A Christmas Bride Part 23

"Yes." She s.h.i.+vered with more than the cold. "Take me back to Cheyney Park."

Opening the door in the top of the carriage, he shouted an order to the coachee. "Stay calm," he added as he drew her into the curve of his arm while the carriage rolled to a stop, then began the slow back-and-forth to turn it on the narrow road.

"We are not far from where the other carriage fell from the road."

"I know." He tipped her chin toward him, although she could not see his face in the shadows. "Make me a promise."

"If I can."

"Promise me that you will not flee again. Promise me that you will let me take you home to your father."

She whispered, "Yes, but I already agreed to that. Why are you asking me to promise again?"

"There may be much more to this than I had first thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that-" His voice became a roar as the carriage slid along the road like the sleigh when the horse had bolted.

This horse screamed in horror when the carriage continued to careen out of control down the road. She heard branches strike the side. No, not just branches, but another vehicle. What was happening? Had another carriage lost control on the icy road?

She buried her face against his chest, not wanting to think that she had destroyed her best chance at her future in this attempt to rediscover her past. Any answer was lost when she was thrown against the carriage wall. Pain seared her head; then there was nothing but the echoes of cras.h.i.+ng.

Felix leaped down from the box. Yes, this was the spot. It had taken longer than he had expected to turn his carriage and hurry back here. The roads were even more slippery than he had guessed. If he had not taken care, he would have been the one with an out-of-control carriage.

Water splashed onto his best breeches, but he did not care. Excellent! This time there would be no mistakes, because he had done the deed himself. He should have learned from his father by now that depending on others led to slipshod results. A job that needed to be done should be done by oneself.

Yet that had not been possible before. It would not have been easy to concoct an excuse to leave London before Timothy on the way to Cheyney Park, but he should have found a way instead of letting others make a jumble of all this. When his father had learned that Miss Loughlin would be at the masquerade at Hess Court, Felix had known his chance had arrived.

That had been bungled, but not today.

He walked to the edge of the road. Trees were broken where the carriage must have crashed through. He did not have much time. Someone might see the beast and then come to investigate. But he would not leave this time without making sure the deed was done-and done completely.

Grimacing as his boots sank more deeply into the mud, he picked his way down the hill. He cursed when his feet slid out from beneath him, and he dropped to sit in the mud.

As he pushed himself to his feet, he heard behind him, "You will find nothing down there, Felix."

Serenity held her breath as Felix slowly faced Timothy. She did not share Timothy's certainty that his cousin would not have a weapon. Already Felix had shown that he would resort even to murder to achieve his aims. She did not want to believe that, as she knew Timothy did not, but unlike her, Timothy had not been knocked senseless in the carriage. He had recognized the driver of the other carriage, which had tried to push theirs off the road.

Felix grew pale, then said, "I had no idea you were out on this stormy night, cousin. I thought you would be busy with Grandfather trying to think up the toasts for everyone's enjoyment."

"You did not think I would be with Serenity?"

"I had heard-that is, Melanda told me that ..." His face became ghostly as Serenity stepped out of the carriage to stand beside Timothy. Glancing at the wreckage at the base of the hill, he gulped so loudly it sounded like a gunshot in the silent woods.

"She told you that I left to seek my father," Serenity said, "to rea.s.sure him that I was alive and well, although I could not remember much about him." She glanced at Timothy, whose face in the light of the lantern held up by his coachee, Jenkins, was as tautly sculptured as the rocks in the low wall. "And she told you that Timothy offered to escort me home."

"You don't know what you are talking about!"

"But Ned does." Timothy motioned to the lad from the stables as Ned stepped into the small circle of light, his clothes frozen to him. He had been calming the horses. "Mrs. Scott overheard your conversation with Melanda and asked Branson to send Ned to warn us."

Felix's curse warned Serenity how deeply he despised his grandfather and his household.

"Ned's warning came nearly too late," Timothy continued. "If Jenkins did not have such skill in the box, you might have succeeded in killing us instead of simply hurting Serenity's head again."

"And knocked her memories back into her head?" he sneered. "Or has the whole of this been a way for the two of you to carry on your affair right under Grandfather's nose? He will not appreciate being made a dupe by your scheme."

