Hunting the Hero

by Heather Boyd

  Constantine laughed. “Well, I am grateful you no longer have the beast at your side as I plan to annoy you for some time to come.”

  “I’m not.” Meredith turned to the window and leaned her head against the squabs. “I could have used his teeth a time or two in the early years. He never failed to protect me.”

  Constantine squeezed her hand tightly. It was on the tip of his tongue to press for more information, yet the beginning of a journey was no time to demand answers. He wanted nothing to spoil her mood. They had hours left in the carriage. Many more in a charmingly warm little inn he’d discovered on similar journeys. When Meredith faced his sisters, he wanted everything to be perfect. He wanted her to like them. After all, if she refused him the gift of her name and connections, his might be the only family she would have when they married.

  ~ * ~

  Meredith let out a relieved breath as the carriage clattered into a small inn yard at an unmarked village. The trip so far had been slow and thankfully without incident, but despite their best efforts, the children had not always enjoyed themselves. She soothed the sleeping child in her arms as Maisy and Willow clambered out after Constantine. She forced herself to remember her lessons. Be calm. Be a lady. Yet if not for the sleeping child, Meredith feared she would lose her temper and shout at Constantine for keeping their final destination a secret. Her nerves were at their limit. Constantine would like seeing that.

  His sunny smile when he poked his head through the doorway only increased her irritation. “The inn has wonderfully comfortable beds.”

  “You’re not sharing mine tonight,” she warned. She would remain with the children to teach him a lesson. Meredith did not care for surprises, and according to his hints, she had another day of not knowing their final destination. She did not appreciate being absconded to parts unknown. If their relationship was to continue, in any form, Constantine would have to cease planning further surprise events.

  She wriggled along the bench to the door and slid Poppy into his outstretched arms. Constantine had been rather better equipped to deal with the girls on a long trip than herself, making up endless games and convincing them to nap. But then he’d likely done such journeys before and knew better how to keep his daughters entertained in confined spaces.

  Meredith stepped out of the carriage after him and glared, little caring if anyone saw her do it. “Where are we now?”

  “Another surprise.” He urged her toward the inn. “Come inside where it’s warm. Mrs. Lamb’s company will soothe you after such an arduous day.”

  Constantine’s attempts to tease did not improve her mood. She would… Meredith stumbled. In the act of taking a step, she had glimpsed something she recognized. The once-bold red paint on the inn door struck a chord of her memory. She glanced around her, trying to discover why the place felt familiar.

  She glanced at the door again, at the lion’s-head knocker placed squarely in the center, and her heartbeat slowed. Her legs trembled.

  “Meredith?”

  She gave her head a little shake to dismiss the coincidence and then stepped into the inn. She was imagining a resemblance to a place she’d been before. A gray-haired woman was waiting. “Welcome back, my lord. You must be tired from your journey.”

  Constantine smiled over the sleeping form of his youngest. “Two rooms for the night, if you please, Mrs. Lamb. The largest and warmest chamber for my daughters and their governess. A smaller chamber will be sufficient for myself.”

  “Of course, my lord.” The lady reached for Poppy and led the girls toward the stairs. “Will you be staying long with the duke?”

  A clammy chill had swept her skin. It could not be. She could not have returned her by mistake after all her efforts to avoid the location. Yet Mrs. Lamb’s hair had grayed quite a lot in the intervening years since Meredith had last glimpsed her. She was almost certain it was the same woman. Meredith paused, holding on to the nearest object for support as she gathered her courage. “Will you tell me now where we are going?”

  “Oh, very well. I suppose you’ll discover the truth from Mrs. Lamb in due course, but we are going to see my sister, the Duchess of Romsey at Romsey Abbey. It’s another half-day carriage ride ahead.”

  Meredith swayed and clung to the insufficient lifeline of the chair. No.

  Constantine touched her arm. “What’s the matter? Have you taken a chill?”

  Meredith raised a shaky hand to her brow. Her skin was clammy; her breath came in short, fast pants. A chill was the only excuse she dared supply. “I must be,” she said quickly. “Would you excuse me? I should tend to your daughters.”

