The Rogue and I (22 page)

“Is there?” Edward sighed then plopped himself in a chair by the fire. “That’s nice,” he said morosely as he took another drink.

Garret darted forward and snatched the flask away. “Trust me, you don’t want to be three sheets to the wind for this.”

Edward batted at Garret’s arm, half standing. “Oh yes, I do.”

And just as they began to scuffle James and John strode into the room.

Edward froze. “What the hell is he doing here?”

“He has something to say,” James gritted.

“Do I?” John drawled looking ridiculously pleased for one who had obviously been called on the carpet.

“Yes, you do unless you wish to be utterly cut off,” James snapped, his face turning a dangerous shade of red. “Or murdered.”

John laughed. “Money is a great motivator. I suppose I must if I must.”

Edward scowled. “What the hell are you on about, John?”

Just as John opened his mouth, Mrs. Barton strode into the room. The sound of a quartet began to play a piece by Handel in the adjoining room.

He and Mrs. Barton had been determined to set the mood but this was too soon! At this rate, the musicians would be through their piece well before the performance was concluded.

“Not yet!” Garret howled.

“Too late,” she hissed. “They won’t wait any longer.”

“Who are
they
?” Edward drawled.

Three ladies entered the room in sumptuous ivory silk gowns, all veiled.

Three?
Wait. Why were there three? Garret’s own insides did a sudden twist. He’d only thought there would be two. There were only
supposed
to be two. Who the devil was the third woman?

He searched, wondering if he could pick out Harriet. But at first glance, he couldn’t which only suggested to him this was the perfect thing to do. Still, he couldn’t stop the feeling of being utterly alive with her in the same room as he. Good God, he missed her.

James’ eyes positively bulged at the sight. “Garret have you arranged an orgy?”

Garret rolled his eyes. “Who do you think I am? John?”

“I don’t have orgies with family,” John said.

It was on the tip of his tongue to declare that John most definitely wasn’t family, not after what he’d done, but now wasn’t the time.

Mrs. Barton held up her beautiful, bejeweled hands. “Gentlemen, please! Lord Garret has arranged this with one of the veiled ladies. It is a game.”

James scowled. “I’m in no mood—“

“Your grace, this is a game you will play,” Mrs. Barton said, her seductive and persuasive voice cutting him off with surprising ease.

James drew up an arched brow. “Fine then, madam. Let us have the game then have done.”

Edward flung himself back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “I knew I should have stayed home and got drunk.”

“Most of all, young Lord Edward,” Mrs. Barton said, “This game is for you.”

Edward shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “For me?”

Mrs. Barton nodded. “Gentlemen will you all be seated?”

James gave Garret a furious stare. “We have serious matters—“

“Your grace,” Mrs. Barton said. “The sooner we play the game, the sooner you can return to your matters.”

“Please James,” Garret asked.

The “please” clearly shocked his brother. James gave a terse nod, shoved John towards a settee and he strong-armed the young man down next to him. “You. Don’t. Move.”

“It hadn’t entered my mind,” John protested.

Garret could only bet. John had been dodging them all for some time now. Where the devil
had
James found him?

The three ladies were still standing veiled in a line at the back of the room.

The soft scent of lilac and roses wafted towards them and the gold glow of candlelight bathed their white, silk gowns in a shimmering glow.

All three looked like brides and Garret couldn’t help but admire Mrs. Barton’s costume choice.

The ladies began to walk in time to the music, their steps in perfect harmony, their movements absolutely sequenced. It was like looking at three copies in simultaneous movement.

“What’s the point of this?” James hissed.

John leaned forward then suddenly smirked. “Oh, I think I know. Garret. You’re more clever than I thought.”

“Am I supposed to thank you, puppy?”

Mrs. Barton gestured to the three ladies moving in slow, beautiful patterns. Every move they made was identical. Mrs. Barton’s melodious voice rose above the music, “Who is who, gentlemen and which is which?”

James scowled. “This game is most trying. They are all beautiful I’m sure. . .”

Mrs. Barton’s sapphire eyes snapped. “Beauty is not the most important thing is it, your grace. Oh no. To you gentlemen, it is a virtue is it not?”

“Then you shouldn’t be here,” John declared merrily.

