The Duke's Alliance Book Two: A Dangerous Husband (11 page)

Madeline shuddered. 'I well remember the last occasion I was confined to bed and sincerely hope I don't get bowls of gruel this time. I must resign myself to being hungry. We can hardly pack up a picnic to take with us and won't be able to stop until we meet Lady Carshalton.'

Discussing such things with her maid would be considered highly improper – but they didn't stand on ceremony at Silchester Court. Lottie had been with her for three years and was completely loyal and discreet.

'There's no need to come back until noon when you bring up my tray. I shall curl up in a chair and read until you return.'

No sooner had the girl departed than Madeline collected a candlestick, pushed the end into the fire to ignite it, and followed her. She and her sister had often played hide-and-go-seek along these passages and she was confident she could find her way without getting lost. She must pray she met no other servant about their duties.

Beau had told her Grey was occupying the principal guest apartment and she knew exactly where that was. There was no danger of encountering his valet as this gentleman's gentleman would still be at Heatherfield.

She counted the doors and arrived at her destination. She could hardly knock as he was unlikely to hear her. He would be in his sitting room; this would mean walking through his bedchamber which would be a most scandalous thing to do.

Should she go back without speaking to him? No – it was imperative that they settled matters between them before they left on their clandestine ride. She dithered outside the door into his dressing room not quite sure if she should continue or return to her apartment.

After a few moments she made her decision and burst into the room. She dropped the candlestick and couldn't prevent her squeak of horror. He was stripped to the waist and was about to remove his nether garments too.

She turned and fled. His hateful laughter following her down the passageway. She'd never been so embarrassed in her life and it served her right for her immodest behaviour.

Chapter Eleven

Grey was tempted to go after his unexpected visitor but thought she'd had enough shocks for one morning. He would never forget her expression when she had seen him unclothed. She would know better than to creep into a gentleman's dressing room in future.

What the devil was she doing down here anyway? He could think of nothing pertinent she might have to say to him that would cause her to ignore the rules and venture where she shouldn't.

He removed the remainder of his garments and continued with his ablutions. He didn't want to get between the clean sheets as he was, and the valet had left him with the missing nightgown so he might as well make use of it.

This time he slept soundly and his manservant had to shake his shoulder in order to wake him. He was relieved that Slater had arrived from Heatherfield.

'Funny time to be abed, sir, but I reckon it's time to rise and shine.'

His valet, like Bishop, Jenkins and Smith, was an ex-soldier. But Slater had been his orderly and knew him better than anyone else. He'd been given an honourable discharge when Grey had resigned his commission and so had been able to accompany him into civilian life.

'I'm not getting up unless I've got something to wear.' He yawned, and stretched, feeling well-rested and ready for whatever lay ahead.

'I've brought what you asked for, sir.'

'Thank you. Have you arranged for my baggage to be sent with Lady Carshalton?'

'I made sure it was loaded before I left. Jenkins is anxious to speak to you – shall I bring him up the back way?'

'Yes, do that. I'm glad he's back from London – I want my best men with me on this journey.'

He prowled around his sitting room waiting for the arrival of his minion. Jenkins shuffled in looking highly uncomfortable at being brought upstairs.

'Well, what did you learn?'

'Captain Rogers, the traitor who was shot, has an older brother but I don't reckon he's behind this. He's a man of the cloth. But his younger brother is a rakehell and could well be the instigator of these attacks.'

'Have you any idea where he is?'

'No, he's not been seen for a while. Gone to ground more like – I've got a couple of good men looking into it.'

'Did you tell the others at Heatherfield that you were going in search of him? I don't want anyone there to know what's actually happening.'

He nodded. 'All right and tight, sir, no one will suspect a thing. What time are we leaving tonight?'

'As soon as it's dark – we don't want anyone seeing us depart. It's fortunate the duke keeps such a large stable and the three horses we need won't be missed immediately.'

Grey dismissed Jenkins and tried to settle with a journal. The afternoon dragged by and Grey welcomed the arrival of a second tray, although he wasn't particularly hungry it broke the monotony.

*

Madeline was mortified. She doubted she would be able to look his lordship in the eye again after the embarrassing incident that morning.

