“We have not spoken about it.”
“Your husband shall be staying here as well. I suggested it to him when I comprehended why you could not remove to Dorsetshire immediately.”
“You are very kind, Uncle.”
At the very least, she had enough warning to master her anger before she saw her husband again.
“Is your husband not to join us?” Lady Wetherby asked as they stood in the entrance hall that evening, donning their shawls in readiness for the journey to the ball.
“I have not seen nor spoken to him since just after the breakfast.”
“How strange,” Jane mused.
“Can it be any stranger than attending a ball on my wedding night?” Emma asked sardonically.
“I suppose not. Are you to be announced as Mrs. Shelton?”
“I could not tell you. I wish he were here to advise me. He did not say to keep it a secret.”
“Let us go, ladies. I left Shelton a note, should he wish to join us,” Lord Wetherby announced on joining them in the entrance hall. “We were late discussing business matters.” He stepped over to where Jensen was waiting with his hat and walking stick.
Emma did not wish to attend a ball this evening. She would much rather spend her limited time in London solving the puzzle of Christopher’s death.
They drove the short distance to Lord Easton’s town residence and were greeted by their hosts, a lovely couple who had devoted their lives to helping the less fortunate.
Jane was surrounded by admirers soon after they entered the ballroom. Emma was also engaged for several of the dances. She tried not to worry too much about her husband’s whereabouts, but it would have been nice to dance with him on their wedding day.
“Forgive me for my tardiness, wife. May I have the next dance?” a deep voice said softly into her ear.
She turned and forced herself to smile at him. “Yes, you may.”
He led her to the floor for a waltz, and she was captivated by his nearness and his scent, causing the questions she wished to ask him stayed, unuttered, on her tongue.
“Have you made any discoveries?” she finally managed to ask when she became used to the pattern of the dance.
“A few, but not enough, I am afraid. I was late because I was speaking with Lord Wetherby again. He was good enough to apprise me of Lofton’s actions.”
“Horrible, is it not? I fear he is using dear Jane for her fortune.”
“There, I suspect you are correct. He has long had encumbrances on his estate, and his gambling habit has only worsened the situation. My suspicion is his activities began as a need for funds,” he said quietly.
“It disgusts me that one could be so desperate for funds as to betray one’s country. Heaven forbid he take on some useful employment or sell property.”
“You know it is not done, Emma. However, one need not turn to treason, either,” he whispered in her ear. His warm breath sent shivers up her spine.
This was the first time she had waltzed with anyone other than her younger sister, and she was unused to the nearness of this stranger, her husband, and the new, unfamiliar sensations she felt around him. He exuded warmth, strength, and something she could not define. It caused her heart to race when her hands were in his.
“If Lofton is so desperate for funds,” Shelton said darkly, “I fear what he might do to Jane.”
“Do you think he would try to take her from here?” Emma began to look around for her cousin.
“The doors are being watched. It is not without risk, however.”
“My aunt and uncle are aware?”
“Your uncle certainly is. As for your aunt, I could not say.”
As the waltz ended, Shelton led Emma to her aunt.
“You make a very handsome couple.” Aunt Tilda beamed. “Especially in your regimentals, Colonel Shelton.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Do you know where we might find Lady Jane?”
“How kind of you to wish to dance with your new cousin,” she exclaimed. “I believe she went to the retiring room.”
“Which way?” Emma asked nervously.
“’Tis over near the fountain. She went that way before the last set.” She pointed towards the door on the far side of the ballroom. “Why do you ask?”
Ignoring her question, Shelton took Emma’s elbow in a firm grasp and hurried her across the room through the crush of people.
“I do not believe Jane would go with him,” Emma gasped as they manoeuvred hastily through the crowd.
“I do not believe he would allow that to bother him,” Shelton answered. “But it does not mean he has taken her simply because we do not see her, either.”
They reached the door of the retiring room; Emma went inside but found no Jane. She came back out and shook her head worriedly.
“She is not there, but I found her reticule,” she said, holding up Jane’s small bag. Its strap was torn.
Shelton looked around. Following his gaze, Emma saw a pair of glass-paned doors nearby leading to the garden.
Her husband headed towards them as he spoke.
“Go for your uncle. I will alert the teams outside.”
Suddenly, any anger Emma felt toward Shelton vanished. He so clearly feared for Jane’s safety. She attempted to smile and walk calmly towards the card room, where her uncle had repaired on arrival. When he looked up and saw her, he quickly excused himself, causing the other men at the table to grumble.
“What is it, Emma?” he whispered as he led her from the room.
“The worst, I fear. Jane is missing.”
“You are certain? Could she simply be in the retiring room?”
Emma shook her head. “She is not in the ballroom, either. She would not simply have wandered outside alone.”
“No, indeed. Does your husband know?”
She quickly nodded. “He sent me to you; he has already gone after them.”
“Please inform your aunt that I will need to leave early, but I shall send the carriage back for her. Please do not worry her unnecessarily.”
“Of course, Uncle.”
