The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (32 page)

“No! Can they charge him for that, too?”

“He didn’t say.”

As they continued to chatter, Joanna’s blood
ran cold. The man she’d barely escaped having to marry was charged
with murder. As uncomfortable as she’d been around him, she never
would have imagined him capable of such an act.

Yet she had no difficulty believing he’d
done whatever he’d been charged with.

Shivering, then growing uncomfortably warm
and nauseous, Joanna touched her aunt’s arm. “I’m not feeling well.
May we leave?”

“Of course. Would you prefer to lie down
here for a spell, or are you able to make your way to the
carriage?”

“If I may sit while they bring the carriage
‘round, I’ll be fine. I must leave now.”

“Very well.” Aunt Ophelia steadied her as
she stood and put her arm around Joanna’s shoulder while they
walked.

Joanna caught a footman to bear the news of
her departure to Lady Hannah and Trey. The merrymakers in the
ballroom became a blur, and she concentrated on putting one foot in
front of the other. Aunt Ophelia helped her onto a bench in the
entryway where they waited for their cloaks and the carriage to be
brought to them. Thoughts spun through Joanna’s head, only one
landing long enough for clarity.

A murderer.

She’s practically been engaged to a
murderer. Joanna shuddered again. Her London Season had ended with
a shocking surprise.

Chapter Twenty-Four

When they arrived at the house in Eaton
Place, Aunt Ophelia stepped down from the carriage to assist
Joanna, not waiting for the footman. Joanna took her arm as they
proceeded to the door. “I’m capable of walking,” she
complained.

“You are like a daughter to me. Allow me
this one indulgence to make certain you are well.”

Starley waited for them at the open door.
“Lady Joanna, you have a caller.”

“At this late hour?” Aunt Ophelia asked.

“Who is it?” Joanna tucked a loose curl into
place.

“Mr. Lumley, my lady. He waits in the
drawing room.”

Her heart jumped, then raced like a runner.
Why had he come so late in the evening? Had something happened to
Robert? “Has his lordship returned?”

“No, my lady.”

“Thank you.” She gave Starley her gloves and
cloak, as did Aunt Ophelia, who followed her into the drawing
room.

Joanna stumbled when she saw him by the
window, looking out over the street. A single lamp glowed on a
table nearby, giving her enough light to see his strong features.
Absence had improved his looks, which she’d already thought
perfect. He smiled and walked to her.

“You look very well, my lady. I am happy to
see it.”

“Is my brother all right?”

Mr. Lumley’s brows drew together. “Of
course. Or he was when I left him.” He must have noticed Aunt
Ophelia who sat on the settee near the empty fireplace. “Good
evening Lady Ophelia. Sir Jasper and I rode back directly, and
Northcotte remained to take care of some business. He will go
straight to Hampshire, I believe.”

Joanna exhaled in relief. “When Starley said
you were here, I feared the worst. I heard some gossip not minutes
ago regarding Sir Frederick. Is this why you have come?”

“Yes. I thought you’d want to know they are
hopeful they may charge him with attempted murder against you and
the groom. And, they might have found witnesses to connect him to
Bruce’s death.”

Her legs became weak and she grabbed for his
arms to steady herself. He caught her and led her to a chair. Tears
flowed freely, and Joanna batted at them in embarrassment. “I’m
silly, I know, but I am so relieved to know this.”

Mr. Lumley stroked his thumb across her damp
cheek. “It’s not silly. You’ve lived through some upsetting
times.”

His sympathy made it all worse. She’d been
so cruel to remain distrustful of him, when he’d proved he was
better than his early mistakes. She began to blubber her feelings
aloud. “All I wanted was a husband, a kind man who would let me
have my horses. I never expected to be fought over by beaux, or to
be a pawn in anyone’s games. I’ll be such a good wife to a good
man, why did you both choose me?” She punched weakly at his
chest.

He pulled her into his arms, placing her on
his lap as he sat. She curled up there and cried on his shoulder,
feeling the calming stroke of his hand down her back and arm. Weeks
of heartache, of weakness and recovery, of dreams shattered and not
yet buried had built up and could no longer be contained. She
didn’t know how long she cried, but Mr. Lumley continued to say
sweet things and calm her with his strong embrace.

David’s heart was breaking.

He knew the pain in his chest couldn’t
compare to what he was certain Joanna had gone through. What nearly
killed him was knowing how large his part was in her agony. Nothing
he could do would ever erase that memory for her. “For my own part,
all I can say is I didn’t know you when I considered how your
friendship might help me find the answers I needed. And it did,
although they weren’t the answers I expected. But you taught me
much about myself.”

Her tears had slowed, so he helped her to
sit up, allowing him to look her in the eye. “I was a foolish man
with an even more foolish dream. My focus was narrow in seeking
someone to blame. I wore blinders, not realizing the true cause of
my concerns.”

“I don’t understand. I thought you sought
Zephyr’s killer.”

“I did, although I know now I may never find
him. I believe Sir Frederick might have been involved, seeking to
alter someone’s financial status by removing a winning horse. But
he’ll never admit to it, so unless a groom confesses, we’ll never
know for certain. But Zephyr’s loss wasn’t the true cause of my
father’s problems. It might have made them worse, I don’t know. His
health has been failing since the winter after we lost Zephyr.”

“Will he not recover?”

“I don’t know. He won’t discuss it with me.
Mother says he sees the doctor often, so if there is a treatment,
Father is receiving it.” David toyed with the curls resting on
Joanna’s forehead. “Now I make decisions based on what is best for
Fernleigh, not how my father will receive them.”

