“I have an idea. I think that this will work, if we are careful.”
“Oh? Please tell me, for I will continue to worry terribly until we have a plan – and we are getting steadily closer to the town.”
Juliana was amazed at how comfortable their conversation had become – somehow, it felt the most natural thing in the world to spend hours talking with this man. He had, she realised, been easy to converse with, from the first moment that she had met him. He was, in that instant, filled with the joyful enthusiasm of a man who had finally solved a complex problem. Looking at him, she wondered how she could ever have thought his manner severe.
“As we will arrive at Upper Nettlefold in the afternoon, we cannot sneak you in under cover of darkness. So we need a way for you to appear, as if you have been there the whole time. Close to the town, the road crosses the Nettlerush River. From there, if you walk along the riverside, you come to the gardens that run down from Hardcastle House. So, if I let you down from the carriage before the bridge, you will only need to walk a short way on the road, then take the riverside path to Hardcastle House – as if you had, feeling better, gone for a walk in the gardens. Your valise can stay in the carriage, and I will ensure that it gets back to you later.”
Juliana considered the idea. She could see no fault in it. For, if she was let down from the carriage out of sight of the town, and stayed down near the river, avoiding anyone else out walking, surely, she could reach Hardcastle House undetected. Relief rushed through her and, for the first time, she had some confidence that all could yet be saved – well, at least as far as getting her back to her family. Beyond that, there was still much to deal with.
The Duke watched her, awaiting her opinion.
“I… I believe that will work, Your Grace. Although my valise?”
“My staff will be seen delivering a large box to Hardcastle House. No one will question a delivery, for many things are delivered there each day.”
“Then… yes, let us do as you suggest.”
The remaining distance seemed somehow shorter, for the fact that there was a plan, and soon the carriage was drawing to a halt on the side of the dusty road. Silence surrounded them, broken only by the song of birds in the nearby trees, and the murmur of the river. Juliana slipped down from the carriage, glad of the wide brimmed bonnet shading her face from the afternoon sun. The Duke lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to it, slowly and deliberately. His eyes regarded her with such warmth that she suddenly felt overheated.
“Fare well, my Lady, and I will see you soon, hopefully, at Hallingbrook Grange, as if nothing untoward had happened.”
“Thank you.”
He released her hand, and she turned and began to walk along the roadside. The carriage rolled past, towards the town.
Juliana walked, feeling safe in the quiet of the countryside around her.
~~~~~
Garrett watched her from the carriage window until she disappeared from his sight as they proceeded towards Upper Nettlefold. He did not want to leave her. He wanted her with him, wanted her safe, and him certain of her safety. But he had to leave her, as that was the way to keep her safe.
He spent the last mile of the journey considering Lady Bellinghaugh’s words again - ‘you would not find marrying her a hardship’. The idea was, he had to admit, growing on him. And not just because it would solve her problems, and protect her from gossip and threats. It was growing on him because he liked her, more than liked her. She had become far more important to him than any other woman had ever been. But… if he offered for her, would she accept him? Would she believe it an honest offer, or would she think him simply being honourable? He did not know, and not knowing ate at him.
They rolled into the town square, and he signalled for the driver to stop. He would stretch his legs, maybe even take some tea, and, when enough time had passed, call at Hardcastle House, as if simply enquiring after the family’s health. A quick glance into the Tea Rooms changed his mind about tea, for Lady Prudence Baggington was visible, deep in gossip, at a table near the door. So he settled for walking about the square, looking in the tailor’s window, and just filling up time.
~~~~~
Lord Fondleton was annoyed with the world. Two days had passed and he had not seen Lady Juliana. She was, the word had it, ill. He had fleeced the house party attendees at cards to the extent that they no longer wished to play with him, and he was bored. He had chosen to be taken out in his carriage, to the ruins of a nearby abbey, simply for something to do. It was, he was informed, worth the visit, with an excellent view of the local countryside. So he went.
