Chapter 28

"G ood afternoon, Aunt." Aaron bent down to kiss her cheek.

"Where have you been?"

He raised a brow in question. "Last time I checked, Aunt, I wasn't required to account for my comings and goings."

"Do not be impertinent."

Aaron grinned like a well-tupped fool.

"Forgive me, Aunt. You seem tense. Is there some emergency?"

"No emergency. I've been waiting." She placed her teacup on the center table.

"I had no idea you expected me for tea."

"Are you going to continue as though nothing happened? I must admit, Aaron, if I had not seen you, I would never have believed you were capable of such a maddening display. Is Rebekah all right?"

"She is more than all right, Aunt. She is wonderful."

Every enticing inch.

Penelope's shock was expected. But then, he loved being obscure.

"Why don't you come see for yourself?"

"I trust you got control of your temper and set things to right."

"I did. Aunt, you will be glad to know that Rebekah and I have come to an understanding. Our marriage will not be annulled."

"You've killed the poor girl and hidden her body."

"What's that?" Nathaniel said as he came into the drawing room.

"Aunt is feeling quite herself," Aaron said, tongue in cheek.

"Where is Rebekah?"

"As I told Aunt, Rebekah is fine. In fact, we both are."

"You have no idea how hard it was to leave her there with you. I don't see any cuts or bruises on you. Start talking before I plant you on the floor."

"No need to get your britches in a twist, brother. All is well in my household."

"I'll believe that when I see for myself."

"Aaron seems in rather a chipper mood, don't you agree Nathaniel?"

Serena came running into the room. "Oh. I thought. Where is Rebekah?"

"For you, Serena, I shall repeat myself. Rebekah is fine. I am fine. I came over to let Aunt know the house is still in one piece and she can come home. As for Rebekah, she is resting. Our discussion took longer than either one of us expected."

There. Stew on that. He was not about to inform them that most of their conversation had been in bed.

He couldn't keep the grin from his lips. Rebekah was truly his wife in every way that mattered.

Serena looked to her husband, then Aunt, and back to him.

"Do you not believe me, Serena?"

"Of, of course."

"You're being evasive, Aaron."

He released a heavy sigh as he sat down across from his aunt. "Are you taking me to task, Aunt?"

"Should I?"

"Now who's being sassy?"

He lifted the teapot and found it empty. "I guess you were not expecting me." He rose and went to the sideboard, then poured himself a brandy. He swallowed it whole, then poured another. When he turned, three pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

"Do you really think I would hurt her?"

"Throwing a chair through a locked door would make anyone suspicious," Nathaniel replied.

"Then why did you leave her there alone with me? You know I would never harm a woman." He turned to his aunt. "You, my dear Aunt, understand me quite well. It was you who chose to leave, and convinced this donkey's butt to go with you."

"Pour me a sherry."

Aaron glanced up at his brother. Nathaniel went to the sideboard and filled a tiny crystal wine glass, then gave it to Penelope.

"Now. Tell us the all of it."

"Forgive me, Aunt. But you don't need to know everything. Rest assured that Rebekah and I have worked out our differences."

"Why didn't she come with you?"

Aaron recalled the sleeping beauty stretched out on his bed. He took his seat, then asked, "What did I do to earn your discourse?"

"You left the ball amiable, so I thought. What happened that made you so furious?

"She locked the door." At his aunt's raised brow, he held up a hand. "I know. I was wrong to do so. I cannot explain exactly why, but I thought she was lying to me. And I wanted answers. She knew some very important information that she had not shared with me."

"What information?"

Aaron took a swallow of brandy. "She knew everything that happened that night. I regained a flash of memory, and when I questioned her about it, she ran. When I found the door locked, I lost my temper. I wanted her to fill in the blanks, and I was not about to let her keep secrets from me."

"I must say, I was shocked when I heard you yelling. When I heard the crashing of the door, I thought you'd gone mad."

Aaron scrubbed a hand through the hair he'd left unbound. "I, uh, surprised myself. I was angry, and I do appreciate you trusting me enough to get out and let me finish what I'd started."

Aunt glared, and Serena gasped.

"Oh, don't look so panicked. "I told her there would be no locked doors between us and to please meet me in the library to finish our discussion. She did. We sorted everything out."

Nathaniel crossed his arms over his chest. "There's definitely something you're leaving out."

"You are my brother, Nathaniel. Not my counsellor."

"I've always had a soft spot for you, Aaron. With Nathaniel taking off, you've burdened yourself with responsibilities you did not need to carry. You see this as another responsibility. Can you not accept it for what it is?"

