A man had Alice in a tight grip. A hand around her chest and another covering her mouth. The girl fought him, but she was powerless to escape as he dragged her around the corner.
Caroline screamed and began to run towards her sister. A sense of pure panic washed through her as the girl was pulled out of sight. Turning the corner she saw the man further up the alley. And at the end, a carriage, its door open, waiting.
She wouldn’t reach her in time. My God, she couldn’t save her sister. Her pulse pounded as she ran. Please, she prayed. Not Alice. No.
Stories of white slavers flashed through her mind. Young girls being abducted to be sold into the houses of ill repute. Not Alice, this couldn’t be happening.
The man holding her had his hat pulled down. Shading his face. Alice reached for him with her nails. Fighting and twisting. Her hand knocked his hat from his face and Caroline froze.
She knew that face. It was the face from her father’s table. The night the men had visited there Dorset house. The Demon himself. Beady red eyes and long, claw-like fingers. All strength and warmth left her for a moment before she was able to start running again.
But it was too little, too late. The pair had reached the coach. Her sister. A gut-wrenching fear sank into Caroline as she realized all was lost.
Without warning, a man shot into the attacker. His shoulder hitting the man in the ribs. Both men tumbled to the ground. Alice screamed as she twisted away. Free. At last free.
The two men turned and rolled on the ground for a moment. Both trying to gain an advantage. The new man looked like a simple workman. A rough coat and cloth cap that had been knocked to the side.
The Demon twisted away and stood. His eyes shot towards Caroline with a look of pure hate. He stared for a moment. Sending her a message that this was not done. Then he was off. Running as if the wind itself couldn’t catch him.
The rough workman on the ground rose, shaking his head. Caroline studied him. She didn’t know this man, yet he had stepped forward to save her sister.
“Are you all right Countess Beachmont?” he asked as he watched the attacker turn a far corner. “You, Miss Alice?”
Alice’s eyes were aglow as she stared at her rescuer.
“Yes,” both women answered as they stared at him in open-mouthed surprise. Caroline’s brow creased in confusion. The man looked rather young, maybe only twenty. Blood seeped from a scraped chin and one of his eyes looked as if it would be bruised in the morning.
“Thank you,” Caroline said to the man as Lady Arabella and Beatrice ran up to join them.
“Yes, thank you,” Alice said as she tried to catch her breath. Caroline noticed her shaking hands and reached out to take her into her arms. Holding onto her as if her life depended on it.
Looking over her sister’s head she studied the rescuer. Something wasn’t right.
That was the Demon. A man from her past. Come back for some reason. Yet here was this young man, coming out of nowhere to rescue them. A man who knew her name, even knew her sister’s name.
Caroline’s racing heart refused to calm down. She must understand what was happening and why.
“Again, thank you for helping. How is it that you were here to rescue us? And I must ask, how is it that you know our names? I do not believe we have met.”
The man dipped his head. “Archie Middleton, Ma’am,” the man said by way of introduction. He shot Alice a small smile then returned to face the countess.
“His Lordship asked me to keep an eye on you. When you left the house, that is.”
“What? His Lordship, Viscount Beachmont, asked you to watch us?”
“Watch over you more like, Ma’am,” the man said with a shrug of his shoulders. “The Captain, I’m sorry, His Lordship, asked that the boys and I keep an eye out.”
“Well, I never,” Lady Arabella said as she placed a hand to her throat in surprise.
“Yes, Ma’am, London can be a rough town.”
“The boys?” Caroline asked.
“Ex-soldiers, Ma’am. We served with Captain Vessey, Ma’am. He uses us sometimes to guard things. Warehouses, important shipments. That type of thing. About two weeks ago he asked us to keep an eye on yourself and the young ladies.”
The man’s tan face flushed as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
Caroline stared at him. Unable to fully grasp what he was saying. Alexander had hired men to guard her without telling her. Did he know about the Demon? Was he aware of her father’s secret? It was impossible.”
What did she really know of her husband?
As she tried to pull herself back to reality. Hampton, their footman, ran up. His fingers holding a head wound. Blood leaked through his fingers and ran down the side of his face.
“I’m sorry My Lady. They hit me from behind.”
“It’s true,” Alice said as if she were worried about the footman getting in trouble for something she had done.
“I was in the coach looking for my reticule. Hampton was holding the door. The next thing I knew, I was being dragged from the coach and Hampton lay on the ground.”
Caroline nodded her head. “That is all right, Hampton. It seems my husband anticipated this and had put in place the necessary protection.”
She glanced at her sister’s rescuer Mr. Middleton. “Sir, will you please accompany us home,” she said to him. “I would feel more comfortable.”
“Yes, of course, Ma’am,” the man answered. “The Captain would have my head if I let anything happen to you or your sisters.” He shot Alice a quick look. The kind of look a young man sends a pretty girl.
The young girl in question blushed and studied her hands.
Caroline swallowed a smile and shook her head. That was all she needed. Alice was going to be star struck for the foreseeable future. Her head lost in the clouds. Oh well, the alternative was too terrifying to consider. Thanks to this man that was not going to happen. This man and her husband.
