The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda: A Summersby Tale

by Sophie Barnes

  If he wanted her dead, the race would offer him the perfect opportunity. All he had to do was ensure that she fell from the saddle…perhaps once they reached the cottage, for as they turned about, they would be hidden from view momentarily. A cold chill dug its way beneath her skin, and she drew a sharp breath as panic swept over her. He could break her neck as soon as she was down, and nobody would be the wiser. Nobody would suspect a thing.

  With fear curling itself around her, she glanced back one more time and then whacked her whip against Primrose as she tugged the reins to the left, forcing them in a wide circle that would take her back to the safety that the rest of the party offered.

  “Stop!” she heard Reinhardt yell. Like the devil she would. Her heart was now beating so fast she felt it might burst through her chest. She could hear the beat of his horse’s hooves coming closer, and unable to stop herself, she looked back again, only to find that he was now right on her tail.

  “Get away from me,” she cried as she desperately thrashed at Primrose with her whip. If she could make it only another five minutes…But then she sensed Reinhardt draw up beside her, and her better judgment failed her. With a sharp pull on the reins she attempted to cut him off, but she miscalculated the distance required and found herself pushed up against him instead.

  Before she could think of what to do, his arm was about her waist and he had grabbed hold of her reins, pulling both animals to an immediate stop.

  “What the devil’s wrong with you?” he fumed, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her around to face him.

  Lucy slapped Primrose’s rump, forcing the obedient horse forward once more. With a hard yank, she then freed herself from Reinhardt’s grasp, only to find herself pulled back once more—this time by her gown—and it dawned on her that Reinhardt must have reached down and grasped the fabric, knowing that it would either bring her to a standstill or send her tumbling from the saddle. With a sense of impending doom bearing down on her, she tried to kick him away.

  “For the love of all that is holy, would you please sit still?”

  Turning her head to face him, intent on offering the scoundrel a string of oaths, she instantly stilled at the sight of the blade that now flashed in his hand. In that moment, it was almost as if her heart had stopped beating. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. All she could do was sit there and stare as he leaned toward her, his forehead creased in a frown of serious determination. She was going to die, and she very much doubted that there was much she’d be able to do to stop it, but she was damn well going to give him one hell of a struggle.

  Balling her right hand into a tight fist, she leaned back and away from him before sending the upper half of her body forward, adding force behind the punch that she delivered a second later to his left cheek. He instantly dropped the knife, his eyes wide with shock as he stared back at her in wonder. But then his eyes grew dark, and she saw his jaw clench in anger.

  Unwilling to give up just yet, she dealt him another blow, but he moved aside too quickly, and it landed against his shoulder instead. Hoping to give it another try, she readied herself, but he anticipated her this time and caught her tightly by the wrist. “What on earth has gotten into you, Lady Summersby?” he asked between bursts of air. “You rode like a madwoman, beating your poor horse until her hide was practically raw. I tried to stop you, but you refused to listen. Why?”

  “You know well enough, Lord Reinhardt,” she replied, her eyes flickering momentarily to Primrose’s backside, only to see that it was indeed marked with angry red lines. Her throat tightened at the sight of it. How could she have been so cruel?

  “No, I don’t, but what I do know is that you very nearly caused what could have been a fatal accident, trying to intercept me the way you did. You got the skirts of your gown caught in my stirrup in the process—a terrible mess if you’ll only care to take a look yourself. But when I tried to cut you lose, you decked me like no other woman I’ve ever seen. In all honesty, I’m inclined to think you’re completely mad!”

  “Is everything all right?” With a small gasp of surprise, Lucy turned to find William trotting up behind her. “Bloody hell, Charles, you look like you’ve just been in a tavern brawl! What the devil happened?”

  “A slight misunderstanding, I believe,” Reinhardt offered in response to his friend’s question, though he served Lucy a chastising gaze as he did so.

  “Lucy?” William then asked. His tone was soft but stern.

