by A D James
Chapter 4
Robert clasped his decorative cane deep in thought. The last few days had been a whirlwind of emotions. He was still reeling from his father’s sudden death, now he was being forced to marry a rich spoilt heiress against his will.
Such life changing decisions in the space of one week was an assault on his senses.
Lady Louise sensed his anguish by the intense concentration of his face. “Maybe I’m asking too much of you my dear.” She was hoping her kind words would make him change his mind.
“You know I only want what’s best for you.” He remained silent. “I assure you as time goes by you will grow to like her.”
“You know that is not true Mama,” Robert replied in a downbeat tone. “I have observed her character since she was a little girl.” He gave her a sideward glance.
“Her wealth has turned her into a proud and selfish woman.” He stared ahead again. “You know she would make my life hell.”
“Robert.” She placed her gloved hand over his. “Please reconsider my request. You have so much to gain from a betrothal.”
She lightly squeezed his hand, but got no response back. “She will bring substantial capital to your marriage.”
“Capital, capital!” Robert threw his hands up in despair. “It’s all about capital.”
Lady Louise lost her patience. “Yes it is young man.” She clasped her reticule to suppress the anger rising inside. “That’s what makes the world turn around.”
“Is it possible to marry for love,” he pondered to himself.
“Love will come later.” Her voice trailed off in doubt.
“Mama, you know we have nothing in common,” Robert protested. “I am an ex- military man who has travelled the world on various campaigns.
She is a mere child of 16 whose only interest in life is shopping for gowns and going to lavish balls.” He shut his eyes in contempt. “I can still hear her senseless chatter in my head.”
“Oh Robert I despair of you,” Lady Louise snapped as their carriage raced passed ornate Georgian terraces. “What will become of you?”
“What will become of me?” Robert replied in an irritated manner. “Aren’t you proud of my achievements on the battlefield?”
“We have always been proud of your military career. Your father is..” she paused for a moment. “I mean was always telling his friends about your successes.”
The Battle of Bayonne was a brutal campaign in France, as Robert and his fellow officers fought tirelessly against the French. As the town became isolated the allies engaged in heavy hand-to-hand combat.
Many of Robert’s friends were slaughtered on the battlefield. Eventually the Allies superior force won the town of Bayonne.
But it was a bloody battle that left thousands of men dead and injured on both sides of the war. The Duke of Wellington hoped that this would be the last battle of the peninsular war.
“I was overjoyed at your safe return,” Lady Louise reflected. “And pray that this may be a permanent end to the slaughter.”
Robert clenched a fist as he thought about Napoleon Bonaparte; the man had so much blood on his hands.
“Now that Napoleon has been exiled to the Italian island of Elba,” he paused in contemplation. “We can only hope that this might be the end of his tyranny.”
Lady Louise noticed the pain in his eyes. She knew he still had nightmares about the war. She often heard his screams in the middle of the night. “Don’t dwell on the past,” she gently urged. “We must look to the future now.”
“A future I must decide for myself,” Robert declared. “After serving my country don’t I deserve a little divertion?”
“Do you mean the diversion of marriage or...’ She became agitated; should she confront him with a secret that had consumed her since her husband’s death. “Another diversion?”
Robert felt a fear rise in his heart. “What might that be Mama?”
She looked directly at him. “The gambling habit you picked up from your father.”
Robert was lost for words. How did she know about his debt? He had hoped to resolve the situation himself. Or rather his father would of paid the debtors in private - without a word to his wife.
Robert started gambling when he returned from the war. It blocked out the pain of losing his friends on the battlefield.
But most of all it gave him something to do with his day. Unfortunately, he got in with the wrong crowd.
They were rich rakes and scoundrels that spent their days getting drunk and making extravagant wagers. They were all young officers like Robert that had seen the horrors of warfare – all desperate to escape the demons that haunted them from the battlefield.
‘Well is it true about your debt?’ Lady Louise’s voice brought him back to reality.
“It’s all lies,” he boldly announced. “Spread by a gold digging mistress I must have cast aside.” He tried to read her thoughts. “Have I ever been in debt?”
She returned a blank expression. “Your father never told me.”
His heart sank, she does know about the debt. She was never good at telling lies, nor was he in this moment.
Their carriage came to abrupt stop outside a small Georgian town house. “My goodness are we home already,” Robert exclaimed.
Wilson, the coachman, jumped down and tried to open the carriage door, but Lady Louise clasped the handle inside.
“This is my final word on the subject,” Lady Louise demanded as the door lock rumbled under her hand. “Wait Wilson!”
She turned back to Robert. “If you don’t pay off that debt in 30 days, you must marry Lady Emily Mountford.”
“30 days.” Robert was shocked by her ultimatum.
“Have I made myself clear!” Lady Louise released her hand from the handle of the door. She gave Wilson a cold stare as he helped her alight from the carriage.
Robert remained seated in the carriage pondering the ultimatum he had received.
“Robert?” Lady Louise turned around outside their town house. “What are you doing?”
