A Scandalous Ruse (Scandalous Series Book 6) Page 22

  “Greg,” she began softly, her heart breaking in her chest. Oh, goodness, how could she tell him? She had no idea how to explain her unfortunate situation to him, but one thing was very clear. “We can’t be married.”

  He frowned at those words. “It’s not the way we wanted to do so, but…”

  “I’m a bastard,” she blurted out before she lost her nerve, because he was owed an explanation, he was owed the truth.

  Greg simply blinked at her. “I beg your pardon?”

  “My mother and I don’t know who.” Bella winced at the truth of it all. “His Grace told me all of it this evening. It’s why he wants me gone and now that Papa is gone…”

  And she thought Greg would want her gone? She didn’t know him at all if she thought that. Though he had kept that part of himself hidden from her, hadn’t he? He was not, after all, as honest as she was. It was one of his many faults. “I don’t care which side of the blanket you were born on, Bella. I love you and nothing will change that.”

  Her mouth fell open in surprise and she blinked up at him. “But you said…”

  That he was too scarred. He had said that, idiot that he was. “A great many foolish things in my life, but saying I love you isn’t one of them.” He tipped her chin up to meet her gaze directly. “And I will not lose you, my dear. And certainly not because of that.”

  “You love me?” She blinked some tears away. “Truly?”

  “Completely,” he assured her, though they were words he’d never imagined he’d say to anyone again. “As soon as Chatham said we couldn’t marry, I thought my heart would break at the thought of losing you. If I hadn’t known it before, I knew in that moment that I do love you. I love every single thing about you. The sound of your voice, the sweetness in your eyes, every pretty hair on your head.”

  And then she started to cry and Greg smoothed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. His poor, sweet Bella. He wished he could wrap her in his arms and make all the awfulness she’d suffered disappear. He could only imagine how terrible it had been for her growing up under Chatham’s roof. A spineless father, a vanished mother, a tortured brother and a tyrant, overseeing it all.

  “He will ruin you, Greg,” she said, worrying her hands in her lap. “He’ll tell everyone what I really am and…”

  Was that what she was worried about? Greg threaded his fingers with hers, hoping to soothe her fears “In the first place, I don’t believe he’ll do that. He’d have to publicly cast shame upon his own family to do so. But if he does spread that tale—” he released a sigh “—I never leave Rufford Hall, as it is, my dear. We can stay there forever and nothing he could say or do will ever matter to us, not there.”

  “Oh, Greg!” She threw her arms around his neck, and he held her close. They were a long way from where they needed to be, but for the first time in many hours he breathed a sigh of relief.

  Greg prayed Simon would be awake and at home. He wasn’t sure where else he could take Bella if his friend wasn’t around. The hack pulled to a stop and Greg opened the door of the hired conveyance. He hopped to the ground, helped Bella do the same and then retrieved his pistol from the opposite bench before paying the driver for his services.

  Bella’s eyes rounded in surprise when she noticed the pistol.

  Greg shrugged, just relieved he hadn’t needed to use it. “I wasn’t sure what sort of reception I would receive at Chatham House, and I wasn’t going to be turned away.” He led her up the stoop to Simon’s townhouse. “I never expected to see you climbing down the front of the house like an acrobat.”

  “The furthest thing from an acrobat,” she said.

  Greg tucked the pistol into his jacket pocket and pounded on the Thurlstone door, silently willing someone to be awake at this hour, and he was pleasantly surprised when a middle-aged butler opened the door a moment later. Either Simon was awake or his servant was still waiting up for him to return.

  “I need to see Lord Thurlstone,” Greg said, stepping over the threshold and towing Bella with him before the butler could turn them away. After all, Bella needed to be off the street and safely hidden away before anyone spotted her.

  The butler scowled slightly, probably from Greg barging his way into the home. “His lordship is hardly receiving visitors at this hour.”

  But a light down the corridor and a set of voices coming from an open doorway said differently. “I’ll just announce myself,” Greg said, tightening his hold on Bella’s hand and leading her down the corridor.

