Reese's Bride (10 page)

He had to go to London. Unfortunately, that meant leaving Elizabeth and Jared at Briarwood. The notion did not sit well. Mason Holloway was a ruthless man and he wanted control of Elizabeth’s son. He might make another attempt while Reese was away in the city.

He considered, for a moment, sending her to Bransford Castle, leaving her and the boy in the care of his brother.

But it wasn’t Royal’s problem, it was Reese’s.

He ran over his options. He needed to keep Elizabeth and her son safe and he had good men in his employ, men he trusted. He would have Timothy hire a couple of the
men Reese knew in the village, enough to protect Elizabeth while he was away.

His decision made, he ordered Hopkins to see his breakfast packed for traveling and his carriage brought round front. He went upstairs and instructed Timothy to pack a valise for each of them, then went in search of Elizabeth.

“I’m afraid she ain’t in her room, milord,” her maid, Gilda, informed him. “Maybe ye’ll find her downstairs.”

He nodded, headed in that direction. He needed to speak to her, tell her his plans. He had just reached the bottom of the stairs when the front door burst open and one of his grooms, former sergeant Morris Dexter, rushed in without knocking.

“Major! Thank God I found ye! It’s ’er ladyship, Major. We was ridin’ this morning, just on our way back to the house and almost ’ere when a poacher’s shot went wrong.”

Reese’s heart jerked.

“She’s lying out there, Major—just behind the stable!”

He was already moving, ignoring his cane and gritting his teeth against the extra strain on his leg. Elizabeth had been shot. Even now she might be dying.

Might already be dead.

His insides tightened into a knot. Morris raced toward the stable, Reese beside him, moving as fast as his damnable leg would allow.

Both of them rounded the corner of the barn to see Elizabeth limping as she walked toward the house. Relief hit him so hard he felt shaky.

“I’m all right,” she said, holding her narrow-brimmed, black silk hat in her hand. “Twisted my ankle when I fell, is all. Truly, I am fine.”

But she didn’t look fine. Leaves and twigs clung to her full black riding skirt and the pins had come loose from her hair. Heavy black strands framed her face, which looked paler than it should have, and long curly tendrils tumbled down around her shoulders.

“Morris says someone took a shot at you. Are you certain you weren’t hit?”

She held out her arm. There was a hole in the puffed, upper portion of the sleeve before it tightened at the elbow. “My horse spooked at the sound of the shot. I wasn’t prepared. I haven’t ridden for a while.”

His gaze ran over her, searching for any sign of injury, but aside from her dishevelment and slightly pale face, she appeared to be all right. “Morris thinks it was a poacher. Do you believe that?”

She glanced away. Clearly, she did not.

“Neither do I.” He turned to tell the groom to fetch the gig for the short ride up to the house, but Timothy appeared just then and scooped Elizabeth into his brawny arms.

“I got her, sir.”

He just nodded. It annoyed him that another man had to perform the tasks that he could not. Still, getting Elizabeth safely into the house was all that really mattered.

That and protecting her.

He thought of Travis. His friend was in trouble. Travis needed his help. So did Elizabeth and Jared.

What the hell was he going to do?

Reese didn’t leave for London that day. Neither did he go that night down to the dining room for supper. He had too much on his mind. He had to go to London, but he was afraid if he left, something would happen to Eliza
beth. He was fairly certain the gunshot wasn’t an accident. Someone had been watching the house. Someone Mason Holloway had paid to finish the job he had started.

If Mason couldn’t control Elizabeth, Reese believed, he would simply have to kill her.

Worry trickled through him. More men had already been hired, men from the village, men he trusted. They had searched for the shooter, but found no sign of him. Round the clock, they would be guarding the house and keeping watch for anyone who might be there without permission.

Anger burned through him. This was his home, by God. Anyone here should be safe.

He stayed up late that night, pacing the floor of his bedroom, going over his options. Which were few and far between.

He refused to abandon his friend, a man he owed his life.

And whatever had happened in the past between him and Elizabeth, he could not stand by and let someone hurt her or her son.

Another hour slipped past. The clock chimed as he brooded in front of the fire, the flames in the grate burning low. Outside the window, it was as black as one of Elizabeth’s dismal mourning gowns. Reese swirled the brandy in his glass and took a sip.

