A Viscount's Second Chance (Hearts and Ever Afters)

by Joyce Alec

  Lucy was almost to the point of giving up. The buckles of the harness were slimy with mud, and she kept losing her grip on them. Although she could likely save herself, she wasn't willing to let her loyal companion drown. Mabel calmed down slightly, but her erratic movements amplified when the carriage finally slid into the water. The powerful current was tugging at the carriage; a few more minutes, and river would carry it away. Lucy was desperate. She screamed as loud as she could, but didn't cease working on freeing her beloved horse.

  Tears of desperation slid down Lucy's cheeks as she prayed for a miracle. The river current tugged harder at the carriage, and the back wheels slid up to the axle in the water; it would not be much longer now.

  "Stand aside!" said the strange man as he came charging down the embankment. He pulled a knife out of his boot and walked to the horse.

  Thinking the worst, Lucy screamed, "Sir, you mustn't. I am trying to save her."

  "What do you think I am trying to do? Now move!" he ordered.

  The stranger did not waste time trying to unbuckle the harness from the panicked animal. He quickly cut the leather straps, freeing the mare. The mare struggled to find her footing, so the stranger got behind the horse and pushed with all his might. The horse climbed to the top of the embankment at last.

  The carriage was lost, and Lucy was covered in mud, but she and the horse were still alive, and that was all that mattered. This man, this stranger, had saved them. He reached out his hand and helped Lucy to safety. His efforts to help her up the embankment seemed effortless, which indicated his strength. He was tall in stature, and even though he was wet from the downpour of rain. Lucy noticed his handsome features: a rugged jaw, big blue eyes, and dark hair that was almost black.

  Breathless from the physical feat she had just endured, Lucy managed, "Sir, I cannot express my gratitude at your act of bravery and selflessness."

  "Miss, what kind of man would have left you and your horse to perish?"

  His humility touched Lucy. "I hope to never know anyone capable of such lack of compassion, but that does not detract from your bravery."

  "I feel I must offer you my apologies for yelling at you. I did not intend to speak to you in a disrespectful manner. I assure you that it was not my intention to offend you by my harsh language."

  "Sir, on the contrary, your words and actions were perfectly in line with the gravity of the situation."

  A sudden splash from the river signaled the end of the carriage. Lucy and the stranger watched as it was seized by the current and swiftly washed down river.

  "If it had not been for you and your timely arrival, I fear that carriage would have taken Mabel and me to a watery grave."

  Lucy realized that she must look disheveled in her current state. Every part of her body, even her dark hair, was covered in mud. Although ineffective, she attempted to wipe the mud off her skirt and move her wet hair off her face. The attempts to regain her composure and look the part of a lady were useless. Lucy also hated to think of how puffy her face must look from crying.

  This man had just saved her, and he was covered in mud as well, but he still managed to look dashing. He ran his hand through his dark hair as he surveyed the river.

  "Miss, you may have to find an alternate route home. This road may be out for a while."

  "I will manage. At least now I have the opportunity to return home, thanks entirely to you," she said as she walked over to move her hands over Mabel in comfort. The mare was also caked in mud, but other than that, appeared to be unharmed.

  "I must find a way to repay your kindness. Please tell me sir, where is your family's home?"

  "I live north of here, Miss. I was just passing through to the Port of Hull."

  "I don't believe we have been introduced," said Lucy.

  "I have forgotten my manners entirely; I am John Tennant of Bainbridge Hall."

  "Bainbridge Hall? Are you employed there?" asked Lucy.

  "Yes, I suppose you could say that," he said with a laugh. "I am Lord Harrogate."

  "I beg your pardon; I did not mean to be rude. It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Lord Harrogate. I am forever in your debt."

  "Please, Miss, I must insist that I only did what any gentleman would do. Let's dispense of this preposterous idea of you owing a debt to me." He smiled, "Now then, you know who I am, but you never did tell me your name."

  "I am Lady Lucy Fitzwilliam."

  "Ah, the daughter of the Marquess of Whittenger, I presume?"

