The Earl's Runaway Bride

by Sarah Mallory

  Felicity waited, smiling to herself. This was a change indeed, if even the proud and haughty Lady Charlotte was warming to her!

  Ten minutes later they were at the entrance to the Sydney Gardens. Lady Charlotte had set a surprisingly swift pace, hurrying along Great Pulteney Street with her hands tucked deep inside a huge fur muff.

  An icy wind was blowing and Felicity was not surprised to find the gardens almost empty.

  ‘This must be a delightful venue in the summer,’ remarked Felicity, looking around her. ‘I think, though, we might have the gardens to ourselves today.’

  Lady Charlotte did not answer and Felicity was faintly irritated. Why had Lady Charlotte requested her company if she was not going to talk to her?

  They crossed the wide carriage-way that ran around the perimeter of the gardens and followed one of the winding paths into the centre, where the trees and bushes blocked out any sounds from the traffic on Sydney Place. Felicity was about to suggest that it was time they were turning back when Lady Charlotte stopped.

  ‘This will do.’

  Felicity looked about her. ‘Do for what?’ she asked, laughing a little. ‘There is nothing here save bushes! Perhaps you could show me the sham castle, or the maze—’ She broke off. Lady Charlotte had stepped away from her.

  ‘No, we shall go no further, Lady Rosthorne.’ She pulled one hand from the fur muff and levelled a small silver-mounted pistol at Felicity.

  ‘I—I do not understand.’

  Lady Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. ‘I know your little game,’ she hissed. ‘And you will not succeed. You tricked my nephew into marriage, then left him because he was not rich enough for you. You came back only when he became earl, and now you are determined to deny my son his inheritance.’

  ‘Lady Charlotte, I assure you—’

  ‘You think to secure the title with an heir, do you not? While you and your husband were estranged you did not matter, but now—! Bad enough to have my nephew in the way, but I cannot allow you to give him an heir.’

  Felicity saw her raise the pistol. She said quickly, ‘I have no wish to deny Gerald the title, ma’am, if you consider it his right.’

  ‘Of course it is his right!’ Lady Charlotte’s eyes snapped angrily. ‘Appleby died soon after Gerald was born and we returned to live with my brother, the earl. Gerald was brought up as one of his own.’

  ‘Nathan told me the old earl was a very kind man…’

  ‘Kindness had nothing to do with it! He wanted Gerald to inherit. Nathan was never his favourite, never!’

  Felicity said gently, ‘But the old earl had three sons of his own, ma’am, no one could have foreseen—’

  ‘I did.’ Lady Charlotte drew herself up. ‘When the three boys died, I knew it was meant to be. It was a judgement. Nathan was a soldier; it was only a matter of time before he too perished in battle.’

  Felicity fixed her eyes on the old woman’s face and tried not to think about the little pistol pointed at her heart. She must keep her talking.

  ‘But Nathan survived the war and came back to London.’

  ‘Yes, and I knew then what I had to do.’

  The cold was eating into Felicity, joining with her fear to make her shiver.

  ‘So it was you behind the attempts to kill Nathan. But how? Did you pay someone?’

  Lady Charlotte’s lip curled. ‘Nothing so vulgar. Harris did it for me.’

  ‘Harris! Your groom?’

  ‘Yes. I have to tell him everything in detail, of course, because he does not have all his wits, but he is devoted to me. Unfortunately he is a poor shot, so his first attempt failed.’

  ‘As did the second,’ put in Felicity. ‘In Lady Stinchcombe’s garden.’

  ‘Yes. I thought he would manage that better. I knew Rosthorne liked to smoke that horrid tobacco so I sent Harris out to the garden. I told him to unlock the garden door to make his escape, but somehow he failed, as he did in Green Park. But you were there, my dear. You were in the park, were you not? You saw him.’

  ‘I did not recognise him.’ A faint sound caught Felicity’s attention. Voices. Someone was in the gardens. If only she could buy a little more time! ‘And was it Harris, too, in the Home Wood?’

  ‘Yes, but you foiled that attempt, did you not? Harris was obliged to flee or risk being recognised. Poor Harris, he came back gibbering about the injury to Rosthorne’s horse. That was when I knew I would have to take a hand to do the job myself. Harris brought me the hemlock from the stables and I poured it into the ale. It was very simple.’

