The Countess and The Baron: Lady Prudence Baggington (The Nettlefold Chronicles Book 3)

by Isabella Thorne

  Lady Prudence felt her cheeks redden with horror as her deepest secrets were laid forth before the man that she loved.

  “Father might have been a beast but he will have you hung when word gets out of your deeds,” the eldest Baggington seemed to have found her voice. She looked down her petite nose at their assailant as if he were no more than a worm beneath her shoe.

  Jasper snarled in response. His hatred that he should be treated as lesser than any man was his greatest weakness. Temperance had honed in on that knowledge from the first. In defense of her sister she would pretend that they had a protector on their side, though both sisters doubted their father cared what really happened to either of them.

  “Too bad he’s dead,” Lord Fondleton delivered the final blow with a peeling laughter. “Oh, you didn’t know?”

  He moved his pistol in a lazy circle as he relished the telling of his tale. His pleasure was too great. It had to be true.

  “He died not three weeks past, some illness or other that came on without warning. Died in his sleep, I heard. The funeral was small, no one liked him much anyway. I attended on behalf of my poor wife, who was too ill to appear herself.”

  Lady Prudence realized that Jasper had already been spreading the tales that would permit him to keep her locked away for the rest of her days. If a woman was too ill to attend her own father’s funeral then no one would dare to question why she had missed any other more frivolous excursion.

  “You fiend!” Lady Prudence replied. “You’ve no right to toy with people. Just leave me be and we can both be on our way! Say I died, I don’t care! Wouldn’t you prefer to start anew?”

  “Our marriage offers no limits to my… encounters,” Jasper laughed once more. “I have whom I want when I want them. You’ve never been blind to that. Why should I allow you freedom when it is much more satisfying to have a kept woman? Besides, I need a legitimate heir to prevent any bastard claims from holding sway over my fortunes. It’s a pity that you seem without child at the moment. I had hoped when you ran that it meant I had succeeded thus far.”

  Lady Prudence watched the hard line of George’s jaw clench and his fists ball at his sides. Had it not been for the weapon pointed at his heart and the fact that he was unarmed, Lady Prudence was sure that he would have leapt upon Lord Fondleton before another word fell from his lips.

  “I’m so sorry,” she murmured toward his back so that only Lord Halthaven might hear.

  George must have shifted his stance for Jasper took a step towards him leveling the pistol.

  “Do not even think about it,” Jasper spat. “I have excellent aim and no qualms about shooting a man. Any challengers prior have met an early grave.”

  “What sort of wretched creature are you?” Temperance muttered through her teeth.

  “Be quiet,” he demanded. “Make yourself useful and wake my man.” Temperance hesitated but moved to kneel beside the Perry’s limp form. Still, the gun remained upon his greatest threat, Lord Halthaven.

  Perry groaned and rolled to his side.

  “M’lord,” he stammered. “My apologies.”

  “Ready the carriage, you drunken fool,” Jasper commanded.

  “M’lord, the girl ran free,” Perry admitted with a grimace.

  “It is no matter,” Jasper said with a sly grin, “We shall still have two ladies for the trip, I think. The nuns shall just assume she abandoned their life. No one will look for her.”

  “I will come for them,” George said in a low, dangerous tone. Lady Prudence could not help but look up at him with wonder. After all that he had learned of her sullied condition, he would still come for her?

  “I think not,” Jasper replied with a lazy shrug. “You’ll be dead. I don’t need any witnesses muddying my name. Of course, I shall be excused for punishing the man who stole my wife and seduced her against her will… a terrible tale really. No wonder she is so addled…”

  “You’ll never get away with this,” Lady Prudence swore. She would fight with every breath in her to keep Jasper from succeeding in his plans. The problem at the moment was that the three of them were neatly confined in the stall, while Jasper stood guard at the open door. If any moved to enter the isle he would kill them with ease.

  “I told you to ready the carriage!” Jasper shouted at Perry, who was still seated upon the straw covered floor in a daze. “If I must ask again I shall designate a bullet for you as well!”

  “Y-Yes, sir,” the servant scampered to his feet and off to the open doors at the front of the barn.

  “Honestly,” Jasper complained, “must I do everything myself?”

  He then instructed the ladies to tie Lord Halthaven’s hands and feet with the chord that had been removed from Marietta.

  “Don’t even think about leaving any slack,” he warned. “If I suspect he might get free I’ll shoot him in your sight. I am gentleman enough, otherwise, to wait until you are tucked away. It’s a messy business, really, not fit for a lady’s view. Now, move along. We haven’t much time.”

  With tears in her eyes, Lady Prudence knelt before her love unwillingly securing his bonds. If only she could communicate to him how much she loved him. George wrapped his fingers over her own and gave her a gentle squeeze. She felt as if her world would be destroyed on this day and she struggled to breathe past the lump in her throat. Lord Halthaven would die for all that he had done to help her, for loving her as well. She could not bear it.

  If Jasper locked her away after all of this, she would not care. What more would there be to live for with Lord Halthaven dead, Temperance captive, and Marietta abandoned once more. It was a hopeless case. In her attempt to free herself from the terrors of her life, she had placed all those she cared about in danger.

  She shuddered to think of Temperance once more left to the wicked hands of a perverted gentleman. It would be all Lady Prudence’s own doing. As terrible as their father was, Jasper was a hundred times worse. The eldest of the Baggington daughters, who had thought to have escaped such terrors would be thrust right back into the horrors of her nightmares.

  Perry returned with his sniveling voice and crouched shoulders. The ladies had their hands tied together and then secured to a lead line that was removed from the tack room. Like cattle to the slaughter, they were led from the stables and bundled onto the floor of the carriage, where their bindings were increased and a gag was implemented to quiet their cries.

  All hope was lost.

  17

  The carriage swayed as the servant climbed into the driver’s seat and awaited his master’s return. Temperance dropped her head to Lady Prudence’s shoulder so that they might comfort one another in their distress. Lady Prudence attempted to murmur a sound that would convey her sorrow and guilt for the situation, but Temperance just shook her head to stop her. Of course her sister was too kind to place the blame upon Lady Prudence’s shoulders, but she felt responsible just the same.

  The ladies struggled against their bonds to no avail. Perry was well versed in the art of immobilization and he had taken extra care that he not lose a second prisoner in one day.

  Lady Prudence whimpered against the fabric in her mouth. She prayed that Lord Halthaven might find some way of escape.

  A shot rang out in the air, and then another. A short pause, where perhaps Jasper was checking the life source of his victim, and then a third, and final blow. The deed was done.

  Lady Prudence screamed against the cloth. Temperance raised her frightened eyes to her sister’s, sadness at the loss beyond consolation. George was dead, there could be no doubt. Lady Prudence thrashed but could make no headway from her position on the floor of the carriage. With two tied bodies laid lengthwise there was not much room left in which to attempt to right herself.

  Tears streamed freely down her face, soaking the rag in her mouth and landing upon Temperance’s likewise tear streaked features. Their sobbing must be heard from outside of the thin carriage walls, but if Perry heard it he took no mind.


  The frame rocked once more, as Perry dismounted. Perhaps to help his master manage the mangled body of Lord Halthaven.

  Lady Prudence could hardly see for the tears in her eyes and the darkness of the carriage.

  When the side door was thrust open, she did the only thing that she could think. She gave one swift kick into the gentleman’s thigh, making firm contact with his groin and causing enough pain that he dropped away from the carriage for a moment to recover himself.

  A series of deep breaths came from outside of the carriage as their captor regained his feet.

  “At ease,” came the low groan of a soft voice.

  Lady Prudence’s head shot up at the sound. It was not Lord Fondleton’s voice that spoke through the open door, but Lord Halthaven’s!

  She shrieked with surprise, pulling her legs back into the vehicle so that he might know that she understood.

  George approached the opening with more hesitation this time, leaning forward so that the women might see his face and hear his voice before they attacked once more.

  “You’re safe,” he said with what little breath he could draw. “Its over.”

  With swift fingers he released their bonds. No sooner had she been set free but Lady Prudence threw herself into his arms. Her attack upon him was forgiven with a kiss, though it was clear that he was still in pain. Temperance had the decency to look away. After a lengthy embrace, however, her constant shifting reminded the pair that she wished nothing more than to alight from the carriage and be free.

  “How is it you are alive?” Lady Prudence cried. She cupped the face of her love in her hands and kissed his lips. She did not care who saw or what they thought. She was only happy that he was alive. “I heard the shots with my own ears!”

  A deep cough from the entrance to the barn had her looking up into the embarrassed features of a man that she had never seen before.

  “Sorry, Miss,” the man grunted. “Didna’ mean to intrude.”

  “But who are you?” Temperance asked with as much dignity as could be managed. A second male, younger than the first, stepped from the stables as well. Both had rifles tucked against their shoulders and disgruntled but satisfied looks upon their faces.

  “We ‘ad business with that bloke inside,” the younger stated. “Done wrong by my sisters, ‘e did.”

  “Three daughters I’ve got,” the elder explained, “just in the village next. I keep a tavern you see and that rake had mind to ruin ‘em all, but I made it right. I swore I would make it right.”

  “He’s dead?” Lady Prudence gasped. “Jasper’s dead?”

  “Sure as the evening stars,” the barkeep nodded. “I shot him twice myself and my son finished ‘im off. Found this gent all tied in the stall and ‘e seemed alright so we released ‘im. Your man raced straight out ‘ere to you ladies and some scrawny fellow ran off before we could tell ‘im what fer.”

  Lady Prudence could not believe her ears. Jasper was dead. His terrible ways had caught up with him at last and he had paid the ultimate price. She was free of him. The world was free of him.

  “If you don’ mind, Miss, we ought to make ourselves scarce before the magistrate hears word of what ‘appened ‘ere.” He tipped his hat and shifted his rifle to the other shoulder. “Would be awfully kind if you three were to recall some bandits or whatnot. Save me a load of trouble.”

  Lord Halthaven assured them that he would take care of the matter and the pair walked off into the woods never to be seen again.

  Lady Prudence just stood in silence, terrified of what she knew lay in the barn and yet overcome with the knowledge that the horror was over at last.

  “Well,” Temperance said with a shrug, “you make a fine widow.”

  Lady Prudence turned to her sister with confusion.

  “What?” she asked. How could her sister be so blasé at a time like this? Temperance even had the gall to smile. It was unbefitting of one poised to be made a nun.

  “Prudence, don’t you understand?” Temperance asked.

  Lady Prudence shook her head.

  “No one need know anything but that Lord Fondleton met a terrible end of his own wicked making,” Temperance grasped her sister’s shoulders so that she might impress the truth upon her. “Who are we to say otherwise? You are now the grieving widow Fondleton and no longer need to hide yourself. You can stop running! You’re free!”

  Her jaw grew slack as she realized what her sister was saying. Not only was Lady Prudence free of her husband, but she would also remain an incredibly wealthy widow. She turned her head and looked into the glowing face of Lord Halthaven. She knew not what to say.

  “You shall have to mourn for a bit,” he said with a smile, “just to be sure there is no question.”

  She nodded.

  “I can do that.”

  “Perhaps by Michaelmas you could pay a visit to your old friend, the Baron of Halthaven,” he teased. “I hear he is dashing and in search of a wife.”

  “You two are terrible!” She attempted a scolding tone but could not contain the smile that had spread across her face. In an instant, the entire forecast of her future had turned upon its head. Lady Prudence laughed with a mixture of relief and what she was sure was hysteria.

  The dream of life at Halthaven could be made a reality. Marietta was safe and would be kept so for the rest of her days, and Prudence could be with George. It did not seem yet real. Even Temperance seemed more than pleased with the sudden turn of events, though Lady Prudence could not fully understand why.

  She asked her sister as much.

  “It is only that…” Temperance bit her lip with an excited grin that she hadn’t revealed in years, “with father gone… I may return home.”

  “Home?” Lady Prudence said with surprise.

  “I never was much suited for the abbey,” Temperance admitted. “It is far too quiet for my liking.”

  Lady Prudence recalled that Temperance had been dragging her feet when it came to taking her vows. Now she understood why. Though her sister had resigned herself to life in the abbey she had not fully convinced herself that she belonged, nor that she could remain devoted to the life.

  “Oh no!” Lady Prudence said with a groan, “Reverend Mother shall be so cross with me! I swore not to divert you!”

  Temperance laughed.

  “Not at all,” she replied. “I have a feeling the Mother Abbess has suspected all along. Only, she hoped that I might grow into it. I tried, I swear. I even kept from reading all of your letters so that I might forget, but it was not to be.”

  “Is it wrong that I feel happy?” Lady Prudence asked in a small voice.

  Lord Halthaven tucked her beneath his arm and pulled her against him.

  “I think you both have been long overdue for some happiness,” he said. “Soon enough, it shall be my duty to ensure. A task I greatly look forward to.”

  “Truly?” Lady Prudence looked up at him with concern. “You are not mortified by all that you heard of me? I’m ruined, you know. There is much that he… that I…” she gestured at her body as if to encompass the flaws within her being.

  In reply, Lord Halthaven pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  “I care nothing for that.” Her whispered into her hair. “There is nothing you could do and nothing that poor excuse for a man could say that would make me love you any less my dear Prudence. Only can you be happy?” he asked. “Was there truth in his words that you could never be so? I don’t believe it, but tell me true.”

  “I am happy,” she replied. “I am happy when I am with you.”

  “Then that is all the answer I require,” he said.

  Epilogue

  It was not long after the turn of the year that Lady Fondleton became Lady Halthaven. The late earl’s estate was sold and passed to some other titled gentleman who would take his place and, hopefully, bring some light to the dark past that had occurred there.

  As for Prudence, she never wished to set foot upon those wretched ground
s again. The newly made Lady Halthaven She was perfectly happy in her little wood with the rose-lined path. The roses, she would later discover were a myriad of colors that transformed the lane into the most beautiful summer picture that Marietta would never tire of painting.

  The young girl was never more pleased than to hear that Prudence would become a permanent fixture in their home. She learned better to lock the door to her rooms in the evenings, though she slept in peace with her growing pup to keep guard. Not that any of the three need worry again about such an adventure. With Lord Fondleton’s death the entire countryside became a safer place for lady-folk in general.

  Prudence never saw the barkeep or his son again. Once, when passing through the neighboring village, she and her husband considered stopping to offer their patronage, but decided that it was best to be done with that part of their life as a whole.

  Besides, the couple agreed that it would be best to steer clear, for the bandits that had murdered her late husband had yet to be captured. Not that anyone had ever put much effort into the search.

  For the first time in her life, Prudence looked forward to the prospect of having a child of her own. She had no fear that her husband might bring harm to a daughter. She had seen well enough that Lord Halthaven was a kind and compassionate caretaker to all that fell under his domain. For the first time Prudence was happy and this time she knew it was forever.

  Continue reading for a sneak seek of…

  The Forbidden Valentine ~ Lady Eleanor Hawthorne

  by Isabella Thorne

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  1

  Snow flurried down around Lady Eleanor Hawthorne. It clung to her eyelashes, her stylish hat and her fur cloak. Eleanor’s boots were made of the finest smooth leather, but they were somewhat slippery and not very warm. She was up to her shins in snow as well, standing beside the sleigh with one arm wrapped around herself, and the other holding the draft horse’s head. Her poor elderly driver, Arthur, was down on his knees in the stuff, his grey head bowed as he sought to deduce the problem.