A Lady Betrayed (24 page)

“I know,” Maddie said, sighing. “If it were possible, I would wait, but—”

Clucking her tongue, the servant raised her brows

“No, no, it's not what you think, but”—Maddie put her head under the skirt of her white gown to hide her reddening cheeks for a moment—“oh, there are too many things happening at once. Mad shooters and bees that aren't bees…”

“It's wedding nerves, Bess,” Felicity said. “Pay no attention.”

“I vow she's already been into the brandy!” The maid shook her head. “And it's ne eight o'clock o' the morn!”

“Before this day is over, I may need more than brandy,” Maddie muttered, than hoped her impulsive words did not turn out to be accurate. “Help me with these back buttons, please.”

“I will do them, Bess,” Felicity said.

“Then I'll nip down and see about the beef,” Bess told them, shaking her head at such goings on. “Thomas'll be up 'o the while to empty the bath.”

“I truly am in a state,” Maddie told her friend after the servant had departed. “Even though I haven't been into the brandy.”

Felicity laughed, and Maddie managed a nervous giggle. “I understand,” the widow said. “Here is your best handkerchief trimmed with new blue lace, and your mother's prayer book to carry. And you may borrow a sixpence from me. Mind you, I borrowed it from you to start with, but I think that will still count.”

They giggled again, and one way or another, Maddie tried to keep her mind off what might be happening around the church.

When it was time for Felicity and Maddie to join her father in the carriage, Felicity brought her the small bunch of flowers she had prepared for her, and Maddie took them, trying not to hold them too tight. She still had not seen Adrian, but she had to have faith that he was keeping a sharp eye out around the church and its outbuildings. He would use the men he had hired. What else could they do?

Surely that would enough to outwit one half-crazed would-be killer?

Bess rode beside Thomas on the driver's seat, not about to miss the marriage of the last Applegate daughter. As they drove up to the church, Maddie saw a quite amazing crowd gathered for the occasion.

Which only went to show, Maddie thought, that all one had to do was be caught naked in the wood with a good-looking, titled stranger: that would draw a good crowd of neighbors to one's wedding!

Now if she and Adrian could just manage to be married before one or both of them were shot dead, all might yet be well.

When she stepped out of the carriage, the assembly gave a soft sigh of approval. Her dress was becoming, a silky cloud of white that draped nicely around her hips, falling to the ground in soft folds; the bodice also showed off her curves without being overly low cut. She hoped Adrian would like it.

Felicity went ahead into the church, to tell the vicar they were here. Maddie waited for her father's chair to be untied and lifted down from the back of the carriage and for him to be carefully placed in it, then they proceeded more slowly into the building.

A murmur ran through the church when they entered.

Maddie found the pews crowded with friends and neighbors. Even Mrs. Masham and her husband were sitting well up front where they would have a superior view. And yes, Adrian stood in his place to the side of the vicar, and his smile broadened when he saw her. The look on his face made her heart pound.

Keeping pace with her father in his chair, she walked slowly up the center aisle to join her husband to be.

Bess and Thomas, after leaving the carriage and horse with one of the boys to mind, had already made their way up to the gallery where the servants generally sat. The other pews were all full, and the parishioners whispered and chattered to each other as the bride passed by them.

They had made it halfway to the altar when she saw Adrian's aspect change. Unable to stop herself, Maddie paused, then whirled to see what had brought that expression of horror to his face.

In the back of the church just inside the door stood a thin man of middle years. He was clad in a well-worn riding habit, his dark hair was thinning, and his face plain. He looked so unassuming, so ordinary, that she would never have looked at him twice except for two things: one, he had caused such a reaction from Adrian. Two, he held a hunting rifle, and it was pointed at her heart.

“Who are you?” she demanded, even though she knew the answer already. Surprised that her voice was so clear and steady, she found that she was quite unafraid. The important thing was that Adrian remain unharmed. “And how dare you interrupt my wedding like this? You have no right!”

“Perhaps I am an avenging angel?” the stranger responded. His voice was curiously high, and it rang through the church like the note of a warped bell. “That gives me the right.”

