Abandon (15 page)

Rathburn exchanged glances with Lady Lovell, picking at the cuff of his jacket. “But Lady Lucilla and I are old friends. I would like to pay her a visit while I am here.”

Aubrey wanted to bloody the man’s nose. It seemed as if he was going to have to have him thrown out bodily. And his mother as well. But that would cause a scandal that he wanted to avoid at this point. He heaved in a deep breathe.

“They are not receiving visitors at Wakefield Park at present. The Countess has just presented the Earl with an heir.”

Rathburn smirked. “But surely you said that you had just come from there?”

“I am treated as family as I grew up nearby. I do not believe that you can claim that type of acquaintance. Now if you will excuse me I have matters to attend to. I will be taking a dinner tray in my office.”

Aubrey finally left the room, but he was uneasy. His mother was up to no good and Rathburn was a cad who was using her to his own advantage. He must keep them away from Wakefield Park and remove them from Lovell Moor as soon as possible.

The next day dawned bright and clear. Lucy had fallen into a deep sleep the night before, but was up early to check on Annabelle. Her daughter was usually up early and she might be uneasy in her new surroundings. She found Annabelle sitting with Ned’s nurse having a breakfast of bread with honey and milk. She appeared to have settled in well, not at all bothered by waking up in a strange bed. And Clara, Ned’s nurse, was a kindly woman who was used to small children so she had made Annabelle quite comfortable.

Watching her daughter chatter to Clara, Lucy reflected that Annabelle would adapt to having a father and a new family situation quite well. She would also be happy at the proximity between Wakefield Park and Lovell Moor. She knew her aunt and uncle quite well and missed them when they could not visit. Perhaps it was not too soon to sit her daughter down and reveal that she had a living father whom they would be residing within the near future.

“Annabelle, we are to have a special picnic today with Lord Lovell. Would you enjoy that?”

A squeal of delight was her answer and Lucy looked nervously to the next room where Ned was still sleeping. Clara went to check on her primary charge so Lucy decided to take advantage of the privacy.

“Do you like Lord Lovell, Annabelle?”

Annabelle looked up with milk dripping from the corner of her mouth. Lucy wiped at her face with a napkin and waited.

“Yes, Mama, I do.”

“I know that you just met him, but he is nice, don’t you think?”

“Yes, Mama.” Annabelle seemed more interested in the last drips of honey on her plate. Lucy bit back a sigh. Children, she found, were pragmatic for the most part and accepted new situations and people with ease. She would have to keep her fingers crossed that Annabelle followed that pattern card.

“I am going to dress and have my own breakfast. I will come up and get you when Lord Lovell arrives.”

Annabelle nodded and submitted to Clara’s wiping of her sticky hands and face. “I will get her dressed and ready, my lady,” Clara said.

By the time Aubrey arrived Lucy was pacing the hallway. He laughed and took her hands.

“So eager to see me, my love?”

She calmed at his touch. “I started to think yesterday was all a dream.”

“A happy dream that will continue for the rest of our lives. Although I do have a fly in our ointment. Or rather two of the same ilk.”

“What is it?” Lucy was nervous.

“My mother has arrived at Lovell Moor and has also brought Lord Rathburn.”

“Rathburn!” Lucy grew pale at the words. “Why in the world would she bring him?”

“I suspect to discommode the both of us. I put a flea in both their ears, asked them to leave, but I fear being too forceful. I do not want to create the opportunity for any more scenes.”

Aubrey put the back of a gloved hand on her cheek, regardless of the footman nearby. “Do not bother your pretty head, my love. I suspect that they will be gone in a day or two, especially if I am spending much of my time here. They already know that they are not invited to Wakefield Park.”

“If you say so, then I will not be concerned.” Lucy did not look relieved, but Aubrey was happy that she would leave it to him.

“How is Annabelle this morning?”

“She is excited about our picnic.” Lucy pulled her hands away to clasp them at her waist. “She is adjusting well to all the changes in her life. I think she will be ready for more alterations quite soon.”

“The sooner she is the better I like it,” Aubrey said with a grin. “Where is she anyway?”

“Let me get her.” Lucy turned to the footman. “James, would you please retrieve the basket I asked Cook to prepare for our picnic? Thank you.”

Once Lucy had brought Annabelle downstairs, Aubrey took the basket on one arm and Annabelle’s hand in the other. Lucy had her daughter's other hand as they walked over the broad lawn to the pond set off near the woods. Aubrey spread the blanket at the top of the basket and Lucy laid out the food that Cook had packed for them. Annabelle kept up a steady chatter, her parents responding to her myriad questions and laughing just from enjoyment of the day and each other.

