by S Cinders
Samantha swallowed, “A younger man. A much younger man.”
Juliana and Lillian sucked in a horrified breath.
“But there is one thing that I cannot forgive,” Samantha whispered.
Lilly leaned forward, “What is it?”
Samantha shook her head, her chocolate curls bouncing, “It’s so terribly mortifying when he stands next to me. He’s short and skinny!”
“That is dreadful,” Juliana breathed, “Whatever could she have been thinking?”
Samantha gave a ladylike shrug, “I haven’t the slightest notion, for I am almost twice his size. Benjamin was mortified when he realized what mother was up to and Hazel snorted into her soup.”
Lilly giggled, but quickly turned it into a cough, knowing now wasn’t the time.
“I know that Benjamin had a firm talk with mother and the carriage was being packed the next morning. I am happy to see you both today. I missed you at the Bluebell’s meeting this week.”
Lillian looked askance, “We have taken a small break from the Bluebells.”
Samantha looked alarmed, “Is there a problem? Please do not tell me there is an issue with our dear Bluebells!”
Juliana rushed to comfort her, “No, dearest, nothing of the kind. The Bluebells are a sisterhood that we treasure. But some of the ladies are wrapped up in marriage and babies. We just don’t feel that we are in that stage of life.”
Samantha nodded, “I do understand what you mean, I felt a little out of place without the two of you there.”
Lillian rushed to say, “We will be back, we promise. We are just working on something at present.”
Samantha bit her lip, “I see.” But clearly, she did not understand anything except that she was being excluded from something.
Juliana looked at her sister pleadingly.
Lillian nodded.
Juliana grasped Samantha's hand, “We are on a secret mission for the war office.”
Samantha gasped right as Lillian shushed them, “The Countess that we wanted to speak with is heading this way. We will talk more on this later. Samantha, honestly, it was the best tea I have ever had.”
Lilly giggled in a carefree schoolgirl way before turning to the approaching older woman.
“Countess,” Lilly’s curtsey was perfection, “How are you enjoying your stay in London?”
“It is beautiful in a wet, damp, way—no?”
The Countess moved with a cloud of perfumes around her. Her gown was the height of French fashion, dripping with Brussels lace even before noon. She was also showing a tremendous amount of décolletage for the time of day. However, she didn’t seem at all bothered by it.
Samantha had a rather fantastic décolletage herself, even if it was adequately covered. “I am not certain if I would describe something lovely as wet or damp, Countess.”
Lillian and Juliana exchanged glances; it would appear they had taken on a lioness as a partner in their spying ring.
The Countess smiled, it was cold and calculating, “Well, my darling girl, there is a great difference between you and I, isn’t there?”
Samantha stood at her full height, “Thankfully, yes.”
The Countess inclined her head towards the girls, and gave a mocking smile, “Well, it’s always nice to have something to reach for—yes?”
She floated away. Her cloying scent still lingered in the air.
“I loathe her!” Samantha spat.
“My, my, my,” Lilly glanced at Juliana, “I cannot like the woman myself.”
“Nor I!” Juliana exclaimed. Turning to Samantha, she pulled the two girls in tight, “We have much to discuss. Samantha, can you come today for tea?”
Samantha nodded, “Certainly.”
“We shall reconvene at that point. Things are starting to get interesting!” Jules looked thrilled, “And interesting is right where we want to be.”
CHAPTER 14
Ryan saw Lillian the moment he entered the Duke of Carthage’s grand ballroom, and while he wanted to go straight to her, he was caught being introduced to the Duke and his family.
His son, the Earl of Saxton, and his wife were in residence for the ball and had brought all of the children with their nanny to visit their grandfather.
As soon as Ryan could politely slip away, he went in search of Lillian. Much to his dismay, she had vanished. Juliana was dancing in the arms of a man that Ryan did not know. Lady Genevieve was speaking with Lillian’s mother.
Ryan picked up his pace. He checked the area where the wallflowers usually lingered. He went over to the card room and the refreshment tables.
