The Earl Claims a Bride (16 page)

But for tonight, it was time for him to go. Angelina had a heart as big as England for the wounded in body as well as spirit. That was one of the things that drew him to her. And why it was now time for him to take his leave. He’d heard all he wanted to about the courageous Captain Maxwell.

“I see your grandmother walking this way. If she hasn’t already seen the captain I know you’ll want to tell her. I’ll leave the two of you to talk and say good night, Angelina.”

Harrison walked away, wondering how in sweet heaven he was going to fight Captain Maxwell for Angelina’s love.

A wounded soldier!

With probably close to twenty years of military service behind him. Those were damned hard standards to measure up to and they put Harrison in an almost impossible position. Especially considering he’d never done a bloody worthwhile thing in his life. He’d never had to. No one had ever expected him to.

Being the youngest son of an elderly earl, Harrison never had to mind anyone until he arrived at Eton, where he quickly teamed up with Bray Drakestone and Adam Greyhawke. As they grew up they became a formidable trio who didn’t follow anyone’s rules but their own.

While Captain Maxwell had served his country, Harrison had served himself—to anything and everything he wanted. The captain had fought for his country and left a part of himself on some foreign battlefield. Harrison had fought more fights than he could remember. He’d had fistfights, sword fights, and duels, but he’d never faced a barrage of bullets or cannon fire as he was sure Maxwell had when he fought at Waterloo and whatever battle took his eye.

Harrison hadn’t lost an eye, but he’d lost his brother, Maddie, and their children. Though his wounds weren’t visible, he had them. They were as raw as a blade’s cut. His brother had asked him to come for a visit, but he hadn’t taken the time. Perhaps self-inflicted wounds were the worst kind. Those days were behind him now. Harrison didn’t plan on losing Angelina—not even to a man who deserved her much more than he did.

Captain Maxwell was no stranger to battles but neither was Harrison. Fighting for Angelina would be just one more for both of them. And the captain should plan to use every weapon available to him, because Harrison would.

Backing away wasn’t in Harrison’s nature, but his sense of brotherly love had led him not to pursue Maddie. He owed no loyalty to the Army officer and would show him none. Besides, Maxwell was well equipped. He had a weapon Harrison didn’t have and he expected the man to use it to his advantage. Angelina already fancied herself in love with the soldier. It would be one hard battle to prove to her she wasn’t, but Harrison could do it.

He had learned early to do whatever pleased him, to do only what he wanted, and to shake off any who tried to restrain or coax him to do otherwise. Maybe Angelina was fate’s way of paying him back.

Harrison turned to look back at the ballroom before he left. He caught sight of Captain Maxwell watching Angelina. Harrison had faith he could woo her and win her.

He would give the soldier only one concession. Harrison would do his best to fight fairly.

Chapter 12

I saw his heart in’s face.

Winter’s Tale
1.2.446–47

Her heart was still in her throat. The shock of Captain Maxwell’s injuries was so acute, it hurt to breathe.

Angelina turned away from Lord Thornwick, not wanting to watch him walk away. What was wrong with her? She just kept wishing he would take her in his arms and hold her, comfort her. For reasons she didn’t understand, she desperately wanted to feel his strength. She needed reassurance from him, from someone, that all she’d believed for the past three years concerning Captain Maxwell was still possible. But why would she want solace in the earl’s embrace? It didn’t make sense to her.

She needed some time to think, but that wasn’t going to happen right now. The earl was right. Her short, dainty grandmother was plowing her way through the throng of people with the ease of a much larger person determined to get where she was going. Angelina thought about pretending she hadn’t seen her and quickly hightailing it to the retiring room, but she knew Granna would follow her there.

Lord Thornwick was wrong about one thing. Somehow she would prove to him that it was loving concern she felt for Captain Maxwell and not pity. He was still a handsome man, even with the patch and the scarring beneath it.

Her hands made fists. She closed her eyes and grimaced as she remembered her reaction to him. She could only hope that he hadn’t taken her shock and concern when she first saw him for anything other than what it was.
Shock and concern
. But if he had, surely he could forgive her for being human and reacting with a gasp when she first saw him.

