Dangerous Secrets (73 page)

Though it was obvious the family had no money,
the garden and pathways were well kept, the cottage itself in repair and neat.
Miranda took a deep breath, knowing that she was trusting Katherine with a very
important secret.
‶
His Grace has confided in me that he is very
ill.″

Katherine murmured in shock.
‶
No.″

‶
His doctors have told him that
he is to die within six months′ time.″ Miranda grasped the other
woman′s slender arm.
‶
Can you help him? He sounds as if he′s given
up hope.″

The healer frowned.
‶
He certainly seemed
healthy the little I saw of him. ″What are his symptoms?″

The logic of the question caught Miranda by
surprise. She had been so shocked by Simon′s news that she had not
thought to find out. She shook her head in annoyance at her own stupidity.
‶
I
never thought to ask.″

Katherine smiled sympathetically.
‶
Will
you see him sometime soon? Could you ask him then?″

‶
We are to be married tomorrow —
″

Katherine laughed, and Miranda was surprised to
hear it. Such a serious demeanor had led her to believe that the healer was
incapable of laughter. Then she realized the cause and blushed.
‶
It
is not what you think –″

‶
I think nothing but that when
you speak of him your eyes glow. And I shall do my best to see that you have
him for as long as you live.″ Her eyes darkened.
‶
Although, knowing
nothing, I cannot promise. Still, he seemed so hale I can′t believe
…″

Her voice drifted off as she looked full at
Miranda.
‶
My
goodness, if you are to be married so quickly, how shall I find out the cause
of his illness. Will you write?″

Miranda shook her head and began to guide her
into the cottage.
‶
No. I have a plan...″

It was done. She was married. Standing in the
only home she had ever known, her beloved Anderlin, Miranda realized she could
no longer call it
‶
home″ now that she had wed. She stood quietly
for a moment in the corner of the dining hall, amazed at the transformation
that Simon′s army of newly-hired servants had wrought for their wedding
feast. The silver and gold gleamed. Doubt assailed her at the thought that this
formidable army of a staff was now hers to command. She hoped she had not made
a mistake, marrying a man who did not love or trust her. Truly, what did she
know of him? For all she could be certain, beneath the saintly demeanor might
lie the heart of a robber bridegroom waiting to chop her up and eat her in a
bride stew.

Chapter 8

She frowned and walked nearer the mantelpiece.
Somehow, candlesticks had been found that matched the ones from the study. The
very candlesticks that had been stolen from her in London. She sighed. She had
almost put that incident from her mind – Simon was no robber bridegroom, and he
would not let her family starve. Valentine had given up his melancholic
hibernation to throw himself into new plans to revitalize Anderlin.

‶
How does it feel to be
married?″ Hero′s smile was shy as she joined her sister in the
corner and took her turn surveying the changed room.
‶
To command such an
army of servants?″

‶
At the moment, I confess I feel
somewhat numb.″ Miranda′s heart ached at the thought of leaving her
sisters, but Hero, at eighteen, and Juliet, at sixteen, were at least old
enough to understand what marriage meant. Indeed, they were no doubt dreaming
of being married themselves shortly.

What Rosaline, Helena, and little Kate though,
she had no notion. They had been kept away from her by Hero and Juliet so that
she could finish up the endless fittings and little details that brought her
wardrobe and her wedding together in under a week. She had missed them
terribly, even though they were just in another part of the house. How much
harder would it be when she was gone from Anderlin?

Hero did not smile. She was such a serious
child that her anxiety was etched upon her thin face.
‶
How should I
address you now that you are a duchess? It seems so strange to think of you
that way.″ She blushed as she realized that her words could be taken as
an insult.
‶
I
mean ... ″

‶
I know exactly what you
mean.″ Miranda glanced across the room toward the bent head of her
husband of less than an hour.
‶
It is odd. A few vows, a simple ceremony, and we are
bonded for life. What has always been the ending for our fairytales is, in
truth, the beginning of a very different life.″

Hero nodded, her eyes flitting around the room,
as she whispered,
‶
He is like a fairy godfather, is he not?″ When
Miranda did not immediately agree, Hero faltered and added softly,
‶
Instead
of a godmother, I mean .... ″

‶
In some ways I think he′s
more in need of a fairy godmother.″ She thought of Simon′s
disclosure but said nothing of it to her sister. A wedding day should be
joyous.

Hero shook her head soberly.
‶
Oh,
he′s in no need of that any longer, Miranda. Not now that he has
you.″ A sudden sadness obscured her smile.

Miranda reached over to squeeze her
sister′s hand.

