Edward’s brow furrowed murderously. “What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?” he roared, stalking toward Sarah.
“It’s not your affair.” Sarah stood her ground, but a slight quaver touched her voice. “This is about Phoebe.”
“You dare to contradict me? I’ll have you—”
“Edward, stop,” Phoebe commanded, stepping between Sarah and her enraged brother. “Do not take your anger out on Sarah.”
Edward looked past her to Sarah. “It seems Sarah is the instigator of this whole debacle.”
“I only wanted to help Phoebe,” Sarah spoke up again. “I know you want to protect her, but—”
“Your damn right I want to protect her. Protect her from that scoundrel.” He whipped a withering glare from Sarah to Mrs. Condon and Elizabeth. “I suppose you two were in on the scheme to undermine me as well. You’re both fired. Fired without a reference.”
“Edward, enough!” Phoebe interrupted again, endeavoring to maintain a cool head. “You’re not firing anyone. They knew nothing. Sarah arrived just this afternoon, and the colonel came just as you rode up.” Turning her back on him, she made her way toward the cottage, finding it incredibly difficult to keep her chin up.
“I’m so sorry, Phoebe.” Sarah rushed to her side, linking her arm through hers. “This didn’t go at all as planned,” she said, apology thick in her voice. “I just… I just wanted you to be happy.”
Phoebe shrugged, rather suspecting she’d lost all chance at future happiness. “Sadly, you have much better taste in men than I do.” She flashed a wry smile. “We can’t all find someone like Nicholas.”
Sarah sighed. “Perhaps once Edward calms down I could reason with him.”
“There is no reasoning with Edward. His hatred for James runs too deep.” Phoebe lifted sad eyes to Sarah. “Just leave it alone, Sarah. You’ve helped enough.”
* * * *
Moonlight slid through the single square window in Phoebe’s bedroom, illuminating the modest space with a silver glow. The hour was well past midnight, but sleep refused to come and mask the bleak memories of the day. It may help if she undressed, but she lacked the desire to do so and the hour was so late, she’d hate to wake Elizabeth. In truth, however, she fully believed she was doomed to pass a sleepless night after all that had happened that day.
Once Nicholas had dragged James away, Edward’s tirade had spiraled to epic proportions. No one bothered with trying to reason with him that it may be for the best if he allowed James and Phoebe to marry. Now wasn’t the time, and it was obvious there never would be a time.
Toward suppertime Nick had returned for Sarah and announced that James had in fact left. At that point Phoebe had flashed Sarah a look that clearly said, I told you so. Rather than stay and continue fighting for her, James had once again run away. All along Phoebe had known it wouldn’t take much to drive him away again. Best to have him gone for good now. She should be relieved. Unfortunately, relief was the last thing she felt. Instead she felt rather hollow… numb in a depressing sort of way. She—
Clink.
Startled, she sat up on the bed. What was that?
Clink. Clunk!
The window. Something must have hit the window.
Rising, she hurried the couple of steps to the glass and peaked out. Could it be a tree branch? Or even a bird? Perhaps—
“Oh!” she muffled a cry as a man’s face appeared in front of the window. “James.”
He waved through the glass. “Open the window,” he mouthed.
She quickly complied, unable to quell the excitement rising inside her. He’d stayed! He’d defied her brother and stayed. “What are you doing here?” she demanded in a harsh whisper. It wouldn’t do to wake Edward.
“I came for you,” he replied.
Her heart leapt. “James, I—”
“No more denials, Phoebe. You don’t trust me, and you have every right not to, but right now you’re coming with me if I have to drag you kicking and screaming through that window. Once we’re married I intend to spend every spare moment of our lives proving that you can trust me.”
Phoebe gulped and stared into his warm, earnest eyes. A large part of her wanted nothing more than to climb through the window and tumble into his arms.
