To Tame a Dangerous Lord (40 page)

Upon noting the gawking crowd gathered at the tavern door, Rayne brusquely told them to go about their business, then sent the innkeep a glance. “Have you a room where you can hold these louts, Mr. Pilling?”

“Aye, m’lord,” Pilling said, pointing at a doorway behind the high counter where the inn ledger lay. “Beyond my office is a storeroom with a sturdy lock.”

“Good. I will want to speak to them in a moment, before they are taken to the roundhouse to be charged with assault.”

He handed Madeline’s pistol to James, who promptly assumed custody of the one conscious prisoner. Then Rayne gestured at the two unconscious thugs before addressing the proprietor.

“Take care of those other two, if you please,” he directed Pilling. “I suggest you bind them securely. And fetch damp cloths for her ladyship and her brother as soon as you are done.”

“Certainly, m’lord, right away.”

“Meanwhile, I intend to commandeer your office for a short time, unless you object?”

“No, no, m’lord, no objection a’tall. Whatever you wish.”

Rayne lent a shoulder to the injured Gerard and helped him limp behind the counter and into the inn’s small office. Madeline followed reluctantly, aware that
Rayne wanted privacy in order to question her brother about his alleged criminal activities.

There was only one chair behind the desk, and Gerard sank into it gratefully before accepting Rayne’s handkerchief to stanch his nosebleed.

Rayne, however, gave him no time to relax. “I suggest you start explaining, Ellis,” he commanded the moment Madeline had shut the door behind them.

“Explain?” the younger man hedged.

When a muscle in Rayne’s jaw hardened, Madeline quickly broke in. “He already knows everything, Gerard, so you may as well be completely honest.”

Rayne’s glance connected with hers briefly before he returned his piercing attention to her brother. “I have heard your sister’s version of the tale. Now I want to hear yours.”

Gerard eyed Rayne cautiously, as if determining how much he could leave out. He must have concluded that prevaricating would be perilous to his welfare, for he grudgingly launched into a narrative that confirmed Madeline’s entire story, acknowledging his theft of the priceless necklace and the subsequent events that had led to his being assaulted by three of Ackerby’s henchmen.

When he concluded, Madeline couldn’t help voicing her distress. “Gerard, how could you
steal
like that?” she murmured in dismay.

Shifting his glance to her, Gerard hardened his jaw. “If you mean to read me a lecture, Maddie, you needn’t bother. I would do it all over again.”

“But the necklace does not belong to you.”

“No, the Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Vasse are the rightful owners,” he said fiercely. “There is a miniature
of Madame la Vicomtesse wearing the necklace for her betrothal portrait. It was her prize possession, and she intended for her daughter to inherit it one day. Moreover, I only took the necklace, not any of the other jewels that were stolen from them.”

“What other jewels?” Rayne interjected.

“The vicomte owned an invaluable collection of family heirlooms. The third baron—the current Lord Ackerby’s father—stole it all.”

“That is a serious accusation, Ellis,” Rayne observed.

“Yes, but it is true,” Gerard insisted. “Like many other aristos, the de Vasses were forced to pay exorbitant sums to be smuggled out of France at the height of the Revolution, but they still had a fortune in jewels remaining when they arrived in England. Shortly after they settled in Chelmsford, their home was robbed and all the jewels disappeared. Then several years later the collection resurfaced in the possession of Ackerby’s father. It could never be proved that he orchestrated the theft, but he clearly obtained the jewels through illicit means and profited immeasurably from the crime. When confronted by the de Vasses, though, the baron refused to honor their claim and merely chided them for leaving their valuables unattended.”

“That still does not entitle you to take the necklace,” Madeline said tersely.

“I was only standing up for justice, Maddie,” Gerard argued. “With
Maman’s
history, you know all too well about the plight of the émigrés. Those who were not guillotined by the revolutionary government or murdered by the rabble were left homeless and penniless, including Lynette’s parents. After watching most of their family and friends beheaded and losing nearly everything
they possessed, they came to England in hopes of beginning a new life—only to have their future shattered when their sole means of support was stolen from them. It’s not right that Ackerby should be allowed to keep their only legacy.”

“So you decided to rectify matters by taking the law into your own hands?” Madeline demanded. “By stealing from the late baron’s son? How can you justify such self-serving logic? Even if his father
was
guilty as you say, this Lord Ackerby had nothing to do with a crime that happened many years ago.”

Gerard scowled. “I cannot believe you are taking Ackerby’s side!”

“I am not! I only want to keep you out of prison, or worse.”

Her brother’s features lost some of their fierce belligerence. “It is not merely that I want to inveigle my way into the good graces of my new bride’s parents, Maddie. It is that I can’t bear seeing Lynette so desolate. She has cried herself to sleep every night since we eloped, knowing she is estranged from her family. Whatever love she has for me will swiftly die if I cannot win their forgiveness and reunite them.”

Madeline hesitated, sympathizing yet not wanting to accept Gerard’s claim that his theft was justified. “If Lynette truly loves you, she will put your life over her parents’ material gratification. You could have been
killed
today. She is unlikely to be any happier if you are hanged—or if you both must spend the rest of your lives hiding out in France as fugitives.”

“No, Lynette agrees with me. She wants her parents to have the necklace, even if we must live in France.” Gerard’s
expression turned imploring. “Please, Maddie, you have to help me.”

Feeling a welling impotence, Madeline gazed back at her brother in dismay and frustration.

“What would
Maman
say about your stealing?” she finally muttered.

“It is unfair to bring her into this,” Gerard objected more quietly.
“Maman
is long gone. And in any case, I believe she would want to see justice done.”