James smacked his half-brother on the back side of the head. “You, sir, have nothing to contribute.”

“Oh,” one of the ladies purred
sotto voce
. “I doubt that’s true.”

“Who the devil is that?” Edward demanded.

The three ladies came to a sudden stop in a line before the gentlemen but stood with their backs facing them. The ladies skirts swished playfully over the oriental rug as they paused and the music came to a close.

Mrs. Barton stepped between them. “Ladies, please unveil.”

As one, the women lifted their hands and slipped the silk veils from their heads.

Three identical manes of curly blonde hair appeared.

The women were all exactly the same height. Their hair was almost exactly the same shade in the soft glow of light. Their proportions were also remarkably similar.

He still couldn’t tell which one was Harriet, they appeared so alike.

“Now,” Mrs. Barton smiled. “Who is who and who is which?”

Edward’s mouth dropped.

James let out a curse.

John began to clap.

Garret scowled. John’s presence was adding a dimension to this that he hadn’t anticipated.

“What the hell is this,” Edward demanded.

The ladies didn’t move.

Edward jumped to his feet so fast, the chair scuttled out behind him and crashed to the floor. “Garret, this is a cruel joke.”

“No joke, my brother,” Garret said softly. “This is reality. Which one is Emmaline? Can you tell?”

“Of course, I can!” Edward roared but then he stopped and stared at the backs of the three women.

John leaned forward and mocked, “Go ahead Edward. Pick which one is Emmaline.”

Edward grimaced. He took a step forward as if to confront the ladies but Garret reached out and held him back.

Edward shook his hand off. “Why are you doing this, Garret? James, tell him he’s insane and cruel. Tell him you’ll punish him.”

The boyish note in Edward’s voice nearly broke Garret’s heart. Poor Edward still was absolutely certain he had been betrayed by his true love.

There wasn’t a single move from any of the ladies to betray which one might find Edward’s words to be the most cutting.

James let out a tired sigh then pressed his fingers to his eyes. “I can’t do that, Edward.”

“Why not?” Edward demanded.

Mrs. Barton sauntered forward and stared up into Edward’s face. “You can’t tell can you? Your eyes might deceive you.”

Edward shook his head. “You know nothing about this.”

“I know that you’ve been lied to Lord Edward and your brother, Lord Garret, wishes to prove it to you.”

Mrs. Barton walked back to the women. “Will the lady who was in Emmaline’s bed with Lord Conrade please step towards the gentlemen?”

Garret froze. This wasn’t part of his approved plan. Suddenly, his blood began to pulse and it hit him. This is why there was a third woman in the room.

One of the women took a few steps backward, nearing them.

“Take a look, Lord Edward,” Mrs. Barton said. “Is this she? The one who betrayed you? Is this Emmaline?”

Edward opened his mouth to reply but then he snapped it shut. His face grew pensive as if the world had disappeared and it was just he and the women before him.

Garret felt himself holding his breath, praying his brother would realize that it was the right to admit the mistake he had made. It was the risk he had taken this evening. If Edward could just see he’d been wrong and misled, then he could have the happiness that Garret had lost.

Edward looked at each woman for a long moment. He allowed his gaze to hover on the one nearest to him then he closed his eyes and whispered in defeat, “I don’t know if it is Emmaline.”

Mrs. Barton nodded. “Please turn around.”

The woman just in front of Edward turned slowly.

Tears were slipping down her cheeks. “I—I’m sorry, Lord Edward.”

“Meredith?” Edward choked out.

She nodded, her blonde curls bouncing about her tear-streaked face. “Yes.”

Pure confusion marred Edward’s handsome face. “It. . . It was you we saw?”

She nodded again. “I wanted to tell you, in the church. I wanted to scream it out but I couldn’t. I. . . I felt. . .”

“Meredith, don’t.” Another lady turned. Emmaline’s face was gentle, beautiful, but there was a wisdom to it that hadn’t been there before. She touched her cousin’s shoulder and looked at Edward. “He’s not worth it.”

Edward’s face turned white. “Oh Emmaline, what have I done?”

To Garret’s shock, Emmaline smiled even as her eyes shone with the faintest tears. “You’ve given me my freedom. Thank you, Edward.”

