by Alec, Joyce
Hurry, her mind screamed as she felt up above the window. Find something. Anything!
“Hutton?” came the voice. “Aren’t you getting out?”
Lucy said nothing, praying that Edward, too, would remain silent. His eyes were still closed, although he did not look to be unconscious again.
“Looking for me to open the carriage door, are you?” came the voice again, this time fraught with tension and a trace of mockery. “Or is it because your bulk will not allow you to exit without the steps?” A harsh laugh echoed through the air, making Lucy’s skin crawl.
She could not find a gun, could not find any sort of weapon that would allow her to take control of the situation.
She could not give up, not now.
Suddenly, an idea hit Lucy full force. It was incredibly dangerous, but it was the only solution she could think of.
“Trust me, Edward,” she whispered, leaning forward to press a kiss to his cool cheek. “And stay here.”
Knowing that the driver would be placing the foldable carriage steps to the door on her left, Lucy pushed open the right-hand side carriage door and peered out.
There was no sight nor sound of anyone, and, with trepidation, she slowly lowered herself to the ground, hoping her slippers would make very little noise. Holding her breath, she waited until she heard the driver muttering from the other side of the carriage with the sound of the portable steps being put in place.
“There, Hutton,” the driver sneered. “Hurry up, man! Didn’t you say we…”
His voice trailed off, and Lucy fled to the front of the carriage at once, hauling herself up into the driver’s seat as best as she could. Sweat trickled down her back as she maneuvered herself in, grasping the reins and startling the horses. The driver’s shout told her that he had opened the door and discovered Lord Hutton’s absence, giving her the impetus she needed to tug hard on the reins. The horses jumped into action at once, and she flicked the reins once, twice, until they were moving swiftly away.
Lucy did not know where she was going, trying her best to maneuver the carriage along the streets of London in a desperate attempt to lose the driver, who, she assumed, would be chasing them on foot. She could not tell how Edward fared, nor whether the driver was close behind them or not, turning the horses as best she could down one street and then another.
“Left!”
Startled, Lucy visibly jumped, only to realize that Edward was shouting directions at her from inside the carriage.
“Turn left, Lucy!”
With hands gripping the reins in an almost deathly grip, Lucy turned the horses left and then right, following Edward’s directions. Relief flooded her as she saw the entrance to his home, and she turned the horses back into the gate. Mustering the last of her energy, she pushed the tired horses a little faster until, finally, they arrived back at the front of the house.
13
An array of footmen met them at the entrance, followed by Lucy’s terrified mother and Lady Blackinstore.
“Lucy!” her mother exclaimed, her eyes wide with fright. “Where have you been? Where is Edward? What on earth is going on?”
“I am well,” came Edward’s thin voice from within the carriage. He had opened the door to make himself visible to his mother. “Although I think I might need some assistance to come inside.”
Lucy could not move, could not speak, her hands frozen to the reins as she sat up in the driving seat, her heart slowly calming its frantic pace. She had made it back safely with Edward. She was not about to lose him, nor was she in mortal danger. That realization filled her with relief, although her body was growing colder by the minute.
“Come down, Lucy!” her mother exclaimed, reaching up for her. “Come in, you must come in!”
“I—” Lucy opened her mouth to try to explain that she could not do as her mother asked, only for her mother to grasp her skirts and tug gently at them. It was the fear and worry on her mother’s face that finally allowed Lucy to let go of the reins and make her way down from the carriage, sagging against her mother the moment her feet touched the ground.
“Oh, my dear,” Lady Withington whispered, pulling Lucy into a tight embrace. “You had me so terribly worried.”
Lucy did not know what to say, slowly realizing that her mother truly did care for her. All this time, Lucy had thought her mother only really cared about one thing: for Lucy to marry. But it appeared that she was, in truth, deeply concerned over her daughter.
“I did not know what to think,” her mother continued, her voice wavering. “The footman appeared to tell us that you had seen a carriage. Your father immediately raced after him, leaving myself and Lady Blackinstore to follow behind.”
“Where is Papa?” Lucy asked, pulling back from her mother’s arms in search of her father. “He is safe, I hope?”
“I cannot say,” her mother replied, glancing around as though he might appear out of the gloom somewhere.
Lucy leaned heavily against the carriage for a moment, drinking in the fact that she was safe and well. Two footmen helped Edward out of the carriage, and although he was leaning heavily on one of them, he opened his free arm towards her. Lucy did not hesitate to move towards him as quickly as she could, exhaustion flooding her.
“My wonderful Lucy,” he whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder, with one hand wrapping itself around his neck. “I cannot believe what you did. Incredible, wise, brave Lucy. I would have been at the bottom of the Thames if it had not been for your quick thinking and courage.”
“The bottom of the Thames?” Lady Blackinstore repeated, her voice growing faint. “Whatever are you talking about, Edward?”
Lucy could not reply and neither, it seemed, could Edward. Instead, they remained as they were for a good few minutes, simply clinging to one another as though they needed reassurance that they were truly still alive, still together. Lucy felt tears clog her throat as she looked up into his face, seeing the makeshift bandage still in place. What horrors had Hutton planned for him?
