by Janet Woods
Vivienne’s blood chilled. Surely they wouldn’t kill her?
‘I won’t be involved in this anymore. Leave them here and get in the carriage,’ Freddie said.
‘Oh, do find some guts. Whatever she says to the contrary, I have it from a reliable source that she’s worth a fortune.’
‘It’s stopped being funny. A fright is one thing, an elopement with the lady’s consent is acceptable, but a forced abduction with such threatening behaviour is ungentlemanly as well as criminal. This is a respectable young woman and the whole prank has become too risky. I’m going back to London and you’re coming with me. If you refuse I’ll …’
‘You’ll what?’
‘I swear I’ll turn you in if you don’t. I want to get back for the Almack’s dance. It’s my first invitation and recognition of my title. If I queer my pitch I’ll never hear the last of it from—’ Freddie stopped abruptly, as if aware he was about to say too much, and he began to pull the horse’s head round.
Simon swore.
When he got the carriage pointed back towards town, Freddie asked politely, as though taking his leave from Aunt Edwina’s social gathering, ‘Are you young ladies unharmed?’
Apart from a sore head and a bloody nose. And Maria was conscious; Vivienne could hear the maid retching. Her own anger was as hot as a fire raging at her core. ‘With no thanks to you … tell your friend to unhand me,’ she thrust at him.
It became obvious that Freddie wasn’t going to be much help if things got worse.
After being used to the gas lamps that illuminated the smarter parts of London, the countryside seemed sinister and saturated by the thick darkness. If she found the opportunity to escape into it, the advantage would be hers, for she knew the lie of the land.
‘I’m sure he’ll do as you ask if you’ll just calm down. If you struggle it will inflame him.’
‘Calm down! Inflame him! If I had a gun I’d blow your stupid heads off, you dolts.’
Frederick’s voice went a notch higher, though he tried, too late, to disguise it. ‘I implore you, Miss … nothing more should be said lest the reaction causes harm to yourself. There has been no harm done yet … apart from a fright. I’ll make sure you receive a sum of money to compensate.’ His voice was nervously reasonable, placating, as if he’d just realized the seriousness of the situation, but was too cowardly to intervene physically. He did his best.
To Simon he said, almost begging, ‘Get in the carriage at once, sir, else our friendship is at an end. Admit we made a mull of it and the jape has become a bag of moonshine. You’re too boozy to think straight.’
Simon was still reluctant to let her go; he had his arm around her neck in a firm, choking grip. Vivienne’s breath came in painful rasps.
‘Not boozy enough … pass down the bottle and I’ll pour some brandy down the woman’s throat, it might loosen her up a bit.’
Vivienne was wearing a stout pair of boots, and since Simon was finding it difficult to follow Freddie’s instructions she made them clear to him. She kicked back with her foot and heeled him in the shin.
He yelped and hopped about on one leg, curses flying from his mouth like flies from a piece of rotting meat. It would have been laughable were she not acutely aware of the danger she was in. ‘Now will you unhand me?’
She was about to run when Simon recovered enough to reach her, giving her a stinging slap across the face that cut her lip. Grabbing her by her travelling cape he jerked her back towards him when she tried to run. ‘Not so fast, lady, I’m not letting you go without finding what you’re made of first.’
Her temper exploded and she swung round. ‘This is what I’m made of, you poor excuse for a … a toad!’ She made good use of her knee, bringing it up sharp, high and hard.
Simon howled and then doubled over and began to retch, gasping out, ‘You rancid little bitch … you’ll be sorry … for this.’
‘I doubt it.’ She whacked him behind the knees with a stick she’d snatched up, and he fell to the ground. For good measure she called out to Freddie, ‘Give me a minute or two to find my companion and get away, then come down and assist this lout. Be careful, sir, because I have a stout stick.’
Freddie was so frightened he almost bleated. ‘You won’t need to use it on me.’
She located her travelling bag and threw it over the wall into the church grounds. It would only hamper them, and she could collect it later. ‘Maria,’ she called out softly.
There was a frightened, warbling response. ‘I’m here, Miss.’
