The Summer Maiden

by Dilly Court

  Caroline caught up with her. ‘We can’t afford to lose time. We’ll have to leave a note for Phineas. Every second we waste gives Quick an advantage.’

  ‘I don’t care, Carrie. I’ll wait because I want to speak to Phin.’ Maria opened the door and marched into the office.

  Caroline was close on her heels, but they came to a sudden halt at the sight of Gilbert Reid, who was seated in front of the desk, reading a copy of Lloyd’s List. He dropped the paper and leaped to his feet. ‘Miss Manning and Cousin Maria. This is an unexpected pleasure.’

  ‘Captain Reid! What are you doing here?’ Caroline eyed him curiously. ‘I thought you were employed by us, not the Colvilles.’

  ‘It seems that we are virtually one and the same company now, but I’m on two days’ leave while the Esther Manning is in dock. I came to see my cousin.’

  ‘This isn’t a social call. We need to speak to him urgently.’ Caroline glanced at the desk where everything was laid out neatly, from the pen placed at right angles on the inkstand to the piles of documents tied with red tape. ‘If I might have a sheet of paper I’ll leave a message.’

  ‘I’m not leaving until I’ve seen Phineas,’ Maria said mutinously. ‘My whole life depends on what happens today, Carrie.’

  Gilbert looked from one to the other, a smile curving his lips. ‘This sounds intriguing. Maybe I can help?’

  Caroline met his amused gaze with a steady look. ‘I very much doubt it, Captain. We have to travel to Devonshire as a matter of urgency.’

  ‘Might I ask why?’

  ‘Maria’s mother is in imminent danger.’

  His smile faded. ‘How so?’

  ‘Her husband, Elias Quick, has been ill-treating her for years. We rescued her and brought her back to London, but he found out where we were and has taken her back by force.’

  ‘The devil he did.’ Suddenly alert, Gilbert looked from one to the other. ‘I’ve never met Aunt Grace, although of course I’ve heard my parents speak of her.’

  ‘No doubt blackening her name,’ Maria said angrily. ‘I’ve had to live with her legacy all my life, and now I have the chance to get away from the misery her youthful mistakes have caused me. I’m to be married, Gilbert.’

  ‘But only if Phineas manages to relieve Theo from his post,’ Caroline said pointedly. ‘You are going to have to choose, Maria. Will you wait here on the off-chance that Theo will get to London, or will you accompany me to Wolf Tor Farm to save your mother from that vicious brute?’

  Maria subsided onto a chair, burying her face in her hands. ‘That’s not fair, Carrie. You mustn’t make me choose.’

  ‘Captain Reid is here,’ Caroline said more gently. ‘He could tell Phin what’s happened, and we could be on our way.’

  ‘What do you hope to achieve by following them?’ Gilbert leaned against the desk, and for the first time Caroline could see a likeness between him and his cousin.

  She met his questioning look with a toss of her head. ‘I don’t know, but we have to do something. You haven’t met this man, Captain. He’s a brute and a bully.’

  ‘But without a definite plan of action you’ll be wasting your time,’ Gilbert said reasonably. ‘And if they’re married he has the law on his side.’

  ‘That’s what he said.’ Maria grasped Caroline’s hand. ‘I want to help my mother, but Gilbert is right. What could we do?’

  ‘Freddie will help us. If he’s sincere about his feelings for Grace he’ll do anything he can to free her.’

  ‘Who is Freddie?’ Gilbert asked.

  Caroline was tempted to tell him to mind his own business, but it was obvious that his interest was genuine. ‘Freddie Dorincourt is a friend of the family,’ she said, resigning herself to an explanation that would satisfy his curiosity. ‘He’s the younger brother of the Earl of Starcross, and he lives at Starcross Abbey, not too far from Bovey Tracey, which is where we took Grace when we rescued her from Elias.’

  ‘And what is his interest in my aunt?’

  ‘Freddie is an artist,’ Maria said proudly. ‘He was painting her portrait and I think he wants to marry her, but—’

  Gilbert held up his hand. ‘Please stop, Maria, you’re confusing the issue. According to the law Grace belongs to Quick and he can do more or less as he pleases. I think you have to accept that.’

