“My dear you’re in no state!” Aunt Florentia said.
“Aunt Florentia—we have to leave. We have to escape from here immediately,” Diana said.
“Escape?” Aunt Florentia put her hands to her cheeks. “My dear, we are safe now. We are with Lord Bathurst, not that devil Daniel. Lord Bathurst told me all about him—he said that Daniel is my lord's stepbrother, who wants revenge for not being given a part of the earl’s land. May he hang!”
“No—Aunt Florentia-”
“Now hush and lie down. You’ve had a bad day, but it’s all going to be alright. The kind Lord Bathurst has said that even after your abduction, he is willing to marry you—and he will marry you immediately so that no slur may be cast on your reputation.”
“We have to leave,” Diana said. “Please, Aunt Florentia.”
“We can’t, dear. Lord Bathurst has put up guards everywhere. He said that devil will probably try to attack us again. We can’t leave for our own safety.”
Diana gripped her aunt’s shoulders tightly and was about to tell her everything when Nathaniel appeared behind her.
“Well,” he said. “My bride is not yet getting ready? What is the cause of it? The priest is here and waiting. Get her dressed.”
“It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride!” Aunt Florentia exclaimed.
“Never mind that. We’ve had plenty of bad luck already.” Nathaniel smiled. He leaned down, pretending to kiss Diana, and instead whispered into her ear. “One word to her, and she dies.”
Aunt Florentia, blushing at what she thought was a display of romance, made her way out of the room to give them privacy.
“Please,” Diana pleaded. “I don’t understand. Why do you wish to marry me? Can’t you just let my aunt and I go free? I will never say a word against you, I promise—nor do I have any proof, or any hope of being believed if I do speak out.”
Nathaniel laughed. “So your precious Daniel didn’t tell you the full story, then?” he asked.
“Full story?” Diana said.
“Hmm.” Nathaniel rubbed his chin. “It would seem he did not. What did he tell you? Just some sob story about how he deserves to inherit the title and the land?”
“Yes,” Diana said.
“What of the money, then?”
“What money?” Diana was hopelessly confused.
Nathaniel threw back his head and laughed. “Your idiot grandfather, Willow, lost his money to my father, Bernard. But my father had a sudden change of heart. He was remorseful about cheating the man out of his last penny—and consequently, he created a will in which all of his money is to go to you.”
Diana was stunned. The earl, toward the end of his life, had a sizeable fortune—was she to inherit it all? Why hadn’t Daniel told her? A small sliver of doubt wedged itself into her heart.
Nathaniel saw and laughed. “So he kept it a secret from you. A good game my little brother plays.”
“I thought he was true when he said he loved me,” she said, still stunned. “He asked me to marry him.”
“Loved you? Marry him? My God, girl are you as big a fool as that? Did you believe he fell in love with you in the space of a carriage ride?” Nathaniel asked.
Diana felt humiliated, and the wedge in her heart seemed to grow like an icicle, spreading frost in her veins.
Nathaniel said, “Now, I’ve seized the land and the title. But to be exceedingly sure that there will be no more claims against me, I’ve decided to marry you too. Perhaps, afterward, when you are bound to me for life, you will be obedient—or perhaps you will have a nasty accident.”
“You will have to kill me,” Diana said, raising her chin. “I do not care about the fortune, or your title, Lord Bathurst. I will not be the docile woman who listens to your every order as I once was.”
“Then I will have fun molding you back into that woman.” Nathaniel smiled, his teeth looking like fangs.
“You will do no such thing,” a voice said from the shadows.
The two of them swung around in time to see Daniel spring out. One of his hands was bandaged while the other held out a paper.
“This is the last will and testament of Sir Bernard—my father, and the man who tried so hard to be yours,” Daniel said. “I’ve finally found it, and now I can expose you to the world, Nathaniel.”
“Fool!” Nathaniel laughed. “You come in here with the very evidence I’ve so long wished to destroy! Where did you find it?”
