Afterward, he held her against the wall. It took a moment to realize he was not inside her anymore, but the intimacy had not lessened. Then and only then did he speak, murmuring lovingly into her ear words of endearment.
Her breathing returned to a normal pace. She broke from his embrace and pulled her gown back in place. However had he disposed of her drawers so quickly! She hadn’t notice he had done so. He had taken her so swiftly.
Composing herself the best she could, she finally looked up to find him staring at her with that smile of his. He straightened his trousers and then extended his hand to her.
“I will see you back to your room.”
She nodded. She couldn’t find words to say. She couldn’t think. She didn’t know how she managed to climb the stairs or find her room. Opening the door slightly, she turned to say goodnight. He blocked the door.
“Oh, no, Harriet. I’m not done.”
He slipped inside and closed the door; with a click, he locked it. Mesmerized by the power he held over her, she accepted him back into her arms and into her bed.
Chapter Nine
Harriet awoke. The remembrance of the passionate night swept through her. Her hand swept the other side of her bed. She turned. He wasn’t there. She was alone… alone with the consequences of her surrender.
She rose. She didn’t wait for Sadie to help her dress. She didn’t even know where her maid had gone to on this morn. She needed to breathe… to think. She could not do so in this room. Grabbing her cloak, she exited the manor through the veranda. Taking the path down and around the lake, she gave no thought to where she headed.
A brisk wind greeted her when she paused at the lake’s bank. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and closed her eyes. For a brief moment, she was back on the shoreline, soaking in the ocean breeze instead of the lake’s wind. She was home… just realizing how much she missed the place she had once lived… the person she once was...all had changed.
For years, she pushed forward, refusing to look back. She held to the dream of creating a world for Victoria. She promised her daughter the moment she held her, she would encompass the baby with a soothing conviction of love and protection from the outside world. Her heart sank with the realization she had failed. She had no one else to blame but herself.
Her dreams held little to the reality of what awaited her. Her heart sank with the realization that her fantasy life collapsed around her. Four years ago, she had met her circumstance with the utmost forbearance. She had not cried nor collapsed into vapors when all seemed at its darkest. She had been a fool to believe she could become this person, a prominent and respected gentlewoman, living out her life in a quiet country life. To her dismay, the lie she lived faded into the truth about herself.
“Harriet!”
A voice called to her. She made no movement and did not turn around. She wanted him only to disappear.
“Harriet,” Arthur said. “One would think you are not happy to see me.”
She glanced briefly over her shoulder, and then turned back toward the lake. A sudden thought occurred to her; a storm brewed. The once cloudless sky swirled, darkening the sky.
“Do you not think we need to talk?”
With a forced semblance of composure, she shook her head. “There is nothing to discuss. If there was, you would have stayed this morning instead of leaving me there to contemplate my actions. It was not hard to decipher your intent.”
“Tell me then, Harriet, what my intent was?” he asked with absolute steel beneath his tone. “Look at me.”
Slowly, she turned. Her heart skipped a beat. The look in his eyes conveyed his aggravation. She drew in a deep breath and gave him no ground. She may have surrendered to him in the cloak of darkness. She would not yield this day.
Dressed in a casual manner, he wore no waistcoat nor did he wear a hat. He must have followed her without taking the time to ready himself. It made no difference. His mere presence undid her—standing beside her…too close…the passion spent the night before rushed through her, making her heart ache.
He reached for her. She backed up a step. “Don’t.”
“What the devil! What is wrong with you?”
“You dare ask?”
“Tell me, Harriet. I thought perhaps you would be happy,” he said. He gave her no choice but to listen to him. He grasped hold of her shoulders. “For the life of me, what more do you want of me? I begged your forgiveness last night. I thought you forgave me.”
She stared into his eyes. Memories kept intruding into her fortitude. She closed her eyes and pushed back against him.
“You have not changed. You are still the arrogant, conceited oaf I left. This time, though, I can’t deny my actions. I have no excuse. You have proved I am nothing more than your lover… mistress. Why… why did you come here? Why was it so important to ruin my life once more? I wanted only to give my daughter a respectable life. I didn’t want a cloud hovering over her, questioning…”
“By heavens, woman! You are the woman I love. I thought I made it clear to you how I feel. Nor would I ever condemn my daughter to such a life!”
