Brandywine: Regency historical romance (The Brocade Series, Book 1) (11 page)

“Of course you would have, love. And…now that I think on it, hauling you over my shoulder wouldn’t do this jacket any good. I might bu
rst a seam.”

He turned about, as if to show what he’d meant. It had to be on purpose. The coat was perfectly tailored to very broad shoulders…and those tapered to his trim waist. Oh bother! She actually had to fight a blush.

“You are barbaric, My Lord.”

He turned back, raised an eyebrow, and then waved his hand. She knew what he wanted, so she ground out his name.

“Oh, surely not, love. Although…I do seem to have my moments. If I recall correctly, I
didn’t hear any complaints of barbarism last night.”

He was too close to talk that way. And too handsome. Fit. Healthy-looking.
With his clean-shaven, dimpled chin, clear-blue eyes, and
an ensemble that fit without a wrinkle, where was the evidence of
his perfidy? He should be pale and drawn-looking, grimacing at her with lines of dissipation marring his face. Not grinning disarmingly, his white teeth flashing against a
tanned face.

He winked. And she reacted, stepping back with a gasp. Oh! This was terrible.

“Why, darling. You’re trembling. I like that. I like it a lot. Perhaps I should put off
traveling for another day. We’ve so many...other things...we could be doing.”

His voice lowered, and her eyes went wide. She couldn’t even prevent that. Drat everything.

“Oh, no! No. Today’s perfect! I mean...I can’t think of one reason to delay!”

She was around him and through the door before he reacted. And it carried a lot of laughter. Damn everything! There was that mirror on the landing to bypass, as well. Helene turned her head aside
, dipping her new hat
with the feather plume so she wouldn’t have to see her horrid,
banshee face.

Very well. He won this round. But
the moment anyone saw what he’d married, she wouldn’t be responsible for the result.

Stupid man.

CHAPTER SIX

They arrived in London in the pitiful travel time of four
hours and twenty-five minutes, mostly due to Lord Tremayne’s
three exits from the carriage to the bushes along the roadside. Helene did her share of snickering, and, while it was amusing while it lasted, once they arrived, she knew the knot in her
stomach wouldn’t let up until she knew what Gil planned. Perhaps she should’ve held her tongue, but it was too late — besides, it had been amusing.

“A body would think you were too old for such a thing
.”

She spoke to him after the first time, when he collapsed in a
miserable heap in the corner of his well-appointed traveling
chaise. This carriage bore little resemblance to the one she’d been treated to on their wedding day, and, if nothing else, turnabout was fair play. It was her
turn to watch the other suffer.

“Speaking of ages,” she said, “I’ve told you mine, but you
haven’t been as forthcoming.”

“Leave me be, for pity’s sake.”

She ignored his whimper. He was forcing her to travel with
him, and he deserved all her attention.

“So tell me. Just how old are you?”

“Older than you and younger than Methusela. Now bless
me with some quiet, Woman!”

“In all those years, you
haven’t learned what too much drinking does to you?”

“Stop the carriage!”

He’d hammered the panel overhead.
Helene barely stifled her laughter as he leaped out before they
halted.

It took longer the second time before he blessed her with his
presence again. As he groaned into a corner, he wrapped a rug
around himself for warmth.

“Where’s Lady Bridget, anyway?” she asked. “I thought she
planned to travel with us today.”

He grunted without lifting his nose.

“I don’t suppose she went on ahead to warn anyone of our
arrival?”

“She has her own bloody house!”

“Really? Are we staying with her, then?
”

Another grunt, but that time, he moved a bit, and Helene wondered how long they’d travel before he’d be knocking to be let out again.

“My. My. You must’ve consumed quite a bit, My Lord. I vow, I’ve seen many
a gent drink himself under the table, along with some of the
aftereffects, but I have to give it to you. You are the most extraordinary by far.”

“Helene, if you don’t shut up, I’ll ask an outrider in here to
visit and stick you in his place.”

