For the Love of a Soldier (37 page)

“Of course they weren’t. No one is like him,” Kit murmured.

“It’s easy to reject men for whom you don’t care.”

“You didn’t love them. But why would you? You love Garrett,” Kit said.

“Yes, well, the trouble began when my parents died and my uncle took over my father’s estate. He was adamant to see me wed despite my objections. I didn’t understand what I do now. You see, my uncle has three daughters. A betrothal contract to a wealthy suitor would finance the dowries my uncle couldn’t provide.”

Alex laid the handkerchief she had twisted into a soggy mess on the bedcovers. “My uncle led a parade of suitors before me. But none of them…I didn’t feel any of the things Garrett makes me feel. Didn’t believe I was capable of it.”

“Of course you didn’t, because you hadn’t met the right man,” Kit offered.

“I thought I was different from other women, of harder stock. The word my uncle used was
frigid
.” Her breath hitched at the insult.

“Garrett was right.” Kit slapped her hand on the bed. “The man deserves to die. That will teach me to meddle.”

The small bubble of laughter that slipped from Alex stunned her. She shook her head. “It didn’t matter. I was intent on my independence and believed no man could change my mind.”

“Independence is highly overrated. It doesn’t warm your bed at night and it can’t give you children.”

“Yes.” Alex smiled wistfully. She thought of her plans to purchase her family cottage. There was no Garrett and no children in that picture. They were a girl’s dreams. Garrett had offered her children and together they’d nearly set the bed on fire. She couldn’t go there. Not now. “Eventually my uncle lost patience with me and took matters into his own hands. After a dinner party abetted by liberal drink, I escaped to retire early for the night. I was finishing my toilette when my door was opened, closed, and locked.

“It was an older gentleman, a more persistent suitor. He informed me that he and my uncle had reached an agreement and we were formally betrothed. He had come to claim his reward for payment rendered. I had cost him a fortune and he looked forward to my paying it back.”

“Dear God.” Kit gasped. “He and your uncle should be put on the rack and stretched. There must be one of those medieval contraptions tucked away in a dungeon somewhere. Brandon has connections. He loves me, he’ll locate one.” Kit closed her hand over Alex’s, her expression anguished. “I’m sorry, so very sorry.”

Alex squeezed Kit’s hand. “You need not be as sorry as you are thinking. He didn’t hurt me. A bit of pawing, but I was able to get away.”

Kit closed her eyes and exhaled. “Thank God.”

“Does he still get the rack?”

Kit’s eyes opened and narrowed. “Perhaps we’ll tease him with it, not stretch it so taut.”

Alex smiled. “He had drunk a lot, so it was easy to make him believe that if he but waited a few minutes, his patience would be rewarded. I told him I needed to dress more appropriately
and would soon return. There was another door to my room that led to my old nurse’s chamber and I fled through there. Her room contained a hidden back staircase. My father’s paramours used this entrance, my father liking the clandestine nature to it all.”

Heat burned her cheeks and she hastened to continue. “But for the first time in my life, I was indebted to my father’s rakish life. Due to his penchant for pawning my jewelry, I had taken to stashing my valuables in a secret alcove in this back staircase.

“I knew I wouldn’t get far in the dead of night in winter, so I hid in one of our maid’s rooms for over a week. She was eager to assist me, not being an admirer of my uncle. I knew it would never occur to my uncle that I would remain on the grounds and not take flight.”

“I’ll have to remember that should I ever decide to flee Brandon. Garrett always tells me to have a contingency plan, particularly in regard to my marriage.” Kit rolled her eyes, and then ruefully regarded her bulging belly. “But I doubt I’d get far.”

“The maids kept me updated on my uncle’s plans.” Alex went on to recount his threats should she try to break the betrothal contract.

“No!” Kit stood and began to pace the room. “The rack is too good for your uncle. He needs to be drawn and quartered. A few bribes in the right pockets and I’m sure it can be arranged.”

