Dance With Me At Midnight (Regency Fairy Twists Book 3)

by Samantha Holt

  Charles tore apart his cravat and looped it swiftly around her foot. He bound it so tight that she could hardly feel her foot, which was quite a blessing. After propping several cushions underneath it, he slid up the bed to take her hand.

  “Are you well?”

  She nodded. “Well enough, thank you.”

  “Hopefully someone has sent for the doctor. I cannot believe your stepfather has not come up yet.”

  She gave a weak smile. “He is probably too busy ensuring the dancing continued.”

  He shook his head. “They do not deserve you, Eloise. None of them do.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I might not enjoy living with any of them but I made my peace with that long ago. He could never love me. He just does not have it in him to love I think. That is why the twins are spoiled—it is the only way he knows how to treat them.”

  “The damned twins…” Charles muttered. “I should have realized. I should have been more careful.”

  “Why?” She pushed herself up a little.

  “They were the ones who knocked over the glasses, I am sure of it.”

  Eloise opened her mouth, then closed it. Would they really go as far as to hurt her simply to ensure she and Charles could not dance? No, surely not? Perhaps they were trying to cause a scene but they would not go that far.

  “I should call them both out.” Charles’ jaw flexed.

  “Oh goodness, no. You would kill them both and then there would be trouble. They are terrible swordsmen.”

  “You really are too kind.”

  “Fool!” Albert reminded them.

  “Yes, and you are a damned fool,” he agreed. “They do not deserve your forgiveness.”

  “Life is too short to be angry and bitter.”

  A soft smile swept across his face and she recalled that same smile when they were dancing. She reached out to touch a finger to his lips.

  “That’s better.”

  “What is?”

  “I like to see you smile.”

  His grin broadened. “You manage to make me smile a lot, Eloise. Jackson will tell you that is quite a feat.”

  “I’m glad. You make me smile too.”

  The air about them grew thick. Eloise could hear her heartbeat quicken as Charles leaned in. She could not decide whether to close her eyes or look at him, so she waited until the last moment before letting her lids flutter shut.

  His lips touched hers—warm and tender. She could scarcely breathe from anticipation. He brushed his mouth across hers again.

  Then tore away from her.

  Eloise snapped open her eyes to see Milly rushing toward her. “Oh, my lady, I heard what happened. The doctor has been sent for. Is it terrible?”

  She lifted her foot. “It is fine. Lord Marlton has seen to it.”

  “What a hero you are,” Milly gushed.

  Charles waved away the compliment. “It was nothing.” He stood and gave Eloise a regretful look. “I must return to the ball or else there shall be gossip. If I may, I should like to check on you later.”

  “Oh, yes do,” Milly replied for her. “I shall be at her side all night anyway.”

  Eloise resisted the desire to roll her eyes. Milly seemed to forget she was not a child who needed nursing all night long.

  “Very well.” Charles dipped his head and gave her one last lingering look that held so much promise Eloise wanted to burst with excitement.

  When he left the room and they heard his footsteps retreating, Milly turned to her, her face aglow with excitement.

  “So, tell me all about it. What was it like to be kissed by a handsome earl?”

  Chapter Ten

  Eloise winced as she took her first step out of bed. The doctor had been and wrapped her foot, and all was well. Thankfully the cut had not been deep enough to need stitches. It still hurt like the devil, though.

  She lit a candle and lifted it to view the clock. Nearly midnight. For some reason, she could not settle. She had drifted off to sleep not long after the doctor left but she had awoken with a jolt, uncertain what had disturbed her.

  Of course, then her thoughts naturally turned to Charles and how much she was looking forward to seeing him tomorrow. And then it was nigh on impossible to sleep.

  Eloise slipped on a silk wrap, welcoming the cool touch of the fabric against her skin. Easing her feet into one slipper, then the other, she winced when the pressure made her injury ache. But she’d had enough of being in bed. If she was to ever sleep, she had to at least stretch her legs a little.

