Keeper of My Dreams (St. John Series Book 4) (25 page)

“Of course I do. I’m old, Eli, so I can get away with it. I believe the phrase that has been paired with my name is ‘eccentric.’ Now listen to me babbling on. Go now. You have an expecting woman. Get some rest and leave at first light. Can’t keep her waiting. Why, she may be popping it out as we speak.”

“I’m going to Matthew’s to freshen up. When I return, I’ll sleep in the stables.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Yes. I may decide to leave earlier.”

“That’s the spirit!” Vivian said, gesturing her arm triumphantly.

Eli walked out the front door of his grandmother’s estate, shaking his head. No wonder Grams and Elizabeth got along so well. They had the same outlook . . . thumbing their noses at the opinions of others. When he exited the home, he watched as several couples noticed him and then hurriedly walked past the walk leading up to Grams’s house. The woman looked back and began whispering to the man with her. The word “lover” reached Eli’s ears. He looked down at his appearance and laughed. Oh, well, one more scandal to add to the St. John name.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The past six days had been the longest in Eli’s life. He didn’t think they would ever make it to Lincoln. It had rained twice on them, slowing their trip to the point that they had to stop early due to the torrential rains. Yesterday, they had only traveled for half the time because of the severity of the rain and wind. Even though it had rained, Eli was thankful that the weather was not so cold that the rain would have turned to snow. But today, God smiled down upon him. The sun was shining beautifully, warming the January day. They did not reach their destination until late in the evening.

“There is a small inn up ahead. We’ll stop there for the night,” Zach said.

“You can stop if you like. I have waited almost six months to see her again. We are this close and I plan on finishing the journey.”

“But it’s midnight!” Zach protested.

“So?”

“You’ll get your fool-self shot arriving at this hour. Go to the inn. Rest and clean up.”

Eli opened the window and yelled to the driver. “Stop at the inn and let my companion out.”

“Eli?” Zach replied. As he studied the Viscount’s expression, he knew there would be no point in trying to convince this man otherwise. “Fine. Aunt Marie’s is just a few miles down the road. But please stop the coach at the gate. I do not wish to be killed by my relatives. Just because your family enjoys scandal being attached to their name does not mean I want the same for mine.”

“Too late,” Eli reminded. “Your sister is carrying my child.”

“Bloody hell,” Zach gritted out. He rubbed the side of his face. “Why I did not just kill you back at your home is beyond me.”

“Then you would have had a worse family indignity than the St. Johns could ever imagine.” Eli opened the window again and instructed the driver where to go.

The driver stopped the coach at the front gate. Eli bolted from the carriage and ran through the gates as if demons were on his heels. He climbed the steps to the home two at a time. Once at the front door, he began pounding on the door. The front door was thrust open and he was greeted by an elderly lady pointing a gun in his face.

“State your business,” the woman commanded.

“Are you Marie Hollingsworth?” Eli panted.

“Depends on who’s asking.”

“Thank God. I need to speak with Reanna immediately.”

A concerned look appeared on the older woman’s face. “Is something amiss? Is it her brother?”

“No. Phillip and Zachary are both well.”

“Then whatever you need to speak to Reanna about can wait until morning,” the woman stated as she tried to slam the door closed. Eli placed his hand on the door and stopped it. “Sir!”

“Please. I am Eli St. John. I need to speak with London immediately.”

A menacing look came over the woman’s face. “Why, you no good cockerel!” She raised the pistol to Eli’s face. “Take your no-good despicable hide off my property before I decide to remove your head.” With each word, the protective aunt took a step towards Eli, causing him to back up step-by-step. “I would hate to go to prison for killing an aristocrat, but I will do so to protect my niece.”

Eli looked up and noticed the numerous windows. “Reanna!” he bellowed.

“Quiet down,” Marie hissed.

“Reanna!”

“I’m going to count to five.”

“London!” Eli shouted again. He spotted a light come on in an upstairs window. “London!”

“Four . . . three,” Marie counted.

The upstairs window was flung open. Reanna looked down and rubbed her eyes in shock. “Eli?”

“Two,” Marie said.

