by Cheryl Holt
“The lord of the castle always weds at Christmas,” Melvina added.
“John is a rich, handsome fellow,” Mr. Townsend said. “It’s hard for a girl to resist him when he starts in on her. I wish you’d asked me about him before you disgraced yourself. I could have saved you a ton of misery.”
Winnie blushed ten shades of red. It was humiliating to have such scandalous comments aired in Bobby’s presence, humiliating to have the affair bandied to all the Dunn cousins.
She decided to make light of Mr. Townsend’s remarks. “Thank you for worrying about me and Lord John, Mr. Townsend. I’m sure you have my best interests at heart.”
“Pompous witch,” he muttered, and he might have launched into a diatribe, but Melvina held up a hand, preventing any outburst.
“As Lord John’s betrothed,” Melvina said, “I’m entitled to compensation for what you’ve wrongly taken from me.”
“I’ve taken nothing, and I owe you nothing,” Winnie insisted. “Lord John was kind to me, and I’m grateful. I won’t apologize.”
“Again, Miss Watson,” Melvina fumed, “I must warn you to be silent. Listen for once.”
“I’m listening, but you never say anything worth hearing.”
“I could have you tarred and feathered.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Winnie huffed.
“Or I could lock you in the dungeon and have you flogged twice a day for a fortnight.”
“You could not.”
“It’s our way, Miss Watson. A loose flirt has to pay the price for her immorality, and the woman who is betrayed picks what the price is to be.”
There was a rustling in the crowd, anger and resentment wafting by. Winnie glanced over her shoulder, and she was actually a tad frightened by what she observed.
They were a bunch of rustic peasants in the worst sense of the word. She was lucky they hadn’t raised allegations of her using witchcraft to bewitch John. If it had been a few decades earlier, they might have been marching her out to the stake to burn her alive.
She could barely keep her temper in check, and she yanked her livid gaze to Melvina. “What is it you seek from me, Mistress Dunn, and before you respond, I should tell you that I’m leaving Dunworthy.”
Bobby gaped at her. “You’re what?”
“I’m leaving, Bobby.” She rested a palm on his shoulder. “I would have told you out on the cliffs, but I couldn’t figure out how.”
“You’re not leaving,” he firmly stated. “Lord John fancies you, and he wouldn’t want you to go.”
“He and I discussed it,” she said, “and he’s aware of my plans.”
It was a little white lie. She and John had discussed it, and he’d been adamant that she was staying, but she wouldn’t mention that portion of the conversation.
“That can’t be true.” Bobby was practically begging.
“It is, Bobby,” she gently said. “I brought you and Jane to Dunworthy to get you settled, but that was the sole purpose for my accompanying you.”
“No, it wasn’t! We agreed that you’d remain with us. You can’t abandon us.” He waved a hand at the Dunn cousins. “Not with these people. How could you even consider it?”
“Initially, I assumed I’d tarry, but I could never fit in here. You and Jane have earned spots for yourself, and you’ll be fine.”
Suddenly, he didn’t look quite so grown up. The boy he’d been when she first met him—the boy she knew so well and liked so much—his expression was poking through.
“You can’t depart, Miss Watson,” he said. “Not until Lord John returns. He’ll convince you to change your mind.”
“He couldn’t convince me, and as you can see”—she gestured behind her—“they would never accept that conclusion. It’s not a viable situation for them or for me.”
Bobby focused a severe glower on Melvina. “This is all your fault. You’ve been horrid to her since the minute we arrived. She’s better than you at everything, and you can’t stand it.”
“We don’t like outsiders,” Melvina said, “and she’s the most offensive one we’ve ever encountered, but while we’re at it, we deem you to be an outsider too, Bobby Prescott. I won’t put up with any sass from you.”
“I’m not an outsider,” he responded. “I swore an oath. I pledged myself to Lord John.”
“He shouldn’t have allowed you to pledge. It violated all our traditions, and we don’t view it as binding.” Melvina stood. “Here is my verdict.”
