“You could say that,” he agreed. The soft clean scent of soap and woman wafted up to Matthew, stirring to life a hunger he tried hard to ignore. Two months aboard ship and two long months of confinement had honed his desire for a woman to a razor sharp edge. “The other prisoners would’ve relished seeing him get some of his own.”
“What was it you did to cause Lord Rudman to send you to this place?” she asked without preamble.
“Katherine,” Edward objected.
Matthew ignored the man, sensing his freedom rested in the hands of the young woman before him and not her uncle. “It wasn’t so much what I did, but what his wife had in mind for me to do. When I refused, she told her husband I had taken liberties. The next morning my ship was put under guard, and I was brought here.” Edward broke in, “It matters little what you did or did not do, Hamilton. You can be released as early as tomorrow morning. All you need do is agree to the terms.” Irritation flickered across Lady Katherine’s face as she turned her attention to her uncle.
So she wasn’t as resigned to being wed to a colonial criminal as she pretended.
“Edward, I would ask for a few moments alone with Captain Hamilton,” she said.
The man’s gaze traveled from his niece, to Matthew, then back again. “That would not be proper, Katherine.” One wing-like auburn brow rose and a brief beat of time passed before she spoke in a slow measured tone.
One fist clenched at her side. ”You left me in the hall unchaperoned with Mr. Hicks, Uncle. Are you saying you trust the guard more than the man to whom you hope to wed me?”
Edward compressed his lips, his displeasure at the censor in her tone evident.
“You and Lord Willingham will be just outside the door should I need you. I am sure Captain Hamilton will conduct himself like a gentleman. After all, I do not believe he would wish to do anything that would lengthen his stay here.” Her gaze swung to Matthew, “Is that not right, Captain?”
“For certain, Lady Katherine.” He inclined his head.
His uncle grasped Edward by the elbow and guided him from the cell. “Your niece will be perfectly safe with Matthew, Edward. She will be alone with him soon enough if they wed, will she not?” The metal door slammed shut behind them.
Her chin rose and her violet eyes took on a flinty hue as she surveyed him from head to toe. She stepped close.
”Do you wish to leave this place?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good.” She shed her cloak and folded it over her arm. The square neckline of the black dress she wore was modest enough, but the high empire waistline cupped the generous swell of her bosom like a lover’s hands.
Matthew tensed. He wondered if she knew what her beauty did to a man who had been immured for so long.
With an effort, he dragged his gaze back up to her face, watching the lush curve of her lips as she spoke.
“I no more wish to wed than you, but I must, and so must you if you wish to be free again.” He braced his feet and clasped his hands behind him, suppressing the quick smile tempting his lips. No sweet natured, tractable miss here, but no harridan either.
“Why must you wed?”
For a moment, she remained silent, her long auburn lashes obscuring her gaze. She turned a graceful profile to him as her attention moved to the window set high in the wall. “My uncle is my guardian, and I am at the mercy of his generosity. With my marriage, I will receive a small allowance from the estate. It will not be much, but will be enough on which to live.”
He’d warrant there was more to the situation than that. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be avoiding his gaze so diligently. “You’ll not need it if you’re wed.” Her violet eyes returned to him. “I do not intend to remain married long. You will only be allowing me the use of your name for as long as it takes to settle my father’s estate and secure my legacy. We can have the marriage annulled as soon as that transpires.” He raised his brows. “And on what grounds do you hope to have the marriage annulled?”
“With my testimony and your uncles, we can prove you were unlawfully coerced into the union. Surely, the courts will grant you—us—an annulment on those grounds.”
Resentful of the temptations she presented, he couldn’t resist toying with her a little, just to test her resolve.
“As long as the marriage isn’t consummated.” Her jaw grew taut and her dark gaze focused on him
intently. “That indeed would be a requirement of both the marriage and the annulment, sir. I would require your word of honor you will respect my wishes.” He was amazed at the trust she extended so easily.
“The honorable word of a Yankee prisoner wouldn’t hold a great deal of value for most, Lady Katherine.”
“The honorable word of Lord Willingham’s nephew would. Even I know of your uncle’s reputation, Captain.