“Please stop your aunt before she shoots me.”

Reanna’s gaze traveled to her aunt and her eyes grew wide at the sight of the pistol pointing towards Eli. “Aunt Marie! Stop!”

The protective aunt stopped counting and gave Eli an evil look. “You have her attention. Say what you need to and be gone.”

Eli looked cautiously at Marie, gave a curt nod and turned his gaze to Reanna. God, she was so beautiful. The moonlight reflected off her face giving her an angelic appearance. Eli could feel his heart swell at the sight of her.

His silence infuriated the aunt further. “Are you waiting for me to start counting again?”

“No,” Eli calmly said. “London, please come down so I can speak with you.”

“No. Say what you came to say and be gone, Eli.”

“Please come down so I can address you in person.”

“Why? Are you planning on calling me a thief again? Accuse me of stealing from your family?”

“No, I . . . I . . . I came for you, London.”

Tears formed in her eyes. “Why?” she questioned, the hurt apparent in her tone.

“I wronged you. I was too absorbed in my own misery to see that.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The day I delivered you to Zachary, I saw you crying. I thought you were upset about returning to England without David. I thought you still loved him, even after all that he had done to you. The thought was killing me on the inside. I thought the pain at Meredith’s death was unbearable until I experienced that. Life was not worth living to me, London. I planned on returning to see you after you had settled back into your previous life, but when I saw your tears, I left.”

“Why?” She couldn’t hide the quiver in her voice.

“I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing you, knowing you loved another and not me.”

Her mouth dropped as the tears poured down her face. She turned from the window. Eli saw her leaving as a sign of rejection of his confession. He could feel his whole world crumbling. His eyes stayed focused on the window.

“Reanna!” he called out with anguish. When no one answered, he yelled again, “London!”

He watched as the upstairs light dimmed and then started coming from the lower level inside the house. The light coming from the door was dimmed by her silhouette.

As he spied her in the doorway, he took a step in her direction. His advance was stopped by Marie.

“You have had your say, now leave. You have caused her enough heartache. Now go.”

Eli leaned around the pistol-packing aunt. “London. I want you in my life. I want to grow old with you by my side. As I take my last breath, I want your face to be the last I see.” He knelt down on both knees on the muddy ground in front of her aunt. “Marry me, London.”

London’s hand traveled to her mouth. “Why are you asking me now? Why not five months ago?”

“Because I’m a stupid fool.”

“What?”

“Because I’m a stupid fool!” he shouted.

London spied Zach coming down the drive at that time. “Is it because you’re a stupid fool or because I’m carrying your child?” she asked heatedly.

“It’s because I love you,” he replied with sincerity. “I have always loved you. When I first spotted your lifeless form on my beach, I loved you. I knew I loved you before I found out about the baby.”

She approached him, the mud oozing between her toes. She knelt down beside him. The pain and raw emotions she saw in his eyes let her know he was telling the truth. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you,” she whispered.

He pulled her close to him and held her body as though she was something precious—a cherished heirloom. “I love you, London. Please say you won’t turn me away.”

“I will marry you, Eli St. John.”

He kissed her before the words had completely left her mouth. His kiss was broken by her father’s voice. “Well, now that’s all settled, get in here before you both catch pneumonia. I want to visit with my daughter before you cart her off to the Caribbean.”

* * * *

Two weeks later Eli and his new bride approached his grandmother’s home. Her house resembled a bustling beehive as they entered. They were late for the ball. But Eli could not help himself. He had missed Reanna. He had missed her company. He had missed her body and he had to make up for lost time.

“There you are!” Vivian shouted. The widowed Countess crossed the ballroom, disrupting dancers in her wake. “It’s about time you got here. Did you get lost?”

“Hello, Grams,” Eli replied as he gave his grandmother a polite bow. “No, we did not get lost, just a little distracted.”

