That should have told her that Wallwood wasn't a man to trust.
She had made so many mistakes since she'd left Rayburn Manor, she realized. And even before she left. Robert had been a mistake too. Finally, she saw that. He was a steward. She didn't want to marry a steward. He had known that, but she had convinced herself otherwise.
Now she had to marry Wallwood, even though he had laughed at her. He despised her. But he hated Lady Kingston and Delmere and wanted to destroy them.
Although she had always imagined herself clever, she realized now that she had been foolish beyond permission. After she sent her groom away, she'd met Wallwood at the crossroads as they'd arranged.
Wallwood told her that a carriage, carrying his aunt, would arrive shortly. His aunt? Why hadn't she asked herself what his aunt would be doing in the tiny village of Millward Parva? The village had one inn.
He'd told her that his aunt was returning to the north. She would be pleased to have Eva's company on the journey.
He had just met her at the crossroads, when she saw two mounted men on the road. After giving them a glance, she ignored them. She assumed that they were traveling to London.
What a fool she had been.
The two men didn't ride by. They both dismounted. One walked towards her quite casually. Before she could do more than blink at him, he'd seized her arm and pulled her from her horse. She was so startled that she didn't even struggle. The other man had shoved a wad of material in her face. She felt ill, then dizzy, and that was all she remembered.
When she awoke, she was in Wallwood's carriage. Trussed up like a chicken for the pot, lying in the dirty straw at his feet.
Weak, with her head spinning, it took time for her to regain sensation in her limbs. She couldn't speak. Then slowly, as her physical strength returned, her memory returned too.
Foolish… Months previously, it amused her that Wallwood frightened Lady Kingston. Now she realized that the lady had had good reason to fear the man.
"I know you're awake," Wallwood said casually, prodding her ribs with the side of his boot. "Don't speak. Don't make any sounds at all. I don't like screaming women, so if you scream, I will gag you. Just lie quietly."
She ached in every limb.
Unable to do anything else, she'd slept, and when she awoke again, the carriage rumbled through the night. Wallwood had untied her, and she was slumped in the corner of the carriage. He sat opposite, his face visible in the light from the carriage lamp.
"Speak, if you wish," he said calmly.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I need money. Delmere called me out, so I can't return to London. I don't wish to meet him, the man's an excellent shot, and even better with a sword."
"You'll have to marry me."
He chuckled. "Marry you? Delmere might let me live long enough to marry you, but you'd be a widow soon after. No — I need money to get to the continent. Cologne. I've a little widow there I intend to marry. So money, that's all I want. "
She listened in disbelief. He'd abducted her, just for money. She was ruined. Fool… why hadn't she…?
She sighed, then sat up in the wing chair. She knew where she was, Hooton Hall. Wallwood told her. He'd told her too that Gostwicke Hall wasn't far away. She'd escape, and she'd make her way, somehow, to Gostwicke Hall.
Four days had passed in this little room. One of the men escorted her from the room three times a day, to wash, and to sit in the small courtyard.
The men didn't speak to her, but she knew that they wouldn't want her to die. If she hadn't felt so weak, she would have escaped long since, but she had no strength in her limbs.
She was stronger now, and she'd escape tonight. She would do it because she had to.
What did it mean to love someone? Anne wondered. Surely it meant that you didn't need to be afraid of them — and she had never been afraid of Delmere, she realized, in spite of his scar, and his size. She had always felt safe with him.
They arrived at the inn after nightfall. Anne kept her veil pulled down, but the landlord was too flustered at the presence of Delmere's liveried servants, and Delmere himself, to pay any attention to her. When the landlord bowed deeply he never lifted his gaze from her feet.
The landlady and her servants were terrified of Marie, and kept their wide eyes on the floor in Anne's presence too.
After a good dinner, with plain but ample food, she and Delmere sat in front of a fire in a tiny sitting room.
Anne decided that she wasn't afraid of Delmere, and she would prove it to herself. She had refused him abruptly and unkindly, but she had hope that he would forgive her.
