Clarissa: Historical Romance (Chronicles of the Hudson River Valley Book 1)

by Jean Jacobsen

  Nicholas rose and extended a hand to Clarissa. “There is no getting around it. A good belly laugh is worth its weight in gold. I believe we will call it a night and end our lesson. What do you say to that?”

  Standing near Nicholas, Clarissa reached up to fluff her hair and straighten any escaping curls. She hesitated before answering. “Well, I suppose you’re right.” She set about brushing off unseen dust from her dress. “We’ve exhausted ourselves in a heap of silliness. It’s a good thing no one was about to witness the fiasco.”

  “Quite so, are you too exhausted for a stroll? I was painting near the pond in the southeast gardens this morning. Have you seen them lately? I would welcome your company.”

  Clarissa met his gaze and smiled warmly. “I can delay checking on the horses. Yes, I accept.” Her mood had lightened considerably as she fairly skipped down the hallway to the main staircase.

  Nicholas was grinning from ear to ear as they approached the pond. Breathing deeply and exhaling loudly, he pursed his lips together and sputtered. He straightened up and with elbows chest high, pulled his arms back simultaneously to make his shoulder blades touch. “Ah, wonderful fresh air, I can never seem to get enough of it.”

  Feeling comfortable in each other’s company, they talked as they walked. “Tell me about yourself, Mr. Granger, if you don’t mind. How many siblings do you have?”

  “Of course, I don’t mind. I have, rather had, two brothers and a sister. And you?”

  Clarissa’s hands were together behind her back and she looked sideways at Nicholas as she spoke. “I’m an only child. I always wanted a big brother.”

  “My oldest brother was lost at sea over a year ago and my second brother is the one I’m searching for here in the states. My sister is married and has three children. She and her family are in Paris with our parents as her husband has a position with the State Department. That makes me the youngest one, which has, until recently, come with some advantages. He bent down, picked up a flat pebble, and skipped it across the water.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” A shadow of pain quickly passed over her face at the thought of losing her parents. On a brighter note she said, “Seven skips with that rock—amazing! How did you do that?”

  “I don’t know. I just flip it out like this.” Another pebble went sailing. He handed one to Clarissa. “Here, you try it.”

  Her pebble only skipped once. She frowned. “See what I mean. Show me again.” This time she watched more closely and detected more wrist action as he sent another pebble flying.

  She made a concerted effort to flick her wrist as she had seen Nicholas do. “Drat!” she exclaimed as her pebble made two leaps across the water.

  “That’s better by half. I dare say you could top my mark with more practice.”

  “Thanks, I’ll work on it when I have nothing else to do. So, Mr. Granger, where were you born?” They continued walking.

  “I was born in New York City. And you?”

  “I was born here at Lochwood Manor. It’s the only home I’ve ever known unless you count Miss Penelope Clegg’s School for Young Ladies. I don’t…count it, that is. The only good thing to come of it was my friendship with Laura.”

  There was a long silence while Clarissa pondered the wisdom of sharing her next thought with Nicholas. “My parents were going through a rough patch. Father spent more and more time in the city, presumably staying at one club or another. Mother threw herself into charity work in the surrounding communities. She had quite a philanthropic reputation and her frequent soirees were never to be missed events.”

  “I believe most couples experience that to some degree or another,” he said.

  They had circled the pond and found themselves beneath a plum tree as the early fall light was quickly fading, spreading a golden glow over the garden, then walked back the way they had come.

  As they approached the Manor House, Nicholas broke their silence “I’ll see you to your door Miss Tanner, if that is alright with you?”

  “The pleasure is mine, Mr. Granger. Good evening.”

  They each nodded in dismissal. Both hesitated as if to prolong their departure. Clarissa’s hand was on the kitchen garden doorknob as Nicholas’ hand closed over hers. The shock was sudden and stopped her from opening the door. His touch always sent warm delicious waves of pleasure to her very core.

  “Yes, Mr. Granger, something on your mind?”