When they were finished with their meal Lucy wrapped up what was left and stored it in the basket.

“Shall we take a walk around the pond and see if some exercise revives us after that delicious and filling meal?” Aubrey asked.

Annabelle’s face turned to her mother, pleading for her assent and Lucy laughed. “I agree as long as we take a nap upon our return.” When her daughter pouted Lucy added, “We will sleep outside here under the shade of these trees, Annabelle.” The child jumped up and down in agreement and Lucy looked at Aubrey to see if he agreed.

“Indeed, I think we would find that quite refreshing.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. Lucy gave him a quelling look, but shook her head in amusement. They started off, Lucy on Aubrey’s arm while Annabelle ran back and forth, gathering posies, rocks, or anything else she found of interest. She would bring them back to show her parents and Aubrey found that his pockets became the repository for many of her finds.

“You know, you don’t have to keep everything she finds,” Lucy said to him in a low voice.

“I suppose so, but I feel as if I have missed so much that everything is important now.”

Lucy laughed. “That will pass with time, at least to a degree. You will decide what is the most precious and keep those items.”

“I already know what is most precious and I intend to keep those forever,” Aubrey replied solemnly. He put his arm around her waist and Lucy felt like the luckiest woman in the world. They walked for a while on the path around the pond, keeping an eye on Annabelle so that she did not go to close to the water. Lucy expected that her boots and stockings would be damp, but she was thankful that Annabelle had not yet pulled them off to run barefoot through the grass.

Lucy was relaxed and truly happy. It was a beautiful day and all was right in her world for once. So she was not prepared when Rathburn stepped out of the woods to confront Annabelle. The girl stopped dead and looked back at her parents when Rathburn addressed her. Lucy could not hear what he said, but both she and Aubrey picked up speed to reach their daughter.

“Lady Lucilla, Lord Lovell, what a pleasant day for a stroll.” His teeth gleamed as he simpered and gave a bow.

“Annabelle, come here please,” Lucy ordered. Aubrey did not wait for her response, but strode forward and picked her up in his arms.

“Rathburn, what are you doing here? I told you that Wakefield Park was out of bounds for you.” Aubrey was trying to stay calm in front of his daughter, but was finding it difficult to restrain himself. “You should be packing your things and aiding my mother in preparations for leaving Yorkshire.”

“Oh, did I leave the bounds of Lovell Moor? I did not notice. But how lovely to see this happy family group.”

Lucy’s pulse was hammering and she wanted to take Annabelle and run away from this horrid man. Annabelle appeared comfortable in Aubrey’s arms, but she was listening avidly. Lucy was not sure if she understood what was being said, but she did not want it laid out any plainer.

“Aubrey, you can deal with your guest. Annabelle and I will walk back to the Park.” He nodded and put Annabelle down, then Lucy quickly took her hand and they walked back the way they had come. She felt prickles on her back, knowing that Rathburn was watching them depart, all the while planning feverishly for ways to turn this to his advantage.

“Who was that man, mama?” Annabelle’s face was serious as she walked without any protest to where they had had the picnic.

“He is not a nice man. He is temporarily staying at Lovell Moor with your Gran..,  Lord Lovell’s mother as her guest.” Heavens, Lucy was flustered. She had almost said grandmother. Annabelle did not appear to notice her slip.

“Will Lord Lovell be safe by himself?”

Lucy’s heart overflowed and tears burned in her eyes. “I am sure that he will be fine. He knows how to deal with bad people and he will always protect us, sweetheart.”

Annabelle said nothing more and did not protest when Lucy bypassed the picnic blanket and basket to return to the house. Lucy turned her over to Clara for her nap and went back down to wait for Aubrey. The house was quiet. Anne was resting and Richard was out on the estate.

She flew to the doorway when Aubrey came in carrying the picnic basket from their interrupted afternoon.

“What did he say?” Lucy was pale and trembling, but waited as James took the basket from Aubrey and disappeared.

“Not much,” Aubrey replied grimly. “He asked some questions about Lucy, but I fended them off. I suspect he knows the truth however or at the least can make an accurate guess. I think that I should ride home and ensure that both he and my mother are sent packing.”

“But what if he tells someone?”