"The scheme, as you should recall, was your invention." Timothy drew Serenity closer and pulled his thick cloak over her as the wind howled along the road. "Serenity recalls no more than she did an hour ago, save that you just tried to kill us."

"An accident!"

"Was it? Like the sleigh that you took with you when you supposedly went to retrieve your father's cravat? Or did you, instead, have the harness fixed so that it would panic the horse to the point that it would bolt, sending the sleigh out of control?"

Serenity stared at Timothy in disbelief. She had not guessed that he had such suspicions.

Timothy gave his cousin no time to retort. "I grew uneasy when Serenity seemed to recall too many things when her memory was loosened by your comments. It appeared the two of you had more in common than you, Felix, wished me to guess."

"You cannot prove that I did anything wrong!" he cried.

"No, I cannot, although a true gentleman would take responsibility for his mistakes." He folded his arms in front of him, looking like his grandfather when the earl refused to be countermanded. "It is no mistake to tell you that you would show a decided want of sense to return to Cheyney Park in the wake of this. Grandfather may not be as forgiving as I that you tried to murder me here." Looking at Serenity, he said, "And attempted twice along this road to slay Miss Loughlin. Men have hanged for less."

Felix's face became gray. "You would not send me to hang, would you?"

"I would not, but I cannot speak for our grandfather or Miss Loughlin's father." He pointed to the horse that Ned had ridden to warn them. "I suggest you take yourself posthaste to somewhere where Grandfather cannot find you."

"Where?"

"I understand that Colonel Coleman's regiment is being sent to India."

Felix mouthed the word India.

"That you are half a world away should be enough to persuade Grandfather not to follow you. I suspect Melanda will not be thrilled with such a posting, but she should have thought of that before marrying you last night."

Serenity turned to look at Timothy. Was he jesting? No, his face was without a hint of humor. She had not guessed that Felix and Melanda were being wed when they had not appeared for dinner last evening.

"I have no funds of my own to buy a commission," Felix mumbled.

"I suspected that." Timothy reached under his coat and drew out a piece of folded oilcloth. "I had intended to speak to you of this under more congenial circ.u.mstances, for I saw it as an opportunity for you to obtain the prestige you have never hidden that you wish could be yours. Inside this, you will find what you must do to get your commission in London, Felix. I have arranged for the funds to be transferred to the lieutenant who was selling his commission."

"Lieutenant?" He gasped. "You bought me a mere lieutenancy?"

Serenity bit her lip to keep from saying that it was more than he deserved after trying to kill his cousin so his father might inherit the t.i.tle and Felix after him. Only because Timothy knew how this would hurt his grandfather was he trying to settle the whole of this with little fuss.

When Timothy said nothing, Felix slowly took the packet. He walked to the horse and mounted. No one spoke as he vanished into the storm.

"But, my lord," Jenkins said, "London is in the other direction."

"My uncle's house will be his first stop." Timothy shook his head. "I shall have Melanda meet him there so they can travel to Town together." Putting his arm around Serenity, he said, "Now we can continue-"

A horse burst out of the darkness, racing straight toward them. Serenity screamed as Timothy shoved her up against the carriage, protecting her with his body. Who else wanted to see them dead?

"Lord Cheyney!"

At the shout, Serenity looked past him to see the rider reining in. It was not Felix, intent on another plot to kill them, but another of the lads from the stable.

"What is it, Louis?" Timothy asked.

"Lord Brookindale sent me to find you, my lord. 'Tis Miss Theodora. She has taken a turn."

Serenity moaned and clutched Timothy's arm. "Oh, sweet heavens! Do you think the chill from the sleigh accident caused her to sicken?"

Instead of answering her, Timothy ordered, "Ride back and tell Grandfather we are on our way. Jenkins, return us to Cheyney Park without delay."

Serenity bit back her questions that no one could answer as Timothy handed her into the carriage. The door was barely closed behind him before Jenkins was whipping up the horses. She grasped the handhold on the side of the carriage. She had not expected to return to Cheyney Park ... not like this.

Nineteen.

