More Than a Mistress (11 page)

Instinctively Charlie ducked, flicked his whip and set the horses into a gallop.

Merry grabbed his arm. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Damn it,’ he yelled. ‘Let go.’ It was already hard enough to manage the careening team.

He risked a glance over his shoulder. Some boulders. Scrubby bush and a flock of sheep streaming across the meadow towards the road in fear.

‘What is happening?’ Merry yelled, looking around her.

‘Someone fired at us.’ He steadied his horses and they shot over the brow of the hill out of the shooter’s line of fire.

He’d recogised the sound. A Baker rifle. Deadly from a distance in the right hands.

Off to his right, the fleeing sheep veered, climbing on each other’s backs in their panic. They’d seen something. Charlie pulled the pistol from under the seat. He scanned the roadside. A man rose to his feet on the other side of the wall.

Charlie fired. A wild shot.

The blackguard staggered, then adjusted his aim.

‘Get down,’ Charlie shouted, shoving her head down into his lap.

Another crack. A stinging pain in his right arm. Right where her head had been a moment before. He flinched. The offside horse stumbled. He regained control, let the team have their heads and prayed whoever had fired hadn’t yet reloaded.

The horses galloped at breakneck speed. With no hope of halting them until they exhausted themselves, all he could do was try to keep them straight on the road. Fear-induced foam flew from their mouths. They ran blindly while Merry clutched the side of the carriage, white-lipped and wide-eyed.

His head floated above his shoulders, while the world moved by at a snail’s pace. Loss of blood.

Feeling stunned, Merry looked back over her shoulder. ‘I can’t see anyone.’

‘Good,’ he said grimly. ‘Hang on, the gates are up ahead.’

Somehow he made the turn into the drive. The winded horses slowed. The carriage ceased to sway.

‘I don’t think they followed us,’ she said.

‘Let us hope not,’ Charlie said between gritted teeth. He looked terribly pale. He drew the carriage up outside the front door. ‘Get inside as quickly as you can.’

Merry saw the blood on his hand. ‘You are hurt.’

‘Do as I say and get down.’ He stumbled out of his seat while she scrambled down on her side.

Jed appeared as Merry climbed down.

Leaning against the side of the carriage, clutching his arm, Charlie called out to the coachman. ‘Get the horses inside the stables and bar the door, then bring everyone into the house.’

Startled, Jed nodded. He led the horses away at a run.

‘Good man that,’ Charlie said. He leaned on her and she helped him up the steps.

Gribble swung the door wide. ‘Lock the door behind us,’ Charlie ordered. The butler slammed it shut and shot the bolt.

Relieved to be inside, Merry collapsed against the banister.

Caro ran out of the drawing room. ‘Merry, what is the matter?’

Merry took a deep breath and gathered her scattered wits. ‘We were attacked on the road. We need bandages and basilica powder. His lordship has been shot.’ Caro paled.

Gribble frowned. ‘What we need is the constable.’

‘Not tonight,’ Charlie said. ‘No one is going outside the gates before daylight.’ Charlie looked at Merry. ‘And even then it isn’t safe. Who
are
these men?’

‘I wish I knew.’

‘Luddites?’ Caro hazarded.

‘Criminals, that’s what they are,’ Gribble muttered, hurrying off.

Merry turned to Charlie. ‘Let me see your wound.’

‘It’s nothing,’ Charlie muttered. ‘Give me a brandy and I’ll be as right as a trivet in a moment or two.’

She ushered him into the drawing room. He didn’t look anywhere near as right as a trivet. Caro rushed to the console and poured a brandy.

He swallowed the glassful in one gulp.

‘Let’s get you out of that coat,’ Merry said.

‘Don’t fuss. Brian will take care of it.’

Typical male. She hadn’t lived with an irascible old gentleman without learning a thing or two. One was to act rather than argue. She attacked the buttons on his greatcoat. First, she pulled it down the uninjured arm. The other side posed more of a problem. It was damp and sticky. ‘You’ve lost a lot of blood.’

