They moved, scuffing the dust of the cellar floors to remove their footprints, and slipped out of the house, leaving it as it had been when they arrived. The horses were glad to be moving again, and they spent the ride back to Myniard House, through the beginning of the snowfall, planning a schedule for keeping watch on the Dower House.
At Myniard House, they sent a groom back to watch the Dower House immediately, and went in to inform the others of their plan.
~~~~~
The next week was frustrating for all. The Dowager moved through the house as if no one else existed, cutting them absolutely, sitting at the dinner table as if alone and resisting any attempt of anyone to speak to her. The staff moved around them all as if terrified – for the Dowager snapped at them, yet when she was not present, they were happy to serve Maria – unless the Dowager’s commands and Maria’s contradicted each other.
The watch on the Dower House continued, with no sign of any highwaymen yet, and Charles wondered if he was wrong, if there was some other explanation – yet his instinct said that he was right. Each day, when the grooms watching the place returned from their shift of observation, they came to the house to report. Finally, after a week of hearing about the Dower House, about the place that her husband had hoped would allow everything to change, Maria apparently reached a decision.
“I want to see this place, this house that, if you are correct, caused Edmund’s death. Listening to you speak of it, every day, without knowing what it actually looks like, is impossible to bear, any longer. Please, take me there – let me see it with my own eyes.”
Charles looked at Hunter and Kevin, unsure if this was a good idea. His first instinct was to say no, to protect Maria, to keep her as far from potential danger as possible. Kevin, gave him a wry grin, and shook his head gently.
“If she really wants to go, she’ll worry at it until we give in. Maria was always the well behaved one, of all of us, but also the most stubborn, if she really wanted something. Best to give in.”
Maria scowled at him, but could not really argue, as he was supporting her getting what she wanted. Charles nodded, sighing.
“This afternoon then – it’s already late, but the day is clear – best to take advantage of the weather while we can. My Lady, if you would change into your riding habit?”
“Thank you.”
She left the room, and Charles sent a footman to tell the grooms to prepare the horses, including Maria’s.
~~~~~
The cold crisp air stung her cheeks – no doubt they were red – and her breath came in misty puffs, but the day was still, the late afternoon sun dropping rapidly towards the horizon. Maria was glad to be outside, glad to shake off the oppressive air of the house, where the Dowager moved about them like a ghost, glaring at every step, or making snide comments, disguised as direction to the servants.
“We won’t stay long – it will be dusk when we get there – just enough time for you to see the place before the light begins to fail completely.”
Maria simply nodded, concentrating on the path through the woods.
Looking down at her skirt falling across her leg, and down over the horse’s neck and side, she took joy in the fact that it wasn’t black – it was a very dark green – just acceptable during mourning. She sighed, thinking of the tasks ahead – she had very few garments truly suited for mourning – she would need to order a whole new wardrobe for this year ahead. The thought of wearing nothing but black and dark greys for a year was instantly depressing.
They emerged from the trees into a small clearing, the late afternoon sun sparking glints off the ice rimed tree branches, and paused a moment at the sound of approaching hoofbeats. Seconds later, a groom rode into the clearing, moving at speed. He pulled the horse to a stop, narrowly avoiding a collision.
“My Lord, at the Dower House – two men just arrived, driving a cart – they’re unloading things now. Hurry.”
He turned and set off, back the way he had come. Charles cast a worried glance at Maria, as they surged into motion – but if they were to catch the men, there was no time to waste. Maria urged her horse forward, intent on keeping up.
They halted in the edge of the woods, within sight of the Dower House. A cart stood on the rutted drive, close to the house. They observed for a short while, as two men went back and forth, carrying boxes.
“We outnumber them – we should be able to take them – but where? What will give us the most advantage?”
Charles looked to Hunter as he spoke, wanting the advice that came from Hunter’s experience at war. Hunter considered, watching the pattern of the men’s movement.
“If we leave the horses here, so that any noise they make does not give us away, we should be able to trap them between us – two of us going in through the other side of the house, and two waiting behind the hedge here. And if Maria can hide behind that clump of bushes, where she can see both positions, she can signal when we are ready, so that we all move at the same time.”
Charles looked at Maria again, concerned – and she knew that he would far rather leave her with the horses, as far from risk as possible – yet Hunter’s plan made sense. Maria looked at Hunter, her eyes full of gratitude, glad that she was being treated as useful, rather than a hindrance.
“Very well then, let us get ourselves into position.”
They tethered the horses in a clearing, a little back from the forest edge, and stealthily crept forward at a point when the men had just entered the house with their latest load of boxes. Once they were in place, Hunter signalled his readiness, and he and Kevin slipped in through the kitchen door of the house. Maria signalled to Charles and the groom, and they moved forward from the hedge towards the cart and the open front door.
All seemed calm, for a few seconds, then there was a loud crash from inside, and the two men came running out of the door. Charles and the groom were still some distance away. The men saw them, and turned, running frantically around the side of the house, and out across the overgrown lawn – straight towards Maria. She froze, suddenly panicked, uncertain of what to do, then rose, and turned, intending to run. She heard a thud, and looked back to see that the groom had succeeded in tackling one man to the ground.
