Cedric and Paul exchanged a look.
“Then, it is with some relief that I am able to inform you that Lily is alive and well,” Cedric said, his tone comforting. “She is the very reason we are here.”
Mr Althrop gasped.
“What do you mean? Are you kidnappers? Do you want a ransom? I would pay anything for her safe return.”
Cedric shook his head.
“We are not kidnappers, Mr Althrop. I am a close friend of your daughter’s. Indeed, I had thought to propose to her not long ago… though I was foolish and did not seize the opportunity when it was before me.”
His heart thundered at the memory of his idiocy.
He had known Lily — he had truly known her, heart and soul. He had known that she would not have entered into a lie so easily, unless it was to protect herself and her child. Now, he understood… he just hoped that it was not too late to make amends.
“You are courting her?” A smile flickered on Robert Althrop’s lips.
“I hope I shall still be, when all is said and done,” he replied. “However, there are more pressing matters to attend to than our potential nuptials.”
Hurriedly, he explained everything to Mr Althrop, from Lily’s departure to the reason behind it. He did not go into grave detail about the terms of Lord Felmingham’s agreement with Lily, but he knew that the older man understood.
Cedric could see it in the rage crossing Robert Althrop’s face.
Finally, he told the older man of his plans to bring Lord Felmingham to justice, and to make everything right with the family once more.
“She did that… for us?”
Mr Althrop looked crestfallen, as Cedric’s tale came to an end.
“Lord Felmingham is a disgraceful wretch, but he will not get away with this,” Cedric promised.
“I do not know who you are, dear boy, but I am eternally glad of you.”
He smiled, taking Mr Althrop’s hand in his.
“We shall make this right. I swear it. For Lily, we shall make this right.”
Chapter Eleven
“Cedric, my dear man, what a pleasure to see you again!” Lord Felmingham cried in a drunken stupor, as Cedric entered the Nettlefold Arms with Paul at his side. “And you have brought a friend. Well, the more the merrier. What will it be?”
“I should like to purchase these drinks. It is the least I can do,” Cedric replied.
“I am not the sort of man who refuses imbibement.” He chuckled to himself. “I shall have a tankard of this establishment’s finest ale, if you please.”
“Certainly.”
Cedric walked to the bar, flashing Paul a conspiratorial glance.
As the drinks were placed upon the counter-top, Cedric removed a small package of powdered herbs from his breast pocket and dropped them into the beverage. He stirred it around before returning to the table where Lord Felmingham sat, regaling Paul Sandiford with a tale of vulgar seduction.
Cedric nursed his own tankard, whilst Lord Felmingham drank his down in barely three gulps. It would not be long before the powerful herbs took hold.
~~~~~
Groggy and disoriented, Lord Felmingham blinked open his eyes to find that he was no longer within the welcoming confines of the Nettlefold Arms.
It was growing dark outside, the sun near setting, a mist rising from the ground of the field – a field he did not recognise.
He had no memory of stepping outside the inn, nor did he have any idea of where he had ended up.
They appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, though Cedric and Paul were standing close by. They were talking between themselves, though they looked at him as he stirred on the damp ground.
“Where am I?” he slurred.
“We shall assist you, Lord Felmingham. You have imbibed a little too much, it would seem, and we will return you to your lodgings,” Cedric said coldly. “You do not seem well.”
Lord Felmingham tried to shake the confusion from his head.
“What is happening here? I am no fool. How have I come to be so far from the town?”
“You are being brought to justice, Lord Felmingham, though we shall return you in due course… providing you satisfy us, that is,” Paul replied.
“What nonsense is this? I shall see you hanged for your insolence.” Felmingham tried to stand, but crumpled back to the ground, his legs wobbly. “What have you done to me? You have done something to me, I am certain of it.”
“It is not a nice feeling, is it, being helpless?” Cedric growled, approaching the Earl.
Lord Felmingham scowled.
“This is to do with the girl, isn’t it?”
“Perhaps it is to do with all of the girls, Lord Felmingham. After all, you have taken such delight in disgracing so many, bringing them to the edge of ruin for the sake of your own amusement. You have tortured and mortified so many women — you have made them feel small and vulnerable, backing them into a corner they cannot escape. They have bent to your whims because they had no other option — because you forced them into terrible things.”
Lord Felmingham sneered.
“Is that what she has told you? She is a liar. She came to me of her own accord, and she enjoyed every moment. It is not my fault that she found herself with-child. A more intelligent girl would not have permitted such an occurrence.”
“Lily Althrop is no liar, but you are,” Cedric countered. “The only thing you are honest about is your scurrilous attitude towards the women you have ruined. Your pride in your vile nature is the only truthful thing about you.”
“I see that she has caught you in her little web, too.” Lord Felmingham cackled icily. “Well, you are more of a fool than I if you believe her.”
