by Jane Charles
“Bentley is out of the picture?”
Her grandfather grunted. “The man got what he wanted apparently and has no further use for Eleanor.”
The men were silent for a few minutes longer. Leigh questioned Elle with her eyes and Elle simply shook her head and reminded her younger sister to remain silent. Hopefully she would never ask about that last comment her grandfather had made because it was something Elle never wanted to explain.
“You’ll have difficulty with Eleanor if she learns her family disappeared,” her grandfather continued.
Eleanor strained to hear better. What did he mean by disappear?
“It is my hope that she’ll be sufficiently subdued by then to care less what befell them.”
“You mean to introduce her to opium?”
“Of course. Once she is hooked, she’ll do anything I ask.”
Leigh’s eyes widened in alarm.
“If I didn’t think it would be more trouble than it is worth I would take the sister, too. She is ripe for the picking and I have a few friends who prefer the girls younger.”
Elle brought a hand to her throat. She was going to be ill. Leigh was all of fourteen and not nearly mature enough for what Wilkes had in mind.
“Your greed knows no bounds, but my debt is paid to you and soon you will have Eleanor’s money.”
“You’ll be making a nice profit yourself. Madame Bovine will pay handsomely for Leigh. So young, beautiful and virginal. If I had a taste for virgins I’d take her myself.”
“Madam will pay very well and double her investment in less than a month. The girl is young enough to work there for years, especially if she keeps her looks.”
Elle shook with fear and anger. She had heard of the establishment owned by Madame Bovine and she would be damned if she allowed anyone to take Leigh to such an evil place.
“I know the three eldest are going to be put to work in one of your mills. What are your plans for the youngest?’ Lord Wilkes asked.
“A foundling home. If he survives then he’ll eventually go to work or live on the streets. What do I care? He is no relation to me.” Her grandfather stated calmly as he tossed his cigar onto the ground and stomped it out. “What do you care, Wilkes? You’re getting a lady for a wife and probably your heir within a year.”
Lord Wilkes shrugged. “Actually, I don’t.” He too tossed his cigar out and the two men walked back into the house. Neither Elle or Leigh breathed until they heard the door shut. They still did not move until they heard the men’s voices below them on the stairs in the foyer. Quietly Elle closed the window.
Fear of being found out held them silent and they listened as the men mounted the stairs. The footsteps could be heard as they walked to their rooms. Still, neither spoke for a quarter of an hour, waiting for the men to retire. Elle was thankful they were at the other end of the hall with rooms facing the front of the house.
“What are we going to do? Surely you can’t mean to marry Lord Wilkes?”
“No. We have to leave. Tonight. I am afraid if I claim a change of heart on the morrow they will force us apart. I cannot let that happen.”
Quietly they made plans. After an hour and praying the men were finally asleep, Leigh and Elle woke the boys, except Jamie. “Carry your shoes and put them on outside. You have got to be very, very quiet,” she whispered to him. “We are running away.”
The boy’s eyes widened with fear but she didn’t have time to reassure them at the moment. Besides, she wasn’t sure they could get away.
“Don’t speak, whisper or even breathe loudly. Do you understand?”
They each nodded.
Leigh opened the door, which moved silently. Elle bent to pick Jamie up. He curled into her, resting his head on her shoulder, thumb back in his mouth. She prayed he remained asleep until they made it far enough away from the house.
Each of the children knew the weak spots in the boards and avoided stepping on them as they descended to the foyer. They paused and waited. Eleanor pointed to the kitchen and they made their way quietly to the house and into the back yard.
The children had just disappeared into the woods when Elle took one last look back. A candle was lit on the ground floor. Who was awake? The silhouette of a man passed by a window. It was Wilkes and he was moving to the back of the house. If he didn’t find her soon then he would search. He might even wake her grandfather. She had to delay so the children could get away. Leigh saw the light as well and gasped.
“Go to Drake. He will help you. I’ll keep Lord Wilkes from following.”
“No, Elle. He is evil.”
“If he comes after us he will surely catch us. You’ve already heard his plans. Our only chance is in you all reaching Acker tonight. Tell him everything we heard.”
With fearful eyes and a quick huff, Leigh disappeared into the woods. Elle turned and wandered back to the house, hoping to control her anxiety. If ever she needed to be an actress it was now.
She had made it to the bench beneath the tree when Lord Wilkes opened the back door and spotted her. He casually walked toward her, but looked around, as if he didn’t expect her to be alone. Had he looked in the children’s rooms? Did he know they escaped? She stood when he reached her.
“I went to check on you and you were gone.” He pulled her into an embrace. “I was worried.”
Gently Elle disengaged herself. “I was unable to sleep and thought a stroll in the night air would help me sleep.”
“I could not sleep either.” He pulled her to him once again. His grip firmer this time. “I know what we could do to help us relax.”
No. She would never give herself to this man. “The children.”
“Are sound asleep.” He countered.
At least that answered her question. He didn’t know they were gone. “I would not feel right.”
For a moment Lord Wilkes seemed resolved. “Since neither one of us can sleep, I see no need to delay our journey.”
“Leave now?” Elle fought back her panic.
