“Well done, Warrener! Thank God Mariah wasn’t hurt.” His upper lip curled in distaste as he stared at Drew’s body. “It’s better this way; won’t be such a mess in the papers.”
Mariah sat in a chair, staring down at her hands. Tony went to her and tucked his hand beneath her chin, raising it until he could see into her eyes. They were wide with obvious strain and her complexion was pale and tear-stained. “I’d best get you back to Beth, dear. She’s probably frantic by now.” He helped her up and placed a protective arm around her shoulders. Turning to Adam, he thanked him again. “We all owe you a debt of gratitude, Lieutenant! If there’s ever anything I can do…” His voice trailed off as Adam sloughed off his thanks and insisted that he see Mariah safely home.
Downstairs, Tony shoved a path through the crowd of curious bystanders. He and Warrener would escort Mariah home and then meet with Lord Cardigan once more. He’d ordered the Dragoons to wrap the body in a blanket and transport it to the hospital morgue. On the way back to Mariah’s house, Adam mentioned his willingness to join the search party for Jared.
“Lady Carleigh objects but only out of courtesy. From a practical standpoint, it would be advantageous.” Adam again explained that he was proficient in Russian.
“Mariah’s too tender-hearted, Warrener. I for one would appreciate having you along. You’ve displayed a cool head and calm nerves tonight. I’m sure the general would also agree.”
Beth greeted them on the steps. Noting that everyone was safe, she gave a deep sigh of relief and efficiently took Mariah in hand. The two men were anxious to be off but Mariah expressed her thanks to them both before she and Beth watched them leave. Mariah had to hide the bright shine of tears that suddenly seemed to flood her eyes. It still wasn’t over and she would worry and fret until the small patrol returned safely with Jared.
The next day, Mariah received a short note from Cardigan, stating that the mission had been delayed for one day and that the men would be leaving later that night. If all went according to plan, they should return within five days. The note was a small consolation and Mariah wished herself far, far away. Success or failure, she had to think of the future. She must return to London to explain everything to Stuart and then she would have to decide on her future course. Stuart would object but she had already decided to leave for America. The idea of raising Jenny alone dismayed her, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to remain and become an object of Jared’s scorn.
Chapter 52
While Mariah was making her arrangements to leave the Crimea, Jared was stealthily working his way through the woods that bordered the road to Sevastopol. He was tired and worn, limping on his game leg. At the sound of approaching horses, he dove for cover, landing at the base of a tall elm and burrowing into the bushes surrounding it. This would make the third Russian patrol he’d come across since escaping the night before.
Brushing aside a leafy branch, he peered carefully through the foliage, surprised at how small the group was. They were bundled against the cold, with greatcoats and mufflers and he heard low murmurs as they spoke to one another. Suddenly he thought of attempting an ambush. Around the bend lay a sharp curve that would blind anyone heading north. If he hid there and jumped one of the three, at least he’d have a fighting chance. With a gun and horse, he’d get much further than with the knife he had. Quietly he inched backward until he was free of the brush but still shielded by the dense undergrowth. Once clear of observation, he raced back toward the bend, cutting through a short path to arrive breathless at the point where the patrol would round the bend. The narrow, twisting road was bordered on each side by tall, overhanging trees. He climbed the one he considered the sturdiest, reaching a heavy bough just minutes before he heard their approach. Several deep gulps of air helped to steady him as he waited.
Finally the riders came into view. Two rode ahead, absorbed in conversation, while the third hung back; his best chance would be the lone rider. At last the perfect moment arrived. The two lead soldiers were at least twelve feet ahead and rounding the bend. He dropped, knocking the man from his mount. He had the advantages of surprise and greater strength as he scuffled with the man. The man’s horse shied with a shrill whinny and Jared cursed the skittish animal. He only had seconds before the noise would draw the other two back.
His knife was at the man’s throat, ready to plunge when he heard one of the companions call out in a low, clipped, British accent. Kneeling by the man’s chest, Jared drew the knife away and instead twisted the heavy woolen material at his throat. “You’re British,” he said incredulously, “what the hell are you doing behind Russian lines?” The soldier returned his stare in stunned silence, sweating from his narrow escape despite the cold. He was as dumfounded by the question in English as Jared had been. Shaking him, Jared demanded an answer.
