His Christmas Angel (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 8) (17 page)

“I grant you Lord Spaulding isn’t at all like Sir Wilfrid. However, he is still a man that she barely knows, and you expect her to marry him, and share the rest of her life with him. Not to mention bear his children? How could you, Clarence? You are being bloody vexing.”

“I don’t want to start a row between the two of you,” Tiny said softly.

“You are doing nothing of the kind,” Clarence said. “Ann just needs to see sense.”

“I do see sense. I understand that Fanny has been placed in an untenable situation. She…she must be quite distraught. Her father expects her to marry a man that she doesn’t love!”

He felt as if he had been punched in the gut.

“You married me without loving me. You told me as much,” he said softly. “And yet, you still married me.”

“I didn’t have any other choice. Fanny does. She doesn’t have to do what I did. She doesn’t have to put herself into such a loathsome position.” 

Awkward horrible silence hung between them all. Ann gasped, clapping her hand over mouth. She realized what her rashly spoken words had done. She was horrified by what she had said, and so was he.

Her words had damned her well and good.

Pain shot through Clarence. He felt robbed of breath. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Had all of their time together still meant so little to her? Did she think so badly of him? How could she say such a hurtful thing?

“I think we…I think we should make ourselves scarce, Tiny. Clarence and the Countess need to finish their lover’s spat without us,” Lucky interjected. “Come on, let us go and see if we can find some of Clarence’s fine whisky. Maybe it will dull this awful ache in my head.”

Tiny and Lucky quickly left.

“I…” Ann had gone as white as a sheet. “I didn’t mean it the way that it came out, Clarence. Pray, listen to me. I said what I said without thinking.” She rushed to him, and closed the distance between them. He quickly stood up, and moved away from her.

“I don’t think we should continue on this course, Ann. I think…I think I need some time alone. I told you when you married me that you might have to leave me be when I was in an ill-tempered mood, and right now…I feel a little bit cross. I am a bit sore at you. I don’t think any good can come from us continuing to trade words, like this. It will only make one of us say something else that we shouldn’t.”

She reached for his hands, and drew them to her heaving bosom. “I didn’t mean it, Clarence. When I came to you to ask for you protection, I was desperate. You knew that. I had no other choice. I had no other way of escaping Sir Wilfrid, and you knew all of that and yet you still wanted me. You didn’t have to marry me.”

He looked away from her. “I didn’t have to marry you?” His words sounded hollow to his ears. “How do you figure that, Ann? I was…no, I am a man in love. I couldn’t deny that love any more than I could deny having to drink when I am thirsty or eat when I am hungry. You haunted my every waking hour, you still do. I think of you more than I think of myself. With you, I am totally unselfish, and I thought…I thought that things had changed between us in the last fortnight. I thought I had won your love. I was mistaken. I…I do need to be by myself now,” he said, pulling away from her. “I will see you at dinner, and then, afterward we shall have the servants bring in the decorations.”

With those parting words, he turned his back to her, and walked away. He had to clear his mind, and the best way to do that was to take a nice long stroll down to the village.

“Clarence,” she said, a sob catching in her voice. “Please, don’t go. Don’t leave me—not now. I have so much more to say to you. I will beg you for your forgiveness. Just please, don’t go.”

He halted, giving time to consider her words. Without turning back to her, he continued on his way, ignoring her pleas. He couldn’t indulge her right now. How could he when he felt as if she had shot him through the heart with a poison tipped arrow?

Ann’s mind raced.

She couldn’t allow Clarence to leave, not without smoothing things out between them. She couldn’t bear the thought of him believing her to be such a heartless wretch. One thing had led to another, and she had found herself saying things that she didn’t mean, horrified that they were coming out of her mouth. As she reflected back upon it, her words repulsed her. The dejected expression on his face—it had shattered her heart. He looked as if she had destroyed his world.

She chewed her lip, until she tasted blood, and dashed back to their bedchamber. Maybe he went back there. Although, he did have a dressing room, that they could both use, she rarely did—she always got ready for the day in her bedchamber, and he had his own bedchamber that he rarely used. She rushed into the dressing room to find his valet, looking at her in astonishment, as he organized Clarence’s things.

“Where is my husband?”

“The Earl came for some boots and a heavy coat. He has decided to go for a walk. I think he said he was off to the village.”

Clarence had taken her to the village a few days ago, to pay a visit to a few older ladies that had been friends of the family for years. They had brought them a basket filled with goodies, and the elderly women had been delighted to see them.

Clarence had been his old charming self with them, and had brightened their day considerably. She had seen him put a few coins in a purse, and then, he had tucked that small purse into the bottom of the basket. She had a feeling that he gave them money whenever he was in residence at Evesham Hall, and they never spoke of his generosity, though she could see by the way they reacted to him that they were grateful.

It wasn’t a long jaunt. She could make it on her own. She dashed back into her own bedchamber and reached for a warm cloak. Laying it on her bed, she changed into some good walking boots, and took out some warmer gloves. She placed the gloves with the cloak, and then walked over to her escritoire. Reaching for the missive that was from Fanny, she broke the seal, and quickly started to read it.

