Morwenna put a gentle hand on Harriet’s shoulder. “Come.”
Harriet stood and returned with Dominic and Lady Faucon to the day nursery where the earl stood by the window.
“Lady Castleton, you should be proud of your son-,” Morwenna began. “Until I persuaded him - not without difficulty - his nurse participated in a game in which she pretended to fall down, he was more worried about her than himself.” She glanced at her husband.
“Quite proper, my lady,” Joshua encouraged her. “No sense in allowing the boy to dwell on the assault, which Dominic has already described to me.” He turned his attention to Harriet. “I look forward to becoming better acquainted with your son. He is pluck to the backbone.”
“Indeed,” the countess confirmed. “Not once did he whimper, although he is frightened of you!”
Startled, Harriet sank onto a wing chair. “Of me! Why should he be?”
“Because, although you told him never to go anywhere with anyone without your permission, he disobeyed you. Now, Castleton fears the consequences, yet as he explained, your son did not think you would object because he knew the person, with whom he went.”
In despair, Harriet pressed the palms of her hands against each side of her forehead. “I am shocked; why should he fear me? I have never treated him unkindly or been too severe, and, certainly, I have never wanted him to be afraid of me.” She frowned. “And why is Arthur here instead of at Mivart’s Hotel?”
A few short steps took Dominic to her side. “I shall answer your second question first. “Arthur owes his life to the Bow Street Runners I employed to prevent another attack on him. Unfortunately, they could not enter Mivart’s and protect poor Bessie. However, the moment Arthur came out of the hotel, they pounced on the kidnapper. In accordance with my instructions, they brought your son and his abductor here.” He smiled ruefully at his father. “However, I had not anticipated Papa’s arrival, who, although shocked by the intrusion, entertained Arthur until I arrived. When Mamma returned, she took charge of the boy as though she were a mother hen with only one chick.”
Dominic scrutinised Harriet’s face and noted that her cheeks were blanched of colour, and her eyes were still large with shock. “To answer your first question, which was why he did not think you would object … well, follow me and see for yourself.”
He led Harriet and his parents to the entrance hall and up the stairs to a room in the attic. From his pocket, he removed a large, iron key with which he opened the door of a room where a gagged figure sat, tied to a chair.
Harriet stared into the hate-filled eyes, and shuddered uncontrollably before she fainted.
Horrified, Dominic caught her in his arms before she fell onto the wooden floor. He scooped her up into his arms. Soon, like a sleeping princess she would wake. Even now, despite her wax pale face and untidy hair, she was beautiful. He bent his head to kiss the top of her head. “My love.”
“Perhaps you could bring yourself to reserve endearments for a more appropriate time.” Joshua’s voice broke into Dominic’s preoccupation with his betrothed.
He ignored his father’s censure. “I must take care of Lady Castleton. Her gown is damp and she is cold to the bone. “Mamma, Papa, the monster must not escape.” He handed the key to his father, and then strode out of the storeroom. “Please lock the door. Later, I shall deal with the criminal.” He strode out of the room with Harriet in his arms.
* * *
Harriet’s eyelashes fluttered, and she choked at the smell of burnt feathers, which Morwenna wafted under her nose. “Where am I?
What happened?” she murmured.
“No need to be alarmed,” Morwenna reassured her. “You fainted, so I merely sacrificed an ostrich plume from my hat to revive you.”
“I am sorry, ostrich feathers are expensive. I shall purchase a new one for you.”
Morwenna chuckled. “Ridiculous child, there is no need to. I don’t begrudge sacrificing one for a good cause.”
“Where am I?” Harriet repeated. She opened her eyes, aware of a warm blanket tucked around her and of Dominic, who knelt beside the sofa on which she lay. Awareness returned. She sat up. “Arthur?”
Dominic’s hand hovered by her cheek, which he refrained from caressing. “Don’t fret. Mamma’s housekeeper is sitting with your son while he sleeps. She will send word when he wakes.”
Joshua stepped forward. “My child, you have suffered a terrible ordeal. One which no mother should be forced to endure. I can only imagine your agony.”