Emma did as she was told, but she could not remain idle at a ball while Jane was possibly in trouble. She found her uncle waiting at the top of the steps at the same moment his carriage was brought round to him.
“May I join you? I must try to help.”
“Every instinct warns me that I should tell you to stay and comfort your aunt. However, if Jane is found, she will need someone to accompany her.”
“Do you know which way my husband was to go? Is there any chance to catch up with him?” Emma asked as they climbed in and sat opposite each other in the coach.
“I suspect there is no other way but north.”
“If it is the only place to force her into marriage, then I agree.”
“Do you think she went willingly, Emma?” he asked worriedly. “Was I too harsh earlier?”
“I do not, Uncle. She was hurt, but I believe more by the knowledge that he was seeking her fortune rather than her.”
“Indeed. He had best hope I never find him,” he said worriedly as he directed the coachman to return them to the Wetherby mansion.
Emma was surprised to find Shelton there when they arrived. She wondered if perhaps he had come to gather supplies and his horse, for he appeared ready to leave when the conveyance pulled up to the house.
“Wetherby,” he said. “I have sent men northward and southward after them. I shall see if there are any messages and send word back for you to follow in the carriage.”
“Shall I not go with you?” Emma asked.
“I do not wish to put you in danger, as well.”
“We cannot risk word spreading!” Lord Wetherby protested.
Shelton glanced at Emma, then reluctantly agreed. “Very well, when I have word of their direction. I do not trust Lofton to do the expected thing. Gather a bag for yourself and Lady Jane and be ready with the carriage.”
He took her hands briefly and gave her a m
eaningful look. “Until later.”
“Be safe,” she whispered.
He let go of her hands and mounted the chestnut gelding before tipping his hat and trotting away. She watched him disappear to the echoes of hooves clicking on the cobblestones. She had to admit that her husband seemed sensible and capable. She did trust him, she found.
It was two hours before they received word from Shelton. Her uncle grabbed the missive and tore it open as fast as he could while Emma watched with anticipation.
Lord Wetherby,
My prayer is this note finds you with Lady Jane safely tucked in her bed at home. I have not seen her, but I have word of Lofton. Lofton has not taken the northern road, but has headed east. His estates are to the east, and I suspect he has taken her there in hopes of forcing your hand. Please follow in the carriage at once. I have taken the liberty of sending a message to my uncle, the Archbishop, to provide a license if it is your desire. In the meantime, I vow to do everything I can to maintain Lady Jane’s honour.
Yours, etc,
Shelton
“Would that were the case,” Lord Wetherby said. “It appears Lofton has done the worst.”
“No, Uncle, let us not assume the worst. Perhaps we may salvage the situation. Shelton is close behind and we shall be shortly.”
“Yes, let us make haste,” he said and began a frenzied stir to leave, gathering papers and stuffing them into a leather bag. He paused and turned to a cabinet where his pistols were kept. He pulled them out, his hands visibly shaking as he checked them before slipping them into the case.
Chapter Seven
“How dare you kidnap me!” Jane exclaimed, the carriage swaying dangerously as they sped away from the ball. “How much did you pay my maid to lure me away? If you think this will convince me to elope with you, you are quite mistaken.”
“You are now compromised, Jane. It will be all over London by morning. You and your parents will have little choice.”
“You are wrong. I would rather live quietly in the country as a spinster than have my name attached to yours.”
Lofton struck her across the face with the back of his hand. “Silence!” he commanded.
Her hand flew to her lip and came away dripping with blood. Her whole jaw throbbed.
“You will be lucky if I let you live. I vastly preferred you as an insipid, bird-witted miss to this shrew.”
“My father will never release my funds to you.”
“In exchange for your life?” He laughed menacingly.
“And you expect to walk away unscathed? They are already suspicious of you. They will know exactly who kidnapped me.”
Jane realised as she said the words that she had misspoken. She should have guarded her tongue and played the widgeon he thought her.
“Who is onto me?” He sneered in her face. He was close enough she could smell the acridness of cigar on his breath.
She remained silent, though her heart was thumping with fear. Should she placate him now? Or was it too late?
“Tell me, woman, or I will throw you from the carriage!”
“I do not have a name. I heard rumours,” she replied, wishing her accustomed quick thinking would not fail her at this moment when she was in desperate need of it.
“Tell me what you heard,” he growled.
“I heard them speaking behind me at the ball. Your absence was noted by one man, and another remarked upon your debts and that you were hiding from them,” she said coolly, hoping to pacify him.
He visibly relaxed the scowl on his face and leaned back against the squab.
“Indeed. It is true I have some debts from my father.”
“Debts worth killing me over?”
“You will remain silent. I want no more words from you. I will decide what to do with you later, but now I must think.”
“May I at least know where you are taking me?”
“Scotland, of course,” he said smugly. An unpleasant sneer twisted his mouth.
Jane felt her lip swelling and decided her best course of action was to remain quiet, as commanded. She knew they had not taken the Great North Road, yet was certain they had headed eastward. What was he truly about if he did not intend to marry her?