  “I…” Her mind boggled. She’d been so certain that he was after her that she’d acted completely out of character. She’d been spurred on by fear. Of course it was still possible that he was the assassin and that he was merely toying with her the way a cat might play with a mouse before gobbling it up. Truth was, she no longer knew what to think, but what she did know was that this did not look good, and it most certainly was not in accordance with the assassin’s request to avoid drawing attention. Actually, she’d just caused quite a scene, and she wasn’t at all certain about how to explain it to William.

  “Lord Reinhardt was only trying to assist, but when he drew his dagger, I’m afraid I had a moment of panic…ever since the incident that I mentioned to you yesterday, William, knives and the like have a tendency to terrify me. I hope you’ll forgive me.” She turned to Reinhardt who was staring at her with great intensity. “You too, my lord—my actions were terribly inappropriate. I’m really sorry. If we hurry back to the house, we should be able to put a piece of meat on your bruise so you won’t look too terrible tonight at the ball.”

  Reinhardt blinked, as if he couldn’t quite comprehend that she would even be thinking of the upcoming ball at a time like this. He opened his mouth to speak, but William cut him off, saying, “I was surprised to see you fall behind, Charles. Is everything all right?”

  Reinhardt held silent for a moment, his mouth set in a tight line while his eyes shifted first to Lucy and then to William. “I dislocated my shoulder in a boxing match last week. It’s still a bit sore—forces me to take things slow.”

  William drew a deep breath and let it out again in a loud gush of air. “Come along then, you two. The sooner we tend to that bruise of yours, Charles, the less likely you’ll be to frighten away the ladies.” Turning Primrose about, Lucy felt like the stupidest simpleton ever to have walked the earth. Reinhardt had kept pace with her because he’d been in pain, yet in addition to a recently dislocated shoulder, he now sported a black eye as well, thanks to her. She groaned inwardly as she plodded back toward Moorland Manor. This was the second time in the course of one day that she’d allowed her imagination to get the better of her. Whatever it was the assassin had in mind, if he hoped to rattle her, then he was doing a very fine job indeed.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  * * *

  Stepping into his study, William was not in the least bit surprised to find Alexandra, Ryan, and his father waiting for him. After all, he’d been quite clear when he’d told them that there was a matter he wished to discuss. Closing the door firmly behind him, he walked across to the side table and, noting that everyone else had already been served a drink, proceeded to pour himself a brandy.

  Upon returning from his ride, he’d escorted Lucy up to her room and requested that a hot bath be drawn for her. He’d then told Marjory to ensure that Lucy got some rest as soon as she’d eaten the sandwiches that he’d ordered one of the footmen to send upstairs to her. It was his hope that all of this would help soothe her nerves, for in spite of the explanation she’d given him, there was no dismissing the fact that she’d suffered a panic attack, and he very much suspected that there might be more to it than what she’d told him.

  With all eyes upon him, he walked across to one of the leather armchairs and took a seat. “I’m concerned about Lucy,” he then said, taking a slow sip of his drink as he regarded the only people that he dared trust with such a delicate matter. “She seems…skittish and easily frightened. I was wondering if any of you might have noti
ced the same thing.”

  “She looked distraught when she returned from her ride,” Alexandra offered. “I can’t imagine what might have gotten into her, but I dare say that Reinhardt wasn’t the only one to suffer at her hands. It will take poor Primrose several days to fully recover from such a lashing.”

  “I know,” William muttered with a sigh. “I hope you’re not too angry. Whatever the reason for her behavior, I do believe that Lucy must have thought herself to be in real danger. From what she told me, the sight of Reinhardt’s knife threw her into a fit of hysterics.”

  “I suppose that might make sense, but only if she was already too alarmed to listen to reason,” Ryan pointed out. “After all, she’d already been riding Primrose hard for some time before then, as if she was already convinced that Reinhardt was chasing after her with ill intent.”

