Kennedy couldn’t take his eyes off his wife as he entered the room. She had just told his father to keep all his money. Kennedy reached her side, grasped her hand and brought it to his lips.

She frowned, her expression turning suspicious when he said, “I missed you, my dear.” He released her and looked at his father. “I didn’t realize you intended to meet Anne tonight, sir.”

“If you had known, you wouldn’t have brought her,” his father replied.

Kennedy smiled coolly. “You have Anne’s sister to thank for our being here. I hadn’t planned on coming, but she had her heart set on attending the party and I couldn’t disappoint her.”

Frustration flickered across his father’s face, and Kennedy cursed his own tongue. Normally, he would have pressed any advantage once he’d broken down his father’s façade. But his father wasn’t above changing the terms of an agreement if pushed hard enough, and Kennedy needed to assure that Rose returned home as soon as possible.

“I believe we have been here long enough to satisfy her,” Anne said. “If you don’t mind, I would like to go home.”

Kennedy smiled at her. “Of course, my dear.”

“It was a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” Anne said. “I hope you feel better soon.” She shifted her attention to Jacqueline and said in a cool tone, “My lady, thank you for a lovely party.”

“Of course,” Jaqueline said. “We are so very happy for you and Kennedy.”

“Remember what I said,” his father said to Anne.

She smiled. “Never fear, sir, I shall be giving everything you said a great deal of thought.” Her gaze shifted onto Kennedy. “Shall we go?”

He angled his head in acknowledgement. “If you are ready, my dear.” Without a backwards glance, they left.

To his wife’s credit she remained quiet until they were halfway down the first flight of stairs. “Forgive me, sir, but I must tell you that your father is an abominable man.”

Kennedy couldn’t help himself. He laughed so hard his eyes watered.

They reached the next floor and she shot him a hard frown as they continued down the dim hallway. “I fail to see the humor in the situation. He had the gall to offer me another five thousand pounds if I spend every night in your bed until I am certain I am pregnant.”

Kennedy looked sharply at her. He hadn’t heard that. “I will speak to him.”

She threw up her hands. “Why bother? He is clearly insane—and there is no talking to an insane person.” Her expression turned sheepish. “I do not think he likes me very much.”

They turned a corner in the hallway.

“He doesn’t like anyone very much,” Kennedy said.

“I can well believe that, but most people aren’t his daughter-in-law.”

“That does go too far, even for him,” Kennedy said. “How does he think he will verify that you have kept your end of the bargain?”

They reached another set of stairs and he gestured for her to precede him.

“I asked that very thing,” she said. “The only way he could be certain is if he were in the room with us.”

Kennedy blinked. “Never say you said that to him.”

“Of course, I did.”

They reached the next level and sounds of the orchestra wafted up to them.

“He had the temerity to say that as long as I got pregnant right away, he would take my word that I had kept up my end of the bargain,” she went on. “It would serve him right, if I didn’t get pregnant anytime soon.”

Alarm shot through him. “Did you tell him we hadn’t consummated the marriage?”

A blush crept up her cheeks. “Nae. It is none of his business. About that, sir—”

“My fault altogether,” he cut in.

She looked up at him in surprise, then smiled. His heart jumped.

“Thank you,” she said.

How different she was from Jacqueline. They seldom fought—well, they seldom fought when they were lovers. But on the rare occasion they did, she made him feel as if her acceptance of his apology was a boon from on high.

Kennedy gave Anne a sideways glance. “Are you against having a child immediately?”

She shook her head. “Of course not. I expected to have children once I married.” She looked up at him, a wry grin on her face. “I told him he could keep all his money. So, it seems I’ve talked myself out of the five thousand pounds he was going to give me once we have a son.”

He’d heard that. Had she known he’d been outside the room? Her responses to his father had been so different than Jacqueline’s. So…unaffected.

“Never mind,” he said. “What matters is in the contract. I will ensure that he pays you the money.”

She released a sigh. “The birth of our child is reduced to a business transaction. I am not certain I like that.”

“Isn’t that why you married me, for money?” His heart unexpectedly accelerated.

She slowed as they turned another corner and the music from the orchestra grew louder. “It’s a common enough reason to marry,” she said. “But I’m liking less and less the idea of taking money for bearing a child, whether it is a day from now, a year from now or five years from now.”

“If it is a day from now, I will consider that most miraculous,” he said with a grin.

She laughed, and he found he liked the sound. “I promise you, that will not happen,” she said. “Still, I think I will refuse the money.”

“You could always put it into a trust for our son.” Our son. His chest tightened at the vision of her cradling their son before the hearth in their private chambers.

“I will have to think of another way to pay for the upkeep at Dover Hall.” She looked up at him, again, with mischief in her eyes. “You may begin giving me expensive pieces of jewelry anytime you like.”

Again, he laughed so hard his eyes watered.

* * *

Halfway home, a large crack sounded outside the carriage. Kennedy yanked Anne to him as the coach listed hard to the right. He slammed into the carriage wall. The ladies screamed. Louisa crashed into him. He hugged both women close as the carriage came to a jolting halt. The interior lamp went out and they were plunged into darkness.

