“No, although I hope that that matter will be drawing to a conclusion soon?” Stephen asked.
“It will, but we are waiting for the right moment before we act,” Peters replied, giving nothing away.
“Good,” came the quiet response. “You’d better sit down; I have a job that I hope you can help with,” Stephen said, and proceeded to tell Peters all of the details that had been in the letter. He did not show Peters the document, he felt that Dunham’s emotions were exposed in that letter and he did not want a stranger to see that.
Peters listened in his usual quiet way, interjecting questions when he needed clarification. At the end of Stephen’s tale, he thought for a moment. “I think Lord Dunham is correct, he will have gone to the house in London first. It is the easiest to reach, he must have escaped from the docks and he could just disappear into the crowds in London, whereas it would be far harder to do that in the country.”
“Do you think he will still be in London?” Stephen asked, knowing it was only a faint hope.
“It depends how long he decided to hide after he escaped from the ship. He wouldn’t want to hide for too long, especially if he has no money. I will start in the morning.”
“Will you question the staff?” Stephen asked.
“Not necessarily,” Peters replied with a hint of amusement in his eyes, but it did not quite reach his mouth. “He may not have approached the staff, but there are many other ways to find out if he has been near the house.”
Stephen nodded his head and the men parted. There was nothing else that Stephen could do but send out a short letter to let Dunham know that the search was in hand.
*
Peters returned to visit Stephen after two days. It had actually been a relatively easy task, but one that gave him no pleasure. He knew his news would increase concern, rather than reassure.
Stephen was in the study, it looked like he had been pacing when Mr Peters entered. He nodded to the gentleman to sit down and offered him refreshments. Mr Peters declined and took out his notebook, ready to relay the information he had gathered.
“George Watson, or a man very closely matching his description was seen in the area of Lord Dunham’s London house over three weeks ago,” Mr Peters said calmly.
Stephen took a long breath. “Three weeks? That must mean that he’s in Somerset by now,” he said grimly.
“It is a fair assumption my Lord,” Mr Peters responded. “He was seen watching the house and then fell in with a group of tramps that frequent the area. Their mornings are spent knocking on the basement doors asking for scraps of food. He spoke to some of the junior staff in the house. They did tell him about the family, and about Dunham Park.”
“Stupid idiots!” Stephen exploded. “Why on earth did they think that he was asking after the family? So he could call on them when they returned to town?”
“They are young girls of twelve, first time away from home and living in a large house. They are proud of the family they serve. It’s not an unusual question in any respects; the tramps would want to know if the families were at home or not.”
“What possible benefit would that information be to them?” Stephen asked.
“If the family are at home, there are more parties, which means more food, meaning more waste. They eat better when a family is in residence.”
“Oh.” Stephen was generous to charitable causes, but he had never thought of the practicality of needing to gather food on a day to day basis. “Did he give anything away?”
“Not really,” Mr Peters replied. “He mentioned that he had worked for Lady Dunham’s family in the north and was hoping that she would give him a job on her estate. He came across as a man down on his luck; he gave no other information, which is no surprise.”
“So, that was three weeks ago,” Stephen mused. “How long would it have taken him to reach Dunham Park?”
“Probably well over a week, he would have likely walked and probably at night. Let’s not forget he is a man on the run. If he was caught and his true identity discovered, he would be hanged.”
“Let’s hope that happened,” Stephen said gruffly.
“We would have heard,” Mr Peters said reasonably.
“He must be in the Somerset area,” Stephen said, a sinking feeling developing at the thought that Elizabeth was truly in danger. There was another niggle that would not subside, however he tried to ignore it. Charlotte was in that area, as was a man who was on the run and determined to damage the family in residence. Elizabeth was in danger, but Charlotte was also at risk because of her residence there.
Stephen rang for Walter. “I need to send a letter to Lord Dunham. He needs to know that they are at risk. Would you take it and act as protector for Lady Dunham?”
“Me?” Mr Peters asked in disbelief. “I am working on other cases my Lord.”
Stephen sighed. “I do not wish to appear overbearing, but one, no two of my friends could be in danger, I trust your ability. I will pay whatever it takes for this to be your top priority.”
“It isn’t about the money,” Mr Peters scowled at Stephen. The aristocracy always thought it came down to money.
“I apologise, I did not mean to offend, but I need your help,” Stephen said quietly. He had seen the fire in Mr Peter’s eyes and had withdrawn his overbearing manner.
A small cough came from the door of the study. Stephen raised his eyes at Walter. “Yes Walter?”
“My Lord, I beg pardon in overhearing some of your conversation, but if I could offer a suggestion?” The calm butler asked.
Stephen looked at Mr Peters. “He’s only asking permission because you are in the room, normally he just offers the suggestion whether I want to hear it or not.”
Mr Peters looked slightly amused, but refrained from saying anything. Walter coughed again, Stephen was sure it was to hide a laugh, but the butler’s face remained impassive. “Your flattery overwhelms me my Lord, but as I was saying. I feel Lord Dunham may appreciate if both of you gentlemen could go to the estate.”
“Both of us?” Stephen asked in disbelief, but his heart had started to pound at the thought.
