The Duke's Bride (The Radcliffe Family Book 1)

by Lindsay Downs

  “What about my wife? By now she’ll know something’s amiss,” Jeffrey told him.

  For once, this was good news.

  “Jeffrey, tell your wife what happened and to not say anything, then ask her to help my mother with the family.”

  “I’ll return shortly.”

  Alone with Matthew, he glanced over to him and saw the young man was relaxed with his arms across his chest. What Simon found most interesting was that his cousin hadn’t said a word, which had him wondering why he was keeping his silence.

  Simon waited and watched as Matthew levered himself from the wall, strolled over, and studied the map.

  “Kyle was correct that there isn’t a building where the map shows. It’s several miles away, just off the estate property. By having it there on land he privately owns, no one would ever know it exists. He had me study the area until I found the perfect place for it. Your late father even brought in builders from London so no one associated with the estate would learn of it,” Matthew explained.

  As Simon listened to his cousin, he leaned against the mahogany table and slowly everything became clear to him. Somehow, Justin must have learned of the building, but from whom? Could his father have mentioned the cottage to Justin’s mother so they could secretly continue their tryst. She then told her son as part of her revenge.

  “Can you find it?”

  “Yes. But I don’t need to. I’m sure you’ve seen it. When you turn left onto the main road, it’s about three miles down on the right. You can see it from the road as only part is hidden by the forest.”

  “Oh yes, I know the place. My only question is why I haven’t learned of it before now? Also, does the duchess know of its existence?”

  Simon could tell his cousin was uncomfortable as he started shifting from foot to foot, but he still needed the answers. He waited until Matthew took a sip of whiskey and squared his shoulders.

  “No, to the best of my knowledge, Her Grace doesn’t know about the land or building. Everything was purchased using the names of the people who live there. As for what the late duke did there, I’ve no idea.”

  “Do I own it or not? Also, how do you know all this?”

  “Yes, you do, Simon. When your late father decided to buy the land, he had a codicil drawn up which addresses that particular piece of land. As for why my son knows about it, that’s because I felt compelled to tell him as he’d done the building design,” Jeffrey said as he returned to the office.

  That answered all of the questions Simon had, except for one. Why did his late father want it, and was his mother aware of the cottage?

  “What about my mother?”

  “Believe it or not, the whole thing was her idea. She wanted a retreat where they could go several times a year to get away from everyone. As she once told me, “so we could reinforce our marriage,” Jeffrey said.

  Now everything all made sense. He did like the idea of having a place to hide away with Emma where the two of them could go and be themselves, not duke and duchess. His only question was how would she feel about doing everything staff normally took care of?

  All of that was well and good, but first he needed to rescue and then marry her. Having only seen the land and building from the road, he knew that approach wasn’t viable so it would have to be from the forest. That presented another challenge for him since he’d never been there, but Matthew had. Could he recall what he’d seen after all these years?

  Wanting to start planning how to bring Emma home safely, he looked to his cousin when his mother swept into the office with Winston and a footman carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and glasses.

  “I know you’ve been deep in discussions with the earl and the viscount. I also know you want to bring Emma back, but before you do anything further you need to have luncheon,” she declared.

  On both points Simon silently agreed with his mother. Until he heard from Justin and learned what the man wanted, Simon’s hands were tied. What if she wasn’t at the cottage and he went there? Could that put her at more risk of being harmed? One thing he was certain of was that Justin wanted him, and she must have been an afterthought.

  He watched and waited while his mother directed the butler to set the tray of sandwiches on the low table in front of the settee.

  “Thank you. If we need anything else I’ll ring,” Simon ordered, thus sending both men from the room.

  Once they left, Simon poured wine into the glasses, then waited while his mother and Sarah selected sandwiches. He was amazed neither lady gave him the appearance they were distressed at what had happened to Emma. Could they be forcing themselves to remain calm so he would think clearly and not rush in? He took his mother’s advice, selected a sandwich, and started eating. Swallowing a bite, he looked to his mother. “Do the families believe that Emma and I are in the village?”

  “Much to my surprise they do, but we feel they believe something is wrong. We’ve also instructed them not to venture outside without at least two footmen,” his mother told everyone.

  “Let me guess, the twins complained they are housebound?”

  “Yes, but to curb their behavior, you know exactly what I did as you’ve been on the receiving end of it before.”

  He was more than aware of what she was talking about. His mother had perfected the glare of all glares. It would and could make a grown man quake, as he’d seen his father do so on several occasions.

  With their simple but sustaining meal finished, Simon drained the last of the wine from his glass then looked to his cousin.

  “I know it’s been quite a few years Matthew, but what do you remember about the cottage and forest around it?”

  “The cottage just off the estate? I’ve totally forgotten about it. Your father and I haven’t been there for several years. Then with him dying, it slipped from my mind. It would be the perfect place for Justin and his sister to hide. Son, pray forgive me for not thinking of the building,” his mother declared.

  Simon held her in his arms and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “Mother, there’s nothing to forgive.” Simon turned back to Matthew and raised a brow waiting for an answer to his question.

