Make Her Wish Come True Collection. Ann Lethbridge
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when it happened. That and the guilt.
‘To lose a wife and baby is a terrible loss.’
A terrible sense of failure. ‘I didn’t know she was with child until after she died. I don’t think she knew it, either, or I am sure she would not have risked…’ He could not put into words the suspicion that had hung in his mind all these years.
‘What happened to her?’
‘I’d accepted an invitation to a house party in the country. For both of us. There was to be a boat race. I like to row. At the last minute, she decided she wanted to see a play in town with some friends. I was furious at the change of our plan.’ He sighed. ‘My plan. She insisted that if I loved her I would go to the play with her. I told her to stay in town and see her stupid play with her stupid friends. Did I tell you we were ridiculously young when we wed? Anyway, I went off in the closed carriage, thinking I would send it back for her and she could come when she wished. Or not.’
‘Did you?’
He shook his head. ‘Apparently, she changed her mind. Later that afternoon she had my phaeton put to, intending to surprise me. It was so like her to do something outrageous.’ It had been her attraction from the very beginning. She’d infuriate him, then do something completely unexpected and make him mad for her all over again. ‘She was an excellent whip, but the team was young and scarcely broken in. I told her not to attempt to take them out without me. I might as well have told her not to breathe. I wished to God I’d never bought them. She went off the road about ten miles from London. The fall broke her neck.’
He hadn’t seen the accident scene. He’d been called to a nearby inn to identify her body. That was when the doctor had told him he suspected she’d been pregnant. It had been a bitter blow.
‘You blame yourself.’
‘I should have known better than to storm off that way. I should have guessed she’d come after me in some dramatic gesture.’ He couldn’t help his slight smile at the thought. Then he winced. ‘Her father was pretty clear that I had failed in my husbandly duty to keep my young wife safe.’
She rose up on her elbow and looked down into his face. ‘You feel guilty.’
‘Hellishly guilty.’
‘Oh, Adam. She also made choices that day.’
The sympathy in her voice made speech difficult. He didn’t deserve sympathy. His hand curled into a fist.
‘While she was railing at me for not loving her enough, I had this strange feeling she was right. That our marriage was a mistake. Afterwards I realised it was because I wanted my own way. Unforgivable selfishness.’
Nor did he ever again want direct responsibility for another person’s welfare. His duty to the Portmaine estate was quite enough. ‘So in answer to your question, no, I do not have children. And nor do I want them.’
She sighed and he knew he had disappointed her with his last statement. But at least he’d been truthful.
Reasonably truthful, because somehow these past few days with this woman made him want things he knew he didn’t deserve. And for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel quite so angry. At himself. At Marion.
He swept her hair back from her face. ‘You know, that is the first time I really talked about what happened. At least, how I felt about it. Thank you for being such a good listener.’
Surprised by the gratitude in his voice, Cassie smiled at him. He had listened to her, too. Yet she had not told him everything. He had asked her about who might mean her harm. Offered her aid. The longing to share her burdens was an ache in her chest. If she had learned one thing these past few days, she had learned Adam was an honourable man and not the sort to take advantage of his power. She would trust him with her life. He deserved the truth.
‘My stepson found us yesterday. He is insisting I return the girls home.’
His breathing changed. His eyes became watchful. ‘You think he set the fire.’ His voice sounded harsh. ‘I’ll swear out a warrant against him for arson—’
‘There is no proof. And he is the girls’ only family.’
Adam glowered. ‘You are their family.’
‘Please, Adam. I do not want to involve the authorities. He is their legal guardian and I took them without permission. The authorities will take his part. If you drive us to catch a stagecoach tomorrow as you promised, we can go somewhere he cannot find us.’
‘I can do better than that. Come home with me.’ He looked startled. As if he had surprised himself as well as her.
‘You can’t mean it.’
‘I do. Indeed I do,’ he said firmly. ‘Cassie, there is something I must tell you—’
Loud banging echoed through the house. The doorbell clanged. Someone was at the front door.
‘Oh, sweet periwinkles.’ She sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest, her heart thundering. ‘Can it be Herbert?’
Adam shot out of bed and looked out of the window. ‘No carriage. You think it might be him?’
‘I don’t know. He went off to find a magistrate. I thought it would take him a couple of days at least. Time enough for us to be far away.’
The clanging came again. The banging louder.
Adam pulled on his shirt and breeches. ‘Wait here.’
Her heart thundered as she listened to his footsteps on the stairs. If it was Herbert with a magistrate, what could Adam do? If he tried to stop them from searching the house, he might be charged with aiding a fugitive. At the very best, he would lose his position. Better she face the music than get Adam into serious trouble. All Herbert wanted was his sisters’ money. It was nothing compared to a man’s future.
She wrapped herself in the dressing gown she found cast over a chair and crept down the stairs to the sound of continued knocking. Why hadn’t Adam opened the door? When she reached the bottom step, Adam emerged from the library. He shook his head at her. ‘A man alone. Stay out of sight.’
She moved into the shadows.
He pulled open the door. ‘What the devil do you mean, banging on my door at this time of night? It had better be something important.’
He sounded so autocratic she could almost believe he owned the house.
A red-faced Herbert shoved his way in. ‘Where is she?’ he shouted.
‘Where is who?’ Adam asked coolly. ‘And who the devil are you?’
‘Norton. Herbert Norton.’ Herbert flourished his card. ‘Be so good as to rouse Graystone at once. I know Lady Cassandra is here with my sisters. I followed their footprints from the cottage. I demand their return.’
Adam’s shoulders stiffened. His back was all she could see of him in the light from the branch of candles he held, but she sensed his shock. ‘Lady Cassandra?’ Heard it in his voice.
Cassie stifled a groan. She hadn’t given a thought to Herbert using her title, but then he liked to consider himself part of the nobility by association. It was another of the reasons he’d insisted she live under his roof. He liked trotting her out to impress his friends with important relations.
‘My stepmother. Well, fellow! Are you going to take up my card?’
‘No,’ Adam said.
Cassie could not stifle her gasp.
Herbert must have heard her because his