The Mysterious Lord Marlowe

by Anne Herries

  ‘Jane, you are well?’

  ‘Yes, very well, thank you, sir.’ She dipped a small curtsy. ‘I trust you are recovered from the wound to your shoulder?’

  ‘As if it had never been.’ He took a step towards her. ‘I think you know why I have come.’

  ‘I am not certain. You know my feelings on the matter of your making me an offer out of a mistaken desire to protect my reputation.’

  ‘I think any rumours were nipped in the bud last night, do you not think so?’

  ‘I believe so, sir.’

  ‘Then I think we need not consider a marriage of obligation on either side. Indeed, I have not come to ask you to marry me this morning.’

  ‘Oh.’ Jane blushed. ‘Forgive me…’

  ‘Please do not be embarrassed. It was my intention to ask if you would accept me as your suitor. I think you must know that I have a high regard for you. If we discover that we enjoy each other’s company sufficiently, it is my hope that you might listen to an offer in time.’

  ‘Oh…’ Jane stammered, her heart racing. ‘Yes, I see. I think that would suit me well, sir.’

  ‘I believe we shall suit, Jane. I think you’re exactly the sort of lady I had hoped to wed one day. My sister and mother—much as I love them—are clinging vines. You are a lady of spirit, a lady I think might be as much a companion as a lover.’

  Jane’s heart soared. His words were music to her ears—it was exactly the kind of marriage she had hoped to find.

  ‘I think that might please me very well, sir—as long as you are certain that you do not feel obliged to offer.’

  ‘I am quite certain. I shall take it that we have an understanding, though not yet an engagement?’

  Jane nodded, her cheeks warm. ‘If you wish.’

  ‘I do not wish you to be coerced into anything by your very charming godmother—and I have yet to win your brother’s approval.’

  ‘Andrew will approve once he knows you. He needs a little time to accustom himself to the idea.’

  ‘As you do?’ George’s smile made her heart race. ‘I know I do not deserve your regard after the way I behaved at the start, but I hope to earn it in time.’

  ‘Please, do not,’ Jane said and put her fingers to his lips. ‘You must not abuse yourself to me, my lord. You have nothing to apologise for in my opinion. I know how much you risked for my sake. You acted impulsively for another’s sake and became involved in an unworthy act—but, had you not done what you did, both Lady Fanshawe and I would have been in terrible trouble.’

  ‘You are too generous, Jane,’ George said. ‘I know I do not deserve your love—but may I hope that you care a little? You have said more than once that you had no wish to marry.’

  ‘I was not sure that I should find anyone who would be a friend and companion as well as a husband. I am used to ordering my own life. While I realise that marriage must change things, I should not like to become one of those wives who dare not answer back and fear to displease their husband if the cook throws a tantrum.’

  ‘God forbid! I should hate such a marriage. You must never be afraid to speak your mind to me.’

  ‘I think you really mean that.’

  ‘What is in your mind?’

  ‘I believe we should allow the world to think us at least close to making a match, if not actually engaged. While Blake is in hiding he remains a danger to us all. If he thought we were to marry…’

  ‘You think it would draw him out.’

  ‘He would wish to be revenged on us. He might do something reckless and reveal his hand.’

  ‘You understand the danger?’

  ‘Yes, of course. What is our alternative? If we wait and pretend we are no more than friends, we shall never be at ease. Only when he is caught shall we be certain we can live our lives safely without fear of being suddenly murdered by our enemy.’

  ‘You are very brave, Jane.’

  ‘I know that you will have me constantly watched and protected. In Bath I shall take care never to walk alone. Whatever we do, he remains a danger until he is caught.’

  ‘Then the matter is settled. I shall escort you and Lady Mary to Bath and then visit your brother at his regiment’s present posting in Devon. We shall allow the world to think we intend to wed. Should you wish to change your mind once you know me a little better, I shall not think the less of you.’

  ‘I shall make the same offer to you,’ Jane said with a hint of mischief in her face. ‘Once Captain Blake has been dealt with, we shall speak of these matters again. However, I believe you should speak to my brother and make him aware of our possible intentions.’

