The Marriage Wager (35 page)

“I should say. The fellow offered to tip
me
yesterday.” Robin looked around the group, waiting for them to catch the joke. They were remarkably slow on the uptake. “Instead of me tipping him,” he explained helpfully. “Wanted to give me a five-pound note.”

“What for?” asked Colin in a harsh voice.

“That’s the oddest thing of all,” Robin said, smiling to encourage them all to laugh along with him. “Wanted me to put in a good word for him with you. ‘Speak well of me to the lord,’ was the way he put it. As if you cared what I thought of your servants. Deuced odd, eh?”

The other three just gazed at him.

“Of course, I refused the money,” added Robin quickly.

Lady Mary looked bored. Emma looked miserable. Colin looked grim.

“It’s a joke,” Robin informed them irritably. “Funny, you see? A servant tipping. Don’t you see that?”

“I think it’s stupid,” replied Lady Mary.

Colin had had enough. “I think it is time you took your leave,” he said.

The girl bridled.

“Haven’t you anywhere else to spend your time?” he added, good manners quite defeated by the current situation in his house.

“Oh, how can you speak to me so? After the way you…”

“Someone ought to speak to you sharply at least once a day,” responded Colin, his patience completely exhausted. “And they should have begun a number of years ago.”

Robin stared at him with awed respect.

“You’re horrid,” declared Lady Mary. Her face puckered, threatening tears. “I don’t believe I was ever really in love with you!”

“Neither do I,” replied Colin callously. “And now, if you will excuse us?” He threw Robin a meaningful look.

The younger man stood straighter and prepared to do his duty. But he could not suppress a muttered, “I’m always having to take her off someone’s hands. And she’s deuced likely to cry in the street, you know.”

Colin gave him a sardonic smile, but no answer. He simply watched the two young people gather their belongings and leave the room.

When they were gone, he waited, watching Emma, who was half turned away from him. The unhappiness in her face and stance tore at him. Moving closer, he asked, “Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?” much more gently than he had planned a moment ago. “Can’t I help?”

She couldn’t bear it, Emma thought. She really couldn’t bear it. He was everything she wanted, and yet she was being more and more cut off from him. The pain in her heart was like a knife.

“Won’t you trust me?” he added, hurt in his voice.

The pressure expanded within her. Her throat was raw and tight. Her eyes burned. Her ribs ached. And then, in that dreadful moment, as she thought she would crack into a million pieces, the solution to her problem sprang full-blown into Emma’s mind. She blinked. It was so simple, so clear, that she couldn’t comprehend how she had missed it before. Granted, it was an act of desperation. But Orsino inspired desperation. And this would work. Relief flooded through her. The release of tension was another kind of pain.

“Emma?” said Colin.

She took a deep breath. “Everything will be all right,” she said. “Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.”

“What will?” he demanded.

Emma shook her head.

He gritted his teeth, angry and frustrated. For a moment there, he had thought she would yield and tell him the whole. But then something had changed. She had changed. And he was shut out again. It was insupportable. What had stopped her from confiding in him? Colin’s determination to get to the bottom of this matter redoubled. He would find out everything, he thought with clenched jaw, and then someone would pay.

***

The next morning, after Colin was gone, Emma went to her sitting room and settled herself in the armchair by the window. Summoning all her resolution, she rang the bell and sent for Ferik. When the giant appeared a few minutes later and stood expectantly before her, she began, “You have said you would do anything for me, Ferik.”

“Yes, mistress,” was the reply. “Of course. Have you not seen how I endure this constant evil rain for you? And I bear the insults of Clinton with—”

“I have a serious problem,” Emma cut in.

Ferik fell silent at once. Clasping his hands before him, he became deeply attentive.

Emma took a breath. “That man we visited in his lodgings, he was in Constantinople. Count Orsino.”

Ferik nodded heavily. “I remember him. He plays cards with young men and takes their money.”

“Yes. He is threatening me.”

Ferik scowled and clenched his great fists. “He would dare?”

“He is an evil man,” said Emma. “I… I am afraid of him.”

Ferik growled. “I will crush him like an insect,” he said. “I will break him into a thousand pieces and feed him to the rats. I will…” He paused as if remembering something, then looked sullenly disappointed. “Must we set the law on him, mistress?” he asked.

