An Affair of Honor (Rebel Hearts Book 2) (25 page)

Not now.

Being William’s wife was turning out to be much more enjoyable than she’d imagined. There were so many things she could do. She could be busy or sit idly, make plans and discuss them with William when they lay together in bed at night. She was making friends slowly in society and enjoying having a family. She was happy with her life. Content in a way she had never expected. She turned around, filled with excitement and a wish to surprise William later, but stopped dead when she saw she was not alone.

Standing in the doorway was a man she’d never expected to see again. She cried out in shock and then covered her mouth to whisper his name. “Harry Lloyd?”

“In the flesh.” He grinned widely and held out his arms. “Did you miss me, sweetheart?”

Matilda stumbled. “They said you were dead.”

“That’s troubling.” He pressed a hand over his heart and tapped his fingers in a regular rhythm. “No. Still beating.”

Matilda hurried across the room and took his hand in hers to be sure she was not dreaming. His hand was solid beneath hers. Warm. She dropped his hand quickly. “You’re not dead?”

“No. I’m flesh and blood and come back to claim my girl,” he said, grinning broadly. “It’s time for me to settle down.”

Matilda’s heart stopped beating altogether. “I am settled.”

He glanced around the room. “I see you’re still keeping to the same schedule. Polishing his nibs’s brass and smoothing his sheets right when I knew you would be at this time of day.”

She shook her head slowly, her head full of horror for what she’d done. How could this be happening? He was dead. William had told her so. She’d married William. She had made her decisions and had trusted him to keep his promises. How could William be so wrong? Unless he had meant to mislead her just to get his way. She swallowed the hard lump in her throat. “I don’t dust anymore,” she whispered.

“Moving up in the world?” He nodded approvingly, and then he flopped down on the chaise, resting his feet on a pillow. “I thought I saw Mrs. Young below, but are you running the place now?”

She winced. “You could say that.”

“That’s the ticket. Bet you’ve saved us a pretty penny over the past year. So did I. We’ll pool our funds and make like fish in a new pond far away from here.”

Matilda twisted her hands together at her waist. A chill swept over her skin. Harry had kept his promise and come back to marry her with no idea her faith in him hadn’t been as firm. She had allowed Captain Ford to drag her into his life and let him punish her whenever he liked. “Where have you been? Why didn’t you write me and tell me where you were?”

“I’ve been everywhere in England, luv. Why all these questions?” He scowled. “I came here to collect you as soon as I had money enough in my pocket to spare for the mail carriage and our future. I thought you’d at least show a little bit of appreciation at seeing me.”

Matilda flinched. She’d cut herself off from Harry the moment she’d said yes to William. “You should have written to me with your directions.”

He shrugged. “And let Cranky Young snatch my letters from you and read them aloud to everyone? Lord, I haven’t missed that old biddy one bit. I convinced the skinny boot boy to help me slip upstairs to avoid meeting her. Can’t wait to see the old trout’s face when we walk out of here arm in arm today.”

He picked up a book that had been left on the chaise by William and leafed through the pages. A scrap of paper dropped out and fell to the floor, unnoticed by Harry. He snapped the book shut without marking the place again. William would not like that.

“Don’t touch anything else.” Matilda snatched the book and scrap of paper and tried to find William’s place. He’d been reading some of it to her at night, and she flipped the pages until a familiar expression jumped out at her. She put the scrap of paper there, hoping she recalled correctly where he had read to last night.

“Still following Captain Bloody High and Mighty’s rules, I see. That man is a tyrant. There’ll be no need to worry about what he might say once we’re married.”

There was every need to worry. “This is his home. He does not like anyone touching his possessions. He will become very angry that you just lost his place.” Matilda lifted her chin.

Harry appeared unimpressed. “What he wants doesn’t matter anymore. There’s a whole world waiting for us outside these walls. You’ll see. You’ll love the adventure of never knowing what will happen next as much as I do.”

Matilda couldn’t continue without confessing the very big change that had occurred in the past weeks. She twisted her wedding band around her finger. “I can’t leave with you.”

Harry patted his pockets and searched until he held a dull metal band out to her in triumph. “Cost me a penny we couldn’t afford to lose, but here’s the ring you said you needed. Now come and give the man you love the kiss he’s been waiting for.”

Her heart lurched, but she somehow found her voice. “Captain Ford has been ashore for over three months, recovering from an injury.”

“So? He’ll be gone again soon.” Harry shrugged, pausing to admire the ring in his fingers. A ring that looked a great deal less valuable than the gold band gracing her left hand. “What difference does it make? I have it all planned out. A night at the theatre and then the stage for Southampton and beyond.”

The past months had made all the difference in the world to Matilda’s heart. She took a step back. “I cannot go anywhere with you.”

Harry continued without listening. “I’ve gone into partnership with a fellow who runs a tavern down there. Very classy, mind. None of that watered-down ale in our establishment, I promise you that.”

“I am pleased for you.” She heard footsteps behind her, echoing up the main staircase, and froze. Someone was coming. She trembled that it might be William. “You have to leave. Now,” she whispered.

Instead of leaving, Harry merely slipped behind the door and held a finger to his lips.

Matilda faced the doorway. Thankfully it was Dawson.

“Is everything all right, madam?”

She ignored Harry’s widened eyes at the way she was addressed by the valet. “Everything is fine, Mr. Dawson.”

Dawson appeared unconvinced as he shuffled his feet. He frowned and glanced around. “I thought I heard another voice with you.”

“No,” she promised him.

Dawson had paused just at the doorway. If he took three steps more into the room, he would discover Harry’s hiding place behind the door. He could not be allowed to find Harry. “The servants are all downstairs, I believe, if you are looking for one of them.”

