by Georgie Lee
‘Miss Howard,’ he gasped, holding a pitchfork tight. ‘I thought you were a thief. What are you doing here at this time of night and dressed like that?’
She pushed past him, grabbing Manfred’s saddle. ‘I’m going to London, to find Paul. He’s been wounded and he’s missing.’
‘You can’t.’ John took hold of the heavy saddle, but she didn’t let go. ‘Not without Mr Howard or Captain Russell. If anyone found out, you’d be ruined.’
‘I have to find him.’
‘But think of your mother and brother.’
‘Charles doesn’t care about anything but his propriety.’ Julia tugged on the saddle, but John held it tight.
‘Miss Howard, I can’t let you do this.’
The concern in his face touched her. He’d kept so many secrets for her in the past. Now she needed him to keep one more.
‘Please, I must. Paul needs me. He’s wounded and might die if I don’t find him.’ She hated sounding so desperate, but she couldn’t keep the fear out of her words.
John shook his head, relaxing his grip on the leather. ‘You know I can’t refuse you.’ He took the saddle into Manfred’s stall and threw it over the horse’s back.
Julia joined him, helping with the buckles. ‘Thank you, John.’
When they were done, John led Manfred out to the paddock, then helped her up.
‘Please be careful. Your family needs you. Knollwood needs you.’
Regret hit her with surprising strength and for a moment she considered returning to the house and finding some other way to help Paul. No, there was no other way and no life except the one she could create with him in some distant port. For all his silly faults, at least he would understand and not judge her. He was her future now, not Knollwood, Cable Grange or Captain Covington.
‘I’ll be careful.’ She kicked Manfred and horse and rider cantered out into the night.
* * *
James leaned against the mantel, watching a smouldering log collapse. Admiral Nelson was dead. He’d been wounded so many times, survived so many battles and now, on the brink of perhaps his greatest victory, he’d been killed. A shiver ran through James—he might have shared the same fate a year ago, or perhaps even today if he hadn’t resigned his commission. He’d wasted so much time lamenting the past, mourning everything he’d lost instead of living. And what had he lost? He wouldn’t know until morning when he could speak to Julia, explain what had happened at Cable Grange and confess his love. He berated himself for not telling her sooner.
‘Excuse me, sir.’ John stood in the doorway, his hair dishevelled and his lined face stricken.
‘What’s wrong?’ George asked.
‘Miss Howard—she’s taken Manfred and left for London.’
‘What?’ James couldn’t believe it.
‘She’s gone to find Mr Paul Howard. Found one of his old uniforms and rode off dressed like a sailor.’
‘Why did you let her go? Don’t you know how dangerous it is for a woman to travel the roads alone at night?’
The groom shrunk back. ‘I couldn’t stop her.’
It seemed too far-fetched to be real, but knowing Julia’s impetuous nature it sounded exactly like something she would do. ‘Saddle up Hector. I’m going after her.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ John left to prepare the horse.
‘I’ll go with you,’ George said.
‘No, I need you to stay and tell Julia’s mother what’s happened, but not until morning and not unless we haven’t returned.’
‘What about Charles?’
‘Wait as long as you can to tell him. I don’t want him following us. He’ll only make things worse. I’m sure I can catch up to her and convince her to come back.’
‘And if you can’t?’
James opened and closed his left hand. ‘Then on to London to find Paul. I’ll send word when I can.’
George clapped him on the back. ‘I hate to miss this adventure. Good luck, Jim.’
James ran upstairs to change into his older uniform, buckling his sabre to his waist before he left the room. Outside, he hurried down the hill to the stable where John waited in the paddock with Hector. The lanterns from the stable shone off the stallion’s dark coat but did little to pierce the darkness beyond the building.
‘When did she leave?’ he asked, pulling himself into the saddle, ignoring the sting to his shoulder.
‘Right before I came to get you. She’s sure to take the main road, but if you go through the woods, there’s a path that leads west. It’s not hard to find and comes out further down the road. If you hurry, you can cut her off. She’s not likely to run Manfred in the dark and risk injuring him.’
‘Thank you.’ James turned the horse for the woods, riding as fast as he could without risking Hector. Despite the high half-moon, heavy clouds kept passing in front of it, plunging the countryside into periods of darkness.
He rode a good distance without finding a break in the trees or anywhere where the bald path diverged. He thought of doubling back, fearing he’d missed the fork when the trail split, veering off into the dense copse. He slowed the stallion, nudging him to the right and the trees closed in around them, blocking out all but the faintest slivers of moonlight. James’s eyes strained against the darkness to see the hard-packed earth in the dim light.
A low, sharp branch caught his neck and he reached up, feeling warm blood. Wiping it away, he laughed, remembering the last time he’d ridden hell-bent towards a town in the middle of the night. It was in Bermuda and he never thought he’d be doing it in England or chasing after a headstrong girl to aid a man he disliked. Life would never be this exciting without her and, if helping her find Paul meant winning her, he’d ride the length and breadth of the country.