After she’d had time to adjust to his appearance, his face hadn’t seemed as bad as she’d first thought. And now she was even thinking maybe the black patch made him look a bit like the dashing pirates she’d seen in drawings and paintings.

“There you are, Angelina,” her grandmother said, sporting an expression filled with worry. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Angelina could tell by the crease in her grandmother’s brow that she already knew about Captain Maxwell’s appearance. In fact, it was clear almost everyone in the room had heard by now. The music was playing softer, fewer people were dancing, and more ladies were huddled together in little groups, talking in hushed tones, and whispering behind their hands and fans. Angelina’s heart felt full. Her admiration grew for Captain Maxwell for being brave enough to face such a daunting crowd. He must have known everyone would be talking about him.

“I’ve seen him, Granna,” Angelina said to spare her grandmother having to say more.

She flattened her hand on her chest and slowly shook her head. “Oh, dear, is it as horrifying as I’ve heard? Never mind, you don’t have to talk about it.”

“Yes, his scars are still new and need more time to heal and fade, but no, I’m not horrified by them and no one else should be, either.”

“You are very brave, my dear. I know it’s devastating. I’m so sorry for you.”

“Me, brave?” It took several seconds for her grandmother’s meaning to be clear. “Don’t feel sorry for me, Granna. I have lost nothing. I haven’t been hurt.”

Her grandmother looked at her curiously. “But of course you have, Angelina. You’ve lost a dream. The dream of the handsome soldier coming home to sweep you off your feet and take you away to wedded bliss. That dream is gone.”

Her grandmother’s answer caught Angelina off guard. Was that true? No. No, she couldn’t let her dream die just because of his injury. What kind of person would she be if she did that?

“I’m not giving up on that dream,” Angelina defiantly assured her grandmother. “It can still happen. It will happen. We have Bishop Worsley working for us so that we can help Papa replace the money he borrowed, and that in turn will free me to marry the man of my choice. And it just so happens, I’m waiting now for Captain Maxwell to come claim his dance with me.”

“That’s quite noble of you, dear.”

“It’s nothing of the kind,” she said, feeling strength in her courage. “I’m convinced Captain Maxwell is the same gentleman he’s always been. He just looks a little different, but I will not treat him any differently and neither should you, nor anyone else.”

“A little different, Angelina?” her grandmother questioned, and then gave her an easy smile. “Well, I suppose that’s why they say love is blind. I should have known this would not daunt your spirit. More and more you remind me of your mother, but quiet, dear, quiet. I see Captain Maxwell coming this way, and we don’t want him to hear us talking about him. And Lady Harcourt has on the most glorious gown I’ve seen all Season. I can’t believe our modiste didn’t show us that fabric first. I will definitely speak to her about that the next time we are in her shop.”

Captain Maxwell smiled at Angelina as he stopped beside her grandmother and said, “Good evening, Lady Railbridge.”

Her grandmother smiled beautifully, turned, and extended her hand to him. To her credit, she never blinked or showed any signs that she noticed a change in his appearance. Her earlier fretfulness about him was completely gone.

“Captain Maxwell, it’s so good to see you again.”

He kissed her hand and then said, “It was a long journey, my lady. I’m happy to be home.”

“I would think so. I don’t believe I’d have the stamina to travel that far. Tell me, did you enjoy India?” Her eyes widened in panic as soon as the words were out. “Oh, good heavens! Of course you didn’t.”

“I did enjoy most of my time in India,” Captain Maxwell said, ignoring her blunder but giving her a humorless grin just the same. “My time there wasn’t all bad.” He then looked at Angelina and said, “I was hoping this would be a good time for our dance.”

“Yes, it is. Would you excuse us, Granna?”

“Of course. Enjoy the dance.”

Angelina had always thought of Captain Maxwell as a very tall and broad-shouldered man, but as they made their way to the dance floor, she realized he was shorter and thinner than Lord Thornwick. That surprised her. In her dreams of him, she always imagined him to be more the height and width of the earl.