“I became a footman in your employ so that I might hunt for it,” Daniel said. “I found it today, and overheard a certain conversation you had, Nathaniel.”
“You mean, the one in which I planned to kill her?” Nathaniel laughed, casually pointing at Diana.
Daniel’s face hardened. “I will kill you myself, just for saying that.” He gave a whistle, and Antonio stepped out too, a rifle held in his hands, pointing at Nathaniel.
“My men have overpowered your guards and are surrounding the place,” Daniel said. “I’d advise you to surrender now so that we may hand you over to the law.”
“Surrender? You wish me to surrender?” Nathaniel raised his hands as if he were complying—then suddenly grabbed Diana by the neck, pulled a knife from seemingly nowhere, and pressed the blade to her skin.
Chapter 12
The Confrontation
A ntonio made as if to shoot Nathaniel, but Daniel stopped him. “Lower your weapon, Antonio! It’s too dangerous.”
“That’s right,” Nathaniel said. “It is too dangerous. I might accidentally kill her, and then perhaps you’d have the title and the lands—but what use would they be to you without the money?”
“I don’t care about the money,” Daniel said. “Nor the lands, nor the title.” He looked at Diana. “Diana—you do believe that, don’t you?”
“How could she?” Nathaniel laughed spitefully. “You didn’t tell her about the money because you were trying to trick her into marrying you.”
“No. I promise you Diana—that is not why I did not tell,” Daniel said. “I meant to tell you, but somehow my story was left unfinished.”
“She is not a fool,” Nathaniel said. “She doesn’t believe you, do you, my love?” He pricked her skin slightly as an incentive for her to speak.
Diana said nothing, holding her head high. She felt a drop of blood slowly seep out of her throat, and flow down.
“It’s a gentle cut,” Nathaniel said when Daniel gave a roar of fury. “But it’ll be less gentle if you don’t let me go free.”
“Let her go, Nathaniel—if you have any shred of decency in you.”
“Do you take me for a fool?” Nathaniel asked. “You will murder me when I do.”
“I am a gentleman,” Daniel said. “I hold my honor above my life—and by my honor, I say to you, let her go and I will let you live.”
Nathaniel only laughed. “I do not believe you.”
“Then here-” Daniel said, holding aloft the will. “I will give you this will, in exchange for Diana’s life. Let her go, and you may destroy it. She and I will lose everything. I will have no title, no lands—and she will have no money.”
Nathaniel laughed. “But you will have your lives, and that will be enough?”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “As to fortune, I will make my own. As to land and titles—I care nothing for them. But if you hurt my darling Diana any more than you have already—I will unlock a fury from within me that will extinguish every breath you have in you.”
Hesitantly, Nathaniel stepped forward, trying to reach for the will Daniel held out.
From behind them, Aunt Florentia, who had heard the entire conversation, stepped out, holding a vase aloft. This, she attempted to bring down on Nathaniel’s head, with a cry of, “Demon! Murderer!”
Nathaniel was too quick, dodging her blow and immediately trying to slit Diana’s throat.
Daniel was quicker still. The moment Nathaniel was distracted, he dropped the will, and tackled Nathaniel, attempting to wrest th
e knife away. Diana screamed and tried to jump into the fray, while a confused Antonio pointed his rifle, trying to find a moment when he could shoot.
It was a brief, quick battle—Daniel, one handed, fighting to keep control of the knife, while Nathaniel rained blows on him. Finally, Daniel connected the elbow of his injured hand with Nathaniel’s nose. Nathaniel’s head was thrown back in pain, and Daniel threw a right cross punch.
With a gurgling noise, Nathaniel slid unconscious to the floor.
“Oh, darling!” Diana flung herself on Daniel, raining kisses on him. “Please—please tell me you are alright.”
Daniel simply smiled and let her kiss him over and over.
“Then you’re not angry?” he said. “That I didn’t tell you about the money?”
“I didn’t believe it. I didn’t believe it for a minute!” Diana said. “Oh Daniel I was so afraid—you were shot! I thought-” she couldn’t say it.
