by Rosie Wynter
“Thank you,” Claire said, a pained smile spreading over her features. She looked at Mrs Mullins then, and her own countenance became more serious. “Please, will you go up to my room and pack a few things for me? I must speak to my aunt. I am sure she will want to accompany me on this venture.”
Chapter 16
Claire was relieved when she discovered her aunt was sympathetic to her request. When she had first suggested going up to Gretna Green, in anticipation of Mr Hawkins’ being there, she had thought her aunt and Lord Dalton would try to dissuade her. Indeed, there were many reasons why Claire should not get herself involved, nor try to force her aunt or the earl to travel so far from London. The journey to Gretna Green was by no means a short trip. Even if they took the earl’s private carriage and changed the drivers and horses to ensure they could speed on through the night, it would still be a journey of several days. If this were not bad enough, Claire had no real proof that Mr Hawkins would even be there. She had an inner conviction that the poet would not deign to marry anywhere else, but there was no other evidence that she could offer in support of her assertions.
Then there was also the matter of her motives. Miss Rosingden was neither an acquaintance of Claire’s nor of the Duchess of Lynch. Mr Rosingden was a nearby neighbour to Lord Dalton, but they were hardly close friends. When it came down to it, the earl and her aunt could have refused to indulge Claire, on the grounds that Miss Rosingden’s union with the poet was really of no concern to any of them. Nonetheless, the duchess seemed to understand that Claire wanted to help the poor girl, and that this action might allow her to put the unfortunate events that she had been part of behind her once and for all.
During the first hours of travel away from London, Claire quietly reflected on how grateful she was to both her aunt and the earl for indulging her and in choosing to act so quickly. Lord Dalton, in particular, had no reason to assist Claire in any endeavour. After she had ignored him at Holdenwood Manor and had thrown away his friendship and attention as though they were nothing at all, it was a wonder that he agreed to take a carriage all the way to Scotland for her benefit alone. As she reflected on this, Claire realised just what an inconvenience she was being to the man. Worse, the earl had left London with her, in such a hurry, that no one in London would be even be aware that he had left the city at all.
“I do hope that your agreeing to help me in this endeavour does not end up causing you a great deal of inconvenience, my Lord,” Claire said rather haltingly.
“Please, think nothing of it. I trust your instincts in this matter. If we can help to stop a young girl from throwing her life away on Mr Hawkins, then I will consider our time well spent.” The earl had sat for much of the opening stages of the journey in a sombre silence. His attention was on the window, his eyes staring out at the world, without seeming to see it at all. His whole body seemed to be held tensely, which made it difficult for Claire to believe his carefree and easy answer to her question.
“Still, you must have much to do in London at this time… Miss Lambert will surely be wondering what has become of you.”
The earl’s Adam’s apple moved and he was slow to answer. When he did find words, his tone was quite serious.
“I am quite certain that Amelia will give me an earful for this, you are quite right. However, if we are successful in our endeavour and are able to thwart this ill-advised union between Mr Hawkins and Miss Rosingden, then I am sure she will understand and will accept that this journey was necessary.”
“And,” Aunt Lynch chimed in, “... if it turns out that your instincts in this matter are wrong and that you have led us all the way to Scotland for nothing, then I am sure the earl will receive the proper rebuke for acting so impulsively.” She patted her niece’s knee as she smiled.
As was so often the case, Aunt Lynch seemed to be treating the whole ordeal as some kind of amusing escapade. Claire had to wonder if her aunt had agreed to the whole plan just to have an opportunity to bring Claire and Lord Dalton back into one another’s company for an extended period. It was possible her aunt still harboured the vain hope of bringing the pair together. Claire knew full well that it was likely too late for that. He had more or less confirmed his ties to the young woman in the way he had behaved in the company of Miss Lambert, and in how he felt comfortable referring to her by her first name.
Once the journey was well and truly underway, Claire began to feel some discomfort setting in. It had been the easiest thing in the world to commit to the journey to Scotland on the spur of the moment, and when she had heard of Mr Hawkins’ plan, she had been quick to decide the destination. Still, she had not considered how long the trip to Gretna Green truly was. Even riding in a private carriage of the very best make, and with two drivers, the trio was still looking at four days’ journey in each other’s company. This might have been an enjoyable experience, were it not for the obvious and painful discomfort that made itself felt between the earl and Claire.
Claire’s feelings seemed to vacillate by the hour, and her heart felt like a boiling sea caught in a storm. At times, she caught herself looking at the earl and admiring him as she had once done before Mr Hawkins had crept into her world. She caught herself gazing in admiration at his strong features, or his resolute eyes as they stared at the British countryside. During that time, in which she had believed herself in love with Mr Hawkins, she had forced herself to forget the earl’s many physical charms, and she now wondered how she had ever been able to block them from her mind.
It was not just Lord Dalton’s handsomeness that weighed upon Claire’s mind during the long hours of travel across the length of the country. Throughout the ride, the earl demonstrated many of those favourable facets of his personality that Claire had once admired. He was not in any way like Mr Hawkins. Whereas Mr Hawkins used words to communicate his admiration and attraction to a person, Lord Dalton demonstrated his feelings through actions and deeds.
