Lord Lyndhurst and his companions made their way up the stairs and knocked on Captain Blackmore’s door. ‘Room Service,’ Lord Lyndhurst called. The door opened and Captain Blackmore stood there blustering. ‘I did not order room -’ He stopped abruptly. He did not know Croxdale, but he was obviously not delivering room service and neither were the gentlemen with him. ‘And who the devil are you?’ the Captain demanded with a puzzled expression on his face.
‘I am Lord Lyndhurst, Earl of Croxdale and this gentleman is Mr. Jameson, the Sunderland magistrate. We need a minute of your time, if you please.’ Captain Blackmore obviously did not please and started to close the door on them, but Lord Lyndhurst stopped it with his foot and drew his sword. ‘I think you misunderstand me. I am not giving you a choice.’
Captain Blackmore confronted with the sword had no option but to step back, allowing them to enter the room. The magistrate closed the door behind them and turned to speak. ‘We are here on behalf of your wife, Mrs Blackmore to obtain a confession to the coercion of marriage. Lord Lyndhurst has a document for you to sign.’ Lord Lyndhurst, still holding the Captain at sword point, reached into his pocket with his left hand, and laid the document on the table.
Captain Blackmore gave the magistrate a derogatory glance. ‘And why exactly would I sign such a document? Mrs Blackmore married me of her own free will. I did not hold a pistol to her head.’
‘Maybe not,’ Lord Lyndhurst interrupted, ‘but you arranged it through sheer trickery, which amounts to very much the same thing.’ He pressed the sword to Captain Blackmore’s throat. ‘There is more than one way to skin a cat. Strip!’ he commanded.
Captain Blackmore looked perplexed. ‘Strip?’ he repeated bewildered. Even the magistrate and the constables looked at Lord Lyndhurst as if he had lost the plot.
‘Yes, take your shirt off,’ Lord Lyndhurst clarified. He lowered his sword and deftly cut his cravat using the point of the blade.
Captain Blackmore sneered. ‘You are hardly going to kill me in front of a magistrate and two other witnesses. Even you would not get away with that, Croxdale.’
Lord Lyndhurst was losing patience and with one swift movement, he deftly nicked Captain Blackmore’s cheek. Captain Blackmore stepped back, smarting at the sting, and raised his hand to stem the slow trickle of blood dripping down his face. He turned to the magistrate. ‘Mr. Jameson, I demand that you arrest this man for assault.’
Mr. Jameson raised his brows. ‘Assault? I have not witnessed any assault.’ He turned to the constables. ‘Did you witness an assault gentlemen?’
The constables just nodded their heads. They had been informed of Captain Blackmore’s demeanours and were not in sympathy. The magistrate turned back to the Captain. ‘I am sorry sir, but I am afraid that I cannot oblige you.’
Lord Lyndhurst scowled. ‘Do as you are asked if you do not want a matching scar on the other side.’ Captain Blackmore decided it was wise to do as he was bid and reluctantly removed his shirt. He stood there before them, his torso broad, powerful, tanned and unblemished. Lord Lyndhurst turned to the magistrate. ‘Do you see what I see?’ he asked triumphantly.
‘I see nothing,’ Mr. Jameson smiled, with the sudden realisation of Lord Lyndhurst’s tactics.
‘Exactly!’ Lord Lyndhurst smirked and turned back to the Captain. ‘Blackmore, one has got to ask. Where is the knife wound that the mysterious Viscount Brackenbury so viciously bestowed?’
Captain Blackmore really had nowhere to hide. The lack of a scar proved his treachery. He should have thought of that, but there again, he never thought he would be challenged. He came to the realisation that he had seriously underestimated his absent wife. She was obviously more spirited than he had anticipated.
Lord Lyndhurst pointed to the document on the table. ‘Sign it!’ he demanded. ‘You do not know how desirous I am of running you through for the Cur that you are.’
Captain Blackmore reluctantly took the quill that the magistrate handed to him and signed the document, glaring at Lord Lyndhurst as he did so.
Lord Lyndhurst lowered his sword, but not his guard. ‘Let that scar be a reminder not to meddle with Lady Winterbourne again, but I doubt you will get a chance where you are going.’
