by Janet Woods
Dominic reminded himself to give Sam a bonus. ‘If the brigadier comes here we should be able to sort this mess using reason. Do not resort to violence unless my wife is in a place of safety, and it’s unavoidable. I don’t want to start a war. Do any of you have weapons?’
‘I have a pistol, but it’s not loaded,’ the estate manager said.
Alex was already loading his. ‘So have I.’
‘Don’t use them unless they’re needed.’
He hoped Gracie kept a cool head. She was intelligent and brave, but everyone had a breaking point. ‘Now, I would suggest you find somewhere with a vantage point. You need to secure yourselves until we see what eventuates.’
‘The two upstairs windows will do.’
When the attorney sidled towards the door Dominic stopped him with, ‘Mr Archibald, you must stay here for I will need you to act as a witness.’
Trembling, the man sank into the nearest chair.
Dominic didn’t blame James Archibald for being in a funk, since he was about to retire and the brigadier’s reputation had gone before him. ‘Take courage, Mr Archibald. If all the tales told of this man were true I would have been dead days ago. We are dealing with a man who has very little self-control, so you will be safer here in the house. The brigadier knows he’s in the wrong, for he stands to lose everything. Attacking us will not further his cause, and he surely must know that by now.’
If he didn’t then Dominic had sorely misjudged the mettle of Gracie.
Alex shifted to a position by the fireplace and shrugged. ‘He will be expecting opposition and will smell a trap if you’re the only person in sight. Remember, he has a fully armed soldier with him.’
‘Who will be on our side if it’s who I think it is. Grace is in good hands.’
There was the drum of horse’s hooves and Dominic moved to the window to watch one of the soldiers appear. He was well past middle age … and looked tired.
Gracie followed with Oliver Tuttle. She slid down from the horse. Oliver created a barrier between Grace and the brigadier, who staggered a little.
Dominic dashed down the stairs, his heart pounding in his mouth and his skin crawling from the thought of the danger she was in – danger she seemed unaware of.
He threw himself through the front door into the carriageway in time to see Gracie side-sweep Oliver. She held out her hand to the brigadier. ‘Give me that pistol too before you shoot yourself, you idiot.’
When he wavered she plucked it from his hand with an exasperated sigh and threw it into the undergrowth, where it exploded.
Grace gave it a surprised look, seemingly uncertain of what to do.
Dominic’s mouth dried.
The brigadier rallied a little. ‘Now I can’t defend myself.’
‘You wouldn’t have to if you didn’t make such a nuisance of yourself to begin with. If you would care to look up at those windows you will see an armed man standing at each. If they’d intended to kill you then you’d be dead by now, which is not to say they won’t kill you if the mood takes them.’
Dominic took her in his arms and his eyes sought hers. Her heart was beating like that of a wild creature caught in a snare. ‘Did they treat you roughly, my love?’
‘Just a little. The brigadier nearly tore my hair from my scalp. The one called Willie insulted me verbally. Oliver nearly jerked my arms from their sockets, but he did it for my own good, lest I ended up under his horse’s hooves. At least he was polite.’ Her voice began to wobble and tears filled her eyes. ‘He roared at me like a wild bull when I kicked him.’
Oliver bowed. ‘My pardon, madam, it was the only way I could think of to stop your tirade.’
Dominic wanted to laugh at that. This brave little snippet of a woman had disarmed an experienced soldier and relieved him of his pistol. After her rough handling she was tattered and torn, smeared with mud and her hair tied in knots. Yet a harsh word made her collapse into tears.
She said now, ‘I believe the brigadier to be ill, and he’s tired, so please so don’t treat him harshly.’
‘It’s not for me to be judge and jury of this man’s behaviour. I’m here for one reason, and the sooner we get it done the better so I can take you home.’
Dominic smiled at the other soldier. ‘Well met, Oliver. I believe you roared like a wild bull at my wife.’