One thing was becoming crystal clear. If he went to London, Elizabeth and Jared would have to go with him.

He took another drink of brandy, the notion he had been contemplating for the past several hours nagging him, as it had for most of the evening. There was a way the boy would be safe. A way he could have what he wanted from Elizabeth.

It was the solution he searched for and yet he resisted.
He could never trust Elizabeth, not after the promises she had made and broken. But perhaps it didn’t matter. As long as his heart was not involved, the arrangement would merely be a matter of expediency.

He would have Elizabeth in his bed, satisfy the lust for her he had suffered for nearly eight years, and be able to protect her and the boy from her ruthless, greedy in-laws.

That she was an heiress added an extra benefit to the equation. He didn’t really need her money, but by English law it would come to him just the same.

The more he pondered, the more the notion made sense.

Elizabeth needed his protection. He needed a woman in his bed.

And not just any woman, he had discovered.

He wanted Elizabeth and he knew exactly the way he could have her.

E
lizabeth slept little again that night. There were decisions to make, matters of life-threatening importance that would affect her and Jared, but after the shot that had narrowly missed killing her, she was even less certain the right course of action to take.

She rose a little later than she intended, rang for Gilda, dressed and headed upstairs to the nursery. Mrs. Garvey was helping Jared read from a book of children’s stories.

Elizabeth watched them a moment, thinking how well he was learning to recognize the words, thinking that her son needed to resume his education. She had never really liked Mr. Horton, his tutor, but Mason had hired him and at the time, she had not been up to the challenge of fighting about it. Once she was in the city, she would hire someone she liked and trusted.

Jared looked up and spotted her just then, jumped to his feet and raced toward her. “Mama!” He clung to her skirts, burying his small face in the heavy black folds.

Elizabeth smoothed back his thick dark hair. “You’re reading. That’s wonderful.”

“Jared is a very fast learner,” Mrs. Garvey said proudly, as if the boy were her own. Elizabeth felt a surge of gratitude to have Mrs. Garvey in her employ.

“He has always loved learning. Once we are at Holiday House, I shall find him a suitable tutor to begin his studies again.”

“When are we leaving, my lady?” Mrs. Garvey asked.

“I—I am not quite certain. Soon, I hope.” In the meantime, she would have to tell Reese the truth about Jared.

Dread churned through her. Her hand trembled as she smoothed her son’s hair.
Her son and Reese’s
, she silently amended. She was grateful for the distraction of a soft rapping at the door.

Hopkins, the butler, stood in the hallway. “His lordship would like a word, my lady, at your earliest convenience. He awaits you in the blue drawing room.”

Elizabeth just nodded. Reese wanted to see her. He hadn’t been at supper last night. It was insane to wonder where he had been. Insane to have missed his presence.

“I have to go, sweetheart,” she said, tipping Jared’s face up so that she could kiss his cheek. “Perhaps we could go out to the stable a little later and feed Starlight a lump of sugar.”

Jared beamed. “Oh, I would like that ever so much.”

Elizabeth smiled. He was such a sweet little boy. “It is settled, then. I shall return for you a bit later.”

Her heart was pounding as she made her way downstairs. Was it nervousness or anticipation?

Reese was waiting in the drawing room, sitting on the
comfortable blue chintz sofa, his cane resting beside him. He stood as she walked in, tall and dark and utterly masculine, looking entirely out of place in the feminine room that overlooked the garden.

“Thank you for coming,” he said very formally, which only made her more nervous.

“You have been very kind in providing a safe haven for my son and for me. I presume that is the matter you wish to discuss.”

“It is.”

Elizabeth steeled herself as she made her way toward one of the blue-flowered chairs near the sofa. As soon as she sat down, Reese returned to his seat. He sat very erect, a legacy of his military years. He was incredibly handsome, not in the usual sense but in a far more male, more virile, more striking way.

It occurred to her that the hard, tough man he had become was far more attractive than the handsome young man he had been.

He settled back on the sofa. “After the shooting yesterday, I spent a good bit of time mulling over your circumstances. Considering you could have been killed, it is clear the danger you face is far greater than either of us realized. Mason Holloway wants your son and his money. Apparently, he is willing to commit murder in order to get what he wants.”

A shudder rippled through her. “I agree it seems likely, but we can’t be entirely certain.”