“It does not matter any longer, love. Richard and I can manage any fallout locally and we will be married long before he can spread the news anywhere else. I was planning to put about that we had been secretly married before I left for Italy anyhow. As we intend to live quietly here in the north for the most part news such as this will be quickly forgotten.”

Lucy gradually stopped shaking, his warm arm around her a comfort. She could not wait until they were finally married. He was right, they could manage this and Rathburn was not highly thought of by the Ton anyway. Had she not already faced him down once? They could deal with this.

Aubrey gave her a quick kiss and headed to the stables for his horse. Lucy tried to settle with some needlework, but it was no use. She dearly wished that Anne was available, but she was nursing her new baby and needed to rest when she could.

A short time later there was a knock on the door and Clara stood with a concerned look on her face.

“Pardon me, my lady, but is the young miss here with you? I slipped out for just a moment to check on the baby and when I came back her cot was empty.”

Lucy panicked. Could Rathburn have got access to the house and taken her? No, it was more likely that Annabelle was wandering. Back in Crane Moor Annabelle had often slipped away from Mary, but never far or for long. She must be up to her old tricks.

“I have not seen her. Can you please ask the footmen to search the house? I will look also, but I don’t want to disturb the Countess. You should go back to watch over the baby, Clara.” She took a deep breathe. “I am sure that we will find her. Do not worry. She is probably just curious about the house.”

It was not long before the house had been searched and maids and footmen spread out across the estate to check the grounds. A groom had been sent to Richard to call him home and Anne had been roused by the noise and was helping to look with Lucy. No one had found Annabelle yet and Lucy was more than worried. Another groom was sent to Aubrey to give him the news and ask for help from the people at Lovell Moor.

Anne was coordinating the search from the front parlor while Lucy paced. One of the maids came into the room with a tea tray as Anne was going over a map from the estate office with the head stable master. The maid brought the tray over to Lucy who motioned to take it away. Before she did she slipped a paper into Lucy’s hand. She shook her head to prevent any outcry, then slipped away leaving the tea tray on a side table.

Lucy swiftly walked to the window so that her back was to the room and opened the note. When she had finished reading she slipped out of the room.

Aubrey rode up to the house at a gallop. The groom had caught him out on some estate business and he cursed the delay. When he had arrived home after the picnic his mother had been resting and Rathburn was nowhere to be found. He had decided to try to catch up on business affairs.

Richard had .just mounted his own horse and he paused to speak to Aubrey. The yard was a whirl of activity as tenants, servants, and neighbors shouted and horses and carriages were managed by busy grooms.

“She has not been found yet. I have people looking everywhere and I have just sent men down to the pond to look for her.” Richard looked grim. “I have not given up. I think we will still find her safely.”

Aubrey did not think he could breathe from the pain clutching at his chest. “Where is Lucy?” he gasped.

“No one knows. She slipped out a short while ago. I am hoping that she has an inkling of where Annabelle may be.”

Aubrey nodded. Lucy knew her daughter best. “What do you need me to do?”

“I am riding towards the eastern part of the estate. Perhaps you could try the border of your lands. Perhaps she headed towards Lovell Moor.”

Aubrey nodded and spun his horse back in the direction he had come. He thought about the men dredging the pond and shuddered. He had just found his daughter. He could not lose her now.

He decided to ride back by the forest path around the pond where they had started to walk earlier in the day. Perhaps Annabelle had noticed something, a treasure, and returned to find it later. He had carefully emptied his pockets once he reached home, saving her findings to give to her tomorrow. Please let him find her to restore them to her.

His horse plunged under the branches of trees and he slowed, avoiding the lower-hanging limbs. This was not a path normally used for riding, but it did cut off towards Lovell Moor. He and Lucy had often used it in their youth. Just over the boundary line was a folly that his father had erected. He and Lucy had met there, a place they could call their own. He was urged towards it by an instinct that he could not countermand.

Just before he broke out of the woods onto his land he heard a shriek and a man shouting. Aubrey stopped and slid off his horse, tying it to a nearby branch. He crept forward towards the folly, careful not to make any noise. There was definitely a man and a woman talking and he recognized Lucy’s voice, high and frantic.

“The brat bit me. I should bloody her mouth for that.” It was Rathburn. He had his back to Aubrey and was holding Annabelle.

“She does not know you and she is frightened. She is just a little girl,” Lucy pleaded. “Please let her go.”

“I will let her go when you agree to come with me to Scotland. I need a rich bride and you will do.”

“I will not marry you. Find another rich bride and let Annabelle go.” Lucy caught sight of Aubrey creeping up behind Rathburn, but did not change the expression on her face.

