by Anne Herries
* * *
The day of her cousin’s wedding had been drawing closer and before she really knew where the time had gone it was only two days to the wedding. The seamstress was coming that morning to fit Judith, Elver’s sister and Lucy for their gowns. The maids of honour were to wear pale-blue gowns with white sashes and satin bonnets trimmed with ribbons and fresh roses from the gardens. Judith was to wear a gown of ivory silk trimmed with silver, a garland of fresh roses twined with ribbons and silver threads in her hair.
As soon as the news of the wedding had got abroad, presents had begun to arrive. Judith unwrapped each gift, showed them to everyone and then gave them to the servants to arrange on a long table where they could be displayed to the wedding guests. She spent an hour or so before dinner every evening writing letters to thank all those who had sent gifts. It was as Lucy joined her in the parlour that morning, three days before the wedding, that a parcel wrapped in silver tissue was delivered to her.
Judith thanked the footman and asked who had sent it, for a footman or a servant delivered most gifts and it was usual to say who had sent the present.
‘I do not know, my lady,’ he replied. ‘It was discovered on the doorstep this morning quite early.’
‘Oh, that is a little odd...’ Judith looked at the parcel doubtfully.
She began to untie the ribbon, but, finding a wooden casket inside hesitated before lifting the lid.
‘What is wrong?’ Lucy asked. ‘Do you think...?’
‘I can smell something unpleasant...’ She put the box on the table and rang the bell. A footman answered and she motioned towards the box. ‘Please open that for me, Frederick.’
‘Yes, my lady,’ he said, looking puzzled, but as he half-lifted the lid he hesitated and glanced at her. ‘I think this is a hoax, my lady. I believe I should take this to his lordship.’
‘Yes, please do. I think it might be some kind of a dead animal.’
‘Yes, it has the smell of decay,’ he said, bowed to her and took it away.
Lucy saw that Judith was looking pale. ‘What a disgusting thing to do, Judith.’
‘It can only be him...Daventry,’ she said. ‘No one else would wish to upset me two days before my wedding. It is a warning that he has not forgot me, Lucy.’
‘Do not allow him to disturb you, dearest. It is a foolish prank, no more.’
‘Yes...but don’t you see? If he could have that delivered...what more could he do?’
‘It was a spiteful trick. Elver will double the guards patrolling the grounds. He will not allow Daventry to come near you, Judith.’
‘No, of course not,’ she agreed, recovering her spirits and her colour. ‘As you say, Lucy, it was just a nasty prank.’
Lucy changed the subject and in a few moments the seamstress joined them and the unpleasant gift was forgotten as they examined silks and ribbons and tried on their new gowns.
* * *
Lucy was thoughtful as she changed her gown for lunch a little later that morning. She had brushed over the incident to Judith, but it was unpleasant to think that either Daventry or one of his servants had managed to get so close to the house.
What could have been his reason for sending her something so sinister two days before her wedding?
* * *
‘Lucy, my love.’ Lady Dawlish kissed her on the cheek. ‘I am so glad to be here. At the last moment your father had some urgent business and I began to think we should never get here.’
‘Your mama is always in the fidgets when we travel,’ her father said and laughed as he embraced her. ‘So my little girl is to marry, then—and we shall not lose you altogether for you will be living near at hand. I could not be more pleased, Lucy.’
‘I am glad you are pleased, Papa.’
Lucy’s cheeks were warm, but she had made up her mind she must accept her fate, for it would upset everyone if she were to break it off now.
‘Ravenscar is delighted. He sent you his best wishes and says you must visit him as soon as you return. We dined with him yesterday and he gave me a gift for you. It is packed in my trunk and you shall have it later.’
Lucy thanked him. ‘Paul did not come down with you?’
‘He is an hour or so behind us, I think,’ her father said. ‘He had some business to attend to and, no matter what your mother thinks, these things are important.’
‘Yes, of course, Papa,’ Lucy said and smiled at him.
