Prelude to Love (19 page)

She looked at their retreating forms, feeling excluded from important and very interesting goings-on. She did not quite forget it was her own wish that she be taken to her aunt, yet it seemed hard that she must miss out on the denouement of the adventure. Landon, in his usual arrogant, overbearing way was assuming control of the whole, bending prime minister and all of officialdom to his whim. It was
her
father who had sent the letter. She felt very much abused.

"The colonel didn't waste a minute, did he?" the clerk commented with an approving smile. "It was a wise decision to send him down to the coast, though I think it severe he was not given some time off after his return from India."

"Is that where he has been? He never said so. I wondered why he was so dark."

"Indeed yes. Have you not been reading of his exploits amongst the Marathas?"

"No, I haven't followed it," she answered, knowing she displayed her ignorance. India was so far away, and wars with Indians, despite her father's following the matter with the greatest concern, had never interested her.

"Young ladies have more entertaining things to do with their time," the clerk answered, not disapprovingly, but with calm acceptance of ladies' folly. "Now, what can I do for you, Miss Bradford? Would you like me to take you somewhere?"

"I have to go to Belgrave Square."

"I shall arrange for a couple of Guards to accompany you. The colonel mentioned you might be in some danger."

She was not at all eager for a pair of elegant Guards to see her in Mrs. Euston's gown. In fact, she did not want to go to Aunt Halford at all, to sit in a saloon sipping tea and talking with an elderly and very boring gossip, while Landon went chasing Carlisle, doing
her
duty for her.

Her country was in peril, and what was her contribution? To wound and obstruct in every way the man who was trying to save it, the man who had the prime minister running at a word. She could at least go to the stage stop and see if Carlisle and Mrs. Euston were there. With a pair of Guards to protect her and to arrest them, there would be no real danger in it, and it would give Landon a better opinion of her mettle. She realized then how much she wanted his good opinion.

Even while these thoughts ran through her mind, two very capable-looking gentlemen, not in uniform but in ordinary blue jackets, bustled past. "He said four o'clock. We'll never make it. They'll have asked for the trunk and gone."

"The stage is always late," the other answered. "Bond Street stop, wasn't it?"

"That's what he said."

They were gone, rushing out the door. Landon had remembered to handle the matter, with no help from her. A glance at her watch showed her it wanted only two minutes of four. They would not make it unless the stage was very late indeed.

"I'm going with them," she said, taking the decision on the spur of the moment.

"Wait! Colonel Landon said ..."

"I'll be safe with two men to guard me," she called over her shoulder.

She flapped along after them, stumbling at every second step with her torn shoe. She caught them up, panting wildly, just as they were climbing into a carriage.

"This must be Miss Bradford," one of them said, smiling at her outfit.

"Yes, I shall go to the stage stop with you. I can identify them."

"Spring 'em," he called to the driver as she hopped in. "That's a good idea. We have their description from Landon, but a positive identification would help, particularly if they are in disguise."

"Yes, and I know what the groom and footman look like too—the men on Mrs. Euston's carriage."

"Do you know, Rob," the elder of the gentlemen said to the other, "I do believe the golden-haired boy has slipped up on one item. Landon didn't mention a groom and footman, did he?"

"He has
much more
important things on his mind!" she retorted hotly. Why was she not pleased to hear of his making a slip? Why did she feel this urgent compulsion to defend him?

The driver took his order to spring 'em seriously. The dash through the city traffic was hair-raising. It was also futile. They did not arrive at the stop till well after four. There was no sign of either Carlisle, Mrs. Euston, groom or footman.

"I'll ask if anyone has been enquiring for your trunk," the elder man said, then strode quickly to the wicket.

"There was an elderly dame in black asking for it," he reported a minute later.

"Mrs. Euston," she said. "I wonder where she would have gone from here."

"London is a big city. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. We'd best report back to Landon."

"He had some men sent back to that cottage where Miss Bradford was taken, in case they return there. That will be their destination, don't you think?" he asked her.

