by Elaine Hart
“No need to apologize.”
“It is rather refreshing to see such a friendly face from this chamber. Usually Harriet does not appear as graceful as you when she wakes,” he said.
Lady Caroline lowered her gaze and smiled. She heard Lady Harriet groan and she glanced at her over her shoulder.
“Good morning, sister,” Lord Dundee called out and waved at her.
“What are you doing here?” Lady Harriet muttered as she sat up and frowned at her brother.
“Not very graceful, indeed,” Lord Dundee whispered under his breath. “You should give her some advice.”
Lady Caroline glanced briefly at Lord Dundee, who stood far too close than what she was comfortable with. She stepped aside once again and Lord Dundee entered the room.
“I have come to see if you lovely ladies,” Lord Dundee said as he briefly glanced at Lady Caroline with a wink before turning his attention back to his sister, “would like to join Erasmus and me for breakfast.”
“We will be along shortly,” Lady Harriet muttered.
Lord Dundee gave Lady Caroline a nod before he left the bedchambers and closed the door behind him.
Lady Harriet glanced at Lady Caroline and frowned. “What is the matter?” Lady Harriet asked her.
“Nothing,” Lady Caroline answered breathlessly.
“Where has your breath gone?” Lady Harriet asked her suspiciously.
“The knocking on the door gave me a fright, that is all.”
Lady Harriet nodded, sincerely hoping her friend was still of sound mind and was not finding a fondness for Lord Dundee.
Chapter Two
June 1812
Lady Caroline’s chambers
Fursdon House
Exeter
Devonshire
England
Lady Caroline sat up abruptly in her bed and frowned. She could have sworn she heard a strange sound coming from her window, but now it seemed that she had imagined it. She sighed and as she was about to lie down once again, she heard another sound at her window. She slid out of bed and slowly approached the window. As she drew back the drapes, she saw Lord Dundee outside her window, throwing pebbles, clearly to attract her attention.
She opened the window and frowned at him.
“What on earth are you doing?” she asked in a hushed voice. “You nearly made my heart stop.”
“What a tragedy that would be,” he answered.
“What do you want?”
“I wondered if you would like to take a stroll with me,” he said to her, playing with the pebbles in his hand.
“A stroll? It is the middle of the night,” she said with a frown.
“I am aware,” he said simply.
“Why?”
“Because I am fairly certain you will enjoy it,” he answered confidently.
She narrowed her eyes slightly at him, but there was something inside her that was unable to deny him and she nodded slowly. “Very well, but I must dress first.”
“Of course,” he nodded, satisfied he had gotten the reaction he had hoped for.
She closed the window, as well as the drapes, and walked to her cupboard. She quickly dressed in a casual day dress, despite it still being nighttime, and she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. She quietly made her way out of her chambers, down the hallway and to the main stairwell. She felt rather foolish as she attempted to hide in the shadows to prevent anyone seeing her, but she soon realised that every person in Fursdon House was sound asleep, except for herself and Lord Dundee. She also realized that what she was potentially getting herself into may cause a lot of trouble and discord, especially from Lady Harriet, but she was simply obeying her father’s wishes. She was to enjoy the summer with Lady Harriet. The fact that she was not including Lady Harriet this time was irrelevant. She still had the entire summer to spend with Lady Harriet. What harm could one innocent stroll in the gardens, alone with Lord Dundee, do?
She quietly and carefully closed the front door and stepped out into the fresh early morning air and saw Lord Dundee standing directly under her window, against the wall.
“Do you make a habit of waking me, my lord?” she asked as she approached him.
He slowly pushed himself away from the wall and grinned at her. “I simply could not help myself.”
“Lady Harriet would be most annoyed if she was aware that you threw pebbles at my window, and possibly kidnapped me in the middle of the night.”
“Throwing pebbles, I am guilty, but you came down willingly, so it does not count as kidnapping.”
“You are very eloquent,” she said.
“Thank you,” he answered with a wink and handed her a pebble. “Here.”
“A souvenir?”
“Call it what you will,” he smiled. “Shall we go?”
Lady Caroline nodded with anxious excitement as Lord Dundee took her hand and led her through the garden.
“Where on earth are you taking me, my lord?” she asked after a short while, feeling rather out of breath.
Lord Dundee had a firm grasp on her hand, which she was unable to spring free from, but she still followed him through the maze-like hedges of the gardens.
Lord Dundee’s pace slowed as he led her around a corner and a gasp escaped her throat as she glanced at the massive stone fountain in front of her.
His hand slipped away from hers and she slowly stepped forward.
“It is truly a sight,” she said breathlessly and reached out her hand, touching the smooth stone. The water cascaded down gracefully and immediately eased the anxious feeling inside her. Lord Dundee walked closer and stood beside her.
“This is my favorite place at the estate. I come here quite often,” he said, hushed tone low and seductive.
“With a different woman, my lord?” she asked in a rather accusatory tone.
He turned to her and his brow furrowed. “I see my sister has been talking about me.”
“Perhaps, but she is entitled to warn me, is she not?”
“Warn you? I am not dangerous.”
“She seems to think that you are.”
“Do you think I am dangerous?” he asked with a wicked smile.