“Really, My Lord, there’s no reason in the world to be such a
boor. I simply ask a few questions, and you bite my head off.
You’re the most ungentlemanly, uncouth—”

“I haven’t shown you ungentlemanly yet, you frost bitch.
Now shut up! Do I have to spell it out for you? Blast it
anyway. Driver!”

That time, he didn’t wait for the door to open and fell
into the roadway. For some reason, Helene pitied him. She’d
been baiting him unmercifully, and it wasn’t as if he didn’t deserve
it, but perhaps she’d taken it too far. He would get well
eventually, and then....

She refused to think about it.

“Don’t...think I won’t repay this, Helene.
” He hurled his words at her before slumping into his corner.

Helene clasped her hands together. “Pay me back for what,
My Lord?”

“Your continual chatter, for forgetting my given name, and for making me travel on the worst day of my life! I’m of a mind to
put you over my knee and whale you within an inch—Christ! My
head hurts too much for this.”

“Good thing, too, for I’m of a mind to let you rot and never
speak to you again. Do you hear me?”

“Jesus, Woman, the entire world can hear you!”

“Your language is the most filthy, foul—”

“If you don’t hush, Helene. Right now. I’m going to force it.”

Her eyes went wide and she gulped; held her breath for long moments while her pulse just kept hammering away in her ear; and hoped he wouldn’t spot her shaking.

“Cease looking at me like that. I’m not a brute.”

“You said you’d force me.”

“Of course. But don’t you want to know how?”

She shook her head. And then she nodded.

“I’ll kiss you.”

Her jaw dropped. And he had the gall to chuckle.

“
You truly must think me dense. I know
you cringe at the threat of my touch
.”

“I won’t say another word, Gil.”

She put her hand to her
mouth as he watched her, his eyes just clearing the blanket edge.

“Do I have your word on it?”

She opened her mouth to answer before deciding to just nod again.

“Thank God.”

***

“Oh…no! How could you?
”

Gillian groaned from his corner.

“This is…oh heavens. I can’t do this!”

“For a woman giving her word, Madame, you are remarkably
fickle.”

“Well, do something then!”

“About what? Oh. Christ!”

Gillian had shoved the blanket aside and leaned
forward to peer out the window, putting his head right beside hers.

“The entire world’s alight. And look at all the people!”

Her voice rose despite the hold she exerted on herself. Panic was a condition she refused to enjoin. No matter what happened. She’d vowed it years ago and then lived by it. And yet this. This assault.
Oh, Lord!
She’d have to reveal her face…before this many people? Her resolve wavered. Her breath caught. Her heart beat so rapidly, it pained. And she was in full danger of being ill.

“I told Bridget not to get out the
welcome mat. Damn it! Don’t you women ever do as you’re told?”

“B...Bridget?”

“Good God, I’ll roast her! I’ll get a hole dug deep enough to toss her in. No! B
oth of you! And I swear if Mother has anyone visiting, I’ll toss her
in, too! How do I look?”

Helene swallowed before turning to face him.

“Well?”

Helene. How would Helene act?

She took a deep breath and then tipped her head to one side as if evaluating him and finding him wanting.

“What? My hair needs combing? My cravat straightening? Oh come now, Helene.
Now
, you decide to be silent?”

“Actually, I’m having a bit of difficulty with how to answer your query. I sincerely hope you don’t expect a civilized answer.”
 

His eyebrows rose.

“Truly, My Lord, you stretch the bounds of gentility beyond comprehension.”

“The stage is set, the audience is keen, the curtain’s about drawn, and you’re talking gentility? I
don’t give a damn about gentility.’’

“That much…I already know.”

“Stop yelling, will you? I’ve the worst headache of my life,
a gullet full of your views, and a goddamn house full of people to
fool!”

“I’m not yelling,” she replied.

“You, Madame, are a bloody frost bitch, and I wish to hell—”

The carriage stopped while he was speaking, and she
would’ve pointed it out, but the footman opening the door was much more eloquent.

“Gil.
Darling
. You’ve got to stop berating the roads like that.
You know there’s nothing you could’ve done.” 

She used her most lover-like voice and her most theatrical tone, and even put her
hand on his cheek for effect
.
The words felt like they’d gagged her, and all he did was stare? Wasn’t this act his idea?