  ‘Whose side are you on?’ Caroline demanded angrily. ‘Would you beat a woman black and blue and keep her a prisoner in her own home?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘Then why would you stand by and allow some other man to do exactly that?’ Caroline fixed him with a stony look. ‘Anyway, we’re not asking you to do anything other than pass on a message to Phineas. Maria and I are going to Devonshire. I’d be grateful if you could let my mother know that we don’t plan on being away for long, and tell her that I’ll explain everything on my return.’

  ‘Oh, Carrie, I’m not sure about this,’ Maria said in a low voice. ‘What will Theo say if he arrives in London to find me gone?’

  ‘He’ll understand. Anyone with any decency would agree that we’re doing the right thing.’ Caroline made a move towards the door. ‘Goodbye, Captain Reid.’

  ‘Wait.’ Gilbert’s note of command made Caroline hesitate. He reached for his hat and cane. ‘I can’t allow you to travel on your own. Phineas would never forgive me if I did. I’m coming with you.’

  Caroline gazed at him in amazement. ‘You? Why would you do that, Captain?’

  ‘You’re forgetting that I’m related to both Grace and Maria. Of course I care about what happens to them, as does Phin, only he’s not here at the moment.’ He reached across the desk to pick up the pen and dipped it in the ink. ‘Write a note for him and one for your mother. I’ll see that they’re delivered, and we’ll be off.’

  ‘Are you sure about this, Gilbert?’ Maria said worriedly.

  ‘We can’t wait for you to pack a bag,’ Caroline added.

  He placed two sheets of paper on the desk in front of her. ‘As it happens I stayed on board last night and I have some of my things with me. I’d intended to visit my mother’s home in the country, but she isn’t expecting me, so I’m free to come and go as I please.’ He moved to open the door as Caroline hastily finished scribbling her notes. ‘Shall we?’

  They arrived at the Wolf Tor Arms too late to make a journey onto the moor a safe option. Mr and Mrs Brewer welcomed Caroline and Maria as if they were old friends, and, if they were surprised to see them with a male escort they were too experienced in the trade to allow it to show. Aiken, however, had no such scruples. He was acting as potboy that evening, and he was openly curious.

  ‘I never expected to see ’ee back so soon, miss. Let alone accompanied by a gentleman.’ He brushed a lock of tow-coloured hair back from his brow. ‘Do ’ee want to venture onto the moor again?’

  Caroline held her finger to her lips. ‘Yes, but don’t tell anyone. Word mustn’t get round.’

  ‘You can trust me, miss. I never let on last time and I won’t now.’ Aiken puffed out his chest, turning to Gilbert, who was still in uniform. ‘You can trust me, Cap’n.’

  He slipped a coin into Aiken’s palm. ‘I can see that. We’ll need your services in the morning and the hire of three horses.’

  ‘Ponies is best on the moor, Cap’n. Dartmoor born and bred, but broken to the saddle, so they’re as gentle as lambs.’ Aiken sauntered off, pocketing the money.

  ‘It’s a pity we can’t go this evening.’ Caroline shook her head. ‘Poor Grace will think we’ve abandoned her.’

  ‘If she’s managed to survive twenty years of marriage to Quick, I don’t think one more night will break her.’ Gilbert raised his glass in a toast. ‘Here’s to success, and with luck we’ll have Grace safe and sound and back in London by this time tomorrow, although quite how we’ll manage it I have yet to work out.’

  ‘It’s not like plotting a course at sea, Captain.’ Caroline sipped her coffee, eyeing him over the rim of her cup. ‘I
suggest we go there tomorrow morning first thing, and hope to find her on her own. It’s a slim chance, but one I think we’ll have to take.’

  ‘We’ll have to be careful,’ Gilbert said, frowning. ‘Quick sounds like a nasty piece of work.’

  Maria clutched his hand, holding it to her cheek. ‘The sooner we rescue my mother, the sooner we return to London.’

  Next morning they set off immediately after breakfast with Aiken, once again, as their guide. Caroline thought she knew the way, but even in high summer the boggy areas were dangerous and she did not entirely trust her memory to get them to the isolated farm without his help.

  They came to a halt some way from the house, sending Aiken to reconnoitre, but he returned with bad news. He told them that Quick was seated outside the front door with his shotgun at his side, as if he were expecting them or perhaps a representative of the law. After a swift discussion they dismounted and settled down to wait, detailing Aiken to take a look every so often, but he returned each time with the same story.

