Unconventional Suitors 02 - Her Unconventional Hero

by Ginny Hartman

  Griffin dropped the paper as if he had been burned. Anger bubbled up in his chest and threatened to boil over. How could Adel be so ruthless to write about his brother-in-law, knowing that it would not only humiliate Rose but quite possibly cause her harm as well? All feelings of love and fondness that he held for her disappeared in that instant. She had hurt him far worse by this than she ever would have by writing about him and destroying his reputation.

  He let out a low, angry growl before pushing away from the table so violently that he knocked his chair over. The loud clattering of the chair hitting the floor served to bolster his anger. He reached for his nearly empty teacup and threw it hard against the wall, hoping to alleviate some of his anger. He watched the teacup shatter into a million pieces as his servants watched him wide-eyed, wisely saying nothing.

  “Prepare my carriage,” he commanded to no one in particular. He watched as several servants scurried about, praying that one of them was smart enough to obey. He had to get to Rose immediately and see that she was safe.

  Griffin pounded his fist furiously against the seat of his carriage in a repetitive motion. How long would it take for his driver to get to Rose’s townhouse? Was he deliberately driving at such a slow place to vex him? He wanted to scream out that he could walk faster than they were driving, but a quick glance out the window to the townhouses passing by told him he was wrong.

  As the carriage was pulling to a stop, he reached for the door and forced it open, jumping out and rushing up to the door. He let himself in, not the least bit concerned with manners and propriety. “Rose, have you read the papers this morning?” he shouted, not remembering that she had previously told him that she didn’t get the paper.

  He jogged down the hall as he called out to her. “Rose, where are you?” The house was eerily silent.

  When a brief but thorough inspection of the drawing room yielded no results, he ran up the stairs shouting her name but didn’t get any response. He opened several doors revealing barren and dusty rooms before he finally found the entrance to her bedchamber. The room was nearly as bare as the others had been, save it was a simple bed in one corner. His heart stilled within him as he saw Rose huddled up in a ball on the bed, sobs racking her body.

  Griffin ran to her, throwing himself down on the bed and pulling her to him. She was so thin, so fragile. Using one hand, he forced her face to his and gasped. Her pale face was swollen and marred by several purple bruises, her left eye nearly swollen shut. He had long suspected that her husband was physical with her at times, though this was the first time he had ever seen evidence of it for himself, and it made him physically ill. He had to swallow hard to avoid casting up his account as he looked at Rose’s face.

  “Rose, what happened?” he asked, though he was certain he already knew.

  “Why did she betray me?” Rose wailed, making Griffin’s anger flame up once again.

  “Oh Rose, I do not think she meant to betray you. I think it was her way of getting even at me.”

  Even through the bruises and swelling, Griffin could tell that his sister was giving him a quizzical look. “Why would she do that? She doesn’t even know you.”

  Now it was his turn to be confused. “What do you mean?”

  “My maid,” Rose sobbed. “I thought she was my friend. She stayed by me even though my husband long ago stopped paying her dues.”

  Though he was confused, Griffin could tell that her maid’s betrayal obviously upset her more than her husband’s abuse had. “Rose, please tell me everything you know. Did the baron read The Morning Post?”

  She nodded as she continued to cry.

  “I know this is hard for you, but I need to know everything,” he urged gently.

  He admired his sister’s courage as she steadied her emotions enough for her to be able to speak. “He read it this morning and came here immediately. He was cross as crabs so I could tell instantly that something was afoot. As you know, I do not take the paper and had no way of knowing what was written about him. He read me the words of Mrs. Tiddlyswan as I hid my surprise. Do not mistake me, for I was not surprised by his behavior, for I have been privy to it from the beginning. My surprise came from the fact that Lady Adel would do that to me. But though I was dismayed, I had no intention of breaking anyone’s confidence and revealing what I knew about Lady Adel. Turns out I didn’t have to say anything, she…she told him everything!” Rose began crying once more as she hid her face behind her hands.

  “By she I assume you mean your maid?”