“No… tell me why you took me as you did last night. Was it how you take someone you love or how you would take one’s mistress? Was it not to show me what I was… nothing more than…”
“Stop. Where are you getting this nonsense? I left you only because you were sleeping. I heard footsteps outside your door. I didn’t want to be found within your chamber. Did you want me to stay and be found?”
“No,” she uttered under her breath. “Of course not. But it changes nothing. My behavior was not that of a lady. Everything I had built, I lost in one moment of passion. I realized it when I woke this morning. I have no choice. I could not foist my behavior on a decent man.”
“Harriet, I plan to meet with Mr. Padgett myself after confirming my plans with you. I won’t have anyone speaking to you in that manner, not even yourself…”
Shaking her head, Harriet interrupted, “It is you who doesn’t understand. I’m not leaving Bagden Manor. It is the only life I can give Victoria. I’m not leaving Aunt Eleanor. There may be whispers after you depart but nothing that can be proved…”
“You are rambling, Harriet. We will…”
“We won’t, Arthur,” she said with conviction. “Why do you do this to me? I want only to be content in my life. That won’t happen with you here. I want you only to leave.”
“Harriet…”
His words died in the wind. Harriet looked up at him, but his eyes weren’t on her. She turned to see Sadie rushing toward them. Something was wrong. An ominous feeling of dread overcame her.
“Miss Harriet! Miss Harriet!” Sadie cried. Stumbling over her skirt, she hurried toward her mistress, a look of panic plastered on her face. Breathlessly, she uttered, “Miss Victoria… is Miss Victoria with you?”
“Victoria?” Harriet questioned. “Victoria… is with Miss Blake. I glanced at her briefly in the nursery this morning…”
Sadie shook her head. Her eyes widened in fear. “Oh, Miss Harriet. Miss Blake was found lying on the floor of the nursery. Her cup of tea spilled over the floor. We couldn’t wake her. Mrs. Spencer thinks… thinks she’s been drugged in some fashion.” Sadie took a deep breath. Tears welled in her eyes. “We can’t find Miss Victoria. We’ve looked everywhere. She’s gone.”
A cold horror gripped Harriet. “No… no… she has to be hiding, playing a game.”
“I don’t think so,” Sadie said. Her bottom lip quivering, her voice trembled. “The back entrance was ajar and… Prince… we found him by the door—dead.”
“Oh, Heaven above!” Harriet was stunned. Her legs weakened, held up only by strong arms wrapping around her waist. Unconsciously, she gripped his hand. “My baby.”
A gust of wind blew Harriet’s cloak wildly about her while Arthur saw her back to the manor. The storm on the horizon was upon them. Yet, Harriet gave the weather no notice. She was only vaguely aware of all com
mencing around her, having sunk into a walking unconsciousness.
Walking into the foyer, she heard voices… people running about… muffled crying. A horrible realization surfaced that Victoria… her baby… was in terrible danger. Time was of the essence.
In her sight, she watched Arthur dominate the unfolding scene. Carlisle raced around, calling for horses to be saddled and sent for men in the village. Somewhere in the midst of the chaos, Aunt Eleanor emerged, wrapping her arms about Harriet.
“Come, my dear,” Aunt Eleanor urged. “Let’s retire to the drawing room. There’s nothing more we can do but wait.
Harriet shook her head. “I can’t sit.”
Standing at the foot of the staircase, Harriet looked up to the upper floor. Momma. Harriet winced. Victoria? Her heart surged. Victoria had to be hiding. Her spirited daughter was playing a trick upon them all. It all had to be some awful misunderstanding.
Gripping tightly to the railing, Harriet ascended the staircase. Slowly, she took each step, listening intently for her daughter’s cry again. Someone called to her from the foyer. She ignored them and continued her path.
Voices—she heard voices. Momma. I want my momma. Her heart stopped and lodged in her throat. A shiver ran down Harriet’s spine as she came upon the nursery. With trembling hands, she turned the handle to the door.