“Mamma,” Louisa cried, and clung to Kennedy.

“It’s all right, Louisa,” he murmured, then said, “Lady Kinsley, are you unharmed?”

“Aye. Louisa—” she began.

“I have her,” Kennedy said. “She is unharmed. Anne, as well.”

The carriage rocked, then the door to Kennedy’s right was wrenched open and moonlight illuminated the interior of the carriage.

The driver stuck his head inside the carriage. “Is anyone hurt?” he demanded.

Kenney spotted Anne’s mother, leaning against the carriage wall on the other side of the door. “The viscountess, James.”

The footman helped her from the coach. Kennedy handed out Louisa, then Anne, and leapt from the carriage onto the sidewalk of the quiet street.

The right rear wheel broke, my lord.”

“So I gathered,” Kennedy said. “My lady.” He took a step to the viscountess. The sleeve of her left shoulder was torn and a gash in her arm oozed blood. Kennedy gently turned her toward the streetlight and examined her. “You must have fallen against the lamp.” 

She nodded. “It is nothing.”

“We will have a doctor attend to the wound once we reach home.”

A carriage turned onto the street and slowed as they neared, then stopped. The door opened, and Kennedy’s uncle stepped to the ground.

He strode to where they stood. “Is everyone unharmed?”

Kennedy nodded. “Fortunately, we weren’t going fast.”

“Let me take you home,” Ranald said.

“Thank you.” Kennedy turned to the driver. “James, I will send Matthew back with a new wheel. You and Michael remain here until they arrive.”

James nodded. “Aye, my lord.”

Kennedy got the ladies into the carriage, then he and Ranald stepped inside and they started away.

At home, they gathered in the drawing room while Ranald sent his carriage for the doctor. Kennedy roused Matthew and instructed him to take men to deliver the wheel and repair the carriage.

The doctor arrived half an hour later. Despite Lady Kinsley’s insistence that she was fine, the doctor insisted on six stitches, then sent her to bed with a small dose of laudanum. The doctor left, and Anne sent Kennedy a grateful look, then went upstairs with her mother and sister.

“Would you like a drink?” Kennedy asked Ranald when the ladies had gone.

“Scotch, if you please,” he said. “I’m glad for this opportunity to speak with you, Kennedy. Congratulations on your marriage, by-the-by. I’m sorry I missed the ceremony. I had no idea you were to marry.”

Kennedy poured two scotches, then turned and motioned to the two hearth chairs. His uncle took the chair to the left. Kennedy handed him a glass of scotch and sat in the chair to the right.

“We had a very small ceremony by special license,” Kennedy said.

Ranald nodded. “So I gathered. I feel certain your father had something to do with the marriage. I saw him the day before yesterday. He isn’t looking well.”

Kennedy took a hefty drink of scotch. He shook his head. “Nae, he isn’t at all looking well.”

Ranald regarded him. “I should think that you would be rejoicing.”

“I will not be sorry when he is gone,” Kennedy said.

“What the devil is going on?” his uncle demanded.

Kennedy took another drink of his whisky. “What do you mean?”

“There’s too many strange things afoot. Pray, do not tell me you suddenly fell in love. Marriage was not on your agenda. And where is Rose? I didn’t see her at Chesterfield when I visited your father. When I inquired, he said she was away. What does that mean?”

Ranald was as different from his brother as Kennedy was from his father. Kennedy had always liked his uncle, who was far too intelligent for his own good. “The earl sent her away and won’t tell me where,” Kennedy said. “He forced my marriage to Anne by threatening to marry Rose to Granbury if I didn’t comply.”

“By God, that goes too far, even for him,” Ranald growled.

Kennedy nodded. “We both have underestimated my father for a long time.”

Ranald nodded slowly. “Now that you’re married, will Rose return home?”

Kennedy gave a harsh laugh. “Nae, there is more to the blackmail. I must produce an heir in the next year.”

A rare flush of anger darkened Ranald’s normally tranquil eyes. “By God, what is wrong with the man?”

“He is dying,” Kennedy said with more calm than he felt. “This is a desperate attempt at eternal life.”

“We all die,” the older man said with heat. “A moment ago, I would’ve said, in his own way, he loves Rose. Now, I’m no’ sure if even that is true. How long has she been gone?”

“Seven days.”

“It’s unlikely she’ll come to any harm.” His mouth thinned. “As long as he doesn’t die. Have ye any idea where she is?”

“The earl said she wasn’t in Scotland. Based on information I received from his servants, I’m inclined to think that’s true.”

Ranald nodded slowly. “France.”

Kennedy nodded. “France is a big country, however. I could search Paris for years and never find her.”

“Surely you plan to try?”

Kennedy grunted. “I have already begun. The only thing stopping me from going myself is the fact that I must immediately sire an heir.”

Ranald frowned. “Does Joseph intend to keep Rose hidden until your first child is born?”

“Kennedy nodded. “That is exactly what he intends. I demanded that he bring Rose home once it is confirmed that my wife is pregnant. In truth, he could just as easily not comply.”

Ranald leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Tell me how I can help.”