Lord Runthorne's Dilemma: A Regency Romance (18 page)

He sat in the chair next to her and took her hand.
“Your aunt tells me that, should news of your compromised position come out, and she assures me that it will, your reputation would be ruined.”

“
I am aware of that, sir.”

“
Then how can you sit there so calmly and tell me you will not marry a perfectly acceptable gentleman like Captain Fitzalan.” Captain Maybourne shook his head in disbelief.

Elizabeth
bit her lip and sighed. “I am sorry, sir, but there are things you do not know.”

“
What things?” Captain Maybourne surged to his feet and paced around his desk.

“
Elizabeth, Captain Fitzalan is a gentleman of, if not great, at least comfortable means. He is his uncle’s heir and will inherit a nice little property in time which will mean he will be able to keep you in greater style then you can expect at the moment.”

The
captain circled his desk and patted Elizabeth’s shoulder. “More than that, he is an extremely brave soldier who, I have been assured by my contacts in London, can hope for a profitable career despite his injuries. I fail to understand what more you could want, my dear.”

“
All that you say is true, sir, but I do not love him.”

Captain Maybourne
groaned. “My dear young lady, you cannot be so nice. Many couples marry who do not love each other and yet they live happily together.”

She
nodded. “I appreciate that, sir. Indeed many have told me that lately. However, you married my aunt for love. Surely you can understand that I want that for myself.”

Captain Maybourne coughed
and gazed out of the window. “Our situations are vastly different, Elizabeth,” he said, clasping his hands behind his back. “Your aunt’s reputation was not at risk.”

Elizabeth
paused, thinking. Slowly, choosing her words with care, she began to speak. “Captain Maybourne, loving my aunt as you do, would you have married another, to save that lady’s reputation? Would you have broken Aunt Edina’s heart, just because Society told you to marry one who did not and never could, love you?”

The captain
turned to face her. He narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying Elizabeth? Does Captain Fitzalan love someone else?”

“
Yes.”

Captain Maybourne
deflated. “Well, why the devil did he not say so? Your pardon, my dear, but that has put me quite out of temper.”

“
That is quite all right, sir.” Elizabeth smiled at his courtesy, albeit belated. “I am sure, sir, that I can enlighten you. Captain Fitzalan is a worthy man, as you know, but he is also proud and he would not want to be seen as a fortune hunter or to be robbing the schoolroom.”

“
Why should he, and why should it matter to me?”

“
Captain Fitzalan holds Mary in the highest regard,” Elizabeth said, abandoning all subtlety.

“
Mary? Oh, no, no, I will not allow him to marry her.”

“
May I ask why not, sir?” Elizabeth watched in interest as conflicting emotions raced across the captain’s face.

He began to pace again, not looking at her.
“It would not be right. I promised her father that I would treat her as my own, that she should never want for anything.”

“
Yet, you said Captain Fitzalan can expect a profitable career, sir,” Elizabeth said, mildly. “Also that he is a hero and could keep a wife in comfort.”

“
Do not parrot my words back at me, girl,” the captain said, although his lips twitched when he said it.

“
My apologies, sir.”

“
Hmm, well that aside, Mary is dear to me. Her father was not lucky in his career, but I have settled a great deal on her.”

“
Perhaps funds beyond what you consider acceptable might be put in trust for their children,” Elizabeth said.

“
No, I cannot support a marriage between Mary and Captain Fitzalan, however worthy he is. He is far too old for her. Why, there must be ten years between them.”

“
A little less, but that is hardly an impediment.”

“
Her father would have wanted her to marry a title, to better herself.”

“
Perhaps he would have wanted her to be happy,” Elizabeth said, softly.

The captain shot her an intense look.
“Does she return Captain Fitzalan’s regard?”

“
Oh yes, sir. I have no doubt about that. She lights up when she is with him.”

“
She is too young.”

“
That will be remedied by time.”

“
She should have a Season before committing to the first man she fancies.”

Elizabeth
nodded. “Of course, that is wise, sir. I am sure they would be willing to wait. Perhaps their betrothal could be announced after her first Season.”

There was a touch of admiration in
Captain Maybourne’s glare. “You think yourself very clever, young lady.”

