Attracted to the Earl

by Bronwen Evans

  Guy made his way through the dark and silent house. He went to the stables, where they were holding Patrick. Guy had dealt with spies and many enemies in battle and Patrick was simply one more. If Kit had not managed to get Patrick to talk yet, then God have pity on Patrick Neville, because he wouldn’t.

  He could feel the years of savagery that war had taught him. For once he thanked his father for sending him down a path that made him ready for the greatest battle of his life.

  He’d promised Abigail he’d get Dora back, and if he failed, Abigail would break. He’d lose her to grief and guilt. He could not live with that. He could not live without her.

  * * *

  —

  Dora refused to cry. For some reason these men had taken her. Captured her by the fountain as if they had been waiting for her. They had snuck up behind her and covered her mouth before dragging her kicking through the garden to horses tethered nearby. There they bound and gagged her before throwing her over a saddle and kidnapping her.

  She had no idea where they had taken her, but it had been a long ride north toward Higher Walden. They had stopped at this small manor house where they had locked her in a Gothic bedchamber.

  Listening at the keyhole, she’d not learned much more about who they were or why they wanted her, but she had heard Patrick Neville’s name. Her heart pounded because all she could think of was that something had happened to Kit. Why had he not met her at the fountain? What had these men done to him?

  With grim determination she would find a way to escape and locate him before Patrick Neville hurt him.

  For a while she paced back and forth across the bare wooden floor, occasionally stopping at the window to look out. The moon was bright but she could see no one below. If only she wasn’t on the third floor she might have been able to escape. She could scream in frustration.

  She could not stop thinking about Kit. Had these men hurt him, or was it Guy they were after? Either way Kit was in danger, as he would do anything for Guy.

  She rested her head against the windowpane. If she waited here she knew Kit would come for her, but would he know where to look? How would he find her?

  She shivered—not with cold, as it was a warm night. She shivered because she knew she was in danger. She hadn’t liked the way the men who had taken her looked at her. If Kit didn’t come soon, what would these men do to her?

  The ghostly reflection of her face in the windowpane wore an expression of despair. Her sister had taught her better than to feel sorry for herself. Abigail would not act the helpless maiden. She bit her bottom lip. She was not going to sit round and wait to find out what these men had in store for her. She tested the window latch. To her surprise and joy, it was not locked. She opened it and looked down and went a bit dizzy. Gosh, she was a long way up.

  Even if she made it to the ground, the full moon would make the likelihood of her escape going unseen nonexistent. She looked at her feet. Her light slippers weren’t made for a long hike either. If only she could get to the horses. The stables were at the back of the house. Would the men be guarding them at this hour?

  She looked to her left and to her joy saw an ivy trellis. A plan popped into her head. She leaned out and gave it a good tug. It seemed like it would hold her weight. Just then she heard the men roaring in laughter in the rooms below. She hoped they were drinking and eating and far too busy to wonder what she was up to.

  Her mind made up, heart slamming in her chest at the audacity of her plan, Dora sat on the window ledge and stood on the narrow platform of decorative masonry, before grabbing hold of the trellis and beginning the long and painful descent to the ground.

  She refused to look down, so she had no idea if it would all be for nothing. If someone on the ground saw her she’d be recaptured. She also prayed she’d not slip. The prickly ivy wasn’t too bad, but as she neared the ground a rosebush with thorns that cut like little daggers soon saw her hands covered in scratches and blood. She blocked out the pain by thinking of Kit. Soon she’d be back in his arms.

  Once she reached the ground she took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She looked right and left and saw no one. Slowly, with her back to the block wall she made her way round the rear of the house and sidled up to the stable. She stood in the shadows of the stable door and listened. All she could hear were horses snuffling and neighing.