Jared tensed at the feel of cold steel against his bare neck. He loosened his grip on the ambushed man as a command in Russian was spit at him. Despite his lack of understanding, he knew enough to throw the knife down and slowly raise his hands. He was shoved away from the man he’d captured and landed sprawled in the dirt. With a sick dread, he slowly turned over to face his captors.
“My God, Jared! We thought you were a stray Russian!” Tony had come up behind Adam as he’d held their attacker at bay and only when the man turned over had he recognized his friend. “Jesus,” he swore loudly, “we almost killed you!” Reaching a hand down to the equally astonished Jared, Tony helped him to his feet and pounded him on the back. Adam helped the other member of the group to his feet and it was only his common sense that saved Jared and Tony from having a loud, dangerous reunion on the spot.
“Let’s find cover until nightfall, Captain,” Adam suggested to Tony. Jumping astride his horse, he went off in search of the lost mount and returned in a few minutes, leading the nervous animal behind him. Jared had recovered enough from his shock to lead them into the safety of the woods. Deep within its shelter, they finally stopped to rest until nightfall.
Unable to risk a fire, the three soldiers shared the bread and cheese they’d brought along with the starving Jared. “How did you manage to escape?” Tony wanted to know. Adam sat apart from the group, listening silently as Tony grilled Jared. When he’d explained how he overpowered his guard and managed to steal a horse, then had proceeded on foot when the horse became lame, Tony expressed his astonishment that they had run into him.
They still had an hour until they turned south toward their own lines and Jared took advantage of the time to question Tony about their attempt to rescue him.
Tony was careful about what he said in front of Adam and Moreland, their other companion. Even Adam, as involved as he’d become, knew only a part of the story. “I’ll tell you the whole story when we reach Balaclava. Suffice it to say, we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Mariah.” He gazed at his friend, anxious to impress him with Mariah’s loyalty. “She’s the one who’s responsible for your coming out of this alive.”
In the dim twilight, Jared’s features were a twisted mask of bitterness. It rubbed his pride the wrong way to owe Mariah anything. “No doubt it was a sense of guilt that made her help,” he said sarcastically. Before he could utter another word to discredit her, Adam launched himself across the short space between them and landed atop Jared with a heavy punch that knocked him sprawling. Normally, with his greater size, Jared could have easily overcome Adam, but with his wound aching and his lack of sleep he was nearly knocked senseless as Adam continued to pummel at him. Tony jumped up and quickly pulled Adam’s hands away from Jared’s throat. Shoving him away, he warned him in a tightly controlled voice, “You’ve just struck a superior officer, Lieutenant Warrener; that’s a flogging offense. We’ll forget this happened providing you keep that hot temper under control. Is that understood, Lieutenant?”
Jared lay there, rubbing his throat. Warrener, he mused. Somehow the name rang a bell. Suddenly he remembered. The man who’d been so taken with Mariah was named Adam War
rener. It seemed she had no less than a legion of lovers to defend her doubtful honor. He turned to find Tony frowning impatiently at him.
“Can’t say I blame him for jumping you, Jared. Sometimes I wonder if God gave you any sense!” He held out a hand to help him up but as they sat down again together, Tony’s manner remained cool and distant. “You know, I’m beginning to believe a divorce would be the best thing for the both of you. Mariah’s entitled to a lot more happiness than you’ve given her. I, for one, wouldn’t hesitate to testify for her.”
“God damn it anyway! Has the whole world gone haywire? You’re the last person in the world I thought would turn against me, Tony,” Jared said sullenly. He was thoroughly puzzled over Tony’s about-face. The man had been his best friend for the past few years.
“Don’t be so obstinate, Jared! Maybe I’m just seeing things more clearly now. I suggest we drop the subject and concentrate on getting the hell out of here.”
Half an hour later it was sufficiently dark to start back toward the lines. They rode as quietly as possible, following the same path by which they’d come. After five hours they came upon the Russian lines by Sevastopol. Tony cautioned Jared to stay quiet and let Adam do the talking. “He got us safely through before,” he explained quietly.