  “Everything. I still have all my notes and drawings from when I was here originally. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll sneak up to my suite and get them.”

  No sooner had Matthew departed on his errand than Seeley knocked on the doorframe.

  “Excuse me, Your Grace, but this note was just delivered at the kitchen door by Mrs. Waters. She, along with her husband, live in the cottage.”

  Waving him in, he could see worry in the man’s eyes. He suspected the staff was aware of what had happened to Emma. The problem was taken from his hands by his mother.

  “What do staff know?” Laura demanded.

  “Only that something happened to Lady Emma. None of us can get anything out of her maid, Ken, or Kyle. All I can say, is whatever you need from any of us we’re ready and willing to lend our aid.”

  After taking the letter from his butler, Simon opened and read it.

  Immediately, Simon recognized Emma’s handwriting.

  You have until four this afternoon to present yourself, alone, to the front of the cottage on the London road. If you fail to show, the death of Lady Emma is on your head.

  Justin Beaumont, the true Duke of Kettering

  After reading it over again, Simon looked at the clock on the mantle, noting he had three hours to come up with a solution. He knew he’d have to comply, but at the same time he had to stay alive and rescue Emma, but how?

  Seeing Seeley, interestingly at attention, which had become the man’s norm, Simon suddenly had an idea, but it all depended on what his cousin told them.

  “Thank you, but you’re not dismissed. I need you to wait in the corridor, out of earshot, until I call for you.”

  With the butler gone, Simon looked around at three very confused people staring back at him. He wanted to tell everyone what his plan was, but it all hinged on the report
from Matthew who entered at that moment.

  “Well?”

  “It’s all good news. Here’s a map I did of the area, and there’s a horse path leading close to the rear of the cottage. What makes it even better, considering the years since I was last there, the foliage should have grown up to hide anyone approaching from that direction. As for the building itself, it has doors in the front and back.”

  “And if I remember correctly, the doors don’t even make a noise when opened. Besides Emma my worries are for the people living there to take care of the land and cottage,” his mother said.

  That was the one thing he’d not taken into consideration, the tenants. Knowing Justin, the husband could very well be dead, which meant time to execute his plan was dwindling.

  Handing the note to his uncle, Simon waited and wasn’t surprised at his reaction.

  “So, what do you plan to do?” Jeffrey asked.

  “Do exactly what Justin demands but not what he expects. While I ride up to the front, Jeffrey, you and Matthew along with several grooms will sneak up from the rear. However, I’m going to add something that Justin and his sister hadn’t planned on.”

  Simon marched over to the door and waved to Seeley. He waited until the man stepped into the office.

  “I need you to join us as your participation in rescuing Lady Emma will be very important.”

  “Yes, Your Grace. I’ll do anything to bring Lady Emma home.”

  “I’m glad you said that, because you’re going to shoot me.”

  From the smirk on the man’s face, Simon knew Seeley understood what was going to be required of him. Hearing the other four talking all at once made him want to laugh, but he didn’t.

  Ignoring them, he turned to Seeley and made sure he understood what was needed. Simon then marched over to the gun cabinet, opened it, and handed over the Baker rifle and a pistol. Next, he passed the soon to be new butler a powder horn and round balls.

  “You had best change into more suitable clothes, then get going, and find the perfect place to hide. Just remember, the first shot can’t be fired into the air until I’m close enough to rush in while the others enter from the rear.”

  “And the Baker?” Seeley asked.

  “You know the couple who live there? As the wife is in the kitchen but if the husband comes to the door, hold your shot, If you see someone, man or woman, you don’t recognize that’s your target.”

  “Yes, Your Grace.”

  Simon waited until Seeley disappeared through the door to the servant stairs, then turned back to his family and Sarah. All he knew for sure was that it needed to work.

  After explaining the plan, Simon sent Jeffrey and Matthew so they could change into boots and britches then select mounts from the stable. As hard as he tried, Simon did his best to reassure his mother and Sarah everything would come to a happy ending. He’d started for the barn to get several grooms when he saw the two he’d dispatched to London the previous day ride up. In one’s hand was an envelope, which he recognized.

  “As ordered here is the document you requested,” the older of the two stated.

  “Thank you for making haste in bringing it to me. Now, do either of you have a little more of a ride in you?”

  “We both do. Would you like us to bring the reverend here?”

  “When you see me ride out, go to the village and bring him, even if he’s kicking and screaming. Explain nothing to anyone only that you’re following my orders.”

  “Yes, Your Grace, and bring Lady Emma back safely,” the man said.

  An hour later he watched as Jeffrey and Matthew along with several grooms, all well mounted and armed with pistols, slipped out the rear door of the barn and disappeared into the woods.

  Pacing the main aisle, he kept glancing at his pocket watch. If everything went as planned, it would take them at least half an hour to arrive at the rear of the cottage.