The look in his eyes had changed, and it was frightening. It was as if she were looking at another person. She had had no idea Lofton was crazed. She could imagine him killing Christopher without a second thought.
He stared out of the window for several minutes before pulling some papers from his coat. She desperately wanted to look at them, but she tried to feign sleep. She settled into the corner as far from him as she could and lowered her lashes. He fingered the letters and beat them against his knee, but the dim light from the lantern inside the carriage was insufficient for her to discern the writing. She waited what felt like an eternity before his head lolled sideways against the gold padded wall, and a few minutes later, she heard him snoring softly. How he could sleep at such a time baffled her. She moved her head slightly, squinting to see the address on the letter.
Falteroy.
This must be the F her cousin had spoken of. Heavens above, Lofton had killed Christopher! He had the letter in his hand, which had been intended for Falteroy! Was he so arrogant he would keep a trophy?
She began to shake with fear and desperately wanted to cry. She had to calm herself before he woke. She took deep breaths and tried to think how she could escape from this situation. Her first inclination was to jump from the carriage, but it was rolling along too fast and he would catch her if she were not mortally injured in any case. She looked about the equipage, wondering where he kept his pistols.
When the snoring stopped moments later, she was afraid to look at him.
“You know, Jane, I do think it would be best if we married after all. There really is no other way to make us both look admirable.” He laughed. “I could walk away, of course, and society would shun you. But I am feeling generous and will allow you to become a viscountess if we can forget this incident ever happened. If only you had used your influence over your father.”
She nodded and tried to quell the rising nausea she felt, but she was terrified. She could not look this monster in the eye.
“There’s a good girl. We should be at our first stop very soon, and we can start afresh on the morrow, and you will behave in a manner more befitting a viscountess, will you not?”
Emma awoke again when they pulled into the posting inn for yet another change of horses. Dawn had already broken. They must, therefore, have been travelling for over six hours. Emma wondered where in the east they were going, but her uncle had chosen to ride ahead and she was unable to ask questions as she wished. She peered around the curtain to try to determine their whereabouts. She saw the man who had stood up with Shelton at their wedding conversing behind a large maple tree with her uncle. She could not recall his name, but she thought he was probably a relative, for he shared the pale grey eyes and strong nose of her husband. He must be party to the scheme to capture the spy as well, she decided.
She sat back against the squabs, rubbing her neck. She had not travelled by carriage often, but she was thankful for the luxury of her uncle’s equipage, as they had driven at a clipping pace throughout the night. There was a small knock on the door closest to her. She looked out to see who sought admittance.
“Enter,” she said.
The man from the wedding climbed into the carriage, and a servant handed him a tray with some fresh rolls and tea.
“Good morning. Do you remember me?” he asked kindly.
“You were at the wedding,” she replied.
He nodded. “So you know I am a friend.” He set the tray down next to her on the bench. “You should eat. I do not know how the rest of the day will transpire. You will need sustenance. Lofton can be unpredictable.” He tapped on the roof of the carriage, and Emma held onto the tray as they lurched forward.
“You are to go with me? Where is my uncle?” She still did not know his name
.
“Your uncle is riding ahead to Lofton’s estate, where we believe he has taken Lady Jane.”
“I do not understand, but it is as Colin suspected,” she said with a frown.
“Very likely so. Your uncle will try to negotiate with Lofton. We will wait nearby for word.”
“Where is my husband?”
The man was clearly debating how much to say to her. She could see the indecision on his face. She decided to drink her tea while he deliberated. When nothing further from him seemed to be forthcoming, she selected a roll, despite no inclination to hunger, and nibbled on it. Having finished her repast, she placed her cup back on the tray. Emma did feel quite refreshed after the sustenance. Finally, she looked back at the man seated across from her. He was watching her with some amusement; his eyes twinkled in a mischievous fashion, the skin crinkling at the corners.
“I beg your pardon,” Emma said. “I did not mean to be rude. Would you like a cup?”
He laughed. “No, I had my fill at the inn whilst awaiting your arrival. You are quite unlike other women I have met.”
“I accept the compliment,” she replied saucily. “Are you going to answer my question now?”
“Colin is waiting at Lofton’s estate. The plan is for him to help Lady Jane escape while your uncle is speaking to the viscount.”
She swallowed the exclamation she wished to expel. “I see,” she said calmly instead. “And he is familiar with the estate because he was there frequently as a boy.”
“Precisely.”
“So we wait.”
“Indeed. We wait.”
Mindlessly, Emma selected another roll from the tray and took a bite. She tasted very little as she thought through what her husband must be dealing with and the fear her cousin must be feeling. While she had little idea of what might have happened to Jane during the night, she shuddered in unconscious dread as dark possibilities rolled through her mind. The viscount was little more than a beast from the fields, after all.
“You need not worry for your husband. He is very capable.”
“I have seen it already. I was thinking more of Lofton’s unpredictability and what he might have done to Jane.”
A Season in London (Timeless Regency Collection Book 6) Page 5