Always Forever (Emerson Book 5) Read online

  “That is outside of enough!” exclaimed Rose. Nate looked up at her with some amusement in his eyes. It was just like the man to make sport of her while speaking of activities Rose didn’t fully understand to a so-called lady who was all but sitting on his lap. “No one shall speak ill of my dear sister from this moment on or they will answer to me!”

  “You do have spirit, Lady Rose,” said Richard as he winked at her. “I would not mind having some of that passion directed at me.”

  “That is truly outside of enough!” said Nate. “Disrespect Lady Rose again and I shall meet you at dawn.”

  “And to think I believed this would be a boring dinner party in the country,” said the Duke of Bancroft, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. “I do hope Lady Ridgeway is feeling better. I did not spend much time with the late duchess when she was expecting, but I do remember the butler telling me she had been ill. I do hope my new bride will not suffer in such a way.”

  His new bride? Nate’s mother had died several years earlier and there had never been any talk of the duke remarrying. If he did marry again and his wife had a baby…

  Rose looked at Nate, only to find him casually studying his father. Well, to someone who didn’t know him like Rose did, it would appear as if he hadn’t a care in the world. But from the way he was gripping his wine glass, Rose could tell that he cared very much indeed.

  Because if the Duke of Bancroft had another son, it would mean he wouldn’t need Nate as his heir.

  * * *

  That had been a surprise. In retrospect, Nate supposed he should have predicted this. If the duke felt threatened by his one and only heir, he would simply create a new one. He vaguely wondered who the lady was, other than someone young enough to bear a child. He hated to think of an innocent woman being dragged into a potentially deadly situation. At least he knew the baby would be safe, which was some consolation.

  The duke’s announcement had been met by a profound silence.

  Before it was broken by Mrs. Babcock.

  “But, your grace, we did not know you, too, were in the market for a duchess.”

  Bancroft smiled halfway. “Is there someone else in the ‘market for a duchess,’ as you say? I was unaware there were any other dukes in the area.”

  “Well, that is to say…” For once Mrs. Babcock had the good sense to look abashed. For the only way Nate could have a duchess would be after the death of his father. “I should have said I did not realize anyone else wished to be married. Nora, why don’t you switch places with Mrs. Stennis?”

  That suggestion was not well-received by either of the two ladies. While Nate was certain Miss Babcock would be only too happy to be a duchess, he had a feeling she preferred a younger husband. And Mrs. Stennis had been chuffed beyond all reason to have been seated next to Bancroft, which had surely been a first since Nate could not remember the woman ever having been invited to the castle.

  “I would be honored to be seated next to his grace,” Nora said, with a coy smile toward Bancroft. It was clear the chit was hedging her bets. “But it would be unforgivably rude to leave Lord Grayson since he escorted me in to dinner.”

  “Nonsense! Myra can sit next to him,” said Mrs. Babcock, warming to the idea of both of her daughters one day being the Duchess of Bancroft.

  “Can the servants move me?” asked Myra. “I would hate to have to carry these plates myself.”

  “No move is necessary,” said Bancroft. “I have already selected my bride, a lovely young widow. After running into her a few weeks back, she and I began a correspondence – quite proper you understand. And it just seemed right that we would marry.”

  “But why such haste, your grace?” asked Mrs. Babcock. “You have only been courting the lady for such a brief time. Why not let things cool off while you enjoy the beauty of Wiltshire? I am quite certain you can find a bride here.”

  “I am sure there are any number of excellent candidates, but I am afraid my heart is quite set on my intended.”

  Nate almost laughed aloud at that. He had never known his father to make any decision based on emotion. Bancroft’s earlier marriage had been arranged and Nate could remember few occasions when his parents had lived under the same roof. No, the only reason he could see for the haste was that his father wished to get a new heir quickly, so he could do away with the one he already had.

  * * *

  “Irene, I am so sorry we took you away from the dinner,” said Ava, who was lying down on a settee in the library. “We should have told you earlier that we would create a diversion to give Colin a chance to search the library. Though I must confess that I was just as pleased to leave once the fish appeared.”

  “I am just relieved you are not ill,” said Irene. “You have had a difficult time of it these past few weeks.”

  “At times, but it in no way dims my excitement to be having a baby. I cannot wait for this to happen to you, without the sickness, of course. Are you having any luck, Colin?”

  Colin was searching the previously locked drawers of his father’s desk. “It appears Babcock was unable to open these. I can tell that because the other drawers are filled with French postcards, while these appear to be untouched. But I cannot see anything which appears to be out of the ordinary.”

  “Is that where your father would have kept any secret documents?”

  “I do not know. Father and I were not exactly in each other’s confidence. This is an old house and riddled with hiding places. James and I used to seek them out as children. I fear it could take weeks or even months to find anything, if we have that much time.”

  “I fear we do not,” said Nate from the door. “Ava, how are you feeling?”

  “Much better, having skipped both the fish and the conversation at the table. Is dinner over?”

  “The meal is done and the guests have moved on to the sitting room. I believe they are about to toast Bancroft’s pending nuptials.”

