by Alexia Praks
Lord Queensbury’s face paled. He thought he had just seen a ghost. The Smiths stared at him in horror.
“And this is Lord Richard Queensbury,” Mr. Wilson completed his introductions.
Lord Queensbury was at a loss for words, and he turned toward Christine. He said, “Sophia!”
Christine smiled at the earl. She wondered why he was looking at her in such a way and calling her mother’s name. He was looking very happy and sad at the same time.
“She is not Sophia! She is Christine!” Mrs. Smith cried in anguish.
Christine came to the old woman’s side and put her arm around her shoulders. “Grandmamma?”
“She is not Sophia!” Mrs. Smith cried again, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Sophia is gone,” she cried and hugged Christine.
Merrick bent down to murmur in Christine’s ear. He was very concerned about Mrs. Smith’s condition. “Perhaps it would be better for her to lie down,” he suggested.
Christine nodded and urged her grandmamma to move away from the group. They managed to get the woman out of the ballroom and into the hallway. Betty and Jane came rushing along to aid them.
“Take her upstairs to the spare guest room,” Merrick told them. The two maids nodded, and they helped each other see the old woman to her room.
“Merrick, she has never been like this before,” Christine told him.
“I know, love. The situation will soon resolve itself,” he said. “Come, it is almost time.” He took her hand, and they both went back into the ballroom.
“Time for what, Merrick?” she asked.
“Have you forgotten, my love, the announcement of our engagement?”
Christine widened her eyes. So he did want to marry her after all. It wasn’t a lie. Her heart brimmed with happiness.
Once they were back with the group, Merrick offered an apology for Mrs. Smith’s fragile condition.
Anne approached Merrick, for she knew it was almost time for the announcement.
“Well, Merrick, ’tis time, I think,” Allan said.
“Yes, Merrick. Time to present your trophy,” Max said, laughing.
Merrick nodded and signaled to Ross. The butler in turn signaled to various footmen. The footmen began to hand out glasses of champagne to every guest in the ballroom. Everybody seemed to know what to expect, for they looked at each other and then toward Merrick.
“Ladies and gentlemen, his lordship the Earl of Huntingdon wishes to make a very special announcement,” Ross proudly stated. “Would you please all raise your glasses and toast his lordship.”
Glasses were raised at that moment in preparation for the great announcement.
Anne felt her heart booming thunderously in her chest. She knew that the time had finally arrived.
Christine gripped her glass of lemonade; she was very nervous.
Jane smiled and hoped that the earl would not make a mistake, that he would not ask Anne.
Lady Queensbury gripped her wineglass, her eyes intense, her nerves tightening as she waited in anticipation.
Maria glared into nothingness. She felt as though she was a loser in this game. Was her endeavor to be in vain? Her beloved Merrick was to make his important announcement to all about his future bride. And she was sure it was going to be this beautiful chit name Christine Smith. She breathed deeply and bravely, accepting her loss.
Max was half smiling, waiting to see the women’s reactions. He knew what Merrick was going to announce. He was going to present his great prize to the world. His prize was this woman, his soon-to-be countess who had captured his heart and would nurture it. Max knew he would never find another woman like Christine. He knew she was the only woman in this world who would give her man such love so openly.
“Thank you so much for the pleasure of your company this evening. I know it is very late and the season is over, but still it is my great pleasure to make an announcement. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to make an announcement about my future, my future that I admit previously I had come to dread. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to announce my—”
The door crashed opened with a loud bang. Merrick halted in midsentence at the horrendous noise. He turned toward the entrance, as did everyone else in the ballroom. The women gasped in surprise, some frowned, and others looked on with horrified expressions.
Mrs. Wilson gasped and then whimpered. For there at the door stood Robert, his clothing all in disarray, his blond hair wild and dirty with mud. His thin face looked hollow, and there were dark circles under his eyes. He stared straight at Merrick, his eyes sharp and intense as if he was planning murder. He strode toward the great earl.
Christine was scared. This man looked beyond angry, and he was capable of anything, she knew. She rushed to Merrick and placed her shaking hand on his arm. Merrick looked down at her and smiled. She stared at him in fear.
“It’s all right, love.” His mouth formed the words, but there was no sound. She gripped his arm and nodded.
Robert halted right in front of Merrick, staring up at the taller man. They stared at each other for a long moment. The whole room was quiet, and not a sound was heard in the hollow silence.
Jacob rushed into the silent room, puffing with exertion.
Robert turned from Merrick and walked to Anne. He stood in front of her, staring at her for a long time.
“What did you do to her?” he gritted out between his teeth.
Anne paled, but she still managed to glare at Robert, her mouth twitching. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she commented.
“What did you do to her, bitch? Where the hell is she?” Robert shouted at Anne, his face inches from hers.
“I said I don’t know what you are talking about,” Anne bit back coldly.
Robert was so frustrated he hastily brought his hand up, meaning to slap the girl. As his hand descended, Merrick caught it in time. He shoved Robert back. Robert threw a punch toward Merrick, trying to make the man release him.
“Robert, stop it. Stop it this instant,” Merrick commanded, trying to control the younger man.