‘It’s a scratch,’ he said. ‘I’ve had worse falling off a horse.’

His lips were blue, his face pale.

‘Caro, lend me a hand,’ Merry said. ‘Pull on the cuff while I ease it over the wound.’

Thin-lipped, Caro did as requested. She grabbed the heavy greatcoat as it slipped to the floor and flung it over the chair.

‘Now this one,’ Merry said, undoing the buttons on his morning coat. She gazed at the sleeve. ‘I think it is ruined.’

‘I have more,’ he said. The coat was so blasted tight she had to pull it over his elbow. His face turned to stone. A hiss of pain escaped his lips.

Her stomach rolled sickeningly as she parted the bloody tear in his shirt. The wound oozed blood.

Caro’s face blanched.

‘I can’t see for all the blood,’ Merry said. ‘Caro, please request hot water from the kitchen.’

Looking grateful, Caro hurried off.

Merry backed Charlie towards the sofa. ‘Sit down.’

He fought her off. ‘We don’t have time for this. We need weapons. I need to set your men to watch at the windows, front and back.’

She couldn’t draw a breath, her chest felt so tight, her stomach roiling at the thought of those men storming her house. ‘You think they would dare?’

‘I don’t know. I am not prepared to take the risk.’

The thought froze her blood. ‘Perhaps they want money.’

Charlie stared at her, his eyes dark, his mouth flat and the creases either side deep with pain and with worry. ‘Merry, who stands to benefit from your death?’

The breath left her body in a rush. She sank on to the sofa beside him. ‘W-what?’

He took her hand in his good one. ‘I know this isn’t something you want to think about, but we don’t have a choice. If you die, who benefits? Do you have a will?’

Her stomach clenched. She shook her head. ‘It isn’t possible. The townspeople have to be behind this.’

His eyes narrowed, as his grip tightened. ‘Tell me, Merry. I need to know.’

‘I changed my will in favour of Caro,’ she whispered.

‘When? What do you know about her?’

‘She changed the will the day before the attack on the house in Skepton.’ Caro’s voice, as cold as ice, came from the doorway. In her hands she had rolls of bandages and a bottle of powders. Her face was as white as the bandages.

She strode into the room followed by Gribble carrying a bowl of hot water. ‘Put it there,’ she said to the butler.

Gribble deposited his burden and left.

Merry’s heart ached at the sight of her friend’s distress. ‘Caro, I know this is nothing to do with you,’ she said softly.

Caro’s face was blank, shuttered. ‘I will leave tomorrow.’

Charlie narrowed his eyes. ‘How convenient.’

Merry glowered at him. ‘Be quiet. This is none of your business.’

His dark brows drew together. ‘I think it is, fiancee of mine.’

‘That is all a hum and you know it.’ She picked up one of the bandages, dipped the end in the water and began to clean the nasty gash on his arm. Her hands shook. Not at the sight of blood, but at her fear for Caro. She’d seen how desperate Caro was when they met. For her to go back to that because of his wild accusations would be too much. Kind-hearted Caro wouldn’t hurt a fly. She raised her gaze to Caro’s tight face. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone poison me against you. And we are not going to let these people, whoever they are, drive you away. I won’t allow it.’

Tears filled Caro’s eyes. She blinked them away. ‘Your trust means everything,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I swear, I am not behind these attempts on your life.’

Merry made a ‘so-there’ face at Charlie. ‘I believe you.’

He grimaced.

She stared down at the open wound on his upper arm with a frown. ‘You need to see Dr Jessup in Skepton.’

‘We are not going back to Skepton,’ Charlie said, as she sprinkled the powders over the oozing gash. ‘If we are going anywhere, we are going to Durn.’

Merry felt her jaw drop. ‘Durn?’ Her hand hung suspended over his arm, the powder leaking down in a little pile. ‘Oops.’ She righted the bottle.

