Simon's Brides

by Allison Knight

  “He’ll suspect something like that. I bet he won’t even come to the cottage himself. He’ll send someone else.”

  “You may be correct. We’ll follow whoever shows. And, we’ll word your note so that he’s forced to come the manor house. If we say the right things, there’s a chance he’ll bring Dora with him.”

  Amy shook her head but Simon insisted, “It might work. Come over to the desk now.”

  He seated her in his chair and placed pen and paper before her. “Now, I want to you explain I’ve forbidden any of you to leave this house, but you want to discuss this wedding and Dora’s release. You’ll tell him he’ll have to come here and bring Dora before you’ll agree to anything.”

  “Simon, he’ll never do this.”

  “Yes he will, and I’ll tell you why.” Simon rubbed his hands together. “I want you to write that if he times his arrival for early tomorrow afternoon, there’ll be no one at the house. You know my men and I will be searching on the east side of the estate.”

  Simon gazed at his distraught wife. If he had to he’d protect her from the very devil. Her sadness cut deep, but he wasn’t about to question why. He tried to give her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

  He added, “Of course, I and several of my men will be hidden in the house.”

  “Simon,” Amy looked a little flushed, “Harold is not stupid. He’ll know you’ll have someone waiting for him. He won’t come at a time you or I specify. I can’t believe he’ll bring Dora with him, either.”

  “Amy, I know he won’t bring Dora. But, I hope to find your sister by following him. However, if that doesn’t work, we’ll apprehend him. Then, we can make him tell us where he’s taken her. We’ll get her back. I promise.”

  “I still don’t think he’ll come.” Amy look the pen, chewed on the tip before she shook her head. “He’s not going to believe any of this.”

  “Then, what do you suggest?” Simon noticed her shine of tears was gone. Arguing with him was good for her.

  “I don’t know.” She looked offended.

  “We’ll try it my way, first. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll try something else. Whatever you do, don’t mention our wedding.”

  Simon fought the need to take her back into his arms. He wanted to assure her everything would be all right, that somehow they would find Dora and return her to the fold.

  “Simon! I’ve just thought of something.” She looked startled. “What if Dora tells him we have already wed?”

  She looked so upset, and he reached out, his intention to embrace her. This time she jerked away, almost knocking over her chair.

  Simon stared at her. He could smell her fear. What was wrong with her? Why had she panicked? She had to know he wouldn’t hurt her. Or did she?

  He believed she was a virgin, and without her own mother, he could imagine what she’d been told about the marriage act. Well, as soon as they had Dora home and safe, he’d seduce his wife. He almost smiled, remembering how she melted against him when he kissed her. A few kisses would destroy her fear. He refused to worry about why Amy had become so important to him, only that now she was.

  He watched as she penned the note. Once she’d finished, he took the note, assembled the women in the small family parlor and explained his plans.

  “Do you think Harold will take the bait?” Ellie asked.

  “We can hope,” Simon answered.

  “What about Dora?” Beth whispered, twisting her hands in her lap.

  Simon reached over and gave her a brotherly pat, “I’m certain if we don’t find her first, we can force Harold to tell us where she is. Don’t worry. We’ll find her before any harm comes to her. I really don’t think Harold wants to hurt any of you. Beth, nothing happened to you. Ellie, you were held captive for two days and you were uninjured. No, it wouldn’t be in Harold’s best interest to hurt Dora.”

  Having offered assurances, Simon drew Amy into his arms. He fought a smile. In front of her sisters, she had too much pride to reject him. He gave her a squeeze, kissed her forehead and left her in the care of her sisters.

  Note in hand he went to the stable. Several men had to be positioned close to the cottage and hidden before Simon sent one of the Foleys with the missive.

  By mid afternoon, he deemed everything in order. He had three men stationed far enough from the cottage to view anyone arriving there. They each had detailed instructions to follow the person who claimed the note. They understood they had to be discreet enough so that the individual wasn’t aware of his shadow.

  Simon and the other men waited at the stable for word from whichever one of the men returned to report. The afternoon grew darker, gloomy, with black clouds massing. Simon cursed. The weather was something about which he could do nothing. If the culprit picked up the note after it started to rain, his men might have a hard time following.

  As what little light left of the day was swallowed by the heavy clouds, he decided he had enough time to eat his evening meal. He left orders with the sailors that they should contact him the minute word arrived.

  No one came to disturb his meal.

  Even before nightfall, the wind began to blow. Minutes later a heavy rain began to fall. Simon paced the floor of the stable. No moonlight, no stars, just dark clouds scudded across the sky, making seeing anyone moving through this gloom almost impossible.

  “Bloody Hell!” he swore, pounding one fist into the palm of the other hand as he paced.