  Rose nodded. “How could she? I thought she was my truest friend. She sat by and watched as my husband beat me for knowing the identity of the person who made him out to be a fool but refusing to tell him. She watched him do this to me and did nothing.”

  Griffin’s hands clamped into tight fists. “Where is she?” he asked murderously. “I will ring her neck.”

  “Gone. She left shortly after my husband. I haven’t a clue where she went. She left me here alone.” Rose’s slight frame was once more racked with sobs. It was clear that she was more upset by her maid’s betrayal than she was by her husband’s cruel actions or Adel’s horrendously insensitive ones.

  Griffin set Rose gently down atop the mattress as he began pacing back and forth in the small room. He wanted to find the Baron Moncreif and kill him with his bare hands, make him suffer for all the pain and anguish and humiliation he had caused his sister, consequences be damned. He was so blinded by his anger, he barely registered that Rose was speaking to him.

  “He’s on his way to Kent to find Lady Adel and punish her.”

  Griffin stopped cold in his tracks. “What?” he asked incredulously, though he had heard her perfectly well.

  “I know she hurt you, us, but you have to stop him. He’s dangerous, Griffin. I’m afraid of what he’ll do to her.”

  He didn’t know how it was possible, but his anger somehow managed to multiply. Walking to the wall he punched his fist hard against the plaster, causing a large hole to cave into the wall. His knuckles felt bruised and one even split open and began bleeding, but the pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. Grabbing his handkerchief from his pocket, he hastily wiped the blood away.

  “We’ve got to stop him,” he muttered as he found a cloak to wrap around Rose as he scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the house and into his carriage, instructing his driver to take them to St. James’s Square.

  As soon as they arrived at the Desmond’s townhouse, he turned to Rose, “Stay here, I will be back shortly,” he instructed before hopping from the vehicle.

  His body thrummed with nervous anticipation as he waited for the door to be answered. As soon as the butler appeared, he shouted, “I need to speak to Lady Adel. Now.”

  “Do come in, my lord, and kindly avoid making a scene.”

  Griffin didn’t give a fig about the fact that he may be causing a scene, but he did follow the butler inside. “Fetch Aunt Tabitha, I must speak to her at once.”

  “My lord, if you’d like to wait in the drawing room I will see if she is up to accepting callers.”

  Seething he hissed, “Get her at once or I will find her myself.”

  The butler actually looked unnerved for a moment before reclaiming his stoic demeanor. “I will find her at once.”

  “Smart man,” Griffin muttered as he watched him walk away.

  Rationally he knew it was only minutes before Aunt Tabitha came scurrying to the foyer, but it felt like an eternity. “Lord Straton, what is the meaning of all of this? Our butler said that—“

  Cutting her off mid-sentence he asked, “Where is Adel?”

  Aunt Tabitha stammered, “She’s in Kent, my lord. She returned there nearly a week ago.”

  “We need to go to her at once. I have reason to believe that she is in danger.”

  Aunt Tabitha’s face turned ashen. “What…whatever do you mean, my lord?? she stammered.

  “I do not have time to explain everything, but su
ffice it to say that she has done something to put herself in danger, and we need to help her before it is too late.”

  “Pardon, my lord, but you are not making any sense. Adel would never involve herself in dangerous affairs, it’s not in her character.”

  Griffin sighed as he ran one hand furiously over his stubbled jaw. He didn’t want to take the time to explain, but it was apparent that the stubborn old lady wasn’t going to budge without at least some explanation. “Have you read Mrs. Tiddlyswan’s gossip column?”

  “But of course,” she looked at him confused. “Every member of the ton has certainly read it.”

  “Mrs. Tiddlyswan is your niece’s alias. She’s been penning the column since the start of the season.”

  Aunt Tabitha gasped, clutching her hands to her bosom. “No!”

  “Oh yes, it is all true, and her latest column has placed her in danger. With all due respect, I would love to explain to you every last detail of the situation, but I’m afraid if I do, we will be too late.” Griffin turned and put his hand on the doorknob, “I need you to tell me where Adel is staying. I need directions to the estate.”

