Married to the Viscount (40 page)

“He ran away because he’d stolen Abby’s dowry,” Spencer put in.

Evelina shook her head violently. “He said he only took the dowry to make sure she came here for the money. And her father’s business concern.”

“You believed that idiocy?” Spencer strode before the sofa, agitation threading his voice. “Come on, Evelina, you know Nat. How could he resist such a large sum?”

A stubborn fierceness filled her face. “He didn’t take it for that reason, I swear. Nathaniel did it for you, because he loves you. He knew you’d never marry when you believed you couldn’t sire—” She broke off with a blush.

Spencer halted, his face draining of color. “He knew about that?”

She bobbed her head. “He said you told him in America when you were foxed.”

Looking as if he’d taken a blow to the chest, Spencer wheeled back to drop into a chair opposite them. “My God…I’d had so much to drink that night…I don’t even remember…” He glanced up at Evelina. “That’s why he manufactured the marriage and brought Abby here?”

“Nathaniel didn’t think you should be without a wife simply because of some doctor’s ill-considered opinion.”

The enormity of Nathaniel’s assumption roused Abby’s anger. “So what did he do, just pick the first woman he thought might fit the bill? The first one he could manipulate? Without even caring that Spencer didn’t want her?”

“No!” Evelina shot Abby an apologetic glance. “It wasn’t like that. He knew Spence wanted you. He said that Spence talked about you, even talked about marrying you.” She glanced to Spencer. “That’s true, isn’t it?”

Spencer’s gaze fell warm and tender on Abby. “Yes. Before I got too drunk to remember anything, I do remember talking about Abby. Nat suggested I make her my mistress. I told him she deserved marriage.”

Abby flashed him a shy smile. He’d thought of her in terms of marriage even then? When he’d said he’d desired her from the moment they met, she’d thought sure he was putting a rosy face on the past. But maybe not.

Evelina was watching Spencer eagerly. “You see? Nathaniel was sure you wanted her, so he got her for you.”

Shifting his gaze back to Evelina, Spencer gave a harsh laugh. “
Got
her for me? Like…like someone purchases a horse? Good God, Evelina, that’s insane. What about Abby? How did he know
she
wanted
me
?”

“She married you, didn’t she?”

“Because she thought I wanted her.”

“And because her other choices were awful. He did it for her, too, you know.”

Spencer snorted. “Right. He deceived her and her father, forged papers, deceived me, and then left you here alone out of the goodness of his heart. To help his poor brother to a wife.” He shook his head. “I don’t believe it. He wanted Mercer’s company and he needed the wherewithal to revive it, so he hit upon this mad plan of a proxy marriage.”

“Nathaniel would never—”

“Perhaps you’re both right,” Abby put in, though she understood his feelings of betrayal. “The dowry and the company may indeed have tempted Nathaniel, but if he’d wanted only that, he would have taken the money and left me in America. He wouldn’t have paid my passage here so I could uncover his deception. And he had to know I couldn’t manage such a trip financially without his help.”

That seemed to give Spencer pause. He leaned forward to fix Evelina with an intent gaze. “What reason did he give for caring whether I married or not?”

“You started talking about his being the heir, and he panicked. You know Nathaniel. He doesn’t want the responsibility of an estate and a title. He only wants a comfortable
portion for us and our children, nothing more. I’m sure he’ll give every penny of the dowry back when he returns. He doesn’t want the money.”

“Then why was he in Wales?” Spencer persisted.

Abby wondered what Wales had to do with anything.

“I-I don’t know,” Evelina stammered. “I guess he had nowhere else to go, so he visited friends there. He usually writes to tell me where he’ll be…except for this time. The week before he was in Wales he was in—”

“York?”

Evelina looked perplexed. “Well, yes. How did you know?”

“My runners discovered that he’d met with three men of business in the weeks before the dinner. No doubt he was already making use of Abby’s dowry. One man was from York, one from Wales, and a third from Bristol. Unfortunately, by the time my runners reached York, Nat was gone. And he evaded them in Wales, too.”

