An Enchanted Beginning

by Alyssa Dean Copeland

  * * *

  Jonathan rounded the corner of the manor house and rushed through the front door. He hoped between supper last night and today’s walk at the park, Bethany would receive even more attention from potential suitors. There had to be someone who would make a good match, better than those who had been courting her thus far. He still had no idea who would be ideal. Maybe he needed to speak with Seanna. Surely, she or Mistress Thayer would have created a potential list for him to review.

  He needed to change out of his wet clothes. He took the stairs two at a time and almost ran into his mother.

  “Jonathan! Where have you been? Do you not realize the time? Our guests will be arriving shortly.”

  He stopped mid-step. Guests? Then he remembered, Phoebe Goodwynn and her family. His good mood soured.

  “I will be ready momentarily, Mother.” He slipped past her, knowing if he did not begin to get ready for their guests, she would she would send every servant at the manor to knock on his door to give her the status of his preparation. He took the remaining stairs one at a time so she would have nothing further to complain about. Maybe he should have stayed at Bryant’s cottage.

  He stepped into the bedroom and pulled off his damp shirt, tossing it on the floor. A servant had left fresh water scented with yellow rose petals and a clean linen cloth for him. With haste, he cleaned himself and changed clothes. Though his boots were still damp, he would have to suffer, for the others he owned were worn with age, unsuitable for entertaining guests.

  A short time later, he found his way down the stairs and heard laughter from the parlor. The women were seated on the sofa, while his father and Lord Goodwynn were huddled across the room, holding their drinks with care.

  His mother stood up. “Jonathan, do come in. I believe you know the Lord and Lady Goodwynn and their daughter, Lady Phoebe.”

  Jonathan clenched his teeth and gave a curt smile, then a quick bow. Phoebe raised her hand to him. He took it and kissed her knuckles; she batted her eyes.

  It was no wonder Bethany had heard a tell-tale. As soon as he had the opportunity, he would speak with his mother. This would be a long evening, indeed.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Loys wiped the rain from his forehead and cursed under his breath. He hated this country and its spouts. He propped himself against a tree directly across from the cottage of James Bryant. He checked to see if Windham’s men were in position. To the east, Pompey and two other men were engaged in conversation. And to the west, another man was bent over, wiping mud off his boot. They awaited his signal.

  According to his reports, Bryant had left earlier that day. A short time ago, he thought he’d have to adjust his stratagem. But moments earlier, he’d watched the Earl step into a carriage. Then, another man departed on his horse. This meant only the women and a handful of servants were inside.

  He wanted to wait a short time only to see if the men would return. If not, then they could take the girl without much effort–-even with the sister, who, Loys had been told, was good with a weapon.

  He was about to give the signal when the door opened and the girl walked out onto the front porch, wearing the same cloak he’d seen on his query. Loys lowered his hand and waited. She didn’t summon a carriage or even a horse. She took off at a brisk pace down the street.

  His stratagem was to change once again. With luck, her capture would require little effort. Loys raised his hand again and signaled to the men to follow at a distance. She went through the merchant quarter, cut through the park, and walked even further to a street lined with large homes. She knocked on a door and was let in. Loys signaled again to his men and they scattered, keeping themselves hidden. It began to rain again. Loys grimaced.

  They stood for the better part of an hour. With nothing else to do at the moment, Loys pulled out his dagger and picked at the dirt under his fingernails. Another hour passed and the sun began to dip in the west. He began to wonder if she would ever leave. Until Loys was certain they could enter undetected or that they knew exactly who was inside, he would wait. Maybe, earlier, he shouldn’t have waited. Maybe he should have just taken her.

  Finally, a figure came into view from behind the house, heading toward the road. Loys recognized the cloak. The woman went back the same way she had come.

  The time was now. He signaled to his men, who were a few blocks away. They needed to retrieve her before she reached the park.

  Loys grabbed the girl’s arm and turned her around. Pompey stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, holding tight. Loys pulled the hood of the cloak from her head.

  The girl’s emerald eyes sparked hatred. “Let me go, you buffoon.”

  “Nay, you are coming with us. You escaped once; you will not again.”

  Pompey lifted a brow and turned the girl around, facing him. “This is not the girl.”

  “You are certain?” Loys asked.

  “I spent a week with her on my horse. I would know her face. ’Tis not her, I say.”

  “Damner ma chance,” he muttered. “Take her anyway. She should fetch a good price.”

  The girl struggled. In a blink of an eye, she had unsheathed Pompey’s sword and gashed his arm. Pompey let go, cradling his wound with his hand.

  Another man tried to take Pompey’s place and grab the girl, to no avail. She swung the sword, barely missing him.

  She held the sword at arm’s length and took a step backward. “Take your leave before I run you through.”

  The men backed off, as did Pompey. “Get her!” Loys yelled.

  He heard a carriage approach from behind him. Wyndham’s men ran. Loys looked at the girl and then at the carriage. Had he his own men, this would not have happened. Another opportunity would present itself, of this he was certain. He turned and followed the others.

  * * *

  The front door banged open. “Bryant!” A man yelled. “Bryant!”

