Destroyed & Restored - The Baron's Courageous Wife Page 6

  Anger rose in Matthew’s veins at the sight of the man who so thoughtlessly had gambled away his daughter’s happiness. “I’m Lord Whitworth,” Matthew stated, his voice harsh as he regarded the earl with unveiled contempt.

  Frowning, Lord Radcliff pushed to his feet, then braced himself on the desk as he began to sway. “Whitworth you say.” Squinting his eyes even more, he looked at Matthew. “That cannot be. You’re not Whitworth’s son. I know the look of him. What is your purpose in coming here?”

  Matthew wondered if his cousin had been more closely acquainted with the earl before his death. However, as it did not signify, he chose to disregard it for now. “I’m not the man’s son,” Matthew explained, loathing every second he had to spend in the earl’s presence. “I’m his second cousin. After an unfortunate accident that claimed his son’s life, the title passed to me.”

  Mumbling something unintelligible, Lord Radcliff shook his head. Blinking his eyes, he seemed to be able to focus his attention on Matthew with more precision. “A shame when a man dies before fathering an heir. I always say it is never too early to ensure the continuation of one’s line.” He cleared his throat, once more reaching for a thick glass with a honey brown liquid within. “If what you say is indeed the truth, what then can I do for you?”

  Forcing his hands to remain where they were, Matthew met the earl’s gaze head-on. “I’ve come here today to inform you that I shall marry your daughter within three days’ time.”

  Choking on his drink, Lord Radcliff coughed, his face turning dark red. “How dare y−?”

  “How dare I?” Matthew thundered, unable to hold back his outrage any longer. Two strides carried him up to the man’s desk, his jaw tense as he leaned forward, a snarl on his face. “How dare I? Was it not you, my lord, who lost her hand in a game of cards?”

  Momentarily taken aback, Lord Radcliff swallowed before he flung the glass in his hand across the room. It shattered against the opposite wall, spraying shards all over the floor. “You imbecile! My daughter does not concern you. How dare you speak of marrying her?” The earl’s lips pressed together tightly as he regarded Matthew with disgust. “I would never give her in marriage to a man like you. She will marry a gentleman of the highest rank. A man−”

  “Like Mr. Harkin?” Matthew demanded, fixing the earl with a hateful glare. “You may call him a gentleman of the highest rank. I call him a gambler and a drunkard. A description you ought to be familiar with as it not only fits him perfectly but also you as well.”

  Sputtering in shock, Lord Radcliff stomped around his desk, anger fuelling his steps as he advanced on Matthew. “What do you want? How do you know of this?”

  Drawing himself up to his full height, Matthew looked down upon the earl even though there was little difference in height between them. “I was there the night you lost her hand to him. I saw the man you are.”

  A hint of doubt came to Lord Radcliff’s eyes as he took note of the anger that shook Matthew, barely contained in the clenched fists by his side. Finding himself facing a worthy adversary, the earl seemed to rethink his next steps. The man’s shoulders relaxed before he took a step backwards. “Then why do you believe you have any right to claim her if you know I lost her to Harkin?”

  Renewed anger rushed through Matthew when he thought of all the times the earl had intimidated his daughter into compliance. Of all the times he had thundered toward her, yelling in her face, threatening her with the power he held over her. The thought of what she had had to bear made him cringe. No wonder she rarely smiled.

  Gritting his teeth, Matthew leaned forward. “Because he lost her to me.” Unable not to, Matthew took another menacing step toward the older man, rejoicing in the way he retreated. Finally, the man was receiving a glimpse of what his daughter had endured at his hands. “She is mine,” he growled. “I have every right to claim her.”

  Lord Radcliff swallowed, his mouth opening and closing, probably at a loss for the first time in his life. The look in his eyes suggested that he did not care for it in the least.

