If You Were Mine (29 page)

“
Everyone is going to be armed, including the serving staff. I
have assured them that should they not wish to become involved,
they may visit relations, however those that remain do so knowing
that Rupert and DeLisle are at considerable risk. Everyone who
remains will be on guard.” Dominic lay back against the soft pillow
of cushions, taking a few moments to pull her down onto his chest.
“However you must play your part. You are not to involve yourself
in anything else. Understand?”

“
I understand.” Isobel propped herself on her elbow to lean
over her husband for a kiss only to pause at the muffled
shouting.

“
Get dressed!” Dominic ordered, lurching out of bed in a
flurry of movement that left her gasping for breath. Within seconds
he had donned his shirt and breeches, and was pulling on his boots,
pausing only to draw on his sword before shooting her a starkly
warning look from the doorway. “I don’t suppose it will do any good
to tell you to stay here?”

Isobel
rolled her eyes at the ridiculous question as she had already
slipped on an old walking dress, and was tugging on her walking
boots.

Heaving
a sigh, Dominic slid a hand behind her head and pulled her close
for a quick kiss. “Stay close, and don’t do anything stupid,”
Dominic’s voice was harsh as he glared down at her.

Isobel
sighed and gave him a not so gentle shove towards the door, close
on his heels as they moved purposefully towards the upper landing.
The closer they got to the upper landing, the more distinguishable
the voices became.

“
Rupert,” Isobel whispered pausing at the top of the stairs.
Despite Dominic’s reassuring presence, her stomach lurched
sickeningly and she fought the urge to turn on her heel and head
back toward the safety of the bedroom.

“
Go back and lock the door,” Dominic ordered, hating to see
the worry on her beautiful features.

“
I have to face him.” She valiantly tried to ignore the tremor
in her voice, taking support from the solid bulk of her husband’s
commanding presence.

“
No you don’t,” Dominic argued, glaring at her. He wondered
briefly if he should take precious seconds to lock her in the
bedroom regardless, but knew she was better off being with him.
Shaking his head at the futility of arguing with her, he turned and
moved down the stairs, his attention firmly focused on the still
form of the woman behind him.

As he
descended he scanned the recesses around the large entry hall, his
eyes locked upon the steady gaze of Edwards - his most trusted
footman - who was standing in the shadows toward the back of the
house, watching and waiting. As he reached the main hall, he was
aware of his wife moving slowly down the stairs, her back ramrod
straight. He paused briefly to motion her toward the study door and
the raised voices within.

“
Isobel, get down here now girl!” Rupert’s voice echoed
through the empty hall, making Isobel jump in fear and pause. Her
instincts wanted to curl up in fear and protect herself, but this
was her house; her home. She wasn’t going to be commanded by the
pompous bully in her own house. Shoulders straightening, her eyes
turned glacial with fury and, with Dominic’s commanding presence by
her side, she entered the study.

Dominic
slammed open the study door open with a bang and a dark scowl at
the occupants. His hard emerald gaze locked firmly upon the stocky
man standing with red-faced belligerence besides the
hearth.

“
What do you think you are doing man?” Dominic snarled, his
palms itching to punch him on the nose. “This is my house, and I
will not countenance your boorish behaviour. Quieten down!” His
command cracked across the room more ruthlessly than a
whip.

Rupert
raised his chin haughtily, but only succeeded in making himself
look like an outraged toad. “I am here to see my niece,” Rupert’s
voice dripped with cool disdain as he tried, and failed, to match
the sheer masculinity of the man before him.

Isobel
swallowed a wild surge of hysteria that built as she eyed the two
men before the hearth. They looked like two dogs eyeing each other
over a juicy bone; only Rupert could only be likened to an
ineffectual mongrel, whose yapping little bark was no match for the
might of the controlled pedigree before him.

Isobel
slowly moved into the room, determined to make Rupert wait. Drawing
on every ounce of the bravado that had kept her alive on the
streets, she drew herself up to her full height and stared coldly
at the squat little man she was unfortunately related
to.