  Bethany jumped from her bed. She heard James’s heavy boots rush down the staircase. She hurried to her door, then gently opened it, peering out to make sure it was safe. With a light step, she made her way to the top of the staircase and slowly descended the stairs, one at a time.

  She heard the man speak again in a loud, firm tone. “You should keep better tabs on your future wife.”

  Bethany peeked around the corner. She recognized the man from weeks ago, when they had first arrived at the Bryant estate. It was Lord Alexander Dohetry, Rachel’s husband, with her sister in tow.

  James tried to escort Seanna to the sofa in the parlor. She slapped his hands away. “I am unharmed! We should have followed them!”

  “No, Seanna,” Alexander said with a firm tone. “We needed to ensure your safety.”

  “Bethany would be safer had we captured those men!” Seanna insisted, even as she was pressed down into a sitting position on the sofa by James.

  Bethany caught her breath. Her heart pounded against her chest. She didn’t think any of them knew she was standing there.

  James placed his hands on his hips and creased his brow. “What in bloody hell has happened?”

  Alexander threw up his arms. “Your wife is stubborn. After her visit with my wife, she declined our offer of a carriage ride home and insisted she go on foot. I could not in my right mind allow her to walk alone, so I followed. A short distance from our home, I found her under attack by four men. At my approach, the men scattered.”

  James’s eyes shot up. “Attack?”

  Seanna reached down and inspected a tear in the cloak. “I recognized several of the men. They were the ones who abducted Bethany.”

  Her sister was wearing her cloak. She wore the same during her walk with Jonathan. “They must have believed that it was I walking down the street.”

  Seanna’s face paled. “I fear your cloak is torn. I will have it mended.”

  Bethany’s eyes widened. “My cloak matters not. They thought you were me.”

  “Who are they?” Alexander asked.

  “They a
re the men who abducted me several weeks ago, on our journey to Bristol.”

  James looked at Alexander. “Most of those men had been taken into custody when Bethany was rescued. A couple weeks ago, we discovered they had escaped. We feared they would come after Bethany.”

  Seanna sprang up from the sofa. “You knew they had escaped? And you refrained from sharing this knowledge! How could you!”

  James crossed his arms and stood his ground. “Up until a few nights past, we were unsure and did not want to cause unnecessary concern. Nic’s men have been making inquiry and searching for them.”

  Bethany’s hands shook again. She did not feel safe. “We must leave. They will find me and take me again.”

  James stepped forward. “I will send a message to Master Mattingly. He will provide men to guard the cottage.”

  “No, we must depart at once.” Bethany quickened her pace toward the staircase. “Where is Ruth? I must prepare my things.” Bethany took the stairs as quickly as she could, her skirt brushing against her legs. She looked in her room, but Ruth was not there. She rushed over to the door of Seanna’s chambers and opened it. Ruth was straightening the bed. “Oh, Ruth, there you are. We must pack for a journey.”

  “My lady?”

  Bethany rushed to her room again and opened the cupboard, tugging out her dresses and throwing them on the bed. “Where is my baggage. Find my baggage and bring it to me at once.” She couldn’t move fast enough. All she could think of was departing this place.

  Ruth gave a quick curtsey. “Yes, my lady.”

  Seanna almost ran into Ruth as she left the room. “Bethany, there is no need to rush off. James has sent a message to Nic and to Father. They will return shortly.”

  Bethany shook her head. “We must prepare to depart as soon as Father arrives.”

  Seanna crossed her arms. “Where do you plan to go?”

  “That will be for Father to decide.”

  Seanna sighed. “We cannot go back home. The journey would not be safe. And we have less than a fortnight before we could leave for France. It would be best to stay here. The only other place we could possibly go would be back to the Bryant Estate and that itself is more than a day’s journey by carriage. I am certain Father would agree that such a journey would not be safe.”

  Tears filled Bethany’s eyes and her stomach felt queasy. “But they tried to abduct me, again.”

  “No, Bethany, they tried to abduct me. Had I waited for an escort, they may not have tried to attack. I put myself in danger.”

  It did not matter. Whether it be her or Seanna dressed like her, they would attempt an abduction again. “I do not feel safe here.”

  Bethany heard James’s voice at the doorway. “What can I possibly do to make you feel safe and secure in my home? I will do anything you wish. I am yours to command. But you must remain here.”

  This was the first time since she had known James that he showed such sincerity. She couldn’t possibly stay here. Seanna would want to stay with James, no matter the circumstance. But she would need to convince their father. And since Father had already booked passage to France, it would be difficult. It did not appear she would win this argument. She thought back to James’s offer then looked at Seanna and gave a timid smile. “If I could obtain a lock, similar to the one in our rooms in Bath, I would feel more secure.”

  Seanna looked up at James. “Could we furnish such a lock?”

  He nodded. “I was not in your chambers. You will need to describe it to me and I will have it assembled immediately. What else, Bethany? Surely you wish to have more than a lock?”

  “Men guarding the house.”

  “Nic has been notified. No doubt we will have men arriving at any moment.”

  Bethany rubbed her arms. “Including the big one?”

