He looked surprised. “I would not, Brother. I meant what I said. She is a valuable asset to this household, and she brings joy to our siblings and our mother. I do not know that I can say the same about you. I would rather see you cast out for your actions than her.”
“You would enjoy that, would you not?” Luke snorted. “I meant Miss Dowels no ill-will, but you already know that. This is just another opportunity for you to flaunt your authority. Well, we will soon see who is brought to order.”
“I pray you do not regret this, Luke.” Edmund sighed. “For I doubt Doctor Partridge will come to heal you again, if you should injure yourself.”
“Gather your horse. We have a race to proceed with.” Luke smiled, though his courage was fading fast. What must Teresa think of this? She must be horrified.
With a bestial grunt, Edmund departed the dining room and stalked out of the far door, no doubt heading for the stables. Only then did Luke exhale a tremulous breath, as he sank down onto one of the chairs. The gloom settled over him as he sat alone in the dining room. Slowly, he dipped his head and held it in his hands.
What have I done? One thing was for certain—there was no turning from this now.
Chapter 12
Fear gripped Edmund as he led his horse from the stables, waiting by the entrance for Luke to appear. As he waited in a state of alarmed quiet, trying to understand how this had happened, he tried to gather his courage. In the heat of the moment, a race had not seemed nearly as frightening as it did now, standing alone on the grass.
I cannot lose to him again. His confidence could not take another hit.
He could only imagine what his mother and father must be thinking about his and Luke’s sudden absence from the party. They were none-the-wiser as to what was about to take place this night, and he desired to keep it that way. The race, and what he had seen, had to remain a secret.
Perhaps there is still time for me to change this. Perhaps I should put my horse away now and tell Luke I have had a change of heart. Perhaps there is another way I may make him apologize. Or, perhaps, I should apologize and end this now. And yet, he found he did not want to. He had made a decision, and he knew he had to keep to it, lest he appear even weaker to his younger brother. If he was to make an example, then he could not back down.
And yet, his primary concern was not for himself. Instead, it was for Miss Dowels. She had looked so very frightened when he had burst into the dining room, and he knew she must be in a state of panic. It had not been his intention to catch them in something untoward. He had, instead, hoped to speak with Luke about his childish behavior towards the young ladies that their mother had tried to match him with. But he could not deny what he had seen.
It is Luke’s doing. He did not know Miss Dowels too well, but he knew enough to judge her character. She was diligent, innocent, and eager to maintain her position at the Rowfex Estate. She would not have entered into such an act with Luke unless he had forced her hand. And now, once again, it was up to Edmund to resolve the mess that Luke had made.
But I will not see you cast out, Miss Dowels. He made the silent promise as he waited for Luke. This was not her fault, of that he was sure. Why should she suffer for Luke’s actions? No, Luke had to learn his lesson, once and for all. He had to learn that he could not act upon his every whim and fancy. This had gone on for much too long. Finally, Edmund would show him that he needed to obey. He would win this. He had to. If only to show that there was one true gentleman in the Rowfex family.
First of all, however, he needed to ensure he survived this race. After the last time, injury was a very real prospect, and though he wished to teach Luke a lesson, he did not want to suffer for it. He already had enough old wounds to contend with, without adding new ones.
* * *
Ten minutes later, Luke led his horse, Moonstruck, through the gloom of the stables and met his brother on the lawn. The horse trotted along calmly, whilst Luke kept his eyes on the dense fog that rolled across the grounds. It was eerie, as if the ghosts of this place were rising up. There had been enough deaths here to warrant it—a whole dynasty. All those dusty names that had gone before his.
“I thought you might have forfeited, Brother,” Edmund jeered.
“I would never shy from a challenge, as you well know. Truthfully, I rather thought that you would be the one to stay away.” Luke smiled back, his stomach churning with nerves.
“How dare you,” Edmund snapped. “Let us not forget who has dishonored whom in this situation.”
“I am still trying to contemplate that, if truth be told. I cannot see how I caused dishonor, but I suppose you will not be persuaded otherwise.” Luke tried to conceal his fear, for he could not bow out now.
“It is Miss Dowel’s honor you besmirched,” Edmund muttered. “I am here on her behalf, as much as my own. You must be made to learn, Luke. You cannot bring people into your web, when it will only cause them pain. You know what you are like—you will only wound her in the long run, when you tire of her. Which is why I wish to add a further addendum to our race agreement.”
Luke frowned. “I do not recall her asking you to be so chivalrous, nor do I recall her complaining of my chivalrous actions. I merely wished to stop her tears, which you were the cause of.”
“A liar, as always.” Edmund shook his head. “Miss Dowels sought to protect your honor, that is all, when she played up to your lie. She did not need your assistance, nor should you have given it. It is improper. You know that.”
