Free Jo Beverly by Winter Fire

behavior, my lord. Remember, pray, my earlier words. I would not marry you if it was you or the hangman, and if you fail to sort this out, you will rue it to your deathbed!”
    With that she marched into the bedroom. Unfortunately, she slammed the door.
    The baby came off the breast and began to wail.
    Milk spurted across the room.
    Regeanne put her hands on her hips and glared. “Miss Smith!”
    Genova collapsed in a chair and gripped her head in her hands. She wished she were a baby and could wail, too.
    But then she sat straight, recalling some words that had flown past her in the fraught exchange. “
Over a few days at Rothgar Abbey
…”
    He planned to
stay
? She’d assumed that he would escort them to the door, then ride away.
    She might have to deal with the tormenting wretch for
days
?
    Ash began to dress, considering the changed situation.
    The last thing he needed at this moment was another scandal, but this absurd betrothal gave him anexcuse to invade Rothgar’s lair, if he cared to use it. How could he abandon his beloved so soon?
    Though he and Rothgar were both courtiers, had seats in the Lords, and moved through fashionable London for a large part of the year, they were skilled at avoiding each other. All battles had been fought at a distance.
    No longer.
    If Rothgar was behind Molly Carew, then Ash was ready to take the battle to him, and he had the weapons needed to win. He would force his cousin to exonerate him, and that would change everything.
    He’d been acting and reacting to strings pulled from the past, and in the process permitting the decline of his inheritance. During his minority, he’d not had power to change things, but he’d been in control of his property for five years now without breaking free.
    It was time, but the Mallorens stood in his way, as shown by the affair with Molly. It was time to end the duel, but carefully, without getting his throat cut or being stabbed in the back.
    The first essential step, however, was to clear his name with the king. Without access to the inner rooms of power, he’d achieve nothing. So, Rothgar—and where better to deal with him than in his home, where guards might be down, and weaknesses revealed.
    He pulled a leather notecase out of his saddlebag and wrote instructions for Fitz. Ash would need suitable clothes and jewels at Rothgar Abbey. Magnificent clothes and jewels, so he would be armed if necessary.
    He heated wax with a candle and sealed the letter, considering other possibilities. This also meant time to explore Miss Genova Smith. Perhaps she was innocently involved. That, too, should become clear when they arrived at the Abbey. Innocent or not, he had no doubt that they’d fight again. If the fates were kind, they would fight their way into bed.
    It did indeed promise to be a very merry Christmas.

Chapter Eleven
    G  enova winced at Thalia’s delight about events, but gave thanks she didn’t mention Christmas weddings again. Once dressed, Thalia chirruped, “Breakfast is ready below, dear, so dress quickly!” and hurried off, doubtless to tell her sister all about it.
    Genova dreaded to think what Lady Calliope would have to say.
    She hurried into her traveling dress, but lingered to help Regeanne pack, putting off the moment. Sheena was feeding the baby, occasionally looking around the room uncertainly. She seemed in much better spirits, however, and when an inn servant arrived with the pile of clean laundry, her delight showed she hadn’t been dirty by choice.
    Lady Booth Carew, Genova decided, was a despicable woman, and her lover was low by association. She knew that having to frame that thought showed a weakness as dire as the hole in the hull of a ship.
    She helped Sheena to pack her bundle. Everything was plain and cheap, including the baby’s cloths and gowns. Genova contrasted that with the mother’s velvet and fur and shook her head.
    It was soon done, however, leaving no more excuse, so Genova braced herself and went