  "Do you know my father?"

  "I do, but only as an acquaintance. I will get word to the marquess of your situation. Now, I must escort you somewhere to find clean clothes and warm up by a fire. You look like you need a cup of tea."

  Lord Harrogate walked to the wood line, untied the reins of a chestnut stallion, and led the horse by the reins to the road. He handed the reins to Lucy as he collected Mabel. Together, they walked towards the village accompanied by their horses. Despite the extraordinary circumstances of the occasion, Lucy enjoyed walking with this handsome man. He did not say very much, but she did not mind. He was as chivalrous as a knight in shining armor.

  "Lady Lucy, we are nearing the village. Where would you like to go?"

  "You may escort me to the rectory, Lord Harrogate. The Vicar is a cousin, and his wife is a close friend. They will welcome my arrival."

  "I am not sure how long it will be before you can go home because of the road. Will you be able to find lodging with your cousin and his wife?"

  "Yes, I am certain of it. As I said, they are my family."

  Upon her arrival at the rectory in Sheffield, Lord Harrogate bid her farewell. He promised Lucy he would get a message to her father about her safety. She thanked him, and even though she did not verbalize her wishes, Lucy hoped to see him again.

  The Vicar and his wife welcomed Lucy to their home and also provided food and shelter for Lucy's mare. Several days passed before Lucy's father could arrange for her safe journey home.

  Chapter 2

  Ever since meeting Lord Harrogate, Lucy was unable to think of much else. A humble man that was also handsome and well-bred, had come to her rescue. He was not especially forthcoming with any details, so Lucy knew very little about him. He was from Yorkshire, near Bainbridge, and he was traveling to and from the Port of Hull. They had never been introduced at a social gathering; Lucy was sure of that as she would have remembered him.

  Upon her safe arrival home, Lucy enquired about Lord Harrogate. Her father knew the Earl of Harrogate, but only as an acquaintance. Lucy's mother, the Marchioness, was less forthcoming with her opinion. Lucy determined that her mother was not inclined to give a high opinion of him, but did not want to disagree with her husband.

  What her parents were inclined to agree on was Lucy's lack of judgment. The fact that their daughter was still alive was the most important matter at hand, but they were distressed about the loss of a carriage and the scandal of their daughter being seen driving around the village on a public road without a chaperone.

  "I am appalled by your utter disregard for propriety. What were you thinking?" Her mother demanded.

  "Mama, my only thoughts were of the villagers and their suffering. I just wanted to make sure they had enough to eat."

  Her father, who had always been the voice of reason, said, "Lucy, I can appreciate your positon, but why didn't you at least enlist the help of a driver? Your behavior was foolhardy. With flooding of that extent, the roads near the river are always perilous. Do you realize you could have been killed?"

  Lucy's mother fanned herself furiously before verbalizing her disappointment again, "Do you not appreciate the gravity of your situation? It's unfortunate enough to be seen by villagers, but to be seen by a member of society in that state? " Lucy's mother paused, only to remind Lucy of her fate, "You have been promised to the Duke of Selby. We can only hope that he does not hear of this."

  Lucy's father gently grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. Like Lucy,
he grew weary of the Marchioness's bellowing. The marquess finally asked his wife to stop complaining and instead rejoice in the fact that Lucy was home safe. Lucy’s father always seemed to remain calm and collected. Lucy's mother always kept her composure in front of guests, but within the privacy of her family, she was freer with her feelings.

  "Papa, why have I never been introduced to Lord Harrogate? He is from Yorkshire. His estate is not far from here, yet I cannot recall meeting him. Does he not attend dinners and balls?"

  Her father answered, "The earl served in the Navy. From what I understand, he has only returned home recently."

  The prospect of seeing Lord Harrogate again excited Lucy.

  "You said he is home now, does that mean we will be seeing him at social events?" she asked eagerly.

  "Yes, I suppose it does," said her father. "It was lucky for us that he did return home and he happened upon you that day."

  "I think it would be a fine idea to invite him to dine with us to thank him," said Lucy, hoping that her father would consider the prospect.

