Carla Kelly (30 page)

As Omega watched
in alarm, terrible, murderous anger overtook Rotherford again. He
struggled against it, his face growing red and then white. Matthew
watched him imperturbably, his leg swinging slightly.

Rotherford took a
deep breath. “You forget that I can ruin you, Matthew. And now I
will.”

Matthew only
smiled and looked down at Omega, who stared at him wide-eyed. “Lord
Rotherford—Edwin—I would appeal to your nobler instincts, but you
have none. You can’t threaten me with ruin; I am already ruined.
You have destroyed my happiness, and that of the woman I love. What
else is there? You can kill me, and welcome to it, Rotherford.” He
leaned closer. “Who cares?”

Rotherford looked
from Omega to Matthew. His eyes traveled to her again, and she
curled up closer to Matthew. “This ... this little scrap is Omega
Chartley,” he said, his voice filled with a curious combination of
amusement and wrath. “Of course! You described her to me that night
at Watier’s, didn’t you?”

Matthew nodded.
“
 
‘A waist small
enough to span with two hands, and hair like a dandelion puff.’ And
did I say she was liable to speak her mind? Sorry, Omega,” he said,
looking down at her with a smile. “But you must agree, it is
apt.”

She nodded and
relaxed slightly, although she did not release her grip on the
unconscious sergeant.

“
Edwin, she knows everything. I told her the whole wretched
story. You can’t threaten to tell her, because she knows. So does
that very fine man you slapped silly. So does your own Bow Street
Runner. I’ll run a column in the London
Times
if you choose.
I’ll stand up in the House of Lords and declare it. You can’t
frighten me anymore.”

“
But
you could hang for that murder,” Rotherford reminded
him.

“
Could
I? I have a signed statement from the ashman at 23 Quallen Lane,
and he tells a different story than you do. And besides, whoever
said there was a murder in the first place? You hushed all that
up.” Matthew got to his feet suddenly. “You studied my rather
casual courage and
knew
I would do nothing to contest your
guardianship of Jamie. You played me like a harp and put me in your
debt
.” He spat the word out. “I discovered in London
yesterday that I owe you nothing, Rotherford.” He looked away from
Rotherford then, as if he were bored with the whole conversation.
“Tomorrow at dawn on the knoll behind Byford Common. Anyone can
tell you where it is.” Matthew made a final gesture with his hand.
“Now, get out of my sight, Edwin. You sicken me.”

Rotherford
regarded Matthew for a long moment, rubbing his chin in a
meditative fashion. “Matthew, you are overlooking the most
pertinent fact of all: I am a wondrous fine shot and you are not.
I’ll kill you tomorrow.”

Matthew laughed
and walked to the door, flinging it open wider and gesturing toward
the hall. “Edwin, don’t you
ever
listen? I don’t care! Get
out of here.”

Rotherford
stalked to the door and looked back. “But if you are dead, Matthew,
I will have Jamie.”

Matthew laughed
again and shook his head. “Dear God, Edwin, you have no idea how
amusing you are! I place all my trust in Omega and Hugh Owen, even
after I am dead. You’ll never have Jamie as long as they are about.
I do wish you would leave. You’re so tiresome, and I am sleepy.” He
smiled at Rotherford. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Rotherford swore
roundly until Omega put her hands to her ears, and then left,
banging the front door so hard that something in the hall crashed
to the floor.

“
Temper, temper, Edwin,” said Matthew softly, and then got down
on his knees beside Omega. “Well, my dandelion puff, you look a bit
hagged, but infinitely better than this stalwart soul.” He touched
Hugh’s slashed cheek. “Is that the work of Rotherford’s ring? Good
Lord.”

Omega dabbed at
Hugh’s bloody face with the train of her dress. “We should summon a
doctor, Matthew.”

Matthew rested
his hand on the back of Omega’s neck. “We cannot, my dear. The good
doctor would demand an explanation, and scream loud and long for
the constable, and there would be no duel. No, Hugh will have to
yield himself up to our mercies. He’s seen much worse, Omega, I
needn’t scruple to tell you.” He touched his forehead to hers. “Can
you walk?”