  Colin stood up in surprise. “Your father is to marry?”

  “Apparently, he is intent on siring a spare to his current heir.”

  “And if he does that?” Colin met his friend’s eyes, not needing to finish the sentence.

  “I might not be long for this world.”

  “Forgive me, for I only married into the peerage and do not wholly understand it,” said Ava. “If Nate is the heir now, wouldn’t his son be the next to inherit, regardless of whether the duke has another son?”

  “If I had a son, that would be the case,” said Nate. “But if I die without issue, then any brother I have would be in line to inherit.”

  “Oh, dear,” said Irene.

  “Indeed,” said Nate.

  There was a knock at the door, then Rose entered. “How are you feeling, Ava?”

  Ava schooled her features so as not to alarm Rose. “Much better, thank you. Though, unfortunately, Colin hasn’t had much luck in his search.”

  “Well, the Babcocks have requested your presence so that they might toast the duke’s impending marriage. Mayhap both the duke and the marquess will soon marry. I couldn’t help but notice what a tender couple you and Nora make, Nate.”

  “I think you know me better than that, Thorn,” he said, using his longtime nickname for Rose. “Though we should probably return to the party if you are able, Ava. No doubt a servant will be sent to fetch us if we do not appear soon.”

  “And I would hate to miss anything else our wonderful sister Kate would tell the Babcocks,” said Rose. “Shall we depart?”

  “If we must,” said Colin, as he helped Ava to her feet. “We can leave as soon as the toast is done. Though that moment cannot come soon enough.”

  “Very well,” said Nate, as he offered an arm to both Rose and Irene.

  Both ladies accepted with a smile, though one of them had much on her mind.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Rose was having a difficult time concentrating on the sermon. She and her family were at church, but her thoughts were far r
emoved. When they had returned to the dower house the previous evening, they had told Mr. and Mrs. Stemple about the developments with the Duke of Bancroft.

  It was clear her brothers believed Nate’s life was in danger, though there had been no consensus about what was to be done about it. She also knew Nate would stubbornly refuse their assistance because he feared for their safety.

  So Rose had come up with her own plan and enlisted Letty to help her. She felt bad about involving her younger sister in what was sure to be a controversy, but she would feel far worse if she did nothing and Nate was hurt – or worse.

  Just before the service ended, she smiled at Colin, then indicated she had to step outside. She had learned long ago that if she wanted to do something without being questioned, she need only make a face like it might be a female problem, then her brothers would be all too anxious to let her go about her business.

  Once she stepped outside into the fine spring day, she hurried into position. As soon as the service ended, Letty would quietly give Nate a note, asking him to meet Rose in a secluded copse of trees near the cemetery. It was still on church grounds, but would give them a measure of privacy.

  Rose paced nervously until she heard the first stirrings of the congregation leaving the church. Nate and his father had been sitting in the Bancroft pew. It might take Letty a moment to reach him, but she hoped her sister would be able to do so without being seen by the duke.

  She prayed her plan would work. She would only get the one chance and had to make the most of it.

  “Does Colin know you’re using your sister to arrange clandestine rendezvous?” Nate was now standing next to her. Rose could see curiosity in his eyes, along with something else.

  “I didn’t hear you approach.”

  “It is a skill honed from much practice through my missions with the Home Office. I reckoned you wouldn’t want me drawing any attention to this meeting.”

  “I wish you would tell me more about your work with the Home Office.”

  “I should not have told you what I did.”

  “I assure you I am quite discreet.”

  “Says the lady who just lured me to an assignation on church grounds.”

  “This is hardly an assignation.”

  “What a pity,” he said softly. And though he had said it in his annoying, jesting manner, Rose believed there was yearning there, as well.

  She certainly hoped so or this was about to be the most embarrassing moment of her life.

  Mayhap because she was expecting it, Rose heard Mrs. Stennis’s approach before Nate did. It gave her just enough time to throw her arms around his neck and press herself against him, holding on with all her might.

  The look of horror in his eyes when he realized what was happening was none-too-flattering, but Rose closed her eyes and kissed him before he could say anything. His entire body resisted for a moment before he succumbed to the inevitable and kissed her back.

  “I do not know who could be dragging me out here…” came the voice of Mrs. Stennis from the other side of the tall hedge. “…but, I….oh my stars!”

  She said the last part loud enough for the entire village to hear – even those who had skipped the church service and were still home abed.

  “Lady Rosemary! Lord Grayson! What are you doing?”

  She said that part particularly loudly, though it was quite obvious what Rose and Nate had been doing. Rose had definitely chosen well when it came to who would discover them.

  They were soon joined by several parishioners, including her family. Her sisters were shocked and her brothers were furious. But she couldn’t think about that now. Especially since she was not yet done.

  “I just accepted Lord Grayson’s proposal!” Rose announced to the crowd, sorry she was upsetting her family, but knowing no other way around it.

  Judging from the warm body turned to stone who still had his arms around her, Nate was none too pleased with her, either. But he did the gentlemanly thing and added, “Lady Rosemary has made me the happiest of men.” Though he certainly didn’t seem very happy.