Tears welled up in her as she realized she was safe. ‘Argus is upset. Shouldn’t someone go and tell Sam there is no need to stir the horses up any longer.’
Dominic held her against his shoulder. Her hair was a wayward knotted mess, and the urge to kill the brigadier for hurting his lady was strong in him again. But the man was too old.
‘Did you want me to swear out a complaint for the way you were treated? Is everything well with you, my love?’
‘I guarantee it.’ the brigadier said. ‘Your woman has told me some tale about the legacy. She said you had a plan.’
‘I do, and this could have been settled a week ago. Come into the morning room. James Archibald is waiting to witness the signatures. He also wishes to present you with an offer from a professional couple to buy or lease the house, should it be awarded to you. I’d intended to offer a recommendation for you, but after today’s debacle I’m on the verge of changing my mind.’
Her honey eyes came up to his, wary, for she didn’t know him well enough yet to read his moods. His present mood was anger, and a manly need to offer some revenge on Gracie’s behalf. But the man was too old, no matter how skilled he was. Dominic could hear his breath wheezing in his chest.
Grace pleaded into the silence, ‘The brigadier is in pain and I have promised to mix him some laudanum to ease it, after which he will give your plan for the legacy a hearing.’
‘Will he indeed.’
Oliver stepped in. ‘Due to your bravery on the field of battle and your many citations, the army intends to retire you with full honours.’
‘I can’t wait,’ the brigadier said, sarcasm uppermost in his voice as he glanced up from his signing. ‘Am I under arrest then, Oliver?’
‘No sir, but you must regard me as your official escort to London, where you will appear before the generals.’
‘Do you have papers stating that?’
‘In my lodging.’
‘Then I’m in nobody’s charge except my own until you get those and show me them.’ The brigadier finished his signature with a feathery flourish.
‘And what of your behaviour towards my wife, am I to let that go without punishment?’
‘We could fight a duel over her, in which case you would lose, since I’m an expert with both sword and pistol. Then your brother would be forced to challenge me. I would also kill him. However, I have no time to exhibit my prowess with weapons, and duelling is a messy business. Perhaps you’d allow me to apologize instead, Mrs LéSayres.’
The brigadier bowed over Grace’s hand and said with great charm. ‘With the greatest sincerity I offer my deepest apologies, Mrs LéSayres. I have never thought to take a wife, but I’m sorry I missed the opportunity on this occasion. Your husband is a lucky man,’ he said and he placed a kiss on her hand.
She snatched her hand away and moved behind Dominic for safety.
‘What do you want me to do with this scoundrel, Gracie?’ he said.
She clung to his arm. ‘Nothing that will bring you harm. I believe the brigadier suffered a severe injury to the head on the field of battle. He told me it requires constant medication, and his heart is erratic.’
‘And you believe him?’
‘Yes … I’m aware of the signs.’
So was Dominic, but only because she was standing so close to him. ‘That may be so, my dear, but you can mix the doses of medication while he remains here with me. Then I’d like you to rest for a while.’
Once he was free he would find time to render her hair wayward all over again.
‘I beg you to be lenient, Dominic. He has not caused injury to anyone. It was the soldier they c
alled Willie.’
‘Who is now badly injured, I believe.’
‘I don’t wish trouble on anyone, and I don’t want to see you dead.’
Dominic grinned, knowing, as did she, that he was susceptible to her pleading. ‘As you wish, my love, but may I remind you that the brigadier is not a fractious child to be soothed, he’s an old rogue who knows exactly what he’s doing. Isn’t that correct, brigadier?’
The brigadier winked at her.
‘I’ll go and prepare your medication.’
She prepared two doses, and then sealed the lid on the spare glass vial. The brigadier swallowed the dose and placed the spare vial in his pocket, nodding his thanks. ‘It sounds as though Willie might need this one.’ He cackled with laughter when she kissed Dominic’s cheek, and he turned his attention back to the papers. After a while he gazed up at the attorney. ‘I have a condition or two of my own to add, if I may.’