“It’s time I took charge of my life.” His mother returned a charming smile. “The clock’s ticking I must see a friend.” He called out to the coachman. “Wilson. Take me to White’s Club.”
“That’s the last place you should be going.” His mother felt deflated all her verbal exertions had been for nothing. “Why should I be surprised?” She retorted. “It’s practically your second home.”
“Have faith Mama.” Wilson shut the door and returned to the front of the carriage. As the carriage sped away Robert began to have his doubts.
How could he pay off a gambling debt in 30 days? The old boy’s network in White’s club was his only salvation.
Unfortunately, the crowd he mixed with, mostly ex-officers from the army, were just as debt ridden as him. But they had rich fathers to bail them out when the going got tough. He felt sick in his stomach. That option wasn’t available to him now.
There must be someone that could help him. He thought about his comrades in the army. What about Albert Wood?
The last time he saw him was on a battlefield in France. Robert had saved his life. He intervened when a mad French man was about to decapitate his head.
Albert always said he owed him his life. The last he heard he was running a successful Carter business near the docks by the Thames.
He supplied cart horses to pull heavy cargo from the ships that docked near the quay. If he asked around he would soon find him.
He boldly tapped the roof to halt the carriage. He got out and shouted up to the coachman. “I’m calling into the docks to see an old friend from the war.”
Wilson looked around at the seedy back streets near the docks, inhabited by murderers, pick pockets and harlots. “Are you sure you don’t want an escort?”
“Thank you for your concern Wilson.” He leaned jauntily on his cane. “But I am more than capable of looking after myself.”
As the carriage raced away a dark cloud
loomed over the horizon. Robert pulled up his collar against another rain shower.
The weather matched his sombre mood as he walked towards the quayside with a nagging thought - would Albert Wood still remember him?
Chapter 5
“Well harlot.” Tony tugged Mary’s arm as she stared down at the coins he had thrown on the floor. ”How desperate are you for a few shilling.”
Mary closed her eyes as she pondered what to do. She felt totally humiliated. She couldn’t get any lower than this.
“If yer don’t take it love,” Tony laughed looking back at the sailors. “I’ll pay another whore.”
Mary winched as hunger pangs gripped her stomach. She had to swallow her pride. “I’ll take it.” As she took the shillings from the floor, Tony kicked the coins out of her hand.
“You swine,” she screamed clutching the searing pain in her hand. “Don’t you know how hungry I am?”
He picked up the scattered coins. “Are you darling? When you respect your master you might get more.” The sailors laughed at his jest.
Mary couldn’t face anymore taunts; maybe it was better to starve. She tried to walk away but Tony blocked her path. “Where are you going?”
“Far away from you!”
“Haven’t you forgotten something?” He held up two shillings. “You haven’t earned your money yet?”
“I’ve changed my mind.” Mary tried to push past him, but he stood firm.
“I haven’t.” Tony smirked at the mocking mariners. “Why don’t we share her lads?”
“No you will not.” Mary tried to break free from Tony’s grip, but the sailors formed a ring around her. “There are plenty of brothels to satisfy your lust.”
“Come on girl.” Tony ran his hand up her legs. “Yer might get a taste for it.’”
Mary broke away from him, but was jostled from one man to another.
“Let me go.” She called out to other people in the tavern, but no one came to her aid. She called out to Tommy but he was busy in the cellar.
Tears streamed down her face as the sailors grabbed and fondled her body. How could she escape this nightmare?
“Leave her alone!” Robert, the Duke of Cornwall shouted over from the doorway.
He had stepped into the tavern to avoid a rain shower but was shocked by the spectacle he had witnessed. “Did you hear me?”
The noisy tavern was reduced to a hush as the Duke marched over to the motley crew of sailors. They were unsure how to react to him at first. He had the authoritative air of a military man.
“Who is he?” one of the sailors asked Tony.
“A rich Duke who wants a whore himself.” He pulled Mary close to him. “He’ll have to go out and find another one.”
“I am a gentleman.” Robert returned a steely gaze. “I treat every woman with respect.” He looked down at Mary quietly sobbing to herself.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. How could such a beautiful vulnerable woman be reduced to a living as a harlot? “Leave this girl alone.”
“On whose orders,” Tony said sharply.
“My orders.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he snarled into his face. “Get out of here Toff!”
“No I will not,” Robert announced. “I will not entertain you’re gross pretensions
any longer.”
“Gross Pretensions,’ Tony sniggered to himself. He looked back at Mary. “Have you got any girl?” He dug his nails into her arm which made her cry out.
“You’re hurting me.”
“Why are you hurting her?” the Duke demanded.
Tony ignored him with a cunning smirk.
The Duke felt his blood boil. “Answer me!”
“I only answer to myself.”
“I think you behaviour towards this lady is appalling.”
“She’s a common little harlot.” Tony pushed Mary towards the stairs. “Get up them stairs.”