  The Marchioness saw the hope in Lucy's eyes and felt a pang of sadness for her daughter.

  "Lucy, darling, I understand that what you went through must have been terrifying, and I know that Lord Harrogate came to the rescue. But your interest in him must stop there. You are to wed the Duke of Selby."

  Lucy smiled, "Of course, Mama."

  The Marchioness smiled as she said, "I know it is still months away, but your Christmas wedding will be beautiful. We all are looking forward to it."

  Lucy looked to the ground. "I think I should like to go to my room now and get some rest, Mama."

  Lucy kissed her father and mother on the cheeks, and headed upstairs to her room.

  Lucy sat on a chaise near a window in her room that overlooked the garden. At least in her own thoughts, Lucy could be free. Although she was grateful that she was born into privilege, she harbored a secret envy of the working class who seemed to be less confined to the rigidity of her social standing.

  Thinking about the Earl of Harrogate, Lucy tried to remember everything he had said to her. She wanted to know everything about him. Lucy blushed as the memories from the day he saved her raced through her mind. Lord Harrogate was a hero, but Lucy thought she must have appeared to be very foolish on that day. Upon their first meeting, she was covered in mud, screaming in public and alone.

  Despite the fact that she had acted very unladylike, Lord Harrogate had still been a perfect gentleman. When he met her, he had no idea that she was the daughter of a marquess. From her appearance, he should have assumed she was a peasant. Her appearance or social stature didn't stop him from assisting Lucy in her time of need. Lord Harrogate had saved Lucy's life, saved her horse, escorted her to safety, and informed her father of her whereabouts. He had behaved admirably.

  So many rules, Lucy thought to herself. From the time she was a child, Lucy was taught to act in a particular way fitting of a lady. Even when someone was bothering her, she could never show her anger. Her only defense was to make a rude comment in a polite way, so the person couldn't tell whether her tone was serious. She must always have control over her emotions, sit up straight, dress accordingly, and certainly never show any interest in a man, unless a particular protocol was followed. Always be meek; always be modest. Lucy was full of opinions, but she kept them to herself.

  Lucy had many suitors, many of which her parents encouraged, but she found them all to be perfectly boring. Their conversations were dull, and although their wealth and titles were impressive, she could never find joy in their presence.

  Lucy's mother began to pressure her daughter with the threat of an arranged marriage if she did not show an interest in an eligible match soon. Lucy's father had reminded his wife that their daughter was only twenty years old.

  However, when the Duke of Selby called on Lucy and asked the marquess for his daughter's hand in marriage, the marquess and the marchioness agreed to the match. Lucy never understood why they arranged the marriage. Other than the duke's money and title, he was undesirable. All Lucy knew was that the engagement was final; she couldn’t refuse.

  When Lucy was told she had to marry the duke, the tears did not stop flowing for days. The duke was nearly thirty years Lucy's senior, a widower, and had children that were older than Lucy. He was starting to bald, and he was a slight man with delicate features. Lucy felt no attraction to him, and therefore, could not entertain the thoughts of being his wife. Being a duchess didn't appeal to Lucy as it did to other women, but her family was thrilled at the prospect of Lucy marrying one of the richest men in England. In fact, the duke owned nearly as much property as the royal family. Lucy only hoped one of those properties included a cottage by the sea.

  Maybe becoming a spinster wouldn't be so bad, thought Lucy, laughing to herself. Living out her days in a small cottage by the sea, saying whatever she liked, whenever she liked, seemed to be the perfect way to grow old.

  If the earl did choose to speak about the carriage incident, maybe the duke would refuse to marry her. In Lucy’s mind, it was the ideal escape. She smiled to herself at this thought. Lord Harrogate didn't seem like the type to gossip though; he had barely spoken at all. Lucy imagined her reputation would not be harmed. She didn't know whether or not to be disappointed.

