He’d thought her a contrary minx at the time, but he recalled the upbringing she’d had from the Duchess and the social rules she would have followed, equating it with the training he was given in Canada to soothe a filly, and knew the only way forward was to be honest and upfront. She not only had to fit in with him as his wife, but he had to do the same with her if they were to enjoy the comradeship he wanted.
“Lucie, I promised to be open with you and apprise you of my wishes. I want us to be partners and have your help willingly. Even if you disagree with me, I would rather you say so than just fall in with my requests or attempt to do the opposite. Is that clear to you?”
She nodded but kept silent, her large jade eyes looking serious.
“I had planned to take time here for us to get to know one another before we departed, but the prowler incident changes the situation. I’ll not have you at risk, so we will get out of reach. Rowten can manage things without our presence. Fortunately, my trip to London resolved quite a few things with my estate, so if you can arrange to get packed by tomorrow, we will take the large coach with Mary and Edgar and the luggage. Hicks will drive and have a groom alongside, plus two groom outriders. The large wagon will follow behind with enough provisions for us all and camping equipment for the men if accommodations in the manor prove derelict. When I visited briefly, the main rooms in the place seemed adequate for our use, but it was such a quick look I cannot trust my memory. I only stayed overnight and that in the inn. Things may be worse than I recall.
“As for servants, although there were many when I was young, I don’t know what’s happened in the meantime. It was such a short stay on my return home, I did not see the whole place nor come to any conclusion what I would do. Your grandmother persuaded me to restore it. She has—had, I must say now—a love of the land and property since I first knew her, so I felt her advice was wise. I have hired a team of builders from London who will be starting on the renovations. This is where you come in, Lucie, for your suggestions will be an enormous help to turn it into a home. After living here, you will know what to do and will be able to choose everything you want.”
He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to jog his memory on all he wanted to tell her and also keep track of his plans for their escape. For, undoubtedly, it must be an escape to a safer place, at least at the moment with Tasker on the loose.
“The builders will be busy with the stonework and adapting rooms, but choosing paints and the paraphernalia that a fine residence needs will be down to you, my dear. Ashbury Mead is a beautiful place, but I think you can do better with the house, and you will be able to start afresh and have the things the way you like.”
A knock on the door brought Rowten in with the coffee.
“Ah, thank you, Rowten, the coffee is most welcome. We were just discussing our tactics to remove to Shropshire. When I have Lady Lucie’s agreement, I’ll speak with you.”
“Milord, I also have something to relate. In view of a certain Lord Tasker’s visit here, as you will recall, and the unfortunate happening while you were away, I took it upon myself to see if the man has returned from London, all supposing he went there in the first place. He has returned to his house and has a number of men staying there also, I believe in the region of four or five. I thought you should know, milord, and also, I am relieved you will be leaving soon.” Abruptly, Rowten flushed and coughed in embarrassment. “Not that I want you to go, milord...” he added hesitantly.
Richard smiled. “Don’t concern yourself, I take your point exactly, and it follows my own reasoning. You will be free to cope with things here without her ladyship and me getting in your way. Good thinking, man, especially for finding out about Tasker. Though I shall be taking some of our men when we go, I’m sure you will have a keeper or two to maintain the defences and also to keep an eye on that particular fellow.”
“Aye, milord, a very wary eye it shall be. Is there anything else you require, milord?”
“Thank you, no, Rowten. I shall ring for you when we have concluded our plans.”
The butler bowed and left.
“Now where were we?” Richard said after taking a gulp of coffee. “Oh yes, Shropshire. The final plan is that you and I will ride alongside the coach. We both need our mounts, so it makes sense. If you tire, there is always the coach, but we shall stop halfway to rest. I’m sending Walter Ellis, a nephew of Rowten’s, ahead to make sure of our lodging. He’ll stay on to work in the house. However, in view of Rowten’s news, I believe we must leave well before dawn tomorrow…sometime in the early hours would be wise. Any suggestions or do you agree with my preparations?”
“Oh yes, I do agree. In fact, I’d leave now, this minute, if we could.” She shuddered. “Tasker frightens me. He has done since I first knew him when he was courting my friend. There was something about him that repelled me, though I did not understand it at the time. I felt it originated from knowing how frightened my friend was. It was only recently, when he asked Grandmama’s permission to court me, that I realised how much I detested him. I can hardly bear to think what an escape I’ve had from how he could have pressured my grandmama into accepting his offer. I’m so glad you offered instead. Yet thinking of the night the prowler came, I would not have said it was him.”
“It probably wasn’t. His sort sends in others to do the dirty work in case of capture. If that occurs, it is easy for him to deny any involvement. It is likely, knowing I was away, you were meant to be abducted. Tasker would have his alibi, and we would be left mystified, not knowing where you were. You will understand now why I forbid you to go outside today?”
“I do, I do. I really will obey you, my lord”—she rose and gave a deep curtsey—“and be glad to.” She gazed up at him, grinned, and fluttered her eyelashes. “I am an obedient wife.”
“Minx! Yet this time, I do trust you to obey. There is too much at stake not to. Ring for Rowten, Lucie. We must move swiftly if we are to escape so soon.”