“
No, sir,” Elizabeth said. “If I were clever there would have been no need for this conversation. I would have been married seven years ago.”

“
Hmm.” The captain leaned back in his chair and crossed his hand over his stomach. “Well, you may tell them that I will allow a betrothal should their attachment be unchanged. But only after Mary has experienced a full Season. Until then they must keep their attachment a secret. Now, run along, my dear, I have a great deal of thinking to do.”

Elizabeth
dropped a curtsy and closed the door behind her. She smiled as Captain Maybourne began to snore.

***

Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and contemplated the tip of her shoe peeping out from under her skirts. She frowned, not at the dark smudge on her slipper, but because she was becoming extremely concerned. It felt as though she had spent the entire day searching for Mary and Charles.

Perhaps she had, she had certainly
missed lunch and now she came to think of it, she had not eaten any breakfast either. Elizabeth sighed.

Slowly she began to walk, wondering what to do.
It seemed as though Mary and Charles had disappeared. Oh, they had been seen. A footman had seen Charles in the library then a maid had thought she had seen Mary in the long gallery, whilst Beranger, the butler, had been certain that one or the other had been heading out towards the maze. But no one was ever there when Elizabeth arrived.

Elizabeth
bit her lip. She could not go back to Captain Maybourne with her suspicions, if he suspected what she feared he would never countenance a marriage between Charles and Mary. Likewise, she could not confide in Aunt Edina. It was unthinkable that she speak to any of the Laceys, which left, she licked her lips nervously, Lord Runthorne.

Now her stomach twisted again, but not from hunger.
She decided she did not want to put a name to the sensation. Instead she straightened her shoulders. This was too important a matter to allow emotion to interfere.

Unlike
her two friends, he was easily found. He was idly knocking balls around the billiard table. When Elizabeth entered, a smile lit his face and she was barely able to keep an answering tilt from her lips.

“
Elizabeth, I have been wondering where you were, we need to speak about what happened.”

“
Yes,” she said, “we do need to speak, but not about that, not now.” She held up her hand. “Please, my lord, this is important.”

“
I am tired of you calling me that, Elizabeth,” he took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her fingers sending a shiver up her spine. “We will speak of nothing until I hear my name on your lips.”

Elizabeth
snatched her fingers away. “Please, do not ask that, not now.”

“
What is wrong, my dear?”

Elizabeth
sighed. “I wonder, my lord,” she said, more softly, “whether you have seen Charles recently?”

“
Not for some hours,” he said. “Perhaps he is walking in the gardens with Miss Granger. It is a very romantic location.” His smile was intimate and Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm.

“
I doubt it,” she said, with more conviction then she felt. “Mary has not been on speaking terms with him since, well, for some days.”

“
Since you were locked in the maze,” he said. “You must not worry about that, Elizabeth I am sure, now, that that situation was pre-arranged.” He sounded annoyed, not at her but on her behalf. “You have my word that your reputation will not be damaged by the pettiness of another.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Nevertheless, Mary took it hard.”

Now
he smiled. “You are so concerned for everyone else, my little love? But you must not worry. Charles and Miss Granger are friends again. They appeared on good terms when I last saw them.”

Elizabeth
ignored, with some difficulty, the flood of warmth she felt at his soft endearments. “Oh,” she said.

“
Oh?” He seemed surprised. “I would have thought you would have been pleased that they had reconciled their differences.”

“
I am, of course, but I have an awful premonition that they may have done something foolish.”

He
racked his cue. “Such as?”

Elizabeth
turned away, not wanting to say out loud what she feared. “You last saw them together some hours ago,” she said, instead. She knew he would understand her. “I have searched the entire house and most of the grounds and have not seen either of them anywhere.”

His
hand was gentle on her shoulder as he turned her back to face him. “Perhaps you just keep missing them,” he said.

“
Perhaps.” Then Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I do not think so.”

“
I see.” He frowned. “I hope you are wrong, Elizabeth.”

“
So do I, my lord.” She leaned into him and his arms circled her, his strength comforting her. She felt him drop a light kiss on her hair.