  William shook his head, unable to comprehend any of it. “Charles is suffering severe discomfort due to an injury he received last week. Lucy had no reason to be frightened of him—none that I can find, at any rate.”

  “You know,” Alexandra muttered with a frown as she leaned forward in her seat, “now that I think of it, she also seemed a little tense and uneasy before the race, when we were talking to Stanton and he offered to waltz with her.”

  William took another sip of his drink as he considered this. “Her response was probably dictated by the fact that I’d suggested she should dance the waltz only with me.”

  “Oh dear,” Bryce chuckled, “getting a bit possessive, are we? There’s no need for that, William. The girl’s completely mad for you, you know. You’ll only push her away if you start acting the part of the jealous husband.”

  “I don’t believe that William needs to act, Papa. He’s made it quite apparent that Lucy belongs to him and to no other—not that there was ever any doubt, although one might say that you’re the one who belongs to her.”

  Alexandra snorted a little in her attempt to bite back a laugh, while William merely glowered. His wife had trapped him; that was true. But he wasn’t about to allow anyone to make a mockery of his marriage, especially not when things appeared to be looking up. “One can only commend her for realizing so quickly that the two of us would make a perfect match, and rather than allow me to suffer an endless bout of courting—or worse, marrying the wrong woman— she swiftly took matters into her own hands. Quite farsighted of her really, if you think of it.”

  But rather than nod their heads in agreement, Ryan and Alexandra both looked ready to erupt into a fit of laughter. William just rolled his eyes and decided to give up; whatever he might say from this point on, it would only compound the fact that he was rapidly turning into a lovesick puppy.

  “And here I was, thinking that you might be filled with regret over the loss of Lady Annabelle,” Bryce mused. “I’m so happy to see that you’ve changed your mind.”

  William groaned. “That’s neither here nor there, and it definitely doesn’t help resolve the issue at hand.”

  “No, I don’t suppose it does.” He frowned. “I did send that letter to Percy by the way. I suspect he’s probably put an agent on the case already, but it will likely take another couple of days before we hear anything back from him.”

  William cursed himself for forgetting about that letter. Lucy had made him promise not to share what she’d told him with anyone, but having asked Percy to investigate her past, it might be difficult to keep it a secret. While William didn’t doubt the Foreign Office’s discretion, he and Lucy would no longer be the only ones privy to her true identity, and it was too late to call off the investigation now. Still, he decided that it would be best to keep quiet on the matter. If his father was to discover anything, he would do so from Percy and not from him. No, William would keep his word to Lucy though he did make a mental note to tell her that her secret might not be safe for much longer.

  “She acted a bit odd at dinner last night as well, don’t you think?” Ryan suddenly remarked.

  William nodded as he recalled the drawn look upon her face and her strained smile. She’d seemed worried about something. “You were sitting directly beside her. Did she happen to say anything out of the ordinary or respond to something somebody else might have said in an unusual fashion?”

  Ryan frowned. “Not exactly, but…”

  “When Reinhardt addressed her, complimenting her on the pendant she was wearing, she seemed to lose her composure a little,” Bryce said, cutting straight to the chase.

  Charles again…

  William had of course noticed the gold heart pendant that Lucy had worn but hadn’t commented on it. She’d worn it again today, he realized, and he suddenly wondered why he’d never noticed it before. She must have worn it for the first time yesterday, but why would discussing it with anyone make her ill at ease? It didn’t seem to make any sense.

  “What about, Lady Ridgewood, Papa? Has she said anything that might give us a better understanding of Lucy’s peculiar behavior?”

  Alexandra gaped at William. “You’ve asked Papa to entertain Lady Ridgewood with the purpose of garnering information?”

  “And you’ve agreed?” Ryan asked, sounding equally appalled.

  “As it is,” Bryce said, “I happen to respect the woman a great deal, and I also enjoy her company.”

