An Artful Deception

by Karen Cogan

With a laugh, Katharine allowed him to lift her to the ground. “You flatter me, my lord.”

  They stood for a moment, close together, with his hands upon her waist. She looked up into his eyes and thought, even hoped for a moment, that he might kiss her. Then, her sensibilities returned and she became sensitive to the presence of the young groom. She wriggled from his arms and said, “I shall pick the pink flowers and you pick the blue.”

  She began to roam the meadow, picking flowers that were in full bloom. Philip set to the task that she had assigned him with an earnestness that amused her. She was just tying her bouquet together with a supple stem when she saw the riders approaching from the thicket. One man lay slumped across his horse. The other man began to shout to them as his companion fell from his horse, landing in a heap upon the ground.

  Philip was already running toward them. Katharine picked up her skirts and followed, her heart pounding in her breast.

  Philip reached the downed man and bent over him. “What happened?” he asked the beefy companion.

  Katharine stared in horror as the fallen man sat up with a jerk and rammed a fist directly into Philip’s face. She screamed as she watched him topple backwards. The young groom dashed from behind her to charge into the foray. The brawny man swung one large fist and knocked the youth to his feet. The boy lay still and unconscious. The violence seemed an absurd contradiction amidst the beauty of this meadow.

  The man on the ground was tall and wiry. He leapt to his feet and sprang toward Katharine. She screamed again, hardly aware that her mouth was open. Philip rose and was at once forced to take up combat against his larger opponent. He dodged as a ham-like fist grazed his cheek. One wrong move and he would join the young groom in unconscious slumber.

  He landed a glancing blow upon the man’s jaw. The effect was too slight to make the man stagger. Hearing Katharine’s screams, he glanced back to see the wiry man grab her arms. She struggled against him as he tugged her toward the trees.

  “Get her to the horses and do not hurt her, or we forfeit our pay,” the large man shouted.

  Philip misjudged his opponent’s fist and felt searing pain as it connected with his jaw. He staggered backward as the man pursued. For the first time, Philip was sorry that he had never felt the need to ride armed upon his own estate. A vicious stomach punch knocked the breath from his body.

  He gasped for air, feeling a burning need to prevail and liberate Katharine, yet he could not seem to find any weakness in his opponent. In desperation he butted headlong into the man’s belly.

  Katharine kicked hard into her captor’s shin. The man grunted and held his bruising grip on her arms. She stomped hard on his foot and his grasp loosened. She lurched free and ran toward Philip.

  He heard her calling his name. The hard slam of a fist on his back brought him to his knees. He covered his head with both arms. He could not allow himself to lose consciousness. Katharine needed him.

  As though from inside a deep well, he heard shouts and the pounding of feet. The blow he expected did not fall. He looked up to see two sturdy farmers approaching with pitchforks raised for battle.

  The wiry man looked uncertain. Then, giving up his pursuit of Katharine, he sprinted toward the cover of the trees. The big man growled at him. “Come back, you fool. They are only farmers.”

  His words had no effect. The big man was left.

  Philip steadied himself upon his feet, drawing courage from the men who charged forward like avenging angels. The lone assailant took in the scene with a pained glace, realized he was now one against three, and turned on his heel to jog heavily into the forest.

  The farmers reached Philip and Katharine and set down their pitchforks. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

  Katharine shook her head as she grasped Philip’s arm and studied his face. His jaw and cheek were rapidly turning an angry purple.

  “We heard the lady’s screams and come running,” said one farmer.

  Philip knelt beside his groom. He studied the boy a moment, and then shook him gently by the shoulder. The youth moaned as his eyes fluttered open. Katharine breathed a sigh of relief.

  She turned to the farmers and was surprised to see that she knew one of them. “Why you are Angus Silvers.”

  “Indeed I am, miss. And this is my cousin, Thomas. He has come to help me with tending the fields.”

  He studied Katharine carefully. “Ye are the miss what stayed with us after that terrible accident.”

  Philip left the groom to rest his head as he joined Katharine. “Do you know these men, Katharine?”

  “I do. This is Angus Silvers and his cousin, Thomas. Angus rescued me from the coach accident.”

  Philip shook hands with the men. “It seems we owe you yet again, Angus. If not for your bravery and that of your cousin, Miss Kirby would most likely have been abducted.”

  Angus blushed. “We were glad to be of service.”

  “Nonetheless, this will not be forgotten. I will have the woods scoured for wherever these loathsome brutes are hiding. I will not have my land harboring ruthless criminals. And you shall be rewarded. Would a healthy new milk cow be of use to you?”

  A deeper flush crept into Angus’ ruddy face. “Indeed she would. But I do not ask any reward for doin’ as I should. It is enough that ye are a fair as ye are with the rent.”

  Philip gave his arm a grateful clasp. “I would not feel right, otherwise. I will have her brought over this afternoon.”

  “Then, I thank ye. My wife will be glad to have ‘er.”

