A cool refreshing breeze flooded into the carriage and then a rider drew alongside and his lordship looked in. He nodded at the gently snoring women. 'Would you care to come up with me for a while?' He spoke softly so as not to wake them. She nodded and he leaned in and opened the door. 'Move forward and I'll lift you out.'
She did as he bid and was whisked from the carriage as if she weighed nothing at all and positioned sideways in front of his lordship. His man quietly closed the door and then both riders reined back and let the carriage move ahead of them.
'I can't tell you how glad I am to be in the fresh air, I thank you for offering to take me pillion.'
He had shifted back in the saddle allowing her more room, but despite him having one arm firmly around her waist she felt extremely unstable balanced so precariously.
'I don't think this was a good idea after all, I'm in imminent danger of falling unless I ride astride and that's impossible in the gown I'm wearing.'
He reined in and once they were stationary lowered her to the ground. 'You’re quite right; this was an idiotic notion of mine. Smith, ride after the carriage and get it to wait for us.' His man cantered away.
'Fortunately I'm wearing footwear suitable for walking. I've no wish for a repeat performance of last time as my feet have only just recovered…' Madeline stopped, horrified she'd been so indelicate as to mention her feet.
'I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't aware you had on walking boots.' He pulled the reins of his huge horse over its ears and then looped them across his arm. 'You should not have come; the duke will be most displeased.'
'When I agreed to accompany your grandmother I'd no idea you were coming too. I should have politely declined the invitation if I'd known. I could hardly refuse to get into the carriage once she'd arrived, now could I?'
He offered his free arm to her and she placed her gloved hand on it. 'I gave my word to your brother and I'm not happy that I've broken it.'
'I'll explain to him it was entirely my fault. I shall enjoy the stroll, sir, it is particularly beautiful in this lane now the leaves are turning golden. Although I'd prefer to be able to see the surrounding countryside.'
His arm tensed beneath her fingers. He was staring ahead with narrowed eyes. She was about to enquire what was wrong when he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
'There's someone hiding in the woods ahead. I want you to lead my horse and continue to talk as if I was with you. Can you do that?'
Her mouth was so dry she couldn't speak so nodded instead. 'Good girl. I'll be close by, it's me they're after and they won't reveal themselves until I'm close enough to shoot. The hedges on either side mean they can't use their rifles.'
She took the reins and prayed the horse wouldn't object to being led by a female. He removed his riding coat and draped it over the saddle, then he was gone. Her heart was hammering so loudly she could scarcely think.
'Come along, old fellow, we must do as we're told and continue as if nothing untoward is taking place.' The animal nudged her in the back as though encouraging her to resume her walk. She was supposed to keep talking as if Carshalton was still with her but she couldn't think of anything intelligent to say.
'I hope the carriage is not too far ahead, I have no intention of walking for miles however scenic the route.' She waited a few moments and then continued as if he'd replied.
'I should like coffee and perhaps a piece of cake if there's any available…'
*
Grey kept to the shadow thrown by the hedge. He made his way stealthily towards the copse a hundred yards away in which his assailants were waiting to ambush him. Where the hell was Smith? A cold shiver slid down his back. Had he been ambushed already?
He was now equidistant between Madeline and the trees and he could hear her bravely carrying on a one-sided conversation as he'd asked. Thank God his grandmother was safe and wouldn't be subjected to anything that could cause her to have a fatal apoplexy.
He paused to remove his pistols from the deep pockets in his topcoat – he checked they were primed and loaded – and then continued to creep forwards. He was a crack shot with a rifle, but he would have to be no more than a few feet from his opponents to have any hope of killing them with a pistol.
He had been alerted to the presence of these men when he'd seen a flash of a white face amidst the leaves. An ex-veteran would know to wind a muffler around his face, so the men waiting to attack him might not be as skilled in warfare as himself. This gave him a decided advantage.
His breathing was steady, his mind clear. Skirmishes and potential ambushes were something he was accustomed to. He was still a soldier despite having left the army six months ago.
'I think your horse would like to sample the lush grass before we move on, my lord, so shall we let him do so for a few minutes?'
Grey's mouth curved in appreciation. Madeline had done exactly the right thing – something he should have suggested before he left her. If the bastards hiding in the trees thought he was still fifty yards from them they would relax their guard and this could be his ideal opportunity. It was unlikely they would actually be able to hear her speaking from so great a distance but he couldn't be sure there wasn't another assailant lurking unseen on the other side of the hedge and.
Chapter Six
Madeline let the horse graze whilst continuing to make inane remarks to herself in the hope that whoever was waiting in the woods ahead would be fooled by her playacting. She pressed herself against the prickly hedge grateful for the support it gave her.
Then the air was split by two gunshots. This noise was followed by the beat of wings as dozens of startled pigeons flew skywards. She clutched the pommel of the saddle and waited to hear further sounds of battle – but there were no more. It remained eerily silent. Then the yelling started and she didn't recognise the voices.
She couldn't lurk here. She must keep walking until she was told she could stop. Who had fired the weapons? Was her companion injured or had it been he who had used his pistols? If he was injured she needed to get to him and do what she could. She pushed away the horrible thought that he might be dead.