“The law?”

“Yes. You see how I remember what you have told me. You said the English law watches over everyone. Surely it will punish that man if he is trying to harm you.”

Emma bit her lower lip. Ferik never listened to her. Why must he choose this moment to finally recall one of her strictures? she thought. “There are a few occasions,” she said, “a very few, when the law can do nothing.”

Ferik’s dark eyes went wide. “But mistress, you told me…”

“I know.” Emma felt a tremor. But then she thought of Colin, and Robin, and Lady Mary, and hardened her will. “This is one of those times,” she added. “The law cannot help me, so I am turning to you.”

Ferik stood straighter, swelling with pride and gratification. “Shall I kill him for you, mistress?” he asked hopefully.

Emma clasped her hands together so tight they hurt. “Yes,” she whispered.

Ferik nodded, a satisfied grin spreading over his features, as Emma shifted in her seat. “I will return to his lodgings in secret tonight and—”

“No. I have a plan, a way for you to get to him without anyone noticing.”

“Not noticing me?” Ferik looked skeptical. Even after months in England, he was still stared at in the street.

“Yes,” replied Emma, and she began to explain to him the scheme that had come to her in the drawing room yesterday.

When she finished, Ferik nodded again. “Very nice, mistress. It will surely work.”

“You see no… problems?”

Slowly, he shook his head.

“And afterward? You will…”

Ferik waved his huge hand. “I will take care of everything, mistress. No need for you to worry.”

“Yes. But…”

“All will be well,” Ferik assured her. “I can easily do this.”

“Yes,” repeated Emma, feeling rather numb. “Thank you, Ferik.”

The Turkish giant shook his head. “You do not need to thank me, mistress. My life is yours.” Putting his hand on his breast, Ferik gave her a deep bow.

And so it was done, Emma thought.

***

Colin spent the day following a number of the threads he had unraveled in his earlier investigations. He visited the English government office once again, and came out looking very satisfied with the result. He spoke with his new friend at the Italian embassy. He met with two somber, extremely muscular individuals who came highly recommended by the elusive Mr. Smith and reached an agreement with them. After lunch at his club, he was on the way to his last destination of the day when he encountered Robin Bellingham sauntering toward the park. “I’ll walk with you partway,” he said.

Robin agreed a bit uneasily. His formidable brother-in-law still intimidated him slightly, especially after the recent incident in the drawing room. Wareham was everything that Robin longed to be, and when he was with him, it became all too obvious that he had a long way to go before reaching his ideal. “I was, er, just going to take a toddle along the Row,” he said, striving for nonchalance.

Colin merely nodded and fell into step beside him.

They began to walk together. “You told me you were going to stay away from the gaming tables,” Colin said after a while. “I took you to be a man of your word.” He watched his companion unobtrusively, with quick sidelong glances.

“I am,” said Robin stiffly. “You don’t understand.”

“Explain it to me,” was the curt response.

“Oh, well…” Robin felt trapped. He didn’t know whether he might be betraying Emma’s confidence. On the other hand, he could not stand to have St. Mawr think he was not an honorable man. “The thing is, I had to help Emma,” he said finally.

“Emma?” Colin echoed, in a soft, possibly dangerous voice.

“I had to distract this fellow Orsino. He’s been making up to Lady Mary, you know,” he confided. “And she can’t seem to realize that he’s not the sort of man she should so much as speak to.”

“And what else?” demanded Colin in the same tone.

“Else?” Robin looked bewildered.

“What else has Orsino been doing?”

The young man stared at him, a bit unnerved by the implacability in his voice. “He’s been gambling with me,” he offered, and then quickly amended. “But I was just keeping him away from Lady Mary, you see. As soon as he’s out of the picture, I mean to give up gaming.”

When Colin made no reply, he added nervously. “Emma says he cheats. That’s why I’ve dropped so much blunt.”

“What is he to Emma?” Colin demanded, fixing his companion with an inexorable gaze.

“Emma?” Robin fumbled for words. “Friend of her… of Edward Tarrant, she told me. That’s how she became acquainted with the blackguard, which is something I cannot like.”