“That I had died?” Daniel asked grimly. “I almost did, when I came to and realized you were in Nathaniel’s clutches. I was coming awake when Nathaniel’s henchman attacked our carriage—you threw yourself on him to save me.”
“Oh.” Diana blushed. “It was all I could think of at the time.”
“When I was fully conscious, I had to use my wits, and gather as many men as I could to storm Nathaniel’s stronghold,” Daniel said. “Every man in our village volunteered. When Nathaniel sent for the priest, one of my men disguised himself and was allowed in by Nathaniel’s men—and that is how we gained entry.”
“They love you like a brother,” Antonio said. “As do I. I told them of Diana’s courage, and no one could bear to let Nathaniel get away with her.”
Diana could say nothing but blush some more. “What bravery these Italian men possess!” she said.
“Daniel will testify to it.” Antonio smiled. “Make sure you tell your children and grandchildren all about our bravery. But, my lady, your own actions were no less brave. You saved my brother’s life.”
“Well!” Aunt Florentia exclaimed, “I do think my poor heart is going to give out, with all this excitement.”
“Aunt Florentia!” Diana hugged her. “You were so brave too, hitting Nathaniel with that vase!”
“I just saw red when that – that barbarian described his crimes.” Aunt Florentia said. “He was a terrible choice, Diana! Whatever possessed you to say yes to his proposal!”
“A mistake I will only make once,” Diana said and smiled at Daniel.
Daniel smiled back at her, then slowly, from his pocket, took out a small gold ring.
“I owe you my life,” Daniel said, getting down on his knees. He clasped her hands in his. “Diana, my sunshine, will you do me the honor of letting me use that life to serve you forever more? Will you marry me?”
“Oh, Daniel! Yes!” Diana exclaimed, embracing him.
“To think!” Aunt Florentia exclaimed. “When your children ask me how their parents met, I’ll have to stay all this started when young Diana was kidnapped.”
“Not just kidnapped. Kidnapped by an earl!” Antonio laughed.
*** The End ***
The Mysterious
Lady of Gillingham Manor
Regency Romance
Grace Fletcher
Chapter 1
An Unexpected Swim
T he Earl of Huntingdon had scarcely turned the page on his book when a loud cry made him look up. He tilted his head so that his silky blonde hair went falling to one side, and his cornflower blue eyes became very alert.
It was a beautiful summer day, and consequently the young earl had escaped from his many social duties and found peace under a large oak tree by a babbling brook. With his coat discarded, and the buttons of his vest half-opened, the handsome 24-year-old leaned against a tree and read a yellowed book bound in red leather.
In the distance, he could hear someone shouting for help. Having identified the direction from which the cries came forth, he sprang up and heedless of the thorny bushes in his path, rapidly sped towards the voice.
By the time he had reached the lake, Lord Huntingdon had torn many a shred in his fine linen shirt and gold-embroidered vest. Barely noticing the many scratches on his own skin, he dove into the lake from which the cries arose. He dove with a practiced skill, making not a ripple on the surface. With swift strokes he was soon at the center of the lake where a body was thrashing and squirming.
It was a young girl, noticed the earl, and he had time to wonder what she was doing so far from the village.
“Here now! Stop thrashing about!” said he.
But, caught in the panic that afflicts all drowning men and women alike, she did not hear or even notice his presence. With one hand, the earl held her still, but even that did not stop the girl from her shaking about, so he did what he had to do.
He leaned down and kissed her.
It worked as well as a slap would have. At once, the girl went rigid, allowing him to put his arms around her. As a gentleman, he should have disengaged once she had stilled. The devil in him made him press his lips against her as he gently pulled her towards the bank. A hot spark seemed to have ignited deep inside his stomach. Later he would tell himself it was only because his mind had no time to come back to reality from the book of adventures he had been reading.
He felt a firm pressure at his chest and realized that he was being pushed away. Slowly, he pulled his lips away from her and blinked the water out of his eyes.
