by Sahara Kelly
“How far?”
“Less than an hour if we push the horses and the roads aren’t too bad.”
“Lead the way.”
Charles swung his horse to follow Dev’s and they were off, at a pace that made Hannah tighten her grasp on the pommel. Especially as the roads were snow covered and made for a rough journey.
She simply clung to her fiancé, relishing his warmth and his fragrance—something she recognized instantly. A mix of man and wool and leather…unique and wonderful. He represented so many things to her at that moment.
Security—balanced precariously as they were—she still felt safe with him, protected by the one arm encircling her as the other held the reins and kept the horse steady.
Happiness. She could feel the steady beat of his heart against her ear and it brought joy to hers. How strange that a man she’d known for so short a time could elicit these kinds of emotions.
As they rode through the gloomy winter’s afternoon, Hannah began to accept that she had been blessed by the twisted fate of both her unfortunate sister and the late Lord Penvale. Everything had resulted in her ending up here, at this particular moment, rescued from a strange kidnapping by the man who had done a bit of kidnapping of his own.
He’d kidnapped her heart.
She giggled at her own silly fancies, indulging herself in the lighthearted frivolity she’d seldom experienced growing up.
“What is it, love?” Charles glanced down at her.
“Nothing, really. I’m so happy you found me and I can’t wait to hear how you managed it. But truth compels me to confess that I think I have lost most of the feeling in my toes.”
“Damn.” Charles tried to tuck the blanket around her feet, but it was awkward enough with her sitting across the saddle. “It won’t be long now, I don’t think.”
Sure enough, a call came from ahead and Dev pointed to his right. “Up here, Charles. Just up the lane. Do you see the lights?”
They did, and Hannah was thrilled to know that warmth was within reach. It took no more than five minutes to reach the inn, and less than three more to get her set up on a wooden bench close to a deliciously roaring blaze.
Charles rubbed her feet and demanded blankets, furs and a variety of absurd things before she stopped him, and simply asked for an old pair of boots if there were any around.
Dev was taking care of food and drink, and it arrived at the same time as the landlady with a pair of her daughter’s old winter footwear. “I thinks they’ll fit yer, Miss. An’ she’d be right glad to let you ‘ave ‘em. Too small fer her now, they is.”
Hannah smiled her thanks and slipped her now-warmed feet into the sturdy boots. “Perfect. Thank you so much.”
Dev had spun a fine tale about an accident to a carriage, so the landlady was content to have helped the poor dear lass who had lost all her luggage.
They ate a stew that tasted like heaven, drank an ale that wasn’t quite up to Old Martin’s standards but was good nevertheless, and as the sky darkened, made sure they had rooms for the night. The landlady would share with Hannah. Even this far out in the country, there were the proprieties to be observed.
She formally made the acquaintance of one Delaney Deverell, who excelled in sheep imitations. She thanked him profusely, with a twinkle in her eye that matched his as he bowed over her hand.
“But I confess, Miss Hannah, that if you don’t tell us what happened to you very soon, I shall burst with curiosity.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “Really Dev? Doing it a bit too strong there, my lad.”
“Quiet. I want to hear the story.”
Tucking her now-warm feet beneath a thick blanket. Hannah nodded. “And I think it’s time I told you both about it.”
Charles took her hand and squeezed it as she began her tale.
*~~*~~*
Much later that night, as he and Dev retired to the room they were to share, the two of them were silent for a while.
“I still can’t believe it.” Dev emerged from the depths of his nightshirt to glare at Charles. “What the fuck kind of man does that to his daughter?”
Charles settled himself on the sofa, having lost the toss of a coin for the bed. “I have no idea, Dev. It’s incomprehensible. But I will state here and now that should I ever find myself in a dark alley with Mr. Derby, it will give me great pleasure to teach him the error of his ways.”
“I concur. I’d like a few minutes with him myself.” He tentatively clambered onto the bed and smoothed out the sheets before lying down. “Ouch. Lumps. Want to trade?”
“No thanks. Besides, I’m closer to the fire.”
“Damn you Charles Fontaine.”
“That’s Lord Penvale to you, plebeian.”
“Oh yes, and about that.” Dev fidgeted with the pillow. “Do you believe that Derby did actually engineer the death of Hannah’s sister?”
“It sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?” Charles stared at the fire.
“It does. Though I’m thinking that it would be a good story to use if trying to intimidate another daughter.”
“That’s a very good point. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Good thing I’m here then. Someone has to have the sensible ideas. You’ve got ideas but most of ‘em revolve around your fiancée rather than the strange events of the last few days.” Dev chuckled. “Don’t mistake my meaning—that’s as it should be, of course.”
“You’re an ass.” Charles grinned.
“Face it, lad. You’re done for. Hooked. Finished. Rolled up, foot and guns.”
“Yes, I rather hope so.”
Dev sighed. “Well there go our days of carousing.”
“What days? We haven’t caroused in—I don’t know how long.”
“We were overdue. Now it’s too late.”
“I repeat my earlier comment. You’re an ass.”
“Probably. But at least I have my ears on straight. What about this whole Viking talisman thing? Is there any truth to it, d’you think?”