"And what is that?"

"You have a wife now. A chance for happiness."

He was happy. He was very happy. However, Aunt did not need to know the intimate details.

"I have given you free rein over my house, and most of my public life. I have done your bidding, even when it went against my will. I suggest you leave my personal business to me."

"You cannot manipulate Rebekah."

"Oh? And what about your recent demands. Is that not manipulation? Good God, I had no idea Rebekah was in London. You ambushed me quite well."

His aunt stiffened. "For pity sakes, Aaron. I had to do something."

"She has your mark upon her. The woman I left in Surrey was no educated miss. No debutante. Certainly not a socialite. You laid me low, Aunt."

"Aaron, that was not my intention. You needed to be with your wife."

For once, he was glad for Aunt's interference. Rebekah. He breathed in and out, willing his anxiousness not to show. Rebekah was elegant perfection in every aspect. Beautiful. Desirable. He could hardly wait to get home.

Serena approached him. "Rebekah is truly all right?"

"My dear sister-in-law. I would never hurt a woman. Rebekah is fine."

She studied his eyes. "I believe you."

"Thank goodness someone does."

"I never said—"

"Leave it Nathaniel. Thank you for bringing Aunt to your home. As I said, it is safe for her to return."

His aunt's expression was puzzled. "I'm not sure why I'm hesitating. Perhaps, since the two of you are newlywed, and still have much to learn about each other, perhaps I should stay here for a while."

"Your home is with me. I shall not move you out because I'm moving Rebekah in."

"Penelope, I think that's a wonderful idea," Serena cried. "The baby will be here soon. I would love to have your company."

"Then it's settled," Nathaniel said. "I've been at my wits end worrying about the baby's arrival. I would feel much better if you were here with Serena," he told Aunt.

Aaron could not have planned this better himself. Not that he wanted Aunt out of his house, but now that he and Rebekah had settled their differences, it would be nice having his wife all to himself.

"It would seem I've lost a house guest. Aunt, know that you may return home, any time you like."

"I like the idea of being with Serena during her last month. I'll go back with you, to see Rebekah for myself. Then Anna can help me pack. I will bring her with me."

"As you wish, Aunt."

Serena bubbled with her glee. "I'm so excited. Aunt Penelope, it will be grand having you here. Maybe you can help me make some booties for the baby."

"I've already made a blanket."

"How do you know which color to use?" Nathaniel asked.

"A son of yours would be in nothing but blue. I chose blue. A girl can like blue."

"Of course she can." Serena's hand covered Aunt's.

As his family droned on about the baby that wasn't here yet, Aaron couldn't help counting the minutes until he could get home to Rebekah.

Alone in the house.

Just the two of them.

Pure luck the dumb bastard fell into their hands. Pauly and Basil knew right off who the man was. Bellingham hadn't covered his tracks well enough to outsmart them. Basil could spot an interloper with his eyes closed.

The man tried to be someone else, but Pauly knew Bellingham. Too much scuttlebutt about the man. His name was on every tongue from here to Brighton. It was only a matter of time. Now they had him.

"How about tethering my hands in front of me so I can hold on?"

"If'n ya fall off, we'll let the horse drag your carcass. Don't matter to us none."

Suddenly a wild yell echoed from the trees, sounding much like an animal screaming. The horses spooked, and before Pauly knew it, a rider was bearing down on them. More came from the forest. By the time he calmed his horse, they were surrounded.

Pauly didn't recognize any of the night riders. But he was familiar with the Seadog.

"Throw down your weapons!"

Basil and Pauly didn't have a chance. Seadog walked his horse up to Bellingham, and cut the rope binding his hands.

"You all right?"

"They were taking me to Greystoke. Kill the fools."

Basil and Pauly looked at each other. Neither one was ready to meet their maker.

Seadog gave the order to his men.

The band just sat their horses. Nary a one moved. They looked like the scum of the earth, and didn't cotton to following orders blindly.

Basil kicked his horse, and Pauly did the same. They got the hell out of there. He shot into the trees and thanked the cover of darkness.

He heard no riders coming after them.

Pauly rode fast and furious, Basil at his side. They did not slow or stop until he saw the house of the younger Greystoke. He and Basil leaped to the ground and rushed the steps up to the back door. He pounded with his fist.

"Hold your horses. I'm coming."

The door opened and a woman stood there with a frying pan in her hand. Pauly had important business, he wasn't worried about a woman, even if she welded and iron skillet.

"Where's Greystoke? It's urgent." A man hurriedly stepped behind her. "May I help you?"

"Get Greystoke. Bellingham is here."