The Hellion Bride

by Catherine Coulter

  "He has given Oliver a tremendous opportunity, admit it. Someday he will be the earl's assistant steward, perhaps eventually even his steward or his secretary. Oliver will make something of himself. He will be properly educated. Douglas is very fond of him."

  "Damn him."

  Sophie just grinned at her husband. "I shall never forget when Douglas and Alex walked in, completely unexpected, and all the children were shrieking and playing and eating and yelling in the entrance hall because it was raining outside, and Douglas just stood there as calm as a preacher, and said, 'I have surely come to the wrong house.' "

  Ryder remained stubbornly silent. He tapped his fingertips on the desktop.

  "Douglas did take your revelations well, Ryder. He accepted what he saw as your lack of confidence in him, though I know it hurt him. He didn't yell at you, as I know he wanted to."

  "That was because Amy had climbed up his leg and he was forced to pick her up and she was telling him that he was pretty."

  "Your family is very proud of you."

  "I never wanted their pride. Don't you understand? It's something I just do because it's important to me, it means something, and there's nothing saint­ly about it, Sophie. It costs me nothing, really. I would that every Sherbrooke would shut his and her respective mouth. It becomes excessive, and downright embarrassing."

  "Your mother doesn't embarrass you."

  "No, she refuses to speak to me for dirtying my hands with slum brats. It's a refreshing attitude from a family member, and so I've told her. She didn't laugh when I encouraged her to maintain her censure. Now, who is that letter from over there?"

  "From Jeremy. It just arrived an hour ago. He is well and enjoying his studies." She picked up the two pages to look at them again.

  Ryder grabbed them and began to read. Soon he was nodding and smiling. "Good. He thrashed that wretched little bully, old Tommy Mullard's son. Tom­my was always a coward, big mouth and all threats, until one simply slammed one's fist into his lard belly. You see, Sophie, I was right to teach Jeremy how to fight mean and dirty. I even taught him how to kick with his lame foot. Lord, did he ever become good. Sinjun even played his adversary, poor girl. She had many bruises on her shins before he left for school. And don't be fooled, boys at school can be cruel. It's encouraged, unfortunately, you know, the old theory of toughening up our young aristocrats, making real little stiff-lipped soldiers out of them. But Jeremy is holding his own. It helps that he's the best rider at Eton." Ryder rubbed his hands together, such was his pleasure.

  Sophie thought she would burst with love for him at that moment. He was a remarkable man, but the hint of someone actually saying it, giving him even a modicum of praise, made him turn red with embarrassment, and defensive to the point of yell­ing. She said only, "It also helps that he's part of the Sherbrooke family."

  "Of course," Ryder said, and continued reading.

  He had barely finished the letter when the door burst open and Sinjun came dashing in. The room seemed to lighten with her presence.

  "My dear," Sophie said and quickly rose to give her sister-in-law a hug.

  "Ah, Douglas and Alex are right behind me. I raced ahead so I could see you first. You both look wonderful. Is that a letter from Jeremy? I got one three days ago. He told me all about how he beat the stuffing out of this dolt bully, and—"

  "Enough, brat! Hello, you two."

  The Earl of Northcliffe strode into the room, his wife on his arm. "You won't believe what I have to tell you, Ryder. Oliver has quite impressed my stew­ard and all my tenants. I took him around and intro­duced him to everyone, and you wouldn't believe his questions—intelligent and thoughtful, all of them. Jesus, I was so proud of him. And now he has no limp at all. Oh, hello, Sophie. You look well. Here's Alex."

  Sophie could only laugh as she watched the shift­ing and myriad expressions on her husband's face.

  "Oh, another thing," Douglas said before Ryder could vent his spleen, if venting were indeed what he had in mind, "Alex is pregnant. We will have a babe in May. What do you think about that?"

  No one had time to think about anything. Alex turned suddenly very white, gasped, and looked helplessly up at her husband. "I can't believe you did this to me. I'm going to be sick."

  She ran from the room. Douglas shook his head. "I hope she misses that beautiful Aubusson carpet," he said, and turned to run after her.