She looked at no one in particular as they walked, but knew small clusters of people were watching them.
Good
, she thought. Let them stare and gossip to their hearts’ content. Soon enough they would get used to seeing them together and move on to someone else to gossip about.

Angelina didn’t know the dance was a waltz until they stepped onto the dance floor and took the position. Captain Maxwell’s hand clasped hers. It was warm, but his grip wasn’t firm. She hardly felt his hand, which rested on her back to guide her through the difficult steps. It was almost as if he was afraid to touch her. But most of all, she realized there were none of the tingles, sizzles, and shivers that she expected racing through her body at his nearness.

They were quiet for the first few seconds while they waited for the music to begin. The silence became awkward so Angelina looked up at him and said, “Did you attend many dances in India before you were wounded?”

He glanced down into her eyes for only a second before lifting his head. His expression remained emotionless. “A few,” he answered and then asked, “Have you been enjoying the Season?”

“Mostly. It’s been very hectic,” she answered, sensing that looking at him was making him uncomfortable. It had been so long since she’d seen him, she wanted to look at him. He seemed older now. She didn’t remember the gray in his hair or the pronounced lines around his eyes. In truth, this was the closest she’d ever been to him.

“It always is.”

“I knew what to expect but I’ve been to at least three parties every evening for almost a week. I’ve declined all the tea and card parties that are held in the afternoons.”

“I hope you have a good reason for denying yourself such pleasure.”

Yes, I must paint during the day.

“I find it difficult to dance most nights and then continue to attend parties during the day,” she said, knowing it was only partly a fib.

The music started and so did the dance. Captain Maxwell knew the steps well and was light on his feet, but she kept thinking there was no strength in his arms. She wanted him to hold her closer and tighter. She wanted him to take command of her. She wanted to experience the unleashed power she had felt when she was in Lord Thornwick’s arms, when they had danced, when they had kissed.

The waltz was long and she could tell the captain was winded before it was over. Her heart went out to him. How selfish of her to want him to hold her as the earl had. His injury had probably taken most of his strength for weeks, and yet he had wanted to dance with her. She shouldn’t have expected he’d have the strength of Lord Thornwick.

“You dance very well,” she said as the dance ended and they stopped to clap for the musicians before leaving the floor.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said. “Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure I could still do it. I’ve, well
^____
”

She smiled at him. “You never faltered and you never stepped on my toes. There are other gentlemen I’ve danced with who have done both, so pat yourself on the back.”

He looked into her eyes and said, “Perhaps you’ll let me call on you, Miss Rule.”

She thought she heard a quaver in his voice. She couldn’t fault him for being unsure of himself under the circumstances but she didn’t want him to be. She wanted him to believe in her and her love for him. This was the man whose return she’d been waiting for. He should have no doubts about her feelings for him.

“Yes,” she said, meeting his gaze confidently.

“Tomorrow afternoon?” he asked hopefully.

Angelina hesitated. She wanted to, but she had three fans started that she needed to finish so Bishop Worsley could take them to the duchess. If she didn’t sell her paintings, none of her plans for the future would be possible.

“I’m afraid tomorrow afternoon isn’t good for me, but perhaps another day.”

He stiffened and stepped away from her. “Of course. I understand.”

No, he didn’t. The coldness of his words surprised her, even though she knew he thought she was rebuffing him. She quickly added, “I’m available on Sunday. Are you?”

At first he looked as if he didn’t know whether he could trust her, but then the lines around his mouth relaxed and he said, “I am. Would you enjoy a ride in Hyde Park if it’s not raining?”

“That would be lovely.”

Angelina wanted to say more but was at a loss for words. Did the captain want to hear that she had a deep ache in her soul for what he had lost and the pain he’d been through? Or was Lord Thornwick right that he wouldn’t want to hear how sorry she was for what had happened to him? Should she tell him she was happy to see him? What did he want to hear from her? She didn’t know what to say so she remained quiet and so did the captain.

“I see Granna waiting for me. Thank you for the dance, Captain.”