Surely he would, but she owed him an explanation. She took a deep breath. "Nick… I would like to tell you about my husband. He had an uncertain temper." Her voice seemed loud over the crackling of the fire.
Nick had been sitting with a glass of brandy in one hand, staring into the flames. He looked up and silently asked her to continue.
"Every day that I lived with Lord Kingston I woke up afraid. I would wake up, and sense the fear. It was a heaviness, deep within me. It was always there, and it changed me utterly. I became accustomed to being fearful."
He waited, content to allow her to tell him whatever she wanted. She grew a little braver. "A full year after Kingston's death, when I returned to Gostwicke Hall, I still felt deeply afraid. I rarely spoke. I couldn't, even though I wanted to — I wasn't the person that I had once been… I didn't know how to stop being afraid."
She cleared her throat. "I didn't know what to do. Finally, I spoke to our vicar. I told him everything. He suggested that I must have hope… there was always hope. Then one morning – the fear was gone. I kept waiting for it to return."
She inhaled deeply, then released her breath slowly. "It did return," she told him. "It returned after I learned that you had gone to Italy – but then I reminded myself to hope."
"I will never make you afraid," he looked at her, his expression completely open. "Are you afraid now?"
She smiled. "No. I'm never afraid when I'm with you."
He stood, and held out his hand to her. She took it.
He stared at her hand then into her eyes, and brought her hand to his lips. "Anne, I love you. Thank you for telling me — for trusting me. I hope that I never give you reason to be afraid, of anything."
"Ask me again."
His smile lit his face and his eyes. "Anne, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
They arrived at Hooton Hall at midday the next day.
Delmere dismounted, and Thomas helped Anne and Marie from the carriage.
Anne stared, feeling helpless. The house must once have been lovely, but in the winter sunlight it looked unwelcoming. She didn't need to look up. She knew that no smoke blew from the house's many chimneys.
Delmere offered Anne his arm, and she rested her fingertips on his sleeve. "There's no one here," she said.
One of Delmere's footman ran lightly up the front steps, and used the knocker. Thomas followed Delmere's other footman, towards the gate in the wall which led to the back of the house.
They waited. The footman knocked again, then walked to a shutter across a long window, and tried to open it. "Locked, my lord," he said. He used the knocker again. "I'll go to the stables."
A light snowfall had fallen overnight, and lay pristine on the cobbles which surrounded the house.
Thomas and the other footman had disappeared through the gate.
Delmere's coachman walked up the steps, and tried the front door. He shoved his shoulder against it hard, and the door opened. He looked back at Delmere. "My lord?"
"Yes — go in and see if there's anyone there. Surely he's left someone to look after the house," Delmere said. He glanced at Anne, and smiled slightly. She knew that he remembered the evening before. "Would you like to go in?"
She shook her head.
Thomas returned through the gate. He was carrying a strip of white material.
"My lady —" He handed the strip to Anne. She turned it over. Fine white wool, embroidered with green vines. She recognized it immediately. The material had come from the bottom of Eva's petticoat.
She looked up at Delmere. "This is Eva's — I know it is, because I embroidered it myself. Thomas — where did you find this?"
"Outside the gate of the courtyard at the back of the house, ma'am. I opened the gate, and there it was."
They spent an hour searching the house and the grounds. Finally Delmere said what Anne had been thinking. "She's gone. She was here, but he's taken her away.
After traveling through the darkness, Anne and Delmere reached Gostwicke Hall at eight in the evening.
Thomas opened the door of the carriage.
"Thank heavens we're home," Anne said to Marie. She was relieved. She had been nervous that someone would recognize her, so they departed swiftly at each stage after changing horses.
The clatter of hooves had roused the household. The front door opened. When Anne glanced at the front steps, she saw Henry rushing down them. Then Henry hugged her, and whispered: "Eva is here!"
"What?" Thomas asked. "Miss Bywater is here?"
Anne heard Henry's words, but for a long moment, didn't comprehend them.
"Yes, she's here, Anne. She arrived today — she's had the most amazing adventure. She escaped from Wallwood's men, and rode across the countryside. He abducted her — can you imagine?"
