The Lord's Forced Bride

by Anne Herries

  ‘Who paid you? Why has he done this?’

  Her captor made an expression of impatience and pulled her from her horse so that she fell into his arms, half-falling and hurting her ankle. She cried out in pain, shocked by his rough treatment. No one had ever behaved thus to her before, and it made her realise that she was in grave danger.

  ‘You should have done as you were told,’ the man grunted. ‘Do not try to run away. Believe me, you would fare worse amongst these people than at his hands. He has plans for you; they would tear you to pieces for the sake of the rich clothes you wear.’

  Catherine raised her head proudly, looking into his face. ‘I hope that you enjoy the pieces of silver he gave you, sir. When my brother and father learn of this, you will be punished.’

  For a moment the man flinched and looked away, but his hold on her arm did not lessen. He thrust her towards a house, which was slightly less dilapidated than most of the others, and a door opened, admitting them instantly. Someone was holding a lantern aloft, and for a moment the light blinded Catherine so that she was unable to see more than the dark shape behind it.

  ‘Who are you?’ she cried, feeling fear trickle down her spine. ‘And why have you brought me here?’

  ‘I warned you that you and that brother of yours would pay,’ a man said, stepping forward into the light. ‘I have you now, Mistress Melford—and if your brother wants you back he will agree to my terms.’

  Catherine gasped as she recognised him, because it was the Earl on Ronchester. The ruthless look in his eyes frightened her.

  ‘The King will be angry when he hears of this outrage,’ Catherine cried. ‘You will find yourself in the Tower, sir!’

  ‘The King will not know, because both you and your brother will be dead.’

  ‘No! You must not harm Harry,’ Catherine cried and struggled. ‘You will not hurt my brother…you will not…’ She launched herself at his face, her nails scoring his cheek. His hand came up and he slapped her hard across the face, making her eyes sting with unshed tears.

  ‘Be quiet, girl,’ Ronchester said and jerked his head at the man who had captured her. ‘Take her upstairs and tie her up. We’ll keep her alive until her brother gets here. I would have some sport with her and he shall see it all.’

  ‘Father,’ Harry cried as he entered the house where he and Catherine were lodging late that evening. ‘I am glad to see you so much better, sir. When did you arrive? Have you spoken to Catherine? Is she here?’

  ‘Your sister is not home,’ Rob said, frowning at his son. ‘I have been told she watched the wedding with Lady Margaret Syndon’s party. I do not know the lady—is she a friend of yours?’

  ‘I know Lady Margaret. She is a good friend of Andrew Gifford’s—and he has been a staunch friend to me, Father.’

  ‘The Earl of Gifford?’ Rob questioned. ‘He visited me at Melford some weeks ago. You may not be aware of it, but there was a quarrel between his father and I some years ago.’

  ‘The King said it was over long ago,’ Harry said. ‘I do not know what it was about, Father—but Andrew has saved my life twice.’

  ‘Saved your life? I need to hear this,’ Rob said. ‘But first you must go to the house of Lady Margaret Syndon and discover what has happened to your—’ Before he could finish, a loud knocking at the door interrupted him. He frowned as a servant went to answer it and a man came rushing in. ‘Good grief! Will Shearer…what has happened?’

  ‘I have just heard that Catherine has disappeared, feared abducted,’ Will cried. ‘I heard it from one of Lady Margaret’s servants. He came to inquire if we had seen her. Mother was very distressed and sent me to discover if you knew more.’

  ‘Catherine is missing?’ Harry’s face went white. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. ‘I was afraid something like this might happen. I had intended to send her home after the wedding.’

  ‘Why should anything happen to your sister?’ Rob demanded. ‘If Gifford is behind this…’

  ‘No, sir, I am sure he isn’t,’ Will said. ‘He saved her from one abduction attempt last night as we were walking home.’ Will saw Harry’s face. ‘She did not tell you?’

  ‘I have not seen my sister since early yesterday. She sent no word of this—but tell us exactly what happened.’