  “Nothing of consequence, Miss Tanner, good evening.” Nicholas quickly turned and made his way to the Carriage House before doing something foolish. He couldn’t get the image of her lips out of his mind. He wanted to kiss her, what was happening to him? He’d always been so carefree when it came to women. For some reason he didn’t understand, Miss Tanner was different.

  Clarissa was disappointed that he had not kissed her, but what was she thinking? She hoped she could find a suitable husband quickly when the season began. Why would she want to marry the first man who kissed her?

  Chapter Eighteen

  N icholas quickly penned a note to Abigail saying he was going on an extended business trip and his return date was unknown. He included the name and address of Giles their family business manager as a point of contact and left it in the hands of a stable lad to deliver.

  He made better time on this ride to New Haven as it was in the light of day, which would soon be fading. The ride gave him time to ponder Clarissa’s reaction to his kiss. Was he just a fool in love and assumed she would return his affections? It had not occurred to him he might be her first love.

  Nicholas arrived at the inn shortly and was most anxious to hear the news of his brother. As he had done on his previous visit, he climbed the outside stairs to the upper guest rooms. As he proceeded down the dimly lit hall, he was grabbed from behind and a sack was thrust over his head. Nicholas struggled to free himself, stumbling, falling in a heap of tangled legs. Curses could be heard around him as he tried to stand and was knocked down.

  “Help me get him to the room before someone comes to investigate the ruckus,” huffed a man who seemed short of breath.

  “He’s a strong one, he is. Didn’t expect he’d give us any trouble.” The second voice seemed even more out of breath than the first.

  “Com’ on now. Up with you,” the first man said as he pulled Nicholas to his feet and shoved him forward.

  Nicholas was wrestled to a small guest room and slammed into a waiting chair. His hands were tied behind his back and a rope was fastened around the chair and his chest to lessen his chances of escape. His ears buzzed and bright lights flashed behind his eyes as he tried to focus on the voices.

  “Alright now Mr. Moneybags.” It was the voice of the captor who seemed to be in charge. “We’re here to collect the money owed by your brother. Pay up and we’ll consider releasing you. Give us any trouble and your brother gets the ax. Got it?”

  Nicholas’s head was swimming with this information. How had these thugs connected him with Liam? He hadn’t brought along much money as he expected to be meeting Mr. Giles who would settle the bill for their lodging. “How do I know you are who you say and not just some highwaymen?” asked Nicholas, struggling against his bindings.

  “Is it proof you be wantin’ then?” said the strong arm, not ready to remove the sack. “Charlie, show Mr. Moneybags here what we do to them what don’t cooperate.”

  Charlie retrieved a long stick of kindling from the hearth and whacked Nicholas on his shins several times. The sound of wood meeting flesh and bone echoed in the small room and vibrated through Nicholas’s body.

  Nicholas let loose a guttural roar as he tried to move his body away from the anticipated blows. “How dare you…uff,” another blow landed. “Who do you think I am? I demand some answers.”

  The first man in charge signaled to Charlie to stop then laughed and leaned in close to Nicholas’s face. “Oh, we know who you are, alright. We followed that Mr. Giles from Boston when he met you here before, then followed you back to that fancy
house you stay in. How do you think we knew where to send a message to you? You’re in no position to make demands.”

  “Charlie, search his valise for money. He must have it somewhere.”

  “Why would I carry money?” asked Nicholas recoiling from the foul sour stench of his captors’ mouth.

  “Oh, come now, a gentleman like you should have a fat purse with him when he travels. Never know what might come up.”

  Charlie ripped Nicholas’s clothes from the valise. Finding no coin purse, he shook his head. “Nothin’ here boss.”

  He growled “then search his person. Do I have to tell you everything?”

  “Yes boss, I mean no boss.” Finding a small coin purse in Nicholas’s left inside jacket pocket, Charlie pulled it out.

  The first man quickly snatched it from Charlie’s hands. “Give me that.” He emptied the few coins on the nearby table. His eyes were bulging now as he growled again. “Where’s the rest of your money? Do I have to beat it out of you?”

  Nicholas did not reply, and the big man signaled for Charlie to pick up the stick of wood and beat Nicholas about the head and shoulders.

