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(Note:
this is a pre-edited version, so there may be
some mistakes. As soon as I locate my edited version,
I'll upload that one or retype it from the book :-) )
Enjoy!
Chapter
One
“Is
it just me, or do you find these dinner parties dreadfully
dull?”
“I, too, share the sentiment but then again I find
many things dull. You
on the other hand, have a better excuse than I,” Trevor
Kent, the Duke of Northingshire answered his friend as they
watched the guests who were in attendance at the
Beckingham’s party. “I
don’t imagine you can compare adventure on the high seas
and your escapade with pirates, with our monotonous English
society and their dreary little efforts at entertainment.”
Lord Thomas Thornton gave North, as the duke was
known to his friends, a sardonic grin. “You could not be further from the truth.
I didn’t like dinner parties even before my
‘adventure’, as you call it, and I will die a happy man
if I never get on another boat,” he informed him before
adding, “And it was a merchant ship that rescued me, by
the by.”
“Yes,
but let’s keep that between us, eh? The story sounds so
much more thrilling to add the pirates.”
Thomas
chuckled. “If it had been pirates, I might have been the
dead man everyone thought I was!”
Thomas and North shared a sobering glance.
“Indeed. God
must surely smile on all the Thornton’s, since both you
and your brother have truly been blessed this past year.”
Thomas agreed. “If only He would also bless me with a wife like he
bestowed upon my dear brother.”
He smiled, as he referred to new sister-in-law,
Christina, who was also the vicar’s daughter in his
hometown of Malbury. That smile dimmed a little as his
thoughts turned to his past. “Dear Anne, my late wife, was
a good woman and gave me a wonderful son.
Perhaps I have no right to want more.”
“Of course, you have a right.
Which is why you have dragged me to this
‘dreadfully dull’ affair, or have you forgotten? We must endure such events to find you a wife and a mother
for young Tyler,” North stated matter-of-factly, referring
to Thomas’s one and a half year old son.
“Now, tell me which young miss has caught your eye,
and I’ll see to the introduction.”
Thomas made a show of scanning the room.
“There, unfortunately, lies my problem.
They are all very nice and most comely to look at,
but…” his voice drifted off, as he was unable to put his
feelings to words.
“Mmm,” North sounded with a nod, as if he wholly
understood. “I
know what you mean. You
are looking for what I’ve sought after for quite some time
– someone who is original.”
“Exactly!”
“Someone who is pretty, yet doesn’t look like all
the rest.”
“Yes!”
“She must be easy to talk to, and not bore you with
relentless chattering about fashions or gossip about the
neighbors,” North listed.
“Absolutely!”
“And above all, she must be loyal, loving and
kind!”
“Here, here!”
There was a moment of silence, as they both paused to
think about what was just said.
Suddenly they looked at each other and began to
laugh.
“I believe I just described my dog,” North
sputtered in between laughs.
Thomas wiped the moisture from his eyes.
“I was thinking of my horse!”
It took a few moments for both men to regain control.
By then, the whole room was staring at them with
curiosity and censure, the later, of course, from the older
set.
“I believe we have drawn enough attention to
ourselves, this evening.
Perhaps we should say our goodbyes to our host.”
Thomas nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. I
do not think that I shall find my bride among this crowd,
anyway. Perhaps
I should take a page from my brother, and start attending
services in various churches across the shire.
There could be another vicar’s daughter like my
brother’s wife, out there… somewhere.”
North grinned. “Or you could forgo your loathing of the sea travel and go
with me back to America.
My cousin and I have established a sugar plantation
near the city of New Orleans and I was supposed to go and
see how he is faring this last year, but there was still a
war going on. Now
that it seems to be over, I shall leave in just a few
months.”
“I think I’ve seen enough of North America.
We were docked in some little Canadian harbor for two
months and I was extremely glad to leave.”
Thomas answered with a shudder.
“If I cannot find a bride on English soil, then I
shall remain a single man.”
“Well, if you…” North’s sentence drifted to a
halt when they both noticed that the room had become
extremely quiet. They
looked to see all eyes had turned towards the door.
The woman, who stood at the entrance to the hall, was
even more beautiful than the last time Thomas had seen her.
Her beautiful gold hair curled artfully about her
face while the length of it was pinned atop her head and
cascaded in tiny curls down the back.
Even from where he stood, he could see the smoothness
of her cheeks, the arch of her light brows and the glow from
her incredible golden eyes.
Her dress was the color of bright copper, with
delicate beaded lace at her neck and high waistline.
But there was definitely something different about
her from the last they’d met. No longer was there an
enchanting smile on her face or a confidence in her stance
as it had once been. Instead,
there was a wariness in her eyes, a brave tilt to her proud
chin, and a challenged air to the way she stood, as if she
were readying herself for an assault.
Even so, she was magnificent to look upon.
Her presence seemed to outshine all other ladies
around her. Under
any other circumstances, Thomas would have had no reluctance
about rushing up to reacquaint himself to her.
Perhaps even pursue her, for she was exactly what he
wished for in a wife and more.
