She bowed her head.
‘I am glad Alex told you,’ she said quietly. ‘I did not want to betray him, or Tony. But neither could I let you marry me without you knowing the truth.’
‘Thank you,’ he said, giving her a smile that tugged at her heart. ‘Once I knew you were a maid I suspected the affairs in the journal might be Allyngham’s rather than yours, but I was at a loss to know why you would not trust me with the secret, until Mortimer explained it all.’
‘I am so very sorry.’
‘Elle, you have done nothing wrong,’ he said quietly. ‘You were merely protecting those you loved.’ Jack squeezed her hands. ‘What a burden for you to carry! I admire your loyalty towards Tony and Alex, my dear.’
She bit her lip.
‘I seem to have spent my life looking after them,’ she murmured.
‘And now I am going to look after you,’ he told her, smiling. ‘Tony said that you deserved better, I didn’t understand him at the time, but now, I hope I can be a worthy husband for you. I shall obtain a special licence: we can be married and away from London within a se’ennight, what do you say to that?’
‘It—it sounds delightful, if you are sure you still want to marry me.’
‘It would be an honour to marry Tony Allyngham’s widow,’ he told her solemnly.
She closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted by the events of the evening. Jack leaned forwards and kissed her cheek.
‘Poor love, you look very tired. I should take you home.’
She nodded.
‘Yes, if you please.’
‘Wait here, then. I must find Alex and tell him we are leaving. And I must speak with our hosts.’ He gave her a rueful smile. ‘It may take some time: you will not mind being left alone here?’
‘No, I shall be well enough, but please, be as quick as you can!’
Alone in Lady Keworth’s elegant sitting room, Eloise reclined upon the daybed, her arms folded over her stomach. She was aware of a little seed of happiness inside her, but she was afraid to allow it to grow too much. She was very weary, but she did not want to sleep, only to lie still and go over in her mind all that Jack had said to her. He knew the truth and he still wanted to marry her. She went back over his words again. He cared for her, he desired her, she knew that, but at no time had he told her loved her. She hugged herself a little tighter. Perhaps, given time, he might grow to love her for her own sake, and not just as his comrade’s widow.
A light scratching on the door made her sit up.
‘Come in.’
A liveried footmen stepped into the room. He carried her blue silk cloak over his arm.
‘If it please your ladyship, Major Clifton is waiting for you with the carriage.’
She rose and followed him out of the door, throwing her wrap over her shoulders.
‘This way, madam.’ He pointed to the backstairs. ‘The major thought you might like to leave by the side door, rather than go out through the main salon.’
‘Of course.’ She followed the servant down the stairs, smiling to herself. How thoughtful of Jack to know she would not wish to speak to anyone.
The side door stood open and she could see her carriage drawn up on the street, the flickering streetlamps illuminating the Allyngham crest on the door. A fine drizzle was falling and Eloise threw her hood up over her hair. The footman went out before her, opened the door and handed her into the waiting carriage. Almost before she had climbed in the door was closed behind her and the carriage pulled away with a jerk, toppling her on to the seat.
‘Goodness, Herries is eager to get home tonight!’ she laughed, addressing the figure lounging in the far corner of the carriage.
Her laughter died and a cold, sick dread came over her as Sir Ronald Deforge leaned forwards.
‘I, too, am very eager, my lady, but we are not going to Dover Street.’
Eloise shrank back into the corner of the carriage.
‘How did you get here? Where are my people?’
‘Trussed up in an alleyway, along with one of Keworth’s lackeys. We needed his livery.’
‘So the footman was one of your hirelings.’ Her lip curled. ‘I did not think you would stoop so low.’
‘I have not resorted to housebreaking,’ he retorted. ‘Do not look so innocent, my lady: I gather from Clifton’s words that you have somehow managed to retrieve Allyngham’s journal.’
‘Yes,’ she said defiantly. ‘It is destroyed. You have no further hold over me.’
He laughed gently and a shiver of fear ran down her spine.