A cold shiver ran down her spine. This was not over, she realized. The Demon would try again. Was it he that sent the notes? Why? She shuddered with fear as her stomach clenched. What did Alex know and what was she going to tell him?
She wouldn’t be able to keep this from him. The man had too many sources of information. She’d never keep this secret.
Sighing she started everyone for the carriage. The chocolatier would have to wait. She wanted her sisters safely at home.
.o0o.
Caroline studied the blank page. She had to inform Alexander of the incident with Alice.
Johnson had subtly let on that if she didn’t, he would. Even now he had a rider outside waiting to take her letter immediately to Alexander. She wondered where he had gotten the messenger. Probably one of Middleton’s men.
This was it, she realized. Once she opened this issue with Alexander, he would not rest until he knew all the details. He would demand to know everything. The notes, The Demon, Her father’s secret. All of it.
What would he do? How would he react? Her stomach tightened into a ball. Would he cast her aside? Put her and her sisters out on the street.
Would the man she loves despise her for what her father had done? The thought sent a cold chill throughout her body. Tears threatened the corners of her eyes.
In all honesty, he deserved no less than the full truth.
Gathering her courage, she scribbled a few words and then quickly folded and sealed the letter. Her hands shook, but she completed the task and handed the paper to Johnson.
“Have the rider find Viscount Beachmont. No matter where, and deliver this to his hand personally.”
“Yes, My Lady,” Johnson said with a serious face.
Caroline sighed as she leaned back in her chair. There then, that was it. There was no going back now. She closed her eyes and silently prayed that she had not just ruined everything.
Chapter Twenty One
Alexander studied the latest reports from his Welsh coal mine. At least he tried to. Me
mories of Caroline kept interrupting him, making it hard to focus on the facts and figures before him.
The new railroad had helped immensely with delivery costs. Mines throughout the country were finding it cheaper to ship coal to distant destinations. The price of coal would have dropped immensely if the demand from the new factories hadn’t kept it high.
His mind wandered again. Visions of Caroline in bed danced before him.
Her gentle touch. The way her laugh made him relax. He missed her he realized. The thought sent a bolt of fear to his insides. That was not the arrangement he reminded himself. You can ask no more of her.
She deserved to be left alone. He had given her his word. Even the incident in London only weeks before had been beyond their agreement.
Sighing he glanced at James on the floor of the study. His tin army men lined up in neat rows. Thomas sat by the fire. A giant tomb spread on his lap. The man was probably studying the inner workings of the spleen or some such organ.
Shaking his head, Alexander returned to the papers before him.
A soft knock at the study door had all three occupants look up as Evers stepped in.
“A rider, My Lord, from London,”
Alexander’s heart jumped as he held his breath.
The man, formerly Private Reynolds, stepped into the room. A deep frown on a dirty, tired face. The man had obviously ridden hard. Probably all the way directly from London.
Alexander steeled himself for bad news. What could it be? He had told Caroline to send word is she needed anything. She wouldn’t have sent a rider because she needed an increase to her allowance. No. This was serious.
And how did she know to use one of Middleton’s men?
“Thank you, Evers. Reynolds?” He said as he held out his hand to receive whatever Caroline had sent.
Thomas had folded his book and set it aside. He could tell this was serious. Even James had forgotten his army men for a moment.
Reynold’s dipped his head and marched across the room. His spurs jingling with each step.
“My Lord,” he said as he present the letter.
Alexander noticed his own hands shake a little as he received the note. Not good, it wouldn’t do for one of his men to see his fear.
Caroline’s dainty, feminine hand, reassured him. At least she was alive. Taking a deep breath, he opened it.
“Alex, I need your help. Please!”
That was all it said. He turned it over. Nothing more. His heart began to beat again. It was serious. Caroline wouldn’t have sent it unless she was desperate. But no one was dead. No one was ill. She would have said otherwise.
No. This was a problem that she didn’t trust putting onto paper. A problem that she could only tell him in person.
“Evers!” he yelled. “My horse,” he told the butler when the man almost immediately opened the door.
Thomas stood up to join him. Looking over his shoulder at the note on his desk.
“Reynolds, tell me what you know.”
The rider gathered himself with a deep breath. “Someone tried to abduct Miss Alice …”
“What?” Alexander demanded. “Is she all right?”
“Yes My Lord, She is fine. Archie, Corporal Middleton, stopped the attacker. Unfortunately, the man got away. Middleton thought it was better to remain with the woman instead of chasing him.”
“Yes,” Alexander said as he held his breath. “Go on. How is Countess Beachmont?”
“Everyone is fine My Lord. All safely at home. Johnson has his staff on full alert inside the mansion. Archie has the outside under full guard. It would take a battalion to get inside. Everyone is safe, My Lord.”
Alexander sighed as his shoulders relaxed with relief. He should never have left her alone in London. He had too many enemies. Too many people who would like to get back at him.
Or had this been some random event. His guts told him otherwise, but he must not assume too much. His heart raced. The thought of some random stranger attacking one of his sent a chill to his bones.
He’d kill them. There would be no other acceptable result.