“I like that picture myself. Eventually, the maid pawned a piece of my jewelry and I made my way to Gus’s wife, Meg, my old nurse in London, and found refuge with her.” She told Kit about inheriting her father’s luck at cards and taking the name Daniels. She explained how she had solicited the assistance of Lady Olivia, the Duke of Hammond’s daughter, with getting coveted invitations for her family friend, Alex Daniels. Thus Daniels had been introduced to the ton.

Kit beamed at her. “What an odd twist of fate. Your father served you well in the end. The Langdon luck won out because here you are.”

“Yes, here I am.” She nodded as the tears she held at bay blurred her eyes. She hadn’t cried so much in years. “Kit, I hurt Garrett. He talked of being together and having babies and he said he loved me and I couldn’t let him go on. I couldn’t.”

“You told him of your betrothal?” At Alex’s bleak expression,
Kit nodded. “I now understand his motive for murder, and it’s a good one. But, Alex, why the tears? Don’t you believe Garrett can resolve this matter?”

“How can he? My uncle has made sure my name will be ruined should I break the contract. He’s only kept silent thus far because he is still searching for me. That is why I changed my name.” She shrugged. “When my uncle does speak, people will believe his slander because of my father’s notoriety. And it’s not just my name and reputation that is ruined, but my cousins’ as well. They are the true innocents in my uncle’s machinations. So there’s nothing to be done because if Garrett does murder my uncle, he’ll hang for it!”

“Do you really believe that your uncle would ruin his daughters’ chances of a marriage when he was fighting for them to gain a dowry in the first place?” Kit frowned.

Alex shook her head. “I don’t know. But I do know that he’ll do anything to get what he wants and is capable of sacrificing anyone who stands in his way. He fired everyone loyal to my father when he gained the estate. Kit, he sent a man into my bedroom when I defied him.” She turned her face to the window and bit her lip. “I couldn’t go back. And when Meg died, I couldn’t leave Gus.”

“I understand, but, Alex, you have to trust in Garrett to help you through this. That’s what loving someone is about. He’s trusting you to help him; it’s time you trust in him to do the same for you. You don’t really believe Garrett would abandon you now, not when he has vowed his love for you.”

Alex drew a ragged breath, struggling to digest Kit’s words. It had been so long since she had leaned on anyone, but Garrett was different.

If she could trust Garrett now, he could give her everything.

She lifted hopeful eyes to Kit, then stilled. “I’ve never even confided my real name to him. He doesn’t know what uncle to kill.”

“Oh, honey, he’s known since meeting Gus.” At her surprise, Kit spoke gently. “Gus didn’t betray your secrets, but he did mention working for a Viscount Langdon, and it was enough for Garrett to go on. It was never important to Garrett. He wanted you to tell him when you were ready. He was willing to wait.”

“I was afraid,” Alex murmured.

“Of course you were. Your uncle made sure of that. Now then.” Kit stood, straightening her skirts. “Dry those tears, have a good soak in a tub, and then we shall face the day. To get our minds off matters, we’ll search for a torture device for your uncle around here.” Kit crossed to the door but turned back. “Alex, in all of Garrett’s plans for your future, did he ever actually propose?”

Alex frowned. “No. I don’t believe he did.”

“I knew it!” Kit slapped her hand on the door. “My brother takes too much for granted. Don’t let him get away with it. Next time he talks about making babies, you make sure he gets down on bended knee and begs for your hand!”

Alex couldn’t picture Garrett so humbled. “He did say we would name our firstborn Arundel, but he will demand to be called Wellington.”

Kit laughed. “He does have a charming way about him. I’m so very glad you stumbled into his life. He needs you very much.”

Alex’s tears returned. “I need him, too.”

“Then you make a pair.” Kit smiled and slipped from the room.

Alex plopped back on her pillow, feeling lighter than she had in hours. She didn’t know how things would resolve, but at least there was some hope.

While the future was uncertain, she knew one fact. No son of hers would be named Arundel.

