Drawn to Lord Ravenscar

by Anne Herries

  ‘I think that would be useless, Lucy,’ he said gravely. ‘My best course would be to ride to Elver at once and ask him to assist me in the search.’

  ‘It will be the end of her hopes.’ Lucy felt tears trickle down her cheeks. ‘Could we not search for her ourselves? I could come with you.’

  ‘You will stay here, Lucy. Do you hear me?’ There was a note of authority in his voice, his gaze serious. ‘If Daventry has her, he is a dangerous man and I will not have you risk yourself. I shall do what I can to find and rescue her—and Elver will wish to do the same. If he rejects her out of hand for something that is not of her making, he is not the man I think him.’

  Lucy stared at him, tears on her face. He was so stubborn and sure of himself, and she wanted to shout or scream at him. Could he not see that it was urgent to find her cousin before she was forced into a terrible situation?

  ‘Paul, I cannot stay here while my cousin is—’ She got no further, for Paul dragged her into his arms and kissed her soundly on the mouth. She felt her senses swooning and clung to him when she perhaps ought to have pulled away. This was no time to be making love, yet all she wanted was to stay in his strong arms and to feel this wonderful sensation of drowning in love. ‘Paul...’ she began, but ceased as her mother entered the room.

  ‘What is going on here?’ Lady Dawlish demanded on seeing their embrace. ‘Sir, have you forgot yourself? My daughter is not to be treated in this manner, no matter what her cousin has done.’

  ‘Madam, you misjudge her and me,’ Paul replied with an odd smile. ‘Lucy has this moment done me the honour of agreeing to be my wife. I wish that I might stop to explain, but I must go, for every moment Lady Sparrow remains undiscovered, the more she is in danger.’

  He turned to Lucy and smiled, touching her cheek with his fingers. ‘Do not worry, my love. Elver and I will find your cousin and bring her back to you.’

  Then he was striding from the room and they heard the front door shut with a snap after him. For a moment Lucy stared at her mother in silence, then Lady Dawlish smiled.

  ‘Well, of course, my dearest, I always knew this would happen. You were made for each other. It is a happy end to the whole sorry business...or it would be if your wretched cousin had not got herself into another tangle.’

  ‘Mama, you must not blame Judith,’ Lucy said. She was feeling shocked and bewildered, both by the suddenness of Paul’s kiss and the way he had announced their engagement to her mother without one word to her. How dare he behave in such an outrageous manner? Yet she had clung to him so readily that he must naturally believe her willing—otherwise she would be a wanton wretch.

  She could feel a little tingle of happiness inside, but the doubts soon followed. Would Paul have offered for her if her mother had not discovered them kissing? These past two days she had felt that they were on a better footing, but something told her that Paul had not been ready to propose marriage to her just yet. He had been forced into it because he’d kissed her on impulse.

  Lucy’s mind worked furiously.

  He had asked her to drive out because he wished to tell her something about Mark. What was it and why did he consider it important? How frustrating it all was, for it might be some time before Paul was able to take her somewhere they could talk privately. And he had not even told her that he loved her.

  Her thoughts were whirling in confusion.

  Oh, how could she even think of her own happiness when Judith was in trouble? What a selfish girl she was to be sure! Her own future must be put on hold until her cousin was safe.

  ‘Paul is going to Elver, Mama,’ Lucy said, taking a hold on herself. ‘I am so very distressed, for I know that my cousin must be in terrible trouble...and I think this might be the ruin of her hopes.’

  ‘You must not worry too much,’ her mother advised her with a smile, obviously more interested in Lucy’s news than her niece’s disappearance. ‘Well, well, your papa will be surprised when I tell him. No, do not look like that, Lucy. We can do nothing but wait after all. We must leave it to the gentlemen to settle.’

  ‘But, Mama...how can you be so calm? I wish that I were a man. I would be out there searching for my cousin now.’