  ‘If Bella had not tripped up the footman.’

  The voices were growing louder. Felicity longed to cry out, but she knew that as soon as she drew breath to scream Lady Charlotte would shoot. Her hand was so steady Felicity had no doubt she would hit her mark. She raised her voice a little.

  ‘So where is Harris now?’

  For the first time Lady Charlotte looked confused. ‘Gerald sent him on an errand, before we set off for Bath. He said he would follow us…’

  There was a movement in the bushes behind Lady Charlotte. Felicity was aware of several figures moving closer, but she dared not let her eyes wander, she must keep Lady Charlotte’s attention fixed upon her.

  ‘Let us return to the house, ma’am. Perhaps Harris has arrived…’

  ‘No!’ Those cold eyes narrowed, immediately suspicious. ‘No, we shall finish it now. At least with you dead it will give me time to dispose of my nephew!’

  She raised the pistol, taking careful aim. Felicity held her breath. Everything happened at once. Felicity saw Nathan spring from the bushes and launch himself at Lady Charlotte even as her finger closed on the trigger. A shot rang out and something whistled past Felicity’s head. She jumped back, her mind whirling as the tension of the past few minutes caught up with her. Suddenly it was all too much and she felt herself falling into blackness.

  ‘What do you think you are doing?’ Lady Charlotte’s outraged voice made itself heard above the confusion. ‘Unhand me at once!’

  ‘It is all right, Mama, I am here.’ Gerald came running up. He gently prised the weapon from her fingers.

  ‘Did I kill her? She was in your way, my son. I could not allow that.’

  Nathan glanced towards the gentleman in the frock-coat kneeling beside Felicity.

  ‘Doctor?’ Anxiety made his voice harsh.

  ‘The bullet missed her, my lord. She is concussed by the fall.’

  ‘Doctor Thomas.’ Lady Charlotte stopped struggling with her son and looked across. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Why, I came to see you, madam,’ said the doctor cheerfully, getting to his feet.

  ‘See to your patient,’ muttered Nathan, brushing past him and taking his place beside Felicity’s still form. ‘I will look after my wife.’ He tore off his own gloves and Felicity’s and chafed her cold hands. A wave of intense relief washed through him as her eyelids fluttered.

  ‘Where am I? Uncle Philip?’ She stared up at him, a slight crease in her brows. Nathan saw the shadow of alarm darken her eyes and she snatched her hand away. ‘You are not my uncle. Go away! Déjeme!’

  ‘Felicity.’ He tried to lift her, but she fought against him wildly.

  Dr Thomas hurried over. ‘Hysterics,’ he muttered, ‘brought on by the shock of her ordeal or the blow on the head when she fell. Allow me, my lord.’ He bent over and caught Felicity’s hands. ‘Come along, Lady Rosthorne. No need to be afraid, I am a doctor.’

  Nathan watched, helpless, as the doctor raised Felicity to her feet. Her eyes were staring and she continued to ramble.

  ‘He must not find me. I am his wife in name only…it is a judgement. We can never be happy. Forgive me, Uncle, I did not mean to be so wicked…’

  She collapsed again. Nathan looked to the doctor. He was frowning.

  ‘Go and find a cab, my lord. I will attend to Lady Rosthorne and bring her to the entrance of the gardens. Mr Appleby, if you can look after your mother I shall
call upon her later.’

  Fear gnawed at Nathan as he accompanied Dr Thomas back to the hotel. Felicity was laid in his bed and he could barely contain his impatience until the doctor emerged from the bedroom.

  ‘Is she all right? May I see her?’

  ‘You may go in if you wish, but she is asleep now—I have given her laudanum to help her rest. She has a lump on her head, but I do not think it is anything to worry about.’

  ‘But she was rambling—’

  ‘Her thoughts are scrambled. It means nothing.’ He smiled. ‘She is young and strong, my lord. She will wake in a few hours none the worse for her ordeal, I am sure. Now if you will excuse me, I shall go back to Laura Place.’

  When the doctor had gone Nathan went back into the bedroom. Felicity was lying motionless in the centre of the bed. She looked very frail, her eyes closed and her dark lashes resting against her bloodless cheeks. During all his time as a soldier he had never known such fear as he had experienced when he and Gerald had arrived back at Laura Place with Dr Thomas, only to be told that Lady Charlotte had stepped out some half-hour earlier with Felicity. He had led the way to Sydney Gardens, not caring for the stares of passers-by as he raced along the street and into the trees, expecting at any moment to hear Felicity’s screams splitting the silence.