  ‘Would you allow me to kiss you?’

  ‘I seem to recall that you needed no permission the last times…’

  George laughed and reached for her, his lips caressing and exploring hers in a leisurely fashion that gave them both pleasure. Jane kissed him back in a manner that showed she was prepared to give as much as she received.

  ‘I believe you are a tease, Miss Lanchester. May I take this to mean that you have forgiven me?’

  ‘I was only angry with you for a very short time,’ she murmured. ‘Yet you are right. We hardly know one another. Something a few weeks as an engaged couple should put right.’

  ‘I imagined you must have a dislike of me after what had happened. Indeed, I knew myself unworthy of you, Jane.’

  ‘From the very beginning you were considerate of my welfare,’ Jane told him. ‘You have shown in so many ways that you are a man to be trusted and respected. You need not ask for forgiveness ever again. We are to be friends and equals, which means there is no need to say sorry.’

  ‘My wonderful Jane. I think we shall suit very well,’ George said, his hand at her nape.

  His fingers caressed her, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. She thought he would kiss her again, but he merely smiled. ‘I shall bring you an engagement ring and—’ He broke off and moved back one step as the door opened and Lady Mary walked in.

  Her gaze went from one to the other; then she nodded, looking well pleased. ‘So you have settled it all between you. I am so pleased for you both. I knew from the first that you would suit very well. May I wish you both happy?’

  ‘Thank you, dearest Godmother,’ Jane said. ‘Had it not been for you, I might not have attended the ball last evening—and then this might never have happened.’

  ‘I intended to come to you in Bath when things had settled a little,’ George said. ‘But Lady Mary was good enough to let me know that you would attend the ball last night and so all was well.’

  Jane’s smile faded. ‘You wrote to him?’

  ‘Lord George is arranging your protection, dearest,’ Lady Mary replied serenely. ‘It was necessary that he should know where you would be. The man who abducted you is still at large and we do not wish for another such attempt.’

  ‘Lady Mary is perfectly right. You must be protected until Blake is caught, Jane.’ George took her hand. ‘Please do not imagine that I came here as a duty. Everything I have said is the truth.’

  ‘I believe you.’

  ‘Then we shall go on as we planned.’ His smile sent tingles down her spine. ‘So it is settled. We shall all travel to Bath in the morning, and then, when you are in residence at Lady Mary’s home, I shall visit Andrew.’

  ‘That sounds very satisfactory to me.’ Lady Mary pulled on the bell rope. ‘I shall send for some champagne so that we can celebrate.’ She beamed at her goddaughter. ‘This is one of the happiest days of my life, my love. I shall enjoy helping to plan your wedding. Shall you have it in Bath or at your home?’

  ‘I think we should wait until Andrew comes to Bath,’ Jane said. ‘We shall decide then what suits us all.’

  * * *

  Jane thought that she had never enjoyed a journey as much. She rode in the carriage with Lady Mary until they were out of town, but once the they were in open countryside, George suggested that she might like to ride with him. He had brought ho
rses with them, which the grooms surrendered, and after helping her to mount the horse he had thoughtfully provided with a side saddle, George mounted his own favourite stallion.

  ‘He carried us both the last time we rode together,’ George said, looking at her with mischief in his eyes, ‘but now you have your own mount, Jane. Would you care to race for a while?’

  ‘I should love it,’ she said, accepting his challenge and spurring her horse to a gallop. ‘Catch me if you can.’

  Her challenge was accepted with alacrity and in no time he was riding by her side, pacing his horse so that they were in unison, enjoying the feeling of the wind in their faces and the freedom of the open road.

  Jane knew that he could pass her if he wished but it was enough for him to ride at her side and relish the thrill of the powerful horses that carried them.

  * * *

  Afterwards, when they rested the horses and waited for the carriage with Lady Mary to catch up, George held her hand and gazed into her eyes.

  ‘We’ve had so little time to enjoy ourselves, Jane, but I think it would take a lifetime to know you.’

