Huntingdon moved towards the fireplace where a few books lay scattered around and he laughed in triumph. There, placed on a plate to dry, was an open tome, the same tome the girl he had met had been carrying. Gulliver’s Travels. It was still damp to the touch.
So, she was here! Huntingdon thought, giddy with happiness. Sir Hugh had surely lied. His Caroline was alive. She had to be. From behind him, Huntingdon heard a step, and immediately extinguished his candle and moved to hide behind a chair.
The door creaked open, and he saw a slim figure enter the room, a candle held aloft.
It was her.
Chapter 6
Discovering Lydia
S pringing up from his hiding place, Huntingdon caught hold of her, cupping one hand over her mouth, and holding her wrist so that the candle did not drop.
“Lydia!” he said, and he felt her slender form shiver. “It is me. Your Gulliver.”
He saw her eyes go wide with the realization, and before he could anticipate it, she had kicked him in the shins, causing him to release her with a curse. Extinguishing the candle, she ran out of the room.
“Wait!” he cried, and chased after her, heedless of making a noise. But she ran on, quick and silvery, her path lit only by the moonlight that streamed through the house.
A little angry, and more than a little determined, Huntingdon gave chase, racing her over what seemed like miles of carpeted stairs, spiraling upwards forever. His love did not look back at him even once. Nor, curiously enough, did she scream or alert the house. She only ran, as swift as a deer, and as terrified to be chased. Up four flights of stairs, she ran, and then through a series of doors, until finally, Huntingdon had cornered her in the bell tower.
Puffing slightly, he went to her, taking off his jacket as he went. She was trembling in the cold of the air, dressed only in thin white garb that seemed to shine a halo across her body in the moonlight. Without a word, he draped his greatcoat across her, pulling it together so that she would be warm. She looked up at him, her face lit with wonder.
“You sought me out after all,” She said.
“I told you I would,” He replied.
“Huntingdon,” her voice was shaking. “It will be no use, will it? You will not let me go?”
“How came you to know my name?” Huntingdon asked. “And is it not fair now, for me to learn yours?”
She bit her lip as if she regretted what she had said and shook her head.
“Never mind, I know it already. Caroline. My Caroline, why are you so afraid of me? Don’t you know I would die for you? I am a man who has longed all his life to travel the world. I am a man who laughed at those who praised the value of home and hearth. Yet from the moment we first kissed, my soul knew it had found a home with you, Caroline. I know I am forward. I know it is hard to believe that I could be so in love with you in such a short time. It feels to me too as if a magic potion has been poured into me. But now that I have met you that feeling will not go away and if you would only give me a chance,” His voice shook with pain.
“Don’t,” she pleaded, her eyes sparkling. “Please, I beg you, not one more word. Oh, Huntingdon, I felt it too. Every bit of what you feel and more. Like fate had handed me the one person I had been searching for all my life without knowing it. Cruel fate, to show me a heaven I cannot enter.”
He gathered her in his arms, and for a long time, the two of them stayed that way, their cheeks pressed together as they embraced. For the moment, the words did not matter, as much as their being together. Huntingdon closed his eyes, feeling once again as if his wandering heart had finally found contentment.
He drew apart, though, for the questions racing through his mind finally overcame the peace he felt in her arms. She tried, for only a moment, to hold on, as if his embrace had given her strength she desperately needed. Then, shrinking into herself, she drew away.
“Tell me everything,” Huntingdon said gently. “Is it your brother Hugh? Does he torment you in some way? Are you a prisoner here? I will put it all right and I will not let you be hurt.”
“I cannot,” She said, her eyes beseeching him not to probe anymore. “My lord, I wish with all my heart I could, but it is not my life or honor at stake. Were it only that, I would tell you with no hesitation. But there is another person who I have to consider.”
“A man?” asked he, anger in his voice.
“No. It is not like that. There is no man in my life.” She said. “Believe me, lord, I was happier that it be so. Until… until I met you.”
“Why were you at the pond that day?” he asked.
“I go there often when I need to be alone and think. There is a secret route tunnel through our gardens that reaches the pond. No one but me knows about it, and I can escape unseen. I took the book along so that I could take my mind off my troubles. I find that escaping into a new world helps me make sense of this one sometimes.”
Huntingdon laughed and caressed her cheek. “I am the same way.” Then, furrowing his brow, he said, “I do not understand, though, why must you escape unseen? Why did you refuse to tell me your name? Why does your brother and everyone else think you are no more?”
Silence met his questions. She had turned away from him.
“Is your sister involved in this?” asked Huntingdon, suddenly remembering all that James had said. “Is that connected to why you cannot show yourself? Does she not love James?” His temper rose. “My lady, I may be willing to sacrifice my life for you, but I will not let my best friend throw his away.”
She sprang back, anger mixing with fear in her eyes “Julia is not involved. Julia is innocent. I swear on my honor that she is a pure-minded girl with nothing but love for James in her heart. He will never find a better wife.”
Reassured by this, his temper faded, but he gave a rueful laugh, with frustration at its edges. “Then why do you hesitate to tell me what is happening, my lady? I promised I would help you. Do you not believe me?”