“What new terms do you wish to add?” Luke asked, bored of Edmund’s self-righteous diatribe—he would not have known true love if it had slapped him in the face. He could not have understood Luke’s feelings, no matter how hard he tried to explain it. Luke’s affections for Teresa were genuine and deep-rooted, but that would not have mattered to Edmund. He would only see a poor governess and brand her unsuitable.
“If I am the victor, you will apologize for your behavior and you will never approach Miss Dowels again. You will not seek her out, and you will not speak to her unless there are others present. If you are the victor, then your dishonorable behavior will be disregarded, and I will offer apology for ‘misunderstanding the situation,’ as you called it,” he replied.
Luke chuckled bitterly. “Very well, then allow me to add another addendum. If I am the victor, you will leave Miss Dowels and I alone, and you will not involve yourself again.”
Edmund grimaced. “Fine… I will leave you and Miss Dowels alone if you win. Although I cannot see you emerging the victor. You are already injured, or had you forgotten?”
“I am a skilled horseman,” Luke retorted. “An injury will cause me no disadvantage. Your injury, on the other hand… Anyway, shall we get on with it before we are discovered?” He did not like to highlight Edmund’s ongoing ailments, knowing where they had come from, but he was so riled up that he could not help but make the jab.
“I suppose we must, unless you wish to apologize and be done with this?” Edmund glanced across the vacant lawns.
“I do not.”
“Very well, then we ought to proceed,” Edmund replied, after a moment’s pause.
They trotted toward the gate. Pulling to a halt, Luke glanced at his brother.
“To the oak and back,” he said. They had picnicked under that oak during their childhood, making it a fitting waypoint for their race.
Edmund nodded. “As you wish.”
“On the count of three?”
“I will be ready.”
“One… Two…” Luke took a breath. “Three.” Digging in his heels, he spurred his horse onwards. Moonstruck tore down the main road, the moonlight illuminating their route. He focused on nothing but the path, determined to win this for the sake of his blossoming relationship with Teresa. He kept the memory of her kiss in his heart as he rode. Do not think too ill of me, I beg of you.
Less than five minutes later, he reached the oak tree, listening for the sound of Edmund’s horse behind him.
As he turned the horse around, he almost tumbled out of the saddle. Edmund was so close. Panicked, he urged Moonstruck ever faster, desperate to win this. Before they had undertaken this endeavor, it had felt somewhat juvenile, but now it felt like life or death.
Pounding along the road back to the house, a movement in the adjoining fields caught Luke’s eye. Shadows lingered upon the grass, and he heard a quiet whinny above the thunder of Moonstruck’s hooves. They were horsemen, waiting for something. At first, he thought they might be the armed guard that had escorted everyone to the ball, only to realize that they were stationed back at the manor. They were to escort everyone back after the ball, which meant this could not be the same men.
His eyes widened. No… not now. He felt torn as he kept one eye on them and one on the road. If he veered off now, he might be able to catch up to them. But what if they escaped before he could reach them? It would mean forfeiting this race for nothing. And there was too much at stake.
Cursing under his breath, he tore his gaze away and kept on down the road, the gate appearing a minute or so later. All the while, his mind dwelt upon what he had seen. It could not have been anyone but the highwaymen. Have I missed a valuable opportunity? The sight of Edmund gaining ground distracted him, as he raced onwards.
Speeding through the gate and hitting the gravel of the driveway, he pulled his horse to a halt. He had won, but he could not enjoy the victory. Those men were still waiting in the fields. How could he feel triumph, knowing those wretches were out there? Somehow, it no longer felt worth it.
“Are you satisfied?” Edmund barked, through gritted teeth, as he pulled up to Luke.
He nodded slowly. “I have won.”
“Then you have my apology, and my promise that I will not involve myself in your affairs, even if it leads to your ruin.” Edmund raked in shallow breaths, sweat drenching his forehead. “And Miss Dowels’.”
“Yes… very good.” Luke glanced back over his shoulder, but those fields were too far away to see anything.
Edmund frowned. “You do not seem as pleased as I might have expected? I thought you would be smug in your victory.”
He shook his head. “I have no taste for it.”
“Why-ever not? That is not your usual nature.”
“I saw… I saw those highwaymen as we were racing.”
Edmund gasped. “Where?”
“In the fields, by the road.”
“We must gather the militia men immediately,” Edmund said, jumping into action.
Luke smiled at him. “At least, upon that, we can agree.”
Somehow, against all odds, this foolish race had bound them together, making Luke forget why they had quarreled in the first place. Well, almost. Later, once the armed guard had ensured that those highwaymen were captured or apprehended, he would enjoy his victory. But, until then, he had much larger issues to contend with. This night, he would be satisfied, but not against Edmund. This night, he would bring those evil cretins down.