It entertained him for an hour or so, and yes, the view was excellent, with clear sight down the valley of the road from Bath. As he stood there, about to get into his carriage and leave, he saw, far below, a carriage stop on the road. A woman descended, and began to walk, as the carriage rolled away, leaving her. A woman he found unmistakable, her rich gold hair shining in the sun where it trailed from beneath her bonnet, and her elegant movement distinctive. Whatever she was doing there, this was his chance. He flung himself into the carriage, commanding his driver to move as fast as possible on the hilly road.
~~~~~
Juliana found herself enjoying the walk, with the sun warm on her back. She knew that, around the next corner, the bridge over the river would be in sight, and she could slip down to the riverbank path. Then, just before she reached the turn in the road, she heard an unwelcome sound. The sound of hooves, and carriage wheels, a low rumble from behind her. It had to be a private carriage, for it was the wrong time of day to be the mail coach. Nervously, she glanced around.
She would not reach the river path before the carriage was upon her, and there was nowhere on the roadside to conceal herself – a large hedge ran on each side of the road. She would have to simply keep to the side, and keep walking, hoping that the carriage would pass by without taking any particular note of her. Her hope was not fulfilled. The carriage slowed, and drew alongside her. She did not look, still hoping that they would simply pass. Then, without warning, or any word spoken, the carriage door opened, and she was grabbed, and dragged inside. The edge of the carriage step bruised her ankle as she tried to resist, but she was at a terrible disadvantage, due to the surprise. Her bonnet caught on the carriage door, and fell to the roadside as she fell onto the carriage seat, gasping for breath, and looked up. Into the face of the man she least wanted to see, ever again, in her life.
“You obviously needed a ride into town, my dear, for a Lady shouldn’t be walking the road alone, now should she?”
Lord Fondleton’s smile was not pleasant. It was, if she had to put a word to it, predatory. Anger filled her, flowing over the top of fear.
“A gentleman would have spoken first, and offered politely. Instead, you have taken an action that I can only describe as kidnapping!”
“How astute of you, Lady Juliana. I have no intention of you escaping me this time. Your choices are still the same. In fact, I have more scope for tarnishing your name now. There you were, all alone, where you most definitely should not have been. And now, here you are, alone in a closed carriage with me. What more do I need?”
“You are despicable!”
She spat the words at him, but her fear was growing. How could she escape him? They were so close to the town, surely she would be seen!
He laughed, and slid across the seat until he had her trapped between him and the wall of the carriage. His arm slid around her, and he brought his lips to her, kissing her neck, and working his way down towards her breasts.
Between kisses, he whispered, “Yes, I am, but you will come to enjoy it. You’ll be surprised at the pleasure to be had from all sorts of perverse sources. Once I have you in the Inn room I’ll arrange, I’ll make certain that you have no choice but to accept my generous offer. A ruined woman has few choices left.”
She shuddered, fighting him, but he simply used his weight to press her hard against the seat and the
carriage wall, continuing his unwelcome exploration of her body with his lips. She refused to react – if fighting him only made him do more, then perhaps absolute passivity would please him less.
Her hand was splayed against the window, balancing her, and she left it there, forcing herself to stillness, although complete immobility was impossible, with the movement of the carriage. Outside the window, the town rolled into view. Fear filled her even more. There was no escape from this. Either she stayed still, and allowed him to take her where he wished, or she made herself visible, and ruined herself in the process – for the townspeople only needed to see her like this to believe her as guilty as Fondleton wanted them to think she was.
“You see, it’s far more pleasant when you don’t fight – too hard. A little fight adds spice – for me, at least.”
She shuddered at his words, and at the feel of his lips on her skin, and he laughed again, taking pleasure in her fear and revulsion. The town passed by, bit by bit. They were now level with the tea shop, and would soon reach the Inn. Her breath caught. There, outside the tea shop – the Duke’s carriage stood. And he stood beside it. He had turned at the sound of an approaching vehicle.
