Kane Samantha - Brothers in arms 1 (22 page)

Lady Randall reached behind her blindly and Kate took her hand. The older woman clung to it. After several minutes she sat up, and tried to get control of herself.

Tony offered her a handkerchief, and she delicately wiped her face.

“I’m sorry, my dears, so sorry. Can you ever forgive a foolish old woman?” Her voice cracked on the last word, as if she might break down again.

Kate sat on the arm of her chair and put an arm around her shoulders, hugging her tightly to her side. “I can forgive you anything, Lady Randall, because Jason loves you so much, and will be so happy you have accepted us.”

Lady Randall patted her hand comfortingly. “Mother, my dear, please.” She turned to look at Kate. “I, well, I’m sorry to be so indelicate, my dear, but is there a chance you might be carrying Jason’s child?”

Kate pulled back, embarrassed. She looked to Tony for guidance. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Yes,” he answered, “there is a possibility that Kate may be with child. But I must be honest with you, Lady Randall; the child might not be Jason’s.”

It was Lady Randall’s turn to look slightly embarrassed. “Mother, dear, please.

Well, that’s certainly up-front.” She looked down at her hands as she nervously fingered the silk of her gown. “Does Jason care?”

Very spoke behind them. “He would welcome any child of Tony’s as if it were his own.” Her voice was as rough as the others, from days of crying, but the belligerence was still evident.

Lady Randall turned around, startled. “Another one? I thought, I mean, Jason only mentioned one girl.”

Very’s cheeks reddened, and Kate rushed to correct her. “Oh, no, Lady, I mean, Mother. This is Miss Veronica Thomas, my niece. She has become rather close to Jason recently. He treats her like his own niece.”

“Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. I was confused. Do forgive me.” Lady Randall’s heartfelt apology deflated Very’s anger.

“I’m sure he would love Tony’s child as his own. You’re quite right. That being the case, we need to get you two married at once,” she said briskly to Kate as she pushed herself up from her chair.

“W-what?” Kate stammered. She looked at Very and Tony and saw they were just as shocked.

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“If,” Lady Randall hesitated, the words obviously hard for her, “if something should happen, Jason deserves to have his child inherit.” She looked around at them all, including Doctor Peters, who had been standing quietly in the back of the room. “As far as society is concerned, this wedding took place before Jason’s injury. It can be arranged.”

Doctor Peters stepped forward. “My Lady, if I might suggest, I will send a note to Mr. Matthews, a vicar who served with us in the war. He can be trusted.”

“Yes, yes,” she murmured, losing the temporary strength her newfound purpose had given her. “Make it so.” She leaned on Kate’s arm. “So tired, my dear. Could you show me to my room?” She stumbled, and Very took hold of her other arm to help support her. “What a good girl you are, my dear,” she said absently.

When they left the room, Jason began to mumble again. Tony turned to him, and sat down, putting his hand on Jason’s arm.

“Well, darling, it looks as if we’re going to be married.”

117

Samantha Kane

It took a full day for Mr. Stephen Matthews, Vicar of Ashton on the Green, the home of Freddie’s country seat, to arrive. Kate and Tony had despaired of his being on time, as Jason’s fever had spiked during the third day, and even the doctor had seemed disheartened and preparing for the worst. During the night, however, Jason’s fever broke in a maelstrom of thrashing, sweating, and delirium.

His room had grown so crowded it was hard to move as all his friends had come, afraid it was their last chance to say goodbye. Kate was weak with fatigue. She’d eaten very little and slept less the last three days, and her frequent bouts of heavy weeping had sapped what little strength she had.

Tony was the walking wounded. He loved Kate dreadfully, but wasn’t sure he was strong enough to go on without Jason. He wanted to be, God knew, for Kate’s sake, but just the thought of life without Jason made him feel hollow inside. He had to step out of the room at one point because he was trembling so badly everyone noticed.

It was around three in the morning when Jason’s fever broke. Kate was sure he was dying, and fell to her knees beside Jason’s bed, weeping and praying as feverishly as Jason was muttering and shouting in his delirium. Thank God she didn’t realize what he was saying. With a room full of men, Kate would have been horrified to hear him describing in shocking detail the night the three of them had spent together before the duel. Doctor Peters had led her from the room and let her return only after she took a small draught of laudanum to calm her down.