“
Well, you see me, what do you want now Rupert? I do believe
any association between us is well and truly severed.” Her icy gaze
swept dispassionately over his squat little frame before she rudely
turned her back and took a seat nearest to Dominic.

“
Severed? Do you think so?” Rupert’s face clearly showed the
ravages wrought from a life of dissolution, making him look old and
worn.

“
What do you want with my wife, Rupert? Speak now before I
throw you and your – associate - out on your ears.” Dominic shot
the gaunt man standing a few paces away from Peter a darkly
menacing look.

“
Wife?” Rupert shot a mock startled look at Isobel. “Did you
say wife?” He shared a mocking glance with his friend who had thus
far remained silent, before turning back towards the room with a
triumphant look upon his ravaged features. “She cannot be your
wife!” Rupert’s voice was scornful. He was clearly enjoying his
time in the spotlight and intended to draw out every moment of
twisting the knife.

“
I can assure you, she very much is,” Dominic declared flatly
in a voice tinged with boredom. He motioned toward the door. “Our
interview is now at an end.”

“
I can assure you, whatever agreement you think you may have
entered into with this woman, you are certainly not married to her
legally,” Rupert announced to his assembled audience, clearly
relishing the distress his latest gambit would cause.

Dominic
fought the urge to snarl as he watched the older man produce a roll
of parchment from under his coat as though producing a rabbit out
of a hat. He casually sauntered forwards, a look of glee upon his
face as he handed the scroll to Dominic with a flourish. He was
unable to keep the nasty sneer of triumph off his face as he
presented the fait accompli to the occupants of the room. His next
words dropped like stones into the room.

“
You can clearly see from the document my Lord, she is already
married.”

Isobel
briefly fought the urge to laugh, before swallowing harshly against
the knot of bile lodged in her throat. Knees trembling with horror
she watched as Dominic took the paper and studied it closely. Her
heart sank to her knees, and the room began to swirl and sway
around her as she watched the colour leave his face. Instinctively,
she knew by the clenching of his jaw, that he believed what he
saw.

“
Good God, surely you don’t believe him?” Isobel snapped
glaring at Rupert in hatred. Fear clawed at her as the silence
lengthened. “Dominic?” Her voice trembled with gnawing dread as she
watched him re-read the document before moving towards the
fireplace.

“
Do you seriously think you can get away with this?” Isobel
hissed, her gaze moving to Rupert and DeLisle.

“
You are my wife, dear. I am only here to claim what is mine.”
DeLisle’s voice was dispassionately bored as his gaze roamed up and
down her slender form with blatant possessiveness.

“
I would rather die than allow myself anywhere near either of
you vile excuses for humanity,” Isobel’s voice rang with a cold
finality that gave everyone within the room pause to consider her
warily. She was vaguely aware of Edward and Sebastian watching from
across the room but daren’t break her defiant gaze from the
lecherous toad before her. She couldn’t lose sight of the risks
they posed to her safety, and didn’t trust them not to do anything
else equally as stupid.

“
I can assure you, my dear, that the Vicar who married us will
clarify on the certainty of the event, notwithstanding the entry in
the Church register there for anyone to see.” Rupert’s voice oozed
satisfaction as he meandered arrogantly around the room, fully
aware, and pleased with, the consternation he had caused among the
occupants of the room.

Isobel
once again looked towards Dominic who had lapsed into silence at
the far end of the fireplace, his gaze locked upon the document in
his hand. She wished he would shout and throw these two out of the
house, but knew as he stared blankly down at the words contained in
the document that he was lost to her. Pain clenched in her chest as
she gazed at his face. So severe and forbidding, she knew he had
made his mind up on the truth of the documents set out before him.
He made no attempt to look at her, and it broke her
heart.

“
Dominic?” Isobel gasped, horrified that he doubted
her.