“I do,” She said. “Believe me, I do.”
“Then let me help you!”
“Meet me, once more, tomorrow night,” She said with sudden decision. “I promise I will tell you the truth about me. Every last bit. But until then, give me your word that you will not tell anybody what has happened. Nor will you breathe a word about me to any friend or family, especially James. Only wait one more day, I beg you.”
Chapter 7
The Wedding is
Postponed
H untingdon waited beside the horses for James to appear. His thoughts were still with the girl he had left at the bell tower, and although the surrounding mysteries baffled him, he felt in his heart quite content. In a day, she would tell him all her problems and Huntingdon was determined to use every resource at his disposal to help her. He had passed on to thinking about the one lingering kiss they had shared before they parted ways when James appeared.
“James, old Chap.” Huntingdon smiled. “Just in time. Fancy a few hours of sleep before the big event? I gather there’ll be sleepless nights enough in store for you.”
But to his surprise, James only shook his head and climbed onto his horse.
“What is it?” Huntingdon asked, a sudden cold fear sliding down his spine. He held on to the reins of James’ horse and observed his friend, whose countenance seemed to match a terminally ill man.
“There is to be no wedding tomorrow.” Said James.
“What!” cried Huntingdon.
“Julia has told me she needs more time. She begged me to give her a week’s time before we marry.”
“Why?” asked Huntingdon.
“I do not know,” James said, frustrated. “I tried to get it out of her, but she refused to tell me. She only stood there looking unhappy, her eyes red and swollen with tears. I could not bear it and begged her to let me help.”
Huntingdon winced, knowing exactly the pain his friend must have felt.
“But it was no use. Julia was adamant. She only told me there was something she had to
find out before we could be together. I grew angry then and told her that if she did not fully trust me one night before the wedding, perhaps she never would. I told her that perhaps it was not just one week she needed, but a complete break.”
“Good God, you great idiot. Julia loves you.”
“What use is love if she does not trust me?” Asked James. “Our vows are ‘in sickness and in health, for better or for worse.’ She will make me a poor wife if she carries secrets with her and cannot be persuaded to tell me what they are. I will surely make her a poor husband if I am so untrustworthy to her.”
“But surely…” Huntingdon shook his head.
“There was nothing more to do,” James said. From his pocket, he drew out a ring. “I will not need this anymore.”
“James. My friend.” Huntingdon put a hand on the horse’s neck and soothed the animal, his voice lowering into tones that would calm man and horse alike. “I know that it irks you that Julia seems not to trust you, but what if it is not her own secret she hides, but another’s?”
“What do you mean?” James asked. “Do you know something about this?”
“Not yet,” Huntingdon said, his voice grim. “Not yet, but by tomorrow night I will.”
“Speak clearly, man,” James said. “I cannot bear being spoken to in riddles by my best man as well as my betrothed.”
“James, I have, just now, given a vow to someone that prevents me from speaking till tomorrow. Have you considered that Julia might have done the same?”
“Given a vow? Just now? Who could you have met at this hour?” James looked thoroughly confused, and then, suddenly enlightened, he cried out, “Is it your mysterious girl? The one you claimed to be in love with just yesterday? Is she the reason my dearest Julia is unhappy and hiding things from me?”
Huntingdon’s face gave no hint of revealing the truth, but James had a sharp mind and guessed it all the same.
“There is evil afoot in the house, and my Julia is bound to be silent just as you are.” James understood. “Huntingdon, I have been a fool to doubt her. I will go back right now and tell Julia she can have all the time she needs. A week, a month, a year. I will wait for her.”
Huntingdon smiled. “I believe you are making the right decision now, James. I can promise you this. I think that the mystery will be solved much sooner than a week’s time.”
“I hope so, my friend,” James said. “Every moment that I am apart from Julia is torture to me. A week is an eternity, but I will bear it for her sake.”
Chapter 8
The Confrontation
T he postponement of the wedding set tongues wagging all across the countryside. Many of the guests had arrived already and could not but disbelieve the sudden illness that was claimed as the cause of the one week delay.
“I hear, there is no illness, it is just that the brother disapproves.” Said one Viscountess to another. “The man has become almost mad since losing his parents and twin, and he means to keep his sister prisoner at home. Wait and watch. There will be no wedding next week.”
“I declare, it is not the girl or her brother who are unwilling, but Lord James himself.” Another lady whispered. “Rumor is there is a ghost that haunts Gillingham Manor. Why, my chambermaid heard it from one of the servants. A woman wearing white haunts the bell tower. An ancestor paying for her crimes, or perhaps the unhappy soul of the bride’s sister, who died too young!”
Aware as he was of these rumors, Lord James turned his cheek to them, and went through the motions of apologizing to each guest and making sure of their comfort. Huntingdon, in turn, visited each guest to make sure they would stay the week and point them towards activities they could enjoy in the meantime. After lunch, the two departed from their Inn and headed back towards Gillingham Manor.
