Chapter Thirty-Two
A week went by with idyllic, blissful peace. Malcolm sucked in a breath of cold air. The apple orchard was the perfect place to take an afternoon picnic. Secluded enough, he could lay Adeline down, get under skirts, and make her come all over his face. He squeezed her hand as they walked in the sunshine. Damn, this was all he wanted, to walk hand in hand with her on his land, in a place where, once upon a time, he had been happy and well loved.
That was if she would agree to be his wife. He wished to go down on one knee right here in the grass and demand she marry him but there were matters to settle with her family, with the stolen artifacts, with his brother’s smuggling ring operating out of his cove. Proposals would have to wait until they could focus properly on the future.
As though she could read his thoughts, Adeline smiled up at him. “What if we never left this place? Could we ignore the rest of the world forever?”
“That sounds lovely but improbable. Problems have a way of following you.”
She paused and tipped her chin up ahead. His brother Paul stepped out from the trees. “They sure do.” Adeline gave him a small shove toward Paul. “Talk to him. I will return to the house and find Mrs. Ford to discuss dinner.”
Paul stood quietly, hulking, his hands stuffed into his pockets. That stupid beard masking most of his face, reminding Malcolm he was a ghost. That Paul Iveson didn’t exist anymore. Malcolm looked down at Adeline to argue, but her hand slipped from his, and she started back to the house.
“Can we take a walk?” Paul asked.
Malcolm nodded and approached his brother, falling into step next to him. At the end of the row, they went to the right, automatically heading toward the sea. It was a path they had walked countless times as boys. Hunting rabbits with slingshots, practicing their sword play, and throwing rocks into the small pools formed after a storm.
Malcolm spoke first. “You can’t use the cove for smuggling anymore. I won’t have illegal activity happening on my land.”
“I know. Marielle said as much. We’ve been moving our cargo to another cove we sometimes use west of Lyme-Regis. It’ll take a few more days, but then we will be gone.”
Malcolm glanced over at Paul. It was so strange to be next to him. To talk as men instead of boys. He’d spent plenty of time thinking about his brother this week. He was still angry with him. Even if the angry feelings felt somewhat childish after learning the circumstances surrounding Paul’s fake death. But hell, he had been only fifteen, barely out of childhood, when he’d been orphaned and sent off to the navy. “Paul, if you are alive, then I am not really Kingsbury. Don’t you want to take back the title, the land?”
“No.” Paul shook his head. “I am not the same man I was, and I prefer it. Even if it looks as though I am giving up a lot. What I have gained has been far more valuable. I have gained a sense of self-worth by working for Marielle’s father. I haven’t made a wager in fifteen years, not on cards, dice, or even in jest. I remade myself into someone worthy of respect, of love. When her father died, we—Marielle and I—took over the running of operations. We do very well for ourselves and those who work for us.”
“But you are running a criminal operation.”
“The Royal Navy has ruined you, little brother.” Paul laughed. “Yes, we are criminals in the eyes of the government. But I prefer to see us as entrepreneurs and as a family.”
Malcolm frowned.
His brother bumped his shoulder. “I’m jesting. I am very proud of you. I have heard quite a bit about your career and prowess in catching criminals like me and my gang. What has made you come home, brother?”
“Adeline. She is my reason for everything now.”
“She is not what I expected, considering her father is a right bastard. How did you meet?”
“Fate.” Malcolm paused as they got to the cliff’s edge. Both of them stared out at the sea. “I was investigating her family’s involvement in the theft of those gold artifacts. They came off a boat from Greece. Her father invested in the scheme to smuggle the artifacts into Britain and to auction them off to wealthy collectors. But it gets worse. Her father owes money to other criminals, and they used her brother to send a message about the delinquent payment.
“Rawlings then turned around and sold Adeline into marriage to a man three times her age for the blunt to pay off his debts. That man, Lord Bellamy, is also in on the plans to sell the stolen items. In fact, I am reasonably sure he is the mastermind of the whole plan, using Rawlings, in his desperation, as a pawn.”
“That is karmic, isn’t it?” Paul chuckled.
“It certainly is.” Malcolm smiled.
“But how did you end up with the stolen items?” Paul asked.