  Finally, he led Mars from his stall and out into the fading afternoon sunlight. One thing that was going for him was that the rest of the family had arrived and were kept in the palace, some against their wishes, but right now he didn’t care.

  Swinging onto the saddle, he put Mars immediately into a canter until cleared of the courtyard. He then tapped his heels into the beast’s side sending him into a ground covering gallop. As the main road came into view, Simon slowed his horse and directed Mars left then returned to a gallop.

  As the cottage came into view, he slowed Mars to a trot, keeping his focus on the building. This wasn’t easy, since somewhere Seeley was hidden ready to shoot. Him.

  Spotting the path to the house, he brought Mars down to a walk, stiffened his back, and rode up to the building. Getting closer, he watched as someone opened the door, and a red headed man, pistol raised aimed at Simon’s chest, stepped out.

  “May you rot in hell, Justin.” No sooner had the words escaped from Simon’s lips than a shot rang out throwing him from the saddle.

  Chapter Thirty

  Following the others toward the bridge as fast as possible considering the confines of her gown, Emma never heard the rider approach.

  Until it was too late.

  The man turned his horse toward her, and as she started to run the opposite direction, he swooped in and grabbed her, lifting her up. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hood came over her head, stifling any attempt to yell. A strong arm held her tightly against a weak chest. She was jostled hard against the man’s legs as the horse took off in a gallop.

  “Don’t fight me or you’ll end up in the river,” a harsh wimpy male voice warned. Draped in darkness, fear crawled up her spine. Where were they going? Panic gripped her as the man tightened his hold around her waist and the horse started galloping.

  How long they kept up the pace she had no way of knowing, but suddenly the horse slowed to a walk. Tree branches and leaves rubbed and smacked at Emma, telling her they were traveling on a very narrow path. The gait of the horse also warned her the path was rocky.

  Wherever they were, the sound of the horses’ hooves was partially dampened by the ground beneath them. Sadly, this still gave her little hint as to where they were. She tried to think back at the map she and Simon had studied of the estate. To the best of her memory she couldn’t recall paths so close to the village, but she suspected they were on one.

  Neither Justin, nor the other person, possibly his sister, had spoken when they grabbed and bound her.

  Again, thinking back to where they kidnapped her, she believed they’d taken a right onto this trail. That meant they were traveling along deep inside Simon’s estate. In the distance, she was barely able to make out screams of joy coming from children. This told her they could possibly be near the river, but again, where?

  She knew they’d not crossed a bridge, so going to the huts used by the gypsies wasn’t possible. From what she’d been able to recall, except for the palace, there weren’t any structures on this side of the river. What about the building drawn on the map but with no mention in the journal? No, Emma knew they couldn’t be going there when she heard a change in the sounds of the horses’ hooves, from the soft of the forest floor to the hard sound of crossing a roadway.

  If she wasn’t mistaken, they were headed toward the road to London, but again having spent so much time in the area there wasn’t—

  Then it struck her.

  Just past the intersection where this emptied out onto the main road there was a small cottage.

  As the house wasn’t on the estate, she’d never visited the people who lived there. Even when she’d asked Laura about stopping in, the duchess had avoided directly answering, telling Emma they knew if they needed to call on the palace they could. This must be where Justin was taking her. Then another, and this time more dreadful, thought slipped into her mind. What if the couple were already dead and had been for a few days?

  Emma hoped they’d not be riding for much longer as her backside was getting sore from sitting on the pommel and being in the grasp o
f this mad man. The only person she wanted to be held by was Simon.

  The horse stopped, and before she could do anything, she was tossed to the ground.

  “Don’t move or you’ll die,” the man snapped at her.

  Emma knew Justin was capable of murder so she did as ordered. After several heartbeats, she heard footsteps approach. She tensed, waiting, holding her breath. She feared the click of a pistol or hands around her neck.

  “No, I’m not going to kill you, not yet, at least. First, you’re going to watch the usurper to the dukedom suffer for what his father did to my mother.”

  She tried to scream at him but couldn’t.

  She was grabbed by the arms and yanked to her feet. The hood was dragged off. Blinking against the sudden brightness of sunlight, she looked around.

  In front of her was the little cottage she’d seen many times from the road. It wasn’t really all that different from others on the estate. A white, plank-sided cottage with a blue door and shutters.

  A push from behind sent Emma stumbling forward. After regaining her balance, there came another shove.

  “Move or I’ll drag you,” Justin ordered.

  With her hands tied, she did as she was told. After climbing the single wooden step to the porch, she stood in front of the door. Justin’s arms came around her. She cringed, thinking he would hit her, but instead he released the latch.

  “Inside,” he demanded.

  That’s when she realized only Justin had been talking. Every word from his mouth was filled with anger, rage, and hatred. One thing she did know from conversations with the duchess and Simon was that Justin was older. Under normal circumstances he would have become the duke, but he was a bastard, thus he had no claim to the title.

  Following his directive, she stepped in, glanced around, and saw two elderly people tied securely to chairs. Both had panic in their eyes, much like what she had been experiencing from the beginning of this kidnapping.