  “Terrace Manor?” Aunt Tabitha asked, still in a state of shock.

  “If that is where Adel is, then yes.”

  “I will go with you; it will be easier than trying to explain. Let me gather Katherine. We will be ready to leave shortly.”

  Griffin huffed, “I do not have time for you to gather trunks and other necessities. We need to leave at once.”

  “I promise; I will be swift,” Aunt Tabitha called out over her shoulder, for she had already began dashing down the hall.

  Chapter 17

  Just like she had done every day since being back at Terrace Manor, Adel went directly to the gardens after her midday meal to cut a bouquet of flowers to take down to her mother’s grave in the family cemetery. Being outside in the fresh air made her feel better, and the long talks she had with her mother were already helping her to heal, she could feel it.

  She had spent hours telling her mother all about Griffin, from the early beginning of their acquaintance, when he was arrogant and overbearing, to the intimate conversations they had shared about their mutual grief over losing their mothers. She had even been so bold to share with her mother the fact that they had kissed. She had briefly wondered if her mother had been alive if she would have been so blunt with her about all of her feelings and interactions with Griffin, but she hadn’t been able to answer that so she pushed the thought aside.

  Adel hummed as she eyed the rose bush looking for the most splendid of blooms she could find. The gardeners were meticulous in their care of the peach roses that lined the edge of the garden, for they had always been her mother’s favorite and it was one of the ways that they kept their mistress’s memory alive. Grabbing a pair of scissors from her skirt pocket, she clipped off several perfect roses, then worked to tie them together with an ivory ribbon she had brought with her for that very purpose. Holding the bouquet to her nose she inhaled deeply of the scent and smiled.

  Holding the roses in one hand, she used her other to lift the hem of her simple white walking dress, dotted with blue flowers, as she made her way towards the cemetery. The only sounds that could be heard were that of the birds chirping above. Adel had left her hair down, enjoying the way the wind blew wisps of her auburn locks daintily across her face and neck. It made her feel careless and free.

  As she approached the cemetery, she paused long enough to unlatch the gate of the low, metal fence that bordered the graves, before strolling directly to her mother’s headstone. She knelt before it, placing the peach roses amongst the various other bouquets she had collected and brought with her since she had returned home. She smiled at the sight of so many colorful flowers, knowing that her mother would have loved each and every one of them.

  Arranging her skirts about her legs, she sat at her mother’s grave and leaned back on her hands so that she could angle her face up towards the sun. She knew it wasn’t wise to be out without a bonnet, but the fear of gaining another freckle or two didn’t bother her a bit.

  “Oh Mother, I am so glad that I came back. I feel closer to you when I can come to your grave every day. I think Father likes that I am back as well. I imagine he has been quite lonely here at Terrace Manor all by himself. Perhaps I will never leave. I have already decided that I do not wish to have another season, though I am sure Katherine will want one. She seemed to enjoy the dancing and socializing more than I ever did. I know that is quite surprising, since she has always been the shy one, but I think the season has been good for her.”

  Adel paused as if she were waiting for her mother to respond, though she knew that she never would. After the brief silence she continued, “I think Aunt Tabitha will enjoy another season in Town as well. Between all of the shopping that they both like to do and the entertainments that are provided, they will hardly have time to miss me.”

  “Adel,” a voice called out behind her.

  Adel turned. Had her father come down to visit her mother’s grave? Dusting the dirt from her palms she rose from the grass and scanned the scenery looking for her father, but she didn’t see him.

  “Father,” she called out. “Is that you?” How strange of him to come, she thought to herself, for during this time he was usually holed up in his study pouring over estate business.

  “Over here,” the voice called.

  It didn’t sound like her father, but she couldn’t quite tell from a distance. Perhaps it was one of the gardeners taking care of the grounds. She took tentative steps forward, glancing all around her but not seeing anyone.

