Wolf of Arundale Hall (20 page)

Chapter Eleven

“I don’t give a rosy red arse about the neighborhood,” Joshua snapped. “Why do we have to have strangers here?”

All he wanted was to stay at home and be with his wife. Only a few more days and Melinda would be gone. The last thing he wanted was some social soirée that would serve no purpose except to create more gossip. Elizabeth seemed determined, however.

“You haven’t been home for ten years, Joshua,” she said primly. “We must accept that the neighborhood will expect it.”

“But Lady North?” he fumed. “After what she did?”

Elizabeth’s brown eyes were serious. “If we do not, people will wonder why. And I think she’ll tell lies. I want to take the initiative away from her.”

He sighed. “I’d forgotten how stiff and uncomfortable it all is here.”

Elizabeth rose from the chair in the small office where she’d been perched taking down names and organizing this torture. She sat in his lap where he sat behind the desk. Her small hands cupped his face. “My lord,” she murmured and kissed him. “I know Jamaica was more to your taste, but Arundale is our home.”

He tightened his arms around her. What right did he have to protest the social conventions? He’d been in the wilds of the new world for ten years and his sweet wife had borne the loneliness and the stigma. And he was complaining about a harmless party. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth.”

She leaned back, her eyes wide. “You’re what?”

“I’m sorry. That you had to deal with this…social nightmare every day. That I left you with it, never considering what people would say. My only excuse is that I was young and scared to death.”

Her smile was brilliant and sweet. He stared. It was the first real smile he’d seen on her beautiful face. She brushed his lips with hers. “I love you, Lord Arundale.”

Not content with a gentle touch, he took control and deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. Where they might have gone, he didn’t know, but a knock at the door interrupted them.

Elizabeth bounded to her feet and straightened her hair. Joshua grinned and spanked her bottom gently as she scampered back to her chair. “Come in,” he called.

Sarah crept into the room. Since their experience at Lord Everret’s, she’d been very subdued. Whatever had happened with Perry after they’d left had made her quiet and somber. Too wrapped up in his wife, Joshua had barely registered the change. Now he scented a difference in her, a definitive mark in the air that Sarah was Perry’s and no one else’s.

“Pardon me, my lord,” she said and curtsied.

“What is it, Sarah?”

“Have you seen your brother, sir?”

“I haven’t seen him since last night,” he answered. “Why?”

Her gaze seemed riveted to the floor. “He…did not speak to you?”

“Sarah,” he said, putting a whip in his tone. “Tell me what you need to say.”

“Don’t bully her, Joshua,” Elizabeth admonished. His wife walked over and took Sarah’s hand. “What happened?”

Sarah’s lips trembled. “He…he…we made love. Then he ran out of the room.” Her gaze met Elizabeth’s, agony in their depths. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m sorry, Sarah,” Elizabeth said in a low tone. “Perry…is new to the idea of who and what he is. It is a frightening thing.”

“I know I’m just a maid, but—”

“Don’t lie, Sarah,” he snapped, and Sarah’s glance jerked to meet his stare.

“What do you mean, my lord?”

“You’re not a maid. Sarah McDonald is not your true name. My grandmother wouldn’t send a maid to do this piece of work.” He strode closer. “I thought you’d learned not to lie to me.”

The color drained from Sarah’s face and she shot a quick look at Elizabeth. “I…thought it best.”

“Who are you really?”

“I am Lady Sarah Ayers,” she said.

Elizabeth dropped the other woman’s hand and stared at her. “I know that name. Your father is William Ayers?”

Sarah nodded miserably. “Lady North asked my mother to send her a companion, since all her female dependents had betrayed her.” Her fingers twined together. “Lady North and my mother are second cousins.”

Joshua ached for his wife, whose face hardened into an expressionless mask. So many lies, so many secrets. She must think everyone was out to hurt her. “So the last time you saw my brother was at Lord Everret’s?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Elizabeth had stepped away from Sarah, the physical distance nothing compared to the emotional distance she’d put between herself and the woman she’d thought was her friend. Her voice was cold when she shot a question at Sarah. “When you say ‘made love’, do you mean he gave you his seed?”

The way Sarah blinked told Joshua that something odd had happened in their encounter. “My lady—”

“Answer the question,” Elizabeth snapped.