“So, it is done.” Said Huntingdon. “We have informed everyone that Julia has been taken ill and postponed the wedding for a week.”
“Indeed.” Said James. “Though not many seem to believe us.”
There was a gloomy silence in the carriage as the horses drove on, both James and Huntingdon snoozing, having had no chance to sleep the previous night.
At the manor, James and Huntingdon entered to find a group of four men playing cards and laughing raucously in the parlor.
“Ah! It is the bridegroom himself! Come to check on my dear cousin, brother.” One man laughed. He was a tall man with a barrel chest and thick arms, prematurely balding, with strangely delicate features that one could not reconcile with his heavy body.
“Felton.” Said James, his nose wrinkling slightly. “May I introduce you to my friend, Earl Huntingdon? Huntingdon, this is Felton Montacute, second cousin to my beloved Julia.”
“Yes, I haven’t achieved any titles yet, but you may still call me Sir,” laughed Felton. “I came down today, expecting a wedding, instead I have been asked to stay for a funeral.”
Huntingdon looked confused, and Felton laughed even more. “Haven’t you heard then? Hugh Montacute is severely ill, and he may not last the week.”
“I thought it was Julia who was ill, and that it was the illness, though severe, that would not last more than a week,” Huntingdon said.
“Well, the news is false, though it may well be that Julia is ill. I haven’t seen anyone but the butler since I entered, and a right bad way to treat a guest who will one day be master of the manor.” Felton laughed.
“I do not know if it is the stench of your vices or your manners that cause me to recoil.” Said Huntingdon, menace in his voice. “But, good sir, I would suggest that you clean this parlor and step out of the house before you are taught how a gentleman behaves.”
Felton flushed, and threw his cards down, raising himself to his full height. “You dare talk to me….”
A low cough interrupted them, and James turned to see a footman standing by the door. “My Lord James, the Lady Julia wishes to see you now.”
Anxious to see her James shot up and followed the footman, leaving Huntingdon alone with the four card players.
“You were discussing my manners, sir,” Felton said, his teeth bared in a smile.
Faced with four drunk men who were clearly aching for a fight, another man might have backed down; not Huntingdon.
“I was not discussing your manners sir because I do not discuss things that do not exist,” he said. “However, I would like to point out that the stench of the smoke in here might be a good thing as it disguises the stench of an ill-bred man.”
“You think you can talk to me that way because you are an earl and I’m nobody?” Felton asked angrily.
“I can talk to you this way because you’re a morally bankrupt man who needs a funeral to feel happy.” Huntingdon said. “The fact that I am an earl is quite irrelevant.”
Felton drew out a sword and prepared himself to charge. Huntingdon shifted subtly, moving his feet into a position of stability, and bringing his hands up in the traditional boxing stance.
“Felton.” A boy entered the room, looking horrified. “Brother! You cannot be seriously thinking of brawling when you’re in your cups. Put that down at once!”
The boy, though he was only eighteen, had a manner far more suited to one of noble lineage. Young though he was, his entrance seemed to settle sense into Felton’s brain. He threw aside his sword and settled back into the chair with one last sneer at Huntingdon.
“Huntingdon, allow me to introduce myself, I am Felton’s younger brother Grayson. Allow me to offer my deepest apologies for the unruly manners of my brother. He is not in his full senses.”
“No doubt.” Huntingdon said, unable to resist the last crack at Felton. “I can see that Sir Hugh’s illness has affected him deeply.”
Grayson looked highly uncomfortable at this but wisely decided to draw Huntingdon away into the library. The two men soon found that they had much in common, including a love for Arabian Steeds, and with effort by Grayson, the conversation turned to happier topics. Huntingdon mused that it was a pit
y the older brother had none of the social graces or moral fiber of his younger brother.
They were discussing the races at Kent when James flew into the room. “Huntingdon! A word, alone, if you please.” He glared at Grayson, who bowed and left.
“What is it, James?”
“Julia is genuinely unwell,” James said, wiping his brow. “Whatever secrets she’s holding inside her, Huntingdon, they’re eating her alive. When I left her yesterday, we’d agreed that we’d spread the word that she’s too sick to be married today and wants to do it next week. That lie turned out to be the truth. Between today and last night, she has developed a heavy fever, my poor darling.”
“I’m so sorry, James,” Huntingdon said.
“She returned my ring,” James said, showing Huntingdon. “Even with her heavy fever, she was determined. She told me she is no longer fit to be my bride and returned the ring. I did not wish to argue, and so I let the doctor sedate her, but I will be damned if I let that woman go so easily.”
Huntingdon clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re quite a man, James! But I’m still so sorry.”
“I’m not sorry as much as I am suspicious. Her brother Hugh has developed a mysterious sickness too, and the butler would not even let me in the room to see him.”
“Understandable, if the sickness is contagious.”
“I didn’t care about that, so I went into the next room, and climbed from one balcony to another till I reached Hugh’s room.”
“What!” Huntingdon looked startled. James typically had never been the type to break rules.
“Hugh wasn’t there, Huntingdon. The room was empty.”
Regency Romances for the Ages Page 139