“Today I beat a peer of the realm bloody. Do you know how much trouble I could be in for that? I could be arrested, and I did it for you,” he said urgently. “Your brother wants what is best for you, I truly believe that, and if I had a sister I’m the last man in the world I would choose for her, but none of that matters anymore. We are to have a child, Phoebe, and it’s our child. No one else’s.” He reached through the window, grasping her hand. “Give us a chance. I want to be a family.”
“Oh, James,” she whispered, heart and soul full after his speech. “I—”
“Phoebe?” Edward’s voice bellowed from within the cottage. “Who are you talking to?”
“Bloody hell,” James muttered. “He has ears like a deer.” Expression grave, he stretched both arms through the window, reaching for her.
Phoebe backed swiftly away, narrowly avoiding his grasp. Soundlessly she crossed the room and carefully struck the lock on the door. “You must be dreaming, Edward. It is the middle of the night. There is no one to speak with, everyone is asleep.”
Focusing on James, Phoebe hurried back toward the window.
The door handle rattled. “Are you decent?” Edward asked. “Open the door.”
“Go back to bed, Edward. I’m exhausted. We’ll talk in the morning.” She scooped her slippers off the floor and rushed to James. “Let’s go,” she mouthed, scooting her backside onto the windowsill. He slipped one arm beneath her knees and wrapped the other around her lower back, lifting her as though she weighed no more than a feather. Her heart leapt as she looped her arms around his neck and settled against his chest. It felt so good to be in his arms again.
He pressed a quick impulsive kiss to her lips. “Thank you,” he whispered, and then settled her feet to the ground.
Reeling from the turn of events, Phoebe quickly stuffed her feet into the slippers, took his hand and dashed into the darkness at his side. “I can’t believe we just did that,” she whispered emphatically, squeezing James’s hand as they rushed through the shrubberies. Part of her could scarcely believe this was real. Maybe it was just another of her many vivid dreams.
A bush scratched her arm.
Definitely not a dream.
“What next,” she asked in a hushed tone, struggling to keep pace with James’s ground eating strides. “Edward will be close behind us once he realizes I’m gone.”
“Collins is waiting up the road with a horse and cart. With any luck we’ll be to Scotland by dawn and married before your brother catches up.”
“Nicholas is helping you?”
James flashed her a grin. “Sarah as well. When Nick returned for her this afternoon, he asked she and Mrs. Condon to smuggle a few of your belongings out.”
“I’m not sure if I should feel grateful or betrayed.”
“Grateful,” James replied. “From what I’ve seen your friends and servants hold your well-being in the highest regard. They all also happen to be on my side.” He glanced down to her with a wink. “Perhaps you should listen to them.”
Phoebe smiled sheepishly. “I am.” She was also listening to her own heart, but she kept that bit to herself for the moment.
Within minutes, they came upon Sam lashed to a cart just big enough to fit two. Nick Collins stood at the horse’s head and waved as Phoebe and James approached.
“Thank you, Collins.” James pumped the other man’s hand before turning to help Phoebe into the curricle and climbing up himself. “Wish we could stay and chat for a moment, but there is a good chance Corsair is close behind us.”
“I’ll take care of Corsair. His bark is worse than his bite. I have no doubt Sarah and Mrs. Condon will settle him down.”
Phoebe reached down from the cart
. “Thank you, Nicholas. I am so happy to see you well.”
He took her proffered hand and squeezed it. “It is my pleasure, Lady Phoebe. I wish you every happiness.
“Tell Sarah I’ll write as soon as I’m able.”
“I will.” Nick grinned and squeezed her hand. “We’ll be honeymooning in Bath. Send word there.”
“Phoebe!”
Oh, no. Phoebe’s gaze snapped upward. Edward barreled down the dirt road totally disheveled. “Go, James. Now.”
He needed no further urging and slapped the reins against Sam’s rump. The cart jerked forward.
Nick turned toward Edward with arms raised.
“What are you thinking, Phoebe?” her brother cried breathlessly. “Don’t leave with him.”
“I’m sorry, Edward,” she called back. “But I don’t want to give up my baby.”