  She stepped inside but with her back to the door she could not see a thing. She turned sideways so the moon could shed some light. At the first stall she found a big gelding who came willingly to her. She picked up some hay and fed it to him as she rubbed his nose. He seemed to be happy to see her. Looking round she found the tack wall and gathered a bridle. She didn’t have time to saddle him. He stood quietly as she put the bit in his mouth and she used the stall wall to slide onto his back. She leaned low over his neck and opened the stall and guided him out into the moonlight.

  Panic to race away almost overcame her, but she took the time to learn the correct direction. They had arrived by coming up the driveway but she could not risk riding in full view so she looked for the trees at the beginning of the drive and cut round the side of the house through the kitchen garden and along the tree line.

  She let out a breath as she made it to the road and took off toward Argyle House. She hoped she would have a head start and was pleased that she could not hear any horses’ hooves behind her in pursuit.

  Chapter 16

  Patrick’s face was a bloody mess when Guy reached the stall the men were holding him in. He pictured Abigail lying in his bed, emotions raw, her world torn open, and Guy just couldn’t seem to care what they had done to his cousin.

  It was obvious Patrick had not talked. Guy could see the frustration and despair on Kit’s face.

  Kit saw him approaching and moved to greet him. They walked outside to talk without being overheard.

  “He won’t talk. Every minute we delay…What if they are hurting her?” Kit’s agony was palpable.

  “You do know that even if I give him what he wants, even if I sign those papers, we might not get Dora back.”

  “Why do you think I’ve been torturing him? I don’t particularly like having to do this. I thought we had put this work behind us when we left the army.”

  Guy looked at his friend. “I have an idea. Come on,” and he stormed back to the stall, Kit following.

  Patrick looked up when he entered. One eye was swollen shut and his nose was broken. He was missing two teeth and his lip was split. But still he gave Guy that smug, self-satisfied smile.

  “Come to sign the papers,” he goaded, even though it surely hurt like buggery to talk.

  “Here’s the thing, Patrick. You wanted to know my secret. I’ll tell you. I can’t read. I have something wrong with me. I used to think it was because I was an idiot, too stupid to learn my letters. But I know I’m not stupid. All my life I’ve proved I’m not a fool. You, however, have always been able to read yet you are indeed a complete and utter fool.”

  “No wonder you don’t want anyone to learn about this. How can you run an estate or sit in the House of Lords if you can’t even read? You should be begging me to take over the estate.”

  “So you can bleed it dry with your gambling? Never.”

  He stood looking down at his cousin before finally pulling out the pistol he had shoved in the back of his pants and pointing it at Patrick.

  “I don’t care what happens to Dora. She means nothing to me, but my estate, this estate, means everything. I didn’t suffer my father’s beatings, endure life in the army, and survive hell to come home and let a man like you take it all from me.”

  “No,” Kit screamed. “You can’t kill him. Dora—”

  Guy cocked the pistol. “The most sensible thing to do, the thing any clever man would do, is kill you. And as I just said, I’m no fool.”

  “Now, let’s not be hasty.” Patrick’s smug smile had fled. “I will tell you where the girl is if you let me go.”

  “Why
on earth would I let you go? As I said I’m no fool. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.” He pointed the gun at Patrick’s heart.

  “Please, Guy, don’t kill him.” Kit turned to Patrick, dropping to his knees. “Tell us where she is or he will kill you.”

  “He’ll kill me anyway.”

  Guy uncocked the pistol. “Or maybe, if you tell me where she is, I shall simply have you removed from England. You have three seconds to decide. One, two,” he cocked the pistol once more. “Th—”

  “She’s in a house near Higher Walden. The old Thornby Manor.”

  Kit rose and Guy winked at him. “Well acted, if I must say so. Made him think I was really going to shoot him.”

  Kit’s tight mouth indicated he was not so amused. “If you will excuse me I shall fetch my weapons and take some men and go and rescue my woman.”

  As Kit and some of the men departed, Guy turned back to Patrick. “Now, what are we to do with you? You must see that I cannot let you go. I don’t trust you not to kill me the first chance you get.”