  Constantine helped her to the bottom of the staircase, but Meredith wished he’d not. Her heart couldn’t take the strain. What she’d thought was possible was merely yet another nightmare. She shook off his grip.

  “Let me help you?”

  Meredith reluctantly raised her eyes to his face. “You know the Duke of Romsey?”

  “Of course I do. I’m the lad’s uncle and guardian.”

  Meredith swallowed past the lump in her throat. “You must be very proud.”

  When she moved up the stairs, he followed close on her heels. “I may have mentioned I have some fences to mend. I’m not expecting a warm welcome, truth be told, but I’m hoping having the girls with me will ease the way. My sisters are fond of the children. They are always inviting them to visit.”

  Meredith paused halfway up, her foot poised on the landing. “And why have you stayed away so long?” She took another step, hoping Grayling would keep a safe distance from her.

  “My sisters have remarried and I’m not particularly pleased with their choices.”

  Meredith nodded and continued up, aware that Grayling followed close on her heels. The advertisements in the paper spun before her eyes. According to the newssheets, Grayling’s sisters had married her brothers. Meredith had not wanted to believe such lies and she’d forced herself to forget what she’d read and not allow her curiosity to be stirred to investigate. At the door she placed her hand on the latch. “If you would excuse me, my lord, I should like a few moments’ privacy. I’m not feeling the best, and the children need me.”

  “We all need you.” His smile was a dagger to the heart. “But of course. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  Meredith opened the door a crack and squeezed through. “As you wish.”

  She closed it quickly and leaned against the wood. Across the room, the three little hearts she’d grown to love were exploring the room and chattering with Mrs. Lamb. Three little girls with exalted connections. Connections that Meredith never wanted to meet again. She closed her eyes tightly and prayed for a way out that would save their tender hearts from breaking apart as hers was. Tomorrow she had to convince Grayling to travel on without her. Tonight she had to learn to hate him.

  CHAPTER 22

  MORNING BLOOMED BRIGHT and clear, making Constantine happy to leave the adequate inn behind for the superior comforts of Romsey Abbey. He glanced at the dining room door. What was keeping Meredith this morning? He’d risen at dawn feeling restlessness claw at his senses. He wanted to rush upstairs to see how she fared this morning, but given the way he’d introduced her to the innkeeper last night as his governess, he couldn’t very well intrude. Meredith Clark had a reputation to maintain.

  He pondered over her past decision to acquire a new name to suit the situation and marveled that such a plan had worked so completely. At no time had he suspected that anyone else doubted her background as a governess. They might now, thanks to Cunningham’s spying, consider his governess had fallen prey to a seduction or seduced him. But Calista would never be discovered unless she met someone from the House when they finally moved in society as man and wife.

  He drank the last of his coffee, pondering how he would sidestep any questions related to her similarity to the courtesan from the House. He couldn’t very well keep Meredith locked away at Stanton Harold Hall. He hosted a hunt every year. Some guests stayed f
or weeks. When Meredith agreed to marry him, they would discuss and concoct a plausible history to spread about and divert any suspicions should she meet anyone she recognized.

  At last the thud of tiny footsteps sounded outside. He took two steps toward the door before it opened and Mrs. Lamb stepped inside. “Here we are.”

  The children filed in, Willow leading Maisy by the hand. Mrs. Lamb deposited Poppy on her feet. There was no sign of Meredith behind the innkeeper’s wife, only his valet carrying the children’s luggage. “My governess?”

  “She asked me to give you this.”

  Mrs. Lamb passed him a folded piece of paper and he read it quickly. “Why was I not informed?”

  “I’m sure she hoped to be well come morning, but she’s not herself today and bids to be left behind. Took all her strength to attend the little ones’ needs this morning. There’s nothing for it but bed rest and time. If Your Lordship really needs her, my husband can deliver her in a day or so, if that’s acceptable.”

