Nicholas sat astride his horse in the ink-black darkness, waiting, listening. He exercised infinite patience, for he knew that sooner or later the coach must pass this way. It was inevitable. The hint of a smile touched his mouth as he heard the faint rumble of wheels. Recklessly, he waited until the last possible moment to emerge from the trees. Risk made the game so much sweeter!
Nick touched his knees to the black hunter, drew the pistols with the deadly twelve-inch barrels from the saddle holsters, and lunged into the path of the coach. “Hold!”
As the coachdriver hauled back on the reins, Nick leveled the pistol at his head. “Throw down your gun.” He was too cautious to ever take the chance of a concealed weapon. He urged his mount close to the coach door and kicked it with a booted foot. The door was opened from within, and he looked into gray eyes, identical to his own. “Sorry for the change in plans, my lord.” He holstered one of the guns, then raised his black-gloved hand and beckoned once. She came to him quickly, silently, defiance etched on her proud face. He lifted her before him in the saddle, raised the pistol, and shot it into the air. The startled horses lunged forward; the coach door swung shut. He tightened his arm about his prize and set his spurs to his mount.
“I only came so you wouldn’t kill him, Highwayman!”
“No, sweet liar. You came because you know my identity.”
Nick awakened slowly, without opening his eyes. He could feel the curve of her back against his chest, feel the velvet flesh of her breasts cupped in his palms. A tendril of her hair brushed against his lips, and he buried his face in the tumbled mass of curls. Instantly his cock stirred and lengthened against her bottom cheeks. When he opened his eyes, he could not believe that she was not in the bed with him. He mocked himself for a fool. Only in his dreams did he have the will to steal her from his twin.
Chapter 23
Christopher Hatton knew he was in a race against time. His twin was an extremely shrewd man, and Kit knew if he was to keep his brother from learning of the true state of Hatton’s depleted wealth, at least until he had secured his heiress, Kit would have to keep his wits about him.
Kit left the decanter of whiskey in the library untouched and decided that under no circumstances must he take any of the money that his twin had put in the safe. He wanted to restore Nick’s trust in him; if his brother was suspicious and came to check on the money or the liquor, he would find them undisturbed.
The next morning, Kit donned buckskins and riding boots and went to the stables to saddle Renegade. He purposely rode over to the Grange to show Nick that he was giving his hunter exercise.
Nick, surprised to see his twin up and about so early, greeted him warmly. “Kit, I brought this mare back from France. She’s no Thoroughbred, but she has great stamina and perhaps decent bloodlines. Would you let Renegade cover her?”
“I have no objection, but he might; she’s rather ugly.”
“A marriage of convenience,” Nick said, laughing.
Kit looked at his twin sharply, suspecting a jibe about his own marriage plans. Then he too laughed. “Feel free to come and get him anytime. Well, I’d better be off; I need the exercise as much as Renegade.”
Nick waved him off.
He made a point of riding over here to show me he’s following my suggestion. I wonder what he’s up to?
Kit was satisfied that his twin suspected nothing so far. He knew he was lucky that Nick had a soft spot for him that always gave him the advantage. Kit galloped across the field, then along the banks of the River Crane. When he skirted the Harding property, he was surprised to see Rupert tooling his carriage down the long, yew-lined drive-way. Kit waved and called out to him, and Rupert reined in his horses. “I had no idea you were back.”
“Brought the family yesterday; now I’m off to London again to get Dottie and Alex.”
“That’s marvelous news! I don’t suppose it’s necessary between the two of us but, strictly speaking, custom demands that I ask your permission before I pay my addresses to your sister, Alexandra.”
“And, by God, not before time! Hart Cavendish has monopolized so much of her time lately, I feared she’d end up a duchess!”
Kit threw back his head and laughed. “Rupert, you are such a loyal friend. No other man in England would prefer that his sister marry me rather than the Duke of Devonshire.”
“There’s something I should tell you. A few weeks ago, Alex found our mother. She’s in extremely poor health, and Dottie and my sister are bringing her to Longford. Nobody knows about it, but I didn’t want you to be caught off guard when you visit them.”