Were you not worthy of his concern, he would not be here.” She shifted nearer and tipped her head back to look up at him, her fragile, feminine form only a foot away.
Her skin smooth and flawless looked warm and soft. The sweet scent of violets teased his nostrils, making him aware of his unsightly appearance and the rancid smell emanating from his unwashed body. Never had he hated Hicks any more than he did in this moment.
“You would be placing your name, and through association, your uncle’s in my trust, Captain Hamilton.”
“You’d be marrying down, for though my uncle holds a title, my father didn’t,” he countered.
Her chin rose. “I have always believed that a man’s worth is measured by how he conducts himself rather than the title he holds.”
Her earnest sincerity triggered a smile. “The same could be said of a woman, Lady Katherine.” An unexpected flicker of pain crossed her features.
He frowned at her reaction, his well-honed instinct for self-preservation sending prickles of alarm racing up the back of his neck.
The cell door swung inward and Talbot Willingham stepped through the portal. His expression grave, his white brows puckered in a frown, his gaze swung from one to the other then settled on Matthew. “Lord Leighton is anxious to know if you have come to a decision.” Matthew ignored Talbot’s presence as he sought to delve into her carefully composed features. Even if they were able to annul the marriage, the process could take years and by then her reputation would be compromised.
There would be no annulment, and he would be stuck with a wife he didn’t want.
Why was she willing to go to such extremes? What trouble would he be accepting if he consented to her
proposal? “It would seem a little trust is required to stretch a fair distance, for us both.”
“Yes,” she said, her voice breathy and soft.
Damn! He didn’t like placing his future, his life, in her hands, any more than he cared for Hicks’s control. He liked even less having no choice. “Aye, we have come to an agreement.”
Conscious of the layer of grime staining his skin, he offered her his hand. Surprising him, she accepted it without hesitation. Though her hand felt small and cold within his, her grasp was firm.
She must be in desperate straits indeed to agree to wed him in his present condition, but not as desperate as he. By morning, he’d be free!
“Scrub harder, Bradley.” Matthew leaned forward as the man ran the brush down between his shoulder blades.
“Should I scrub any harder, Captain Hamilton, I should be taking your skin off with the brush. Perhaps a change of water might be in order now, sir. Next we will do your hair and beard.” The valet straightened and mopped his forehead with his shirtsleeve.
“I believe I have lice.” Matthew smiled at the man to soften the blow. “I’ll buy you a bottle of your favorite scotch, Bradley.”
The man blanched, but to his credit, his stiff upper lip remained firm.
Matthew smiled. “Shall I send for the scotch now?”
“Nay, I would not wish to share it with the little buggers. If you will rise now, I will send down for more water and we will go after the beasts.” Two hours and many scrubbings later, Matthew viewed his image in the large dressing room mirror. His hair, having been trimmed and deloused, had a healthy bluish sheen, and was tied back with a black cord. His clean-shaven jaw appeared thinner, his cheekbones more pronounced, the cleft in his chin deeper. He would regain the weight he had lost now he was free to eat whatever and whenever he liked. Free. Even thinking the word inspired so many emotions it was difficult to suppress the shout of pure joy that thrust upward and expanded in his chest. He had never given a thought to how precious his freedom was until it had been taken from him.
“Is something wrong, sir?” The valet held a dark blue long coat for him to don.
“No. You’ve done a fine job, Bradley. I’ve become human once more.” He slid his arms into the coat. It felt good to be clean. More than good. He had been ashamed of his own smell, and had itched, and picked bugs like an animal. He wouldn’t soon forget the experience, or the
man responsible for it.
“Lord Willingham has invited guests for the wedding, Captain Hamilton. It is not known you were imprisoned these last few months. Lady Willingham thought it best just to say you’ve been away in the country.” His imprisonment would be an embarrassment to Talbot and Clarisse should anyone learn of it. Though he had done nothing to merit such treatment, he couldn’t prove the charges false. His reputation would be blemished and he would be branded a smuggler. The realization stung his pride and prodded alive a cold, dark, frustrated anger it took several moments to control.
