Beth flew down the abbey staircase, checking the floor for signs as she went. At the long gallery there were more marks and a chill cut through her nightgown. She glanced down the deserted hallway and saw that a window had been left open. She couldn’t believe such a mistake was possible after everything that had happened here these past months.
She reached for the window and lowered it, making sure to secure the latch properly. George couldn’t be going to America without her. He was just hiding in the abbey. It was a terrible, cruel dream she would wake from soon. He was safely tucked up in bed with a book hidden beneath his pillow.
“Beth?”
Leopold Randall’s voice cut through her dream like a hot knife through butter. She turned slowly, staring at him as panic rose. George could not be gone. He had to be here somewhere.
Leopold came closer. “What are you doing at the window?”
“George is gone.”
He rushed to her side. “What do you mean George is gone?”
She gestured to the window behind her, noticing that she still held the proof of his abduction in her hand. “He’s not here anymore. Henry’s taken George away from me. I’ll never see him again.”
She stared at the note as her hand trembled. She’d brought this down on her own head by loving Oliver. She moaned as the room began to spin about her.
Leopold drew closer, but he too swam before her eyes. “Why the devil would he do that?”
Beth squeezed her eyes shut. Henry had warned her he’d be watching. He’d learned about Oliver somehow and was punishing her for her faithlessness to his family. That explained his anger last night. She crumpled into a heap on the hard floor and covered her face. She only had herself to blame.
The note disappeared from her lax fingers before she could prevent it as footsteps pounded toward her. Beth looked up helplessly as Leopold read Henry’s words and learned her real character. He seemed to sway and then he looked down at her, pity in his eyes. “Is there any truth in this?”
Tobias moved into her line of sight. Shame filled her that the good people around her would find out this way, but she nodded. She wouldn’t lie and pretend to be virtuous when she was anything but.
“Damn him,” Leopold cursed. “You should have left him to burn, Tobias. That bloody bastard knew he was leaving and seduced Beth anyway.”
Tobias rushed to her side and lifted her from the floor. “Here, lean on me while Leopold gets over the shock. I’m sure you need more comfort than this. He could be at it for a while.”
Beth held tight to Tobias, her legs lacking the strength to stand unaided. “I deserve it and worse.”
Tobias led her to the drawing room and eased her into a chair before the fire. He rubbed her hands briskly. “Shh, don’t talk such nonsense. You’re so cold, luv.”
Without waiting for a reply, Tobias threw his coat about her shoulders and rubbed her arms. “Just blot out what my brother says for the moment and catch your breath.”
Beth wrung her hands, trying to instill warmth into her fingers. She’d never felt this cold or empty before. She’d never not known where her son was. He should be in his bed, not on his way to America with her duplicitous brother-in-law.
Lighter footsteps drew to a halt some feet away. “Well, I’m not surprised entirely, so do shut up, Leopold,” Blythe exclaimed with considerable heat. “Can’t you see your timing is terrible? Forget about Oliver for the moment and think about Beth. She’s in shock. Make yourself useful and pour a whiskey while we consider how to get George back.”
Leopold stopped ranting long enough to complete the task and in the sudden silence, Beth sobbed. She’d lost everything she loved. Oliver was gone, George was gone, and there was nothing she could do about the loss of either of them.
A soft arm curled about her and a glass appeared before her eyes. “Sip this, slowly. mind,” Blythe advised, rubbing her arms the way Tobias had done but more gently. Beth sipped the liquid. Her throat burned but the sensation was preferable to the cold that was consuming her. She didn’t want to think. She didn’t want to exist. She handed back the empty glass and requested another to blot out the pain. “He has a right to be angry. I’ve done a terrible thing.”
“No more whiskey for you if that’s what you’re thinking,” Blythe chided as she set the glass down. “You’ve done nothing but follow your heart. I think we can all agree that love makes us risk much when the reward can be so great.”