“When?” he asked. Desperate to get as many facts as possible.
“Yesterday afternoon, My Lord. I rode straight through. Switching horses as needed. Four horses all told.”
Alexander was taken aback. He knew that ride well. A ride he would be starting in a few minutes. Twenty hours on the back of a horse. He owed this man. Owed him dearly.
“Thank you, Reynolds. Evers will see to your needs. Spend a few days recovering. When you return to London. Please see Johnson. I am sure he will have further work for you.”
“Yes My Lord,” the man said as he stepped back then followed Evers out of the study.
“What do you think it means?” Thomas asked.
“Are you going to London?” James asked. “Can I come? Please.”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out,” he said to Thomas.
Then turning to James he smiled. “Not right away, I must ride fast.”
James looked crestfallen. He was being abandoned again.
“But,” Alexander continued. “You and Nanny will follow me in a few days. Until I know what is going on, I want everyone where I can keep them safe.”
He shot Thomas a look. If this was a dedicated enemy, James was just as vulnerable as Miss Alice.
“I think I need to make a trip to London,” Thomas said. “I need to visit the University. Talk to my peers. If it is all right with you James. I will accompany you,” he said as he ruffled the young boy’s hair.
James face lit up with the thought of his pending adventure.
Alexander smiled in thanks to his friend then gave his brother a quick hug before he left. Within minutes, he was on the road to London.
The thought of his Caroline in danger had galvanized him. He hadn’t felt this alive since the war. He had a mission. A purpose. Save his wife and all she held dear.
Nothing else mattered in this world. Leaning forward, he twitched the reins, urging his horse to go faster.
.o0o.
Caroline paced the parlor. Johnson had just delivered another anonymous note. This time, though, he had captured the street urchin who had delivered it.
The young boy. No older than James, she realized. Stood before her on the parlor rug. His cap in his hand. He shot an angry look at Johnson then a pleading eye towards her. He knew she was his only road to safety.
His eyes scanned the room. As big as saucers, they took in all the fine things around him. She could see him figuring values and possibilities for theft.
She didn’t care. She needed to know what he knew.
“This letter, boy,” she said holding up the unopened note. “Who gave it to you?”
“I don’t know, Mum. Never saw him ‘afore,” he said with a hopeful, puppy dog smile as if that would be enough.
“That is a shame,” Caroline said as she reached into her purse and removed a gleaming coin. “Have you seen one of these,” She asked. “It is one of the new gold sovereigns.”
The boy’s eyes widened in shock and the smile dropped from his face. That was more money than he would see in a year. A person could live a long, good life on one of those.
Caroline watched his eyes calculate.
“Only the truth. I won’t have my men sent on a wild goose chase.”
“What do you know,” Johnson said. “Maybe we should call a magistrate, My Lady.”
“No,” the boy said. “I ain’t done nothing. Just delivered the letter like the man said.”
“What man,” Caroline demanded as she held her coin up.
The boy’s eyes shifted between Johnson’s scowl and the shiny gold coin.
“I don’t know Mum, really I don’t know. He was dressed, common like. A heavy hood over his head. Black cloak. Tall. Like your butler here.”
Caroline nodded her head in encouragement. “Go on,” she said.
“Like I said earlier, I never saw him ‘afore, he
’s not from around here.” The boy’s eyes lit up. “He had an accent Mum, He tried to hide it, but I could tell.”
“Not from around here?” Johnson asked. “Do you mean this neighborhood? London?”
“England,” the boy said. “He didn’t speak right. I know what someone from York, Wales, sound like, even Scottish. This was different.”
Caroline’s heart sunk. That pretty much confirmed her worst fears. Gathering herself she smiled at the boy and gave him the gold coin.
“If you see this man again, you come immediately and tell Johnson here and I will give you another one of these. Understood?”
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise as he took the coin from her. His small fist circled it as if afraid someone might see what he had found.
“Yes, Mum. I’ll be looking for him, Mum.”
Caroline watched Johnson escort the boy from the room then turned to the note.
Sliding it open she read:
“You are next. I want what is owed to me.”
Her pulse pounded in her ears and her hands shook as she folded the note to add to the others.
Hurry Alexander. Please hurry she silently prayed. A part of her feared what would happen when her husband found out the truth. Another part of her feared what would happen if he didn’t come in time.
There was a dark menace out there. Something wanted to destroy her and her’s. To hurt her and she knew it wouldn’t stop until it had succeeded or been destroyed itself.
Sitting down she stared into the fire as she tried to come to some understanding of her situation. Tried to find that hidden thread that could unravel the mystery.
She was in the same chair several hours later when the parlor door burst open to reveal Alexander. He looked as angry as a volcano ready to explode. For a brief moment, she saw the warrior that he was at heart. His face twisted into a deep scowl as he searched the room for enemies.
At last his eyes came to rest on her. They softened as they traveled over her, making sure she was all right.
For a brief moment, her heart skipped as the butterflies in her stomach fluttered. The sight of him there in her parlor. The tenderness of his eyes. It was enough to make her knees weak with need.
The Viscount's Bride (Love's Pride Book 2) Page 16