“But do you not see? You are perfect for me. I only want your money and perhaps to bed you once or twice. Then you can go back to your bastard daughter and hide forever in the country. But my creditors are importuning me now and I cannot wait any longer. Also I will receive an incentive from Lady Lovell if I take you out of the running from marrying her idiot son.”

“Her idiot son is standing right behind you,” Aubrey said. Rathburn swung around as Lucy leapt forward and tore Annabelle from his grasp. Then Aubrey punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

“You bastard! I’ll kill you,” Aubrey growled as he pulled Rathburn back up and hit him again. “How dare you touch my daughter?”

Rathburn stumbled, but did not fall again. Still he was the worst for wear. He tried to land a blow at Aubrey, but Aubrey moved out of the way and hit him twice more, two swift jabs and Rathburn was knocked out cold.

Annabelle had stopped crying and was watching him wide-eyed as Lucy gathered her tightly in her arms.

“Lucy, take my horse, it’s over under the trees, and return Annabelle to the house. Send some men back here please and I will watch him until they get here. I want him locked up and a magistrate called.” Aubrey was panting, but he had hardly spoiled his toilette in the fight. Rathburn had not landed a blow.

Lucy nodded and ran with Annabelle, disappearing into the woods. In a moment Aubrey heard the horse’s hoofs beating away and he sat on the steps of the folly, keeping an eye on his fallen foe.

Eventually Rathburn regained consciousness. He groaned and sat up carefully, holding his jaw. One eye was already swelling up and his lip bled, staining his disheveled cravat. He pulled out an end and tenderly patted at his face with the least dirty place he could find. Aubrey watched scornfully as the rogue tried to put himself back together.

“Was it really necessary to hit me so many times?” Rathburn whined.

“If you had stayed conscious I would have hit you more. You deserved it all and more.” Aubrey sneered at Rathburn. “Stay where you are. There are men on their way to take you to the magistrate. Attempted kidnapping is a serious offense.”

“Oh, I don’t think you are going to have me arrested. If you do I would have to expose Lady Lovell as part of the scheme.” Rathburn was trying to be smug, but he looked ridiculous with his swollen lip and black eye.

Aubrey laughed. “What makes you think I would care if my mother was involved? And as devious as she is I do not believe that she would be part of a kidnapping scheme. She brought you here to devise a way for you to force Lucy into marriage, but she would not dirty herself with the details. No one will believe you.”

Rathburn paled. “But the scandal! Surely you don’t want your daughter’s name bandied about?”

“We’ll see what the magistrate says,” Aubrey replied, but in truth Rathburn was right. Aubrey would never have Annabelle and Lucy’s names besmirched as they would be if Rathburn was brought to justice.

Richard rode up at that moment accompanied by several men. His face was grim as he swung down from his mount.

“Lucy told me in brief what happened here. My men will take him back to the Park and we can decide what to do then.”

“The magistrate should be called,” Aubrey said although he was far from sure that should be the case.

“Did you forget? I am the local magistrate,” Richard replied with one eyebrows lifted. “I am judge and jury as far as Lord Rathburn is concerned. Perhaps he should have thought of that before he kidnapped my niece and importuned my sister.” He nodded and the men stepped forward and secured Rathburn’s arms. He had no hope of freeing himself anyway so he walked off with the men towards the Park.

“Are you alright? Lucy said it was quite the one-sided fight.”

“I have not lost all my skills and he was not much of an opponent.” Aubrey hesitated, but said, “Do you think it wise to arraign Rathburn? He certainly deserves to be punished but I worry over the consequences towards Annabelle and Lucy if this becomes more public.”

“I thought of that. My people are to be trusted. They would not gossip beyond the locals in any case.” The two men started walking back towards the estate, Richard leading his horse.

“Lucy indicated that Rathburn is in desperate need of money. His creditors are after him and he thought by taking Annabelle that he could force Lucy to marry him.”

“Apparently he had some encouragement from my mother. I will deal with her later.”

Richard gave Aubrey a look of commiseration, but did not respond, feeling that it was a matter that Aubrey could attend to best. “I thought that a solution for Rathburn might be to send him out of England. He would avoid his creditors and if we ensured his cooperation in not being sent to gaol, then he would remain quiet about all aspects of this affair.”

Aubrey blew out a sigh of relief. “If he agrees, I feel it would be the best possible solution.”

“Oh, he will agree. I will ensure that he does.”