The Secret of Castlegate Manor

by Karen Cogan

  Lavenia gently chafed her wrists. "Mother, are you all right?"

  Lady Aberly opened her eyes. She patted Lavenia's hand. "I only hope you never have to go through such an ordeal, my precious. I have given great thought to keeping you safe until the wedding."

  "How is that, Mother?"

  "The three of us, you, myself, and Caroline shall all journey to London. We shall stay with Lady Adela. I am sure she will have the household running smoothly, though I must say I will miss Lady Eleanor most frightfully. We shall make the final purchases for your trouseau. Would you not like that, my dear?"

  Lavenia's eyes lit with delight. "I would love it, Mother. You are so clever. I will miss Henry terribly. But it is only three weeks until the wedding. And it will be nice to be somewhere where we are safe. Do you not agree, Caroline?"

  Caroline felt as though her heart had frozen in mid beat. She shot Geoffrey a frantic glance before she managed to reply

  "Perhaps I should see to things here while you are gone. London is so busy and I am still quite enjoying the country life."

  "Nonsense. I would not think of leaving you where you might suffer such a trial as I endured. You will be back to in the country in time for the wedding," Lady Aberly assured.

  Geoffrey watched the play of emotions that crossed Caroline's fragile features. He longed to scoop her up and rescue her from the well meant and unintentional trap in which Lady Aberly had placed her. Since such rash action would not be advisable, he set his mind to devising a scheme to deliver her from the awkward situation of leaving Lady Adela's house as a maid and returning as a relative.

  Caroline grasped for an excuse. She thought of two pretexts and summarily rejected each in turn. If she pleaded illness, Lady Aberly would refuse to leave her and likely send for the doctor. If she pleaded a pressing engagement in Bath, Lady Aberly would offer to postpone the trip until Caroline was free.

  In her panic, no clear plan presented itself. At last, Caroline simply nodded and said, "It is kind of you to include me. She hoped her face did not show the distress lodged in her heart."

  "Then it is all settled," Lady Aberly announced, sounding more cheerful.

  Pleading fatigue, the lady had her maid escort her back to her chamber, leaving Lavenia and Caroline with Geoffrey.

  Lavenia turned to Geoffrey, her eyes wide. "I have never liked the Viscount, but I did not think him capable of ordering Mother's death. Can we not have him arrested?"

  Geoffrey shook his head. "We have no proof that he ordered her kidnapping or execution. Lady Aberly gave no account of having seen him while she was held by the other men, nor did she hear them mention his name."

  Lavenia sighed. "I suppose you are right. He would deny his complicity and we would look like fools."

  "We will not live in his tyranny forever. He will make a mistake. You will see," Caroline said.

  "This distress for our daily safety is sure to give all of us vapors. I am glad the three of us will be away in London for awhile." Lavenia replied.

  Geoffrey smiled at Caroline, giving assurance that he did not believe she was easily given to vapors. She returned the smile, though Lavenia's reference to London had, again, put her in a stew.

  Before departing he offered, "If I think of anything that might be useful in your travel plans, I shall be happy to offer it."

  He retired to his room above the stable to think. Though Lavenia had thanked him, he hoped Caroline knew the words were meant for her. He would do nothing else before he thought of a plan to spare her humiliation.

  Before the afternoon was out, he knew precisely how Caroline would avoid the doomed trip to London. All he had to do was make a few simple arrangements and get word to her.

  Unfortunately it proved more difficult to deliver a message than he expected. He appeared at the back entrance to tell Edwards that he wished to see Miss Caroline. He was surprised when Edwards told him crisply that he would not allow any more messages to be passed by the grooms unless he heard them first himself.

  Though Geoffrey appreciated the effort of the stiff-necked butler to protect his mistress and the two young ladies, it was going to be hard to arrange for a meeting with Caroline. And yet, he must get word to her and end her worry.

  He need not have fretted over his failure with Edwards.