  ‘Gifford came as I was fighting the rogues off. There were three of them and I might not have been able to stop them, but with Gifford’s help we drove them off. He meant to take one to the Tower for questioning, but the man broke free and ran off. We both warned Catherine that she must take great care, and she promised she would do so.’

  ‘Had I known I should have sent several men with her,’ Harry said. ‘Forgive me, Father. Had I realised she was in danger I would never have allowed this to happen. I thought it was me Ronchester wanted to see dead.’

  ‘Ronchester?’ Rob gave him a hard look. ‘Have you tangled with that evil devil?’

  ‘He hates me because I knocked him down when I discovered him trying to rape a young woman. I reported him and Henry banished him for two years, but he did the King some service and is back at court. Andrew told me that he considers Ronchester may be behind the attempts on my life.’

  ‘If he has harmed your sister, I shall kill him,’ Rob said, his expression so murderous that Harry was shocked. He had never seen his father look like that! ‘You must go to Lady Margaret’s house, Harry. Ask her to tell you all she knows.’

  ‘I shall go at once, Father,’ Harry said. ‘If Catherine is to be found, we must begin our search at once—every minute she is in the power of that monster she is in danger.’

  ‘Tomorrow I shall approach the King,’ Rob said, his features set in stone. ‘Whoever is responsible for my daughter’s abduction will be punished either by the law or by my hand!’

  ‘Tell me what you saw,’ Andrew asked of the groom. Dickon had come to him at his lodgings. It was clear that he was uneasy, fearing that he would be blamed for not protecting his young mistress. ‘Do not fear that you will be punished for what happened to Catherine. I know that you were unable to go to her because of the rowdy crowd. I have heard this from others, but tell me what happened after?’

  ‘He rode off with her into the side alleys,’ Dickon told him. ‘I could not follow at once, but after the crowd moved on I did so. I lost sight of them, but I asked for news of everyone I met and was given an idea of their direction. It is my belief that she has been taken to that rookery of hovels that is most frequented by thieves and rogues.’

  ‘It is the best place to hide someone in this city,’ Andrew said and frowned. ‘Even I could not walk there alone in safety—my throat would be slit for the clothes on my back. However, I have friends who come and go in these dens of iniquity. I shall make my own inquiries, and when I do I shall bring her out of there.’

  ‘I would help you, sir,’ Dickon said. ‘Believe me, I would give my life for hers.’

  ‘I shall need help, but for the moment you must go to her brother. Tell Harry that she has been kidnapped and taken to a place that I know of. Tell him also that I am going to try to find her. When I know where she is, he may wish to help us rescue her.’

  ‘Yes, my lord,’ Dickon said and bowed respectfully. ‘Forgive me. I should not have let them take her.’

  ‘You were only one and the crowd would not let you through. Catherine should never have been in that position. I cannot understand why she became separated from her friends.’

  ‘I do not know, my lord, but it all happened so suddenly.’

  ‘It was planned, I have no doubt,’ Andrew said. ‘Go now, for there is no time to waste.’

  He watched as the groom left, and then began to gather the things he needed. Gold would be needed to loosen tongues, and he would need weapons besides his sword, for an element of surprise was always advisable.

  He was thinking of the men he must meet, the taverns he must visit in his efforts to find Catherine. He would not let himself think of her or of what might be happ
ening to her, because that way lay madness. He must have all his wits about him if he were to find her before it was too late.

  ‘What evidence do you have that the Earl of Ronchester is concerned in this, Melford?’ the King asked when he granted an audience to Rob the next morning. ‘I know there has been bad blood between him and your son, but this crime is an offence against the Crown as it took place on the day of my son’s wedding. If I discover the culprit, he shall pay dearly for this outrage.’

  ‘I do not know it is Ronchester,’ Rob told him, his brow darkening. ‘I know that Gifford may be involved in the business. He sent word last night that he is looking for her—but I am not sure I can trust him.’

  ‘That old fight is over and done,’ Henry said, his gaze narrowed and stern. ‘You must put it behind you, as Gifford has, sir. Move on and accept that Andrew is not his father.’