The guard accepted the password, but seemed puzzled by Jared’s presence. Adam quickly explained that they were taking an English prisoner across to trade. When the guard still hesitated, Adam drew himself up in the saddle and shouted impatiently that he would have the man shot for questioning his word. Immediately the man’s manner changed and he waved them through. Once on their own side, almost a mile away, they let out a collective sigh of relief.
Jared had to admire the way Warrener had handled the situation and grudgingly admitted it. “You’re fairly cool under pressure, Warrener. My compliments.”
Tony’s warning still rang in his head, and Adam replied with the respect protocol demanded, “Thank you, sir. All in the line of duty, I assure you.” He had managed to imply he wouldn’t have saved Jared unless he’d had to.
They rode hard the next few miles, coming through a weakly guarded spot in their own lines. Tony made a mental note to make sure the defenses were strengthened in the near future.
Riding into the Lancer camp, Jared was greeted like one returned from the dead. Officers gathered around, eagerly exclaiming over his rescue. Soon the word spread across the entire encampment and it had a positive effect on the morale of all the men, foot soldiers and officers alike.
Ordered into Lord Lucan’s presence, Jared was warmly welcomed, and the men who’d rescued him were congratulated. “We’ll need you here for a few days, Captain Bryant. Reconnaisance maps and troop movements, you know the like. However, after that I don’t see why an extended leave wouldn’t be in order. You must be exhausted. Stay a moment while we share a toast, and I’ll let you return to your quarters. You and your companions can share a tent for the next couple of days.” He had his aide pour five glasses of brandy and when each of the men had one, he raised his in salute, “To your gallantry, men. Death or glory!” He tossed back the drink and the men followed suit, toasting the Seventeenth Lancers.
When they’d settled into the large tent assigned to them, Adam went off to search for a close friend in the regiment and Moreland took the hint, joining some foot soldiers who were casting dice in the next tent.
Alone at last, Tony was able to explain to Jared some of what happened while he was a prisoner. Ignoring Jared’s cynical skepticism, he plowed on. Somehow, he must penetrate the barrier of Jared’s jealousy and make him understand what Mariah had done.
Returning home from her outing, Mariah found Beth anxiously waiting for her. She quickly settled her curiosity by informing her, “I’m off tomorrow, aboard the Sea Runner. Colonel Bridges arranged everything. Now that we’ve heard that the mission is accomplished and Jared has been rescued, I can’t wait to return to London!” Mariah took Beth’s hand and drew her along so that she could pack and talk at the same time.
When they reached Mariah’s room, Beth rang for Anna. Seeing how much packing had to be done in a short time, she pitched in to help. She was well aware that when her friend had made a decision, it was almost impossible (o dissuade her, but she managed to wedge in a few questions. “Why can’t you wait until Tony returns? I can’t leave yet, but if you’d just wait a few weeks…Don’t you want even to see Jared?”
Mariah whirled impatiently on her friend, but when she saw only concern written across the dear features, she relented. Seating herself next to Beth, she took one of the girl’s hands in hers and tried to make her see. “Jared won’t want to see me. And I don’t think I want to see him.”
“But…” Beth protested.
“But what! Oh Beth, you of all people should understand. Before I could face Jared with a clear conscience, but now…if he reminded me of the past weeks, I’d collapse!”
Seeing that Mariah was determined, Beth stopped trying to persuade her to stay. The next day, she held back her protests as she tearfully waved farewell at the dock.
Chapter 53
Mariah Randall Bryant stared wistfully from the window of her bedroom at Bryant House, watching the snow drift down on London. She had been here now for five weeks, weeks that had been depressing, hopeless…except for the happiness of her reunion with her father-in-law and Jenny.
There had been so much to explain to Stuart that she hadn’t known where to begin. Dear God in heaven, how difficult it had been to tell him the truth about his younger son! Although Stuart now knew how twisted Drew’s actions had been, Mariah hadn’t told him everything that the boy had done. As dear as Stuart was, kinder and closer than her own father had been, she hadn’t been able to speak of the way Drew had used her, the way he had humiliated her in front of Jared. Her father-in-law knew only that, in her words, Jared had turned against her and would have nothing to do with her, ever again. Stuart’s gray-blue eyes, so like Jared’s, had gazed at her with such sympathy that she knew he shared the pain she felt.