“No. I’ve changed my mind.” She turned around with a bold stare. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You heard the lady.” Robert stood next to her as a show of support. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Tony shrugged his shoulders and joined the sailors drinking beer by the counter.
“Thank you for your intervention.” Mary looked up at the Duke in wonder. No man had ever shown her any kindness, let alone a gentleman.
She was drawn to his pale blue eyes; they had a hypnotic quality to them.
Her gaze fell on his large sensual mouth. She felt a great desire to push her tongue between his lips and share a passionate French kiss.
A dark curl tumbled against his angular jaw. Wayward curls she would love to run her hands through as they engaged in a loving embrace.
Mary felt a warm glow deep in her loins. Why was she feeling like this? She broke away from his seductive gaze, confused by the emotions that stirred in her body.
“Are you alright?” The Duke gently touched her elbow.
“Yes.” His sudden touch jolted her back to reality. She noticed a small tattoo of a bird of prey on the inside of his wrist. The bird reminded her of home. She felt a dull ache in her heart.
She missed Ireland and the wonderful days she spent watching the birds fly over the ocean. The innocent carefree days of childhood that had gone forever. “Sorry, I was thinking about my childhood, how kind people were back then.”
“Surely your world is not that grim,” Robert remarked with a kind smile. “There are still some gentlemen in the world.”
“Indeed there are. You are a true gentleman.” A pained expression crossed her face. “I do not want to deceive you.” She paused with embarrassment. “But I assure you I am no lady.”
“Did you hear that?” Tony swaggered over to the Duke, fortified by a swift brandy he had by the counter. “She’s a common little harlot.” He pushed her up the wooden stairway. “Get up them steps.”
“No!” She shrugged him off. “I’ve had enough abuse for one day. I’m going home.”
“Where would that be?” Tony sniggered to his mates. “The back alleyways with the rats.”
The sailors roared with laughter. Mary looked at the Duke lost for words.
“Enough!” Robert commanded. “Let the lady leave.”
“What’s your game squire?” Tony ruffled the Duke’s cravat around his neck. “Want the whore for yourself. Well I found her first.”
“I have no intention of using this lady.” He pushed him to one side. “Make way for the lady.”
“You’re beginning to annoy me,” Tony seethed through his teeth. “My manhood is bulging and I need a whore now!”
“What you need is a cold bucket of water over you,” Robert quipped.
“And what you need is this.” Tony threw a punch but the Duke blocked it with a right punch. They knocked into a table and broke a few chairs as they fell onto the floor.
Mary stepped back in shock. She couldn’t believe a gentleman would fight for her honour.
A violent wrestle ensued between the two men as they grappled with each other on the floor. The rest of the people in the tavern gathered around and cheered at the fight. It became more vicious as they engaged in a bloody rain of punches.
Tony was losing the fight. He was overwhelmed by the Duke’s superior fighting skills. He couldn’t compete with an ex military man used to hand to hand combat.
“What the hell is going on?” Molly, the formidable red head was the tavern owner. She stood in the doorway with a face like thunder. She would not tolerate fights of any kind in her tavern.
Chapter 6
“Stop it!” Molly ploughed her stout body through the sailors and pulled the men apart. ”Do yer fighting outside.” She was so angry at the damage done to her furniture she smacked Tony across the face.
“Why did yer do that?” He clutched his face in shock.
“Look at my table and chairs.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you going to pay for the damage?”
“Ask him.” He pointed to the Duke. “He started it.”
Molly glared at Robert as he brushed down his clothes. “Well?”
“I assure you I did not start the fight,” he returned a look of disgust.
“Don’t look at me like that posh boy,” Molly reprimanded. “I own this tavern.”
“Forgive me Madam.” Robert broke into a charming smile. “He may have started the fight but I intend to finish it.” He threw a left hook that knocked Tony out for good.
“Well that’s good for business,” she huffed to herself. “A dead sailor on the floor.”
“I’m not dead,” Tony groaned as he prized opened his eyes. “Where am I?”
“On the way to bedlam,” Molly shouted down to him. She turned to the sailors. “Carry him out and don’t come back.”
The mariners carried him out of the Tavern with a dazed expression. Two merchants knocked into the bungling sailors as they came through the door.
“Look at him ape drunk.” One gestured to the other. “Must be good beer in this tavern.”
Molly turned to the Duke. “You’re not getting any special treatment either.” She yanked her thumb towards the door. “You get out too.”
“Certainly Madam.” Robert stretched out his hand. “I extend my apologies.”
Mary became distracted by another fight in the tavern. “Not again. It’ll be safer working in the workhouse.” As she ran over to stop it, Mary stepped towards the Duke.
“How can I ever repay you?” She held out two pennies in her hand. “Please take this. It’s all I have.”
“What a kind gesture.” Robert returned a warm smile. “Keep these pennies for your self, you need it more than I.”
“Please Sir I insist.” Mary thrust her hand towards him.
“No keep it.” Robert pulled out a guinea from his pocket. “Buy some food with this donation.” He placed the money in her palm and wrapped his muscular fingers around her hand.