  ‘I have tried,’ Rob said. ‘I know my son believes Gifford his friend—but his father was devious. He gave his word and then you know what happened. He stole my wife and gave her to that brute Leominster. She would have died had I not been in time to save her. It haunted her for years, though she has recently told me she has all but forgotten it now.’

  ‘I will not have old squabbles brought to my court, Rob. Much as I love you, I warn you it will not do.’

  ‘If Gifford is responsible for Catherine’s abduction, he must pay!’

  ‘He shall. I give you my word—but if he is innocent you must make your peace once and for all. I shall demand some sign of it, Rob. And if it is Ronchester, he will end his days in the Tower. I showed him mercy once, but no more.’

  ‘As your Majesty wishes,’ Rob said. ‘But first we have to find my daughter. I cannot bear that she should suffer for her brother’s sake—or mine.’

  ‘I am told that Gifford looks for her,’ the King said. ‘He has worked for me many times in the past on missions of great import and secrecy, and I have faith in his ability. You must wait patiently until we have more news of her.’

  ‘I have men scouring the city,’ Rob said. ‘Her mother will never forgive me if she is not found alive and well.’

  ‘I sent you word in private,’ Andrew said to Harry when they met in a tavern yard later that day. ‘If your father knew, he would bring an army of men and insist on storming the house. I am afraid that Catherine might be killed to keep her from talking. It is better if you and I go alone. Will you trust me?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Harry agreed instantly. ‘My father is very angry, because he says I did not take proper care of Catherine. If we can bring her back unharmed, he may forgive me.’

  ‘I pray that she is not harmed,’ Andrew said. ‘My informant had been keeping a watch on Ronchester for some days on my behalf, and it was he who told me where Catherine is likely to be found. It is at a house near here, and there are usually men on guard. Of Ronchester there has been no sign since last night.’

  ‘I shall challenge him to a duel when we have her safe!’

  ‘I would rather see him at the end of a rope,’ Andrew said grimly. ‘But we must waste no more time in talking, Harry. Catherine’s groom is keeping watch outside the house, as are two others of my men. She had dismissed Dickon earlier yesterday, but he followed in her wake without her knowledge, for I had told him he must guard her constantly. It was due to him that I knew where to begin my search. When I discovered that Ronchester had been seen in the rookery, I knew that she must be his prisoner. My men will know who is within the house, and if Ronchester has been seen in the district recently…’

  ‘Let us go at once, for I shall not rest until Catherine is safe with us.’ Harry looked bleak. ‘I know that she is suffering, for I feel it in here.’ He tapped the side of his head. ‘But she is still alive, of that I am sure.’

  ‘If she lives, we shall take her out of that house tonight. Ronchester will not expect us to find her so quickly. I have no doubt that he means to use her to lure you into a trap, but he will not expect my men or me…’

  Catherine lay staring up at the ceiling. There was little light in the room, for the windows had been boarded up, and her captors had not left her a candle. Her hands had been bound in front of her, and she had been given nothing to eat or drink for some hours. She was hungry and thirsty, but most of all she was angry. How dare that man keep her here in order to lure her brother to a trap?

  She had been trying to work her hands free for most of the time she had been lying on the bed that smelled of something vile. She could hear rustling sounds in the room and wondered if there were rats or mice. Had she not had something tied over her mouth, she would have called out, demanded that they bring her something to eat. If she could but free her hands…She tugged furiously, and at last felt the ropes loosen. Another minute or two and she would have escaped the ties!

  Her wrists were painful because the hemp had cut into her flesh, but she had persisted in trying to wriggle free, and as she made a last effort, she felt them suddenly give way sufficiently to slide out first one hand, and then the other. She reached up and pulled off the scarf gagging her, breathing deeply and then sitting up as she bent forward to untie her ankles. The knots were stubborn and she was still pulling at them frantically when she heard footsteps coming towards her room. Her fingers worked at the last knot, managing to loosen it and pull away her bonds just as she heard a key in the lock. She rolled over and slipped from the bed, crouching down at the other side as the door swung back and a man came in. He was carrying a candle and she could see the light reflected on his face, but did not know him. It was not the man who had brought her here or the Earl of Ronchester.