Looking grave, he rose and moved to the window to look out. “We need the weather fair for today but cloudy overnight. I’m going to despatch the wagon now. We will meet up with them en route. The coach will be loaded while still in the carriage house and driven off late evening. That means a quieter exit for ourselves and our escorts soon after. We won’t leave by the main gate. If anyone is watching the place, it won’t look like a huge expedition is under way.”
“I had no idea you were such a bold schemer. Have you done something like this before?” she said admiringly, surprised how quickly he had come up with the new plan.
“I have a tale or two that may amaze you, but we have no time now. There is too much to be done before tonight. Here’s Rowten. Let’s make a beginning.”
* * * *
A man hidden at the edge of the woods gave his report that night. “The day was quiet. Only a busy household like always, milord. I got close enough to see. A farm cart left early on, likely with ’taters. They always put a cover over ’taters, keeps ’em dry for storage, see. I didn’t have sight or sound of the toffs, ’cepting usual servants. Nary a glimpse of his lordship, reckon he’s not back yet from London, if it's where he's been. She must have kept indoors after that blunder Deacon made. Bloody fool! Told him he should have waited to catch her in the garden. Still, I gather he won’t be making more mistakes, milord. Harry said you were a mite displeased when you came back. Glad I wasn’t there to see it. I likes a quiet life, I does, and not too much violence. Milord, if I can make a suggestion, seeing as I was on duty all the time you was gone…I’d like to eat and sleep in me bed tonight. Them at the house are going nowhere tonight, ’specially as his lordship ain’t returned. Tomorrow, I’ll go back and stay as long as you want. I’ll be fresher, I promise, see, after a night’s sleep.”
“All right, if the place is as you say, you can. But tomorrow, you are on the job again.”
Relieved beyond measure, Tom Davis left his master’s study. He hoped to God that man never found out tha
t he’d been absent from his post over the midnight hours, lying instead in the stables with the local inn’s barmaid. She was a right tasty piece, and he was going to meet her again later. He was not even aware he had missed the return of the coach from London or that he would miss the going of the very people his master was after. It did cross his mind to wonder where they would bury Deacon. A basket case his lordship was when he was in a temper, and he would be right glad when he was free of him and back to good old London. The money, such as was promised, was not worth all the aggravation.
Late morning, after nursing a subsequent hangover after a rebuff from the previously yielding barmaid who had found another younger customer to consort with, he was back in the bushes on the edge of the woods. All was quiet, almost too quiet, as he surveyed the area. The only living creature he could see was a cat that strolled leisurely across the courtyard towards the kitchen. The stable doors were closed, the mews empty and silent. He cast his eyes upward to look at the rest of the house, and as his eye travelled along the floor where the main bedrooms lay, shutters were closed tight against the windows. Bloody Hell!
Where was everyone? Looking further over the gardens and into the distant woodland, he could not see a soul. Even the keepers with their dogs were gone. He ventured closer to the house to investigate more thoroughly and noticed every barn door was closed as well and the usual gardeners unseen or perhaps taking time off from their duties. He heard a few voices coming from the open kitchen door, so the house was not entirely vacated, but it was obvious that the owners had gone—packed up and gone while he had been sleeping.
What the hell could he do now? What possible explanation could he give to his master? His throat tightened on that thought as he remembered what had happened to Deacon. Knowing there was no way he would stay for a confrontation like that, he made rapidly for the boundary of the estate, and after that, kept going across country in the opposite direction to the Tasker Estate towards London and safety. He had only a little money on him. Expecting to be paid, he had spent most on whoring and beer. He would have to beg lifts, but come what may, he was heading back to familiar territory, and nothing would drag him back again to work for a man like Tasker.
A figure stood at an upstairs window, his eyesight still good despite his age. Having spotted the stranger creeping carefully towards the house, he had kept his eye on him, ready to sound the warning. However, after inspecting the vacant grounds carefully, the man had suddenly turned and high-tailed it with all speed across the park and off the Ashbury property.
That’s very interesting, thought Rowten. Has he gone to tell Tasker the birds have flown, or has he decided he is better out of it? Watching the man speed off in the opposite direction to the Tasker estate, he thought the latter had more significance somehow. Unless he missed his guess, the man was heading for London and safety.
He went down to the staff dining room where lunch was ready to be served. Most of the staff was off duty for the afternoon, so the place was quiet. Come evening, he would put the usual guards in place and defend the property. His family—for unmarried and childless, he thought of the earl and his countess as that—had got safely away, confident as he could be, without anyone being the wiser. This foray by a stranger seemed proof of that. He had noticeably been taken aback by the lack of people. Well put that in your pipe, Tasker, and choke yourself to death! Lunch tastes extraordinarily good today, Rowten thought happily.
* * * *
The three parties finally met up at Evesham where Richard planned to stay overnight. A short conversation with the innkeeper, Hicks, and Brent, an elderly stableman who was driving the wagon, settled the accommodation for the men who could camp in the stables behind the inn and would be provided with food. Richard joined Lucie in their rooms and found Mary and Edgar already in attendance with hot water and changes of clothing before they dined in a private parlour.
