He smiled down at her. “I know.”
He bore her down the path and through the front door, where Mrs Tuffin came up and began clucking along with her uncle in the rear. Niall set her down at last on the day-bed in the front room, keeping an arm about her until she was settled.
“Hot milk! I shall fetch it at once,” clucked Mrs Tuffin. But she did not head for the door, instead pushing in past Niall and seizing Edith into a suffocating hug, unaccustomed sobs choking in her throat. “Our girl is safe! Our dear, dear girl is home again!”
Edith’s heart swelled and she returned the good woman’s embrace with fervour, tears seeping from her eyes. Released, she smiled into the housekeeper’s softened features, amazed and touched to find herself so valued.
Mrs Tuffin dashed at her cheeks, her tone rough. “Oh, look at me, the silly old woman that I am! And you crying out for something hot to drink.”
Seizing her hands, Edith squeezed. “I am, and I’m so glad to have you to fuss over me, Mrs Tuffin. Only may I have tea?”
“Tea! I’ll have it to you in a jiffy.” Straightening up, she bustled off, calling to the vicar to let her know what his lordship might like as soon as ever he could drag himself away from his niece.
Her uncle was wringing Niall’s hand. “There are no words to describe to you my heartfelt thanks, my dear lord. Without your intervention, my darling girl would have been lost to that blackguard.”
“I believe not, sir, for she saved herself, you must know.” Niall’s glance strayed to Edith and she saw admiration in his eyes. “I will leave her to recount her part to you, but in truth I had only to harry the enemy after his defeat.”
A shudder ran through Edith at the memory thus raised. But her uncle was moving towards her.
“Is it so indeed, Ede? What a resourceful child you are. How did you manage it?” He clasped her hand. “No, don’t tell me now, my dear. I can see it is too raw at this present.”
She gave him a grateful smile. “I would indeed prefer to tell it later, Uncle.”
“I would not for the world distress you further, after all you have undergone this day.” He dropped a light kiss on her hair and turned to Niall. “Only tell me if the danger is past, my lord. Is my Ede safe?”
“I believe so, Reverend. I threatened Kilshaw with public exposure, and I have every intention of writing of his doings to his precious friend, the Prince, as I told him I would.”
“Good heavens! Will that serve, do you suppose?”
As startled as her uncle, Edith awaited Niall’s response with a rise of real hope. Was it truly the last she would see of her Nemesis?
“It was certainly the one thing that wiped the complacency off his face. The Prince of Wales makes his own scandals, but I hardly think he will wish to be associated with a fellow who thinks nothing of attempting to abduct another man’s wife. And a countess at that.”
Heat leapt to Edith’s cheeks and she cast an agitated look upon her uncle.
But the vicar was beaming. “Is it all settled then? My dear fellow, I could not be more delighted. And as for you, my dearest Ede,” he continued, turning to her before Niall could respond, “it is no more than you deserve, and I wish you every happiness.”
He swooped upon her, but Edith put up her hands to hold him off and Niall coughed behind him.
“I regret I am a touch premature, sir. Edith has not yet accepted me.”
“Uncle Lionel —” She was given no chance to speak, for her uncle seized her hand again, holding it fast.
“But she will, my dear lord, she will. Will you not, my dearest Ede? You have my consent, for I cannot think of a better man to guard and keep you. In every respect, a most suitable match. And best of all, you will be close to me here, my dear niece. After this episode, I could not have endured the thought of you going out of my reach again.”
Edith’s throat ached and she could hardly get the words out. “Oh, Uncle, Uncle! You are too good!”
He patted her in the way he always did, beaming again. “And now I shall leave you, for I perceive my lord Hetherington here is impatient of my absence, are you not, my dear lord?”
A hearty laugh accompanied this effusion, and Edith blushed again as Niall cast her an amused glance. “I am, sir, but I wish you will call me Niall. I aim to be as near to your son-in-law as makes no odds.”
The vicar was moved to wring his hand again, looking up at him all smiles. “My dear Niall, nothing could give me greater pleasure. Now, what shall I tell Mrs Tuffin? Will you drink tea with Ede or —”
“Tea will be most welcome, Reverend,” Niall said, firmly escorting him to the door, and shutting it behind him as the vicar ambled out. He turned with his fingers still about the handle and looked across at Edith with a rueful grin. “It appears your uncle has your future sewn up, whether you will or no.”
“It seems so indeed.”
She swung her legs down and sat up. Niall came quickly across, putting out a hand.
“Don’t get up. You need rest.”
She took hold of his hand and drew him down. “Then sit with me.”