Before, he had only seen a blue and white dress and a vague flash of dark hair. Now, he had time to observe her, a blue-eyed gypsy girl with black curls dripping water.
He pulled her onto the bank and stood speechless, wondering if the vision from his imagination had decided to come to life and befriend him. She was a tall girl, almost reaching his shoulders, and he himself was known to be a man who tended to stand a head above all others. As tall as she was, she was also slender, with long arms and delicate wrists. Of this moment, she was hunting for a shawl to cover herself with, her dress being quite soaked, and Huntingdon realized the beggarly state of his own dress.
In his haste to reach her, he had torn through bushes, so that his arms were now bloodied and scratched in parts. His boots, which he had forgotten to take off, were squelching with water, and he proceeded to toss them aside that they might dry.
When he finally looked up again, the girl had covered her upper body with a dark shawl and was cradling a rather soaked book in her hand.
“Gulliver’s Travels.” He noticed, with a happy laugh. “Well, now I am convinced you are no real woman, but a spirit of the forest. This is the very book I was reading when your screams reached my ears, my lady. Pray, tell me how you came to be in this predicament?”
In answer, she pointed to a large branch that lay now half submerged in water, and he nodded, understanding. “You were reading on the branch when you fell into the water? A great pity, I should say. I hope no lasting damage has been done to you or the book.”
He wondered when she would speak to him and then wondered if she could speak at all. Perhaps, he mused, it was best that she remained the way she was, quiet. So far he had not found a woman in real life who could equal the dazzling mistresses in his books or his own imagination.
But she did speak, in a voice so soft that he had to strain to hear it. It was a voice that to his great surprise held no trace of an accent at all.
“No damage has been done to me, only because you appeared like a magician to save my unworthy self. I thank you greatly for the help you have given me good sir and hope you have better luck in your journeys with the book than I did.”
Entranced both by her voice and her good spirits, the man who had been known to break the heart of the most desirable women in town found himself rather speechless. Recovering his grace, he said to her, “My lady, the honor was mine. If at any time you find yourself at risk, call out to me, and I shall be as your servant. Would you give me now the honor of knowing your name and
allow me to escort you from this place?”
Her playful disposition seemed to melt away, and a look of caution passed over her face. “My dear sir, after the manner in which we have met, I believe a name is an unnecessary and foolish hindrance to our familiarity. You may if we are so fortunate as to cross paths again, refer to me as Lydia.”
“But my dear lady!” said he, half in jest, “You cannot imagine that having been fortunate enough to have found you I could be content with no promise to meet again. I could never read a book again and not think of the real adventure I missed.”
She shook her head, “Alas, my good sir, I fear that I must discard my coyness
and be frank with you.”
“Are women capable of doing so?” He joked. “Or do I witness a wonder?”
Looking a little annoyed, she said, “I believe you would be surprised at the capabilities of the average woman, sir. As I tried to say before, I have no intention of meeting you again nor of telling you my name. I would beg you not to follow me as I take my leave.”
“Have I, my lady, hurt you in any way? If so, I beg pardon for my terrible manners.” Said he, surprised. Until now, the two of them had had a natural ease and playfulness around each other, but on asking her name it seemed to have vanished.
He saw her struggle with what she wanted to say, biting her lips before she replied, “My good sir, your manners were impeccable. I would be a queen if I had half of the dignity you do. I have reasons of my own to not want to be discovered, and so I beg you not to question me. Give me your word you will not try to find me again.”
Chapter 2
Who Was This Woman?
W ho was this woman? Huntingdon wondered. She was no mere lady, nor was she a gypsy,
though she had traits of both about her. She had the bearing of a lady, the figure of an enchantress, and more wit than most men he knew. Yet she wanted him to promise never to meet her again! For a minute, he wondered if she was being coy, if this were some feminine method of wooing him with protestations of never wanting to meet him again. But, seeing the grave look on her face, he told himself it could not be. She looked as if part of her longed to kiss him again, and part of her wanted to run away.
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