Invitation to Passion (29 page)

She turned her horse and with only the driving need to escape urging her on, she took off across the park at a gallop. She had no idea where she was going and soon her blinding tears were all she could see.

She could no longer hear Rheda calling her back, or Melissa telling Rheda to let her go. All she could hear over and over in her head was Sarah laughing.

It did not take long before she found herself at the gate on the other side of the park and had pulled Woodstock to a halt. Panic made her heart pound. Did Rufus know? Did they all know? No wonder Melissa had looked at her with such pity in her eyes.

She couldn’t go back, not yet.

“Madeline, are you all right?”

Christopher was on his stallion in front of her, concern etched all over his gorgeous face.

“Can you take me away from here? I just need a place to think.”

He came closer and with one finger swiped a tear from her cheek. “What on earth has upset you?”

“He didn’t tell me?”

“Who didn’t tell you?”

“Richard, he didn’t tell me Sarah’s child could be his.” A sob choked her until she could barely breathe.

“Bastard.” Christopher sat cursing, clearly not really knowing what to do next.

“You said I could come to you for help. Well, here I am. I need a place to gather my thoughts, to decide what to do next.”

He nodded and turned his horse so he was beside her. “It would be my honor to lend you my townhouse for the afternoon. Follow me.”

They left together and Madeline didn’t care who saw them.

Richard had lied to her and she had to have some space to understand the meaning of his deception.

They entered one of Mayfair’s most exclusives streets. Christopher’s house was not what she had expected. It was very grand, the type of townhouse only a very wealthy gentleman, a titled gentleman, would own.

A further surprise was that the house was fully staffed and a very formal butler opened the door.

“My grooms will take care of your stead. My butler, Mr. Taylor, will show you into the drawing room-unless you’d like to freshen up first?”

“Thank you, yes. Perhaps I should freshen up.” Madeline was curious and wanted to see more of the house.

“Mr. Taylor, please show Mrs. Craven where she can freshen up, and then direct her back to the drawing room. See if cook can rustle up some tea and cakes.”

With that, Madeline was escorted up the grand marble staircase. She wondered who Mr. Hindsworth was. His family obviously had money. She wondered why she had never heard of them, but then she’d spent so much time in exile at their country estate she hardly knew anything about London’s wealthy.

Maddy splashed water on her face and tried to stop the pain stabbing in her chest. Her eyes were red rimmed from crying and she looked a mess. Once she’d cleaned herself up, and tried to tidy her hair, she was directed downstairs to the drawing room.

It was empty when she entered, but a large fire roared in the grate. She walked to it trying to take the chill out of her soul. She studied the room. It was very masculine in decoration. It was decorated in dark colors and fabrics, with sturdy furniture and not one dainty chair was to be seen in the room. It was as if men only tended to use the room. She shrugged her shoulders. It was a bachelor’s residence, she supposed.

Madeline had only a few moments of contemplation before the scrape of footsteps behind her warned her that she was not alone. She turned to see that Christopher had returned. When he reached her side, he favored her with an apologetic grin, and leaned heavily against the mantelpiece.

“My apologies, Mrs. Craven. I’m not the best company myself today. This is a unbearable night for me, for it was on this night, many months ago, that I lost my love.”

Her anguish lessened in the face of his pain filled words. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” said Madeline, and she covered his hand with her own.

He put his other hand over hers and they stood silently for several moments.

“That is why I can’t bear to see you give your heart to someone who is obviously in love with someone else. It’s not fair on any of you.”

Yesterday, Madeline would have said Richard would never wish to be free of her, but now there may be a child, his child. It would kill him to unable to acknowledge a child of his. “What options do I have? It is not as if I can simply divorce him. I have to have a reason, a very good reason, such as ill treatment. Or else Richard would have to divorce me, but he has no grounds to do so.”

“You could give him grounds by running away with me. It would free you both. You can find a man who deserves you, who loves you above all else and Richard is then free to marry the mother of his child. If he thinks you are in love with me, he’d let you go. You’d both be free to follow your hearts.”