He stumbled to a halt beside Nick. “If you go with him then you’re no longer a part of this family. You’re dead to me!”
Twenty-one
A knife to the heart could not have devastated Phoebe more fully. Part of her wasn’t surprised, but that didn’t make Edward’s parting shot hurt any less, and, more to the point, she never would have said such an ugly thing to him. Family was family. Phoebe sat rigidly on her side of the cart, stomach twisted in knots. Silently she reasoned that her brother was angry and would forgive her, but what if he didn’t? What if she’d just made a colossal, selfish mistake?
She stole a quick glance at James, realizing he’d fallen uncharacteristically silent.
His gaze shifted briefly to her. “Do you want to go back?” he asked, tone sullen.
Her heart sank. “Y-you’re having second thoughts?”
“What? No.” He threw a surprised glance in her direction. “Of course not. I want you to come with me, but after that scene with your brother…” He shrugged. “I thought you might be having second thoughts.”
“I don’t know, James. Maybe I am.” She sighed and worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “This is all happening so fast. Where will we go once we’re married? We can’t return to either of our homes in Corsair without everyone learning of my condition and our latent marriage.” At a later time they could claim a premature birth and offer vague wedding details, but to make an appearance now would be social suicide. “And Edward will never allow access to my dowry under the circumstances. What will we do for money?”
A little smirk tipped the corners of his mouth. “Ye of little faith. Do you really think I have absolutely no plan and no means?”
She shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it until now.”
“Because you expected me to leave you again?”
“Yes,” she replied honestly.
James shifted the reins to one hand and reached over, grasping her fingers. He looked at her, making firm eye contact. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“So you keep saying,” she said without breaking eye contact. “But you haven’t answered my question.”
James shifted his attention back to the moonlit road. “I’m a colonel in His Majesties service, Phoebe. I earn a perfectly respectable living.”
“Very well, but where will we live?”
“I’ve been offered a posting of my choice. I thought we’d discuss the available options and make a decision together.” He glanced at her once more as though assessing her reaction to his answers. “For the moment my uncle’s country estate isn’t far from the Scottish border. I’d planned to stop there for at least a few days.”
Phoebe raised a brow in his direction. “You certainly have thought things through.”
He winked. “A man doesn’t take a wife lightly, and I want you to be well cared for and happy.”
Phoebe nodded, more than a little relieved. “Who is your uncle,” she asked after a moment, curious and wanting to keep up the stream of conversation. It was much better than the silence.
“Viscount Huntington. He won’t be in residence,” James added quickly. “His family is in London for the season. At last count he had seven daughters. I’m sure he’s trying to get at least one married off this year.”
“Seven daughters?” Phoebe knew very little of the Viscount Huntington. “How many children does he have in all?”
“Seven.”
“No sons then? What will happen to his title if he never produces an heir?”
James shrugged. “The title will pass to my nephew Toby.”
“Toby? But Tobias was your younger brother.”
“Ah, yes, but Tobias’s father was my father’s older brother.”
Phoebe considered that and finally shook her head. “Your family—”
“—is complicated. I know.”
She smiled, and scooted a bit closer to James, nudging his arm with her shoulder. “We’re about to complicate things further. A Landon and a Witherspoon married.”
“We’ll shake the foundation of society like a regular Romeo and Juliet.”
Phoebe laughed. “Yes we will, but…” she sobered slightly. “Their story was not a happy one.”
“And who’s to say our story will end badly?”
“I suppose that remains to be seen.”
Phoebe and James quickly slipped into a companionable banter. He was so easy to talk to, and she soon found herself relaxing as he steered them toward Scotland. Before long the first hint of dawn’s light whispered on the horizon, and her spirits lifted with the cautious hope that all might turn out well after all.
“We should reach Scotland within the hour.”
Phoebe’s heart leapt with excitement. She couldn’t help it. Her reservations were rapidly fading, and suddenly, in the face of this new future, she couldn’t quite recall why she’d so vehemently pushed him away.