He tried to lighten the harsh expression he viewed in the mirror. “You understand why I was held there?”
“Aye, sir.” The man’s gray brows drew together in a frown. “It’s shameful Lord Rudman saw fit to abuse his power in such a way. You may depend on my discretion, Captain.”
The man’s loyalty brought a smile to Matthew’s lips.
“That goes without saying, Bradley.” He pulled the cuffs of his sleeves free from the arms of the coat.
“The wedding guests wouldn’t include Lord Rudman and his wife, by any chance?” He turned to face the valet.
“Aye, Sir. I believe they have been invited by Lord Leighton.”
Edward Leighton had broken his word, letting him stew inside the cell another two weeks before releasing him. Had Katherine known of his continued imprisonment? Surely, she had. Wouldn’t she have found it strange she hadn’t heard from him since their meeting?
That morning, en route from the jail, Talbot had spoken of her but had said nothing of her making any attempt to see him.
Resentment bubbled inside him at how the lady had caught and held his attention. He had been tormented by the memory of her smell, like flowers and sunshine. The sweet curve of her lips, the delicate structure of her high cheekbones and stubborn chin had played on his imagination to taunt and entertain him. He had believed in the determination and innocence he read in those large violet eyes.
Aye, she had played him well.
Within the hour he would wed that bit of fluff and would find out to what sort of woman he had bound himself. The agreement he had made with her came to mind. He no more believed in the possibility of an annulment than he did her word. Once wed, he would be stuck with her for better or for worse.”
“Are the guards still outside the door, Bradley?”
“Aye, sir.” Bradley offered him a look of apology. “It would seem they will be accompanying you to the church and staying until the ceremony is over, as will Mr.
St.John.”
Matthew gave a brief nod. Anger flowed through him like hot pitch. Unlike Lady Katherine
and her uncle, he meant to keep his word—as difficult as it might be.
The sheer impossibility of the situation had a wry smile twisting his lips. Checking his stock was properly tied, he stared at his reflection for a moment. He no longer resembled the filthy downtrodden wretch Katherine had tempted with her beauty and her promises of freedom. He wondered if she would even recognize him-
-probably not.
He turned away from the mirror. “The bottle of scotch I promised shall be delivered to you early tomorrow, Bradley.”
The valet grinned, for once losing his well-disciplined dignity. “Thank you, sir.”
“Should you hear anything about Lord Rudman or his wife I might find of interest—”
“I will keep you apprised, sir.”
Matthew nodded. “Thank you, Bradley.”
*
Katherine braced one hand on the coach seat against the swaying movement of the vehicle. She clenched the other in her lap as panic struck her. Dear God, she had promised herself to a great bear of a man. Beneath all the grime and unkempt hair, she didn’t even know what he looked like! She wondered how she would recognize him at the church. She remembered the pale blue clarity of his eyes. Would eye color alone offer her some way of recognizing her groom? Why had he not attempted to see her before the wedding? Why had he not answered her messages? If he
wouldn’t spare her the courtesy of an answer to a note, what could she expect of him? To what kind of man had she pledged herself?
Hannah, her maid, began to toy with the heavy cascade of curls gathered at the back of her head.
Katherine shook her head and shot her a glance, nerves making her irritable. The elder woman patted her arm in commiseration and subsided to her own corner of the seat, though she continued to watch her charge, her expression worried.
Katherine’s attention swung to the coach window as the vehicle turned between two brick posts, then traveled up a curved drive to the church. When the conveyance pulled to a jerky halt, two footmen appeared to lower the steps and open the door. Edward disembarked, offering his hand as she stepped down. He tucked Katherine’s fingers in the bend of his arm and guided her up the circular steps to the front entrance, leaving one of the footmen to assist Hannah.
“I know I have been ill suited as your guardian, Katherine. It is better you have a mate to provide for you and guide you. I am certain Captain Hamilton will prove an able husband.”
Able! She wanted no part of able husbands or any other kind.
“Perhaps marriage would offer you a different understanding of family, Uncle,” she suggested. “Having children of your own might as well.”