The wind whistled through the trees. A leaf crushed under Monsale’s boot as he made his way across the dark courtyard toward the stables.
He could just imagine seeing the fabled Sir Gawain’s headless Green Knight ride out of the nearby woods. Or even a ghost if he was particularly lucky. But Monsale had experienced enough mayhem in his life to know that the stories couldn’t match reality.
Fortunately, his quarry this evening was alive and if the volume of supposed whispering was any indication, very much in possession of their heads.
I would never ask either of you to undertake a mission involving stealth. Talk about making a commotion.
Reaching the stables, he slipped in through the side entrance. The sight which met his eyes in the dim light had Monsale chuckling into the sleeve of his coat.
Viscount Walsall was attempting, and failing, to get Euphemia onto the back of a horse. Every time she managed to get her foot in the stirrups, the animal shifted, and she was forced to hop after it. Walsall was holding on to the back of Euphemia’s gown trying to pull her away. If the situation wasn’t so perilous for them all, Monsale would have laughed.
“If you are going to steal one of my horses, I would suggest you might want to pick a less frisky one. Sinbad is known for his dislike of females.”
Walsall and Euphemia both froze as Monsale sauntered out from his hiding place and into the light. The earl clearly hadn’t planned the moonlight flit all that well.
He immediately let go of Euphemia and with his fists raised, marched toward Monsale. Grim determination sat on his countenance.
Excellent. I do like a chap who is prepared to fight for what he wants.
“Euphemia is mine. She and I are leaving this evening. If you try to stop us, I swear I shall do you grave harm,” said Walsall.
Monsale punched the air. “Now that is the sort of spirit I like in a man. Knows what he wants and is determined to take it. But calm yourself Walsall, I haven’t changed my mind, nor am I about to renege on the deal Lady Euphemia and I made at the ball. You are still eloping tonight.”
He turned to Euphemia. “I don’t think going by horseback is going to work. The last thing any of us wish is for the two of you to come to grief out on the road.”
Walsall speared his fingers through his tussled hair. “I was planning on taking my coach, but I had to hide it out on the road a mile or so back. Couldn’t risk anyone seeing it.”
“Papa asked our driver to sleep in the coach and keep an eye out for anyone who tries to leave, so we couldn’t take the Marshall one. My parents won’t rest until I am the Duchess of Monsale,” said Euphemia.
Of course, they won’t. The countess is determined to make her daughter a duchess whether she likes it or not.
He nodded at the horse. “That beast is not going to get you very far. He has a frightful temper and will do everything he can to throw a shoe. You will be walking the best part of the night with him. Walsall, take my travel coach. I’ll give you the use of some of my stable staff and a driver to take you to your coach. Make for Lower Eythorne tonight, I own a small cottage in the village, so you can stay there. It’s eleven miles from here, far enough to give you a good head start in the morning for Scotland.”
Walsall and Euphemia exchanged hopefully glances. “What about you?” asked Walsall.
Monsale held out his hand, and the two men shook. “When Euphemia’s absence is discovered in the morning, I will play the role of surprised, and disappointed bridegroom. I shall of course garner sympathy and admiration by being the picture of stoic English male. By the time everyone understands the truth of what has happened, the two of you will be well on your way to the border.”
A tearful Euphemia rushed forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you. We are so deeply grateful. One day, you shall make a wonderful husband to some lucky woman.”
I sincerely hope that is the case. And that it’s tomorrow.
“May you both be blessed with a long and happy life together. Euphemia, I shall head back inside and organize to have the rest of your things collected and put in my coach. Stay here out of sight, we can’t risk your mother deciding to come and have a pre-wedding night chat,” said Monsale.
He left the stables, satisfied that for once in his life he had done a noble, selfless thing. But he knew that ridding himself of his fiancée was the easy part, now he had to find a way to get Naomi to stop being angry with him. To finally put an end to their stubborn battle of wills.