'I don't care about showing my ankles, old fellow, you need to take me to the woods so I can see what's happened for myself.'
The horse was so high she couldn't mount unaided unless she found something to stand on. Even then she would have to pull up her skirts in order to swing her legs across the saddle. There was a milestone she could use as a mounting block – if she also lengthened the stirrup leather she thought she might be able to scramble aboard. That is, if the horse didn't object.
Fortunately the animal made no fuss about her being on his back. She clicked her tongue and squeezed. The stallion moved forward smoothly and her breath hissed through her teeth. She squeezed again and the beast accelerated into a smooth canter – slightly faster than she intended – but the sooner she was there the better.
Only as she approached the woods did it occur to her that she might be putting herself in deadly danger. If Carshalton had been the one who was shot then whoever had done this would not want any living witnesses.
Then several things happened at once. Smith arrived at a gallop from the opposite direction; two horsemen burst into the lane and disappeared through a gap in the hedge, and she lost control of her mount.
*
Grey fired and he was certain one bullet found its mark but the other missed completely. He dropped behind the shelter of the bushes and calmly reloaded his guns. As he stood up the men made a run for it.
He hurtled after them and emerged in the lane as Smith arrived and two nondescript brown horses burst through a gap in the hedge on the far side of the lane and galloped away. Then Madeline, riding astride his horse, galloped after them. For a second he thought she was in pursuit then his gut twisted in horror. Sampson had bolted and there was nothing he could do about it.
'Get after her, Smith, save Lady Madeline.'
He raced through the gap and to
his astonishment and relief saw that Madeline had managed to stop Sampson and was now trotting back towards him. There was no sign of Smith or the two men who'd hoped to kill him.
'Smith has gone after the men.' She reined in and he reached up and lifted her from the saddle holding her briefly against his chest before setting her on her feet. 'You must go after him, I'll be perfectly safe here.'
'If you're sure, I'll do that. There's a log over there you can sit on whilst you wait.' He scrambled into the saddle with more haste than dignity and Sampson was galloping before he got both feet in the stirrup irons.
The field was L-shaped, bordered by dense woodland which made it impossible for a rider to enter, especially at speed. His horse negotiated the corner and immediately Grey saw Smith cantering towards him.
'I lost them, sir, by the time I'd stopped to make sure her ladyship was unhurt, they had too big a start on me. But I'm certain one of the buggers was hit, I don't reckon he'll survive.'
'I'll alert the militia on my return and have them search the area for a corpse. How the hell did they know I'd be travelling along this lane? Someone at Heatherfield is in their employ – it can't be anything else.'
They cantered side by side back to the waiting girl. 'How far away is the carriage, Smith?'
'Damned if I know, that's why I came back in a hurry. There's no sign of it in the lane. They must have turned onto the toll road and will be waiting at the inn.'
'I'll take Lady Madeline up in front of me again as she can hardly walk.'
Madeline overheard his comment and walked over to smile up at him. 'I think it might be easier if I sat behind you, sir, and if we still had your riding coat I could drape it over me so I don't show anything I shouldn't.'
He nodded to Smith and he grinned. 'I'll go back and find it, my lady, it won't take but a few minutes.'
Grey dismounted and pulled the reins over Sampson's head allowing him to graze. He needed to make it clear to Madeline what he thought of her foolhardy behaviour but didn't wish to antagonise her.
'There's no need for you to scowl at me, I'm well aware you don't approve of me riding your horse. I'm not going to apologise. I thought you might be injured after I heard the gunshots and wanted to get to your side as quickly as I could.' She moved closer and stared earnestly at him. 'Your horse was startled but he didn't really bolt, as soon as I recovered my seat and pulled on the reins he slowed. I was perfectly safe, his temperament is not at all like that of my brother's horse.'
How could he reprimand her after that? 'This is getting to be a habit of yours, my dear, I sincerely hope you don't intend to steal another unsuitable mount in the near future.'
'Fiddlesticks to that! Please tell me at once what happened in the woods.'
'I shot at them, hit one and missed the other and they escaped. Good, Smith is back with my coat.' He gestured towards her pelisse. 'I fear your enchanting ensemble will not recover from today's experiences. When we find my grandmother I'll tell her we must abort the trip. I need to get back. You can't possibly continue as you are.'
He lifted her onto Sampson's back and then handed her his coat – between them they arranged it so her ankles were discreetly covered. There was something about her expression that gave him pause. She was trying to hide her amusement.
'I am safely mounted, sir, but how are you going to get into the saddle without knocking me to the ground?'
He heard Smith sniggering behind him and this did nothing for his temper.
*
His eyes darkened and his lips thinned. She knew the danger signals. Before he could reach out and snatch her from the saddle she slid to the ground. Unfortunately the heavy coat left her shoulders and swirled into the air and Carshalton disappeared beneath the material.
His language made her blush. In fact she thought it might be best not to comment right at this moment. Smith extricated his master and stepped away with the offending object over his arm.
Once he was mounted his lordship leaned down and offered his arm. She had no option but to take it. 'Put your foot in the iron and then swing your other leg over.'