She simply removed her hands from where they were entwined in Christopher’s. She didn’t know what to do.

“But I’m not in love with you.”

“He wouldn’t know that. We would be pretending. He could walk away guilt free. You’d sacrifice anything for his happiness, wouldn’t you?”

Yesterday she would have sworn Richard had strong feelings for her. He had insisted he did not love Sarah. But now there was a child in the picture she knew one thing for sure, Richard would want to claim his son or daughter. Richard would do anything for his child. But would he give Maddy up?

They stood silently together looking out over the garden.

“I should go home. Rheda must be frantic,” she said softly.

“Stay, please, for a while longer. At least take some refreshment. It’s a very lonely day for me. I’d appreciate your company. I’ll see a note is delivered to your brother.”

Christopher had been nothing but kind. It must be difficult to be alone on the anniversary of your true love’s death. Misery enjoyed company. Perhaps they could console each other. She didn’t feel like facing everyone yet.

“Thank you. I’d like that.”

Christopher stood looking out his back window, indifferent to the view of the beautiful garden, analyzing just how perfectly his plan was working.

Maddy had already consumed one cup of tea. She was half way through her second and her words were already slurring.

Tonight they would head south.

Soon my love. Soon I will have my revenge.

“Maddy, my dear. I think it’s time you wrote a letter to dear old Richard.”

#

Richard was not at all surprised upon reaching Wrentham’s estate to find that Charles’s long-term retainer, Henderson, had been let go. He had always found Henderson to be an honorable man. And if there were any shenanigans going on, then Sarah would not want a man like Henderson around to see them.

He followed the footman’s instructions and found out where Henderson had moved to, a cottage down by the village. As soon as he rode up he saw that Henderson was working in the yard. He approached, still sitting on his horse.

“Mr. Henderson, how are you sir? Do you remember who I am?”

“Aye, I do that Mr. Craven. It is good to see you.”

Richard swung down off his horse and with reins in hand walked towards where Henderson was working.

“Before you ask, I’m no longer in Wrentham’s employ.”

Richard inclined his head. “Lady Sarah is actually why I’ve come to call. I was actually looking for Graeme Hornsbled. Do you know if he is working for Lady Sarah?”

Henderson raised an eyebrow. “Graeme Hornsbled followed her from her father’s estate, not long after her father died. He was not well liked by any of the staff. A funny character, he kept much to himself and no one was really sure what his role was in the Wrentham household.”

“Do
you
know what his role was in the household?”

Henderson looked at him thoughtfully. “Can I ask why you want to know?”

“I’m investigating Charles’s accident. It appears it may not have been an accident.” Richard felt he had to be honest. Henderson would see through any lies and that might make him close up and not answer further questions.

Henderson turned back to the saddle he was cleaning. “I always did think there was something funny about his accident. Charles was an excellent horseman and I couldn’t see him being casual about checking his girth before a hunt.”

“Well, can you help me?”

He shrugged. “I don’t see why not. I lost everything that I had worked for anyway when Lady Sarah let me go. Hornsbled has been around the estate, but no one has seen him lately. However, people tell me things. And someone mentioned that one of the cottages down the end of the estate, which has been empty for the last two years, has suddenly had smoke coming out of the chimney. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hornsbled is staying there.”

Richard looked at him. “Do you think Graeme Hornsbled could have been involved in Charles’s death?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Henderson said “he always had an unhealthy attachment to Lady Sarah. In fact, he hated it when you came on the scene. You were the first man Sarah took an interest in.”

Richard felt satisfaction seep into his bones. At last he had something to go on. If Graeme Hornsbled was in Sarah’s employ and he could find him, then they might have their answers by the end of the day. Richard walked towards his horse and once seated back on his stead, he looked at Henderson. “Thank you for giving me that information. I don’t really need to tell you that you should keep my presence here to yourself. If Hornsbled knows I’m looking for him, I could lose my advantage.”

“I’m surprised you’re investigating Lady Sarah.”