‘Yes, Durn. You will be safe there.’ He gave Caro a hard look. Clearly, he wasn’t convinced of her innocence, no matter what Merry thought. ‘I have men there. And guns. From there all the power of the duke can be brought to bear on these blackguards.’

She began winding the bandage around his wonderfully muscular arm. Please God it didn’t turn gangrenous. She pushed the horrid thought aside. ‘I’ve never run from anything or anyone in my life.’ Not since she’d run from school, humiliated and mortified. ‘You need a doctor.’

‘There is a doctor in the village on the Durn estate,’ he said with the triumph of a man laying an ace and winning the trick.

‘He’s right, dear,’ Caro said, placing her finger on the knot, so Merry could tie it off nice and tight. ‘You will be safer there. His lordship can find out who is behind this. You should go.’

‘And leave you here? What if they come back tonight? How will you defend yourself? And Thomas?’

Caro’s expression turned fearful. ‘If it is you they are after, then we will just let them search the house and then they will leave,’ she said with a touch of bravado.

It might work. Merry looked at Charlie, whose pallor seemed worse. He must have lost a lot more blood than she’d realised. He gazed at Caro, then let go a breath. ‘They would question you. If you refused them the information, they might hurt you or the child.’

Merry leaped to her feet. ‘Then I’m not leaving.’ She glared at Charlie. ‘That is final.’

‘Very well,’ he said, the corner of his mouth kicking up in a smile. ‘We’ll all go.’

‘Caro’s ladies, too?’ She couldn’t help sounding suspicious.

He chuckled wryly. ‘Oh, yes. Everyone. Even the servants if you want. But we have to go soon, before these fellows regroup. We have a couple of hours at most. I hurt one of them, but not enough to stop them.’

‘You mean leave tonight?’

He nodded.

‘How? We can’t all fit in the carriage.’

‘If I might make a suggestion,’ Caro said, ‘the ladies and I could travel in the carriage. You and his lordship could take his curricle. We can leave by the back gate. Gribble and Cook can ride on the roof with Jed. Brian can ride in the tiger’s seat on his lordship’s vehicle. I think Jed has a shotgun for hunting rabbits.’

Merry frowned. Caro seemed very knowledgeable about methods of escape.

‘It would be nice if he had more than one,’ Charlie said. His voice sounded less strong than it had moments ago.

‘All right,’ Merry said. ‘Durn it is.’ A surge of anger rose in her chest. ‘But when I find out who is chasing me out of my home…’

Charlie put up a hand, looking just a little green. ‘Merry, do you think you can bring that bowl closer?’ he leaned forwards, his head between his knees.

She gazed down at him. Oh, no, he was going to… She shoved the bowl between his feet.

Chapter Twelve

I
t hadn’t taken them long to pack and pile Caro, Beth and poor little Tommy inside the carriage. Jane had disappeared. They’d looked all through the house, until Beth finally volunteered she’d gone for a walk earlier in the afternoon and hadn’t returned.

They didn’t have time to search for her and Caro had no qualms that the woman could look out for herself.

Not all the servants had wanted to come with them. Cook and Gribble preferred to guard the house with an old blunderbuss they’d found in the stables. The stable boy and the other young footman had run home across the fields with some extra coin to make sure of their welcome. They’d promised to come back the next day and check on the house.

There was no more they could do.

Merry looked back, but could see nothing of Jed and the town carriage. Night had fallen and they’d decided against lighting the carriage lamps.

She had insisted on driving and had been surprised when Charlie hadn’t argued. He must feel worse than he openly admitted. The vehicle was beautifully sprung and light bodied; the horses, tired from their earlier race, were docile. Ahead, the rear gate looked extremely narrow.

‘I’ll get down and walk them through,’ she said, slowing the team.

‘You’ll be fine,’ Charlie said. ‘Aim for the gap and envisage yourself on the other side.’