“I do not know you well enough to make that kind of assumption, my lord,” she answered truthfully. “I will not pretend that she has not told me tales of your behavior, but you have never treated me in a way that would justify those stories.”
“Well said. You are very eloquent yourself, my lady,” he smiled at her.
“Thank you,” she smiled proudly and turned her attention back to the fountain before her. “I was not even aware that there was a fountain on the estate. I had visited many times in the past but I never came here.”
“Do you often wonder if there was perhaps something else you failed to notice as well?” Lord Dundee asked rather suggestively.
She glanced at him and cocked her head to the side. “What on earth do you mean?”
“I am not the kind of man who does not recognise beauty when I see it, my lady. I see it in you, and I was a fool for not noticing it sooner,” he answered and stepped closer to her.
“My lord, you need not—”
Lord Dundee did not allow her to say any more as he put his arms around her, pulled her towards him and kissed her passionately.
This took her by surprise at first but she soon eased into the kiss and allowed herself to be swept away by the fiery touch of Lord Dundee. His lips on hers were even more overwhelming than she had even anticipated, and as her head started to spin, she abruptly pulled out of his grasp and stepped away.
“Allow me a moment to catch my breath, my lord,” she uttered breathlessly, gasping for air.
“I will allow it, but only this once,” he smirked as he approached her once again.
A loud scream echoed through the estate and Lord Erasmus’s body jolted in the wingback chair he had fallen asleep in. The book that had rested on his lap fell to the floor and he sleepily reached for it. He placed the boo
k on the desk and stood with a furrowed brow. He felt rather unsettled as he vaguely remembered hearing a high-pitched scream coming from outside. He glanced through the window, but saw nothing that could have possibly caused this kind of reaction. Staying true to the feeling inside him, he hurried out of the study and walked along the hallway. He quietly opened Lady Harriet’s bedchamber door, and was rather relieved to see his sister sleeping soundly in her bed. He opened the door of Lady Caroline’s bedchambers, and she was nowhere to be seen. The drapes of her window were drawn back slightly, allowing a slither of moonlight to fall on the floor. He entered the room and walked to the window. He noticed two figures walking briskly towards the house; one was most certainly Lady Caroline, and Lord Erasmus did not even need to guess who the other was.
He made his way downstairs and stepped out onto the front porch.
“My lady,” he heard Lord Dundee say to Lady Caroline.
She was about to answer when she caught sight of Lord Erasmus and her eyes widened.
“My lady,” Lord Erasmus said and held the front door open for her.
She nodded wordlessly, but gratefully, and disappeared inside.
“Brother, what are you doing up and about at this hour?” Lord Dundee said nonchalantly.
“I could certainly ask you that very same question,” Lord Erasmus said as he glared at his brother.
“I was merely taking a stroll with Lady Caroline,” he answered.
“And I am the King of Norway,” Lord Erasmus said blankly.
“Your Majesty,” Lord Dundee mocked.
“Do not mock me, brother,” Lord Erasmus warned.
“Why are you so concerned with the well-being of Lady Caroline?” Lord Dundee asked and narrowed his eyes. “Have you developed a certain fondness for her?”
“Do not be ridiculous. I am merely warning you, because Harriet will certainly not like it when she finds out that you and Lady Caroline were outside at this hour,” Lord Erasmus grumbled.
“Then it would be best if she did not find out at all,” Lord Dundee said with a smile and mockingly patted Lord Erasmus on the shoulder.
Lord Erasmus glared at his brother, but did not utter a word. He was rather disappointed that a young woman who had as much integrity as Lady Caroline succumbed to the likes of his rake brother. He certainly hoped that things would not turn out the way they had in the past. Then not even fleeing to Europe will do any good against the wrath of Lady Harriet, and their father for that matter.
The next morning, after Lord Erasmus failed to get any sleep, he entered the parlour where Lady Harriet and Lady Caroline were having breakfast.
“Good morning, brother,” Lady Harriet greeted him cheerfully.
“Good morning, sister,” he said with a forced smile, and glanced at Lady Caroline, who averted her eyes elsewhere. “Good morning, Lady Caroline.”
“My lord,” she said simply.
“Please, join us, brother.”
“Certainly,” he accepted and sat beside Lady Harriet. He glanced around him and frowned. “Where is Thomas?”
“I am not certain. He had not come down for breakfast at all.”
“Curious,” Lord Erasmus said and glanced at Lady Caroline, who at that moment glanced at him. “You are awfully quiet this morning, my lady,” he pointed out.
“I told her that exact same thing, brother,” Lady Harriet said.
“Is everything alright, my lady?” he asked.
“Everything is fine,” she answered curtly. “Harriet, did you not say that we will be leaving for Exmouth after breakfast?”
“Indeed,” Lady Harriet said.
“What will you be doing in Exmouth?” he asked.
“Spending the day at the beach. It has been far too long since Caroline and I were there,” Lady Harriet answered and glanced at Lord Erasmus’s expression. “Do not look so worried, brother. Miss Johnson will be our chaperone. Surely you did not think we would go all by ourselves.”
“Perhaps I should go along as well.”