"Very likely. They left a boy there." She felt in her bones it must be so. Mrs. Euston's scolding of Bobbie indicated concern as well as impatience.

"Where shall we drop you off, ma'am?" he asked next.

"Belgrave Square," she answered, despondent.

Chapter Sixteen

Her arrival at the home of the Halfords in Belgrave Square caused a major shock. "Vanessa—my dear, what in the
world
...!" Mrs. Halford exclaimed, looking at her bedraggled appearance. Aunt Halford had a concern for fashion not far behind Elleri Simons. Her gown and coiffure were of the latest kick, but her sagging face and overstuffed body did nothing to enhance them.

"It is a long story, Auntie. Could I have a bath and borrow some clean clothes before I tell you the whole? To satisfy your curiosity, I shall just tell you I have had a very disagreeable few days."

"But what happened?''

"I was kidnapped," she answered. "I managed to escape—that is, I was rescued by a Colonel Landon, whom my father sent after me."

"Colonel Landon! Nessie, what marvelous luck! He will fall in love with you for a certainty. So very handsome and clever. All of London is puffing him up, since he is come home from India covered with medals and ribbons. What is he like?"

"He is rather like Papa," she replied, with a bemused smile. "He is not particularly handsome. In fact, I found him plain, at first," she added, with a smile that suggested her like of plainness.

"Yes, my dear, but what is he
like?"

"You may judge for yourself when he comes to call. I expect he may be here this evening."

"Coming
here!
Delightful! I'll be the envy of them all. Sit down this instant and tell me
all
about it," her aunt commanded, her brightly curious eyes shining in her sagging face. "Wine—we shall have a glass of wine while you tell me."

Without much reluctance, Vanessa sat down and accepted a glass of wine. "I cannot tell you everything. It is to do with Bonaparte, you see. Top secret."

"I knew you were in great jeopardy on the coast. You ought to have come to me
months
ago, when first the villain began building those nasty flatboats."

"I could not leave Papa alone, and you know what chance there would be of dragging him away when he had such exciting things to do at home."

"That is true. Henry is a fire horse. When he sees an army preparing, he reaches for his musket. I think he
likes
fighting and shooting and killing people."

"Someone has to do it," Vanessa answered sharply. "
I
think he is a hero."

"Never mind that, but only tell me all about your kidnapping."

"Aunt Elleri and myself had to ... Oh, dear. Aunt Elleri! I have scarcely given her a thought since morning. I hope she is all right."

"Where is she? Was she not kidnapped with you? No, of course she was not, or she would be here. Landon would never rescue you and leave her behind."

"No, he thinks of everything."

"I should hope so indeed. A fine hero that would be, to leave her behind. Where is she?"

"At Colchester."

"The widgeon, going off on a visit just when you need her. I never thought her a proper chaperone for you, Nessie. She thinks of nothing but gowns and shoes, and a
very
unattractive outfit she has chosen too, if you will forgive my saying so, dear. You must not be seen in public in such an ancient gown. It don't fit at all well. You will be condemned as a quiz."

"William Pitt did not take exception to it!"

"I never heard
he
had set up as an arbiter of style," was her comment upon hearing her niece had spoken to the prime minister. "What is she doing at Colchester?" was the next question.

"I don't know," Vanessa replied, her mind beginning to explore this question. Soon she had an awful vision of what her aunt would be doing in the very near future. Carlisle would discover there was no trunk on the stage—had already discovered it. He would scan the possible places the letter could be, and he would conclude it was still in Colchester. He would go back, and her poor aunt sat like a fly in a web, with no notion the man was a scoundrel.

"I have got to leave," she said, arising up from her chair.

"Yes, my dear, I shall have the servants draw a hot bath, but about your adventure ..."

"I need the loan of your carriage, Auntie, and a couple of stout footmen."

"Nessie!
Female
servants will help you with your bath."

"I am not taking a bath now. I have to go out."

