The Convenient Bride (19 page)

His
hands moved to hers, holding them. The gentle strength of his touch stirred
her. She wanted to fall into his arms, tell him her worries, trust him. But it
wouldn't work. Her past had taught her not to put her life in any man's hands,
mentally or physically.

"Emily
told me about your house for women. I can help."

She
stiffened. He would ruin everything. "She should never have told you. I
don't want any help."

"I
want to help."

She was
imprisoned between him and the desk. "I don't need your help. I don't need
anyone's help."

"I
won't hurt you. I'm not like Kingsdale—or your father."

What did
he know about her father? Yet his voice was soothing, breaking down the
barriers around her heart.

"You
must know I adore freckles." His finger trailed along her nose.
"Especially Fairy Lady feckles."

There
was a hint of humor in his voice that made her giggle. "You are very
wicked, my lord."

"I
know," he whispered. In one swift move, his hand pressed gently on her
neck and he kissed her.

Without
warning, the pearls—accidentally loosened from Lord Kingsdale's grip during
their earlier encounter—fell off the string and clattered to the desk. At that
exact moment the door swung open, letting the light from the hall sconces shine
into the room. To her horror. Lord Grimstoke stood on the threshold, his
expression cold and quite determined.

"What
the devil is going on in here?"

Briana
drew in a sharp breath, and Lord Clayton pushed her behind him.
"Nothing," Lord Clayton replied coolly.

"I
am not addlebrained," Grimstoke replied, stalking into the room and
lighting a small lantern he pulled from the shelf.

Briana
hadn't moved, but from this angle Grimstoke's dark eyes traveled over the small
tear in her gown and the scattered pearls. He shot a disgusted glance toward
Lord Clayton. "I will not be subject to any of that in my home!"

Lord
Clayton stiffened beside her.

A
burning embarrassment swept through Briana as she stepped forward. Clayton
caught her elbow. "Don't say a thing," he commanded in a low tone.

"You
have compromised a lady, my lord," Grimstoke declared.

"But,
Papa—"

Briana's
gaze shifted to the door, where Violet stood, wringing her hands.

"You
should not have had to see this, Violet. But now that you have, I will demand
satisfaction." Grimstoke placed the lantern on the desk, scattering the
pearls even more. "And since Miss Appleby is ill and this is my home, I
take full responsibility for Miss Garland."

Briana
shrugged out of Clayton's grip. "But my lord—"

Grimstoke
cut her off. "I thought better of you, child. You will marry this man
before you leave here. Do you understand?"

Briana
opened and closed her mouth as she stared at Violet's white face. It was a
compromising situation, but marriage?

"I'll
see to the matters," Clayton replied stiffly. "The archbishop is
staying in the nearby village. I can obtain the special license tomorrow."

"Then
you will marry tomorrow," Grimstoke replied hotly. "There are some
who were already mentioning your disappearance at the dance, my girl."

Briana's
throat started to close. If only she had not worn this gown, she could have
easily blended into the crowd. If only Emily had not interfered with her
wardrobe. Oh, this was such a mess. "I can explain—"

"It
matters not, Miss Garland. Some of my guests have noted Lord Clayton's
departure as well. Explanations will do nothing."

He gave
her a critical look. "Especially after this! It would do well for you to
stay in your chambers until this situation is taken care of. I will act as your
father on this. In fact, depend upon it, I am determined to keep this secret
until you are wed."

A vile
heat shot through Briana as she tried to explain. "But this is all a silly
misunderstanding."

Clayton
snatched her wrist "It must be done," he hissed, turning his back to
Grimstoke, "or your reputation will be ruined."

Briana
stood in stunned silence. The reality of what was happening finally dawned on
her. "You planned this."

Clayton's
face hardened.

Briana
flushed. "Of course," she whispered. "Silence is always the best
defense, is it not my lord?"

"Violet
fetch a shawl for Miss Garland," Grimstoke interrupted. "Can't have
the lady walking the halls with a torn gown. Looks like a ladybird from
Vauxhall Gardens."