  As she was nearing the pond, a swift breeze rushed by, whipping her hair in front of her face. She reached up to brush the thick strands away and froze, for she swore she heard, “Come here Mrs. Tiddlyswan,” float through the breeze.

  Adel’s eyes darted back and forth as her heart pounded loudly in her ears. Surely she had misheard, she reasoned as she debated whether she should turn and flee. Just as she was beginning to turn, she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Gasping, one hand flew to her heart in alarm as she watched the Baron Moncreif stalk slowly out of the trees.

  She watched as his eyes scrunched together in angry slits and wondered what he was doing there, on her family’s property. She wanted to turn and flee, but fear kept her firmly rooted in her spot. As he got closer, she somehow managed to find her voice. “Wh…what are you doing here?” she stuttered.

  The baron stopped in his tracks, thankfully still several yards away. He gave a dry laugh as he reached inside his coat and withdrew a pistol. Adel gasped loudly as a fear unlike any she had ever known before slithered through her body, immobilizing her completely. Had he somehow found out she had given Rose money and come to punish her? It was the only thing that made any sort of sense to her, though she thought he was severely overreacting.

  “I must apologize, my lord,” her voice was shaking uncontrollably. “I didn’t mean to upset you so by giving your wife money, though I do not regret it since it was apparent that she so desperately needed it.”

  “You gave my wife money?” he asked, completely confused.

  Adel swallowed, apparently that was not the reason for his appearance. She nodded hesitantly, unsure if her admission would make her situation better or worse. He continued, “It would seem that you are my wife’s champion. I’m beginning to wonder if it wasn’t her that gave you the information you fed to the scandal sheets. Perhaps I should have punished her more fully than I did.”

  Adel felt anger war with the fear that was consuming her. “Rose doesn’t deserve your punishment. What did you do to her?”

  Lord Moncreif took a step forward, lifting his flintlock pistol and pointing it directly at her. Adel’s mouth went dry. “Not nearly enough, I can assure you, but I won’t make the same mistake with you.”

  ***

  Rose, Katherine, Aunt Tabitha, and Griffin were silent as the carriage rolled along.
The last two days of travel had dragged on in endless monotony. If Griffin could have somehow found a faster way to arrive at Terrace Manor, he would have done it. They had had to stop at the Brown Beetle for the night to allow the horses to rest, though Griffin was sure none of them got much sleep. The only thought that even somewhat consoled him was that Lord Moncreif only had a few hours on them. He had been hopefully optimistic that they would run into him at the Inn, but he had not been staying at the Brown Beetle. With any luck, they may even beat him to the manor.

  After hours of nary a movement in the carriage, Katherine perked up, her back straightening as she looked out the window and exclaimed, “We are on Desmond land now. We are almost there.” Pointing her finger out the window she said, “Once we turn onto the drive, it is only about a mile to the main house.”

  Griffin exhaled in relief as he slid to the edge of the bench to look out the window on his side. The property unfolded before them in vast acres of rolling hills as they turned onto the drive. Oak trees were plentiful throughout, giving the carriage much needed shade from the warm sun.

  “We are almost there now. I can see the manor coming into view.” Everyone scurried to see out the window as Katherine spoke. “And down there by the pond is the family cemetery.”

  Griffin glanced down the slope to where she was pointing. He did a double take as his eyes caught the fluttering of white fabric by the pond. Squinting he leaned forward, “Is that Adel?” he asked, though he knew the answer by the vibrant auburn hair that was swirling in the breeze.

  “Is that my husband?” Rose croaked beside him, her eyes looking past where Adel was standing. Sure enough, stalking out of the thick copse of oak trees, next to the pond, was Lord Moncreif.

  Griffin reached up and frantically tapped on the roof of the carriage, signaling the driver to stop. They hadn’t even come to a halt before Griffin slammed the door open and jumped from the moving carriage. He stumbled but didn’t fall, straightening himself before running down the sloping hill and towards the pond. As he neared the cemetery, he could see that Lord Moncreif was holding a flintlock pistol firmly in his hand. His heartbeat accelerated as he began to run faster.