A Most Rebellious Debutante

by Karen Abbott

  ‘I did avert a bad accident, though, didn’t I?’ Lucy challenged. ‘You were driving so swiftly, I felt sure you were about to sweep us off the road. And I am sure your man can readily sort us out.’ She decided a bit of flattery might help her cause. ‘I confess I was lost in admiration of your greys,’ she declared, imitating the breathless tones that she recalled some of her fellow debutantes using when wishing to sweet-talk a suitor, and fluttered her eyelashes in a beguiling manner. ‘The sight of them quite took my senses away. But then, I am sure that you must be used to such a reaction as mine. However, I do apologize, sir.’ She lowered her head and then looked up at him coquettishly from under her lashes, another action she remembered scornfully witnessing at a ball one evening.

  ‘Hmph! I suppose it could have been worse,’ he allowed. ‘However, you’d best get down so that Hodge can get to work on sorting it out.’ He had already secured his reins and he leaped down on the far side of his curricle as he spoke, joining his man, Hodge, who was appraising the interlocked wheels.

  Lucy climbed down from her driving seat and stood on the grass verge, watching as the two men worked to persuade Maud to back up a couple of steps to separate the two wheels without causing damage to the curricle.

  It took only ten minutes or so and Lucy decided that some effusive thanks would secure a few more moments of delay. She clasped her hands together at her breast as Lieutenant Potterill approached her, fastidiously wiping his hands on a linen cloth.

  ‘Oh, how clever you are! What a good thing it is that men are so much stronger than we females. I don’t know where we would be without you.’ She flashed him a winsome smile and saw that her praise mollified him somewhat, though he didn’t answer her. His hand cleaning complete, he looked her up and down disdainfully and obviously decided that she was far inferior to his class.

  ‘Your gig is ready. Be on your way,’ he said dismissively, ‘and learn to handle your pony more skilfully before you risk other people’s lives again!’

  Lucy suppressed the indignation that rose within her and assumed an expression of humble gratitude. ‘Yes, sir. I thank you kindly.’ She bobbed a slight curtsy and turned towards her gig.

  ‘Wait a moment.’ His eyes narrowed as he said suspiciously. ‘What were you doing coming from Montcliffe land? I suppose you know you have been trespassing?’

  Lucy decided a bit of spirit wouldn’t go amiss. His attitude really was insufferable. She drew herself up and met his superior glance with a hauteur of her own.

  ‘Although I see it as no business of yours, sir, I have been on a charitable errand. After hearing that an unfortunate ex-soldier who has been discharged without a pension has taken residence in the old cottage in the wood, I have taken him some wholesome food.’

  ‘Really?’ His eyes gleamed with a sudden interest. ‘Er, what sort of man is he, this ex-soldier?’

  Lucy forced some lightness into her voice. ‘Exactly what you would expect an ex-soldier to be – a capable but disillusioned man struggling to put his life back together.’

  ‘Indeed?’ His eyebrows rose perceptibly. ‘But what class of man? One similar to myself, would you say?’

  Lucy regarded him coolly. ‘Oh, no, sir. A little lower than you. More like your groom, I would say.’

  His lips tightened. Lucy might have smiled if she hadn’t felt so tense. As suspected, he had no sense of humour.

  ‘How many men are there?’ he asked sharply.

  Lucy injected a tone of surprise into her voice. ‘Only one man is there,’ she replied carefully.

  He looked at her appraisingly, as if weighing up her answers. It took all of Lucy’s nerve not to wilt under his hostile glare.

  ‘And where are you going now?’

  ‘That, sir, is none of your business. But, as it happens, I am going home.’ She hoped she had given Staines enough time to get back to the cottage and dismantle the parallel bars and whatever other actions he needed to do to erase any evidence of Lord Rockhaven’s recent presence there. ‘Good day to you, sir.’ She nodded her head curtly in his direction before abruptly resuming her driving seat. ‘Giddy-up, Maud!’

