Debutantes Don’t Date

by Kristina O’Grady

  They could see the house when a shout rang out through the streets. Startled, Grace and Anne both jerked their heads towards the warning. A curricle barrelled down the street, barely missing everything in its path. Anne let out a loud gasp and tried to thrust Grace behind her. Grace stared in confusion at the scene unfolding before her. It was like a film in slow motion and she didn’t realise she was a part of the action until it was too late.

  Anne’s arm pushed Grace back and she stumbled, losing time she could have used to run. By the time she regained her footing, the vehicle was upon them and she could see who was driving. Lord Wester. Anne and Jasper were right, she thought as she watched him leap from the seat and grab at her. He does want her gone! Grace turned to run but it was too late and Lord Wester’s hand was like a vice on her arm. He pulled her up onto the seat beside him and flew his team back down the road. Grace caught a look at her friend’s face as they went around a corner.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Lord Wester raced them through the streets, his curricle weaving in and out of traffic. Grace didn’t dare try to escape for fear of being trampled by horses and carriages. She could all too well picture her lifeless body bloody and broken on the frozen street, last night’s snow slowly turning red around her.

  “Where are you taking me?” she shouted over the sound of the wheels bouncing over the cobblestones and the horses’ hooves and loud breath.

  He didn’t bother replying. She supposed it didn’t matter where they were going just that they were going. She hoped Anne would hurry to tell Jasper. The look on her friend’s face as they sped away was one of shock and horror and Grace hoped Anne would be able to think of what to do. Every minute Lord Wester raced her away was an hour it could take to find her.

  Jasper was looking forward to sitting in front of the fire with a brandy when he returned home. Who knew planning a wedding was such hard work? He’d just finished having a very long conversation with the minister who was officiating the service. A conversation he thought would be over in less than a quarter of an hour had taken all afternoon. Now the setting sun was stuck behind a cloud, casting an eerie light on the street. When his coach reached his street he saw lights coming from a house at the far end. As they neared he realised they were coming from his house. His driver must have noticed as well. Before Jasper could order him to hurry, the coach sped up as fast as it was able in the light evening traffic.

  His footman opened the door before the coach came to a complete stop.

  “Hurry, my lord, Lord Harrison is in the library waiting to explain everything.” His butler, Madison, was unusually agitated. Jasper didn’t stop to find out why but raced up the steps into his house and headed for the library, a knot thick in his stomach.

  “I tried to warn her.” Lady Anne was sitting on the settee watering his upholstery. “I told her he was mad.” She sniffed and blew her nose into the soaking handkerchief she held crumpled in her hands.

  Jasper turned to Neal who seemed calmer than Lady Anne. “What’s going on?” He looked around the room and noticed someone missing and his heart stopped beating. “Where’s Grace?”

  “Apparently Lady Anne and Miss Lancaster went for a walk in the park this afternoon and had started to head home when Lady Anne’s brother abducted Grace. They were only a few doors from home.”

  Jasper’s legs gave out and he fell into a chair. “Wester’s got Grace? When did this happen? I thought Rupert was watching him?”

  “We can’t find Rupert. It happened around two o’clock. Lady Anne was brought to our house by the footman we had following them and then he and two others gave chase. We sent messages to every place we could think of to try to find you. Where have you been?”

  “At the church.” Jasper’s mind was starting to work again. “Have you heard from the footmen yet?”

  “Not yet. I also sent for…” Before he could finish his sentence, the door burst open. “Lord Lancaster.”

  “What is this about my granddaughter being kidnapped? Why are you two not out there trying to find her? Why is that girl blubbing in the corner?”

  “We’re doing all we can, Lord Lancaster,” Neal replied. “We don’t know where he would’ve taken her and we’re not sure if the men who gave chase were able to pick up his trail.”

  Madison came into the room. “Sorry to disturb you, my lord, but the footmen who followed Miss Lancaster are here.”

  “Send them in!” all three men shouted.

  “I’m sorry, my lord, but we lost them on the outskirts of town,” said one of the footmen after all three had entered the room and bowed.

  “Which way were they headed?”

  “To the south, my lord.”

  “Do you know where he might be going, Jasper?” Neal asked.

  “Not a clue.”

  “I do,” a small voice said into the stillness of the room. Jasper had forgotten she was there. They all turned to Lady Anne who had risen from her seat and wiped the last of her tears from her eyes. “He is headed to the woodsman’s cottage. My mother’s family owned land in that direction and there’s a small cabin where we used to play as children.” She brushed her hands down her skirts becoming all business in seconds; a hard look in her eye. “If he was travelling south he’ll be heading there. Mother’s father sold the land three years ago but Robin still thinks of it as his. He was to inherit that land when grandfather died, but it was sold before then to help father pay off my brother’s debts.”

  “How far away is this cabin?”

  “Two days by carriage. But he will switch to horseback at The Running Duck Tavern. He has a friend who owns it and since he probably borrowed the curricle from there, he’ll be wanting his horse back. Besides, he will be able to travel faster then. I just wish I had thought of that earlier.”