“Umhmm,” the Dowager Countess replied as she gave them both a skeptical look. “Don’t give me that line of being ‘distracted.’ Your grandfather ‘distracted’ me too many times for me to not know what you are insinuating.” Vivian’s eyes landed on Reanna’s flushed face. “Oh, come now. We’re family now. We all know where babies come from. Now let me look at you.” The older woman allowed her eyes to travel the length of her granddaughter-in-law. Reanna’s long brown hair was pulled up in a fashionable hairstyle. She was wearing a dark brown ball gown that Vivian had managed to have commissioned while Reanna was still in Lincoln. It clung to her bodice, making her appear well endowed. The waist was high and cinched just under her breast. The material flared outward. A deep “V” began at her abdomen and opened, allowing a view of her brown petticoat embroidered with a cream swirl design.

Vivian intently studied Reanna’s face. “Why, I believe my grandson has the most beautiful bride in all of England.” She took Reanna’s hand and pulled her towards the ballroom floor. As she walked past Abraham, she picked up a glass of wine from the tray he was carrying. “Come now, Eli,” she tossed over her shoulder.

Eli followed his grandmother to the center of the ballroom. “Excuse me!” Vivian shouted. All the guests stopped what they were doing as the Dowager Countess spoke. “I would like to introduce you to my grandson, Eli St. John, Viscount of Dinridge, and his beautiful wife, Reanna.” Vivian raised her glass. “May their marriage be as happy and prosperous as mine. And may I be blessed with many great-grandchildren.”

“Here, here,” echoed throughout the ballroom.

Vivian smiled warmly at Reanna. “I formally welcome you to the St. John family. And I thank you for allowing me to see you repeat your wedding vows since I was unable to attend the nuptials in the Caribbean.” Vivian started that little rumor. She instantly fell in love with her new granddaughter-in-law and did not want scandal to be attached to Reanna’s name, so she decided to tell the
ton
that Reanna and Eli had married while she was visiting his family in the West Indies. But for good measure and to add to her eccentricity, she added, “May you have less scandal attached to your name than I did mine.”

“Pardon?” Reanna croaked.

“Oh, come now. I was an actress and my mother was a gypsy. Everyone here knows that Gabriel and I married two days after we met. The scandal did not start with me and don’t let anyone convince you it did. It actually started years before any of our births . . . one of his great-great—I don’t know how many greats it was, but anyway it was a grandfather. He kidnapped the bastard daughter of the King’s brother. He was a Viking, you know. That’s where all these giant black haired scoundrels in the family get their good looks. Anyway, to make a long story short, they returned to England, he saved the King and was given the honorary title of . . .” She drew her brow together in thought. “I’m not certain his title. But somewhere down the line we acquired the title of Earl. Now tell me
that
wasn’t a juicy bit of gossip.”

Eli wrapped a protective arm around London. “Are you sure you want to be part of this family, Lady St. John? Or would you prefer the title of Viscountess of Dinridge?”

“We’re in the middle of the ballroom, Eli,” London protested as dancers began swirling around them.

“So we are.” He bowed politely and took her hand. “Have I told you how lovely you look this evening?”

“I can’t believe you talked me into coming to this soiree. I’m with child. I should be at home. Do you know how disgraceful this appears?”

Eli laughed. “I don’t care. You are my wife. And as Grams so affectionately pointed out, everyone here already knows where babies come from.”

“But still, Eli, I’m showing.”

He pulled her to the edge of the dance floor and took in her appearance. “I find you beautiful.”

“People will talk.”

“Let them. But I happen to love this dress. It gives me a terrific view of your beautiful breast.”

“Eli!” London scolded. She then retaliated, “Well, at least the top is beaded. It gives the illusion that I have them.”

“What are you talking about? Your breasts are perfect. They fit perfectly in my hand . . . my mouth.”

London flipped open her fan and began fanning herself. “Is it hot in here?”

Eli laughed. “Very well, I will behave. But if you want the
ton
to ignore your pregnancy, then I will give them something else to discuss.”

“What are you doing, Eli?” London squawked as Eli stood up on a table.

“Excuse me!” Eli yelled. “Excuse me!” he commanded again. Once all grew quiet, he began, “I would like all of London to know that I, Eli St. John, am in love with my wife.” He noticed a woman was fanning herself. “You,” he said, as he pointed to the woman, “I want you to spread the word. I love my wife.”