This suggested strongly that the agent of Annis’s terror was Lawrence Redmayne, since her very existence threatened his legitimacy. But how to prove it, without placing Annis in any more danger or distress? There was no doubt in his mind that he needed to share this information with her, but until he had a plan to prove the man’s culpability and neutralize the threat he posed to Annis’s peace and security, he was reluctant to do so.
He was trying to think what he knew of Tavistock, but it wasn’t much. He wasn’t even sure that he had met him. He had a vague memory of the 6th earl, a big bluff fellow with the old-fashioned, high-handed arrogance of many men of his generation. A hard rider to hounds, if he recalled, a man’s man. Not one for gallantry or pretty speeches. But of the grandson, nothing.
He resolved to speak to Robert about it. As reluctant as he was to reveal Annis’s secrets, if he meant to bring Lawrence Redmayne to book, assuming the man was still alive and Annis hadn’t done him in on that field after all, he would need some help. But first it behooved him to confirm that he was indeed still alive. How Emrys was to do that, he wasn’t sure.
One more thing occurred to him. He had been assuming that Annis’s parent’s marriage hadn’t been set aside for some reason, but did he know that? For what reasons could a marriage be declared void or annulled apart from nonconsummation? He needed to consult the marriage act, but damned if he knew where he could get hold of a copy of that. His best bet was to see his solicitor—he would know or could find out.
Two hours later he left his solicitors office confident that Annis was legitimate. His man had listened closely to all the facts Emrys could give him and had done a bit of quick research himself. From what they could tell, it seemed Nicolas had abidedby all the rules and the marriage was legal, even down to the residency requirement of living in the parish in which they were married. Not that he had revealed to his solicitor the true reason for his questions, but the fellow had been most forthcoming on the topic.
*
That evening theyhad yet another ball to attend, this one hosted by Countess Lieven, whose husband was the Russian ambassador to Great Britain. Annis was surprised to find that the idea that her birth may be legitimate gave her so much more confidence, even without knowing for certain yet. For the first time attending a society event, she didn’t feel like a fraud and welcomed the opportunity to mingle with thetonas, if not precisely an equal, at least one who should not be scorned. She was proud to be Emrys’s wife, and she smiled and curtsied to their hosts, the very regal and beautiful Countess and equally haughty Count Lieven, refusing to be intimidated. Entering the main ballroom on her husband’s arm, she was delighted to find acquaintance among the guests and to feel herself more at ease.
Emrys was attentive as always and only left her side to fetch her refreshment or speak with his friends when she was dancing. And when it got too hot to be comfortable, he took her walking in the gardens. They were taking a rest on a seat in a pretty rose arbor when she caught the sound of a voice that instantly destroyed all her pleasure, sending chills of horror down her back.
“What is it?” asked Emrys as she clutched his arm.
She looked around wildly to try to work out where the voice was coming from. It was behind them, she fancied. Their view was obscured by a high hedge, but the voices were clear enough.
“My dearest Cecelia, you have inflamed my passions to an extraordinary degree, I cannot wait until our wedding.”
“My lord, I am indeed sensible of it, yet I beg you, restrain yourself!” came the lady’s reply.
“It’s him!” hissed Annis, her breath coming short in panic.
“Him? The man who attacked you?” asked Emrys, keeping his voice low.
Annis nodded frantically. She was trembling, partially from fear and partially from relief. She hadn’t killed him, after all. But that meant she was still in danger if he saw her and recognized her.
“We have to go! If he sees me—”
Emrys nodded and stroked her arm in a soothing manner. “Hush, stay here. We will leave in a moment, I promise.”
“Emrys!” she whispered desperately as he rose and trod quietly along the hedge, peering through the foliage. Seemingly unable to see anything, he walked quietly to the gap farther up and disappeared from her view. In an agonizingly slow few minutes, he was back and slipping an arm round her. He said softly in her ear, “All is well. Come, I will take you home.”
She rose on legs that shook and let him lead her away from the spot.
“Who is he? Did you see him?” she murmured.
“Yes, wait until we are in the carriage,” he said quietly.
She nodded, swallowing and trying to calm her panicked nerves. It took some minutes for their carriage to be called and for him to hand her up into it. When they were settled and the carriage under way, he put his arms round her and stroked her back.
“Yes, I know who he is. Lawrence Percival Redmayne, 7th Earl of Tavistock.”
“Then the girl he was with is his fiancée, Cecelia Woodrow.” At Emrys startled expression, she added, “Hereward told mewhen we were dancing the other night. His brother Kenrick was dancing with her. She is the most extraordinarily pretty girl and quite young. Oh gosh, should we warn her?”
“Did you see Tavistock then at Sarah’s ball?”
“No, he wasn’t there. Hereward said he had been ill.”
“No doubt.” Emrys nodded and appeared to hesitate a moment.
“What is it?” she asked, clutching his arm.
“He has a scar on his right cheek.”
She covered her mouth with her hand, a cold shiver running down her spine. “Then I was not mistaken in the voice, for I did score his face with my knife!” Tears started to her eyes and a sob escaped her.
