Chapter Thirty
Tessa wandered through the crowd, the joy of the evening gone for her. The room was hot with the crush of people, and a nearby door stood ajar a few inches, letting in fresh air. Needing to escape the laughter and merriment, she stepped out the door and found herself in the garden. Cool air immediately chilled her flushed skin, but she welcomed it. To her chagrin, she came face to face with Cedric Acton, mask in hand as he attempted to rethread the ribbon that had come untied from one side.
His discomfort was as great as hers, it seemed. “Well, well, my lady wife. How goes it?”
Tessa turned to go, but Cedric grabbed her arm in a tight grip. His eyes were hard, but he smiled and tried for a light tone. “I was most distressed by your unannounced departure from our wedding. It has taken some explaining, especially to my mother, to quiet the questions that arose from your disappearance.”
Tessa was for an instant sympathetic to Cedric’s situation. Lady Acton must have given him fits. “Cedric, I am sorry. It was a mistake for us to wed. You don’t love me, and I discovered I could not be the wife you hoped for. I’m sure you understand it will benefit both of us to have this marriage annulled quietly and quickly.”
“That is impossible, as I told your friend Aidan Brixton.” Cedric’s large chin set with decision.
“But—”
“If we separate now, I will look a fool,” Cedric interrupted. “First you leave me on our wedding day, then you return to London and never bother to inform me. I have to hear it from Brixton, who comes to tell me you will be his bride as soon as you are free from me.”
“That is not true. Still, ours is no true marriage.”
“It’s as much a marriage as many get. You have done what you wanted, gone off who knows where. Now it’s time that I get what I want, my wife in my home and my bed, pretending at least to be content if she cannot pretend happiness.”
“I don’t understand. I heard you say that marriage to me would bring you power in Scotland. There is no possibility of that now, so why?”
Cedric’s eyes flashed with the understanding of what had caused her to run from him. “I see. Eavesdropping, were you? Well, true enough, but it isn’t all. If you must know, I have spoken with young Malcolm, who would be most grateful, he tells me, if you were under the care of someone who would prevent your return to Scotland, at least until he is firmly established. Stories have spread of your heroic ride across the Lowlands to warn Macbeth of danger, and the Scots love nothing more than a good tale to fire their blood. Malcolm fears you would become a rallying point for rebellion if you were nearby.”
“I promised him I would not return. Is that not enough?”
“Apparently he cannot trust his own subjects—yet.” Cedric set his large chin truculently. “In addition, you are my wife. The world knows you as such. Since you are here tonight, we will quiet their yammering gossip by appearing together publicly. You will have all you desire of my wealth, fine clothes and lovely things, but you will play your part. Once we have sons, I may even leave your bed. Other women will be glad of my company.”
Tessa tore her arm from his grip and massaged the bruises where his fingers had been. “Then go and find one of them now. Annul the marriage.”
“I repeat, I will not be made fool of. You will make amends to my reputation by taking on your proper role. Young Brixton shall not have you. You are mine.” So that was the truth of it. Aidan had seemed over-eager and made Cedric angry. “He shall see us together as man and wife tonight, and he will have to accept it. Is he here yet?”
“I have not seen Aidan,” she answered dully. She was again a prisoner, this time of Cedric Acton. As her lawful husband, he had the right to claim her, body and soul. Who might help her? Aidan, but then she would be beholden to him. What a tangle she had got into. A sudden thought flashed through Tessa’s mind. Cedric had betrayed great interest in Scotland on the day of their wedding. Was it possible he was the Englishman Hawick dealt with? He certainly was more ruthless than he had seemed all those months ago when he courted her. By marrying Cedric in her haste to solve her problems, she had made them worse, and she was now under his control.
The conversation with Jeffrey returned. He had asked her directly how she felt about Cedric. Was it because he suspected him, too? With his ties to William, Cedric might have been able to frame Jeffrey, but to what purpose?
Cedric had replaced his mask and his manner became brisk. “Now then, shall we go in to dinner? It will be the first time the world has seen the new Lord and Lady Acton, so be sure to keep yourself composed.”
