A Wealthy Widow

by Anne Herries

  ‘Yes, why not?’ Mrs Hunter said. ‘It is very upsetting that poor Tilda has been taken hostage like this, but I am sure that they will find her soon.’

  ‘Mama, how could you?’ Sarah said. She jumped to her feet and went over to the window to look out. It was clear that she was restless and on edge. ‘It took months to find me. Just think of how Tilda must feel. She will be so frightened. She cannot know what they mean to do with her…’ Sarah broke off as she saw something moving outside. ‘Someone is there…in the shrubbery. I think…yes, I am sure it is a woman. Arabella, come and look! I believe it is Tilda.’

  Arabella hurried to the window. She was in time to see a woman running towards the house. ‘Yes, I believe you are right, Sarah. It does look like her! Excuse me, I must go down…’ She turned and rushed from the room, moving swiftly along the hall towards the top of the main staircase just as a wild hammering started at the door. A footman looked up at Arabella. He was plainly hesitating, for he had been instructed not to open it without orders.

  ‘Open it, Thomas,’ Arabella said. ‘It is Miss Redmond.’

  He did as she asked, and Tilda almost fell into his arms. ‘Arabella,’ she cried. ‘Tell her she must not go…’

  Arabella ran down the stairs. ‘I am here, dearest,’ she said. ‘We understood your message, telling us that you were being held at Nana’s. Do not worry for my sake, Tilda. Mr Elworthy and Mr Hunter have everything under control. I am just so glad that you are safe. We have all been very worried about you. Are you all right? They did not harm you too much?’

  ‘I am a little bruised, no more. I ran all the way to warn you,’ Tilda said, gasping for breath as she flung herself into Arabella’s arms. ‘They tied my wrists again after they made me write that wicked letter, but I managed to get free at last. I could not escape immediately, for they had pistols and I dare not go downstairs until I heard them leaving. As soon as I knew they were going, I went down and climbed out of a back window at the cottage. And then I ran all the way here. I heard some shouting after I escaped. Something was happening at the cottage, but I did not stop to find out what.’

  ‘You were so brave,’ Arabella said and embraced her warmly. ‘Charles planned to rescue you, but they had to wait until those rogues left, because we needed to catch them in the act of attempting to kidnap me. He was certain that they would keep you alive until after they had me, just in case they still needed you. He had instructed his men to watch the cottage; however, it seems that you managed to escape yourself, love—and I am very glad of it.’

  ‘I had to do something. I had no idea what was happening and I could not bear to think of what they might do to you. I heard one of them say that you would be crows’ bait before long, and that made me angry. I wasn’t frightened of them then, Arabella. I simply wanted to get free so that I could warn you. At first I thought that I would rather die than write that letter, but then I realised that I could give you a message and warn you. You did understand, didn’t you?’ Tilda’s manner was so fierce that Arabella was tempted to laugh. What had happened to her timid companion?

  ‘Tilda!’ Arabella exclaimed, her eyes moist with tears. ‘You were so courageous and so clever. You told us exactly where you were and that helped us to plan what we should do. Some of our men have been close by the cottage preparing to rescue you as soon as your guards left it, while others waited near the summerhouse to catch them when they try to capture me. Only it will not be me.’

  Tilda clutched at her. ‘I was so afraid that you would go there yourself, though I suspected that Mr Hunter would not let you.’

  ‘I believe I should had it been necessary to find you, but as we knew where you were being kept, Mr Elworthy has gone in my place. He is wearing one of Mrs Bristol’s gowns and has my paisley shawl over his head.’

  ‘Oh…’ Tilda’s mouth opened in surprise and then she laughed. ‘Oh, how splendid of him! I should so like to see him dressed as a woman, Arabella. It will just serve those awful men right. I do hope he makes them very sorry for what they planned to do to you. It will be a shock for them when he turns up in your place.’ Her laughter died suddenly. ‘Oh, dear, I have just realised that I have lost your shawl—and it was a silk one. Very expensive, I dare say.’

  She looked so distressed that Arabella laughed and embraced her. ‘Do not be so foolish, my very dear Tilda. Do you imagine that I care for a shawl? I am just so happy to know that you are safe.’

  ‘Arabella…’ Tilda’s eyes brimmed with tears ‘…I have been so silly, haven’t I? I was jealous and unkind to Sarah because I thought that you would not need me now that you have others to keep you company. And then you gave me that money…so very generous. I wanted to pick you some wild roses to show how grateful I was, and instead I caused you all this worry.’