Vivienne was relieved when her maid came creeping through the church gate. Taking her by the hand, Vivienne whispered, ‘Are you able to run?’
‘Like a lizard with six legs.’
‘Then let’s run.’
Fuelled by panic they began to run to put some space between themselves and their pursuers. After a while they were forced to slow to a walk and eventually stopped, out of breath, trembling and leaning on each other for support. Their harsh breaths and rapid heartbeats began to slow.
There was no sound or sign that the carriage was following after them. The stars spread across the dark velvety sky, peaceful and lovely. She was glad there was no moon because if she couldn’t see their assailants then they couldn’t see her. Her mind sifted and identified what sound there was … the wind soughing in the canopy of trees, a hedgehog scratching in the leaves. An owl hooted, making them jump.
Maria whimpered. Usually calm and collected, her maid had allowed her panic to come to the fore again. Vivienne couldn’t blame her, for her own nerves were almost at breaking point.
‘I’m scared, Miss.’
‘Shush!’ Vivienne gazed into the darkness they’d left behind them, the blood pounding inside her ears as she strained for a sound. The wind was fitful and played games. Leaves rustled and there was a furtive, creeping sound in the darkness. A stick snapped and her ears pricked when a fox barked. All the sounds were familiar to her, though the night had changed them from friend into foe.
‘It’s all right, Maria … they didn’t follow us.’
Maria’s tension was relieved in a burst of weeping. Vivienne did her best to comfort the girl, taking her in her arms, hugging her tight and speaking soothing words. Maria’s body was wracked with tremors.
She was aware that the safety of her father’s house was within reach, and had it been daytime she would have glimpsed the orange chimney pots above the trees, where the road wound upwards. In the dark it now seemed so far.
When Maria’s tears lessened and she took a long, shuddering sniff, Vivienne whispered, ‘Have you caught your breath, Maria? We must keep moving, it’s not much further.’
The realization that the immediate danger no longer existed caused the tension to drain from her so suddenly that it left her fatigued. Yet there was enough of it left to warn her – to advise her to be cautious. They were not out of danger yet, and every night sound seemed to carry menace on its back.
They began to walk, treading lightly, their arms around each other’s waists in mutual support, and stopping at intervals to rest. Two miles had never seemed so far.
But blessing upon blessings, eventually they were there. The gate squeaked open and she gave a shaky smile. Her father hadn’t remembered to oil the hinges yet. When she placed her eyes against the coloured glass panels set in the front door she could see a small flickering light at the back of the house. Her father was a light sleeper and would be in the kitchen helping himself to a piece of bread and butter and a glass of milk, as he often did if hunger woke him at night.
When she rapped at the door it sounded loud and made her jump.
The light moved as he came into the hall. ‘Who is it? State your business at this time of morning?’
‘It’s me, Papa … Vivienne,’ she said, close to tears.
‘Vivienne? You’re in London so how can you be on my doorstep? It is you, isn’t it?’ He sounded totally bewildered.
‘Oh Pa … of course it’s
me. Let me in.’
The light began its wavering journey again, and stopped so the spirit lamp on the hall table could be lit. Light flared.
Her father was still fully clothed, so he must have been called out to one of the parishioners earlier. Bolts were pulled back, the door opened. They nearly fell through it.
Her father’s eyes were wide with surprise. ‘Vivienne … what is going on? Does your aunt know you are here, and who is this young lady?’
‘My maid, Maria.’
‘I didn’t know you had a maid. You’re exceedingly dishevelled, and there’s blood on you.’ Alarm filled his voice. ‘Are you injured? What has happened? Tell me.’
Half-laughing and half-crying at the sight of his dear face, she said, ‘I will if you will just take a breath and hold it long enough for me to answer. As to the first, yes … my aunt should know by now, since I left her a note. Secondly, this young woman has just been hired to be my maid and my companion, which is why you didn’t know about her. As to what happened … we were attacked on the road.’
‘Attacked? What on earth were you doing on the road at this time of morning? I don’t understand.’