“
Do not despair, my love,” he said. “I will check in the stables, they may just have gone out for a ride. You should search your friend’s room, to be certain.”

“
Yes, you are right, James.”

“
Thank you.”

“
Oh.” Elizabeth tilted her head and looked up. His arms were still around her, holding without imprisoning her. She only had to take one step and she knew he would release her. Elizabeth placed her hands against his chest. She could feel his heart beating under her fingers.

She could not push him away.

“Perhaps you should go, my love.”

“
Yes.” But Elizabeth did not move.

He
smiled. It was a smile that lit his eyes. “I promise, we will continue this discussion later, my love.” He dropped his arms, running his hands slowly from her shoulders to her hands. He raised them to his lips and kissed each fingertip. “But for now,” he said, “time is of the essence.”

“
Yes.” Elizabeth’s voice sounded husky to her ears and she quickly cleared her throat, tearing her hands away. “I will go at once.”

She closed the door with a slam.

Fool,
her conscience mocked her.
One endearment and you are willing to throw away all honour, all sense.

“
Oh, be quiet.”

***

Mary’s room was two doors along from her own. Elizabeth knocked, not expecting a reply.

“
My love. Are you there?”

There was no answer.
She eased open the door. It was still possible that her friend was there, asleep, but, even before she looked at the bed, Elizabeth realised her hopes were fruitless.

The bed was neat, undisturbed, an island of calm in the chaos of the room.
The closet was open and clothes were strewn over the chair and floor. Mary’s large jewellery box was open but empty and the Grecian vase she had inherited from her mother was missing.

“
Oh, Mary, what have you done?”

Elizabeth
’s heart sank. Perched in front of the empty jewellery box was a neatly folded sheet of paper, with her name scrawled across it. Elizabeth opened it, her fingers shaking. She read the few words quickly and sank down onto the neat bed. She could no longer deny it.

They
had eloped.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“No carriages are missing, my lord.” Baines held the horses’ heads as James handed Elizabeth up into his curricle.

“
How about riding horses?” Elizabeth settled her skirts.

“
None missing, Miss.”

“
I am sure they would not have walked.”

James
swung up into his seat. “It is possible, Elizabeth. We can only pray that we will come upon them quickly.” He gathered the reins. “Let them go, Baines. Remember, this is to go no further.”

Baines sniffed.
“You don’t need to tell me that, my lord. Just find them and come back before they are missed.”

Twenty
minutes later Elizabeth was still sitting next to James as he raced his curricle along the narrow country lanes.

He drove in grim silence, leaving
Elizabeth to her thoughts. The sun was warm on her face and the air was delicately scented by hedgerow flowers. The seat was narrow and his long thigh pressed hers through her skirts, but Elizabeth just felt hollow.

“I have failed her.”

“
That is nonsense,” he said. He shifted, slowing the horses to take a tight bend. “Miss Granger might be young but she is still a grown woman. You cannot live her life for her.”

“
But she is my friend. I should have seen how unhappy she had become, and how desperate.”

He
grunted. “Well, as to that, I have not been much of a friend to Charles recently. I should have known what the idiot was planning.”

“
If they were on foot, we would have found them by now,” Elizabeth said, after a moment.

“
Yes.”

“
Could they have gone in a different direction?”

“
It is possible, Elizabeth, but I do not think so. Charles would have wanted to take Miss Granger somewhere safe as quickly as possible. I suspect he intended to hire a carriage somewhere. The nearest Inn is in this direction.”

Elizabeth
watched his strong hands, handling the highly strung purebreds so easily. The lane widened and James flicked the reins. The curricle rocked as they picked up speed. The birdsong had dropped and there was nothing to distract Elizabeth from the relentless heat beating down. She blinked, focusing on his long fingers. Her vision blurred around the edges.

“
James,” she said. There was a buzzing in her ears, almost as though she was surrounded by a swarm of bees.

“
You must not worry so, Elizabeth. We will find them.” His voice came from a long way away.

“
Elizabeth? Are you unwell?”

She was vaguely aware of his arm holding her against his side and she allowed her head to rest against his chest.
Then she gave in to the dark cloud surrounding her and closed her eyes.