  ‘But you made up for it by sending that message,’ Arabella assured her. ‘If it had not been you they captured, Tilda, it might have been Sarah or me.’

  ‘Then I am very glad it was me,’ Tilda said stoutly. The look of determination was back in her eyes. ‘Sarah has suffered enough and I should not want you to be harmed, Arabella.’ She hesitated uncertainly. ‘I know your cousin was one of the men who planned this wickedness, for I saw his face when they took the blanket from my head—but there was another gentleman. I did not see him, but I heard his voice.’

  ‘Yes, I know. Sir Courtney Welch. He intended to force me to marry him for the sake of my fortune,’ Arabella said. ‘I refused his offer of marriage last year and this is his revenge.’

  ‘The wicked man!’ Tilda cried indignantly. ‘How dare he do such a thing—and why was your cousin mixed up with him?’

  ‘I would appreciate it if you did not mention that part of it to anyone else,’ Arabella told her. ‘It must be between the gentlemen and us, dearest. I do not wish to cause my aunt more pain. Now, I think you must be in need of a change of clothes and some rest, Tilda. Go up to your room and make yourself comfortable again.’

  ‘I am very hungry,’ Tilda said. ‘I suppose it is too late for dinner?’

  Arabella smiled her relief. Tilda was a little battered and bruised by her experience, but she did not seem too affected by it.

  ‘I shall speak to Mrs Bristol,’ Arabella said. ‘I am sure that she will find something delicious for your supper, dearest—and I shall come in to see you before I go to bed.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Tilda said and smiled at her. ‘You are always so kind to me, Arabella.’

  ‘That is because I am fond of you,’ Arabella said and kissed her cheek.

  She saw Tilda on her way upstairs and then went in search of her housekeeper. Mrs Bristol promised a supper fit for a king, praising Tilda for her courage and cool head.

  ‘I declare I never thought she had it in her, my lady.’

  ‘No, I did not think it either,’ Arabella said. ‘I am very proud of her, Mrs Bristol—and grateful that she has been spared to us. I should never have forgiven myself if she had been seriously harmed.’

  She left her housekeeper and was about to mount the stairs once more when she heard two shots. She thought that they must have come from the direction of the summerhouse and her pulses raced. What was happening? She silently prayed that Mr Elworthy was not killed or injured. Sarah had come to the head of the stairs as Arabella walked up them.

  She looked anxiously at her. ‘Did you hear the shots?’

  ‘Yes, but we must not go outside, Sarah, even though we might wish to discover what is happening. Someone will come and tell us soon enough.’

  They went back to the drawing room together. The two older ladies were looking anxious, meeting Arabella with a barrage of questions.

  ‘Tilda is a little bruised and tired,’ Arabella said, ‘as we might expect—but otherwise seems in good spirits. She was held prisoner at Nana’s cottage, but managed to work her hands free and escaped. She ran all the way here to warn me that I must not keep the tryst with her at the summerhouse, which of course I have not. Charles and
Mr Elworthy set a trap for the kidnappers. Mr Elworthy went in my stead. He was wearing one of Mrs Bristol’s gowns—that’s no doubt what she found amusing, Aunt. I expect the shots came from the summerhouse. For the moment I can tell you no more.’

  They were not to be so easily satisfied and Arabella was obliged to tell them the whole, leaving out only her cousin’s part in the sordid affair. She had come to the end of her tale when Charles entered the room, looking pleased.

  ‘Have you news?’ Arabella asked.

  ‘We have two of them,’ he said. ‘One has been wounded in the leg; the other surrendered as soon as he realised that there were too many of us. I am afraid that Sir Courtney has escaped. I expected that he would take no part in the abduction itself, and I sent three men to look for him at the edge of the woods. A carriage was seen waiting in a secluded spot and a man on horseback. He made off as soon as he saw our men coming. The carriage went in another direction. I believe two of my men are pursuing him; the other came back to report to me.’

  ‘Then that means he is at liberty to try again,’ Lady Tate said, looking alarmed. ‘Arabella will never be safe while he is free.’

