Elizabeth Thornton - [Special Branch 02] (41 page)

She stopped right there.

One step
, she promised the girl in the portrait,
I’ll take one step, and go on from there. I’ll talk to Gwyneth, and with that, you and Williard will have to be content. Then we’ll see
.

I
t was late when they reached London, so they stayed at the Clarendon for the night. Gwyn wanted to make for Haddo early the next morning, but Jason had other ideas. He had the special licence in his pocket. He didn’t see why they couldn’t be married at once, before they returned home. Everything else could wait on their convenience—shopping for her bride’s clothes; the parties; the ball he would have to host at Haddo in her honor. And if he knew his grandmother, if they were not married when they arrived home, she would insist on a grand wedding with weeks of preparations beforehand, and neither of them wanted that.

And so it was done, simply and easily, in St. James’s Church on Piccadilly. It helped, of course, that Jason knew the rector.

They started the journey in high spirits, but it wasn’t long before Jason lapsed into a reflective silence.

“What is it?” asked Gwyn. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about Mark,” he said. “He has had you to himself for so long. What if he resents me?”

They’d had this conversation before. She patted his hand. “I’m sure you are worrying for nothing. Mark likes you. He admires you.”

“As his Cousin Jason. But not as his mother’s husband. And not as his father.” He turned his head to look at her. “If Nigel Barrie had been my father, I wouldn’t have another father at any price.”

His doubts were beginning to put doubts in her mind too. “I’ll speak to Mark,” she said. “I’ll explain how lucky he is. I’ll make him understand.”

“No,” said Jason. “I’ll speak to Mark. We have to settle this between us. I don’t want us to start off on the wrong foot, with you acting as our intermediary.”

“What will you say?”

“I’ll think of something.”

They arrived at Haddo in the middle of the afternoon, just as Mark was leading his pony to the stable. Gwyn’s feet hardly touched the ground as she raced to her son.

“Mark!” she called out. “Mark!”

“Mama. You’re back early.”

She crouched down in front of him, drinking in the sight of his dear face, then she gathered him in her arms.

“Mama!” He squirmed and wriggled free. “Mama, you haven’t met Jonathan,” he said. “He’s Miss Dudley’s cousin.”

Gwyn sat back on her heels. Brandon was there, still mounted, but the boy who looked to be about Mark’s age was walking his pony, too.

He doffed his cap. “How do you do, Mrs. Barrie,” he said.

This was not the moment to tell her son that she and Jason were married. “How do you do, Jonathan,” she said.

“And this is my Cousin Jason,” said Mark.

Mark could hardly wait for the greetings to be over. At the first pause in the conversation, he burst out, “Jonathan and I have got frogs’ eggs, and they’re going to turn into tadpoles. And … and Maisie had
her foal the day you left. We’re calling it Sponger. I forget why. And Mama, Cousin Jason, she can walk already, and she’s only three days old.”

Jason said, “Sounds as though you’ve had an exciting time when we were away.”

“Yes, and that’s not all—”

“Mark,” said Brandon, laughing, “give your mother and Cousin Jason time to catch their breath. Now get those ponies stabled and get them rubbed down. I’ll be along in a minute, then we’ll all meet at the house and exchange our news.”

Mark and Jonathan went off chattering, without a backward glance.

Jason squeezed Gwyn’s shoulder. “I’m afraid it’s a case of Gracie all over again,” he said ruefully.

Her eyes trailed Mark and Jonathan. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way … I think.”

She looked at Jason. He looked at her. They started to laugh.

Brandon was losing patience. “Well, how did things turn out in London?”

“It’s all over, Brandon.” said Jason.

“Thank God for that! So what happened?”

“It’s going to take an hour to give you all the details. Suffice it to say that Harry is dead.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages.”

Gwyn said, “What’s been happening at Haddo, then?”

“Oh, nothing much. Judith has been here every day with Jonathan. Mark, as you see, hasn’t had time to miss you. Oh, yes, and Judith’s mother has been a frequent visitor, too.” He touched a finger to his brow. “They’re both touched. I think it runs in the family. They’re still planning a June wedding. Trouble is, they don’t have a groom.”