“Yes, my Lord. Trusted friends are hard to find and the more people in the house surrounding her Ladyship, the safer she will be. Staff cannot be present all the time.”
Stephen thought for a moment. He wanted to go. He had wanted to go as soon as Walter had suggested it, but it would put him in Charlotte’s company again. He dismissed his pounding heart. He was a grown man, one who could respond to the needs of a friend without having to be afraid of the effects a seventeen year old chit would have on him.
Stephen turned to Mr Peters. “Will you accompany me please? I realise you have other work, but is there any possibility you could accompany me? My friend is in danger.”
Mr Peters nodded; he would have to pass over his work to a colleague. He would owe Corless an unlimited amount of drink for the favour, but he wanted to help Lord Halkyn. The appeal in his request damped down the previous inappropriate comments he had made. Peters responded quietly, “Yes, give me two hours and I will be ready.”
Stephen nodded and turned to Walter. “Arrange the carriage Walter and let it be clear, we will be travelling as fast as it can bear.”
“Yes my Lord.”
Chapter 17
The family had quickly developed a routine and although Elizabeth hated not being able to wander across the fields, she held to the restriction of staying on the immediate parkland. Edward, John, Michael and the male staff were all happy to accompany her on long walks around the estate. Miss Fairfield, Charlotte and Violet took carriage rides and walks around the formal gardens with staff to accompany them. When she was within the house, there was always someone with her. It was a prison, but a necessary one.
The tension in the household could be felt, but everyone tried to get on with life as best they could. Michael and Elizabeth had talked behind closed doors, their conversation being upsetting to both, but important. T
hey both realised that the threat was serious.
Charlotte did all that she could to make herself useful to Elizabeth. If she had felt that her presence was not welcomed she would have returned to her uncle’s home, whatever the consequences, but her presence was needed. She made up a third person on many of Elizabeth’s short outings. They had come to the conclusion by being in a pair, there was the likelihood that they were still vulnerable, but that being in a threesome, there was less chance of them being approached. More people therefore helped.
Mr Anderton and the senior staff regularly undertook searches of the property and buildings to ensure that no one was hiding anywhere. Everything was being done to reduce the chance of George being able to get close enough to reach Elizabeth. No one let themselves hope that he was not in the area. If he could avoid deportation, he could certainly find his way to Somerset.
The second Sunday morning felt more normal than the first had. Elizabeth had insisted that she wanted to go to church as normal; it would cause speculation in the local population as to why Lady Dunham was not attending church, which she wanted to avoid. As the church was on the edge of the parkland this did not seem an unreasonable request by Elizabeth. It was agreed that Michael, Edward and Violet would arrive at the church first, to enable the men to search the grounds. Mr Anderton and Mr Dawson, along with the staff, would carry out a thorough search of the house while the group were absent. Elizabeth would travel with Charlotte and Miss Fairfield in the carriage and hopefully every part had been thought through.
Charlotte had stood by Elizabeth as she waved Michael, Violet and Edward off. Elizabeth had sighed as she remained at the entrance of the house, waiting for her own carriage to be brought round.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Charlotte asked. There was no use in asking if everything was fine, it had obviously not been fine since Lord Dunham had received the letter.
“I admit to having my nerves stretched to breaking point,” Elizabeth said with a smile that was part smile, part grimace. “I am longing to get on the back of a horse and ride in a straight line until it can run no more. I had thought London could be confining, I never expected the country to be so.”
“I am sure he will soon be found,” Charlotte sympathised.
“I hope so,” Elizabeth replied with a groan. “We should be receiving reinforcements soon,” she said more gently. “Lord Halkyn and a Bow Street Officer are on their way here, in fact they should be arriving anytime soon. Michael had a word to say that they were on their way. I hope it will not cause you distress, I will understand if you wish to leave when he arrives.”
Charlotte had flushed deeply at Elizabeth’s words. Stephen returning to live in the same house? The man she had refused and who had taunted her as he left. How could she face him again? Could she face him again?
She shook herself inwardly. Of course she could face him again; he was the man she thought of every time she had a spare moment. He would be cruel no doubt, dismissive as he had been when they parted, but oh, she would relish being able to see him again. She had missed him so much.
“I do not wish to leave,” she said quietly after a moment or two.
Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “I am grateful that you don’t, and I hope Stephen appreciates what a gem you are when he sees you this time.”
The carriage arrived and Charlotte climbed in, a little distracted. Stephen would not appreciate her still being here; he was obviously coming down to help, not to see her. She had to remember that to keep herself in check.
Charlotte paused; the dishevelled man was pointing a gun at her and had a finger over his lips, in a shushing motion. She froze, she had never been faced with a gun being pointed at her, even Baron Kersal had not used such extreme measures. The man indicated with the barrel of the gun that she should continue into the coach and take a seat.
Charlotte moved slowly, eyeing the door opposite. If she threw herself out of the door behind her, she would surely injure Elizabeth and although they were in danger, she could not risk hurting the baby. The man noticed her looking at the door and smirked.
“It’s locked,” he hissed in a whisper. “Sit and you may live.”
May live. Charlotte started to shake; suddenly the danger she was in was very real.