He did so, bringing her hand towards his lips. But he paused, his brows drawing together as his eyes went to her wrist. “What the deuce?”
He released her and got up abruptly. A couple of strides took him to the mantel, where he seized the candelabrum there and brought it across, lifting a chair close to the day-bed at the same time. He set the candelabrum down on the chair so that it threw brighter light upon Edith.
She blinked in the glare as Niall squatted before her.
“Show me your hands!”
Edith held them out, watching his face as, with care, he pushed back her sleeves and examined the red weals for several moments. She saw a muscle twitch in his cheek, and his jaw line tightened.
“This needs a salve and bandages.”
The tone was taut with held-in emotion. Fury, Edith thought. She spoke in as matter-of-fact a tone as she could command. “Mrs Tuffin will see to it presently.”
Niall glanced up once and then his hands cradled her forearms, his hold gentle. He leaned his head down and planted a tender kiss on each mutilated wrist. His fingers slid down to grasp Edith’s hands, his hold tightening as he looked up, regarding her with a riven look.
“I could kick myself from here to eternity. I failed you! I should never have left you alone at the Fair.”
His voice was hoarse, and Edith’s heart squeezed as a shine rimmed his eyes. Her fingers turned within his and she gripped hard.
“No, Niall. You took every precaution. I was foolishly negligent.”
“You’ve been shamefully used in every way and I can’t bear it, Edith!”
“But I’m safe, Niall. You came for me as I knew you would.” She tried for a lighter note, though her voice was shaky. “Come, this won’t do. Where is my conquering chevalier, who is afraid of nothing?”
A faint sigh escaped him, and he returned the pressure of her fingers.
“He’s giving way to the terror he fought against throughout. I’ve never in my life been so fearful, I promise you.”
“Niall, it is over!”
“But at what cost?”
“A trifling cost indeed. Come, get up and sit by me.”
He did as she asked, settling beside her and putting his arm about her. “If I’d known that crowing cockerel had tied you up…”
“That was his ruffian.”
“But he ordered it, I have no doubt.”
“I don’t think so. I expect he merely instructed the fellow to capture me and bring me to that out of the way inn.”
“The one where I’d seen his groom,” Niall put in, his voice a little more normal. “Thank the lord, for it could have taken a deal longer to find which way he’d taken you without that knowledge.”
His hold about her tightened as he spoke, and Edith warmed to the evidence of the depth of his affection.
“I never doubted you would come for me, Niall. And to tell th
e truth, my discomfort in that cart was short-lived, for I did not regain my senses fully until we had well-nigh arrived at the inn.”
“I’ll have that ruffian laid by the heels,” Niall growled.
“Well, you may try, but I don’t imagine he’ll wait about for you to find him.”
Niall’s hand captured her cheek and he turned her to face him. “You are mighty cool over it, Edith.”
“Well, I have my knight to hand. What have I to fear?”
His laugh was a little harsh and he drew her close. His voice came low and vibrant. “If you knew the agonies I went through this night, my darling!”
She caught his hand and held it in both her own. “Did you fear you would not catch us?”
“No. I would have caught you regardless, for I would have followed to the ends of the earth, if need be.” His convulsive grip told Edith more than the grated words. “I was afraid I might not reach you in time. That danger well-nigh killed me, Ede. That you should be subjected to his brute force…”
She sank against him and his hold gentled, cuddling her in as tender a manner as she could wish. “He did so intend. I believe he would not have travelled further. He meant, I think, to let you catch up only to find me ruined. And that would have been the end for us.”
Niall’s arm dropped from about her, and Edith found herself gripped by the shoulders. The fierce look in his face was matched by his voice. “Do you think I would have left you? Even had he done his worst? Do you rate my love of so little account?”
“No, but —”
“Don’t dare tell me you would have chosen to go with him rather than come back to me!”
She put up her hands to grasp his wrists. “You’re hurting me, Niall!”
His hold loosened at once and he took his hands from her shoulders, holding them away. But the fury in his face did not abate. “Edith!”
Her lips were trembling and she could barely speak. “I don’t know, Niall, I don’t know.” The sudden disappointment in his eyes cut at her heart. She put up her hand and caught his cheek, feeling the ridge of his scar against her skin. “I can’t lie to you, Niall. But know this. I had only one thought in my head throughout, and that was to prevent him violating me by any means I could find. I did nothing but hunt for weapons from the moment we arrived at that inn.”
His face softened and he caught the hand resting against his cheek, holding it there. “I’m sorry. I’m being stupidly selfish. It doesn’t matter.”