  “Yes, I really need her, and a day or two is not acceptable.” He called for his valet to come back. “Remain here with my daughters.”

  He would not leave Meredith. If she was ill, then they would simply not travel. He bounded up the stairs to the bedroom Meredith had spent the night in and knocked on the door. When he heard a muffled cough, he quickly let himself in. The room was cold and Meredith was huddled on the bed beneath the blankets. He could only see the top of her head.

  Constantine rushed to her. Her skin was clammy. Her body shook. She was ill and he was a damned fool to have left her alone last night. “Darling, tell me how you feel.”

  Her face turned to his, and her eyes were puffy, nose red, and her voice shook when she spoke. “Dreadful.”

  He brushed damp strands of her hair back from her face. “I can see that. What can I do?”

  “Leave me.” She began to cough violently. “I’ll recover in a day or so.”

  Meredith collapsed back to the bed and when she moaned, he clutched her hand. “I cannot leave you like this.”

  “You must,’ she whispered. “Take the girls as far from me as you can.”

  He drew closer but she held out her hand to ward him off. “Stay away. I don’t want to make you suffer.”

  He was suffering already. He felt helpless and utterly useless. He’d not felt such panic since his wife had died. He couldn’t leave Meredith behind. He would stay to take care of her. He stood and considered the room. “I’ll add more wood to the fire.”

  Meredith pulled the blankets over her head.

  When he was done, he hurried back to her side. “Have you eaten today?”

  “I’m not hungry.” She coughed again. “Just go.”

  He peeled back the blankets to see her face. “I’ll never leave you.”

  Her teeth clenched and she pulled the covers tighter about her. “I don’t want you to see me like this. Take the girls to Romsey. I’ll recover in a few days and join you when I’m well. You cannot bring illness into the abbey and I will only get worse as the day wears on in the cold carriage. I’m sure the innkeeper will be glad of the additional coin to look after me. If you can spare it, that is.”

  “Of course I can, but I don’t want to leave you in such a state. I would do anything to make you happy and take care of you. You need me.”

  “Constantine, be sensible.” Her eyes met his, and the dark emptiness within made his heart ache. “You must go before you, too, become ill. You must think of your daughters. I could not live with the guilt should they lose you, too. What if they became sick? I’m so scared for them.”

  When she put it like that, Meredith made perfect sense. The young were very susceptible to infection and illness. But it would break his heart to leave her all alone.

  “Go, Constantine.” She pushed at him from beneath the covers. “I can take care of myself for a few days. I’ll sleep and rest and join you as soon as I can. If you miss me too badly, you can always return without your daughters.” She sniffed and held her handkerchief to her nose.

  That was an excellent idea. He was not so far from Romsey that he couldn’t travel there in a day and return. “Very well. I will take them to my sister and come back for you tomorrow.”

  “Good.” Meredith closed her eyes tightly.

  Constantine leaned in to kiss her lips and then thought better of it. He kissed her cheek, her clammy brow, and the backs of her fingers. “You rest. I’ll pay the innkeeper handsomely to wait on you hand and foot. Oh, if only we were still at the Hall. Mrs. Smith would have you well in no time.”

  “If only we had never left,” she whispered.

  A tear trickled from her eye. Constantine caught it, his heart tumbling over. He’d never, ever expected Meredith to shed a tear. Seeing that she did because he was leaving melted him. He brushed his lips against hers. “I love you.”

  When he drew back, bleak, red-rimmed eyes stared at him. “Goodbye, Constantine.”

  He smoothed her hair one last time and strode for the door. Although her words had the ring of finality, he shook off the sensation. She was merely miserable with her ailment. He would return tomorrow and if she were not well, he would remain at her side until she was.

  His feet might be as heavy as lead weights, but he had a responsibility to his daughters. He would pay the innkeeper well to tend Meredith while he traveled on to Romsey. Once there, he would make amends, meet the upstarts his sister had married, and return for Meredith as quickly as he could. Mercy was always begging for the girls to visit. She likely wouldn’t mind having them to herself for a few days while Meredith recovered.

