The Secret of Castlegate Manor (7 page)

Suddenly the carriage gave a massive lurch that sent the three ladies tumbling together into a colorful pile of skirts and bonnets. They tilted sideways as the broken carriage came to rest with a powerful thud.

The moment of silence following the violent rasping and jolting gave Caroline a chance to take stock of her circumstances. The ladies rested against the side of the carriage with poor Lady Aberly on the bottom of the pile.

Caroline pushed away to free the other two ladies of her weight. She was glad to note by their moans and protests of discomfort that each was conscious.

John Coachman's head appeared in the carriage doorway which now tilted to face the sky. His face looked ashen with fear. "Is everyone alright? I can't imagine what happened. Let me help you, Miss."

He reached down and lifted Caroline out of the carriage. Nottington stood ready to help her to the ground. After all the ladies had been rescued and it had been determined that no one had suffered permanent damage, John Coachman made a study of the damage.

Lady Aberly brushed her crumpled skirts. "I can't think why you let this coach come in such need of repair as to endanger our travel."

The coachman frowned. "Begging your pardon, my lady, but I don't believe this happened because the carriage was in need of repair. See these lynch pins? Someone replaced the ones that used to be here. These look as though they could never hold a hat in place."

Caroline gasped. "You mean, you believe this occurrence was deliberately arranged?"

Caroline could feel Lavenia's hand shaking as she grasped Caroline's arm. "Who would have done such a thing?"

"That's what I'm wondering, my lady," said the coachman. He turned to Nottington. "Who has been in the stable?"

"Just me and the two grooms."

The coachman frowned. "Both new, are they not?"

Nottington nodded.

"A bit suspicious," said Lady Aberly. "But why would grooms wish us harm?"

Caroline studied the broken carriage. "One of the grooms was hired by Lord Humphrey." The possible significance gave her a bone rattling chill.

Lady Aberly shook her head. "I still can't believe he would stoop so low as to harm us."

She turned to Nottington. "If you believe someone has deliberately caused this mischief, you must send them packing."

"Yes, my lady."

"This will take awhile to fix, I presume?" Lady Aberly asked.

The coachman nodded. "I am afraid so, my lady. I had best arrange for your transportation home. Nottington can ride back for the smaller carriage. Though it is too old to be comfortable to travel to Bath, it should get you home in safety."

Lady Aberly nodded. "I do not feel up to further travel today. We will plan our trip when you finish these repairs."

The ladies settled in the shade of a hornbeam while Nottington cantered toward the estate.

"I shall take to my bed after this frightful scare," Lady Aberly declared as she administered her fan in front of her flushed face.

Lavenia cast Caroline a worried glance. "Do you really think Lord Humphrey might be plotting to harm us?"

Caroline shook her head and felt the loose pins give way that had held her hair in place. She ran a smoothing hand to find the loose curls and re-pin them. "I do not know if he wishes us any real harm, but I believe he may have set us up for several uncomfortable mishaps as his way of warning. "

Lavenia shuddered. "Such a horrible thought. I tremble to think of what he might plan next."

Lady Aberly broke into the conversation. "I do believe we are getting ahead of the facts. We do not have any proof that Lord Humphrey had any hand in this."

Lavenia brushed a leaf from her skirt. "This is true. But what if he did? What shall we do?"

"We shall marry you off. Then, if Caroline has no desire to marry the Viscount, we shall see that she is safely settled wherever she chooses to go, perhaps back to her family in India or some other relative here."

Caroline felt the blood drain from her face. Her future seemed suddenly bleak. If she did not marry Lord Humphrey, where would she go? She had no relatives, either here or in India. Unable to admit her deceit, she would be trapped. And when Lord Humphrey discovered she did not inherit the estate, would he find a way to dispose of her?

The sound of a coach rattling toward them told Caroline rescue was forthcoming. It rounded the corner and Caroline was surprised to see Geoffrey accompanying Nottington on horseback.

The old ostler stopped the coach and said, "I'm sorry to be so long, but as this coach is so old, I thought as to how I should not rattle it too hard."

Geoffrey dismounted and offered the ladies a hand into the carriage. His eyes slid over Caroline in a particularly concerned appraisal. She blushed under his gaze, her hand instinctively reaching to straighten her bonnet. Why she should care what this groom thought of her appearance still caused her dismay.

The old carriage had been in disuse for many years. The musty smell so overwhelmed the ladies that they were obliged to hold perfumed handkerchiefs to their noses to abide the journey.

Though Lady Aberly rested her head against the corner squabs, her rigid bearing told Caroline she was just as worried about the incident as the younger women.

They arrived at the manor and were helped from the carriage.

"I must say, it is a relief to be home, though I am disappointed to have had our trip spoiled," Lavenia said.

Lady Aberly shook her head. "Indeed. It was been quite an unsatisfactory morning. Perhaps we shall all feel better after a spot of tea and a rest."

She turned to Nottington. "If you fix the carriage today, we shall try again on the morrow."

"Yes, my lady."

Edward swept open the door to announce that their tea was awaiting them in the parlour. They hastened to draw comfort as Caroline followed behind. Before Caroline stepped into the marbled foyer, Geoffrey touched her sleeve, displaying a most improper conduct for a groom. "I must speak with you. Meet me on the path to the stable after tea. I will watch for you."

Appalled by his boldness, Caroline intended to rebuke him. The grave expression in his eyes changed her mind. No convention of society could have prevented her effort to hear what he intended to say.

She nodded and turned away quickly, relieved to see that Lady Aberly and Lavenia had already entered the house.