* * *
An owl screeched, dipping down over the road in front of Julia and Manfred before flying off over the trees. Julia sat up straight, startled, her skin crawling with goose bumps. She might be dressed like a man, but any thieves in search of easy prey would discover the truth the moment they pounced. Then what would she do? She didn’t have so much as a riding crop to defend herself with.
Somewhere in the distance a dog barked and Julia hunched over in the saddle, pulling the coat closer around her face. The ball, Mrs Wilkins and the captain’s betrayal all mingled with the night to press down on her and dampen her spirit and resolve. What seemed a rational idea in the midst of a disappointing evening now felt like a mistake. Even if she made it to London, she had not the first idea where to begin her search. She should go home. It would be easy to slip into the house without anyone being the wiser, but then what would she do? Charles was too stubborn to help and even Uncle George had sided with the captain against Paul. If only the captain hadn’t been such a scoundrel. He would have helped her.
Fresh tears threatened to fall and she bit her lip to keep from crying. She’d been so forward with her silly engagement scheme. No wonder he took advantage of her and thought nothing of exposing her to the censure and ridicule of the entire countryside. Though if he only sought to amuse himself with her innocence, why had he stopped the night he found her in his room and why had he suggested they marry? She smacked the saddle as she remembered the momentary weakness and the easy way he’d cast her aside. It must have all been a cruel joke because he obviously preferred the charms of a Cyprian like Mrs Wilkins to a silly girl like her. Wiping her eyes, she wondered if she’d ever be able to love again and her heart tightened with loss.
Rustling in the bushes up ahead put her on edge. Manfred’s dark ears, tipped with moonlight, turned towards the noise and he raised his head higher, sensing something in the trees lining the road. She squinted, trying to see the source of the sound, but a heavy cloud passed over the moon and everything darkened. Branches cracked and her body tensed, her feet ready to kick
Manfred into a gallop.
She heard the unmistakable thud of hooves on packed earth before the horse and rider sprang from the trees. The strange rider positioned himself in the middle of the road in an attempt to block her, but she moved fast, digging her heels into Manfred’s side.
‘Yah!’ Manfred bolted past the rider, his hooves pounding the road. The stranger launched into pursuit, his horse matching Manfred’s steady gait, but not his speed. Fear gripped Julia. She couldn’t take Manfred into the forest without risking a broken leg. All she could do was rely on him to outrun the danger.
‘Come on, Manfred,’ she urged before the faint strain of a familiar voice reached her ears.
‘Julia, wait.’
The stranger called out twice more before she recognised the captain’s voice. Pulling Manfred to a halt, she watched the captain bring Hector to a stop a few feet away.
‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded, hoping the horses’ heavy breathing covered the sound of her thundering heart.
‘I’ve come to stop you from making a mistake.’
‘I’ve already made many mistakes.’ The sky briefly cleared and the moon’s soft light caressed his face. Sadness hit her more powerfully than the fear she’d experienced only a moment before. They’d never be together with the same love and desire as before. She turned Manfred around and started him down the road and Captain Covington brought his stallion alongside hers.
‘Why are you doing this?’
Julia didn’t answer, unwilling to tell him the truth and be vulnerable to him again.
‘Julia, please?’ He manoeuvred Hector in front of Manfred, bringing them both to a stop. ‘Tell me what’s wrong and how I can help.’
‘Why? You don’t care. Go back to Knollwood and Mrs Wilkins. Leave me be.’
‘Whatever she told you was a lie.’
‘She said you were at Cable Grange. Is that a lie?’
He drew in a ragged breath. ‘I was. But not for the reasons you think. I received a note from her regarding Rowan’s debt. I’d hoped to use the money he owed me from the race as leverage to purchase Cable Grange. When I arrived she was alone and threw herself at me. I refused her, which is why she did what she did at the ball.’
‘You wanted to buy Cable Grange? Why?’
‘For you.’
Hope flared in Julia’s heart, but she stamped it down. ‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Would I be here on a lonely road in the middle of the night following a woman dressed as a naval officer if I was lying?’
Was it possible? Did he really want her with all of her silly habits and unconventional traits? Her heart wanted to believe him, but her mind couldn’t. The image of Mrs Wilkins smiling in victory crushed her hope. No, she could not trust the captain in matters of love.
‘Go back to Knollwood.’ She manoeuvred Manfred around him, but he refused to be put off.
‘I’m coming with you to London.’
‘You needn’t bother. I don’t need your help.’
‘I’m still coming.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you must have an accomplice in this adventure, especially someone who knows his way around town and can help you.’
‘Adventure?’ Until this moment she hadn’t thought of it in such terms, but now the idea, despite her hurt and anger, appealed to her.
‘What else would you call it?’
He was right, though she didn’t want him to be right. She didn’t want him to be anything but a distant memory. However, now that he was here and determined to stay, he could prove useful.
‘Do as you like. But as soon as we find Paul, I never want to see you again.’