“
What a touching display my dear, but you cannot escape the
fact that you are a bigamist. You have married this man knowing
very well you were already married to my good friend here,”
Rupert’s voice dripped venom.

“
I have never married, before Dominic. I would have to be
insane to commit myself to DeLisle, or any of your associates. You
are a liar and a fraud, and if you consider for one moment you will
get away with this, then I can assure you that I shall use every
resource available to me to prove your guilt, and ensure you swing
for your crimes,” Isobel whispered, fighting the hurt that
threatened to swamp her. She couldn’t believe how easy it had been
for Rupert to make Dominic doubt her. Her voice dropped to a cold
menace as her tears dried and a cold cloak of grief settled over
her, numbing all of the tumultuous emotions swirling within
her.

“
Whatever.” Rupert stifled a yawn as he lurched to his feet.
“Get your cloak, your husband wants you in your rightful place.” He
made to move towards her, spurring her into action.

“
Go to hell,” Isobel snapped, shoving him hard in his stomach.
She was vaguely aware of Edward moving to hold her shoulders, and
Sebastian moving to stand before her in a protective stance in case
Rupert was stupid enough to try to lunge for her.

“
Go near her again, and I will gut you where you stand,”
Sebastian’s low growl held a hard edge of intent that gave everyone
no doubt that he would carry through with his threat. Rupert’s
bravado diminished considerably, and he remained quiet as he
staggered to his feet.

“
Wait!” Isobel threw Peter a quick glance, as he moved to
stand between Sebastian and Rupert. “I am her legal guardian and
was when this marriage, as you call it, happened. I haven’t ever
given permission for her to wed anyone, except Lord Havistock.”
Peter glared darkly at DeLisle. “Unless you two forced her into it,
there is no way she was legally in a position to marry
you.”

“
Of course she was able,” Rupert began, only for Peter to step
forwards menacing with a snarl.

“
Shut up and listen to me,” Peter’s voice was deadly with
intended threat. “She has been entailed into marriage to Dominic
for some years. I have the papers previously drawn up and signed,
with magistrate witnesses confirming her betrothal to Dominic some
three years ago. Long before you raised your head above the
parapet.” Peter glared at both men with hatred. “You have no place
forcing anyone into matrimony, who was not free to wed.” He raised
a hand when DeLisle drew in a breath to argue. “If indeed this
marriage did take place, which I fully intend to investigate
thoroughly before Isobel goes anywhere.”

“
She is coming with us now.” DeLisle rose to stand before the
younger man, reaching behind him to try to grasp Isobel’s arm only
to find Edward’s meaty fist planted squarely in his
face.

“
Over my dead body,” Isobel snapped, watching dispassionately
as the man tried to stem the flow of blood.

“
It can be arranged my dear,” Rupert’s cold threat hung in the
air.

“
You claim to be married to my wife,” Dominic said, eyeing the
squalid little man with disdain that he made no attempt to
disguise.

Resting
a casual arm upon the mantle, he turned a scornful gaze upon the
now bleeding guest. Despite the casual pose, Dominic was armed and
ready for anything Rupert or DeLisle could throw at him. The blade
tucked away snugly in his boot was mere inches away. His sword was
hidden beside the hearth and could be in his hand within a
heartbeat. He just hoped the idiotic little man would be arrogant
enough to make another threatening move.

He
studied the shorter man carefully, and was fully aware of the knife
carried within the hidden pocket of his waistcoat. There was also
an intriguing bulge within his boot that Dominic surmised was a
second knife of some sort. Making a mental note to relieve him of
both the first chance he got, he watched the smug smile sweep over
Rupert face and fought the urge to punch it off of him.

“
I don’t claim to be married to Isobel. I am. Despite what the
addle-brained chit says, we were wed. You have seen the certificate
for yourself. You are a fool if you believe her lies,” DeLisle’s
voice was contemptuous as he flicked a spiteful glance at
Isobel.