  ‘Well, you are not, so you must go to bed and try to sleep, for the morning will not come any faster if you lie awake all night. Captain Ravenscar and the marquis will manage this awkward business between them.’

  Lucy was in no position to disagree, for there was nothing she could do to help her cousin. Had there been a chance of finding her, Lucy would have risked censure to do what she could, but she had no idea where to start. Paul and the marquis would garner what information they could and try to rescue Judith...but Lucy was very much afraid that by the time they found her it would be too late.

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘Miss Dawlish is certain she was abducted?’ Elver looked at Paul, his expression giving little away. ‘Forgive me, I must ask...there is no possibility that she went willingly?’

  ‘I am told Lady Sparrow took nothing with her. We cannot know the circumstances, but we have been informed that she went out to the terrace for some air during the supper period last night and has not been seen since.’

  ‘If only I had been there.’ Elver swore softly. ‘She was not missed until the end of the evening, which means that he has a head start on us.’

  ‘Where do you imagine he has taken her?’

  ‘If he intends marriage, he will be heading towards Gretna Green,’ Elver said. ‘We must hope he stole her out of a desperate love for her—if not...’ His expression became grim. ‘I fear what may have already happened.’

  ‘But surely he must love her to desperation,’ Paul said, puzzled. ‘Why else would he snatch her on the very day she became engaged to you?’

  Elver’s gaze narrowed, becoming cold as ice. ‘What I am about to tell you must go no further, Ravenscar. That devil once tried to persuade my sister to elope with him. I do not know what mischief he intended, though she is a considerable heiress. Fortunately, my sister is a minx, and while she allowed him to believe that she would meet him, she came instead to me. It was I who met Daventry that night and we fought. I do not mean to boast, but it was I who won—and he received a beating he will not forget. I imagine that his plan was hastily formed when he discovered that Judith had consented to be my wife.’

  ‘That makes me fear for her safety,’ Paul said, his mouth thinning. ‘For it can hardly matter to Daventry whether he marries her or merely ruins her—either way he has dealt you a heavy blow.’

  ‘Yes, I imagine this must be his aim. From what I know he had been merely amusing himself with her cousin prior to this—I believe he was expected to make Miss Dawlish an offer at one time?’

  ‘We all thought it might happen, but you see...Lucy had too much good sense and she told him that she could not give him an answer, because she had not made any decision about her feelings for him. Realising that she would not have him, he went away. When he returned, he discovered that Lady Sparrow had a new admirer...’

  ‘A man he disliked intensely,’ Elver said, looking grim. ‘I shall set out for Scotland immediately, Ravenscar. I shall take two of my grooms with me, men I can trust to use their fists or a gun if necessary. However, I may be wrong and he may have chosen somewhere nearer to take his captive. I would beg you to make discreet enquiries in the district—whether he has property or was seen driving in a direction other than north.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Paul said. ‘I shall hope that you discover them on the way to Scotland, but in the meantime I shall leave no stone unturned here. We must find them, for Lucy is distressed and she will not forgive us easily if we neglect the least thing in our search.’

  Elver nodded. ‘I believe you have an interest there?’

  ‘Yes, I hope that Miss Dawlish will accept an offer from me—but
I know she would not dream of it until her cousin is found.’

  The two men shook hands and parted. Paul rode back to Bath. It was too late to make enquiries at this hour, for most of the inns and hostelries would have closed their doors against the night. He would do better to get some rest, if he could, for the next day would be busy.

  * * *

  Lucy slept, but dreamed and woke several times, rising before the dawn had quickened and sitting by her window to watch the sun rise in the sky. Where had Daventry taken Judith? If only she could think of something that might help in the search.

  Had they gone to Scotland or somewhere nearer? Lucy could not believe that Judith would agree to marry him after this. Had he behaved like a gentleman and spoken to her of his feelings at Dawlish, before Lucy’s dance and instead of paying her so much attention, her cousin might have forgiven him for deserting her in the past.