“Adeline’s older brother was beaten badly. He asked me to take her safely to their estate in Wiltshire while he tried to handle Rawlings. George was not going to let her be shackled to Bellamy. And neither was I. But Adeline is sharp and knew that marrying Bellamy was the only way to keep her family from financial ruin. She refused to go. So, I kidnapped her.”
“Well, that’s one way to get a lady.”
“She mostly came willingly. I think she knew that it was her way out. But she took the artifacts. In her mind, if the artifacts were not there when the authorities came to search the house, then there would be no proof and no scandal. I didn’t know she had them until her father sent some thugs after us. They attacked her and demanded the bag. Luckily, another party intervened, and she was not harmed. After that, I switched routes and brought her here instead.”
“Good Lord. So what will you do now?”
Malcolm shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I have leave for a month, but eventually, we will have to face her family. Before then, I want to make her my wife. She loves me, and it’s such a miracle.”
Paul clapped him on the shoulder. “The love of a good woman changes everything. It’s another reason I will never go back to my old identity. Marielle is my reason for living again, for wanting to be a better man. I will always choose who we are now over any title. You are Kingsbury. Make a life for you and your lady here. Make a family.”
Malcolm twisted to look at his brother. “Wait, do you have a family?”
“Yes.” Paul nodded. “We have three children. They go to school in France. Two daughters and a son.”
Nieces and a nephew, family he didn’t even know he had.
He studied Paul. “I don’t wish for you to disappear again. To never get the chance to know your wife and your children. I am not sure what our relationship can look like in the future. I am still hurt and angry.” He blew out a long breath. “But know that you are always welcome at Bridestone. And, well, I hope that you will visit.”
Then Malcolm was enveloped in a rough hug, his older brother’s arms crushing his spine. It felt so damn good. Malcolm wrapped his arms around Paul and thumped him on the back.
Paul stepped back. “I would like that.” He cleared his throat. “See you soon, little brother.” His brother strode off across the field, disappearing into the trees.
*
Malcolm walked back to the house slowly. So much had changed these past few weeks, shifting his perspective on what was important in his life. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to stay in his majesty’s service. To be away from Adeline for long periods seemed unfathomable to him now.
He looked up at the house as he approached. The old place was in surprisingly good condition. Mr. and Mrs. Ford had turned out to be more than competent. Mr. Ford had shown Malcolm the whole manor, all the repairs and upkeep with which the older gentleman had busied himself. All the chimneys, even in the unused portions of the house, had been swept regularly. Roof shingles had been replaced after a bad storm two summers ago. The stables were empty except for a few old carriages, but the Fords had kept up the vegetable garden and the orchard. Malcolm was more than impressed. He would certainly keep the couple on as he planned to open the house up for more regular use. He had asked Mr. Ford a special favor, and the older man assured him he could hire men from the village to complete it.
Malcolm walked in through the kitchen door and found Adeline at the table with, of all people, Sebastian Trent. The lieutenant stood as Malcolm came in and shut the door behind him.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“Trent, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Bosely came back to London, filled me in on what happened, and told me where you were headed. The reason I am here is because I have news, sir.”
“Sit.” Malcolm slid onto the bench next to Adeline. “What news?”
“Admiral Daniels is dead. Shot in the heart, his body found outside the mews at Whitehall.”
“Shit.” Malcolm ran a hand down his face. “And Rawlings and Lord Bellamy?”
“Sitting pretty in Mayfair as far as I know. No repercussions have been doled out as of yet.”
“Do you think it was my father?” Adeline stared down at her hands.
“Or Bellamy. I told Daniels he was in on it.” He took one of Adeline’s hands in his. “It looks like it’s time to go back. You can stay here if you like. But I must go back and report to whoever takes Daniels’s position. I need to ensure they know that Bellamy could be a suspect in Daniels’s death.”
Adeline shook her head. “No, I need to check that George and my mother are safe. I can’t hide here, and I don’t want to be separated from you.”
Malcolm kissed her fingers. “Together, we will figure it out. Trent, how did you get here?”
“I sailed. Your ship is docked in West Bay.”
“Excellent. We will leave in the morning.”