“I daresay this is a much better celebration than I expected,” Jasper chuckled, raising his glass of ale in a silent toast of cheers.
“There are far more people than need be,” Richard hissed back, his eyes wide with worry as the crowd filled his house. “If the sheriff gets wind that we are only just getting married now…”
“Brother, I have never met a more serious groom on his wedding day,” Jasper replied, thrusting a cup into Richard’s hands. “No one will come for Victoria. She is not the fugitive they seek.”
The brothers exchanged a meaningful glance and Richard was immediately comforted by the notion that his siblings would not ever betray him or Victoria. His eyes darted through the salon, resting on his new bride. As if she could feel his intense stare on her face, Victoria instantly lifted her own eyes to meet his. The happiness shone on her face even from the distance between them. She was a vision in a simple lace dress of blue, her veil resting over her dark, silky hair like a crown.
“Granted, this was a most unusual circumstance,” Oliver chimed, pulling Richard’s gaze away from his beloved. “But I must say it did work out for the best.”
“She is a comely lass, hard-working, and she does adore you,” Jasper agreed. There was something peculiar in his brothers’ voices and Richard found himself regarding them with interest.
“Have you something on your collective minds?” Richard demanded. “Out with it.”
Oliver and Jasper exchanged embarrassed looks and followed it with a laugh.
“I was only musing that perhaps the matrimonial columns are not a bad place to search for a wife,” Oliver offered. Richard tittered.
“I haven’t one complaint about the match you found for me,” he replied, the answer seeming to surprise his siblings. “In fact, I do believe I owe you a debt of gratitude for seeing it through.”
Jasper whooped, attracting the attention of the guests and he quickly covered his mouth with a hand.
“Have you taken note of the date and time, Ollie? Richie has thanked you!”
Richard scowled.
“You sound as though I am stingy with my gratitude.”
“I will bow out of this conversation now,” Jasper chirped in his typical, peace-keeping manner. “As I am out of ale.”
“Fetch one for me also!” Oliver called after him as Jasper moved through the throng of men and women.
Despite his concern, Richard could not help but feel pleased by the number of townsfolk who had come to celebrate his union with Victoria. He wanted nothing more than for her to feel accepted among the community.
He knew the story now of how his wife had killed a man to defend herself, and he did not fault her for her crimes, no matter what the courts said.
I would have killed that man myself had I the opportunity, he thought grimly. It was a marvel that Victoria was still the loving woman she was after the hardships she had endured. Richard had vowed from the moment he had learned about her past that he would die keeping her safe if that was what was required of him.
“You should see to your wife,” Oliver said suddenly, the jovial lilt to his voice gone. Richard looked toward Victoria again, his brow furrowing. A man in his late thirties had joined his wife’s side and seemed to be standing unusually close.
“Who is that man?” Richard barked, a sliver of unease coursing through his body. From where he stood, Victoria seemed uncomfortable with the stranger’s nearness but she did not shift away. Her eyes did move toward Richard, however, and it was enough to cause both men to react.
“I daresay we find out,” Oliver replied tightly. “He is unfamiliar to me and appears too familiar with Victoria.”
They started toward the duo, but Richard willed himself not to grow angry. It was his wedding day, after all. He did not wish to cause a scene.
I will politely ask this gentleman to be on his way. He has no business being here when he was not invited.
As they neared, Richard took in the worn, hole-riddled clothing of the guest and his scruffy, unkempt appearance. Yet there was something oddly recognizable about him, something elusive which Richard could not quite grasp.
“Darling!” Victoria said with great relief. “There you are.”
“I am,” Richard replied, his attention fully focused upon the other man. He felt Oliver nearby but behind him.
“I have not had the pleasure,” Richard told the man, extending his hand. “I am the owner of this land and groom, Richard Chauncey.”
“I know who you are,” the man replied, almost lazily. He smiled widely and accepted Richard’s hand, his blue eyes twinkling as though he knew a secret he was not apt to share.
“Do you?” Richard asked, taken aback by his lack of manners. “How is that?”
To his amazement, Victoria grew angry.
“You lied to me, sir,” she snapped. “I suggest you remove yourself from my home.”
“I did not lie,” he replied, his smile not faltering. “I am whom I said.”
“And yet my husband does not know you?”
“That is because we have never met.” The situation seemed to tickle the man endlessly, a fact which infuriated Richard.
Off with him then. That is enough game-playing for the day.
“What is the meaning of this?” Richard snapped irritably. “You have upset my wife. I would ask you to kindly leave.”
“If that is what you wish, but I must confess, this was not the family reunion I had envisioned for three decades.”
Richard whipped his head back to Oliver but it was clear his brother was equally perplexed.
“Family reunion?” Richard scoffed. “Who is it you claim to be?”
“I claim to be no one. I am your brother, Evan.”
Richard gaped at him in shock and Oliver began to laugh.
“My word,” Oliver chuckled. “You are a remarkable flimflam man but you must be on your way. I must say, choosing a wedding to instill your ploys is in very poor taste.”
“I will leave,” Evan answered evenly. “But I speak the truth. I only came to bid you congratulations on your nuptials.”
“You have done as much,” Oliver growled, stepping forward. “Now off with you.”
Evan nodded but before he could move, Richard called out to him.
“No! Stop! I remember you!”
Oliver gaped at him in shock.
“You cannot be serious!”
Yet as Richard continued to study the handsome but rugged face of the stranger, he nodded slowly.
The eyes. He has the Chauncey eyes.
“Yes,” he murmured. “You are my older brother.”
“Whatever are you talking about, Richard?” Victoria demanded. “Surely you would recall having an older sibling before this moment!”
“No,” he breathed, his eyes still fixed on Evan. “I was no bigger than a babe…but I remember. What became of you?”
For the first time, Evan’s smile faltered and he looked down with embarrassment.
“That is a matter for another time. This is a joyous occasion, a reception. I will not dampen the mood with dark tales of my misspent youth.”
“Oliver, fetch him a drink,” Richard managed, his head growing light at the revelation he had heard. “Evan is welcome here.”
“But Richie—”
“Find Jasper at once. Introduce Evan to his brother.”
Oliver eyed Richard with worry, but he did nod curtly.
“Come along, Evan. The lord of the manor has spoken,” Oliver grunted with causticness.
“Thank you, Richie. I remember you too,” Evan told him, a look of gratefulness filling his eyes. “I hope we can become good friends.”
They shuffled away, leaving the newlyweds to stare after them.
“Richie, how—”
“I do not know,” Richard interjected. “But he is my brother. I am certain, although I remember very little about him.”
Victoria stared at him worriedly.
“Are you certain he is not simply a conman?” she asked urgently. “I have known many in my life.”
“He is not. He is my brother.”
Victoria did not speak again, but the question on her face was as clear as the morning sky; brother or not, could he be trusted?
Next book: The Disgraced Mail Order Bride