Surely, she wouldn’t have gone into the gardens.
His next thought was that perhaps Lillian needed a moment of solace, so he checked the Library. Again, it was empty, and Ryan could not find Lillian.
He was becoming more than a little alarmed.
The Duke of Carthage’s townhome was one of the oldest and grandest townhomes in Mayfair.
It would not be beyond comprehension that some rogue could have made off with her, but Ryan wasn't certain if he should raise the alarm. He looked to find Phillip, the Marquess of Moberly, her elder brother.
The last thing he wanted to do was damage her reputation, but damn it, time was of the essence, and he needed to move quickly.
“Lord Moberly, if I might have a word!”
Phillip looked up from his hand to see a younger man quite intent on speaking with him. “Mr. Stanford, do you wish to play?”
Phillip had never been one to stand on ceremony, and besides, Ryan’s brother was a Duke after all.
The younger gentleman looked confused for a moment.
Phillip had been playing with his very best friend, Baron Mangrove, or more intimately known as Elias. They were also playing with the Earl of Saxton, but they called him Christian.
“I don’t think he wants to play, Randall,” Christian said with a slight smile. “Do you need a private audience with Randall?”
It was awfully kind of the Earl to offer this to Ryan, seeing as how the three of them collectively made up a Marquess, an Earl, and a Baron.
Mr. Stanford gulped.
Phillip frowned, “Whatever this man has to say to me, he can say in front of my closest friends.”
“I cannot find Lillian,” Ryan blurted out.
Elias grinned.
Saxton had the wherewithal to try and cover his smile with a cough.
Phillip scowled, “My sister is missing?”
“I am not certain. I don’t wish to cause a large commotion. That is why I came to you. But I saw her when I came in, and now I cannot find her, and I am concerned.” Ryan’s eyes were pleading.
“We must look for her at once. But I will hear more about this interest in my sister!” Phillip demanded.
“I would do anything to protect Lillian,” Ryan said before turning to go and search again.
Phillip turned to Elias and Christian, who were equally dumbfounded.
Christian shrugged a shoulder as if to say; she’s your sister.
They began searching in earnest. Enlisting Maddie, Christian’s wife, and Eden, Phillip’s wife to help in the search. But it was to no avail. Soon the news could not be kept a secret any longer.
Lillian had vanished at the ball. Juliana’s cries were heart wrenching. She couldn’t say where her sister had gone or with whom she had seen her last. The Dowager Marchioness collapsed, and the ball ended before one in the morning.
Brave men went out and searched through the night for any clue of a noblewoman taken by force. But there was nothing, not one single lead to go on.
And so, it was with a heavy heart that Phillip Randall had to tell his mother that he wasn’t sure if his little sister would ever be seen again.
THE DUKE FLEW INTO the stables, “Ryan! What are you doing?”
Ryan didn’t even slow his pace for a moment, “I’m going after her.”
“They have hundreds of men searching, Ry!” The Duke tried
reasoning with him, “What makes you think you will know where she is? Ryan, the criminal mind works in ways that we will never understand.”
“I won’t sit by while she is in harm's way!”
Ryan shoved past his brother to grab a few more items. “Besides, there was a time that you would do the same thing. This place is changing you, Ollie.”
Oliver was stunned. Had he changed that much? It was true that being a Peer took a great deal of responsibility, but that his own twin felt him different.
“You are different as well,” Oliver said.
Ryan gave a mirthless laugh, “I am a fool in love, who may have lost the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“You love her?” Oliver could not believe it.
Ryan smiled for real this time, “Wish me luck, Ollie.”
“Of course, do you want me to come?” Oliver offered.
Ryan laughed, knowing that Oliver hated horses. “Yes, please do.”
“You are an ass.” Oliver hugged his brother tightly, “Godspeed then, and bring her home.”
Ryan nodded before mounting Earl, who having a rather lofty name, was sleek and fast and rode out into the night.