  “If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with.”

  Guy nodded. “That’s what a man like you would do. Shoot in cold blood, probably in the back. But I am not you. The only honorable thing is to challenge you to a duel for kidnapping Dora, my fiancée’s sister.”

  “Must I remind you she’s her daughter? Dora’s her daughter. And you’d marry a woman who grew up in a brothel and was one of the main attractions? When I learned Lady Calthorpe was sending Miss Abigail Pinehurst here, I did some investigating to discover if I could hold leverage over Abigail. I found out all about how she arrived at Mrs. Wakefield’s with a child at such a young age. She was quite the protégée, and it led me straight to her mother. Her mother still owns the brothel in London where Abigail was born, and was quite willing to sell me all the details. Dora is Abigail’s daughter, the father could be one of many.”

  Guy was about to respond when there was an anguished cry behind him. He swung round to find a tattered-looking Dora standing there, her mouth open in shock.

  Patrick was forgotten as Guy raced forward, he could see Dora’s legs begin to buckle. He didn’t get there in time as she collapsed to the floor in a dead faint. “Simon, fetch Kit, he’s in the house collecting his weapons. Tell him Dora is back and I’m taking her to her room. And have someone watch this snake.”

  He picked Dora up and began to carry her to the house. She stirred in his arms. Her eyes flew open and she gripped his arm. She looked at him, anguish burning deep in her eyes. “Is what that man said true? Is Abigail my mother?”

  “Shh. You’ve been through quite an ordeal and there are people here who will be so pleased to see you back. People who love you, that is all you need to know.”

  “Why would she not tell me? All this time I’ve had a mother and never known. Why would she not tell me? Is she ashamed of me?”

  “God, no. Once you’re rested I’m sure she will explain everything.”

  He was halfway up the stairs when Kit arrived. He immediately took Dora from Guy’s arms and the girl burst into tears, hiding her face in his chest.

  “I’ll fetch Abigail,” Guy said to Kit as they continued toward her bedchamber.

  Dora said firmly, “No. Just Kit. I just want Kit. And Molly.” At Kit’s raised eyebrow, Guy shook his head. He watched Kit carry her into her bedchamber and with a heavy heart he went to tell Abigail her daughter was back.

  * * *

  —

  For once Molly allowed Kit to stay with Dora, while she organized a bath. Dora was still crying inconsolably and his blood turned to stone. What ordeal had she suffered at Patrick’s hand? If those men had…He’d kill them.

  He laid her on the bed, still holding her in his arms. He wished he could take her hurt away.

  “Dora, if those men touched you, or hurt you in any way, they will die.”

  She stopped sniffling and looked up at him. “No. They did not touch me, at least not in the way you are meaning. They simply bound and gagged me until they threw me in a room at the manor.”

  Slowly, he leveled a piercing gaze in her face. “You would not lie to me, would you?”

  She wiped the tears from her face. “I’d never lie to you. I did realize that I was in danger from them if I was there for too long. That’s why I took a risk and escaped. I climbed down three stories on an ivy trellis.”

  Kit hugged her tightly. “My God, if you’d fallen—you could have been killed. I’m glad I hurt Patrick.”

  She reached up and touched his face. “I knew you’d be worried about me, but I was more concerned that Patrick might have hurt you too. I’m so glad you are unhurt.”

  “Then why are you crying as if your heart will break?”

  She rested her head on his shoulder, nestling him. “Is it true? What Patrick said in the stable?” At his raised eyebrow she added, “That Abigail is my mother. On the walk up the stairs I did the math. She must have been thirteen when she had me. I can’t imagine…”

  Kit closed his eyes against the pain and horror Dora must be experiencing. To have the truth revealed so brutally. “We said we would never lie to each other so, yes, it’s true. But it is not my story to tell, it’s Abigail’s. All I’ll say is she loves you more than life itself and she’d do anything for you.”

