by Anne Herries
No, he must watch and wait for his chance. This foolish pace could not go on forever. The rogues would be forced to halt at some time to change their horses and presumably to eat themselves. Harry would keep a certain distance between them, dropping back now and then so it did not appear he was following them.
He could not know whether Annabelle was conscious and in pain or fear, because according to Miss Hamilton she had been given something that made her faint – possibly ether or some such thing applied over her nose and mouth.
Harry was furious with the rogue who had planned this. Once he had Annabelle safe, he would kill the devil. He allowed his thoughts to dwell on the method of punishment he would employ, because if he’d thought of what the girl he loved was suffering he could not have followed his plan to wait for the right moment.
If Annabelle had been hurt he would tear that rogue from limb to limb!
* * *
‘You say Miss Hayes was abducted and Miss Hamilton was attacked?’ Sutherland growled low in his throat, looking at his nephew as though he might strangle him. ‘Why did you not stop the rogue, Peter?’
‘I did not realise they were in trouble until it was too late,’ Peter said and looked ashamed. ‘I’m sorry, uncle. I did go after them but there was nothing I could do – and then Lord Wrexham rode up on his horse. We told him what had happened and described the coach and he went after Miss Hayes.’
‘I am glad to hear it,’ Sutherland said and frowned. ‘I dare say they have gone off to Scotland. I shall set off after them naturally, but I’m not certain what I can do. You said Harry was on horseback?’ Peter nodded. ‘Then I shall drive my curricle and take a groom with me – and we shall both be armed. These rogues will regret this day’s work, believe me.’
‘What would you wish me to do, uncle?’
‘Visit Miss Hamilton and tell her I shall find her friend. Tell her that if a forced marriage has taken place I shall punish the culprits and bring her back safe. Tell her that it is a promise.’
‘Yes, uncle.’ Peter smiled at him. ‘I was certain you would know what to do.’
‘I hope I can keep my word,’ Sutherland said. ‘One thing is certain – if Miss Hayes is an unwilling wife she will shortly be a widow. Rogues of this nature cannot be allowed to get away with such wickedness or no decent young woman will be safe. It might have been Miss Hamilton.’
‘Miss Hayes is a considerable heiress I believe?’
‘Then her family should have protected her better. The sooner Harry marries her the better.’
‘Is he…’ Peter nodded. ‘No wonder he was in such a hurry to go after her.’
‘The fool thinks he is not good enough for her – but after this little escapade she will be fortunate to show her face in society again, unless we can put a speedy end to it.’
‘I shall not delay you, sir. I will go to Lady Melbourne’s house and tell her that you are following Lord Wrexham and will do your best to bring Miss Hayes back safely.
* * *
Annabelle almost opened her eyes as she felt the coach slowing down at last. She had been bumped and jolted for ages, though at first she’d been hardly aware of what was going on around her, but for the last half an hour she’d had time to think of her situation. She’d been abducted by that man – the man she’d seen watching her on several occasions. Mr Steven Forrest. She’d known of him for years. He owned a small estate not far from Lady Mitchell’s country estate and Annabelle had seen him a few times when she was out riding with her groom or friends. He’d always been polite, tipping his hat, but he’d shown little interest until the past few weeks – when he’d known she was in London for the purpose of finding a husband.
Annabelle’s grandparents had left money in trust for her, which had grown over the years. She’d never been allowed to touch it and the income was simply added to the fund. Until she came to London, she hadn’t realised that the trust had now reached almost fifty thousand pounds – which made her a considerable heiress.
And, she’d learned, Mr Forrest was in debt. He’d approached her at a society dance and asked her to waltz with him. Afterwards, he’d followed her as she went upstairs to refresh herself and he’d waylaid her, entreating her to marry him.
‘Please do not…’ Annabelle had been shocked and embarrassed. ‘I hardly know you, sir.’
‘We have known each other for years,’ he claimed indignantly, his hand gripping her arm so intently that it hurt. ‘You must know I’ve always admired you.’
‘I had no idea of it – and I would not consider such a marriage.’
Annabelle had spurned him angrily, walking away without a second thought. Now she saw that she’d been unwise to treat him with contempt – but how could she have known what he would do?
He must be truly desperate to abduct her. Desperate men would do anything and she knew that when he had her safely locked in a bedchamber somewhere he would seduce her – force her to submit to him – so that she was compromised and had no choice to accept him as her husband. At least this was his plan.
She would rather die! Annabelle moved gingerly. Her body felt as if it was bruised all over from the carriage jolting over rutted roads, but she had not been bound. Clearly the men who’d captured her imagined that she was drugged and helpless.
Whoever had used that foul stuff on her had been in too much hurry. One whiff had made her faint but it had not been strong enough to keep her unconscious for long. She was now in full possession of her senses and she was furiously thinking of how to escape from her situation. If she allowed them to lock her into a room she would be unable to break out so she must make her escape before then. The coach was getting slower and slower.
Annabelle had known for a while that she was alone in the coach. Mr Forrest and his henchmen must be riding on top. She opened one eye and looked about to be certain, then sat up cautiously and peeped out of the window. She could not see a horseman so perhaps they were all on the driving box.