“None of that,” he whispered, apparently able to read her thoughts. “I can tell from your face that you are worrying about Lord Hutton. Do not fear him. Come, we must go inside and rest.”
“And the guests,” his mother interrupted, drawing herself up tall. “What of them?”
Edward retorted, shaking his head at his mother. “After what we have been through this evening, I cannot think of festivities, nor do I have the strength to even stand for one dance!”
“But what shall we tell them?”
Lucy, keeping her arm around Edward’s waist, began to walk with him towards the house.
“Why not tell them the truth, my lady?” she suggested. “That way, your ball will be the talk of the town for weeks and months to come, and since this one was so rudely interrupted by Lord Hutton attempting to dispose of your son, I should think that you might throw another one in its place!”
Lady Blackinstore opened her mouth to reply, but slowly closed it, her eyes growing thoughtful. One more glance at Edward and her mind was settled.
“You are right,” she said, walking with them back towards the house. “It was rude of me to consider the guests before your own well-being, Edward—and yours too, my dear Lucy. You must forgive an old woman’s foibles.”
“Of course,” Lucy replied as Edward said just the same thing.
“I shall speak to our guests and return to you in the drawing room as soon as I am able,” she finished, giving them both a quick smile before rushing ahead back into the house.
“Are you sure you can manage, my dear?”
Lucy smiled and nodded to her mother, knowing that the footman was taking most of Edward’s weight but unable to physically separate herself from him. The memory of how she had first seen him—lying across the carriage seats, his skin so cool and damp to the touch—reminded her of just how close she had come to losing him forever.
“Almost there,” Edward murmured
as the door to the drawing room was held open and he was gently placed down into one of the seats. Lucy took her seat next to him at once, still troubled by his weakness.
“I am sure I shall be quite all right,” Edward reassured her while Lucy’s mother gave rapid instructions to one of the footmen. “In truth, I am only a little dizzy, my love. Do not look so frightened.”
“I am not frightened,” Lucy replied, a little more loudly than she had intended. “I am tired, that is all, and worried about you.”
“Come here,” Edward mumbled, pulling her towards him. Despite the presence of her mother, Lucy leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder whilst he kept one hand around her shoulders. Lucy saw her mother glance at them, but to her surprise, there was only a small smile and a softness in her features that told Lucy she did not mind in the least.
* * *
One hour later, the doctor had only just left Edward’s side, having cleaned the wound and giving him something to help him sleep, although Edward declared he would not drink a drop of it.
Lucy had been refreshed with tea and cakes, and Lady Blackinstore came in to announce that the news had thrown everyone into a whirlwind of excitement and that she expected the rumors to continue for weeks. She seemed quite happy at this news, too, although her smile faded slightly on seeing Edward’s wounded head.
“I am well, Mama,” Edward insisted, catching her hand. “You do not need to worry. Just a small concussion.”
Lucy’s father, who had entered some time ago with a look of satisfaction on his face, cleared his throat loudly.
“I thought we had better discuss what occurred this evening,” he said once everyone’s attention had been caught. “I do not even know what happened to Lucy, nor Edward, although I am glad to see you both back safely.”
Lucy looked to Edward, feeling tiredness seep into her muscles and down into her bones. “Lord Hutton was to blame, Papa.”
Edward squeezed her hand gently. “I have been a little concerned over Lord Hutton of late, I must confess, but I had stationed the footmen to ensure he did not set foot on the grounds. However, he somehow managed to make his way inside, and with the help of one of the ruffians he has under his control, he took me by surprise. That is all I remember…”
“I did wonder where you had gone when you did not return,” Lucy added, glancing at him.
“It was Lucy who sounded the alarm,” Lady Blackinstore interrupted, smiling fondly at her. “And it was she who told the footman that she had seen the carriage.”
Lucy felt herself blush at the admiration in Lady Blackinstore’s voice. “I did think it was strange for someone to be leaving the ball so soon, and I could not waste time in returning to the drawing room to fetch Papa.”
“It is just as well you chose to come at once,” Edward replied. “Although I am still not quite sure how you managed to end up in the carriage?”
Every eye was suddenly on her and Lucy’s cheeks grew even hotter. Briefly, she sketched out the details of what had happened and the decisions she’d made, hearing her mother gasp on occasion as she continued with the description. “I do not know what happened with Lord Hutton,” she finished heavily. “When I pushed him from the carriage, I saw him attempt to rise, but he may well have escaped.”
To her surprise, her father let out a guffaw. “He was trying to, that oaf, but he twisted an ankle and, given his excessive weight, could do nothing but crawl.”
A spiral of hope rushed through Lucy. “You mean, you found him?”
“He is with the constable as we speak,” her father replied, looking more than a little satisfied. “He will feel the full extent of the law, have no doubt about that.” His mouth drew into a thin line. “I will make sure of it.”
