A Lady's Plight (Lords of Sussex) (16 page)

Isa flung herself on the bed; she would not give in to him. He swore after three days he would free her, but then that left only a few hours for him to keep his promise. Part of her felt for him, even though
he'd put her through so much fear and misery, he did touch her heart. Mainly, with sorrow for a man who would never win her love. She'd been unaware of his fervour for her over the years. As he explained, he'd waited for her to grow up. Repeatedly, she'd rebuffed him at balls and soirees, only to see his ardour increase. It was Alex's fault for putting off the wedding these last four years. Although, she had to admit, he had been embroiled in the Peninsula Wars and now Bonaparte's escape from Elba. This time however, she'd insisted they marry. Maybe she would have been safer at home, as now she was a prisoner
in a remote castle.

She jumped, as the door opened to admit Madeleine. Curtseying, the little
maid said, 'Madame, comment allez-vous ce matin?'

'Terrible. I just wish he would set me free.'

'I have thought of some ways to help you, but it is impossible. The servants are so loyal to him; he is good to them and pays them well.'

'Why does he have this violent streak Madeleine? Only once did he try to hurt me, but then it was to ruin me, so I would be forced to marry him.'

'Oh madame, I am so sorry, were you hurt?'

'No, luckily my fiancé saved me, or it would have been a different story. However, my fiancé assured me that even ruined; he would still have married me.'

'Your fiancé truly loves you madame, let us hope he will discover where you are.'

'I constantly dream of that, but the castle is almost inaccessible, even after he works out his way through the barriers and tunnels, he has to overcome the drawbridge.'

'Men find a way - why he might even be near as we talk.'

Isabella felt tears mounting, yet once again. Already her eyes were red-rimmed from bouts of despair. 'Let us pray his lordship keeps his promise and frees me. I can never love him Madeleine. I would rather die than live with him.'

'Oh madam, don't speak like that, there is always hope. However, he wants to speak with you madame and asks that you wear the crimson silk gown and the rubies to match.'

Isa sighed, 'Other women dream of such idolatry, a castle, beautiful gowns, and jewels, anything my heart desires. But, all I want is to be back with Alex in that canvas tent.'

Entering the room, she saw Ladness standing with his back to her surveying the rugged landscape. He turned to her, smiling, but she could see the taut muscles, the haunted eyes. 'Ah, Isabella, my darling girl. How beautiful you are; you are like some Spanish princess, so elegant - mysterious. Come, we shall have a light meal together.''

Pulling out an ornate carved chair, he motioned for her to sit. She
didn't want to be too near him; he might lunge at her. But, as she sat on the medieval chair, he merely brushed her bare shoulder with his hand. 'Such a dainty swan neck. But come; let me serve you some wine.'

'Tis very early for that my Lord.'

'Please, call me Everard; surely, we know each other too well for ceremony.'

'But tis not seemly, I feel more comfortable with my lord.'

His face hardened, as he sat drumming the handle of a knife on the table. 'I insist milady. I don't want to have to spank you now do I?'

She flushed; he was not joking; she could see the glint in his eye.

Her hand trembled, as she picked up the fork, but she barely toyed with the food, pushing it around the plate, as he talked non- stop of all they would do together. 'Why, the day is nice. I shall show you a marvellous walk; the sides of the cliffs are precipitous, but then I have rails so you will be quite safe. You need some fresh air Isabella; your cheeks are pale.'

She nodded to appease him, pushing the plate away.

'Come Isabella, yet again you have not eaten. You surely must; you need sustenance. Let me feed you.'

To her horror, he rose and lifted her from her chair, pulling her on his lap. Holding up a shrimp on a fork, he said, '
Now just taste this.'

She turned her head away. 'Please, this is silly.'

'Come Isabella, I know you like them; I have often seen you at the banquets, tis your favourite food. I went to a lot of trouble to obtain these for you. Why tis a rare delicacy in these mountains.'

'My lord, please do not force me
… I feel quite ill. Indeed, I will faint if you keep forcing me. I am not used to eating at this time of the day. I will wait until dinner.'

'But, that is hours away, and we must talk.'

Seeing her face set, he sighed putting down the fork. Gathering her closer in his arms, he laid his head on her bosom, the blond locks brushing her chin. His words were muffled, as he said, 'It is not working, is it Isabella?'

She tried to move, but he held her fast. 'My Lord, please let me go.'

He moved his head, raining kisses on her breasts. 'I love you Isabella, adore you. Please, say you will stay with me. I have obtained a special licence. We can be married in front of a clergyman; it will be legal. Please - please say you will be mine.'

Isabella held her breath.
'Special license - a clergyman?'

Surely, he
wouldn't force her. Surely, the clergyman would object when he knew she was being forced to marry? Then maybe the poor priest was in his power. Ladness was an overlord out here.'

Fighting for breath, she said, 'Everard, I do not want to marry you. I would make you so unhappy. I love Alex; I miss him; I need to be with him.'

She felt his tears drop on her skin. 'Oh God Isabella, can't you just try for a little while. If you don't love me, then I will let you go.'

Pulling away from him, she looked at his tear-streaked face, at the misery in those slate grey eyes. 'I am sorry; please don't make me hurt you anymore. You promised to let me go, and now it is the last day. You promised
—'

'I know, but I hoped in time; you would become used to me, maybe love me just a little. I do not ask for much; I know I cannot have your heart, not at present. But in time, as we live together, have children; you will come to love me.'

Isa shuddered. Children? With him? Oh no. She pulled away, and he allowed her to rise to her feet. Walking to the window, she said, 'You can't go back on your promise? I will die if I have to stay here. I beg you, let me go.'

