Marriage by Proxy

by Cathy Duke

  “That's quite a story. But the child did not die, as we both now know! How did she take the news that her child is alive,” Arden asked.

  “It was met with surprise…no, shock I'd say, and anger. Her parents are no longer living so there is nowhere to place the much deserved anger. They betrayed her, Arden. She is distraught to say the least.”

  “Does her husband know? That could indeed cause some problems.”

  Bradley nodded and then smiled. “Maybe that's why I like her so much. She wouldn't marry Metcaffe until he knew the truth. Her parents didn't want her to tell him. They wanted to forget the entire incident. But she did tell him and they have a good solid marriage.” Bradley held his glass out for more brandy.

  “So what's next? It's kind of touchy thing to approach Millie and what will it mean to her?” Arden poured more brandy.

  “My aunt will travel to Brightmore Manor in a week or so to meet with Miss Balston. I wanted to warn you and see how we should plan this reunion.”

  “I can't imagine Millie would take this badly. She is a lady in her behavior and has kindness in her heart. She has been a friend to Amy for many years. And Amy of course helped her father with his practice…Millie was of the same mind set. It should go well, I think. Do you plan to tell Millie yourself?” Arden asked.

  Bradley nodded. “I think it would be best. After all, I do have my aunt to present in the best possible way. Do you think someone else should be present?”

  Arden shook his head no. “I think it is a private matter and best done by you since you are the one who spoke to your aunt and have her interests at heart.”

  “Perhaps I could talk to her after dinner tonight.” Arden nodded his approval.

  “The sooner the better, with your aunt due here in two weeks. Gives everyone a chance to think about things.” Arden added. “I would think Millie will be pleased to have family.”

  ****

  The garden was a riot of fall color. Tulips, daffodils, calla lilies, hyacinths and iris sprang to life with reds, pinks, orange and yellows in beautifully organized beds. The garden had some fruit trees that gave some shelter. There were statues of maidens with their trowels gardening, birdbaths, stone benches for sitting and cupids adding interest around the cobblestone paths. There was a gardening shed which housed gardening tools, pots for repotting and seedlings needing extra care and watering.

  Amy walked into the garden seeking Millie and Eva who were already there awaiting her presence. Her eyes took a moment to accustom themselves to the vivid rainbow of colors greeting her as she walked down the first path leading to a bench. She was met with giggles from Eva who could not contain herself ready for some promised adventure. Amy bent down to hug the child and looked up at Millie who was all smiles. Suddenly a butterfly captured Eva's attention and she scampered after it hopping and jumping.

  “You both look so happy and what a glorious day to play hide and seek.” Amy sat down on the bench next to Millie and they watched Eva and her excitement over the butterfly.

  “I was wondering if you were coming. Eva was nearly beside herself ready for some play,” Millie offered as she watched Amy's face. “Rats. I'm sorry if I sounded like a scolding nag.”

  Amy laughed. “You could never be a nag, Millie. You are always the even tempered sweet girl I grew up with.” Millie smiled at that and then watched a sparrow fly just above their heads. “We have a visitor at Brightmore Manor, Millie,” Amy teased as she watched for a reaction from her friend.

  “You must not keep me in suspense. Who is the visitor, pray tell?” Millie asked.

  “No other than the Duke of Somerset,” Amy said again watching her friend.

  Millie frowned. “I wonder why he is back so soon. Perhaps he forgot something.”

  “He did say he had urgent business with Arden. But I can't imagine what it is. I don't think they are in business on anything…so it is curious, to say the least. But he will stay for dinner and overnight since it is too late to ride back to London, unless of course he is going to his neighboring estate.”

  “He was just being polite to me, Amy. Don't make more out of this than there is, please,” Millie replied urgently. “It is as you said, he has business with His Grace.” The last line was so soft, it was hardly audible.

  Amy squeezed her hand. “I am sorry if I distress you. He was just so attentive to you…and his eyes simply glowed when he looked at you. I know he was interested in more than being polite.”