  After tea, when the ladies retired for rest, Caroline slipped from the house to meet Geoffrey at the stable. He hurried to greet her, delighted to have his problem solved. After a quick glance to be sure no on was watching, he took her in his arms.

  "Edwards, in his overzealous protection, would not let me see you. I do believe he has acquired a distrust for grooms and the truth of the messages they bring."

  Caroline smiled. The worry momentarily faded from her dark eyes. "I cannot say that I blame him. The last groom to bring a message proved quite dishonorable."

  "I am not dishonorable Caroline, though you make it very hard not to embrace you each time I am in your company."

  "Would not Lady Aberly truly faint at the liberties I have allowed between our assumed positions? She would be positively scandalized."

  Geoffrey laughed. "She would indeed."

  Caroline sobered. "But whatever shall I do about this trip to London? I have thought and thought. Yet I cannot find a way to avoid the trip and still not arouse suspicion. I simply cannot show up at Lady Adela's and face the humiliation that would bring."

  "And you shall not need to do so."

  "You have a plan?"

  "I do. I shall pen you a note stating that your return to India is eminently required. I shall state that it is a family emergency." He added humorously, "Edwards may even read the note if he insists."

  "But that will not work. Lady Aberly will surely insist on seeing me off on my ship."

  "Ah, I have thought of that. I shall pay the porter to smuggle you on and, before the ship departs, he will smuggle you off. We will spend the night in separate rooms of the local inn. You may be assured my intentions are entirely honorable. The next day, you and I will spend a delightful day in Bath while Lady Aberly and Lavenia continue on their way to London."

  Caroline's dark eyes filled with hope. "Do you think it would work?"

  He brushed a finger along her soft cheek. "Of course it will work."

  "How will I explain my presence when they come back to Bath for the wedding? I cannot possibly tell them that I managed to return from India so soon."

  "You need only tell them that we discovered the note to be a fraud, an attempt by Lord Humphrey to lure you away so that he might take control of the estate. Tell them that I warned you just in time to leave the ship."

  Caroline sighed. "A lie upon a lie. I feel all I am telling these days are lies. However, I guess I have no choice."

  "It is not entirely a lie. It is true that the note will request you to return to India and it will prove to be a fraud."

  She smiled. "You are right and quite clever, I might add. I could never have thought of such a plan. I do not know how I shall ever repay you."

  His eyes glinted mischievously. "I shall think of something once we are married."

  She blushed furiously, to his amusement.

  "I think, my lord, that we should keep our thoughts upon our immediate problems, not that I am unwilling to entertain plans for a future marriage."

  He nodded, stifling his desire to continue his teasing. She looked so girlish and charming with her lashes lowered above her rosy cheeks. He must remember to incite her to further blushes once they were appropriately married.

  He forced himself to cast the promising thought from his mind and dwell on the note which she would present to Lady Aberly.

  "Since you are agreeable, I shall pen the note this afternoon. Where shall I meet you to put it into your hand?"

  "I will walk in the garden after sunset. Perhaps you might find an excuse to meet me then."

  He raised her hand and kissed her delicate palm. "I shall be waiting."

  Caroline forced h
erself to withdraw before he should make any further display of his affection. She still worried that word of their pairing would reach Lady Aberly or Lavenia. And it was still too dangerous to reveal Geoffrey's secret.

  Lady Aberly, having seemed to regain her robust health, spent the afternoon in a flurry of packing for London. Lavenia popped in and out of Caroline's room asking advice and inquiring as to the progress of Caroline's own packing.

  In order to keep up the charade, Caroline was forced to go through the motions of choosing clothes and packing valises, though she felt silly knowing they would go no further than the harbor at Bristol.

  She looked forward to meeting Geoffrey in the garden and escaping the bustle of activity that only reminded her of her deception.

  Lady Aberly kept up a constant stream of talk about London during supper. "We shall shop at the fine shops and add to your trouseau," she told Lavenia.

  She turned to Caroline. "And we shall take in a play and perhaps a concert. It really is too bad that Lady Eleanor's failing health prevented you from experiencing London society on your previous visit."