By the time Kate came back, Jason’s delirium had passed, and he was sleeping. The doctor checked the bandage over his wound, and reported the infection seemed to be getting better, but Tony was afraid to be too optimistic. Jason had yet to wake up since he had collapsed after being shot.

He was still sleeping the following morning when Mr. Matthews arrived. He hurried up to Jason’s bedchamber, and was ushered through the gantlet of old friends with hugs and handshakes as he made his way to the bed.

“Tony, my God, what’s happened? I received Doctor Peters’ missive, and fairly flew from home, only taking time to tell the smithy as I saddled my horse. How is he?” He knelt beside Jason’s bed and clasped his hand, his head bowing in prayer without waiting for an answer. Kate slowly lowered herself beside him, as did Tony, and soon the whole room followed suit.

“Lord, please bless Jason, whatever your plan is for him. There are many here who would miss him were you to call him to your side, particularly Kate and Tony. He is still needed here. Please remember that when making your decision. Bless this house and all who live and love here, and help them accept what may or may not be. Amen.”

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The Courage To Love

They all stood, except Kate, who was dry-eyed for the first time in days. She had no tears left. Mr. Matthews held out his hand to help her up.

“You must be Kate. I’ve heard so much about you from Jason and Tony, I feel I know you, my dear. Please try to be strong.” He was so kind and gentle and his blond, boyish good looks added to the charm of the country vicar.

“Thank you, Mr. Matthews, for coming so quickly.” She glanced around the room nervously. “Perhaps we should discuss why we called you here privately.”

Tony was shaking his head before she even finished. “No, Kate. I trust everyone here. They are as much a part of our life as any family could be.” He turned to the vicar.

“Stephen, we want you to marry Jason and Kate. It’s what he wants, and if,” he couldn’t say he doesn’t make it, “if something happens, we want to know that Kate and any child she may have will bear his name.” Stephen started to speak, but Tony wasn’t done. “It’s what we dreamed of, Stephen, all those long nights in hell. Please.”

Stephen sighed. “It’s highly irregular, Tony, and if anyone contests the validity of the marriage, it probably won’t hold up. But if it’s what you want, and truly what Jason wants, then I’ll do it.” He started to glance around the room, then looked back at Tony in afterthought. “Have you a license?”

Tony pulled one from his jacket pocket, much to Kate’s surprise. “Yes, Jason got a special license as soon as he asked Kate to marry him. He said that when she finally said yes, he wasn’t going to give her time to change her mind.”

Kate raised a trembling hand to her mouth. Oh, if only she hadn’t denied them. If she’d only said yes, it wouldn’t be like this. Her wedding day would have been joyous, celebrated in a church with friends around them, and Jason well and happy. He might never have gone to that duel.

Stop it, she told herself firmly.
You said you were tired of the what-ifs, so stop thinking
them.
This is the way it is, and even if it’s only for a short time, she would pledge her love to Jason before God and man.

She felt a hand on her elbow, and looked up at Tony, by her side, as he had been all these long, torturous hours since Jason was shot. How she loved him, how she needed him. She turned into his embrace gladly.

“Is everyone ready, then?” Mr. Matthews asked, pulling a small Bible from his pocket.

“No, no,” Kate said, turning to him. “Please, just a moment more.” She looked to the other men in the room. “Would someone go and get Very, and Lady Randall, please?”

They were already in place when Wolf Tarrant returned, supporting Lady Randall on one side, while Very held her arm on the other.

119

Samantha Kane

“Lady Randall,” the vicar made a small bow to her as she came to stand next to Tony beside the bed. “I’m Mr. Matthews. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady. You raised quite a wonderful son.”

“Thank you, Mr. Matthews. I think so, too. Now, let us proceed as quickly as possible so he can marry this wonderful girl.” She laid her hand on Kate’s shoulder where she sat on the bed at Jason’s side, and gave it a comforting squeeze.

“Thank you, Mother,” Kate whispered, patting her hand. “Tony,” she said, reaching for his hand. He clasped it tightly, and nodded at Stephen to begin.

The room was silent as the marriage ceremony proceeded. Stephen wasn’t verbose by any means, but he said a few meaningful words about marriage, and the true communion of man and woman, sanctified by God, which struck a chord with all those present.