‘I received a note saying you’d had an accident and I dropped everything and bought a ticket on the next coach to Maidstone. Obviously, it was somebody’s idea of fun. I was so worried about you, Papa, and I’m so relieved to find you hale and hearty. But it was done for a purpose, Papa … and that purpose was to abduct me for my supposed fortune, or to blacken my name in the attempt.’
‘Oh … my poor Vivienne. I knew that concealing the legacy would do you more harm than good.’
‘And you were right, for it attracted the wrong men, and this is the outcome. There were no cabs available at the coach station, so we decided to walk.’ She began to cry, and so did Maria.
‘There, there, my dears. You must be tired out. We will all go to bed and pursue the matter in the morning when you will be less prone to stress. Here, you take the candle, Vivienne, and I’ll use the lamp. Take the kettle up with you so you can wash the blood and dirt from your faces and I’ll bring you some milk to help you sleep.’
Vivienne rifled through her chest of drawers and found them a nightgown apiece. The bed would be big enough for both of them.
Her father knocked and said against the door panel, ‘Your milk is on the table outside. Goodnight, my dears. We will sort things out tomorrow, I promise. We have your reputation to think of, Vivienne, and must avoid a scandal at all cost.’
Her reputation … avoid a scandal? The only scandal from this sorry affair was attached to those two louts who’d attacked them – and she was going to make sure justice was done.
She didn’t know how to bring it about, and if she hadn’t been in bed she would have stamped her foot.
It would have to wait until morning, she thought, as she fell into oblivion.
Thirteen
Mrs Goodman opened the door when Alex knocked. She looked frustrated.
‘Have I come at an inconvenient time?’
‘Do come in, My Lord … we’re in such a pickle. That ungrateful girl has taken the maid and left us without a word. I’ve sent the manservant to the agency to see if they can provide us with another maid. Do join Lord Frederick in the drawing room,’ and she ushered him inside.
‘Was the ungrateful girl you mentioned in reference to Miss Fox?’
‘It certainly was. She left, leaving a note for me to pay her debts off.’
Unease filled him. Something like that was out of character for the Vivienne he knew. ‘Without saying why?’
‘She used family illness as an excuse … but we’ve all heard that convenient explanation before. She’s just jealous over Adelaide’s betrothal and is being spiteful. And this morning a gown arrived that hadn’t been paid for and I had to make good for it. Goodness knows how Vivienne got it into her head that she could afford such an expensive gown.’
Adelaide paraded in it. ‘This is the gown, My Lord, isn’t it pretty?’
‘It’s a lovely gown,’ he said, but he was thinking, what was merely pretty on Adelaide would be exquisite on Vivienne.
‘I borrowed Vivienne’s pearl and jade necklace and earrings. They used to belong to her mother.’
There was nothing admirable about Adelaide Goodman; she was as shallow and tedious as her mother. He felt a sneaking pity for Frederick, who looked a bit down in the mouth.
But Mrs Goodman had taken the floor again. ‘I was shocked by the cost of the gown. Luckily it fits Adelaide so she shall have it. All that money spent to impress the doyens of Almack’s … as if Vivienne could with her unremarkable looks. One could almost suppose she absconded on purpose, and out of spite, taking the maid with her … ingrate that she is, and with no skills to speak of. She’ll get no reference from me. It’s so inconvenient having to train a new maid this late in the season.’ She offered Freddie a fond look. ‘Thank goodness Adelaide is so well matched – such a dear boy.’
Frederick looked uncomfortable, as if he had his head in a noose.
‘Now … I must go to the landing and keep a lookout for those sly creatures in case they come skulking back.’
Adelaide picked up from where her mother finished, offering him a secretive look. ‘Perhaps the gown was to impress you with, My Lord? I went into her room to look for a note and found a journal in which she’d written comments on all the men she’d met. She was terribly rude about Freddie, and scathing about poor Mr Mortimer, and after he offered her marriage, too.’ Taking the journal from the table, she handed it to him. ‘I imagine you’ll run a mile after you read what she says about you … especially since she’s turned her nose up at your invitation to Almack’s social, and without a word of apology. Her comments are personal and unflattering, and although Mama doesn’t think so, they are also funny. Freddie … you thought them funny, even though she was rude calling you a lap dog that would turn into a terrier once the novelty of being married had worn thin.’