Winnie snorted with disgust. “I don’t recognize you as having any authority over me.”
But she was feigning bravado. Melvina appeared terrifying. She might order any dastardly deed, and her idiotic relatives were sheep. They’d carry out any command she leveled.
“You’re not in England, Miss Watson,” Melvina absurdly replied. “You’re on Dunworthy Island, which means you’re subject to our rules and laws.”
“What do you intend then? Will you flog me for loving Lord John? Will you hang me? Will you throw me in a dungeon cell to starve?”
“All of those are brilliant ideas,” Melvina said, “but what I desire the most is to never see your pathetic face again.”
“I already told you I’ve decided to leave.”
“Yes, and you’ll take Bobby with you.”
“I won’t!” Winnie protested. “He has a place with Lord John.”
“Lord John’s kin have voted, and we decree that he has no place.” Melvina pointed to the rear of the hall. “Your belongings have been packed, and there is a carriage in the yard. It will convey you out of Dunworthy immediately.”
“Where am I to go?” Winnie asked. “Tell me that if you can.”
“We don’t care where you go, Miss Watson, just so you don’t slither back. In the future, we’ll be watching for you, and if you attempt to creep in, you’ll never make it onto the island. I am determined that John and I will continue toward our wedding without you bothering us.”
Winnie sighed with exasperation. “There’s no need for all these theatrics. I’m happy to be shed of you, but please, let Bobby stay.”
“No.”
Bobby pulled himself up to his full height. He looked regal and superior to all of them. “Don’t beg on my behalf, Miss Watson. If you’re not welcome among these despicable people, I don’t choose to be welcome either. If you can’t remain, I never would.” He peered around the room. “Where is my sister?”
“Your sister is staying,” Melvina said. “As opposed to you, she is a real Dunn. Family is always permitted to tarry. Outsiders are not.”
“Where is she?” Bobby repeated more forcefully.
Melvina didn’t answer his question, but nodded to some of the men. “Load their things in the carriage, then escort them out of my hall.”
Winnie should have been incensed, but she wasn’t. The Dunns had an odd impression of the world that was incredibly exhausting, and Winnie didn’t want any part of it. She worried about John though and wondered how he’d fare over the years. As the tedious decades rolled by, how would he tolerate their provincial ways?
“We have to speak to Jane,” Winnie said to Melvina.
“No.”
“She should hear that we’ve been kicked out.”
“She knows,” Melvina claimed.
“You can’t keep her away from me!” Bobby fumed.
“She is no longer any of your business,” Melvina replied, “and she’s fine.”
He whipped away as if he’d storm off to search for her, and a cousin gripped him by the waist and stopped him. At Bobby being manhandled, Rex was livid, and he barked and lunged, but the man was saved when another cousin seized Rex by the collar.
“If that mutt attacks again,” Melvina told the man, “you may kill it.”
Bobby was wrestling, trying to break free, and at Melvina’s threat, Winnie was alarmed. She wouldn’t be surprised if the Dunns killed Rex, and if he was slain, Bobby would
never recover.
“Bobby,” she pleaded, “don’t fight them. Have Rex sit so he’s not harmed.”
Bobby stilled and commanded Rex to calm down too. The dog relaxed, but he warily eyed all of the spectators, practically daring for one of them to misbehave so he could defend Bobby again.
“Don’t fret, Bobby,” Winnie murmured. “We’ll obey them—for now. We’ll resolve this predicament later with Lord John.”
Melvina said, “I don’t think you will.”
“What do you mean?”
Mr. Townsend stepped off the dais and came over to Winnie. “Let’s go, Miss Watson.”
“To where?” she asked.
“Didn’t Melvina explain? I am delivering you to your destination.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Mr. Townsend smirked. “Yes, you are.”
He motioned to a cousin, and before Winnie could blink, a rope was produced, and she was bound hand and foot. Bobby was bound too. Rex growled and complained, but Bobby ordered him to stand down.
Melvina glared at Mr. Townsend. “Get these two out of my castle and make sure they never return.”
