A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove #3)(99)

The argument seemed to make some inroads.

But unfortunately, they took him in the wrong direction.

“Bram,” he called.

“Still here,” Lord Rycliff answered.

“When you were shot in the knee, you made me swear, right there on the battlefield, that I wouldn’t let them take your leg.” Samuel spoke in a firm, controlled voice. “No matter what the surgeons said, no matter if you hovered at death’s threshold. Even if you lost your mind with delirium. I swore I wouldn’t let them amputate, and I didn’t. I sat by your bedside with a pistol cocked, scaring off anyone with a saw. When they threatened me with court-martial, even when my own powers of reason argued against it . . . I stayed true to my word.”

Bram nodded. “You did. I’m forever in your debt.”

“You’re going to repay me now.”

“How?”

“Lock me in the village gaol. In irons, tonight. And no matter what happens—even if I rage or plead—give me your word right now that you won’t release me until she’s married. Swear it.”

“Thorne, I can’t—”

Samuel turned to him. “Don’t question. Don’t look at anyone else. This is you and me, and a debt you owe. Just do as I ask, and swear it.”

Lord Rycliff relented. “Very well. You have my word. You can release her now.”

“Get the irons first.”

“For goodness’ sake, Samuel!” Kate struggled again. “What are the chances that a pair of irons are just hanging about?”

She had forgotten to consider that in Sir Lewis Finch’s house, the chances were apparently quite good. Someone produced a pair of iron cuffs, connected by a heavy chain.

Lord Rycliff opened one manacle and fitted it around Samuel’s wrist.

Samuel stared deep into her eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For lighting up for me, just the once. That was worth everything.”

Kate growled and kicked him in the shin—not that her bare foot could do much damage. “Don’t pretend this is romantic, you stubborn, foolish man! If I didn’t love you so much, I’d vow to hate you forever.”

In response, he pressed an infuriating kiss to her brow.

Once the other cuff was fastened, he let go of the quarterstaff and released her.

Then he walked away in chains.

“I won’t let it happen.”

Lark stood in the center of the Queen’s Ruby parlor, looking as firm-chinned and resolute as Kate had ever seen her.

“Kate,” she said, “I love you dearly, but if you try to marry my brother today, I will stand up in the middle of St. Ursula’s and object.”

“Chicken,” Harry soothed, “it’s not yours to say. Evan and Kate are adults. Besides, the vicar will only be interested in your objection if it presents a legal impediment. There is none.”

“There’s an emotional impediment,” Lark argued. “Kate can’t marry Evan. She’s in love with Corporal Thorne.”

Kate squeezed her eyes shut. Of course she was in love with Thorne. If she weren’t completely, eternally in love with him, she wouldn’t feel so miserable sitting here this morning, discussing the possibility of marrying another man.

Her heart ached. Somewhere nearby, Samuel was in irons, locked up like an animal in a cage. He’d spent the entire night in gaol.

She knew how he’d suffered as a youth in prison. He should never have been subjected to confinement again, not even for one night. She was desperate to see him released, and he must have known she’d feel this way. He was holding himself ransom, and the price he demanded was her wedding to another.

The stubborn, impossible man. And to believe common wisdom, women were the sex prone to dramatics?

Lark continued, “What’s more, Evan can’t marry Kate. What about Claire?”

“Claire?” Harry echoed. “My dear pigeon, Claire is several years in the grave.”

“But he loved her once. That’s all I’m saying. He might fall in love again.”

“Let’s hope not,” Harry muttered.

Lark confronted her sister. Anger burned red on her cheeks. “Really, Harriet. Our brother defended you when you broke three loveless engagements. He has supported you in your attachment to Ames. And this is how you repay him? By encouraging him to enter a marriage of convenience and hoping he never loves again?”

As she absorbed Lark’s censure, Harry’s eyebrows rose. “My my, starling. You are growing up so fast.” She drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair, then stood. “Very well, I’ll object, too.”

“Your objections won’t be necessary, I hope.” Kate lifted Badger into her lap and drew him close. “I’ve no intention of marrying Evan, if it can possibly be helped. There must be some other way.”

But even as she spoke the words, she doubted them. What other way could there be? All night long she’d been thinking on the dilemma. She’d exhausted all her powers of logic, imagination, and desperation, and still no solution had come to her.

“Harry and I tried appealing to Evan,” Lark said. “If he withdrew his offer to Kate, Corporal Thorne would have to back down. But he won’t budge, either.”

“He feels too guilty,” Harry said to Kate. “He’s determined to give you the life you deserve, he says.”