To Marry a Duke

by Fenella J Miller

  ‘There is one thing about all this I do not understand,’ Allegra said. ‘Why should Pledger wish to kill me? I did no more than refuse his offer, hardly enough to warrant assassination.’

  ‘It’s something I have also considered.’

  ‘And?’ she prompted impatiently.

  ‘I have only one explanation. The man must be deranged.’ At first she thought he was funning and smiled, then saw his face. ‘The actions of a sane man can be predicted, anticipated, but a madman, by his very nature, will behave irrationally.’

  ‘I understand. If he was, well, normally motivated, what would you expect him to do next?’

  ‘If it was me, I would report to Horse Guards and ask to be posted to the Americas. He must realize he’s been discovered, that his days of freedom are rapidly diminishing.’

  Allegra walked over to smell the pungent honeysuckle and his eyes followed her. She glanced up, her lips curving in a smile. ‘Do not look so fierce, my love, whatever he does I am certain you and Richard will find him before he can do any more harm.’

  He closed the space between them in one stride. ‘Allegra, I love you. I don’t know why you return my regard, but I thank God you do.’

  ‘Do you not? Could it be the fact you are not only one of the warmest men in England, but also the most attractive?’

  Her gurgle of amusement was swallowed by his fierce kiss. Several intoxicating minutes later she emerged, breathless and more than a little dishevelled. ‘My bonnet ribbons are strangling me, Jago. Could you release them for me?’

  With expert fingers he undid the knotted ribbon and tossed the hat aside. It landed neatly on the head of a Greek cherub standing in a nearby arbour. Allegra clapped her hands.

  ‘Bravo! That was an excellent shot - I could not have done better myself.’

  Chuckling he took her hand and kissed it. ‘Shall we sit over there, on the bench, where it’s shaded?’

  ‘And you shall restore my bonnet to me, Jago. Abbot will be extremely disapproving if she returns to find me so undressed.’ She quickly placed a warning finger on his lips. ‘No, my dear, you must not use a profanity. I asked you to mend your language and you promised me you would do so.’

  Restoring the bonnet was a pleasurable experience for both and it was there that Richard and Demelza found them later.

  ‘Oh, Papa, Allegra has forgiven you already. I would not have done so, I can assure you, for another day at least.’

  Jago embraced his daughter and grinned sheepishly at Richard. ‘I’m glad you’re back; we have important matters to discuss.’

  ‘I thought Demelza would be beside herself with anxiety, so brought her here to see that all is well.’

  ‘We are both content and our differences forgotten. Witherton and I have plans to make; Demelza, you stay and keep Allegra company.’ He turned and, with his hand on Richard’s shoulder, guided him back inside the house.

  ‘What are they going to do, Allegra? Did my father tell you?’

  Allegra realized he had not, in fact, done so. ‘I think he intends to find Captain Pledger and Lady Oliver and have them apprehended. But how, or where, I have no idea.’

  To her astonishment Demelza headed for the French doors, her face determined. ‘Richard is not leaving without telling me where he’s going. And neither is Papa.’

  When, a few moments later, Allegra decided to follow, not quite sure how their unlooked

  or appearance would be viewed by either Jago or Richard. The garden room was empty. Where had they all gone? She could hear raised voices somewhere in the house and hurried in that direction.

  In the spacious hall Demelza was hanging on to Richard’s arm, berating him loudly. Of Jago there was no sign. Conscious the staff was being given more excitement in one afternoon than they normally had in a year, she hurried over to intervene.

  ‘Enough of this. Demelza, be silent at once.’ Her voice was quiet but firm. ‘Richard what is all this fuss about? Are you both aware you are making a spectacle of yourselves?’

  Demelza dropped her hand and her shoulders drooped in defeat. Without another word she turned and fled up the stairs to seek sanctuary in the rooms she had previously occupied on her visits to the capital.

  Richard groaned. ‘She doesn’t think I’m well enough to accompany Tremayne. But I have no choice, Sis, I’m honour bound to go. For the man’s bullet was meant for you and it hit my future wife.’

  ‘I understand, and when I have spoken to her, I am certain Demelza will also. Where is Jago?’