  Tip toeing past Albert was never easy, and it proved even harder with a sore foot. A floorboard squeaked and she froze, the sounds of her own breath rasping harsh in her ears. Do not wake, she silently pleaded with the bird. If he started chattering, then the whole house would likely awaken.

  She made the journey to the door safely. Hand to the door knob, she winced as it squealed in annoyance at her opening it. She released the air from her lungs as Albert remained undisturbed on his perch.

  Out in the hallway, only the ticking of the grandfather clock and some light snores coming from one of the guest rooms greeted her. She eased shut the door and made her way downstairs.

  Light emanated from the main hall. Eloise frowned at the sight of muddy footprints across the tiles. As she gingerly made her way down the staircase, the clock upstairs chimed midnight.

  Who else was up and why had they been outside?

  “My lady?”

  She squeaked when Charles’ valet appeared from around the corner. She eyed his boots and wet hair. “What are you doing up, Gus?”

  “I could say the same about you, my lady.”

  “I could not sleep.” A shudder wracked her and she wrapped her arms tightly about herself. The hall had to be cold from Gus having been outside.

  But it felt different. This was not a normal chill and it had spread to her gut, leaving her uneasy.

  “You should get back to bed, my lady,” the valet insisted. “You need your rest.”

  She shook her head. “No, I am done with rest for now. Why were you outside?”

  The valet put up a hand. “Now, do not panic, my lady, but my lord received an urgent message just an hour ago, before everyone retreated to bed.”

  “An urgent message?”

  “Yes.” Gus’s face was grim.

  “Gus, tell me what is going on?”

  Before he could respond, David entered the hallway from the drawing room. He feigned a yawn. “Damned messenger disturbed our fun.”

  Adam came up behind his brother. They were both dressed for bed in silk robes and slippers. Why they were up too, she could not fathom.

  “Your darling Charles had to run home to mother,” Adam said.

  Eloise narrowed her gaze at them and turned to Gus. “Why did he have to go home?”

  The valet sighed. “You won’t faint on me, will you?”

  “Faint? Whatever do you take me for?”

  He chuckled. “His mother has consumption, it seems. Must have come on quickly as she was in fine health when we left. The note from the housekeeper implied she only had a little time left. Charles wished for me to extend his apologies. I’m to pack up his belongings and join him in the morning.”

  Eloise peered out of one of the windows. Rain beat against the glass and wind whistled through the edges of the doors. Darkness reigned and the weather was unforgiving.

  “He went on horseback?” she demanded of the valet.

  “Aye, quickest way there.”

  “And you let him go?”

  The old man straightened his shoulders. “I can hardly command him now, can I?”

  She shook her head. “Of course you cannot. Forgive me.”

  “If you’ll excuse me, my lady, I wish to pack his belongings so I can leave at first light.”

  “Indeed. I-I hope you will pass on my best wishes to Charles and his mother.”

  The valet gave a knowing smile. “Naturally, my lady.”

  Gus hast
ened upstairs, his shoes beating a tattoo on the stairs. So much for trying not to disturb everyone. She might as well have let Albert squawk into the night.

  Her stepbrothers eyed her closely. Another shiver threaded its way up her spine. She pulled her gown even tighter. A glance swung between them.

  “What is it?” she demanded.

  “You’re in love,” David sneered.

  Eloise did not jump to deny it. How could she? If she was not already in love, she was certainly close to it.

  “I am too tired for this.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I am going to read in the library for a while.”

  There was no chance she would sleep now. Poor Charles, having his mother grow sick so quickly. The terrible weather made her stomach knot, too. She understood his urgency but to go out on horseback at night was foolish.

  He was strong, though, and an experienced rider. All would be well, she assured herself.

  As she went to shut the door to the study, her stepbrothers sniggered. She stilled and left the door ajar, just enough to be able to see and hear them.