“
I
think so.” She tugged at his sleeve as he bent over Hugh. “Is
Rotherford really such a marksman?”

Matthew nodded,
and there was no smile this time. “He is, Omega. I’m probably
looking forward to my last dawn. Oh, here, now, don’t start
that!”

Omega grabbed his
arm and sobbed into his sleeve. “At least you’re not crying all
over my best coat this time,” he said softly, and rested his hand
on her head while she cried. “Look now, Hugh is coming around.
Let’s help him into this chair.”

Hugh opened his
eyes and stared from one person to the other. “I was going to
challenge him to a duel, Matthew,” he said finally, his words
slurred.

“
Bless
you, Hugh, I beat you to it,” Matthew replied. “We’re going to get
you upstairs and see you to bed. I can’t summon a doctor, at least
until after ... after tomorrow morning. Omega, don’t you dare start
in again.”

She swallowed her
tears with a great effort and helped Hugh to his feet. In the hall,
Twinings took over for her, an apology in his eyes.

“
My
lord, we were so afraid. I’m sorry.” He could not look his master
in the eye.

“
You
were wise not to get involved, Twinings. Rotherford is a nasty
customer.” He glanced at Tildy, who stood near the stairs wringing
her apron through her hands. “But, my dear, I am glad you screamed.
It certainly put a spring in my step.” He sighed then, and turned
Hugh over to the footman beside her. “It has been a long, long
day.”

He watched the
butler and the footman lead Hugh Owen upstairs, and put his arm
around Omega. “Let us go into the parlor, my dear. I feel quite
old, all of a sudden.”

Matthew shut the
door and sank down onto a sofa. “Omega, could you pull off these
boots? I’ve been in the saddle since early morning, and everything
aches.”

She did as he
asked, and then sat beside him.

“
As
the estimable Timothy Platter would say ... Oh, no, I will not
repeat it. Omega, I have added greatly to my vocabulary in the last
forty-eight hours. Lord, is that all it has been? But see here,
you’re not paying attention, my little educationist.”

She shook her
head as he tried to lift her chin. “And you need to pay attention,
Omega. I have a proposition to set before you that would make me
most happy, on this last night of my life.”

She closed her
eyes and leaned against him. Matthew settled himself more
comfortably and put his arm around her. “It’s a simple thing. I
have in my pocket—and it is likely soaking wet—one special license
for the marriage of Omega Chartley, spinster, to Matthew Bering,
Lord Byford, bachelor. I propose that you marry me this night
without any more delay. I have named you beneficiary of my lands
and estates, and I mean for you to collect. If it comes to probate,
it will be easier if you are my wife.”

Omega pulled away
and stared at him. “Matthew, I wish you would not talk this
way!”

“
But I
must,” he declared, taking her by the shoulders and giving her a
little shake. “If Rotherford survives me, as he surely will, he
will find a way to get all of Jamie’s fortune. Of this I have no
doubt. But if you inherit my estates, while they are not as grand,
you can at least provide Jamie a comfortable living, and one for
yourself
,
too. I’m the
author of your eight-year misery, my dear, and it’s time to make
what amends I can. Now, hush and give me no chat.”

Sitting close to
Matthew in the early-morning hours, Omega faced what he was saying
squarely and without tears. He was right, of course. With his
legacy, she could see that Jamie was well-cared-for, educated, and
fitted for a position of use in the world. There would be enough
for Angela
,
too. And
there would be Hugh to manage the estates.

Matthew seemed to
divine precisely what she was thinking. “Omega, there will be
sufficient money and then some for you to start an eccentric
project or two, say, something like providing education for
Byford’s daughters. Something that will keep them ... keep them
from the streets of London. It’s small compensation, but—” He could
say no more.

Omega put her
finger to his lips. “Let it rest now, Matthew. You’ve punished
yourself enough.”

When he could
speak, he turned to her. “Omega, will you marry me?”