Gwyn laughed. “Well, that is easily fixed, Brandon.”

“Now you’re beginning to sound like them. You’ll
find Judith in the drawing room. I think she’s choosing a pattern for her wedding dress from
La Belle Assemblée
. And good luck to her! Grandmother is resting. Sophie is out riding, but don’t worry, there’s a groom with her.”

“Good,” said Gwyn. “I want to have a word with Judith in private.”

Brandon’s brows rose. “This sounds serious.”

“Well, it is, I suppose.”

“Then I’ll be with you directly.”

“There’s no need—”

But Brandon didn’t seem to hear Gwyn’s words. He wheeled his horse and made for the stable.

When Gwyn and Jason entered the drawing room, Judith reached for the copy of
La Belle Assemblée
, gave a start, then threw the periodical aside. “For a moment I thought you were Brandon, Jason,” she said, and laughed.

“That would explain,” said Jason, “why you’re poring over patterns of wedding gowns.”

“He never fails to rise to the bait,” said Judith merrily, “so how can I resist?” She got up and came to meet them. “I can tell just by looking at you that everything has turned out well.”

“Better than well,” said Jason. “The man who attacked Gwyn is dead. The danger is over, and Gwyn can lead a normal life again.”

“That’s wonderful news. Now tell me all about it.”

“We will,” said Gwyn, “when Brandon comes in.” She clasped Judith’s hands and squeezed. “Jason went to our attorney, Judith, and we know everything.”

Judith said blankly, “The attorney?”

“I’m talking about the legacy, Judith. The ten thousand pounds. I know now it came from you.”

When Judith took a step back, Gwyn released her
hands. “It was sweet of you,” said Gwyn, “generous to a fault. But I really can’t accept it.”

Judith took another step back and shook her head. “You’ve made a mistake. Oh, how can I explain it?”

Jason said, “We’re not finding fault, Judith. All we’re saying is that it isn’t necessary. And we’d like to repay you.”

“Oh, this is so awkward.” She stopped when footsteps sounded in the hall. The door was thrown open and Brandon entered with Grandmother Radley on his arm.

She took one look at Judith’s face and said, “Has our little secret been discovered, Judith?”

“I’m afraid so, ma’am.”

“I thought as much when Brandon told me that Gwyn wanted a word with you in private. Well, go on girl. You, too, Brandon. What I have to say is for Jason’s and Gwyn’s ears only.”

When Judith left the room, Brandon went after her. He caught up to her on the front steps. “Will you stop running and tell me what’s going on?” And to make sure she obeyed, he caught her arm and turned her to face him.

“Well?” he said.

“It’s the legacy.”

Brandon knew about the legacy because Jason had told him. But he hadn’t known that Judith knew. “Who told you about the legacy? Was it Gwyn?”

“No. I arranged the whole thing.”

Brandon was incredulous. “You settled ten thousand pounds on Gwyn? How could you do such a thing? Think of her feelings. She’s poor, but she’s proud. Have you no sense, woman?”

She pried her arm loose. “Don’t be ridiculous! Where would I get ten thousand pounds?” And turning on her heel, she stalked off.

He stopped her this time by standing in front of her, blocking her way. “What do you mean ‘where would I get ten thousand pounds?’ Everyone knows you’re as rich as a nabob. Two titled gentlemen left you all their money.”

She said angrily, “Very true, all their money after their debts were paid. I think that amounted to a thousand pounds.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Do I look as though I have money?” she shouted. “Look at the way I dress. Look at the way I live. My mother and I are as poor as church mice.”

“But you choose to live like that because you’re eccentrics.”

She gave him a hard shove and slipped by him.

“Why did you lie?” he called after her.

She made a half turn. “To make myself sound interesting. To avoid pitying glances. I really don’t know. But I’m tired of the game now.”

He caught up to her in one bound. “Does this mean you can’t afford to buy me a dozen curricles?”

