A Lord for Olivia (23 page)

Corbright's forehead beaded with perspiration. “You misunderstood. Not Olivia. Her aunt, Lavinia. They said some insulting things about her. True things, actually, for she is a homely woman, but she is my beloved's aunt, so I suggested they settle elsewhere.”

“Then why are they here, acting as your agents?”

“I . . . I . . .” Corbright looked furtively around.

“How dare you?” Peter Barteau cried out. “I ought to call you out, Nephew. You have insulted the woman I mean to marry.”

“You? Marry Lavinia?” Corbright's face turned livid. “You can't. I . . . she . . .”

“She would no longer control her land, then, would she, Corbright?” Edmund snarled, suddenly energized by his obvious discomfiture. “You could no longer force her to do as you wish, to protect her niece. That
is
your plan, isn't it?”

Aversley held up his hand. “Enough. Release Lord Edmund. I do not believe there is to be a wedding today.”

The Swalen brothers looked to Corbright for instructions. He stood frozen.

“By the way, they are
not
gentlemen,” Edmund said. “They are deserters. Wanted by the military courts for murdering, raping, and pillaging. And those crimes were committed against our Portuguese allies. These are the ruffians Lord Corbright has invited to his wedding—for the express purpose of seeing that no one interfered with it.”

At this, Arthur Swalen screamed, “You lying bastard.” He tightened his choke hold on Edmund, who struggled furiously.

The murmurs of the crowd increased, and the comments were negative. “Smoky business,” one said. “I for one will not be a party to it,” another said.

Aversley glared at Heslington, who stood some feet from Corbright, frowning darkly. “Do you mean to see your brother taken away by such as these? Come, give me some assistance.” He and Bower began to try to pull the trio apart. With an oath, Heslington joined them. The Swalen brothers gave up the struggle and released Edmund.

All eyes now turned to Olivia and Corbright. There was no mistaking the hostility on the men's faces, the concern for Olivia on the women's.

Corbright took Olivia's hands in his. “I am dreadfully sorry, my dear. I never meant for this to happen. Now you see the real Edmund Debham. A lying troublemaker, always has been, eh, Heslington?” Without waiting for a reply, he
continued in a gentle, loving tone. “What say you, my love? Shall we go in and be married? I am sure we can find another witness to join with Heslington, and—”

“You will require more than one,” Heslington said, “for, I, too, have decided not to participate. In fact, Miss Ormhill, you have but to say the word, and I will escort you from here, so that you will not be importuned further, at least today, by either of your suitors.”

Olivia was startled by this turn of events, but her mind raced to see if anything had really changed, and she realized it hadn't. If she did not marry Corbright, he would destroy those she loved. Jason doubtless was being held somewhere by another of Corbright's men. Edmund would be assassinated. She looked at him, at his disheveled clothes and his furrowed brow, and felt such love that it made her dizzy.

“No, I thank you, Lord Heslington. What has happened here has only made me more determined to be wed today, before the forces that oppose us can gain strength. Lord Edmund has insinuated himself into my family's good graces, and put on quite a show for all of you, but he will not deflect me from my true wishes, which are to wed Lord Corbright. See, the other wedding party is leaving the chapel. Shall we go in?”

This last sentence she spoke loudly enough to be heard by all who stood nearby. But many turned away. Lord Bower looked deeply troubled.

“Will you not give me away, my lord?” she pleaded with him. “And allow Cynthia to stand up with me?”

“Not today, Miss Ormhill.”

“Certainly not,” Cynthia agreed. “Olivia, do give this up. Corbright, I advise you, for the sake of your reputation, to postpone this wedding.”

“Come, dear Olivia, we don't need any of them. The vicar will doubtless have witnesses enough about the chapel somewhere.” Corbright held out his arm, and when she took it, covered her hand with his.

“I would suggest that your henchmen disarm before entering the church,” Heslington said.

