Chapter 18 #2
“I am as able to guard myself as Sir William. I assure you.” He smiled.
“Fate is a sly harpy, isn’t she? Sir William arranges to expose your father if the earl kills him, but never thinks to die so suddenly before his time.
A seizure in the arms of his mistress, and the whole situation explodes.
Your father, guessing Verity to be the key, has been running ragged after her.
Then he finds you in his way. No wonder he raged. ”
As he said, it did all fit. “Lord Rothgar, I have to point out that this will not make my marriage to Cyn any easier. My father’s opposition has always been the minor part. I meant what I said before. I will not ruin Cyn. I will kill myself first.”
“Don’t be melodramatic. Do you not think it would destroy him to cause your death?”
Chastity gasped under that attack. “I see no hope whichever way I turn!”
“Whereas I begin to see light.” He rang a bell and a footman entered. Rothgar scribbled a note, sealed it, and gave it to the man. “A rider is to take this to Henry Vernham. He was last heard of in Salisbury, but has also been scouring the Southhampton road for his sister-in-law and her baby.”
The footman left with the note.
Chastity stared at Rothgar again. Did he think he was God? “He could be anywhere, and what does the note say?”
“My men are well-trained and enterprising. He’ll be found sooner or later. The note informs him of his sister-in-law’s wedding and invites him here for the celebration. I have already invited your brother—”
“Here?”
“Assuredly. Plans are in hand for a muted festivity—muted only because your sister is so recently widowed.”
She was caught in a whirlwind. “But we can’t be sure of Fort,” she protested. “For all you know, he could tell Father.”
“I hope so. But I have already sent a similar invitation to your father.”
“What?” She leaped to her feet, instinct telling her to flee.
He grasped her hand to stay her. He turned it and studied the dull marks. “He will never hurt you again, my dear.”
She pulled her hand away. “He will stop Verity’s marriage,” she snapped. “He’ll doubtless arrive with Henry Vernham in train, ready to tear the baby from her arms. You and your Malloren arrogance are going to ruin everything!”
“Oh, I doubt it,” he said, and smiled with a glint of excitement Chastity recognized all too well.
“Oh, God,” she groaned. “It’s as Cyn said. You love a challenge. You don’t care about the people involved. I don’t know which of you is the worst!”
“Oh, I am,” said the marquess, and picked up the pin from the carpet. He refixed it in her stomacher. “The poor boy is a mere amateur.”
Chastity looked down at the pin. “Something terrible is going to happen,” she said with a shiver. “I know it.”
“Terrible things have been happening, not least to you. We are going to put a stop to it.” He raised her chin. “You are a fighter, Chastity Ware. Don’t turn and run now.”
She swallowed. “I’m scared.”
“Most people are before a battle.”
“That’s what Cyn said.”
“And Cyn assuredly knows.”
They set off to Long Knotwell in a virtual parade. Chastity, Elf, and Chantal traveled in a coach. It doubtless was the marquess’ second-best coach, but it was fine enough, and in this case the escutcheons blazed out in unblemished arrogance.
Rothgar rode, along with his other brother, Bryght.
“Arcenbryght,” Elf whispered when Chastity was introduced to him. “With a name like that, it’s a shame he’s such a dismal creature these days.”
Bryght Malloren was as tall and strong as his older brother, but as he wore a brown wig, Chastity could not tell his natural hair color. His eyes had a touch of Cyn’s greenish-gold, but none of his warmth. He gave the distinct impression that he had better things to do.
“You mustn’t mind Bryght,” said Elf as soon as they were settled. “He’s like that with everyone these days. Wounds of the heart. I’ll explain some other time.”
Including the two brothers, they had twelve outriders, all armed. This seemed more than a little excessive, and Chastity said so.
“Rothgar is ready for trouble,” Elf remarked without great concern.
Chastity shuddered. “This could end up as war.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. The days of the feuding barons are well past. He’s doubtless just making sure your father cannot try any mayhem.”
They passed the journey in light conversation of social matters, and Chastity was pleased to have it so. It created an island of normalcy in a stormy sea. It was a temporary haven at best, but she welcomed it.
But then Elf said, “Here I am chatting about theatrical excitement, when you must have had such adventures in real life. How I envy you!”
“My adventures were not particularly enjoyable.”
“I know they must have been horrid—” Elf sighed. “—but I still envy you. How will I ever meet a dragon-slayer, if I never come within breathing distance of a dragon?”
