by Laura Martin
Josh didn’t even shout a warning, knowing surprise was his best weapon. Launching himself at the closest man, he crashed into his back, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Without pausing to take a breath he swung a punch at the second man, hitting him squarely on the jaw and feeling the force of the impact jar up his arm. The man’s head snapped back and he stumbled, blinking with disorientation and clutching his face in pain.
The third man was the one holding onto the woman’s arm and Josh had to manoeuvre himself to make sure he didn’t catch her with his elbow as he pulled back to deliver another punch. He’d lost the element of surprise but the man’s inebriation worked in Josh’s favour as he stood there open-mouthed for a moment before attempting to hit out. Josh dodged the poorly aimed punch and delivered one of his own.
‘Get out of here,’ he growled, watching intently as the men eyed him up before two of them turned back to pull on the third man’s arm. Josh’s eyes met his and for a long moment they stared at each other, before the man allowed his friends to guide him away.
Josh watched them go, making sure they didn’t change their minds, before he turned to the woman shaking beside him. As she looked up at him he was shocked to see Lady Elizabeth, dishevelled from the tussle but still looking radiant in the morning light. Her cheeks were wet with tears and she had a red mark on one where it looked as if one of the men had slapped her.
‘Did they harm you?’ He watched as her eyes focussed in on his momentarily, widening as she recognised him.
‘Mr Ashburton.’
‘Are you hurt?’ he repeated. She seemed dazed, in shock, and not able to concentrate on him. Her eyes kept flitting from side to side as if searching for her attackers. ‘Lady Elizabeth.’ He placed a hand gently on her arm and at the first touch she flinched away, but as he slowly increased the pressure just a little it calmed her. She was shaking under his hand but after a few seconds her eyes came up and met his again and this time he could tell she was starting to relax just a fraction.
‘No, not hurt.’ A hand flew to her cheek and she touched the red mark, wincing as she did so.
‘They hit you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you know them?’
She shook her head, looking down at her crumpled dress and beginning to try to straighten it.
‘Come and sit down, tell me what happened.’
Allowing him to take her by the arm, Lady Elizabeth followed as he led her out to a more open area of the park. He reasoned they would both feel more comfortable if they could see who was approaching from all directions without any bushes or trees to hide a lurking figure.
As they sat his knees brushed hers and for a second they both stiffened at the contact. Lady Elizabeth moved away quickly, perching on the very end of the bench so there was a good foot of space between them.
‘Thank you,’ she said quietly, her eyes coming up to meet his. Under her scrutiny he felt his pulse quicken and he had the urge to close the space between them, to sit so his knees touched hers, his hand rested on her thigh.
‘You don’t need to thank me.’
‘If you hadn’t been there...’ She shuddered as she trailed off.
‘Don’t think about it.’
Lady Elizabeth glanced down, frowning as she saw his bloody knuckles.
‘Your hand is hurt.’
Josh hadn’t even noticed the blood. He remembered a jolt of pain as his fist had connected with the second man’s jaw, but in the heat of the moment it had been pain soon forgotten.
‘It’s nothing. It will heal in a couple of days. What happened, Lady Elizabeth?’
She was silent for a little while and Josh began to wonder if she was going to answer him.
‘I always wake up early, well before anyone else in the house. At home I ride along the cliffs for an hour or so before breakfast, but we couldn’t bring the horses to town.’ She smiled faintly and Josh wondered if the poised Lady Elizabeth was in fact almost as out of place in London as he was. ‘I just wanted some fresh air.’
‘Forgive my ignorance in the ways of London society, but I thought a young lady always took a maid or chaperon with her wherever she went.’
‘I’m supposed to whilst in London, but do you know how suffocating that is? Never to be alone?’ She shook her head. ‘I won’t make the same mistake again. I knew I should have stuck to the main path or perhaps not come into the park at all, but it just looked so beautiful in the morning light.’
He had thought the very same thing as he’d entered Hyde Park through the main gates.
‘I think those men were on their way home. They smelled as though they’d been drinking all night.’ She gave a little shudder at the memory.
‘They grabbed you?’
‘Yes. Pulled me around a little, tried to...touch me.’ She paused and then looked over at him again. ‘I’m very glad you came by when you did, Mr Ashburton. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life.’ Lady Elizabeth gave a little humourless laugh and clasped her delicate hands together in her lap, her knuckles turning white under the pressure. ‘I suppose that sounds pathetic, as if I’ve led a very sheltered life.’
‘Three men attacked you, Lady Elizabeth. I would be worried if that hadn’t scared you.’
‘You were very quick to dispatch them.’
‘They were drunk. I doubt I could have been so effective against three men if they had been sober.’ He was being modest. Josh led a physical life in India; he might be in line to inherit the business very soon but his guardian had insisted he get to know each aspect inside out, which had involved working each of the different jobs for a period of time. His muscles had grown strong under the Indian sun and his reflexes fast as he’d worked the machinery in the workshops. ‘Would you like me to walk you home?’