“That's right. Bristling with arms like Turkish banditti,”
Aversley said. He and Bower moved to block the two from entering, so they disgorged several pistols and knives, placing them in the waiting carriage.

Barteau, the Bowers, Aversley, and Heslington stood with Edmund as Corbright and Olivia climbed the steps, accompanied by a few of the invited guests. The Swalens brought up the rear.

“You surprised me just now, Carl,” Edmund said to his brother.

“I surprised myself. Are you content to let this happen?”

“Yes, what say you, Lord Edmund?” Aversley asked. “Except by force, I do not see how we can prevent this.”

“It is my fight, gentlemen.”

“No. No gentleman can stand by and see a woman forced to wed. But is she being forced?”

Edmund hesitated. “I . . . I am not sure.”

“I can answer that!” They all turned at the sound of a strident female voice, to see Lavinia Ormhill exiting the Ormhill carriage, which had pulled up while their attention was on the wedding party. She hurried up to the knot of men. “You must stop this wedding. See this? After you left, I found it under the desk where Olivia had been writing.”

She held out the bloodstained note. “It is Jason's handwriting,” she said as the appalled group read it. “That is why she is here.”

Edmund grabbed the paper and raced up the steps, closely followed by the others. Down the aisle of the church he ran, to where the wedding party stood. He arrived at the dais just as a stout vicar, leaning heavily on a cane, intoned, “if any man do allege and declare any impediment why they may not be coupled together in matrimony by God's law—”

“There could be no more unholy union than this, vicar.” Edmund thrust the paper into the startled cleric's hands. “This note came to Miss Ormhill just before she agreed to wed Lord Corbright. She is doing it to free her brother.”

“It . . . it asks for a ransom. That doesn't—”

“She is the ransom. She is being forced into this marriage.”

“Father, please ignore him,” Olivia begged the minister.
“He is mad with grief and rage that I am marrying another man.” Olivia snatched the paper from Edmund's hand and tore it. “Please proceed.”

“No, Livvy. Don't do this.” Lavinia pushed between Corbright and Olivia. “I know you are protecting Jason, but you will be subjecting yourself to a lifetime of danger.”

“I am free to choose—”

“And it won't end there. Will it, Corbright? It is not just her land you want. You won't stop until you have Jason's and mine, will you? Oh, Olivia, do you think any of us could ever be happy again or know a moment's peace with you in the hands of this monster? We, Milton and I, have already been through that torture once.” Tears began to stream down Lavinia's face. “Don't do it to us again.”

“You interfering old vixen, get out of here.” Corbright grabbed her and shoved her aside. “Vicar, my fiancée wishes to continue in spite of her insane aunt's imaginings.”

As Peter protested this treatment of his fiancée, Edmund picked up the discarded note. Piecing it together, he asked Corbright, “How do you explain that the two men named here as her brother's captors are present, under your orders? I speak of the Swalen brothers.” He motioned to the glowering pair.

“Is this true?” When several people confirmed it, the vicar thumped his cane on the stone floor to silence the group. “I am sorry, but I cannot complete this marriage at this time. Miss Ormhill, I suggest you allow your friends to escort you from here.”

“Damn you to hell, Edmund.” Corbright's face contorted with fury. “You shall pay for this. George! Arthur!”

The two men left the pews and started for Edmund, only to be stopped by Bower and Aversley. A violent but brief struggle ensued, which Edmund, Heslington, and Peter joined. When they were subdued, Edmund said, “I think you two should go to the War Office, to answer to those charges against you.”

“I'll see to them,” Aversley said. “Bind their hands.”

“Come, dear. Let us go home.” Lavinia tugged on Olivia's hand and led her away.

“Olivia,” Corbright called out. “We can still be wed. Come with me. I know a vicar who will wed us, not an hour's drive from here.”

Olivia stopped and turned back. Edmund stood between them, fists clenched, the savage expression on his face again.
He'll kill Corbright before he'll let me marry him, even if it means he hangs for his crime.