  Decision made, Constantine found the innkeeper, paid for Meredith’s upkeep, and gave strict orders she was to be checked on every half hour until he returned. Mrs. Lamb appeared amused by his fussing, but the money placed in her hands ensured she would not neglect Meredith.

  He carried his daughters to the waiting carriage, brought his valet inside, too, for additional support, and gave the order to move off. As the carriage rumbled from the inn yard, he glanced up. Meredith stood at a window, watching their departure. He raised his hand, but if she returned the farewell, he never saw it.

  The girls waited a whole five minutes before they understood Meredith was not with them. The first tear he expected. The hours of unrelenting crying threatened his composure. When Romsey finally came into view, he was desperate for reprieve.

  An unfamiliar butler greeted him but appeared efficient in ordering the carriage unloaded and his men taken care of. He secured Poppy in his arms and led his daughters up the stairs. Mercy was waiting alone in the entrance hall. “Grayling.”

  “Your Grace.”

  She came forward. “Lady Willow, Lady Maisy, Lady Poppy. Welcome back, sweethearts.”

  Willow was the first to embrace her aunt, but he could see she wasn’t as full of her usual enthusiasm for Mercy. His sister frowned when she stepped back quickly. “Come into the drawing room where it’s warm.”

  Constantine followed her and took a seat where Mercy indicated.

  “You are somewhat late, Grayling.”

  Willow perched beside him, and he said, “I am.” There was no point beating around the bush.

  “You have not written to explain your absence.”

  Maisy disappeared beneath a side table, and he replied, “No, I didn’t.”

  “Do you have anything to say at all for missing my wedding?”

  Poppy turned in his arms and hugged him, exhaling a little whimper of sound.

  “I had other things on my mind than celebrating a poorly thought-out match.”

  Mercy glanced at his daughters, a smile ghosting over her lips. “I’m sure you’d prefer them escorted upstairs to the nursery for their governess to manage. Edwin will be so excited to see them.”

  Willow crowded his side. Constantine put his arm around her. “Unfortunately, their governess fell ill on the journey and remained behind at the inn we stayed in last night. We have had an up-an
d-down day so far. I’d rather not abandon them to the nursery yet.”

  “A new governess?”

  Constantine smiled. “Miss Clark has exceeded my every expectation.”

  “Ill, you say. What is wrong with her? Do you know?”

  “She must have taken a chill on the journey and sickened overnight. I would have delayed for her sake, but she was adamant the children should be taken away to safeguard their health.”

  “A practical woman.”

  A knock sounded on the door.

  “A conundrum, in truth.”

  “Come in,” Mercy called.

  The door opened and a solidly built man stepped into the drawing room. The new husband. Dark hair, brown eyes, and mode of dress befitting his reported personal wealth. His expression was guarded but serious as he crossed the room. But when he smiled at Mercy, he revealed a pair of deep dimples. “Forgive the interruption, Your Grace, but I heard you had an important guest.”

  Mercy made a face. “At last. Leopold, I have the honor of presenting my rather tardy brother. Grayling, may I introduce you to my husband, Leopold Randall.”

  Weighed down as he was by Poppy, Constantine had trouble rising. He loosened his grip on his daughter to thrust out his hand. “Sir.”

  Randall’s grip was firm and sure as they shook. “A pleasure, my lord.” He glanced at the children next. “What pretty daughters.”

  He took a step back and seated himself in an armchair to one side. Constantine sat and rearranged Poppy more comfortably on his lap. He’d never known her to be so clingy, but perhaps the trip was more tiring than he imagined.

  Maisy’s head appeared from beneath the table, her eyes fixed on the newcomer.

  “So, you’re here at last,” Mercy said. “How long will you stay? Long enough for Blythe to see you, I hope, and to introduce her husband Tobias to you.”

  “Actually, once I retrieve my ailing governess, I thought we might stay awhile.”

  Mercy and Leopold exchanged a long glance and then Leopold smiled broadly. “You see, there was nothing to worry over.”