  “She’s heartbroken now her lover has gone,” David said.

  “Yes,” agreed Adam. “Foolish man. I didn’t think he would head out at this time of night.”

  David shrugged. “He’ll be fine.”

  “We should have had the message sent during the day, before the bloody ball. That way he would have buggered off sooner. The stupid glass didn’t work. Instead, he played the hero and every woman in the room practically swooned. The only dance I could get was with Mrs. Grimbold and that was a nightmare, let me tell you. I had a heck of a time keeping her hands from my arse.”

  “Well, it wasn’t my fault. You were the one who knocked the glasses to the floor, not me. I was simply the brains behind the incident.”

  Eloise shook her head. So her stepbrothers had been responsible, as Charles had guessed. But what did they mean about the messenger?

  “Your brains are useless. If they were any good, you would have waited until tomorrow to get that note sent. Now he’s out there in this weather and could end up dead,” Adam spat.

  “No one ever died of a little rain,” David replied.

  “Really? Because I have heard of quite a few people dying of pneumonia after being in the rain.”

  “He is not going to die,” David insisted.

  “If he does, I’ll deny all knowledge of this plan.”

  Eloise wrenched open the door and marched up to her stepbrothers. She had heard enough. Whatever they had done, they had put Charles in danger. She was certainly not going to let them get away with this.

  “What have you done?” she demanded and thrust a finger into David’s face. “David, what have you done?”

  “It was nothing to do with me,” Adam declared.

  “Liar,” David hissed.

  “You tried to hurt me.” Her hands trembled. Fiery heat travelled beneath her skin. “Now you’re trying to hurt him. Why? What has he ever done to you? What have I ever done to you?”

  David’s lips curled unpleasantly. “Your stupid mother took our father from us. What else did you expect?”

  She blinked. “Whatever do you mean?”

  Adam folded his arms and nodded. “Father used to actually pay attention to us before you two came along. After she died, he wanted nothing to do with us.”

  Eloise had been aware that her stepfather paid little attention to the twins, instead throwing money their way. She had never figured out that it was after her mother’s death that he became more distant—perhaps because he had always been distant with her. Perhaps he really did love her mother after all and this was simply his way of expressing grief. She was not sure it excused him for the way he treated her but she understood him a little better at least.

  As for her stepbrothers…well, she felt no sympathy for them. They had always been spoiled brats and always would be.

  “You’ve put Charles in grave danger. It is dark, and wet, and windy. He should not be out on a horse and you know it.”

  Adam’s chin quivered a little.

  “Adam, you know he could be killed. You know it.”

  Adam threw up his hands. “Fine! But it was never expected that he would go straight out.”

  She stared him down. “What did you do?”

  “It was David’s idea.”

  “Traitor,” David uttered.

  “We wanted Charles away from you as soon as possible so we wrote a note and had it sent by special messenger.”

  “So his mother is not sick?” She was, though. A deep, painful well of nausea began to build in her stomach.

  “No,” Adam admitted through pouting lips.

  David huffed. “He’ll be fine. The earl is a good rider.”

  Eloise pinched the bridge of her nose. “I am not even surprised that you are the ones who hurt me, but to put Charles in danger?”

  “Oh, Charles, Charles, Charles,” David scoffed. “Perfect Charles. I am sick to death of hearing of that man. Every young woman here was practically salivating over him and Father would not stop fawning over him either.”

  Eloise turned her head away, a bitter taste in her mouth. They had put Charles in danger. He was likely pushing hard to reach home, and not riding at all carefully. With the ground wet, the chances were high that he would come to harm.

  “You had better hope nothing happens to him,” she finally said and pushed past the pair of them.

  “Where are you going?” Adam asked.

  She did not look back as she marched up the stairs. “To find Charles.”