“We would be leaving in but a few hours anyway?”
“The children. I would hate to leave without saying goodbye.”
“You said goodbye last night. It will be easier for them this way,” he offered though she could hear an angry edge to his tone.
“I suppose you are right.” She sighed.
“Come.” He took her arm. “Let’s rouse your grandfather’s valet to load the carriage and be one our way, then I will wake my driver.”
Elle allowed him to pull her into the house. “Please, we need to be quiet. I don’t wish to wake the children.”
Wilkes grinned down at her. “Trust me. The last thing I want is them disturbing my plans any further.”
A chill ran up her spine and she rushed to her room, where she dressed in her traveling gown. A moment later the valet was removing her trunk to take it downstairs to be loaded. She tried to take her time leaving, but could think of nothing that would stall him. As she allowed him to lead her to the open door of the conveyance, she spotted a shadow rush behind Wilkes and climb into the boot of the carriage. What did Tobias think he was doing and why wasn’t he on his way to Drake?
She didn’t dare alert Wilkes to his presence and prayed her brother wasn’t found.
“Shall we, Eleanor.” Wilkes waited by the door and she had no choice but to allow him to help her enter and be seated. She had hoped he would sit across from her, but he settled in at her side. His lean thigh pressed against hers and an arm thrown around her shoulder. “Our adventure begins,” he murmured.
Elle fought all desire to move away. She had to play the part of a willing fiancé until Drake found her.
“I can’t wait until we are away from here.” He grasped her chin and turned her face toward his. “And, I have no intention of waiting until we stop for the evening. Before noon, you will be mine.”
Chapter 22
Elle fought the revulsion and turned her head away. No, not now. Not with Tobias riding on
the outside of the back of the carriage. Not before Drake rescued her. If Drake could rescue her. She was still under the control of her grandfather, until she turned five and twenty. It wasn’t that far away. Maybe she could hide until that time. Then she would be free of him, free of Wilkes and have money for her family.
Tears stung her eyes. Why had she turned Bentley away? If she had let him come inside to speak with her, maybe things would be different. Maybe Wilkes wouldn’t have wanted her knowing she was already Bentley’s mistress.
No, that wouldn’t have mattered. He was already glad she wasn’t a virgin. Would Bentley have let her go without a fight if he knew?
Probably. She’d turned him away so many times and he hadn’t returned in two days. He had probably given up on her. So many poor decisions when it came to Bentley. If only she could go back and change some of them. First, she would tell him the truth about Jamie. Would he have offered marriage? Would he have courted her? Elle liked to think so. Could she have been married to him by now and have not been caught in this nightmare?
She swiped a tear from her cheek. She would never know and it only ached to think about what was lost and what could have been. All she could hope for was that she got out of this mess somehow.
“Shed your tears and rest,” Wilkes whispered in her ear. “Your family will miss you and you them but it will get easier.” He kissed her cheek and moved away.
Elle closed her eyes. Perhaps she could feign sleep for the next hour, day or week. Until she was free of this man. But, what of Tobias?
A little over an hour into the trip the carriage pulled to a halt. Elle bolted forward and looked outside. The sun was just beginning to rise, though it was more dark than light outside. They were at Bentley’s mill. What were they doing here?
The carriage door was yanked open. The driver stood, holding Tobias up off the ground by the collar of his jacket. His eyes were wide with fear. “I am sorry, Elle.”
She gasped.
Wilkes leered at her. “You didn’t think I noticed him jump onto the back?”
Elle opened her mouth to speak but could not find the words.
He turned toward the driver. “Leave him here. They’ll give him work or send him off to London.”
Was Bentley here? Would he remember Tobias? Would he come to help? “Wait!”
“You didn’t really think your grandfather was going to take the boys in and actually raise them as his own blood relations, did you?”
Elle brought a hand to her tight throat. She had believed exactly that, until last night. What a fool she had been.
“He has plans for them, but not ones you would approve. The boys will be in mills and your sister, spreading her thighs for clientele.”
She was going to vomit and if her aim was good, it would be all over his expensive pants and polished Hessians.
The door slammed shut and she leaned over Wilkes and called out. “I love you, Tobias.”
The boy was tossed to the side of the road and the driver climbed back upon the box and drove the team away. This was not where she wanted her brother to end up, but he was safe. Hopefully Mrs. Nevil or Peter would get word to Bentley or Drake. One of them had to help her. Besides, she knew what plans Wilkes had for her and she couldn’t bear it if her brother knew what would happen to her. Yes, she inwardly sighed, this was for the best.
*
Clayton opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. What had awoken him? He looked outside. It was just beginning to lighten outside.
A knock sounded on the front door. At least he thought it was a knock, but who would be here at this time of the morning? Did the house often get people on their doorstep at odd hours?
Clay pulled on his robe and stuffed his feet into slippers. Before opening the door he grabbed his pistol and put it into his pocket. The first people he was going to employ were strong men to watch guard during the day and night. He hadn’t realized how vulnerable the children and Mrs. Nevil were until now. The mill and home was in such a remote part of the country and only those in town knew it was here. Still, they were unprotected. Why hadn’t he considered that before?