  “I just know that a girl like me is not suitable for a Duke…rats, I mean yours was arranged, but I am an orphan who has no idea where she came from. My parents might have been bandits or crooks for all I know.”

  Amy laughed. “You have such a vivid imagination, Millie.”

  “The most I can hope for is a nice country gentleman or perhaps a vicar.”

  “You have far too much spirit for a vicar. You would create quite a challenge for some minister. I can see it now. You would stir up a hell of a lot of trouble, to be sure.”

  “You seem happy, Amy. Married life must agree with you.” Amy smiled and looked up into the sky at two birds flying by chirping to each other as they passed.

  “Yes. Arden is more than I expected. He is sensitive and thoughtful and caring. I couldn't ask for more. Did I tell you he has forbid me to wear whale bone? He hates corsets and says I don't need to be cinched in. He is quite passionate about his feelings on this.”

  “He's right you know. You are wasting your discomfort on a corset. You have a perfect figure. Although it is unusual that a man would care.”

  “Perhaps because he is a doctor and sees it as a hindrance to good health. I must admit that it probably was initially caused by an incident at dinner.”

  “What kind of incident?”

  “I had decided to wear a gown that was a bit too tight and asked Daisy to get another inch off me. She did and I nearly passed out. I couldn't get my breath and panicked.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He actually got up from the table and opened the back of my gown and loosened my stays…ever so casually…as if he had done so a million times. The shocking thing was that he was not only adept, but more so than Daisy.”

  “That must have been…humiliating. I am blushing just thinking of it. It's warm out here is it not?”

  “He threatened Daisy if she ever….actually, he asked me not to wear the contraptions.”

  “So, you are not wearing a corset?” Millie asked with wide eyes.

  Amy smiled. “Do you think me insane? Of course I'm not wearing one. What if he checks…which I am not putting past him. I would be humiliated yet again. I think he means what he says. It would not be good to cross him, I am certain. I have not yet seen him angry, but I do not think I want to see it.”

  “That is wise, Amy.”

  They could hear giggling coming from the path beside them. Eva poked her head around a gardenia bush laughing and giggling, clearly out of breath.

  “You shall pass out from laughing Eva, just you wait and see. I shall have to call for a footman to carry you off to bed!” Amy said smiling at the child who was so full of energy and mischief.

  “I want to be the one to hide,” Eva said once the laughing subsided.

  “All right. We will give you to the count of 50 and then Millie and I will find you. Remember you have to stay in the garden,” Amy said as they covered their eyes.

  “No peeking.” Eva said as she took off down the path. The counting was started by Millie. Amy and Millie laughed as they huddled against the garden wall and covered their eyes. Millie counted aloud and slowly to give Eva an opportunity to hide. Eva would hide in one place and decide it wasn't good and then move to another. Finally, she hid in a large empty planting pot and curled into a ball at the bottom. The counting was over and Amy called out so Eva could hear.

  “Here we come.” They walked slowly looking left and right.

  “Maybe she is hiding under the lemon tree,” Millie whispered loud eno
ugh for Eva to hear.

  “No, I think she is hiding in the potting shed,” Amy added a moment later. They walked by Eva's hiding place several times deliberately looking over her hiding place. The women ignored a little giggle that erupted from the garden pot.

  “Do you think we will ever find her? She is pretty good at hiding, don't you think, Amy?”

  “Perhaps she is in the plum tree….” Amy said looking up into the plum branches. Another giggle came from the garden pot. Millie peeked into the pot.

  “Ahhh…got you!” Millie said grabbing the child and causing a squeal from Eva.

  “I gave myself away when I laughed. I couldn't help it. It makes me laugh. Why can't I be quiet? I do try so hard,” Eva said as she crawled out of the pot and brushed off her gown.

  “I know what you mean. We women do have a challenge keeping quiet, don't we Amy?”

  “It's your turn to hide, Millie.” Eva said.

  “Well, I think your mama should take a turn. I have been the one to hide several times and Amy has not had a turn as yet,” Millie said winking at Amy.