  James’s eyes widened. “Timothy?”

  “Yes.” Bethany blushed. “When he discovered me walking toward your camp, he was rather… ruthless.” Timothy was not a man she would want to wed, but to have protect the cottage; she was certain others would find him intimidating.

  “Is there anything else that we could do to make you feel safe?”

  Bethany shook her head and held herself tighter. “That is all I am able think of for the moment.”

  “I will see to it. Once Nic’s men arrive, I will have the lock placed upon the door.”

  Bethany nodded in agreement.

  Seanna touched her arm. “Take a deep breath. It will calm you.” She turned to James. “Stay with her for a moment. I must speak with Ruth.”

  She tried to take a deep breath, as her sister instructed. She looked up at James, who stood in front of the door with his arms crossed, his piercing black eyes staring at her. He was the one who was intimidating, Bethany thought. However, if it were a choice between those men and James, she would choose to stay with James. If nothing else, Seanna would take a sword to him if he harmed her in any way.

  A couple of minutes later, Seanna returned. “I have instructed Ruth to have an infusion made up for you. It will help to calm you.”

  Bethany began pacing. She didn’t want to be calm. She wanted to do something, anything. But she didn’t know what she could do other than leave, and neither her sister nor James would not allow it. She picked up one of her dresses off the bed and hung it back in the cupboard. When she turned back, she noticed James had left the room. Seanna handed her another dress. In silence, they returned her belongings to their appropriate place.

  Ruth came in holding a cup and handed it to Bethany.

  Seanna padded the bed. “Sit down and drink.”

  Reluctantly, Bethany sat on the bed and cradled the warm cup. She took a whiff of the apple scented liquid. She touched it to her lips and it tasted sweet, with notes of floral grass.

  “Drink.” Her sister stated in a firm tone.

  Bethany looked up into Seanna’s eyes and knew she would not give her peace until she had drunk the entire cup.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Jonathan offered his arm; Phobee glanced up at him and batted her eyes. He looked away. His gaze continued to the hedges around the property. He noticed where the shrubbery appeared to be thin.

  They walked around the garden and arrived at the birch tree. “Your mother believes a kiss under a birch tree will surely cause one to fall in love.”

  She tipped her head; Jonathan grimaced. This was not a woman he wanted to kiss, let alone marry.

  Movement across the garden caught his eye. He jerked. It wasn’t anything to be distressed about, it was Avery, hurrying. It looked as if he were trying to go as fast as he could without running.

  Jonathan knelt down. “What is it, Avery?”

  Avery glanced at Phoebe, then whispered in Jonathan’s ear. “I has a message from Master Mattingly.” Avery handed him a piece of parchment.

  He tore it open. The Lady Seanna had been attacked. The assailants had mistaken her for Bethany. He crumpled the letter with a clenched hand and took slow, steady breaths.

  He smiled at Avery. “There is one more thing I need to ask of you. Would you escort Lady Phoebe back to the parlor?”

  He stood up straight. “Yes, sir.”

  Avery looked up at Phoebe and offered his arm.

  Her mouth fell open. She turned toward Jonathan. “You wish me to let this scrawny child to guide me? He is merely a servant.”

  “My apologies, Lady Phoebe, but I must depart at once.”

  She scoffed, then flipped the skirt of her dress and marched toward the balcony.

  Jonathan glanced down at Avery, whose face had turned red and eyes began to water.

  Quickly, he wiped them dry. “I…”

  Jonathan ruffled his hair. “Do not worry yourself. She is capable of finding her own way.” He looked back at the shrubbery. “Avery, tell the gardener that I wish the perimeter to be thickened by any means necessary.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He barely heard Avery’s response. He needed to check on Bethany.

/>   He arrived at the Bryant cottage a short time later and noticed Timothy along with a couple of other men walking the grounds. There was no stable hand to take his horse. He dismounted and walked his horse behind the cottage and secured him in an empty stall before he made his way inside.

  He found Earl Maycott pacing near a large table in the dining room with James, Nic, and Alexander seated, discussing the situation. If someone had mentioned James and Alexander being civil in the same room only an hour ago, he would have assumed they were drunk. The last he had heard, Alexander was ready to run James through with a sword for his wife’s honor.

  Nic looked up. “I see you received my message.”

  Jonathan tentatively took a seat, unsure if the two men would remain cordial. “I left the moment I broke the wax. Pray tell, what has happened.”

  James rubbed his chin. “It appears my future wife has made a new friend.”

  Alexander chuckled. “And both women are as stubborn and steadfast as any man.”

  Jonathan couldn’t help but smile. He realized Seanna and Rachel must have become confidants, which made sense. After all, Mistress Thayer was Rachel’s aunt. No wonder Alexander and James were being civil to each other: their wives wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Nic explained the situation. Everyone sat quietly and listened. Jonathan was certain they had heard this several times, that it was repeated for his benefit. He shook his head when he realized Seanna had been wearing Bethany’s blue cloak—the one she had worn when they walked to the park that afternoon. It was possible, had he not been with her, that she would not be sleeping peacefully upstairs.