by Regina Darcy
Edward, being completely at a loss as to what he was meant to do in such a situation, remained exactly where he was, his brow wrinkled as he struggled to think of what to say.
“I have no choice,” Nora whispered, her words only just making it to his ears. “I have no other choice.”
“What do you mean, Nora?” he asked, reaching for her hand and holding it tightly in his own. “What do you mean, you have no choice? If this is about our engagement, you know that I have told you that the choice will remain yours.”
She shook her head, her eyes unable to lift any further than the floor of the carriage. Her sobs slowly subsided as she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. “Please do not tell my father.”
Her words tore at him. “I will not say a word to him,” he promised gently. “If only you can trust me, Nora.”
“I have no choice but to trust you,” she said heavily. “The truth is, Lord Fareshire, I must simply pray that you are the man you say you are. Despite my misgivings, I love my sisters too much to continue putting them in danger.”
More confused than ever, Edward rubbed one hand over his eyes. “Your sisters?” he repeated quietly, still holding her cold hands in his. “I thought you were the only one at home.”
“My oldest sister, Martha, refused to do what my father asked of her,” Nora replied in a dull voice. “She was thrown from the house with nothing but the clothes she wore.” She shook her head as Edward felt himself grow still with shock. “We managed to get her a few shillings, but for years, we did not know what became of her. With that same threat hanging over our heads, my father insisted that my next sister, Caroline, marry Lord Abernathy.”
The name startled him. “Lord Abernathy, who is, at this moment, visiting your father?”
She nodded, still unable to look at him. “The very same,” she murmured quietly. “Without going into too much detail, my sister Caroline is currently residing in my bedchamber.”
He dropped her hand, sucked in a breath, and leaned back in his seat.
“She has left her husband,” Nora continued, as though she had not noticed his reaction. “I saw her last evening. My other sister, Martha, who I have not seen in almost ten years, brought her to my father’s house when he was out. Caroline is…” She paused, struggling to find the strength to continue speaking. “Broken.”
“Broken?” he repeated, only for Nora to look up at him with haunted eyes – and something inside him burst into a furious blaze. He had no need for her to explain what she meant, realising at once that this so-called gentleman had, in fact, been beating his wife.
“Lord Abernathy is a cruel man,” Nora whispered, her eyes fixed on his with such agony in her expression that she could barely form words. “Martha could not risk endangering her children since her husband is away on business, and so I–”
“You are trying to protect them both from your father’s wrath,” Edward interrupted, seeing her blink rapidly to prevent yet more tears from falling. “He does not know she is within his house?”
She shook her head. “The housekeeper will do what she can to keep Caroline safe, but I am afraid that Lord Abernathy will insist on a search of the house – and Father will, most likely, allow him to do so.” Her voice shook, tears now dampening her cheeks. “What Lord Abernathy will do to her, I cannot imagine.”
And you are afraid of what your father will do to you, Edward thought to himself, one hand curling into a fist as he looked out of the window steadily, trying to arrange his thoughts. It was no small matter for a lady to leave her husband, for with it came scandal and disgrace. And yet he could not blame anyone for doing such a thing if they were being beaten and bruised by the man who had promised to be by their side for the remainder of their days.
“Martha said she would write to me, and I had to suggest that she send her correspondence to you,” Nora finished, looking as worn and weary as Edward had ever seen her. “You must understand, Lord Fareshire, I have no one else to turn to. I do not want to trust you, I do not want to so much as share even a modicum of this with you, and yet I have very little choice.”
“I have said before that you can trust me,” he said at once, leaning forward and capturing both of her hands in his. “And I meant it.”
Her eyes slowly lifted to his, her lips trembling. “I will do whatever you wish, if only you will help me with Caroline,” she begged, her hands clasping his tightly. “I will marry you, of course, without question.”