  And then an irritated voice filtered into the hallway. “And that is why Staveley never should have left his goddamned library.”

  “It’s tragic,” Simon’s voice flowed from the parlor.

  “She will never forgive me. Not now. Not for this.”

  “Yes, well—”

  And then Greg and Bella stood right in the threshold as Simon’s butler came up from behind them and said loudly, “My lord, you have an insistent guest.”

  Simon’s gaze flashed toward them, and upon seeing Bella, he pushed out of his seat. “Avery, what a surprise.”

  But it was the other man who held Greg’s attention. Damned Haversham again. Twice in one day? Damn it all. What the devil was he doing there?

  “And Lady Arabella,” Simon continued smoothly. “You are even more surprising, I must say.”

  “Simon, we need your help,” Greg began because time was of the essence. “If you don’t mind granting me a moment.”

  “You can have more than one,” Simon returned and gestured to the settee across from him and the malevolent marquess. Then he glanced at his butler and said, “That will be all, Turner.”

  The last thing in the world Greg wanted to do was discuss this particular situation in front of Haversham of all the goddamned scoundrels in the world. “In private?” he added.

  His friend’s gaze flashed from Greg to Bella and back, then he heaved a sigh. “If you’re in trouble, Greg, and by the looks of it you are—” he tipped his head in Haversham’s direction “—having a Machiavellian mind in the mix can only help. And he is trustworthy, more so than most.”

  A ghost of a smile tipped the wicked marquess’s lips as he too pushed to his feet. “If I had to guess, Avery, I’d say you’ve escaped Chatham House and are headed…for Gretna Green.”

  Greg barely knew the bastard, but if Haversham had already figured him out… “Chatham will look for her at Avery House and then Clayworth’s. But I can’t imagine he would look for her here.” Greg led Bella further into the parlor. “And I need a bit of time to prepare things. You’re the only friend I’ve got in Town. Would you please hide her for me until I return?”

  Simon’s eyes had rounded in surprise at all of that, and Greg suspected no one had ever asked him to hide a girl before. “Of course. Whatever you need.”

  “Might I make a suggestion?” Haversham began, his shrewd eyes level on Greg.

  The last thing Greg wanted was to hear anything that particular blackguard had to say, but as he was Simon’s guest… “You have one to make?”

  “The longer you delay, the more chance you give Chatham of catching up to you.”

  Which was true, but Greg hadn’t intended any of this. They were going to need a few things before they could leave, like his coach. That couldn’t be helped.

  “Send your carriage empty to Scotland. Do so now. Let Chatham chase that if he’s of a mind, and if he catches it, then at least you won’t be on board.”

  Greg frowned at the man. That sounded like a horrible plan. “No? Then where shall I be?”

  Haversham gestured to Simon and said, “On one of Thurlstone’s ships.” Then he glanced at their mutual friend. “Don’t you have something in port?”

  “The Magnanime is in dry dock for maintenance, but she’s seaworthy.”

  “Perfect.” Haversham smiled. “Send Avery and his love to Edinburgh. Chatham won’t have a chance of catching them because he’ll be chasing an empty coach.” He glanced back at Greg. “
It’s not Gretna, and you won’t find any blacksmiths ready to marry you just over the border. They much prefer for the banns to be read, but it’s not necessary for an irregular wedding. So when you get there, head for Morningside. There’s a pub, the Maiden and the Doe. Ask for McCloskey. His brother’s a vicar. Tell him Kirkburn sent you.”

  “Kirkburn?” Greg echoed as his mind tried to sort through all of that information. Morningside. The Maiden and the Doe. McCloskey. What in the world?

  “He knew me a long time ago, before I came into the marquessate,” Haversham explained as he shook his head. “But McCloskey will help you. He owes me a favor. You can remind him of that, if it comes to it.”