"You cannot be seen on the streets in that anachronism of a gown. There is no point asking it. I forbid it. Loose black robes are not at all the thing this or any other year."

"I should send a note to Colonel Landon, telling him where I am, in case he does not think of it. But of course he will," she added with a perfectly confident smile.

"He
knows
you are here, child. You said he would call this evening."

"Where I am going, is what I mean."

"You are not going anywhere but upstairs to have a bath and get out of that ugly robe. Mine will not fit much better, but at least they ain't black."

"Auntie, it is a matter of life and death."

"I know, Nessie, but there is no death in the family, so there is no need to wear black. Goodness, as if I did not know at my age that black is worn for mourning."

"Please call your carriage. I must go at once."

"I will not do any such foolish thing."

"Then I must, and pray do not forbid it, or I shall steal it, as Landon did."

"What, Landon steal my carriage? You are mad. He did nothing of the sort. I would have noticed if one was missing. I only have the two."

Without further ado, Vanessa bolted from the room to ask the butler to have the carriage brought around immediately, with two of the strongest footmen in the house ready to accompany her. Her aunt was at her heels, forbidding loudly.

"My dear aunt, if you want Miss Simons' death on your head, then withhold your carriage. I promise you I will run into the street and take the first one I find standing idle."

"Vanessa, you will land in Bridewell."

"Then you had better let me have your rig."

"She has run mad. Totally demented. Call the carriage. I wash my hands of her."

"Will you come with me?" Vanessa asked as she waited for the carriage's appearance at the door.

"Certainly not. I am attending a ball this evening."

"That sounds familiar," Miss Bradford said.

"Really? What ball are you attending?"

"None."

"You are perfectly welcome to come if you wish. Maybe Colonel Landon will stand up with you. He is bound to be there if he is in town. Everyone was bemoaning his departure."

"He won't be there."

Till the carriage appeared, Vanessa listened to the most foolish and irrelevant series of remarks she had heard since leaving her aunt at Colchester. Several scandalous pieces of gossip were told her, but she was not listening. She was thinking that at last she was doing something Colonel Landon would approve of. He would realize she was not just a selfish, silly girl, but a woman of character.

"Do you have a gun?" was the only thing she said to her aunt.

"Of course I have a gun. I would not be without a gun in the house. I do not allow any ammunition, however. It would be much too dangerous. Someone could get hurt."

"Never mind. I'll stop and find a constable before I go to the inn."

"Nessie, where are you going that you require a gun? You must
not
rob an inn, my dear. If you are short of funds, I will be happy to help you out till quarter day. Your reputation will be in tatters if you get caught."

"I don't intend to get caught this time."

"This time!
Are you brass-faced enough to stand and tell me to my face you make a
habit
of it! Dear God, and using my carriage. I will be taken for an accomplice. I shall end up on the gibbet. I know it."

Aunt Halford sank on to a chair and fanned herself strenuously with a limp handkerchief. She was not at all sorry to see the back of her niece. The girl had run mad, and it was a great pity she should be using her own carriage to execute her wild scheme. Colonel Landon would be disgusted with her. An excellent
parti
lost to the family. Her next thought was how she could conceal having any part in the affair herself. If they said in the papers her carriage had been used, she would sue. No, she wouldn't, though. She would report it missing, at once! Stolen from the stables, but not by her niece, of course.

With the two sturdy footmen mounted behind and a hefty groom handling the ribbons, the carriage was off. They had been given the direction and told to drive at top speed. Getting out of London was the slowest and most annoying part of the trip. Vanessa went over her plan, testing to see if she was correct to return to Colchester.

Carlisle had searched herself and her belongings and not found the letter. He would go back to the cottage first to look for it—to try to force the information from her. Seeing she had escaped, he
must
assume the letter was still back at the inn at Colchester. Where else could it possibly be? He might think she had put it in the post, but he would at least go back and try his luck at the inn. He would suspect Elleri Simons had taken over its delivery. He would follow her if she had left, and if she were still there ... Well, she knew now how Carlisle operated.