On her return to her chamber she attempted to calm her nerves by immersing herself into the novel that had arrived from Hatchards last week. The day dragged interminably and she was relieved to have an excuse to retire to bed for the afternoon.

'Lottie, you must wake me in time to get dressed and eat my supper. I shall be leaving as soon as it gets dark. I do wish you could come with me, but you must see it's impossible.'

'I'm sure whoever you have to assist you, my lady, will be adequate. Is his grace not coming to say goodbye?'

'No, I'm supposed to be infectious and we thought it better to maintain the fiction. If I were really ill nobody would visit.'

When her sister entered via the dressing room at six o'clock Madeline was delighted to see her. 'I'm so glad you've come, I don't know when we'll be together again.' They embraced fondly.

'Beau assures me you'll be home in good time for the festive season. I promise you I'll arrange everything as you planned so when you return all will be as you'd hoped.'

'Thank you, sister, I'm sure you'll do an excellent job.' She glanced at the clock. 'I must go now, word from his lordship arrived to tell me to be down by a quarter past six.'

Giselle stepped back. 'With that hooded cloak on no one will recognise you even if you are seen. Imagine! Such excitement – to be creeping out of the house in the dead of night in order to ride away with one's lover.'

'Don't talk fustian. You make it sound like something from a romantical novel…'

'That's because it is, Madeline. I've always wanted to write a book and I'm going to use this as my plot.'

'I don't want to star in your tale, Giselle. I can assure you that I don't feel at all like the heroine in a romance and Lord Carshalton is certainly no hero.'

She hugged her sister and then left her apartment for the second time that day using the servants' route. Her bag was already downstairs as it needed to be secured to the horse they were using to transport their belongings.

The curtains and shutters were drawn so her departure would not be observed. There was a sickle moon, just enough light to see her way around to one of the home paddocks where she was to rendezvous with his lordship.

The sound of horses just ahead was enough to lead her safely to her destination. A large, caped figure emerged from the darkness. 'I'm glad you're not tardy, Madeline, we need to set off immediately whilst the outside staff are eating their supper.'

He made no enquiries as to her well-being and for that she was grateful. Far better to keep things formal as this removed the necessity of her having to apologise.

'My sister thinks this escapade's romantic and is intending to use it as the starting point for her novel.'

His teeth flashed white in the darkness. 'It's certainly unusual, sweetheart, but riding through the night's hardly romantic. Come along, allow me to help you mount.'

Once she was settled in the saddle she had time to look around and see who was accompanying them on this journey. There were three other men and one of them was holding the lead rein of the packhorse.

'How far do we have to travel before we catch up with Lady Carshalton? Although I'm a competent horsewoman, I've never ridden for more than an hour or two.'

He moved his massive gelding alongside. 'We should reach the inn by first light. You'll be able to continue the journey in her carriage which will be a deal more comfortable.'

None of his men had lanterns, they were obviously to progress by the light of the moon alone. She must suppose they were used to night-time manoeuvres as they were all ex-soldiers.

The only sound in the darkness was the soft pad of hoofs on the path and the occasional clink of a bit. The night had a crisp, autumn nip to it and she was grateful for her warm gloves, muffler and hooded cloak. This would have been a nightmare journey if it had been raining.

Whoever was leading this small group of travellers obviously knew his way through the woods and along the back lanes as they didn't venture onto the more frequented routes at all. After riding in silence for an hour or so she thought it safe to converse with her companion who had remained close beside her.

'I wish to apologise for…'

'There's absolutely no need, sweetheart, I've forgotten the incident already. I hope you got some rest this afternoon otherwise I might be obliged to pick you up from the ground when you fall asleep later.'

This bracing comment had the desired effect. 'Thank you for your concern, sir, but I can assure you I've absolutely no intention of either falling asleep or falling from this horse.'

'I'm relieved to hear you say so, Madeline. My man has reconnoitred the route. We're going to stop in another hour at a charcoal burner's hut where we can eat and rest the horses until dawn.'

'I shall be in complete disarray by the time I step into Lady Carshalton's carriage. I'm not looking forward to the supercilious looks I shall receive from her bracket-faced abigail.'