‘What are they?’ James Archibald asked, and with some impatience now they were no longer in peril.
‘When I die, if I have no heirs, which seems likely at my age, what’s left of the house and legacy will be turned over to charity. As for Mrs LéSayres … with her husband’s permission—’ and he offered Dominic a nod – ‘I would like her to have what my aunt intended – that is, the contents of her room. It will compensate her a little for the rough treatment of her. Will you accept that on your wife’s behalf?’
Dominic nodded.
‘Now, with some good luck and a little speed I shall rejoin my regiment and set sail for terra Australis. High tide is at midnight, and I should arrive at the ship before she sets sail … though she’ll wait if necessary. Why don’t you join us, Oliver? The great southern continent is well on its way to becoming a land of plenty. I can promise you adventure, which is better than sitting at a desk polishing the seat of your chair with your arse or pouring cups of tea for the officers. The regiment could do with some fresh blood and a new officer or two.’
‘My father wants me to remain in London. Besides, what should I tell my superiors?’
‘A little ingenuity might be helpful. Send a note with a messenger just before we sail. Tell them you succumbed to an overwhelmingly patriotic urge to represent your country in the new colony. I will write the order and sign it, since you can’t refuse a direct order from a superior officer.’
Interest sparked in Oliver’s eyes.
A clever move, one that would turn the tide in the brigadier’s favour. Dominic couldn’t fault it.
‘I might seek out that woman, Jessie … take her with me. I might even put a ring on the wench’s finger. Do you think she’d accept such a proposition.’
He headed for the door. ‘Don’t take too long making up your mind, Oliver. I doubt if Willie will be fit to travel. Besides, he gives my regiment a bad name.’
Grace didn’t trust the brigadier and her hand curled around the ned in her pocket. He could easily kill Dominic with the sword. She gave a scornful, ‘Hah!’ and when the brigadier reached for it she hurled her ned at him. The ned hit the blade, split open and showered sand all over him.
‘Your woman has a good aim,’ he spluttered, brushing the sand from his uniform. He dusted the blade almost tenderly, the long slice of quivering death answering with a cold, loving song as it slid back into its sheath.
Grace shuddered. How many men had fallen under its bloody onslaught? How many more would it kill before it rusted away into nothing? As long as there were wars, she supposed. She shuddered.
‘If this gets out I’ll never live it down.’
‘It will merely add a moment to your legend,’ she said, but doubted if he’d live long enough to reach his destination.
He blew her a kiss.
Grace had been about to tell the brigadier that Jessie was already married, but she recalled that she’d made the same mistake over Dominic. She wondered about her hasty marriage. Shouldn’t she have signed something? She dismissed the thought. Dominic was a gentleman, not a man to use trickery to gain his own way. She trusted him implicitly and believed in him.
‘I must go to my lodging and collect my personal effects,’ Oliver Tuttle said striding after him.
‘Get on with it then soldier. We haven’t got all day.’ The brigadier vaulted on to his horse with no sign of impediment, and rode away without a backward glance.
After a moment of hesitation Oliver said, ‘Good day, gentlemen, nice to see you again … Mrs LéSayres … I’d best be off then … things to do.’
He tipped his hat and followed after the brigadier.
Twenty-Two
It was early morning, at least nine o’clock. The day was crisp with frost, revealed and disposed of as the sky gradually lightened and the temperature grew fractionally warmer.
Alex and his estate manager had left the day before.
The Jones’s family carriage pulled away from Oakford House, carrying the luggage, mainly those contents of Lady Florence’s room that Grace wanted. They would change to the more comfortable King’s Acres carriage at Ringwood. Sam slept on the opposite seat. He was still a child, one making his own way in the world, and in the best way he could.
Dominic rode Argus, who was quiet, having made the most of his short taste of freedom by rounding up and covering a couple of available army mares that had flirted their tails at him.
Inside the carriage, Grace was wrapped in a drowsy blanket of dreams.