“That is how it should be. You’ve done well
with Triton, you should be proud.”

“I am. Perhaps next year I shall have two
great runners, and more the year after that.”

Joanna tilted her head and raised an
eyebrow, but said nothing.

David wasn’t certain what she questioned,
but his words were flowing like the Thames and couldn’t be stopped.
“I realize now I require a partner at Fernleigh. Someone who
understands all the qualities a horse needs to compete and can
recognize a horse that enjoys running. I also need a wife. In
particular, one who will not complain that I spend my days in the
stable and return to the house smelling rather ripe.”

He pulled a curl straight and let it spring
back, afraid to look Joanna in the eye. Afraid she’d turn him down
yet again. It mattered more to him than all the winning horses in
England. He was approaching the end post, it was time for the final
push. “These past months in London I’ve discovered something I love
more than horses, and it gives me more joy than winning a stakes
plate.”

Drawing in a deep breath, David forced
himself to meet her gaze. “Joanna, I will never deserve someone
like you as a wife, but if you will have me, I will work every day
to try and be worthy. I am a better man for knowing you. And I love
you more than I know how to express. Please, say you’ll be my
wife.”

Joanna’s eyes glistened, and David feared
she would refuse him. She blinked and a single tear ran down her
cheek. He wiped it away, noticing the coolness of the soft skin of
her cheek, and prepared for the worst. He opened his mouth to tell
her he understood, when her fingers pressed against his lips.

“I have seen the kind of man you are. You
are not perfect, but I would not be happy with a man who was. That
man would chastise me for tracking mud—or worse—up the back stairs.
He would expect me to have the neighbors in for tea, not make
certain the new foal was nursing well. My life might not be what my
mother dreamed for me, but I want something else.”

David thought his heart would burst, it
swelled so as she went on.

“From the start I knew you were my best hope
for the life I longed for, although I thought it was your love for
your horses that proved it. I was wrong. Your love for me is what
makes you perfect. No other man would tolerate me with a smile, and
encourage me to give a horse his head. You are perfect for me, Mr.
Lumley, and I would be proud to be your wife. I love you.”

David’s breath caught, and he placed his
hands on either side of her face, lost in the love he saw in her
eyes. She did love him, and it seemed she liked him, too. He
pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, then building with the
emotion within him that burned for release.

When he lifted his head, he remembered Lady
Ophelia was in the room. He jerked his gaze to the settee where she
sat, but it was empty. He sighed with relief. He wasn’t sure how
long they’d been alone, or how quickly Lady Ophelia would return,
so he lifted Joanna to her feet. Vacating her chair, he walked a
few feet away and straightened his waistcoat and cravat. “I do have
a request, however.”

“It begins already.” Joanna’s eyes flirted
with him.

“Will you call me David now that we are
engaged?”

She laughed. “If that is all you require of
me, I will do my best.”

Lady Ophelia chose that moment to return.
She glanced discreetly their way and resumed her seat. Joanna
rushed to her aunt. “Mr. Lumley has asked me to marry him and I
have accepted.”

Her aunt grinned and clasped Joanna’s hands
in hers. “How lovely. I am very pleased for you. You must tell your
mother so we may begin to make our plans.”

“She is asleep by now, and I don’t wish to
waken her. I shall tell her in the morning.”

“And send word to Robert. He will be
relieved to know it.”

David cleared his throat and walked toward
them. “He’s aware I am here, and knows I planned to renew my offer.
He approves of the match, to my surprise and great relief.”

Lady Ophelia took on that worldly, wise
manner she often wore. “It is often easier to see the good in a man
when one is looking from the outside. I know you’ll make Joanna
very happy in life.”

Giving her a nod, David said, “I intend to
do my best. Now, it is time I took my leave. I wish you both a good
night.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

September 1810

Near Chester, Cheshire, England

Once again, Bridgethorpe Manor was in an
uproar as Lady Bridgethorpe prepared for another wedding. “Two, in
one year,” she said with a sigh at supper one evening. The weather
had yet to cool as fall was still a few weeks away, so she’d
ordered the canvas tent be set up in the park near the pond.

Lord Bridgethorpe appeared several years
younger than he had at the last wedding, which pleased David.
Something he’d done was responsible for putting a small spark of
life back into his father’s eyes. “The year’s not over yet,” David
said. “Perhaps Knightwick will make it three.”

“I don’t recommend making a wager on it,”
his brother grumbled.

Hannah set down her napkin. “If Mama will
allow me to return to Town for the Little Season, maybe I’ll find a
husband.”

Mother smiled in that way she had which said
she was not even considering whatever one of her children was
asking for. “There’s no rush for you to leave us. I know your
friend Amelia will be in Town, but she is older. You can enjoy a
few more Seasons before your father will complain about the
expense.”

Father chuckled without comment. David
wondered if Father was ready for his daughters to leave the nest.
With the twins and Lucy Anne still at home, not to mention Sam,
there was no chance of the house becoming too quiet any time soon.
And, as Joanna’s family was about to arrive, David was eager for
the ceremony to be done with so he and Joanna could escape on their
wedding trip through the Lake District.

Pierce sat on the other side of Hannah, a
seating choice David would not have recommended. He still recalled
what his friend had said about men noticing his sister’s comely
shape. He wished he could hear what Pierce was saying that kept
sending his sister into giggles. Perhaps after supper he should
renew his warning about staying away from any of the Lumley
girls.

The Lumley brothers, along with Pierce, took
to the billiards table while the ladies set to whatever they had
planned. This was David’s last night to relax with his brothers
before Joanna arrived. In two days, he’d be a married man.