Beth met her gaze. “I’m being punished for that very thing, my lady. For my foolishness and stupidity. Henry will never allow me to see George again. He’s taken him away and I’ll never find him now.” She sobbed on the last and curled over as she cried.
Leopold took Blythe’s place and eased her into a sitting position again. “Did you hear nothing during the night?”
“No,” Beth gulped at the pain that engulfed her. “I wasn’t in my room last night.”
Leopold’s gaze fell to the note in his hand, his frown growing.
Beth pressed her fingers to her temples at how stupid she had been. She’d known her brother-in-law was a harder man than most, but that he might abduct George to get his way had never occurred to her. She would never have let George out of her sight for even a minute if she had suspected. “I couldn’t sleep for missing Oliver and I spent the night in his bed.”
Leopold sat back, wiping his hand across his face. “How long have you been involved with my brother?”
Blythe shushed him. “That is no one’s business but Beth’s. Now, we need to get young George back where he belongs. He must be terrified to be stolen away in the dead of night.”
Beth moaned at that image and Blythe tugged her to her feet. “Faith, now. We’ll get him back. Why don’t you come with me and get dressed? By the time we come down again, Leopold will have a plan prepared for pursuit.”
Although she didn’t want to move, she allowed herself to be led away. She put one foot before the other as she climbed the stairs with Blythe’s aid, barely noticing that Mercy had joined them, and passed into her bedchamber. The emptiness of the next room brought more tears and Mercy quickly closed the door when she continued to stare into the wreckage that was once her son’s neat room.
Numbness crept into her limbs as Blythe and Mercy undressed her from her night attire and redressed her in a warm day gown. She should have been appalled at such important women fussing over her, but she hadn’t the will to protest. The two women dressed her hair, slid stockings up her legs and tied garters around her calves, slipped her feet into sturdy shoes suitable for travel, and a hundred other small kindnesses that barely penetrated her misery.
A few minutes later, or so it seemed to Beth, she jerked upright as the carriage wheel landed in a hole. Across from her, Tobias and Blythe were talking quietly, hands firmly holding each other’s. Blythe leaned forward, peering into her eyes intently. “There you are. I was beginning to worry.”
Beth scrambled to sit straighter, looking about her in alarm. “Where are we?”
“Some miles from Romsey by now,” Tobias murmured.
Beth blinked and tried to adjust to the passage of time. How could she be here and not have noticed the change? She shook her head as her heartbeat quickened. George was gone. She longed for him and Oliver, too. She wanted them back in her arms where they belonged. “Where are we going?”
“Allen and his sons are leading the way on horseback. We’re headed south, following the trail, or at least we hope we are.”
Beside her, Leopold held out his hand. “I must apologize. It seems I’m the last to know everything about my brothers. I had no idea about Oliver. I was rude and I’m told rather hurtful in my speech to you. Forgive me.”
Beth reluctantly set her hand in his and he squeezed her fingers tightly. “There is nothing to forgive,” she whispered.
He smiled, a rueful expression that touched his eyes. “I’ve never understood my brother. I still cannot believe he abandoned you.”
She
lifted her chin, determined that there should be no misunderstandings about what had happened. “He never abandoned me. I knew he would leave.” She’d gone into the affair with her eyes wide open and had only herself to blame for the loss of her reputation and her son. She’d caused Henry to take George away to protect him from her sins. “How am I to get George back even if we find where Henry has taken him?”
Tobias leaned forward and lifted a small chest from the floor. He shook it. “Money should work nicely. Turner made it very plain last night that he’s a greedy sort.”
Leopold sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “I thought I knew him. Seems he’s much changed since we were young. I’m sorry, Beth. I invited him to call as often as he liked in order for you to become better acquainted. The servants report that windows have been found unlatched all over the abbey for days, like the one in the long gallery, but nothing has been stolen. Likely Turner’s associate entered the abbey during dinner and waited for everyone to fall asleep before creeping into George’s room.”