Her heart palpations strengthened as trepidation filled her. The room had been ransacked: The table overturned. The bookcase tilted from its position against the wall. Then she saw Victoria’s doll, broken, lying on the rug.
Harriet collapsed onto her knees. Oh, God, no! Please no! Then something caught her eye, a brass button like the one worn by the footmen. She reached over and picked it up.
Then all changed.
Harriet was no longer in the nursery. In truth, she didn’t know where she was. Before her was a mist, thick and heavy. She couldn’t see a thing until a figure emerged.
Madame Vadoma! The gypsy said nothing, but gestured for Harriet to follow. Her last words to Harriet resonated within Harriet. ‘You are afraid of what you don’t understand. There will come time when you will have to trust the unknown. Face your fear. It is a gift I have given you. Accept what is yours...’
Harriet followed. In her next breath, Harriet walked out of the mist…alone. Madame Vadoma had disappeared. Frantically, Harriet surveyed the scene before her. She stood outside within some sort of thicket, enclosed by a bombardment of trees, well hidden. A dark cloud covered the sky. A brisk wind greeted her. In the distance, rushing water could be heard…but no Victoria.
Stepping forward, she tripped. A body! It was one of their footmen. Tomas! Shot in the back. His eyes opened wide, along with his mouth. He had been taken by surprise. Tumbling forward, Harriet emerged from the thicket beside a river’s bed.
She whirled around; where was she? Across the river, a cliff overhung the water, as if God’s hand had carved it out of a mold. Trees littered the side of the cliff. Alongside of the banks, rocks littered the shoreline. The sound of running water became stronger.
From the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Her heart stopped cold. Mr. Padgett held her daughter in his arms, riding up the hillside. She cried, “Stop! Stop!”
Mr. Padgett continued onward up a small hill as if he didn’t hear her. Before her, he emerged on a bridge crossing the river. It sat high above the rushing water. The horse paused. To her horror, the man dismounted with Victoria. Holding her over the edge of the bridge, rain burst forth from the threatening sky.
“No!” Harriet screamed. “No!”
“Harriet. Harriet,” Arthur repeated. “Harriet. It’s okay. Sadie is going to take you back to your room…”
Shaken back to reality, Harriet stared at Arthur. Gripping his arm tightly, she cried, “He’s going to kill her. He’s going to kill Victoria. Oh, my God!”
“Who, Harriet?” Arthur questioned. “Who is going to kill Victoria?”
Harriet tightened her grip and stared straight into his eyes. “Mr. Padgett. He’s got Victoria. Tomas is dead. He’s lying there in a thicket of trees. Shot in the back…I saw…Mr. Padgett riding away with Victoria. He stopped on the bridge. He’s going to drop Victoria in the river…”
“Sadie, take Miss Harriet…” Arthur began, but Carlisle would have none of it.
“Let her finish, Arthur,” Carlisle demanded. “I think I know the place. Barter’s Gorge. It’s not far from here.” He turned to Harriet. “Can you tell me anything else about the place? The river…do you think it’s the River Swale?”
Harriet’s hand pressed upon her forehead. “There was a cliff on the other side of the river. I could hear water rushing.”
Harriet caught Carlisle exchanging looks with Arthur.
“It has to be Barter’s Gorge. Come!”
Arthur’s face expressed his confusion at Carlisle. Carlisle shook his head.
“We don’t have time to waste,” Carlisle said. “I know…I know what I said about Harriet being strange, but I never said she wasn’t correct in her assessment. Tomas was seen leaving the manor with a bundle over his shoulder shortly before Victoria was discovered missing. Harriet couldn’t have known. I only just discovered the fact.
“Now she has just described Barter’s Gorge in detail. We have nothing else to go on…”
Arthur motioned to Sadie once more. “Take her to bed and do not leave her. Do you understand?”
“Yes, m’lord,” Sadie agreed. Taking Harriet by the shoulders, she led her to the door.
Harriet paused, looking back at the two. “Is it raining yet?”
“No,” Arthur replied.