Of course, if Claire wanted any proof of the man’s noble intent, she only had to consider how generous he was being in taking her to Scotland. There were very few who would think to indulge her in such a matter. Certainly, he had every right to refuse her after her rejection of him in the past. Still, his small acts of generosity, and the attentiveness he displayed, touched Claire’s heart. Over the course of the journey, she managed to lose count of the many subtle and small acts of kindness he performed for her and her aunt.
While haste was essential in their mission, the earl knew that they could not spend the entire journey on the road. Though he was willing to work his drivers until late in the night, he still ensured that the carriage stopped each evening so that Claire and the Duchess of Lynch had an opportunity to enjoy a proper night’s rest.
Another of the man’s noble actions came in his determination to assist Claire’s discovery of Mr Hawkins and the girl he was travelling with. At each inn and village where they stopped along the road, Lord Dalton took the time to question the delivery men and coach house owners about people who had recently passed through. His enquiries yielded no information on Mr Hawkins or Miss Rosingden, but he made them all the same. Claire had offered to accompany him, even to take over the task of questioning the locals they met along the road. Still, the earl was determined to do everything for her himself. Whenever they paused, his only concern for Claire and her aunt was that they rested and had something warm to eat to keep them refreshed and sustained.
With all the earl had done and was doing for her, Claire was not at all surprised to find herself falling in love with the gentleman, only this time the feeling was far more certain in her mind. With the poet, she had to determine her emotions. Though she had always told herself that Mr Hawkins was everything she had always wanted in a man, some part of her had remained uncertain. In the end, it was only her stubborn streak and desire to stand up against her family that had made her cling to the poet as her one and only. Unfortunately, discovering her feelings for Lord Dalton blossoming anew was a most pa
inful and unwanted experience.
The earl had been very tactful during the journey. Perhaps knowing that the subject might pain her, he chose to speak very little of Miss Lambert, except where the matter was unavoidable. When he did speak of her, Claire could feel a real sense of love and devotion. Of course, this was to be expected. Lord Dalton was not the kind to fall in love idly or to settle on a woman for any reason other than love. With this in mind, Claire knew she did not have to ask for information about the woman to know where she stood in Lord Dalton’s heart.
As insidious and improper as it was, Claire soon realised that the existence of Miss Lambert had served to inflame her own desire for Lord Dalton. It was as if knowing that the man would be taken from her and taken into the arms of another, added to her desire for him. Not that there was anything Claire could do to change that. After the way she had rejected him at Holdenwood Manor and had happily ignored him while lavishing praise on Mr Hawkins, she knew it was her fault that the man had been driven into the arms of another.
Claire had to accept the awful truth: she was more in love with Lord Dalton than she ever had been before... in fact, more in love than she ever had been or ever would be with another man. However, she had to accept that her feelings would not be returned.
Chapter 17
Eventually, the travellers arrived in Gretna Green. The place where so many young couples fled to marry in secret was not quite as romantic a setting as Claire had expected it would be. In the novels and stories she had read, Gretna Green was characterised by its clear cloudless skies, its quaint houses, and cheerful villagers who offered hospitality and shelter to young, penniless couples in love. The church was garlanded in hanging flowers, and its bells were ever-ringing in celebration of the marriages. The blacksmith’s shop was always lit with a welcoming and warm fire. However, as she had come to learn over the past days, the realities of the world rarely corresponded to the fantasies she and others had written of and dreamt about.
Gretna Green was a place like any other. Its inhabitants had their own burdens, wants and concerns, and paid little to no attention to the travellers passing through. Indeed, those who did look in Claire’s direction, as she wandered the village, seemed apt to give her disapproving looks. It did not take her long to realise the reason for those frosty stares.
At the local inn, the proprietor had greeted the earl and Claire with a weary look. The man was in his late forties and his eyes were lined with deeply-set wrinkles, suggesting many a sleepless night. His inn was well-kept and furnished and there was a suggestion that the man was doing well for himself in the expensive clothes he wore.
“Up from London, are you?” the man asked, in a rather peculiar accent. Claire had not heard the Scottish accent often in her life, but the landlord did not seem to possess what she considered to be a proper Scottish burr.
“Yes, Sir,” as normal, the Duchess of Lynch was quick to get to the point of the matter, not wishing to exchange unnecessary words with the landlord.
“It has been a long journey, and I would very much like to be shown to a room where I can lie down. I need to relax the cricks in my neck that were occasioned by spending so long confined in a carriage.”
“It is not often that we host a couple running to Gretna Green, who bring an older relative with them. If the young pair have the good wishes of their family, then what need have they of coming here? Or, is it only your mother here who approves your match?”
Claire’s brow knotted as she tried to understand just what it was the proprietor was asking. Her mind was slow and sluggish from so many days on the road, and it took her a while to understand just what the man meant.