As for Drew’s actions, they had shocked Stuart, but not as much as they could have. “It’s my fault,” he said and explained that because he’d never gotten over his selfish shock at the loss of Jared and his mother, he had ignored the younger boy, the son he’d produced only because of family pressure. “Drew must have seen how I grieved for Jared and when he reappeared after so many years, it crushed Drew’s hopes of ever receiving recognition. In his mind, ridding himself of Jared must have been the only answer.” Stuart expressed satisfaction that so few people knew of Drew’s treachery. “Thank God he wasn’t brought home for trial. I couldn’t have endured seeing him in the dock, exposed to prying eyes!” Hiding his own suffering, he had turned his sympathies to Mariah. “You wouldn’t stay long enough to see with your own eyes that Jared was safe?” he had questioned softly.
Her own reply still echoed clearly in her mind “How could I, Stuart? I couldn’t face his fury or one more accusation. It’s all over, Stuart; four years of loving him. He was always so ready to believe any falsehood against my word, never willing to believe how much I loved him!” Stuart took her into his arms then and held her close until her sobbing ceased. When she calmed, she told him of her determination to return home, back to the city where she’d grown up. He tried to talk her out of leaving, telling her he had come to love her and regard her as a daughter; but she insisted on leaving England and its painful memories behind and he understood. “You’re a grown woman now, entitled to make your own decisions,” he admitted.
She was due to leave in two days and, with the packing completed, there was nothing for her to do. Stuart was in his study where he always retreated when troubled and worried. He had asked again last night at dinner for her to reconsider and await Jared’s return home. “If he wanted me, he would have written by now. Beth knew I planned to leave…she would have told Jared,” she had replied, her own silent hopes dashed by Jared’s silence.
Snow was falling, spreading a clean, white mantle over the industrial soot of the city. Here and there, the sun broke through the heavy cloud layer, sparkling off the tiny crystal flakes. It brought back memories of another time and place, high in the Montana mountains, when she had spent the winter with her real father’s people, the Blackfoot tribe. In retrospect, that time seemed so simple and quiet, without bitter decisions to plague her. How different her life would have been if Jared had not come searching for her! By now, she would probably have several little black-eyed versions of Gray Hawk. He, at least, had never judged her so harshly as Jared had and had accepted her for herself alone.
Suddenly she felt a wild impulse to escape the confines of the house and recapture some of the freedom of those days. With a vigor she hadn’t had in months, she hurried from her room and ran lightly down the stairs to the entrance hall. Catching sight of Henges, she smiled affectionately and informed him she was off to the small park up the street for a breath of fresh air. His respectful, “Yes, m’lady,” covered an equally affectionate but concerned and disapproving manner. His tremulous hands held her cape for her, and then she waited patiently as he fetched the key to the enclosed, private park.
Outside, she paused on the steps as the crisp, icy air brushed against her face like the welcome touch of an old friend. She pulled the ermine-edged hood close about her face and tucked her hands into the matching muff and hurried along. Soon she was at the wrought-iron gate to the park and with fingers already stiff from the cold, she managed to unlock it. Leaving the key in the lock so she wouldn’t forget it, she walked among the tall, majestic elms, frosted by layers of snow. Clearing a spot on one of the benches, she sat and placed her muff to one side. Around her, the damp, misty air swirled with dancing flakes, encasing her alone in a fairyland of drifting, crystal clouds. Pushing the hood back to her shoulders, she leaned back to allow the flakes to caress her face with the delicate touch of a thousand, tiny fingers; a gentle lover’s touch. She felt strangely peaceful, in an enchanted world far removed from hurtful reality. Already, she could hear the gossip should the neighbors see her here. “That Carleigh woman, actually sitting out in the snow…did you ever see the like!” Mariah wrinkled her nose against the imagined critic. What did she care for convention? The years had changed her from a very proper young girl to a thoroughly independent woman. If only…if only she and Jared had stayed in Montana, perhaps things would have been different…Stop it, she told herself angrily; she was only adding to her own misery by thinking about what could have been.
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