The Earl That Overruled My Destiny

by Hanna Hamilton

  And this is my fault, at least in part. If I had not insisted on meeting Lady Gwendoline so often, she may not have been caught. We may not have been caught. But I must make this right.

  When he reached his horse, the noble animal shifted anxiously on her hooves and tossed her head. Caspian suspected that she noticed his anxiety, but he saddled her as quickly as he could and urged her into a gallop, rather than the usual quiet trot that he normally had her travel in.

  The horse’s hooves clapped loudly on the cobblestones. Her mane flew back, streaming in the night wind. The air was heavy with the scent of coming rain. Caspian’s heart raced and as he urged the horse faster still. He knew that he risked being caught with his recklessness, but if any ill fate befell Lady Gwendoline, he knew he’d never forgive himself. He must make all haste to her and never look back or falter.

  And I pray that she is unharmed. I pray that no one has threatened her as they have me.

  He urged his horse onward. She galloped through the London streets, and although she was a fine horse and her pace quick, it seemed to Caspian that a century passed between the Farradays’ estate and Lady Gwendoline’s home.

  When he reached the edge of the property, he hid his horse among the trees as usual, and he raced across the grounds. His heart sped up, and his pulse quickened. Caspian’s throat tightened. If anything happened to Lady Gwendoline…

  No, I must not think of that. I’ll find her, and she’ll be fine. Just as always. I’ll find her, and she’ll laugh at me for being so worried about her.

  But even as Caspian told himself that, he knew he was only trying to make light of the situation. Lady Gwendoline was in as much danger as he was, if not more.

  Finally, he found the willow tree beneath her window, and he dared to let himself breathe. Caspian crouched to the ground, searching for the pebbles. He grabbed the first few he found, but when he turned to look into Lady Gwendoline’s window, his blood ran cold. The pristine glass was now broken. Large, spider-cracks spread across its surface, and in the darkness, he could just barely see a large hole.

  What happened?

  His chest heaved. Something bad had happened. Something dreadful. “Gwendoline!” he shouted, panic rising like a wave within him.

  He waited in silence. It was probably a mistake to have shouted. Someone might hear, and if anyone had noticed Lady Gwendoline’s window breaking, they were surely in her room already. And they’d have heard his shout.

  Caspian retreated back into the cover of the willow fronds, trying to decide what his next approach would be. Did he dare call for her again? Or should he hurl a pebble at her window? It was true that Lady Gwendoline might be at the moment in the hands of her family, her loved ones, but was it not just as likely that she might be in danger?

  I must look. I must know. I’d rather be caught than risk her being alone and in danger.

  And although he hadn’t even considered bringing his small sword with him, if Lady Gwendoline was in danger, he could at least distract her assailant long enough for the lady to flee to safety.

  Caspian took a deep breath and went to the door where Lady Gwendoline always slipped out. He twisted the knob, sighing in relief when he found it unlocked.

  His heart felt as though it was lodged in his throat. He was inside, and so far, everything seemed quiet and peaceful.

  But Gwendoline.

  He knew where her room was from the outside, and he knew she must take the stairs to reach him. Caspian took the staircase to his right and climbed them two at a time, rushing up them as quickly as he dared. He was louder than he ought to be, but if Lady Gwendoline was in danger, it didn’t matter. After he knew she was safe, he’d figure out how to fix the rest of the problems.

  Finally, he reached a door. Was it hers? The position seemed right. He tore the door open, his stomach lurching.

  A figure stood in the room, and when she turned around, her dark curls flying around her, a gasp tore from her throat. It was Lady Gwendoline!

  Caspian pulled the door closed behind him and drank her in. She stood in her nightgown. Before her, there was the broken window and glass scattered about the room, some of it even sprinkled near her bed.

  Whoever shattered that window could have hurt her.

  A well of rage burned inside Caspian, hot and indignant that anyone would put the Lady in the least bit of harm. He crossed the room in three bold steps. Lady Gwendoline’s chest heaved, as she vied for air. Without warning, she flung herself at him and clung to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, petting her back, stroking between her shoulders. “I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”

  She tipped her head back. Her dark eyes were wide and her face deathly pale. “It wasn’t you,” she whispered.

  “No,” he replied. “No, it wasn’t me. I received a threatening letter, and I came here at once. I thought you might be in danger. Has anyone hurt you?”

  She bit her lip and shook her head, but her hands remained still clasped about his neck. Caspian let his hands drift lower, just above her waist. He half-feared that she might be a ghost and evaporate in his touch.

  “No,” she whispered, “But I have received a letter of my own.”

  “What?”

  She uncurled her arms from him, looking reluctant. Lady Gwendoline turned away and retrieved a large chunk of rock from the floor. Beside it, there was a note, and before the Lady even lifted the note and held it to his face, Caspian suspected what the contents of the letter were.