  Her hands were shaking as she flicked the reins – indeed her whole body was shaking. Her skin felt as if a thousand pins were being pricked into it and she knew without doubt that the man was still watching her departure. However, she refused to give him any sense of satisfaction by looking over her shoulder. The longer he delayed moving on the better! She only wished she might have been able to witness his disappointment when he saw the man in question wasn’t his cousin.

  Lucy returned the pony and gig to the stables and hurried inside, knowing that she had spent more time away than she usually did. What a blessing it was that this had happened whilst Marissa and her family were away. Her longer absence would not have escaped her sister’s notice and she would have been compelled to explain the reason. Fortunately, Cook was readily side-tracked with Lucy’s volunteered information of how the villagers appreciated her culinary gifts and she affably bade Lucy to get up those stairs and change for dinner.

  Lucy spent an anxious evening. It infuriated her to know that if she were a man, she could creep back through the wood to see what was happening and maybe be of assistance if Lieutenant Potterill did indeed have the evil intentions Lord Rockhaven suspected of him. She blew out her candle and kneeled on the window seat at her open bedroom window, staring into the darkness towards the small woodland. She listened intently through the still night air and heard an owl hooting in the distance, but nothing more. What was happening out there? Was Theo safe?

  She let his given name swirl around in her thoughts … it suddenly seemed so natural to think of him as such. Her heart was in turmoil over him. How could she have changed in such a short time? She recalled the old dowager countess asking, ‘Would you marry him, Miss Templeton?’ and her heartfelt answer of, ‘No, not unless I loved him.’ How impossible that had seemed then!

  But, now? Even though she had seen so little of him, her feelings towards him had dramatically changed. She felt … what was it? A racing excitement when she was with him and the same when he was in her thoughts, but she had little hope that he felt the same. She felt he had built an impenetrable wall around his emotions, but he had held her hand and kissed her palm. Surely that meant he had some feeling towards her? Or was it just gratitude for her assistance?

  Her thoughts sobered and concern about the outcome of the next few hours swept over her. Had Lord Rockhaven’s cousin taken Staines’s word that only he was living at the cottage? Had he driven off? Returned to the Eagle and Child for the night? Would he return the next day to search further? She would have to visit Mrs Boulton again and get her husband to try to find out what Lieutenant Potterill’s plans were. Or had Potterill somehow discovered Lord Rockhaven’s hiding place and was he, even at this moment, lying injured – or worse – alone in the darkness? No, Staines would not have allowed that to happen. He would have given up his life for his master!

  Her breath caught in her throat. What if he had? It would have been two against one, with evil intent an added weapon in Potterill’s hand.

  Oh, how could she just sit here as though nothing were amiss? But she had promised not to return. She bit her lower lip. Did such a promise override her desperate concern for his safety?

  Even now, Lord Rockhaven might be at Lieutenant Potterill’s mercy! But, if that were so, she knew her presence would more than likely make the situation worse. She had to leave it to Lord Rockhaven and Staines. Oh, but it was hard to remain here not knowing!

  ‘Theo … Theo.’ She rolled his name over and over and then whispered aloud, ‘Theo … be safe!’

  She was awake with the lightening sky and waited impatiently until she knew her early appearance wouldn’t cause too much comment. After hurriedly partaking of some breakfast, she changed into her carriage dress once more, hoping that its tears weren’t noticeable and presented herself in the kitchen.

  ‘I must ma
ke a return visit to – to one of the homes I visited yesterday,’ she told Cook, her fingers crossed in the fold of her skirt. Her actual words could be taken as truth but she knew her intent was to mislead and it didn’t sit easily with her. ‘One of the sons is … er … ailing and I promised to return today. Some bread and milk would ease their situation and … er … anything else that can be spared.’

  ‘Now, don’t you be getting too involved, Miss Templeton,’ Cook warned. ‘Charity is one thing, but too much can lead to problems. I’m sure your sister didn’t intend you to spend quite so much time visiting the village, nor should you be visiting this early. Tell me who it is and I’ll send Nora with one of the grooms.’

  ‘Oh, I’m quite happy doing what I’m doing,’ Lucy assured her. ‘I would be riding that way anyway and I’m sure my sister would approve.’ If ever I am able to tell her, she added silently.

