Page 38 of Brazen Rogue
They turned and looked up at him. Low murmurings and curious looks stared back.
"Lords, ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make," he said, finding his betrothed and smiling at Reign. "I'm delighted to tell you all that I have asked Miss Reign Hall to be my wife, my future Marchioness of Lupton-Gage, and she has accepted. Congratulate us," he shouted, lifting his glass of champagne.
Compliments rang out, and he moved back to join Reign, who was also inundated with people wanting to wish them happy.
Why he had not done this sooner, he would never know. Thetonhad not mentioned Reign's humble past years, nor would they, now she was to be a marchioness.
"Thank you for all your kind words," he stated, more than pleased with the reaction of theton.
That the majority of the guests seemed accepting was good enough for him, and he would stop worrying his daughter would be impacted further by scandal.
All was right in the world, and the future was bright.
"Bellamy," a familiar voice from his past murmured at his side. He turned and watched, disbelievingly, as a familiar ghost from the past pushed back her hood and smiled at him.
He stared, unable to comprehend who was standing before him.
"Sally?" His question came out strained, and he cleared his throat. He shook his head, certain he must be mistaken. "No, it cannot be," he said, unwilling to believe that the one woman who had made him lose everything was standing before him, smirking like the evil, conniving witch she had always been.
He heard Reign gasp and step back from him, and the thought that he would lose her again because of the woman before him sent panic through his blood.
"Good evening, my darling husband. Have you missed me?" she asked him.
He gaped. Had she truly asked him such a question? "I beg your pardon, madam, " he said, unable to comprehend what was happening. She was alive? Living abroad all these years without a care with a multitude of different suitors.
Lovers.
A large spot on her neck became visible when she turned to theton, and he knew it was a love mark, and a new one if he were any judge. Fellow guests watched on with eager, hungry eyes as to what was happening before them. A kink in the night they had not expected.
She turned back to him, linking her arm with his and smiling at everyone before them. "I have returned from abroad. My darling husband was misinformed of my death two years ago, but I have found my way back to his side." She turned to Reign standing beside Lady Chilsten, the marchioness’s wide, shocked eyes nothing compared to the horror, the devastation written across his betrothed.
He had hurt her again.
Damn his wife to hell for all the pain she caused.
"I'm so terribly sorry, Miss Hall, but it seems you shall miss out yet again on marrying Lord Lupton-Gage, but," his wife stated, gesturing to the throng of guests, "I'm certain that there are gentlemen here more than willing to marry a plain country mouse such as yourself. God knows you have waited long enough for a proposal. What are you now, seven and twenty?" The marchioness tapped her chin in thought, evil glee sparkling in her cold eyes. "Well, perhaps there are not. It is unlikely you could bear children at your senior age. Which brings me to ask, how is our daughter, Bellamy? I have missed little Alice so very much."
"Have a pleasant evening, my lord, Lady Lupton-Gage," he heard Reign state at his side before she fled.
He went to follow her, but a stilling hand from Lord Chilsten halted his steps. "Not now, Gage. We shall expect you tomorrow," he said, glaring at Sally before following his wife and Reign as they made their way out the door.
Bellamy ground his teeth, turning to his wife. "Home. Now."
ChapterTwenty-One
Thankfully the stable lads working the carriages at the Lawrence's ball quickly secured his carriage, and they were soon ensconced and heading back to Brook Street.
Bellamy remained quiet as they had left the ball, but the moment the carriage lurched forward, he knew he could stay silent no longer.
"What do you think you're doing? You're supposed to be dead. We had a memorial erected at Davion Hall for you. Your daughter grieved your loss. How is it that you've been alive these two years and thought it appropriate to reveal yourself this evening? Of all evenings to be so cruel, you choose the one when I'm finally rid of you and moving forward with my life."
She laughed, but there was no mirth in the sound. For a woman who looked like an angel dropped from the sky, nothing but evil wickedness flowed through her veins. He had long forgotten how cruel and cold his wife could be, but here it was, before him yet again and with the ability to crush his dreams of finally being happy.
Of marrying the woman he loved.
The thought of losing Reign again made his hands fist at his sides.
She waved his words aside as if they did not matter, and he supposed that was the most genuine part of his wife. She had never cared what anyone thought so long as she was allowed to do as she wished.
