by Anne Herries
‘I am sure you must be, too,’ he said and took her hands. ‘Pray go up. If we leave soon after eight in the morning, we should be at your home before nightfall. I must go and speak to my grooms and make certain everything is in readiness for an early start.’
‘Yes, of course, thank you,’ she said and smiled. He leaned forward to kiss her cheek briefly and they parted, he to speak with his servants and she to retire for the night. Amanda followed her mama up the stairs. She had reached the top when she heard a disturbance below and glanced back. A man had just arrived and was shouting for the landlord, his voice loud and abusive, as he demanded one of the best rooms immediately; an argument ensued and voices were raised.
She knew that voice! Amanda’s heart caught and she turned back to look for she was certain it was the Marquis of Shearne. Looking down, she saw him and gave a little cry of alarm and heard Jane’s gasp. She touched her friend’s arm in reassurance, but indeed her own nerves were on edge. Shearne was here in the inn—but was Cynthia with him?
‘Go upstairs with Mama,’ she whispered to Jane. ‘Tell Mama that I recalled something I must say to Phipps, but do not tell her that man is here.’
‘You will not go near him?’ Jane said. ‘You must not, Amanda, please. Find Lieutenant Phipps and tell him, but do not attempt anything yourself.’
‘Go quickly now or Mama will look for me,’ Amanda urged and ran down the stairs. She was in time to see the marquis enter the private parlour, which Phipps had hired and followed him impulsively. She must discover whether Cynthia was with him!
When she entered the parlour, the marquis was standing by the fire, staring morosely into the flames. He muttered something about the landlord and wine and turned, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as he saw her standing there.
‘Where is she?’ Amanda demanded, too angry for caution. ‘Is she in the carriage? What have you done with her?’
‘Where’s that damned landlord with my wine?’ Shearne demanded, leering at her drunkenly. ‘The plump dove to hand—have you come to see what your handiwork has done? Think you can gloat at my expense?’ He glared at her, a pulse throbbing at his temple. ‘I’ll teach you a lesson, as I did her.’
‘What do you mean?’ Amanda’s heart jerked, but she saw the cold anger in his eyes and realised that although he was clearly drunk, he knew her and he blamed her for Lady Langton’s rejection of his suit. He must have thought that she had sent that letter telling of his base character! ‘What have you done with Cynthia?’
‘Damn her to hell...damn them all,’ Shearne muttered and raised his head, looking as if he would like to murder her. ‘Women are the very devil! We should do better to rid ourselves of the lot of them.’
‘I demand to know what you’ve done with my friend.’ Amanda’s fear was lost as her anxiety for Cynthia mounted. ‘Is she in your carriage—or have you hidden her somewhere?’
‘What should I want with the she-devil? One woman is as good as any other: they are good for only one thing—whores and liars the lot of them.’
‘You are a wicked evil man,’ Amanda said. ‘I know you must have abducted her—what have you done to her?’
‘I would have her fortune,’ the marquis muttered. ‘She thinks she has outwitted me, but I’ll have my revenge.’
‘Where is she? Tell me what you’ve done with her...’
‘I’ll show you what I should have done to her.’ He lunged at Amanda and grabbed her by the throat. ‘I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done...you’ve ruined me, you hellcat...’
Amanda screamed once before his hands closed about her throat, kicking out at his shins and causing his grasp to loosen. She staggered back, realising that Jane was right; she ought to have fetched Phipps rather than confront him herself. Even as she looked for a way of escape the door of the parlour was flung open and suddenly Phipps was there.
‘Stand away from her, sir!’ Phipps cried. ‘Touch her again and you die!’
‘Come to catch your plump little dove, have you?’ the marquis sneered. ‘Afraid I might snatch your prize from under your nose...’
‘How dare you speak of Miss Hamilton in that manner?’ Phipps advanced towards him. ‘Amanda, come here to me. You should not have come down.’
‘He has done something with Cynthia. I know he has...’