  Had Judith not been so open with her, Lucy might not have raised the alarm; she might have believed her cousin had gone willingly, for the earl was handsome and had charming manners when he chose...but she sensed there was also a ruthless side to him, a side he kept hidden. She could only be grateful that her own heart had remained untouched, for even though she had considered marriage with the earl for a time, she had always known he was not the man she truly wanted.

  Where would he have taken Judith? Lucy cudgelled her brains as she tried to think where they might have gone. She knew his own estates were some distance away and thought he would have wanted something closer to hand—unless he had headed straight for the border?

  Why had he suddenly decided to abduct Judith? At Dawlish there had been far easier opportunities, because the open countryside around Lucy’s home offered plenty of chances to snatch a young woman driving out only with a female cousin or her groom. To take her from the garden of a house in Bath and from under the noses of her friends and relatives, was far more risky and might be called reckless. The earl must have had a strong reason for doing so.

  Lucy recalled the look in his eyes when Judith’s engagement to the Marquis of Elver was announced—he had not looked upset or hurt, merely angry. It could be no coincidence that he had decided to strike that very night. If he meant to punish Judith...or Elver...then it made his actions more sinister and Lucy trembled for her.

  She was afraid that her cousin might be in more danger than she’d previously thought.

  What could she do? She felt frustrated by her inability to help her cousin, and when her mother suggested that they should attend the Pump Room, she could only agree.

  There was surely no point in staying here, for she was unlikely to receive news so soon...and they must do what they could to squash any suggestion that Judith had eloped with another man on the day of her betrothal to Elver.

  * * *

  Judith opened her eyes and looked about her. The light was dim inside the coach, for the blinds had been drawn at the windows and she judged it to be still early in the morning. She could feel tenderness at the back of her head and the vomit rushed suddenly up her throat and poured out as she turned her head towards the man sitting next to her in the fast-moving carriage. As the foul-smelling brown liquid poured out of her mouth, splashing over his boots and breeches, he gave an exclamation of disgust.

  ‘You stupid woman,’ Daventry said. ‘What a foul stench! Could you not have turned your head the other way?’

  ‘Why should I do anything to oblige you?’ Judith asked icily. ‘You hit me on the head, dragged me into this coach and made off with me—and then, when I first woke, you poured some vile drug down my throat. You might have expected I should be ill.’

  ‘Had you come with me willingly none of this would have been necessary,’ Daventry said, scowling at her. He dabbed ineffectually at his breeches with a large handkerchief, but there was no way of removing either the stench or the stain. ‘For goodness’ sake, Judith. You were angry because I deserted you, but I tried to explain. I had no fortune and your father would have none of me as a husband for you. He sent me off and told me that if I married you out of hand I would not get a penny from him.’

  ‘And I was not enough for you without a dowry?’ she said scornfully.

  ‘You forget that I had not inherited the title then and had no hope of it—had a fever not carried off my cousins I never should have much to offer. I could only leave and hope to find some other heiress who was not so well guarded.’

  ‘Why did you not tell me? I would have gone with you willingly then.’

  ‘We should neither of us have had a feather to fly with...but it is not too late for us to be happy.’

  ‘It was too late when I saw the way you led my cousin on,’ Judith said. ‘Oh, for a time your despicable plan worked and I was jealous—and thought I still cared, but then I realised you were worthless.’ Her eyes were scornful. ‘I do not think you ever loved me. It was always money with you, was it not? I was merely a flirtation to pass the time, but then you discovered I was now wealthy and thought you could trick me into marriage.’

  ‘So now you want to play happy families with Elver,’ Daventry sneered. ‘Well, he won’t have you now, Judith. Everyone will think you’ve run off with me. You are known to be flighty and careless of your reputation. You’ll take me or no one, my love.’

  ‘Then I shall take no one,’ Judith said, turning a look of disdain on him. ‘I would rather die than marry you, Daventry.’

  His eyes narrowed unpleasantly. ‘I dare say that could be arranged,’ he said, ‘but I intend to have my fun with you first... I’ll have you crawling at my knees, my proud beauty.’

