Lady Overton's Perilous Journey (Honorable Rogue Book 1)

by Vikki Vaught

  Every evening they attended a ball or soirée. Anissa tried to remain positive, and for the most part, she had. She had put the attack out of her mind, refusing to allow it to affect her. It helped that she spent each night in her husband’s arms, as he lavished her with tenderness, allowing her to control their lovemaking.

  On the last day of September, Anissa awoke with waves of nausea rolling in her belly and barely made it to the chamber pot. She was positive it was not so much morning sickness, as fear of what would happen today. Betsy helped her dress, and she went down to the breakfast room. She forced down a piece of dry toast, and it seemed to settle her stomach.

  Alex entered and gave her a reassuring smile. “Darlin’, we need to leave for the court. I’m sure you’re apprehensive, but Sir Marshall’s very confident he can win our case. With Barrington on our side, we will win. Go get your cloak. We will meet you outside.”

  She nodded, then hurried upstairs and returned in five minutes. It seemed to take hours to reach the court. While drumming her gloved fingers on the tufted cushion, her heart pounded and a lump the size of a walnut lodged in her throat. By the time they arrived, Anissa’s fear had her stomach tied in knots, and she trembled. Alex helped her out of the carriage and then up the steps into the courtroom. As they entered, she looked around at all the men with their elaborate white wigs.

  Sir Marshall motioned them forward and had them sit behind him. Lord Howard’s barrister presented his case. At the end of his opening statement, the man’s barrister produced a document, supposedly written by Kendall, giving Lord Howard custody of Harry. Pandemonium broke loose, and the judge hit the gavel as he brought the courtroom under control.

  Sir Marshall turned to her and asked, “Could this be authentic?”

  “Absolutely not,” she declared, her voice shaking as rage rushed through her. “Kendall did not trust his uncle. He would never have written that document. It has to be a forgery. What are we going to do?”

  “Do you have anything your husband wrote, so I can get an expert to compare the handwriting?” Sir Marshall asked.

  Anissa racked her brain, and then she remembered Kendall’s letters. Thank goodness, she had grabbed them up when she fled Overton Park. “I have a few letters, but I do not have them with me at the moment. They are at Chilton House.”

  “I shall need those.” Sir Marshall asked for a recess until the following morning, so they could get an expert to examine the handwriting samples. The judge took possession of the document and granted the recess, then told them they would need to present their evidence the following day.

  When Anissa arrived at Chilton House, she retrieved her letters, and with trembling hands, she gave them to Sir Marshall, and he departed. Alex pulled her into his arms after the barrister left. “Everything is going to be fine. We will prove the document is a fake. Try to stay calm. I know this is terribly upsetting for you, but I’m confident all will work out. Why don’t you lie down and rest before dinner?”

  “What if the expert can’t say the document is a fake? Harry’s life is hanging on the opinion of one man.” Terror sliced through her heart, making it difficult to breathe. Her eyes rolled back and her knees gave out.

  The next thing she knew she awoke in her room with Alex leaning over her. “What happened?”

  Alex sat down beside her. “You fainted. I know you didn’t sleep well last night. Try to rest. I’m going with Barrington to meet with this handwriting expert. This is only a minor setback. It’s Lord Howard’s last effort to win his case, but it’s not going to work. Rest and I will see you in a few hours. I love you, darlin’.”

  So exhausted she could no longer think straight, she snuggled beneath the down comforter and let sleep take her away. She slept for several hours, and when she awoke, her fortitude had returned. She arose, washed her face and hands, and went to look for Alex. Surely he and Barrington were back. She prayed the expert could prove the document was a fake.

  Anissa found the men in the study. When she saw Alex, fear clutched at her throat as she asked, “What did the handwriting expert say? Please don’t keep me in suspense any longer.”

