Chapter Thirteen
Selena couldn’t shake her last memory of Lord Percival Bowles. Her heart pounded in her throat as she remembered his visit to her room the night he’d told her, almost gleefully, that her mother had died. He had attacked her, taunting her, and insisting she would marry him. The lecherous man had grabbed her and pushed her against the wall, his stale whisky breath nearly smothered her as he forced his vile mouth on hers, while his coal-black eyes bore into her own. As much as she wanted not to recall the horrible attack, she closed her eyes and saw it all, every last disgusting detail, as he abused her and mocked her with acerbic laughter. He had adjusted his sleeves after he let her go and told her to pack for Gretna Green, before leaving her room.
She would never forget the sight and feel of those repulsive hands and that revolting mouth. But in a flash of memory, there was something else she saw….
“I remember… I remember seeing his right wrist. It was when he adjusted his right sleeve. There was no tattoo. I would have remembered that after what he did,”
she said, looking away.
“What did he do, Selena?”
Gerald asked. His voice had a steely calmness to it.
“H-he hurt me…”
she stuttered. “But not in the way you might think. I mean, he didn’t….” Selena swallowed, unable to finish the sentence. How could she possibly tell this room full of people that the man had assaulted her…and then bit her? She couldn’t. Shame consumed her. What must Gerald and his family think of me—the woman he’s betrothed to marry?
“Did he hit you?”
Wright asked.
She nodded and her eyes filled with tears. “He was brutal.”
She noticed that Gerald’s face flushed a deep set of red, and the tightness of his jaw conveyed his mounting anger.
“Miss Bowles, your information revealed valuable information about the man, and we appreciate the effort it took to relive it,”
Wright said.
“Thank you, Lord Wright,”
Selena said.
“Rest assured we will stop him and mete out justice,”
Gerald said with a steely voice.”
She took her mother’s hand and squeezed it. Percival was a despicable demon, and he had soiled her. How could Gerald possibly want to marry a woman who had been defiled? She bit her bottom lip, worried that Percival had done more—perhaps something she hadn’t recalled, yet.
She needed to tell Gerald everything she remembered. They had made a pact to keep no more secrets, but she was filled with fear and uncertainty about how he would react. She couldn’t delay the conversation forever, but the thought of losing him made her heart thunder in panic.
“I’m feeling tired. If you will excuse me, I’d like to lie down for a little while,”
Selena said. It was true, she was exhausted, but she was also stalling. She needed to gather her thoughts before facing Gerald with the ugly truth.
“Allow me to walk you upstairs, Selena,”
Gerald said, helping her to her feet.
Selena nodded and as she leaned on him for support, she sensed his eagerness to talk things through, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Despite her inner conflict, she found comfort in his touch and his nearness and longed for his reassurance.
“I need to ask for your forgiveness,”
Gerald said, as they reached the third-floor landing.
“Forgive you? But why?”
she asked, confused at his request. She was the one who was keeping secrets. Gerald had admitted everything to her.
“I feel like the worst cad. The thought of that filthy man touching you made my blood boil and I wanted to tear the man from limb to limb. But I shouldn’t have pressed you—especially not in front of everyone. I am sorry, Selena, truly. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course, Gerald. You have questions and you have a right to ask those questions of me. We are betrothed. I just need some time. It’s like all these feelings and memories have flooded into my head. And I’m still trying to sort through them. I never imagined that regaining my memory would be so fatiguing.”
“Perhaps we can take a walk this afternoon when after you’ve had a chance to rest.”
“I should like that very much,”
she replied with a smile.
He drew her close and tilted her face up to his. “Nothing that you could say could change anything about how I feel about you. My desire to make you my wife remains unwavering,”
he whispered. Leaning down, he kissed her passionately, conveying his deep affection and commitment.
She eagerly ran her fingers through his hair, drawing him even closer, adrift in his familiar scent of sandalwood, citrus, and leather. Lost in the moment, she wanted the kiss to continue when he stepped back. “Thank you, Gerald.”
She relished the warmth of his arms around her.
He opened the door of her bedchamber and lifted her hand to his lips. “Until later.”
“Until later,”
she echoed softly. A nap would do her a world of good and hopefully, she would be able to gather her strength to tell him the truth.
“Then, I shall see you in a few hours, love,”
he said with a tender smile, before bending down and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
As he made his way to this study, Gerald thought about the revelations that Selena and her mother had shared. The torturous existence mother and daughter had endured was ghastly to think about. Selena had been led to believe her mother had died. Thank God for Ben and Maggie and their efforts to save her. It was the only reason Selena still had her mother. He would find a suitable way to thank them.
Entering his study he saw his father, brother-in-law, and best friend engaged in a vigorous discussion about the Percival Bowles imposter.
“Have you determined where that bastard is hiding?”
Gerald asked, closing the door behind him.
“We don’t know, but we plan to find him,”
Wright said. “After hearing Lady Bowles’ account, it was wise that you all left when you did. The man will be looking for Miss Bowles. She thwarted him once, and men like Vern Stiles don’t take kindly to being denied what they want. My guess is London would be one of the first places he’ll look.”