  “Well, that's because she never finds anyone!” Eva offered. Amy and Millie both laughed.

  “Really, Amy, you ought to be more observant,” Millie added with a grin and winking at Eva who nodded her head in agreement.

  “We will start counting and you must hide, Mama.” Eva said looking at Millie. Millie and Eva turned their backs, put their hands over their eyes and started counting together. Amy started to walk down the path to inspect possible hiding places. She assessed the potting shed ahead and it seemed a possibility for a good hiding place. Perhaps she could crawl up on a shelf and hide herself with some pots. But her skirts would make that idea difficult. She quickly looked around and saw a pile of trimmings on the ground near the shed. She could hide behind the trimmings and use a few to cover herself. Ahh, but she hated to risk ruining her beautiful new gown. Arden had been so generous with her wardrobe and she had more gowns that she could use…and yet to be reckless with the care…she was just too frugal. That pile of trimmings looked dirty.

  As the counting approached the end of her opportunity to hide, Amy stepped behind the shed in the shadows of a tree that hung its leafy branches over the roof of the shed. It was dark and shadowed. She took a deep breath and leaned on the side of the shed. This would have to do. At least she would not get her new gown ripped or dirty. She peeked around the corner of the shed to see if Millie and Eva had come near her hiding place. She thought she heard a rustle in the leaves near the shed. Yes, a few leaves crackled and crunched as if being stepped on. She held her breath, hoping not to give her hiding place away. Something wasn't right. Goosebumps ran up and down her body and suddenly a fear caught hold of her. Eva and Millie would be giggling and yes, she heard that pleasant sound across the garden. Not near the shed. Then a familiar smell…one from her past. Chloroform. Before she could react a dirty rag was place over her nose and strong arms wrestled her against a strong body that reeked of sweat and body odor. She was gagging at the strong smell that was over powering.

  Amy struggled and wanted to scream but the chloroform took its toll and she finally sagged against the man who captured her. Blackness took over and she lost consciousness.

  Chapter 15

  Brightmore Gardens, 1830

  It had been more than half an hour and Millie was alarmed. They had looked everywhere and the silence was deafening. There simply were no hiding places they hadn't checked. Eva looked at Millie with alarm. Even the birds seemed to stop chirping and an eerie quiet weighed heavy and wrong. Something was not right and it didn't feel right.

  “Where is she? We looked everywhere,” Eva asked Millie.

  “I will stay here and keep looking. You must go get your papa right away.”

  “We will find her, will we not?” Eva said ready to cry, tears starting to spill onto her pump cheeks.

  “Yes, dear, but hurry to get help. Time is of essence.” Eva ran off with her errand and Millie called out for Amy, knowing that something was terribly wrong and realizing there would be no answer. She even had the thought that Amy might have bumped her head and was unconscious, but she had looked everywhere and there was no sign of her friend anywhere. Besides this was not a serious game where one tried to outsmart a child.

  Millie took a deep breath and said a prayer to herself. “Rats, Amy. Where are you? What has happened?” She walked the paths and looked at the same places over and over as if she somehow missed seeing her friend.

  Suddenly she heard a commotion as the garden doors crashed open and Arden and Bradley burst through the opening with Eva following several paces behind. Arden looked around desperately until his eyes found Millie standing several feet from the entrance of the garden. Arden looked bleak and desperate. His eyes were narrowed and hard, his mouth grim. Gone were the sensitive, kind features that gave away his profession in medicine and helping people needing his medical service. He looked like a warrior ready to do battle. There were no soft sensitive lines on his normally calm kind face.

  “What has happened, Millie? Eva said Amy has disappeared.” He asked seeking some comfort to what seemed a desperate situation. It was as if he was begging Millie to tell him a better story. Something not so tragic and bleak.

  “We were playing hide and seek and Amy was to hide. We counted to fifty and then started to look for her and…she is nowhere to be found,” Millie stated with tears in her eyes. “What could have happened? I have looked everywhere and called for her until I am hoarse.”