His trust in her was quite remarkable. He’d never seen her drive until now.

She took a deep breath, steadied the offside horse, who tended to break step, and shot out into the lane. She made the turn easily. Beside her Charlie relaxed against the seat back. ‘Couldn’t have done it better myself.’

Brian, riding on the step behind her seat, gave an audible sigh. ‘Right gradely, miss.’

She grinned. ‘Praise indeed.’

She and Charlie laughed.

‘Spring ‘em,’ he said.

She flicked her whip and the team broke into a nice steady canter. The carriage rocked a little, but held the road beautifully. ‘This is as fast as we dare go,’ she said, ‘or Jed won’t keep up.’

Five hours later Merry’s fingers were stiff from holding the reins, her feet were numb, the horses were blown. At her side, Charlie looked white around the mouth and he kept shivering. Every time they went over a bump Merry winced, feeling for his pain. A snow squall, one of several they’d encountered, swept in and obliterated the road. Would they never make it to Durn?

‘Just around the next bend, you will see the gates,’ Charlie said.

‘Thank heavens.’

‘You did well.’

‘It doesn’t seem as if we were followed, though it is hard to see. I wonder if they will guess where we went?’

He straightened in the seat. ‘Let them.’

‘How is your arm?’

‘Fine.’

Which probably meant it was hurting like hell.

‘There, Miss Draycott,’ Brian said from beneath his muffler.

A gatehouse hunched beside imposing wrought-iron gates bearing the ducal coat of arms. Merry pulled the horses up in front of the gates and Brian jumped down to rouse the gatekeeper. An elderly man in homespun hurried out before Brian reached the door.

He rushed to open the gate and stood back as Merry eased the curricle through.

The gatekeeper touched his forehead. ‘Welcome, my lord.’

‘Wait,’ Charlie said to Merry. He leaned over the side of the carriage. ‘Good to see you again, Ritson. There is a carriage following—let it through, then lock and bar the gates. No one else is to enter without my permission.’

‘I’ll see to it, my lord.’

Merry whipped up the tired horses and gamely they managed a trot. The drive was lined with ancient chestnut trees. Bare and limned with snow they looked giant soldiers ready to fight off any intruders. Then the house filled her vision. An enormous castle, all Gothic towers and crenulations. And very gloomy.

‘Oh, my word.’

Charlie chuckled softly. ‘I know. Dreadful.’

He climbed down from his seat the moment the carriage halted and came around to help her down, while Brian ran to the bridles.

Merry had never felt so stiff or so cold in her life. Her knees creaked when she climbed down.

‘Welcome to Durn,’ Charlie said wryly.

Light streamed down the steps as the front door swung open. A stiff-looking butler stood framed in the opening, the glow of warm candles behind him. Footmen ran down the steps, taking the horses in hand, pulling down their meagre luggage. Merry stared up at the ducal emblem over the door. Her heart sank.

It was too grand. Too imposing. Coming here was a mistake.

A moment later they were joined by Caro and Beth holding Thomas in her arms. ‘Poor little lad,’ she said. ‘He’s fair exhausted.’

Merry knew exactly how he felt.

‘Come on,’ Charlie said. ‘Let’s find a warm fire.’ He gestured for them to enter.

Behind them, Beth was silent. No doubt equally overwhelmed.

The butler greeted them with a bow. His eyes widened as he took in their party. He recollected himself quickly. ‘Welcome home, my lord. We have been expecting you.’

‘Days ago, I know, Logan,’ Charlie said, striding into the hall. ‘I got caught in a snowstorm in Skepton.’

Merry followed him, looking around at medieval armour and weapons, and the banners hanging from enormous ceiling beams. Intimidating.

‘What a beautiful home you have,’ she said, brightly.

She undid the buttons of her greatcoat, stripped off her gloves and handed them to the waiting footman, as did Charlie and Caro, who then took the sleeping Thomas from Beth.

A footman tried to help Beth with her coat. ”Ere, that’s mine, lad. You get your own coat if you needs one.’