Though the thought of Margaret Sheffield living at Longford was repugnant to him, he was glad Rupert had warned him. “Thank you for confiding in me.”
“Well, since you are planning to be part of the family, I didn’t see how I could do otherwise,” Rupert said ingenuously.
Dottie dosed Margaret with laudanum for the carriage ride to Longford. She also asked Sara to come for the summer. Though Neville Staines would be paying her wages, Dottie knew he would have no objection. When they arrived, Rupert carried a sleeping Margaret up to his old bedchamber. Then he dutifully helped carry in their luggage while Alex went to stable Zephyr.
“Oh, before I forget, Christopher’s back at Hatton. This morning I told him I was bringing you from London, so don’t be surprised if he rides over to welcome you home.”
“Death and damnation! We’re not ready for him!” Dottie cried.
“But he’s coming as a suitor! Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind about wanting Alex to become Lady Hatton?”
“Of course not, you corkbrain, but to receive a lord, we must have a decent reception room. Well, take off your jacket and roll up your sleeves; you have a deal of furniture to move.”
“Dear God, every time I come near you, you put me to work. Do I resemble a mule, Dottie?
“A mule’s the same as a jackass, isn’t it? By the way, we need a cook. Sara and I will nurse Margaret, but we must have a cook.”
“I’ll take care of it, if you ever release me from hard labor.”
“Oh, I trust you’ll go hunting soon. A cook will need something to cook, after all.”
It took the best part of two hours, but when Alex, Dottie, and Rupert stood back to survey their efforts, they declared the reception room fit to entertain a queen. “If we
had
a decent queen,” Dottie added. “No one need know Longford has two empty wings.”
“Speaking of wings, you’ve been an angel, Rupert.” Alex helped him into his coat and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, love.”
No sooner did Alex go upstairs to take a bath and wash the dust from her hair, than Christopher Hatton arrived.
“Lord Hatton, do come in.” Dottie led him into the luxuriously furnished reception room and waved a hand. “As you can see, we are all at sixes and sevens, having only just arrived.”
“I wanted to ride over and welcome you home, Lady Longford.”
“Pretty manners indeed to welcome a dowager home.”
You’re too handsome for your own damned good. My granddaughter must marry you if we’re to save Longford Manor, but don’t think you can stroll in here and take Alexandra for granted.
Kit bowed gallantly. “Is Alex about?”
Dottie raised her eyebrows, then lifted her lorgnette to examine him. “Alexandra isn’t receiving this afternoon. If you’d care to leave your calling card, I’ll apprise her of your visit, m’lord.”
Kit was taken aback. He had no calling cards with him. Such formality must stem from her wealth. He thought it had all been arranged between his father and Dottie Longford but it suddenly dawned on him that she would have to approve him before she gave her permission for him to court Alexandra. “My lady, would it be permissible for me to call again tomorrow?”
“Ah, by all means, dear boy. Y’know, in my day, when a gentleman called, he didn’t come empty-handed. A gift wasn’t necessary, just a token of game or a brace of birds. Do you hunt, Lord Hatton?”
“Indeed I do, Lady Longford. Until tomorrow, then?”
The old bitch intends to put me through my paces, begod!
The next morning, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The roses were in full bloom in the Longford garden, and Dottie declared that Margaret would benefit from the warm sunshine. Alex helped her mother downstairs and took her out to the lawn where she and Sara had carried a wicker
chaise longue
and pillows. Alex sat down on the grass beside her to keep her company.
“We need to talk,” Margaret whispered.
“But talking makes you cough—”
“It doesn’t matter.” Margaret drew in a labored breath. “I made terrible choices and ruined my life. I broke Mother’s heart, and worse, my selfishness hurt my children.” She began to cough and covered her mouth with a heavy linen handkerchief.
“That’s all in the past; there is no need to castigate yourself and catalogue your sins.”
“There is every need . . . I don’t want you to make the mistakes I made.” She pressed the linen to her mouth and breathed slowly. “I refused to marry the man Dottie chose for me. I ran off to London and behaved shamelessly. Duty meant nothing to me. In open defiance I married a commoner, who made my life hell. He went through all my money, and my parents had to pay off his debts.” Margaret became racked with a coughing spell.