She looked right
back at him, wishing for a small moment that her hair was tidy, her
face not tear-spotted, and her dress clean and free from
bloodstains. “Yes.”

“
Very
well, my dear. Let us hobble down to the bookroom and—”

“
But
who is to marry us?” she interrupted as she allowed him to pull her
along.

“
You
forget, Miss Chartley. I am a justice of the peace. I’ll do this
myself. If I were able to consummate this and we were to live
together as husband and wife, I doubt it would hold up in a
courtroom, but for now, and for our purposes, it will suffice. We
can rely on Tildy and Twinings to witness.”

Tildy made an
excellent attendant, holding Omega up and taking the strain from
her ankle, as Matthew held her other hand and read the marriage
lines. His voice was firm. He looked at her with great love, and in
the middle of her complete misery, Omega felt a tiny tugging of
hope that she knew would betray her at dawn.

She knew there
would be no ring, but Matthew surprised her. “I had left this with
my solicitor, dearest,” he said as he slipped on her wedding ring.
“The date inscribed inside says 1808. We were merely ... a little
slow.”

Matthew declared
them man and wife, and he kissed her to seal the bargain. Tildy
wept into her apron as Twinings inspected the row of ledgers behind
the desk as if searching for dust. He sniffed once or twice, and
then blew his nose hard.

Matthew closed
the book and replaced it on the shelf. He signed the license and
handed the pen to Omega, who signed. The witnesses affixed their
signatures, and Matthew stamped the document to make it
legal.

“
I
will not ... not likely be able to register this with the proper
authority, Omega,” he said. “You’ll have to see it is done as soon
after ... as soon as you can. Don’t neglect it.”

“
I
won’t,” she said, her voice tiny.

“
And
now good night,” he said. “Twinings, Tildy, thank you for your
services. Twinings, make sure that I am summoned by five o’clock.
Come, Omega.”

They went
upstairs arm in arm. “My dear, this is a shockingly informal kind
of marriage, and one that you know I am unable to consummate, as
much as I would wish it. But if you please, let us lie together
tonight. I do not really wish to be alone.” She felt the slight
shudder that ran through him. “I confess to some
trepidation.”

She did not
answer, but hugged him tighter around the waist. In her room, she
thoughtfully removed her dress as he sat on the bed watching her
but not seeing her. Her heart ached and she wondered what was on
his mind. She found a nightgown and put it on, crawling into bed
with a sigh. The bed was so comfortable. If she were not so numb,
Omega knew that she would fall asleep in an instant.

Matthew went into
his bedroom and returned in his nightshirt. He stopped at the side
of the bed, looking down at her. “You do not mind?”

Omega blew out
the candle and settled herself again. “Don’t be a goose,
Matthew.”

She heard him
chuckle as he got into bed. He held out his arms for her and
gathered her close. Omega curled up against him, resting her head
on his chest.

“
I
always did like the way you just fit under my arm,” he said. His
voice was close to her ear, and drowsy. “How pleasant this is. How
I envy myself.” She felt his chuckle again. “Dear God. I have less
than five hours until my morning appointment. Wouldn’t a sane man
spend the time talking and talking, and trying to say everything
there was to say?”

“
Please, no,” she said. “I can’t bear it.”

“
But I
only want to drift off to sleep in your arms. To me that is heaven,
my dearest, beloved wife. Good night.”

She listened as
his breathing grew deep and regular, and even the beat of his heart
slowed. She knew that she would never sleep, but she did, safe in
her husband’s arms.

The room was cool
when she woke, cool and dark. Omega sighed and moved closer to
Matthew and then opened her eyes. He was gone. His warm spot in the
bed was already turning cold.

She sat up and
threw back the covers, hurtling out of bed, gasping when she stood
on her ankle, and then reaching for her robe. The hall was
deserted. She descended the stairs, moving carefully, feeling for
the last step so she would not fall.

Omega limped to
the front door. It was still bolted, so she knew he had not left.
“Matthew!” she called. “Matthew! Oh, please don’t leave me like
this!”