Carefully, Juliana moved her hand against the window. The movement must have caught the Duke’s eye, for he started, then took a step forward. His expression changed rapidly – disappointment, followed by disbelief, followed by startled comprehension. He gave a decisive nod, and then casually turned, to walk in the direction of the Inn. Then they were past him. Juliana prayed that he had understood, that he might, somehow, do something to help her. Fondleton, realising that they had reached the town, lifted his head from her, slipped a hand up to hold her neck, limiting her ability to breathe, and reached up to pull closed the window shades
“No noise from you, my dear. I am going to ensure that you do as I wish.”
He reached with his other hand and flipped up the opposite seat of the carriage, and pulled from the space underneath it a length of rope.
“I must tie and gag you for now. Then you will lie on the floor of the carriage, covered in this blanket, and await my return. If you try to attract attention, it will only go badly for you – I will make certain of it.” As he spoke, he had pulled his handkerchief from his pocket, and picked up a scarf from where it lay on the seat. Terror filled her, and she opened her mouth to scream.
The scream was stifled when he forced the handkerchief into her open mouth, and bound it there with the scarf. Juliana fought, but to no avail. It seemed that Fondleton had experience in subduing fighting women – a thought which added to her terror.
That done, he flung her to the carriage floor, using his weight again to keep her there, and bound her hands, and then her feet with the rope. Satisfied, he sat back onto the seat, admiring his work as she squirmed helplessly.
“Delightful as it is to watch you like that, my Lady, I must now cover you up. It wouldn’t do at all for the ostlers to find you before I have a chance to get you into the Inn.”
He dropped the blanket over her, cutting off the light, and leaving her feeling desperate for air. At least the handkerchief he had gagged her with was clean, but it left her struggling for adequate breath. She lay there and prayed that the Duke had understood, that she had not imagined him seeing her, that he would, somehow, rescue her.
The carriage slowed, and she heard the change in sound as it entered the cobbled yard of the Inn, then the earthen floored carriage house and stable. After a few odd movements, which she guessed to be the process of the carriage being moved into its allocated place, Fondleton patted her back through the blanket, then opened the carriage door and exited. She heard him speak to the coachman.
“No need to tidy the interior, all is well. Be about your business.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Footsteps moved away, and the suffocating darkness closed in around her. She tried very hard not to panic.
Chapter Eleven
As Garrett reached his carriage on his second turn about the square, he heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. Turning, he saw a carriage which he vaguely recognised. As it came closer, the crest on the door informed him that it was Lord Fondleton’s. The thought of the man made him grit his teeth. Then a movement at the carriage window caught his eye.
A hand, waving at him? then, his blood ran cold – for beyond the hand at the window he could just see Lady Juliana, her bonnet gone, her hair in disarray. Lord Fondleton was bent over her, his lips in places they most definitely should not be. How could this be? Surely she would not have… could not have? For a moment, doubt assailed him, and a burning disappointment in her flowed through him. Then he looked again. Her hand moved, a desperate motion, and her face was white with fear.
Horror filled him, rapidly followed by the most intense anger he had ever felt. Fondleton was despicable! He did not know how the man had inveigled Lady Juliana into his carriage, but it was clear that she did not wish to be there.
He was walking before any thought intervened. He had to save her. The sight of her in another man’s grasp was more than he could bear. And he had promised to return her safely! The carriage turned into the yard of the Nettlefold Arms Inn, and he followed it, cautiously keeping as out of sight as possible.
~~~~~
Lady Prudence was bored. The conversation at the table near the window of the Tea Rooms had shifted from fashion to the ailments of the older women present. She stared out the window, hoping to see something of interest. Initially, she was disappointed. Then a man walked out from behind a carriage nearby, and her interest was caught. It was the Duke. Perhaps, if she slipped out, she might contrive to speak to him, to hold his attention, to be seen with him in public.