“Please don’t talk anymore. I know what happened next.”
She took some slow breaths. “All right, but I beg you be guided by Dottie. The way of duty is the way of happiness, Alexandra.”
“I have already given my grandmother my solemn promise.”
Margaret smiled, then closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Mrs. Dinwiddie, the elderly housekeeper, came out to the garden. “Ye have a gentleman caller, Alexandra; I’ll stay with Margaret.”
Alex went in through the kitchen door and saw the table held an abundance of game. When she entered the reception room, she found Kit and Dottie laughing at a shared joke.
“Here’s Christopher come to call. The dear boy brought enough game for a week.”
“Hello, Kit. Dottie no doubt gave you a broad hint.”
“Oh, it was more than a hint. I set him a task, a noble quest, and he fulfilled it. He has completely won me over.”
“Good morning, Alex. I came to see if you’d care to go riding?”
She swallowed the excuse that rose to her lips and smiled at him instead. “I’d love to. I’ll just run up and change.”
As she put on a riding dress, Sara brought her boots. “Lord Hatton is so handsome, he makes my knees go wobbly.”
Alex immediately thought of Nick, then she dutifully pushed his image out of her mind and went to join Christopher.
In the stables, Kit saddled Zephyr over her protests. “Alex, it gives me pleasure to do things for you.” He gave her a sideways glance. “You’d better get used to it.”
When he lifted her into the saddle, she looked down into his face, so darkly handsome.
I’d better get used to everything you do
. As she watched him mount, she realized how unfair she was being to him.
I must not be resentful toward Kit; I must not think of marriage to him a death warrant
. She had always had an affection for him; she must give him a chance to win her heart. “I’ll race you to the woods!” she challenged.
Alex was amazed when she reached the trees before him. Nick would never have allowed her to win. Her heart softened toward Kit for being gallant. Laughing together, they walked their horses through the leafy glade, and when they reached the river, he lifted her from her saddle. As the horses drank, he invited her to sit on a fallen log so they could talk.
“Alex, when I asked Rupert if I could pay my addresses to you, he was delighted. I also believe I’ve smoothed the waters with your grandmother—no easy task. Now, I need to hear it from you.”
Her eyes danced with mischief. “You’re asking to court me?”
“No, I’m asking to marry you!”
The mischief left her eyes. “Oh, Christopher, surely the courting comes first?”
“Damn it, Alex, there’s been an understanding since we were children that we would marry. Rupert wants it, Dottie wants it, and my father wanted it. Do you deny it?”
“No, but it has to be what you and I want, Kit.”
“You’re saying you don’t want me, is that it?” he demanded.
“No, no, I didn’t say that.” Alex covered his hand with hers, mortified that he had sensed her rejection.
Oh, Kit, why don’t you just take me in your persuasive arms, as you did in London?
“For God’s sake, Alex, don’t play games with me. I want this settled. If I don’t get your promise, I’m afraid I’ll lose you.”
“Kit, I need a little time before I can give you my promise.”
“Of course; time we’ll spend together. I’ll take you for a drive in my phaeton tomorrow. And I want to have a dinner party; just a family affair to let them all get used to the idea that you’re going to be Lady Hatton. You don’t have to set a date yet.”
I cannot go for a drive tomorrow; I have to perform at Charlie’s tomorrow night!
“You may take me out in your phaeton on Monday, and dinner another night next week, perhaps—if you insist.”
“I do insist. Tuesday night. Alexandra, you’ll never know how happy you’ve made me!”
Alex saw how quickly his moods changed and told herself she should not be surprised; Christopher had always been this way. He was sensitive and took offense easily. She would have to guard against hurting him.
On the ride back to Hatton Hall, after he’d returned Alex to Longford Manor, Kit gave vent to his temper.
Not only did I have to cater to a madwoman today, I had to grovel at the feet of her high-and-mighty granddaughter, who thinks she’s too bloody good for me!
Marriage was anathema to Kit. He feared it, because he had always thought of it as the ultimate trap. But he knew his back was against the wall, and he had no other way out. The thing that deeply galled him above all else was the knowledge that this marriage was what his father had always planned for him. Henry Hatton was finally getting what he wanted!