  ‘He is certainly a danger to her,’ Charles said, his expression grim. ‘However, we shall not relax our vigil—and perhaps he may be brought to justice.’ He glanced at Arabella and then back at her aunt, seeming to hesitate before continuing, ‘I must tell you that your son was shot this evening, Lady Tate. He survived by sheer chance, for he carried a silver card case in his breast pocket and the ball struck that instead of penetrating his flesh. He was, however, thrown from his horse and he struck his head as he fell.’

  ‘Ralph was shot?’ Lady Tate was startled. Her face went very pale. ‘But what was he doing here?’

  ‘Perhaps on his way to visit you,’ Charles said, giving Arabella a warning glance. ‘However, I must tell you that Mr Henderson of Marsden witnessed the attempted murder as he approached the crossroads from another direction, and he stopped to investigate. Ralph was found to be alive, apparently unhurt apart from the blow to his head, and he has been taken to the inn. He was not conscious, but the doctor has been summoned to tend him.’

  ‘Mr Henderson is a Justice of the Peace,’ Arabella said and looked thoughtful. ‘You said that he witnessed the attempt—did he actually see the person who shot Ralph?’

  ‘Yes, he saw the incident quite clearly. Some of my men were nearby and they saw another man riding away—a man they were able to identify as Sir Courtney Welch. It would appear that he tried to kill Ralph.’

  ‘But why? I do not understand,’ Lady Tate said, shaking her head. ‘That wicked man was here to—’ She broke off, shock and distress in her eyes. ‘No! Please tell me that Ralph was not involved in that dreadful affair!’

  ‘I dare say it was just chance,’ Arabella said. ‘Perhaps my cousin had some private quarrel with him, Aunt. Pray do not distress yourself.’ Her gaze turned in Charles’s direction. ‘Do you know how my cousin is? Will he recover?’

  ‘I cannot tell you that at the moment,’ Charles said. ‘One of my men brought the news, but the doctor had not visited when he left the inn. The rest of them followed my instructions, which were to go on to the cottage and help to rescue Tilda.’

  ‘Then it was possibly the delay that made them a little late,’ Arabella said with a wry smile. ‘The kidnappers threw a blanket over Tilda when they took her, and she received a blow to the head, which made her lose consciousness for a while. It must have been afterwards that they tied her hands. Tilda made her own escape by freeing her hands from the ropes. She then ran all the way here to tell me I must not go to the summerhouse. She too was a little late, but I have not told her so—it was a brave effort and I am proud of her. And I am very grateful to you for all you have done, Charles.’

  He shrugged as if it were of no consequence. ‘I had hoped that we might take all of them,’ he said. ‘Sir Courtney has escaped, but Mr Henderson is a witness to the attempted murder of Sir Ralph. My men saw Sir Courtney riding away hell for leather—between them they might be able to see him hanged. Until he is caught, we must keep our vigil, but I do not think he will attempt anything more just yet. He will need to lie low and lick his wounds—and to think about what to do next.’

  ‘Would that he had been wounded!’ Mrs Hunter said, giving way to anger. ‘What a wicked man he must be—’ She broke off as she saw Sarah’s face. ‘What is it, my love? Something has distressed you…’

  ‘Everything is suddenly so clear to me. I remember that I was going to visit the swans that morning,’ Sarah said, her face ashen. ‘I saw a man at the far side of the lake and I hesitated, and then someone threw a blanket over my head from behind. It was very thick and it smelled of horses. At first I couldn’t breathe, but then I kicked and struggled. I heard someone laugh. He said something like…“I told you it would be easy, Forsythe. When you have finished with her, let me have the whore. It will give me great pleasure to get even with Hunter.” And then he laughed again. He had such a horrid laugh…a high-pitched titter…’ Sarah stared at her brother. ‘I do not know who he was, but I remember what he said.’

  ‘Sir Courtney,’ Arabella and Charles spoke together. ‘He has a distinctive laugh.’

  ‘I think the man named Forsythe called him Walsh or something similar…’ Sarah added, her brow wrinkled in a frown of concentration.

  ‘Welch,’ Charles said, and his mouth thinned. ‘Of late I have suspected that he might have had a hand in it—both of them had cause to feel anger against me, for I had beaten them at the card table.’

  ‘Charles!’ His mother stared at him in distress. ‘Are you saying that what happened to Sarah was your fault?’