  It was the same handwriting as his letter. Caspian reached into his pocket and drew his out. Lady Gwendoline’s hand shook as she took his and held it beside hers. “They’re identical,” she murmured.

  “I suspected they would be.”

  “But who would do such a thing?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know, Gwendoline.”

  “The only person I have told is Lady Florence,” Lady Gwendoline said, “And she wouldn’t do this. I trust that she wouldn’t tell anyone either.”

  “I haven’t told anyone.” Caspian shook his head. “Not even my own brother. I can’t imagine who’d want to do this. It must surely be someone who benefits from having our families at odds, though.”

  “But who would that be? As far as I’m aware, our feud really benefits no one,” Lady Gwendoline replied, furrowing her brow. “And although our families have continued it all this time, I don’t see one of them doing this.”

  “I don’t either. And the hand is not that of someone with good reading. It looks too unpracticed,” Caspian said.

  “But perhaps, this scoundrel had someone pen the letter for them,” Lady Gwendoline pointed out. “Surely, it would not be too difficult to find someone to write two letters, or perhaps, this writer merely fought to disguise his handwriting.”

  “I suppose either is possible, but still, I can’t imagine who would have done this. There must be someone we aren’t considering.”

  “It can’t be one of our friends or family, at any rate,” Lady Gwendoline said. “They would have no reason to do something like this. There would be nothing to gain.”

  “You’re right. I can’t think of anyone either, but I promise I’ll find out who is responsible for this. No one is going to hurt you. I won’t let it happen.”

  She nodded and handed his letter back. Caspian tucked it away once more into his pocket.

  “I intend to wake my father,” Lady Gwendoline said. “You must go before I do.”

  Caspian clasped her hands in his. “I will. But promise you’ll be safe. Be careful. Don’t let yourself be caught alone. If anything happens to you—”

  His throat was raw, and his chest ached so fiercely that Caspian could barely speak. There didn’t seem to be enough air in the world to satisfy him. His heart seemed frozen with fear that something dreadful might befall Lady Gwendoline.

  “Nothing will happen to me,” Lady Gwendoline said gently. “I promise. Take care of yourself, My
Lord. We know that what we’re doing is right. Otherwise, someone would not seek to stop us.”

  “I know. Take care. I’ll hurry as quickly as I can. Wake your father.”

  She nodded. “I will.”

  Overcome with emotion so strong that he could scarcely put a name to it, Caspian bowed and kissed her hand, his lips lingering on her knuckles. “Good night, My Lady. I bid you be careful and trust no one but me with this matter.”

  Her face was impossible to read. “I know,” she said. “I promise I will.”

  He longed to stay with her, but he knew that if the lady went to her father, and he was there, it would only raise more questions than they wanted. So Caspian fled down the stairs and outside. He lingered between the willow tree, and through the shattered glass, he heard Lady Gwendoline’s piercing scream.

  She was playing the part of the damsel, the terrified lady, and screaming to summon her father. He felt a spark of admiration and fled, keeping to the shadows as he raced across the estate grounds. When he reached his faithful horse, he mounted her and urged her into a gallop.

  In seconds, he was out of sight. Now, he could only hope that whoever hurt Lady Gwendoline was, too.

  Chapter 21

  “I can’t imagine who would do such a thing!” Lord Newhost snapped. “By God, what sort of coward derives pleasure from threatening young ladies? What sort of monster?”

  Gwendoline felt a spark of guilt as she watched her father pace across the floor of his office. If she’d told him the reason that the alleged scoundrel had thrown a rock through her window, he might have had a better idea of who might have thrown the rock through her window and shattered it.

  And yet Lord Caspian and I cannot discern the identity of the scoundrel who is threatening us.

  Despite the danger, a rush of delight overcame her. She remembered in the heat of it all, now that she was safe with her father in his study, that Lord Caspian had called her Gwendoline. And he’d shouted her name with such a rush of passionate inspiration that her whole body felt light just thinking about it.

  And when he’d swooped in and burst through the door, it had been just like one of the old romances. It had been like a valiant knight come to save her from some heinous threat.

  “We’ll have the window replaced, of course,” her father continued, drawing Gwendoline’s attention back to him, “But in the meantime, perhaps, we ought to have you sleep in one of the guest rooms.”

  Then, Lord Caspian might arrive and find her missing, but he was a smart man. Surely, he would anticipate that Gwendoline might have changed the room in which she slept. He would probably even consider that wise since they still did not know the identity of the person threatening them.

  But who could it be?

  She had only told Florence, and there was no doubt in Gwendoline’s mind that Florence hadn’t done this. Florence was her best friend and dearest companion, and besides, she was a friend to both of their houses. And of Gwendoline’s other friends—Sophia and Lydia—she could think of no one who would benefit from frightening her so.

  If only she’d been awake to see whoever had thrown the rock through her window and broken the glass! That same night, had Gwendoline herself not considered staying awake and waiting to see if Lord Caspian would arrive?