  ‘What could be better?’ she asked, laughter in her eyes. ‘We have all the time in the world to discover each other’s secrets.’

  ‘Do you have secrets, Jane?’

  ‘Perhaps,’ she said. ‘But I shan’t tell you—you must discover them for yourself.’

  ‘You little wretch,’ George said and grabbed her, kissing her soundly. ‘Where is your ticklish spot? I shall make you tell me…’

  ‘Here comes the carriage,’ Jane said. ‘I think I should ride with my godmother or she will worry.’

  ‘Another time…’ George said and smiled, then touched her cheek. ‘It is so good to see you laugh.’

  Jane touched his hand, leaving him as she went back to the carriage. For a short time she’d forgotten all her problems, but the shadow was still there at her shoulder. Until Blake was captured or dead she could never be certain that either of them was safe.

  * * *

  ‘You must not worry about me,’ Jane said and kissed George’s cheek. ‘We agreed that you should visit Andrew so that he understands what is going on and that must be your first priority. I shall be perfectly safe here in Bath. I know that I must be careful and I promise I shall not walk alone.’

  ‘I know you are sensible,’ George said, touching her cheek with his fingertips. ‘I wish you did not have this shadow hanging over you at this time. I want you to be happy, dearest.’

  ‘I am not afraid of Blake and I shall not let the thought of him overshadow my pleasure in our understanding,’ Jane assured him. ‘However, you must promise me that you will take care, George. Blake hates you and Andrew, but I think you will be his main target. You have ruined all his plans to gain a fortune. I dare say he is planning his revenge.’

  ‘Yes, I know it,’ George said and looked grave. ‘I would that he were in prison where he belongs. It is not for want of trying, Jane. There is a warrant for his arrest in London, but I think he will be miles away from the city now.’

  ‘Yes, perhaps. Yet, how can he know where I am?’ Jane said. ‘Do not let your anxiety for me cloud your thinking, George. It is most likely that he will have gone back to his old haunts—or perhaps abroad. If the news of our plans does not bring him out of hiding, I think we may forget him and get on with our lives.’

  ‘Yes, you are right,’ he agreed. ‘Yet I would still ask for your promise that you will take the greatest care.’

  ‘I have not forgotten what happened in London. I shall not be so careless again.’

  ‘Then I must leave you. I shall return as soon as possible and I hope to have your brother with me—or at least his blessing.’

  ‘I am sure Andrew will relent when he reads my letter,’ Jane said and reached up to kiss him. ‘Do not let him change you whatever he says. Nothing will change my mind. Believe me, I am looking forward to knowing you better and to a future spent together.’

  ‘My dearest one.’ George drew away reluctantly. ‘I must go or I shall never have the resolve to leave you. Do not forget what I have said.’

  Jane promised she would not and stood back, allowing him to leave her. She had told him that she would not allow the thought of Blake to spoil her happiness, but despite her determination, there was a shadow hovering at her shoulder. Her fear was not so much for herself, but for George and her brother. Having met Blake face to face, she suspected that he was even now licking his wounds and planning his revenge. He would not accept his defeat and must be nursing a grudge against the men who in his mind had cheated him of a fortune.

  Shivering, Jane went back into the parlour where her godmother was sitting with her needlework. Lady Mary looked up with a smile.

  ‘Lord George has gone, then?’

  ‘Yes, he has promised to return as soon as he can.’

  ‘Do not look so anxious. Lord George has been in the army. He is well able to take care of himself, dearest. You must try not to think about the dreadful man who had you abducted. Tomorrow we shall start to shop for your trousseau. It is to be my wedding gift to you, my love, and I want you to have all the pretty gowns you could possibly desire.’

  ‘I told you, a wedding is not certain, Godmother. We could both change our minds.’

  ‘Do you wish to withdraw?’

  ‘No, not at all. I think we shall do well together.’

  ‘Then we may safely buy your bride clothes. I am very certain Lord George has no intention of changing his mind. Besides, I want to make you a gift, Jane.’