  He lurched towards the bed, as if he had been drinking heavily, holding the candle aloft and giving a startled oath as he realised she was not there. Catherine began to inch her way round the bed on her hands and knees, hoping to slip past him. She heard a curse. He put the candle down on the bedside table and she heard him muttering as he pulled back the covers to see if she was hiding there. Catherine stood up. It was her best chance to make a break for it.

  Her guard saw her at once and yelled, diving at her and grabbing her arm as she made for the door. She struggled with him, kicking at his shins and screaming as he grabbed her hair.

  ‘Let me go!’ she yelled. ‘It will be the worse for you if you hurt me. My father will have you whipped for your insolence.’

  ‘I will be killed if you escape,’ the man grunted.

  Catherine screamed out and fought against him as he tried to subdue her. He yelled for someone to come and help him, but she poked him in the eyes with her fingers and he let go for an instant. Catherine started for the door again, just as she heard a hammering sound downstairs, and then people were shouting and yelling, the sounds of a fight reaching her. She screamed out again.

  ‘Help me! I am up here! Up here!’

  The man grabbed at her again, but Catherine was heartened by the knowledge that something was happening downstairs. She punched and kicked her captor, and he yelled and let her go as someone came pounding up the stairs. Lights had appeared in the hallway and Catherine was aware that the fighting seemed to have stopped, because there was an odd silence. She caught her breath and then, as the man reached her, gave a little scream of relief.

  ‘Harry!’ she cried. ‘Harry, you came. He wants to kill you! You shouldn’t have come—he will kill us both!’

  ‘No, he will not kill us,’ Harry said and took her into his arms. The rogue who had been trying to subdue her looked at him uncertainly. ‘Touch her again and you are as dead as your comrade down there,’ he threatened. ‘Stay back. I am not alone. If you wish to live, do nothing to hinder us. I am taking my sister.’

  ‘It weren’t me as brought her here,’ the rogue blustered. ‘I ain’t done nothing but make sure she was all right. I was going to bring her food, but she up and attacked me.’

  Harry smiled grimly. ‘Then you are well served for your pains. Come, Catherine, Andrew is waiting for us downstairs.’
/>   ‘Andrew is here?’ Catherine’s heart leapt. ‘He came with you?’

  ‘It was he who discovered where they had hidden you,’ Harry said, taking her hand to lead her towards the stairs. ‘Tell me, do you know who had you abducted?’

  ‘It was the Earl of Ronchester,’ Catherine said. ‘He thought to lure you into a trap, Harry.’ She gave a little sob. ‘But I had freed myself from the ropes that bound me and I was trying to escape…’

  ‘You are a brave girl,’ Harry said. ‘Look, Catherine—Andrew is waiting for you. Ronchester was so certain we could not find you that he had but two men guarding you—the coward that was trying to recapture you and his less fortunate accomplice.’

  Catherine saw that Andrew was looking up at them. His expression was grim and he had his sword in hand. She realised that he must have killed one of the men who had been guarding her. He sheathed his sword as she walked down the stairs towards him.

  ‘Are you harmed, Catherine?’ His look sent little shivers down her spine. ‘If anyone has touched you, he shall pay for it with his life!’

  ‘No…please,’ Catherine said. ‘The King must know that it was the Earl of Ronchester. He had me brought here because he thought Harry would walk into a trap…and he meant to kill us both…’ She smothered a sob of fear, her senses spinning. She swayed and might have fallen had Andrew not moved forward to catch her up in his arms. ‘Thank you for coming for me.’

  His arms seemed to tighten about her as he held her close. ‘You will ride with me, Catherine,’ he said. ‘Come, Harry. We must get your sister back to your family; they will be worried about her.’

  Catherine saw a groom waiting with horses. As he stepped into the light she realised that it was her own groom Dickon, and a vague memory of seeing him seconds before she was taken came to her. She smiled at him, knowing without being told that he had somehow helped Andrew to find her. She thought there were other men in the shadows, but her head was whirling and she was glad of Andrew’s arms about her as he lifted her to his horse’s back and then mounted swiftly behind her.