by Wendy Bayne
Father seemed at a loss. “Wouldn’t Lady Jane have taken the nanny with her?”
The Earl shook his head. “Nanny Fisher was also her mother’s nanny, she must be close to ninety now, she’d never agree to leave the estate.”
Father asked, “Would she have told this nanny where she was going even though you told her not to.”
The Earl looked worried. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know! Good God, man, she’s your wife!”
The Earl growled at my father. “Precisely, Turner, does your wife do everything you tell her to?!”
Father blushed. “Well, no…but she—wouldn’t have told the old nanny if I told her not to.”
Mother rolled her eyes. “If you’ll excuse me, Lord Shellard, by your own admission Jane is not a particularly sensible woman. I assume that you didn’t tell her that there was any danger.” She pointedly looked at the Earl and shook her head as he looked embarrassed and nodded. “Regardless of what you did or didn’t tell her, she’ll know now; Aunt Mary and Uncle Arthur will have apprised her of the danger even if you didn’t.”
Father nodded when the Earl appealed to him for confirmation. “She’s right.”
All eyes returned to Edward when Gabriel asked, “Who exactly is following you?”
Edward didn’t hesitate. “The Clarkes.”
Gabriel reared back. “All three of them?”
Edward nodded. “Eugenia is worse than her husband and son put together, if there’re any brains between them she has them all. They dance to her tune and she is vicious, it seems to be a trait of the Burley family.”
Gabriel grinned and approached my father. “Charity and I can help with this, let me have them.”
Father looked sceptical until he looked at Charity and saw what I did, she’d go after them even without my father’s approval. “How many men do you need?”
Gabriel paused before answering. “Give me the footmen, you’ll need the others when you go to Cornwall.”
Now it was my turn to snap a sharp look at my father and he sagged noticeably when he looked my way. “I don’t suppose I can ask you stay home with your mother and brother, can I?”
Before I could utter a word, Mother jumped in. “No, you can’t because we’re all going. And don’t start, Colin, you know very well that you’re going to need us all. I’m not going to sit here at home waiting to hear what’s happened.”
The Earl had been writing the letter for Dr Jefferson and had just sealed it when he said, “I think that is a fine idea, Mrs Turner, a family excursion. What an ideal way for me to get to know my future daughter-in-law. Edward and I will come along with you.”
Edward looked sick and his father chuckled. “You didn’t think that we’d just leave you to your own devices, did you? You still have to earn our trust, Edward, so you’re coming with us.”
Chapter 37
Cornwall
Mother organized our departure with the help of Murphy whom we still call Murphy even though he had been elevated to a position that should have engendered a Mister to go with it. He claimed it made the staff feel more comfortable about approaching him when reporting to him about their assignments.
Our footman John and his twin brother would go with Gabriel. John’s brother Richard had accepted the footman position vacated by Murphy. Richard was still in training, but Mother was determined to keep him since she would be the talk of the Beau Monde with identical twins as our footmen. Father was happy to have him on staff because of how quickly he grasped the details of situations. And he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the less savoury parts of London from working in the local distilleries. Richard was not sure that he wanted to be a footman, being done up in fancy dress as he said was not appealing to him, but the chance to be with his brother and earn a better living was enticing.
Gabriel and Charity would be staying in our home with their boys and Lettie while we were in Cornwall. It had been hotly debated with my father that James should be left at home too, but mother won out exploiting my father’s fear of the Clarkes gaining access to our home and James.
We were to leave right after breakfast and Gabriel was to ride out dressed in Edward’s clothes on his horse just before our departure. Edward was coming with us, but he couldn’t be seen. Father had an idea on how to achieve it which had made the Earl chuckle and Edward sulk. Gabriel hoped his deception would lure at least one of the Clarkes into following him. His size and hair colour were about the same as Edward, but he had a much darker skin tone. I was the only one to notice this, so I raced to our closet of costumes to find Miles’ makeup kit and returned with a large cloak that he could wear over his own great coat and with the aid of makeup, I was able to lighten his skin while Allan prepared his saddle bags to look ready as if for a long journey. At a distance the Clarkes would be hard pressed to tell it wasn’t Edward.