Seeing that they were passing a ditch, Annabelle decided that she might as well take her chance now for she might not have a better. The coach had slowed because of the precarious road, once they passed the ditch it would gather speed again. She opened the coach door as much as she needed and slid down head first, taking care to keep as low as she could so as not to be noticed by the men riding on top.
Would they see her? Would they stop the coach and come after her? It did not matter, because she had to try and escape.
Her body bumped against the door opening and for a moment her legs seemed to be caught by the door closing on her. She thought the horses would drag her along to her death, but she caught hold of a stumpy bush and held on and her legs followed with a sudden plop. The carriage door slid to and caught. She feared the noise it made would cause alarm but for some reason the men did not immediately look back. Annabelle had no time to worry, as she felt herself sliding into the ditch. She grabbed frantically but could not stop herself tumbling down and down into the water, which was cold and deep.
Spluttering and coughing, she righted herself, holding on to a tuft of coarse grass. The water came up to her chin and she was standing in squelching mud that seemed to cling on to her. Clawing frantically at a tuft of some kind of weed, she tried to pull herself out but the grass slipped out of her hands and she fell back, going under the black water once more.
Surfacing, she gasped and spluttered and then screamed, realising that unless help came she could die in this foul ditch. She hadn’t dreamed that it would be filled almost to the brim with water. What was she going to do? At least in the coach she would have had a chance of surviving but now she might be dead before morning.
‘Help me…’ she cried out. ‘I’m in the ditch. I can’t get out…’
She screamed despairingly, for who would hear her on a lonely road like this? It was already starting to get dark and soon there would be no light left. Tears started to her eyes for she was very frightened and she knew she would die.
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br /> ‘Annabelle…’ the voice came to her as if she were in a dream. ‘Where are you? Call out to me so I can locate you.’
‘I’m here,’ she cried. ‘I fell into the ditch and it’s full of water. The mud sucks at me and I can’t get out.’
‘Hold on and keep talking,’ a voice she now recognised told her. ‘I’ll find you and I’ll have you out…’
‘I’m here,’ she cried. ‘Oh, Harry…is it truly you?’
‘I’m here, my love.’
Annabelle looked up and saw a face. He must be lying on the narrow road, looking down for her.
‘I’m here, Harry – to your right.’
‘I see you. I’m going to give you my coat. Hang on tight to it and I’ll pull you out, Annabelle.’
‘I’m not sure I can…’ she said, but when he dangled his coat over her, she reached out and grabbed it, winding the sleeve about her wrist so that she was tied to it. Then she was being hauled up the slippery bank onto the road. The mud smeared over her clothes and her face, getting into her hair and her mouth, but then she was clear of the ditch and lying on the road. She lay there panting and shivering as Harry bent over. Then she sat up and he pulled her to her feet and into his arms, holding her as she shuddered and wept. ‘How did you find me…where did you come from?’
‘Merry told me what happened just after you were abducted. I’ve been following the coach waiting for my opportunity,’ Harry said. ‘You’re such a brave girl. I saw what you did. I thought the men on the coach would hear or see you but they seemed not to notice. But the ditch was so deep that when I looked I couldn’t see you. I feared you might be drowned until you screamed.’
‘Oh, Harry,’ Annabelle wept into his shirt, which was now nearly as wet as she was. ‘If you hadn’t come I should have died. The ditch was too steep and too muddy for me to climb out.’
Harry held her tighter. ‘Thank God I saw Miss Hamilton when I did, otherwise…’ He shuddered. ‘I’ll kill that devil. I swear I’ll thrash the life out of him.’
Annabelle buried her face in his shoulder and wept for a few moments, then she looked up at him. ‘It’s because I’m an heiress, Harry. If you killed him there would be another one to take his place – there’s only one way to keep me safe, if you love me.’
‘You know I adore you, my dearest love.’
‘Then marry me,’ she said earnestly. ‘If I’m your wife no one else can run off with me and I’ll always be safe with you.’
‘You know I’m not good enough…’
‘I love you,’ she said. ‘Please marry me, make me safe, Harry. I don’t care who your mother was…’
‘Then I’ll speak to your family,’ Harry promised. ‘But Forrest isn’t going to get away with this. He deserves a thrashing and that’s what he’ll get once I have you home safe.’
‘I’m so cold,’ Annabelle said, her teeth chattering. ‘Could we go to an inn first and get my clothes dry please?’
‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘I dare say your family will think I’ve compromised you, but it hardly matters if we are to be wed. with good fortune they will permit us to wed all the sooner…’
* * *
Sutherland saw the inn ahead and decided to stop and make inquiries. It was nearly dark and his horses would need to rest before he could go on, unless he changed them for a new pair. He’d hoped to come up with either Wrexham or the coach Peter had described but so far he’d seen nothing of either of them.
This was an unfortunate business, because unless they could keep the story from getting out Miss Hayes might be ruined. People were often cruel and she would be shamed, even though the abduction was not her fault. He hoped that her aunt would have the good sense to keep it to herself, but she was a rather silly woman and there was no guarantee that she would keep her tongue still.