  Taking her by the hand, he led her over to the sofa and helped her sit. “When the expert went to the judge’s chambers and compared the document to your late husband’s letters, he declared it a forgery. The way your husband made several of his letters clearly did not match the ones in the document. The expert will swear under oath that it is a fraud. The court will have to rule in our favor.”

  A mountain of bricks lifted from her shoulders. “Thank the good Lord. I knew it had to be a forgery, but nonetheless, I was scared we wouldn’t be able to prove it.”

  “Relax,” Alex hugged her close. “The truth is on our side.”

  For the first time in days, Anissa ate her entire meal. Afterwards, Sylvia played the pianoforte again, and the music bathed her frazzled nerves. At ten o’clock, she and Alex retired to bed. After they made love, she fell asleep in the safety of his arms.

  When court reconvened the next morning, Sir Marshall called the handwriting expert to the stand. The man seemed to convince the court that the document was indeed a fraud. Sir Marshall presented her signed testimony, telling how Lord Howard left her with the man who shot her.

  Barrington’s apothecary had examined her scar and testified that she had indeed received a bullet wound. The barrister told the court the authorities in Baltimore wanted to question Lord Howard concerning the death of Frank Justice.

  The court deliberated for what seemed like hours. Anissa tried to present a calm demeanor, but inside her stomach twisted and rolled as she waited for them to return with the verdict.

  A hush fell over the courtroom when the judge read the decision. The court had ruled in their favor, awarding legal guardianship to Barrington.

  The tension left her body. With so much adrenaline released at once, Anissa’s limbs shook, and Alex squeezed her hand, while she hid her emotions. They had won. While she did not have her son back where he belonged, the might of the court was on their side. After Lord Howard heard the verdict telling him to turn Harry over to the duke, he pushed his way out of the courtroom, shouting profanities to everyone blocking his path.

  While relieved they had won their case, Anissa would not rest easy until she had Harry back in her arms. At one o’clock, Alex and Barrington left to go get Harry. She wanted to go with them, but they convinced her to wait for them to return with her son.

  As she waited, panic gripped her soul.

  What if Lord Howard doesn’t turn him over?

  Anissa was grateful Sylvia, Georgia, and Kathleen sat with her in the drawing room as she awaited their return. Although, she could not remain seated, and started pacing back and forth, no matter how unladylike it was. She twisted her hands as she paced, keeping a silent litany running through her head.

  Return Harry, o God. Bring back my son. Please, Lord.

  When the men finally returned an hour later, Harry was not with them. Her heart thundered, her hands shook, and her voice came out in a rush. “Where’s my son?” Terror escalated her voice. “Where is Harry? Why isn’t he with you?”

  Alex pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. When we arrived at Overton House, the place looked deserted. I went around to the back and found a footman leaving. When I used some, shall we say, physical persuasion, he told me Lord Howard had stormed into the house, grabbed Harry, and left in a hurry. He overheard him tell his driver to take them to his estate in Hampshire.”

  Anissa swayed and her knees grew weak, but she refused to faint again. She had no time for such weak female behavior. She grabbed Alex’s arm. “What are we going to do? No telling what he will do to Harry. We have to find him before he has a chance to harm him!”

  Her husband gently stroked her back. “Barrington has already sent for the guards, and he’s having the carriage brought ’round now. I promise we will get your son back.”

  Sensing he planned to tell her to wait there
for them to bring Harry back, she shook her head and declared, “I’m going with you. Don’t even think you’re going to leave without me. I will go mad waiting here. I’ve had enough of that.”

  “Darlin’,” Alex tried to reason with her. “It could get dangerous. Lord Howard knows he is cornered. Please stay here. I promise I will bring Harry back to you.”

  Pulling out of his arms, she retorted, “You can’t stop me coming. If you try to leave me, I will follow. We’re wasting valuable time arguing. We need to leave now.”

  “All right, all right.” He held up his hands in defeat. “I can see there’s no use discussing this anymore. You can come, but you must agree to follow my directions. I will not risk you being hurt. Agreed?”