She managed this manoeuvre and Smith handed her the coat. Carshalton offered no assistance but stared ahead leaving her to struggle with the voluminous folds. Eventually she had it correctly positioned and placed her arms around his waist.
'I'm ready, we can go.'
He didn't respond. His torso was rigid beneath her touch and she was aware he was barely hanging onto his temper. His horse moved away smoothly and this time she felt secure and in no danger of slipping sideways.
Were they going to travel the entire distance in stony silence? He must have made a formidable officer. As they cantered down the lane her thoughts turned to what might await her when she returned to Silchester Court. Beau would be furious with both of them for disregarding his instructions. This would probably mean the proposed supper party would be cancelled as a punishment. But what would he say to Carshalton?
'I do hope that my brother doesn't call you out…' She had spoken without thought and wished the words back no sooner were they out.
He glanced over his shoulder and his smile had a dangerous quality. 'Duelling is illegal. However, if he tries to draw my cork then he'll be in for a nasty surprise.'
For a second she was stumped, then she understood what he'd said. 'He's an expert pugilist, sir, but I'm sure he wouldn't stoop to fisticuffs however incensed he might be. I'm so relieved that duelling is no longer allowed.'
He laughed at her comment. 'You might well be, my girl, because I used to fight for my living and that makes me a deadly opponent.'
Shock made her react unwisely. She lashed out with her right foot and caught him in the calf. 'How dare you threaten to kill my brother? Put me down at once. I'm not travelling with you any longer.'
His arm came round and the next thing she knew she was sitting in a heap in the dust, surrounded by his coat, and he was cantering away into the distance. She scrambled to her feet horrified he'd been so angry he was prepared to abandon her.
Then she realised Smith was still with her. 'Up you come, best to let him get over his ill humour. The major don't bear a grudge and will be all smiles and apologies when we catch up with him.'
This was indeed the case but she detected a certain reserve in his demeanour. They located the carriage easily enough and Lady Carshalton was only too happy to return.
'I've sent my men ahead to find us somewhere pleasant in St Albans. No doubt they can make their own way home once they realise we are not coming. I should never have suggested this outing, my dear boy, and shall be glad to return and I have no intention of venturing out again until I leave in a few weeks’ time.'
The return journey was completed without mishap and Madeline was glad to bid the Carshaltons goodbye. His lordship rode away without a second glance leaving her to go in alone and explain to her brother what had taken place.
*
'Smith, find the militia and let them know what happened.'
‘Begging your pardon, major, but I reckon it might be better if we send someone else.'
Grey was about to snarl a reply when he reconsidered. 'Do you think I'm at risk in my own home?'
'I do, sir, until we find the varmint what's sending out information you've got to be vigilant.'
'I'm also concerned that we had no response from Horse Guards – surely it shouldn't have taken this long to identify the unusual crest on the weapon's handle?'
'I don't rightly recall who took the parcel, but I'll find him and have a word when we get back and make sure he actually delivered it.'
'Whilst you're doing that I'll write another letter to Horse Guards. Get someone to take it to the Red Lion as soon as it's done. I think it's time I introduced myself to your new recruits – have them assemble outside their temporary barracks.'
He rode ahead of the carriage and arrived some time before his grandmother. He hurried in to write his letter leaving Smith to make his enquiries. Talking
to Ned Bishop could wait until later.
When he arrived for his inspection he was pleased to see the new recruits were clean and smartly clothed. He was introduced to each one and greeted them with enthusiasm. They were all thin and of middle years, but after a few days' good food in their bellies they would do.
He drew Smith to one side. 'Have you discovered the name of the man who took the parcel?'
'It were one of the gardeners, Sam Trotter, but nobody's seen him recently.'
'See if you can find him, someone will know where he is, I need to speak to him.'
An hour later his man appeared at the study door his face etched with concern. 'Trotter never came back from the village. He was a journeyman so no one thought anything of it.'
Grey was on his feet before Smith had finished speaking. 'I've a bad feeling about this. Get the men together and we'll begin a search of the area.'
*
Madeline had no need to face her brother as he had been out all day and was unaware she'd even left the premises. Obviously she would have to tell him what took place, but that could wait until they met for dinner later.
The more she thought about what happened the more convinced she was that Carshalton must have the traitor in his employ. How else could the attackers have been waiting in that particular wood at exactly the right time?
They had parted on bad terms but this didn't prevent her being concerned for his safety. She decided to send him a note explaining her concerns. Although she was sure he would have thought of this for himself, she didn't want to take the risk.
Once the letter was written she handed it to her maid. 'Lottie, I wish this to go to Heatherfield immediately. Don't give it to Peebles, take it out to the yard yourself.' The girl was walking out with a groom and would no doubt ask him to take the message.
'I'll do it at once. What do you wish me to do with the garments you wore for your outing?'
'Do what you can with them and then they are yours.' Lottie was a head shorter than her so the ruined hem could be snipped off and sewn again. 'Take the bonnet as well, I don't have anything else it will go with.'
The Duke's Alliance Book Two: A Dangerous Husband Page 5