“No, Lord Corbright. My aunt is right. I can't live in fear, nor subject my family to such. If anything happens to my brother, sir, I shall see you hang. And the same goes for anyone else I love.” She pulled herself from Lavinia's grasp and went to Edmund, who gathered her to him with a sob of joy. He led her from the church, followed by Lavinia and Peter.

Heslington sneered at Corbright. “If I were you, old boy, I'd take a repairing lease in Europe. You will find England a cold, lonely land from now on.” He turned his back on his former friend and sauntered out of the chapel, followed by Bower and Aversley, who bent one last look of disgust on Corbright before turning away to escort their prisoners from the church.

Olivia blinked in the sunlight as they emerged. She clung to Edmund as they went down the steps, for her legs felt limp. “Oh, Edmund, we're got to find Jason,” she wailed.

“We will find him, love.” Edmund guided her to the pavement, then looked about him. “You and Lavinia go home. I'm going to haul Corbright before a magistrate, then see to the questioning of the Swalen brothers. Peter, one of us must stay with the women at all times. And send someone to Bow Street to get some men to assist us in our search.” He cupped Olivia's chin in his hands. “Don't fret, my love. I doubt not the Swalens will tell where Jason is to save their necks.”

“Don't count on it,” Corbright snarled. He stood just behind them with the visibly upset vicar, who leaned heavily on his sturdy cane. “They're gallows bait and they know it. They hate you and all officers, Edmund. They'll keep silent and let Jason starve, for the pleasure of spiting you. Sleep well, my lovely Olivia.”

“She may not sleep well, but I think you will be sleeping very poorly, in prison, for your part in this,” Edmund said.

“You haven't the slightest proof that I was involved,” Corbright snarled.

“I shall gladly be a witness for the prosecution,” said a familiar voice, and Jason appeared around the rear of the Ormhill carriage, leading Storm. He was covered with bruises and cuts and his clothing was torn.

“Jason! Oh, Jason!” Olivia launched herself at him. He caught her up, laughing, and fell back against the horse, which reared, ears back.

“Take care with her around Storm,” Edmund shouted. “He's dangerous.” He jumped for the agitated animal's bridle.

“Sorry. When I got to the town house he was the only thing left in the stable.” Jason jerked Olivia away from the horse, and Edmund clapped him on the shoulder. “So you got away from them, you young scamp!”

“The Swalens left some great lump to watch me. Talked him into freeing my hands to play cards. We shared a bottle of blue ruin.” Jason winked at his sister. “When I'd cleaned him out he tried to tie me back up. He thought himself a boxer, but that dancing style you taught me, Edmund, completely flummoxed him, and then he proved to have a glass jaw. Oh, Livvy, tell me they were in time to prevent your marriage. I overheard Corbright telling the Swalens his plans.”

“So that's how you found us. Oh, Jason! They were in time, but only just.” She pulled him close, and Lavinia joined her. They both hugged the young man so hard that he groaned and pulled away.

“Careful, now. Think I've a broken rib or two; I—Edmund, look out!” At the same moment Cynthia Bower let out a high-pitched scream.

All eyes turned to where Edmund, his back to them, spoke soothingly to Storm. Corbright stood just behind him, in the act of slamming the vicar's stout cane down on his head.

Edmund moved just in time for the blow to miss hitting
him squarely on the head. Instead it sideswiped his face, then continued its downward path until it connected brutally with Storm's shoulder. The stallion shrieked in pain and reared, throwing the stunned Edmund to the ground. Storm spun around, keeping the others from going to Edmund's aid, and Corbright once again poised the cane for a deadly blow.

But it never fell. Storm reared and struck at Corbright. His flailing hooves hit the man in the chest and threw him against the Ormhill carriage. His head connected with the large rear wheel with a resounding clang. Not satisfied, Storm started for him again, but by this time Edmund was on his feet and grasped the horse's reins, pulling him back. Breathing heavily, blood streaming down his head, he warned Olivia, who wanted to run to him, to stay back.