Lucy swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, relief sending tears to the corners of her eyes. “Thank you, Papa,” she whispered, hardly able to speak.
He shook his head. “I should never have pushed him towards you,” he said quietly. “I am sorry, both to you and to Edward. I can see now that you are well-suited for one another. Your thirst for knowledge helped you tonight, I can see that now. In truth, my dear, I consider you quite remarkable.”
“She is unlike any other woman of my acquaintance,” Edward added, his thumb rubbing the back of Lucy’s hand. “I know that might seem like a bad quality to some, but to me, it is more than I have ever hoped for. I cannot wait to make Lucy my wife. Without her, I might not have returned home tonight. She has proven her strength and courage, her mettle and fortitude. I could not be prouder of her, nor love her more.”
Lucy could hardly breathe. As she looked up into Edward’s eyes, the rest of the room faded away, leaving only her and her betrothed. How much she loved him, how much her heart yearned for him when he was apart from her. Smiling through her tears of relief and joy, Lucy leaned up and pressed her lips lightly to his, not caring that others were present.
“I love you with all of my heart, Edward,” she breathed, seeing the answering love resonate in his eyes. “I could not bear to see you harmed. I swear that I will always stay by your side, support you and love you in all that you do.” Remembering how they had first met, she gave a slight shake of her head. “After all, you saved me from Lord Hutton once, and now it was my turn to save you.”
Edward lifted her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss against it, shooting sparks of heat up her arm. “I did not know how lucky I would be when I made such a promise to you, Lucy,” he murmured gently, so only Lucy could hear. “That night in the arbor, I considered it simply an easy solution for us both, but look how quickly I fell for you. No one in the world can compare to you, and I consider myself the luckiest gentleman in England to have you by my side. Our wedding cannot come soon enough.”
Lucy’s heart burst with happiness. As she settled herself against Edward’s side, her eyes closed with a combination of contentedness and exhaustion. She had never imagined that the man she had met that night in the arbor would turn out to be the answer to all her prayers, the man who would love her as much as she loved him.
“I love you, Edward,” she whispered, safe by Edward’s side.
* * *
LOVE THIS STORY? ENJOY THE COLLECTION
HEARTS AND EVER AFTERS: REGENCY ROMANCE COLLECTION
Heart of a Marquess
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Heart of a Marquess
Text Copyright © 2018 by Joyce Alec
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
First printing, 2018
Publisher
Love Light Faith, LLC
400 NW 7th Avenue, Unit 825
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
1
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Miss Charlotte Richardson smiled softly as her mother’s hand was pressed to the lips of her new husband, the Earl of Hardwick. Her mother had eyes only for the earl as they left the church, making Charlotte’s heart fill with joy. She had seen the pain her mother had been in over the death of her first husband some years ago, and now, it seemed, that pain was gone. The Earl of Hardwick was a kind man, and certainly a generous husband, and that made Charlotte more than glad over the marriage.
“It seems as though we are to be sisters after all.”
Charlotte turned her head to see her new stepsister, Lady Emma, who was tossing her blonde curls in frustration. Her blue eyes were filled with regret and irritation, which was quite the opposite of what Charlotte felt.
“It seems we shall be,” Charlotte replied quietly, without even the slightest hint of mali
ce. “And I, for one, am glad of it.”
“Humph!” Lady Emma huffed and moved away from Charlotte almost immediately, making Charlotte more than aware of her stepsister’s dislike.
If only Lady Emma had been more open to Charlotte’s presence, then this might have been the perfect happy ending for both her and her mother. But, as it was, Charlotte was simply going to have to make the best of it. She smiled broadly as her mother waved delightedly from the carriage, which began to trundle away. The wedding breakfast was to take place at the earl’s townhouse—which was to be Charlotte’s new home—and from there, the earl and her mother would go on a brief honeymoon and leave Charlotte and Lady Emma in the care of his older, widowed sister, a Lady Perrin, whom Charlotte had only met on one prior occasion. The lady was kind enough, but it was all a little overwhelming, given that things had already changed so drastically in her life.
Settling herself in her own carriage and ignoring the baleful looks Lady Emma shot at her as she sat down, Charlotte smiled softly to herself and allowed her eyes to drift closed as swathes of emotion draped themselves around her. Pain and happiness twined together, bringing both tears and smiles. She missed her father, her kind, loving, gentle father, who had left them all too soon.
A heart problem, the doctor had said. At the time, Charlotte had not been able to make any sense of what had occurred, lost in the grief of losing her parent. It had been so sudden. One moment, her father was laughing and smiling, continuing with his duties and his engagements as he normally would—and the next, he was gone. The coldness of his hand was something Charlotte knew she would never forget.
She had been left adrift for a while, trying to comfort her mother whilst dealing with her own pain. How grateful she had been that her uncle, the new viscount, had allowed them to return to London and live in what had been their townhouse, even though it now belonged to her uncle. He had been most generous towards them, for which Charlotte had been most grateful. There, she and her mother had spent their year of mourning—and then two more years after that.