  The boss man’s anger grew as he paced, franticly trying to think where the money could be concealed. “Don’t beat him to death you fool. We need to get the money first.”

  Nicholas tried to anticipate the blows by moving his head from left to right only to connect with them at each turn. Blood was running from his nose and his last conscious thoughts were of his brother and Clarissa.

  ~~~

  Nicholas woke to find the Innkeeper’s daughter, Maggie, removing the sack from his head. Dazed, he cautiously glanced from side to side, expecting to see the thugs who had abducted him. Only seeing Maggie, he croaked out, “Where are the two fellows who did this to me?”

  “I’m not sure exactly who you mean, Sir. I only came to tidy up the room for our next guests. I didn’t expect to find anyone here. Oh, my, there’s blood and bruises on your face. I suppose they roughed you up pretty good. You look frightful.”

  Coming around more now but squinting from the bright light streaming in through the window, “Yes, you could say that. I have no idea who they were or why they thought I had a lot of money to give them.”

  Maggie lightly touched Nicholas’s face dabbing at the dried blood. “Now that I think about it, there were a couple of seedy looking characters in the inn early this morning. I didn’t pay them much mind as they had coins enough to pay for their food and drink.”

  “No doubt the coins they took from my money purse. Give me a hand will you and untie me. I’m afraid I can no longer feel my hands or feet.”

  Maggie knelt to work on Nicholas’s foot bindings. She struggled to release the knots saying they were not budging. Nicholas suggested she either cut the bindings or perhaps her father might be of assistance.

  “I’ll get a knife from the kitchen. Father is the only one to look after our patrons when I’m not there to help. I know he wouldn’t want to leave the kegs unattended.”

  “Hurry then, go fetch a knife. Bring a pitcher of water when you return so I can clean up a bit.” He knew from previous attempts to free himself—the bindings were very tight. No doubt the strain he had put on them and only worked to make them even tighter.

  Maggie made quick work of releasing Nicholas who then cleaned up as best he could and with Maggie’s help made his way to the main room of the inn. There were few people about this time of day, so he chose a stool at the near end of the bar. The innkeeper saw his daughter assisting Nicholas from the stairs and rushed over to help.

  “Are you in need of a doctor, Sir?”

  “No, that won’t be necessary.” Nicholas winced as he eased onto a stool. “I must send a couple of urgent messages. I’ll need pen and paper. Do you have a messenger boy available?”

  “Someone should be available at the stables. They can post them for you. Are you in need of food or drink?”

  “A whiskey will do nicely.”

  Nicholas penned a note to Giles warning of the thugs who had abducted him. He feared they would go to any length to obtain the money they sought. He wouldn’t put it past them to threaten Giles and Abigail to collect double, putting the extra in their own pockets. His worry grew deeper when he thought of Clarissa’s life in danger. He must return to Lochwood immediately. He could arrive before the post if he left soon.

  Nicholas downed the whiskey in one swallow and rose to leave. Nicholas’s head was spinning, and he grabbed for the bar, “be a good fellow and send my bill to Mr. Giles at this address. He will see you are paid in full. I fear the thugs have relieved me of my coin purse.”

  “Not to worry, Mr.…?”

  “Granger,” Nicholas interjected. “Nicholas Granger. I apologize, I must leave at once.”

  “Are you sure you can sit a horse?” asked Maggie.

  “Whether I can or not, I must. I fear more lives may be in danger.”

  “Maggie, help Mr. Granger to the stables, will you?”

  “Of course, Pa. Too bad we don’t have a buggy he could use,” Maggie added as Nicholas stood and put an arm around Maggie’s shoulders for support.

  They moved as quickly as Nicholas could manage to the rear of the inn and on to the stables. His bay gilding was still there, and he called to the stable hands to saddle Ransom quickly. He felt weak but the thought of those men putting their hands-on Clarissa gave him strength to push through his pain.