‘Since you are here now, I think I have quite a substantial hold over you, madam.’
Eloise bit her lip, her eyes sliding towards the carriage door. Sir Ronald said coldly, ‘If you are thinking of leaping out, my dear, let me assure you that it will not help you: you might easily break a limb in the process and in any event my men would catch you and bring you back immediately.’
‘Where are you taking me?’
‘To Redlands, a little property of mine near Thatcham. It belonged to my late wife—all that remains of her not inconsiderable fortune. Being a gambler is an expensive business, my dear: I need the Allyngham fortune to replenish my own.’
‘So you have abducted me,’ she said, her voice heavy with anger. ‘When it is discovered that my servants have been attacked and I am missing, everyone will guess you are the culprit.’
‘But that may not be for some time, madam, and how are they to know where we have gone? We shall be at Redlands in a few hours: the rector there owes his living to me: I have the special licence in my pocket.’ She saw his evil grin appear. ‘We shall have our wedding today, as planned.’
‘I will never marry you!’
‘Oh I think you will, madam,’ he said softly. ‘And you will learn to please me, if you do not want me to hand you over to my stable hands for their plaything.’
‘You will not get away with this,’ she retorted. ‘When they come after me—’
‘They!’ He gave a cold, cruel laugh. ‘Who do you think will put themselves out to chase after you, madam? Mortimer is not fit to ride, and as for the rest, do you think they care what happens to a woman with a reputation such as yours? That leaves only Major Clifton, and what can one man do against myself and the three fellows travelling on the top? You have overplayed your hand, my lady: the ton will say that the Wanton Widow has received no more than she deserves!’
Eloise glared across the carriage at Sir Ronald, who lounged carelessly in his corner. Perhaps he was right and the ton would leave her to her fate. She had no doubt that Jack would try to find her, but even if he had Alex to help him how long might that take?
Sir Ronald rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘And yet Major Clifton is such a resourceful fellow, he will go to great lengths to do me a disservice,’ he purred. ‘I think I shall hire a room at Maidenhead and take you there, just to make sure of you.’
She curled her lip.
‘Do you think that will save you from him? It will only make him more determined to kill you!’
‘I am well aware that Clifton wants to put paid to my existence. He wants revenge upon me for marrying his childhood friend, the love of his life. You are little more than a pawn in this game, my dear. Did you think you could ever replace Clara in his heart? She was a veritable angel, my dear, as pure as you are wanton. Taking you from me might redress the balance a little, but where would be the satisfaction for him if I had already bedded you? He will not want you then, madam, knowing that I have already sampled your delights. How could he ever lie with you after that, knowing that I had enjoyed you?’ He laughed. ‘But this is mere conjecture. No one knows our direction and it is most unlikely that they will find us before I have wed you. And once we are married I shall make sure you have no opportunity to escape me.’
‘And will you kill me, like you killed your first wife?’
‘Is that what Clifton has told you?’ Sir Ronald gave a bitter laugh. ‘Aye, he would like to
believe that. Much more comfortable for him to think I was villain enough to beguile Clara into marrying me and then find a way to dispose of her once I had run through her fortune!’
‘Is that not the truth?’ she challenged him.
‘Far from it. Clara was a sweet, innocent beauty. We were madly, hopelessly in love within weeks of being introduced. Such passion could not last, of course, and I confess that her devotion outlasted mine. She liked to live at Redlands, I preferred town. Once she knew she was with child she settled down, although she seemed to think I should come and live with her. I kept putting it off, making excuses why I could not join her, until it was too late.’ He paused and turned his head to gaze out of the window. ‘I was in London when she drowned herself, driven mad with grief at the loss of her baby. Our son.’
‘I am so very sorry,’ murmured Eloise.