  Greg released a breath, a bit in shock at the man’s quick plan and readiness to be of assistance. Twice he’d come to their aid now. There had to be some reason for it because he doubted it was out of the goodness of the man’s black heart. “Why are you helping us?” Neither Greg nor his brothers had ever been even remotely pleasant to the marquess, not after the situation with Cordie.

  Haversham smiled again. “I am fortunate to count your sister amongst my most loyal of friends. She and Clayworth both. If she knew I had the chance to help you and did not…” He shrugged. “Well, I’d hate to be me should she ever find out. Besides, I do have a penance to pay, as it were. This may not right things in the karmic world, but every little bit will help.”

  Whatever he meant by that.

  “And then, of course, you will owe me a favor sometime in the future.”

  There it was. And that statement sent a chill down Greg’s spine. How many people owed the man one favor or another? It was like making a deal with the devil, but Greg didn’t really have a choice, and Haversham’s plan did sound like it was solid. “Of course.”

  “What did I tell you?” Simon asked. “Machiavellian mind. Never play chess against him.”

  Something Greg would never do, not that Simon needed to warn him of that.

  Then his friend started for the corridor. “I’d better rouse Captain Bellamy from whatever bed he’s found himself in. He’ll need to gather his crew.”

  “Thank you,” Greg called after him.

  Simon glanced back over his shoulder and flashed Greg an old familiar grin. “Just glad to see that adventurous side of you return, Avery. You had me worried for a while.”

  Hopping a merchant ship and sailing away for an elopement. A month ago the suggestion would have been more than laughable. But now nothing would ever be the same. Not for him, not for Bella. She had to be terrified. Perhaps…

  “Simon, one more favor, if you don’t mind,” Greg said, squeezing Bella’s hand before heading after his friend.

  Chapter 25

  There was no need to be nervous, Bella kept telling herself. No one would think to look for her in Lord Thurlstone’s coach as she, Greg and the earl traveled together toward the docks. But she was nervous anyway. If they’d left before dawn, she would probably feel a bit safer, but it had taken Lord Thurlstone some time to get his merchant ship and its crew prepared to sail. And so much could have happened in those many hours.

  Was it possible His Grace’s men had already caught up to Greg’s empty coach and were searching London? What if they’d figured out where she was? What if they were following them even now and stopped them before they could board the Magnanime? Or what if the duke just happened to have men searching the docks at this moment and they stumbled upon them by happenstance? Greg still had his pistol. She knew that. But if he had reason to use it, they’d all be done for.

  Greg squeezed her fingers and a staggered sigh escaped her. She glanced up at him to find his green eyes focused quite intently on her. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Trust me.”

  She did trust him. She’d never have jumped from the ledge at Chatham House if she didn’t. But it was so late in the day now, the duke had to be searching for her.

  Greg turned his attention to his friend. “I will never be able to repay you for this, for any of it, Simon.”

  Thurlstone shrugged. “We’ll call it even after you covered for me during those Pagan rituals.”

  Pagan rituals? What in the world? Bella glanced between the two men.

  Greg shook his head. “He makes it sound worse than it was,” he told her. “Just youthful foolishness when we were fifteen.”

  Lord Thurlstone agreed with a nod. “They would’ve tossed me out of Eton if Avery hadn’t come to my aid. My father would not have been amused.”

  Apparently, Greg was good at that. Coming to people’s aid. Bella cast him a smile, not certain how she had been so fortunate to find him or for him to find her, rather; but the day he’d entered her life had been the luckiest of days.

  “If you find you like sailing after you return from Edinburgh,” the earl began, changing the subject, “I believe Heaton and I will be looking for a new partner soon.”

  Greg frowned slightly. “I thought you had two American partners.”

  “A great many things have transpired this week, one of them being Captain Pierce apparently killed Lord Staveley before he then got himself killed in Derbyshire.” Thurlstone blew out a breath. “John Heaton sent me word last night. This will be a delightful public scandal to deal with in the coming weeks.” He shook his head. “I signed onto this venture hoping for a bit of adventure. Murdered viscounts and deranged sea captains were not what I bargained for.” He blew out another beleaguered breath. “But once all of this dust settles, we’ll probably need a third partner if you’re interested.”