“I might be investigating Lord Timothy Chesterton,” Richard responded.

Henderson looked up and smiled for the first time in their meeting. “Hornsbled wouldn’t piss on Chesterton’s boots if they were on fire. If you’re here for Hornsbled, then Lady Sarah is involved. Do you mean to protect her or expose her?”

“I’m here to do what’s right.”

“Aye.” Then Henderson added, “I hear you married Lady Madeline. Fine lady she is.” With a knowing smile, he went back to work.

With that, Richard turned and rode towards the cottage at the end of estate. A part of him didn’t really want to speak to Hornsbled. He was scared of what he would hear. If Sarah had killed Charles just so that she could be with him, Charles’s death was equally his fault.

It didn’t take Richard long to get to the cottage. He tied his horse up several yards from the house, not wanting to alert Hornsbled to his presence. He crept towards the cottage, pistol in hand. He moved around the side of the house towards the door listening for any sound inside. There was none. Just as he was reaching for the latch, the door suddenly swung open and Hornsbled stepped out onto the porch.

Richard knew he had to work fast. He unleashed an almighty punch that caught Hornsbled on the side of the head, sending him crashing to the ground. Hornsbled was stunned enough for Richard to pull him into the cottage and close the door. He stood over him with pistol in hand.

Richard pressed his booted foot on Hornsbled’ neck, and forced a bit of weight on to it. Hornsbled immediately began clawing at Richard’s boot.

“You and I are going to have a little chat, Hornsbled. I want to know what you have been up to. And I’m not leaving here until I’m satisfied I have the truth.”

Hornsbled looked at him as if he was mad. “I don’t know what you are talking about Craven, let me up.”

Richard bent over the prone form of Hornsbled until his face was inches from his. “We’ve spoken to Davey. He recognized you from when he was a young boy on the estate. We have his testimony that you gave him the money to cut Charles girth.”

Hornsbled scoffed. “Who will take the word of a boy over mine? No one-not when I have Lady Sarah’s endorsement.”

“I know it was you and you are going to hang for Charles’s murder. I’m sure you will want to take whoever is responsible for putting you in this position with you. It doesn’t make sense to take the blame entirely on yourself.”

Richard could see the indecision flashing across Hornsbled’ face. He also knew he was caught. Would he give up Sarah?

“If you give me the name of the person who paid you to organize the accident, I could see if your hanging is commuted to transportation to the colonies for life.”

Hornsbled eyed him warily. “You can do that?”

“I can try. I’m not going to offer any guarantees. But it is more important that I learn who the perpetrator is. You were merely a pawn.” He leaned closer. “Do you really think Sarah cares about what happens to you? You know she did all of this for me, to be able to marry me. She loves
me
.”

Richard watched as the truth of his words sink into Hornsbled mind, and his stomach knotted.
It was Sarah.

“Let me up and I will tell you everything, if you swear on your life to have my sentence commuted to transportation.”

Richard trained his pistol on him and gingerly lifted his booted foot from around Hornsbled’ neck. He watched cautiously as Hornsbled took a seat on the step leading to the cottage, his head in hands as he began his tale.

“She was such a lovely young girl was Lady Sarah. She was always kind and pleasant to all the staff, including me. We had a special bond. She would call on me for errands and reward me with coin, but I would have done anything for a smile. Her smiles warmed the cold holes in your soul. I was right proud when she asked her father to let me accompany her to Wrentham’s estate when she married.”

“Then I became raving mad, seeing how he treated her.” Hornsbled spat in the dirt. “I’m glad he’s dead. I even went so far as to tell her father. And he was going to do something about it, but then of course he died suddenly and Sarah was left in a marriage that had not been to her liking, with no one to look after her, except me.”

Richard’s gut clenched. Guilt began to eat away at him; he knew he should have stepped in and done something.

Hornsbled lifted his head and looked at him. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to help her. A man in my position up against a Marquess; there was not a lot I could do. Until she came to me one day with bruises all over her arms and body and showed them to me. And then she begged me to help her.”