Clayton
spun around. "You are speaking to my future wife. I will not fail to set
you straight if you utter one more word in that direction, Grimstoke, your home
or not."

Grimstoke's
lips tightened. "I have plans for Violet. Guilt by association, don't you
know?"

Briana
thought her host absurd. This entire situation was absurd! "Violet wasn't
compromised in the least, my lord—"

Lord
Clayton grabbed her arm, stopping her. "You may explain to your guests
that we had this planned from the very start," he commanded Grimstoke.
"Do we have an understanding?"

Grimstoke
looked appeased. "Indeed. Now, it would be best if you took your leave, my
lord. I will wait for Violet to bring the shawl and then Miss Garland may
return to her bedchambers."

Clayton
gave Briana a curt bow. "Until tomorrow, Miss Garland."

With a
throbbing pain in her breast, Briana watched in shock as her intended left her
alone with their angry host, alone with her tumultuous feelings, alone with her
broken heart.

Chapter Sixteen

B
riana wanted to tell Agatha
everything that had transpired with Lord Kingsdale and Lord Clayton, but when
she sat by her godmother's side early the following morning, she saw how weary
the lady looked and thought better of it

"You
should never have given me laudanum," Agatha said groggily.

Briana
brushed a gray lock from the elderly lady's forehead.

Agatha's
lips pinched into a scowl. "You knew they were doing this to me, child.
How could you?"

Briana
lifted a brow. "I wanted you to heal. I know that you would have tried to
move around the first day we came here. As long as your head injury was not
grave, laudanum was the only solution. I did tell you about it yesterday, but I
don't think you remembered."

"This
is a dangerous mission, Briana. You cannot follow leads by yourself. If I had
my way—"

Briana
gave her a wry smile. "I know. I know. You would have me home with Mama.
But I did discover that Lord Grimstoke has a favorite writing box he keeps in
the library. Violet told me it has some kind of secret drawers. I believe this
may be the lead we have been looking for."

Agatha
shook her head. "I have a writing box back at Hemmingly. Was given to me
by my father. Has a secret compartment as well. It's unlikely something is
hidden there. Too easy by far. And there is something else."

Briana
waited. "What?"

"That
gown, child. It looks like one of Emily's."

Briana
frowned. She was wearing a gown of pale blue silk, with white ribbon along the
edges. It was the plainest of what was left in her wardrobe, and still, it was
lovely. "I think it is Emily's. Or at least it's from the same dressmaker.
Emily didn't like my drab colors, so she switched my clothing before we left,
hoping I could attract some interesting gentlemen."

Gray
eyes twinkled. "Couldn't very well tell her why you wanted to blend in,
now, could we?"

Briana
smiled. "No, I guess not. She meant well."

Agatha
yawned, and Briana knew the lady was desperately trying to focus her thoughts.
"You know, dear, the more I think about it, the more I believe the source
is someone in Grimstoke's family. Could very well be Violet. The specifics about
this case are too exact."

"Violet?
Why would she give her father away? I cannot imagine her doing that, and in
such a secretive way. I admit the source is providing Whitehall with rather
detailed information, but Violet? It just isn't something she would do."

"Well,
child, I could say the same about you in this instance."

Briana
sighed. Agatha was right No one was exempt from doing something unusual or out
of character. Anyone could be the enemy, even someone as innocent as Violet.

Heartsick
about the previous evening, Briana realized she had to disclose everything to
Agatha. "I probably should have spoken to you first about the writing box.
I tried to open the drawers, but... "

Agatha
straightened. "Someone suspects you?"

Briana
threw a frustrated hand over her eyes. "No, it's just... well, it was all
so innocent, you see. It happened so fast... I mean, we were alone ... and then
he kissed me... and then Grimstoke demanded we marry."

"Grimstoke?
The cad! The man's already married. Why, I'll have the scoundrel in chains by
the time this is done!"

Briana
lifted her head and gave the lady a hesitant smile. Dear, sweet Agatha.
"Not Grimstoke. Lord Clayton."