She was trembling inside, for although she could see no way that either of them could withdraw, she was still concerned that Paul must feel he had been trapped into a marriage he did not want.
* * *
Lucy sat with her parents after nuncheon, talking with them, Judith, Elver and his sister. After tea, her mother went up to rest before dinner and her father went off with Elver to look at some rare books in the library. Judith suggested to Lucy that they should take a little drive in her phaeton.
‘Is it not a little late to go driving?’ Lucy asked.
‘It is so pleasant and we have two hours before we dine. Let us walk down to the lake. If you do not feel we should take the horses out at this hour, there can be no harm in a walk.’
Lucy could only agree. She sensed that Judith was feeling uneasy and wanted to talk away from the house. Having sat indoors all day waiting for her parents, she, too, would enjoy a breath of air.
‘I needed to get out for a while,’ Judith told her as they began their walk. ‘It was a dead rat in that box yesterday, Lucy...and something else was delivered today...’
‘Another dead animal wrapped up as a gift?’
‘It was worse...’ Judith looked at her. ‘A wreath of dead flowers was delivered this morning...and Elver had instructed the guards to keep a twenty-four-hour watch. How can he have evaded the guards?’ She shivered and there was a look of unease in her eyes. ‘It can only be Daventry, do you not agree?’
‘Yes, I think it must be,’ Lucy said and glanced over her shoulder. She saw a man carrying a shotgun over his shoulder walking a few paces behind them. ‘We are being chaperoned, Cousin.’
‘Yes, of course,’ she replied with a smile. ‘Elver told me I was at liberty to go where I wished, but a keeper or a couple of grooms would accompany us wherever we go. I should not have dared to come out otherwise.’
‘I am glad of it,’ Lucy said, ‘for I should be anxious for your safety otherwise, Judith.’
‘I do not go out unarmed,’ she said and a grim smile touched her lips. ‘I have a pistol in my purse, Lucy and should not hesitate to use it if we were attacked. He will not again take me so easily.’
Lucy could see that she was more angry than frightened and felt pleased. Daventry was trying to intimidate her with his cruel tricks, but it was only making her angry and that banished her fear...though it had thrown a shadow over her wedding.
‘He is a cruel and thoughtless man,’ Lucy said. ‘I hope they will soon catch him, for he deserves to be punished for what he did to you, Cousin. He is trying to spoil your wedding for he cannot truly think to capture you again.’
‘Oh, let us forget him,’ Judith said and tossed her head defiantly. ‘The day after tomorrow I shall be married. He will surely cease his tricks then, for what can it avail him after I am Elver’s bride?’
Lucy did not immediately answer. She was thoughtful because it seemed to her that the earl might not care whether she was Elver’s bride. He was not so much interested in making her his bride as in wreaking revenge on her bridegroom. It could not matter to him how he did it as long as he caused the marquis pain...her death might do as well, for he was already outlawed from society.
Judith continued to chatter as they walked and Lucy laughed and answered, though she had been feeling uneasy for a while. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the keeper walking a short
distance behind them and that reassured her...and yet she had a feeling that someone else was watching them.
They had reached the lake now. Lucy looked about her. She could see no one other than a man she took to be another keeper at the far left of the lake. Shadowing the far bank was the wood of beautiful trees. Lucy’s gaze was drawn towards the wood. She put up a hand to shade her eyes as something glinted amongst the trees, and then she saw it—a long-barrelled gun pointing at Judith.
‘He’s going to shoot!’ she cried and thrust Judith aside just as the sound of a rifle cracked and she felt the wind as it passed her cheek and then a second shot that caught her arm. She gave a cry of pain and sank to her knees beside Judith. Vaguely, she heard a flurry of shots and screams, but her arm was hurting and she passed into an unconscious state as she heard Judith cry out, ‘My cousin has been shot. Help us...we must get her back to the house...’