  Angus gave Katharine a curious gaze. “I thought you were a maid, miss.”

  Katharine grinned. Her heart had slowed its wild hammering and her fear was beginning to recede. “It is a long story. Perhaps I may pay you and Mary a visit and tell it sometime. Now, I think we should get our poor groom home to rest.”

  The men helped them load the boy onto his horse. They said their good-byes and the trio headed home at a brisk canter that surely jarred the head of the unfortunate groom. They were watchful and quiet for most of the trip, not relaxing until they neared the stables.

  Once there, ready hands were there to tend the injured man. Philip explained what had happened and organized a party to go with him that afternoon to scour the woods. “We will see how they behave when we come with weapons at the ready.”

  He escorted Katharine into the house. “You must go up and rest. I fear this was a dreadful shock.”

  She nodded. “I am only glad that we are all returned at no greater cost than a few bruises. Yet there is one thing that still discomfits me.”

  “What is that?”

  “Did you hear the big man say that I must not be harmed if they were to be paid? Where to you suppose they were planning to take me?”

  Philip frowned. “I do not know. But you had best stay near the house until we clean out the woods.”

  Katharine proceeded to her room and shut herself inside. Yet, she could not shut out the unsettling premonition of danger yet to come.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Katharine met Lady Charlesworth at one o’clock, after Philip had told her about the frightening attempt to abduct his future bride. She clasped Katharine’s hand. “My dear girl, what horrid distress you have had. I cannot imagine what those terrible men were doing on our land. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

  Katharine shuddered. “Did Philip tell you there was talk of pay for kidnapping me?”

  “He did. I am only thankful that those farmers heard you cry out.”

  “Have you any word on the health of the young groom?”

  Lady Charlesworth nodded. “Philip says the lad suffered no worse than a bad bruise and a cut on his cheek. My poor Philip has a bruised jaw. I ordered a cold compress. Still the purple on his cheek has crept nearly to his eye. I begged him not to ride out to the woods today but he insisted. I shall not be at peace until he has returned.”

  Katharine glanced at the mantel clock. “I suppose he wanted to try a
nd catch the miscreants at their hide out. I wonder how long it will take to find them.”

  Lady Charlesworth shrugged. “It depends upon how far they must search.”

  They continued to keep company, talking little as the afternoon wore on, their thoughts concentrated on Philip’s safety.

  He trudged into the foyer, looking completely exhausted, just before the evening meal. The ladies rose to meet him, as relieved to have him safely returned as to discover whether he had found their assailants.

  He shook his head by way of answer. “Not a sign of them. We did a thorough search and found no evidence that anyone has been camped in the woods.”

  Katharine bit her lip. “Then we may presume that they chanced upon us on their travels and decided to take me for ransom.”

  Philip ran a hand through his waves of dark hair. “It would seem so.”

  “I still do not like it,” Lady Charlesworth sputtered.

  “Nor I. But I think we may presume that they are gone,” Philip answered.

  A warm meal soon cheered them. Now that they felt assured that the men had been passing and were not likely to cause them further trouble, they could begin to forget the events of the morning. Except for the bruise on Philip’s cheek, all would be right on the morrow.

  They drifted to the library after supper. Yet, no one lingered long. The strain had made them all weary. After a while Lady Charlesworth said, “I had hoped to make a list of food to be served at the wedding. But I was quite put off by all the excitement.”

  She raised a hand to fan weakly at her face. “I find that I am now too weary to concentrate. Perhaps you would not mind if we did it tomorrow,” she told Katharine.

  “I would not mind. I am a bit weary, too.” In truth Katharine was relieved to put off the chore. And she was more than a little amused that Lady Charlesworth should be so fatigued when she had not even witnessed the events. Yet, she had never known the lady to miss an opportunity to assume an active part in any drama.

  Lady Charlesworth swept toward the door. With a glance back at the young couple, she played the proper chaperone and said, “I shall summon Lizzy to attend to you.”

  Katharine responded with a nod. “Thank you, my lady.”

  Philip rose from his chair and pulled her into his arms. “It seems will have only a few moments alone. I want you to know how terribly grateful I am that you were not torn from me today. I do not know what I would do without you.”

  Katharine reached to smooth a lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead. “You shall not have to do without me. I shall become your wife and trouble you for the next fifty years, until you are tired of my nagging.”

  He grinned down at her. “And I shall spoil you and tease you and enjoy every moment of it.”

  He rubbed his cheek. “And I shall tell everyone we know that you have a terrible temper and a wicked right fist.”

  Katharine looked shocked. “You shall do no such thing.”

  “All right. Perhaps I shall not need words to tease you. Instead…”

  He bent and bestowed a gentle kiss, then let his tongue run softly along her lips.

  Katharine shivered and pulled her arms more tightly about his shoulders.

  “Do you mind my teasing?” he murmured as he nuzzled against her ear.

  “I cannot say that I do.”