“Francis!” Adrian's voice sounded grim but in control. “Not here, with innocent people at risk! I am the one you want. Come outside, man.”

His cousin laughed, a strange hollow sound. “Oh, no, too simple. It would hurt you more if I cut down your bride. Do you think I don't know that?”

“If you harm her, you are a dead man!” Adrian retorted.

This time Maddie felt a whisper of cold. “You truly are evil,” she muttered.

Shocked at first into silence, the congregation now stirred and whispered once more, and several of the men began to rise.

The stranger turned and pointed his rifle in a sweeping arc. “Sit down and be still, all of you. I have no qualms about adding to my list.”

The men sat down again with more haste than dignity, and several were clutched and held in place by frantic-looking wives. Further up the church, Mrs. Masham had also half stood, wanting only, as Maddie could have told the gunman, to get a better look at what was going on. Adrian's cousin turned the rifle toward her next.

“I said, ‘Sit down,' you old biddy.”

Shrieking, she sat, ducking her head below the back of the bench to get farther out of sight.

And served her right, Maddie thought, without sympathy. She herself still stood in the middle of the aisle.

She heard her father speak. “Get behind me, Madeline.”

She looked down at her father; she had forgotten he was beside her. Even in his chair, he was a man of courage and stature, she thought, and she felt a stab of pride. But he must not be hurt, either, nor Adrian, nor any innocent person here.

She glanced back toward the altar, where the white-faced elderly vicar stood, clutching his prayer book and obviously trembling.

Adrian was gone.

F
or an instant Maddie felt ice-cold with shock. Her
tongue seemed frozen to the top of her mouth.

He had walked away?

“Where is your brave husband now?” his cousin taunted.

Then she understood, and the coldness left her. She drew a cleansing breath. “Braver than you, any day,” she said. “He would not take the chance of flying bullets hitting an innocent person.” She gestured toward the people filling the church. “Take your bullets and leave now!”

“And if I don't?” He lifted his rifle and pointed it again toward her chest. “I can make him feel the pain I felt when he shot my brother! If I kill his bride, he will know how I suffered!”

He did not sound like a grieving brother, Maddie thought. She tried not to allow her fear to overcome her, like treading water in a cold pond, attempting to keep her head from submerging. He sounded petulant, instead, almost annoyed as if she were not responding the way she was intended to. Perhaps the whole plan was not going the way he had designed it.

Where was Adrian?

Again, her father said, “Step behind me, Madeline.”

She didn't want to put her father into harm's way. But when she glanced down to argue, she observed an expression on his face that she rarely saw there, had not seen there since she was very small. And she found herself obeying.

So it was John Applegate who next faced the would-be assassin, his wheeled chair protecting most of his daughter's person. Peeking round the top of the frame, Maddie held her breath—if they angered this madman, who knew what he would do?

“So now we have a cripple to argue for my murdering cousin? Who will the craven send next—his old nanny?” the man with the gun sneered.

“My son-in-law, my future son-in-law, is no coward, nor is he a murderer. Your brother fired on him before the time was called, and it was your brother who insisted on the duel. It was your job to set up the duel properly, and you who failed in your duty. Perhaps it is your guilt that drives you mad—I neither know nor care.”

She had never heard her normally gentle father speak in such a tone. Maddie knew her eyes must be wide.

“So either fire, or leave this church. You soil our sacred ground,” John Applegate snapped.

The stranger wavered, and some of his resolve seemed to leak away. “He owes me a great debt—he killed my brother,” the man muttered in his curious voice, but he appeared to have lost some of his resolve.

John Applegate stared at him, and the other man's expression turned sullen. “I will find him!” he snarled. “I'll be Weller's executioner yet. You may tell him that!” But he suddenly looked ill at ease, glancing about as if he expected Adrian to slip in with a gun pointed his way, and as suddenly as he had come, he spun and stamped away. In a moment, the heavy church door slammed behind him.

Around them, she heard various sighs and exclamations as the other people in the church released their pent-up anxiety.

“Upon my word!” one of the men in a nearby pew snorted. “He's fit for Bedlam, or for hanging, and I'd like to pull the cord!”