Making his way up the stairs a short while later, he steered clear of the guest bedrooms. The less noise there was in the castle living quarters the better. The last thing he needed was to accidentally meet up with either of Naomi or Euphemia’s parents.
Stuffing his hands into the deep pockets of his coat, Monsale headed out through a nearby doorway. It led to the long set of steps which ran all the way down the side of the castle to the grassy lawn far below. It was a short walk across the outer bailey, over the low sand dunes, after which he finally made it to the beach.
Between now and the scheduled time for the wedding he had to find Naomi and get her to agree to marry him.
Easier said than done.
She had avoided the guided tour of the castle which Adan had hosted. And her absence at supper would have been noted by now.
There wasn’t much he could do about the situation. He would just have to trust Harry to come up with a plausible story which explained Naomi’s absence.
I’m sure they all know how things are between Naomi and myself, so her not being at the supper won’t need much explanation.
And as long as the Marshalls and Steeles all remained tucked up enjoying a splendid supper, along with the castle’s best French brandy and wine, all that was left for him to do was to continue with the pretense of intending to make Lady Euphemia his wife tomorrow morning. That task should be nothing more than a trifling deception for Monsale, he was used to lies.
I just wish this tight knot in my stomach would go away.
The spicy scent of a burning cigar reached his nose, he looked back over his shoulder to see Harry standing a few yards away. There was a pensive look on his friend’s face.
“You didn’t come back in for supper. Standing on the beach seems a strange way to celebrate your last night of freedom,” said Harry.
“I wasn’t hungry.”
Harry moved closer and offered Monsale the cigar. He took it and inhaled a long drag before blowing the pale gray smoke out into the night, where the sea breeze caught it and whipped it away.
“I saw something peculiar a short time ago. Your travel coach was headed out the main driveway. And I could have sworn that Lady Euphemia Marshall was on board,” said Harry.
Monsale focused his gaze on the whitecaps of the waves as they slowly rolled their way to the shore.
“Really? Perhaps she left something behind in London and had to nip back home to retrieve it.”
Harry snorted. “It’s nigh on seventy miles to town. It would want to be the crown jewels if she is going to attempt such a journey in the dark. What’s going on?”
Monsale handed the cigar back to his friend. “Things are not what they seem. Suffice to say, Lady Euphemia and I shall not be getting married in the morning. She and Viscount Walsall are headed for Scotland.”
Do I risk telling him the truth? Swear him to secrecy until the morning.
“Does that explain your pressing need for Naomi to be at the castle in the morning? If it does, what else can I do to help?”
Until now, his plans had been kept a closely guarded secret between himself and Adan. Harry was Naomi’s brother, he really ought to be trusted when it came to aiding her future happiness.
“What would you say if I told you, I have been a complete ass? And I don’t mean just a small one. I have made an unholy mess of things with your sister. Tomorrow morning, I intend to rectify that situation.”
“Ah, so that is why you are out here staring into the dark sea. Looking for nature’s inspiration as to how you can convince Naomi to become your duchess. An interesting strategy, though not how I would have approached things,” replied Harry.
Monsale shook his head. Harry was going to make him beg for his help.
And rightly so. He loves Naomi. And is going to punish me on her behalf. I would do the same if she were my sister.
“Harry, dear old chap. Friend of all friends. Pray tell me what the devil I am going to do? I have to find a way to get Naomi to forgive me, then agree to be my wife. When it comes to women, I am prepared to admit to being uneven on my feet. And with Naomi, I have always been walking on wet sand.”
Monsale winced as Harry clapped his hands together. He could also have done without the long deep laugh.
“Monsale. Monsale. Monsale. What can I say?”
I am beginning to think you shutting up might be a better option.
They moved away from the water and headed further along the beach. If anyone happened to come out from the castle grounds, they wouldn’t be able to see them walking along the sand.
“Let me ask you this, do you love my sister? I know you need to save your title and lands, but I am still not prepared to offer my assistance if all Naomi is going to get in return for marrying you is an empty union. Not even for you would I sacrifice her happiness.”