‘That bitch...not worth the bother,’ Shearne said and snatched the wine bottle from the table where Phipps had left it, lifting it to his mouth to drink what remained. ‘Haughty slut...wouldn’t have me. Thought herself too good for the likes of me.’
‘If you dislike her so, I wonder that you should care whether she accepted your proposal or not,’ Phipps said, moving so that he was between the marquis and Amanda. He was gesturing for her to leave, but she could not because she was determined to watch and listen, to discover what had happened to Cynthia if she could.
‘Oh, I didn’t bother to ask, I just took her screaming and struggling,’ Shearne said, draining the bottle of wine and tossing it into the grate where it shattered. He stood, leering at them, a mocking smile in his eyes. ‘In my grasp she was, but I had to stop to change horses and while I was busy, the witch came to her senses and somehow got away.’
‘You mean that your attempt at abduction went sadly wrong for she had too much spirit!’ Phipps curled his hands at his sides. ‘And what did you do then, sir? Did you look for her—or did you abandon her to her fate?’
Amanda stifled the cry that rose to her lips, watching in fascination as Phipps began to dominate the other man with the force of his will.
‘The witch chose to leave me so why should I care what happens to her—besides, I knew that devil Brock was on our trail. I was warned he was looking for me...interfering dog. I would that he’d died when he should have.’
Phipps’s eyes never left his face. ‘And where did this lady get away from you, sir? How long ago?’
‘Damn you, what’s it to you?’ Shearne demanded, staring at him in a belligerent manner. He blinked, seeming unsure of what he’d said or done and then suddenly threw a wild punch at Phipps, who had approached nearer than he liked. ‘Get out of my way, you wretch. I do not answer to you...’
Phipps ducked neatly, then counter-punched and his landed square on the chin. The marquis slumped to the floor and lay there, not moving when Phipps dug the toe of his boot into his side. He was drunk and out for the count, which meant that he would answer no more questions this night, and when sober would deny everything.
‘So, we have it from his own mouth,’ Phipps said, looking at Amanda. ‘Shearne abducted Miss Langton and carried her off, intent on wedding her for her fortune.’
‘He wanted her money, but cared nothing for her,’ Amanda said, her voice a little whispery. She put a hand to her throat, feeling the mark of his fingers like a bruise. ‘He is such a brute. He tried to strangle me before you came—if he had Cynthia...he might have done anything to her...’
‘Did he hurt you?’ Phipps looked down at her face. ‘It was madness to confront him alone, Amanda.’
‘I know, but I could only think of her. He thought I had written that letter—the one telling her mother that he was not an honourable man.’
‘You did not?’
‘No, for I thought it best to tell her my opinion in person when we met at Brock’s house. I have no proof of anything...he has always been accepted by society. Why should he have done such a desperate thing?’
‘The only reason he could have embarked on such a wicked course must be because he’d been turned from the house and refused the chance to propose to the woman he wanted, not for herself but for her fortune.’
‘Do you think he needed her money so badly?’
‘I imagine he must have done.’
‘What has happened to her? She is not in his carriage?’
‘I think not. We must assume that she was terrified, having been abducted, perhaps drugged—though it seems that she was brave enough to escape when she had the chance. She wou
ld, however, have been stranded far from her home, perhaps without money or means of paying for transport.’
‘Oh, Phipps,’ Amanda cried, looking at him worriedly. ‘She must be so frightened—alone and with no means of getting home. You must go and search for her...’
‘My first duty is to take you safely to your home, dearest. He is sleeping off all the wine he’s drunk and will be no danger to you for a few hours, but I shall not feel safe until we have you home.’
‘That is so kind and exactly what Mama would wish—but I fear for her, Phipps.’
‘I shall go and question his servants and then I’ll send my own to look if his men will tell me where to start.’ He smiled down at Amanda. ‘Go up to your mother now, my dearest. I must summon the landlord and see to this scoundrel.’