  ‘Two men have recently arrived with news. He has gone to speak with them.’

  ‘Shall we go back into the garden room? You can tell me what is to happen.’

  Once they were comfortably settled Allegra looked expectantly at her brother. ‘Well, Richard? What is Jago planning to do? Did he tell you he thinks that Pledger is insane?’

  ‘He did and I’m afraid I have to agree. There can be no other explanation. He’s like a thwarted child wishing to destroy what he cannot have for himself.’ His mouth turned down and his expression was sombre. ‘I have known Gideon since we were at school and never suspected he was unstable. I cannot imagine what has turned his mind.’

  ‘I think I can. I believe he has harboured an obsession for me all these years and when I rejected him so brutally, the coin spun and love became hate. I never liked him, as you are aware, but I am saddened by the thought that one of England’s heroes has come to this because of me.’ She stopped, lost in thought. ‘Will he go to the gallows when he is caught?’

  Richard shook his head. ‘Not if I can help it. A quick end – it’s the least I can do for an old friend.’

  She shuddered. ‘Perhaps he will take the honourable way out, or make his escape to France?’ Despite her disquiet she smiled. ‘Do you know, Richard, I asked Fred to arrange for me to meet with a freetrader? I wanted Jago to be abducted, taken to France, so he would miss the day of our wedding and release both of us from those contracts.’

  ‘Good God! It’s not only Pledger who has run mad! What did Fred say?’

  ‘He assumed I wanted to arrange for a delivery of cognac and tea and insisted it would be unnecessary for me to speak directly to the smugglers. I could hardly tell him otherwise, now could I?’ She smiled at Richard. ‘I promise I would not have gone through with it. I was angry that day, by the following morning I was greatly relieved I had not been able to arrange anything of the sort.’

  ‘Did we get the brandy and tea?’

  ‘I have no idea. I had forgotten all about it until you mentioned France.’

  Richard tried to appear disapproving. ‘I’m supposed to be setting a good example in the community not fraternising with free traders and receiving contraband.’

  Jago came to join them. ‘Good, I’m glad you’re both here. I’ve heard from Forsythe, you remember, Allegra, the gentleman who assisted us at the White Hart the other night?’ Allegra’s smile slipped as she recalled why the gentleman had been obliged to help.

  He continued. ‘It appears there are three men absent without leave from Colchester barracks. The lieutenant we know about, but also a sergeant and an enlisted man. I have the names and descriptions of both.’

  Richard interrupted. ‘There were two men with information, were they both from Sir Bertram?’

  ‘No, the second was a Bow Street runner in my employment. He has discovered Lady Oliver owns a small estate, inherited from a maternal relation of her late husband. It’s in a village not far from Ipswich. It’s my guess they are all holed up there.’

  ‘In that case we can travel back together, Jago. I wish to return to the Priory. I have no intention of attending any further society events until the gossip has died down and the truth is known.’

  ‘I was going to suggest exactly that, my love. I should be happier escorting you and Demelza myself.’ He glanced at Richard. ‘We are to meet up with an escort from the barracks when we get to Colchester. They want those men back; they don’t take kin
dly to deserters.’

  Allegra got to her feet. ‘I was about to remove my bonnet, yet again,’ she said, blushing rosily at Jago’s grin, ‘but I rather think I had better collect Demelza. If we are intending to leave at first light tomorrow there is a deal of packing for us to organize. I can explain to her what is happening at the same time.’

  ‘We shall take the journey back gently, there’s no urgency. My men are watching Grafton Manor, Lady Oliver’s house, no one will be allowed to leave before we arrive.’

  ‘It’s scarcely two hours ride to Grafton from Colchester. We can be there and back in the day,’ Richard added.

  Allegra moved to the door. ‘Are we to break our journey at the Saracen’s Head, in Chelmsford, Jago, where we stayed on the way up?’

  ‘Yes. I’ll send someone ahead to reserve our accommodation. We must leave at the crack of dawn. We can break our fast at the White Hart in Romford, I’m sure the landlady will be pleased to see Demelza’s fully recovered.’