  “Beggin’ yer pardon, my Lord,” Clifford left the bale of hay that had been his resting place. “But, do you want some of us to spell the men at the cottage?”

  Simon stopped his pacing and glared. “Clifford, I doubt those men will see anyone in this rain. If they do, they won’t be able to follow without being seen themselves. Not in this weather. I doubt anyone will come for that note tonight. Not as long as it continues like this. We might as well call it a night.”

  “Miss Amy ain’t gonna like that,” Clifford mumbled.

  “No, she won’t, but there is nothing more we can do.”

  Clifford nodded and Simon sent one of his sailors to the cottage. He called off surveillance, giving the tired and wet team of men a chance to dry off and rest.

  Another group were given instructions about their positions for the next morning. Simon wanted them all in place at least an hour before the sun rose.

  Through the night, as Simon dozed off and on in his solitary bed, he heard rain drops tapping against the window glass. Rain had been the one thing he had no plan to combat. He prayed the rain would stop. Then, if the culprit came to the cottage during the night, he’d leave a trail any fool could follow.

  Most of his thoughts though, centered on his wife, asleep in her own bed, several doors away. What was there about that woman that brought about such fierce protective feelings in him? He’d never given any thought to protecting a woman. Of course, he’d never been responsible for one before, but that didn’t explain the surge of emotion he felt. Nor did it give any hint as to why he wanted her in his arms, oh, not to seduce her, but to assure her everything would be all right.

  His feelings for Amy made no sense. He could admit that she was important, but he didn’t want to examine how important she’d become. At least, not tonight. All he knew was she was his, and no other man was going to claim her.

  Long before sunrise, Simon become aware that the patter of water against the window pane had stopped. He slipped from his bed to look at the landscape. It was dark, cloudy, with no starlight and no moonlight.

  He dressed and strode through the kitchen, greeting Cook and accepting the small loaf of bread she offered. As he walked toward the stable, he tore off an end of the bread, chewed, his thought again on Amy and his feelings for her. His men and several of the villagers were all ready milling around the stable doors.

  “Bad news, my Lord,” Caleb muttered as Simon drew near.

  “I can guess. The note’s gone.”

  Caleb nodded and Simon sighed. Wel
l, so much for his plan to follow whoever picked up the note. Ben stepped close, “But, whoever took it left a trail a blind man can follow.”

  Simon grinned for the first time since Amy had informed him she had no intention of occupying his bed. “Well, now, that changes things a bit.” He turned to the gathered men, “Who of you wants to do some tracking this morning?”

  The words had hardly left his mouth when several volunteers stepped forward. Simon picked one man from the village and two of the sailors. The men took off just as dawn broke. The rest of the men sat down to wait and Simon returned to the house. He wanted to plan where to place men in inconspicuous places.

  ~ * ~

  Amy crawled out of her bed, her eyes blurred. She had slept very little. She’d heard Simon’s door close sometime before dawn. Going to set the trap, she decided. But, it wouldn’t work. Simon didn’t realize just how cunning Harold could be. She wondered if she should slip out of the house and meet Harold on her own.

  She stretched beside her bed and shook her head. Simon’s anger, if she tried something like that, would be so great she didn’t want to think about it. And, even though the marriage had not been consummated, she couldn’t marry Harold until her union with Simon had been annulled.

  She shuddered at the thought of marriage to Harold. She couldn’t stand that. Somehow, they had to find Dora, first. Then, once Harold realized he couldn’t win against Simon, he would have to leave them alone.

  She dressed, her thoughts filled with Simon, Harold and herself. She couldn’t marry Harold anyway. He would force himself on her. After all, he had tried to do it once before. And, if he got her with child, she would die. No, she couldn’t marry Harold just as she couldn’t let Simon take her to bed.

  Perhaps she should explain to Agatha the trouble in which she found herself. Simon’s aunt might be willing to see her settled in some obscure place where Simon or Harold could never find her. At the thought of leaving Simon, her heart stopped beating for a second and a chill ran down her spine.

  She didn’t want to leave the estate, she told herself. That was why the chill. Of course, now that she and Simon were married, the estate would be Simon’s. If she left would he take care of it and their people? Or would Harold continue with his attempts to gain control of Kirkley Manor?

  What if Harold tried to eliminate Simon? She sank to the bed, her heart in her mouth. The thought of Simon injured, or dying sent pain slicing through her.

  Why? Why did the thought of Simon injured or dying effect her so? She remembered her reactions to his touch, the pleasure he had given her with his kisses, his caresses. Stunned, she sat and stared at the wall. She had fallen in love with Simon Warner.

  When had it happened? How had it happened?