If she’d had any sense she would have insisted that a maid or a groom accompanied her niece at all times – and Miss Hamilton’s aunt should have done the same. Not that a maid or a groom would have had much chance against a determined rogue, but it was asking for trouble to allow the girls so much freedom.
Sutherland frowned as he realised that it could easily have been Merry Hamilton who’d been kidnapped. Damn it! The rogue who had pressed his suit on her was just as likely to have decided to make off with her if his suit had been denied.
Sutherland’s godmother had told him that Merry had been forced into accepting the proposal because her mother had threatened to have her incarcerated in a mental asylum if she did not. His rage had made him spitting mad and it had taken Lady Rutledge’s powers of persuasion to stop him going after the lady and telling her what he thought of her.
‘That would be the height of folly – if you wish to marry the gel? You would not wish to be on bad terms with your mother-in-law? You must surely have more subtle ways of dealing with her, dearest?’
That had stopped him in his tracks and he’d stared at her like an idiot until a smile broke over his face. ‘You do not pull your punches, ma’am. Am I so easy to read?’
‘Perhaps only to me,’ she replied and smiled at him fondly. ‘I thought from the start what an ideal wife she would make for you, Sutherland – but, of course, I should not wish to influence your choice.’
‘Oh no, of course not, dear heart,’ he said and gave her a look that made her choke behind her hand.
However, as little as he might relish her interference in his affairs, she was perfectly correct. It had taken Sutherland a while to understand that the feelings he had towards Merry Hamilton were far more than mere liking, but now he did – and he knew he must do something about it. Her situation was in part his fault. Had he spoken to her earlier, her mother would not have tried to force her into marriage with that rogue. He was aware that his mother-in-law to be had married a gambler and did not doubt that her husband had run through most of her money. Whatever, he gave her in the future ought to be in the form of a pension rather than a lump sum, though if there were outstanding debts they must be paid. He could not have his wife’s mother in a debtor’s prison.
He grimaced because he had no intention of being fleeced by Merry’s stepfather and would make it clear at the outset that his debts would not be paid. He could go to hell in his own way. With an effort, Sutherland gathered his thoughts and concentrated on the task in hand.
Walking into the inn he was met by a plump-faced woman who told him that she was glad to see him, but sorry that her best chamber had been given to other guests.
‘That may not be necessary,’ Sutherland said. ‘I need to rest and eat but I am searching for someone. I wonder if you have seen a coach passing in a hurry? Did it perhaps stop to purchase food? Or a man – some years younger than me – asking you the same question?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, my lord. I’ve been busy all afternoon cooking and the only people I’ve seen was the gentleman and his…niece…’
‘Well some food then, if you please.’
‘I can provide a good supper, my lord,’ she said. ‘And my second best chamber, if you should change your mind – but the first went to the young lady who was in so much distress and her uncle – though he says he shall sleep on the floor. I told him I did not hold with such goings on, but he told me she is in danger of being abducted – so what was I to do, my lord?’
Sutherland stared at her. ‘This young lady in distress – what did she look like?’
‘Soaked to the skin she was, sir – and covered in mud. The gentleman wasn’t in much better case. He gave me his coat and asked me to dry and clean it for him, but her things will have to be washed – so I lent her one of my Susie’s dresses, though it’s not fit to be seen…’
‘Would you by chance have noticed the colour of her hair?’
‘Why, ‘tis blonde, sir – but looked darker because it was wet and bits of mud clung to it. I sent my Susie up with hot water for her and a glass of hot milk with brandy in it.’
‘Susie is your daughter, ma’am?’
‘Yes, sir.’ She looked at him in surprise.
‘Would you be kind enough to tell me where I may find this young lady and her…uncle?’
‘So it’s that way is it?’ The landlady nodded, shaking her head doubtfully. ‘I thought it might be the way of it – running away together were they?’
‘In confidence, ma’am, I believe the young lady to have been abducted and her fiancé has rescued her. However, it would not be right for him to share her room this night – perhaps your daughter would sleep with her to protect her?’
‘She would be glad to, sir,’ the woman said and smiled. ‘Well, this is a terrible thing to happen. ‘You go up to them and talk to him, sir –
and I’ll reserve my second-best chamber for you.’
Sutherland thanked her and went quickly up the stairs, turning to his right and counting to the third door. He knocked and heard whispering behind it.
‘Come on, Harry. I know you’re in there,’ he said. ‘This is a coil but if you’re sensible we can brush through it.’
‘Sutherland – is that you?’
‘Yes, of course. Open up, you young idiot, I’m here to help you.’
The door opened to admit him. Entering, he saw Annabelle dressed in a gown several sizes too big for her and of some shapeless style. Her hair was still a little damp but a woman of perhaps twenty was brushing it dry.
‘Thank you, Susie, you may go for the moment,’ Sutherland told her. ‘You will however, be spending the night with this young lady – to protect her from rogues who might seek to snatch her.’