  At six o’ clock the following morning a small cavalcade left Witherton House. Jago had decided the diligence, containing luggage, should travel with their carriage, also two extra grooms were to follow as outriders. The interior of the carriage, with two large gentleman and three ladies inside, was a shade overcrowded, but neither Allegra nor Demelza objected to being obliged to sit thigh to thigh with their betrotheds. Miss Murrell was forced to be an unwilling observer and official chaperon and felt decidedly de trop.

  Jago and Richard accompanied the ladies all the way to the Priory in order to collect their own mounts from the stables.

  ‘Take care, Jago, my love. I know there will be a troop of soldiers with you, and there are only three of them, but if they are aware that their capture is imminent they could fight to the death. They have nothing to lose after all.’ She shivered as she remembered Richard’s promise that he would not allow his erstwhile friend to suffer the indignity of the rope.

  Jago smoothed an errant strand of pale gold hair from her face. ‘I’m not foolhardy, my darling. I’ve too much to live for to risk my life unnecessarily. But until these men, and Lady Oliver, are apprehended I cannot rest easy.’

  She stretched up and touched his mouth with hers, her eyes soft with love. ‘Look after Richard, remember his vision is impaired.’

  ‘I will; I’ll remain at his right shoulder throughout.’

  The two men were to rendezvous with the military party at Ardleigh, a ride of only a few miles. She watched them canter, side-by-side, down the drive and across the park until they were lost from view.

  ‘Come along, Demelza, let us go inside. I am sure that they will come to no harm. They could even be back before supper.’

  *

  Jago and his escort had travelled scarcely five miles when he spotted two horsemen galloping towards them. The lead rider wrenched his mount to a halt.

  ‘Thank God we’ve caught you, Mr Tremayne. The bastards have slipped through the net. They were there earlier, we saw them in the stable yard, but when we checked later their mounts had gone.’

  Jago’s brow creased. ‘Did Captain Pledger arrive last night?’

  ‘No, sir, nobody came. But Lady Oliver did receive a message, but she didn’t go out. She’s still in residence.’

  Jago swore. ‘God damn it to hell! They’re meeting him somewhere. But where?’

  ‘The coast?’ Richard suggested. ‘It’s a high tide tonight and a smuggler’s moon; the ideal time to slip aboard a ship and sail to freedom.’

  ‘You know the area, lad, which port will they head for?’

  Richard did a rapid calculation. ‘There’s only one place where free-traders have never been caught and that’s our own creek. There are legitimate wherries in and out as well as smugglers.’

  Jago stood in his stirrups and shouted his command to the waiting troops. ‘Lieutenant, the birds have flown, we believe they will head for the coast, try to catch a ship to France.’ The troop, headed by Jago and Richard, the two Bow Street runners close behind, swung round and galloped back the way they’d come.

  At dusk Allegra sat alone in the orangery, the glass doors open, enjoying the cool salty breeze that wafted from the creek. The birds were singing their final evening songs before settling down for the night. Demelza was safely in her room with Miss Murrell for company. All she had to do was wait. She had asked for a late supper to be served if Jago and Richard returned before ten o’ clock. She would not hear them from where she was but a footman would run across to fetch her as soon as they arrived.

  A slight noise in the garden startled her. Was there someone outside? Before she could raise the alarm a shadow slipped through the doors and her mouth was cruelly covered by a calloused hand.

  ‘One sound from you, my lady, and it will be your last.’

  Allegra swallowed, her teeth clenched shut as she tried to push her head away from Captain Pledger’s grip. She had no time to shout before a kerchief was tied tight around her mouth stifling any protests.

  ‘Get up, don’t struggle, I’m quite prepared to break your arm. You’re coming with me. I’ve arranged a cosy passage for us both in a Frenchie’s boat. I hope you’ve no objection to life in France?’ His laugh was manic causing the small hairs on the back of her neck to stiffen.

  She tried to hang like a deadweight in his arms but he twisted her wrist viciously up her back and she was forced to go with him. He half pushed, half dragged, her out into the night, towards the darkness of the trees that boarded the garden.

