My Restless Earl

by Rose Pearson

  “Jessica!”

  Major Ridding was at her horse’s heels, his stallion clearly stronger and faster than her mare. He rode ahead of her before turning his horse to cross her path, forcing the mare to stop dead.

  Jessica stared at him, seeing the grin on his face as he slowly began to approach her. Her heart was hammering wildly in her chest, completely at a loss as to what to do. She tried desperately to think of a plan, a way to move past him and out of his reach, but there was nothing but wide open fields on one side and the copse of trees on the other. His horse was faster than hers and he was clearly the better rider. If she tried to run, he would catch her within minutes and Jessica did not want to think what he might do to her should he manage to do so. There was no-one else around, and there was very little likelihood that someone else would find them. He could do as he wished to her, using his strength to hold her down, and she would not be able to do anything to stop him.

  Then she would fight him with everything she had until she had no strength left. She would do all she could to escape from him, all she could to prevent him from making her his own by force. Jessica lifted her chin, pushing her fear away. There was more to her than he knew.

  “Major Ridding, leave me be,” she demanded, determined not to show even the slightest modicum of fear even though her words fell from her mouth in a jumbled mess. “I will not go with you. Get a hold of yourself!”

  He chuckled, riding a little closer to her but she moved her mare at once, dancing just out of reach, moving ever closer to the trees.

  “You know I will get you in the end, Lady Jessica. I simply must have you.”

  The look in his eyes made her pause, a shiver creeping up her spine. “You do not get to dictate my life, Major Ridding. You may have tried your best to have me fall for your charms, but you have failed.”

  He shrugged, his eyes still gleaming with a strange light. “That does not matter now. I will have you as my bride regardless of whether you think me good enough or not.”

  Lunging for her, Jessica screamed and managed to dodge out of the way, her heels digging into the mare’s side. The mare charged further towards the trees, startled by Jessica’s scream and it was all Jessica could do to keep her seat.

  The stallion came after them in a moment, as Jessica turned her horse back in the direction she had come. Wrapping the reins around her wrists, she held them tightly and tried to direct her horse back towards the estate, thinking it was the only place she might find someone to help her.

  But it was too late.

  Major Ridding grabbed at her reins, tugging her arm painfully. Too late, she realised just how foolish she had been, her arm pulled towards Major Ridding. A bolt of fear ran straight through her, and she desperately tried to untangle herself only for the reins to tighten, cutting into her arm painfully. Her shoulder screamed in agony as she tried to pull herself away from Major Ridding, feeling as though she was about to come completely apart and forced to stop her struggles.

  “Whoa,” he murmured, gently bringing both horses to a stop. “Well, well. It seems I have captured you, Lady Jessica. How about it?”

  “I will not go with you,” Jessica whispered, her chin trembling as she lifted it in defiance.

  Major Ridding chuckled, his hands tightening on the reins as he pulled her all the closer. “I do not believe you have a choice, Lady Jessica. It now appears that you are entirely at my mercy….which is just how I like it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  George was a little later than he had intended, mostly since his valet had insisted on taking a great deal of time in preparing George for the event. His mask now firmly in place, he hurried inside and greeted his hosts, apologising for the lateness of his note of acceptance.

  “Not in the least, Lord Warwick,” Lady Ridgley replied, her eyes glowing. “To have such an eligible young gentleman at our ball is quite wonderful, especially when you have only just taken on such a role.”

  “We were sorry to hear of the loss of your brother,” Lord Ridgley interrupted, shooting a sharp look at his wife. “That must have been something of a trial.”

  George tried to focus on his hosts, resisting the urge to simply ignore the question and go in search of Lady Jessica. “Yes, it was a great loss to me,” he said, quietly. “I do thank you for your sympathy and for your consideration.” Seeing another latecomer behind him, George took the opportunity to excuse himself and moved into the ballroom, wondering how he was meant to discover which of the masked guests was Lady Jessica.