  Chapter Eleven

  His lids were heavy. So heavy. Charles tried to drag them open but they refused to budge. Something tickled his skin over and over. Underneath him was something hard, yet at the same time soft. No, in fact only parts of it were hard. He dug his fingernails in and whatever was beneath him crumbled and remained under his fingertips.

  Open your eyes, he commanded himself. Open them.

  A thin slit of something other than utter darkness peeked in between his lids. He tried again to haul them open and succeeded for a brief moment before they closed. He remembered now. Yes. The horse. It reared. Stepped on something then slipped. He fell too.

  The ground. He was on the ground. That explained the crumbling texture. It had been raining as well. His clothing stuck to his skin and raindrops trickled down his face.

  With one almighty effort, he forced open both eyes once more. The world was at an odd angle, the ground lit by a half moon that rebelliously pushed through the clouds. His arm tingled beneath him and he rolled onto his back to bring sensation into it.

  Pain tore through his leg. He gritted his teeth and grunted out a curse. What the hell had he done to his leg? He lifted his head to eye it but the clouds hid the moon once more and he could see little.

  Every inch of his body hurt. Mud stuck to his hands and face. His leg, however, was the worst. If it was not broken, he had done something terribly bad to it.

  He peered up at the sky and let his vision adjust to the night time. Trees hung above him like old men bent double, their bony fingers reaching out to him. To his left, the ground rose up, leading to the road. His horse was nowhere to be seen, nor were there any sounds of horse hooves or grunting annoyance from the animal.

  So, there it was. He was in a muddy ditch which seemed to be filling with water by the moment whilst his horse had abandoned him. He took another moment to analyze the state of his body. The feeling had returned to his arm and the other seemed well enough. He could drag himself out of the ditch at least.

  Charles lifted his right leg. All was good there save from what would turn out to be bruises he suspected. So, it was just his damned left leg.

  He tried to lift it once more. A roar of frustration escaped him. Jackson told him not to leave until morning but if it was that urgent that a special messenger had to be sent, he could hardly wait, could he? His mother needed him. Now.

  Teeth gritted, he rolled
onto his front. Using a tree root for purchase, he dug his other hand into the dirt and hauled himself forward. He repeated the movement, grabbing whatever he could to drag himself up the embankment. Dirt filled his mouth and water sloshed about him from the steadily filling ditch. The agony in his leg worsened with each movement.

  He lifted his head to eye the top of the ditch. It might as well have been a mountain. Charles sucked in a long breath and forced himself to move again. If he stayed in the ditch, he’d drown and he had little intention of waiting around for death like that.

  It took an eternity. Rain sluiced down him, which was a blessing in a way, considering dirt caked every inch of him from his hair to his mouth to his boots. With one final push, he rolled onto the road. He stared up at the blank sky. The moon had been banished entirely behind the clouds and not a speck of light was visible.

  He twisted his head to look up and down the road. In the distance—too far in the distance—were lamp lights, perhaps from a farmhouse. The other way, there was nothing. Only empty road. There was still no sign of his horse either.

  His lids were heavy once more. Every ounce of energy had been used to climb out of the ditch. Now that it was done, he could not fathom using any more to crawl further. Perhaps if he rested a moment, he would summon the energy to stand and hobble for help.

  Charles gave into the urge to close his eyes. Only for a moment, of course. Soon enough he would be at his mother’s side. At least he would have some good news to comfort her. He had found the woman he loved. That would please her indeed.

  “Charles.”

  A fragile voice. Feminine. Crying? Who was crying?

  “Charles, wake up!”

  He inched open an eye. Darkness loomed. Icy coldness seeped into his awareness. So much damned cold.

  “Charles, come on now. I cannot lift you on my own.”

  Distress rang clear in her voice. Heck, he could hardly fail a distressed woman. He forced open his other eye. His head pounded in aggravation at this new movement. He waited for his vision to clear. Lots of darkness still. But wait…

  “Eloise?” His voice came out harsher than he’d expected, barely leaving his lungs.