The Earl arrived with his carriage and offered to take me and Edward with him thereby leaving more room on our carriage for my rambunctious brother and so my mother could rest comfortably. I was not really pleased that Edward would be traveling with us, but I was determined to make the best of it. I had my popper in my reticule and another pistol under my pelisse, as well as a small dagger that Miles had given me in Paris, it was close to my body and held in place by my garter just as Miles had instructed. The Earl I noticed was well armed as well. I nodded at the twin Scottish dirks he carried cross wise on his belt, “Is one of those for Edward?” I was not keen on the idea of him being armed since I still didn’t trust him.
The Earl looked down. “Oh no, these are a match pair and stay with me.”
“They’re lovely.”
“Aye, they are…lovely and deadly. They were a gift from my sister, Millicent, she married a Highland Lord or as they say Laird, she’s gone native and embraced the culture completely. She hopes to get me posing in full Highland kit for a portrait one day.” He laughed. “At least her husband Angus and I agree that it will never happen. An Englishman dressed as a Highlander would be considered tantamount to treason by both the Scots and Englishmen but for entirely different reasons.” He patted the dirks. “But these little stickers have been my friends since the day she gifted them to me, they are perfectly weighted and balanced. I don’t think I’ve ever travelled without them on my person except at sea, never want to have a weapon like that too close to,” he blushed, “well, let’s just say it could be quite painful if you slipped on deck.” He chuckled then leaned forward to take one of my hands. His hands were warm and callused which surprised me. Into my hand, he placed a ring. I was surprised when I looked down to see it was a women’s signet ring with the Shellard crest. I moved to return it to him, but he shook his head no and closed my hand around it. “I want you to have it, my dear, it belonged to Miles’ mother. Maria would approve of you, she had spirit like you and knew exactly how to get her way, she made me very happy. I think you’ll do the same for Miles.” Just then the coach lurched as the final trunk was loaded in place. The Earl met my eye and we both smirked. “That’ll be Edward.” He chuckled. “It’ll do him some good to be locked in that trunk until we’re sure we haven’t been followed.”
Gabriel came out on his mount while the baggage was still being loaded, he bent to speak briefly with my father then raced away in the opposite direction from the way we would be travelling. Not soon after two men, one distinctly blond, the other older, followed him. As my father passed our carriage window he said, “It looks like Mrs Clarke and whoever she has with her will be following us.” Charity was watching from the nursery and signalled something to my father, but I was at the wrong angle to see what it was. Father turned back to us. “Are you both armed?” I nodded and so did the Earl.
The Earl whispered, “When do you think Edward can be released?”
Father pursed them as he tried to hide his smile. “I had air holes made in the trunk but I’m afraid he will have to wait until we are well out of London.” The Earl arched both brows in surprise.
“But there’s no need to worry, my friend; Irene put some laudanum in his coffee so he should sleep most of the way.”
“What a remarkable woman,” he looked at me and shook his head. “Does Miles know what he’s getting into marrying you?”
Father chuckled and answered for me, “Oh yes, we’ve had that conversation already.”
Now I was astounded. “Father! When? I mean why?”
He smiled at me. “When he came to ask for your hand. I felt I owed it to him to explain exactly what he was getting, he seems to think that you’ll make life interesting and I had to agree. And don’t give me that look, Lissa. It was by no means a biased evaluation, after all, your mother was there and she didn’t offer up an argument, quite to the contrary she agreed with me.” He chuckled at my expression and then pulled on his gloves. “Well, we’ve given Gabriel enough of a head start so we can be off now.” With that he turned and mounted his horse. Since Michael and Jacob were coming with us, it was decided that Murphy would remain behind to manage things at home with Lettie. Mr Allan was coming because father would be lost without both Murphy and Allan. We would be on the road for about four days over less than hospitable roads, at least the weather was fine and hopefully it would stay that way.