He turned to the two constables. ‘Arrest him, gentlemen. I think we have the evidence we require.’
At that, he left, leaving Captain Blackmore in the arms of two burly constables and the magistrate. The man was despicable and it had taken the Earl all his self-control not to kill him, but the Captain would get his just deserts soon enough.
Having obtained a written confession, Lord Lyndhurst decided that he could not entrust such a valuable document to the mail coach. He would have to deliver it directly to Lord Eldon in person. However, he needed a few days before he returned. The journey up north had been a long one and he needed time to recuperate. Besides, he still needed to flush out Viscount Brackenberry and Captain Blackmore’s accomplices. Meanwhile, he would write to Lord Eldon to advise him of his success, and he realised that he must also write to Lady Winterbourne as he had left quickly and without a word, and she must be wondering why he had not kept his appointment with her and his promise to give her fencing lessons.
*****
Ten days later, Lord Lyndhurst stood in Lord Eldon’s office, only to find that Lord Eldon had advised Lady Winterbourne that her statement had been corroborated, and that they had contacted the ecclesiastical court on her behalf. She had travelled up to Newcastle to finalise an annulment with the court. Lord Lyndhurst cursed. There was no way he would arrive back in Newcastle in time to attend the hearing. Lord Eldon also told him that Lady Winterbourne’s home in Charlotte Square was uninhabitable, the Captain having set fire to it before he had fled, and the Earl suddenly realised that he did not know her direction. To add insult to injury, Lord Eldon also advised him that Captain Blackmore had escaped from the Constables, but they had signed a statement as witnesses to the fact that the Captain had no scar to indicate a stab wound.
There was nothing left to do, but visit Lady Winterbourne’s Aunt in Bruton Street and find out where Penelope was staying. Lady Sears welcomed him into her drawing room, but was unable to help him. Penny had told her that she had been staying with friends near the coast, but she had not furnished an address because she was concerned that Captain Blackmore would try to seek her out. Penelope had told her Aunt that it was better that way. Her aunt had received a letter from her niece a few weeks ago when she had written asking if she could visit, but unfortunately, she had disposed of the letter and could not remember the address. Lady Sears handed him his own letter unopened, explaining that it had arrived two days after Lady Winterbourne had left, and that she had been unable to forward it on.
Lord Lyndhurst left Lady Sears and was totally frustrated. He had let the only woman whom he had ever cared for slip through his fingers and now she had totally disappeared. She would soon be free of her disastrous marriage and Lord Lyndhurst wanted her, and what is more, he would not rest until he found her.
Chapter 8
Lady Winterbourne waited indoors every day for a week, but the Earl remained elusive. Lord Lyndhurst’s promise to call and continue with her lessons did not come to fruition and Penelope reasoned that she should have known better. Had he been disgusted by her masquerade after all? Had he kept up a facade until he had taken his leave of her, and just like the rest of them, proven false to his word? So why did she feel so bitterly disappointed? She had really begun to hope that this man was different, but he had proven the same as all the rest. She became increasingly agitated and restless at this thought. She had really thought that she had found a friend, but she was mistaken. She should have remained true to her resolve and she would not have felt so completely disheartened.
Finally, a week later, she received an appointment with Lord Eldon. She anxiously entered his office, nervous of the outcome. Lord Eldon received her with a solemn smile and asked her to take a seat.
‘Well, Lady Winterbourne, would you like the good news or the bad?’ he asked as he polished his spectacles. Penelope’s heart dropped to her stomach and she could hardly breathe.
‘Either.’ Lord Eldon, ‘please just tell me!’
‘Well the good news is that investigations have been made and your statement has been substantiated. I am sorry that it took so long, but Captain Blackmore proved difficult and he had to be compelled to comply. He could not verify the existence of a scar caused by a knife wound and it would appear that his aggressor Viscount Brackenbury does not exist. One of Captain Blackmore’s friends, Mr. Farnham, under threats of being charged with complicity, has given a written statement as to the circumstances and it verifies very much what you have told me. The good news, Lady Winterbourne, is that under these circumstances, Parliament has decided to grant you an annulment instead of a divorce. It only remains to tie up the loose ends with the ecclesiastical court in Newcastle and you will be a free woman.’