  “As you wish, but please let us make haste. He could be harming Harry as we speak.”

  Barrington returned and inclined his head toward Alex. “The outriders have arrived and the carriage awaits. Let us be on our way.”

  When she moved toward the coach, Barrington stepped in front of her as he glanced at her husband, then asked, “Is she coming with us? I thought we agreed it was too dangerous.”

  Alex sighed. “She’s promised to stay out of the way when we get there, and besides, she refuses to be left behind.”

  Barrington shrugged his shoulders. “Well, if you’re that determined, let us depart posthaste.”

  As Anissa began to climb into the carriage, John rode up and dismounted. “How did it go at court?”

  Alex moved toward his horse as he briskly answered, “We won, but Lord Howard has taken Harry and is headed to his estate in Hampshire. We’re going after him now.”

  Anissa leaned her head out of the window and called out, “Please, we must hurry. There’s no time to explain.”

  John ran to his horse and flung himself into the saddle. “I’m coming with you. You can give me the details later. As Anissa stated, we need to hurry before that man has a chance to harm the lad.”

  With a signal from Barrington, the coachman snapped the reins and the carriage shot forward with the men riding along behind it. Anissa grabbed the strap to hold on while sending a frantic prayer to the heavens that they made it to her son before it was too late.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Night had fallen by the time they arrived at Lord Howard’s estate. Barrington sent John and his guards to check out the house. Anissa fisted her hands as she waited for the men to return, her nerves stretched so tight she feared they would pull apart. John returned in fifteen minutes and told them Lord Howard was holed up inside with guards stationed at every entrance. The back of the house only had one guard, so it would be the best place to gain entry.

  Anissa scrambled out of the carriage, determined to go with them. Alex shot her a sidewise glance, letting her know she would not like what he had to say. “Wait a minute. You are staying here with the driver. You promised to follow directions. I’m not letting you come with us—it’s far too dangerous. His guards are armed. I will not take the risk of you getting injured again.”

  She shook her head, her defiance clear in her posture as she retorted, “If you think I’m going to sit here, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m going to get my son. I will do it myself if I have to. Now, quit wasting time. I’m coming with you.”

  Alex gripped her arms as he told her, “No, you are not! You need to stay here. I refuse to take you with me.”

  She shook off his hands. “I’m going. You can’t stop me.”

  He looked toward the darkened heavens, as if he were calling down an angel to help him. “Anissa, you’re goin’ to be the death of me yet. I understand you’re frightened, but you’re also increasing. You need to consider our babe. Please be reasonable and allow me to do this. Besides, if you’re with me, I won’t be able to concentrate on getting Harry. I’ll be worried about you instead.”

  Anissa folded her arms under her breasts and raised her chin. “I will take care of myself. If you go without me, I will follow, rest assured.”

  Tension lined his face as he admitted defeat. “Come on then, but stay behind me at all times.”

  They crept around the edge of the woods, staying clear of any light showing from the windows as they made their way to the back garden without discovery. Barrington’s guards spread out, while Alex threw a stone to distract the guard at the back door. When the man came over to investigate, John slipped up behind him, hit him on the head, and the guard fell to the ground unconscious. Her brother-in-law quickly tied the man up and gagged him, then dragged him into the bushes.

  Keeping his voice low, the duke motioned them forward as he whispered, “Alex, John, you come with me. Anissa, please stay here in the bushes with one of my guards.”

  “Forget it,” she hissed. “I’m coming with you. It’s my son we’re rescuing, and I will not be left behind to wring my hands.”

  When she threw the duke a determined look, he let out an exasperated breath. “Come on then, but be quiet.”

  When Barrington tried the back door, it swung open, and they slipped inside. The guards stayed outside while the four of them entered the house. They crept through the deserted kitchen and found the servant’s stairs leading to the floors above. Confident the nursery would be on the third floor, they climbed the stairs.