Of course, he had Thomason on staff until a short time ago, though he now doubted the man would have done anything to protect the precious lives inside.
He grabbed a candle and lit it when he got to the bottom of the stairs. Whoever was on the other side was pounding and not letting up and Clay seriously doubted that it was someone who would do them harm, but it was better to be safe.
He yanked the door open, held up the candle and looked out. There wasn’t anyone there.
“Lord Bentley?” a young voice asked in surprise.
Clay glanced down at the lad and brought the candle low. “Tobias?” What was Eleanor’s brother doing here?
“You’ve got save her.” Tears welled in the young man’s eyes and spilled over his cheeks.
Clay pulled him inside. “Who?”
“Elle.”
A chill ran up his spine.
“What happened?”
The boy spilled out everything, though having to stop several times when emotions overcame him. Clay tried the best to sooth and calm the lad, but he was at a loss at how to go about it. It took Tobias near fifteen minutes to tell him everything and it was a jumbled mess, but Clay caught the pertinent facts. “Elle thought I was asleep, but I heard everything. She was very scared.”
Blood froze in his veins at the thought of Eleanor, his Eleanor, at the mercy of the likes of Wilkes. The man was a sadist and the more a woman fought or feared the more he enjoyed raping them. Wilkes’ friends were no different and Clay, as well as his brothers, had avoided their ilk in Society once they learned of the man’s unnatural desires. He had to get Eleanor away from him before it was too late and Wilkes harmed her with his cruelty.
Clay moved Tobias into the parlor, guided him to a chair and lit a lamp. “Stay right here.” He turned and rushed from the room, calling as he took the stairs two at a time. “Peter, Mrs. Nevil.” Doors opened on opposite ends of the hall and the two employees stuck out their heads. He stopped before Mrs. Nevil first. “Have some boys ready my horse.” He thrust his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t bring Eleanor back on his horse especially if she were injured. The carriage would be too slow. “The phaeton. Have it ready it with my two fastest horses.”
He turned and strode toward Peter who was coming down the hall, hastily belting his robe. Clay rushed into the room and began to dress as Peter waited for instruction. Clay quickly explained the situation. “I need you to take Tobias back to Acker. Explain to him that I have gone after Eleanor. Hopefully her siblings have arrived by now and are safe.” Clay pulled on his jacket and turned toward the young man. “I will bring her back to Acker’s property as soon as I can.”
He yanked on his boots and strode out the door, but not before removing the pistol from his robe pocket and putting it inside his coat and taking a knife from the dresser drawer. He didn’t know what he faced with Wilkes but he wasn’t taking any chances, even if it meant he had to kill the bloody bastard.
Chapter 23
They traveled for another fifteen minutes before Wilkes knocked on the roof of the carriage. It stopped at the side of the road and the driver jumped down and opened the door. “Miss Westin and I wish to take a walk.”
The door opened further and Wilkes stepped out, offering his hand to Eleanor. Her heart raced and pulse pounded. There was no reason to stop so soon. They had barely traveled a few hours, if that.
“Hold the horses,” he instructed the driver before he reached in and withdrew a blanket.
Fear mounted. He had no intention of taking her for a walk and he did warn that she would be his before noon. Eleanor stepped away from him. Could she run? Of course, but she wouldn’t get far. She had to keep him from touching her.
Wilkes reached out and grabbed her elbow. “Be a good girl and come with me.”
She tried to yank her arm back but his hold was too tig
ht, and she suspected it would bruise by the way his fingers bit into the bone. To avoid further injury, she capitulated and followed him down a grassy hillside until they reached the relative privacy of trees. Wilkes dropped the blanket and turned toward her. “I intend to have you now.”
Eleanor took a step back.
“I am no fool. I knew who owned that mill and before long word will be sent back to Acker, who will come after you. I will see you ruined before that.”
Elle swallowed the panic. She would be found, but it would be too late. But she would fight before he laid another finger on her.
“Come here.”
“No.”
A grin pulled at his lips. “I hoped it would be like this.”
Elle stilled. “Like what.”
His grin grew vicious. “There is no fun if the woman doesn’t scream and fight back.”
He intended to rape her. The bulge in his breeches was evidence the man needed no further encouragement.
If she grew complacent, would he lose interest? “It is simply the timing is poor, Lord Wilkes.”
He lifted a brow in question.
“My courses. In a few days—,” She was cut off by his laughter.
“You think a little blood is going to disturb me, Eleanor?” He lunged for her.
“You’re sick,” she yelled back.
“I’ve made women bleed. Sometimes my passion becomes too much.” He continued to stalk toward her. “Besides, where is the sport in simple lovemaking? Once you’ve tried it my way, you may appreciate it all the more.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Only if necessary, my dear.”
Terror rose in her breast and she screamed. Elle turned, barely avoiding his hand.
“That is more like it.” He lunged again. Elle pivoted and ran. No matter how much this may increase his desire, she could not be the lamb to lie down and sacrifice her body for him. Her slippered feet carried her through the woods. She had no idea where she was going, only that it was in the direction of Bentley’s mill. If she could make it there, she might be safe.’