Something squeezed in her heart. “But it does, Niall. It matters to you. And all I can offer you is my resolve to evade Lord Kilshaw because I wanted to come to you pure and untainted.”
He took her hand from his cheek and kissed the palm, sending a shiver through Edith.
“That will content me.” He smiled. “Does that mean you accept my suit? You will be my wife?”
Edith’s eyes pricked and her voice was shaky. “With all my heart, my dearest knight errant.”
She heard his indrawn breath and felt his lips on her hand, punctuating his words.
“My love, my darling, my precious Ede.”
Edith’s smile was tremulous. “Don’t you mean to take the real kiss you’ve won? The dragon is slain, after all.”
The lopsided curve to his mouth appeared at last and his arms slid about her. Edith’s veins quivered and then sang as his lips touched hers.
***
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A NOTE TO THE READER
Dear Reader,
With the current #metoo culture, it is hard to realise how vulnerable women could be in days gone by. Not so long ago either. So much has changed within my lifetime and I rejoice in the female freedoms so widely available. Sadly not in all cultures even today.
But I am here talking of women of the Regency era, and in particular those of genteel birth, yet less protected than their counterparts fortunate enough to be born into affluent circumstances. The Brides by Chance series follows the adventures of such women, and Edith Westacott is perhaps the heroine most affected by the disparities then existing between men and women.
A man with no visible means of support, without a patron to buy him a commission in one of the services, might still choose a respectable profession within the church, the legal or medical fields, architecture or science; attach himself in a secretarial capacity to a man of rank or politics; even enter the diplomatic service, albeit in a lowly capacity. As long as he was well educated and stayed out of trade, his options were actually better than those of the sons of the aristocracy with the more limited traditional choices of army, navy, or church.
For a woman, on the other hand, there were only three work options: companion, governess or schoolmistress. Historical romance aside, once you took up such a post, there was no going back. Instances of the governess or companion securing a husband were few and far between, though occasionally a prudent man would even stoop to marrying the cook to save expense!
The governess, like any female domestic, was considered fair game by the marauding male. A young and pretty woman would not be hired in a household where there were impressionable young sons, mothers being notoriously wary of scandalous goings on.
Imagine then, the situation of our schoolmistress Edith, entirely without protection and prey to the flattery of an experienced seducer without scruple or mercy.
It seems incredible, in our enlightened times, to think women might be subjected to such a determined and ruthless pursuit. But there is no doubt it did happen. The road to ruin took many an innocent down the path to prostitution, the all too likely future for a female who succumbed. To demonstrate that I do not exaggerate, in the late 18th century the statistic of criminals, for one year in London alone, labels 50% as prostitutes. How many of them chose the life?
Edith escaped, thanks to her knight, and that is the pleasure of writing romance!
If you would consider leaving a review, it would be much appreciated and very helpful. Do feel free to contact me on [email protected] or find me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads or my website www.elizabethbailey.co.uk.
Elizabeth Bailey
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ALSO BY ELIZABETH BAILEY
The Lady Fan Mystery Series
The Gilded Shroud
The Deathly Portent
The Opium Purge
The Candlelit Coffin
The Mortal Blow
Brides by Chance Regency Adventures Series
In Honour Bound
A Chance Gone By
A Winter’s Madcap Escapade
Marriage for Music
Damsel to the Rescue
Widow in Mistletoe
His Auction Prize
Disaster and the Duke
Taming the Vulture
Georgian Historical Romance
A Fragile Mask
A Lady in Name
An Angel’s Touch
An Undesirable Liaison
Fated Folly
Friday Dreaming
Hidden Flame
Just Deserts
Mademoiselle at Arms
Seventh Heaven
Sweet Sacrifice
The Conqueror’s Dilemma
The Viscount Besieged
Short Romances
Mad, Bad and Dangerous
Out of the Desert Sands (historical)
To Catch a Thief (historical)
Heartbreak Holiday
A Fateful Connection (Regency)
A Matter of Time (Time-slip)
Edgy Women’s Fiction
Fly the Wild Echoes
For One More Tomorrow
Silence of a Stranger (suspense novella)
Non-Fiction
What’s Wrong with Your Novel? And how to fix it
Musings from the Writer’s Desk
Published by Sapere Books.
11 Bank Chambers, Hornsey, London, N8 7NN,
United Kingdom
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Copyright © Elizabeth Bailey, 2017
Elizabeth Bailey has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events, other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales are purely coincidental.
eBook ISBN: 9781913335069
Knight For A Lady (Brides By Chance Regency Adventures Book 3) Page 27