How strange! She resented it when her father-in-law addressed her as ‘child’; she did not object to the Earl of Faucon doing so.
Morwenna’s well-modulated voice broke into Harriet’s thoughts. “If you will forgive me for saying so, Lady Castleton, to see you in your present condition would alarm your son. I am sure he is not accustomed to seeing you in a crumpled gown, and with your hair in disarray,”
The earl took several steps forward and patted Lady Castleton’s shoulder. “No need to fret. When your son is awake, I shall give him the regiment of toy soldiers my sons used to play with.” Although a spasm crossed his face, he continued. “I am sure Lord Castleton will be delighted with them.”
How kind of the earl. Harriet glanced at him, remembering two of his sons died in the war against France, and his eldest son did not have long to live.
Harriet shook her head. Her mind seemed somewhat vague. “I apologise, Dominic, my lord, my lady, I am not the sort of woman who is accustomed to fainting at the least provocation.”
Dominic’s lazy smile, which never failed to please formed. “An understatement, if I ever heard one. You had a strong reason to lose consciousness.”
Before she could reply, Joshua spoke. “You must be taken care of. The countess can provide you with a dry gown.” His forehead creased, he looked at her with obvious concern. “When did you last eat?”
“At breakfast, when I drank some tea and ate a slice of buttered toast.”
Dominic frowned. “No wonder you fainted. You did not partake of nuncheon, and you were half out of your senses with fear when you found out Arthur had been kidnapped and Bessie had been assaulted. I think, you only paused to snatch up a hat before you ran out into the rain and came here in a hackney.”
“How do you know I hired one?”
“Hobbs told me he paid the driver.”
“That was bad of me. I know a lady should never travel in a common vehicle.” In spite of her need to hold Arthur, and reassure him, a smile twisted her lips. “Mister Markham, I told you that I am not a lady.”
“I don’t agree,” he whispered in her ear. “Moreover, you are the only one I have ever asked to marry me.” He held out his hand. She grasped it, reveled in its strength, and allowed him to help her stand. “Please don’t look so worried. I shall not faint again.”
Joshua inclined his head towards her. “I am glad to hear it; and please don’t dwell on the impropriety of hiring a hackney. There are far worse sins. One of the worst of which would be for a lady to venture past the gentlemen’s clubs in St James Street, something I am sure you would never be guilty of,” he teased, laughter in his eyes.
The earl and countess’s unexpected kindness warmed Harriet’s heart.
“You must not make it a habit of hiring hackney cabs, which you already know is not acceptable,” Morwenna warned her. “Now, Lady Castleton, you have experienced a dreadful ordeal. Instead of putting up at Mivart’s you must stay here where you shall be taken care of.
How good of Mister Markham’s parents to give her time to recover her composure by not discussing the villain and offering to look after her. “Thank you, Lady Faucon, however my cousin, Sir Percival and his wife, Lady Loxbeare wish me to visit them at their country estate.” Harriet faced Dominic. “Lud, what must they be thinking of me?” she asked too low for anyone else to hear. “Although they tried to reason with me, I rushed out of the hotel like an escapee from Bedlam.”
Morwenna, shook her
head. “Dominic, if Lady Castleton said she cannot put up here, ignore it. Order Hobbs to send for her baggage. Lady Castleton, come with me. You shall eat, bathe and be revived.”
* * *
Refreshed, Harriet sat in the day nursery with her son on her lap.
Arthur wriggled. “Mamma, please may I get down. I want to ride on the rocking horse.”
“No.” When she held him a little closer he fidgeted.
“Please put me down. I want to look at the books or play with the toys.” He looked at Dominic who sat opposite them. “Mister Markham, did you play with those toy soldiers when you were little?”
“Yes, and so did my brothers.”
“I would like to have some brothers.” Arthur frowned and pointed. “If I did, we would not play with the baby house and dolls.”
“Years ago, my sisters played with those, and now their daughters sometimes visit us and enjoy playing with them.” Dominic smiled reassuringly at Harriet. “I don’t think you need to fret. Your young gentleman seems remarkably resilient.”