  The dampness of the grass quickly soaked through her flimsy slippers and without the benefit of spencer or wrap she shivered in the cool night air. She saw a movement ahead and two shadowy shapes detached themselves from the trees.

  ‘I have her here, bring the ropes, we must secure her. I don’t trust her not to make a break for it.’

  She was being taken towards the creek. It would be high tide soon and a simple matter to bring in a small rowing boat and transfer her to a larger vessel waiting in the deeper water. If no coast guard cutter was abroad to interfere they could slip anchor and sail away undetected. Jago! She would never see his dear face again. She was lost to him. He had ridden, unsuspecting to Grafton leaving this monster to capture her. If she was to get free she had to do it herself, there was no one else to save her.

  The cords bit into her bare arms and she knew it was useless to struggle. She would save her energy to make an escape attempt later. She let herself be dragged through the grounds to the Bury where the men had horses tethered under the huge tree. She was thrown face down across the pommel and she gagged as the sour stench of sweat filled her nostrils. She recognized the pungent odour, it meant the horses were blown - they had been ridden to exhaustion.

  If a rescue party did appear they could easily overtake her captors and secure her release. She prayed someone would notice her absence, that a villager might glimpse her abduction. This was a false hope. This evening there was a smuggler’s moon, no villagers kept watch on a night like this. If an excise officer made enquiries about contraband then they had no need to lie. They saw nothing pass their cottages; they never did, not when high tide and moonlight coincided.

  She was grateful the ride was short, hanging head down made her feel unpleasantly sick.

  ‘Is the boat there? Can you see it?’ Pledger hissed as he struggled to lift her from across his saddle.

  ‘It’s there, Captain, and I can see the Frenchie’s vessel in the channel. They have the sails unfurled, we don’t have long to get aboard.’

  ‘Here, help me carry the bitch, she’s a deadweight; I believe she’s swooned.’

  Allegra forced her limbs to remain limp as the three men stumbled across the marshy grass to the water’s edge, their boots squelching loudly in the silence. She could smell the sea, hear the waves slapping on the boat’s sides. She didn’t dare to open her eyes to get a clearer look, they might, despite their hurry, realize she was faking her inertia.

  Pledger swore under
his breath when the cold water filled his boots. She shivered involuntarily as her skirts trailed in the sea and icy water travelled up the material to make it cling heavily to her legs. She opened her eyes. Was now the time to struggle, whilst they were attempting to put her into the rocking boat? She twisted violently, throwing the men off-balance, then the sea engulfed her and her nose and mouth filled with salt water.

  The water was so cold. Numbingly cold. She was a good swimmer but with her arms bound she was unable to do more than attempt to place her feet on the slippery mud and try to stand up. She could hear the shouts and splashes of the men as they searched for her. The water was less than hip deep, if she could stand up maybe she could make good her escape in the darkness.

  Suddenly she was pulled sideways, away from the dinghy. Her lungs were bursting; she could not hold her breath any longer. A hand came round to uncover her mouth and her head broke the surface. She gulped in air whilst frantically trying to put down her feet. They didn’t touch. She was out of her depth - whoever had hold of her was towing her the wrong way, out to sea, not back to the safety of the shore.

  She was freezing, the long skirts clinging to her legs made swimming impossible, but she could try. She would not give in without a fight.

  ‘Keep still, darling, I have you safe.’

  How could she not have known? Not recognized whose arm’s she was in? She relaxed instantly, too cold to answer, but Jago understood. He spoke directly into her ear as he swam strongly, parallel to the shore. ‘If we try and land too soon we’ll be seen. Richard’s waiting further up.’

  She was so cold; it was making it hard to think. She had to stay conscious, not allow Pledger to win, not now. Then Jago’s feet touched bottom and she was out of the water cradled in his arms. She thought she heard the rapid crack of gunfire, shouts and screams, but she wasn’t sure. She closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.

  *

  ‘Richard, I have her. She’s unharmed but half frozen.’ He waited whilst Richard swung up into his saddle. ‘Take care. Here, let me wrap our coats around her. I’ll be back as soon as this is over. Ride carefully, but as fast as you can. She needs to get warm. It’s a matter of urgency.’