Evelina looked appalled by this obvious proof of her fiancé’s perfidy. Then a fierceness passed over her features. “Well, whatever he was doing doesn’t matter now. If you’re right, then your men are waiting for him in Bristol. They’ll bring him back, and then you can question him yourself about his actions.”

Paling, Spencer jerked to his feet to pace before them. “Unfortunately, no one is waiting for him in Bristol. Not anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Evelina asked as a sudden chill swept through Abby.

“Night before last I sent a message to my men, ordering them back to London.”

The very night they’d made love. Abby felt the bottom drop out of her stomach. “Why?”

His defiant gaze swung to her. “Why do you think?”

It dawned on her then. Because if she decided against staying, she still couldn’t leave until Nat showed up. And how could Nat show up if Spencer’s men weren’t looking for him?

Why, that sneaky, conniving—He wasn’t satisfied with influencing her decision by seducing her. No, Spencer left nothing to chance, and certainly nothing to
her
.

Tears sprang to her eyes, but she ruthlessly restrained them. After all his sweet words of love in the dining room, after everything Mrs. Graham had said, she’d lulled herself into thinking they might have a future after all.

Yet he’d said nothing to indicate he’d changed his mind about their future. His dismissing of the runners wasn’t a good sign either, even if he’d done it two days ago. And what if his admission of love was only one more tactic for coaxing her to stay?

Was she doomed to always be his Dora-in-waiting? If she stayed, would he spend every day anticipating her leaving until his fears and suspicions poisoned even their love?

Her uncertainties settled like a stone in her heart. She had to know if he still saw their marriage as temporary.

“Lord Ravenswood?” Evelina said, drawing them back to the girl’s present predicament. “Can you send more men to Bristol? One way or the other, you must bring Nathaniel home.”

“Yes, of course I must.” Spencer looked relieved to have something other than Abby to focus on. “But since my men haven’t been successful until now, I don’t want to chance their missing him again. Once he leaves Bristol, we’ve no way of knowing where he’ll go next. So I’ll bring him back myself.”

“You can’t do that,” Abby said coolly. “The May Day fête is in two days, remember? You said that the king demanded your presence.”

“It doesn’t matter. The king cares more about your presence than mine anyway. I’ll attempt to be back by then, but if
I’m not, go on without me. Blakely and Clara can accompany you.”

Approaching the sofa, Spencer squatted before the still-distraught Evelina. “Don’t worry, poppet, I’ll find him. Go home and stop fretting. Get plenty of sleep.” He chucked her under the chin. “This baby may end up my only heir, so we can’t chance his being born on the wrong side of the blanket, can we?”

“All right,” the poor girl murmured.

My only heir
. Abby’s heart sank. He’d only need an heir if he refused to adopt children.

Or was there some rule against adopting an heir in English law? She clung desperately to that possible meaning behind his words.

Spencer stood, then drew Evelina to a stand. “How did you get here?”

“I…I took a hackney.”

“Then I’ll bring you home on my way out of the city.” He cast Abby a glance, his jaw going taut as his gaze met hers. “Evelina, why don’t you go tell McFee to call for my carriage? I’ll be along shortly.”

With a nod, Evelina left the room.

Abby rose to face him. “Why would Evelina’s babe end up being your only heir?”

“You know why. I can’t have children.”

“And won’t adopt them?”

He tensed. “We’ve been through this before, Abby—”

“Yes. And I see that nothing has changed.” How foolish of her to think that it might. “Once more you’re manipulating everything according to your wishes and ignoring mine. A pity that Evelina had to throw all your plans out of kilter. But I’m sure you’re already working on some other way to keep me here against my will.”

“Against your will?” he echoed. “Surely you’re not letting my one mistake—”

“Of course. That’s the sort of woman I am, aren’t I? A frivolous idiot who will flee on a whim if you don’t take measures to force me to stay. At least for a while, that is. Until my complete lack of character makes me run off with some Italian count—”

“You know very well I don’t see you like that. I love you.”

His heartfelt words made her hesitate. She’d waited so long to hear him say them, and today he finally had. So why wasn’t she throwing herself into his arms? A few weeks ago, she had been happy to be married to him even without love, happy to have some small chance at being his. And now that she knew he loved her, she ought to be jumping to accept things on his terms. Why wasn’t she?