“I caution you not to make assumptions about any of us, Sir,” the duchess admonished. “I am not this young lady’s mother. I am her aunt, the Duchess of Lynch, accompanied by the Earl of Dalton. More importantly, my niece has not come here to affect a clandestine marriage with this man.”
Claire straightened up and her cheeks reddened. He actually assumed that she and the earl had come to Gretna Green to marry. Claire’s eyes darted to the earl and saw his hands were fidgeting as she studied his expression.
“While I would be the first to agree that there is much to recommend this young woman, I cannot say I have the honour of being her fiancé,” Lord Dalton answered the landlord directly. “Certainly, were I to have chosen her as my life’s partner, I would not look to sully our union by marrying in secret. She deserves far better than that.”
The earl’s chest puffed up as he spoke, and he seemed to square up against the landlord. Although his words were all politeness, there was a suggestion of a threat in his body language. It was clear he would not suffer any further insults, even if they were made unintentionally.
“Forgive me, my Lord… your Grace…” The proprietor struggled to address Lord Dalton by his correct title, or perhaps he was still disbelieving that a duchess or an earl could have come up from London, seeking lodgings at his inn. Claire could hardly blame the man. With so many young couples arriving in Gretna Green each year to be married, it stood to reason that the proprietor would assume that all travellers stopping at his inn were there for that reason.
“I will pardon the offence your remarks have caused, as I do not think it was made deliberately,” Lord Dalton said. “I hope that, as I am willing to overlook this transgression, you might prove to be of assistance to my companions and I, in a most delicate matter.”
The innkeeper raised a brow and took a step closer. “How can I be of service?” he asked. His voice was sleazy-sounding, and Claire could not help escape the impression that the man was looking to charge them for whatever service the earl asked of him.
“Our business and our journey to Gretna Green are simple,” the earl said. “We are in pursuit of a man by the name of Hawkins who we believe is travelling here to wed a wealthy young debutant called Miss Rosingden. We hope to intercept the couple before they can make their declarations before God.”
“Ah, I think I understand,” the landlord replied, nodding. “I take it you are friends or relatives of the girl?”
“Neighbours. Not that it is any business of yours…” Lord Dalton said. He clasped his hands behind his back, straightening up and adopting a more business-like air. He was taller than the innkeeper, and his powerful frame gave him an intimidating look.
“Our reasons for looking to halt this wedding are of no consequence to you. All you need to know is that we are looking for the pair and would appreciate any information that will lead us to them. It is my great hope that we have beaten the couple here. They would most likely be travelling by postal coach and so we should have a full day on them.”
“… And I suppose my part in this plan would be to inform you should the unlucky couple seek a room here?” The innkeeper scratched his cheek as he thought it over.
“Does that present any problem for you?” the earl asked in a disinterested voice.
“Well, our little community here in Gretna Green owes much of its wealth to the steady stream of couples who pass through here seeking to marry under adversity, though we take no pride in that. It would hardly be advantageous to our reputation if we were to betray the whereabouts of a young couple, such as those you seek. Though you may object to their union, who am I to say that they should not be conjoined in love? Why, I feel–”
“Of course, if you believe aiding us would detract from your business in the future, I am happy to see you compensated for the trouble.” The earl reached for his purse and handed the entire bag of coins over to the innkeeper. He did not show any hesitancy or regret at handing over the substantial sum, demonstrating once again his desire to see Claire’s mission completed successfully.
The innkeeper peered into the leather pouch and dug his fingers deep inside.
“I believe you will find this amount more than enough to pay for our lodgings, meals, and your aid in helping us track down Hawkins and Miss Rosingden,” the earl suggested.
&nbs
p; “Yes, yes! I believe this should do nicely,” the man said eagerly. He was quick to put the pouch away, ensuring it remained in his possession and out of reach of the earl. “You and your two lady friends can be assured of a good room each and hot meals for as long as you intend to stay here. I will keep an ear out for the couple you seek, and I will be sure to inform you, should they come by here.”
The earl’s eyes narrowed, as he weighed up the man before him. Claire, who had been silent through the entire confrontation, could not help feeling there was a certain slipperiness about the innkeeper. She did not feel comfortable entrusting the spotting of Mr Hawkins and Miss Rosingden to the man. Still, they had little choice in the matter. The inn was the closest to the blacksmith shop where so many secret marriages were carried out, and it was more than likely that Miss Rosingden and Mr Hawkins would stop off there and make reservations before marrying on the green.
Once the three companions had been shown to their rooms, Lord Dalton invited Claire to walk about the village. The Duchess of Lynch was reluctant to indulge them, but finally agreed to it, if she accompanied them, albeit at a short distance. She dryly commented that despite the fact that the inhabitants of the village would be used to the sight of a man and woman walking together unchaperoned, she was not going to throw etiquette to the wind just because they were in Scotland. She added that it was her appreciation of the duke’s good character that led her to agree, leaving Claire suspecting that her aunt currently did not hold her in quite the same regard.
Still she put these thoughts aside as she strolled beside the earl, her aunt lagging a short distance behind. It was the perfect opportunity for her to thank him for his seemingly infinite kindness.