Max rushed in, caught Robert by the shoulders, and pulled him away from Merrick. After struggling for a while, Robert tired and stopped. Max was holding on to his arms, preventing him from attacking anyone.
“I said what did you do to her, and where is she, you bitch,” Robert screamed at Anne as the guests whispered amongst themselves.
“Who?” Merrick asked.
“Claire, Claire. I want to know where Claire is,” he screamed.
“Claire is upstairs. She is fine, Robert,” Christine said from behind Merrick.
Robert turned from Merrick to stare at Christine. He frowned at her. He stood there for a moment, and then hesitantly he pulled his arms free from Max’s grips and rushed out of the ballroom.
“Where are you going?” Merrick shouted.
“To see Claire,” Robert shouted back.
Christine tugged at Merrick’s arm. “Merrick, you must stop him,” she whispered, so afraid that he might hurt Claire even more.
Merrick stared at her and nodded. He turned to Max.
Max nodded that he understood what he should do. He was to take over as host while Merrick was gone.
Merrick and Christine ran out of the room and up the stairs after Robert.
“Robert, wait,” Merrick shouted. But Robert did not stop nor did he turn. He kept running toward the third floor. Once there, he looked about hastily, crashing every door open. When he came to the last door, he kicked it open and then froze. He walked in slowly, with a murderous expression on his face.
Merrick and Christine were not far behind. They saw him entering Claire’s room. Merrick rushed in and stopped. Christine came up after him, and she, too, stopped at the sight that greeted her. There they saw Claire in Robert’s arms, and she was crying.
“Hush, love, I’m here now. She won’t hurt you again,” he said, soothing her tangled hair. “Hush now, love,” Robert sa
id.
Christine looked up at Merrick, and their eyes met. She threw herself into his arms and laid her head against his chest. Merrick lowered his head and kissed her forehead. They stood in that position for a long time, looking at the two people who uttered words of love to each other. Finally, Claire went back to sleep.
“I would like to stay here with her, my lord,” Robert said numbly.
“It’s about time you tell me why you disappeared,” Merrick said, looking at the young man for a long time. Robert looked at him, and then he lowered his gaze to Christine.
“And who are you, my dear?” he said to Christine.
She stiffened, staring up at Merrick.
“My fiancée,” Merrick said.
“Your what?” Robert burst out in shock.
“She is my fiancée,” Merrick said again.
“I see. I guess I missed a lot when I was gone, huh?” He shook his head.
“Why did you disappear?” Merrick asked again.
“I disappeared… I disappeared.” He stared into the distance. “We were going to elope. We planned it, but when it was time, I waited for her and she never came. I waited there for a whole day, and she never came. I went looking for her. At first I thought she had changed her mind, but Claire, I thought, was not like that. She loves me, and I love her. I knew she would come. I began to have doubts, however. So I went looking for her, but I couldn’t find her. I realized then that something must indeed be very wrong. I knew then that something must have stopped her from acting out our plan. So tonight, I came to confront her, that woman, but of course she denies it all. Poor Claire, she told me she was having our baby. She was so happy.” Robert took hold of Claire’s limp hand, brought it up to his lips, and he kissed it lightly.
“What are you planning to do with Claire?” Merrick asked.
“What am I planning to do with her? We planned to elope and then get married, of course. But now that has changed. I’m still going to marry her though,” he said, looking down at the sleeping form beside him.
“I congratulate you then,” Merrick said.
“Thanks,” Robert responded.
Merrick took Christine’s hand, and they turned to go.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted toward you. I hated you because you seemed to have everything that I don’t, but wanted. Money, looks, and title,” Roberts uttered.
The two men stared at each other for a long time. Then as they reached an understanding, they both nodded. Merrick and Christine left.
TWENTY-THREE
Merrick sat behind the desk in his study with a glass of brandy in his hand, staring into space. The last of the guests had just left about an hour ago, and it was now two in the morning.
All was now quiet in the Hall as the guests had retired; even Christine had decided to stay in her room because of her grandmother’s condition. He had ushered her to bed an hour before, and though she had tried to insist that he come with her, he could not for he had unfinished business to attend to.
The door opened, and Merrick saw Lord Queensbury entering the study. He nodded at the man and gestured for him to sit down. Lord Queensbury did and made himself comfortable.
“I’ve got some information,” Merrick said, watching the older man.
“You have? Well, that is good.” The earl nodded. “What did you find?”
“My men found that the family you have been searching for is not yet dead,” Merrick began.
“Hmm, that much I know,” Queensbury said, staring at the desk but not seeing it.
“That much you know?” Merrick raised his eyebrows.
Queensbury looked at Merrick, nodding his head. “Indeed, Huntingdon, that much I know, at least since this night.”
“Since this night?”
“Aye, they were here.” The earl sighed. “It was the Smiths. They are the family I was searching for,” he said. “Hard to believe that you spent years searching for them, and in the end, they were right in front of your nose, eh?”
Merrick leaned toward the older man. “You hired my men to look for this family? Why? You’ve never told me why you wanted them found.”