Tessa had no choice but to accompany him. He led her inside, his hand on her elbow. What should she do? Run? Where? She was not welcome in Scotland, and in England she was this man’s property. Woodenly she stood by as Cedric chatted with several people as if it were not the oddest thing to have a captive wife by his side.
To make matters worse, as they moved across the hall, they met a beautifully dressed creature in a fantastic mask of feathers and silk. The woman was dressed in blue, long associated with faithfulness in myth and story, which was ironic, for Tessa recognized Mairie behind the mask. Tessa’s mask was off, and Mairie’s eyes widened, then narrowed as she considered what to do about the situation. Finally, she decided to brazen her way through. Smiling ironically, she removed her own mask.
Mairie was more impressive than ever tonight. The blue gown was sewn with hundreds of tiny pearls and draped snugly over her form. The neckline was low, showing much of her white neck and bosom. Over her dark hair a jewel-studded net of gold fell loosely, shining in the torchlight. Her eyes were enlarged by subtly applied cosmetics, and her lips were their usual, unnatural red. She looked Tessa over speculatively, taking note of the green velvet dress and matching ribbons braided into her hair. Plainer than mine, her look said, but Tessa reflected that her borrowed costume was better than one that was in all likelihood stolen.
Mairie spoke first, her voice low and seductive, but Tessa had a moment’s amusement picturing her tantrum over Jeffrey’s escape as the bard had related it. “Mistress Tessa, is it not?”
Cedric was not about to be forgotten. “The lady is my wife,” he said decisively. Mairie’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, but her face took on a sly look. Was she considering blackmail? Probably, but she didn’t know the circumstances.
Tessa smiled at her brightly. “Mistress Hawick, this is my husband Cedric,Lord Acton. We were married last spring, before I came to Scotland and was graced by your brother’s hospitality. Husband, this is Mairie Hawick, of both France and Scotland.”
Mairie absorbed the information with interest but did not react beyond a slight narrowing of the eyes. “I offer my congratulations on your marriage, Lord Acton, Lady Acton.” Excusing herself regally, she moved off into the crowd. Tessa wondered if Hawick was nearby and would soon learn the news. Perhaps when he knew she was not his legal wife he would forget about her and return to Scotland.
Supper was announced at nine, and Tessa by that time had located Mary and Francis. Mary looked surprised to see Cedric, but he spoke cheerfully to her and the four of them went in together. They approached long tables set up in three rows with a head table perpendicular to the others. Cedric went in search of the seneschal to exchange his place so he would be seated beside Tessa.
“We will of course make our greetings to Mother,” Cedric informed Tessa, “but we will do it after supper or her digestion may be upset.” He moved off adjusting his collar fussily.
Mary raised an eyebrow at Tessa, but she could not think of a way to explain things briefly in this public place. Francis seated them both and Tessa waited glumly, wondering what could possibly make matters worse. A masked figure touched her shoulder, and when she turned, there was Aidan.
“Forgive me for not seeking you out sooner,” he apologized, removing a dark blue silk mask. “I had some things I had to do, and only now have been able to turn my thoughts to pleasure. And pleasure it will be to sit
beside you, Tessa.”
She had only time to give him the briefest of explanations, telling him he could not sit beside her because of Cedric’s insistence they play the married couple, but his face showed understanding—and anger.
“I spoke to him yesterday, and I feared he would make things difficult for us,” he whispered grimly. Tessa hoped he would not make a scene, and thankfully he did not. “I must tell you something else. I have spoken to Jeffrey, who is here this evening in disguise!” Tessa tried to appear surprised as Aidan continued. “He says he is not guilty of the terrible things that are said about him and is determined to put an end to the matter tonight.”
Tessa murmured, “I hope that is possible.”
“As do I, my love, but I have come to doubt it. The evidence against him is strong, and though I tried not to believe it myself, I can think of no other explanation.”
“Could someone else who knew William’s affairs have done these things and then blamed them on Jeffrey?”
Aidan appeared to think about it. “I don’t know who.”
“Cedric seems to have been close to William.”
“Hmm. It’s possible, but Cedric has no need of William’s money.” He considered again. “Could he be jealous of you and Jeffrey?”
Tessa shook her head. “There is nothing to be jealous of. Besides, Cedric knows I don’t love him. He still has dreams of influencing things in Scotland.”