Hunter and Kevin had just emerged from the front door and ran towards him. But the second man was still running, with Charles pursuing him – running now with even more purpose, straight for Maria. She turned, and fled, with the horrible sense that he would catch her – for she simply was not very fast, not as strong or fit as this man seemed.
Moments stretched to feel like hours, and her breath came ragged in her throat. She ran, wobbling over the uneven tussocks of long untended grass, dodging around bushes, but all with a sense of hopelessness – for she could hear the man getting closer, could hear his breath, and the thump of his feet on the ground.
A hand grabbed her arm, spinning her off balance, and her ankle twisted on the rough grass. She was jerked up, pulled against a hard body encased in coarsely woven cloth, and held.
“Well then, what have we here? I’d warrant that these fine gentlemen wouldn’t want to see a pretty thing like you hurt, now would they?” Maria stayed silent, squirming a little in his grip, hoping that she might break free. He clasped her tighter, his fingers bruising her arm, and he laughed. “No, my little bird, you’ll not get free of me so easily. Now – if you gentlemen would just release my partner there, and bring us two of your horses, then I’ll consider releasing this lovely lady.”
Charles had come to a halt, a short distance from them, anguish on his face. His eyes met hers, and Maria saw in them the truth of his feelings for her. Her heart sang – no matter how others might condemn him for it, no matter that so soon after her husband’s death, such things were not to be considered, to know that she was loved was worth any danger.
Behind him, Hunter and Kevin had reached the groom, and were tying the captured man with rope taken from their cart. Charles held her eyes a little longer, giving a
tiny shake of his head. She stilled completely, waiting. It seemed obvious to her that he had a plan, of some kind, to free her.
“I think not. I’m afraid that we won’t be releasing either of you.”
“Then the lady will suffer.” His grip tightened on her arms again, as he twisted them behind her, and began to force her to move towards the woods. Maria gasped at the pain, and stumbled on the uneven ground, the increasing darkness making it hard to see where she trod. He hauled her up again, shaking her with annoyance. “Walk, woman, surely you can manage that?”
As he did so, he looked away from Charles to glare at Maria. Maria saw a flicker of movement, from the corner of her eye. She sagged in the man’s grasp, as if her ankle had twisted completely, trying to look as helpless as possible.
“My ankle! I can’t…”
He snarled at her, still attempting to make her stand, while her limp weight dragged at him. It was enough. Seconds later, Charles reached them. His fist slammed into the man’s jaw, and, with a roar, the man dropped Maria and spun, flailing at Charles, unbalanced. A second punch from Charles dropped him to his knees, just as Hunter reached them, more rope in hand.
As Charles and Hunter bound the man tightly, Maria stood, carefully testing her ankle before taking a step. It hurt, but not impossibly. Her arms hurt more. She stepped forward, and looked down at the bound man, before turning away.
Charles came to her, reaching out to gently touch her shoulder.
“Maria… my Lady… I am so sorry, I should never have allowed… I should have been quicker…”
She turned to him, and took his hands.
“You should have done exactly as you did. You could not know that they would move out of the house that fast, nor that they would turn towards where I hid. I am more than grateful for the speed with which you saved me from that man.”
He lifted her hand, and pressed his lips to it, just for a moment. Heat surged through her body, and her bruises seemed irrelevant in that moment.
“Thank you, my Lady. Will you be able to go to the old stable there, and find a place to sit, while we deal with these men?”
“Of course. Do what you must.”
Charles turned, and went to the groom.
“Fetch the magistrate, as soon as you can. I’d have him see these men like this, with their stolen goods and cart exactly as it is.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The groom went to regain his horse and set off down the lane into the darkness. Kevin had been into the house again, and found a lantern, which cast strange shadows about them as they brought the bound men to the cart, and settled to wait. Maria simply sat, watching, and shivered, as the fear and shock of the last hour caught up with her.
Chapter Thirteen
Charles, after ensuring that the men were secure, went to make certain that Maria was safe and well. At the sight of her shivering, he pulled off his coat, and dropped it around her shoulders. She looked at him gratefully. He wanted, in that instant, to pull her into his arms, to hold her against him, to keep her safe forever. He did not have the right to do so. So he sat beside her, content, for the time being, to simply talk, to discuss what should happen next.
“As soon as the magistrate arrives, and we can provide the initial information he needs, and hand these men over to him, I will escort you home. If the magistrate needs to speak to me further, he can do so tomorrow.”
“I do not mind waiting. I want to see these men taken away. To know that Edmund’s killers, for that is what they are, I believe, will be brought to justice.”
“I understand – but I would not see you take a chill – the night is cold, and there may be snow.”
She nodded, but said no more.
Soon, there came the sound of hoofbeats, and the faint glow of carriage lanterns could be seen approaching. The groom arrived first, rapidly followed by the magistrate’s large carriage. The magistrate, and a burly guard, descended. Hunter went forward to greet them.