“He— No, my lady.” The maid’s face was fiery red. “I mean, he did but—” She bit her lip.

“Are you still a virgin?” Joshua asked, trying to help Sarah.

The woman nodded and dropped her gaze to the floor.

Elizabeth’s nod was a jerk of her head and she crossed to the desk. With a yank, she opened the drawer of the desk and pulled out the estate ledger. “What do we owe you, Sarah?”

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “My lady, please,” she whispered.

“I’m sure you understand that the things you’ve experienced here are not for general discussion,” Elizabeth stated, and Joshua marveled at how much his wife’s demeanor differed from her usual self. This was the cold “Lady of the Manor” act that she had clearly used to put people in their place.

“Lady Elizabeth, I beg you—”

“I’m sure one month’s wages will be enough,” Elizabeth continued as if Sarah hadn’t spoken.

Joshua couldn’t take any more. His wife was breaking into a million pieces in front of him, even though she’d never looked more regal or more menacing. He strode over to the desk and took the pen from her hand.

She glanced up at him and her eyes narrowed. He cupped her face with his hands. “Elizabeth, don’t. I know this hurts. I know you feel betrayed, but Sarah was used by Lady North. You, of all people, know exactly what my grandmother is capable of.”

His wife’s nostrils flared and she jerked her head away. Without another word, she fled the room, the back of her hand against her mouth.

The door slammed behind her and Sarah collapsed into a chair, tears streaming down her face. “She’ll never forgive me,” she said.

“Elizabeth is one of the most forgiving people I know, Miss Ayers,” he said. “Now, did my brother bite the inside of your thigh?”

Her head snapped up. “How did you know that?” she demanded.

No wonder his brother had run like hell. “He’s marked you as his mate.” Joshua sighed. “This isn’t good.”

Memories of his own struggle after marking Elizabeth flooded back. The Beast’s demands had risen to an unbearable level, forcing Joshua to seek blood. Cattle and sheep all died in his horrific transition. All because Joshua hadn’t finished the claiming. Of course, he hadn’t known that was the problem. He’d been terrified he’d attack his wife and kill her.

For the next few months he’d fought the thing inside him, desperately afraid. When he’d awoken one morning at the foot of Elizabeth’s bed with no memory of how he’d got there, blood on his hands, he’d made up his mind to leave Arundale for Jamaica.

His brother was almost as ignorant as Joshua had been. First things first. “Go and get Jaimison.” He gripped Sarah’s arm and hauled her to her feet. “Speak to him alone. Tell him that I’ve asked him to find my brother.” His mind rolled over several possibilities, but he knew Jaimison would know them all. “Go with him, Sarah. With the mark, you’ll be a draw for Perry. If we’re lucky, he’ll find you.”

Sarah whirled out of the room.

Now it was time to deal with his sweet wife. Yes, the party would have to go on. Elizabeth was right about that. Perry’s disappearance would have to be smoothed over, covered up. And he would confront his grandmother on his own turf.

Beneath the skin, he felt the Beast growl and pace. His grandmother had put his family at risk, not understanding the nature of the Arundale men. But she would discover that this family was stronger than her hatred.

*

The night air was cool and a fog had drifted over the moor, giving it an eerie appearance. Elizabeth stood at the door and greeted her guests. Joshua, tall and handsome, stood beside her, doing his duty as the man of the house.

The four hired maids rushed around making sure the guests were given drinks. Everything seemed placid on the surface. It had been four days and no sign of Perry. In fact, Sarah had also disappeared. Bitterness tinged Elizabeth’s thoughts. Did anyone tell her the truth?

After a childhood of lies and deceit, it seemed she was doomed to continue to live a lie. Joshua hadn’t tried to cheer her up. He’d just dragged her out of bed and threatened to spank her until she came if she didn’t get up. The threat had worked and Elizabeth had dressed, facing the day with sullen determination.

Melinda had made things worse by throwing fits whenever she could. Joshua had put his foot down and told her that she’d be out the day after the party or he’d have her removed by force.

When Elizabeth scanned the salon, she spotted the woman flirting with a man twice her age, who had a large estate in the next county. Her dress was new and Elizabeth wondered where she’d got the money for it. She shook her head. It was no longer her concern. Joshua had taken over now, and Elizabeth was relegated to wifely duties.