Anne felt faint. "When? How –"
Suddenly Delmere was there. He put his arm around her waist and supported her against his body. She was grateful, and allowed herself to rest against him for a moment.
Eva was safe. She hardly dared to believe it. "Thank heavens," she said softly. She looked up at Delmere, who was smiling. She smiled in return.
"Whatever is the matter?" Henry stood with her hands on her hips, looking from Anne to Delmere. She frowned. "I though you'd be happy — are you ill?"
"I am quite well," Anne said with asperity. She would have liked to remain in Delmere's arms, but she straightened and took her sister's hand. "Come my dear, let's go inside. It's so cold that I can't feel my feet."
"She arrived just after lunch." Henry giggled, as they went up the front steps. "She rode for miles across the countryside. You owe a poor unfortunate farmer the return of his horse. And some money, I dare say. Eva was very brave. She decided that she didn't want anyone to see her — can you imagine the scandal if they had? So she stole a bridle and a horse."
Finally, they reached the drawing room. Thomas took Anne's cloak and hat, while another footman stirred the fire into life, and added wood to it. "I'll order food, ma'am."
"Some brandy first, please Thomas," Anne said. "I've never been as cold."
Henry took Delmere's cloak, handed it to Thomas, then hurried to the door, saying over her shoulder, "I'll go up to fetch Eva. I sent Beatie to get her… She went to bed after dinner, but you'll want to speak to her immediately. Oh — also, I sent a message to Catherine in town, so that she won't worry."
Anne nodded. She shook out her skirts, then sat on the sofa. Delmere placed shawl around her shoulders, and she smiled at him in gratitude.
He winked at her. "Henry has sharp eyes — you need to tell her."
She chuckled at that. "Yes. She's suspicious already."
Ten minutes later Eva entered the drawing room, her hands folded in front of her, and her eyes lowered.
Anne realized that she hadn't been able to believe that the girl was safe until she saw her. She felt Delmere's gaze on her. He rose when she did, and stepped closer to her. "It's all right," she told him. She didn't intend fainting. The brandy had helped her to regain her composure.
Eva hesitated, standing just inside the room.
"Your pardon Miss Bywater," Thomas said, nudging her gently aside so that he could close the doors.
Eva didn't look up.
Anne hurried across the room to hug her. "Oh Eva — we've been so concerned about you."
"I'll leave you alone," Delmere said gently, then left the drawing room.
Eva curtsied to him, keeping her eyes low. Anne took her hand and led her to the sofa. "Sit down, my dear. You look exhausted. Now you must tell me everything."
Eva's face was so pale that her brown eyes looked enormous. Finally, she looked up, and took Anne's hand. "I've been very foolish. I don't know how you could ever forgive me. I don't even know how or why I trusted Lord Wallwood… I'm so sorry my lady."
Anne patted Eva's hand. "Calm yourself. All will be well. Now, tell me how you escaped."
Eva had done exactly as Henry had said. She escaped Hooton Hall in the middle of the night. She'd hurried down the driveway, fearful that someone had heard her pushing open the creaky shutters and climbing out of the window.
When she reached the road outside Hooton Hall she saw the lights of a house, far in the distance. "I don't know who lives there. I found the stables, and took a bridle. I couldn't see very well, but I didn't want to light one of the lamps in the tack room. A couple of dogs barked, but they were in kennels. So I took a horse."
She inhaled, and released her breath in a long sight. "By daylight I knew where I was, and from then on, I followed the roads, but I stayed in the fields. I hid whenever I heard anyone approach. I didn't want Wallwood's creatures to find me — nor anyone to see me, and recognize me."
"You showed admirable presence of mind, my dear."
"I'm ruined, am I not? I've spoiled everything, after you went to so much trouble for me."
Anne had been thinking while Eva told the story of her escape. "No… Please don't worry, my dear. Catherine and I will ensure that that doesn't happen."
She couldn't admit, not even to herself, that she had no idea how that could be managed.