“I do believe her, Lord Felmingham, and I am no fool,” Cedric spat. “Now, it is your turn to make things right for Lily. You will fix what you have done, or you will suffer the consequences.”
The Earl shot him a hard stare.
“I would not lower myself to marry soiled goods, Cedric. There is nothing on this earth that could entice me to do so.”
“Not even this?” Paul stepped forwards, brandishing a document. He had brought it with him from London. Contained within it were all of the details of the agreed business arrangement between the Earl and Robert Althrop, including a clause which stated that, if any harm were to come to Robert or his family, in any way, the deal would be null and void, with Lord Felmingham legally bound to pay compensation. There was a similar clause for any deception executed throughout the terms of the business deal.
Lord Felmingham simply laughed in their faces.
“I know what is contained within that document, but if you believe you can make any of those provisos stick or stand up in a court of law, you are both idiots.”
He stood to leave, his knees holding him upright, though he was still evidently unsteady.
Driven by a surge of sudden fury at his perpetual arrogance, Cedric punched Lord Felmingham hard in the face, catching him on his cheek with violent force. The blow sent the Earl careening backward, to land flat on the wet ground with a hefty thud. He lay there in a daze, as Paul and Cedric stood over him, staring down at his baffled features. Cedric realised that the Earl was so used to winning, he had no idea what losing looked like.
Cedric’s words were gritty between his clenched teeth.
“You will never do business with reputable people again, once your countless underhand dealings are revealed to the world,”
Paul Sandiford walked over to the Earl, and stood over him.
“We have more than just this document — we have documents from all of those you have deceived and destroyed. We will show everyone what a scoundrel you are. This time, you will be the one ruined.”
The Earl’s hands were cradling his nose. Blood was dripping. He pulled his kerchief and stemmed the flow of blood. Cedric rubbed at the stinging in his knuckles, pleased with the outcome of his punch.
“We are reasonable men and we expect you
to be reasonable in return. If you agree to make things right for Lily, securing her financial future and that of her unborn child, then we will conceal your actions from polite society. And, you will absolve any remaining debt that Lily’s father owes to you, also, as a gesture of good will. Naturally, we will uphold this agreement, as gentlemen, and you will withdraw your interests from Althrop’s snuff business and leave them, and Upper Nettlefold, alone, for the rest of your wretched days.”
“And if I do not?” Lord Felmingham wheezed.
Cedric smiled.
“Then we shall ruin you entirely. There will not be a single high-born family in all of Britain who will wish to wed their daughter to you or deign to accept you into their household. You will be a pariah of the worst kind.”
“If you swear that the information about my business dealings never sees the light of day, I shall adhere to your requests… to the letter.”
A sigh expelled itself from Lord Felmingham’s chest as he struggled to sit up. Blood trickled from his nose again, and his hand cupped his bruised cheek.
“Fortunately for you, I have already drawn up such an agreement,” Paul said cheerfully as he watched the Earl stand. “It details the terms of our arrangement. If you darken the doorstep of the Althrops again, these documents will be revealed to anyone who cares to look. It states that you will absolve Lily’s father of his debt and will offer Lily a handsome sum of money in compensation for the trouble that you have caused her. All you have to do is sign, and we will let you go.”
“Though, of course, we shall ensure that these payments are delivered,” Cedric added, his tone edged with frost.
“Any delay in payment, and these—”
“Documents will be released. I believe I understand,” Lord Felmingham interjected sharply. “Do you have pen and ink?”
Paul produced the items from his pocket and handed them to Lord Felmingham, who took them with shaking hands. He uncapped the ink bottle, and in the fading light, they watched him sign the document.
Cedric was relieved, finally safe in the knowledge that everything was going to be all right. Lily would be safe, just as he had promised.
Now, if only he could fix the relationship between them so easily… perhaps, this gift of freedom might be enough to make amends. He prayed it would be.
Epilogue
It felt like the very last day of Summer, the bronzed sunshine giving the village of Upper Nettlefold a final hurrah before the cold weather of Autumn set in.
The sky was clear blue, without a cloud in sight, and the faintest hint of a tepid breeze drifted across the township. The church of St. Cuthbert’s dazzled in the warm sunlight, the sandstone reflecting the sunlight, the sound of buoyant singing voices rising to the heavens.
A short while later, the happy couple emerged to a flurry thrown wildflower petals. Lily smiled to see the familiar flowers of Evening Primrose cascading around her, reminding her of those treasured walks she had experienced with her beloved Cedric. Now, they had all the time in the world to wander amongst the countryside, enjoying nature’s offerings.
“Are you happy, my love?” Cedric asked, holding her hand tight to keep her steady.
“I could not be happier, my darling.”
Lily’s life had been returned to her, offered up in the restored affections of Cedric Sharpton.
She could scarcely believe how blessed she was, to have the love of the physician, whom she adored with all of her heart.
He had reached her before she had departed Hardcastle House, imploring her to forgive him.