  ‘Yes, I had dreaded that it might be,’ he admitted. ‘And Sarah has just confirmed it.’ His regretful eyes dwelled on his sister. ‘Forgive me, Sarah. I never meant that you should pay such a price. It was just a careless hand of cards that I gave no more than a thought to at the time or afterwards. Only when Daniel told me that he suspected Forsythe did I realise that you might have been taken to spite me.’

  ‘It was because of you—’ Sarah suddenly burst into tears and went rushing from the room.

  ‘Sarah…’ Charles said, his face going white.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Arabella said. ‘I must go to Sarah. I shall hear the rest of your story later, Charles. Please tell Mr Elworthy that I am very grateful for what he did this evening.’

  She left the room quickly and ran up the small flight of stairs at the end of the landing to the wing where the best guestrooms were situated. She was in time to see Sarah disappear into her room. Following swiftly, she knocked and asked if she might enter. After a moment she heard a sobbing affirmative. She went in cautiously and saw Sarah lying on the bed, crying. She approached softly and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

  ‘Do not blame Charles, Sarah. He had no idea that winning a hand of cards would result in your abduction, dearest.’

  ‘I am not crying because I blame him,’ Sarah said in a muffled voice. She raised her tear-stained face and looked at Arabella. ‘I am relieved that it was not something I did, Belle. I have been so afraid that I was a bad girl—that I must have done something wicked. Now I understand that it was not because of me. It was done out of spite because Charles had beaten them at the card table. It wasn’t my fault.’

  She sat up and Arabella gathered her into her arms, holding her as she sobbed out her relief and her distress. At last Sarah stopped crying and sat back, looking at her steadily.

  ‘I remember it all now,’ she said. ‘They took me to a house somewhere. It was a long way and I was lying on the floor of the carriage, for they had bound my wrists and my feet, but I was awake and knew what was happening. I was very frightened. I thought they meant to kill me. It was late in the afternoon when we reached the house, and they carried me inside. I was thrown on to a bed and left for an hour or two…’ Sarah paused, her eyes dark with fear. ‘It
was night when someone came back. He was carrying a candle. I felt very frightened, for the way he looked at me made me shudder. He told me that I was to be privileged that night and he untied my hands. He gave me a glass of wine and told me I must drink it. At first I resisted, but then he said that I would be forced if I would not do it willingly—and I was too scared to withstand him. I drank some of it, but it made me choke and I spat half of it out again.’

  ‘Oh, my poor Sarah,’ Arabella cried, shocked. ‘What a wicked man he must have been!’

  ‘He started to laugh then and said that he was looking forward to seeing me sacrificed to his deity. I did not know what he meant. I thought he was going to kill me. I had begun to feel sleepy and I fell. I think he caught me and then—’ She stopped, her eyes wide and terrified.

  ‘Go on, Sarah,’ Arabella urged. ‘Tell it all, my dear. Once you have faced the worst it can never be as bad again.’

  Sarah went on and it was clear that she was reliving her nightmare. ‘I do not know what happened next—but when I woke we were in some woods. There was a fire and I think three or perhaps four figures…men, I suppose they were, though at first I could not see properly for it was as if a mist was in my eyes. I know that one had a devil mask and horns on his head, but another was unmasked and he was naked…’ She shivered as her eyes sought Arabella’s. ‘He was bending over me. I think he must have been drunk for his eyes looked wild. I am not sure, but I believe he meant to ravish me. I screamed and jumped to my feet and then I ran away.’

  ‘Charles told me this part, Sarah. Someone—a man called Mr Palmer—was the one who was about to ravish you. Forsythe had given him an evil drug and he did not know what he did. Afterwards, he regretted his part in the affair and he confessed it to the Earl of Cavendish.’

  ‘I ran and ran for a long time,’ Sarah went on. It was as if she could not stop now that she had begun. ‘At first they came after me, but I managed to hide and after a while they went away.’ She closed her eyes and shuddered. ‘I was cold and my head ached. I was afraid to move, but eventually I did. I began walking in a daze, not knowing where I was or what I was doing. I remember that someone spoke to me and I think he meant to help me. He took me to a cottage and left me there. I was in such a state that I did not know what was going on—but after a while my mind cleared a little and I knew that I must run away again. I left the cottage and I kept walking. I think I walked for several days. I had no money and I did not dare to ask anyone for food. I just kept walking and walking. It rained hard one night and after that I was ill….’ She sighed and looked at Arabella. ‘I do not know what happened next, except that I woke up in Nana’s bed and could not recall my own name.’