“No, we can’t. But we can’t afford to assume anything less, not and assure your safety.”

Reese was right. They had to assume the worst in order to be prepared.

“The reason I asked you here is that my friend, Captain Greer, also has a problem. You recall meeting him?”

“Why, yes. He seemed quite a pleasant man.”

“Travis once saved my life. The gesture cost him the loss of his arm. Which makes me extremely indebted to him. I have to leave for London and I need to do it soon.”

Fear shivered down her spine. Reese had to leave, which meant she had to go, as well. “Of course, you must leave. It is past time I departed at any rate. I’ve been thinking of returning to Holiday House. I shall begin making preparations immediately.” She rose to leave, but Reese’s deep voice held her immobile.

“I didn’t ask you here because I wanted you to leave. I asked you to come because I think I may have figured out a way to protect your son.”

She sank back down in her chair. “How, if may I ask?”

“If I were to adopt the boy, give him my name, even if something happened to you, Holloway wouldn’t be able to gain custody. Jared would remain safely in my care. Of course it goes without saying that in order for you to continue to raise your son—as I am sure you wish to do—we would have to marry.”

She could feel the color draining from her face. “You are not asking me—”

“Holloway is no fool. He’ll understand the ramifications of our marriage and Jared’s adoption—which, since my brother is a duke, should be a matter easily resolved. Jared would be completely out of Holloway’s grasp. Killing you would no longer serve his purpose.”

She only shook her head. There was no way she would ever marry again and certainly not a man who would rather punish her than love her.

“No,” she said flatly.

“That is your answer? You don’t even want to think about it?”

“I told you before I have no interest in becoming a wife. I will never put myself in that position again.”

Fierce blue eyes bored into her. “Not even to save your son?”

Elizabeth’s heart squeezed. Jared meant everything to her.
Everything
. And should he fall into Mason’s hands, his life would never be his own. To say nothing of the cruelty, even danger, he might face in living with a man as ruthless as his uncle.

“You realize there is something else you haven’t considered.”

“What…what is that?”

“If your son were to die, Holloway would be next in line for the title.”

Elizabeth sat up straighter in her chair. “I know that. As ruthless as Mason is, I don’t believe he would stoop so low as to kill a little boy.”

“But he would have no qualms in killing the little boy’s mother.”

Elizabeth trembled. She hadn’t considered Mason would go so far as to have someone shoot her. Yesterday had shown her how wrong she could be. Would he be equally willing to kill Jared? With the little boy dead, there would be nothing in his way. Mason would become the Earl of Aldridge, with all the money and power the title conveyed.

“With a special license,” Reese pressed, “we can be wed in a matter of days. I’ll start adoption proceedings immediately thereafter.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I couldn’t…couldn’t possibly marry you.” She didn’t want to marry anyone. And especially not Reese.

“I’m a military man, Elizabeth. I know what needs to be done to protect you and your son. You’ll be safe with me, and I think you know it. That is the reason you came here in the first place.”

“Yes, but—” She cut herself off. She
couldn’t
marry Reese. Dear God, once she told him the truth about his son, he would despise her. One bitter, vengeful husband was enough.

And with that thought, the answer struck. He wouldn’t marry her if he knew the truth. He would loathe her with every part of his being. And he would do anything to protect his own son.

“I don’t expect you to give me your answer now,” Reese was saying as he rose to his feet. “Tonight will be soon enough. I leave for London on the morrow. You and your son can go with me. Marry me, Elizabeth, and I’ll keep you and Jared safe. On that you have my solemn vow.”

Reese’s honor meant everything to him. She knew he would not pledge himself if he did not mean to keep his word.

She sat there, her heart clamoring with a mixture of dread and fear, watching as Reese picked up his cane and walked out of the drawing room.

She had to tell him. She would do it tonight. In the morning, she would leave for London.

Twenty minutes later, she still sat in the drawing room trying to imagine what she was going to say to Reese, how she would try to explain. A knock sounded and she turned to see tall, regal Hopkins standing in the doorway.

“I am sorry to disturb you, my lady, but Lady Tavistock wishes to see you.”

Frail and hunched, leaning heavily on her cane, the old woman brushed past the butler into the drawing room.

Elizabeth shot to her feet. “Lady Tavistock.”

“Sit down, girl. We need to talk.”

