Entwined by Error, page 22
He watched as she rolled to her side, ready to adjust her injured ankle as necessary. But as she moved, her eyes opened. “Daniel?”
“I am here, love,” he whispered. She reached out, her hand searching for his. He scooted closer, taking her hand and kissing her palm. “Sleep, now. I shall stay here and protect you.”
As she curled against him, she whispered, “I was so frightened. The worst fears plagued my every thought. But out of everything I knew I would miss, the one thought that still haunts me and makes me ache inside is never being with you again, never speaking to you or feeling the warmth of your embrace.”
“There will be no more caves. No more satchels, no more unwanted guests, and I shall never leave you.” He thought about it for a moment and then chuckled. “I suppose I cannot keep the promise about unwanted guests. We are bound to have a few more in our future.”
She kissed his neck as she folded more closely into him. “I have no doubt the vicar and his wife will visit again. We cannot avoid them.”
Daniel laughed. “No, I suppose we have no control over who lives in the neighborhood.”
“Daniel,” Myra murmured through a yawn, her eyelashes tickling his neck. “Do not be angry with Lord Southwood.”
Daniel glanced down at her, tension instantly flowing into his shoulders and down his arms. She was tucked so trustingly beside him, fitting as snugly as a soft blanket, yet her request was more than he could bear. Taking a moment to calm his nerves, he waited until the words were soft instead of terse. “Whyever not?”
She gave a sleepy sigh, placing her hand on his stomach and pushing away all the strain of seconds before. “Because you are stronger than him…and far more handsome besides.”
Daniel gave a soft laugh as he twisted her hair around his fingers. “Love, no one is as handsome as me. But I am honored you finally noticed.” When she snorted into his chest, he grinned. “Truly, darling, what good is strength and excellent breeding if I cannot make you laugh?”
“Hmmm.” Myra squeezed him in a gentle embrace. “I did not realize my husband was so humorous.”
“It is time you understood as much.”
“Daniel…” She went up on her elbows, her hand slowly caressing his face. “Forgive your brother.”
Daniel closed his eyes as he shook his head. That was the last thing he wanted to do, at least tonight. “Why?”
“The anger will consume you, and before long, I shall not recognize my husband.”
It went against everything he had decided only an hour earlier to agree to her request, but he knew it was worth an attempt. “For you, and only you, I shall endeavor to forgive.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, I wish for you to sleep.”
“As do I.” She settled her head against his chest once more. “Thank you for being so soft.”
“Soft?” Daniel grinned as he pulled the blankets back up around her shoulders. “You meant to say strong and muscular, I believe.”
“Whatever you say, husband.”
The sun was still slumbering when Daniel slipped out of bed. He dressed and made his way down to the hall, past the maids as they dusted tables and vases, and opened the drapes for the moment the light would spill through to bring life to the sleepy hallways. As he descended the stairs, he heard Southwood’s voice echoing in the hallway.
“Please ensure Mr. Northcott reads the letter. I do not wish for it to be thrown into the grate.”
“I promise, my lord.”
Daniel stepped forward, his jaw set as he gazed upon his brother. “I shall take it now, Melbourne.”
The butler held out the letter, and Daniel turned it over and broke the seal. He silently read every word and, then peered up at his brother. “What is the meaning of this?”
“You are right, Daniel. I am not fit to be our father’s heir.”
“I do not believe I said those words.”
Southwood placed a hand Daniel’s arm. “You did not have to. It was apparent in the scolding I received last night. My actions have done harm to the whole of our family.”
Tucking the letter into his inside pocket, Daniel pointed toward the parlor. Once they were behind a closed door, he sat in a chair opposite his brother. “Recognizing your faults is a start.”
“Hardly enough to receive forgiveness.”
Daniel chuckled as he shook his head. “I do not think you want forgiveness. It is a badge of honor for you to be considered a rogue.”
Southwood’s lips twitched as he pulled on his lapels. “Perhaps you are right.”
“Is it not exhausting?”
“Terribly so. Especially when I must pass on a bit of fun to hide from men who wish me dead.”
Daniel pulled the letter out of his pocket. “What is the meaning of this?”
“When our father passes from this life, I will need a wise manager to keep me from bankrupting the earldom. You are the only person I trust.”
“I ordered you out of my home; how can you still believe in me?”
Southwood stood. He placed his hat on his head, moved it around until it was tilted with a foppish flare, and then flashed his most wicked smile. “Because your loyalty has never faltered. Now, I have it on good authority that I must away before sunrise; elsewise, I shall find myself tossed out on my backside.”
“Southwood…” Daniel followed his brother out into the hall. What could he say to encourage his brother? What more was there to say? “Try not to be waylaid by a highwayman, or scandal.”
Southwood’s smile melted away. He was visibly altered, his face contorting as he held back tears. Clearing his throat, he sniffed and then dipped his head. “I am sorry, Daniel.”
“Are you?”
“I shall find a way to make amends for what I did. One day, I will be worthy of your forgiveness.”