“Gladly.”
Winnie and Bobby were marched out as if they were criminals proceeding to the gallows. Mr. Townsend and the rest of the crowd walked behind them.
They were tossed into a waiting carriage. Bobby called for Rex to jump in with them, but it wasn’t allowed. Mr. Townsend climbed in too, and he latched the door with a strip of leather so they couldn’t grab the handle and leap out.
In a matter of seconds, they were whisked down the hill. Winnie was in a state of shock, but Bobby was kicking and fussing. Mr. Townsend walloped him hard, and Winnie bristled with outrage.
“Freddie Townsend!” she scolded. “Don’t you strike that boy ever again.”
“Maybe that boy should shut his mouth and mind his manners or he won’t be traveling with us for long.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Bobby said.
“You should be,” Mr. Townsend retorted.
“When Lord John discovers what you did,” Bobby warned, “he’ll kill you.”
“You stupid child.” Mr. Townsend grinned spitefully. “John will never learn of it.”
The tide was out, so the sand bridge was visible, and they crossed over to the mainland. They raced through Dunworthy town, then out into the countryside.
Bobby had quieted and was lying on the seat, his eye swelling from where Mr. Townsend had punched him.
“Where are we headed?” she asked Mr. Townsend after a bit. “Where are you taking us?”
“That, Miss Watson, is none of your affair. You’ll find out when we arrive.”
* * * *
Jane rattled the knob on her bedchamber door, but it was locked from the outside. She’d been cooped up for hours, ever since she’d first awakened to go down to breakfast.
Her room was located in a deserted wing of the castle, with just Bobby and Miss Watson being lodged nearby. They’d risen before her, so they’d missed her pounding and pleading to be released. No one else had passed by.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hall, and she banged on the wood and shouted, “Hello? Hello? It’s Jane Prescott. I’m locked in. Can you help me?”
The person stopped, and the key was spun. The door opened, and Jane was staring at Melvina Dunn. A housemaid was there too, and she had a breakfast tray, even though it had to be afternoon. On smelling the food, Jane’s stomach growled.
The housemaid deposited the tray on the bed, then hurried out. Jane glared at Mistress Dunn and said, “I haven’t done anything wrong. Am I being punished?”
“Not yet.” Mistress Dunn gestured for Jane to sit, and Jane went over to the only chair. As she eased down, Mistress Dunn asked, “You can read and write, can’t you?”
“Of course I can read and write. I’m eleven.”
“Good. You’ll write a letter to your relatives at Benton.”
“I don’t have any relatives at Benton.”
“You’ll have to find some then, won’t you?”
“Why would I?”
“I’ve decided you need an allowance. Your top-lofty kin dumped you on us, and they expect us to support you, but we shouldn’t have to without being compensated.”
Jane thought of terrible Mr. Slater and how cruel he’d been. She thought of her Uncle Peyton, how he’d promised to be kind, but the minute they’d assumed they were safe, he’d had Mr. Slater evict them. It had been a malicious act for which she would never forgive her uncle.
“They won’t pay a penny on my behalf,” Jane said.
“We’ll see, won’t we? I’ll bring you ink, quill, and paper. While I’m fetching it, you can ponder the words you’ll use to convince them.”
“I won’t beg them for assistance. I would never humiliate myself that way.”
“Yes, you will, and you will remain in this room until you recognize your lowly role in this castle. Everyone residing in it has to obey me. I’m not very patient, but I’m certain you’ll quickly learn your lesson.”
“I demand to speak to Miss Watson,” Jane said.
“Haven’t you heard? She left.”
“To go where?”
“To London.”
Jane was stunned. “But…but…she didn’t tell me goodbye.”
“I told her she should, but she claimed she’d wasted too much time on you, and she was tired of you being such an ungrateful child.”
“She did not say that!” Jane fumed.
Mistress Dunn shrugged. “Believe what you will. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Where is my brother?”
“He went with her.”
“Bobby went too? Why?”