Chapter 13
Teresa paced the floor of her bedchamber, waiting for some news from Luke. She had watched from the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of their race, but she had only seen their shadows departing. Now, however, a noise brought her back to the cold pane. A large group of militia men, mounted on horses with muskets glinting in the silvery moonlight, were gathering on the driveway.
“What on earth is going on?” she said aloud, to herself.
It seemed like such a tragedy, that Lord Harpington had entered the dining room at the very moment of their kiss. She could still feel the echo of Luke’s lips upon hers, and longed to feel them there again. And yet, she worried for the result of this apparent race. If Luke had lost, then her position would be in jeopardy.
I cannot lose this position. Her heart thundered in her chest. Luke would not be able to silence his brother if he did not succeed, but she was yet to see any sign of his victory or failure. Indeed, she was yet to see any sign of him at all.
Just then, to her relief, she spied Luke and Lord Harpington at the front of the crowd, the two of them discussing something with the group. Teresa could not hear what was being said, but the sight of so many armed men made her stomach turn in knots. He is in danger; I know he is. The only comfort she could find was in the way that Luke and Lord Harpington were side-by-side, speaking to the group like two generals. Indeed, they seemed to be working together.
A moment later, the group made their way along the driveway and disappeared into the gloom. Teresa’s heart lurched as she watched them go. It took everything she had not to throw on her cloak and run after them. However, she knew that would only put Luke in further danger. No, she had to remain where she was, and pray that he would be safe.
They must have found the highwaymen, she realized. It was the only explanation she could come up with for such a large contingent of armed men. She hurried for her cloak, again wanting to join them in their endeavors, passionate in her belief that the highwaymen must be stopped. However, she paused as she was about to throw it across her shoulders. If she went to Luke now, she would only get in his way. She needed to curb her zealous behavior, and focus on her role as governess. And she realized she should make herself scarce, until she could be sure that the issue in the dining room had been resolved.
I must stay here. I must wait. Dropping her cloak and returning to the window, she sensed it was going to be a very long night.
* * *
Luke turned his horse around to address the gathered men. “We have spotted the highwaymen in the nearby fields, and we must capture them this night. Use whatever means necessary. Do you understand?”
The group gave a mutter of assent.
“Then we must move. Be swift in your actions and let us see these lands freed from this tyranny.” Luke twisted Moonstruck around and dug in his heels, urging the beast back along the driveway. He listened for the sound of them following his lead, the steady beat of the hooves calming his fractured nerves. There was so much at stake. He could not fail, he simply could not.
I will get your necklace, Teresa. And I will kiss you again, once I have proven my worth with such a gift. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he spurred his horse onwards, his heart filled with tender thoughts of Teresa. Some were more fervent than tender, as he remembered the way she had felt beneath his hands. I will hold you close again, Teresa, and you will have nothing to fear. For tonight, he hoped he would win twice. First, the race. And second, bringing these highwaymen in.
As he hurtled out of the gates and headed down the shadowy road, the moonlight faintly illuminating their way, his head whipped around as he heard the soft whinny of more horses in the near-distance. Peering into the gloom, he noticed the unsettling shapes, silhouetted on the horizon. Those men were still there, waiting. But for what?
Frankly, he did not care. If they thought they could harm another coachman, or another lady, or the Duke’s guests and thwart the good reputation of his household, then they were sadly mistaken. Turning the horse, he pushed Moonstruck away from the main road and headed for the eerie figures. It brought him courage to feel the strong muscle of the beast beneath him, knowing Moonstruck would carry him swiftly towards these devils.
“Raise your weapons!” Luke called, noticing Edmund at his side.
“Fire at will!” his brother cried.
Luke shivered with anticipation as he heard the muskets lock behind him, in a sharp percussion. On and on they rode, but the highwaymen did not seem to be moving. A frown furrowed Luke’s brow—why were they not trying to escape? He understood, a moment later, as his horse neared the precipice of a trench that had been dug into the ground. Thinking fast, he gripped Moonstruck and urged the horse to leap across the divide. Obediently, the beast jumped, clearing the gap with ease.
Following his example, the rest of the riders leapt across the trench. Finally, the highwaymen seemed to realize that they were in danger. A cry went up, as they began to wheel their horses around. They
had expected Luke and his men to stumble into the trench, with little light to see by. You thought wrongly. Luke did not lessen his speed, digging in his heels with everything he had.
The highwaymen were starting to run, but they had lost precious moments in their arrogance. The horses were taking too much time to pick up speed, whilst Luke and his men were in the full flow of their stampede.
“Fire!” Luke bellowed.
A ricochet of shots exploded into the darkness, the lead balls whizzing past his head as they tore through the air, heading for the retreating highwaymen. There were six of them, in total, the front three gaining some distance from their pursuers. The last three, however, seemed to be faltering.
An Untamed Governess For The Rogue (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 11