  Inhaling a steadying breath, Matthew lowered his voice to a menacing whisper. “She is no longer yours to do with as you please. Now, she is mine to protect.” His gaze narrowed as he drove his point home. “I will see to it that you will not ruin her future for good. I will see to her happiness from now on, my lord.” Gritting his teeth, he hissed, “Will you give us your blessing?”

  Closing his eyes in defeat, the earl nodded.

  Chapter Ten – A Man with Two Faces

  After returning Tillie to the nursery, Adelaide felt drawn back to her father’s study. Her heart hammered in her chest as she quietly approached the closed door, her eyes glancing about her to see if she would be discovered. Her sense of decorum chided her for what she was doing, trespassing on another’s privacy. However, her curiosity would not be denied.

  After seeing Lord Whitworth up close for the first time, Adelaide felt the desperate need to learn more about the man she was to marry. Lady Elton’s words still echoed in her mind, and Adelaide had clung to the lady’s description like a woman drowning.

  He is a good man. I assure you that he is kind and loyal, decent and honourable. He would never hurt you. You’d be safe with him.

  All day, Adelaide had repeated these words to herself, hoping that indeed Lady Elton truly knew the man she was entrusting her to. That he was indeed kind and honourable, a man quite unlike her father. Unlike Mr. Harkin. And yet, when she had looked at him across the corridor only a few minutes past, her trained eyes had glimpsed evidence that spoke to the contrary.

  The knuckles of his hands−as far as she could tell from such a short glimpse−had seemed reddened, the skin roughened and even broken here and there as though he had only recently found himself in a physical confrontation. Only too well did Adelaide know these signs as her brother−and even on occasion her father−often showed similar signs. Her brother, John, frequently ended up in drunken brawls provoked by minor differences that escalated due to lack of reason as those involved were generally inebriated.

  Could Lady Elton be wrong? Was Adelaide’s betrothed a man like her own brother? Did he drink and perhaps even gamble? Did he have a short temper? An aggressive streak like her father?

  Had she made a monumental mistake by agreeing to marry him?

  Recalling the note she had received from Lady Elton not an hour ago, Adelaide groaned. It had informed her in a few words that everything was going as planned. A special license would be procured with haste so that the ceremony could take place in three days hence.

  To see Adelaide safe.

  Safe?

  Would she be safe with a man like Lord Whitworth? Or had she just given her agreement to a life not unlike her mother’s? Constantly fearing her husband’s anger? Not even safe from physical harm?

  Adelaide sighed. How often had she seen bruises on her mother’s arms? She did not know. Too often. Once even on her face. Would that be her fate also?

  How would it feel to be safe? Adelaide wondered, unable to recall the feeling. All her life, she had lived in a constant state of anxiety. Safety was nothing she had ever been accustomed to. What would it feel like not to worry even in her own home? To walk about with ease? What did it mean when people said they felt carefree?

  Adelaide flinched as the sound of something shattering echoed through the door, followed closely by her father’s angry voice. “You imbecile! My daughter does not concern you. How dare you speak of marrying her?”

  Holding her breath, Adelaide remained stock-still as though even the smallest movement might draw their attention. Her teeth were clenched, and her jaw began to ache from the tension.

  After his outburst, her father’s voice returned to a menacing low and she could not make out what was being said. She strained her ears, and yet, it was no use. Not knowing what was being discussed sent cold shivers up and down Adelaide’s back, and tears began to prick the backs of her eyes.

  Still, they did not spi
ll until Lord Whitworth’s voice, matching her father’s in a most shocking way, slammed against her ears. “She is mine,” he growled, his voice dripping with menace. “I have every right to claim her.”

  Shrinking back instinctively, Adelaide felt tears streaming down her face at the sight of her shattered hopes. All strength left her, and she felt like sinking to the ground and burying her head in her hands.

  He had come to claim her? Claim her? Like one claimed a possession?

  Shaking her head, Adelaide tried to fight off the haze that descended upon her, cushioning the blow and easing the pain. It had served her well countless times. Still, now she could not let it. If she were found outside the door, eavesdropping, what would they do? What would her father do? What would her betrothed do to her once she was his?