Alex tried not to grin at the aptness of the description. Vivienne would have had a good reason for making personal comments, no doubt, but they were private to her. For that reason he would not read them. He imagined they were a comment on the situation she found herself in. ‘I find myself appalled that you should publish her comments.’
Adelaide flushed. ‘Oh … it’s just a bit of fun, and you’re such a fuddy-duddy, My Lord.’ She offered her fiancé a possessive smile. ‘Freddie thought you might like to take Sophia Mortimer to Almack’s instead of Miss Fox, and so you won’t be inconvenienced he’s sent a message for her to ready herself.’
Had he indeed? ‘That was presumptuous of him.’
‘And here’s a note for you from Vivienne.’
Freddie avoided his eyes when Adelaide handed over the note. It stated that Vivienne’s father had suffered an accident and she must go home as quickly as possible. The last paragraph touched his heart.
Alex, I’ve been so looking forward to your company at Almack’s, and I’m sorry our friendship has been cut short so abruptly. Enjoy the rest of your stay in London. Perhaps we will meet again in your beautiful Dorset.
My good and true friend, I will miss you.
Vivienne.
There came a tap on the door and Sophia entered, wearing something pink and diaphanous that nearly robbed Alex of breath. She might as well have been naked. Frederick’s mouth fell open. She smiled at him, totally aware of her impact. ‘Good afternoon, Freddie.’ For Alex she reserved a curtsey, her shoulders artfully positioned to offer a tantalizing view of her bosom. ‘Good afternoon, My Lord.’
‘Miss Mortimer.’
Frederick stood. ‘Where is Simon, Sophia? I rather wanted to talk to him.’
‘He can hardly walk, and he doesn’t want anyone to see the scratches on his face. He said he fell from his horse into a bramble patch, though I don’t know where he’d find a bramble patch in London. He looks as though a savage cat had scratched him. What did you and he get
up to on Monday night, Freddie, you rascals? You both arrived back late last night and my brother has been in a foul mood ever since.’
Frederick looked uneasy. ‘Nothing of much consequence.’
Sophia seemed to notice Adelaide for the first time. ‘Good heavens, your toilette doesn’t seem to be complete yet.’
‘I no longer have a maid, she has run off with my cousin,’ Adelaide said sulkily, then she smiled, and it was pure malice. ‘Sophia … do you remember telling me that you were a maid before you and your brother came into your money? You can arrange it for me.’
Sophia glared at Adelaide and said, ‘I told you no such thing. I used to design gowns. However, I daresay I can arrange a simple style for your hair.’
Alex wouldn’t like to wager on the outcome of that hairstyle when it was obvious that the two women disliked the sight of each other. Something was not quite right here and he was beginning to put two-and-two together. He didn’t like the answers.
He was pleased when the two women left the room, and he turned to Freddie. ‘Has Simon Mortimer been bothering Miss Fox?’
‘How did you find out? Oh, I see,’ he exclaimed when Alex frowned, ‘it was a guess.’
‘Actually, it’s more of a deduction. Facts: Miss Fox isn’t here. Mrs Goodman is in a flap and Simon Mortimer won’t show his face. Do you want me to repeat the question?’
‘I’m sure she wasn’t badly hurt.’
‘What do you mean by that … where is Miss Fox?’
‘No harm was intended, and though she was roughed up a little, none was done – at least, I don’t think so. Simon was angry because she’d dismissed his petition out of hand.’
Alex fisted him by the jacket and drew him close. ‘Miss Fox said she received a note to attend her father in Maidstone because he’d been taken ill, I understand. Was that a genuine note?’
Colour flooded the other man’s face and his voice squeaked. ‘Simon wrote it. He was convinced Miss Fox had inherited a fortune, and was determined to have it. You know Simon is running a book on it? He’d been drinking blood and thunder all night and the effect was to bring his temper to the surface.’