Ann’s insides twisted themselves into knots as she realized just how serious the man was.
Stay alive, she told herself. For her child. Stay alive.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Duke of Norwich handed the reins to one of Brookenham’s stable boys, then placed his fists to the small of his back as he twisted and stretched.
Every muscle ached. He’d ridden through the night changing horses twice. And that was after a long ride to the Gresham’s. Of course, his body ached.
And why? Because his wife had chosen to leave her home. Once again, he wondered why she had done such a thing. Didn’t she realize how upset he would be? Didn’t she care?
Glancing up at the afternoon sun, he felt a small surge of pride. He’d made good time. His body might protest. But that hadn’t stopped him.
“Your Grace?” Wesley, Brookenham’s butler said as he stepped out of the house.
“My wife?” he asked. “Has she arrived safely?”
The butler nodded, “Yes, Your Grace.”
The Duke of Norwich sighed. One concern eliminated. Passing the butler, he started for the front door, determined to find his wife and what exactly she was doing thinking of leaving home like this.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” Wesley said with a frown. “Her Grace left several hours ago. I believe she is visiting her sisters.”
The Duke slammed to halt. He nodded to himself then said, “Have them put my bag in my wife’s room.”
The Butler nodded. “Should I inform cook that you will be dining with us this evening?”
The Duke scoffed and shook his head. How should he know what he would be doing this evening? It seemed his wife had other plans and had not yet chosen to inform him.
“If we do, it will be a light meal. Nothing special is necessary.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” the butler said. But, the Duke could tell the man was confused. Two people appear separately on his doorstep while his employer was away. The rules of the ton said that he must treat them like guests. Yet they refused to let him do his job. Very confusing.
The Duke laughed to himself as he started for the cottage. His heart jumped with the thought of seeing his wife again. It had only been a day, a long grueling day and night, yet he had missed her.
And they were going to solve this now. His wife was not going to run off like this. Especially without telling him why she was upset. It just wasn’t right.
When he reached the orchard, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he passed their tree. It would always be their tree he realized. Without a doubt one of the most important trees in the world if you were to ask him.
As he hurried down the trail, he found his pace increasing the closer he got.
There it was, the same fence, the same roses. He could see that Brookenham had the roof repaired. He smiled to himself as he paused for a second to take a deep breath and steel himself.
Why had she left?
No, it wasn’t important. All that was important was that he fix whatever problem she might have so that they could once again be together.
Letting out a long breath, he opened the gate. When he knocked on the front door he stepped back, hoping it would be Ann that answered. He wanted to see her eyes when she saw him. Would they be afraid? Happy? Nervous?
The door opened and young Isobel stood before him with a frown that quickly shifted over to a large smile as she recognized him.
“Daniel,” she said as she started to move towards him, obviously intending to give him a hug but she quickly remembered her manners and dropped a curtsey. “Your Grace.”
He smiled as he bent at the waist, taking her hand and raising it to kiss.
She blushed furiously then frowned, “Why are you here?”
His insides tightened up into a knot as a worry began to build inside of him.
“To take your sister home,” he said as he looked over her shoulder and into the house.
Lydia came to the door to stand next to her sister. She frowned, “Ann? She’s not here.”
Norwich winced. No, she must still be up at the manor. He sighed at the lost time. What is more, the servants would tell her of his arrival and he would not be able to surprise her and would get no indication of her inner thoughts.
“Is everything all right?” Isobel asked as she and Lydia stepped back so that he might enter.
The Duke remained outside as he tried to give them a reassuring smile. “She must still be up at the manor. When I arrived, they thought she had already come here.”
“You didn’t travel together,” Lydia asked, getting to the heart of the problem immediately.
“No, no,” he said as he stepped back, “Business.”
The two girls frowned at him.
“You two stay here. I will go get her and we will be back shortly.”
Both girls smiled, obviously thrilled with the idea of their sister returning.
Norwich, however, couldn’t stop himself from frowning. It was hard to imagine Ann traveling all this way and not immediately coming to her sisters.
They had not been lying to him, she was not there. Neither Lydia nor Isobel were the type of people that could easily deceive others. No, they had obviously been shocked. So why? Where had his wife gone?
He frowned to himself as he began the long walk to the manor. His head down, his hands behind his back. Why was his wife hiding from him? What had he done? Or failed to do? None of it made any sense.
As he walked, a fear began to build inside him. A sense that things were wrong. While he could almost understand his wife leaving. He couldn’t accept that she would ignore her sisters. It didn’t make sense. At least not until he saw the small thread trapped on the thorn of a bush by the side of the trail.
Ann’s. it had to be, he thought as he leaned down to examine it. And there, a small knee print in the soft earth. He frowned to himself until he recognized a clear footprint. A woman’s slipper print, off the trail, pointed towards the forest.
Why would a woman walk that way? Under no circumstances could he think of a reason for Ann to go exploring in the forest without visiting her sisters first.
Frowning, he found himself following the obvious slipper prints. Sometimes, it appeared as if she’d stepped in every soft piece of earth she could find.