After a moment, or an eternity, t
he sound under the wheels changed from beaten earth to cobbles. Voices shouted. She felt herself being lifted down and carried into a cool room and settled on a bench. A glass was pressed to her lips and she swallowed.

She coughed.

“
What is that?” she said, when she could finally speak.

“
Brandy,” James said. His eyes narrowed, searching her face. “No, drink it all,” he said, as she tried to push the glass away. “I know you think it tastes foul, but it is bringing some colour back to your cheeks.”

Elizabeth
obediently swallowed the last of the noxious liquid then leaned her head back against the wooden back of the settle. “Oh. I think I fainted,” she said.

“
I think so, too,” he said. He did not sound amused.

“
Please do not.”

He
sat beside her and stretched out his legs. “You were as white as paper,” he said. “Why did you not tell me you felt unwell?”

“
I am all right,” Elizabeth said, knowing that she sounded irritable. “I think I am just hungry and we hardly have time to stop for food.”

“
When did you last eat?”

Elizabeth
shook her head but quickly stopped. It ached too much. “I am not sure.”

“
Elizabeth?”

“
Last night,” she admitted. “But I just have not wanted to eat. I am quite well now.”

“
Stay there.” He stood and strode out of the room, leaving Elizabeth open mouthed at his rudeness.

He returned
after only a moment, followed by a bustling little woman carrying a laden tray.

“
James, we do not have time to eat,” Elizabeth said, although the delicious aromas rising from the tray made her mouth water.

“
Lord bless you, my lady,” the woman said, bobbing up and down, “this’ll take you no time at all to eat. I won’t have it said that a poor lady was turned away from The Swan without a bite.” She placed the tray on the low table next to Elizabeth and bobbed again.

“
One moment,” James said, as the woman turned to leave. “I wonder, have you seen a lady and gentleman pass by today? They may have been walking or they may have hired a carriage from you.”

The woman stopped, her brow furrowed in thought.
“Let me see,” she said. “I was out the back all morning, so I can’t speak for then.”

“
It is more likely our friends would have passed this afternoon,” he said.

“
Well, that’s a little easier, m’lord. I was out front helping my husband much of the afternoon. We do get busy then and Mr Clark gets quite rushed off his feet. Now let me see.” She began to tick off her fingers. “There were no hires but there was the doctor. He stopped for a glass after helping young Mrs Darney with her new babes. Twins, she had. Boys. Like she needs another mouth to feed, let alone two. I don’t know how she manages, I really don’t.”

“
Mrs Clark,” James said.

“
Sorry, m’lord.” Mrs Clark frowned in thought. “Then there was Sid, but you won’t be interested in him. Oh, the Rector passed by in his dog cart and I saw old Lady Carmichael’s carriage pass a little after him.”

Elizabeth
hid a smile. It did not sound as though the little woman had done anything other than watch the road. She nibbled on her bread and sipped her soup. It tasted wonderful and she realised how hungry she had been.

“
You saw no-one else?” James sounded as though he, too, was amused by the woman’s total recall.

“
No-one who would interest you, m’lord,” she said. “Although…” she stopped.

“
Although what?” Elizabeth said, her spoon poised, forgotten.

“
Well, m’lady, it’s odd, but Sid don’t normally pass by. Not when it’s noon time. He always stops for a nip. Today, though, he kept going and he had a fine mort, I mean lady, with him. Her man was with her too. I noticed, because Sid don’t normally carry passengers in his cart. Truth is, most people would rather walk.” The woman’s bosom rose as she laughed heartily.

James
passed over a coin. “Thank you, Mrs Clark,” he said. “It seems we have missed our friends on the road. Perhaps you would wrap up the bread. I think we must be on our way.”

“
Why thank you, my lord,” the woman said. She glanced at the coin in her hand. “Thank you, indeed, my lord. You are most generous.” Her curtsey was deeper now. She quickly gathered up the tray, smiling as Elizabeth finished her soup.

“
It was lovely, thank you,” Elizabeth said and was rewarded with another beaming smile.

“
Come, Elizabeth,” James said, helping her to her feet. “We do not have a moment to waste.”