Chastity didn’t know what to say and found herself sharing a speaking look with the maid. Despite Elf’s extra years, she seemed in some ways an innocent child. “You have an older sister,” Chastity said. “She must have found a man to her liking.”
“Oh, yes, but Hilda’s always been so placid.
She just quietly fell in love with Lord Steen, and quietly married him.
Now they’re off in Dorset quietly producing quiet babies.
I’m afraid I have a taste for stronger men, but my brothers chase them off on principle.
They want me to marry another Lord Steen. ”
Chastity’s lips twitched. “And you want to marry a Rothgar . . .”
Elf laughed. “Or a Brand, or a Bryght, or a Cyn. A man who’d face down the devil. Alas, I fear I am destined to be an old maid.”
They rolled into Long Knotwell in mid-afternoon, causing considerable excitement. People came out of their houses to gape at the cavalcade. Children ran alongside, trying to peep into the coach. Chastity heard one girl call, “Is it the king, Jimmy?”
They drew up before the vicarage, and Rothgar came to open the carriage door and lead them into the house.
It was a modest place, and soon seemed full of Mallorens. The vicar, Reverend Thomas Frazer, came forward. “Ah, Lady Chastity, I’m pleased you are here.” He cast a nervous glance at the two large Malloren men in his parlor. “Your sister and my brother are above stairs. We only await the license.”
In a moment Verity was with them, hugging Chastity. “How well you look! I have been so afraid something terrible would happen to you while I stayed in comfort. Mary Garnet was all that was obliging, and then Nathaniel came and brought us here. No adventure to it at all!”
Verity sounded just a touch disappointed.
Chastity decided to leave her sister in ignorance.
“And little adventure to my story either,” she said.
“Cyn should be here shortly with your license. Come and be introduced to Lady Elfled Malloren, Cyn’s twin.
She is lending you some clothes. You must pick what you like for your wedding. ”
Verity smiled tearfully and thanked Elf. “In truth, it’s silly even to think of such a thing when it’s being married to Nathaniel that matters, but I did want to have something special for the ceremony.”
Chastity turned to greet Nathaniel, an old friend and neighbor. In a room full of Mallorens, he appeared rather ordinary, but he was a fine figure of a man, with even features and shrewd eyes. Clearly in Verity’s eyes, he outshone even the marquess.
“I must thank you for looking after Verity, Chastity,” the major said. “I know you must have been the spine of the operation.”
“Really, Nathaniel. Is that any way to speak of your bride?”
He colored. “You know I adore her, but no one would claim she has the nerve to hold up a coach.”
Chastity smiled. “Perhaps that was crass stupidity, not cool nerves, though I hope it has worked out in the end.” She drew him a little apart.
“Nathaniel, I have to warn you, Rothgar intends that you and Verity return to the Abbey after the ceremony, but he has invited both my father and my brother there. He has even told them that the wedding is to take place here! With any luck they’ll not arrive in time to do mischief, but . . .”
Nathaniel flashed an angry look at the marquess, arrogantly formidable in gray velvet. “The devil you say! What’s he about?”
“Who can tell, though his intentions seem good. I just thought I’d warn you. But I don’t think Verity should know. She’d have the vapors.”
He raised a brow. “Is that any way to speak of your sister?”
Chastity had to give him that point.
Elf and Chastity then went upstairs with Verity to explore the boxes Chantal was unpacking. The maid eyed Verity, then nodded. “The blue,” she said. “It also becomes Milady Elf, but it is for a wedding . . .”
Elf silenced Verity’s objections with a negligent hand. “It must assuredly be the blue. I have a dozen more, I promise you.”
Verity’s wedding gown, therefore, was a sky-blue grosgrain, closed in the skirt, but open in the bodice to expose an echelle stomacher of white bows, going from tiny at the waist to wide at the cleavage.
The neckline was wide and made the most of her beautiful chest and full breasts.
There was also a matching choker collar of blue silk, embroidered with pearls and fastened at the front with a bow.
With her hair dressed high, she looked every inch the grand lady. The vicarage did not boast a full-length mirror and so she had to accept their assurances that Nathaniel would be delighted by her appearance.
A knock on the door brought the Reverend Frazer’s middle-aged maid. “They said to tell you all’s ready below, miladies.”
A flutter of excitement unsettled Chastity. That meant Cyn was here. She nervously twitched at her pink skirts.
Verity took her hand and squeezed it. “You look beautiful too, dearest. More beautiful than you were before. In the spring you were a pretty girl. Now you are a ravishing woman.”