To Have and to Hold (43 page)

Isobel carefully
turned her cool gaze away, her features remaining bland despite the fierce pain
in her chest, as Hubert introduced his wife before they were led into the
study.
 
As she entered she was quickly
swept into a round of hugs by a clearly delighted Sebastian, Edward and finally
Peter.

“
Izzy
,
how
was your journey?”
 
His voice was soft as
his gaze searched her face. He frowned at the inherent sadness in her
features.
 
“Are you well?”
 
He added gently noting the subtle changes in
his sister’s demeanour she couldn’t hide.

“Hello
Peter.”
 
She murmured softly with a small
smile of reassurance, and a gentle squeeze of his fingers.
 
“I am quite well, thank you.
 
Please let me introduce you.”
 
She turned and introduced Martha before stepping
back to hug a waiting Sebastian and Edward again.

“Thank heavens
you are back!”
 
Sebastian murmured
buffing her cheek with a quick kiss, “You are looking wonderful as ever.”
  
The warmth of his eyes was unmistakeable.
 
At least someone is glad to see her again,
Isobel thought, carefully keeping her attention away from the unrelenting bulk
of her husband now standing before the fireplace, carefully watching the
scenario unfold before him.

“Sister”, Edward
murmured giving her a sound kiss on the cheek followed by a quick, hard
hug.
 
“Thank heavens.”
 

Isobel quickly
blinked away the salty tears at Edward’s effusive welcome.
 
A stark contrast to the cold disinterest of
her husband.
 

Making no
attempt to approach Dominic, she took a seat on the chaise next to Martha and
kept her head lowered as Hubert began to describe events leading up to the past
few days.
 
Since Isobel’s first
appearance upon his doorstep several weeks ago, he had begun to investigate
Rupert’s activities.
 
The paperwork had
grown until he had gathered enough evidence to ensure suitable prosecution of
both men could take place without reasonable challenge in Court.
 
He had shown the assembled paperwork to the
Lord Chief Justice whom had agreed there was sufficient strength in the papers
collect to ensure both men were confined for some considerable time.
 
In Rupert’s case, it would most probably be
for the remainder of his days.

The Vicar in
question over the false marriage certificate had been found and questioned intensely
by Hubert and the Magistrate for the area covering the Church where the fake
documents were created.
 
Faced with such
powerful men, the Vicar had broken down and admitted he had accepted a
significant sum of money to fill out a fake marriage certificate, and make a
false entry into the Parish register.

Isobel watched
as Hubert produced a raft of papers on the crimes and misdeeds carried out by
both Rupert and DeLisle before they had fled London.
 
It transpired they were both unable to return
to London as they were wanted by many creditors who were left out of pocket
over the gambling tables and seeking retribution.
 
Not only that a maid had come forward
confirming she had witnessed DeLisle push his third, and last wife down the
stairs.
 
Her statement and that of the
Butler were enough to bring him to trial for murder.
 
Although they suspected he had killed his
second wife, there was no proof and no witnesses to be found.
 
Still, there were enough people to produce
statements witnessing their trail of deceit, bribery, blackmail and fraud to
ensure that DeLisle would swing from the gallows.
 
Rupert would either be transported, or face
prison with no chance of release.

The longer she
sat in the plush splendour the main parlour at Tavistock Hall, and listened to
the past crimes and misdemeanours of the man who was her Uncle, Isobel felt an
unnatural calm sweep through her.
 

Her heart felt
like lead in her chest as she listened to the details of the ensnarement of
Rupert being laid out to those within the room.
 
She raised her gaze only long enough to shake her head at the maid who
silently pro-offered her tea, before turning her gaze towards her friend.

Tears pooled and
trembled on her lashes as her gaze met the softly sympathetic smile of her dear
friend Martha seated on the sofa.
 
Clearly the estrangement between her and Dominic had not gone unnoticed
by the other occupants of the room.
 
She
was aware of their steady regard as they listened to the truth being laid
before them.
 
           
Determined not to give in to the emotions that threatened
to overwhelm her, Isobel slowly blinked the wetness away and carefully schooled
her face into polite serenity.
  

Despite
outwardly listening to the Lord Chief catalogue the various crimes of the two
men who had plagued his life for the past few months, Dominic’s attention was
firmly focused on his wife.

God, he had
missed her.
 
She looked so very beautiful
as she sat in the chair opposite. Despite her wayward nature, he was every inch
a lady.
 
Her dress was one Dominic had
not seen before and of a colour that heightened her darker tones.
 
Her cheeks held a pinkish tinge from the
cooler wintry air which added to her slightly ethereal visage.
 
Dominic fought the urge to yank her out of
the chair, sweep her into his arms and take her straight to bed.
 
He needed to remind her of just whose wife
she really was.

Inwardly, he was
furious with her for not trusting him.
 
Yes, he freely admitted, there was a brief instant when he had first
read the marriage certificate Rupert produced that he had actually believed it
was real, and Isobel had lied to him.
 
However, common sense and love for his wife had prevailed and he had
realised she would never be so duplicitous.
 
A small part of him couldn’t forgive the fact she had gone back on her
word when she had re-donned her disguise and left.
 
Why hadn’t she believed in him or trusted him
enough to understand he would never have just blithely handed her over?

