,” Medford replied. “I cannot let one of my most famous authors languish on the streets, can I? Besides, I’ve no doubt when Colton finally comes to his senses and realizes what he’s lost, he’ll be indebted to me for the kindness I’ve shown you.”
She forced a smile. “I’d believe many things, James, but that you’re doing this as a favor to Devon isn’t one of them.”
This time Medford laughed. “I’m doing this for you, Lily, and only you, but the truth is, I’ve found out quite a lot about Colton over the past few days.”
She put the back of her hand to her forehead. “I’m not sure I want to hear it. The last time you had news about Devon, it did not go well.”
Medford shrugged. “Actually, everything I’ve discovered this time has made the chap look positively saintly.”
Lily raised a brow. “We cannot be talking about Colton.”
“I’m afraid we are.”
Lily sipped her tea. Ah, cream and sugar. Old friends. She’d missed them. “Well, by all means then, tell me. What have you learned?”
“Well, for one thing, the man is indecently wealthy.”
Lily’s cup clattered to the saucer. She widened her eyes. “Indecently? Wealthy? How can that be?”
Medford shrugged. “Seems he’s been hiding his wealth from the ton for several years now. He’s made a fortune using his penchant for numbers while gambling and then investing his winnings quite wisely.”
“But he famously loses,” Lily replied.
“In St. James, he famously loses,” Medford replied. “On the Continent and elsewhere he does nothing but win. He’s made a score of magnificent investments, completely renovated the Colton estates, turned around the entire situation. Seems Colton’s made a pastime out of becoming rich without anyone knowing. He never needed to win that bet at White’s or Winfrey’s tournament, for that matter.”
Lily shook her head. “Then why would he play? It makes no sense.”
Medford shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him that.”
“That’s unlikely. He won’t even speak to me,” Lily said wryly.
“There’s more,” Medford replied.
Lily cocked her head to the side. “What?”
“The man has started a foundation for orphans.”
Lily sat up straight in her chair. “Orphans?”
“Just recently. He’s put a very large sum of money aside to help establish a home where unwanted children can live. I suspect it’s the five thousand pounds he reportedly won from Winfrey in the tournament.”
Lily absently traced the rim of her teacup with her fingertip, her brows knitted together. “My astonishment is beyond measure.”
Medford flicked an imaginary bit of lint from his sleeve. “Believe me, I don’t relish painting Colton as a saint, especially in your eyes. But it’s true.”
Lily slapped her palm to her forehead. “Next, you’ll tell me the man heals the sick.”
“No.” Medford laughed. “Not that I know of. But he did do one other thing.”
Lily took a sip of tea and leaned toward him. “I’m on tenterhooks.”
Medford sighed. “Apparently, Colton’s paid off the entire list of your creditors. Believe me, Lily, if I’d have known you were in such straits I’d have done so myself.”
Lily pressed her palms to her cheeks in a desperate attempt to stop her heated blush. “Oh, good heavens. How did he know? And more importantly, why would he do such a thing? I thought he hated me.”
“Another question for Colton.”
Lily sighed. “If he was going about doing all this, why wouldn’t he tell me?”
“My guess? He didn’t want you to want him for his money. Colton’s gone to a great deal of trouble to cultivate his image of being a dissolute gambler, rake, and drinker. And something tells me you were his main reason for that.”
“No,” Lily replied solemnly. “He doesn’t care a whit about me, which, of course, is very unfortunate, considering how desperately I love him.” She smiled wryly, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin in her hand.
Medford covered her free hand with his. “Lily, are you quite sure of your feelings?”
“I’m sure.” She nodded slowly. “I cannot help it. Believe me, I would if I could.”
Medford nodded. “Very well. I’ve one last revelation, and you might want to prepare yourself for this one.”
Lily gulped. “What else could there possibly be?”
Medford straightened his already straight cravat. “It seems he’s never denied your elopement. Colton has not told a soul—that I can find—that the two of you are not, in fact, married.”
CHAPTER 38
Jordan Holloway tossed a handful of playing cards onto the table. “Not even a simple game of whist? Vingt-et-un? Nothing?”
Devon crossed his legs at the ankles. “I told you. I’ll never touch another bloody card again.”
“This is the club. What else are we to do here if you refuse to play cards? We cannot go shooting in the park until you get that sling off your arm. And Lord knows fisticuffs are out of the question.”
Devon rolled his eyes.
“Can I interest you in a bet?” Jordan flashed him a mischievous smile.
“No.” Devon’s voice was clipped.
“My God, man, you’ve been absolutely no fun whatsoever since you were shot.” Jordan threw his hands in the air. “Just tell Lily you’re indecently wealthy and put an end to this madness.”
“I have no intention of doing that.” Devon snapped open the paper in front of his face.
“Why the devil not?” Jordan ordered another drink from the hovering footman.
“Because,” Devon replied, “she doesn’t deserve it.”
“You’re going to give me a mental problem. I cannot keep up with the dialogue. Did I just hear you say she doesn’t deserve it?”
Devon let the paper drop. “Precisely.”
“And what, pray tell, is that supposed to mean?”
“She didn’t give me a chance to explain. She ran off. Telling her I’m wealthy is the exact opposite of what I should do. If she didn’t want me for myself, I’m not about to try to lure her with money.”
“You
cannot honestly believe that.”
Devon folded the paper and eyed his friend. “Very well. You tell me. What exactly do you think telling her I’m wealthy would accomplish?”
Jordan rolled his eyes. “Nothing, you dolt. It’s simply the truth and since when is that overrated?”
“Lily had to trust me on her own terms. She didn’t. I refuse to try to change her mind about me.”
Jordan stretched his arms above his head. “Ah, the tragedy of it all. The drama.”
This time, Devon rolled his eyes. “There is nothing in the least dramatic about it. It’s simply the way it is.”
“But the two of you are supposedly married, Colton. Or have you conveniently forgotten that fact?”
“I haven’t decided what I will do about that.”
“Well, until you do, you’re going to have to be in her company sometime. Like tonight at the Stanhopes’ for instance.”
“I’m not going to the Stanhopes’. I’m going to Colton House to see Justin.”
“And then what do you plan to do?”
A shadow loomed beside them and Devon glanced up.
“Ah, the dissolute Lord Colton. I thought I’d find you here.” Lord Medford pulled up a chair next to the other two men.
“I thought I smelled perfection and too much starch. Did I invite you to sit, Medford?” Devon sneered.
Medford shook out his sleeve. “No, but I fear I’d be standing all day, should I wait for that invitation.”
“You’re right.” Devon gave him a thin smile. “Very well. Out with it. What do you want?”
“You get right to the point, don’t you, Colton? I hate to say it, but I’ve always liked that about you. Very well. I won’t waste your time. Lily is staying at one of my homes.”
Devon’s fist clenched over the arm of the chair. His knuckles cracked. “And?” he asked through clenched teeth.
Medford arched a brow. “I see you don’t like that one bit.”
“Get to your point, Medford,” Jordan interjected.
Devon narrowed his eyes on the viscount. “I assume she’s come running back to you after I turned her away. You’re welcome to her, by the way. You two announcing your engagement will spare me the necessity of seeming to cry off.”
Secrets of a Wedding Night Page 26