* * * *
Impatient, James drew the cart to a halt before the first inn he came to over the Scottish border. It would be as good a place as any to speak their vows, and if the innkeeper wasn’t an anvil priest he’d surely know where to find one nearby. Many men took advantage of the opportunity to cash in on the couples crossing the border to elope. With luck they’d be married within the hour, have a room secured at this very inn for a bit of rest, and then… then… he could truly begin making amends.
He swung down from the cart, quickly tied the horse and turned back to Phoebe.
She sat on the bench seat, eerily still, staring up at the inn. “Do you mean for us to be married here?”
James glanced back to the building, confused by her hesitation. The establishment didn’t appear to be in disrepair. “What of it?”
“The name,” she said, shifting a soft gaze back to him, “it’s rather fitting.”
“Oh?” James hadn’t even bothered to look at the name. He glanced back at the building. The wooden sign hanging over the stairs creaked in the breeze. His quickly scanned the name. The Siren and the Wolf. A slow grin spread over his face as her meaning dawned. “Do you suppose it’s an omen?”
She grinned back. “I do.”
He held his arms up to her. “In that case, Siren, would you marry me?”
She climbed willingly into his embrace and set her palms on his shoulders. “I will, Colonel Wolf,” she whispered as he lifted her from the cart.
James lingered for a moment with his hands on her waist. He could scarcely believe this moment was real. He’d spent months dreaming of her, trying to recall every beautiful facet of her face, and now she was his. He’d won. In moments she’d be sworn as his wife, and none of his old fears or insecurities came readily to the surface. He wanted this. Marriage… a family… Phoebe at his side... It wouldn’t all be easy. He well understood that he had his work cut out for him. Phoebe hadn’t eloped with him because of undying love, she’d done so to avoid losing her child. In any case, she was here with him and it was a damn good start.
Wordlessly he took her hand and tugged her up the steps to the inn.
The interior was bright with morning sunlight streaming through the windows.
The balding gentleman of middling years glanced up from the ledger lying open before him. He gazed at them over the top of his spectacles for a moment. “Good morning, Colonel,” he said, correctly interpreting the insignia on James’s uniform. “Lookin’ to be married?”
“We are.” James nodded.
The man tugged his spectacles off, and dropped a gaze to Phoebe’s midsection. He chuckled, eyes twinkling with warmth. Her empire style dress almost camouflaged the life growing inside her. “I figured as much. I can take care of that right here if you wish.” He closed the ledger. “Have you just returned from the war?”
“Yes, sir.”
“In that case I’ll wave the usual fee.”
“That’s not necessary, sir. I can pay,” James responded quickly.
“Nonsense. It’s the least I can do for one of our fine officers. Thank you for your service, Colonel.”
“That is very kind,” James acquiesced with a smile of his own. He stole a quick glance at Phoebe. Becoming pink bloomed in her cheeks, and to his mind she’d never looked lovelier. Reserved joy began to build inside him. “We’ll need a room, and I have a horse to be stabled as well.”
“No problem at all.” The innkeeper rounded the counter with a kind smile. “Give me a moment to prepare your ceremony. I’ll just fetch my wife and daughter to serve as your witnesses.” He then strode from the room.
Alone in the entryway James turned to Phoebe who nibbled at her lip and twisted her fingers together. Despite the light in her eyes she looked tired. His gaze dropped to the tiny swell of her belly, and a wave of unexpected protectiveness washed through him. That little life was a part of him. The gravity of it struck him as it hadn’t before.
“Are you hungry?” he asked suddenly. “We can eat breakfast first if you wish.”
She snapped beautiful pale eyes to him. “Are you stalling?”
“Not a chance.” He closed the distance between them, gently spreading a palm over her belly as he’d craved doing since being reunited with her. She didn’t push him away as she’d done before, and a thrill shivered the length of his spine. “It’s been a long night, and I want make sure you’re taken care of.”
Siren Page 15