Charles took a few moments to consider the matter. “I can’t say. We both know that so many of these tales ripple their way through generations and pick up all kinds of absurdities along the way.”
“Agreed. I rather liked the one about the priceless jewel smuggled to our shores inside a horse.”
“That would be the Dallyfrith Dung Diamond?”
“Yes.”
They shared a moment of silent appreciation. Dev moved on. “So this talisman. This taufr, I think Hannah called it?”
“She has the birthmark, Dev. And yes, it is two interlocking triangles. So there is merit in the description.”
“What’s the plan then?” Dev yawned. “Do we have one?”
Charles pulled the quilt higher and turned into the pillow. “Not as far as the talisman goes. Not yet. I’ll need to go through the Penvale stuff. Boring as hell, but it must be done.”
“Great plan.” Dev’s wry voice emerged from the depths of the bed.
“I like the one I have for Hannah better.”
“Oh yes?”
“Yes.” Charles grinned to himself. “I’m going to marry her as soon as I can.”
“Congratulations.” The murmured word was followed by a snore.
Charles closed his eyes and prepared to follow his friend into sleep. It was a good plan. A very good plan indeed…
Chapter Thirteen
“If you laugh, I shall be very upset.” Hannah glared at the two men as she reached the small snug and joined them for breakfast the following morning. She was attired in something that might have been described as stylish during the time of the Roundheads and Cavaliers.
“It’s warm. And it was very kind of our landlady to allow me to use it.”
Charles bit his lip. “As long as you’re comfortable.”
Dev stared at his plate. “Indeed.”
“Oh be quiet, both of you. And pass the toast.” Hannah sighed and sat, filling her plate with eggs from the small p
latter in the center of the table, and adding a couple of rashers of bacon and a sausage. Then she buttered some toast and licked her lips. She was ravenous.
Dev surrendered. “I’ll wager the horse is cold, though.”
That was all it took. Laughter erupted and within seconds Hannah found herself joining in. It was a very good way to start the day.
Once the guffaws had subsided, she turned to Charles. “What is our plan for today? Where are we headed? I hate to whine, but I shall be in need of real clothing shortly.” She shot a speaking glance at Dev. “The horse will indeed want this back.”
“I apologize. I simply couldn’t resist.”
Hannah rolled her eyes and ignored him. “So. Back to my question. Where are we headed?”
Charles put down his teacup. “I think we should make for the Chase and Dev’s cousin Agatha. She’ll have clothing for you, I’m sure. We’ll have all the amenities—stabling for the horses and so on—and most importantly, we should be quite private there.” He glanced at Dev. “Thus far, nobody has connected you with Hannah’s disappearance, or my trip to the New Forest. The Chase is well-situated away from everything. It’ll give us a chance to start working on a real plan to deal with your father, Hannah.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry, Charles. I really am. For you to be saddled with that kind of man as a father-in-law…”
“Stop it. You didn’t know, love, and even if you did, you couldn’t have changed anything. Besides, I’m not marrying him, I’m marrying you.”
She held out a hand. “Are you sure you still want to?”
He took it in a firm grasp. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
A cough from Dev recalled her to the moment and she regretfully withdrew her hand. “Well then. Time we were on our way. How far must we go, Dev?”
All formalities had long since been abandoned, and her rescuer was now Dev, and treated much as a brother.
“Not a great way. We’ll follow the coastline south from here. Cousin Agatha’s house is near Exbury.”
“Eat up, Hannah.” Charles offered the sage advice by waving his piece of toast toward her. “We’ll take a basket with us, but it’ll be a long ride.”
“Any chance of another horse for me? Riding isn’t a problem.” She smiled at Charles. “Especially when it’s not a cart horse in a sheep field.”
“We’ll see what we can do. I’d rather hire a third horse anyway, not just for comfort but because it’ll slow us down with two up on one beast.”
“You’re a tiny thing, Hannah, but extra weight on a horse is extra weight, no matter whose it is.” Dev tossed his mite into the conversation.
“Agreed.” She finished her eggs. “I believe I can fashion a kind of cloak out of some of the old things our kindly landlady showed me last night.”
“Good. I was sure a Crusader had probably left one here at some point.”
She chuckled. “You’re not far off.”
With their plans thus made, the three of them gathered their belongings, bid a grateful farewell to their generous landlady—who blushed at receiving a lusty kiss from Dev along with a sizeable number of coins—and set out for the next leg of their journey.
Hannah’s heart soared as the sun broke free of the clouds at last and shone on the wintery scenery. Dodging the melting snow was a challenge, but she was once again free, riding beside the man she knew destiny had provided for her, and her feet were warm.
At this moment she really couldn’t ask for much more than that.
“Hannah, do you have any ideas at all about this taufr thing your father wants so badly?” Dev caught up with her, interrupting her thoughts.
She shook her head. “I’ve never heard of it until yesterday. There’s the birthmark, of course, but I had no idea that it was a picture of sorts. That there was an actual thing that resembled it.” She glanced across at Dev. “You have to admit that it is a very bizarre occurrence.”