* * *
Lucy was not aware of being carried back towards the house, or that someone came striding to take her from the keeper’s arms and carry her up the stairs to her room, Judith running ahead to pull back the covers. She knew nothing until some minutes later when she opened her eyes to discover that her arm was being bound by sure gentle hands.
‘Paul...?’ she whispered as she looked up into his eyes. ‘What happened? When did you arrive?’
‘Just a few minutes ago,’ he said. ‘I was about to come in search of you, my foolish little love. Judith told me what you did. You saved her life, for those shots were meant for her. Daventry was bent on his wicked revenge and would have killed her had you not pushed her down.’
Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I could not let that wicked man have his way,’ she said. ‘He was bent on revenge—and wanted to kill or injure her to break Elver’s heart.’
‘Yes, my darling, we know,’ Paul said and finished binding her arm. ‘That will hold it until the doctor comes. Will you have a sip of laudanum for the pain?’
‘No, not yet,’ Lucy begged. ‘It stings, but I can bear it. Is Judith all right? He did not harm her? I heard more shots...’
‘That was the keepers,’ Paul said. ‘Apparently, they knew he was in the wood and had been tracking him. Elver wanted him taken alive so that he might stand his trial...but when he fired two shots at you and Judith, they killed him before he could reload his rifle.’
‘Oh, thank God,’ Lucy whispered and a tear trickled down her cheek. ‘You cannot imagine what dreadful things he has done to her, Paul.’
‘None as bad as he has done to you,’ Paul said fiercely. ‘I wish to goodness I had been here sooner. I should have been there to protect you, my sweet, loyal darling.’
‘You could not have foreseen what would happen. There were keepers everywhere and we thought we were safe—but then I felt something, a tingling at my nape. I looked towards the woods and I saw the sunlight reflect on the barrel of his gun. Instinctively, I knew it wasn’t one of the keepers and I pushed Judith out of the way. His first shot missed me, but I think he fired at me the second time...he did not care who he hurt and I dare say I had angered him.’
‘Hush, my love, you must not try to talk.’ Paul sent and bent to kiss her softly on the lips. ‘I should leave you to rest.’
‘Please do not leave me...’ Lucy began. The words caught in her throat as she heard her mother’s voice and then Lady Dawlish entered the room.
‘My poor, poor child,’ she cried in distress. ‘That evil man might have killed you. Where were Elver’s keepers? He assured me that you would be safe or I should not have—’
‘Please do not upset Lucy,’ Paul said as she threatened to become hysterical. ‘She is in pain, Lady Dawlish, and must be allowed to rest. Lucy saved her cousin’s life and unfortunately was caught in the firing line.’
‘You brought her home,’ Lady Dawlish said. ‘Thank goodness you have come. We shall go home to Dawlish as soon as we can.’
‘Lucy cannot travel so far yet,’ Paul said firmly. ‘Besides, she will want to attend the wedding—’
‘She is too ill—’
‘No, Mama,’ Lucy said. ‘Paul is right. The wedding is not until the day after tomorrow. If I can get up, I shall want to do my duty as a bridesmaid. Please, do not make a fuss. I should just like to rest...if everyone would go away.’ She looked at Paul imploringly, hoping that he knew she wanted him to return.
‘Take a sip of this, dearest,’ Paul said and held a little glass to her lips. ‘Just a sip and it will ease you. If you sleep, perhaps you will be able to attend the wedding, but you must rest until after the doctor has been.’
* * *
Lucy slept until the early hours of the morning and woke to find that Judith was sitting by her bed. She opened her eyes and smiled at her, but when she tried to sit up, her arm pained her and she gave a little cry, falling back against the pillows.
‘Are you in much pain, dearest Lucy?’
‘My arm is very sore,’ Lucy said and sighed. ‘I thought it might be better when I woke, but I think it is worse.’
‘You saved my life.’ Judith’s voice was emotional, her eyes caught with tears. ‘I thought we were safe. I did not see the rifle.’