Talverne arrived from The Oaks next morning. Of course, he knew that Eva had vanished, and had been involved in the search for her.
Earlier, when Anne went down to breakfast, Thomas handed her a note from Lord Delmere. She scanned it quickly:
Good morning, my dear. Please don't be cross that I didn't wait for you. I thought it best to reach London and help Renford to find Wallwood before Wallwood learns that Miss Bywater has escaped his schemes.
Anne frowned. She slipped the note into her pocket.
"Delmere left for London before daylight," Henry said to her. "Sit down and eat, Anne. You look very pale… Tell me, are we all ruined?"
"Ma'am, Henry," Talverne said, and bowed to them both. Then he raised his eyebrows and asked Anne: "Is the brat right? Surely Mrs. Grove can bring Miss Bywater out of it all safely?"
Anne narrowed her gaze at him.
Thomas seated Talverne and took his plate. He filled it with a large beefsteak and returned it, then poured ale for the young lord.
"Thank you, Thomas. Very nice… Molly's an excellent cook." Talverne glanced at Anne. "No, no," he said hastily. "I promise you ma'am, I'll not say a word — Henry will tell you. I had a couple of men staying with me, and I sent them off to Melton, before they were aware… Gave them my subscription to the Quorn for the season, and the use of my hunting box."
"Yes," Henry said. "Pierce has been very good." She patted Talverne's hand. "No one could have behaved more handsomely. And he won't say a word…" She smirked. "He's terrified of Catherine."
"Oh shut up," Talverne muttered, his face flushing. He carved up his beefsteak.
18
Five days later, in London, Anne rode in the park with Thomas and her groom. They escorted Lady Tertsville in her carriage.
Lady Tertsville was thrilled that Anne and Delmere were betrothed. "You've made me a happy woman," she assured Anne. She was horrified that Lord Wallwood dared to abduct Eva, and had set herself to quashing any loose talk which might arise.
"Servants," she told Anne and Catherine darkly. "There'll be talk. But I'm determined that we'll sail through it."
Anne had returned to London immediately, the day after she arrived at Gostwicke Hall. She had
left a subdued Eva with Henry, who assured her that she and Eva could manage alone. Talverne told her that he would ride over every day.
However, when she reached town she discovered that Delmere had left again. He had followed Renford to Bristol. Delmere's letter told her merely that he would return as quickly as he could.
Catherine had insisted that Anne behave as if she were preparing Eva for her season. Lady Tertsville agreed with Catherine. Anne must come to see Lady Tertsville every day, that lady insisted. "We'll let the ton snoops chatter about why we're becoming so close. I may drop a few hints, and any loose talk from servants will be dismissed as nonsense."
"We'll pay calls, and we'll shop," Catherine said. "You'll stay here, at Eardley House, and lease Kingston House for the season. That will be thought clever of you — you haven't Elaine's business sense, so we'll say that the duchess suggested it. And we'll make preparations for Eva's ball."
"You'll pay daily visits to me," Lady Tertsville said, " and it won't be thought in any way unusual when Delmere finally announces your betrothal."
Anne agreed with the two ladies, but her mind was solely on Delmere. She missed him, and she was terrified that he meant to call out Wallwood. She couldn't allow herself to think that she might have found Delmere, only to lose him again.
Lady Tertsville patted her hand one day, when Anne and Catherine were about to leave Delmere House. "It will be all right, my dear — Nick will deal with Wallwood exactly as he should. And he will ensure that no breath of scandal touches any of us."
Catherine agreed. "All will be well," she said, when she and Anne were in the carriage returning to Eardley House. "Lady Tertsville and I will see to it all. Just think about your upcoming marriage… and the season. Can't you convince Delmere to wait until June for the wedding?"
Anne laughed at that. "He says he doesn't want a fuss, and neither do I — we've both been married before, and this will be his third wedding."
Her sister sighed. "I suppose so, but it's a shame. You know that Mother would like it, if you were —"
The Lady And The Man Of Fortune_A Wicked Secret_The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 3 Page 18