  How often had she heard her mother cry out at her father’s harsh treatment? Adelaide could not remember. It had been too often.

  With trembling hands, Adelaide backed away from the door as she desperately tried to calm the panic that had seized her heart, threatening to overpower her. Gritting her teeth, she forced her gaze from the door, spun on her heel and forced her legs onward, away from the threat that loomed over her.

  When she had almost reached the corner, the faint sound of a door opening reached her ears, stilling her movements. Trying to swallow the lump in her throat, Adelaide closed her eyes when footsteps echoed closer.

  “Lady Adelaide.”

  The sound of Lord Whitworth’s calm voice chased away her paralysis, and she quickly lifted her hands, hastily brushing away the tears that still clung to her face. Only once she felt reasonably certain that her emotions were once more concealed behind a mask of polite obedience did she turn to face him.

  His hands were curled into fists, and the pulse in his neck beat angrily as he looked at her, his gaze drifting over her face as though he had never seen her before. Tension held his shoulders rigid, and anger stained his face a darker shade of red as he slowly stepped closer.

  Forcing herself not to back away, Adelaide dropped her gaze from his, trying her best to appear unobtrusive.

  Measured steps carried him closer, and there was a hint of caution about him, reminding her of a hunter not wishing to spook his prey. He was more than a head taller than she was, and the sheer size of his body made her feel weak and helpless.

  There was no feeling she hated more.

  No feeling she knew better.

  “I wanted to apologise,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, and Adelaide’s head all but snapped up at hearing it, “for the strangeness of this meeting. I’m aware we have never even been properly introduced, and yet, we find ourselves betrothed to one another.” A soft smile came to his lips, and his green eyes shone brightly as they looked into hers.

  Unable not to, Adelaide stared at him, not knowing what to make of the man who suddenly stood before her. A moment ago, he had appeared as threatening as her own father on his worst days, and now, he seemed genuinely kind. Was it a mask to fool her? Was he simply more adept at hiding his aggression? But why would he bother? After all, she had already agreed to marry him.

  Allowing her gaze to travel over his features, Adelaide felt reminded of earlier that morning when she had seen him from a distance, speaking to Lord Elton. She recalled the subtle shyness that had rested in his eyes as well as the respect he had shown her. His clear green eyes, soft and kind, had proved him to be the man Lady Elton thought him to be. And yet, later that same day, Adelaide had seen and heard evidence to the contrary.

  How could she be certain of his character?

  When she remained quiet, he nodded, understanding coming to his gaze. “I can see that these developments have unsettled you, my lady. Are you…,” he swallowed as though suddenly nervous, “are you aware why I’m here?”

  Unable to recover her voice, Adelaide nodded, feeling the effect of his gentle smile all the way to her toes. What a strange effect he had on her! A moment ago, she had been terrified. And now…she could not say how she felt.

  “Good,” he replied, taking another step forward.

  Instantly, an alarm went off in Adelaide’s head and she shrank back, unable to prevent it. Groping for words to avoid his anger, she opened her mouth…but the words remained stuck in her throat.

  However, instead of anger, he showed her kindness once more. “I apologise if I’ve alarmed you, my lady. I merely sought to assure you that all is settled.”

  Carefully, Adelaide lifted her gaze to meet his. When their eyes met, the corners of his mouth once more curled into a gentle smile, reassuring as well as encouraging. Adelaide could not believe her eyes.

  He nodded to her. “Soon, you will be able to leave this house, and I promise that I will do all that I can to ensure your safety from here on out. You have my word.” For a long moment, he held her gaze, seemingly wishing to say more. However, he did not. Instead, he granted her one last smile before taking his leave.

  Watching him stride toward the foyer, Adelaide did not know what to think or feel. Her hands shook with a myriad of emotions that assaulted her, pulling her in different directions. When he stopped at the corner and looked at her over his shoulder, her breath caught in her throat, and her heart felt as though it would jump from her chest.