  "That would be delightful." Caroline forced herself to feign interest.

  At the conclusion of the difficult meal, Caroline was dismayed to hear Lady Aberly say, "I should fancy a walk in my rose garden. Would you dear girls accompany me? I fear it will take me some time to feel comfortable venturing forth alone after my terrible ordeal."

  "We should be happy to, should we not, Caroline? It will be a nice break from all our packing."

  "Yes. It would be lovely."

  Caroline's heart sank. She would have no chance of speaking to Geoffrey privately while flanked by her companions. And he would have no chance to deliver the note.

  The garden bore the lovely smell of roses in full bloom. The height of summer and recent rains had coaxed the fragrant flowers into large profuse blossoms.

  Lady Aberly took a halting step down the cobbled garden path, then paled. "It is hard for me to forget how that horrible man maltreated me in my beloved garden."

  Lavenia patted her should. "It will be all right, Mother. We will walk with you."

  Lady Aberly caught her breath as Geoffrey strode into the garden. Caroline feared the dear woman would faint. Both she and Lavenia placed steadying hands upon her arms.

  "It is alright, Mother. See it is only Geoffrey," Lavenia coaxed.

  Lady Aberly fanned herself with her large ornate fan. "Whatever is he doing here?"

  Geoffrey bowed. "I am sorry if I startled you, my lady. I found a letter to the attention of Miss Caroline, which appears to have been dropped on the carriage lane. I feared it might be important and wished to deliver it personally into her hand."

  Lady Aberly muted her frantic fanning to a more gentle effort. "I see. I suppose that is acceptable."

  Caroline's heart beat quickly as she took the letter. She had hoped to read it before she pretended surprise at the contents. Perhaps this unexpected circumstance of delivery would make her reaction more believable.

  Geoffrey made his expected departure and Caroline tore open the missive. She scanned the lines while Lady Aberly and Lavenia waited expectantly.

  "Bad new?" Lavenia asked.

  "I am afraid so. I am asked by my family to return to India at the first possible departure. I am afraid I shall not be able to accompany you to London after all."

  "Good gracious. I think I had better sit down." Lady Aberly established herself upon a stone bench and resumed her vigorous fanning. "So much has gone amiss, I hardly dare look forward to each new day."

  Caroline felt quite guilty at the concern which filled Lavenia's face. "I do hope it is not a dire concern which demands your return, though I am sure it must be so. You have been here such a short time and I did so look forward to a longer visit."

  "I must admit I find this most unsettling. I rather expected to make my home in Bath," Caroline admitted truthfully.

  "But it is your family and you must go. How shall you book passage?" Lavenia asked.

  Caroline gave a proper moment for thought. "I shall send Geoffrey to obtain my ticket from Bristol, then I shall depart on the first ship."

  Lady Aberly recovered her wits enough to say as Caroline had expected, "We shall, of course, see you off before we begin our trip to London. I should send an abigail to accompany you on your trip, but with the upcoming wedding, I must think who I can spare."

  "It not necessary to send an abigail. I am sure I shall find a matron aboard ship to chaperon me as I did on the voyage over. And you need not see my off. I know you are in a hurry to reach London," Caroline protested politely.

  "Nonetheless, I would not dream of not making sure personally that you arrived safely at your destination. Lavenia and I can be all packed to continue to London as soon as you board."

  "That would be very kind."

  They remained in the garden, enjoying the onset of evening. Caroline felt wicked, knowing the two women expected it would be one of their last days together. She wished she could spare them the sadness of a parting that would end as soon as they returned from London.

  Yet, as she was forced to play her part, she stayed with them until Lady Aberly declared that her fatigue required her to retire. They walked upstairs together. Lavenia paused at Caroline's bedchamber.

  Impulsively, she put her arms around Caroline for an embrace. "It will not be the same in London without you. You seem almost a sister to me now."

  "As do you."