  A masked ball made it more than a little difficult to recognize any of the guests, although George had chosen a rather simple mask of his own, determined that he should not hide himself away from Lady Jessica. He wanted her to recognize him, even if he would not be able to recognize her so easily! That alone might be enough for her to get to talk to him, enough for him to find Major Ridding and confront him about what he had done.

  His eyes scanned the crowd, aware that the crush of guests was making it more difficult than ever to even try to guess which of the masked guests Lady Jessica would be.

  A peacock feather caught his eye. It was moving through the crowd, attached to a rather lovely mask of other bird feathers – and the lady beneath it was being half dragged along by another gentleman. A gentleman wearing military colours.

  George’s heart sank like a stone. Major Ridding had got Lady Jessica in his grasp and, from the direction in which he was heading, intended to take her outside. Lady Jessica did not seem to be going all that willingly, her head twisting this way and that in search of someone – most likely her sisters – but Major Ridding was quite determined. He half pulled her through the crowd, his hands tightening on her arm until, finally, they disappeared through the French doors and out onto the terrace.

  George moved at once, desperate to go after her and save her from whatever Major Ridding was intending. It was quite clear to him that Major Ridding was quite determined to have Lady Jessica in one way or another, even if the lady was as unwilling as she appeared. That did not seem to matter to the man, for what kind of gentleman would force a lady to go out with him onto the terrace when she did not want to? What kind of gentleman would grasp her arm so tightly and so publicly?

  “Lord Warwick?”

  He stopped dead, turning to see two other ladies approach him, both with masks covering their faces.

  “Lady Harmonia,” one said, bobbing a curtsy. “Your mask is not particularly large, so I was easily able to recognise you.”

  “Are you here to speak to Jessica?” Lady Jacintha asked, her eyes bright behind her mask. “She has been most upset. I – ”

  “Major Ridding has done a great deal of damage,” George interrupted, speaking quietly. “He has does his utmost to put myself and your sister at odds with one another and has managed to do so.”

  Lady Harmonia gasped, her hand at her mouth. “Where is she? She was dancing with Major Ridding but I am sure if she knows you are here – ”

  “He took her out to the terrace,” George murmured, putting a calming hand on Lady Harmonia’s arm. “Remain here. I will go in search of her and will return with her safely, I assure you. Or, if we are unable to return, I will send a message.”

  Lady Harmonia paused for a moment, collecting herself, before nodding. “Very good, Lord Warwick. I thank you for your attention to my sister.”

  “Bring her back safely,” Lady Jacintha added, her cheeks a little paler than before. “I can hardly believe that Major Ridding would do such a thing.”

  Thinking that he had already lost more time that he ought, George excused himself and began to make his way through the crowd of guests once more. Unfortunately, his thought of wearing a rather poor disguise meant that a great many acquaintances wished to greet him and, being quite unable to ignore them without drawing attention to himself and his true intentions, George was forced to greet them politely, smile and, after a few moments, excuse himself.

  It seemed an age before he
reached the terrace, stepping outside into the cool night air. Looking all about him, he could see no sign of Lady Jessica or Major Ridding, even though the gardens were lit with a few soft lanterns and the moon shone brightly in the dark night sky. He paused and listened hard, hoping he might hear the sound of voices, but nothing came to his ears.

  Hurrying down the steps, he walked along the garden paths, hoping he might come across one or both of them. The only sound was his footsteps on the gravel path, walking further into the grounds until he stumbled over something.

  Narrowing his eyes, he bent down and touched what appeared to be a soft feather. With horror, he realised that it was none other than Lady Jessica’s mask, evidently discarded without thought.

  “What are you doing, Major Ridding?” he muttered, hurrying his steps towards the small building in the distance.

  “Ho! You there!”

  A man stepped out from the stables, scratching his head. A groomsman, if George recognised rightly.