  Cook shook her head doubtfully, but she had already organized her staff to cover certain tasks that day. Eeh, and what would be the harm? She doubted Mrs Cunningham would be interested in the fine details of Miss Templeton’s activities as long as no scandal was attached to them. And charitable giving was the good Lord’s command, wasn’t it? So, she set to and made up a basket of food suitable for an invalid.

  Lucy hurried to the stables. As requested on her return the previous day, Maud was already harnessed to the gig and Lucy was able to set off to discover what, if anything, had happened overnight. She knew Wellington would enjoy a run but decided his behaviour was too unpredictable and his presence could be a liability. She must get Theo to show Bertie how to discipline him more effectively … if only he was still safe!

  She turned into the track towards the cottage, her heart beating rapidly. What if Lieutenant Potterill were still here? Even the parcel of food would be a poor excuse for such an early visit.

  She need not have worried. When she reached the place where she could see the outline of the cottage faintly through the trees to her left and where the narrower track into the wood went straight ahead, all seemed quiet. At the same moment, she heard a dog barking in the distance ahead. That meant Theo must still be in the children’s den. Was Staines with him? He must be as he or the second dog would surely have heard her approach if they were in one of the outbuildings. As she urged Maud to proceed forward carefully, Bruno burst out of the bushes and bounded towards her, still barking and baring his teeth.

  Her heart almost froze with fear at the sight of him. He was a large dog and, right at this moment, seemed ferociously powerful. He was more than capable of leaping up at her on the driving seat of the gig if he so wished. She reined Maud to a standstill and said tremulously, ‘Good dog, Bruno! I’m a friend, remember!’

  He put his front paws upon the edge of the seat and thrust his muzzle at her, still growling, though not as fiercely as a few moments ago. It took all Lucy’s self-control not to jerk herself away. ‘Good dog!’ she repeated and hesitantly held out her hand for him to sniff. ‘Good dog. Do you remember me? Where’s your master? Is he all right?’

  She knew he couldn’t understand her words but, from what she had witnessed the previous day, he was an intelligent dog and would sense that she was no threat to him and his master. He seemed to do so. His tongue hung from his mouth as he panted no more than a few inches from her face.

  ‘Where’s your master?’ she repeated. ‘Find him! Find Theo!’ He must still be in the den, she reckoned, since she was sure Bruno would have stayed with his master until he heard or sensed her approach. But why hadn’t Staines taken Theo back to the cottage? Was he at the den with his master? Her anxiety increased. She glanced towards the cottage. It was the nearer of the two but her main concern was to see if Bruno would lead her to Theo.

  She remembered the command Theo had given him the previous day. ‘Patrol!’ she said sharply and pointed deeper into the wood. To make her own intentions clear, she flicked her reins to tell Maud to move on and, as the gig moved forward, Bruno dropped back to the ground and barked at her.

  ‘Go on! Find!’ she commanded. Bruno bounded off in the direction of the den and Lucy guided Maud more slowly behind. The undergrowth was getting thicker and the ground softer. Lucy knew she couldn’t get the gig much closer. Maud was already finding it difficult to pull the gig forward and Lucy decided to stop whilst she could still turn the gig around. She pulled on the reins and jumped down and then led Maud in a circular path so that she was facing back the way she had come, thankful that it was easier to move the gig without her weight in it. She tethered the reins to a low bush and then looked around.

  Bruno was watching her, his body ready to move on.

  ‘Go on. I’m coming.’

  She lifted up the hem of her skirt and began to work her way through the bushes and undergrowth. Bruno bounded ahead and she could hear him not far in front of her. The tone of his bark had changed and she wasn’t all that surprised when she came upon the fallen figure of Lord Rockhaven.

  ‘Oh, no!’ She ran forward and dropped at his side. She could tell that he had been pulling himself along the ground but, although he looked dishevelled and grimy, he didn’t seem to have been harmed in any way. His face was grim with pain and anxiety.

  ‘I thought it must be you coming,’ he said tersely without preamble. ‘I hoped it was, anyway. Can you help me to get up?’