Agatha
eyes froze on her face. "What?"

Briana
could feel her cheeks turning pink. "Lord Grimstoke found us together.
While I was in the library examining the writing box, Lord Clayton happened to
be lounging in the shadows. He was there before I entered. I didn't see him
until it was too late."

"Too
late for what?" Agatha snapped fiercely. "And what about that kiss
you mentioned?"

Briana
stared at the bedpost. "I... well, you see ... after I danced with Lord
Kingsdale—"

"What
in the blue blazes does that man have to do with this?"

Briana's
eyes shifted back to Agatha. She had never seen her godmother so agitated.

"He
lured me into the gardens and we argued. I knew he was not right in the mind
and I fled. My bodice was slightly ripped during our altercation and my pearls
were loosened. The necklace gave way while I was in the library. So when our
host saw Lord Clayton and me together, um, kissing, the man assumed the worst."

Agatha's
eyebrow shot up. "Indeed."

"But
marriage, Agatha! He demanded I marry Lord Clayton."

Agatha
paused. "And so you must. Lord Clayton can ride out the storm, but you
will be ruined. Grimstoke will not let this pass. He is an eccentric. One never
knows which way he will turn, but once he announces his intent he rarely backs
down. I don't like saying it but this can jeopardize everything you have worked
for, even that women's shelter."

Tears
filled Briana's eyes. "Oh, Agatha. What shall I do?"

"What?
Does that scoundrel refuse to marry you?"

"No,
and that is the problem. He has been looking for a convenient bride for some
time, and he stupidly asked me to marry him when I attended the Elbourne
ball."

Agatha
pursed her lips but said nothing.

"I
told him no, yet last night I believe he compromised me on purpose."

"Oh,
child. Lord Clayton may be a bit of arrogant, but he is a gentleman. I would
never believe him or any of his brothers of forcing a woman to marry him."

Briana
shot out of her chair. "But I don't want to marry him! I don't want to
marry anyone!"

"Where
is he now?"

"I
don't know. Maybe on his way to obtain a special license. Maybe he did it
already. I just don't know."

"All
the way to London?"

She
shrugged. "All I know is that the archbishop is staying in the nearby
village. If Clayton can't obtain the license there, I'm sure he would ride to
London. Either way I'm sunk."

Feeling
miserable, Briana paced about the room, too restless to sit. "Don't you
see? It's all too easy. He is only following what duty dictates. He wants a
convenient wife to place in the country while he gallivants about Town. I won't
have it."

"Who
said you had to listen to him, my dear? Why cater to a man's whims? If he has a
fondness for you, the world is yours to command."

Briana
stared at her godmother. Did Lord Clayton care for her a little? Could he love
her just a bit? Or was her heart wishing for things that could never be?

"You
think he has a certain fondness for me?"

Agatha
swept the covers aside and swung her legs over the side of the bed, swaying a
bit. "Does a king have a crown?"

Briana
hurried toward her. "Don't get up. I beg you."

Agatha
scowled. "And when is this wedding to take place?"

"If
Lord Clayton obtains the license, Grimstoke is determined we marry today."

Agatha
opened her eyes wider. "To satisfy our host's sense of propriety and to
stem the gossip, I suppose. Not that marrying by special license will do that,
but I vow your fiancé will have something to say about that."

"He
wants it known that we had planned our wedding a long time ago."

Agatha
gave a nod of approval. "Good thinking. An affair of the heart. You were
swept away with passion and wanted to get married without the fuss of all the
parties and whatnot. Your families will be thrilled."

"My
mother will be overjoyed. Except for our mourning period, she has pursued Lord
Clayton ever since I can remember." Briana raised her fists to her cheeks.
"It is all so humiliating. I cannot go through with it."

"Yes,
you can. You love him, do you not?"

"I
don't want to marry him."

"That
doesn't answer my question, young lady."