Beth closed her eyes. “Henry has been very taken with the view from the long-gallery windows and others inside the abbey. He must have unlatched them when I wasn’t looking.”
Dread filled her. Had Henry been planning to leave her behind from the beginning? As the carriage rolled along, Beth tried to control her panic but she was sure her brother-in-law was already out of her reach. He might not even be heading in this direction. She stared out the window, trying to form a convincing argument to explain herself and get her son back. If Oliver was here, she could beg him to write one out for her to practice. He could be very convincing when he set his mind to it. Beth’s arms ached as she wished for Oliver’s calming presence to proclaim the odds of succeeding.
“Riders and a carriage approaching fast, Mr. Randall,” the coachman called down. “Bloody hell, it’s the other Romsey coach. Hold tight.”
Beth braced herself and the coach rocked violently as they slowed and swerved to avoid the fast-approaching carriage. When they were almost at a complete stop, Leopold vaulted out the door to hurled abuse at the coachman. “Damnation. Are you trying to get us all killed?”
The other carriage’s horses drew level with the window and the sweated beasts blew steam as they snorted in the cool air. She’d never known a Romsey groom to be so shoddy with the beasts. Charles Allen would be livid when he found out.
“Carrying important cargo, sir,” the other coachman yelled back. “Thought it important to return to Romsey quick-smart.”
Men on horseback circled the carriage and when she glanced up, Mr. Allen and his sons were grinning at her happily. They tipped their hats and kicked their horses toward Romsey, leaving them behind in their dust.
Tobias poked his head out the door and then began to chuckle to himself as he stepped out, too.
“Tobias, do share the joke,” Blythe huffed.
After a moment, he held out his hand to Beth. “You’re not going to believe your luck. Come and see what the important cargo is.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
OLIVER’S PULSE SETTLED to an easy rhythm as Beth emerged from the Romsey carriage with Tobias’s assistance. She sobbed when she saw her son. George ran to her, wrapping himself tightly about her as if he’d never let her go. Oliver smiled as the happy pair clung to each other in joy. He would have been content to view their affection all day, but after a time he grew aware that Leopold was glaring at him.
“How did you come to have George Turner?” he demanded. “And why the hell are you not already on your ship?”
How indeed? He’d been mulling over that very circumstance on the return trip and was no closer to a logical answer. First the wind had prevented him from sailing that morning, turning him back the way he had come, and then their carriage had been stopped on the road. Maybe Eamon had been right. Maybe he was not meant to leave after all. “Fate showed me another path.”
Leopold’s eyes narrowed. “Fate did?”
“That, and an overturned cart blocking our way.” Eamon grinned, rubbing his hands as he warmed to the tale. “Oliver’s got damn sharp eyes and saw young George being pulled into a seedy tavern and his mother was not with him. Had a little chat with Beth’s brother-in-law and came to a satisfactory agreement.”
“Eamon,” Leopold groaned, scolding for the implied outcome.
His friend held up his hands. “None of the negations were my doing.”
“It was Oliver,” George piped up. “He made Uncle Henry give me up.”
Beth hugged George to her again and then knelt to examine his bruised face. Her brow creased in concern and Oliver wanted nothing more than to reassure her that there would be no lasting harm.
Leopold’s frown grew. “How exactly did you do change his mind? Did you bribe him with your funds for the trip?”
Oliver had thought little of his lost funds or his trip since his first sighting of George being dragged into the inn. He really should have alerted the captain that they wouldn’t be joining him for the trip, but getting the boy back to his mother was much more important than any travel plans. “The patrons of the inn where George was being held were very appreciative of my contribution,” Oliver murmured eventually. “But Henry Turner will not show his face again.”
When Leopold continued to stare, Eamon drew him aside but spoke loud enough to be heard by all. “If I can make a suggestion, sir, it’s not in anyone’s best interests to make him angry again. You won’t like it. Trust me on this.”