“You must all
remain here overnight.”
 
Dominic nodded
to Manvers who discretely left the room.
 

“We have made
provision to remain at the Inn in the village.”
 
Hubert murmured politely with a glance towards Martha.

“Nonsense, I
shall send word at once that you are to remain here.
 
We usually dine at around 8 if that suits,
and in the morning we can request an interview with DeLisle and Rupert at our
leisure.
 
I am assured they are both in
residence across the village.”
 
Dominic
looked towards the doorway Manvers had just appeared through.
 
“I will leave you to the charge of Manvers,
who will show you to your rooms so you can rest before dinner.”
 

As everyone
moved to their feet, Dominic glanced at his wife.
 
“If I could have a private word with you
Isobel?”
 
His tone brooked no argument as
he stood back and smiled politely while the guests obligingly filed out of the
room.
 
He noted the small smile of
reassurance Martha gave to Isobel as she passed, and was pleased his wife had
found herself such an erstwhile supporter.
 
His smile was softer and friendlier to the woman named Martha as she passed,
and he swallowed a chuckle at the startled look she threw him as she stumbled
through the door.
 
Quietly, he closed the
door behind the guests leaving just him and his wife in the room.

Unsure where to
start, he made his way across the room to stare out across the grounds while he
got his thoughts and his emotions under control.
 
He was aware of Isobel’s expectant silence
behind him but couldn’t formulate the words coherently enough in his head so he
didn’t sound like a bumbling idiot.

Isobel took the
opportunity to allow her barriers to drop enough for the raw emotion to show on
her face.
 
She ached to move across the
room and slide her arms around him.
 
He
had lost some weight in the last few days.
 
His frame was still as tall and broad shouldered as before but his
jacket, usually cut fashionably tight now hung loosely upon his lithe
frame.
 
Isobel wondered if the corded
muscles of his upper arms were as hard as they had been.
 

As the silence
stretched, Isobel began to feel uncomfortable.
 
It took every ounce of self control she had to remain politely impassive
and wait for him to break the silence.

“You promised me
you would not don your disguise again.”
 
Dominic’s voice was calm, almost conversational as he turned towards
her.

“I know, I am
sorry but I hope you understand why I felt I had no choice.”
 
Isobel murmured as she watched him slowly
circumnavigate the furniture as he made his way towards her.

“You promised me
Isobel.”
 
Dominic’s voice was stern.
 
His frown was fierce as he glanced at her.
 
Once again the muscle in his cheek began to
tick rhythmically as he approached her.
 

“You also
believed the document was real.”
 
Isobel
stated baldly, her gaze clashing with his.
 
“I couldn’t take the risk you would just hand me over to him, despite everything
between us.”
 
She didn’t want to say that
she couldn’t believe he had feelings for her as he had never declared his love,
or indeed, made any declaration of affection at all.

“The documents
were very convincing, and until I had the chance to investigate there was still
the possibility you had married and forgotten through your illness, or
whatever.”
 
Dominic tried hard to keep
his voice evenly pitched but felt his temper beginning to rise.

“My word wasn’t
enough.”
 
Her flat statement echoed across
the room.
 
It wasn’t a question.
 
They both already knew the answer.

Knowing they
were going to descend into an argument, Dominic fought to change the subject.

“So it was
Hubert’s house you went to.”
 
He knew the
answer but sought for something else to discuss until he could rein in his
growing anger.
 
In reality, he wanted to
shake her, or kiss her until she felt as tied up in knots as he did.

“Hubert was
investigating Rupert himself, you know what.
 
I thought it would be best if while investigating the rest of Rupert’s
activities, he could get to the bottom of this new twist and gather the
relevant evidence.
 
I could not think of
anyone else of my acquaintance that held any legal authority, to be able to
help unravel Rupert’s latest scheme.
 
Hubert was the only person who could use authority to get to the
truth.”
 

“You didn’t stop
to think of dropping me a brief note yourself to assure me of your
whereabouts?”
 
Dominic was aware of his
voice rising in volume.
 
Carefully he
unclenched his balled fists and spun on his heel to stalk towards the
hearth.
 
“I had to hear the fact from a
brief missive from Hubert!”

“I could not be
sure you would not inform Rupert.”
 
She
jumped as Dominic spun on his heel, his face harsh with anger.

“You think
everything you have told me about your endurance at his hands meant nothing?”
Dominic’s voice rose as he stared at her, unable to believe her lack of faith
in him.
 
“Good God woman!”

“I am
sorry.”
 
Isobel stood to move towards
him, wanting so desperately to be able to place a hand upon his shoulder.
 
She made to move towards him only for him to
turn away from her.
 
Everything within
her froze as she watched him with growing sadness.
 

“Sorry!”
 
Dominic spat shaking his head.
 
He pointed towards her, his eyes shooting emerald
fire as he glared at her across the room. “Do you have any idea that you would
be facing social disgrace, public censure, should anyone recognise you?
 
Isobel, you are my wife!
 
I have lived in this house nigh on ten
years.
 
People know me.
 
The servants know me.
 
Do you seriously think you can get away with
running around the countryside and nobody recognise you?
 
It would not be just yourself you are drawing
into social ruin; it is my family and I as well!”