He turned back to her, saying harshly, ‘You need not be. Clara has been dead for three years and unlike your precious major I gave up mourning her long ago. Truth to tell, I cannot say that her death was anything but a relief. I had grown very weary of her maudlin airs and clinging ways. You, my dear, have so much more spirit.’ He stretched out his foot and rubbed it against her leg. She quickly drew back, pulling her skirts about her. Sir Ronald merely laughed again. ‘By Gad, madam, it will be amusing to bend you to my will.’
Eloise returned no answer but huddled in the corner, staring resolutely out of the window, watching the dark landscape flying by. Jack would come after her, she was sure of it, but she was less sure of his reasons for doing so. Sir Ronald’s words had lodged themselves in her brain. Her reputation, even her actions in giving herself to Jack, proved her to be far beneath the paragon that was his first love. She knew he wanted to marry her because she was Allyngham’s widow, but what if he also he wanted to thwart Sir Ronald? Would he still want her once Deforge had taken her to his bed? Even if by some chance Jack decided upon the right road, there was little chance he would catch them before they reached Maidenhead.
Chapter Twenty
They rattled on and Eloise kept her gaze firmly fixed upon the window. She forced herself to consider her position. It did not look promising. Sir Ronald might dress as a fop but he was too strong for her to overpower him, and she did not even have a hatpin with which to defend herself. Once he had her alone in a room she feared all would be lost. The idea of his hands on her body made her shudder with revulsion. She shifted closer to the window and peered down. She had never considered the distance from a carriage to the ground before, but now she was determined that if they slowed at all she would attempt to run away. Sir Ronald took out his watch and held it, turning it towards what little light there was coming into the carriage.
‘We shall soon be at Maidenhead, my dear. You had best prepare yourself.’ He leaned across to run his finger along her cheek. ‘What, still not speaking to me?’ She flinched away and he sat back, chuckling. ‘You will soon learn to enjoy my caresses, Eloise.’
Her stretched nerves noticed immediately when the pace slackened. They were entering a village: the dark outlines of buildings could be seen on either side of the road, although not a light was visible from any window. She tensed, surreptitiously noting the position of the door handle. The carriage slowed still further and began to turn off the road towards the lighted yard of a large inn. Sir Ronald was peering out of the window beside him.
‘What the devil, this isn’t the Bear—’
Eloise seized her chance. She sprang up, released the door catch and leaped from the carriage as it turned off the road. She landed heavily and rolled over, hoping she was clear of the wheels. Her voluminous cloak billowed out and settled around her even as she scrambled to her feet. She could hear Sir Ronald’s outraged roar and knew she had only seconds to escape. As she raised her head she saw there was a line of horses stretched across the road, blocking the way. That was why the carriage had turned off the highway.
It took her a moment to recognise Lord Keworth and Mr Renwick amongst the horsemen. A glance back showed her that more men were surrounding the carriage, their pistols directed at the coachman and the two accomplices who were clinging to the back straps of the coach-body. Sir Ronald had jumped down and was coming towards her. Eloise quickly moved towards the horsemen.
‘Thank God we have found you, Lady Allyngham!’ Lord Keworth dismounted and held out one hand to her, the other levelling a pistol at Sir Ronald. ‘That is far enough, Deforge. Stand, or I shall shoot!’
‘Elle!’ Jack was running towards her. ‘Elle, dearest! Are you all right?’
His voice was shaking, and suddenly she felt close to tears. With a sob she threw herself on his chest.
‘Yes, yes,’ she said, ‘I am well enough now.’
‘Why did you jump from the carriage?’ He held her away from him, staring into her face. ‘If he touched you—!’
Eloise shook her head.
‘No, but he p-planned to hire a room and—’ She broke off, shuddering, and Jack pulled her back into his arms.
‘Then thank God we were in time.’
She leaned against him, secure within his embrace while all around them was confusion.
The riders were dismounting and moving forwards to stand around them, effectively cutting off Sir Ronald’s escape. She could hear a familiar voice barking orders to the men on the coach.
‘Climb down now, me boys, and steady does it: there’s more than one finger here itching to pull the trigger!’
She raised her head.
‘Perkins?’