It had been all the enticement she had needed, so eager was she to feel his love again.
Here, at Upper Nettlefold, she felt safe and accepted. Nobody was any the wiser to the true origin of her plight, and there was genuine joy in the union between Dr Sharpton and the former Mrs Althrop. Everyone cheered them on, remarking on what a handsome couple they made.
And, making things even better, she had been reconciled with her parents, their sorrow surpassing any humiliation they might have felt. Indeed, she believed that they felt guiltier than she did, about what had happened.
The wedding was a quiet affair, with the Sandifords, Mrs Hardcastle, the remainder of her staff, Mr and Mrs Althrop, and their son, Benjamin, in attendance. There were happy tears and broad smiles all around, everyone marvelling at the euphoric newlyweds.
Truly, Lily could not have believed such a thing would ever happen to her, but she would count her blessings every night that it had.
Cedric had come into her life and changed everything, and she could not wait to see where their life might lead.
As if sensing her thoughts, Cedric placed his hand over the rise of Lily’s distended stomach.
“I promise that I will keep both of you safe from harm, for the rest of my days and beyond. I love you both, more than you could ever know.”
“You have not even met this child. How can you know that you will love it?” she murmured, her cheeks flushing.
“It will be born of you, my beloved Lily — what more do I need to know?”
As he dipped his head, placing a tender kiss upon her lips, Lily realised the gift she had been given, for this truly was paradise on earth.
THE END
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this story.
You’ll find a preview of another of my books just after the ‘About the Author’ section.
About the Author
Lydia Pembroke is an Australian author whose roots extend firmly back to England.
Her interest in historical England began when she learned that some of her ancestors were transported as convicts, and some were enticed as free settlers in exchange for large parcels of land.
Her interest in the Regency period was piqued by a pendant handed down through the generations from her great, great, great grandmother. Now she writes wonderful romantic stories set in the world of Regency Romance where the surface of genteel and polite conversations, and glittering balls, hides intense emotions and situations where love triumphs in the end.
She enjoys putting her characters in difficult situations and showing all facets of the human experience of love (oh, and she tries to not kill off her characters, unless it’s really necessary).
Follow Lydia on Amazon by clicking the follow button found at Amazon
Sign up for Lydia’s newsletter to be the first to know when her new books are released.
http://eepurl.com/dodNu5
Connect with Lydia on FaceBook at :
https://www.facebook.com/Lydia-Pembroke-159898871340181/
Books by Lydia Pembroke
Here is Your Preview of
The Reclusive Duke’s Second Chance
Clean Regency Romance
Lydia Pembroke
Chapter One: Isabelle
Isabelle Sinclair accepted her wrap from her family’s butler, tying it loosely around her shoulders. While the rains had finally ceased in the city, the air was still cool. Isabelle was glad to see the rain was finally gone, for she was growing tired of being cooped up in the house.
“Thank you, James.” James bowed.
“Enjoy your outing, Miss.”
She gave him a slight smile, thinking of her destination this morning. The bookshop on Bond street was calling her name, as well as the new romance novel that it contained. Finally, after much coaxing, Isabelle had enough funds from her father to purchase the book and she could barely wait to get her hands on the leather-bound cover. She would devour it before the sun rose on the next day. She allowed James to open the door and breathed in deeply as she stepped out into the dreary morning, her footman behind her. The air was fresh with the recent rains, the stench of the rubbish that lined the streets not yet strong enough to overpower the smell. Once the sun rose, the smell would be ghastly. Isabelle stepped down the stairs carefully, nearly bumping into a portly gentleman who had just started up them.
“I apologize,” she said. “It seems that we are going the opposite direction
.” There was no smile about the man’s face.
“Do you reside in his household?”
“I-I do,” Isabelle stated, straightening her shoulders. The man thrust an envelope into her hands, wiping his own on his coat.
“There. This must be settled by the end of the month.” Isabelle stared at him, her hand curling around the envelope.
“Pardon?” He waved at the house, annoyance crossing his expression.
“The house. The debt must be settled by the end of the month or you will be out on the streets Miss. Good day.” Isabelle stared after the strange fellow, turning back toward the door. Surely, he had been mistaken. Her father would know what to do.
James did not even flinch as he admitted her back into the house, used to the women of the house changing their minds at the last minute. James had been with their family for years, and with four women in the house, he had learned their comings and goings.
“Where is my father?” Isabelle asked, handing over her wrap once again.
“The breakfast room, Miss.”
Nodding her thanks, Isabelle hurried down the hall to the back of the townhouse, where the breakfast room overlooked the small, tidy walled garden. There her father and mother were enjoying the morning fare. The Baron and Baroness of Carlington were prominent members of London society, with three girls to raise in the likeness of their mother. All her life, Isabelle had lived in this house, and recently had joined society herself, now two years removed from her first Season.
Escaping The Scurrilous Earl Page 7