Richard noticed Lucie gingerly taking her seat at the dining table and smiled at her sympathetically. “Your behind has taken undue punishment, my love. You are a staunch trooper, though I would never have guessed until now. It must be the furthest you have ever ridden on horseback, is it not?”
She nodded wearily but smiled in return. “The furthest, I believe, I have travelled at any time in my life, but what a wonderful adventure I am having. Did we actually get away from Ashbury without anyone knowing?”
“Yes, as far as last night was concerned, but it is likely they will soon know today, and possibly, we shall have someone tracking us. We have to rest ourselves and the cattle tonight, but we shall be off early in the morning. By the time we reach the foothills of Shropshire, they might lose the road and guess we are heading for Shrewsbury or some other major town, instead of which I know the byways to the village of Clun where the castle and the house lies.
“Of course, Clun Castle is not as it once was, though the ruins are noteworthy as it stands high on a hillock overlooking the river. It was quite a landmark when my great grandfather bought it, and also the land round it as well as a small manor house that lay on it called Amberley Cott. A great deal of the ruins and some smaller buildings that housed stables, a bake house and kitchens, as well as ancient housing for the billeted men, was left to gradually decay, but the name Clun Castle continued to be used. Rather pleasing and gives it some history, even if, over time, further collapse of the buildings occurred. Villagers stole some of the stones for village houses, and the architect used quite a lot for the rebuilding of the manor when old Amberley Cott was taken down. The new manor took the title of Amberley Hall when it turned out to become quite a large house.”
“Oh, I truly love the name, and I’m glad it was kept. I could never understand Edmund Tasker changing the name of the estate he bought to his own surname. Although it was merely called The Willows, its name had been the same for at least a hundred years because of the osiers that grow along the banks of the nearby river. Changing the name of the house to his name, smacks of egotism. I’ve always thought Tasker was a prime egotist. Certainly, the villagers jeered, though I expect they are used to him now, or at least his money.”
“That's very perceptive of you. Egotist is fittingly appropriate. He claims he is special!”
“Hmm, especially dangerous, I think. I am so glad we managed to get away before he did us more harm. I have always believed that he murdered Emmeline, his wife, and the man she was running away with. I know I have no proof, but neither have you, and you are convinced he was responsible for Grandmama’s tragedy. Her death makes him a killer twice over. Could any of his servants be persuaded to give evidence?”
“I don’t know,” Richard said soberly. “If they were involved in either accident, then giving evidence would incriminate them as well. I doubt you’d get anyone to comply.”
“You must catch one of them and beat him until he confesses!”
“Lucie! I did not know you were so bloodthirsty.” He grinned at the look on her face. “While the thought is tempting, the law does not condone such things. I would suggest we eat now and retire early. Tomorrow will soon be here, and I won’t be happy till I have you safely in Amberley.”
Once in bed, massaging her aching back and tender bottom after the long ride led to the predictable consequences until both, sated from his intense love-making, fell asleep entwined together. Dawn was an undesirable visitor as Lucie yawned and donned two sets of underwear to protect her tender regions. Though subdued, she made no demur and was lifted onto her horse after a cup of chocolate and a roll, and followed Richard on the next stage of their journey. They stopped at Tenbury Wells, a small market town in the North West county of Worcestershire just a short way from the Shropshire border, to rest the animals, take time to eat, and recover from the fatigue of the journey. Richard was looking happier for every mile they left behind them.
After leaving Tenbury, they followed the Teme Valley, but instead of going north towards Shrewsbury on a wide highway, they turned off on a small road to the west between high
hedges. After some miles, he led them northwest on an even smaller lane which was scarcely wide enough for the coach and wagon to get through. Lucie, riding alongside Richard and hearing the swearing of the concerned drivers, turned an anxious face to him. “Richard, what if they get stuck?”
“They won’t get caught. Half a mile up from here, the road widens and the going will be better. I’ve seen bigger wagons go through here, especially at harvest time.” Gazing back at her with a frown, he murmured, “Close your ears to their babbling, sweetheart. Such language is not fitting to gain knowledge of.”
She laughed gleefully. “Oh, my goodness, you’ve never heard my grandmother in her duchess mode blasting off at all and sundry. She could make Rowten blush till his ears were on fire. Many times, he used to shoo me away when I was younger until she calmed down. She had a most amazing vocabulary that usually stunned people into compliance.”
She stared at his shocked face and chortled again. “You don’t know the half of it. When she was in a mood to get her own way, she wouldn’t put up with gainsayers and would blast them to perdition until they gave in. I have to say, I learned a great deal from her style and intend to follow her example if I feel so inclined.”
“It seems I have a lot to learn about you, my Lady Martell,” he muttered grimly.
“It will keep you on your toes, my lord,” she answered sweetly.
“As, indeed, I will keep you on yours, my lady.” He smirked, not to be outdone.
Honours even, they pressed on and soon reached a better road which occasioned sighs of relief all round. A short way from the lane, they came in sight of a river and the large village which Richard said was Clun as he headed for the stone packhorse bridge, a huge affair with three buttressed piers standing in the river.
A Perilous Marriage Page 13