  “I’m fairly happy at Rufford Hall, Simon.”

  “Of course, of course.” His friend agreed with a nod. “But that was before you found the lovely Lady Arabella. She might want to spend some of her time in London, my friend.”

  And be branded a bastard all over Town? Not a chance. Greg might not care about her parentage, but she did. Besides, Greg did love his home in Nottinghamshire and she did love him. “I will be happy wherever Greg is.”

  At hearing those words, the earl flashed her a brilliant smile. “Utterly charming. You don’t have a sister, do you?”

  She did have a sister. “Actually, I do.” But the sudden mention of Prissa twisted Bella’s heart anew. Would she ever be able to see Prissa again? Or would the duke keep Bella’s little sister from her? She wasn’t worried for Prissa’s safety. His Grace adored her sister. Nothing untoward would happen to her, but…if Bella wasn’t allowed to see her sister ever again, it would break her heart.

  “But the lady in question is young,” Greg said, shaking his head. “And much too innocent for the libertine you’ve become.”

  “You’ve reformed.” Thurlstone laughed at that. “So there’s probably hope for me, don’t you think?”

  Greg agreed with an incline of his head. “But then you went into trade, so I think all hope might be lost.”

  Then the earl laughed again as the east docks came into view.

  Bella gulped as her jittery nerves swamped her once again and thunder rolled overhead. Goodness, it was going to rain?

  Greg glanced out of the carriage window at more than a dozen ships of various sizes upon the Thames. Simon’s barque was somewhere in the mix. Busy dockworkers rushed up and down the shore, going about their duties as crewmen seemed to linger about. A moment later, lightning arced across the sky, and Bella flinched.

  “We’d best hurry,” Simon said as his servant opened his coach door for them.

  His friend stepped from the carriage and Greg followed suit, then he offered his hand to Bella. She was trembling slightly, which made his heart twist just a bit. Her nerves had seemed more on edge as the day had worn on, but once they were aboard the Magnanime Greg was certain she’d be returned to her usual self, at least he hoped she would. She had been through quite the ordeal.

  Greg took Bella’s left side as Simon took her right, then the three of them set off toward the shipping yard. They caught a few eyes as they made their way toward the gangplank; but as large
droplets of rain began to fall, the dockworkers seemed more concerned with finding cover than with the three of them.

  As they rushed from the gangplank onto the barque’s deck, Simon called, “Get below deck,” in order to be heard over the thunder.

  Greg spotted the steps that went below and quickly guided Bella toward the entrance. Simon was right behind them.

  His friend stopped on the wooden ladder, blocking Greg and Bella from the rain. Then he gestured toward the back of the small passageway. “The captain’s cabin is at the very end. That’s for you.”

  The captain’s cabin? He’d asked Simon for a favor, but certainly it didn’t require the ship’s captain giving up his lodgings. “I hate to put the man out.”

  But Simon simply shrugged. “When I told him you were joining Heaton and me as a partner, he insisted you should have the nicest quarters as you would have some say in his salary in the years to come.”

  That was why Simon had suggested Greg might want to join him in this shipping company. He shook his head. “We can talk more about that when Bella and I return.”

  “Looking forward to it.” Then Simon flashed a smile at Bella. “Until we meet again, Lady Avery.”

  She wasn’t Lady Avery yet, but none of Simon’s crew knew that and neither did they know they were abetting the pair in their scandalous elopement.

  “Lord Thurlstone,” Bella said, relief brimming from her for the first time in hours. “Thank you so much for everything.”

  “My pleasure.” Simon nodded. Then he turned his attention back to Greg. “Safe journeys, my friend, and do enjoy your time aboard the Magnanime.”

  As Simon turned around to head back up the steps, rainwater began to spill in through the hole, so Greg urged Bella down the dry passageway that dead-ended at a large wooden door.

  She glanced over her shoulder at him as though making certain it was all right to enter.