The house was preternaturally silent as Serenity handed her soaked bonnet and cloak to Branson. She wondered if all the guests had sought their rooms in the midst of the hubbub of tragedy that had replaced the holiday excitement.

The butler did not meet her eyes as he said, "Lord Brookindale is with Miss Theodora in her rooms, my lord."

"How does she fare?" Serenity asked tremulously, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer. She had been headstrong in her determination to prove to everyone that they had been mistaken about what Theodora should or should not do. As headstrong as Felix, who had let ambition blind him, for she had been unabashedly proud each time Theodora shown that she could do all Serenity had hoped she could.

"I know only the message His Lords.h.i.+p gave me to send after you, Miss Adams...." He gulped. "Miss Loughlin, I mean."

"Do not fret about such things now." Gathering up her damp skirt, she rushed to the stairs as Timothy added something she did not hear to the butler.

By the time she had reached Theodora's door, Timothy had caught up to her. He winced on every step, and she guessed his injured leg was bothering him. She put her hand on his arm in sympathy, and he gave her a stiff smile.

"Do you want me to go in first?" he asked.

"Of course not! This is my fault."

"On that you are completely right," said the earl as he opened the door wider. "The whole of this is your fault, Miss Loughlin."

Tears jeweled his face where his mouth worked with the emotions he was struggling to control. "May I see her, my lord?"

"If you think you can handle what you are about to see."

"Grandfather," Timothy said with the same rigid tone he had used with Felix, shocking her, for he never had shown his grandfather anything but respect and love, "do not treat her cruelly. She has been a victim in this charade, not the perpetrator of it. All she has done is bring you and I and Theodora and even Aunt Ilse closer as a family."

The earl stepped aside to let them enter the dusky room. "So put away that tone that suggests you are about to don your armor and fight for your lady fair."

"Grandfather, about all this-"

"We will speak of this later."

"My lord," Serenity whispered, "may I see Theodora?"

"This way."

She looked back when she heard Branson's voice. Timothy motioned for her to go with his grandfather as he turned to speak with the butler. Not caring what they were discussing, she rushed to Theodora's bed. She frowned when she saw the covers were undisturbed.

"My lord?" she asked, baffled, as she turned to the earl.

Light flared as lamps were lit. In shock, she stared at Lord Brookindale and Nurse and ... Theodora. All of them were grinning as if they were enjoying the greatest jest.

Serenity knelt by Theodora's chair. "You are not sick?"

"Only if she ate too many cakes at the gathering tonight," replied the earl as he ruffled the little girl's hair.

Looking up at him, Serenity whispered, "But the message ... It said that-"

"Theodora had taken a turn." The earl laughed. "A turn for the better. Show her, Theodora."

Serenity held her breath, watching as the little girl slowly bent her elbow until she could pull her hand up to her chest and then, as slowly, unbent it. "Oh, sweet heavens! Look at what you can do!"

"I would say that is quite a turn for the better." The earl's belly laugh brought a restrained chuckle from Nurse and a giggle from Theodora. "She is determined to be able to hold one of those ducklings by spring."

Serenity put her head down on the little girl's lap and gave in to the tears that had burned in her eyes since the messenger had reached them on the icy road. Only now did she realize that everything she had considered a disaster was truly good news. She had found her past, and Theodora was growing stronger every day. Timothy's grandfather might be angry with him, but that wound would heal.

Timothy...

His broad hand stroked her damp hair, and she raised her face. Taking her hands, he brought her to her feet. Softly he said, "It seems as if everyone has what they want tonight." His voice grew hard for a moment. "Even my cousin, who has Melanda."

"Yes."

"Everyone but you and me, sweetheart."

Her heart contracted at the longing he put in that single word. "Yes."

"You know that I love you, don't you?"

"Yes."

"So stay here with me."

"I must go home. Father must be half out of his mind with fear for me."

He reached under his coat. "I had thought of that as well, and, from what I had heard of Sir Philip Loughlin, I could not believe he would wait patiently for word about his missing daughter. I had Branson check Felix's room quickly. My cousin was so bold in his plan that he saw no reason to hide his malevolent machinations." He pulled out a slip of paper. "Branson brought me this."

She scanned the letter and gasped. When the earl held out his hand, she gave it to him. He snarled an oath.