  He reached out and placed a gentle hand on her forehead. There was no fever, but her unnatural immobility unnerved him. What if she awoke and did not know him? She had called out for her uncle—what if her mind was trapped in the past, would she not be terrified to find herself being cared for by a stranger?

  He jumped up, unable to bear the idleness any longer. With a curt word to Felicity’s maid to look to her mistress, he plunged out into the street. Darkness had fallen over the city and a cold drizzle had set in but Nathan did not heed it, nor the surprised look he received from Sir James’s butler when he demanded to see Lady Souden.

  ‘I regret my lady is not at home, my lord. Sir James and Lady Souden are dining out and then going on to the ball at the Lower Rooms.’

  Nathan found himself back on the street. He glanced down at his sodden coat and muddy boots. It was not to be expected that he would be allowed into the Assembly Rooms in such a state. Jamming his hat more firmly upon his head, he turned and headed back along the street.

  The heavy blackness that engulfed Felicity was lifting. She lay very still, her eyes closed. Something was not right. The bed was very comfortable, but it was not her bed. She was not at Rosthorne. She could hear the steady tick, tick of a clock in the room, and the sound of voices and the occasional rumble of a carriage outside. Perhaps she was in London, at Souden House. Slowly she opened her eyes. The candlelight was too dim for her to see in any great detail, but she was certain she had never seen this room before. She looked at the figure sitting beside the fire and some of her unease drained away.

  ‘Martha.’

  Her voice sounded a little strained, but it worked. The maid hurried over, a beaming smile on her face.

  ‘Milady! We’ve been that worried about you.’

  Felicity frowned and closed her eyes. Her memory was trickling back.

  ‘Oh yes, Sydney Gardens.’ Slowly she put up her hand and touched the base of her skull. ‘Did someone hit me over the head?’

  ‘No, miss, my lord says you banged your head as you fell. He and the doctor brought you back here.’

  ‘Doctor?’

  ‘Doctor Thomas, my lady.’ Martha helped her to sit up. ‘I hear he’s one of the best in Bath, and Lady Charlotte’s physician, too. He left you more laudanum, if you wish to take it madam…’

  ‘No. No, thank you, Martha, just a little water.’

  Felicity leaned back against her pillows and tried to think. She felt weak, but apart from a bruise on her head she could feel no other damage. She recalled staring at the black muzzle of the pistol. Lady Charlotte had fired, she was sure of it, but something had happened.

  ‘Where is Lord Rosthorne?’

  ‘That I don’t know, m’lady.’

  Felicity slid her legs over the edge of the bed. ‘I shall get up.’

  ‘Ooh, my lady, I think you should not get out of bed until his lordship returns.’

  ‘And when will that be?’ Martha hesitated. ‘You do not know that either, I suppose. Well, help me into my wrap.’

  Felicity was pleased to find that her legs still worked. She walked to the door and found Nathan’s man tending the fire in the sitting room.

  ‘Where is your master?’

  Sam jumped to his feet. ‘My lady, you surprised me! I thought you was still asleep.’

  ‘Quite clearly I am not,’ retorted Felicity, feeling stronger by the minute. ‘Where is Lord Rosthorne?’

  ‘He’s gone out, ma’am.’

  ‘Oh. Did he have an engagement?’

  ‘No, madam, not that I know of.’

  ‘And when did he leave?’

  Sam looked at the clock. ‘About a half-hour since. He said something about a ball at the Lower Rooms, changed into his evening dress, and went out.’

  ‘A ball?’ Felicity steadied herself with a hand on the back of a chair. Why would Nathan go to a ball while she was lying unconscious in his bed? Unless… ‘A ball at the Lower Rooms would be quite well attended by Bath residents, would it not?’

  ‘I would think so,’ replied Sam slowly. ‘I believe the entertainments in the Lower Rooms are highly regarded.’

  Entertainments. Felicity’s fingers dug into the back of the chair. He had left her in a laudanum-induced sleep while he attended an entertainment! Slowly she turned on her heel and went back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her with a snap.