Because things were different now. A few weeks ago, he’d been almost a god to her. Despite all her professed ideas about democracy and equality, in her heart she’d still thought Spencer worthy of any sacrifice. But she hadn’t thought herself worthy of the same. Now she realized that he was just a man, no better and no worse than she. Yes, he deserved love and a full life…but she did, too. And if in his stubbornness and cursed arrogance, he couldn’t see that she deserved better from him than a temporary arrangement, then their marriage was doomed from the start.

So she stood her ground. “You love only the Abby who adores you and sacrifices for you and would do anything to be with you. You don’t love the Abby who expects the same thing of you.”

He scowled. “And you don’t love the man who can’t give you children.”

“Oh, but I do. I don’t care if you give me children. But you won’t even consider other options. My wishes don’t count. You decide we should have a temporary marriage and not adopt, and that’s how it must be.”

“It’s the best thing—”

“For you, yes. Then you needn’t risk anything by putting
your faith in me, a fickle woman. Well, I’ve got a surprise for you, Spencer. I won’t remain in a marriage where you refuse to trust me, to take some chances for my sake.” She sucked in a breath, then spoke the only words she could. “I’ll wait until Parliament is no longer in session, but after that, I want to go home.”

A stricken look passed over his face. “You’re going to leave me?” He searched her face, his eyes going cold. “Of course you are.” His grim laugh cut her to the heart. “Odd, isn’t it? You’re doing exactly what I predicted after all. But I suppose it’s just as well that it comes sooner rather than later.”

With that cruel sally, he left.

As her heart shriveled up into a dried weight in her aching chest, she crumpled onto the sofa. She’d been a fool to think he’d ever trust her. He’d been waiting for her to abandon him from the moment they met, and no amount of love could have changed that.

He was right—it probably was better that the break came sooner rather than later. So why must it hurt so much?

Chapter 24

The servant should avoid gossiping about his employer’s affairs unless it seems necessary to ensure his employer’s happiness.

Suggestions for the Stoic Servant

S
pencer’s next few hours passed in a blur. After taking Evelina home, he tracked down his runners, who’d just returned. They told him all they knew and handed him written reports. Then he went to Blakely’s, told him as much as he dared, and asked him and Clara to accompany Abby to the fête. By the time Spencer left London, it was past ten o’clock.

Now he sat in his coach rubbing his bleary eyes as he tried to read the runners’ reports by the poor light of the carriage lamps. There wasn’t much of use in them—when his men had left Bristol, Nat hadn’t yet arrived there. But that was to be expected, considering the dates of Evelina’s correspondence and Nat’s departure from Wales.

One reassuring bit of information was that Sir Horace Peabody, the man Nat was supposed to be meeting, was in residence at his estate outside Bristol. With any luck, Spencer would reach the place no more than a day or two after his brother.

Thank God. Evelina was right about one thing—Nat must be brought back to London at once and forced to face his re
sponsibilities. Besides, Spencer couldn’t wait to get his hands on his brother. Throttling would be too good after the way Nat had ruined Spencer’s life with his heedless machinations.

Tossing the reports aside, he turned down the lamp, then sank against the squabs. He ought to sleep while he could. Posting through the night, they’d probably reach Bristol by tomorrow evening, and he’d need all his strength for dealing with Nat.

He closed his eyes, but that was a mistake. Without the reports to distract him, he was free to think about Abby, to imagine her in all her aspects.

Abby settled across his lap all flushed and sated. Abby sharing an understanding look with him over Evelina’s head. Abby looking betrayed.

With a curse, he straightened to stare out the window into the moonlit night. Damn that bloody woman to hell. Why must she plague him so?

Because he wanted her. Even after everything, he wanted her. He’d been so close to convincing her to stay. A few more days, a few more encounters like the one in the dining room, and Abby would have been his. But no, he’d had to ruin it by telling her about calling off the runners.

Why hadn’t he lied? Why hadn’t he claimed he wanted to go to Bristol to join his men? That’s what Spencer the spymaster would have done.

But Spencer the husband was too besotted to think straight. Spencer the husband had recently developed this annoying habit of telling his wife the truth. Even when he knew what would happen if he did.