“Elizabeth. How well you look,” Lady North said as she strolled in regally. Joshua’s grandmother was a force to be reckoned with. Large, with dark hair and dark eyes, she looked as if she had some Spanish ancestry. In truth, Melinda had been her ward, her responsibility. But when Lady North had tried to marry Melinda off to a wealthy but much older peer despite Melinda’s widowed status, Joshua had stepped in.

Lady North had never forgiven him for that. Elizabeth knew the woman’s resentment went deeper. Joshua’s father had stolen Lady North’s only daughter practically under everyone’s nose and married her. The hatred this woman had for Arundale had been made evident when she’d cleared out her daughter’s possessions in the wake of Arundale’s death. Joshua was twelve. How had he taken being bossed around by Lady North?

Elizabeth guessed not very well.

“Lady North. It’s so good of you to come,” Elizabeth said.

“Well, Joshua. You’re finally home.” Lady North stared at her grandson. Joshua smiled—all teeth, nothing else.

“I am.” Joshua took Lady North’s hand and bowed. “You are unchanged, I see,” he said.

Lady North’s eyes glittered like polished obsidian. “I am older.”

“As are we all, my lady,” Joshua rejoined.

The older woman’s mouth tightened. “Where is your brother? His scandals have reached my ears and I want to talk to him.”

“I’m afraid he had business in London, madam. He asked to be excused,” Joshua stated. “You remember Melinda, of course?”

Melinda had crept forward and Elizabeth noted that she sidled up to Lady North.
She would
, thought Elizabeth.

“Don’t be an ass, Joshua. Of course, I remember Melinda.” Those sharp, dark eyes studied Melinda. “That is an expensive dress,” Lady North snapped.

Melinda’s smile was dazzling. “Joshua bought it for me.” She twirled. “Isn’t it lovely?”

Elizabeth kept her expression blank with an effort. Joshua’s hands curled into fists. Lady North shot him an amused glance. “Did he? Well, I’m sure Elizabeth didn’t mind. Did you, my dear?”

Summoning a smile, Elizabeth played her part. “Oh, no! Joshua is extremely generous to those who depend on him.”

She had the satisfaction of seeing the smug smile on Melinda’s face disappear. Then Elizabeth turned her back on them to greet new guests.

Melinda’s ringing tones echoed through the room. “I will not be polite to your bitch of a wife, Joshua.”

“Then it’s a good thing you’ll be gone from Arundale tomorrow, Melinda,” her husband said in a harsh tone. “Since I will no longer pay for the expensive gowns and the townhouse in London.” Joshua bowed to Melinda. “Enjoy your last evening here.”

Melinda’s face twisted in an ugly mask of hatred. “You bastard! How dare you come back here after being gone for ten years and treat me this way?”

“This is my home and Elizabeth is my wife. I will not tolerate disrespect. I suggest you refrain from one of your tantrums during the party or I will ask the footman to show you out.”

Melinda’s face turned beetroot red and her hands were clenched into fists. She whirled around and headed into the salon, a mass of feminine offense.

Elizabeth let out a long, slow breath. What now? Couldn’t they have one night without drama? Her smile was pasted on and her cheeks hurt from trying to maintain it. But she knew this night would do much to squelch the talk about Joshua.

Many had openly discussed Joshua’s patronage of his cousin and speculated that he had come home to set aside his child bride and remarry in a wiser manner. The confrontation between him and Melinda would put those rumors to rest and solidify their position as a married couple. Tongues would always wag, but Melinda had ensured that they would be focused on her rather than Joshua.

After a while Elizabeth and Joshua were able to go into the salon and sit down. When Joshua brought her one of the small cakes and a glass of wine, she thanked him and relaxed. Thank God this was almost over.

Joshua sat on the armrest of her chair and placed his hand on her neck, sliding his fingers along her skin. “I think you’ve accomplished what was needed, my love,” he said.

She wanted to preen, to bask in his approval. But the last few days had been a brutal awakening of her sexual needs and her frustrations. Through it all, Joshua had been patient, even kind. He’d withheld sex from her in a bid for something she didn’t understand. Elizabeth wasn’t going to beg him, even though her bed was cold and lonely without him.

Her husband seemed to be…courting her again. She glanced up at his face and found him studying her. “What do you see, my lord?”

He leaned down and whispered, “I see a very beautiful and very intelligent young woman. I’m lucky to have you.”