“Luck to you, my brother,” Oliver whispered as his twin rode out of sight.
CHAPTER 15
When Lilly awoke with a splitting headache and bound on the floor of a rapidly moving carriage, her first thought was that the Comte was most definitely an oily character of the worst order.
Her other thought was that she was certainly no longer in the Duke of Carthage’s ballroom. Lilly desperately tried to remember what had happened after she had followed the Comte out into the gardens.
Mr. Harris had asked for Juliana to dance and Lilly had relied on her sister to fill the war office agent in on their progress. Samantha had been assigned to watch the Countess, which left her the Comte.
Lilly remembered very little beyond wandering beyond the lit path and hiding in the shrubbery. The men were speaking in French, and sadly Lilly had never been a good linguist.
Her head ached something fierce. She wondered what they had struck her with. There was no point pretending to wake. Perhaps she could still gain some knowledge by feigning sleep, so Lilly laid still, and in truth, it did help her head.
Lilly heard many things in the next hour or so that she didn’t understand. But Dover and Cornwall were mentioned she took note, she knew them to be located near the coast.
It didn’t make any sense, and Lilly wished that she had paid more attention during her lessons as a child.
Suddenly she was jerked up by her bound wrists behind her back, nearly pulling her arms out of their sockets.
“Mademoiselle, I see you are awake, how lovely of you to join us this evening.” The Comte twisted one side of his long mustache between dirty gloved fingers and gave a hateful chuckle. “Or should I say, how lovely of you to join us this morning?”
Lillian looked up into his florid face. His lips were thin and pinched showing that he was much more irritated than his tone let on.
Lilly smiled, “How kind of you to insist on me joining you. Might I ask where our destination might be?”
He frowned; she was supposed to be frightened. He leaned in menacingly, “We wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, would we?”
Lilly pretended to consider, “Well, no, I suppose we ought not. You are right, of course. I have not been introduced to your companion. How do you do, sir?”
The Comte stared at her, was she dicked in the nob?
The rough looking man was entranced. Whomever this lovely creature was, she certainly didn’t mind sharing a coach with the likes of a rough and tumble man like himself.
“My name is Jack, love, Jack Rattenbury.”
The Comte swung around, “You are not to speak with her!”
Lillian dimpled, “It is wonderful to meet you Mr. Rattenbury. I am Lady Lillian Moberly.”
Jack burst out laughing, “Oh, no love! I am most certainly not Mr. Rattenbury! Went to sea when I was nine years old, I did, on my uncle’s boat. I have more years on the sea than I do on land. I have no need for your fancy ways. It is Jack to you, or Jackie if you prefer.”
The large, gruff man intrigued Lilly. There was an honesty about him that the Comte did not possess. Lilly made a snap judgment, “I see, then I shall be Lilly to you as well. I think we shall be fast friends.”
Jack grinned showing browning teeth, “Awe, Lilly, we shall.”
The Comte’s jaw was flapping, “No! There are no friendships. She is our prisoner!”
Lilly frowned, “That is not polite.”
“I never once said I would kidnap a woman, and I won’t trade or smuggle one.” Jack raised his jaw.
“You are a smuggler. I hired you to do a job. You will do whatever I say, or I will not pay you.”
Jack sat up to his full height. The man had to be well over six foot, with two hundred plus pounds of pure muscle. He pulled a mean snub-nosed gun out of his pocket. “I have plenty of work, your offer, while generous, is not the best I have come across. I won’t kidnap nor trade women. Do you understand, or are we about to have an unfortunate accident?”
The Comte swallowed, he hated Lillian Moberly more than anything else in his life at that moment.
For Lillian, everything was suddenly all too real in this little adventure.
Jack, whose eyes had gone from cajoling and fun to hard as ice, cocked the gun, “Waiting for an answer, Comte.”
“Yes, damn it. I understand.” He spat out.
Jack nodded and un-cocked the gun sliding it back into his pocket, “Untie Lilly.”