“If we convince him you cannot help with that, he will agree to the annulment. You will see.” Aidan kissed her hand and retreated as the host called for silence and the speeches began.
As the host bawled what he took to be witticisms about those assembled, Tessa glanced about the room at the masked figures. A large woman in an overdone costume glared back at her from several tables over, and she recognized Lady Acton despite the mask of peacock feathers she wore. Her animosity was obvious, and her masculine body fairly bristled with indignation at Tessa’s presence. Another reason she should not have come, she chided herself.
As the meal progressed, the chair beside her remained empty. Cedric didn’t return. She had quite lost her appetite, but course after course of exotic foods were set before her: meats carved into odd shapes, puddings studded with currants and dried cherries, and finally, tiny cakes decorated with paper castles that yielded trinkets when cut open. Tessa received a pendant of rose quartz, and Mary a tiny silver bear. As Tessa turned to put the items into her reticule she saw Jeffrey, his mask covering his face, sliding into a seat two tables over. He watched her grimly as he waved away the servant with the cakes. Though she couldn’t see his face for the mask, his shoulders and neck were held stiffly upright, as if he were tensed for something—escape? Resistance? His eyes took in the empty chair beside her and then Mary said something to Tessa. When she looked back, Jeffrey was gone.
After dinner there was entertainment, but still Cedric didn’t take his seat. Scanning the crowd watching the three acrobats perform feats of balance and strength, Tessa saw no sign of Jeffrey, either. Her gaze traveled over the room idly, identifying people she knew now that the masks were removed. She again met the gaze of Lady Acton, as imperious as ever. When their eyes met, the old lady’s face stiffened and she turned away. At least there might be an ally there in the argument for annulment.
Mairie Hawick sat near Lady Ballard, two smitten men on either side of her vying for her attention. Evidently she had been watching Tessa, for when their eyes met, she raised an eyebrow and smiled, her nose lifting in disdain. Tessa held her own face immobile—at least she hoped so—and turned to speak to Mary and Francis.
The acrobats gave way to a bard, who had hardly begun his tale when Tessa felt a tug at her sleeve. She turned to find Aidan, white-faced and intense. “Tessa, come quickly,” he hissed in her ear. His eyes warned her to silence, so she merely touched Mary’s arm and whispered she would return. She rose and followed Aidan from the room, threading her way around guests, servants, and hounds blocking the way.
Once they were outside, she asked, “What is it? Where are we going?”
Aidan turned to her, his eyes still wide with excitement. “Tessa, you must be calm. I have something to tell you, and you must try to understand it. There has been an…incident.”
“An incident? Aidan, please slow down. I can’t keep up.” He was hurrying down the path toward the stables, and in the gloom of night she almost lost sight of him from time to time.
“Aidan!”
He stopped and waited for her to catch up at the stable door. There was a light inside, and she could see that his eyes glowed feverishly. Tessa didn’t know what to think until she looked past him into the stall closest to the door. A man’s legs were visible in the light of a lantern hung on a post nearby. From their position, it was obvious he wasn’t conscious. Aidan stopped in the doorway. Tessa stepped closer, into the stall. The man was Cedric Acton, and he lay face down in the straw, a knife protruding from his back. Tessa looked at Aidan, whose eyes were fixed on her, gauging her reaction.
“Aidan, what happened?”
“Tessa, you must forgive him. I’m sure he didn’t mean to kill Cedric. He was upset when I told him Acton intended to hold to his marriage to you. I had all I could do to keep him from attacking the man at the banquet, in front of everyone. I walked with him outside, thought I had calmed him down, but you know Jeffrey. He has a terrible temper.”
Tessa gazed at Aidan in disbelief. “Are you telling me Jeffrey did this?”
“I’m afraid so. He said something about Cedric taking you from him. I believe he has lost his wits—the blow to his head, you know. Did he not seem morose and changeable of mood to you?”
“I…I don’t know.” Tessa was at a loss to understand what was happening. Yes, Jeffrey had been changeable, sometimes helping her and other times setting her back, but he had explained all that.
Aidan looked down at Tessa, his eyes sad. “My dear, I fear he intends to harm you also. He said as much.”
“You spoke to him? He admitted to this?” Tessa gestured weakly at the body.