  The sun rose higher in the sky and they all grew hot and thirsty. The song of the skylark and the scent of gorse and heather had seemed delightful at first, but now Caroline was past caring about the beauties of nature. She was hungry and there were damp patches beneath her armpits. She could feel the sweat running down between her breasts – tight stays and voluminous skirts and petticoats were not the most comfortable mode of dress when the wearer was exposed to the merciless rays of the sun. Gilbert had had the forethought to bring a bottle filled with water, but when that was gone they were tortured by thirst. He strolled off, returning minutes later with it refilled from a spring.

  ‘We should return to the village,’ he said, having been the last to take a drink. ‘I’m afraid you’ll both suffer from sunstroke if we stay here.’

  ‘But the longer she’s with him, the worse it will be for Grace,’ Caroline protested.

  ‘I realise that, but Quick is on the alert. Short of an armed boarding party there’s very little we can do. I think we’ll have to return to the inn and try again tomorrow.’

  ‘Maria and I have only a small amount of coin,’ Caroline said slowly. ‘We can’t afford to stay there very long.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that. I’m doing this for my family so money doesn’t come into it – not yet, anyway.’ Gilbert signalled to Aiken, who was sitting on a granite slab, smoking a clay pipe. ‘We won’t give up, Maria. But we have to be sensible.’

  They returned to the inn and tried again next day, but the result was the same. Quick was taking no chances and he did not stray more than a few yards from the house. There was a mangy dog tied to a post close to the front door and it barked at the slightest sound or movement, forcing them to retreat to the village.

  The third morning dawned wet and a thick mist enveloped the moor. Brewer advised against travel that day, but, with each passing hour, Caroline was becoming more worried, and Maria was openly fretting. Gilbert seemed to be the only member of the party who was optimistic, especially when Aiken announced that it was market day in Bovey Tracey.

  ‘Quick is a farmer,’ he said, smiling. ‘I’m fairly certain he would want to go to market.’

  ‘Of course,’ Caroline said eagerly. ‘I should have remembered – that’s when we managed to get into the house before. Quick goes to Bovey Tracey, leaving Grace at home.’

  ‘As my husband said, it would be best not venture on the moors in this weather, miss.’ Mrs Brewer placed a basket of hot rolls on the table in front of them. ‘I doubt if Aiken would want to risk such a venture.’

  ‘I might be persuaded,’ Aiken said, grinning. ‘I know the way blindfold, if it’s made worth my while.’

  Caroline turned to Gilbert. ‘What do you think?’

  He nodded. ‘With the enemy out of the way and under cover of a thick fog, we might just have a chance.’ He put his hand in his pocket and took out a half-sovereign. ‘Would this make the mist lift just a little, Aiken, my boy?’

  After the frustration of their previous attempts, it seemed all too easy. Aiken, as he had boasted, knew his way across the moor despite the swirling mist, which left Caroline feeling dizzy and disorientated. He also showed a talent for picking locks, having kept the guard dog busy with a large juicy bone he had pilfered from the inn kitchen. They entered the house, calling out to Grace. After an unsuccessful search of the ground floor they went upstairs calling her name, and a faint response led them to a locked room at the back of the house. Gilbert put his shoulder to the door and, after a couple of attempts, it flew open to reveal Grace tied hand and foot and chained to the iron bedstead. Once again, Aiken exerted his magic on the padlock, and Gilbert used his pocket knife to slice through the cords that bound her. She was in a dire state, battered and bruised, half-starved and shaken by the viciousness of the beatings that she had suffered at Quick’s hands. Gilbert carried her downstairs to the kitchen, where they attempted to revive her with sips of water and mouthfuls of porridge, which had been left in a saucepan on the range.

  ‘We must get her out of here before he returns,’ Caroline said in a low voice.

  ‘Perhaps it’s not a good idea to take her to the inn,’ Gilbert whispered. ‘That’s the first place Quick would come looking for her.’

  ‘Aye, master.’ Aiken nodded sagely. ‘That’s what he did afore.’

  ‘She can’t travel in this state,’ Caroline said worriedly. ‘Starcross Abbey is the nearest place we could take her, but Elias would work that out for himself.’

  Aiken glanced out of the window. ‘No matter where you’m thinking of taking the lady, I say us had better move soon, miss. The fog is getting thicker.’