“No,” agreed Colin quietly. He examined Robin’s face for a moment longer, and concluded that the young man knew no more than this about the count. And he was convinced that there was more to know concerning Orsino and Emma. Prey to a mixture of relief and frustration, Colin put his hands behind his back as they walked on along the pavement.

“This Tarrant must have been a dashed loose screw,” Robin complained, feeling considerably better now that Colin was no longer looking at him.

The baron said nothing.

“I hate to admit it, but I think Father was right about him.”

“He was indeed,” said Colin.

“Of course, I didn’t realize all this when I met Orsino at the Royal Academy with Emma.” Robin’s handsome face darkened. “Lady Mary was there, too. Unfortunate, that.”

“Yes,” replied Colin absently.

“But you may rely on me. I’m keeping an eye out in that direction,” Robin assured him. “No need to worry.”

There was more to young Robin than he had given him credit for, Colin realized. And while he had little interest in Lady Mary Dacre, it was gratifying to observe the lad’s growing maturity. He decided to share a small piece of information with him. “You will not have to worry about Orsino much longer,” he promised. “Steps have been taken to, er, remove him from the country.”

“Really?” Robin looked impressed, and a little envious. “Can’t be too soon for me,” he said. “I’m dashed sick of being cheated at cards.”

“No doubt.”

His tone made Robin look at him. “What are you going to do with the blackguard?”

“Make sure that he cannot harm anyone here,” said Colin grimly.

“How?” Robin looked eager. “If you need any help, I’m your man.”

“Thank you, but matters are well in hand.”

“I
could
help, you know,” said the younger man resentfully.

“There is really nothing more to be done,” put in Colin. “But should anything come up, I will feel free to call on you.”

Robin grunted, unsatisfied. “Well, at least Emma must be relieved,” he said after a moment. He brightened. “That’s good. She’s been jumpy as a cat over the fellow.” His expression grew even more pleased. “And I won’t have to spend any more time with him. I must say, I don’t care for him at all.” Robin let out an expansive breath and walked with a bit more spring to his step. “Should have known you’d take care of the matter,” he added. “You’re her husband, after all.” He smiled at Colin.

The baron merely gazed back at him a little blankly.

“You all right?” wondered Robin.

Colin nodded.

“Right.” Robin took another deep breath. “Actually, I’m glad to have this thing taken off my hands,” he admitted. “Wasn’t at all sure how to resolve the matter. And I’ve nearly used up my quarterly allowance on the blackguard as it is.”

“I’ll replace it,” said Colin somewhat mechanically.

Robin looked delighted briefly, then his face fell. “Can’t let you do that.”

“It is my responsibility,” was the reply.

Robin gave his brother-in-law a sidelong glance. He sounded dashed odd, and he had a queer look on his face, too. “Well, it’s good to know that you and Emma have settled everything between you,” he said heartily. Seeing the gates of the park ahead, he walked a bit faster, the strain of this lengthy conversation beginning to tell. “There’s Jack,” he added gratefully a moment later. “Do you… do you care to come along with us?”

Colin shook his head, not even noticing Robin’s relief. After cordial introductions, he left the two young men and hailed a cab to take him home. Sitting in it, he leaned back against the cushions and listened to mental echoes of the phrases Emma’s brother had used. “You’re her husband, after all. Good that you’ve settled everything between you.”

Emma was deeply disturbed by the intrusion of this devil Orsino from her past, he thought. That was clear, though her exact reasons remained cloudy. He had the means to remove that threat; indeed, he was in the process of doing so. And he had not told her. He had not even thought of telling her. Instead, he had brooded over her reluctance to confide in him, and left her to fret and worry.

Colin shifted uneasily on the leather seat. He remained unshakably convinced that Emma hid nothing dishonorable from her past life. He had seen too much evidence of her integrity to imagine otherwise. Why, then, had he not openly offered his help?

What if, instead of silently railing at her, he had gone to her and let her know he was having the man expelled from the country? Could he doubt that she would then have told him everything? If he had given her one clear opening… but he had held back. As he always held back.

Stubborn pride, Colin muttered to the passing street scene. He would tell her as soon as he reached home, he thought, and then things would return to normal between them. There would be no more of these silences and distances. They would resume their former easy, comfortable relationship.