F
IVE
days had passed since Garrett had left and Alex started at every sound, half expecting to turn and see him scowling at her. Irritated, she flipped the page of her book, nearly ripping it from the seam. Her patience was a strained and frayed cord, ready to snap.

Where the hell was he?

Sighing, she slammed her book closed and stood. She would have Cook prepare tea, for Kit and Will would awaken shortly from their afternoon nap. Beau had accompanied Stewart to the hops fields. She set her book on the table, smiling as her eyes fastened on the title. Garrett was a wily one, for
Tom Jones
had been a clever choice. Its lusty hero Tom further reminded her of Kendall. Like Garrett, Tom was a notorious rakehell who proved more noble than those whose pompous moralizing hid false virtues.

She swept her fingers over the leather-bound cover, then jumped at the sound of ferocious pounding on the front door.

The noise continued, shattering her immobility and reminding her that Garrett had no butler. However, he had assured her
that he had men guarding the manor and property. She neatened the skirts of her peach day dress, squared her shoulders, and opened the door.

A stranger stood before her. He was Garrett’s height, but thinner, and his auburn hair was peppered with streaks of gray. Hawkish features carved with age lines glowered, and golden eyes locked on hers. A chill swept over her, which was odd because she was certain she had never met the man before.

“No butler,” he muttered. “Typical. Lady Daniels, I presume?”

“Yes, can I help—?”

“Keyes was right!”

“I beg your pardon—”

“And well you should! I’ve thought many things of Kendall, most well earned, but this sinks below even his level of degradation.”

Stunned, Alex opened her mouth to respond when the man stormed past her, giving her no choice but to move aside or be plowed down.

He paced the foyer. “Where is my daughter? Where is Kristen?” he demanded.

Alex’s eyes widened.
This
was Kit’s father and Garrett’s nemesis?
Arthur
. She now understood her instinctual reaction to him upon opening the door.

Arthur didn’t wait for her reply. “Keyes said she and Warren were here and don’t deny it, for I saw Beau in the fields digging like a common laborer. I’m aware Kendall has no respect for his name, dragging it through the gutter with his scandalous ways and now this venture into…into
trade
for God’s sake!” He spat the word out as if he could barely stomach it.

“I thought better of Warren. Lord knows why, considering the two of them were troublemakers as boys and rakehells as young men. I thought Warren had settled into his seat when he’d married Kristen. Clearly, I thought wrong.” He shook his head. “But this is unacceptable. It is one thing for Kendall to drink himself into a stupor or switch his women as often as he changes his mounts, but to indulge in his sordid proclivities when innocents are on the premises is beneath contempt.”

Having been rendered momentarily speechless, Alex now
recovered her voice. “Sir, you have said quite enough, and all at grievous insult to Lord Kendall, your daughter, and her husband, the Earl of Warren. Perhaps you should leave.” Her tone dropped to frigid levels and she whirled to retrace her steps to the front door and swing it open. “Short of a butler, allow me to show you out.”

Ignoring the open door, he cocked a brow and studied her with renewed interest. “Do you think I don’t know what you are doing here? Keyes wrote to me and told me all about you and Kendall. More important, I
know
Kendall. From your indignant expression, perhaps you don’t.”

She lifted her chin and looked him dead in the eye. “I know exactly who and what kind of man Garrett is. It is you who are mistaken about him as well as my position here.” She deliberately employed Garrett’s Christian name, having noted his stepfather’s refusal to do so.

Taken aback, Arthur studied her, recognizing the battle line her words had drawn. “I see. So Kendall has made clear his intentions toward you? And they are honorable?” He waited a beat before adding, “As honorable as they have been toward the rest of his women?”

Her cheeks burned. She had wasted time in mourning Garrett’s loss of Arthur as a father. Garrett was better off without the arrogant, insufferable prig.

It took all of her control to remain civil. “I won’t deign to speak for other women or presume to discuss Garrett’s past. For myself, Garrett has told me
exactly
what his intentions are and left no doubt as to his honor.”