He was smiling to himself, she was leading him on a chase. Then, his heart froze. A boot mark. A man’s boot mark. Large and deep.
A cold fear filled him. Only to be replaced with a flash of rage. Had his wife left him to meet a secret lover? Had she played him for the fool?
A deep anger washed over him. He’d kill the man.
No, it couldn’t be. Not his Ann. Yet a doubt settled in the bottom of his stomach. How well did he know her? Truly know her. Their time together had been a whirlwind. They had never really discussed their wishes their desires.
Instead, she had been compromised. But what if it had all been her plan from the start. Perhaps the man was married himself and this was her way to escape. But, after only a month, she could no longer stay away and traveled back here to meet her lover.
His jaw tightened as a scowl broke across his face. It didn’t matter why. He would kill him with his bare hands.
Keeping his eyes focused on the ground he started after them.
No, not his Ann, he thought as a sadness filled him. Not his Ann. Surely this was not the woman he had come to know. She was sweet, kind, honorable.
He shook his head as he scoffed. He would not be the first man fooled by a woman. Heaven knew there were more than a few that he could name. The thought that he might be another such idiot washed him in shame.
No. Surely, he couldn’t be that wrong. Everything he thought about the way the world worked was dependent on him not being that wrong.
His heart raced, his hands clenched into fists as he hurried to catch up to them. The sooner he did, the sooner his fears would be answered and the sooner he could end this.
Chapter Twen
ty-Five
Ann sat on the cold ground, her hands around her knees, as she watched the two men. Parker paced back and forth. Like a caged animal, desperate, dangerous. Mr. Evans shook his head at his partner.
“I’m telling you,” Mr. Evans said, “we need but send word and the man will come. Alone, I assure you. He will never risk his wife.”
Parker scowled. “It will take too long. When she is found to be missing, they will send out search parties. Let loose the hounds. They will track us down.”
Mr. Evans frowned as the realization sank in.
“There is no one at the main house,” he said. “Just servants. No one is going to arrange a search party. They will just assume she is at her sisters'. The girls never knew she was to arrive. No one will know she is missing.”
Ann’s stomach fell as she realized just how true that was. No one would know. No one would rescue her. She fought to hold a tear from forming in the corner of her eye. Oh, Daniel, she thought. She was so sorry. Why had she ever left the safety of his home? Why had she put their child at risk?
She had been such a fool. Her husband had given her everything, A home, wealth, status, companionship. Even a child. And she had been so ungrateful. So pig-headed that she had thrown it all away.
Why? All because the man didn’t love her. All because she feared to loose her soul to him. Oh, how stupid she had been. Such a complete idiot.
The thought filled her with shame and regret. If she could only have an opportunity to do things differently.
Sighing to herself, she wiped away the tear.
The two men ignored her until Parker slammed to a halt. Paused for a moment, then nodded. “You are correct. We should send word. You should go to the village, send a note.”
Ann’s insides curled up with fear. If she was left alone with this man there was no telling what he might do to her. Of that, there was no doubt in her mind. Luckily Mr. Evans saw the same possibility.
He shook his head and said, “You should be the one to go.”
Parker frowned, “Why me?”
“They know me in the village. Not you.”
Parker continued to frown as he looked away from his partner so that he could stare at her. Ann could tell by the way his eyes traveled over that he was fighting with himself. His partner was right, yet he hated the idea of not getting what he wanted.
Ann held her breath. This was the moment. Her stomach tightened as she felt her body break into a cold sweat. His eyes bored into her until at last, he shook his head.
“No,” he said. “Not before I get what I want. What are you going to do? Shoot me?”
The evil man started towards her. Ann gasped as she scrambled to put her back against a boulder. She quickly glanced at Mr. Evans, her eyes pleading with him. But the man only shrugged and turned his back to her and her attacker.
Her insides quivered with fear as Parker advanced towards her. His large knife waving in front of him, a sick smile on his face as he thought about what he was going to do to her.
Stay alive, she told herself. No matter what, stay alive. But deep in her soul, she knew that was unlikely. Once he was done with her, he would kill her and enjoy doing it.
Swallowing hard, she frantically looked for a way out. Some way to escape. But she was trapped. There was no way out.
A strange sound from the forest edge followed by “What the hell …” pulled her attention away from the man preparing to attack her.
Daniel. Her Daniel. Standing there like a solid pillar of granite. A stone pillar with a confused frown on his face. But pure strength none the less.
Her heart soared as a flash of hope filled her. Almost immediately to be replaced with a new fear. Daniel could be hurt. No, that could not be allowed to happen.
“What is the meaning of this,” her husband said as he stormed into the camp. “Ann?”
Parker had twisted around, his knife pointed at this new threat. Mr. Evans had done the same with his pistol. Daniel ignored them as he continued to walk towards her, his eyes silently asking if she was all right.
He did care, she thought. But then, she was his wife. Society demanded that he care for her personal well-being.
“Ann,” he said as came to a halt only a few feet away, completely ignoring the two men with weapons. “Why did you leave our home?”
She started to stammer, that had not been the question she had anticipated in that particular situation.