“He wasn’t a member of the Dunn family, was he? There was no reason for him to stay.”
The news was frightening, but she mustered the courage to insist, “Bobby wouldn’t leave me behind.”
“Bobby wouldn’t leave me,” Mistress Dunn repeated in a taunting, sing-song voice. “If that’s what you think about boys, you need to grow up and understand what they’re really like. I gave him the option to depart with Miss Watson or tarry with you, and he chose Miss Watson.”
“He wouldn’t have!”
Bobby had sworn to always watch over Jane. If he’d abandoned her, an appalling incident must have occurred, and she had no doubt Mistress Dunn had orchestrated it.
Mistress Dunn shrugged again. “Suit yourself, Jane, but if I had a brother who was so fickle, I wouldn’t be quite so loyal.” She strolled to the door. “I’ll send a maid with the pen and paper.”
“I won’t write to Benton,” Jane seethed.
“Then you’ll never get out of here, will you? With Miss Watson and your brother having deserted you, you could starve. Who would notice? I’m betting no one would.”
“Lord John would.”
“Yes, but he’ll be gone for weeks. How many friends have you accumulated at Dunworthy besides him? If you were missing, would anybody search?”
Mistress Dunn slammed and locked the door, then she sauntered away. She was whistling, and her nonchalance was infuriating.
Jane wasn’t an ordinary girl. She was Lord Benton’s daughter. Yes, she was a bastard daughter, but her father was an earl. Half of her blood was blue, and Mistress Dunn could never scare her.
She moved to the bed and ate the food that had been delivered, but her mind was awhirl as she focused on her situation and struggled to make sense of it. Bobby and Miss Watson wouldn’t have voluntarily fled without talking to Jane first. She would never have agreed to stay without them, but Mistress Dunn probably realized that fact. It’s why Jane had been prevented from communicating with them.
From the day Jane had arrived at Dunworthy, Mistress Dunn had been pestering her about her Prescott relatives. She regularly accused Jane of having a secret inheritance or a dowry or jewelry, but despite how avidl
y Jane explained there had been no bequests from her father, Mistress Dunn had scoffed and called her a liar.
The Prescotts didn’t care about Jane, and they wouldn’t fork over any funds to support her. What would Mistress Dunn do to Jane once she accepted there was no money to be had?
Footsteps sounded again, and the door opened. A housemaid set a writing tray on the floor.
“Mistress Dunn says you’re to get busy with your letter. I’ll be back in an hour to pick it up. You’re to have it finished by then—or else.”
Before Jane could reply, the woman slipped out and the key was spun again.
She studied the writing utensils as if they were a venomous snake. Her initial instinct was to stubbornly decline to assist Mistress Dunn, but should she? Perhaps it was better to play along so she’d assume Jane was pitching in.
If she delayed in order to appease Mistress Dunn, it would eventually give Jane a chance to speak to Lord John. He was away from the castle, chasing after Ellen who’d eloped with a scoundrel. Jane didn’t imagine he would be too happy to hear how Mistress Dunn had been acting. He’d determine why Miss Watson and Bobby had departed.
Footsteps echoed yet again, and she braced. Someone muttered, then fumbled with the key, and when the door opened once more, her jaw dropped in shock.
“Huntly? What are you doing here?”
“I thought I ought to check on you. Are you all right?”
“I’m not sure. Is something dodgy happening?”
“Yes,” Huntly said. “Bobby left!”
“Mistress Dunn just told me the very same.”
“She sent me to my room, and when I was permitted out again, Bobby was gone.”
“Miss Watson too?”
“Yes, and I’ve searched everywhere. Finally, I found some cousins who were gossiping. There was a judicial court, and Melvina kicked them out.”
“On what grounds?”
“I have no idea, but Rex tried to stop her, and she threatened to have him killed if he didn’t quit barking.”
Jane blanched. “Was he hurt?”
“No. He ran away, and they couldn’t catch him.”
That was a relief, she supposed, but Mistress Dunn was cruel and dangerous. Rex would never be safe at Dunworthy.