  Judith felt the pace of the horses slowing. ‘Why are we stopping?’ she asked. ‘I thought we were headed for the border. Where are we?’

  ‘Oh, just a little place I bought recently,’ Daventry said. ‘They will look for us on the road to Scotland and I have no intention of receiving another beating at the hands of your fiancé and his bully boys. No, I have a little hideaway much closer to Bath than the border. Let them search the high roads for us as long as they wish. Once I have you safe, I shall enjoy teaching you to mind your manners, my love.’

  ‘I am not your love and never shall be again,’ Judith said defiantly. ‘If you try to make love to me, I shall be ill over you again. In fact...’

  She felt the vomit in her throat once more and smiled wryly as he jerked back out of reach. Although she was feeling wretched, she had the wit to realise that her illness might keep her safe from him for a time—and in the meanwhile, she must find some way of escaping him.

  * * *

  ‘Miss Dawlish.’ Captain James Havers came up to Lucy as she sat in the Pump Room looking about her. Her mother was talking with friends, trying to explain that Judith had been called away urgently to the bedside of a sick aunt and that her message had somehow gone astray. Whether or not the story would be believed was doubtful, but Lady Dawlish had felt it her duty to try. ‘I am so sorry for this scandal. You must be distressed by it?’

  Lucy did her best to smile. ‘I fear it was my fault for making such a fuss last night. My cousin was called away to her aunt...’

  ‘I hope the story may help to cool the scandal,’ Mr Havers said. ‘I must tell you in confidence that I saw a coach leaving Bath by the London road last night. It was moving fast and I caught sight of a face at the window...Daventry’s face. I could not swear to it but...I happen to know that he recently purchased a small hunting box not more than thirty miles from here.’

  ‘A hunting box?’ Lucy stared at him in surprise. ‘What are you saying, sir?’

  ‘If your cousin was abducted...I suggest that you try looking in the direction of Throckmorton...which is a small village in—’ Havers broke off as he saw Captain Ravenscar striding towards them. ‘You will wish me to the devil...but I wanted to tell you what I knew.’

  ‘Please wait, si
r,’ Lucy said and caught at his coat sleeve. ‘I wish you will tell Captain Ravenscar what you have just told me.’

  ‘As you wish...’ he said, and as Paul came up to them, drew him aside to a window where they might speak without fear of being overheard. Mr Havers then took his leave with a nod for Lucy and Paul came up to her.

  ‘Havers has told me of a hunting box just outside Throckmorton. I have been asking for information of anyone I thought might know something, but this is the first real clue to come my way. You have heard nothing from her, I suppose?’

  ‘Nothing. Mama is telling people that she was called to a sick aunt, but I do not think people will believe her.’

  ‘I have no other leads,’ Paul said, looking anxious. ‘I am glad to have seen you, for I shall drive out to Throckmorton and see if I can find this place. He may not have taken her there, of course—but it is all I can do, Lucy. Elver and his men have gone to Scotland, but I have a feeling that Daventry will not be that easy to find.’

  ‘Why has he done this?’ Lucy asked, a break in her voice. ‘Is it merely to spite Judith for giving her promise to another?’

  ‘I rather think it is Elver he wants to punish—there is history between them. Who knows what happens in the mind of such a man?’ Paul said. ‘Forgive me, I must go, for I have wasted enough time.’

  ‘Please take me with you,’ Lucy begged. ‘I feel so helpless sitting here when Judith is in trouble.’

  ‘Forgive me, Lucy, but I must refuse you,’ Paul said. ‘It is too dangerous—and you would only hinder me. I should be anxious for you, because Daventry is spiteful and, if he cannot harm Judith, he is not above taking his spite out on you, my dearest.’

  Lucy was honest enough to know that he spoke the truth and inclined her head. ‘Go then,’ she said. ‘I shall pray that you find her before...it is too late.’

  ‘I promise you that I shall keep looking for her,’ Paul said and then he was gone.