Page 28 of A Midwinter Wager

Chapter 18

Fitz wasout of bed in an instant, flipping the coverlet over Cesca, and hurriedly tucking a sheet around his waist.

The die was cast. There was no way on God’s earth Alicia would want to marry him now. How she’d love playing the part of the heartbroken, discarded lady-love! But he and Cesca would be too far away to care.

Thank heaven!

Alicia’s jaw dropped as she looked firstly at him, then at the bed. “Well, I don't know how you managed this when I was the one with the key.” She narrowed her eyes at him, her voice ominously calm as she added, "Unless you were already here, Fitz.”

“I was. Now get out and give us our privacy.” He indicated the door.

“Oh, no.” She rubbed her hands together. “I see I have to modify my plans. But I don’t have to abandon them.”

A knot of alarm twisted in his gut. What plans?

He took a step toward the door. “I’ve cooperated long enough.” He looked down at her. “You’ve manipulated everyone into believing I ought to marry you, knowing damn well the pressure I’d be under from both our fathers. But everything’s different now. Cesca has given me a taste of what love should be, what I always dreamed it would be. There is no place for you in my life.”

Alicia’s head went back, then thrust forward like a striking snake. “Do you genuinely think you can put me aside in favor of her?”

“As you can see,” he said, spreading his hands, “I’ve compromised Cesca. We have to be wed, for the sake of both her reputation—and mine. Just go.” He folded his arms and nodded toward the passageway.

Feeling movement next to him, he turned and saw that Cesca had pulled on her chemise and now stood at his side, staring defiantly at her sister.

“Fitz is right,” she said. “You ruined six months of our lives because of your selfish delusions. It’s high time you grew up, Alicia, and recognized the truth.”

Alicia uttered a mirthless laugh. “The truth is that this changes nothing.”

Cesca’s fingers sought his, and he grasped her hand. Whatever nasty little scheme Alicia had come up with now, he and Cesca would face it together. He smiled at his darling and slid an arm around her slender waist. With her at his side, he could cope with anything.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I mean that I, too, am no longer a virgin,” said Alicia, her lip curling into a sneer. "And I shall swear that you're the one who stole my innocence. Everyone will believe me because they already think we're engaged. You'll be forced to marry me."

Cesca stiffened in Fitz’s embrace, gasping in shock. He felt the color rise in his cheeks, and ground out angrily, “What do you mean? Are you saying you’ve lain with a man?”

“I had to—I couldn’t let you put me aside like some unwanted plaything. I intend to be the mistress of both Fernley and Beaulieu—and my children will inherit both. And Cesca, no one’s going to want you, now Fitz has ruined you. You’ll have to bleed out your days caring for Papa in his dotage—if he’ll even take you back after the shame you’ve brought on him.”

Fitz shook his head, the blood thundering in his ears. He could barely believe the words issuing like drops of venom from Alicia’s mouth.

“When? Who? What man dared to take you to his bed, when you’re under my protection?”

He prayed she was lying, and yet… And yet Alicia was expert at getting what she desired.

He rubbed a hand across his forehead. Did he truly want the man’s name? Would he be expected to call some blackguard out, and risk his life over a woman he didn’t even want?

“It was brought home to me last night that Cesca’s reappearance could spoil everything,” she said. “So, I came up with a plan to get you back. I asked Captain Brandt to deflower me, and he duly obliged.”

“Brandt?” The name stuck in his throat. “You just asked him to bed you, and he said yes? A man you met for the first time last night?”

“Oh, but we’ve talked a great deal. You wouldn’t have noticed—too busy making calf eyes at Cesca or scowling at her when she danced with someone else. If I get with child by Brandt, I'll say it's yours. Who's to prove it isn't, without creating a scandal? I'm sure neither your father nor mine would want that."

“There’s not a decent bone in that man’s body,” he said grimly. “I wish I’d killed him when I had the chance. But why did you choose him, of all people? There were plenty of other officers at the ball.”

“Because he’s unmarried, so there are no complications there. And he dislikes you excessively, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

A muscle worked in Fitz’s jaw. He was going to have to deal decisively with Brandt, and fast. But right now, he and Cesca were at a disadvantage. Alicia needed to leave and give him time to think.

“So, let me understand you,” he said. “You still want me to marry you, and if you bear Brandt’s bastard, you expect me to give it my name? I’m beginning to think you’re mad. Be in no doubt—I’m going to marry Cesca. And not just to ensure that if she gets with child, it’ll be born in wedlock. I love her. I always have.”

“Very touching. But no one’s going to listen, because everyone thinks you’re engaged to me. And even if you can convince Papa that you lay with Cesca and not with me tonight, he’ll never let her marry, because he likes her waiting on him. Now, I’m chilled to the bone, so I’m going back to my room.”

She clicked up the latch and opened the door, letting in a draught that made the candle flames flicker. “Here,” she said, flinging something at Fitz that he caught one-handed. It was the key.

She looked at Cesca, adding, “I release you from the forfeit I demanded after winning at snapdragon. You can leave this so-called haunted room if you want or stay here with Fitz—it’s all one to me. But don’t expect me to part with my sovereigns now. Our wager is off.”

Cesca wriggled out of Fitz’s grip, seized the key and flew to the door, thrusting it shut on Alicia, and locking it. Then she turned to him, saying defiantly, “I’ll never let her win. We’ll think of something to beat her, won’t we?”

He tried to make some sense of this new crisis but was too deeply angry to think straight. It would be shameful and degrading, but he needed to have a painfully frank discussion with Mr. Heathcote and inform him both his daughters were no longer chaste. And then he'd have to confess to being the guilty party in Cesca's case.

“Of course, we will, my darling.” Forcing a smile, he held out his arms and welcomed his love into his embrace, kissing the top of her head as she rested her cheek on his chest. “As Napoleon’s now back in captivity, I’ll resign my commission, and devote my time to finding a way. Never fear, for we will prevail.”

And he hoped with all his heart that he spoke the truth.