  ‘I’ll try.’ She stood up and leaned over him, wondering which part of him to seize hold of. ‘Are you all right? What happened? Why didn’t you wait for Staines to come for you?’

  Bruno began to lick his master’s face. Theo pushed him away and then pushed himself up so that his upper body was clear of the ground. He tried to tuck his left leg under him so that he could prise himself upwards, grunting as he did so, ‘I fear for Staines’s wellbeing and that of my other dog, Solomon.’ Perspiration ran down his face but the effort was beyond his capabilities and he sank back to the ground. ‘Help me roll over,’ he commanded. When he was lying on his back he added, ‘They would have been here by now if either were capable of doing so. Here! Try to haul me to my feet.’ He held out his left hand but Lucy was unable to haul him up, no matter how she stooped and braced herself.

  ‘These blasted legs of mine!’ he cursed in fury. ‘I’m useless!’

  ‘Shall I go to the cottage to see what’s happening there?’ Lucy asked hesitantly. She was doubtful she would find Staines and Solomon in fine health.

  Lord Rockhaven obviously had the same thought. ‘No!’ he said sharply. ‘I’ll get up somehow.’

  ‘Where’s your wheelchair?’

  Theo let himself sag back into a sitting position. ‘Back there. I tried to hold on to it but the ground is too soft. When it fell over, I decided to try to pull myself along the ground but I haven’t made much headway.’

  ‘Right! Stay there! I’ll go and get it. We might be able to make use of it between us.’

  Lucy darted into the bushes and came upon the wheelchair about 200 yards back, not far from the den. She righted it and then tugged it backwards to where Lord Rockhaven was waiting. She marvelled that he had got so far crawling along the ground. No wonder his clothes and hands were in such a filthy state.

  ‘Now, all we have to do is get you upright and holding on to the chair,’ Lucy said optimistically.

  That was easier said than done. There was no way Lord Rockhaven could pull himself upright, even with the help of the chair, not even with Lucy sitting in it to give it stability. Perspiration ran down his face.

  ‘It’s futile!’ he ground out between his teeth. ‘You’ll have to leave me here and go and see what has happened to Staines. I’m sure no one is there or Bruno would be letting us know.’

  Lucy didn’t want to leave him. He was so vulnerable on the ground.

  ‘One more try,’ she said, casting her eyes around. ‘I know! If you can crawl to that tree and somehow pull yourself up by it, I can get the chair behind you. It’s not far from the path and I’m sure I could pull you along there as f
ar as my gig.’

  It wasn’t easy and, by the time Theo was able to drop back into the chair, his hands were badly lacerated from dragging himself up the tree trunk with them taking his weight. Pulling him backwards in the chair over the soft woodland floor was hampered by Lucy stepping on to her skirt each time she took a step back.

  ‘I’ll have to take it off!’ she cried in despair. ‘Otherwise, we’ll be all day.’

  Theo hated the position he was in. It was bad enough when Staines was wheeling him about but this was far more degrading – yet this courageous girl hadn’t uttered a word of complaint. She amazed him! He didn’t know her exact position in life, but he knew she was no country village girl. Her hands were too soft and her language too genteel. Nor could she be of his social class. Most women he knew would be horrified by his disfigurement and his inability to even get to his feet. Yet Lucy Templeton just got on with it, almost as if his crippled state was the natural way to be. She was even prepared to disrobe herself in order to get on with the task in hand. He wished more men in his company had been half as resourceful.

  ‘You don’t have to do that,’ he said aloud. He twisted around to look up into her flushed face. Lord, she was beautiful! ‘I’m sure you won’t take this amiss, but the women who followed the army used to somehow tuck their skirts up out of the way. I don’t want to sound indelicate, but if you push the front of your skirt back through your legs and pull the back part forwards, you should be able to tuck the end in at your waist. That will keep it clear of the ground.’

  Lucy felt her face flush, but he was right: it was no time to be delicate or missish. She let go of the handles of the chair and tried what he had suggested.

  ‘Like this?’ she asked eventually, stepping forward.

  He nodded. ‘Exactly like that.’