“Nonetheless, I am concerned.” She winced. “Please sit still, Arthur, it hurts when your hard little elbows dig into me.” Unsure of the effect of the kidnap on him, she chose her next words carefully. “Arthur, did you have an adventure today?”
“Yes.” he looked away from her.
“Please describe it.”
He shrugged, a stubborn expression on his face.
“Are you afraid I will scold you?”
Arthur nodded.
“I shall not.”
Her son’s small body relaxed against her.
“Thank you, Mamma.”
“The reason why I will not punish you is because it was the first time you disobeyed me by going out with a stranger without my permission. However, if you ever do so again I shall scold you.”
Arthur glanced at her warily. “Not a stranger! I did not think you would mind.”
“No,” she mused, “you did not go with someone you are not acquainted with. Now, please promise you will never go out with anyone – even if you know the person – without asking me if you may do so.”
“I promise.”
“Good, you are a big boy so you understand you must keep promises, don’t you,” she continued, somewhat uncertain how to proceed without alarming him.
“Yes, Mamma.” Arthur sounded bored as he eyed the toy soldiers.
“Tell me what happened at the hotel,” Harriet persisted.
“Bessie was hit on her head in a game. She lay on the floor and did not get up before we went out to go for a walk in the park.” He squirmed. “Some men stopped us. One of them picked me up and brought me here, although I screamed and told him to put me down. There is nothing else to tell you. Please may I get off your lap and play?”
“Yes.”
Arthur scrambled down and climbed onto the rocking horse.
Thank God. He seems unaffected by his ordeal. She turned her head to look at Mister Markham. “I can never, ever find the right words to convince you how grateful I am to you for the part you played in Arthur’s rescue.”
Dominic shrugged. “There is no need to thank me.”
“I-”
“Shush!” Dominic patted her shoulder. “Shall I arrange for someone to sit with Arthur while we decide what is to be done with the culprit?”
“Criminal!” Harriet corrected him. “I want answers before a decision is made.”
Dominic rang a bell and gave orders for a maid to come and sit with Arthur.
While Harriet waited for her to arrive, Arthur spoke to her.
“Mamma, I like this rocking horse, but not better than I like my real pony. When will I see Prince again?”
“Soon,” she murmured.
Arthur let go of the reins of the realistically painted horse. He slid down onto the floor, emptied the toy soldiers out of their wooden box then arranged little redcoats in a line.
Harriet’s breath caught in her throat. She was fortunate to have such a fine son. Edgar would have been proud of him.
Before she could torment herself with thoughts of her late husband, the door opened for Morwenna to lead a fresh-faced young woman into the nursery.
“Lady Castleton, this is Fanny. She helps in the nursery when my grandchildren visit us. She will take good care of Lord Castleton.”
Harriet stood, only a little reluctant to leave her son with a stranger.
Dominic cupped her elbow with his hand. “Come. The sooner the felon is dealt with, the better it will be.”
Morwenna sighed. “Indeed, such wickedness, is unforgiveable.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Consumed with fury, Harriett followed Dominic into to the dimly lit room, up stairs too narrow for two people to ascend side by side. By the time he unlocked the door, she was already quivering with rage over the imminent confrontation with her son’s would-be-murderer.
At the sight of the prisoner, her stomach heaved. “Why?” Her voice sounded like a pistol shot.
“Don’t lie.” Dominic advised the captive as he removed the gag. “After the first attempt was made on Lord Castleton’s life, I asked myself who stood to gain the most. You were one of my two main suspects. Don’t attempt to deny it. I now have sworn testimony. Taken by a Bow Street Runner in the presence of two witnesses, from the groom you bribed.”
“A drink,” the wretch begged, eyes filled with hatred.