His heart turned over in his chest, hating that she was so willing to do whatever she needed to in order to help her sisters, and yet feeling himself filled with respect for her selflessness. He knew what she was asking of him was no small thing, for to take in and harbour a lady running from her husband could easily bring scandal and disgrace to his own house and his own name, but how could he turn from her and from her sister when they had no one else to turn to for aid? It had clearly taken almost everything Nora had to share her fears with him, to tell him the truth about what had occurred, and he found himself wanting to do all he could to bring her peace.
Letting go of her hand, he raised his fingers to her cheek and brushed away the moisture from her tears. His heart ached over what he saw in her eyes – the sadness and the pain that were almost a part of her. He wanted to rescue her from that, to give her the life and the home she should have had for all of her previous years.
“Do not cry any more, my dear,” he said gently. “I will take Lady Caroline in.”
She drew in a ragged breath, as though she could not quite believe what he had said, only to collapse into his arms, her whole body torn apart by sobs of relief. As awkward as it was, Edward held her close, eventually managing to move to sit beside her in the carriage. Her head rested against his shoulder, her tears falling like the rain and dampening his skin. He did not know how long he held her for but allowed her to cry for as long as she needed, feeling his own heart swelling with a mixture of sympathy and pain. How he hated the Duke for treating his daughters with such disdain! And how much he longed to be able to show Nora that her life with him would not be anything like the life she had known.
“How?” he heard her ask, her voice hoarse with emotion. “How are we to get her from my father’s townhouse to yours?”
Waiting until she lifted her head to look into his eyes, Edward gave her a small smile, running the back of his fingers along her cheek.
“We will do it together,” he said softly. “Have no fear, Nora. Your sister will be quite safe. Now come. We must return to your father’s house, before he and Lord Abernathy choose to search the place from top to bottom.”
She grasped his hands tightly, her eyes shining with a sudden, astonishing brightness. “Thank you, Lord Fareshire,” she said, her voice a little stronger than before.
He smiled. “Your trust is more than enough of a thanks,” he murmured, as the maid climbed back into the carriage. “Come now, my dear. Let us bring an end to your trouble.”
Chapter Nine
Nora tried to keep herself calm as she looked in the mirror, seeing Caroline lying asleep on the small floor bed, out of sight of the bedchamber door. The housekeeper had done a marvellous job of taking care of her sister, and much to her relief, Lord Fareshire had been able to distract Lord Abernathy and her father yesterday afternoon upon their rather hasty return from the park, which had meant that no search was to take place. Unfortunately, the Duke had informed her that Lord Abernathy was to come to dinner tomorrow, which most likely meant that, together, they would be trying to see if she knew anything about Caroline’s disappearance. She had, of course, expressed delight on seeing her sister again for dinner, only to try to appear disappointed when she had been informed that Caroline was ‘rather ill’ and so would not be in attendance.
“You need not fret, my lady,” Elsie murmured, as she placed a necklace around Nora’s neck. “Myself and Mrs Banks, we have it all in hand.”
“And Lord Fareshire has explained to you what you are to d
o?” Nora asked, seeing the maid nod in confirmation. “I know it has all become a little frightening, but we must do all we can for Caroline.”
Elsie did not look in the least bit afraid. “I would do anything I could for your sister, Lady Eleanor,” she said stoutly. “And for you, of course.”
Grateful, Nora clasped Elsie’s hand. “And you are to come with me to Lord Fareshire’s home when we marry,” she said with a smile. “And there is a place for Mrs Banks too, if she wishes it. Lord Fareshire told me that the housekeeper at his estate is due to retire very soon.”
Elsie smiled, her eyes misting. “Lord Fareshire offered us both a place in his household last evening, when he came to speak to us both on his way out,” she explained, patting Nora’s hand. “We both accepted, of course.”
Feeling more and more as though she could have a happy life with Lord Fareshire, Nora let out a long breath. “Perhaps I can trust Lord Fareshire after all,” she murmured to herself, as Elsie finished placing a few seed pearls into her hair. “I had no choice but to trust him with this for the sake of Caroline, and it appears that he has kept it entirely to himself.”