Sparse conversation accompanied the tea and, soon, the ladies drifted apart to seek rest. Caroline lingered in the parlour until she felt sure her companions had retired to their rooms. Heart in her throat, she slipped out the French doors into the rose garden and followed a path that connected with the wooded path to the stable.

She stopped among the roses, taking time to admire them in case someone should see her wandering about. She did not wish it to appear that she was keeping an appointment, but rather enjoying a stroll. If she were glimpsed in clandestine conversation with the groom, she would have no end of explaining to do. And Caroline had no ready explanation.

She slipped into the cover of the trees and paused to master her unsteady breathing. She gasped as someone touched her arm, then turned quickly to see Geoffrey standing behind her, silent as a wraith. He put his finger to his lips and motioned her to step into the forest.

Caroline's heart skipped a beat with the understandng that she had come, unattended, with no one to know her where abouts. If Geoffrey was involved in Lord Humphrey's plot, she would have no one to turn to for help.

He drew her into the trees, his warm hand clasped firmly on her arm. Caroline shivered, wondering what had possessed her to trust him. And now, it was too late to turn back.

He released her and, with difficulty, ignored the creamy paleness of her face and soft parting of her lips. He concentrated on the wide, worried eyes that stared into his own.

"Mr. Nottington told me the carriage occurrence was not an accident. I don't mean to frighten you, but there is someone who wishes to inherit the estate. He will stop at nothing to get it."

Caroline assessed him and found only concern in his eyes. "La, but I know that already. It is Lord Humphrey. Did he hire you as well as the other new groom? If so, I am not at all sure I should trust you."

"You may rest assured, my lady, that I have no more interest in aiding Lord Humphrey than you do."

Caroline felt an overwhelming longing to share the details of Lord Humphrey's overtures. Perhaps Geoffrey could help her. Or, perhaps, he was not telling the truth and was merely employed to win her confidence and share what she told him with Lord Humphrey. Was her longing for a knight-errant overcoming her good judgement?

She would proceed with caution. "Lord Humphrey told me life would become uncomfortable if I did not agree to marry him."

Geoffrey's eyes darkened. "He doubtless thought the carriage incident would frighten you into agreement."

"It will not."

"Of course not. We both know he has nothing to gain by such a marriage."

Caroline caught her breath, wondering if he had somehow learned her secret. She turned away. "I am sure I have no idea what you mean."

"Then Lady Eleanor was less than candid with you. If her death wish was for you to inherit her estate, she neglected to have the necessary changes recorded in her will. I have it on reliable source that neither you nor Lady Aberly and her daughter have gained inheritance of Castlegate Manor."

Caroline whirled to face him. "I believe Lady Aberly has lived there for some time. I assumed that she was the rightful heiress to the estate."

"And this is what I wish Lord Humphrey to continue to believe. In truth, the heir is a gentleman from abroad, a great-nephew, I believe."

"How do you know this?"

I shall not reveal my source, my lady. Let us say I was told in confidence when I was engaged to look into the matter."

"And your master from abroad is hiding behind the skirts of three women so he will not be in danger?"

Geoffrey stared away, the hard muscles in his jaw becoming tight. "The best way to draw Lord Humphrey into a trap is to let him continue in error. I will personally endeavor to see that no harm comes to anyone."

"So, I am to understand you have been hired by this gentleman to depose Lord Humphrey?"

"Have you a better plan, my lady? Perhaps you would prefer to marry him."

Caroline shivered. Geoffrey did not fail to note the effect of his words.

"I do not wish to marry Lord Humphrey."

"Then I have not misjudged your character, my lady. But be wary. I should not be able to abide myself should any misfortune befall you."

Caroline smiled, peering to see his handsome features shaded by the shadows of the trees. "It relieves my fears only to know that you shall be espying the possible misdeeds of the Viscount."

Geoffrey looked into the upturned face and knew if he did not escape, he would pull her to him and claim the bright lips with a kiss. Such a grave social error would shock her to the core and, no doubt, erase the trust he saw shining in her dark eyes.

She thought of him as a groom, hired by a nobleman to secure his estate from the clutches of the iniquitous Lord Humphrey. He must be careful to sustain that impression. Until he completed the task before him, he must put all amorous thoughts from his mind. He must remember the necessity for this beautiful young lady to remain lure for the trap he would lay. Yet the longer he knew her, the more difficult it became to believe the risk worth the possible price.

He studied her face, his thoughts in turmoil. "You had better return, my lady, before anyone suspects ill of your absence." His uneasy emotions made his words curt.

He turned from her and paced to the stables. Caroline watched the retreat of his broad shoulders, struggling with the confusion in her heart. She had seen the concern in his eyes when he had promised to look out for her. Did his promise rise from a sense of duty or a deeper sentiment?

She picked up her skirts and hurried to the house. She had come here to marry a member of the ton, not a simple groom, no matter how powerful his employer might be. She would carry out her plan. And she would ignore any attempt by her traitorous heart to bewitch her into changing her mind.

CHAPTER SIX

The carriage was repaired and the trip into Bath commenced the following morning. This time Geoffrey accompanied John Coachman to act as footman and protector of the ladies. His formal behavior chilled Caroline after their intimate talk in the woods. She chastised herself for wishing it otherwise.

The conversation of gowns and guest lists lacked the giddy abandon of the first attempt. Though they had been assured that the carriage had been personally inspected by John Coachman prior to the trip, the occupants struggled with the memory of the frightening misadventure of the preceding day.

Spirits lightened as they rolled across Pulteney Bridge. Safely into town, a sense of security enveloped them. Lady Aberly chatted in light-hearted abandon about the various shops they would visit and the tea room at which they were to meet Lady Ruyter.