‶
But I shall always be the sister
you knew. My becoming a duchess changes nothing between us.″

Juliet had come up behind them and slipped an
arm around Hero′s waist for a brief moment, saying,
‶
Except
for removing you from our household, of course.″

Miranda nodded, once again looking toward
Simon. Her heart hammered inside her chest.
‶
I have every confidence in your
abilities to manage the household, Hero.″ She tried to coax a smile out
of her by adding,
‶
And I know Juliet will help you as she has always
helped me.″

Hero, her quiet, bookish sister had a
disconcerting gleam in her eye as she laughed.
‶
And since the duke has agreed
to give me a Season this year, I daresay you will soon be trying your wings at
managing things, too, Juliet.″

She found it somehow frightening to think of
her younger sisters trying to manage Anderlin, never mind trying to find
husbands. For a moment she fought a strong desire to go jump up onto the table
and announce that she had made a terrible mistake.

Hero, ever sensitive, leaned over to whisper in
her ear,
‶
You
look less than happy, Miranda. You should smile more or some will say you are a
reluctant bride.″

Miranda grimaced and then quickly fixed a smile
upon her face as she searched the crowded room for Grimthorpe – who, as a
cousin, no matter how distant, had somehow managed to attach himself to a group
of wedding guests and insinuate himself into the celebration. He was the only
one who might suspect the circumstances of her sudden marriage.
‶
The
broken stay has slipped a little and is scratching my side.″

Her sister winced in sympathy.
‶
Stubborn
contraption. I thought we had it well fixed. Perhaps we can manage to slip away
and exchange stays? I don′t need the new ones that the duke had made for
you. I′ll return them.″

‶
No.″ Miranda shook her
head firmly.
‶
I
don′t know what help Valentine will take from Simon and I′ll not
have you running the household with a broken stay jabbing your ribs when you
move.″

Hero hugged her.
‶
You are a thoughtful sister.
Thankfully you′ll never have to worry about such things again. I′m
certain the duke will see that you have as many new stays as you need.″

Miranda frowned.
‶
I hadn′t thought of
that.″ She sighed.
‶
I suppose a duchess must always wear her
stays?″

‶
Do you really mind?″
Juliet looked incredulously around at the remains of the magnificent feast that
the duke had supplied.
‶
Think of all your new clothes. I would have chosen
my wardrobe already.″

Miranda smiled.
‶
I was too busy dreaming of
presenting Hero to the new queen. I hadn′t even given a thought to how it
would feel to be married, never mind how I would dress.″

‶
I daresay you′ll be used
to it by next year.″ Hero′s hazel eyes danced with mischief.
‶
And
then you′ll be getting used to motherhood, no doubt.″

Miranda blushed scarlet.
‶
Hero.
What if the twins or little Kate heard you say such a shocking thing?″

As if on cue, Miranda′s youngest sisters
crowded around her, exclaiming how beautiful she was, while at the same time
preening in the finery that had been hastily stitched for them with no spared
expense. It had been years since they had been able to afford silk and satin.
The girls had had new dresses once a year, but Miranda had not had a new gown
since her London season.

‶
Miranda,″ Kate confided
sotto voce
,
‶
I don′t think
there′s anyone here more beautiful than you.″ She gazed wistfully
at her own pink satin gown, and then added,
‶
Except for me.″

Miranda smiled at her sisters, thinking how
glad it made her to know that her marriage would assure that each of them would
come out properly and find a husband worthy of them.

She looked at Kate, twirling around in her new
gown. Except for Kate, perhaps. Kate herself would require an extraordinary man
to be a patient husband for her. She looked up with a wistful smile on her face
at the thought of Kate grown and married, and found Simon next to her, gazing
at her with an unsettling intensity.

‶
Excuse me, ladies,″ he
said gently as he extracted Miranda from the center of her sisters.
‶
But
my wife and I must be on our way home.″

Miranda felt a clutch of fear.
‶
Home,″
she repeated without a smile. Home had always been Anderlin, and now, because
of a simple ceremony, a few words, and a ring on her finger, home was no longer
Anderlin. It was far away – with Simon.