  Ryder and Sophie looked at each other. Sinjun stared after her departed brother and sister-in-law. "Goodness, I don't know if I wish to ever have a babe. Alex is always being sick at the most inopportune times. I think I would prefer having another Bedlam House, like yours and Sophie's, Ryder."

  "It's Brandon House," Ryder said. "After dear departed Uncle Brandon. Sophie says that it will speed his way from the depths of hell. She thinks he might even gain purgatory, but only if we use his money and not the money we earn ourselves."

  "Alex is pregnant," Sophie said, bemused. "Just fancy that."

  "It happens, you know, particularly when one and one's wife perform all the proper rituals. Oh yes, Sophie might be pregnant too," Ryder said, turning to his sister.

  "That leaves only Tysen," Sinjun said. "Oh dear, he plans to marry that girl you can't stand, Ryder, you know, the one with two names—Melinda Beatrice— and no bosom. Then there's only me left."

  "You have all the time in the world, brat."

  They heard the unmistakable sounds of someone being vilely ill. "Yes," Sinjun said fervently, "I do have all the time in the world, thank God. Do you know that just last week Alex got ill right in front of Hollis. He never turned a hair. He said in that royal way of his, 'My lady, I do believe you should carry a handkerchief in the future.' He gave her his. Then he instructed that a covered chamber pot be placed in every room. He conducted Alex on a tour to show her where each one was located. Oh, con­gratulations, Sophie. You feel all right, don't you?"

  "Of course. I won't get sick on your slippers. Thank you, Sinjun. But we don't know yet if it's true or not. Ryder is just being optimistic."

  "Not optimistic. Her monthly flow is late, by four whole days."

  "Ryder! Sinjun isn't yet sixteen!"

  Sinjun only shrugged and looked very world-weary. "I have three brothers, Sophie, and two of them are outrageous. I can't be shocked, I don't think."

  "As for you," Sophie said, turning back to face her husband, "you will mind your tongue in front of your sister."

  "But I was going to tell her the story about the eccentric Mr. Hootle of Bristol who wed every wom­an who would have him. He had this compulsion, you see, and every time a woman smiled at him, he lost all judgment, and dropped down to his knees to propose."

  "That," Sophie said with approval, "is quite a prop­er tale. You may continue. One hopes it becomes more edifying."

  "Then one day when he was on his knees, one of his other wives came upon him and his soon-to-be-betrothed. The two women compared what they knew and were not pleased. They took him away to a small room, took all his clothes and locked him in. Then they sent in all these other women, two at a time, all naked as sin, to prance and parade in front of him, and the poor man was tied down so he couldn't fall to his knees and propose or do anything else—"

  "Enough! You are dreadful." Sophie fell against him, laughing and kissing his chin.

  Ryder looked fondly at the writing desk behind him. Sinjun sighed. "Well, I see I shan't get any more sensible conversation from either of you. I shall go see Jane and the children."

  When the door closed, Ryder said to his wife, "I saw the Virgin Bride last night."

  Sophie stared at him. "You saw the ghost? Tru­ly? But gentlemen don't believe in her, that's what Douglas and you are always saying."

  "I was wrong," Ryder said. "She floated in our bedchamber last night, visiting, I imagine, for she supposedly never strays from Northcliffe Hall. Any­way, she smiled down at me, and said something, but not really, you know, but I heard her words clear and calm in my mind."

&
nbsp; "Yes, that was exactly how it was with me. What did she tell you?"

  "She said, even as she glittered and shimmered all over me, that we had the possibility of having fourteen children. She said it was all a matter of me stiffening my resolve if we were to have these children in this lifetime."

  "You are going to suffer for that, Ryder, you sure­ly are."

  "You promise?" He kissed his wife, and knew such pleasure that he wanted to yell with it. He released her, and locked the door. He methodically stoked the fire, then turned back to his wife. "The Virgin Bride must know what she's about. The good Lord knows you women believe every supposed word she doesn't say. Very well then. Let's get to it, madam."