Page 95 of Suddenly a Bride
“Then I say we keep this good will going through another generation. I shall make you a wager that we can persuade two of our offspring to marry.”
Edmund and both the women stared at Alex in amazement. Before he could say anything else, Gwyneth laughed.
“Sir Alexander, my husband tells me I am not to wager with you.”
“That is not a wise decision,” Alex said. “After all, the result of a wager of mine brought the four of us here.”
They were all still smiling and shaking their heads when the clear tones of a handbell called everyone to crowd about the tables. Geoffrey, as steward, brought silence to the room for the chaplain from Swintongate to say grace. Then the noise rose, and the food was served.
Though Edmund enjoyed renewing his friendship with Alex and Emmeline, he found himself watching the bemused faces of the earl and countess. To Edmund’s astonishment, Harold barely acknowledged his parents and spent his meal below the salt, keeping Nell and the masons company.
Gwyneth watched, too, waiting for the Langstons to make their move. She’d deliberately placed Lucy nearby, where they could see her. As the last plum pudding was consumed, the Lord of Misrule himself, Hugh Ludlow, came marching into the hall, leading a parade of mummers and hobbyhorses. Dozens of people cleared tables in preparation for dancing. Gwyneth watched with satisfaction as the earl and his wife drew Lucy through the crowd and out the hall doors to the courtyard.
Gwyneth gripped Edmund’s arm and pulled him away from Alex. “You have to come with me.”
“What is it?” he asked, hugging her close as he looked about protectively.
“Nay, I’m fine. You must come with me after the Langstons.”
This time he didn’t protest as she led him out of the hall. A soft snow was falling, but it was still easy to see the Langstons and Lucy disappearing into the lady’s garden. Edmund gave her a quizzical look, but she covered his mouth until he nodded and pulled her hand away. Silently she led him into the cold shadows beside the garden wall.
They could clearly hear the earl’s voice.
“So where are these villagers in revolt?”
“I know not, milord,” said Lucy in a subdued voice. “I did everythin’ ye wanted me to.”
Gwyneth saw Edmund’s eyes widen, but she put up a hand and shook her head. Whispering into his ear, she said, “She confessed all this to me this morn. I shall explain later.”
With a nod, he took her hand and held it.
Shrilly the countess said, “They all seemhappy!”
“I did me best! Some of the villagers left, and I thought people were afraid of Sir Edmund again, but I guess not.” She burst into noisy tears. “Please don’t hurt me parents!”
“What about the marriage contract?” the earl demanded. “Are you certain she saw it?”
When Edmund gripped her hand harder, Gwyneth nodded.
“They had angry words, I know they did,” Lucy said miserably. “But—”
Releasing Gwyneth’s hand, Edmund stepped out of the shadows and into the lady’s garden, and no one said a word.
Chapter 23
When Gwyneth followed Edmund into the garden, she saw the countess’s white face, heard the woman’s swiftly inhaled breath. Earl Langston had smoothed his expression into an emotionless mask. They stood on either side of a cowering Lucy, who hugged herself and cried.
The earl opened his mouth, but Edmund took a threatening step forward.
“Do not insult me with any more lies. I heard everything.”
“I do not understand what you’re talking about,” the earl said stiffly.
With a sob, Lucy came running to Gwyneth, who wrapped her arms around her.
“Of course you do. It wasn’t enough that you tried to ruin me through your daughter and then through Gwyneth. You needed to complete the task by forcing an innocent girl to commit your crimes. But ’tis over now.”
The earl said nothing, but his eyes glittered.