  She could no longer deny it. She was in love with her husband. She covered her face with her hands. Somehow, at some time, she had fallen in love with the man she had married. But, and this caused her even greater pain, she could never be a proper wife to him.

  Slowly, as if she had aged four score and ten, she rose from her bed. She had no idea love could be this painful. With cautious steps she walked to the bedroom door and slipped from the room. She couldn’t let anyone know what she had realized. Of course, Simon couldn’t know.

  He had married her because it was the proper thing to do. Although he might have a bit of affection for her, she had to admit he was attracted to her. But, he didn’t love her, she was certain of that.

  However, denying him his conjugal rights would destroy any affection he had. He’d grow to hate her. Sighing, she began to descend the stairs.

  Caro, Beth and Ellie were waiting.

  “The note’s been taken,” Ellie whispered.

  Amy jerked as if someone had slapped her. “When?”

  “Some time during the night.”

  Amy sighed. She gazed at Caro, “Did anyone follow?”

  “No,” Caro walked forward and put an arm around her, “But according to the men, whoever picked up the note left a trail. They should find Dora any time now.”

  Amy thought for a moment her legs would give out. Above everything else, Dora had to be found. Then Harold would realize trying to force a union with her was impossible. He had to realize that!

  “Come on,” Caro led Amy toward the dining room. “You need something to eat. You aren’t sickening, are you?”

  Amy shook her head and allowed Caro to guide her toward the buffet covered with an assortment of dishes.

  “I don’t think I can eat,” she turned and took her place at the end of the table.

  “I insist,” Caro poured a cup of tea and handed Ellie a plate.

  Beth sat beside Amy, “Simon will find her, don’t you worry. And, he’ll keep Harold from hurting you. Besides, you can’t marry Harold now.”

  “But, what if Harold does something to Simon?” Amy whispered.

  Beth chuckled. “Amy, Harold can’t hurt Simon. The sailors, even the men from the village won’t let anything happen, you’ll see.”

  “Now eat,” Caro demanded, as she set the plate Ellie had filled before Amy.

  The sisters spent time talking about the men from the village who’d helped in all the searches and at the change in the villagers now that Simon had taken charge.

  They are trying to keep me from thinking about Harold and Dora, Amy decided as she nibbled at the food on her plate.

  Agatha joined them and Beth commented, “You are up early.”

  Agatha frowned, “Too much strain to sleep. Now tell me what Simon has found out.”

  Caro explained what had happened during the night and this morning.

  “Good,” Agatha announced. “Simon will find our girl in a short time. Then this Harold person can be captured and that will be the end of that. Now, let’s make plans for a party to celebrate Dora’s return.”

  Amy smiled at the older woman. Agatha was not going to dwell on the situation, instead, she would try to take their minds off the situation and make plans to celebrate. Amy’s affection for the woman grew.

  An hour later more information surfaced. Ben came strutting in the house, “We followed the trail this morning.”

  “And?” Agatha glared at him. Amy fought a smile. Agatha was not fond of Simon’s sailors or his best friend.

  “We followed the trail to a vacant cottage on the edge of the village. Looks like the place hasn’t been occupied for years.”

  Amy sat up and gazed at her sisters, “Where, Ben? Where is this cottage?”

  He explained.

  “The witch’s house,” Ellie whispered.

  Everyone but Agatha knew the story of the witch.

  “The witch’s house? The village housed a witch?” Agatha lifted her hand to her throat.

  “Not a witch,” Caro sat forward. “The villagers named the poor woman a witch. She was a herbalist, a healer. Our father’s father seduced the woman’s daughter. When the girl died the woman disappeared. No one would live in the house after that.”

  “Aunt Agatha, Amy used to go there all the time,” Beth said. “The witch’s garden is full of herbs. Before Harold came, we all went to help harvest. There are things there that Amy says won’t grow any place else. And, Edith Williams, the local healer and midwife says Amy’s correct. There are things in that garden you can’t find any place but there.”

  “She tried to curse the villagers,” Ellie added.

  “She did curse the villagers and the estate,” Amy whispered.

  “A--a curse?” Agatha’s voice shook with horror.

  “That’s why the villagers called her a witch,” Ellie offered.

  “You don’t still think there is anything to that curse, do you Amy?” Beth asked.

  “Well, it sounds like that Harold person knew where to hide. Now, I know my nephew will settle everything in short order.” Agatha patted her hands together.

  “Dora?” Caro asked of Ben.

  “Sorry, Miss. She wasn’t there, but the boy that picked up your message,�
� he nodded toward Amy, “he’s still there. Simon has a couple of men watching the place. It shouldn’t be long now.”

  “Simon?” Agatha asked.

  “He says to tell you he’ll be here soon. He wants to make sure Harold doesn’t slip out of our hands this time.”