Jack turned to her, “I know that I am not a good man. When you have been press-ganged by the Royal Navy, it is hard to have any loyalty to the crown. You don’t know,” he stopped looking at her, “Being a lady, you cannot know the things that happen in those circumstances.”
Lilly didn’t, “You don’t have to explain.”
The Comte released her from the ropes, and Lilly sighed as she rubbed her wrists trying to get the feeling back into them.
“This is a mistake. She is going to get us all killed,” the Comte grumbled.
Jack winked at Lilly, “Are you saying that you cannot outsmart a small, insignificant woman?”
“I can outsmart the entire English country!” The Comte raged.
Jack smirked, “Then do not worry about her. She is nothing to you.”
CHAPTER 16
Ryan rode hell for leather toward Dover. He had no idea if he was even going in the right direction. His only clue was when he stopped at the last boarding house, The Falcon Inn, to change horses, the stable lad had said he heard a woman’s voice in a carriage headed to Dover.
She was traveling with a French man and a rough looking character. She did not look harmed, quite the contrary. This did not bode well for Ryan. However, she was in a ball gown, and she was a woman of quality. Ryan gave the lad his due and raced out of there.
Now that Ryan knew what to look for his spirits felt lifted. It had been an exhausting journey, and he couldn’t remember the last time he had slept or ate. All Ryan knew was that he just wanted to hold Lillian in his arms again.
Darkness was falling once again, and the smell of the sea was in the air. Dover was near. He had to get her back before they boarded any vessel. Ryan knew the kind of boats that worked at night.
How did Lillian get involved with smugglers?
He saw the dust and heard the noise from the carriage before it came into view. Taking care, Ryan kept his eyes on the coach. He spurred his horse onward, narrowing the distance between the two.
Slipping behind the coach, Ryan cursed their speed. He hated the thought of falling from his horse and being trampled, but there was no other alternative. Throwing caution to the wind, he said a prayer, wrapped the reins and tied them off, and then grabbed the frame of the carriage.
Then, with the grace of a large cat, he somehow managed to open the door and slide his
athletic body inside.
“Ah,” Jack smiled, “And here we have the hero, I presume?”
“Ryan!” Lillian cried out, throwing herself into his arms in a flurry of skirts and ruffles. It was a good thing that he had already closed the door, or they would have tumbled back outside, likely to their deaths.
And then she did the most unlike Lillian thing that she has ever done in her life. She began to cry.
Ryan was undone.
His look was thunderous, “What did you do to her?”
Jack’s lips twitched, “The Comte here wanted to kidnap her.”
The Comte paled considerably, which was impressive considering the man still powdered his face. “I...I...I would never.”
“I will kill you,” Ryan held Lillian so tightly, she had molded into him. Ryan turned to Jack, “And you are?”
“Jack Rattenbury. I am a runner around these parts, and the Comte wanted me to run something extra. The moment he showed up with the princess I knew I would not be doing business with him. I was just waiting for you to turn up.”
Lillian pushed back from where she was lodged against Ryan’s neck. Her water stained eyes and blotchy skin not taking anything away from her beauty.
“You were never going to harm me?” she asked hesitantly.
Jack grinned, “Lord, no! Married my Anna back in April! She would have my hide if I ever treated a lady thus. I told you love, I might be a bad man, but I am not all bad.”
Ryan nodded appreciatively, “I owe you my thanks, Rattenbury. Whatever this idiot was going to pay you, I will give as a reward for keeping my bride safe.”
Lillian blushed as Jack’s eyebrows rose.
Ryan turned to the Comte, “What part do you play in all of this?”
“Traitor to the Crown,” Lillian said in disgust.
Ryan nodded slowly, “I see. Well then, I hate to set you down, Lilly, but it would seem that killing him outright might be too easy on him. I need to tie him up.”
“What about the men driving the coach?” Lilly asked in fear.
“Rattenbury’s men,” Ryan responded as he trussed the Comte up like the pig that he truly was.