  Still, his eyes shone brightly, full of promise and hope.

  With all her heart, Adelaide wished that it could be true, that he could be the man Lady Elton thought him to be. And yet, she did not dare believe so. Life had taught her time and time again that men could not be trusted. They knew only their own desires, deceiving and manipulating to achieve their goals, and if need be, using their physical superiority to ensure that none stood against them.

  Sighing, Adelaide wondered what Lord Whitworth’s goal was. Why had he agreed to marry her? Was it the dowry her mother’s father had bestowed upon her? Certainly, it could not be for any other reason as her own family’s reputation was slowly going up in flames as her father continued on this downward spiral.

  Her heart and mind ached with an intensity Adelaide had rarely known, and so she decided to retreat to her chambers, knowing herself to be in desperate need of some peace and quiet to sort through the chaos. However, when she turned to go, a gentle voice humming a child’s lullaby drifted to her ears.

  Unbidden, a deep smile came to Adelaide’s face, and she immediately changed direction, stepping up to the drawing room to her right. The door stood ajar, and she slowly pushed it open, her gaze falling on Tillie’s dark curls as she knelt by the coffee table, her dolls arranged around it and their best china used in her make-believe tea party.

  “Did I not ask you to stay in the nursery?” Adelaide asked as she approached, unable to hide her smile. “How did you escape Miss Harmon yet again?”

  Grinning rather mischievously for a two-year-old, Tillie shrugged as though there was nothing to it. “I was bored,” she said, not answering Adelaide’s question. Perhaps she did not wish to give away her method, so she would be able to use it yet again another time, Adelaide thought, wondering if there was more to Tillie than met the eye. After all, she often seemed a bit too wise for her age.

  As though to prove her right, the little girl cocked her head and looked at Adelaide with that sort of wisdom that only young children had. “You’re sad,” she observed openly, her deep blue eyes lingering on Adelaide’s face.

  Forcing a smile onto her features, Adelaide sat down on the settee beside the little girl. “I’m fine,” she assured her.

  Still, her attempt had to have been unconvincing because Tillie rose to her feet, climbed onto her lap and wound her little arms around Adelaide’s neck, hugging her close. “All will be well,” she whispered the same way Adelaide always did when Tillie woke up at night afraid of the dark.

  Blinking back tears, Adelaide sighed, hugging the girl closer, knowing only too well that in three days’ time she would have to say goodbye to her. Her heart filled with sorrow, and she almost crumbled under the weight of
it. After all, Tillie was her ray of sunshine. How would she survive without her?

  Chapter Eleven – A New Beginning

  Escorting his new bride into the parlour of his townhouse, Matthew revelled in the feel of her delicate hand in his. Although her skin seemed chilled, her hand fit perfectly within his own as though they were meant to walk through life together.

  Hand in hand.

  Due to the circumstances of their wedding, not many guests had been invited. In fact, only family had been present at the ceremony and now took their seats around the large table for the wedding breakfast. A certain amount of tension rested on almost all their faces. However, only Matthew’s new father-in-law did nothing to hide his displeasure. With a drink in his hand, he sat in his chair, grumbling something unintelligible−but no doubt hateful−under his breath.

  In turn, Matthew was glad to see his mother conversing animatedly with the countess as well as his wife’s grandmother. All three women seemed to be at ease with one another, occasionally glancing in their direction before sticking their heads together again. “What do you think they’re talking about?” Matthew asked, turning his gaze to his new bride.

  Paler than he had ever seen her, the new Lady Whitworth sat beside him, her hands trembling as they rested in her lap. Upon his question, she turned her gaze to meet his. However, after a mere second, her eyes dropped to her hands, and she mumbled something under her breath like a frightened child.

  Matthew swallowed, realising he had been a fool to think that merely removing her from her father’s influence would set her free. Years of fear and obedience had left her a mere shell of herself. It would not be easy for him to gain her trust.