The Earl sat back looking out the window as we journeyed through London. The traffic was slow as usual with riders, wagon, carriages, phaetons and foot traffic moving in all directions. The noise was almost palpable with drivers, riders, costermongers and shop keepers yelling all at once, it was impossible for us to carry on a conversation, so I let my thoughts drift; and my mind wandered back to a previous long road trip from Northumberland to London when I had ridden with my Uncle Samuel over the meadows and hillsides. I had not seen Jewel in some time since she and Baron had been sent to Somerset. But she had been delivered of her first foal by Baron, a fine colt that was apparently the image of his father. By all reports both animals seemed to be happy and healthy and Baron was making an admirable profit for them as a stud.
I was doing everything I could to keep from thinking about Miles but thoughts of him kept creeping into my mind. I had one hand deep in the pocket where I put his letter, it was as much a talisman for me as the amulet Jibben’s grandmother had made which rested in the same pocket. For some reason I felt that the two belonged together, that if the one was meant to protect me then perhaps it would also protect Miles through his letter.
Once we were outside of the city the Earl straightened up in his seat and leaned forward. “Miss Turner, may I ask you how old you are?”
I smiled. “I’m almost nineteen, Lord Shellard. Is there some reason that you ask?”
He pursed his lips I assumed pondering if he should continue. “It doesn’t bother your parents that you are so young, and that Miles is seven years older than you?”
I sighed and stopped smiling. “My parents have no reason to object. My mother was seventeen when she married my father, granted he was only four years older but none of their parents approved. May I ask, sir, how many years there are between you and Lady Jane?”
He smirked and sat back again. “You, Miss Turner, are impertinent, but I do not disapprove of you. Miles is a man who knows his own mind, I just wanted to be sure that you are woman and not a child. I hope you won’t be insulted by this, but I don’t want Miles hurt by anyone, even someone he loves; he has already had enough pain in his life.” He sighed looking out the window before he continued, “He told me about your life before you were reunited with your parents. It couldn’t have been easy for you.”
I folded my hands in my lap and willed him to look at me. “Your Lordship, I know what it’s like to live with the stigma of being labelled a bastard. But you loved him and cared for him as your son and I know that my parents suffered by not being together, just as you did having your true wife labelled as your mistress.”
He jerked back like I had hit him. “Touché, Miss Turner, Touché!” He licked his lips. “Dr Jefferson told me what you did for Miles in Paris, how you stopped him when he attempted to kill himself. You gave him a reason to live and helped Miles to become more independent with his affliction.” He relaxed and looked out the window. “Dr Grimes believes that his blindness is emotional and not physical. But I still can’t help worrying that he will never recover; so are you prepared to tie yourself to him, he will need a strong helpmate if he should remain blind.”
I cleared my thoughts while attempting to control my temper. “Lord Shellard, I am not tying myself to anyone. I am marrying your son because I love him, and I will take him however I can have him. But before you question my motives I was committed to Miles in my heart long before I knew he was your legitimate son and before he had any hope of being recognized here in England as your heir.”
He laughed out loud. “Direct aren’t you, Miss Turner! I like that, you and Miles will do well together, and I suspect he’s right that you will make life interesting.”
I looked at him in disbelief. “Was this a test as to my loyalty to Miles?”
He shook his head. “No, I was truly just curious. I worry about my son, but I have only his best interests at heart. Your parents had already informed me about the depth of your feelings for Miles and I know their story from your Aunt Mary. I just wanted to make sure that they weren’t exaggerating as parents often do.” He glanced back out the window. “It looks like we are finally out of the city.”