“Good evening. My thanks for coming so promptly. I am the Duke of Melton, here to support my sister in law, Lady Granville, in her time of loss. Whilst here, I became aware of some nefarious activity being carried out on the property. We have acted to curtail that, and capture the offenders.”
“Your Grace.” The magistrate bowed. “Tell me more of these offenders, if you would?”
Hunter called Charles over, and, between them, they explained the chain of circumstance that had led them to this moment. Maria stepped quietly forward as they spoke and stood between them. The magistrate threw her a curious glance, nodded respectfully, and went back to listening. At the mention of the Dowager’s words at the funeral (necessary to explain why Charles had connected the idea of highwaymen with the activity at the Dower House), he turned to Maria and bowed.
“My Lady, may I say that neither I, nor anyone I know, put any credence whatsoever in those terrible words? Those in the district who have met you have had only good to say… well, apart from the two who spoke against you at the funeral, and I must attribute that to the effects of overwhelming grief.”
Maria acknowledge his words with a gracious nod.
“Thank you. Your words are very much appreciated.”
The magistrate turned back to Hunter.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I simply had to let Lady Granville know that she is respected. Do go on.”
“There is nothing to forgive – indeed, I am grateful for your words. Lady Granville needs all the support possible at this difficult time.”
The conversation continued, and when the tale had been told in its whole, the two highway men were brought forward. They sneered angrily at everyone, and refused to answer any question asked by the magistrate. He sighed, and directed his guard to hold the men, whilst Hunter showed him what they had found in the Dower House. As he walked towards the house, one of the highwaymen snarled to the other, in a harsh undertone.
“I told you it was foolish, wouldn’t work, wouldn’t stop his Lordship – now look where its brought us! It’s all your fault.”
The magistrate spun back towards them.
“What did you say? What did you tell him wouldn’t work?”
The man who had spoken responded, obviously before he had thought it through, his anger overriding his sense.
“Attempting to dissuade his Lordship from repairing this place… indirectly… forcefully…”
The magistrate looked at Charles for a moment, then turned back to the two bound men, his expression serious. He waited, as if expecting the man to say more. When nothing came, he spoke.
“I believe that I just heard you confess to the crime of conspiracy to injure, or perhaps even murder, a Lord of this realm. Regardless of what you may face for highway robbery, you have just doomed yourself to the gallows. Guard, ensure that these criminals are well bound, and load them into the coach, if you would, whilst I see the evidence of their robberies.”
The men wailed and suddenly attempted to escape their bindings, but the guard quickly put an end to that. Maria could not find it in her to pity them – they had, by their actions it seemed, caused Edmund’s death. She turned away, suddenly sickened by the sight of them, and went back to sit in the stable.
A few moments later, Charles came to her – she looked up at him, and the warmth in his eyes drove all thought of the chill air from her.
“Come, my Lady, let me escort you home. Hunter and Kevin can deal with anything else that needs to happen here – you need to be out of the cold, and away from all of this.”
He offered his hand, and she took it, gratefully, rising from her rough seat. He turned to the groom.
“Please bring our horses. I will escort Lady Granville back to Myniard House. You can inform His Grace of our actions when he returns from inside the Dower House.”
The groom bowed, and turned away. They stood in silence, waiting his return with the horses, until Charles turned to her again.
“All will be well, I promise you, no matter ho
w long it takes.”
She nodded, somehow believing him, believing that he, if anyone, could magically transform her life.
At that moment, the groom returned, and Maria simply allowed him to assist her to mount, the events of the afternoon suddenly overwhelming her. They rode from the light of the carriage in the courtyard, into the deep dark of the fields and the woods. The moon cast a soft silver light across the land, and her eyes slowly adapted to it,
It was an odd sensation, riding beside Charles through the moonlit woods, as if the world did not exist away from them, as if everything that had happened for the last year was some strange dream, some impossible story. They went slowly, trusting the excellent night sight of the horses, riding side by side. Maria realised, with a start, that she felt utterly safe in that moment, with this man. Seconds after that thought crossed her mind, he reached out, and took her hand. The warmth of his touch was welcome. If this was a dream, let it continue. Each guiding their horses with a single hand, they rode on, their other hands linked, neither speaking, as if words would shatter the spell of the moment.
And so they went, until Myniard House was before them. Reluctantly, she slipped her hand from his, and they rode into the stableyard, everything that was proper, as if those moments in the moonlight had never been.
~~~~~
The following morning, they were all surprised when the Dowager joined them at the breakfast table. Expecting that she would ignore them, as she had for the last week, they were even more surprised when she fixed Maria with a stern gaze, and actually spoke directly to her.
“I have a surprise for you.” She laughed at Maria’s concerned expression. “Yes, you would do well to look worried, you nasty trollop. But, regardless of your opinion, I require you to be present in the house all morning. It will go badly for you if you are not.” She turned to glare at the other men present, just as Lord Chester drew breath to speak. “And I’ll thank the rest of you not to interfere, although you are welcome to be present. Any objection to what I have planned will only demonstrate this trollop’s guilt even more.”
Rescuing the Countess: Sweet and Clean Regency Romance (His Majesty's Hounds Book 13) Page 10