Brushing away his tears, he stood, his fists resting on the oak table. Bending his head, he growled deep within his chest, it sounded like a wounded animal. His voice now deep and guttural, he said, 'So be it - I love you too much to hold you against your will. Forgive me.'

He walked over to the ancient armoire, the oak wood blackened through the centuries. Opening the drawer, he lifted out a leather box, and picked out a silver pistol. Isa's hand went to her bosom. He was going to shoot her. Her breath stopped, as her body tensed.

He smiled gently at her, 'Tis fully primed; I knew in my heart you would refuse me. However, I set you free my darling, free of
being entombed in this castle, free from a man for whom you have no love. Farewell. I tried - tried so hard - waited so long.'

Isabella cried out
, as he put the gun to his head; screamed as he pulled the trigger. Shrieking louder now, she saw the blood spattered on the armoire, his handsome face disintegrated - globules of flesh and brain sprayed on the wall. Crying, she stood, her heart thudding, feeling guilt flood her body, such terrible guilt.

The door opened to admit a footman and behind him, Madeleine, who ran to Isa holding her in her arms.

Isa sobbed, 'I couldn't - couldn't love him … oh God.'

~

Alex and his men rode slowly and carefully up treacherous track to the castle. He squinted, 'D'you see that?'

Connaught nodded, 'A flag at half-mast.
Seems there's been a death or some such disaster.'

Alex gritted his teeth. 'If the bastard's harmed her, I'll take his head off. Shortening the horse's rein, he roared out her name, and put his head down, galloping ahead. Seeing his rage, friends sped after him, the stones rolling over the precipitous edges.

Isa looked into the mirror, at least the ravages of grief lessened. The horror of Ladness's suicide would take time to fade, as would her guilt. Could she have managed it differently? Was there anything she did to encourage him? Yes, she laughed and danced with him at the balls, made room for him on the dance card, looked up into his eyes teasingly. But, it was all in good fun, just good fun. Recently, he began to worry her, turning up in the most unexpected places, always hovering near. Then the attacks began. She sighed, no matter how many times Alex argued that she should not feel guilty, she did. Even now, she could hear his words echoing in her mind, 'Love me Isabella - try to love me.'

She sighed; at least Henrietta would be here soon. It would be such a relief to talk with another woman about it, someone who knew her intimately, who cared for her. Alex was wonderful, but men did not have the patience to discuss intimate matters at length
. They would not talk about something; picking out the whys and wherefores, and then talk about it again, and then the next time to go over it in more detail. No, they thought a cursory chat on the subject was enough.

'Hurry up pet.'

Isabella smiled, as she heard Alex's voice. He was always impatient when it came to time. Why, he would start looking at his fob watch some two hours before they were due at an event. Maybe it was the military training, precision of time, movement and thought being uppermost in an officer's mind.

As Sarah tonged her hair, she said, '
Take no notice Sarah, we are early as it is. Now I would just like some curls around the neck as well.' Sarah tutted, 'The heat in these tongs does not last long; I shall have to put them back on the hotplate again.'

'Don't worry.' Isa smiled, as her
maid bustled away. Dear Sarah, what would she do without her? After her abduction, Alex argued long and hard that Sarah be dismissed. She remembered his face reddened with anger as he said. 'That silly chit dispatched the footmen and the guard. No - she must go.'

Her rejoinder was swift and hot. 'Sarah is not just my maid; she is my friend. We played together as children, we vowed always be together.'

'But, she is a mere servant Isa, a servant.'

'Alex, Sarah was thinking of me, of my comfort, that came first and foremost with her. She had no idea of the danger, neither did
we.'

'Well I did, why d'you think the guards were there in the first place?'

'Oh please Alex; you'll give me a headache. Don't place the guilt on Sarah for what happened.'

'Well I do, foolish girl. She goes.'

'No, I cannot possibly be without her; she is my friend, and I love her. So, there is an end to it. Sarah stays. And anyway, James, her sweetheart is coming out with my brother as his valet. I had to plead with Horatio to bring him. You can't be so cold hearted as to send her back.' The argument raged for over two hours, but she'd been firm, and now she had her beloved Sarah with her.

It was even harder with Madeleine; Alex just could not understand why she had to help the young French woman, a former mistress of Ladness, a woman of low morals.
But again, Isa insisted; Madeleine was helpless, homeless, destitute. She would be such a help as a second personal maid. She was also an excellent seamstress, and already she had padded the hems of Isa's favourite morning gowns. Even now, she sat fashioning the most exquisite little headdress of satin rosebuds and white feathers - far more chique than Mrs. Wallis's effort.'

Sarah tonged the last tendrils, and then helped Isa slip into the ball gown of pink silk with an overlay of the most delicate tulle embroidered with tiny roses and seed pearls. Madeleine laughed, as she fitted the headdress, 'Why Madame, you will be the belle of the ball.'

Alex's heart missed a beat, as he gazed up at a vision of silk and tulle, roses and lace floating down the staircase towards him. His beloved wife. Only days ago, he thought he lost her to that maniac. They'd arrived within hours of Ladness shooting himself, the blood and gore still fresh on the walls. It took days for the deep purple shadows to fade from under her jade eyes, for colour to return to her sweet face. 'Pet, you are beautiful. But, come, we must hurry. Old Nosey will be there before us.'

'Alex,
we'll be half an hour early - honestly; I don't want to be first one there.'

'Then I will have the carriage wait outside. At least, we will be on time.'

She put her hand to her mouth. 'Oh dear I forgot my reticule; I won't be a minute.'

Thank you so much for reading
'A Lady's Plight' and I hope you enjoyed it.

‘Henrietta’s Dilemma.’ The second in the series will be out in January 2014. 

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