  A soft knock at the door interrupted Lucy's thoughts. It was Agnes, her maid, with a tray of food. Lucy thanked Agnes, and for the first time, actually examined Agnes's features. Agnes was quite pretty, although Lucy had always failed to notice before. Her face was round, and her eyes were the color of moss. Lucy imagined Agnes was only a couple of years her senior, and for the first time, felt like they had something in common. They were both stuck in a similar predicament, neither could speak freely, they both had to act a certain way, and both had to wear a prescribed uniform. But she envied Agnes, who was free. Agnes could choose who she married and could resign at any time. Lucy could not.

  She thanked Agnes again, this time with sincerity. Agnes smiled at her kindness, and with the soft closing of the door, Lucy was alone again.

  Chapter 3

  The following morning, Lucy joined her parents for breakfast.

  "Good morning, dear," said the Marchioness. "I want to apologize for my outburst yesterday. But, you do understand that my only interest is your wellbeing, don't you?"

  Not wanting to upset her mother, Lucy nodded and thanked her mother for her concern. A promise was made to her parents that she would never take the carriage out alone again. Lucy's mother was appeased, and the meal continued with idle conversation.

  When Lucy excused herself from the table, her mother said, "Dear, please don't forget that the duke is dining with us tonight. He will be staying here as our guest for three days. I have asked Agnes to lay out that blue dress that complements your coloring. I would also love for you to wear my sapphire necklace tonight. How beautiful you will look!"

  "Of course, Mama. The blue dress is lovely. It's a perfect choice."

  Lucy disliked the blue dress that her mother favored, but she would give into her mother's wishes as she always did. They had dined with the duke a fortnight ago, which was the first time Lucy had met him. The dinner conversation was dull. Although young ladies were vying for his attention at every social gathering, Lucy did her best to avoid his glances and interactions. But apparently, Lucy had done something to win the duke's affections, because the following day, the duke asked for her hand in marriage.

  Lucy wanted a man who was young, strong, and handsome. The duke didn't fit any of those descriptions. Lord Harrogate came to mind, although he rarely left her thoughts since their meeting. He was titled and had wealth, but Lucy felt there was something different about him, a wildness that couldn't be tamed. Lucy's parents had said he'd been in the Navy, which meant he would have traveled to places Lucy had never been. She dreamed of hearing his stories, and possibly even visiting those places with him. Lucy's imagined Lord Harrogate to be everything she
wanted in a man, but the truth was that she knew nothing of consequence about him.

  Oh well, she thought, it's better to live a magnificent life in my dreams, rather than be confined to rules and boredom in my reality.

  ***

  That evening, Agnes asked Lucy how she wanted to wear her hair as Lucy sat at the dressing table. Lucy had no thoughts on her hairstyle, as she was not motivated to impress the duke. Agnes styled Lucy's dark brown hair in a simple up-do with silver combs. It looked elegant. The sapphire necklace rested on the dressing table as Lucy admired the beauty of the stones. She imagined how much the stones must be worth and thought about selling the necklace to make her escape.

  Her thoughts quickly shifted as she realized running away would affect her whole family, especially her sister, Margaret. Her younger sister was so delicate, and Lucy had always felt protective of her. If Lucy stole a family heirloom and ran away, the family would be the topic of gossip, and it could affect Margaret's chance at happiness. Lucy would never do anything to harm her sister.

  Agnes placed the necklace around Lucy's neck, and the large pendant hung just above Lucy's breast, drawing attention to her bare skin. Lucy wondered if her mother had chosen the necklace for that purpose.

  "M'lady, I have the royal blue gown with the silver bead trim laid out for you to wear this evening."

  "Thank you, Agnes. Mother will be pleased."

  Lucy wished that she was dressing to dine with Lord Harrogate, instead of the duke. Thinking about his taught muscles she felt as he pulled her to safety, Lucy audibly gasped.

  "M’lady, are you well?"

  Embarrassed, Lucy answered, "Quite well, Agnes. Thank you for your concern. I am just tired, but I am sure my disposition will change once I have had something to eat."

  Agnes smiled at Lucy, and for the first time, Lucy divulged her feelings to her maid.