“
You think the couple in Sid’s cart were Mary and Charles?” Elizabeth fought to keep the incredulity from her voice.

He
shook his head. “I cannot be sure, but it is the first possible sighting we have.

Elizabeth
shuddered. “It sounds awful. What do you think Sid normally carries in that cart?”

“
I dread to think.” His smile was grim. He handed Elizabeth up into his curricle, waiting whilst she re-arranged her skirts. Once she was settled, he passed up the parcel of food from the innkeeper’s wife and swung himself up.

“
What are you smiling at,” he said.

Elizabeth
shook her head, nothing on earth would make her admit that she had been admiring his agility and the way his muscles moved in his strong arms. But, from the gleam in his eye Elizabeth suspected that he was reading her mind.

Again.

***

Elizabeth
woke with a shiver. The sun was low on the horizon now and the heat had leeched from the day. James’ shoulder was hard under her cheek, an oasis of warmth against the evening chill.

“
I am sorry,” she said, sitting upright, putting a little distance between them.

His
eyes softened when he glanced at her. “That is all right, Elizabeth, you were tired,” he said. “There is a blanket behind you, if you are cold.”

Elizabeth
twisted and found the soft blanket tucked away behind the seat. “Thank you,” she said, snuggling into the warm folds.

His
smile was amused. “You are more than welcome.”

Elizabeth
returned his smile with a tentative one of her own. Despite her concerns for her friend, she felt comfortable next to him, not just physically, now she was warmer, but emotionally. Somehow she knew he would make everything right.

“
It’s getting late,” she said into the silence. “Have you any idea how far they could have gone?”

“
The cart was seen a little while ago,” James said. His face was grim. “The farmer did not remember seeing either Charles or Miss Granger, but he recognised Sid. Apparently, the man makes a small living by carting, ah, fertilizer from one farm to another.”

Elizabeth
blinked as she thought about that. She had lived in the country a long time. A slow smile grew on her lips. “Oh dear,” she said. She chuckled. “Mary would not have liked that. She is quite fastidious, you know.”

“
I do not think Charles would have liked it either,” James agreed. “But it is no more than they deserve for causing you so much worry.”

Elizabeth
rearranged the folds of her blanket, grateful for the clean scent. Poor Mary, she thought.

“
What have we here?”

Elizabeth
followed his pointing finger. It was growing darker and the shadows were lengthening, almost hiding the cart that had fallen into the ditch running alongside the road. He pulled his horses to a stop and jumped down.

“
Stay there,” he said.

Elizabeth
pushed back her blanket and climbed down. She was not going to wait tamely in the curricle. She rubbed her arms against the cool air.

“
I told you to stay in the curricle,” he said.

“
Yes, I heard you perfectly clearly, James,” Elizabeth said. “I did not come with you, just so you would have a meek female to order about. Mary is my friend. If she is hurt, I want to help.”

“
I would never think you meek, Elizabeth. On the contrary you are possibly the most obstinate female I have ever met,” James said.

Elizabeth
ignored him and stepped around him so that she could see into the cart. “I do not see anything,” she said.

A low groan
came from the shadows and Elizabeth clasped her fingers. It did not sound like Mary or Charles, but somebody was hurt.

“
If you move one inch from that point…”

Elizabeth
waited to see if he was going to finish his threat. He gave a helpless growl and shook his head before jumping down into the ditch.

“
Just please, stay where you are until I know what has happened,” he said.

His concern for her was so evident in his voice that she could not deny him.
“Of course, James,” she said.

“
Well, I think we have found Sid,” James said, after a moment. There was a rustle and the cart shifted. There was another groan and he reappeared helping a man out of the ditch.

Elizabeth
took an involuntary step back. Once out of the shadows, Elizabeth realised that the man was not as old as she had originally thought. He was lean to the point of emaciation and his hair was sparse, but he still appeared to have most of his teeth if his grimace was anything to go by.

“
I can see a portmanteau and a hatbox in the cart but no sign of Charles or Miss Granger,” he said.

Sid tried to dart away, but
James had him firmly by the scruff of the neck. “I didn’t do nothing,” he said, his voice a nasal whine. “They said as how I could have them.”