Page 96 of Suddenly a Bride
Gwyneth looked over her shoulder to find that Geoffrey and Alex Thornton were standing just outside the garden, and Mrs. Haskell was making her way across the courtyard. Other curious people were beginning to emerge from the castle. Hugh Ludlow, wearing an elaborate hat in the shape of a dragon, came into the garden and took Lucy into his embrace. As she cried against his chest, he spoke softly into her ear.
“Your plan failed,” Edmund said. “And I surmise it had to do with lead ore rather than the sentimentality of owning your family land again. You underestimated the people here, especially Gwyneth. I cannot even be that angry, because your manipulations gave her to me.”
He smiled down at Gwyneth, and she leaned against his side, finally beginning to feel that everything might work out in the end.
The earl found his voice. “If you think to threaten me with the law, remember that no court will believe you over me.”
“Then I shall have to go right to the queen. Did you know that I saved the life of the Earl of Leicester, her favorite courtier, while I was stationed in the Low Countries? ’Tis why I was knighted. I am certain I shall have some sway with her.”
The earl’s mouth worked, but nothing emerged. His wife slumped onto a bench.
“And if Queen Elizabeth won’t listen to Edmund,” said Alex, stepping forward, “then she’ll listen to me. I’m not sure we have met, my lord. I am Sir Alexander Thornton, and Iamthe queen’s favorite dance partner, you know. And there is the matter of my brother and I saving all of England from the Spanish. Did you hear that story?”
Gwyneth watched as the earl looked about him and saw all the tenants and villagers who now gathered in the courtyard staring angrily at him. But when she saw a cold light suddenly gleam in the old man’s eyes, she felt a renewed sense of fear.
“You’ll not spill your lies to the queen, Blackwell,” he said. “There are family matters between you and me where she can do nothing. Gwyneth, if you let him slander us, you will have doomed your sisters to lives of spinsterhood. No one will marry them after we spread certain…rumors.”
Though Gwyneth’s stomach was in knots, she lifted her chin and spoke strongly. “You mean like the rumors you spread about your own daughter being murdered? You cannot hurt me or my family any more. I trust my husband to do what is best for us.”
She could tell that her cousin was desperate now.
“There is still the marriage contract, which is legally binding. The land will be ours again when you cannot produce an heir.”
Gwyneth’s mother stepped forward. “What nonsense is this?”
Gwyneth smiled. “I can handle this, Mama.” Putting her fists on her hips, she turned her anger on the Langstons. “I have already begun work on your contract. I carry Edmund’s child, and I can assure you that no matter how many times we have to try, we will have a boy.”
When she felt an arm come about her shoulders, she looked up into the smiling blue eyes of her husband, who watched her with tenderness.
“It will be a difficult duty,” he said seriously, “but I shall manage.”
Gwyneth knew that the people in the courtyard had erupted into cheers, but she only had eyes for her husband, whose expression had sobered as he cupped her face in his hands.
“It will be easy because I love her,” he said softly, using his thumbs to wipe the tears that fell from her eyes. “Even this land is not as important to me as you are, Gwyn. I would gladly lose it all if you’ll stay with me.”
“Oh, Edmund,” she whispered, overwhelmed that her every dream of happiness had come true.
“A foolish sentiment,” the earl said scornfully, “because now I’ll—”
“Enough!” Harold Langston pushed his way through the crowd. He stopped before his parents and gave them a scornful look. “I am ashamed to be a part of this family. All of this was because you could not deal with the truth about what kind of a woman your daughter—my sister—was. She made Edmund miserable with her selfish ways, and you helped her do it. She will not rest in peace until the truth is known.”
“Harold!” his father said sharply.
But Harold only put up a hand. “She killed herself out of vanity, Father, trying to be a different person than she was. What does that say to you about what you’ve done to your children? I never knew that good people existed until I came here.”
The countess started to sob, but he ignored her. “Now there are no more secrets unspoken and no reason to torment people who have done nothing to harm you. As for this land, you already have more than you will ever need. Why don’t you just go home and leave us in peace?”
“Harold,” his mother said weakly, “come home with us. Let me tell you what really happened.”
Her son only shook his head. “Save your speeches for your other son, although I am not sure he’ll believe you either. You’ll have to arrive home before my letter reaches him.”
The earl gripped his wife’s arm and hauled her off the bench. Gwyneth was worried that the crowd might do them harm, but the villagers stepped aside and let them return to the courtyard, where Lord Langston shouted for his coach.
When everyone had left the lady’s garden, Gwyneth and Edmund remained still, staring at each other. They both began to smile.
“So what will you do if the Langstons develop a new scheme against us?” she asked.
He gripped her waist and drew her against him. “I honestly have no proof of their crimes except Lucy’s word.”