“Are you all right, Applegate?” Another neighbor asked. “Damn impertinent bastard, I'd say.”

“Oh, Papa, you were splendid,” Maddie said softly, “I've never seen you so brave.” She bent to hug him.

“I could hardly stand by and watch my daughter shot,” He patted her hand. “But I think we should return home, don't you agree?”

Realizing that most of their neighbors were watching them with interest—they had certainly added to the local storehouse of gossip for some long time to come—she agreed. Felicity hurried to put a supportive arm about her, and they made their way, nodding to expressions of sympathy from friends, back to their carriage.

Of Adrian, there was still no sign.

When they were safely back inside their own house, her
father instructed Bess not to answer the door. Maddie realized with a sinking heart that he did not expect Adrian to return anytime soon.

“Did you know, Papa?” she demanded.

“What, dear?” he asked. “Now, I think we will all have some brandy.” He rolled his chair over to one of the cabinets and poured glasses for all of them.

Felicity accepted hers silently and took a small sip.

Maddie made a face at the taste and swallowed only a drop, putting it down and preferring to wait for the tea that Bess was brewing in the kitchen. “Did you know that Adrian would—that his cousin might break into the middle of—what happened to the men who were supposed to watch out for him? And where did Adrian go? Is he not coming back?”

Her father sighed. “How many questions is that? We were not sure, no, but it seemed quite likely, since he seemed to have discovered the viscount's location. And Lord Weller had almost a dozen men around the church, but it was impossible to know exactly how his cousin might come. To ring the church closely with armed men would have made a scandal, and the vicar would not allow us to do it.”

“The vicar got his scandal, anyhow,” Maddie pointed out, her tone bitter. “I hope he is satisfied.” His prohibition had ruined her wedding day, and she was not in the least happy!

Felicity looked sympathetic. Men were such unimaginative creatures, Maddie told herself. Here she was, wearing her wedding gown, and still not married. Bloody hell—just as well none of her sisters had been able to come up to her wedding.

Bess came into the sitting room and put the tea tray she carried onto the table.

“Now, don't take on, Miss Madeline,” the servant said. “I'm sure me lord will be back soon. I'm just 'appy no one is 'urt. When I saw that madman pointing 'is gun at ye, and then at Mr. Applegate, I thought me 'eart was going through me chest, I did!”

“He is not a craven, Bess!” Maddie said.

“No indeed,” the maid agreed. “Though, I must say, Mr. Applegate was that brave, I was so proud. Just like the old days, I told Thomas.”

Her father looked a bit self-conscious, with all the women in the room beaming at him. Maddie wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. What about Adrian—what were the rest of the parish thinking about him now? Would they think him a coward—how could they not—they didn't know the real story! It really was unfair.

When the tea had been poured and Bess had left the room, Maddie took her father a plate of cake, trying not to think what this was supposed to signify.

“Eat up, Papa. You are the hero of the hour, and we are eating my wedding cake, so we might as well enjoy it.”

Later, they consumed a bigger than normal dinner, with roast beef, puddings, and cake again, although Maddie, at least, had no appetite at all. It was a relief to go up to her bedroom because it was becoming impossible to continue to maintain a brave facade.

It was her wedding night, and she would spend it alone.

She removed her gown, with some help from Felicity. “It will yet work out,” her friend told her. “Would you like me to fetch you another glass of brandy? I think you deserve some help in sleeping.”

Maddie shook her head. “Thank you, but too much strong drink could give me a headache, and that's not worth it.”

“I forgot,” Felicity said. “No, you're right.”

Wearing a fetching new nightgown, and with no one to admire it, Maddie sat up in bed and hugged her knees, listening to the wind shake the trees outside her window and the sound of small creaks and groans as the house settled in the cooling night air.

At last, when the clock downstairs struck one, her door opened.

He came in quietly, his expression subdued.

“Oh, Adrian,” she said, releasing her breath as if she had been holding it for the whole long, difficult day.

He came swiftly to her and wrapped her in his arms. “My darling Madeline. I was afraid you would never want to see me again.”

“How could you think so!” she said, pulling him even closer and rejoicing in the solid feel of his body, the smell of cold night air on his clothes.

