Virtue's Reward (7 page)

“More than sufficient. I just wish it had occurred to you that it would have been only kind to forewarn me.”

He shrugged. “You coped admirably. I knew that you would.”

She choked back her emotions. How could he be so casual about it? There was no reason for him not to have told her his true identity. Yet perhaps if she had known, she would not have married him? If so, that had been a risk he was not prepared to take. One day he would be an earl, one of the handful of men who directed the nation. So why was an oath to a dying comrade enough to make him marry a nobody?

“I did not exactly feel welcome,” she said.

“Nobody ever feels welcome at King’s Acton. It is more like attendance at an inquest and a visit to a mausoleum in one.”

Helena tried to regain the light tone that had slipped away. In this mood he seemed almost dangerous.

“At least I didn’t drink the water out of the finger bowl, or drop butter on my unfashionable skirts.”

She was relieved when he smiled, but it was the polite smile of the drawing room. Something must have occurred since dinner to upset him deeply.

“You will have to get some dresses eventually, of course, but the blue silk became you very well.”

At least he had noticed her dress. Should she be pleased?

“Surely you didn’t get me from my bed to talk about gowns?”

He walked back to the fireplace and leaned against the mantel, his hair a bright halo above the strong lines of his throat.

“No, I didn’t. I came to tell you that we aren’t going to London at all.”

She thought for a moment. Of course, he had never said that they were. She had just assumed that a bachelor would have lodgings in town.

“Whatever you say.” She looked down at her hands. Pray that they weren’t going to stay here! Anxiety made her voice a little sharper than she intended. “If there are dreadful skeletons in the family closet, I should like it if you would tell me that, too. You seem to know my complete family history. I think you owe me a little of yours.”

“My father fancies himself as a bully and he prefers my brother Henry to me. My mother has been more proficient at producing children than in caring for them. I should say we are a very commonplace family.” His tone was quite casual.

Helena looked up. “Why, really, did you marry me? I had no idea you were other than an ordinary gentleman, but you’re an earl’s son. Surely any number of more suitable young ladies would have been only too happy to wed the heir to all this?”

She waved her hand around the sumptuous chamber.

“Exactly,” he said. “But it is you I have married, so now we must both live with the consequences.”

Her heart turned over. Oh, Lord. Was this it? Had he come to demand his marital rights? She felt her color rise and her pulse start pounding.

“And what are those consequences? I am to be kept in the dark of every circumstance of our lives, while you continue to spring surprises on me as it suits you? If you had not insisted, I would never have done it, but I am your wife. Don’t you think you owe me common courtesy, at least?”

“I don’t believe I have shown you anything else. For God’s sake, I plucked you from disaster!”

“And I am to be grateful forever?”

“You seemed agreeable enough at the time.”

“You were able to rid yourself of an obligation to Edward, but it wasn’t a bargain for which he had thought to consult me.”

She knew it was cruel and unappreciative, but the full significance of what she had done was only just beginning to sink in. And he must have had other motives. What were they?

“Damnation, Helena! I thought we understood each other.”

Helena gulped. She understood nothing. Why on earth had he kept so many secrets from her?

“Then where do we go next? Surely you don’t live here?”

He looked as remote as the moon. “I do have a place in London, but now that I am wed, I have come into a house at Acton Mead that belonged to my grandmother. We go there tomorrow.”

She felt the breath stick in her throat. “Acton Mead?”

“It’s in the Chilterns. Quite respectable.”

“What do you mean,
now that you are wed
?”

“Grandmama left Acton Mead to me in her will to become mine the day that I married.”

Helena leaped to her feet. “So you married me for a house?”

“If you like. Isn’t that why you married me? For a roof over your head?” Suddenly, the vertical line marred his forehead as his brows flew together. “For God’s sake, Lady Lenwood, please don’t pretend that we married for affection!”

And with a curse, he strode from the room.

The letter arrived at Trethaerin House the next morning. Nigel Garthwood had no hesitation at all in opening it, although the battered cover was addressed clearly to Helena. It had apparently lain in some officer’s effects that had only now arrived in England.