“Thank you.” He bit his lip a moment. “Is Captain Ford returning soon?”

“I hope so.” William had quite a bit of explaining to do. “Thank you, Dawson.”

Dawson retreated, and Harry stretched out his hand to the door and pushed it slowly shut. “Madam?”

“Yes, I am married now.”

Harry’s brows shot up. “To who?”

“To Captain Ford.”

“To that stuck-up piece of board?” He started to laugh. “That’s a fine jest.”

“It is no jest. I am married to him.”

Harry’s face shifted into anger. “Well, well, well. I guess mine wasn’t ever going to be the right ring on your finger. Did you make him promise to marry you before you’d allow him a kiss, too?”

“It didn’t happen like that.”

“What was it then?” he ground out. “He felt compelled to make an honest woman of you on a whim? There had to have been something between you.”

She blushed. William had married her for his own reasons. “I will not explain my marriage.”

Harry’s expression turned to disgust. “You don’t have to. I can see your plan plain as day. You were always too interested in him, making sure you followed his orders to the letter, all with a plan to force him to marry you. Clever girl.”

That stung. It was what everyone assumed had happened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I never set out to become his wife.”

“I thought you were different, but you’re just the same as all the others. You’d suffer that man’s company in bed, produce a brat every other year, and play the part of an adoring wife just so you can have at his money.” He grabbed her hand and glanced at the plain gold band on her ring finger. “You should have demanded better than that, sweetheart,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his lips. “Next time make sure it sparkles with sapphires or rubies.”

Matilda hid her ring in the folds of her skirt. Whatever William had given her had always been enough. “I didn’t marry him for his money.”

“Well, you didn’t marry him for his charm,” Harry hissed. “Everyone knows he’s got a temper and a half. Good God, the way he bossed you about made me furious.”

“He’s very pleasant with me,” Matilda insisted.

“Pleasant?” Harry spat. “Damning him with faint praise.”

“How I feel about my husband is no one’s business but mine.”

“Spoken like a true woman in love.” Harry peered at her hard, and then his anger drained away. “A man with his connections could have anyone he wanted. Did you have any choice in marrying him?”

“No.”

Harry turned away before she could continue. “I’ll make him suffer if it’s the last thing I do.”

“You will not harm him,” Matilda shouted. “I won’t let you touch him. I chose to marry him. I wanted to.”

His jaw worked, and then he spun around. “So this is all yours?”

“No. Everything you see belongs to my husband, as always.”

He snatched an empty snuffbox from the mantel and stared hard at her even as he pocketed the trinket. “Even you.”

“Give it back.” Harry had often palmed small items from the house, but he’d once claimed it accidental. Matilda held out her hand for it when he did not put it back of his own accord. “You should leave.”

Harry shook his head, eyeing their surroundings with keen interest. “Not until I’ve been compensated.”

He came close, invading her personal space. He eyed her body boldly. “I’m owed, madam. How would you like to soothe my disappointment?”

He grasped her about the waist and planted a kiss on her lips. It was wet, disgusting, and she fought to get away from him. He released her with an oath when she bit his lip. “Still a prude.”

Matilda raised her fists, prepared, however feebly, to fend him off. She’d never hurt anyone before, but she would defend herself. “I am married.”

“Like that ever stopped any woman from taking a bit of pleasure on the side. Even your precious husband has dipped his wick in one or two maids. Don’t get all hoity-toity with me,
Mrs. Ford
. I deserve some satisfaction after the fool you made of me.”

She lifted her chin. She had always believed a woman should wait until marriage before being intimate, even if she was marrying the man. Harry had said he understood her wishes and grudgingly agreed to wait. Apparently he placed little faith in a woman’s fidelity after marriage.

There was such a vast difference between William and Harry’s attitude toward women that it defied description. William would never try to take what she hadn’t willingly given him permission for. He was adamant Matilda should keep her virtue intact even if she had not been so sure it was necessary anymore.

Matilda would not allow herself to be used in such a way. She was no man’s plaything. She made her own decisions. She calmly walked to the door and opened it. “Dawson?”

William’s valet appeared immediately, his expression tense as he peered into the room and spotted Harry Lloyd. His stare turned furious. “Yes, Mrs. Ford?”

“If you’d be so kind as to see this gentleman out immediately.” She gestured to Harry with considerable embarrassment. “He has no business being under this roof ever again.”

“It will be my pleasure.” He rolled his shoulders, hands bunching into fists. “Immediately.”

“Dawson, check his pockets first,” Matilda said. “Mr. Lloyd seems too fond of the captain’s possessions.”

Matilda took a chair in the drawing room as a scuffle broke out between the men. Harry fought off Dawson, eventually throwing the empty snuffbox away.

But finally he was gone.

Matilda sat alone in the quite drawing room and began to shake. She put her fingers to her lips and attempted to scrub away Harry Lloyd’s kiss.

William had lied to her about Harry’s demise.

She had married William believing she had no chance to marry for love. Harry could not love her now. She had accepted William’s offer of a temporary marriage that would leave her with funds but ruined socially, seeing that as her only chance for a comfortable life.

Now that lie was revealed, had she any incentive to remain as William’s wife and keep to their bargain?

Twenty

W
illiam rushed up the front steps of his home. Coming home to Matilda felt so right, and he couldn’t hide his anticipation of seeing her. He was sorry he’d gone out on a fool’s errand and left her behind when they’d had plans to go out together. There had been no summons from Newberry House, indeed his aunt and Evelyn had been away from home and couldn’t have sent any message.

Dawson’s unhappy face greeted him in the entrance hall. “He came.”

William passed off his hat and gloves to the butler. When Carter did not leave immediately, William sent him away. He drew Dawson into his library. “What happened?”