“Brandon, I can’t afford to buy the harness for one horse!”

With a great whoop of laughter, he dragged her into his arms and kissed her. When he let her go, he said, “You idiot! Now I can finally say it. I love you, Judith Dudley.”

She snapped, “I never thought you’d sink so low. You know you dislike me intensely.”

“What I disliked,” he said, “was the thought that you would try to control me with your money. Now that that’s no longer a problem, there’s nothing to stop us getting married.”

“Oh? What would we live on?”

“I have a property in Hampshire—”

“A wreck of a place, by all accounts!”

He grinned. “Ah, but now that I’m about to marry,
I’ll settle down and make it pay. Ju, I’m not a pauper by any means. You can have your June wedding and that dress from
La Belle Assemblée
. You’ll want for nothing as my wife.”

She was still in a temper. “I would never marry a man for his money.”

“I should hope not. So marry me for love.”

She searched his eyes, saw what she wanted to see, and said, “I love you amazingly, Brandon Radley.”

“Oh, Ju, that’s all I ever wanted to hear. Why couldn’t you have said that months ago?”

“Oh, do sit down, Jason, and you too, Gwyn. You’re giving me a crick in my neck.” Grandmother Radley waited until her command was obeyed. “That’s better. So, you’ve discovered my little secret.”

Gwyn’s mind was in a whirl. She could accept that Judith might be her benefactress, but not the tyrant who had ruled her young life. She’d never done anything right in Grandmother Radley’s eyes.

Jason obviously did not share her skepticism. He said, “But why the secrecy? Why not do the thing openly and above board?”

“Do you think Gwyn would have accepted a penny from me? Of course she wouldn’t. She has always disliked me.”

“That’s not true!” Gwyn cried.

“Not now, perhaps, because you know how it is to raise a child on your own. But when I came to Haddo, I had five children to raise. Oh, yes, there was a guardian, Felix Radley. But he rarely showed his face at Haddo. The burden fell on me.

“I’m not complaining. I just want you to understand how it was with me. I could not relax my vigilance for one moment.”

Gwyn had never seen things in this light. She tried
to imagine raising five children on her own, and her respect for the old lady went up by several notches.

Jason said, “All right, you’ve explained why it was necessary to keep the thing secret. But why do it at all? How could you have known Gwyn’s circumstances? Oh! Judith, of course.”

“Yes, Judith. Her mother is my closest friend. Oh, you mustn’t think that Judith gossiped about you, Gwyn. She admires you. But from what she said, there was no doubt in my mind that you needed a helping hand. I didn’t want to use my own solicitors because they’re in Brighton. You would have known the legacy came from someone in Haddo. So Judith became my messenger and used her own solicitor.”

Jason leaned back in his chair, stretched out his legs and stared at his boots. “I’m missing something,” he said. He looked at his grandmother. “Why was it necessary for me to track Gwyn down? Why didn’t you give the attorney her address? Judith must have told you that Gwyn was living in Sutton Row.”

“That would have been too easy. You would soon have worked out that Judith was involved. I didn’t want you pestering her.”

“No, because she would have led me straight to you!”

His grandmother’s only answer was a scowl.

“Grandmother,” Jason said, “were you by any chance playing matchmaker?”

The question did not put Grandmother Radley off her stride. “I had my hopes, of course, but I can honestly say that my main purpose was to right a great wrong I did you both.”

“What wrong?” asked Gwyn.

“If it had not been for me, you would have been married to Jason a long time ago. You would never have eloped. You would have been mistress of
Haddo. Mark would have been Jason’s son. You see, Gwyneth, I felt I owed it to you.”

Gwyn shook her head. “Oh, no, Grandmother. You’re so wrong. I meant nothing to Jason.”

The old lady gave a most unladylike snort. “Child, you know nothing of men if you think that. Jason may have deceived you with his succession of dashers, but I was wise to him, and wise to you, too. I knew Jason loved you and that you loved him. My mistake was in thinking it was a youthful infatuation that would fade in time. Then George died, and there wasn’t time to let the infatuation fade by itself.”