Out of curiosity, Garthwood turned first to the signature at the end. As he suspected, it was from Sir Edward Blake, written all those months ago, before his pitiable cousin had breathed his impetuous last. No doubt a pathetic love letter from beyond the grave.

Garthwood almost tossed it aside unread.

It was not an amorous missive. In fact the tone was light, almost brotherly. Yet after a couple of pages of scattered news, Edward had turned serious.

“I wonder sometimes,” Garthwood read, “if I shall ever see dear old Cornwall again. Although we all believe the war is nearly over and Boney stares defeat in the face, there are too many mishaps here waiting to trap a fellow. If anything should happen to me, dear cousin, I surely shouldn’t want old Garthwood to get his hands on Friarswell.”

Garthwood looked up and smiled like a snake before taking a delicate sip of his wine. It was no surprise to him that poor Edward had held him in dislike, even though their meetings had been few and far between. It was rather amusing to read the proof.

The next few sentences, however, made him suddenly blanch and leap to his feet. His glass of wine spilled unnoticed on the floor. For God’s sake! This could ruin everything. He read the words again. A brandy flask? Had it survived the campaign? Or had it been buried with his cousin, somewhere in France?

He cursed heavily and began to stalk the room, unconsciously twisting one hand against the other. It was essential that he find out immediately. Essential! Or all was lost.

With a determined twist of the lip, Garthwood calmed down and began to write out some instructions. Everything he had planned here in Cornwall must go on without him. He could leave things in Jones’s hands.

First he must ascertain the status of the flask. If it existed, Helena and Richard Acton should not be too hard to trace. Had they not said they were going to London?

* * *

The Earl and Countess of Acton did not stand on the steps and wave off their eldest son and his new wife. Of course, Helena had not expected for a moment that they would. She had, in fact, already had a very uncomfortable conversation with the countess in the breakfast room.

“I am given to understand by my son that you bring no competence of your own to this match, Lady Lenwood.”

“That is correct, my lady.” Helena forced herself to continue calmly buttering her finger of toast.

“I hope that you will not think to batten on to him for funds. I’m sure he will give you an allowance for pin money, but gentlemen do not expect to have to furnish their wives with the necessary for serious purchases.”

“I am aware of that, Lady Acton.”

“Humph! Are you? I can imagine nothing but constant humiliation for you in this match. Richard will live a life of his own. He is used to travel and adventure. Don’t think for a moment that he will act the dutiful husband. Had you property, of course, things would be entirely different. You might have been able to hold up your head in Society with a modicum of dignity.”

“But I do not have any property of my own, my lady. I shall have to hope that my head will hold up itself.”

Lady Acton gave her an extremely sharp look from her beautiful eyes.

“Yes, you have no family to turn to when things go wrong, do you? I suppose you are used to being alone. My son has always been a proud man. Can you give me the slightest reason why he felt obliged to offer for you? It seems to me to be entirely contrary to his nature. You’re not increasing, are you?”

To her annoyance, Helena felt herself flush. “Certainly not!”

The countess laughed suddenly. It made her seem years younger. “I see that it is possible, after all, to discompose you. Well, I don’t wish you ill of this match. It’s done and there’s an end of it. I only warn you again: Do not expect plain sailing.”

And with that the countess rose and walked gracefully from the room.

* * *

As the curricle bowled along the turnpike, Helena wondered what on earth she had expected. Not to marry a lord, certainly! She had thought of nothing except to escape from Nigel Garthwood. Yet Mr. Garthwood had allowed her to stay on at Trethaerin House for all those months, after the solicitor had explained to her how affairs stood, and he had never once harassed her. Anyone else would interpret his offer of marriage to be only generous and correct.

Why, then, had she been so afraid to put herself in Garthwood’s hands? In spite of the bright sunshine, she shuddered. It was as if instinct had been telling her that beneath the polished exterior lay a cruel outlaw.