  “Yes, that would have been for the best,” Jasper said before he could stop himself. Lady Anne looked distraught at his words and he could have kicked himself for causing her pain. It was clear she was as worried over Grace as the rest of them.

  “Pray don’t upset yourself, Lady Anne,” Neal said soothingly. “You have had quite a shock and you have helped us now, isn’t that right, Jasper?”

  “No, he’s right, Lord Harrison,” Lady Anne replied briskly, “I feel that it is my fault. I knew Robin wanted to prevent the wedding so I would be able to marry Lord Bingham as planned, but I didn’t think he would do anything like this. He insisted I become friends with Grace. I wish now that I hadn’t. It has put her in danger.” Lady Anne’s voice broke, but she managed to keep her tears at bay.

  Jasper wanted to strangle Lady Anne for taking so long to think where her brother would go, but Neal was right, at least they had somewhere to start. “Your brother would have taken her whether you were her friend or not,” he said. “At least you were there to tell Lord Harrison what had happened, and now thanks to you we know where to look. That is more than we would ever have known if it wasn’t for you.” Jasper raised his voice. “Madison!”

  His butler had obviously been listening in the hallway; he appeared in seconds.

  “Have Rogers saddle my horse and send a boy to Lord Harrison’s so his groom can do the same, and see if you can find Lord Rupert Caine too, wherever the hell he may be, and Lord Eaglestone too, if you can. We need all the help we can get. We shall be leaving in less than half an hour.” Madison quickly left the room and Jasper turned again to Lady Anne. “Tell us exactly how to get there. Even better, can you show us on the map?”

  They arrived at The Running Duck as the sun was starting to set. Robin spent hours weaving their way through the city trying to hide their route. Grace was sure there was someone following them for a while but Robin seemed more relaxed as they entered the tavern’s yard.

  “Behave yourself, wench,” Robin hissed at her as he helped her down from the curricle. “One wrong word out of you and you won’t live to see our destination. Do I make myself clear?”

  Grace nodded. His fingernails were cutti
ng into the palms of her hands and she admitted to herself that she was scared. She’d never been kidnapped before but figured the best way to stay alive was to do as she was told. She fought the instinct to run. She knew she wouldn’t get very far.

  A man came out of the tavern to greet them. “Wester, what do you have there? You never mentioned you were bringing a lady friend. You know we already have plenty of them here.”

  “Thank you, Charles, I’d be delighted to once again make their acquaintance, but we are in a bit of a hurry and are just here to return your fine horse and vehicle and to pick up my horse. You don’t happen to have another beast to let for the lady do you? Like I said, we are in a bit of a hurry.”

  Through the whole exchange, Robin didn’t let go of Grace’s arm. If anything his grip tightened with each word. Tears were forming in her eyes and she gave ‘Charles’ a pleading look.

  Charles ignored her and continued his conversation with his friend. “I’m not sure I have one for you.” He stroked his chin. “You still owe me from last time.” Robin looked to Grace, but she didn’t have any money. As if she would give him any, even if she did.

  “Fine, we’ll double. I’ll have to catch up with you next time.” Robin led Grace away to get his horse.

  Once they were out of town they moved at a quicker pace and covered ground quickly, but Grace did wonder at the wisdom of doubling on a horse when they could be travelling faster by curricle.

  “Thanks to you, I don’t have the funds to hire one. I didn’t even have enough for a horse for you, did I?”

  “Explain to me again how it’s my fault you have spent all your money.” Grace knew to provoke her captor wasn’t the greatest idea, but she had to find something to take her mind off the fact not only was she travelling away from the man she now knew she loved, but she was pressed firmly against the man whom she loathed. Besides, she had to get rid of the suspicious lump she could feel against her ass.

  “I was counting on the money from my sister to cover my investments and you have ruined me by taking that money away.”

  “But how could I take away money that was never yours? You yourself say it was going to be your sister’s money. How can you say it was taken away from you?”

  “It was mine!” He gave her a shake that rattled her teeth. “I needed it and it was mine and you took it from me!” He screamed like a little child who had been denied a favourite toy.

  It was cold now that the sun had set, and Grace was reluctant to lean against the crazed man behind her but it was March and the air was chilly and snow was still on the ground. The air puffed like smoke from their lips and steam rose off the horse’s neck.

  “There’s a homestead up ahead that has a barn where we can spend the night,” Robin said to her after another hour of riding. At least there was a full moon they could see by.

  When the barn came into view Grace was frozen and her muscles were so stiff from shivering that Robin had to push her off the horse so he could dismount. She fell like a lump to the ground and she couldn’t get up.

  “Come on.” Robin dragged her to her feet by her hair and pulled her into the barn.

  The hay was piled in the back and Grace gratefully collapsed amongst its warmth. Knowing full well she would be extremely itchy tomorrow when she woke up, she dug herself in and piled the hay over her, like a blanket. As the warmth seeped into her chilled bones, the shivering slowed and her eyelids drooped. But she wasn’t about to go to sleep while Robin was still awake. She needed to keep alert until he was no longer a danger. She planned to wait until he was snoring before succumbing to the sleep that beckoned her.

  She would like to steal away in the night and head back to London, but she knew she would perish in the cold and she was too tired to move, let along make a run for it. Her bones felt heavy from the after-effects of the adrenaline rush.