“Oliver.” Leopold spun around, ignoring Eamon’s warning. “What the devil did you do? You didn’t murder Turner, did you?”
George started to giggle. “He made him soil his trousers in front of everyone.”
“Oliver,” Elizabeth chided. “That wasn’t very nice.”
Now that she had noticed him, Oliver strolled toward her. His hands itched to touch her skin and never let her go. “He wasn’t a very nice man to begin with. Never did like him and even more so when I saw what he’d done to you and George. We returned as fast as we could.”
“Thank you. I’m forever in your debt for rescuing my son.”
He touched her cheek gently. “There is no debt between us to be repaid. It was my pleasure.”
Elizabeth’s frown grew as she drew back. “Your trip?”
“Will still be there when I want to go.” He gestured to his carriage, hoping she would travel with him so they might talk privately. “Shall we return to Romsey?”
“You’re coming home with us?” Beth appeared shocked. “Surely there is another ship that might take you another day. There’s money in our carriage should you require reimbursement. I’m sure your brother will repay you for the inconvenience we’ve caused and I can repay him later when I can.”
“There’s no inconvenience involved.” He smiled, a little puzzled that she did not appear keen to have him go home with them. “It’s not money I need.”
Her skin pinked and she took a further step back, increasing the distance so he’d either have to shout or follow. “Thank you for returning George to me.”
George squawked a protest as he was pulled away to the other carriage. Oliver followed Elizabeth’s retreat in confusion. What had he said wrong this time?
Eamon clapped him on the shoulder. “Remember what you said you’d do before. Let her go for now.”
Although he didn’t want to, he had little choice but to return to his carriage without the two people that mattered most to him. He sat in glum silence as the carriage got underway. Because they faced the right direction, their carriage went first, but he called out to the driver to wait and allow the other to lead the way. At least this way he would know exactly where they were and occasionally catch sight of their carriage at any curve in the road.
They rattled through Romsey’s gates hours later and drew up before the house, which was cloaked in darkness. Oliver was quick to get out but was too late. Elizabeth had already disappeared inside the abbey, taking with George with
her.
Leopold stepped up to his side. “I’d like a word with you in private.”
“It can wait.” He stepped away but Leopold’s hand clamped onto his arm and held him back.
“I don’t believe it can. Now. In the study.”
Tobias drew closer and frowned at their elder brother. “It really is none of our business, Leopold.”
“You stay out of it.” Leopold gestured for Oliver to precede him and, sensing the inevitability of the discussion, Oliver walked toward the duke’s study, disappointment clouding his mind. He’d deal with whatever was on Leopold’s agenda and then find Elizabeth and George and make plans for them all.
He moved into the quiet room and stood waiting.
Leopold wasted no time. “You seduced her and left her. How dare you, sir! I brought her here—my friend’s widow—to make her life better, not to become your plaything. Have you no conscience, no sense of duty to her or your family? Imagine my surprise to learn that you’ve been sniffing round her skirts while my back was turned.”
“It would have been far more disrespectful to Elizabeth to have made love to her where you could see,” he pointed out.
“So you do not deny that you seduced her.”
A smile tugged at Oliver’s lips. “You make it sound as if I imposed on her.”
Leopold deflated quickly. “Well, didn’t you?”
“Of course not. We discussed the matter in detail beforehand and she was well aware of my plans to leave. I was careful not to get her with child. Not that this is any of your concern. If I remember correctly, you bedded a married woman and got a child on her and didn’t even know her name. Elizabeth is a widow. Our affair hurt no one.”
“It hurt her.”
Oliver frowned. “In light of my reception today, I think you may be exaggerating. It is clear that she’s not happy to see me again. Perhaps I should resume my journey without delay after all.”
“No, you won’t,” Tobias’s voice cut in from the doorway. “You didn’t see her face yesterday after you left. A sorrier sight I’ve never seen. She missed you terribly and you’ve only been gone a day.”
Guarding the Spoils (The Wild Randalls - Book 3) Page 22