  “How long has she been gone?” Arden asked.

  “At least twenty to thirty minutes. We have searched the garden…” Millie responded with despair.

  “Could she have left the garden to fool you?” Arden asked, knowing that was a stupid thought.

  “That would be cheating, and she would not do that…” Millie responded.

  Arden turned to Bradley. “We will search for signs of a struggle or …anything that could give us an idea of what happened.” Bradley nodded. “Millie, please take Eva inside and leave this to us.” Millie broke into tears and grabbed Eva's hand as she took the child inside.

  “What do you think of this?” Bradley asked as they started down the path.

  “I can't imagine what happened. Who would want to take Amy?” Arden muttered. He took the right path and Bradley went left.

  Arden was frantic. He looked around him from the top of plants to the cobblestone walkway. Signs. Anything that would help to explain what had happened. An indication of a struggle. By now two footmen and Godwin arrived for orders. The entire household was now notified and even the housekeeper had organized a search inside to rule out even the most remote of possibilities.

  “Have the grounds searched. They aren't that far ahead of us. When we finish here, we will join some men on horseback. Arrange a search party as quickly as possible with men searching every direction at once.” Then he heard Bradley call out to him.

  “Arden. Come here behind the shed,” Bradley yelled. As Arden approached Bradley, he saw his friend squatting looking at something on the ground. They both sniffed the air at once.

  “Chloroform,” Arden whispered under his breath. Bradley grimly nodded.

  “The air is thick with that smell, which probably means the event just occurred. And I found one of her slippers,” Bradley stated holding up a small silk slipper belonging to Amy.

  After looking at the slipper, Arden had a fierce expression as he looked around for any other clues. “I'll kill the bastard,” he muttered.

  “You'll have to catch him first. You don't have any enemies, do you Arden? I can't imagine with all you do for people, especially your tenants…and your poverty stricken patients too. Why, you're God to these people.”

  Arden suddenly stopped his looking for clues and had a stricken expression on his face as he gazed at Bradley.

  “What? You look like you've seen a ghost. What is it?” Bradley's voice raised several octaves as h
e urged Arden for an answer. Arden looked stunned and then anger overcame the first facial expression.

  “Hell and damnation. On my wedding day a footman spotted Joseph Dodd on Brightmore estate.”

  “Who the bloody hell is Joseph Dodd?” Bradley asked impatiently.

  “He's the bastard I kicked off my estate when he beat his young son nearly to death. He was a tenant.” Arden started walking toward the garden gates which led to the stables. “I punched him in the face and took his wife and son to live and work here.”

  “I believe that would qualify for an enemy,” Bradley said following Arden.

  “I thought he was sniffing around to get a look at Jamie or Rosie, but now I realize he doesn't care about them. He never cared about them.”

  “He wants vengeance,” Bradley offered. Arden nodded as he picked up his pace.

  “Blast it to hell. I should have dealt with the threat then. I should have suspected something…,” Arden muttered under his breath.

  “How could you know he meant to do this?” Bradley returned as they approached the stable. “How can you predict a demented mind?”

  “I knew he was scum. He beat his wife and child. Had no work ethic, whatsoever. That is enough to concern someone who had their wits together. How could I allow myself to get so distracted? If he has harmed Amy…”

  “We will find him. Amy is strong. She will be fine.” They saddled their horses. A search party was organized to cover a wider space with plans to meet and discuss their findings. They all started by looking for tracks.

  ****

  Joseph Dodd slung Amy over the saddle and climbed up behind her. Unconsciousness from the chloroform made her easy to manage. He rode off laughing with glee to himself at what he had accomplished with so little effort. It wasn't a kind laugh but one built from deep down in his belly. His face was unshaven and dirty, but the evil grin that seemed impossible to lose was what created a face too frightening to even imagine. There was a surreal gleam in his eyes that hinted at madness. His plan was taking shape and how simple it all had been. He had seen Jamie and Rosie from a distance as he lay in wait. He had a perfect hiding place where he could see all the activity outside the stable and kitchen.