  “Sir,” the man muttered, bowing. “What can I do for you?”

  “Lord Warwick,” George said, explaining who he was. “I am looking for a friend of mine.”

  “Are you sure he ain’t in the gardens?” the groomsman asked, with a slight lift of his eyebrow.

  George shook his head, not caring whether or not he would ruin Major Ridding’s reputation. “He was out here with another friend of mine but they are not in the gardens anywhere. I believe he may have done something untoward – taken the lady somewhere against her will.”

  The groomsman nodded, slowly. “I was just putting this mare away when I was called to help with a coach,” he began, gesturing back in towards the stables. “When I came back, not only the mare had gone but one of the stallions as well. I’m not sure Lord Ridgley will be very pleased to know it has been taken without his consent, mind you.”

  His heart jumped in his chest. “Do you have any idea where they might have gone?”

  The groomsman paused for a moment, before giving a slight shrug. “The path to the fields leads just out to the left, but I’ve not seen any sign of your friends, I’m afraid.”

  George let out a long breath, hope and despair mounting in his heart, twining themselves together in equal measure. “I must go out in search of them. Might you have another horse to hand? I am quite sure Lord Ridgley would not mind and, if there is any trouble, I shall explain all to him.”

  The groom nodded and led the way into the stables. “Right this way, m’lord.”

  Within minutes, George was riding out into the fields, the horse strong and fast as they galloped into the open pastures. There was nothing for him to see, however. There were no horses out riding together, no sounds of shouting coming from someone afar off. All he could see were shadows, some tall spindly trees reaching their long fingers up into the dark sky.

  “Wait,” he murmured, drawing his horse to a stop. He paused for a long moment, straining to hear something, anything that would tell him where Lady Jessica was.

  A scream.

  Then another.

  It was faint but clear, his heart thundering wildly as he pressed his heels into the sides of his horse’s flanks, pushing him towards the sound.

  He did not want to think what Major Ridding was doing to Lady Jessica, a vision of her beautiful face coming into his mind.

  “If he touches her, I’ll kill him with my bare hands,” he said to the wind, as he continued to ride, hard, across the fields.

  Finally, he saw them, half hidden by the trees. Major Ridding was reaching for Jessica, but she managed to push him away, only for him to then grasp her reins and, for some reason, Jessica was jerked sideways. He was trying his best to pull her onto his horse, using whatever force he had to in order to do it. Lady Jessica was crying out, clearly in pain as she fought to keep her seat, her arm still pulled towards Major Ridding.

  “Stop!”

  Frantic over Lady Jessica’s safety, George did not pause but rode as fast as he could towards Major Ridding, seeing the relief in Jessica’s eyes as she looked up at him. Her face was contorted with pain as Major Ridding tugged harder at the reins, and George realised her arm was trapped.

  “Ridding, what on earth do you think you’re doing?” George exclaimed, completely confused as to why Major Ridding was acting in such a fashion. “You’re hurting her! Stop this at once!”

  Major Ridding growled, his free hand reaching and pulling out his sword, which he held aloft. George put up one hand in defence, his eyes on Lady Jessica who was gasping in fright. Now Major Ridding had both his reins and Lady Jessica’s reins in one hand and was waving his sword about with the other. It was both menacing and terrifying, making George worry about Lady Jessica’s safety. George did the only thing he could think of, riding close to a nearby tree and snapping off a large branch which he held out in return. He would not be without a weapon.

  “You were never meant to be here,” Major Ridding snarled, his eyes piercing through George, shaking his head mockingly at the branch in George’s hand. “You were meant to stay away.”

  “I wanted to talk to Lady Jessica one last time, to ask her why she had rejected me so cruelly,” George said, simply. “But I discovered that it was not her doing that had separated us, Ridding. I discovered that it was you.”

  Major Ridding snorted, shaking his head. “You have no need of a rich wife, Warwick. You can have your pick of any eligible young lady!”