He leaned down and kissed her softly, then more firmly. Oh, his lips tasted of salt, as if he had sweated today, and he looked hungry and tired.

“You must be real,” she said, running her palm over his chin, which felt prickly with beard stubble. She had never seen him so disheveled before.

“Because if this were a dream, I would look more like a hero?” he suggested, which made her smile just for a moment.

“You will always be a hero to me,” she told him firmly.

That made him groan. “My dearest, I would not have left you, I promise you, except that I was terrified that he would start shooting, trying to bring me down, and you stood just between us in the line of fire.”

She nodded; she had worked it out already.

“Although I had brought a gun with me, I didn't dare take the chance of a shot, because again you stood just between us. I had to make a split-second decision, and I thought it safer for you if I moved out of sight. It felt like pulling out my own heart to leave you there, exposed to a madman who is so unpredictable—I will always remember that moment when I had to turn my back. I shall have nightmares about
that
for years to come!”

“Don't!” Maddie cried, aching at the torment she heard in his voice. “Dearest, don't, I am here, unharmed, as you see. And I understand.”

He pulled her even closer and held her so tightly that she could hardly take a breath. “Oh, Madeline, if I lost you I couldn't survive—”

“And how can I go on if I lose you?” she whispered into his chest, but she didn't think he heard. She didn't repeat herself; he was suffering enough already.

It seemed enough for the moment that they could cling together, like two children afraid of the dark, having seen the monsters that dwell there.

“Where did you go?” she asked him at last. “You disappeared so quietly and so quickly.”

“I went around to try to get a fair shot at my cousin, but he left too soon. I wanted to track him, but it seemed more important to be sure that no one followed you. Much later, when I was sure that all was calm, I slipped out again and returned here.”

“What do we do now, Adrian?” she asked, her voice husky as she waited for his answer, fearing what he would say.

“I shall have to move on, quickly, and try to find another hiding place where I can elude him for a time. It's clear that I shall have to confront him, but I do not want to kill the man in front of my new wife, if it must come to that,” Adrian told her. “I will kill him—I know that now—before I allow him to point a gun at you again!”

“But our wedding?” she asked, knowing that anxiety colored her voice. “Must we wait?”

“We will have our wedding, but without more public announcements, and crowds,” Adrian told her. “I was too rash, forgive me! I'm sorry that we must be so clandestine, but under the circumstances—”

“No, of course,” Maddie agreed. “It's just that I do think that we would be better to make sure the marriage vows are official. Unlike my mother, I do not have a childhood friend waiting in the wings to rescue me.”

For once, he could not follow her thought. Adrian raised his brows, and Maddie had to explain, smiling a little shyly.

When Adrian realized what news she had to share, his face lit up. “Dearest Madeline! Then we must certainly make sure our vows are unshakeably fixed and set down for all eternity. I would never have my son a bastard!”

“It could be a girl,” Maddie pointed out, as he bent to put his hand tenderly over her still flat stomach.

“No, no, the next one will be a girl,” Adrian predicted, “and as beautiful as her mother.” He kissed her with exquisite tenderness.

It was much more satisfying to kiss him back than to argue.

The next morning, they all left before the sun was even
up. Adrian set out by one path, in order not to draw any danger to them by his presence. Madeline and her father, with Felicity and the servants, traveled once more in the carriage, as quietly as they could manage, and they arrived at the vicarage to rouse the startled vicar, still in his gown and nightcap, out of bed.

“We'll have that wedding service read now, Vicar,” Adrian told him. “Hopefully, without interruption this time.”

“Ah, yes, yes,” the churchman said. Rubbing his eyes and looking nervously about, he led them into the church by the back door.

Thomas and Bess stood watch at the windows, and the doors were bolted while the vicar read the service in record time, stumbling over some of the words as he rattled them off, glancing often toward the back of the church as if he expected the lunatic cousin to make another appearance at any moment.

While the ceremony might be lacking in grace and the pews empty of well-wishers, Maddie was simply glad that at last they would be legally husband and wife, and the child she was increasingly sure she carried would have a proper lineage. And that she would be Adrian's wife was a joy of its own!