“I should say so, my lady,” Elsie agreed, even though Nora had not asked for her opinion. “If you don’t mind me saying so, he appears to be a rather amiable gentleman.”
Nora, still feeling somewhat unsettled within herself, slowly had to admit that she agreed with that particular statement. She had been rather surprised with Lord Fareshire’s reaction to what she had told him. He had not appeared horrified, had not denounced her for taking in her sister, but had seemed to be most upset that she and her sisters had been treated in such an appalling manner by their father. He had clearly been angry and upset that Caroline had been beaten, whereas Nora knew that her father did not care one jot, believing that a wife was nothing more than her husband’s possession, which meant he could do whatever he wished without consequence.
It was a great relief to her that Lord Fareshire was not inclined that way. What with this and with the knowledge that Charles, his ward, was not fearful of him, Nora found herself beginning to trust him, to believe that he was the respectable gentleman he had promised her he was. Even though she could find fault with him for becoming betrothed to her in the way he had, she had to admit that she was glad that he appeared to have such a good and kind heart. Her mind refused to think of the strange sensations he created in her by his mere presence.
“There you go, my lady,” Elsie said, looking more than satisfied. “Oh, and that’s the gong. You’d best hurry.”
Rising carefully from her chair, Nora glanced at her sister, still asleep in the bed. In fact, Caroline had done very little other than sleep, clearly exhausted from her traumatic life with her husband. When she had awoken, she’d been frantic with nerves, with both Nora and Elsie having to take it in turns to calm her down.
“Are you sure you will be quite all right?”
Elise put a hand on Nora’s arm. “She will be quite safe, my lady, I promise you.”
Knowing that she had no other choice but to leave her sister in Elsie’s care, Nora let out a long breath, raised her chin, and walked towards the door.
***
“Courage, my dear.”
Nora could not help but smile as Lord Fareshire took her arm, his smile kind as he looked into her eyes. “Thank you, my lord.”
His smile broadened. “Thank you for your trust.” He pressed her arm gently. “My footmen know exactly what to do. Tomorrow you will come for afternoon tea, and all will be well.”
Her stomach knotted as she allowed him to walk her into the dining room, following her father and Lord Abernathy. She hated that she could not be a part of Caroline’s escape, but knew that she had to trust that Elsie, Mrs Banks, and Lord Fareshire’s footmen would be able to execute the plan with success.
“And may I say how enchanting you look this evening, my dear.”
Her heart warmed despite the nervous anxiety rippling through her. She looked over at Lord Fareshire and smiled, her cheeks warm. “Thank you, my lord, but I am no diamond of first waters.”
“You are more beautiful than you know,” he assured her, waiting until she sat down before he took his place by her side.
Nora drew in a long breath, feeling her nerves settle as Lord Fareshire reached for her hand under the table, pressing it lightly for a moment before letting it go. With him by her side, she found herself growing stronger, more resolute. More determined that her father would no longer intimidate her in any way.
“Nora,” her father muttered, after the first two dishes had been served and enjoyed with very little conversation passing between them. “Have you seen your sister of late?”
Her skin prickled. “Alice? No, Father, you know I have not.” He glared at her, but she did not tremble. Instead, she lifted her chin and waited patiently for him to speak, far too aware of Lord Abernathy’s eyes on her.
“I meant Martha.”
She did not flinch. “I have not seen Martha since the day she left, Father.”
“That is a lie!” Lord Abernathy barked, his hand slamming down hard on the table. “She is in London with her two beggar children.”
Nora was about to retort that the children had a baronet for a father, only to hear Lord Fareshire cough slightly, as though to remind her that she was not meant to know anything of the sort. “Is that so?” she managed to say with an effort. “I have not seen her, of course. Father, you cannot imagine that I have, since you know that I have either been at home with you or out with Lord Fareshire.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, as though he did not want to believe her but saw that he had no choice.