Edward threw himself forward, trying to grab her shoulders but Emmaline was too quick and she stepped back.

Edward stumbled. “Forgive me,” he gasped.

She shook her head. “No, Edward.”

James stood. “You can’t blame Edward, Emmaline. John played a horrendous trick. I believed—“

Emmaline snapped her suddenly cold gaze to James. “Yes, you did, your grace. You believed the worst and you acted without thought or question when you threw me and my family to the wolves.” Emmaline squared her shoulders as if she were determined to stick to her new path. “It was only Lord Garret, of all people who had his doubts about my duplicity though he trusts my cousin not at all.”

Garret winced, wishing Emmaline hadn’t had to throw that particular piece of information into the fray, even if it had been true.

Harriet still stood in her place, facing away. Why didn’t she turn? Did she not wish to face him? God, he longed to see her beautiful visage no matter how painful it was to him.

Edward suddenly whirled around, charged at John and hauled his half-brother to his feet. “You did this! You!”

“Did I, brother?” John grinned. He positively grinned. “You were so eager to believe me.”

Edward punched John.

Garret jumped forward to wrench Edward away. This wasn’t the moment for a brawl.

Despite his now split lip and the blood on his chin, John kept smiling. “Bloody me all you please, it was you who couldn’t wait to believe everything I said about her. All I had to do was make a suggestion and you and James followed my lead. You Harts are far bigger bastards than I ever have been.”

“John,” Garret said flatly. “That may be true. But for now, it’s enough. Whatever point you wanted to make, surely you’ve won.”

“I don’t know yet.” John turned to Emmaline. “Have I?”

Emmaline stared at him for a long moment, then understanding dawned in her eyes. “Yes. Sadly, Mr. Forthryte, I do believe you have.”

And with that, she turned and strode from the room.

Meredith and Mrs. Barton ran after her leaving only Harriet standing in her beautiful, maiden’s frock.

“What did she mean by that?” James asked.

At long last, Harriet slowly faced them, smiling sadly. “Why, that is what John sought in all this was to see you three as miserable as he.”

John gave her a knowing look. “They deserve it after all, Miss Manning. Don’t you think?”

Harriet’s gaze flickered to Garret. “I— I don’t think I’d go quite that far, Mr. Forthryte.”

John’s usually glib face hardened. “Wouldn’t you? Is Garret, the love of your life, going to marry you then?”

Garret winced. He’d never realized that not only was John vicious, but he knew exactly when to go in for the kill.

Harriet’s gaze lifted to Garret’s.

His heart slammed in his chest. This wasn’t about them. This night had never been about them. He hadn’t done it to win her back. He still stood by what he’d said that last day in Devon. They’d never trust each other. So, he said softly, “She’s marrying someone else.”

Harriet’s gaze lowered and she turned away from him. “Perhaps, Mr. Forthryte, you’re right after all.”

Garret couldn’t draw breath as Harriet walked away from them, head held high.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” John demanded.

“With
me
?” Garret drawled even as he felt as if he were bleeding out his soul onto the floor. It hurt. It hurt so much and he wanted to run after her and make her stop. But he couldn’t. They’d never have a sensible marriage.

“Yes. You.” John shook his head. “I knew I could make you all dance to my tune. You’re all so damned arrogant. So damned predictable. You all believed I was a vacuous idiot who cared for nothing more than a tumble in the hay. Do you think my life would permit me to be such an utter idiot and allow me to survive?”

Garret stared at the man who had literally transformed before them. Who the hell was this articulate and pointed man? His brother. And he hadn’t gotten to know him. He’d never looked past the exterior that John had presented to them from the moment they met. It had never occurred to him that the young man they had taken in would wish them all to suffer as he had apparently suffered.

They didn’t know anything about John’s childhood.

Garret had never given it much thought. He’d never questioned what it would be like to be the illegitimate son of a duke and a whore. Not pleasant, it would seem.

“John,” Garret said softly, “as Emmaline said, you’ve won. We’re all suffering.”

Suddenly Edward said, “I’ve lost her.”

John rolled her eyes. “Edward, I’m not sure you ever really had Emmaline.”

“What does that mean?” Edward barked out.

“You treated her like a virgin on a pedestal,” John said flatly. “She wasn’t a person to you. She was a thing.”