Dominic picked up an earthenware pitcher from a dusty shelf, and then poured water into a mug. Instead of untying the ropes to free the woman’s hands, he held the rim of the mug to her lips, until she had drunk enough
“Lady Castleton, you asked why,” Sarah Stanton’s said, her voice shrill, her eyes filled with hatred and her hands plucking the folds of her gown. “You stupid fool not to have guessed! Against my will, my father insisted on my marrying Mister Stanton, a pious bore, because he was the heir to a title, a large estate and a fortune. We never suspected the Earl of Pennington’s younger son married, and fathered a posthumous son, who is now the earl’s heir.” She spat at Harriet. “Our situation is intolerable. Now that my husband no longer receives an allowance from his uncle, we are in greatly reduced circumstances.” Her wild laughter filled the store room. “So, I am sure you can understand why I decided to snatch back Mister Stanton’s future inheritance, which would one day be my son’s not Arthur’s.”
“You are insane,” Harriet whispered, barely able to comprehend such wickedness.
“Mrs Stanton is not mad.” Dominic shook his head. “She is a deplorable victim of her own ambition and greed.”
“What should be done with her?” Harriet asked.
Suppose Sarah Stanton’s wicked plan had succeeded. Now that Harriet knew the truth, sickened, she leaned against the wall. Faced with such wickedness both her own and her son’s vulnerability dismayed her. To plot to kill an innocent child was beyond her comprehension.
“Lady Castleton,” Dominic’s steady voice broke through the horror. “If my parents agree,” he continued, “Mrs Stanton can be housed under guard on this floor. Her husband must be sent for because it is he who must decide on her fate.” He hesitated before he spoke again. “I think the Earl of Pennington must also be informed.”
Although her legs shook and she trembled, Harriet forced herself to stand without the support of the wall. “Yes, I suppose he has the right to know. God help me, I even suspected he kidnapped Arthur to gain custody of him.”
In her opinion Mrs Stanton did not deserve to live. Harriet glared at her. “If I pronounced judgement, your sentence would be to hang by the neck from the gallows until you died. However, I do not have the power to pass judgement, so I hope you will go to hell for your crime.” Unable to bear the sight of the woman, she looked at Dominic. “That monstrous female must never again have an opportunity to endanger Arthur. Mister Stanton must agree for her under to be kept under lock and key for the rest of her life.”
At the point of departure, Harriet
changed her mind. She turned around to face Mrs Stanton. “My father-in-law dotes on Arthur. I am certain he would be willing to lock you up for life in some part of his gothic abbey.”
“No! Don’t condemn me to live there until the day I die,” Sarah shrieked. Her hands moved convulsively over her stomach. “What of Frederick? What of the baby?”
“You should have considered them before you attempted to murder my son. I disagree with Mister Markham. You must be insane, in which case I suppose you should be pitied -” She broke off at the sudden sound of Sarah’s frenzied sobs Amazed by her compassion, she pitied the woman who been driven to such length by – what? – greed, ambition? Unable to say more to Sarah, Harriet faced Mister Markham. “Shall we return with Arthur to Mivart’s Hotel?”
* * *
Harriet entered Arthur’s bedroom, where, to her indescribable relief, Plymouth attended to Bessie, who sat in a chair, a shawl around her shoulders.
“I can’t drink any more,” Bessie protested. “It tastes horrible.”
“A little more,” Plymouth coaxed, “you know the doctor prescribed this draught, which is to be taken every four hours.”
“Please finish it,” Harriet requested.
Plymouth turned around. “My lady, I didn’t hear you enter the room.”
Bessie, her head bandaged, her face unnaturally pale, tried to rise from the chair.
Harriet hurried forward. Hands on the nurse’s shoulders, she eased her back down onto the seat.
Bessie gazed at her with tear-filled eyes. “Lord Castleton?”
“Is safe. He believes you and Mrs Stanton played a game before she took him to the park.
“Please, my lady, let me see him. I’d never forgive myself if-”
“Calm yourself,” Harriet cut in. “He may visit you later. At the moment, you need to rest. For the time being, I shall engage someone to look after you until the doctor says you are fit to travel.”
“Travel, my lady?”
“Yes, to your mother, who shall care for you until you are well enough to resume your duties.”
Bessie’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, oh, thank you, my lady. I’m that grateful to you.”
Tuesday's Child (Heroines Born on Each Day of the Week Book 3) Page 27