  They were interrupted as Lizzy knocked at the doorway.

  They broke apart reluctantly.

  “Is that you, Lizzy?” Katharine asked.

  “Yes, miss. Lady Charlesworth said you would be requiring me.”

  “Indeed. I am tired and ready to retire.”

  Philip clung to her hand. “Ride with me tomorrow. We will not go far, just in case there is still danger.”

  “I am not afraid. I shall be happy to ride.”

  It was a little untrue, for she did feel a slight trepidation. Yet she refused to let one unfortunate incident spoil something that she enjoyed so much and which gave her precious intimate moments with Philip.

  The next morning, Philip took three of the stable hands along when they went for a ride. Katharine would normally have objected to the intrusion. Yet today, she found it comforting. With the large escort party, she could relax and enjoy the ride to the near pond that lay within sight of the house.

  It was a pleasant outing. The lake was full of new life that Katharine found enchanting. A gaggle of geese honked noisily toward them. A family of ducks waddled back to the water, swimming in formation behind their mother who went backside up to catch a fish. The little ducklings in tiny caps of green fuzz watched as they learned how to manage their own catch. A brown otter splashed into the water along the bank, no doubt hunting his own breakfast.

  Katharine found herself loving this estate as though it were already her home. Seldom now did she think of her father’s estate with longing. Even the sting of having it entailed away to an uncle she could not admire was receding as she fell more in love with Philip and all that he held dear.

  She looked over to see Philip studying her face.

  “It is very peaceful here,” she said.

  “I used to come out here to fish when I was a boy. I have not done so in some time now.”

  “Then you shall do so soon. And I shall come with you. Perhaps we might pack a picnic.”

  He grinned. “That is a splendid idea.”

  Their mounts stood side by side as their riders lingered, content to rest a moment and take in the scene. After a time Philip placed his gloved hand atop Katharine’s own and asked earnestly, “You are happy here, are you not, Katharine?”

  Her heart swelled with the conviction of her answer. “I am very happy, Philip.”

  He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “Then I am happy, too.”

  They turned their horses back toward the stable.

  “I must leave you for a while today. I am going straight away to pick up a horse we have bought from our neighbor. I was going to wait until our original return, but since we have come back, I should like to bring him.”

  His eyes shone. “Wait until you see him. He is sixteen hands of magnificent horse flesh.”

  Katharine laughed. “Then you must show him to me the moment you return.”

  When they reached the manor, Katharine went up to change, and then had breakfast alone as Philip had already left and she assumed that Lady Charlesworth was taking her meal in her room. Upon finishing her rolls and jam, she was surprised to have Mrs. Parker inform her, “Lady Charlesworth wishes to walk with you in the garden. She is waiting near the greenhouse.”

  Katharine raised a delicate brow. “Oh really? I thought we were to meet at one o’clock.”

  Mrs. Parker frowned. A nervous twitch tugged at her cheek. “She said to meet her now, miss.”

  “Very well.”

  Katharine smoothed her skirts and skimmed through the library and out into the dewy garden. The perfume of flowers filled her senses and put her in a dreamy state. The day promised to be perfect. Philip would arrive with a new horse for her to admire. Then, they could spend the evening together and perhaps ride again in the morning.

  She paused at the greenhouse to look around. Lady Charlesworth was nowhere in sight. She stepped past the building to follow the circular path along the hedges when a hulking form sprang from beside the building. One arm grasped her so tightly about her arms that she could hardly take a breath while the other hand sealed her lips.

  He whispered fiercely into her ear. “If you was to scream and cause a scene, you will never see your young Charlesworth alive. You sees, we grabbed him and took him off to your uncle. If I fail to show up with you, the young lord dies. Now you would not be wanting that, would you, miss?”

  Katharine shook her head, her mouth brushing distastefully against the calloused palm. Her mouth had gone too dry to swallow as she tried to make sense of what was happening. All she had understood was that Philip was in danger if she did not comply.

  She peered up at the man and r
ecognized the hulking giant that had injured Philip in the previous kidnap attempt. The man held her arm in a painful grip as he pulled her through the garden toward the border of trees. She glanced up at the house, hoping, praying that someone would notice her plight.

  Mrs. Parker was standing at an upstairs window that looked down upon the garden. She was staring straight at Katharine. She must be seeing this whole frightful event. Katharine’s knees went wobbly with the relief of it. As soon as Mrs. Charlesworth was informed, she would send out a rescue.

  They reached the trees and a waiting horse. The big man tossed her onto the saddle as though she were a bag of barley and then climbed behind her. As they trotted through the woods, a hundred questions began to pepper Katharine’s thoughts. How would Lady Charlesworth know where to send rescue? What would happen to Philip? Surely, her uncle did not plan to simply release him. The thought made a cold shiver of fear snake its way along her spine. And what of Lady Charlesworth? Katharine was supposed to meet her at the greenhouse. Surely this poor excuse of a man had not injured the lady.