Penelope sighed with relief. The world had just fallen off her shoulders, but Lord Eldon remained quite solemn, a circumstance she could not ignore.’
‘What is the bad news?’ she asked pensively. Surely, nothing could spoil this wonderful moment.
‘The bad news,’ Lord Eldon continued, ‘is that Captain Blackmore has disappeared, and when we came to freeze your assets, we discovered that large amounts of money had been drawn from your bank account. Not only that, he has set fire to Charlotte Square. A passing citizen raised the alarm and neighbours formed a line to put the fire out with buckets. Your insurance company sent out their fire tender and has saved the integrity of the structure, but it was too late to save most of your personal possessions. I am truly sorry, Lady Winterbourne, but in short, your assets are seriously depleted.’
‘Penelope looked on aghast. ‘Are you saying that I have nothing?’
Lord Eldon looked decidedly uncomfortable and shifted in his chair. ‘A warrant has been put out for Captain Blackmore’s arrest, of course, but when we do apprehend him, I hold out little hope of recovering much. Of course, you can sell Charlotte Square, but in its present state, you will get a much reduced price.’
Penelope closed her eyes and tried to absorb this catastrophic information. She had no desire to remain in Newcastle, for her friends and acquaintances there had proved fickle, but she doubted now that she could afford to move elsewhere so soon. Penelope was frantically mulling over her options. She could always stay with her Aunt in London as an unpaid companion. She knew she would be welcome, but she would lose much of her independence. She could return to her father cap in hand, but she could not bring herself to apologise for eloping with a man she loved. She had the rest of her trust fund, but that was tied up for another nine years. Maybe under the circumstances, her deceased husband’s lawyers may find a way to release some. Either way, she had no desire to remain in Newcastle.
Lord Eldon intruded on her reflections. He was well aware of his client’s predicament and looked at her kindly. ‘Lady Winterbourne, you will need to present yourself to the ecclesiastical court in Newcastle. The court session is arranged for two weeks from now. It is just a formality as they have already received notification of Parliament’s consent, but all the same, it is a necessity. Is there anywhere you can stay in Newcastle? If not, I can arrange for you to stay with one of my relatives. Perhaps my wife Bessie can arrange something for you.’
Penelope was moved that this stranger could be so understanding and gracious. ‘Why thank you Lord Eldon, that is most kind of you, but I do know someone I can stay with. I know I will be welcome there and it is close enough to suit my purposes. I am very grateful to you. I realise that it is not everyday a woman can obtain an annulment of her marriage, even a woman in my position, and I realise that even under these circumstances, I am very fortunate.’
‘Indeed, Lady Winterbourne, but your case in not unique. Just recently, a similar case was pending, the circumstances were of course different in many ways and certainly more complicated, but the principals are very much the same. The Lady in question died in April just before the divorce came to fruition, but she had won her case and the outcome was inevitable. Perhaps you have heard of her, The Countess of Strathmore. I suspect my dear, that is where your recent husband gained his inspiration.’
Penelope had heard of some such news in the papers, but was too concerned with her own troubles to pay particular attention. She knew that the case had taken place over a period of years and was long and drawn out. ‘I do recollect something, Lord Eldon,’ she replied, ‘but I know nothing of the details.’
‘Ah well, Lady Winterbourne, I believe it has set a precedent and that is why we were able to deal with your case so quickly. You are a very lucky lady.’
Penelope stood up and shook his hand. ‘I will take no more of your time, but I will be eternally grateful to you, Lord Eldon.’ Lord Eldon gave a fatherly smile. ‘I cannot take all the credit. I did employ a team you know, but thank you and I wish you well in the future.’
Lady Winterbourne left Lord Eldon’s office with mixed feelings. An annulment had been approved, a solution even better than a divorce, but she was practically destitute. Despite this fact, she could only conclude that it had all been worth it. She would soon be free of Captain Blackmore, but what did her future hold? She was sure of one thing. It would never again include a man!