Dearest Ann,

I write this letter with tears in my eyes. I am about to lose my father. He has been terribly ill for far too long, and he’s become thin and gaunt, in recent weeks. A shadow of the robust man he used to be. I know that he is worried about leaving me behind, without anyone to take care of me…and on a lark, I told him that I would only marry a man that we both knew such a long time ago. I told him that man was the only man on Earth that I would even consider marrying. He was a man that served under my father. He was his personal servant, and helped to watch over Mama and me whenever we went to visit Papa, during the time that he was fighting Boney. He was a great giant of a man—and I told my father that he is the only man for me. Oh, Ann, Papa did the impossible, he found that man. A mutual friend told him where to find him, and Papa has gone to London to enlist his help. I…I have called this calamity upon myself and I fear that I shall have to do go through with it, as Papa shan’t return empty handed. He always gets what he wants. What if the gentle man I remembered isn’t the man who shows up here at Blessing Hall? It was such a long time ago, and fear I might have romanticized him in my mind. What if I only remember him as a hero, and he’s turned into something quite the reverse? I never dreamt that he would have raised himself to such an extent. I never dreamt that he would now be a baron and therefore deemed acceptable in my father’s eyes. Oh, what shall I do? Papa shall linger long enough to make certain that we are married, his resolve is like steel—and perhaps, perhaps, if Lord Spaulding is still the laughing good natured fellow who used to wink at me, tell me stories, and treated me like I was a princess—maybe…maybe it won’t be such a bad thing after all. Oh, how he made my young little heart race back then. I thought I was hopelessly in love with him, and I had my hopes dashed when Mama told me that I could never think to marry a man like him. She said that a man such as he could never hope to win my hand, as I was an earl’s daughter, and far above him in station. It didn’t stop me from constantly thinking about him, and wondering what it would be like to have him court me. I do believe that is why I never made it on the marriage mart. Once I met such a dashing scoundrel, the others that were offered to me at the balls and routs paled in comparison. They didn’t have his sparkling eyes, or his cheeky smile. I pray my memory serves me because if I have not recalled him as he is…I shall never forgive myself. I do not think it shall be a trial to fall in love with Lord Spaulding, should he not be greatly altered. If he has changed beyond recognition, I shall rue my words to my papa bitterly.

I do know one thing, I can’t abide the thought of marriage to my cousin. You know how truly horrible he is. I think that being married to Lord Spaulding—as long as he is still an honourable man, with a good heart, would be far preferable. I pray my memories do not deceive me.

I beg of you, Ann, write to me without delay, and tell me more about Lord Spaulding. Papa’s friend, Mr. Lovett told him that you know him that Lord Evesham knows him well.

Oh, how Mr. Lovett sang Lord Spaulding’s praises. He said that he was all that I remembered, and more. He told Papa that he was a man capable of making me a happy wife, and that he possessed a strong mind, body and spirit, and could defend me against any who tried to come at me in my time of grief. And, he said that Lord Spaulding was in possession of his own fortune, he would not be going after mine. I don’t mind sharing—but I love Blessing Hall with a passion, and my cousin would change it—he would make me a feel like an intruder in my home.

Once Papa is gone from this world, my aunts would come at me, and somehow, they shall talk me into marrying their precious Peter. I thought I could remain as I am and become an old maid, but alas, I cannot. Wedding bells shall ring for me soon.

I do hope you are in good health, and enjoying marital harmony. Happy Christmas, Ann.

Your loving friend,

Fanny

Ann’s hand went limp, and she dropped the letter. She had been wrong. So terribly wrong.

Fanny had picked Felix.

Fanny had once been besotted with Felix, and she, Ann Deville had treated the prospective match with such lip curling contempt. Oh, what had she done? She had made such rash judgements. Fanny didn’t need saving, she had chosen Felix, such as he was. She wanted the giant fellow as her husband.

Maybe Fanny had chosen Lord Spaulding for all of the wrong reasons. After all, she had picked him because she had believed her father would never conjure him into existence, but she had chosen him, and she was right—he would be better than her foul cousin. Who was, as Lord Spaulding would call him, a bloody toff. She reached for her gloves and cloak, and raced from the room. She had to find Clarence, and she had to beg for his forgiveness!

She was crossing the grounds of the Estate, having managed to elude the servants who hadn’t wanted her to leave unescorted. Lovely fat snowflakes started to fall from the sky, and hoar frost covered the ground and the trees.

Fear trickled over her, as she suddenly had the sense of being watched. She quickened her pace once she heard footsteps behind her crunching on the ground. She had nothing to fight them with, and no one was close enough to hear her scream.

The wind picked up, and the howling of it would drown out any of her screams. The church bells started to ring and the beautiful sound made her heart freeze with fear. No one would hear her now. She could scream her bloody lungs out and no one would hear her until the bells stopped tolling their beautiful tune.

In a heart-stopping moment, hands reached out for her and lifted her clear off the ground. She thrashed wildly against her assailant, dropping her muff in her struggles. A desperate scream escaped her, even though she knew it would bring no help. No one would hear her. The blackguards had timed their abduction perfectly. Her heart sunk as she heard Sir Wilfrid whisper into her ear. “Do stop struggling, wench, or I shall have to take it out of your hide later on once we are in my carriage.”