‘That would be kind, thank you, but not yet. If you have a few minutes to spare?’
He couldn’t think of anywhere else in the world that he wanted to be more right now than on a bench in Hyde Park with Lady Elizabeth.
* * *
Beth could still feel her hands shaking every time she relaxed her fists. For a moment, before Mr Ashburton had arrived, she’d thought she was about to be dragged into the undergrowth and taken advantage of. Perhaps the men would have come to their senses before that, but their judgement had been clouded by the alcohol that was making them stagger and she had felt real fear.
In many ways she’d led a very sheltered existence. She could remember trips to London when she was young, always short-lived as her father hadn’t been keen on leaving her sister home alone for too long, but her mother had insisted Annabelle wasn’t to come with them. The trips had stopped when her father had fallen ill, and then a few years later he’d died and most of the properties had gone to a cousin, a male heir. They’d kept the house in Sussex and the London town house, but soon even that had to be sold to pay for upkeep on Birling View. Since then she’d lived a quiet life at home with her mother and sister, untroubled by the outside world.
‘Come take a stroll with me. It is turning into a glorious morning.’ Mr Ashburton stood and offered her his arm. She hesitated for a moment, then stood and placed her hand into the crook of his elbow. ‘I’ve never been in a park like this before,’ he said quietly, ‘with the carefully planned rolling landscape and trees planted to draw the eye.’
Beth followed his gaze and looked out over the park from their vantage point. It was beautiful and as they started to stroll she felt some of the tension she had been carrying start to ease.
‘Actually that must be a lie,’ he said with a broad smile. ‘When I was a child we spent much of our time in London, but do you know I can’t remember a jot of it? I was six when I left, and, although I can remember the people, the places are all a complete blank.’
‘Why did you leave?’
‘Our parents died. Mother first a
nd Father soon after. Congestion of the chest, so I’m told.’
‘I am sorry.’
‘Thank you. It was a long time ago but I do often wonder what life would have been like if they’d survived.’
Beth glanced up at him, marvelling at the easy, open way he spoke. Most of her acquaintances were stiff and formal, even when amongst friends, but Mr Ashburton spoke freely, giving away little parts of himself in the conversation.
‘Why did you go to India?’
‘Whilst Leo stayed here?’
Beth nodded. It was an odd arrangement, the two brothers separated after their parents’ deaths.
‘They struggled to find anyone to look after us. We have no close family, no one young at least. Miss Culpepper is a great-aunt or something of the sort, she’s the closest relative, and then there’s Lord Abbingdon—he was a widower and did not want the burden of someone else’s children.’ He paused for a moment as he led her down to the edge of the Serpentine and chose a path that continued by its edge. ‘In the end Miss Culpepper agreed to take Leo—he’s the eldest, of course, the heir. Luckily for me Mr Usbourne stepped in and offered to take me.’
‘Mr Usbourne was not a relative?’
‘No, a friend of our father’s. He tells me he held back at first because he knew he was off to India, but when no family would take me he and his wife were secretly pleased. They couldn’t have children, and they loved me like a son from the day they picked me up.’
Beth felt a pang of sympathy for the little boy Mr Ashburton had been, orphaned, with only his brother left, and then told no one wanted to take him in.
‘Don’t feel sorry for me, Lady Elizabeth. I’ve had a good life, better than most. Leo might be the heir, the one chosen to stay, but I grew up as part of a family.’
‘And you haven’t seen your brother since you left England all those years ago?’
He shook his head. ‘Twenty-five years is a long time. We write, of course, but there is only so much you can learn about someone from a letter.’
The park was still quiet, with the odd couple strolling in the distance; they had this stretch of path by the lake completely to themselves.
‘Thank you,’ Beth said quietly.
Mr Ashburton turned to her and gave her a puzzled look.
‘For distracting me. I know it was your intent, and it has worked.’
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners just a little. Beth felt the need to take a deep breath, as if there weren’t enough air to sustain her in the immediate vicinity.
‘Happy to be of service, Lady Elizabeth.’
‘I should be getting home. Would you be so kind as to escort me?’ She didn’t want to leave; if she could have her way she would continue strolling round Hyde Park with Mr Ashburton all day, but soon her mother would rise and Beth knew if she wasn’t home by then she would have to endure another lecture about how she should behave, and that would not include leaving the house at daybreak for a walk unchaperoned in the park.
‘Of course. Now, how do we get out of here?’
They both looked around for a moment, disorientated by the different paths they had taken. Beth didn’t want to go back the way they’d come, that would mean passing through the area she had been attacked in, and so she pointed for them to continue the way they’d been walking.
‘I’m sure there will be a gate this way.’
They continued to stroll through the park, eventually coming upon a gate that allowed them back onto the streets. It didn’t take long for Beth to orientate herself once they were back on more familiar territory and within fifteen minutes they had turned the corner into Egerton Gardens.
‘Thank you,’ Beth said as they paused at the bottom of the steps that led up to the house.
‘You’re welcome, Lady Elizabeth.’