The earl gazed into Merrick’s eyes, and then he slowly turned to stare out the window. “It was eighteen years ago,” he began. “I met her down at the stream. She was very beautiful. The first time I saw her, I wanted her, and I knew I loved her then. She was a sweet seventeen-year-old girl.” He turned back to Merrick. “Her hair was a golden brown, and her eyes were a bright violet color. I promised her marriage, and she became pregnant. I told my father, but he was against the whole idea. I wanted her to live with us in our country manor, but Father would have none of it. I was betrothed to Stacy.” The earl shook his head. “I told Sophia that I would come and get her, and we’d live in my London town house. I had already disassociated myself from my family by then, so in love with her I was. It was winter then, and I was on my way.” His throat became tight with emotion. He couldn’t seem to go on. But he had to go on because the weight of this secret had been dragging him down for years, and it was finally too much to bear. He needed to get it out of his system.
“It was winter. I was on my way to get her and her family, but once I got there, there was nothing left. It was all gone. The manor was burnt down. There was nothing. I searched around the village; nobody had seen anything. I kept searching, Huntingdon. I have kept searching to this day.” The earl turned to Merrick and stared at him. “You must wonder why I married Stacy, eh? Aye, my father forced Stacy upon me. She told my father that she was pregnant with my child. I assumed that was true. What is a man to do when he was drunk? Well, I did the honorable thing. I married her. He saw us through the marriage ceremony, and then a day afterward he died.” He finished his tale, his eyes brewing with tears.
“I’m sorry, Lord Queensbury,” Merrick began.
“It was a long time ago now, Huntingdon. I make no apology for it,” the older man commented.
“I’m sure we both are thinking along the same lines; perhaps tomorrow I should talk to the Smiths about this. Although the possibility that Christine is in fact your daughter remains strong in my mind,” Merrick commented.
“Do you really think that girl could be my daughter?” Lord Queensbury smiled.
“Indeed, you do not realize that she has the exact same hair and eye color as the woman you loved?”
“Aye, at first when I saw her dancing with you, I thought it was my Sophia dancing with your father, I… oh God!” The earl buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.
Merrick came around to the earl and patted the older man’s shoulder. “It is getting late, Lord Queensbury. It is best to get to sleep. We’ll deal with this in the morrow.”
The older man looked up at Merrick and nodded in agreement. “You are right, Huntingdon,” he said and left the room.
Merrick shut the door and walked toward the window. He smiled to himself and thought what a small world this was. He was getting rather tired, and he missed Christine. He wanted to be with her. He walked toward the door, but it was opened before he could reach it. Allan came in. He looked alarmed.
“Merrick! ’Tis important. Lady Queensbury is missing. A groom told me he saw her being taken to one of the old barns not far from here.”
“What?” Merrick rushed forward, frowning.
“Merrick, we have to do something. Should I send for the redcoats?” Allan frowned, raking his hands through his blond hair in frustration.
“How long ago was this?”
“I’m not sure. It was about half an hour ago, I think. It wasn’t long. Perhaps they hadn’t gotten far yet. We could still catch up with them, I’m sure.”
“Yes, let’s go now. With luck, they won’t get far.” Merrick rushed out the door. Allan nodded and followed behind.
It was dark outside. The slight breeze brushed past them, cooling their hot skin. The two men saddled their horses and were off in an instant.
They had been riding hard for fi
fteen minutes when they saw the small barn. Bright candlelight spilled out through the windows.
Allan halted his horse and jumped down. Merrick did the same and tied his stallion to a tree.
“What do we do now?” Allan asked as he came toward his cousin.
“We go and see how many of them there are. With luck we might be able to take them down and save Lady Queensbury,” Merrick said and nodded.
Under cover of darkness, they started to creep toward the barn.
Merrick rushed forward, his mind concentrating on the task ahead. The cool breezes rushed past him. Then he felt that something was not right. He hesitated, frowned, and then turned. He saw a dark figure swinging a large log toward his head. He felt a sharp pain rush through his head and neck. The pain was severe, and his head ached like hell. He put his hand to his head and felt wetness. He tasted and knew it was blood—his own blood. And then the world darkened around him. He saw the half moon blurring, turning from one half moon, to two, to three, and then… he knew no more.
* * *
Christine jerked the breeches up about her waist for the third time. They slipped again as she tried to button them. Her hands were shaking, which was why she couldn’t seem to do up her breeches properly. She tried again, and thank God, it worked. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She was shaking all over. She needed to follow them and fast.
She had been looking out the window thinking about Claire and Robert when she saw two men ride out on horseback. She had no doubt that one of them was Merrick, for she knew his bearing well. He was hard to forget, for God’s sake. Once she got her coat on, she rushed out the door. She was midway across the room when she halted in horror. Her heart thumped in her chest. She was scared, scared of the woman standing in the doorway, the woman who was staring at her with anger, with hatred.
Anne stalked toward Christine. Once she was close enough, she grabbed a bunch of Christine’s curls and tried to rip them from her head. Christine’s body shook with fright. She tried to push the taller woman away, but it was no use for she was far too small. Anne tilted Christine’s face back and sneered down at her. Her eyes turned a dull blue.