Dread slowly slithered over her. This man wasn’t someone she wanted to spend two minutes with. Let alone the amount of time he had in mind. He dragged her to a waiting carriage. How had they managed to evade the men who were supposed to be watching Evesham Hall? Hadn’t they been employed to keep them safe while remaining inconspicuous?

Clarence had told her about them. She had seen them following their carriages when they had traveled down here. They had looked like a private militia. Their numbers had been so vast. Sir Wilfrid certainly had gall to try and attempt to capture her under such a fierce guard.

He didn’t have many men waiting with the carriage. He was bold as brass doing this. The man was a bloody rapscallion, and far too dangerous. She had never felt so afraid before.

“You will pay dearly for this affront. You…you miscreant,” she muttered. He pushed her into his carriage, and then stood watching her with a jeering expression on his face.

“No, my love. You will pay dearly for it. Now, just wait here while I go and rid you of that little braggart you are married to. Soon, you will be a widow, and then, you shall be mine. His blasted family has all but ruined me here in England, so we shall away to France, where I still have a few contacts who owe me a living.”

He slammed the carriage door shut, and she moved to open it, only to come face to face with a brute. His face was covered with scars, and pockmarks, and he had eyes that sent a chill straight through her heart. “Move your pretty little arse back into the carriage, my lady, or I shall move it for you, and I wager you don’t want that.”

Frozen with fear, she did as he instructed, and sat trembling on the blue satin squabs. Where was Clarence? Would he be able to fight back against Sir Wilfrid or would the villain cut his throat? No…he would emerge victorious. Sir Wilfrid was far too confident for his own good, and he didn’t look half as capable as Clarence.

The bells stopped ringing and silence blanketed her world. The sound of a scuffle outside of the carriage made her strain her hearing. She listened for a voice she could recognize.

“Ann,” Clarence’s comforting voice emerged over the grunts of other men. “You are safe now, my love.” The carriage door was whisked open, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Slowly, her heartbeat finally stopped galloping like a runaway horse. She scrambled toward him, and he pulled her out of the carriage. Falling against him, she kissed him madly, and then breathlessly drew away.

“Oh, thank God. Thank God, you are safe. I do love you, Clarence, I have never felt such fear when I thought that you were going to be taken from me. I have been a bloody fool. Oh, Clarence, I thought I had lost you. I thought you…I thought you were in dire peril. I have never been so happy to see you. I am so sorry for what I said. Can you ever forgive me?” She knew she was rambling, babbling like an idiot, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. “You are so important to me…I couldn’t bear life without you now…that dreadful Sir Wilfrid told me he was going to make me a widow, and I don’t ever want to be a widow. I will never be able to earn your forgiveness, Clarence. I…I was such a little chit. Of course, Lord Spaulding is nothing like Sir Wilfrid—and Fanny…Fanny picked him…she wants to marry him, she told her father that there was only one man on Earth that she would marry, and that man was Lord Spaulding.”

“She did?” Felix sounded surprised.

“Hush,” Clarence said, his eyes softening with love. “There is nothing to forgive…I love you so much, Ann. Nothing you could say could ever push me away.” They kissed again, and then parted when Felix and Lucky cleared their throats.

“We hate to interrupt your kiss and make up, Clarence but time is of the essence, right now,” Lucky said somberly.

“Indeed,” Clarence said gruffly.

“Where is Sir Wilfrid?” she asked softly, not able to take her eyes off of Clarence. 

“One of our guards is dressed like me and he is leading him around on a merry chase right now. Felix and Lucky came and warned me shortly after I set off from the Estate. He…he and Lucky spotted the danger. I failed to see it. I suppose my head was clouded with other things. The men watching, did as they were told, they watched and readied themselves to put Sir Wilfrid in a rather unfortunate situation.”

“I thought…I thought they weren’t doing their jobs. I thought they had left their posts,” she stammered. “I thought…I thought they were useless.”

“Nothing of the kind. They wouldn’t be our mates if they couldn’t follow orders. Oh, they were vigilant, and Clarence handled himself quite admirably with the blackguards we tussled with,” Felix said, smiling broadly. “And with a foolish adversary like Sir Wilfrid it wasn’t too hard for the men to do what was required of them. The rest of his thugs have been dispatched, Clarence. Now, we only have to set the trap for that bastard. Do you still want to do it the way we had planned out, earlier?”

“Aye. I think he should continue along with his false sense of confidence. Don’t you?”

“Oh, I think it jolly good fun,” Felix said.

“Best bit of fun we have had in ages. Felix, I think you would look rather fetching in Ann’s scarlet cloak,” Lucky mused.

“It won’t fit me too well, but he’s such a daft arrogant fellow, he probably won’t notice until it’s too late.” Felix took his greatcoat off, and looked at Ann. “Can we make a trade, my lady?”

She stood dumbfounded for a few moments, and then with Clarence’s assistance, she slipped out of her cloak, and took Felix’s heavy coat instead. Even though it was a generous fit, it wouldn’t begin to fit Lord Spaulding’s large frame.