My father had dropped back to ride by our carriage. He leaned towards the window and tapped on it for the Earl to lower it. “There is a stand of trees just over this next rise, I think it would be an appropriate time to pull over, stretch our legs have a bit of refreshment and perhaps extricate your son from his cage.” Father chuckled and moved on before we could reply. As if on cue there was a thump and a string of curses from the rear of the carriage where Edward was being held in the trunk.
When we pulled off to the area indicated by my father, the trunk was unstrapped, and the lid of the trunk opened. Edward was to say the least extremely disgruntled, especially when he required the assistance of Michael to get out of the blasted thing. It was then strapped back into place on the carriage while Edward stood there ranting at the treatment he had received. Mother bore down on him with a bottle of ale in her hand. “Oh, for heaven sakes, Edward, shut up and drink this. She thrust the bottle at him and he reluctantly took it from her.” She watched him take a cautious sip and rolled her eyes. “It’s not drugged if that’s what you’re thinking. If you behave, I’ll even see that you get some bread and cheese to go with it.”
Edward straightened after taking a healthy gulp then inquired, “Am I your prisoner, madam?”
Mother looked back over her shoulder. “Heavens, no!” Edward smiled smugly then she continued, “You’re my husband’s prisoner.” Edward opened his mouth to respond but Mother beat him to it. “He wanted to drug you again, so remember this, Mr Johnson, you are out of that trunk only on MY whim. If you misbehave, my husband will have you back in there without the benefit of sedation.” Then she walked over to my father and patted him on the arm as he tried very hard not to laugh.
Edward glared at Father as he approached him, “I’d listen to her if I were you. If you do one thing that I think might jeopardize anyone in this party, you’ll be lucky if I only dump you in the trunk, instead of slitting your throat which I admit would be my first inclination.”
Edward blanched then tried to laugh but it came out more like wheeze. “You wouldn’t dare! My father—”
He looked directly at Lord Shellard who was drinking his ale and watching the war of words transpire. “Don’t expect any help from me, Edward, you’re a grown man. But if you let your arrogance dictate your actions then I shall assist Turner in returning you to the box…but I would not countenance him slitting your throat.” Edward looked dumbfounded and I had to turn my back to the whole scene along with the others to keep from laughing in his face.
Once we settled down we sat quietly on a hillock watching a pair
of riders approach over the crest of the hill. We were hidden from their view but not the carriages. The lead rider peeled off to ride toward us while the remaining rider continued up the road.
Father pulled his pistols as did Michael and Jacob. Lord Shellard had his at hand and stood firm watching the rider approach. Edward was frantic and dove into the nearest carriage to huddle on the floor. I quirked an eyebrow at the Earl who shrugged. “He’s as good a shot as Miles, but he lacks the fundamental courage to shoot at a target which is likely to shoot back. He doesn’t have the killer instinct.” I merely nodded.
Once the rider came close enough to be identifiable my father lowered his pistol and everyone else followed suit. It was my Uncle Samuel. Father stepped forward as he came to a halt and jumped down from his horse. “Glad we caught up with you, you’re being followed by the way. I think it’s Ramsey but he’s a skittish little bugger. I haven’t been able to get close enough to be sure it’s him.” He looked around as if he might be lurking in the bushes. “Sir Thomas had a communication today that the house in Cornwall is currently occupied by people other than just Aunt Mary, Spencer and his Lordship’s family. It seems that Lord Burley is paying a visit with a few of his friends and holding them hostage.”
Father slapped his thigh swearing a blue streak. “Damn, it’s going to take the carriages three days at best to get to Cornwall, but I can’t leave them unguarded. Maybe they should return to London and we’ll push on.” Just then I heard music and turned to see a gypsy caravan coming over the rise with Jibben in the lead.
Uncle Samuel looked over his shoulder then back at my father. “Sir Thomas was at your home just as Emilie and I arrived, and he advised me of the situation with the Clarkes. So, I um took the liberty of picking up an escort and some help.”