Daniel lingered in the doorway as his brother rode away. He patted the outside of his frock coat. The letter his brother had written giving him access to the earldom’s accounts once the title became official would be filed away until the day it came due; he only hoped that on that day, his brother would prove himself capable of handling the estate without bringing ruin to their father’s legacy.
Chapter 30
The Countess’s Little Secret
Myra held tightly to Daniel’s neck as he carried her down the stairs and to the parlor. She’d been abed for a week due to her broken ankle. There would be many more weeks spent in the privacy of her bedchamber, afternoons with her husband reading to her while she worked on her embroidery. He’d even set up an easel so he could paint while keeping her company. But the arrival of the Earl and Countess of Hastings was important enough for them to emerge from the privacy of her bedchamber.
As he placed her on the settee, the countess covered her with a blanket, tucking it around her to keep her warm. “We cannot have you taking a chill after all you have endured.”
“Thank you, my lady.” It was a nice change to leave her bed. She only hoped this morning’s visit would prove she was strong enough to leave her chambers more often, as long as Daniel agreed to carry her. She had no qualms enjoying his arms as he held her.
“A nasty business, this mess with Southwood.” The earl sat with a glass of brandy, slowly swirling the liquid as though it were out of habit and not as if he truly wanted the drink.
“Have you heard anything new?” Daniel asked as he sat in the armchair next to where Myra sat. She wished he could sit next to her, but her ankle required elevation, or so the bonesetter had said so when he’d wrapped her injury.
“He has left England. Sailed out of Liverpool, likely to the Americas or Barbados. We do not know his destination.” The earl continued to swirl his drink, his focus transfixed upon the liquid as the morning light reflected off its surface. “With all the trouble he has caused, I cannot wish he had stayed.”
“Surely his troubles have not gone with him. What of his creditors?” Daniel sat forward, his attention on the earl and a little crease in his forehead that made Myra’s heart beat a bit faster. She loved his earnestness.
She knew that was only one of the questions plaguing her husband; there had been many sleepless nights as he’d paced the bedchamber worrying about the debts. Myra reached out to touch his hand, and a flutter of happiness filled her stomach as he accepted her touch, lifting it to his lips so he could kiss her palm.
Oh, how she loved her husband. His gentle touch was more than enough to bring happiness into their lives every day for as long as they both lived.
The earl harrumphed. “The four men you wrote about have all visited Northcott Castle. I had the butler send them away without granting the requested audience.”
“Can we not speak of happier things?” the countess said as she smiled at Myra and then Daniel. “I wish to know everything about Blackbriar Hall and…this.” The countess pointed to Myra and Daniel’s joined hands.
A blush instantly crept into Myra’s neck and cheeks. She bit her lips together and then realized she had no reason to be bashful. It may not be the way of Society, but she hoped when people saw her with her husband, they would see how deeply she cherished the man he truly was.
“We are quite happy, my lady,” Myra said as she held Daniel’s gaze.
“Indeed,” the countess said. She turned to her husband. “Well, I believe we have worn out our welcome.”
Daniel and the earl both laughed.
Daniel kissed her hand again before looking at his mother. “We are most happy to play host for at least a day. Do not rush back to London unless you feel compelled to do so.”
“Then neither of you hold me accountable for my actions?”
“I have not revealed your dirty little scandal, Mama.”
Myra sat up. “Scandal?”
The countess took a dainty sip of tea as she composed her features. “I should have thought my actions would have been revealed by now. Daniel, whatever has delayed the confession?”
“I wished to keep your reputation untarnished.”
“Well, I hardly think it is necessary amongst family. Your father is wholly aware of my activities and supplied two bottles of strong drink for the blacksmith. More than enough to keep him from breaking the shackles.”
Myra’s eyes went wide as she looked to the earl. The mention of the inebriated blacksmith and shackles could only be in reference to the night they were wed. Goosepimples chilled the back of her neck as she looked from her husband to the countess. “Please, do confess all, my lady.”
Without any shame, the countess spoke of hiring the fortune teller and arranging the entire affair. Myra’s thoughts drifted back to the afternoon she’d spent in the countess’s private sitting room. Tears burned in the corners of her eyes as she remembered everything that had been said—the countess’s desire for Myra to find a different man to court.
Daniel squeezed her hand. “I am sorry, Myra. I should have told you long before now. Please do not cry.”
She hastily wiped the tears away, offering a little smile to her husband, hoping he would realize these tears were not for the viscount. Turning to the countess, she hesitated before asking, “Then you were in earnest when you declared that I was too good for Lord Southwood?”
“I most certainly was, my dear girl. I could not live with the knowledge of what my son had planned for you—a life of loneliness in a small village while he carried on with gambling and other pursuits which we shall not mention.”
Myra laughed as she shook her head, more tears spilling upon her cheeks. “I was convinced you disapproved of me, especially when I set Daniel a flame at the supper table.”
“Not at all.” The countess covered her mouth as she laughed. “It was in that moment I knew what I had to do. I had already determined that Daniel admired you. My decision was a gamble, one that I took daring to hope that once you were out from under Southwood’s disingenuous declarations of love, you would realize there was a far worthier option. Unfortunately, I had to act quickly, before Southwood requested your hand in marriage. I do apologize for not trusting that you would discover his heart was in the wrong place.”