‘It’s all right, Beth, he will hang it up for you and bring it next time you go out,’ Caro said.

Beth gave the elderly footman the evil eye. ‘Don’t lose it.’

The footman whisked the outer raiment away.

‘There is a fire in the blue drawing room, my lord,’ the butler said. ‘And in the library. When would you like dinner?’

‘Is there a nursery?’ Caro asked. ‘Or a schoolroom? I think it would be better if Thomas and I were housed there. Supper on a tray would be all we need.’ She gave Charlie a pointed stare.

‘Yes, of course,’ Charlie said. ‘Logan, please make the arrangements.’

Logan snapped his fingers. A footman materialised from the shadows beneath the stairs. ‘Escort the ladies up to the schoolroom.’ He looked at Beth. ‘The maids’ quarters are in the other wing.’

‘She is the child’s nurse,’ Caro said swiftly. ‘She’ll remain with me.’ Merry had never heard Caro sound so imperious. It clearly worked because Logan bowed acquiescence and the little party followed the footman up the stairs.

Obviously grappling with curiosity, Logan waited for Charlie’s instructions with an expression of polite enquiry.

Charlie drew the butler a little aside and lowered his voice. ‘I have given instructions at the gate that no one is to gain entry to the grounds without my express permission. Please pass the word to the other gatekeepers. Have a boy stationed at each entry to warn me of any arrivals and have the gatekeepers arm themselves with a shotgun and a pistol.’

Logan’s eyes sharpened. ‘Are we expecting trouble, my lord?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘Expecting, no. But I would like us to be prepared.’ He exuded a quiet confidence. The aura of a man used to commanding and having his orders followed without question. The heir to a dukedom.

The duke would be as horrified as the butler looked, if he learned his son had brought his mistress and her entourage into his home. A cold chill settled on Merry’s heart. It was good of Charlie to want to help, but he hadn’t thought through the implications.

‘That is all, Logan,’ Charlie said.

‘His lordship needs a doctor,’ Merry said quickly. ‘He was injured on the road. Please send for one right away. He is to be admitted at once. In the meantime, my lord, you need to get out of your clothes and into a warm bed.’

At Logan’s wide-eyed look at his master, she flushed. What must he think of her taking control in such a fashion? Charlie, on the other hand, blast him, was looking rather smug.

Logan visibly gathered himself. ‘I’ll send Andrew up to you, my lord.’

Charlie’s smile broadened, becoming wolfish, and Merry wanted to hit him.

‘No need,’ he said airily.

Merry held her breath wondering what he would say next. ‘Brian, one of Miss Draycott’s men, has been serving as my valet these past few days. Have him come up to my chamber.’

Logan’s moment of utter stillness gave his disapproval away. ‘Yes, my lord.’ He stood there irresolute.

‘Get on with it, man,’ Charlie growled. ‘Miss Draycott, your arm if you please.’

Logan hurried off, but Merry could imagine what he was thinking.

Charlie had certainly made it clear that he had been staying with her the past few nights, and by implication that she was his mistress. Revenge for her keeping her noble relatives a secret? Merry shot Charlie a glare as they headed up the stairs, but held her words behind her teeth. There were servants standing at every door and in every hallway. What she had to say required privacy.

At the top of the stairs, a footman opened a chamber door as they left the main landing. Not a chamber, Merry realised, but a gallery running along a windowed wall with a suite of rooms on the other side. Medieval style.

‘This place must be very old.’

‘Fooled you, did it?’ Charlie said, striding past a room with a chair on a dais, a sitting room and a small room with a truckle bed. Finally he stopped at a room with a gold-canopied monstrosity of a bed set on an elevated platform at one end and an enormous carved-stone fireplace at the other.

‘My grandfather had it built to replace the ruins that once stood here. Completely outmoded now, of course. And just as draughty as the real thing.’