“Is this him?” Parker asked her. “Your husband? The Duke himself?”
Ann ignored him as she looked up into Daniel’s eyes. The man really wanted an answer. At a time like this.
He pulled his gaze away from her to glance at Parker. “Excuse me, I wish to talk to my wife.”
Parker’s eyes grew very big. “So, it is you,” he screamed as he lunged at Daniel. Her husband stepped to the side and brought his hand down on his attacker's arm, dislodging the knife, then threw a heavy punch to the man’s stomach. A punch so hard, the man was lifted from the ground.
As Parker fell to the ground, gasping for air, Daniel picked up the knife and again addressed his wife.
“Why did you leave?”
Ann again stammered. Then glanced at Mr. Evans who stood but a few yards away, his pistol twitching in his nervous hands. When she looked back at Daniel, she couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Because you don’t love me.”
He stepped back as if she had slapped him, his brow furrowing in confusion. Then a large smile broke out on his face.
“Ann ….” He began.
“St … step away from there,” Mr. Evans stammered as he waved his pistol. On the ground, Parker was regaining his breath and had pushed himself up to his hands and knees.
Daniel frowned for a second as he turned and kicked Parker in the gut. Once again emptying the man of air. Then turning to Mr. Evans, he slowly shook his head as he approached the former agent.
Ann’s heart raced. No, Daniel couldn’t do this. He was facing a man with a pistol. His life could be ended instantly. No. Every worry. Every regret fell away. No. He could not be killed.
“Sir, that is a flintlock. Correct?” Daniel asked him as he continued to approach.
The agent paused for a second to look down at the pistol in his hand. That was all Daniel needed. He sprang forward, knocking the pistol aside. The weapon exploded in a flash of smoke as a heavy bang echoed through the forest.
Ann’s heart stopped as she watched Daniel punch the agent so hard, the man fell like a sack of potatoes dropped from a roof.
He was alive, she realized. He had done it, disarmed the man.
“Now then, Ann,” her husband said as he turned towards her.
She held her breath as he walked towards her. Each step bringing him closer
He studied her for a moment then glanced over at Parker. He frowned down at the man.
“The crown takes a dim view on people who kidnap duchesses,” he said to the man on the ground. “I want you to remember this when they put the hangman’s noose around your throat.” Then he kicked the outlaw between the legs. Hard.
Parker screamed and curled himself into a tight ball.
Once again, Daniel looked at her with a questioning frown.
“Now then, what is this idiotic idea that I don’t love you? Of course, I do, you are my wife.”
Ann sighed heavily as her heart broke. “That is not the same thing. And you know it.”
He continued to frown as he reached down to help her up. The touch of his hand sent a tingle through her body as she looked up into his eyes.
“Ann,” he said with a small smirk. “I have been in love with you since the moment you fell into my arms.”
Her heart slammed to a stop as she searched his eyes. Did he mean it? Had her worries been nothing more than the silly thoughts of a stupid girl.
“But … You never said anything?”
His brow narrowed as his gaze sharpened. “Of course not. I thought it was rather obvious.”
&n
bsp; She sighed in frustration, could the man really be this idiotic.
“How was I to know?” she said as she frantically ran through her memories searching for any hint of his true feelings.
He sighed heavily as he pulled her into his arms. “Lady Ann Norwich, what am I going to do with you. … Very well then. Let me be clear on the matter, just so there is no further misunderstanding.
“I am in love with you. I will always be in love with you. I find you unbelievably remarkable. Enticing, kind, beautiful, mysterious, maddening at times. But always, the love of my life.”
Her heart melted. The man was serious. He really did feel that way. One thing she knew for a fact. Her husband had never lied to her. He really did love her.
For the first time in her life, she felt truly secure. Truly safe.
Without thought, her hand came to rest on her stomach as she smiled up at her husband.
“I am with child,” she said without really thinking the matter through.
His scowl froze for a second to be quickly replaced by a broad grin.
“Are you sure?” he asked her, his brow furrowing with doubt.
She nodded quickly. He continued to smile down at her then reached down to scope her up and hold her to his chest. Her heart broke. He was happy. He was overjoyed to know that he was to become a father.
“Don’t ever do that again,” he said as he kissed her forehead. “Leave me like that. Do you understand? Never.”
She smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. No, she would never leave him. Why would she? The man loved her. It was all she had ever wanted.
Epilogue
Ann couldn’t stop smiling as the Bishop poured the holy water over her son’s head. Christening him, John, the Marquise of Salisbury the future Duke of Norwich.
Her husband smiled down at her as the baby cried, obviously upset at the indignity of it all. Ann couldn’t help but smile. She had already learned a great deal about her son. The boy was demanding, curious, and a born flirt. But he hated being surprised.
Smiling, she accepted him back and rocked him until he stopped crying.
Both Lydia and Isobel looked on, each of them demanding an opportunity to hold the little dear. Ann gave him a quick hug then handed him to his aunts. She hated the idea of him being out of her arms. She could hold him forever. But it was only fair that she allowed her sisters to enjoy him as well.
Duke In Disguise (The Stafford Sisters Book 1) Page 18