  Ransom was a fast horse and Nicholas pushed him to his limit. Even with his easy gate, the pounding of Ransom’s feet on the hard-packed road seemed to vibrate through Nicholas’s body to his very teeth. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to Clarissa. He had been foolish once where she was concerned, and he wouldn’t let that happen again.

  Minutes stretched into hours and Nicholas’s body was numb with pain. He hurt in places he didn’t know he had. Rage surged through him as he recalled the crack of wood meeting his flesh and he urged Ransom on at top speed. He had a feeling his brother Liam, would not get off so lucky if the strong arms ever caught up with him. If and when he did meet up with Liam, he had a thing or two to say to him.

  Barely conscious now, Nicholas clung to Ransom’s neck for dear life as they stopped abruptly at the entrance to Lochwood’s stables. Ransom whinnied and pawed the ground at the stable doors.

  Roused by the loud noises, Baines grabbed a lantern to investigate. He was shocked by the sight of Ransom gingerly moving around, nickering and jerking his head up and down. So too was the image of Nicholas, still clinging to Ransom’s neck.

  Baines hung the lantern on a nearby peg and softly spoke to Ransom. “Easy now boy.” He gently reached up to grab Ransom’s halter and stroked his neck. “You did good bringing Mr. Granger home. Your work’s done for the night. I’ll have George fetch you a nice bucket of oats as soon as you cool down. You’ve worked up quite a lather there.”

  To Nicholas, Baines said, “Come on down now, you can let go. I’ve got ya.”

  Nicholas was aware enough of his surrounding to know he was at Lochwood and Baines’ voice was like sweet music coming through his haze of pain.

  “Clarissa, Abigail, I must warn them, they could have followed me” Nicholas croaked out. Staggering to remain upright, Nicholas held onto Baines’ shoulders.

  “Alright, you’re at Lochwood now. Ya look like the devil him self’s been chasin’ ya. Let me get some help here then we’ll take ya to the main house.” He eased Nicholas down on a nearby crate and rushed to fetch George.

  The two men helped Nicholas to the front door of the manor. It seemed ages before Millie answered their knock.

  Shocked by what she saw standing on the threshold, Millie’s hand quickly shot to her mouth as she stifled a scream. “Hurry follow me. You can put him in the parlor while I fetch Mrs. MacDonald.”

  They laid Nicholas on the sofa and removed his dusty boots and jacket. Abigail and Millie rushed in from the upper floor. “Whatever has befallen you,
Mr. Granger?” asked Abigail. She started fussing with his shirt and pushing his matted hair back from his forehead to see welts and burses appearing. “Millie, send for Dr. Grey. It appears we now have two patients on our hands.”

  “Right away, Ma’am,” answered Millie as she rushed from the parlor.

  Cook appeared in the doorway to the parlor as Millie pushed past her. “Cook, fetch a basin of warm water and some clean rags. I’ll do my best to clean him up before the doctor arrives. Let’s pray Dr. Grey isn’t away on a call.”

  George returned to the stables to look after Ransom and Baines stayed on to assist Abigail.

  “Ya should have seen him when he rode in. He near looked like a ghost, hangin’ on like he was. Who do ya’ suppose did this to him?”

  “I’m hard pressed to understand this myself,” answered Abigail. “He’s looking for his brother who disappeared some months ago. I wonder if he had anything to do with this.”

  Baines scratched his head now as he replied, “I can’t imagine a brother doin’ this to one of his own.”

  Thoughtful now Abigail said, “Unless… it was someone looking for Mr. Granger’s brother. Do you know where he rode in from?”

  “No idea, he did say something about warning you and Miss Clarissa and maybe they were following him,” replied Baines. “I should think a shot of whiskey wouldn’t do him any harm. Maybe it would bring him around enough to give us some details.”

  “There’s a decanter on the side table near the fireplace. You will find glasses there as well.”

  Baines poured whiskey into a glass and tried to give it to Nicholas. “Here ‘ya go man. Drink this down and it will help ease the pain. Nicholas’s chin was resting on his chest and he made no movement to take the drink. “Do you have any smelling salts?” asked Baines.

  Abigail instructed Millie to fetch the salts and she waved them under Nicholas’s nose.