“Whatever for?” Lady Harriet asked.
“It is not safe for three women to travel by themselves,” he pointed out.
“We are not invalids, Erasmus.”
“I did not imply that you were.”
“Fine. I will tell Miss Johnson she is no longer needed. While I am there, shall I go up to Thomas and invite him along as well?” Lady Harriet asked.
Lord Erasmus glanced briefly at Lady Caroline and noticed her panicked expression, but said nothing. He turned his attention back to his sister and his brow furrowed. “I apologise. I did not mean to offend you, or Lady Caroline, or Miss Johnson for that matter. I am certain you are fully capable of taking care of yourselves. Father, on the other hand, would not agree.”
Lady Harriet sighed and glanced at Lady Caroline. “What do you think, my dear friend? Shall we allow Erasmus to join us? He is not as pleasant as Miss Johnson, but he can be rather handy in times of crisis.”
Lady Caroline glanced at Lady Harriet and answered confidently, “If he does not have anything else to do, who are we to deny him?”
“Thank you, my lady,” Lord Erasmus smiled and Lady Caroline nodded simply.
“I must quickly go upstairs to fetch my shawl and then we may go,” Lady Harriet said as she stood from the table and left the parlour.
Lady Caroline cleared her throat and glanced at Lord Erasmus. “My lord, about what happened early this morning—”
“You do not need to explain yourself, or your actions. I have seen it happen once too many times.”
Lady Caroline cringed at his remark and shook her head. “I would appreciate it if Lady Harriet was not made aware of this. She had told me in-depth of the kind of person that Lord Dundee is, and—”
“Please, not another word. You have my discretion.”
“Thank you.”
There was a moment of quiet between them until he frowned and said, “If something happened to you, something that Thomas did to you that you do not feel comfortable with, the right thing to do is to tell us. Either of us, really. Whatever happened—”
“I would rather not, to be honest,” she answered abruptly and stood from her chair.
“I understand,” he answered with a nod.
Lady Harriet entered the parlour with a smile on her face and Lady Caroline glanced at her. “Let us be off, then,” she said with much enthusiasm.
Exmouth
Devonshire
England
“I truly love the beach,” Lady Harriet gushed as she dug her toes into the soft sand, while Lady Caroline sat in the shade and Lord Erasmus sat comfortably on a large blanket that was sprawled across the sand.
“Perhaps you should ask Father to build you your own castle here,” Lord Erasmus said.
“That is one of the smartest things you have ever said, Erasmus. I will most certainly mention it to him,” Lady Harriet smiled happily and glanced at Lady Caroline. “Shall we go into the water again?”
Lady Caroline cringed and shook her head as she smoothed out the skirt of her dress. “My hem is already dry.”
“As is mine,” Lady Harriet whined. “Please?”
“The ocean is all yours, my dearest friend.”
Lady Harriet pouted and sighed.
“Stop pestering Lady Caroline. She seems tired of all the shenanigans the two of you had gotten up to today. Leave her be, before she drowns.”
“I retract my statement of how handy you are in a time of crisis,” Lady Harriet muttered as she stood from the sand.
“I love you as well, sister,” Lord Erasmus said, and as Lady Harriet stuck out her tongue at him, he laughed.
He watched as his sister made her way to the water and glanced at Lady Caroline, who seemed to be immersed in her own little world.
He pursed his lips, and decided not to utter a word. She seemed uncomfortable to be alone in his company, and he did not wish to make it even worse.
“You think I am a fool,” she uttere
d suddenly.
“I never implied it.”
“But you think it,” she said and glanced at him.
“It is not my place to judge you, my lady.”
“I wish you would. Perhaps your words would bring me back to my sane self.”
“Many women have fallen under my brother’s spell, and I cannot even begin to explain the damage he can do. I have seen women leave the estate in tatters, and he does not even bat an eyelid.”
“Surely he can change?”
“No, I doubt that very much. The only person he truly cares about is himself. You should be careful.”
“Nothing happened with Lord Dundee last night. We merely kissed,” she said.
“Was it by accident or forced? Was it only once?” Lord Erasmus asked.
“I certainly do not owe you any explanation, nor do I owe you any details,” she answered curtly. “I still refuse to believe that the rumours of him are true.”
“Then you are as much a fool as all those before you,” Lord Erasmus sighed with deep disappointment.
Lady Caroline scoffed beside him and proceeded to ignore him for the rest of the day.
Chapter Three
July 1812
Upper Hallway
Fursdon House
Exeter
Devonshire
England
Lady Caroline had spent the next two weeks sneaking off with Lord Dundee after Lady Harriet had turned in for the evening, and despite feeling rather terrible for lying to her dearest friend, meeting with Lord Dundee was filled with excitement and passion.
Her summer had indeed turned out to be the best of her life, and her father would be happy to hear of this. She would simply have to exclude Lord Dundee from her tale.
Earlier that morning, she had received a short letter from Lord Dundee under her pillow that she was to meet him at the fountain, their usual meeting spot, after the sun went down. She had looked forward to their meeting the entire day, as Lord Dundee was practically missing from the estate the entire day. His letter said that he had a few errands in town and that he would be back in time for their meeting.