“Our home has been staffed with extra footmen and it’s being watched,”
Gerald’s father said. “And so is Lady Bowles’ townhouse. As soon as he’s spotted, the men have been instructed to send word.”
“Connery helped me house extra security here and in a few empty buildings throughout the estate,”
Wright said.
“I appreciate that,”
Gerald said. “I’m sure Stiles will come here after he realizes his prey is not in London.” How quickly do you think he will learn of this location?”
“I agree,”
Banbury said. “But I don’t think it will take too long to locate Bellwood. Your rendezvous at the Adamson ball five years ago was a topic of gossip for months. Everyone knew you moved to your father’s recently purchased estate, which was renamed Bellwood. That was no secret.”
“Even so, it would take at least four to five days for the bastard to ride to London then a similar amount of time to come here,”
Gerald’s father said.
“When he does, we’ll be ready for him,”
Gerald said.
“We will son.”
Gerald’s father reached out and patted Gerald’s shoulder.
“And we’re fortunate that Prinny is determined to find the imposter before he tries to flee,”
Wright said. “He was incensed this could happen to one of his peers and sent men to Portugal, the last port the real Percival was known to have visited. He also sent men to Lady Bowles’ estate. Based on what we’ve surmised, the real Percival Bowles disappeared shortly after getting off his ship several weeks ago. Miss Bowles’ account confirms what we’ve suspected. When he is caught, Vern Stiles and his accomplice will know no peace for the rest of what will be their short lives.”
Gerald’s face reddened with anger. “When I get my hands on him, he’ll regret ever touching her,”
he said, accepting a glass of brandy from his father. He took a large gulp. “I have a bad feeling about all of this. I don’t want to just sit around speculating. We’ve got to do something, now.”
The four men spent the next hour talking about what they knew and fielding different scenarios.
“Stay close to Selena, son,”
his father warned. “What she has been through is more than any woman should have to endure. And should this blackguard slip through our net, he will come straight for her.” He added, keep in mind, too, that he thinks Lady Fleur Bowles is deceased.”
“I will, Father. I promise.”
He meant it. There was no way he would abandon Selena. She was the bravest woman that he knew and the thought that she was still willing to marry him after all he had done to destroy their betrothal still astonished him. The imposter would regret laying a hand on her.
Banbury stood up and stretched. “Friends, I need to check on Diana and the babies. We will remain vigilant here.”
“Thank you, Banbury,”
Gerald said, giving his brother-in-law a hearty slap on the back.
“I should check on the men,”
Wright said, downing the rest of his brandy. “Connery has several housed in the stables…in the rooms you built in the back…and in any other spare housing throughout the estate. We want to make sure we’ve got the manor covered from every angle—day and night. By the way, my compliments to you and Connery. This property is extraordinary. You’ve restored it beyond my imagination.”
“Thanks, friend,”
Gerald said shaking his hand.
“I too am greatly impressed by what you’ve done here, son,”
his father said after Banbury and Wright left.
“This is the first time you’ve been here,”
Gerald said. “It took a while, but I feel good about what we’ve accomplished here.”
“How is your relationship with the local villagers and the tenant farmers in the area?”
“They’ve been very helpful, and we’ve been helpful in return. We’ve built a good rapport with the locals. It took time to gain their trust, but I made it one of my goals to help improve the lives of everyone in the area. So far, I’ve been able to pay for new roofs for all the tenant farmers’ homes. And in return, they helped with the refurbishment of the manor house and in particular…the stonework, including the stone wall. We’ve also started working on the grounds and found our new gardener, from within the community. He is the brother of one of our tenants. He has a true skill in planting and crop rotation.
“All sound ideas,”
his father said.
“Gerald blew out a breath. “Unfortunately, since Selena’s arrival, I’m afraid I’ve fallen behind getting the house ready for the festivities. However, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. McDonald are planning baskets for each of the families. Dr. Baker has been a great resource—making sure we know those in need of additional help.”
“That’s good to hear. Your mother will be pleased. As for decorating the manor, we have an entire house full of intelligent and creative ladies who will no doubt step in and organize everything in a matter of days.”
They both chuckled.
“I noticed that you and Selena have grown very close,”
his father said after a pause. “Five years ago, you’d have given everything to be free of this betrothal.”
Gerald felt his face flush. “Yes, I know. And I was wrong, Father. My behavior was abominable. I deliberately did things to sabotage the betrothal and embarrass the family. For that, I am truly sorry. Getting to know Selena…Well, she’s unlike any woman I’ve ever met. The betrothal I once hated has turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”
His father smiled. “I can see you mean that.”
“I’ve changed, Father.”
“No son, you haven’t changed. You’ve become the man I always knew was inside you. I’m proud of you son,”
his father said as he reached out to squeeze Gerald’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Father. Your praise means a great deal to me,”
Gerald said swallowing the lump in his throat.”