  Bath might believe itself very thin of company, but Nathan considered the three hundred or so people crowded into the Lower Rooms to be far too many. It was almost impossible to find anyone. Suddenly he spotted Sir James Souden and he cut through the crowd to intercept him.

  ‘Well now, Rosthorne.’ Sir James stopped, smiling. ‘What do you mean, to be scowling so at everyone?’

  ‘Was I scowling?’ returned Nathan mildly. ‘I was not aware of it.’

  ‘Be damned to you, of course you were scowling,’ retorted Sir James. ‘Can’t say I blame you, either, if it keeps the inquisitive at bay. I can’t tell you the number of people who have asked me about this mysterious marriage of yours. It’s becoming tedious, my friend!’

  ‘Tell ’em to mind their own business.’

  ‘I do, but it don’t stop ’em speculating. Should have brought the lady with you, Nathan. That’s the only way to stop the gossip.’

  ‘As a matter of fact, she is here, but she is not well. Confined to her room. In fact, I wanted to talk to Lady Souden about her…’

  ‘Here to take the waters, is she? That’s precisely why we are in Bath, so that Lydia can regain her strength after her lying in.’ Sir James looked past Nathan and smiled. ‘Ah, here is my wife now, and Lady Ansell, too. You know her, of course, Rosthorne—she tells me you are neighbours in Hampshire. Servant, ma’am!’

  Nathan turned to find Lady Souden approaching with Serena by her side. He swallowed his frustration; he had no intention of mentioning Felicity to anyone but Lydia Souden.

  ‘You are both looking far too serious,’ said Lydia, twinkling. ‘Lady Ansell suggested we should come over and put an end to that.’

  Serena gave them her brilliant smile. ‘Good evening, Sir James, and to you, Lord Rosthorne.’ Nathan’s curt nod had no visible effect. She merely smiled more broadly. ‘Do you mean to intimidate me with your severe frown, sir?’

  Sir James laughed. ‘Just what I was telling Rosthorne, ma’am; his scowls are likely to frighten the ladies.’

  ‘I fear the earl has been too long without company,’ murmured Serena.

  Nathan met those green eyes and read the blatant invitation in them. ‘Thank you, madam, but I am well content.’

  ‘How can one be content at a ball if one does not dance?’ purred Serena.
She stepped across to stand beside him, looking up at him under her lashes. ‘Come, Nathan—will you not tread one little measure with me?’

  ‘Thank you, but I do not dance tonight.’

  ‘No doubt the earl is missing his wife,’ remarked Lady Souden, frowning a little at this exchange. ‘Why did you not bring Felicity with you?’

  Before Nathan could speak, Serena was taking his arm.

  ‘I found Lady Rosthorne to be very shy,’ she murmured, flashing him a conspiratorial smile. ‘We do not look to see her in Bath, do we, Nathan?’

  He observed Lydia’s disapproving look. She began to pull Sir James away towards the supper room. Damnation, Serena was intimating that she was his mistress! He would have to get rid of her before he could go after Lydia and ask her to visit Felicity. Serena turned towards him.

  ‘You are very elusive, Nathan. Did you not receive my note?’

  ‘Yes, but I came to Bath on business, madam.’

  ‘Surely your business cannot take up all your time.’ Her voice was very soft, caressing. ‘If you cannot visit me, I could come to York House…’ He looked down at her and she gave a low laugh. ‘You are a fool to resist me, my dear, and for what? A little mouse who is no real wife to you.’ Her hand in its silk glove slid over his chest. ‘We could…comfort one another.’

  He stared down at her, wondering why it was that those perfect features and brilliant green eyes held no allure for him. All he wanted was to have a pair of candid grey eyes smiling at him as if he was their whole delight…

  ‘The Countess of Rosthorne!’

  Chapter Nineteen

  Nathan’s head snapped up as the servant made his announcement. Surely he had misheard?

  A hush fell over the ballroom and all eyes turned towards the door. Felicity stood in the doorway, pale and beautiful in rose silk, a shimmering gold scarf across her arms and her hair falling in soft curls around her face. His heart swelled with pride as Mr Guynette, the MC, escorted her across the room towards him.

  ‘Not such a little mouse, madam,’ murmured Nathan, detaching himself from Serena’s grasp.