Elizabeth followed Charlotte into the carriage, wondering what had made her pause. She gasped when she saw George sitting opposite Charlotte, now with a second gun in his hands, one pointing at Charlotte, one at herself.
“Get in the carriage quietly and without fuss and your little friend will live, for now,” he whispered roughly.
Elizabeth seemed very calm as she continued into the carriage. “There is one other,” she said to George. “Have you got a third gun to threaten us with George?” Her tone was sarcastic and Charlotte was shocked yet impressed that in such extreme circumstances Elizabeth could appear so calm.
“I am going to make you pay for all your insolence, don’t you worry!” George hissed at her.
Miss Fairfield had reached the entrance of the carriage and had seen the scene before her. She waited, not wishing to move quickly in case Elizabeth or Charlotte came to harm. George turned to her, but kept his guns on the two already seated.
“Move slowly back out of the carriage and fold the steps and close the door yourself. Don’t let a footman near, or you will need a new mistress,” George commanded.
Miss Fairfield had paled at his words. “You will not get away with this,” she said quietly, her voice shaking.
“If I don’t, then the heir to the Dunham estate will be lost before he’s born,” George said. At Elizabeth’s intake of breath, he turned his head slightly, but without taking his eyes off Miss Fairfield. “Yes, Elizabeth I know about the baby, the one that should have been mine only for that interfering guardian of yours. Now Madam, when you have left the coach, give the driver the instruction to turn left out of the main gate and drive fast, until he hears further instructions.”
“He’s been told to only go to the church,” Miss Fairfield said firmly, her hands were shaking, but she was not going to let Elizabeth down.
“You shall have to persuade him, or this little girl will lose her life and then so will your precious Elizabeth. As for you, I shall be watching, and if you move from the spot outside the house until the carriage is out of sight, I may have to shoot Elizabeth. Not so that she will die immediately, since we have some unfinished business, but enough to cause her and the baby pain. Now leave!”
Miss Fairfield left the carriage and with a shaking voice, she commanded the footman to stay where he was while she lifted the steps and closed the door. She saw George appear in the window, where she could see him, but no one else. She stepped back and motioned to the driver.
“James, there has been a change of plan. For her Ladyship’s safety you need to drive fast and turn left when you reach the main park gate. Continue until you hear further instructions from within the carriage,” came the slightly shaky instructions.
“But Miss Fairfield, that won’t take us anywhere near the church. His Lordship was very clear,” James queried with a frown. “Is her Ladyship well?”
Miss Fairfield was not about to lie. “For the moment James please do as I ask, it is of the utmost importance.”
Something most have registered on Miss Fairfield’s face, for the coachman nodded and clicked the reins to start the horses. She stood and watched the carriage moving quickly along the drive, the further it travelled, the more she started to shake.
The second the carriage window was out of sight Miss Fairfield ran into the house. “Phelps!” she shouted the butler. “Phelps, where are you?”
“Miss Fairfield?” came the calm voice of the butler. He had never heard Miss Fairfield raise her voice in all the time he had known her.
Miss Fairfield gasped for breath. “Get Mr Anderton or Mr Dawson, or both, quickly! George Watson has Lady Dunham!”
Phelps did not need any further explanation. The name had been seared in
the memories of the staff. The normally calm butler shouted instructions to footmen, and a frenzied search of the house and outlying buildings was commenced to find the two gentlemen.
Miss Fairfield stood, hugging her arms around herself in an attempt to stop the shaking. She had to be calm; she had to be able to repeat everything that had happened. Every second that passed though, caused the panic inside her to increase, as each moment meant that the carriage was moving further away from the house. It seemed an eternity before she heard running footsteps on the gravel outside, followed by the appearance in the hallway of Mr Anderton and a footman.
Miss Fairfield turned to the man that so often had been her antagonist and promptly burst into tears. The action made Mr Anderton pause for a moment before crossing the hall and wrapping his arms around Miss Fairfield.
“What is it? What has happened?” he asked, in a tone more gentle than he had ever used before. He sensed that the tears were of fear, and that he needed to be able to calm her in order to help.
“Charles, I have let her down!” Miss Fairfield moaned into his shoulder.
Mr Anderton suffered the second surprise in as many minutes; never had Miss Fairfield used his given name. “Miss Fairfield, Martha,” he whispered. “You have not. Tell me quickly what has happened and we can go to her. I need every detail though.”
By this time Mr Dawson had also joined the crowd in the hallway and Miss Fairfield gathered herself together enough to tell the gentlemen what had happened. “Like a coward, I did exactly as he instructed!” she cursed herself.
Charles turned to Mr Dawson. “I will follow the carriage on horseback; you get to the church for his Lordship and Mr and Mrs Parker. We need to cover all the routes. Phelps, I need horses! Now!” There was a flurry of activity behind Charles and Miss Fairfield, but he still held her shaking form.
Charles bent to Miss Fairfield’s ear and whispered. “I will bring her back, I promise. Trust in me Martha.”
An Inconvenient Trilogy - Three Regency Romances: Inconvenient Ward, Wife, Companion - all published separately on Kindle and paperback Page 34