  Robin finished rubbing the horse down and gave it some feed before he lay down on the hay as well. “Miss Lancaster?” he whispered into the darkness. At her grunt of acknowledgement his hand flashed into the hay and grabbed her arm again. “Don’t even think of stealing my horse tonight,” he hissed into her ear.

  The bruises from this afternoon protested at being squeezed and Grace muffled a gasp of pain. He hauled her out of her nest and pulled her against him. Panic clouded her mind and before she could react he had her wrist bound with some rope he must have found in the barn and tied the other end to his.

  “You aren’t going anywhere tonight.” He threw hay over the top of her, turned onto his side and went to sleep, his snores practically shaking the building.

  Grace tried to snuggle deeper into the hay to regain some warmth, but every time she tried to move she woke Lord Wester and he yanked her arm. The last tug he gave made her sprawl up against his back, spooning him like a lover. The heat coming from his body soon warmed her and despite the discomfort of being so close to the man who kidnapped her, she couldn’t help but fall into an exhausted sleep. The memories of this afternoon in the drawing room were lost in the darkness.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The night was cold but Jasper and Neal didn’t stop until they reached The Running Duck Tavern. Their questions didn’t elicit any answers but they couldn’t go any further until daylight. They were lucky to get a room for the night after the tense discussion they had with the inn keeper.

  “That didn’t go at all well did it?” Neal said as he shut the door. They would be sharing a room tonight even though it didn’t look like the other rooms were full.

  “No it didn’t. Wester must still have some friends even if he owes them all money.” He gave a slight smile. “I hope if I am ever in the same situation, I will be so lucky.”

  “Don’t worry, Bingham, you will never be in the same situation. Even your great, great, great grandchildren won’t be able to spend all of your money.” Neal sat down in the one and only chair in the room.

  “I don’t know. Wester seemed to go through his inheritance quite quickly. I heard that his mother’s father left him £200,000. He’s got nothing left.” Jasper sprawled across the bed, his boots hanging over the edge. “I think he expected to make his way through my fortune as well. I’m extremely glad I didn’t marry his sister, no offence to Lady Anne of course.”

  “Of course.” Neal pulled off his boots. “She’s a nice girl. It’s amazing how she turned out so well considering her family.”

  “Damn this night! I don’t like leaving Grace out there alone. Who knows what he is doing to her right now.”

  “I know, but our horses can’t go any farther, not with the ice on the road. It would be suicide to attempt it. We have to wait until daybreak.”

  Jasper opened his mouth to reply but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  Neal heaved himself from his chair, unlocked the door and opened it slightly. They had locked it on entering as they weren’t sure of the level of safety they had here.

  “Eaglestone! What are you doing here?”

  “Lady Anne informed me where you were headed and I was hoping to find you here. I’m a friend of the owner and I thought I might be of some assistance.” Philip came into the room and looked around. “You’re sharing?”

  “There are no more rooms apparently.” Jasper raised his brows to Philip.

  “Nonsense, Charlie says you have the only room tonight. He is never busy on a Wednesday.” Philip headed out of the room. “Come on, let’s see if we can find out any information about Wester and get you another room.”

  Both men followed Philip onto the landing, Jasper in his boots and Neal in his stockings.

  Grace woke with a warm hand on her breast. Her eyes flew open. It wasn’t the right hand. This one didn’t belong to the man whom she was having the most erotic dream about, but to the man who had her wrist tied to his. She screamed. As loud as she could, right in his ear. It wasn’t until then that she realised he wasn’t yet awake and seemed to be having a dream of his own.

  His hand covered her m
outh cutting her off mid-scream. His other hand squeezed her breast and he nuzzled her neck. “I am going to enjoy raping you. I can see why Bingham wants you so badly. You are so full of passion aren’t you?” He wedged his knee in between her legs and lowered his body fully onto hers.

  She sank deeper in the hay. Her mind frantically trying to find an escape. She struggled and bucked against him until he groaned in pleasure and nipped her ear with his teeth.

  “Oh, yes…full of passion.” He chuckled as he thrust his hips against hers, his erection evident through the layers of clothing.

  His hand worked its way up under her skirt to the exposed skin above her stocking. Utter panic consumed her as she tried to free herself.

  “You can’t escape, whore. You are tied to me, remember?” He held up his hand that was bound to hers. “You might as well stop pretending and enjoy the next few moments.” He finally lifted his hand from her mouth, only to place it on her breast.

  “Is that all it will take? Just a few moments?” It wasn’t much but it was the only way she could think of to stop him. He was far stronger than she was so she had to use something other than physical strength to beat him. She was far more intelligent than him. She needed to outwit him at his own game.

  “What do you mean?” He stopped for a moment.

  “Well, I didn’t want to say, but you feel quite small.” This could backfire terribly, but it was the only chance she had. “But I always thought size didn’t matter. I thought it was what you can do with it that counts…but you said it would be over in only a few moments, and I wondered…maybe size does matter.” She managed to get her shoulder to give a careless shrug. She deliberately made her breathing slow and calm, despite the butterflies spinning around in her belly.