‘Yes,’ said Jack. ‘It is thanks to your groom that we were able to find you so soon. He was returning from a local gin shop when he saw your carriage pulling away from the side door at Keworth House. If the speed of its departure hadn’t made him suspicious then the fact that a Keworth footman scrambled up on the back told him something was wrong. He immediately raised the alarm and had the presence of mind to follow the carriage until he ascertained that it was leaving London by the Great West Road. We followed, and thankfully, even at this hour of the night there were enough people abroad to notice your flight.’
‘And you all came to find me,’ she said, looking around at the familiar faces. ‘I am very grateful.’
‘Not at all, dear lady.’ Lord Berrow pushed forwards and gave a little bow. ‘When Major Clifton set up the hue and cry we were all most happy to oblige!’
‘Very touching,’ sneered Deforge, glaring at them all. ‘Especially when you know you would all like to have the wench for yourself!’
‘Enough!’ barked Lord Keworth. ‘You will keep a civil tongue in your head when addressing the lady.’
‘Lady? I know better,’ cried Sir Ronald. ‘She has taken you all in with her smiles and fine airs, but she is nothing but an imposter! She was never a virtuous wife to Allyngham—their marriage was a sham, a cover to mask her husband’s unnatural practices with Alex Mortimer! No lady would have agreed to such a pretence. Who knows what went on in their bedchamber between the three of them? And she knew, she knew when she married him that Allyngham was a—’
He got no further. Jack stepped forwards and smashed his fist against Sir Ronald’s jaw. Deforge’s head snapped back and he crashed to the ground.
‘Well done, Clifton, just what was needed,’ declared Lord Berrow, coming forwards. ‘I have no doubt Mortimer would have done the same, had he been well enough to ride with us.’
‘Aye,’ declared Lord Keworth. ‘A dastardly act, to accuse Mortimer, a man who you know is already wounded and in no condition to demand satisfaction.’
‘Not only Mortimer, but Allyngham, my friend and neighbour,’ roared Lord Berrow, turning to glare at Sir Ronald who was slowly picking himself up. ‘Why, you filthy scoundrel, how dare you attempt to blacken the name of a hero of Waterloo? One, moreover, who is no longer alive to defend himself! Tie him up, gentlemen.’
‘It is true!’ cried Deforge, struggling as Renwick and Graham secured his hands with a length of whipcord.
‘And I had the proof, before they stole it from me! Ask them,’ he spat. ‘Ask Clifton to deny that he broke into my house!’
Putting her hand up to prevent Jack from uttering an angry retort, Eloise took a step away from him and looked at the men gathered around her. She said clearly, ‘But of course, knowing that he had the means to blacken my husband’s good name, I went to Wardle Street to retrieve it. I climbed in through his window at dead of night, stole the proof and burned it!’
An instant’s shocked silence was followed by hearty laughter. Jack took her hand.
‘As if any woman would have the nerve to do such a thing,’ he murmured, grinning at her.
‘Curse you,’ snarled Sir Ronald, ‘I shall swear to it, on oath!’
‘Do you think, sir, after your behaviour tonight, anyone will take your allegations seriously?’ retorted Mr Renwick.
‘Aye,’ nodded Lord Berrow. ‘You had best beware, Deforge: false accusations of this kind are punished very severely. Come, gentlemen, let us take this villain and his cronies back to town. We shall haul them before the magistrate in the morning.’
‘You may use my horse,’ offered Jack. ‘I shall drive Lady Allyngham home in her carriage.’
‘I’m coming with you, m’lady,’ put in Perkins, walking up at that moment with the major’s man, who added,
‘And if you’ll allow me, madam, I can handle a coach and four: it’d be an honour to drive you.’
‘Thank you,’ she murmured.
‘Aye, thank you, Bob,’ said Jack, putting his arm about Eloise. ‘Now, if that is settled, tell that rascally landlord to bring us some fresh horses and we’ll be away.’
Disgrace and Desire Page 25