Part 16 (1/2)

”No! We accepted the proposition offered. We have nothing else of value to give you. Though I swear that I never knew of Rookwood's deceit or dastardly plans, I never go back on my word. There is nothing of higher value than a man's honour.” He gave a short bow.

Geoffrey took a few breaths before he suddenly grinned.

”I have it! A man's honour is priceless, wouldn't you agree, Charlotte?”

She nodded vigorously, following his train of thought instantly.

”As priceless as my diamond, would you estimate?” She gave a small laugh and the gathered men gawped at her. She smiled at the first man. ”So you agree that your honour is worth more than the value of your property, that's why you insist on honouring the debt? Well, my diamond has been described as 'priceless' too. It appears that we all hold something of similar value. The solution is simple. I accept your honour and my husband will accept your respect in payment of your debts.”

The gathered men looked at one another as if they disbelieved their ears. One at the back pushed up on his toes to speak over the other's heads.

”This is most singular. I'm not sure that I quite understand. Are you saying that you will accept our honour and respect as your payment?”

Charlotte looked up at Geoffrey for confirmation. They both nodded as one.

”Yes! We have the thousand guineas prize money and we already own two estates. Anymore and we will be unable to cope. Your respect is all that we ask.”

There was a few more seconds of confused rumblings before the men began to believe their own good fortune. The first man spoke up again, a flush on his cheeks as he gave a relieved smile.

”I think I can say for all of us that you both have our honour, our respect and our highest regard. You will be welcome at my home at any time and if you ever need a.s.sistance of any kind you only ever have to send word.” He bowed low, shook hands with both of them and made a quick exit. The others soon followed suit.

Geoffrey and Charlotte were left on the platform with Giles, Alexander and a rather confused Olivia.

Giles spoke first.

”I think you have made several loyal friends with that gesture. It was a wise and elegant thing to do, but I am still slightly confused. You mentioned two estates.”

Charlotte puffed out a resigned breath.

”Well, I could hardly refuse Lord Rookwood's original stake.” She took out a paper from her breeches pocket and showed it to her friends. Colin Rookwood's rough signature was scrawled and witnessed on the bottom of the solicitors note. He had agreed that his estate was of equal value to the Caithwell diamond and that he gave up his rights to his property if Lady Charlotte Denvers won her bet.

Geoffrey shook his head.

”You aren't really going to take it from him, are you?”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows in surprise.

”Well, of course I am. It's not like he'll be using it any longer. He wasn't married and has no heirs. Besides, when we have children we might want to leave them a place of their own...He took the gamble and lost. He deserved to lose, Geoff. He would have seen you dead after those women drugged you and his men beat you, he tried to unseat me too. I might have died at his hands.”

Giles shuddered at the memories before he huffed out a breath and quirked up his lip.

”I know that you won the race, but it was hardly fair. I don't know how you fooled Davenport and the Prince, but we all know that Geoffrey's name was in the book.”

Charlotte pressed her hands to her hips again.

”No it isn't. Go and take a look.”

The all moved over to where the register of horses and riders sat. Giles opened it up, raised his eyebrows and looked at Charlotte for an explanation.

She smiled back at them all.

”It happened when I checked the entry last night. You saw how upset I was. I couldn't bear to think that we were going to lose everything because I had been so stupid as to not check the rules. It was only a couple of teardrops. I had blotted the book before I noticed what had happened.” She turned back to Geoffrey and threaded her arms about his waist. ”I knew then that it was my destiny to be married to you.”

Giles held up the book for everyone to see.

In a slightly smudged hand where the bottom curl of the 'G' had been directly beneath Charlotte's salty tears was the entry.

'Lightning' 'C. Talbot'

Epilogue.

The house in St. George Street was quiet at last.

Giles and Alexander had said their goodbyes after making hasty arrangements to travel to Lavenham following the receipt of a sad message from Alexander's wife, Lily. Anne's father, the Earl of Lavenham had pa.s.sed away two days previously. Arrangements had to be made and letters sent to Anne's brother Edward, the new earl.

Charles Latham had wished Geoffrey and Charlotte well and fairly skipped down the steps in his fas.h.i.+onable new suit of clothes after revealing that he hadn't acquired any estates, he had made a small fortune on the outcome of the race. He was off to find Annabel Bellingham. He had enough money and more left over to buy her a small country retreat and pay for staff of her own. He was quite excited about his new purpose and looked a completely new man.

Olivia had commandeered Callum to take her and Coalport back to Ormond where, after a short but happy discussion with Alexander, they had decided to make the Dower house their home. Olivia decreed that she'd had enough of London life and was looking forward to taking things easy with her new husband to be. Their wedding would be held in the chapel at Ormond as soon as Geoffrey and Charlotte had finished their honeymoon.

Geoffrey watched as Charlotte closed the front door behind the last of their visitors. She looked at her husband and sighed over the bruises that still marred his handsome face. She lifted her hand to his cheek and he turned his head to kiss her palm. He caught hold of her shoulders and pulled her towards him.

”At last, I have you to myself.”

Charlotte smiled up at him.

”I suppose that you want to claim your prize for winning our bet, Sir Geoffrey.” She closed her eyes and pursed her lips up at him for a kiss.

Geoffrey laughed.

”Oh no, nothing quite so simple. I was promised your first ever kiss, but you gave me that when I was still lying in bed before the race, so you will have to come up with something of equal value.” He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

Charlotte opened her eyes again and stood with her hands on her hips.

”Yes, well I gave you a lot more than a kiss that night, all of which were 'first ever' experiences. I think we are pretty well quits on that point!”

His voice dropped to a husky growl.

”I'm sure that I can discover something else that you haven't done yet. In fact, I still owe you a paddling for being so reckless and putting yourself in danger.”

Charlotte squealed as he suddenly caught her about the waist, tipped her over his shoulder and slapped her heartily on her bottom. He was about to turn towards the stairs when there was a hard rap at the front door. With Charlotte still dangling over his shoulder he walked back and opened it, revealing a messenger holding a small box.

”A package for Mrs. Talbot.” The man held out the box while staring at Charlotte's rump.

Geoffrey glowered at the man, took the parcel and closed the front door smartly. He pa.s.sed it around his side as Charlotte's scarlet face twisted around to see it. She took the box from his hand.