‘Let’s get to London first. We’ll worry about the rest later.’
He started Hector down the road and Julia followed, the darkness not as frightening or lonely as before. Despite her decision to remain wary and angry with him, she felt a genuine thrill to be on an adventure like all the ones Paul and Uncle George had described. Her excitement was tempered by the heartache spurring her on. Despite his betrayal, deep down she knew he was honourable enough to protect her if they met any unsavoury characters. This offered some measure of comfort and she settled into the saddle for the long journey.
* * *
The time passed slowly, the moon falling towards the horizon before disappearing behind dark clouds. Early on he tried to talk to her, but she cut him short, unwilling to hear any more of his lies or to speak for fear her voice would reveal too much of her true emotions. Eventually, he gave up and they rode for miles in silence. Fatigue crept into her muscles and soon the gentle bob of Manfred’s gait made her sleepy. She nodded off before a sturdy hand roused her.
‘Don’t fall asleep.’
Her head jerked up. ‘I wasn’t sleeping.’
A distant flash of lightning streaked across the horizon. ‘The storm will be upon us soon. Is there an inn near here or a house, anywhere we can take shelter until it passes?’
Julia examined their surroundings, trying to get her bearings. Another distant lightning flash silhouetted a large, twisted oak tree near a bend in the road, a familiar marker she knew well.
‘There’s a coaching inn not far from here, but it isn’t the most reputable establishment.’
The captain laughed. ‘Two lone travellers, one a single woman dressed like a man. Sounds like a perfect place for us.’
* * *
The first heavy drops started to fall when they reached the inn and the quiet stable next to it.
‘Stay here while I see to the horses,’ James ordered. Julia didn’t argue, but waited near the stable entrance while James spoke to the groom. The weather kept the rest of the patrons indoors, leaving only the groom and one stable boy who ignored them while he mucked out a stall. James paid the groom well to see to the horses then, taking Julia by the arm, led her across the muddy yard to the inn’s front door.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded, stepping through a large puddle.
‘Shhh.’ He pulled her under the eaves where two large drops slipped off the wood overhang and dripped down his neck. ‘Once inside, say nothing. Your voice will give you away.’
‘Do not order me about.’
He held up a warning finger. ‘You have no experience in these matters. As we are both dressed in our uniforms...’ he shook his head at the absurdity of the situation ‘...take direction from me as any junior officer would.’
‘But—’
‘No disobedience. Follow me or I’ll throw you over Manfred and drag you back to Knollwood.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Julia saluted.
‘That’s more like it.’ He pulled open the door. ‘Come along, Julius.’
‘Julius?’
‘A suitable name for a boy of your temperament.’
They stepped inside, the overpowering stench of dirty travellers, tobacco and meat assaulting them. He expected Julia to blanch, but she stared through the smoky room, fascinated by the men hiding in dark corners and the barmaids plying their trade.
‘What do you think?’ he asked, enjoying her reaction.
‘It’s exactly like Paul described.’ Her eyes followed a voluptuous blonde who walked by with two tankards and a surprising amount of uncovered flesh. ‘Is she a—?’
‘Yes. Come along, Columbus. Let’s get something to eat.’ He took her arm and pulled her through the benches of drinking, carousing men to a small, isolated table near the stairs. From a shadowed corner across the room, a man leaned against the wall, chewing on the end of a pipe. James noticed the way he watched them from under a dirty tricorn hat pulled low over his face. Something about him seemed familiar, but the stranger tilted down his head, obscuring his features.
‘Wait here. I’ll see to our room.’ He pushed her i
nto a chair with her back to the wall and a good view of the patrons.
‘Shouldn’t we stay here, in public?’ she whispered with unmistakable worry.
Being alone with him seemed to frighten her more than a lonely road or a common room full of thieves, drunks and whores. He cursed himself for allowing the distance between them to widen, determined by the end of today to fill her eyes with wanting and love, not suspicion and worry.
‘Privacy is safer in a place like this.’ He was about to walk away when a woman with wild red hair and large breasts teetering precariously along the top edge of her dirty dress perched herself on the table.
‘Fancy something special, Captain?’
‘No, nothing, thank you.’ James smiled, eager to send the woman on her way without any trouble.
The trollop’s hooded eyes swept Julia. ‘Then perhaps something for the lad?’
‘He’s fine, I assure you.’
‘Seems kind of green to me. Perhaps he needs just a taste.’ She leaned across the table and slid her hand between Julia’s legs. The woman’s eyes met hers in stunned shock, but before either of them could say anything James took the harlot’s hand, slipping two sovereigns into her palm and placing it against his chest.
‘I know you can understand such a delicate situation and as a true lady will maintain your discretion.’
Her fingers closed on the coins, a sly smile spreading over her pocked features. ‘Whatever you like, love, makes no difference to me.’
‘I knew you’d understand. And I know you’ll do anything to help us.’ He held up two more sovereigns in front of her face. ‘We need a room, the best you have, and your continued discretion regarding the lad.’