So instead, she had put herself completely in the firm hands of Richard Arthur Lysander Acton, who would one day be an earl. How could she have done such a thing? Of course, Edward had hero-worshipped him. From her cousin’s letters, she had already built up a picture of Captain Acton as a man of honor and admirable capabilities.

She glanced at him. He certainly sat his horse like a centaur.

For Viscount Lenwood did not share the curricle with his wife. One of the tigers was at the reins, and Richard rode Bayard alongside. Her husband’s fine nostrils were set rigid above his thin mouth. His face had been locked in a frown ever since they left King’s Acton. It darkened his eyes to pitch.

He had spent a good part of the morning closeted with his father in the study, before the earl had come out and bid Helena and his son a clipped farewell. She had not thought for a moment to question Richard about it, and she was not surprised when he curtly told the tiger to drive the grays and swung himself onto his charger. He did not appear to be aware of her. He was remote but courteous when they paused for lunch at Shaftesbury, and it was not until they stopped for the night at Salisbury that he was forced to take notice of her.

“I’m very sorry, my lord,” the innkeeper said. “But I don’t have a suite left that’s suitable for yourself and her ladyship. There’s to be a mill tomorrow, see, and everything’s taken.”

“Then two simple rooms will suffice, my man.”

“I’ve the double chamber at the front of the house, my lord. Why don’t I just go and check for a moment?”

Were they to be trapped together for the night in a room with only one bed? Helena decided instantly to take the bull by the horns.

“If there is nothing but a double room,” she said quietly. “Perhaps there might be a trundle bed?”

To her amazement, Richard laughed.

“Our marriage must eventually be consummated, dear Helena. I know the thought has been terrifying you ever since Exeter, but I would not have dreamed of making love to you under my father’s roof. Nevertheless, please relax and rest assured that neither do I intend to ravish you in this sorry establishment. I won’t share a room with you.”

Why must she blush like a silly milkmaid? “But if there is nothing else?”

“I prefer to be private. You may have the room alone. I don’t share my sleep with anyone.”

It was a simple statement of fact.

“Why not?” she said without thinking.

His face set like marble. “I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”

Helena was instantly silenced.

A few moments later the innkeeper returned. It was soon arranged that her ladyship should have the front room, and the viscount would take a simple chamber at the back of the house.

The landlord sighed and scratched his head as they were led away. There was no accounting for the ways of the Quality. She was a right pretty little thing. Why on earth wouldn’t her husband want to share her bed?

The next day Richard once again drove the curricle as they trotted on through Hampshire.

“What was it that my mother had to say?” he asked suddenly.

“Actually, it was more of a warning.”

He raised a brow. “Really? Does she think I’m so dangerous?” The sun danced off his yellow head as he laughed. “I know I’ve been an ogre ever since King’s Acton. The place has that effect on me, in spite of my best efforts. Will you forgive me? I promise reform as of this moment.”

Helena met his gaze frankly. “I’m not sure whose behavior was worse. I had no right to accuse you. I accept your apology, if you’ll accept mine.”

Richard was forced to look back at the road for a moment, but he smiled.

“Extraordinary Helena! If there was any bad behavior, it was entirely mine, but very well.”

“Your mother’s concern was for my self-respect.”

“Because you have no money of your own?”

Her eyes flew up again to meet his. They were filled with amusement.

“Are you always so perceptive, Richard?”

“No, I just know my mother. She brought as much to her marriage with my father as he had himself, and she has never let him forget it. I pray you won’t regret that you couldn’t do the same. You’ll have an allowance. I shan’t question how you spend it.”

“Lady Acton didn’t doubt that you would give me pin money.”

“I was thinking of more than pin money.”

And he named a sum that made Helena gasp. It would be sufficient to set her up in her own household.

“A fraction of that would be sufficient, sir.”

“No, it would not. I don’t intend to do your shopping for you, and you will need more than you think. Give the rest to charity if you wish.”

“Richard, I can’t take it. For heaven’s sake, leave me some dignity.”