‘It was the merest chance that I did, but something made me uneasy... I suspected he must be hiding somewhere on the estate, because of the wreath. Paul told me that the keepers hoped to capture him alive?’
‘Elver sends his apologies. Those were his instructions, but he did not dream that Daventry would simply try to kill one of us—he thought another kidnap attempt might be possible.’
‘Daventry must have been evil indeed, otherwise he could not have done what he did to you, Judith.’
‘I do not think he ever cared for me, but it is you who has suffered the most,’ Judith said. ‘I know your mama and papa are angry. They want to take you away...’ She hesitated, then, ‘I could postpone the wedding. There is no need for haste now. I shall be perfectly safe to buy my bride clothes in London.’
‘You must not postpone on my account,’ Lucy told her. ‘If I am able, I shall be your bridesmaid, as we hoped—if not, I shall rest here, but come down to wish you happy afterwards.’
Judith bent down to kiss her. ‘Paul went to rest for a time. He sat with you for most of the night. Do you wish me to wake him?’
‘No, let him rest,’ Lucy said. ‘Go to bed now, Cousin. You must not have dark shadows under your eyes for your wedding.’
‘There would have been no wedding had you not pushed me out of the way,’ Judith said and bent to kiss her. ‘I shall let you rest now, my love.’
Lucy yawned as she left the room and closed her eyes again. She was very tired and soon drifted into sleep.
* * *
It was morning and the sun was pouring into the room when Lucy woke once more. A maid had brought warm water and some soft cloths, which she set upon the washstand before coming to greet Lucy.
‘Several people wish to see you, Miss Dawlish,’ she said. ‘Captain Ravenscar thought you might like me to wash your face for you, miss?’
‘How thoughtful of him,’ Lucy said. ‘I feel warm and sticky. If you can bring the bowl closer and hold it, I shall try to wash myself.’
The maid obliged her and Lucy struggled to make herself more comfortable, then fell back against the pillows, feeling exhausted.
A short time later the maid brought up first the doctor, then her father and her mother, who was still a little weepy, but there was no mention of the person she most wanted to see.
‘Will you ask Paul to come and see me, please?’ she said to Judith when she followed Lucy’s parents into the bedchamber a little later.
‘He and Elver have gone to see the magistrate,’ Judith said. ‘He looked on you first thing when you were still sleeping. What did the doctor say to you—will he allow you to get up?�
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‘Not today. He has given me a mixture to help the pain, but he was pleased there was no fever and says that was due to whoever bound my wound. I wanted to thank Paul, for I should have felt much worse had I taken a fever.’
‘I think he has had much experience of tending wounds in France and Spain,’ Judith said. ‘He will be pleased to see you looking better, Lucy.’
‘I shall get up tomorrow,’ Lucy told her. ‘But it may be best if I simply attend the reception for a little while. I am sorry to miss the ceremony, but it might be too much for me to stand in the church.’
‘Yes, I understand,’ Judith said. ‘I feel wretched that this has happened to you, Cousin.’
‘It is better than seeing you dead,’ Lucy said.
A maid entered with a tray of tea and what appeared to be some thin soup, and Judith stood up.
‘I shall let you have your meal in peace and return later,’ she said and went out.
Lucy looked at the thin soup doubtfully, but tasting it, she discovered it was pleasant and drank half of it. She was sipping a cup of tea when Paul came in.
He was wearing pale breeches, riding boots and an open-necked shirt, and Lucy’s heart leaped at the sight of him. He looked so strong and handsome and she wished that he would take her in his arms and kiss her. His eyes swept over her and then he smiled.
‘I see you are a little better, Lucy. You have been so brave throughout...but I wish it had not happened. This is not what I planned. I had hoped to dance with you, take you driving and make love to you...we have our own wedding to plan soon.’
‘Are you sure you wish to marry me?’ Lucy asked the question that had been burning inside her since the night her mother had discovered her in Paul’s arms. ‘I do not think you were sure when you returned from Vienna.’