“Yes Harry, I do love Naomi. And the more I think about it, I accept that I have probably been in love with her for many years.”
There was a hard lump in his throat at finally giving voice to that emotion. His greatest fear now was that just as he had come to accept his feelings for Naomi, he might very well be on the verge of losing her forever.
I do. I love her. And I am not going to let her go.
“Well then, you need to go to her. Confess your feelings. Offer her marriage. Finally, allow Naomi to put all this god-awful heartbreak behind her. She has endured years of pain because of you. And I must confess there were times when I have hated you for it.”
Monsale frowned at Harry. “Have I really made it that hard for her?” He knew the answer to that question. Of course, he had. A man would have to be willfully blind not to have seen the look of disappointment on Naomi’s face every time he refused to dance with her.
“You aren’t honestly going to stand there and tell me that you didn’t know she has been in love with you forever? Everyone else has been able to see it, why not you,” said Harry.
“No, I wouldn’t do either of you that sort of disservice. Naomi’s love was something I turned away from all those years because I didn’t think I would be good enough for her. I am not an honest man, I’m a liar, and a thief at best, at worst—well you know the rest. This list of potential brides has been a complete disaster, and it’s all my fault. I thought it would be an easy way to get her to put her hand up, and for me to select Naomi as my wife without having to finally admit how I felt. But all I have managed to do is to break her heart.”
Monsale rubbed his hands over the tension spots on his forehead. He was waiting for Harry to give him a well-deserved piece of his mind. To confirm that, he was indeed a bloody fool. And that Naomi shouldn’t marry him.
“Do you honestly think that this love lark has been easy on any of us? I almost lost Alice. Jane shot George. Bridget threw Stephen out. And from what I hear, Gus didn’t have a smooth ride when it came to Evangeline. But what we have all done, is not given up. And you have to do the same.”
He desperately wanted to go to Naomi tonight, but he owed it to Euphemia and Walsall to stay silent. To give them the best chance of making it to Scotland before Lord and Lady Marshall discovered the truth of their daughter’s disappearance.
“It will have to wait until morning before I speak to Naomi. If the Marshall’s get wind of what has just happened, there will be all hell to pay.”
“Well then may I suggest you get rid of Lord and Lady Marshall as soon as you can tomorrow morning. Spare their daughter from the wrath of her parents by telling them it was you who called off the wedding. That should get them angry enough to leave posthaste.”
Monsale liked that idea.
That would then clear the way for him to seek Naomi out and try to salvage their relationship.
Walsall had come for Euphemia. Shown her the strength of his love. Now it was his turn. He had to do something grand for Naomi.
“It’s no good me simply telling Naomi that she has always been the one. I have to show her. Make her finally see, that she has my heart.”
Harry held his hands to the heavens and cheered. “Hallelujah, the message has finally gotten through. Monsale, for a smart man, you can be incredibly dull witted, especially when it comes to women and love.”
Monsale snatched the cigar out of his friend’s fingers and drew back on it deeply. Tomorrow he would deal with the Marshalls, then he would make Naomi his wife.
But first he had to convince her that he was worth the risk.
“I need Naomi out here in the morning no later than eight o’clock?
Harry was silent for a time. It was to be expected. He was fiercely protective of his sister. Seeing her in pain over her love for Monsale must surely be giving him cause for concern. Marriage wasn’t just a trivial thing such as a missed dance.
“I will bring Naomi here, but I won’t make her stay. Who knows what the past few days have done to alter the way she feels about you. Promise me that you will not hold it against her if she says the damage is too great.”
Monsale took another long puff of the cigar. “Just make sure you bring her to the beach in the morning. I will take care of the rest.”
He handed Harry the cigar and turned to head back to the castle. His friends would have to forgive his non-appearance at supper tonight.
Andrew McNeal, Duke of Monsale, had grand gestures of love to plan.