“Mother, I really must get some air. I feel all overheated in here. I am going to just walk about a little outside.”
Lady Mortel looked at her, her mind still more than half on the conversation about Mrs Milton-Wood’s chilblains, and nodded.
“Of course, dear, just don’t go far.”
“I’ll stay close mother.”
She stepped out into the sunshine, and moved towards the carriage where she had seen the Duke. He wasn’t there. She looked around, and saw him, entering the yard of the Nettlefold Arms Inn. Curious, she followed, a thrill going through her at doing expressly what she had just promised not to do.
The Inn was busy, and she slipped past a collection of travellers without being noticed. The Duke was entering the stables! Her curiosity completely engaged now, she followed. She looked through the door, and could not see him. She stepped into the dim interior, staying over against the row of horse stalls. Two stalls ahead, a stable hand opened the door. Panic took her – she could not be found here! She opened the stall door next to her and slipped inside, profoundly grateful that no horse occupied it at the time.
Peering out through the top bars of the stall door, she saw the Duke move stealthily behind a carriage in the row of carriages on the other side of the walkway. What was he doing?
~~~~~
Garrett slipped into the stables, moving back and along the wall behind the parked carriages. He was out of sight there, and could safely work his way down the row to where Fondleton’s carriage was just being manoeuvred into place. From behind the carriage next to it, he watched as Fondleton stepped down through the door on the other side of the carriage, and set off towards the main building of the Inn. A few moments later the ostlers led the unharnessed horses away to stable them.
Garrett moved fast, stepping up to the door of Fondleton’s carriage as if he had every right to be there, and opened it quietly. As he climbed in, he spoke very softly.
“Lady Juliana?”
He pulled the door to behind him, as the apparent pile of blankets on the floor squirmed.
What had Fondleton done to her?
He desperately thrust the blankets aside and gasped when he saw Lady Juliana, trussed up with no regard for her comfort. Fondleton would pay for this! But the first th
ing he needed to do was get Lady Juliana away from here to safety. Her eyes were deep green in the shadows, full of fear, and of hope at the same time.
He untied the scarf that bound her mouth, and she spat out the handkerchief with alacrity as he drew out his pocket knife and began to cut through the rope that tied her hands. With that released, he soon freed her ankles, as she blushed at the necessity of his hand upon her leg.
It was all carried out in silence, with them both aware of the need to remain undetected. Once free, she smiled at him, and mouthed the words, ‘thank you’. He took her hand and drew her to the door, both of them still crouched on the carriage floor, and slowly eased the door open. There was no-one in sight. They slipped from the carriage to the straw strewn floor of the carriage house and stable. He risked a whisper.
“This way – along the wall, and out the back door, then down to the river.”
She nodded, and he led her away, her hand warm in his. Blessedly, the stablehands were all occupied at the other end of the building, and they passed unnoticed out the door, past the great muckheaps of stable manure, and down the path to the river. They hurried, almost running, and did not stop until they reached a secluded cluster of trees at the river’s edge. She allowed herself to fall against the solid trunk of a tree, breathing hard.
She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, tousled hair and ruffled skirts regardless. When he had seen her in Fondleton’s grasp, he had felt his heart torn – all of the turmoil of thought which had been triggered by Lady Bellinghaugh’s words to him in Bath had fallen away. He knew now what his feelings were. He loved her. He had never quite believed those who said that love was a thing that simply happened, whether you wished it or not. Now, he could not argue the fact. He loved her. Somehow, in the short time since her arrival in Upper Nettlefold, she had become the core of his being.
He still held her hand. She had not drawn it away. He lifted it gently to his lips, and pressed a kiss to her palm, savouring the heat he felt through her glove. When he lifted his eyes from her hand, she was staring at him, an odd expression of uncertainty on her face. He leant forward, and brushed her lips with his, softly, then retreated, releasing her hand. She sighed, shaking her head.
The Duke and the Spinster_Clean Regency Romance Page 10