  “May I be the first to welcome you into the family, my dear,” said an amused Duke of Bancroft, who seemed like he knew exactly what had just transpired. The crowd parted as he made his way to Rose and Nate. He reached out to take her hand.

  Nate’s arms tightened around Rose as if she were in a vise. It was obvious he didn’t want his father touching any part of her. But Rose was no coward. She held out her hand. Then Bancroft lifted it to just below his lips but no further, just as propriety dictated.

  But that simple touch made Rose go cold inside. She now had no doubt Bancroft was a killer.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Rose had never seen her family so upset. And she hated that she was responsible for it. After putting on a polite, united front at the church, Colin had quickly ushered all of them and Nate back to the dower house. Nate had said nothing to her on the walk home and though everyone had talked about the weather and listened to Letty’s interpretation of the church service, Rose knew an eruption would occur as soon as they reached the house.

  Without having to be asked, Maude took Letty and Anna for a walk across the Emerson grounds. Rose knew it was bad when the girls had to be removed from the house during a family discussion. Usually, Maude simply took them to their room to play. But if an entire field of distance was needed, Rose knew she was in for a difficult time of it.

  But she would not give in. Not as long as she could save Nate.

  They were now all in the sitting room and Mr. Stemple had served the men port. After a moment’s pause, he gave glasses to the ladies, as well.

  “What in God’s name do you think you’re about, Rose?” cried Colin from across the room. “I cannot believe you did this!”

  Ava took his hand to calm him, but even she looked gravely serious.

  “I had no idea she would do this,” said Nate. “At least, not until it was too late to do anything about it.”

  “I know you didn’t,” said Colin. “Else we would be fighting in the garden.”

  “How did that old gossip know where you were?” asked Nick.

  Rose sighed. This was the part she wasn’t proud of. “I had Letty slip a note onto the seat next to her when she wasn’t looking.”

  “You involved Letty in this?” asked Colin.

  “Yes, and I do feel bad about that.”

  “I am relieved to hear you still have some sense.”

  “Colin,” admonished Ava quietly, even as she squeezed his hand to take the sting out of it.

  “I do regret her involvement,” said Rose. “I only told her to deliver the note and try not to be seen. She did quite well.”

  “Marvelous,” said James. “It is good to know our youngest sister can be sly.” Now he was gently admonished by Irene, who put her head on his shoulder.

  “What did the note say?” asked Win.

  “It was anonymous, telling Mrs. Stennis there would be something worth seeing if she went to the cemetery. I took care to disguise my handwriting.”

  “And I assume you kissed Nate just as she approached?” asked Nick.

  Rose nodded.

  “It is too bad your first kiss was part of a trap,” said Colin. But when Rose merely blushed, Colin turned to Nate. “Or was it her first kiss? It is not too late to meet you in the garden.”

  “Enough!” said Nate. “Rose does not deserve to have the lot of you attacking her. What she did was inexcusably foolish, but I can only assume she did it with the best intentions.”

  “Which were?” asked James.

  “I think she believes that if I marry, my father will abandon any plans to kill me. Is that correct?”

  Rose nodded. “I do not know for certain if it will stop him, but I want to at least make it more difficult. If you have a reprieve, it might be long enough to find evidence against him.”

  “And you thought that if Nate had an heir, it would stop his father from killing him all together sinc
e any son Bancroft had with his new wife could not inherit,” said Win softly.

  Rose could not help the blush which stole across her cheeks. It was beyond humiliating for her family to know she dreamt of having Nate’s child. And not just to save Nate’s life, but because she wanted to make a life with him.

  Nate sighed. “But don’t you see, Rose? All this means is that my father would kill both of us. He could not risk your getting with child.”

  Win’s sharp intake of breath had Rose looking in her direction. Her sister’s eyes were filled with sadness and pain.

  Nate continued. “Do not worry. I will not allow it to come to that. Rose cannot cry off from our betrothal right now or she would be ruined. The best plan is to take her to London to order a trousseau and acquaint herself with the city. After a six-month absence, Colin can announce that Rose changed her mind. I am quite certain no one would fault her for it.”

  That was outside of enough. It was one thing for Rose to cope with her sister’s sadness and her family’s anger and worry, but for Nate to react in this high-handed manner? “So you think you can just send me to London and I have no say in the matter?”

  “I will do anything to keep you safe. I should also point out that if we really did marry, I would be within my rights to tell you where to go and what to do. It would, in fact, be my duty.”

  “Your duty? Your duty! Do not think for one moment, Nathaniel Gage, that I would willingly subject myself to your whims. When we marry, and, really, you have no choice in the matter, you will have to comport yourself in a civilized manner.”

  “I think you would find there are times when I am not at all civilized.”

  The warmth from his gaze blazed through Rose. But then he quickly doused the flames.

  “I absolutely will not marry you. And you must leave Wiltshire immediately.” He softened his voice. “I do not have to remind you of what happened to the last person I warned to leave the county.”