Aidan put his hands on her shoulders. “I know it’s a shock, Tessa, but you must understand. Jeffrey is a man of great pride. He would not let Cedric rob him of a woman he considers his.” Aidan ran a hand through his hair and looked out into the darkness, avoiding the scene of death beside him. “I had business with Cedric, so I went looking for him. Jeffrey met me in the garden, wild-eyed. He told me what he’d done, and why. I came to try to help Cedric, but it was too late. Then I thought more clearly and came to warn you. He intends harm to you also, believing you have betrayed him.”
Tessa’s mind was finally taking in what she had seen. Could Jeffrey have killed Cedric? He’d certainly reacted badly to the news of her marriage to him. Poor Cedric. She hadn’t been fond of him, but to be— As she looked at the body, she had a sudden revelation.
Cedric had been stabbed in the back, which made no sense. Everything she knew of Jeffrey Brixton said that if he’d killed Cedric, it would have been done face-to-face, in combat and not by stealth. Even Hawick’s men had been tied and left behind during his escape when possible. It couldn’t have been Jeffrey.
Understanding dawned. Aidan said Jeffrey had admitted it. Aidan said Jeffrey intended to harm her, but Aidan had forced her to leave the ball with him. Now she was at his mercy. With a jolt she realized that only one man had much to gain from Jeffrey’s fall: Aidan, his own brother. She had not considered it possible, never thought he would betray a blood relative, but if Jeffrey were convicted of a crime or forced to flee England, Aidan would become Lord Brixton, take control of the properties associated with the title, and be able to win the woman he seemed to desire, Tessa herself.
How could she not have seen it? In Scotland there was bloodshed within families in pursuit of power, and it was the same everywhere. Aidan had seemed so helpful to his family, so kind. She tried to find another explanation but could not.
No, it was true. Aidan had s
tayed in the background, doing William’s bidding, for years. He now believed he deserved to be Lord Brixton, and he was willing to destroy his brother to reach that goal. Suddenly the niggling feeling from earlier that something was wrong became clear. She had mentioned an outlaw as Jeffrey’s captor, and Aidan had supplied his name: Hawick, he had said. He knew the outlaw, had known him all along. Aidan was the Englishman Hawick dealt with!
Tessa’s face told the story of her thoughts, and Aidan, as always, was watchful. He said nothing, but she saw the brown eyes harden until there was no kindness in them at all, and his lips curled into a sneer.
“You did this,” Tessa accused.
Aidan seemed unfazed. “We were hoping you would believe me. It would have been so much easier if you had.”
“We?”
“My friends, actually, some old friends of yours, as well—” He raised his voice a notch. “My dear? I believe you know Mistress macFindlaech?”
“But of course,” said a voice from the shadows, and Mairie stepped out from her hiding place. “I told you she would not believe Jeffrey did it.”
“And you were correct, mademoiselle. I admit it.” Aidan’s voice betrayed his impatience with the situation. “There’s nothing for it now but to do as we planned. I will return as soon as possible. Give me a few minutes and then do your part.”
Mairie nodded. “Hurry then. The entertainment will end soon, and some may start for home. You will not want her screaming and kicking when there is the possibility she will be seen.”
Tessa finally grasped their intention to abduct her, and she made a lunge for the door, hoping to duck past Aidan before he could stop her. Aidan simply raised his arm and cut her off, a wicked smile across his face. He encircled her waist with the other arm. Coming up behind Tessa, Mairie handed him a looped rope he dropped over her shoulders and pulled tight. Mairie quickly tied the sky-blue sash from her dress over Tessa’s mouth.
A horse stood in the shadows of the farthest stall, already saddled. Aidan mounted then leaned down, easily picked Tessa up, and set her before him. “Give me a minute to get away, then scream your heart out,” he told Mairie, steering the horse out the door. Tessa caught a last glimpse as the woman stood, perfectly composed and lovely as always, smiling after them.
Taking a little-used path that circled behind the house and came out a quarter mile down the road, Aidan urged the horse to a gallop. Within minutes of leaving the masque, Tessa was on her way to an unknown destination, farther and farther away from help as the horse’s hooves pounded along the road in the moonlight.