  “The story can’t be good if she was thirteen and she has never told me she’s my mother.”

  “It changes nothing.” Kit kissed her gently on her lips. “I love you and I want to marry you if you’ll have me. That’s the truth here in this bed this night.”

  “You know the truth of my birth, don’t you? And it’s ugly. I saw you flinch. Yet you still want me.”

  She cupped his chin and at last the look of fear and distrust in her eyes was replaced with love and heat and desire. “I have always thought life is a fairy tale and meeting you only proved it. But tonight that illusion has come crashing down. It makes me want to curl up in this bed and never leave the room. Yet you give me the courage to face whatever is thrown our way.”

  “You don’t need me to give you courage. My God, you climbed down three floors on an ivy trellis, stole a horse from the stable, and managed to find your way home in the dark. You don’t lack courage, my love.”

  She looked at him, this wonderful man who for some reason loved her. She found herself awed anew by his wild male beauty. His thick curly hair was blue-black in the dim light of the room. Silver shadows sculpted his angular face and stone-carved body. His dark chocolate eyes were warm and glowing with love. She touched him in fascinated wonder, knowing she was the luckiest woman in the world to be loved by a man such as Kit.

  “I love you, Kit. I don’t think I knew if what I felt for you was love until I thought Patrick might hurt you. If I lost you…”

  He captured her hand where it rested on his solar plexus and lifted it to his lips. “I have loved you since the day you arrived. It was as if fate had led you to me. I just want you to know that there is nothing about you, or your past, or your upbringing that will change what I feel in my heart for you. I would die for you.”

  She shuddered in his arms. “I don’t want you to die for me. I want you to love me. Always.”

  He eased away slightly. “I will avenge you.”

  She sat up. “Avenge? What does that mean?”

  “I will do what has to be done.” The particular tone of his voice sent chills down her spine. It was as if Kit had turned to stone, the words held an undertone of murder.

  “No.” She scrambled off the bed. “I forbid it.”

  “That bastard hurt you, he put you in danger. He needs to pay.”

  “It looked like you have already punished him.” She began to pace the room. “The law will make him pay. He kidnapped me. They will lock him up, or better yet, he’ll be transported.”

  She heard Kit swear under his breath.

  “If you love me you will not do this. You won’t risk our futu
re when it is not necessary.” Tears began to flow once more. “I cannot lose you now. Not ever.”

  He crossed the room to hold her. “Don’t upset yourself. Perhaps transportation is an apt punishment. But I warn you. If anyone tries to hurt you again they will have to go through me first. I won’t fail you a second time.”

  “You have not failed me. You love me. I can’t believe a man like you would love a girl like me.”

  He got down on one knee. “I may not be a rich man, but we will live a comfortable life. Everything I have I gladly lay at your feet, including my heart. I’m yours—” He took her hands in his. “If you’ll have me.”

  A smile escaped. “Are you asking me to be your wife? To be Mrs. Kit Hunter?”

  “Absolutely. Marry me. Make me the happiest man in the world and I will spend the rest of our days making you equally happy.”

  She lifted him up from where he was still kneeling on the floor, and embraced him, pulling his head down to kiss him with pure joy. “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love you so much.”

  “I love you more, Miss Dora Pinehurst.” His arms wrapped around her waist and he lifted her off her feet. “How much time do you think Molly will give us before she arrives with the bath.”

  “We could always go to your room and lock the door?”

  “I knew there was a reason I loved you so much, but…” He lowered her until her feet touched the floor. “I will do this right, so help me God. We will wait for our wedding night.”

  She stamped her foot. “I do wonder if it was wise falling in love with such an honorable man. This wedding better happen soon or I shall have to seduce you.”

  He grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I shall procure an ordinary license in the morning from Reverend Stringworth, and make the arrangements. How does the day after tomorrow sound to you?”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him until her senses swam. She pulled back when she heard footsteps approaching. “It sounds perfect. Absolutely perfect. Just like you.”