“Go, please…hurry,” Harriet urged. “You still have time.”
* * * *
Arthur rode as a man possessed. He had to find his daughter. Nothing else mattered. Never had terror seized him so fiercely. Not in the midst of a roaring battle, faced with the uncertainty of death. His life held little meaning compared to Harriet and Victoria. Nothing meant more to him.
Riding along an overgrown path beside Carlisle, it seemed an eternity. Questions inundated him, none greater than could he trust a distraught Harriet. Was it possible to believe that she could see beyond the realm of reality?
When he had caught sight of Harriet walking up the stairs, the look on her face scared him. Seemingly oblivious of her surroundings, she called out to their daughter and ignored his call to her.
He followed her into the nursery only to find her sitting, staring intensely out into blank space. He watched her expression alter to one of sheer terror. Panic surged through him when she cried out “No…No.” He fell to his knees and shook her.
Overwhelmed with the loss of her daughter, Harriet had succumbed to her prevailing fear. There was no other explanation. Though, he couldn’t begin to explain Carlisle’s reaction.
Had Carlisle not been the one to first tell him he thought Harriet strange? There had been a time when rumors abounded that Harriet had been cursed by the gypsies. He gave no credence to the claim then nor would he do so now.
Arthur had never seen Harriet so desolate, not even when she left him. A fire of anger and resolve in her purpose burned in her eyes then. Now, that purpose had been taken from her. He had failed her in the past. He refused to do so today.
Mounting his horse, Arthur gave no protest to the direction taken. Urgency demanded a course be laid. Disregarding Harriet’s vision, Barter’s Gorge made the most sense. The assailant had ridden off in one direction or another.
The village lay to the west. Harriet and he had held their talk at the lake, which held to the south. He doubted any could have passed by without his notice…which left only the east and north. Given the description of Barter’s Gorge, it made the most logical choice.
The clouds rumbled when a thick line of trees emerged into view. The rain would not hold off much longer. Carlisle motioned to an opening in the undergrowth. Ducking down, Arthur rode through the brush into a clearing. His heart pounded rapidly at t
he sight—a body lay still on the ground.
A horse pawed the ground, tied up to a low branch. Carlisle rode around it and dismounted. Arthur didn’t bother. The bullet hole in the back of the man told there was no life in the body. Carlisle turned the body over. It was the errant footman, Tomas!
Carlisle stared up at Arthur, stupefied. In the ensuing silence, Arthur heard the sound of water rushing rapidly. Arthur rode toward the sound. Emerging out of the opening, he saw the river…moreover, from the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of a figure on a horse cradling a small bundle. Good Lord! It was as Harriet envisioned.
A harsh wind blew against him. Fighting back the brutal force, he could make out the rider and…Victoria!
“Carlisle! I see her!” Arthur cried.
He didn’t wait for Carlisle to mount. He took off after the assailant. Time blurred before him. The man had a head start toward the bridge. He had to get to him before he got across.
For so long, he had questioned the existence of God. He had not prayed in years. Seeing his daughter in the hands of a madman, he prayed. He prayed hard.
Racing through the stark grayness, Arthur took only a moment to consider his options. He spurred his horse into a gallop. He had only one chance. He headed straight toward the steep incline.
Struggling to climb the rugged terrain, Arthur pushed his mount beneath him unmercifully, relenting only when he reached the top. He realized Carlisle would take the hillside path, leaving no avenue of escape for the culprit.
Arthur hadn’t a moment to catch his breath when the rider rounded the bend. The assailant pulled up abruptly. The skittish horse sidestepped backwards in front of Arthur, who got out his pistol and aimed straight at the man. Arthur didn’t need an introduction. He recognized him immediately.
Arthur could not believe his eyes. Harriet had been correct. He uttered in complete and utter astonishment, “Good Gawd! Padgett! It is you!”
Padgett held Victoria firmly in his arms, framing his body between Arthur and his daughter, but Arthur had already caught the fear in the young one’s eyes. A gag tied around her mouth kept back the sure screams held within the scared child. Tears stained her cheeks.
Seductive Lies Page 14