Only someone of enormous wealth could construct such a folly. ‘What is along there?’ She pointed to the end of the gallery.

‘A water closet. The only modern thing in the place. Hot-and-cold running water. I had it put in last year.’ He glanced up. ‘Beyond it is your room, I hope you find it to your liking.’

She swung around. The devilish look was back in his eyes. Along with a challenge.

Now was not the time for an argument, not with him looking so pale and cold. Their conversation would wait until after the doctor’s visit.

He eased one shoulder out of his coat with a wince. She inspected his arm. The bandage showed no evidence of further bleeding, but he was clearly in pain. ‘Sit down. Can I get you anything?’

He shivered. ‘A brandy, if you please. I find I am quite chilled.’ He pointed to a console of inlayed ivory and teak against the wall beneath a tapestry of a boar hunt. It held a variety of decanters and wines.

‘Sit by the hearth.’ She poured him a glass of brandy, ministering to him when she should be ripping him to shreds for his outrageous words in front of the butler. She handed him the glass.

He tossed off the liquid and a shudder ran through his large frame. She shook her head. ‘I think perhaps we should not have risked such a journey with you in this condition.’

‘We didn’t have a choice.’

‘I cannot stay here. I have a business to run.’

He grabbed her hand and held her fast. ‘You are not going anywhere, do you hear me? Not until we find out who those men are and why they are trying to kill you.’

She stiffened. ‘I still think it is all a mistake. Besides, you have no right to tell me what to do.’

He laughed, a rather chilling sound to Merry’s ears, since she could not break free of his hold. ‘Oh, but I do. I’m your betrothed, remember? We announced it this morning.’

The bitterness in his voice stung. ‘You didn’t make it sound as if we were betrothed down below.’

His gaze darkened. ‘Nor did you.’

She pulled at her hand and finally tore free. She stepped back. She did not understand this moodiness. He’d been trying to control her since the day they met, but until now the hand had been light on the reins. It seemed he’d changed to a curbing bit.

‘Let us be quite clear. I let you convince me to come here after those men attacked us, but the more I think about it the more sure I am that Broadoaks, or whoever started this, had no time to call off his dogs. That they acted before new orders reached them. By now, everything will have returned to normal. Tomorrow we will return to Draycott House.’

His mouth flattened. ‘Is that so?’

‘Yes.’

A cough sounded in the gallery just beyond the chamber. ‘Who is it?’ Charlie snarled.

‘Brian, my lord.’

‘Good. You are just in time.’

Brian stepped into the room, his face rather stiff. He must have overheard some of their conversation. Merry felt more heat in her face. Drat the man.

‘I’m to help you undress, my lord.’

‘Yes, you are. But first ring the bell by the fireplace.’

Brian did as instructed, then proceeded to help Charlie out of his waistcoat and cravat.

‘I will find my own room now,’ Merry said, starting for the gallery.

‘You will wait for Logan,’ Charlie said. ‘He will direct you.’

Imperious beast. If he wasn’t so ill, hadn’t been wounded helping her, she would have continued on her way. Instead, she went to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains. There was nothing to see. Her ears filled with the sounds of Brian helping Charlie with his clothes, her mind filled with visions of his wonderful body. Her heart picked up speed, her breathing became a little too rapid, her skin too warm. Dash it all, despite his autocratic commands, she felt the need for his strong arms around her. Wanted his body bringing her pleasure, which in turn would silence the fears in her mind.

She ought to be ashamed, knowing she was about to bring shame to the Draycott name again. Grandfather had trusted her with his mill and his fortune, and here she was again proving she was nothing but a weak female as Uncle Chepstow had charged when he learned the terms of her inheritance.

A rather harried Logan strode down the corridor. ‘You rang, my lord?’

Charlie sat in a huge armchair beside the fire; his cheeks were flushed, his glittering eyes fixed on her. Dear Lord, he was in the grip of a fever. No wonder he was acting so strangely. Where on earth was the doctor?