“I did not know about your eldest daughter, Your Grace,” Lord Fareshire said mildly. “Whom is she wed to?”
Nora watched as her father turned beet red.
“I do not know, nor do I care,” he spat. “She left this house in disgrace many years ago.”
Lord Fareshire remained absolutely still. “Is that so?” he murmured, sounding rather disbelieving. “Then why should you think that Lady Drake would be able to seek her out, if you yourself have not laid eyes on your daughter in so long?”
A cold hand of fear clasped Nora’s heart as she saw her father stutter angrily for a moment, suddenly terrified that he would burst into furious anger at Lord Fareshire’s impertinence.
“He is asking, Lord Fareshire, because my own wife met with her sister in town not so long ago,” Lord Abernathy interrupted angrily. “I tried to put a stop to it, of course, but Caroline insisted on speaking to her.”
Lord Fareshire shrugged. “But Lady Eleanor has, as she said, either been with myself or her father. I can assure you that we have never come across either your wife or her other sister.”
Unable to prevent herself, Nora leaned forward and fixed Lord Abernathy with her stare, recalling how beaten and bruised Caroline was and slowly realising that it had, perhaps, been a punishment for speaking to Martha.
“And why would Caroline speaking to Martha upset you so, Lord Abernathy? She is, after all, Caroline’s sister.”
Lord Abernathy’s face drained of colour. “Because Martha is a stain. A stain that has pushed my wife to disobey me in the worst possible way.”
Growing coldly furious, Nora lifted one eyebrow. “Is that so, Lord Abernathy? I must say that for Caroline to assert herself is, in my eyes, something that should be encouraged. No doubt, however, you saw fit to punish her in your own way.”
There was nothing but silence for a long moment, while Lord Abernathy’s eyes practically bulged out of his head.
“I knew it!” he shouted, rising from his chair and pointing one shaking finger at Nora. “She does know where Caroline is! She must be here!”
Lord Fareshire snorted. “Whatever are you talking about, Abernathy?”
“I want this whole place searched, from top to bottom!” Abernathy cried, as Nora continued to hold his gaze, praying that Caroline had already been smug
gled from the house, cursing herself for not remaining silent, as she should have.
The Duke rose from his chair, leaning heavily on the table and looking over at Nora with such darkness in his gaze that her very soul trembled.
“Is Caroline here, Nora?” he asked quietly, with such menace in his voice that Nora scrabbled for Lord Fareshire’s hand under the table. “Do you have her?” He shook his head, his brow furrowing. “I should have listened to you, Lord Abernathy, and had her rooms searched yesterday.”
Slowly, Lord Fareshire got to his feet, one hand now protectively on Nora’s shoulder. “Your Grace. You are laying something on Lady Drake’s shoulders that is quite unfair. You believe her to be guilty of something she has had no part in.” He turned his gaze to Lord Abernathy, his words cold and calculated. “Do your search, Lord Abernathy. But when you find nothing, you are to apologise profusely to my betrothed, do you understand?”
Lord Abernathy did nothing but grin, his eyes sparkling with venom as he continued to look at Nora, who, with every ounce of strength she had, lifted her chin in defiance.
“Do you understand, Lord Abernathy?” Lord Fareshire said again, his voice laced with steel.
“Oh, I understand, Lord Fareshire,” Lord Abernathy whispered darkly. “But I can assure you that you will not hear any apologies coming from my lips. Rather, it will be a confession of guilt from that lady you call your betrothed.”
Chapter Ten
Edward paced up and down the drawing room, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. Nora was sitting quietly in the corner of the room, sipping her tea. The Duke and Lord Abernathy had been gone for only a few minutes, leaving Edward and Nora to complete their meal without them.
They had eaten quickly and had ordered dessert to the drawing room, intending to finish their meal there. However, as the minutes passed, Edward felt himself growing more and more nervous, worried that Caroline had not yet been smuggled from the house as had been his orders.