  “A rich wife?” George repeated, moving his horse a little closer to Lady Jessica. “I love Jessica. That is why I wish to marry her. Wealth has nothing to do with it.”

  “Well, it does for me!” Major Ridding exclaimed, his voice echoing across the fields. “I need her. I need her dowry. As second oldest daughter, she will come with the most wealth!”

  George froze in his seat, staring at Major Ridding in horror. This was not the man he knew, not the officer who had done so much in the army.

  “You need my money?” Lady Jessica whispered, glancing over at George before turning back to Major Ridding. “Why?”

  Major Ridding’s lip curled. “It appears my steward is not as honest as I had thought,” he replied, sullenly. “My cousin and he came together to steal from me and now they are both gone from my house. I have barely anything left.”

  George shook his head, sadness welling up within him. “Why did you not tell me, Ridding? We were friends, were we not? I could have helped you.”

  “Because I have something called pride,” Major Ridding retorted, pulling Jessica’s horse closer. “I will marry well and nothing need come of my steward’s theft. Life can continue as it has always done.”

  “Except I will not marry you,” Lady Jessica replied, softly. “I love George Warwick. There is no space in my heart for you, Major Ridding.”

  He looked at her for a long moment and George felt a faint hope grow in his heart. Would Major Ridding realise that he was wrong? Would he allow Lady Jessica to leave?

  Major Ridding looked up slowly, a slow, menacing smile crossing his face. “I do not care what either of you want,” he said, calmly. “If you come near Lady Jessica, then it will be all the worse for her. I warn you now.” Waving his sword, which glinted eerily in the moonlight, he made his meaning absolutely clear. “This is over, Warwick.”

  Seeing Lady Jessica slowly begin to try and untangle her wrist from the reins, her face still tugging with pain, George tried his utmost to keep Major Ridding’s attention solely on him.

  “Come now, what has happened to you, Ridding? This is not the Major I know, the one who fought so valiantly and who, on one occasion, fought against three men singlehandedly!” He shook his head, seeing Major Ridding watching him carefully. “The respected soldier I know would not be threatening a lady with a sword,” he continued, seeing Lady Jessica continue to struggle. “Did I not save your own life once? Did we not spent days and nights struggling together, making our way through bogs and marches, leading our troops together? Why now would you turn
your back on me in such a callous manner? Why now would you behave in a way not worthy of a man of your calibre?”

  Lady Jessica shot him a look, shaking her hand free and quickly untangling the reins.

  “Leave Lady Jessica alone,” George shouted, spurring his horse into a gallop, pointing the branch in Major Ridding’s direction.

  Major Ridding, realising that Lady Jessica was now free, had no time to react. He swung his sword around but it was already much too late, for George was right upon him. He swung the branch hard, catching Major Ridding on the side of his head, before knocking into him, bodily. Major Ridding’s horse, startled, reared back, throwing Major Ridding from his seat and landing him firmly into the mud.

  George threw down his branch and looked around for Lady Jessica, seeing her already riding away from them both. It did not take long for his mount to catch up.

  “Jessica!” he exclaimed, as she continued to ride, hard. “Are you all right?”

  “Take me away from here!” she shouted, her face pale in the moonlight. “Take me as far away from Major Ridding as you can.”

  George took her reins, pulling her horse into a canter. “Slowly does it,” he said, reaching over to press her hand. “We will be quite safe now. I saw Major Ridding’s horse ride away. He will not be able to catch us now. You are quite safe.”

  Lady Jessica let out a long breath, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. “I was so afraid,” she whispered, pressing his hand as they rode together. “You came for me.”

  “I couldn’t let you go,” he replied, with a gentle smile. “And if I have my way, I shall never let you go again.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jessica could hardly breathe, her heart pounding so frantically she was forced to gasp for breath. Looking behind her, all she could see was darkness, although Major Ridding’s shouts continued to rend the air.