They had not meant to spend another night, but the inventory needed to be checked and adjusted for the new tenants. James Archibald had recommended an agent for the house, who lived in Ringwood and Dominic agreed to take the account on to his books for the time being.
The strongbox that had been the cause of Grace’s beating from Brian in the first place had been concealed in the false bottom of a trunk containing a tangle of embroidery silks and other objects related to the womanly pursuits of sewing and painting. The trunk had been searched many times without it being discovered, since the false floor of the lower section was hard to open. At the moment it was tucked in the space between the seats. Dominic expected to deposit them in the local bank, and obtain a receipt. In due course the problem of probate would be resolved.
Grace came to her senses when the carriage jolted to a halt so Dominic could settle the bill for the ale consumed by the soldiers and the yeomanry. Grace sought out the innkeeper’s wife. ‘What happened to my cat and her kittens?’
‘I’m sorry, Mrs LéSayres I thought you’d left them, so my sister gave them a good home. She’s a farmer’s wife and they settled in right away. She’s going to let me have one of the kittens when he’s big enough to fend for himself. You’re obviously a person inclined to be kind to God’s creatures and I’ve got a dear little pup you could give a home to. Someone abandoned him on the doorstep, all cold and shivering and near to death.’
Grace’s heart went out to the pup in his rough, brown fur, clutched against her bosom. He snuggled into her arms, making beguiling whimpering noises and gazing at her through anxious eyes.
When they were about to depart the pup gave a couple of yaps. Dominic gazed down at it, resignation in his eyes. ‘What have you got under your blanket, for certain it’s not the cat and her brood?’
‘A home was found for the cats.’ She lifted the corner of the blanket. ‘This is a puppy.’
‘Well, at least it’s not a carthorse.’
‘It was left on the landlady’s doorstep. He’s so small and sweet, look at his pretty little feet,’ she said, prompting a favourable answer from him.
‘I’ve seen feet like that before, on my brother’s lurchers.’
She tightened the noose a little. ‘You seem to have an interest in feet. I was never allowed to have a dog when I was a child, though I always wanted one. I took him as a gift for you. I thought you’d like him. He’ll die in the cold if we don’t give him a home.’
Dominic was enjoying her attempt at artfulness now. She was too honest to carry it off and was
beginning to laugh. Eventually she gave in to it. ‘Damn it, Dominic, I promised the pup he should have a home with us. Every man should have a dog, so tell me you like him, otherwise he’ll be upset?’
‘I do like him. I love him, he’s the best gift I’ve ever received. I love you more.’
‘What will you call him?’
‘Baron.’
Baron sighed, and sensing he’d been accepted, he fell asleep.
Poole
It was late in the afternoon when they reached Poole. Sam went ahead to King’s Acres in the LéSayres carriage with the luggage and the pup, and accompanied by the earl and his agent.
The sky deepened from blue to a deeper violet. Grace was seated in front of Dominic on Argus. The stallion walked with an easy swaying motion. The horse seemed to be settling down now, growing used to being handled. He was fussy as to whom he’d allow on his back, though.
The head groom had told him, ‘Argus has a good turn of speed but he’s been ill treated, I imagine. His temperament is improving. Be firm with him, but don’t punish him with pain. He should breed well.’
Grace snuggled into the man she loved. ‘I’m cold.’
‘I’m sorry … I wanted to show you something.’
‘I won’t see much in the dark.’
‘We might, or we might not.’
‘You’re talking in riddles.’
‘I’ll take a room at the inn afterwards and we’ll soon find some way to warm ourselves.’
It wasn’t hard to guess how.
They went uphill for a short while and then stopped. Now the sky revealed itself as a cloak of black satin sprinkled with stars that reflected in the water of the harbour. He lifted her down. ‘We’re standing on my land, Gracie. It was the first purchase I made when I began to make a profit. It has increased in value considerably. If you like it, we will build our home and raise our children here.’