But Lady Katherine Montbatten could not be his –
would probably laugh in his face if he even suggested a
match between them. No. She probably hated the very mention of the Thornton name.
And he didn’t blame her.
Katherine had almost been his sister-in-law.
When his brother, Nicholas, the Earl of Kenswick,
returned from the war, he’d been wounded and bitter from
all that he’d seen and done during the battles.
In his confused and anxious state, he’d broken his
betrothal just months before the wedding and conducted
himself in a manner that no gentleman his station should
behave. During
this time, their father had died, and then Nicholas had
thought that Thomas was lost to him also.
With the help of Christina, the vicar’s daughter,
he’d come to realize that he needed God’s help and
forgiveness. Since
then he’d completely changed and settled down to family
life at Kenswick Hall with his new bride.
But that didn’t change the fact that Katherine had
been hurt by the whole affair.
As the crowd around them started to move about them
and resume their chatter, he watched as she tried to smile
while greeting their hosts for the party, Lord and Lady
Beckingham. She
tried to pretend that nothing was wrong, but clearly
something was.
And Thomas had a horrible feeling that he knew the
reason. “She
has been ostracized by the ton,” he murmured, hoping that
he was not correct in his summation.
“Not entirely,” North corrected.
“Only by the marriageable bachelors of the ton.
Of course there are always those who would have other
propositions for her, but thankfully she has her family to
support her.”
Thomas grimaced. “Does Nicholas know?”
North nodded. “He does, and has repeatedly offered to make amends in
providing her father money to add to her dowry, but was
refused.” He
sighed. “The
Montbatten’s are nearly as rich as your family, so of
course, money is not the problem.”
Thomas once again studied her brave features as she
pasted on a smile and greeted those around her.
“Why the censure? There have been other’s who have suffered a broken
engagement with little repercussions.”
“Apparently, some idiot started a rumor after
Katherine declined his offer to dance at a ball.
From there, the lie grew bigger and before it was all
done, it sounded as if one of your brother’s duels he
fought had been over Katherine’s honor.”
He shook his head distastefully.
“Or lack there of.”
They were quiet for a moment, both watching her from
where they stood at the back of the room. “She is beautiful,” Thomas murmured, voicing his
thoughts.
“Beautiful, but cold,” the duke stated bluntly.
“She was always aware of her beauty, Thomas, and in
my opinion, over confident in the fact that many adored her.
I always knew that she wasn’t the one for your
brother, I was just sorry he ended it so badly.”
Thomas knew all this, since he’d been acquainted
with her before he was married.
But he’d always felt that her coolness was a façade,
almost as if she were afraid to show who she really was.
He would see flashes of wit and intelligence before
it was quickly banked beneath a serene smile and cultured
conversation.
“It would seem that her confidence has taken quite
a blow,” he finally commented.
North, already apparently bored with the
conversation, just shrugged.
“I would not doubt it.”
He tugged at lapel.
“Well, I’ve had enough of this scene.
Would you like to leave, now?”
“I believe, I have changed my mind, after all,”
he answered, his eyes still on Katherine.
There was a moment of silence from his friend and
when Thomas looked at him, there was speculation and a
little worry in his eyes.
Thomas knew that North wanted to say something more,
but he only nodded and responded, “I will fetch us more
punch then.”
He barely noticed North’s departure for he was
already scanning the crowd once more for the beautiful
blond.
He was stunned to find her golden eyes had found him
first. For a
moment, there seemed to be several unreadable emotions that
passed over her face as she gazed at him.
Thomas was sure her next movement would be to look
away from him in disgust since she realized who he was.
But she didn’t.
Suddenly she smiled at him and the confusing emotions
that had been swirling in her eyes were gone.
Thomas felt that smile all the way down to the pit of
his stomach and for a moment he didn’t take one breath, so
stunned was he of her reaction.
Thomas was afraid to even think of how he felt as she
began to make her way to him.
He didn’t dare speculate on what this could mean.
He refused to have expectations.
Yet…He could not help but hope.
***
All afternoon, Lady Katherine Montbatten, the eldest
daughter of the Duke of Ravenhurst, had meticulously plotted
her revenge. With
help and much coaching from her cousin, Theodora, they
derived the perfect way to go about executing their plan –
the plan that would vindicate both her and her family and
teach the Thornton’s a much needed lesson.
Of course, Katherine had initial doubts about using
Nicholas Thornton’s brother Thomas, to do the deed, but
Theodora convinced her that Thomas must have had a hand in
convincing Nicholas to break their engagement.
And besides, what was done to her reputation hurt not
only herself, but also her parents and her siblings.
It was only fair that the whole Thornton clan
suffered as well.
For over a year, Katherine had had to suffer through
humiliation after humiliation as more rumors and speculation
spread about her. Slowly
she began to notice that all the offers for her hand had
been rescinded and all her admirers had fallen away.
Even her brother Cameron had striven to correct the
false assumptions about her character, but he’d been able
to do much good.
The horrible rumors just would not die and she was
ruined for it.