  “You’re using her with the express hope that she will betray her charge!” Alexandra shot out of her chair and began to pace, anger flashing in her eyes. “She’s a lovely woman, Papa. She does not deserve this, and neither does Lucy.”

  “Two days ago you didn’t even like Lucy,” William said, offering her a hopeful smile that was not returned. “I’m happy to see that you’ve changed your mind.”

  Alexandra served him a scowl and then turned on her father. “Don’t do this,” she said, “for if you keep it up and Lady Ridgewood discovers your true intent, I dare say she won’t like you as much as you like her. In fact, she’ll probably never speak to you again.”

  Bryce frowned, picked up his glass, and took a long gulp. “Giving your old papa advice on how to treat the ladies?”

  Rolling her eyes in frustration, Alexandra flopped back down onto her chair and expelled a deep breath. “No, just trying to keep you out of trouble for a change.”

  Bryce chuckled. “I appreciate that, my dear, but there are times when we must put other people’s best interests before our own, and in this case, it is my belief that finding out what we can about Lucy may be the best way for us to protect her against whatever it is that she’s so terrified of. And I am willing to sacrifice Lady Ridgewood’s good graces for such a cause.”

  William steeled himself. He already knew what it was that frightened her—the masked assassin that she hoped to find with his help in Constantinople, the very same man who haunted her dreams at night.

  Wrapped in her cream-colored, silk dressing gown, Lucy stared out of her bedroom window at the garden below, berating herself for allowing fear to take control. Somebody was likely to get hurt as a consequence. She closed her eyes against the bright and colorful scenery outside, knowing that she’d never forgive herself if that were to happen. Whatever it was the assassin had in mind, she hoped he’d act soon and cease this game of his.

  A knock sounded at the door, startling Lucy out of her bleak reverie. Heaven help her, she’d never been this jumpy before in her life. “Who is it?” she called out, making a firm attempt at keeping her voice level.

  “It’s me, Constance,” her friend’s voice replied.

  With a sigh of relief, Lucy crossed the floor, unlocked her bedroom door, and pulled it open, allowing Constance to enter. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you right now.”

  “Yes, it does seem as though we have a great deal to discuss,” Constance said as she gave her a warm smile. “I brought these for you, and I’ve asked your maid to bring up some tea.”

  “Thank you.” Realizing how hungry she actually was, Lucy gratefully accepted the plate of cucumber sandwiches that was being offere
d to her. She then gestured toward one of the armchairs in the corner. “Come, let’s sit.”

  “So, I understand that there was a bit of an incident during your ride earlier,” Constance remarked as soon as they were both comfortably seated. “Would you like to tell me what happened?”

  Of course she did, but she couldn’t; the risk was too great. So instead, she settled for the same tale that she’d spun for William’s benefit. “You know that I don’t react well to knives, Constance, and while I realize now that Lord Reinhardt was no threat to me, the sight of him drawing that blade sent me into a panic. I was alone with him after all, and it terrified me.” She shook her head in a self-deprecating manner. “William must think I’m such a fool. I acted like a complete madwoman, going so far as to hit Lord Reinhardt for heaven’s sake. It’s deplorable!”

  Reaching for Lucy’s hand, Constance gave it a tight squeeze. “Nobody thinks ill of you, Lucy—not as far as I can tell. But, we are worried. This isn’t normal behavior.” She stared long and hard at her before asking, “Is there something that you’re not telling me?”

  Swallowing hard, Lucy shook her head definitively. “No.”

  Constance did not look convinced. “What about your nightmares? Are you still suffering from them?”

  “Yes,” Lucy managed to say, adding a weak nod. “Yes, they still plague me most nights.”

  “Oh, Dearheart,” Constance murmured, “nobody should have to suffer like this. There’s so much pain and anguish in your eyes, Lucy. It breaks my heart to see you like this.”

  “I just hope that it will all be over soon,” Lucy muttered, her voice tripping a little.