“Do not apologize, my lady. I was blinded by fanciful dreams and well-placed compliments. You made a far superior choice for me, and for that, I shall forever consider you my benefactress.”
She turned to Daniel, needing him to know her tears were shed from pure relief. As she gazed into his blue eyes, she knew words were not necessary.
Epilogue - A Thousand and One Times, and Then Once More
The meadow was in full bloom, the scent of lavender and wild thyme drifting lazily in the summer breeze with a hint of the salty sea air as it drifted across the meadow, slightly shaking the leaves and the tips of the grass. Myra sat in the shade of an ancient oak, her husband’s head resting on a pillow as he drifted in and out of sleep. How he could find even a moment of rest with three children laughing and sometimes crying, she didn’t know, but she loved every moment of that peaceful morning.
Five years previously, she had believed herself doomed to disappointment, her dreams discarded like childhood fancies. But the years had proven her wrong. So beautifully, utterly wrong. If only she could reach back in time and reassure that frightened bride: This is where your joy begins.
The picnic was a bit ambitious for two adults, two young children, and a babe not yet a month old. The checkered blanket was littered with crumbled scones, half-eaten strawberries, and one extremely sticky raspberry jam spoon that had found its way into two-year-old Honoria’s bonnet.
“Honoria,” Myra said as she tried to hold back a laugh, “that was silk.”
Honoria blinked as she held her hands out, the raspberry jam spread across both her hands and her face, her wide-eyed innocence testing Myra’s reserve. “Pretty now, Mama.”
Adjusting the bundle in her arms, Myra settled Cressida on the blanket as she pulled Honoria onto her lap. “Allow me to help you with the jam, darling.”
Pouring a bit of water onto a handkerchief, Myra dabbed at the mess until Honoria’s face and hands were presentable once more. She smoothed out the handkerchief, showing the embroidered initials to her daughter. “This belongs to your father. He gave it to me when we were first married, and I have yet to return it to him.”
Honoria accepted the handkerchief and then crawled onto her father’s stomach. “Papa!”
Daniel’s eyes flew open as he sat up and pulled the little one into his embrace. “What does a gentleman have to do to have a respectable nap during a picnic?”
Before anyone could respond, he tossed Honoria into the air, bringing the little imp into a fit of giggles. Once he caught her, she squealed. “Again, Papa.”
Myra rested against the trunk of the tree, watching for only a moment when she realized their son, Arthur, had wandered away from the blanket. Searching the meadow, her eyes went wide as she noticed their four-year-old son was chasing after a goose.
“Daniel!”
As though the goose had realized a child was in pursuit, the beast spread its wings and let out a honk that startled both Honoria and Cressida, both girls instantly dissolving into tears and screeches to match that of the goose.
Daniel jumped up from the blanket, tossing Honoria into Myra’s arms as he ran from their little, once peaceful picnic. “For the love—do not chase the goose, Arthur!”
But it was too late. Arthur’s little hands were reaching forward, his love of animals guiding him as he attempted to pet the goose.
“Brilliant,” Myra muttered as she held on to her two daughters, watching in horror as her son attempted to show the goose a bit of love.
“Pray for me, Myra,” Daniel yelled, the fear evident as both remembered the last time he’d tangled with a goose.
“Do try to come out victor, this time, my love,” she called after him.
Instead of attacking, the goose honked once more and then took flight as though it was frightened of the sweet boy standing before her, or perhaps it was the anxious father running into the tall grass to save his son from the beast. Myra didn’t know which it was that caused the goose to flee, but all seemed to be fine—until Arthur took the flight of the goose as a challenge increasing his stride.
Arthur zigzagged through the grass, his arms outstretched, the summer air rent with gales of shrieking laughter as though it were a harmless game. The goose flapped furiously in front of the little boy, attempting to escape with its life, as Daniel’s coattails flew behind him.
“Cease your honking,” Daniel yelled at the goose right before he dipped down and out of sight.
Myra rubbed Honoria’s back as she hiccupped and then stopped crying. “All is well, darling. No need to fear.”
She trusted that Daniel would save their son from the awful fate he’d experienced years earlier, but even as she waited for her husband and child to reappear, she was worried that the goose had turned back and waged war against the young boy.
With a touch of nervous haste, Myra pressed the jam-laden spoon into Honoria’s hand, quite forgetting the chaos it had wrought earlier. The child, however, accepted it as if it were a treasure, her tears dissolving at once.
Just when she was ready to go in search of her husband and son, Arthur’s head poked up over the hill, followed by Daniel’s. The young boy was perched triumphantly atop his father’s shoulders, a wide smile brightening his features.
As Daniel set their son on the blanket, he met Myra’s eyes. “The goose has claimed the pond once more.”
She leaned forward, pulling a feather out of his cravat. She twisted it in her fingers and then kissed him on the cheek. “You were rather brave, husband.”
“I want it noted in the family Bible,” he said as he brushed flecks of dirt from his shoulders. “I saved us all from certain doom.”