*****
Penelope’s return to Newcastle did not present the difficulties that her journey to London had. She travelled as Lady Winterbourne and was accompanied by her aunt’s maid, who after a short rest had returned to London. The money Penelope had retrieved from the Grecian urn and the silver obtained by Nat on his subsequent forced entry to her home was seriously depleted, much of it being spent on fencing lessons, but she still had a little to pay her way. The lessons had been worth it, for she had an increased sense of confidence, a quality she would need as she faced an uncertain future. She still kept Nat’s flintlock pistol at her side, but did not find the necessity to use it.
Nathanial was at the Old George to collect Penelope from the stage when she returned to Newcastle and although tired, she made a brief stop at Charlotte Square to witness the devastation for herself. The window frames were charred with fire damage, and her beautiful Sheraton furniture and Rococo panelling were all but destroyed. Some of the chandeliers and the porcelain were intact, having survived the heat of the fire, and she agreed with Nat that they should return and retrieve what they could in order to sell it. For the moment, however, she was tired, and all she wanted to do now was to reach the warm comfort of Rosie’s kitchen.
Rosie was a motherly soul and welcomed Penelope as if she was a long lost daughter and Jorgie pranced around her, wagging his disreputable tail, delighted to see her again. Finally, she sat on the familiar Settle with a hot cup of Rosie’s excellent tea and described her experiences of the last few weeks to Rosie, Hannah and Nathanial. It was easy to confide in Rosie, some sixth sense told Penelope that this warm and hospitable woman could be trusted with anything. Penelope left nothing out, from her first meeting with Lord Lyndhurst in York, to her disastrous encounter with Lord Drysdale at Angelos. She asked Rosie if she could stay until the court case, or at least until she could work out what to do.
‘Never mind Lady Penelope,’ Rosie said, refilling her cup. ‘You can stay here for as long as you want. But you do know what goes on here and you must realise that if ever we are caught, heaven forbid, you will be found guilty by association.’
Penelope looked at Rosie with a steady resolve. ‘Do not worry, Rosie. I am well aware; in fact, I have a mind to join you!’ Rosie nearly dropped the teapot and stood speechless. Penelope returned her gaze with an amused smile. ‘And what is more,’ she added, ‘while I am here, you can all call me Penny. That is what my parents and Neville, my first husband, the Earl of Rosslyn called me. It is what my Aunt calls me and I wish you to use it.’
Nat gave the matter some thought and as was his habit
, rubbed his chin in contemplation. ‘Well Lady Penelope, I cannot see myself doing that. Even if I wanted to, I do not see that I could. I have called you Lady Penelope since you were a nipper and it’s a matter of habit.’
Penelope sighed. ‘Well, do try Nat, I beseech you. If I am to join you, I do not want the wider community knowing who I really am.’
‘I will try Lady Penelope, but you must know that it is a tall order.’
Penelope raised her eyes to the heavens. Nat had just committed his first indiscretion. She decided to ignore it.
*****
While Penelope waited for the Court Case, she retrieved what she could from Charlotte Square and sold it. The money was a welcome boost to her depleted resources. She offered some money to Rosie, but she would not accept it, claiming that she was quite comfortable and had no need of any extra. She insisted that Penelope should keep it for a rainy day, for she suspected that she was not out of the woods yet. Penelope had other ideas since she was determined on buying herself a fine sword. Having put the house up for sale and waiting to hear from her lawyers about claiming an advance from her trust, Penelope could only wait for the sitting of the ecclesiastical court.
The day of the court hearing arrived and Nathanial took her into Newcastle, accompanied by Rosie, Hannah, Andy and Daniel. The court was full to capacity with interested bystanders. As it was unheard of for a woman to gain an annulment from her husband, the citizens of Newcastle crowded into the courtroom, agog with curiosity. Captain Blackmore, being a fugitive from the law, was conspicuous by his absence.
For the most part, the attendees, hoping for a bit of gossip were disappointed, for the case being very straightforward, with the backing of Parliament, was over within ten minutes and Penelope left a free woman. On leaving the court, she was accosted by journalists from the Newcastle Courant, the Newcastle Journal and the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle to whom she gave a small statement.
Lady Winterbourne's Entanglement: A Romantic Regency Adventure Page 9