Perhaps he was right about that, but still…. Madeline raised a hand to her temple. Not only was her bruised cheek throbbing, her head was aching with the futility of making her brother see reason. “Don’t you realize that you are destroying your entire future, Gerard? Not to mention that I may never see you again. You have to give the necklace back to Ackerby.”

“I cannot, Madeline. I
will
not.”

A tense silence ensued. Rayne, who had been watching their altercation without commenting, broke their impasse.

“There is a simple solution to your dilemma,” he said slowly.

When she turned to eye him, Rayne expounded. “I will purchase the necklace from Ackerby and gain his agreement not to press charges against your brother.”

“I say, that would be ‘capital’ of you!” Gerard exclaimed.

Madeline stared at Rayne, however, torn between distress and hope. With his chivalrous streak, he was determined to defend the weak and vulnerable and fight for justice. Gerard’s lamenting the plight of émigrés had been a far better way to gain Rayne’s sympathy than expressing fear at losing his wife’s love. But she couldn’t let
Rayne make the financial sacrifice that trying to purchase the necklace would entail.

Nor could she understand why he would even want to help her brother out of his self-inflicted dilemma. A brief while ago, Rayne had grimly accused her of betrayal and adultery. His features were enigmatic now, devoid of emotion, giving no clue as to what he was thinking or feeling.

“It would not be ‘capital,’” Madeline replied before addressing Rayne. “Even if Ackerby is willing to part with the necklace—which is gravely doubtful—it would cost you a fortune, and I can’t allow you to throw your money away in support of my witless brother’s felony.”

The barest of smiles flickered at the corner of Rayne’s mouth. “Stubbornness is clearly a family trait,” he observed in a dry tone.

Madeline stiffened. “I have told you before, my lord, I do not want or need your charity.”

Gerard hastened to break in. “Well, I am not too proud to accept his charity. I cannot thank you enough, Lord Haviland. I swear I will repay every penny somehow, although it may take years.”

“Years?” Madeline repeated in a scoffing tone. “You will be in his debt for centuries.”

“That is still better than being exiled to France.”

Aware she was losing the argument, she rephrased her protest to Rayne. “Just how will you convince Ackerby to part with the necklace and overlook Gerard’s theft?”

“It should not be too difficult,” he replied, “considering that he set his henchmen after your brother and assaulted your housekeeper. Ackerby will not want his savagery to become known, or allegations about his father’s complicity in the original theft to come out.”

Madeline shook her head, her feeling of helplessness growing.

“Come now, Maddie,” Gerard pleaded. “You don’t want me to have to flee the country, do you? This is the perfect solution.”

Knowing she was beaten, she let out a heavy sigh. “Oh, very well. But you don’t deserve to get off this easily.”

Her scamp of a brother beamed a grin. “Of course not. I know how fortunate I am, best of sisters.”

She bit back a retort, restraining the desire to shake him, but then Rayne interrupted.

“Where is the necklace now?” he asked her brother.

Gerard answered willingly. “With my wife, Lynette. We took refuge at a farmhouse a few miles from here.” His expression sobered. “I should get back to Lynette as soon as possible. She will worry if I don’t return shortly.”

“Did you ride here?”

“No, I walked.”

“Then I will drive you there in my carriage. I first want to question Ackerby’s minions to discover where he can be found. Meanwhile, you should clean up your appearance. Your bride will be alarmed to see you looking so battered.”

Hesitating as if he might say something further, Rayne cast a glance at Madeline. Anger flickered in his eyes again when his gaze fixed on her bruised cheek. He even raised his hand as if he might touch her to offer her comfort … but then he drew back.

Without another word, Rayne let himself from the office—ruthlessly reminding Madeline of the vast chasm that still remained between them.

A moment later Mrs. Pilling arrived, carrying cloths and a basin of warm water along with a jar of unguent, which she deposited on the desk. Desperately needing the distraction, Madeline automatically reached for the cloth to administer to her brother’s injuries as she’d done countless times in the years since their mother’s passing.

When she gently dabbed at the vicious cut above his eye, Gerard winced in pain, yet Madeline knew the pain filling her heart went much deeper.

Her brother would likely come out of this debacle with his love and his future assured, but she had no such hopes for her own love and future, considering the shambles she had made of her marriage.

Rayne avoided reflecting on the future of his marriage for the time being, since there were more immediate matters to settle—namely reuniting Gerard Ellis with his young bride and convincing Ackerby not to pursue criminal charges against him. Yet Rayne’s conscience was smiting him ruthlessly.

Not only had Madeline told him the truth, not only had her motives been entirely innocent, but far from betraying him, she had actually been attempting to
protect
him. To shield him and his family from scandal by preventing her brother from carrying out his idealistic, love-struck schemes.

How could he have been so blind to her true nature? Rayne wondered as his coach trundled along a country road toward the farmhouse where Ellis’s wife was concealed. How could he have misjudged Madeline so egregiously? So willfully?

Rayne watched her now as she sat on the opposite seat, beside her brother, listening as Ellis recounted the details of his recent elopement and effused about newly
married life. Her brother’s spirits were understandably high since the end of his ordeal was in sight.

Madeline, however, was unusually quiet—and Rayne well knew
he
was the cause.

He voiced a silent invective at himself as he stared grimly at her bruised cheek. He was profoundly relieved that his suspicions about her were unfounded, yet his relief warred with even more profound feelings of guilt and remorse.

At least dealing with Ackerby should be simpler than resolving his self-imposed problems with his marriage. Once their prisoners had regained consciousness, Rayne had quickly elicited the information he sought, beginning with how they had picked up Ellis’s trail: