Dangerous Pursuit (Lords 0f Whitehall Book 1)

by Ann Chaney

  He fell asleep until a tap on the shoulder in the gray hours of the morning woke him. Half asleep, Richard rose from the hay. Rodrigo motioned for him to follow where he’d already saddle the horses and repacked Gertrude’s much lighter burden. Richard had given Rodrigo all the provisions they had not consumed. All they required for this last bit of their journey was water for them and the animals.

  The sun was rising. Time to leave. He eased his way to the side of the haystack where Serena had made her little hidey hole.

  “Rena, wake up. Sun’s up. We must be off.”

  “Go away. I need more sleep,” she muttered from her cocoon.

  “Very well, stay her and I’ll come back by this way and take you up for the return to Lisbon. Rodrigo will see to your safety. I should be back in two or three days.”

  Serena’s head popped out of the hay like a cork from a bottle of champagne. He almost laughed at the sight she made covered with hay.

  “Don’t utter one word about how I look now or later when we return home. I’ll gut you like a fish if I ever hear you’ve told anyone about this.”

  “You look adorable. I think hay is your color. Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone. No one in Town would believe me anyway. Lady Serena Preston is very high ton—never a hair out of place, dressed in the latest fashion.” The laugh he’d held back would not be harnessed. He grabbed his middle as he roared.

  To his delight, she never said another word, before wobbling off to the water trough where she tried to restore her clothes and hair. He watched her pull the sticky plant from her person with meticulous attention to each stalk. She had a way of making the mundane exciting. Was that why he was so drawn to her? She brought excitement into his life.

  She took care of her ablutions and stepped out into the pasture behind the stable for a private moment. She returned moments later with a cow following behind her much like Gertrude did on the trail.

  “Time to go,” he called to her. “We must depart now. We still have a day’s ride to the encampment. Arnold will be in the saddle trying to beat us there. Time is of the essence.”

  “Aren’t we going to say goodbye to everyone?”

  “No, we’ll be back in a day or two. I made our farewells to Rodrigo just now. He helped with the watch last night and saddled the horses this morning. Enough talk. Let’s be gone.”

  Serena threw herself into the saddle. “My aunt taught me one thanks one’s hostess for her hospitality before one departs.”

  “We’re not in England where there are rules for every instance. Now, grab Gertrude’s reins and let’s get back to our true purpose for being here.”

  He mounted his horse then waited while she dealt with Gertrude’s morning apple. When she had the donkey well in hand, he rode out of the stable.

  Without another word, she kneed her horse to move in front of Richard’s mount. Once she crested the hill, she waved her hand in the direction of the village below. “Will they be safe? What if the guerillas find out about us and how Rodrigo and the others helped us?”

  He started to lie to her, but he couldn’t. Somewhere along the way she’d become his partner. “Rodrigo wouldn’t have allowed us to enter the village if he thought the guerillas would have learned of our presence. I know one of the rules in our work is not to trust anyone, but sometimes we must. Last night was one of those times. Sergeant Williams vouched for Rodrigo and his family. His recommendation is good enough for me.”

  Chapter 19

  By noontime, Serena’s eyes burned from the dust of the road and the unrelenting sun beating down upon her. She decided she’d never complain again about England’s gray skies and foggy mornings. The Portuguese sun sitting high in the cloudless sky assailed her head without mercy. Never had she suffered so.

  She fought the need to scream at the annoyingly constant perspiration that was either tickling her down her back or seeping down her forehead and into her eyes. Her lesson of the day was gentlemen did not have a better time of being outdoors with their beaver hats.

  She wished she had her favorite straw bonnet instead. The bonnet had a wide brim that would have protected her eyes out of the sun’s glare. The beaver’s brim did little to keep the hot sun from burning her skin. The blasted headgear was as hot as Hades.

  Richard rode ahead, never once wiping his brow or wiggling in his saddle to give aid to a bit of sweat down his back as she found herself doing at every turn. He kept watching the horizon. She assumed he was looking for any sign of Arnold’s presence. He’d said they would soon come across a patrol.

  Tired and saddle sore from riding for two days, she imagined herself back at home in her bath scented with lavender. Lost in her dream of a cool bath, she failed to note Richard had halted his mount which meant her horse did the same. Serena pitched forward into her horse’s mane. She grabbed a handful of the coarse mane to keep herself in the saddle. Serena hoped Richard hadn’t noticed her ham-handedness.

  Richard had a spyglass to his eye. “Serena, remember when you said you would do my bidding without question? Head for that grove of trees off to our right. Tie Gertrude to one of the trees so she won’t run off. Hobble your horse and hide. I’ll be at your back.”

  Urgency resonated in his voice which was good enough for her. For once, doing as he asked without argument, she rode off toward the trees, tugging Gertrude in her wake. She wanted to look back to be certain Richard was with her. Not knowing what was out on the horizon kept her moving to find a safe haven in the middle of this wilderness.

  Not a moment too soon, she reached the small cluster of trees which weren’t much bigger than the scrub bushes along the road. She jumped from the saddle, pulling Gertrude under the trees to tie off her reins on one of the tree branches.

  Richard rode under the trees before dismounting dismounted before his horse came to a full halt. He took the reins of the two horses and hobbled them near Gertrude.

  “What did you see?”

  “There is a plume of dust across there.” He pointed off to their left. “I counted ten men on horseback. Guerillas from the look of them.”

  “What if they saw us? Shouldn’t we try to out-ride them?”

  “No, the day is too hot. Neither we nor they can gallop across this wasteland. Would be fatal. I carry my spyglass for this reason. I saw them before they could see any sign of our presence. We’ll remain here until they pass us by. We’re far enough off the dirt track they won’t see us. Sergeant Williams told me there is an old Roman road just ahead. Cuts through a pass, he said. Now, crouch down out of sight. I’ll watch. Be ready to ride at moment’s notice if I’m wrong and one of those men saw us.”

  He pulled his own spyglass from his jacket pocket and trained it on the dust plume in the distance. She jerked her beaver hat off her head and ran her fingers through her short hair. For once, she was speechless. What had she been thinking to demand to come with him? She was a hindrance to his mission.

  After what seemed like forever, Richard dropped down beside her and rested his head against the tree behind them. “It was guerillas. They kept going toward Torres Vedras. The good news is they did not turn toward Malveira. We’ll water the horses and eat one of Gertrude’s apples before continuing on our way.”

  He stood, heading for the horses. She remained where she was. Still a bit shaken. Serena watched him water the animals. How did he do it? Always ready to do his duty no matter the circumstance. She’d do well to learn from his example.

  Serena dealt with Gertrude as they made to leave their hiding spot. The sight of those barbarians in the distance terrified him not for himself but for her. What those men were capable of doing to him was nightmarish. Her fate would be Hell on earth. The vision of one of those men touching her filled him with rage. He had many a sleepless night ahead reliving the last half hour and what could have happened.

  He silently thanked Sergeant Williams for the information about the old Roman road as he came to a barely visible track. He motioned with his hand for Seren
a to join him. “Here’s the road I told you about. We’ll ride together. I’ll admit after that last little encounter, I’m not ready to have you out of my sight. The sergeant said at this point we are four to five hours from Wellington’s encampment. Keep your eyes open.”

  “Lead on,” she countered with a smile. “I want this business done so I can go home. I promise never to leave England again. I’ve had enough adventure.”

  Her words surprised him or rather his reaction to those words surprised him. A sense of loss washed over him. Yes, they had challenges, but he liked having her with him. She was as invested in their mission as he was.

  “You’re too good at what you do to never venture away from England again. We wouldn’t be this close to our goal without your participation. Don’t sell yourself short. You are an asset to Whitehall. Never doubt that.”

  Richard search from side to side for guerillas. Though ‘road was too grand a name for the rutted lane.

  Richard stretched forward in the saddle as she was telling him about a book she had read on Hannibal and his crossing of the Alps. He reined in and motioned for her to be quiet.

  "Shhh…I thought I heard a child cry out."

  "Sirs, help me, please help me.”

  "Did you hear that?” He pointed to a clump of bushes off the road. “Behind those bushes. Serena, stay here. If anything happens, get out of here. I’ll catch up—”

  “I will not leave—”

  “You will ride like the devil himself is at your heels. I’ll catch up as soon as I can. We have not come all this way to fail. Do exactly as I say.”

  Without waiting for her agreement, Richard turned his horse in the direction of the crying child. He approached the bushes carefully. He urged his horse one step forward and moved a section of the bush back with his foot to see a little girl dressed in what had once been a white muslin dress, cowering under the bush. What was an English child doing out in here? He scanned the horizon. No sign of humanity to be seen.

  “Sir, please forgive me.”

  Forgive her? In that moment, a brown skinned man appeared from behind another bush and lunged at him with a knife. Richard reined his horse backward, but not fast enough. The guerilla’s blade sliced across his thigh. Without any hesitation he aimed his pistol at the man’s shoulder and fired. The man’s body fell, rolling into the road.

  A shout splintered the air. Richard looked over his shoulder to see another ruffian drag Serena off her horse. The sight of the filthy man touching her filled him with rage. He kneed his horse, ignoring the pain in his leg. Before he could get to Serena, the brown-skinned heathen pulled her in front of him, grabbed her pistol from her and pointed it at her head. He shouted, but Richard was too far away to understand his words. The attacker’s words did not matter. He was going to die for touching Serena.

  The child. He motioned for her to hide. “Stay here. I will be back for you afterwards.” The little girl with tears running down her cheeks nodded and squatted behind the bush with her head down.

  Serena’s attacker dragged her back into the bushes. She shoved her feet into the dirt and made her body go limp. The barbarian couldn’t keep a grip on her and the pistol. Richard watched in horror as she rammed her foot into the attacker’s groin, bringing him down to his knees screaming. Out of patience, Richard fired at the man hitting him in the knee.

  All Richard cared about was getting to Serena. He dismounted and pulled her into his arms.

  “Richard, I’m fine. Is he dead?” She nestled her face into his chest and held on. She looked up into his eyes, her own brimming with tears. “I’m so sorry. All of this was my fault. I was watching you search for the child. I never heard him. One moment I was fine, the next I was falling. I was so scared. I froze. I forgot everything you taught me.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. This is war. People die. People live. Today you live. Thank the dear Lord, you live.”

  Perhaps she was right. Neither of them needed this life. Maybe it was time to retire to Camberley. He never wanted to experience that feeling of helplessness again. Serena was his world. That was why he went to her that night in London. He could not stay away one more moment. His heart drummed a frantic beat as the truth filled him with peace.

  “Excuse me, I know you said to stay put, but those bad men are hurt and can’t chase me anymore, can they? I’m safe now. You’ll take me back to my mama and papa, won’t you?”

  The little girl’s singsong squeaky voice broke the web of emotion surrounding them. Richard looked down to find the child tugging on his jacket. He kissed the top of Serena’s head before releasing his hold.

  Serena and smiled at the child. The child was filthy. Dressed in a what had once been a white muslin dress that would never be white again, the child was oblivious to the injured men in the road.

  “Good day, why ever are you out here with those barbarians?” Serena sat down in the dirt and motioned for the child to sit in her lap. The sight of the two together sent his heartbeat racing. He’d never seen a more enchanting sight.

  “You are lady? Dressed as man? Mama will be so jealous. She wants to wear breeches. She says dresses are a bother. Mama is always fussing about her skirts. Papa just laughs and tells her such a sight she would make. The soldiers could not handle such a sight, he says.” The adorable poppet looked from him to Serena.

  Serena tapped a finger of the tip of the girl’s nose. “No distracting me from my question. Why are you here with those men?”