Charles had been listening. “It’s this power aspect that I find troubling, though.” He ducked and narrowly avoided a branch loaded with wet snow. “I could see a politician or a soldier desiring that kind of power. But what on earth would your father do with it? If, in fact, there is anything like that associated with the talisman, which I doubt.”
Hannah sighed. “My father is not known for the warmer emotions. You must have guessed that. I think he would very much enjoy knowing that people would immediately do his bidding. He could order us, his family, around as if we were servants, but he never had the social standing to command others. I think it galled him.” She thought for a moment. “Perhaps that’s why he formed this apparent association with brothels.”
“You do think there’s more than one, then?” Charles asked.
“Yes, I do. The Mayflower, Redbridge…that’s quite a way from home for him. Logically he has others in between here and there, otherwise it wouldn’t be a sensible investment.”
“Forgive me,” said Dev. “I need to ask this, since the question arises at this point. Do you think your father avails himself of the services of his… um…investments?”
Hannah gulped down revulsion at the thought, and then forced her mind into more impersonal channels. “He’s not a man who seems to enjoy any kind of physical contact, Dev. I don’t ever remember receiving more than a quick peck on the cheek for my birthday or at Christmas. No hugs, or anything.” She shrugged. “Yes, he fathered abundant children, but remember the Penvale inheritance was always a factor, so when you add a Puritanical sense of duty to the possibility of a titled relative…perhaps even a fortune…” She paused. “I would be surprised to learn his interest in those places was anything other than financial.”
“And yet he knew of Penvale’s financial situation. That there was little money there.” Charles added his thoughts.
“He did. But you know what they say. Where there’s life there’s hope.” Hannah shifted the scarf around her neck. “The Penvale inheritance was a given in our lives. There was always a chance that some windfall would enrich the Penvale coffers. A much greater chance than any such windfall benefitting the Derby family.”
“Good point.” Dev nodded. “And you happened, Charles—you were the windfall.”
“Looking back on it, I believe it was that fact that sent me running from home.”
“I beg your pardon?” Charles looked affronted.
“No, no, not you.” Hannah laughed. “How could it have been you? I had no idea who you were.”
“Well thank God for that.”
She cast him a dry look. “Silly man. What I meant was that once the old Lord passed on and my father realized that there would be new blood and hence new money involved in the Penvale heritage, he became most interested in you and was trying to get all the information he could. From a lawyer, I think. I’m not sure because that kind of greed made me feel quite sick.”
“I can understand,” said Dev quietly. “I’ve seen people like that. Single minded, focused on their own goals, with no care for anyone around them but themselves.”
Charles remained quiet. He had a pretty good idea who Dev was referring to and he didn’t even want her name mentioned. She was now firmly in his past.
“Indeed.” Hannah nodded. “So, coupled with my reluctance to be the fifth sacrificial goat on the altar of the Penvale inheritance, I decided it was time for me to depart.” She grinned. “Being twenty-three and unwed is viewed as a crime by some. But for me it was quite liberating to realize that I could walk away from home without impediment. I’m sure, had he known my plans, my father would have tried to prevent me from leaving. But legally, I am of age. My actions are now my own.”
Just saying that aloud made Hannah smile.
Charles and Dev smiled as well, even though her joy was for something they both took for granted.
The sun stayed to warm their path, and if it did turn the road to slush…well, the pure blue of the sky and the sparkle of the light on the snow were rewards enough.
They mad
e good time in spite of less than perfect conditions, and there was still enough light to see the house through the copse of fir trees at the side of the lane.
“Over there.” Dev pointed with his riding crop. “That’s the Chase. And I see lights, so someone’s there. I doubt Agatha would venture out in this weather, but it’s good to know.”
He urged his mount into the turn toward the house and forged through quite a bit of untouched snow. Clearly his cousin had remained indoors for the duration of the bad weather.
Hannah felt a quick shiver of nerves as they pulled up to the front door and saw it open at the top of a set of steps.
“Dev, my boy. Only you would be abroad on a day like this. Let the lads take your horses and come in…come in. It’s so good to see you…”
A motherly woman stood in the doorway with a huge smile on her face. She was dressed neatly but not in a fashionable style. And the way she embraced Dev? Well, Hannah felt her nerves ease a little on hearing that smacking kiss Cousin Agatha placed on his cheek.
Taking a great deal of comfort from the arm Charles slid through hers, she walked up the steps at his side and into the Chase.
*~~*~~*
“Well, I think it would work.” Agatha nodded emphatically over the teacups.
They had been at the Chase for two blissful days, during which Charles procured clean clothing from one of Dev’s larger cousins, and Hannah was dressed modestly in a warm woolen gown, topped with a shawl in the same shade of blue as her eyes.
She was entrancing to look at and he ached for her more than he could ever have imagined. Just one look at her, and the knowledge that she was his, damn near overwhelmed him.
It was their wedding that consumed the present discussion.
Hannah asserted that her advanced age gave her the right to wed as she wished. Cousin Agatha agreed, despite the fact that she was at least two decades older than all of them.
Dev just shrugged and said his family was all over the place, both geographically and generationally. And certainly Agatha was up to the mark in just about everything.