‘Yes, of course,’ she said. ‘You were so strong and clever to knock him down, Phipps. I shall go up now—but please discover what you can, for I shall be anxious about Cynthia until we discover more of her fate.’
Chapter Eight
Amanda had slept fitfully. Mama had snored for most of the night and that had kept her awake, but it was only a minor irritant for she was concerned over Cynthia’s fate. Since she was not with the marquis she had got away from him, but where was she now? Anything could have happened to her, alone and away from her home, she would be so vulnerable.
Unable to rest, Amanda got up carefully so as not to disturb her mama or Jane; she went behind the screen to wash in cold water and dress in the gown she’d worn the previous day. It would do very well for travelling, for they would be home before nightfall and then she could change into a clean one. Now that it was morning, she could surely go downstairs and see if Phipps was about, for she longed to know if he had discovered anything the previous evening.
She ventured downstairs a little cautiously, fearing that she might meet the marquis, but discovered that only the landlord and a maid were about, cleaning up behind their customers of the previous evening. He inclined his head to her with a friendly smile.
‘Are you looking for the gentleman, miss? He was out at the stables first thing, but I think he is in the parlour now.’
‘Thank you, I shall go in.’
‘Should I bring you a pot of tea and some fresh rolls, miss?’
‘Thank you, yes.’ Amanda gave him a grateful look and walked on to the parlour. She knocked at the door and Phipps opened it to her, offering her his hand and drawing her in.
‘Are you always an early riser or could you not sleep?’
‘I was too anxious to rest,’ she said. ‘Did you manage to discover anything?’
‘I questioned his servants and one of them was eager to tell me as much as he knew. Shearne was careless when they stopped to change horses and she got away from him... He did not pursue her. It seems that by this time he knew Brock was on his trail.’
‘Oh, but...she must have been in his company for some days.’ Amanda looked at him anxiously. ‘Unless this can be hushed up she will be ruined—even though she was not to blame.’
‘I fear that may well be the case, unless it can be covered up in some way. I doubt if it is worth questioning Shearne more closely. He was carried unconscious to his room. However, I did manage to speak to his groom, before the man left in a hurry.’
‘His groom ran off?’
Phipps smiled grimly. ‘There were two servants in his employ and it appears that they were reluctant to help with the abduction, but he threatened them and they obeyed him. When I represented the seriousness of their offence to them, they took fright. One of them declared he would not work for the marquis again and left almost immediately. The other said he wanted money he was owed, but would be leaving Shearne’s service as soon as he was paid.’
‘Did you discover where she was abandoned?’
‘They had stopped at the Dog and Gin, a posting inn some thirty-five miles from her home, I believe.’
‘That is terrible,’ Amanda cried. ‘Anything may have happened to her, especially if she had no money with her—and if she was abducted it is unlikely that she was carrying her reticule.’
‘I fear that may well be the case,’ Phipps said. ‘One thing, however—she had not been in Shearne’s power for more than two days and they had been travelling all the time, she in a drugged state. His man told me that he was furious when she escaped and has been drunk for most of the time since then. It seems he was more interested in a forced marriage than seduction. And he feared that Brock would stop him before he had her safely hidden at his estates in the north.’
‘How can it be that Brock was already searching for her? Surely he would hardly have had your letter...’
‘I wondered, but then it came to me that Brock may already have been looking for the marquis on his own account. You remember that he was set upon in town?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Amanda said, her frown clearing. ‘If Brock meant to have it out with him, he might indeed have been searching for him.’
‘I believe Shearne intended to slink off to his estates in the north of England before he abducted Miss Langton, and when her mama sent him away with a flea in his ear, he acted out of spite or revenge. We cannot know the whole, but it may be that Brock was nearby when the abduction occurred and set out after them within hours—we can only pray that he may have come across her soon after she escaped her captor.’
‘Should you leave us and begin the search for her?’ Amanda held out her hand to him in supplication. ‘I cannot bear to think of her lost and alone, perhaps at the mercy of another rogue.’