And then Theodora had told her about Thomas Thornton
returning to society after he’d been thought dead and how,
as a widower, he would soon be in need of a wife.
From there, they plotted and schemed on the steps
they should take. Even
though she doubted and wanted to give the whole plan up,
Theodora was there cheering her on, telling her that she
would feel so much better once revenge was theirs.
Now as they stood on the threshold of Beckingham
Hall, she once again was plagued with doubts.
There was still a part of her that knew what she was
about to do was wrong.
It was the same part that spoke to her through Sunday
sermons from the vicar and nagged at her when she tried to
read her Bible. The
last time she’d opened her Bible, the scripture in Romans
leaped out at her, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
But Theodora had convinced her that, in this
instance, God surely understood.
And to make sure, she had no more doubts on that
score, Katherine had put away her Bible and refused to bring
it out until all of this was over.
She wasn’t sure that God understood at all,
otherwise why would she be plagued with so much guilt?
But tonight there was no going back.
They had arrived, and already she had noticed that,
indeed, Thomas was in attendance at the party.
She was just not prepared for the effect that his
presence would have on her.
She was certainly not prepared for the memories of
how fond she had been of him or how truly nice he’d been
during her engagement, to flood her mind and heart.
She’d forgotten how nice his dark brown hair
complimented those Thornton blue eyes or how his strong
manly features, could melt the strongest of female hearts.
He did favor his brother, but in many ways he was
nothing like Nicholas.
Unfortunately,
she had hoped that he would be.
How
could she forget that he’d always been so nice and kind to
her? His ready
smile could always lift her spirits and his low smooth voice
would make her feel warm and welcome.
I
can’t do this, she thought in a panic. He
doesn’t deserve what I’m going to do to him!
With
alarm, she grabbed Theodora’s arm.
“This will not work!” she whispered harshly in
her cousin’s ear. “We
have to leave. Now!”
“No!”
Theodora answered back, while she continued to walk toward
their hosts. “It
is all planned. There
is no backing away from it!”
“Lady
Montbatten! We
are delighted that you could come,” Lady Beckingham
greeted warmly, forcing Katherine to walk forward into the
room.
She
swallowed hard and pasted on a smile.
Nodding to her hosts she answered, “Lord and Lady
Beckingham, may I introduce you to my cousin, Miss Theodora
Vine.”
Introductions
and greetings were made and finally she and Theodora were
once again, alone. “Theodora, please. I
remember Thomas now that I have seen him.
He is too nice – too good of a man to have this
done to him!” Katherine pleaded, once again.
Theodora,
turned and gave her a stern look
- a look that she did well since she stood so tall
and had a long hawkish nose to gaze down from.
“Think, Katherine! Think of how humiliated you have felt for all these months.
Think of how Nicholas Thornton has been happy in his
grand estate with his new wife, while you’ve been alone
with no prospects. Just
think, dear, of how the men in the room looked at you when
you walked in tonight.”
She smiled cunningly.
“Why they were almost sneering at you, Kathy.
You, who were once declared the “original” of the
entire ton! You
cannot let this humiliation go unpunished. Can you?”
Once
again all those hurt and bitter feelings flooded her mind.
Indeed, she had noticed how they gawked at her
tonight, but she tried not to dwell on it.
But as she looked around the room, she could not let
go of the truth of her circumstance.
She
was ruined and never would her reputation be spotless again.
And
it was all thanks to the Nicholas Thornton.
And if Theodora was correct, his brother was not
completely innocent, either.
Somebody
had to pay. Vengeance
had to be taken on some level.
She
looked to the back of the room and once again her golden
gaze lit on the handsome man standing beside the Duke of
Northingshire.
“See
how he does not seem to have a care in the world?”
Theodora whispered softly in her ear. “He does not have to worry what people are saying when he
enters a room. He
does not lay awake at night crying over his fate and how
unfair his life has become.”
“You’re
right,” she replied resolutely as she studied his
impeccable black suit with his snow-white cravat tied neatly
at his throat. He
and his brother were surely cut from the same cloth!
Of course, Thomas would have known about Nicholas
breaking their engagement.
He did nothing to stop his brother and perhaps even
had a hand in the decision.
“Tonight, our plan shall begin,” she murmured
more to herself.
Suddenly,
his eyes turned and she was caught looking at him.
For a moment, all her doubts surfaced once again.
For a moment, she nearly turned around and ran out of
the room. But
the hurt and anger that was stirring in her heart made her
stay right where she was.
She
refused to wonder why her heart seemed to pound so as his
beautiful eyes looked into her own. She did not dare contemplate how handsome he was and how
stately he appeared standing there against the dark blue
wall of the room. She
would not dare let herself believe that she was attracted to
the very man she had vowed to ruin by securing his
affections, making him think she wanted to be his wife, and
then leave him at the alter.
Tonight
her honor would begin to be avenged.
Tonight
Thomas Thornton would regret the day he ever met her.
With
a slow curve of her lips, she smiled at him and began to
walk his direction.
The plan was in motion. There was no backing out now.
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