Page 12 of A Private Wager
“Never lie to me again,” she said. “I can forgive almost anything but dishonesty.”
“I would give you my word, but I fear it has very little worth for you at the moment,” he said.
Lucy met his gaze and saw something in his eyes that, while it certainly didn’t take away the humiliating facts surrounding their marriage, it bolstered her belief in him. “If you promise, I will accept it. But only this once. If you do not keep this vow, how can I ever trust you to keep others?”
“I will never lie to you,” he said. “Not again.”
“Your estate is only a day’s ride from here?” Lucy asked.
“Yes. We might be there by nightfall. At worst, we’d have to stop at an inn for the night and could be there by midmorning tomorrow”
She nodded. “I don’t wish to stay here and be gossiped about further. As soon as possible, let us depart and try to begin anew.”
He sighed with relief. “I would like nothing better. As soon as possible, I’ll slip away and have the servants ready our things.”
***
Barton was swilling ale despite the fact that it was early morning. As he had actually begun his drinking the night before, it hardly mattered. Drinking and brooding and fuming. God, how he detested his cousin! It was unfair that Lord Harrison Warfield, Viscount Harcourt, should have everything. He had the title. He had the best of the estates, including Craddock Hall, now. And with Craddock Hall, which neighbored Stonecrest, he’d be the largest landowner in the county.With a plump heiress with an even plumper purse.
Of course, if War and his lovely bride were to perish unexpectedly, then it all would be his anyway. Perhaps letting his cousin have the girl wasn’t the worst thing to happen to him after all.
Barton smiled as the plan began to unfold. Oh, yes.
“You look lonely, love.”
Barton looked up to see a winsome tavern maid leaning over the table he occupied. She was certainly doing her best to display her most appealing assets. But he was in no mood for that. “I’m not lonely. I don’t need your kind of company. I do need someone who can do a bit of dirty work, however. Do you know anyone who might be willing to get his hands dirty?”
She grinned. “I got a brother who don’t much care what he has to do so long as he’s paid. And for a coin or two, I’ll introduce you to him.”
“Excellent. Maybe, after that introduction, I’ll be more inclined for a bit of company,” Barton offered suggestively. “Business first. Get your brother, darling, and then we’ll have time to play.”
She tossed him a saucy wink and then wandered off. Yes. A bit of dirty work and then it would all be his. And he’d be holedup at the inn, perfectly alibied, with a lusty tavern maid in his bed. It would work out perfectly.
Lifting the tankard of ale once more, he took a long swig, draining it entirely. He’d need to be marginally sober for what was to come.
CHAPTER TEN
There was no conversation, only the sound of carriage wheels and hoofbeats. In the silence, War had an opportunity to study his bride. Away from the prying eyes and the reminder of the embarrassments she had suffered courtesy of his cousin (and himself), Lucy had relaxed somewhat. The tension that tightened her normally full lips and that caused a furrow between her brows had eased.
They would not reach Stonecrest by nightfall. It had taken far longer to escape the effusive well wishes of Mrs. Osgoode than anyone could have anticipated. He dreaded telling her that bit of bad news, but he also knew that his promise to her was one he could not break. He had to be honest—about everything.
“Our delayed departure has left us in a quandary. There are more inns along the road closer to our destination, but they are not the sort of places a lady could stay in comfortably. The Monk’s Head is just a short distance from here, and it is thebest and cleanest inn along our route,” he explained. “I think we should stop there for the night, if you are amenable.”
She blinked in surprise. “Oh. Well, certainly, if you think the other establishments are unsafe.”
“They are. Many of them cater to a more criminal element.” And he would guess that Barton was holed up in one of them. He had the distinct feeling that he had not yet heard the last from his cousin. Despite now being in possession of a signed and witnessed document that gave him ownership of Craddock Hall, he had no intention of enforcing it. To do so would only further antagonize his cousin. He could handle Barton, but he very much feared that he would not be Barton’s only target.
“I owe you another apology,” he said, after a long pause.
“No, you do not. We cannot put it behind us if you continue to bring it up,” she stated. “If we are to do anything more than make one another miserable, we must concern ourselves more with how we begin than why we have begun.”
“It isn’t that. I underestimated Barton. I knew he was envious, but I didn’t anticipate the degree to which that envy has poisoned his mind and his heart. At one time, he was like a brother to me. And now, I fear what he will do.”
If possible, Lucy’s face paled even more. “You think he means you harm?”
“I think he means us harm,” War answered dismally. “If you see him, I do not care what the circumstances, run. Scream. Do whatever you must, but not allow him to get you alone. And until we are safely ensconced at Stonecrest, we should both keep our guard up.”
Lucy nodded. “Yes. I think you are quite right about that. I never trusted him, you know? There are things he has done of which you may not be aware. There are several young ladies whom he has thoroughly ruined and has offered no honorable recourse. They are from lower gentry, like myself. One has nofather, no brothers. It is only herself, her mother, and a sister. There is no one to stand for her. And, if her account was accurate, then it was not a seduction at all but an act of violence against her.”