  ‘Thank you. I am very fortunate to have such a good friend.’

  ‘You must know that you are as a daughter to me,’ Lady Mary said. ‘I shall rest easier knowing that you are married to a man you love and respect. It is all I have hoped for you.’

  Jane smiled and sat down to look at the magazine of fashions that her godmother was offering her. She knew that Lady Mary’s words were sound. Lord George was perfectly capable of taking care of himself and she ought not to worry. Yet still the fear remained that he might be in danger.

  * * *

  George was aware that he was being followed. At the start he had wondered if his mind was playing tricks, but he had seen the same man on the same horse at the inn where he had stopped to rest his own horse and eat his meal earlier. That man had been following at a discreet distance for more than an hour since he resumed his journey and it would soon be dark. It was best to face up to the challenge now rather than continue.

  He knew that a little farther ahead the bend in the road would hide him from his shadow. He would seize his opportunity to gain the advantage.

  Once he was temporarily out of sight, George turned off into the trees and dismounted. He climbed into a tree and watched for the man following him to arrive at the same spot. The road ahead was clear and he should still have been in full view of his tracker. The man’s reaction would show whether or not he was actually on George’s trail.

  Sure enough, the man came into view. His immediate reaction was to halt his horse and look about him. Clearly, he suspected that his quarry had turned off and was deciding which way to go. George leapt down from the tree, grabbing at the man and pulling him down from his horse so that they landed in a heap on the ground together. George was fortunate in coming off best for the man was beneath him, breaking his fall. He lay winded and stared up at George, shocked and resentful.

  ‘What the hell did you do that for?’ he muttered as George rose to his feet and allowed him up. ‘You might have killed us both.’

  ‘I doubt it. A little tumble from a horse did no one any harm,’ George said blithely, dismissing all the bruises and broken limbs such falls might cause. ‘I considered it the lesser of two evils, for I did not fancy a ball in the back.’

  ‘Damn it,’ the man muttered. ‘You were in no danger. I’ve been protecting your back, my lord.’

  ‘Indeed? Did Price send you?’

  ‘He’s the Runner?’ T
he man shook his head. ‘I’ve heard the name, but I don’t know him.’

  ‘Then why—and who the devil are you?’

  ‘Stark is the name, my lord. I heard Captain Blake plotting to have you murdered and decided I would stop him if I could. I’ve been watching you since you left London with the young lady. I trust she has recovered from her ordeal, sir?’

  ‘Yes, she has, little thanks to you, Stark.’

  ‘I made a mistake, my lord—as you did in trusting Blake once. He loaned me money when I needed it and demanded service as repayment. I had little choice, for I would have found myself in debtor’s prison had I refused him—or mayhap in a ditch with my throat cut.’

  George nodded. ‘Miss Lanchester told me that you treated her well, apart from the abduction and deceit you practised on her godmother.

  I understand you prevented that rascal of a landlord shooting her when she escaped?’

  ‘I couldn’t stand by and let her be shot.’

  ‘I am surprised you lived to tell the tale. Blake must have been furious.’

  ‘She was no use to him dead,’ Stark said. ‘He cursed Rab for a fool and blamed him for leaving the door unlocked, then went off in a rage, vowing to see you dead and Miss Lanchester’s brother ruined. I left before he returned to the inn.’

  ‘To my knowledge he has not yet done so,’ George said and frowned. ‘Am I to trust you, Stark? How do I know that you are not lying?’

  ‘We have travelled many a mile this day, my lord. I had you within my sight most of the time. Had I wished to put a ball into you, you would even now be dead.’

  ‘Yes, I think I believe you,’ George said. ‘Do you know where Blake has gone?’

  ‘I might have an idea,’ Stark replied. ‘He is a man who knows how to blend into the background, sir—and he is a master of disguise, though he cannot change his eyes. What he did to your lady is not the first or last of his crimes. With what I know about him, he would be certain to hang.’

  ‘If you could help put Blake behind bars before he caused more mischief I should be grateful.’