“Your Lordship?”

At the footman’s voice, Gil’s moved his attention. Nobody spoke as he exited the carriage, using a stooped walk. And then he lifted a hand toward her.

“Allow me to
assist you, love. Careful. There’s a bit of mud.”

She looked down at the
rain-washed street, which didn’t look to have a speck of mud anywhere.
There was nothing for it. She scooted to the door and took his arm.

“Oh. Hell. She invited everyone.”

Gil muttered it as she reached solid ground. Helene peeked before looking back down. Indeed. It looked like Gil was right. There were people everywhere,
probably trying not to stare, but failing
. She peeked again and watched as one woman detached from the horde and approached, and then she was there. Helene watched the hem of her dress.

“Oh Gillian! Darling! We expected you ages ago. The roads weren’t
impassable? You weren’t beset by highwaymen? You didn’t have carriage issues? This
must be Helene. Oh, my dear, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet
you. Welcome to the Tremayne family.
Gillian, you can unhand the girl now. I won’t
spirit her away.”

Helene lifted her head. The w
oman was looking directly at her. Directly. And Gil wasn’t any help. H
e looked a bit white, so
she took a deep breath and answered.

“The roads were…a bit rough. It took an
unconscionable amount of time to negotiate them. You’ll forgive us,
My...Lady?”

Helene stammered through it and wondered what Gillian thought
of her posturing. He didn’t have any expression on his face, although his arm
hardened under her fingers. Of course, that might mean he
wanted to hit something.

“Am I Gillian’s mother?” the woman asked. “I suppose I
should’ve waited for you to freshen up before the introductions,
but I couldn’t wait! Guilty as charged, my dear.
”

The woman’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“Please forgive this, darlings. I tried to keep the
inquisition at bay, but the instant Bridget stormed by
I’ve been beset by callers. And none of them would leave.
”

“Tremayne! Finally! The town’s been beside itself with boredom. Please. Allow me to be one of the first to greet you and offer congratulations.
This must be your new lady?”

A corpulent gentleman clapped Gil’s shoulder before turning
his attention to Helene. His size made her shift closer to Gil
.

“Runyon.”

Gil barely inclined his head, while Helene’s breath caught and held. Her back went so taut it ached. Her stomach wrapped itself into a knot. She’d known this moment was coming. She’d prepared. She had to face everyone. Exhibit the scars. Unveil the disfigurement. Display nerve damage that made one side of her face lag behind the other. Reveal the frightening visage of the banshee. It was even worse than she’d imagined. There wasn’t any place to hide, nowhere to run, no one to save her.

Not even Brandy.

“So. This is the mysterious Helene Marguerite?”  The man put a quizzing glass
to his eye as if he needed to make her image clearer.

“May I present my wife?”  She heard Gil speaking as if from a great distance away, and voiced through water. “Helene, my love? This is Sir Runyon.”

She had to move from Gil’s side to curtsy and
wasn’t acting when she moved right back against Gil. If men
looked at her like this Runyon fellow was, it meant the world really had gone mad. She wasn’t a beauty before she entered the asylum, and she certainly
wasn’t one now.

“Do you mind if I take Helene from your side, Gillian?” Lady
Tremayne asked. “I’ve been dying to introduce my newest daughter to everyone, and it was ever so selfish of you to deny me. Come along, now, Helene, don’t be shy. I’m thrilled with
Gil’s choice. Laws, when I think of the other—o
h, dear. I’ve just said something I shouldn’t, Helen being your
relative and all. I’m forever doing that. You’ll forgive me, won’t
you?”

Helene sent a glance to his chin. Any higher and he’d know how terrified she was at his mother’s proposal. He’d probably send
her blithely off, without a second thought
.

“I...I really am...tired, darling.” 

The words were tremulous and softly-spoken. She wanted them back the instant they left her mouth. A glance upward told her as much as he winked at her.

“Helene. Darling. I wouldn’t dream of standing in the way of anything
my mother conspires. By all means, go. Meet everyone you’d like, but do remember to come back to me when you’ve finished showing off.
”