  With every step they took, her pulse beat in time with the soft pads of their boots on the stairwell. A board creaked half way up. They froze until they were sure they had not been detected. Every noise she heard had her drawing in a breath lest someone heard them.

  When they reached the third floor, Barrington pointed to the second door on the left. A light shone from under it. The duke motioned to John and whispered, “Keep guard in the corridor while we retrieve the boy.”

  Nodding, John slipped back into the shadows.

  Keeping her behind him, her husband turned the knob and pushed the door open without making a sound. Someone must have recently oiled the hinges.

  Thank the good Lord.

  An elderly woman sat sleeping in a wooden rocker. Another door only a few feet from her chair stood partially open, and the glow of a lamp came through the crack. While Barrington stayed in the first room, Anissa and Alex slipped past the woman and pushed through to the next.

  When she saw Harry asleep on the bed, air whooshed from her lungs. She darted her eyes toward the other room, fearful that the sound could have awakened the old woman. When the duke nodded, letting them know all was well, she tiptoed over to her son and knelt beside him, then whispered in his ear. “Harry, wake up for Mama.”

  He did not respond. Clamping a hand over his mouth, she shook his shoulder. Harry slept on. Her heart thundered in her ears as she frantically checked for a pulse. When she felt the slow, yet steady beat, relief washed through her.

  Still troubled by her son’s lack of response, she glanced at her husband, then keeping her voice barely a whisper, she said, “He should have awakened when I put my hand over his mouth. He’s normally a light sleeper. His uncle must have drugged him. Oh, Lord, please let him be all right.”

  Alex gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Let me carry him,” he murmured, and then he carefully picked her son up and added, “It’s better if he remains asleep until we get out of here. Try not to worry overmuch.”

  The elderly woman had her head laid back against the chair with her mouth slightly open. She softly snored on in blissful oblivion as they slipped past her.

  John joined them, letting them know the coast was clear. They made it back down to the second floor and moved toward the next stairwell.

  Anissa yelped as a man grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back against his chest. The barrel of a gun pushed into her temple.

  Her heart stopped, then thundered as the realization of her peril flooded her system.

  Alex, John, and Barrington froze, obviously not wanting to do anything that would cause her attacker to fire the pistol.

  She watched as a wealth of emotions danced across her husband’s face, fear palp
able in the stance of his stiff posture.

  Then he spoke, “The game’s up, Lord Howard. You don’t want to hurt my wife. It will not achieve anything. Release her, or you’ll regret it.”

  “At least I will at last have the satisfaction of knowing the bitch is dead,” he declared as he wildly swung the gun at her husband and son. “By the time you find her body, I shall be long gone.” Pain more intense than any she had felt when she’d been shot tore a wide path through her all the way to her soul.

  The two most precious people in her life stood in the path of the pistol.

  What will I do if either one of them dies?

  Oh, God, please help me!

  Even though fear had her paralyzed, she had to do something. Anything to break the man’s concentration.

  She went limp in his arms.

  Lord Howard loosened his hold on her as she slipped to the floor. He cocked the pistol pointed at Alex, where he stood holding Harry. Anissa’s heart hammered against the walls of her chest. Chills ran through her body.

  Before Lord Howard could pull the trigger, John jumped in front of Alex and Harry. The firearm went off and John fell to the floor. Barrington took aim and shot Lord Howard right between the eyes. She stared as shock, fear, and disbelief flashed in the man’s eyes before they went blank.

  He crashed to the floor, landing on top of her, knocking the breath from her. Blood splattered all over her as she pushed the dead man off her. She scrambled to her feet and ran to her husband.

  Alex clasped her close as she clung to him.

  Then handing Harry to her, Alex knelt beside his brother, who was already sitting up. “I’m all right, Alex. The ball hit me in my left shoulder, and while it burns like hell, I’ll survive.”

  After helping John to stand, Alex grabbed Anissa and Harry and pulled them into a tight embrace.