She sat down obediently. “Yes, my lady,” she said, feeling much as she had eight years ago whenever she had been in the old woman’s presence.

The dowager sat down shakily on the sofa. “My nephew has spoken to me. He tells me he has asked you to marry him. He has explained that he wishes to offer you and the boy his protection.”

Elizabeth tried to smile but failed. “It…it was kind of him to make such an offer. But marriage is too high a price for him to pay. I intend to refuse his proposal. Tonight I will tell him the truth about Jared.”

The dowager’s silver eyebrows shot up. “Indeed, you will not!”

“What?”

“You will marry the man as he has asked.”

“You…you can’t possibly mean you
want
me to marry him.”

“I have never meant anything more. You will marry Reese as soon as possible. You will do what you should have done when you realized you carried his child.”

“B-but I can’t. Don’t you see? Sooner or later I will have to tell him the truth about Jared. Once he knows, he will hate me forever.”

“Perhaps not. After you are married, you will have the time you need to make him understand why you acted in the manner you did. Keep in mind, Reese is not an inno
cent party in all of this. You were young and naive and he seduced you. In time I believe he will see that the fault in all of this is not yours alone to bear.”

If only she could believe that. In truth, she had been the seducer, not Reese. And in his world, there was only black and white, right and wrong. The child was his. She should have married him.

Dear God, if only she had.

The dowager’s reedy voice softened. “I have watched the two of you together. I believe you still care for my nephew. I don’t believe he would have considered a marriage between the two of you unless he still retained some feelings for you as well, however deeply buried they might be.”

“He wants me. He has made that clear. That is his only interest in me.”

“It doesn’t really matter. You must think of the boy. Reese is a strong, capable man. He will find a way to protect you and Jared.”

Elizabeth’s fingers tightened around a fold in her black taffeta skirt. “Please, my lady, you don’t understand. You mustn’t ask this of me.”

“I am not asking. I am telling you that this time you are going to do what is right. You are going to do it because you owe Reese. And because you love your son.”

Elizabeth’s eyes welled. She thought of Reese and the pain she had caused him all of those years ago. She thought of the years he had missed raising his son, the terrible years the boy had spent with Edmund and the way Edmund had treated him.

Edmund had known the truth from the start. Her father had insisted on telling him. But her dowry was huge, her inheritance even larger.

He had married her.

But he had made her pay every day they were together.

Now Reese was giving her the chance to make things right. Jared would be his, as he should have been from the start. In time, she would find a way to tell him the truth. In time, perhaps he would forgive her.

She swallowed, brushed away the wetness on her cheeks. “I’ll do as you ask, my lady.”

The old woman nodded. “I knew you would. You were always a good girl, Elizabeth. Somehow you just lost your way.”

Her heart squeezed. She
had
lost her way and even
she
wasn’t certain how it had happened.

Perhaps in marrying Reese and giving him back his son, she would find a way to make amends for the wrong that she had done.

Leaning back in a deep leather chair, Reese sat before the fire in his study trying to finish the book he had been reading, waiting for Elizabeth to come to him with her answer. It was past ten o’clock. Elizabeth had declined to join him and his aunt for supper. He imagined her thoughts were in turmoil—as were his own.

He wondered if she would refuse his proposal of marriage. She was a countess, a wealthy, independent woman. She was different now than she had been as a girl. Stronger, braver, far more determined.

She was also a mother who clearly loved her son.

Reese had offered his name as protection for the boy, which would prevent Holloway from ever gaining custody. He hoped Elizabeth was right and Holloway would not go so far as to try to murder the boy. Even should he
make the attempt, Reese intended to put round-the-clock security in place and begin looking for ways to end the threat Holloway posed.

Reese would protect mother and child no matter the cost and he believed Elizabeth knew him well enough to trust that he could see it done. He believed she would put aside her doubts and accept his proposal, choosing safety for her child.

Still, he couldn’t be completely certain. He glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantel. As the minutes ticked past, he realized how much he hoped she would agree. He told himself it was simply a matter of desire, tempered by concern for the boy. He wanted Elizabeth in his bed and he had begun to feel a certain affection for her son. The notion of Holloway hurting the child made his blood boil.

He glanced down at the book in his lap, trying to concentrate on the agricultural tips on the page, then looked up to see Elizabeth standing in the open doorway.