  “I think sleeping in a guestroom might set my mind at ease,” Gwendoline admitted.

  Her father’s gaze softened, and in that moment, he wasn’t the cold and distant figure he’d grown into as she grew older. Instead, he was her dear father who loved her and was willing to do anything for her. A wave of fondness swept over Gwendoline.

  “Yes,” Lord Newhost said. “We’ll put you in a guest room, while I work to have the window replaced. I’ll have some of the servants watch over you until we have solved the matter, too. I’ll have no one destroying my property and frightening my daughter.”

  “Thank you, My Lord.”

  Her father nodded and ran his hands through his hair. He let out a low breath of air. “I just can’t imagine who would do such a thing.”

  “Nor can I, My Lord. I don’t know anyone who we could have angered.”

  Gwendoline bit the inside of her cheek and fought against the urge to fidget. She wasn’t entirely lying, though. The Lady truly had not the faintest idea who might wish to frighten Lord Caspian or herself. It was clear that it was someone who wished for the fight between their families to continue or else someone who did not want them to learn the truth of the past, but Gwendoline couldn’t even begin to guess who that might be.

  It must be someone who neither Lord Caspian nor I are close to. If it is neither my friends and family nor his, it must be someone else. But who?

  “As far as I’m aware, there is no one.” Lord Newhost paused. “However, you did provoke the Lockwood boy. Lord Caspian.”

  Gwendoline’s face warmed, but she shook her head. “That was so long ago, and besides, the matter was settled. Lord Caspian apologized very graciously and took the blame himself for my ill temper. He confessed that he meant to provoke me.”

  Her father’s eyes narrowed, but after a few moments, he nodded. “You’re right. If it was that, he would have acted before now. That was weeks ago.”

  Lord Caspian hadn’t frightened her; Gwendoline knew that for certain. But she also knew that she could not share the knowledge with her father without admitting that she and Lord Caspian had been investigating the scandal between their families.

  Truthfully, there was nothing Gwendoline could do save hope that Lord Caspian discovered the identity of the person threatening them. At least, there was nothing she could do yet.

  But what if exploring the truth of what happens leads us to the scoundrel responsible for this? Is that better or worse?

  “It’s entirely possibly it’s just some urchin or some ill-bred man playing a cruel jest upon your mind,” Lord Newhost said. “I’m certain that there is nothing meant by this threat. We’ll place you in a different room for now, while we repair your window. But otherwise, set your mind at ease. You are as safe here as you always have been.”

  Gwendoline nodded and forced a smile, although her heart wavered. It was not merely a jest, and she knew that. She bit her lip and tried to decide if she ought to be honest and admit everything, but if she did, her father was sure to demand that she and Lord Caspian never speak again.

  And that was something which Gwendoline knew she would be unable to endure.

  “Perhaps…” Lord Newhost trailed off.

  “Perhaps?” Gwendoline echoed.

  “Nothing. I thought that perhaps you ought to return to the country for the rest of the Season, but that is foolishness. While a rock thrown through your window indicates that someone—”

  “I can’t,” Gwendoline said.

  Returning home, to their usual residence, for the remainder of the season would make it even more difficult to contact Lord Caspian. And she already suspected that communicating with the lord would be a challenge enough now that their moonlight meetings were to end. The only way she’d be able to speak to him would be through Florence, and Gwendoline would have to be subtle in their communication. She did not wish to bring the other lady to the attention of the letter writer, after all.

  “It is true that I was frightened, but I suspect you are right, My Lord. It was likely just some young man’s bit of mischief. Someone ill-bred, perhaps. A rapscallion.”

  Lord Newhost nodded. “I agree. We would not want to look as though we’re so easily frightened either. It is only that I worry about you. Whoever did this…I imagine he knew where your window was and intended to frighten you.”

  She’d only told Lord Caspian which window was hers, but he wouldn’t have done this. Gwendoline didn’t doubt him for an instant.

  “And I was frightened,” she admitted. “But I’m fine now. Mostly, My Lord.”

  “Mostly,” her father echoed softly. “But if you’re frightened even a little, that is too much. You are my only child, and I’ll
not have you feeling as if you are not safe in your own bedroom. You should always feel safe here, my dear.”

  Gwendoline felt herself soften with her father’s concern. “I know,” she said softly. “I’m certain that whoever has done this and whatever that person’s intentions, you will keep me safe.”

  “Always,” Lord Newhost said.

  And even though Gwendoline hadn’t told her father the truth of everything, she believed his conviction. For just an instant, she felt like she was the joy of his life once more.

  * * *

  The next day, Gwendoline went to visit Florence on her family’s estate. She was welcomed as usual, for Gwendoline had been Florence’s friend since they were both girls. She sat in the parlor, an elegant room with white, lacey curtains and elegant, rosewood furniture. Light streamed through the thin curtains and over the polished wood of the grand piano.