  Alone in her room, Caroline went about the task of packing her belongings for a very short trip.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Geoffrey left at sunrise the following morning to purchase passage for Caroline's trip. He returned that evening holding a package that Lady Aberly and Lavenia were to assume held Caroline's passage to India. She was to leave the next afternoon.

  "So soon?" Lavenia protested.

  "Are you not ready to leave for London?" Caroline asked with some concern.

  "Oh, yes. Mother and I can both be ready to leave on the morrow to bid you good-bye. Still, I hoped you would not sail for a few more days."

  Caroline shook her head. "The sooner you are in London, the safer you will be from Lord Humphrey. When I am gone, he may turn his efforts toward you."

  "That would be frightful. I should die if anything prevented my marrying Henry as planned." Lavenia declared.

  "Then we shall have to be very careful that does not happen."

  Caroline spent a restless night in a state of nerves, fearful that some detail in the ploy had been overlooked. In the morning, the footman loaded her bags onto the coach. John Coachman, now recovered from his injury, helped them aboard.

  As they rolled onto the drive that led from the great estate, Caroline cast a glance from the curtained window of the coach. She caught sight of Geoffrey, watching discreetly from the distance of the stable path and her heart warmed with assurance.

  She was not alone in this mad scheme. Geoffrey would follow to make his clandestine arrival in Bristol. He had already arranged for the porter to rescue her from the ship. Then, after an overnight stay in the city, they would hire a coach to take them back to Bath, where Nottington was to meet them and assure them that Lady Aberly and Lavenia had traveled on to London.

  She sat back in the plush seat and tried to relax. She had a great deal of traveling to do and it would not do to exhaust herself when she had barely begun.

  The weary hours crept by. Caroline's tension mounted when they finally arrived at the bustling port in Bristol.

  The footman helped them from the carriage. Caroline found the ship, a tall passenger line already bustling with porters. While the men gathered her traveling bags, she lingered with Lady Aberly and Lavenia.

  "I do so hate good-byes. I hope you will come back to us as soon as you can," Lavenia said.

  Lady Aberly dabbed at her eyes. "We shall miss you, dearie."

  Caroline hugged them each in turn, her conscience pricking her with accusa
tions of dishonesty. If she were really leaving, she would share their same deep regret. The knowledge that it was all a ruse made it difficult to pretend grief.

  As she boarded the ship, she paused and pulled a red rose from her reticule to carry in her hand, the signal to the porter of her identity.

  Excited groups of chatting passengers trod along the gangplank. Caroline joined them, turning to wave at Lavenia and Lady Aberly as the huge white ship rose close above her. Her heart beat madly. If there were any mistake, could she indeed find herself on her way to India? What then? The possibility was too frightening to contemplate.

  Members of the crew greeted the passengers as they stepped aboard. Caroline held her rose in prominent view. One young man with black hair and dark eyes waved in recognition. She sighed with relief when he made his way toward her.

  In a low voice he confided, "If you will follow me, Miss, I can show you your escape."

  Caroline followed him onto the ship and down a narrow flight of stairs. The musty smell of the air made her long to climb back up to the deck.

  He paused before a small cabin. "Slip in here, Miss, and change quick into the porter's outfit. Be sure and put your hair under the cap. No one will know you when you slip back down the gangplank."

  Caroline stepped into the cramped room and saw the white shirt and trousers lying across the narrow bed. She shuddered as the porter closed the door and waited for her in the hall.

  The idea of appearing in public in mens' clothes appalled her. Of all the deception she had waged so far, this seemed far the most risky and scandalous. She wondered what Lady Eleanor would have thought of the turn her well-meant plan had taken.

  However, as she seemed to have little choice, Caroline slipped out of her gray muslin traveling dress and into the ship whites. She adjusted her cap in front of a small cracked mirror and, when she felt satisfied that not a strand of long chestnut hair had escaped, she opened the door to find the young man still awaiting her emergence.

  "I believe I am ready."

  He grinned as he gave her a quick perusal that set her cheeks aflame. "I must say, Miss, I have never seen a more attractive sailor. If you keep your head down, though, I do believe you will pass unnoticed."