At one, her sisters′ smiles fell. She had
prepared them for what would come after the wedding, but she understood their
dismay, as she was feeling the same herself. Hero was the first to recover her
composure. There was only a hint of moisture in her eyes when she gently kissed
Miranda′s cheek and pressed a quick embrace upon her.
‶
We′re
going to miss you.″

‶
Must you go?″ Kate asked.
She stared at Simon angrily.
‶
Why can′t you stay here? Anderlin is the best
home that ever was. Who will tell me stories if I you take my Miranda
away?″

Hero, stepping almost naturally into the role
of eldest sister, chided Kate gently before Miranda could open her mouth.
‶
I
will tell you stories, Kate. Don′t be a baby.″

Kate, disliking the change of command, stared
stubbornly at Miranda, the sister who had mothered her for as long as she could
remember.
‶
She
can′t tell stories like you can. Please don′t go.″

Simon knelt down until he was at eye level with
Kate.
‶
When
a man marries, his wife goes to live with him. One day, Kate, you will do the
same.″

‶
Never,″ she declared.
‶
My
husband will live here at Anderlin.″

Juliet chided her.
‶
Hush silly.
Don′t you know that Valentine will take a wife and they will live here.
You will go with your husband.″

Kate, ready to cry, was enfolded gently into
Simon′s arms and lifted up to face him.
‶
Just because Miranda′s
home is now my home, little one, doesn′t mean that you won′t be
welcome to visit.″

Kate looked at him wide-eyed through her tears.
‶
Will
you take me with you?″ Miranda was ashamed at her leap of hope that Simon
would agree.

Valentine, who had come up beside them in time
to hear the last part of the exchange, gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. She
relaxed and reached for his hand to give his fingers a return squeeze. He would
not let Kate — or any of the others — feel too much loss. He had promised
letters and visits.

As if to show her the truth of his words,
Valentine held out his arms to his little sister and said,
‶
Kate,
you cannot leave me now. First I must learn to run the household without
Miranda, and I need your assistance. ″

Kate looked doubtfully at him for a moment and
then came into his arms with a little sigh.
‶
Very well. But then, I must
visit Miranda. After all, you have Hero to help you.″

Valentine nodded.
‶
Of course, and
Miranda will always be welcome here.″ He looked at his sister, to
emphasize the full implication of his words.

Miranda smiled at him, glad that they were of
one mind again. She did not fear that she should need to take up his
invitation. But she knew how rare it was for even a loving brother to boldly
declare that he would interfere in another man′s marriage if his sister
asked it of him.

Simon added dryly, as he firmly took
Miranda′s elbow,
‶
And your family is welcome to visit at any time.
Consider our home your own.″

Our home. How odd. She smiled at her sisters
until they returned smiles of their own, though mere pale imitations of their
usual ones.

Simon squeezed her elbow gently, an intimacy
that startled her.
‶
Come, my dear. The coach is waiting.″

Miranda nodded and followed slowly. It felt
strange to have Simon′s hand on her arm. And tonight it would be like it
had been in the hunter′s cottage ... except he would have no reason to
pull back from her. He was her husband, now. She looked down at the strong
fingers that held her, and felt a soft fluttering inside her. What on earth had
she done?

Before entering the carriage, Miranda crushed
each of her sisters to her for a final hug. Juliet, who would come out next
after Hero and was already well , grown; Hero, who wanted to live up to
reputation of the Shakespearean character for whom she was named; the twins,
Rosaline and Helena, who had been the despair of their mother when they cut
their hair and declared that they did not want to be
‶
silly girls.″
And Kate of course, the baby who remembered no mother but Miranda.

How would they fare without her? Or she without
them? But then, she comforted herself, Simon needed her more than her sisters
did for the moment.

‶
Wait a moment, Kerstone.″
Valentine was suddenly by her side, looking into her eyes, and she saw the
panic she felt mirrored in his eyes.
‶
You will be happy.″ He
enfolded her in his arms as he spoke.
‶
If not, your husband will
answer to me.″

Valentine′s embrace twisted the stay into
her side, but Miranda did not protest.
‶
I have not married a robber
bridegroom. He will be good to me — and I shall help him get well.″ She
threw her arms about her brother and whispered hastily,
‶
I shall speak to
Simon about Emily as soon as I am able, Valentine. And I shall not abandon our
family simply because I am now married. I shall find a way to increase our
fortunes.″

He said sharply, not bothering to whisper,
‶
Emily
is beyond me, sister. Please accept that. And about our ″fortune″,
it appears to have turned.″ Miranda was startled when Valentine grinned
broadly.
‶
It
seems that one of our investments has paid off at last. I heard from our
solicitor late yesterday.″

‶
What? How could you forget to
tell me until now?″

Those investments that she had made while he
was away had been a nagging source of guilt for her for so long. Miranda
breathed deeply as the weight of guilt finally eased.

‶
I thought you had more
important things on your mind.″ He smiled, and her heart twisted at how
easily he was shutting her out of her former life.
‶
It is not great
wealth, but it will keep us afloat.″ He hugged her once, tightly, and
released her into Simon′s care.
‶
Don′t worry about us,
Miranda. We′ll be fine.″