  The child heaved a huge sigh and rested her head on Serena’s chest. “Mama told me to not leave our tent, but I so wanted Dolly to watch Papa and the soldiers ride for Wellie. I only walked into the meadow. Not far at all.” The child’s singsong voice shattered the death knell that permeated the air around them. “Have you ever done something you shouldn’t?”

  Serena laughed and nodded. “Yes indeed, his lordship has many a tale about my misadventures. He’s my knight in shining armor who always rescues me. Now he is your knight as well.”

  “We are on our way to meet your General Lord Wellington.” She rose to her feet. “Now for introductions. May I present Richard, Viscount Weatherington? We have been friends since I was not much older than you. I am Lady Serena Preston. You may call me Serena. Our circumstances are so extraordinary we can ignore all those stuffy rules of Society, don’t you think? Now, what is your name?”

  “I am Miss Arabella Carlton. My papa is Colonel Howard Carlton of the 95th Rifles. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Lady Serena, my mama would be most put out with me if I called you by your Christian name.” The child dropped into a most proper curtsey. Serena laughed and dropped into an awkward curtsey in return. Her gesture filled Richard with love for the funny woman. His woman.

  “Are the bad men dead?” Arabella asked as she looked back at the two bodies lying in the dirt.

  Serena wrapped her arms around the small body and hugged. “No, they are hurt but they have friends who will come looking for them which means we must make haste in leaving this place. We need to take you back to your mama and papa.”

  She extended her hand to the child. The little girl slowly reached forward and laid her hand in Serena’s hand with a sigh. The child pulled on her hand. “He is bleeding. Who will tend to him? Mama says, when I get hurt, she must clean the sore place, so I can heal.”

  Serena turned around to see Richard standing behind them with a sheepish look on his face. A splotch of dark blood stained his breeches. She cried out and fell to her knees to examine his thigh.

  “Serena, I am fine. We should ride hard. You can bandage my wound later. You’re right, we must leave before their friends show up.”

  Before she could say a word, Richard boosted Serena into her saddle. Richard handed the child to her before mounting his own horse. “I’ll take Gertrude’s reins. You deal with the child. I’m certain you are the better person to deal with her concerns.” Richard smiled at the little girl. “Miss Arabella, do you know where you are? Can you
guide us to your mama and papa?”

  She looked around the hills and down the road before answering in an excited voice, “My lord, I’m not sure.”

  “Can you help us find the encampment?”

  Looking around her once again, she pointed to a hill in the distance. “I remember that mountain. We walked over the top and I couldn’t see our tent anymore,” she answered with a wobbly bottom lip. Serena held her and showered an angry glare on Richard.

  “Richard, we can find the encampment. Leave her be.”

  Arabella pushed away from her and straightened up. “Mama says I am a good soldier. Papa taught me my numbers and letters and I can read Bible verses by myself. I am a big girl.”

  She pointed to the hills. “That one, the tallest one. This road runs between that mountain and the one beside it. Our camp is on the other side,” she said with confidence.

  He said a silent prayer of thanks that they would not have to climb another hill.

  Richard led the way. Soon the only sound was Arabella’s voice as she told Serena all about her life with the army. He listened to the easy rhythm of her voice without hearing the words.

  What would it be like to have Serena and their children always around? Everyday filled with laughter and love. Because of his father’s travels, his only childhood memories of his parents revolved around holidays when they came home for a month or so. All too soon they would leave again for destinations unknown. Leaving him with Riggins, their butler, to see to his upbringing until he entered Eton.

  He found he wanted Serena and their children more than anything else in the world. He blinked as his horse sidestepped and he kneed the stallion back to center to find Serena and Arabella at his side. Serena nodded to the child who looked up at her without guile in her pale blue eyes. The child glanced back at Serena who nodded her encouragement.

  “My lord.” She bowed her head and whispered so softly, he had to lean forward to catch what she was saying. "I am very sorry that I cried so you would come and find me. The bad man said if I did not call out to you, he would hurt my mama and papa. Thinking about my mama and papa hurting made me cry. I love them both so very much."