‘My promise was to your mama and to you, Amanda,’ Phipps said. ‘However, I took the liberty of involving my groom—a trustworthy man who was with me in the Regiment. He will not reveal Miss Langton’s secret, but he set off to look for her after he had broken his fast this morning. He will send word to us at your home if he discovers anything.’
Amanda nodded, giving him a grateful look. ‘I am truly obliged to you, Phipps. Mama has her own servants, but she is never comfortable unless she has a gentleman to escort her. I own I should have liked you to search for Cynthia in person, for I dare say she may be frightened and anxious if she is stranded some distance from her home.’
‘Believe me, Jackson is to be relied on in an emergency. He once got me back to headquarters through twenty miles of enemy territory and I was in a fever for half that time. He will leave no stone unturned in trying to find her.’
‘Then I am doubly indebted to him,’ Amanda said warmly. ‘For bringing you to safety—as well as the service he may be called upon to render Miss Langton.’
‘He will tell you that he did his duty, as we all did out there, Amanda, but I assure you that he is a good man.’
She was content with this. After breakfasting on tea and soft rolls with honey, she went back to the bedchamber she’d shared with her mama and discovered that both she and Jane were awake and her maid had brought them a similar breakfast to her own, which she had partaken of in the parlour below.
‘Have you spoken to Phipps?’
‘Yes, Mama. He was able to tell me a little.’
She explained all that he had discovered and what was being proposed to find Miss Langton, and Mama said she was satisfied that they had done all they could.
‘It is not truly our affair, Amanda, but I should not want to neglect any detail that might avert a tragedy or indeed a scandal.’
Since Mama seemed content that they could reasonably do nothing more, Amanda decided to keep her fears to herself. She hoped that she would not be forced to confront the marquis before they set out, because if she were to come face to face with the man she was not sure that she could keep a still tongue. Any fear she’d had of him had turned to a just rage and she wished that she had some means of punishing him.
Fortunately, there was still no sign of Shearne when they gathered in the courtyard and the small convoy set off in the direction of Amanda’s home. She heaved a sigh of relief when the country inn was
left behind and hoped that it was the last she would ever need to see of him.
* * *
Looking about her own room, Amanda thought that she was glad to be here. She had enjoyed her stay in town, but was happy to be home again and to see smiling faces all about her. Everyone seemed to know about her engagement and they had all been eager to catch a first glimpse of her fiancé and to wish her happiness.
She had left Phipps talking to Papa in his study and come upstairs to change for a much-delayed dinner. The roads had been poor on the last stage of their journey and it was well past the hour they usually dined. Fortunately, Papa had instructed Cook to prepare a cold collation and a warming soup that she could heat when they arrived.
Amanda was glad to put off her crumpled gown, and to save her maid the trouble of looking out one of her London gowns said she would wear a green silk that she had not taken with her. However, when she tried it on it hung on her and looked awful, so she was obliged to choose a gown from amongst those that had been sent back with Papa, which had been hung up but not pressed; it took another twenty minutes to shake out the creases, and by the time she got downstairs even Mama was waiting with signs of impatience.
‘I am sorry to keep everyone waiting, there was a problem with my gown,’ she said apologetically. ‘I had thought to wear my old green silk, Mama, but it is too big for me now.’
‘Yes, I dare say,’ Mama said. ‘I think you will need to have several of your gowns altered, my love.’
‘I should be happy to do them,’ Jane offered, but Amanda laughed and shook her head.
‘You are here to have a holiday and enjoy yourself—making the alterations to the gowns we have already chosen is quite enough, dearest Jane.’
* * *
The evening passed swiftly, for by the time dinner was over and Mama had sent for the tea tray the ladies were beginning to yawn and within a short time of the gentlemen joining them, they said goodnight.
Amanda was able to say goodnight to Phipps in private, but there was no time to talk for everyone followed them into the hall and she was obliged to take leave of him without saying half of what she wished to.