Briana's
fists fell to her sides. "Yes, yes, I love him! Is that what you want to
hear? But what does that matter? He will let me down like all the other men in
my life. Papa turned on Clarice and let her die. The man who got my sister with
child let her die. Even Alistair was a disappointment. I have learned my lesson,
Agatha. I cannot marry Clayton. I cannot."

"Because
you are afraid," Agatha blurted out. "Do you want to end up like me,
child? Do you want to be an old maid because you were afraid to love? Is that
what you want?"

Hot
tears flowed from Briana's eyes. "I didn't mean—"

Agatha
waved her hand. "I made my mistakes years ago. I vowed never to love a man
again, and you know I stayed true to my promise. But I never tried, Briana. I
never gave myself another chance. It was a mistake I will not let you make. Besides,
the lieutenant left you for war and duty; that is a different matter entirely.

"He
may have promised you something, but that is only human to choose between two
goods. You must trust again. You must. And if you won't look at this for
yourself, look at it as serving your country."

"What
do you mean?"

"If
you marry Lord Clayton, all suspicion that you were in the library searching
for clues will be lifted. You were meeting your fiancé in a clandestine place,
planning your nuptials. If the enemy is about, all presumption you are involved
with the mission, or me, will be behind you. You will be safe."

Briana
sank onto the bed, knowing Agatha's words held some truth. "This is not
something I wished for. If I have to marry him, I will, but not on his terms. I
will not be kept in the country like some forgotten relative. I will stay in
Town when I want and where I want."

Agatha
hid her smile. "You might get away with that. But when you are married to
the man, he will have a say in what you do with your future plans, especially
with your women's shelter."

Frowning,
Briana looked up, intending to speak, but Agatha raised her hands, stopping
her. "I have seen him with Gabrielle. He is not unreasonable. The man has
a gentle side. If he did not, I would never allow this to go through."

A deep
heaviness centered in Briana's chest. "I will have the stipulations of our
marriage written up before we marry."

Agatha's
brows lifted. "Usually a relative does that for you. Perhaps if I stepped
in—"

"No,
all I want is his promise in writing that I may do what I wish—or I will not
wed him."

"But
if he refuses, not only will the mission suffer but so will your reputation,
child. Think of your mother."

Briana
rose from her chair, frustration clawing at her brain. "Well, what can I
do? He doesn't love me!"

Agatha
closed her eyes. "You must make him love you, Briana. I know he has a
fondness for you. It will take time, but I believe you two will get along quite
nicely if you try."

Briana
blinked back her tears. "A marriage of convenience based on fondness. What
a horrid future."

Agatha
gave her a pitying look. "There are many paths you can choose, child.
There is the path of least resistance, where you allow your relationship to
flounder until you cannot stand to look at each other anymore, or the path of
action, where you make a decision to gain your husband's love and make a good
life for yourself. Some women will never have a chance with a husband like Lord
Clayton. The man has a heart. He just needs a little prodding from you to find
it."

Briana
pulled a pillow from the bed and pressed it against her chest. "You think
so?'

"Am
I ever wrong?"

Briana
laughed, watching her godmother's eyes gleam with mischief. "I am not
about to answer that."

"I
hate to bring up our true reason for being here, my dear, but we must address
the facts."

Briana
sobered, her thoughts flying back to the Prince Regent. "I will marry
today, if that is what I must do."

"I
think it for the best. If only I had been with you—but that is neither here nor
there. I am able to hobble around a little bit. So the next chance we have, you
can return to the library with me. We will search for the missing piece of this
puzzle together."

"No.
If we have to make a quick escape, it will be too dangerous for you. I am
thinking perhaps the carriage incident was not an accident after all."

The lady
patted Briana's hand. "Perhaps. But I do not think anyone believes you are
involved."

"You
may still be in danger."

"Maybe,
but it might be nothing at all. Only our imagination. I do not think anyone
intended to kill me. If they did, I would be dead by now."

Goose
bumps popped out on Briana's skin. "If anything should happen to you
..."

"Fustian,
child! I will beat the enemy senseless. That is, if I find another parasol
worthy of my efforts."