Kate said her vows in a strong voice, still a little rough from ill usage the last few days. But when it came time for Jason’s, they realized they had no ring. Freddie stepped forward, and handed Tony a ring that had adorned his smallest finger.

“It’s not much, but I give it to you in love, knowing you will do the same.” The ring was beautiful filigreed gold in a wide band, set with opals and diamonds in a cluster.

“Was my Grandmere’s,” he said as he handed it over. “She was a capital gal.”

Kate smiled her thanks tremulously, and turned back to Jason. When the vicar asked if Jason would take Kate to wed, she closed her eyes, expecting to hear Tony’s voice. Instead a rather irritated voice spoke from the bed.

“Bloody hell, Kate, you had to wait until I was at death’s door to marry me?”

“Jason,” Kate gasped, her eyes flying open.

Lady Randall shrieked and fainted dead away. Freddie caught her before she hit the floor. Tony was too shocked to react quickly enough.

Kate threw herself on Jason’s chest.

“Christ, woman, be careful,” he growled. He lifted a trembling hand to stroke her hair. His eyes were mere slits. “I’m weak as a babe and my head is splitting, so let’s get on with this.”

Tony couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry, so he did both. He fell to his knees by the bed, for the first time in days not in prayer or despair, but weak with joy.

“Jase,” he cried. “We thought we were losing you.”

“I’m not ready to cock up my toes yet.” Jason’s eyes were beginning to open more, and he looked around the room. “Fuck, is this a wedding or a wake?”

By now half the room was laughing as people called out his name.

“Watch your language, young man,” Lady Randall said weakly from the chair she had been lowered into.

“Mother?” Jason rasped in disbelief.

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The Courage To Love

“Oh, Jason, she’s been wonderful,” Kate told him. “This wedding was her idea. She didn’t want you to die without ensuring any baby was secure.”

Jason smiled weakly. “In that case, let’s get on with it. I believe it was my cue. I do.

There, are we done?”

Tony tried to give him Freddie’s ring to place on Kate’s finger, but Jason refused.

“In our eyes, the three of us are getting married. It’s only right you place the ring on her finger, Tony.”

Kate cried, again, when Stephen pronounced them all married. This time, her tears were tears of joy.

Three weeks later, Jason was bored out of his mind, and as horny as he was bored.

He had hardly been allowed to wipe his own ass these past weeks, and he was heartily tired of it. He felt fine, goddamn it, with nothing but a twinge in his shoulder to remind him of the injury.

He was anxious to start looking for Robertson. After shooting Jason prematurely, the man had run. Phillip and Jonathan and several others had pursued him, but he went to ground like a fox. He was socially ruined, and several of his creditors had the authorities looking for him, as well. Supposedly none of his cronies knew where he’d gone. Jason and Tony were convinced he would return. He was a man who liked revenge above all things; he would not let this go unpunished. They kept their thoughts to themselves, however, for Kate was happy as a lark, believing Robertson gone from their lives for good.

Jason growled with frustration, actually growled, in the quiet of the empty room. If they didn’t stop coddling him, he’d go mad. He’d had a struggle a week ago to make them agree to let him don at least a shirt and pants. They were hiding his boots, damn it, until they thought he was “strong enough”.

He was pondering how to prove this without boots when Tony had the misfortune to enter the room. This time his growl had another source.

Tony gave him an amused glance as he set down the tea tray on the table by his chair. “You sound like a crazed bear, Jason. I’m sure a few more days will see you up and about.”

“I’m up and about to now,” Jason said in a silky voice that did nothing to hide its sensuous menace.

Tony straightened slowly and looked at Jason, awareness in his eyes. “You’re too weak,” he told him, regret in his voice.

“Come here,” Jason simply replied, holding out his hand to Tony as he sprawled in his chair like a pasha from the east.

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Samantha Kane

Tony couldn’t say no. This was the Jason that had captivated him in Kate’s parlor.

Forceful, menacing, he was a man to be obeyed. His heart tripped as stepped over and took Jason’s hand.

Jason gave a slight tug, pulling Tony down. He was unsure where to go, and stopped the downward momentum with a hand on the chair arm.