Beth waited a moment longer, unsure why she was hesitating. He had delivered her home, just as he’d said he would, and now here they were. Really there was nothing more to say, nothing more to wait for, but wait she did, unable to break the force that seemed to hold them together.
Looking down at her shoes, she took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stepped in a little closer to Mr Ashburton at exactly the moment he did the same. Their bodies collided with a soft bump and Beth felt the tautness of Mr Ashburton’s muscles beneath his clothes. His arms came up and steadied her, holding her firmly just above the elbows until he was sure she had regained her balance, and even then he lingered a little longer.
Beth’s heart was pounding, her body overcome with an unfamiliar heat, and she had the urge to rise up onto her tiptoes and brush her lips against his. Even as she had the thought she knew it could never be, but her body swayed closer to him rebelliously.
She saw a flash of something that looked very much like desire in Mr Ashburton’s eyes before he dropped his hands from her arms so quickly it was as though she’d burnt him.
‘Goodbye, Lady Elizabeth,’ he said, taking a step back.
She couldn’t reply, not trusting her voice to come out as anything more than a squeak. Instead she nodded briefly and hurried up the steps, only allowing herself to breathe once she was inside the house with the door closed behind her.
Chapter Four
Josh paced in front of the unlit fireplace, aware of the tension in his shoulders and the minute clenching of his jaw. He knew exactly why he was worked up but he didn’t want to admit it to himself. In half an hour Leo would leave for his evening with Lady Elizabeth. He would spend the next few hours strolling through Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens with Lady Elizabeth on his arm, discussing the world and the future.
‘Stop it,’ he murmured to himself. It wasn’t right for him to feel this dash of jealousy. Lady Elizabeth was promised to Leo and he had no right to think of her as anything more than his future sister-in-law.
Leo walked into the room, holding a letter in his hand and frowning deeply.
‘Is there a problem?’
‘There could be. Lord Abbingdon has been taken unwell. He’s summoned me to his bedside immediately.’
‘Do you think it is serious?’
‘He’s not a young man and the tone of the letter is grave, but I suppose I will not know for sure until I get there.’
‘Do you want me to accompany you?’
‘No, I’ll ride until nightfall and complete the journey tomorrow.’ He shook his head. ‘Of course, it means I will have to cancel my plans with Lady Elizabeth.’
‘I’m sure she will understand.’
‘Unless...’
Josh looked up, seeing the question in his brother’s eyes.
‘Unless?’
‘You could go, take Lady Elizabeth to the gardens. It may work better than cancelling. I only have six weeks, after all, to make my decision. You can be my eyes and ears, let me know what you think of her.’
He knew he should say no, he should tell Leo to send a message to Lady Elizabeth cancelling their excursion, but Josh hesitated for just a second.
‘Wonderful. I knew I could rely on you.’
‘Surely it would be better to postpone. You may be back in a few days and you could take her then,’ Josh said as he finally found his voice.
‘I trust you, Josh. I know it’s a bit of a bore, but it means a lot to me. Thank you.’ Leo clapped him on the back and Josh could see his brother’s mind had already moved on, probably planning his imminent trip to Lord Abbingdon’s country residence. ‘I’ll try not to be long in Kent, hopefully only a day or two, with a couple more for travelling.’ Leo looked at him earnestly. ‘I know our time together is short.’
‘I’ll be here when you get back. There’s no rush.’
‘I’d better pack. Give my regards to Lady Elizabeth.’
‘I will.’
* * *
An hour later he rapped on Lady Elizabeth’s fron
t door, listening to the maid’s footsteps as she approached and fumbled with the door before opening it.
‘Mr Ashburton for Lady Elizabeth.’
‘Come in, sir, Lady Hummingford is in the drawing room.’
Josh followed the maid upstairs to the narrow room he’d been shown into the day before when he’d visited with Leo.
‘Mr Ashburton, how wonderful to see you again. Elizabeth has been looking forward to this evening all day. She’s talked of little else.’
‘My brother...’ he began, meaning to give Leo’s apologies, but at that moment Lady Hummingford continued speaking and Lady Elizabeth also entered the room. Josh’s words trailed off as he took in the sight of Lady Elizabeth dressed for an evening out. She was wearing a midnight-blue dress with silver flowers embroidered across the bodice and along the hem. It had long sleeves, it was only April after all, but the neckline dipped tantalisingly to show the smooth skin of her chest. She was carrying a pale grey shawl, silky in look, again with silver flowers embroidered along the edge.
Josh saw her eyes narrow slightly in confusion as she looked at him. Her mother might have no idea that it was the wrong Mr Ashburton standing in their drawing room, but Lady Elizabeth did.
‘I’m terribly sorry, Mr Ashburton, I know I was meant to accompany you and Elizabeth this evening, but I have come down with the most awful headache,’ Lady Hummingford said, a pained expression on her face. ‘I have arranged for our good friends Mr and Mrs Wilson to meet you at the gardens and act as chaperon, if that is acceptable?’