  ‘There’s Daumerle,’ Caroline said thoughtfully. ‘Aunt Alice would take us in, and Quick knows nothing of our connection there.’

  ‘Then I suggest we head for the inn and collect our things. Perhaps we can hire some sort of transport to take Grace to Daumerle, and when she’s well enough we’ll travel back to London.’ Gilbert turned to Maria, who was trying to persuade her mother to sup a little more of the cold porridge.

  ‘We have to leave now, Maria,’ he said gently. ‘Best find a coat or something to wrap around Grace. She can ride my pony and I’ll walk. Aiken will go on ahead, making sure we don’t get stuck in the mire.’

  By some miracle they made it off the moor without getting lost or being trapped in the boggy ground. The only good thing about the fog that Caroline could see was that it would hamper Elias Quick’s return home, giving them more time to get Grace as far away as possible.

  Gilbert settled their bill at the inn and arranged the hire of a somewhat rickety wagonette drawn by an aged carthorse, handled by an equally ancient driver, who bellowed at them, demanding payment in full before they set off. Aiken explained that the man was unlikely to pass on any information to Quick as he was stone deaf, and Gilbert paid up without a murmur. They left for Daumerle, having dosed Grace with a generous amount of brandy to ease her pain. Caroline suspected that her injuries included several broken ribs, but there was no time to consult a doctor, and they made Grace as comfortable as possible, with a blanket wrapped around her knees.

  The fog had lifted and the sun appeared briefly as they set off, but then clouds rolled in from the west and it started to rain. They were all soaked to the skin by the time they reached Daumerle, except for the driver, who had wrapped himself in a tarpaulin and was oblivious to the requests of his passengers for similar cover. The gates were closed and the gatekeeper took one look at the shabby equipage and refused to open them, despite Caroline’s angry assertion that she was a close family friend. Her embarrassment deepened when the gatekeeper chose to pay heed to Gilbert and grudgingly unlocked the side gate, allowing the passengers to enter on foot. Grace was barely able to walk and had to be supported during their trek up the tree-lined drive. The rain was lashing down, soaking them further, and Caroline could see that Maria was growing weary. Grace was virtually a dead weight, and when Mari
a stumbled and only just managed to save herself from falling, Gilbert abandoned the luggage he had been carrying and lifted Grace bodily in his arms.

  ‘Leave the cases,’ he said firmly. ‘I’m sure someone will be sent to collect them.’

  Caroline nodded and dashed the rainwater from her eyes. ‘Hold on to me, Maria. We’re nearly there.’

  It was a bedraggled party who arrived at the grand entrance, sheltering from the teeming rain beneath the columned portico, and perhaps hardly surprising that Digby, Lady Alice’s butler, was about to turn them away.

  ‘I am Miss Manning. You must remember me,’ Caroline protested. ‘My mother was a guest of Lady Alice, who is a close family friend. Please inform her that I am here.’

  ‘Lady Alice left for London two days ago, miss. I’m afraid you’ve had a wasted journey.’ He was about to close the door when Caroline heard a familiar voice.

  ‘Is that you, Carrie?’

  ‘Yes, it is. Tell your man to let us in, please, Delia.’

  Cordelia Bearwood appeared in the doorway. ‘For heaven’s sake, what are you about, Digby? Let my friends in.’

  ‘Of course, Miss Cordelia.’ He stood aside, staring over Caroline’s head with a pained expression.

  Ignoring him, Caroline stepped over the threshold, ushering the rest of the party into the vast entrance hall. ‘Thank you, Delia. As you see, we’re rather wet, and we had to leave our baggage beneath a tree.’

  ‘Digby will send someone to collect it.’ Cordelia looked from one to the other. ‘Perhaps introductions had better wait until later,’ she said, smiling. ‘I felt rather chilly so I had a fire laid in the drawing room.’ She turned to Digby. ‘We’ll take tea and cake, and perhaps a tot or two of brandy wouldn’t go amiss.’

  He inclined his head and stalked off, as if walking barefoot on hot coals.

  ‘Digby thinks he rules the house in my parents’ absence,’ Cordelia said cheerfully. ‘He doesn’t and I have to remind him of that every now and again. Follow me, everyone.’ She shot a wary glance in Grace’s direction. ‘Who is that and what on earth happened to her, Carrie? Has there been an accident?’