He chuckled, the sound loud in the silence. 'You won't have to endure that for long as we'll arrive at Blakely Hall by mid-morning.' He stopped as if unsure how to continue. Was there something unpleasant he wished to tell her?

'Although my grandmother and I are the best of friends, she told me that my uncle and his son are still holding onto the feud that separated my father from the family thirty years ago. They don't know we're descending on them and I'm not sure what sort of reception we'll receive.'

No wonder he'd been reluctant to impart this news. 'And you didn't think to tell me this until now? We could have gone to one of my brother's estates in the North. We would have been just as safe and sure of getting a friendly welcome.'

'That's correct, my love, but it's high time I repaired the rift. I've no notion why my father cut himself off from the family and my grandmother has refused to enlighten me. My uncle's the next in line, so ostensibly my heir, so it behoves me to make his acquaintance.' He cleared his throat noisily and then continued. 'Remember, Madeline, we're travelling in this ridiculous fashion because there have been several attempts on my life. This is the only way we can remain safe.'

Her stomach clenched and inadvertently she jerked the reins. Her mount surged forward almost unseating her. Unfortunately the sudden movement caused a collision between her horse and the one in front.

This animal took objection to being barged in the hindquarters and lashed out with his back legs. She was still struggling to regain her seat when her mare shied in order to avoid the flashing hoofs. With a despairing cry she toppled sideways expecting to land with a painful thud in the dirt.

Grey reacted in time and managed to catch a handful of her cloak and prevent her from hitting the ground. 'Keep still, you'll have me out of the saddle too if you continue to struggle.'

His words came too late and both he and she plummeted downwards. She landed painfully on her side and his bulk arrived on top of her compounding her injuries.

From the cursing and commotion coming from just ahead the two loose horses were causing chaos. Were they about to be trampled by the animals that had been travelling behind them?

*

'Slater, for God's sake hold hard or you'll be on top of us. Jenkins, Smith, shut the racket and get yourselves sorted out. You’re making enough noise to wake the dead.' Grey rolled away from the ominously silent girl beneath him, but remained on his knees beside her.

'Madeline, speak to me. Are you hurt?' He began to methodically run his hands down her limbs and this instantly elicited a response.

'Desist that at once. I don't want to be mauled by you, or anyone else. I'm not seriously injured, but I think I was bruised by my fall and things weren't improved by you crushing me.'

His breath steadied – for a horrible moment he'd thought her unconscious, or worse. 'I apologise, my dear, but I did warn you to keep still and you chose to ignore me.' He sprung to his feet and leaned down to take her hands intending to pull her up beside him, but as he did so she couldn't hold back a sharp intake of breath.

'Stay where you are, sweetheart. You must allow me to examine you. If you've broken anything it would be foolish for you to stand up.'

'I landed on my hip, but I'm sure it's not broken, merely painfully bruised. I can stand up if I do it slowly.'

'Before you attempt to do so, Madeline, I insist I check for myself. It's too late for being missish – we're already so far beyond the pale as to be invisible from those safely within the confines of society.'

This time she didn't protest when he put his hands on her. 'Can you move your leg?'

'I can, but I get a shooting pain from my knee to my waist when I do so.'

This wasn't good – he didn't like the sound of it at all. If she'd fractured her hip joint it would be the very devil to heal and might well leave her with a permanent limp. During his experience with the army he'd noticed that soldiers with broken limbs who were dragged from the field of battle before they'd been splinted rarely recovered completely – if at all.

'You won't be able to ride any further.' He removed his riding coat and folded it carefully. 'I'm going to put you on this. If you remain on the damp ground you'll become dangerously chilled.' When he gently moved her she winced but didn't complain. 'Stay here, little one, I must talk to my men before deciding how to proceed.'

His valet had dismounted and tethered his horse, and the horse he was leading, to a nearby tree and was hovering a yard away. 'Put a blanket around Lady Madeline and talk to her until I come back.'

He strode into the darkness, his night vision was excellent and he could see well enough. Jenkins and Smith had caught the loose horses and were waiting for him to speak to them.

'How far away are we from the charcoal burner's cottage, Smith?'

'Another hour if we were riding as before – too far to be of any use to us at the moment. Jenkins reckons there's a dwelling just across the field – no more than half a mile from here.'