Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,94
wondering whether it would be best to concentrate now on Meg Winter… Or stick to his original schedule and go to Deborah Shelby in Cheshire to cover his back.
Yes, Cheshire would be best. And while he was there, he could set the other matter in motion.
He was almost cheerful by the time he returned to Hornby Park, where he took great pleasure in revealing nothing to Juliet’s avid siblings.
*
Juliet was in awe. She could not quite believe this was happening, that she was marrying Dan. Breathless laughter bubbled just below the surface as she stood beside the man she loved and made her vows of marriage before Mr. Coates, witnessed by her parents and Dan’s family. And Jeremy, who seemed both stunned and devastated, but who shook hands manfully with Dan afterwards and wished them both happy.
Bizarrely, the man who had just tried to kill Dan remained in the room to witness his wedding. Seated by Mrs. Ames with Hugh standing behind them, he watched in silence. But when Juliet and Dan approached them, tears were running down his face. He looked terrified.
“It’s time, Hetty,” he said agitatedly. “It’s time.”
“Time for what, dear?” Mrs. Ames asked, patting his hand. “Congratulations, Dan. I wish you both the best of everything in your marriage.”
Hugh stuck out a hasty hand. “All the best, old fellow. Lady Juliet, you have broken my heart by marrying this lout, but funnily enough, he’s the best of us.”
“Time, Hugh!” Mr. Ames insisted.
“Yes, Papa.” Hugh patted his shoulder. “It is time. We won’t come to your wedding breakfast, though it is most kind of your mother to invite us. I think we’ll head back to Hertfordshire.”
“Will you manage?” Dan asked bluntly. “What will you do?”
“It’s been planned for a while. A couple of strong footmen and a kind nurse already work in the house on different duties. They will now care exclusively for my father. It’s what he wants, as you hear. He has frightened himself as much as me by what he did. I’m sorry. I only took my eyes off him for an hour a day.” His eyes flickered. “For my own sanity. Never imagined what he was getting up to in that hour.” Hugh’s smile was lopsided. “Will you take it amiss if I say I’m glad it was you, Dan? Anyone else would have had him arrested. I shouldn’t have let him come at all, but he was so eager.”
Dan gripped his shoulder briefly. “You’re not alone, Hugh. Call on me for anything. If I can help, I will.”
Half an hour later, as they waved the Ameses off, Juliet said, “You never know what people carry with them, do you? Poor Hugh has been bearing the entire weight of his father’s deterioration, covering for him, looking after him, and all anyone ever said about him—all I ever said about him—was that he wore a pink coat.”
Dan’s fingers slipped through hers. “He does have a pink coat. I expect its brightness cheers him up. But it’s far from an empty coat. Shall we ride to Hornby?”
Laughter surged up to the surface. “We are married. No one will raise an objection.”
No one did. They were more concerned with persuading Lord Myerly that he should come to Hornby.
“We haven’t spoken in a quarter of a century,” the old gentleman growled at Juliet’s father. “And now you want me to dine with you?”
“It’s customary,” the earl said gravely. He hesitated, then, “And it’s past time we stopped being stubborn. I’ve always known in my heart you were not to blame for Jenny’s elopement. She would always have married Stewart. I’m sorry I spoke to you as I did.”
Myerly glowered at him. “And I suppose you expect me to say I should have let you apologize sooner?”
“No,” her father said with the glimmer of a smile. “I will give you that one. If you join us to celebrate your grandson’s wedding to my daughter.”
*
Ten minutes later, changed into her riding habit with Betty’s aid, she emerged from her chamber on the half-landing to hear some commotion going on at the foot of the attic steps. Since Susan was supposed to be sleeping up there, Juliet frowned and hurried along to sort out the trouble.
Two men, neither of them servants at the house, were quarreling, shoving at each other, while a familiar older lady stood guarding the steps with an umbrella held like a sword before her.
“Mrs. Harper!” Juliet exclaimed.
The men stopped arguing at once, and both turned toward her.