An Unwilling Baroness (9 page)

At the sound of thundering hooves at her
back, Chloe turned to see a lone rider coming up fast and hard
behind her. Dear God, what did he want and why did he fly on his
steed as if he were a demon escaping the sulfur laden depths of
hell?

Perspiration sprang from Chloe's forehead
and she knew. Dear God, knew she'd made a mistake in running away
in the middle of the night. Was this a highwayman coming to steal
her purse, her horse, her life? She pushed her heels into
Sebastian's sides and sent him from a trot into a full gallop.
Surely, her magnificent horse could outrun any lowly thief's
animal.

As if sensing her terror, the stallion again
increased his speed this time without her asking. She could feel
the power of the animal and reveled in the smooth way he put more
and more distance between them and the creature that followed.

She craned her neck to see if the man had
slowed, had given up, but no, he had persisted. "Damn you! Leave me
alone!" she shouted.

"Chloe, please stop!"

Hearing her name called by this man, didn't
help to calm her nerves. And who was it?

No doubt, he was a minion of her father come
to take her home. And of course he and his witch of a wife wanted
her to return, for she was the key to save their kingdom.
Too
bloody bad for them.

"It's me, Chloe. Jude. For God sake, let me
help you."

But hearing his name offered no relief. She
didn't want or need his help. Damn him for his neglect. Damn him
for fighting over Belle. Damn him for not loving her anymore.

He called to her again, his voice etched
with concern, but she refused to slow and refused to be coaxed into
marrying for anything less than genuine feeling. Her mother had
made the mistake of hoping for the best where her father was
concerned. That left her with a broken heart and a lonely life. No.
She would not repeat that and she'd never go back to Pembridge. Not
for anyone, not even Jude. Finished. She was finished with the lot
of them.

Sebastian put more and more distance between
them. She was winning her escape! If they continued at this pace,
soon he'd be little more than a distant speck. Finally, things were
going her way! Yes!

And in the blink of an eye her joy ceased.
The sound of gun shot rang clear against the darkness. Sebastian
shied leaving her to tumble for what seemed an eternity before her
soft body landed harshly against the packed earth of the road. What
little bits of light that had invaded the black night faded into
nothingness.

***

Pain. Intense, gut wrenching pain. Waking
from the blackness of unconsciousness should've relieved, but it
didn't. Every inch of her body hurt. Her head throbbed, her back
ached but it was her shoulder that demanded her full attention.

"Chloe, say something. Please love, call me
the fool that I am."

Jude hovered over her, his touch gentle as
he stroked her face. "What happened?"

"Thank God," he mumbled and leaning in,
kissed her forehead. "You took a fall from your horse."

"No," she protested and tried to shake her
head but the pain in the gesture had her moaning. "There was a
gunshot."

"Aye," he agreed, breathlessly. "But those
bastards are gone with a little bit of my lead in their arses."

She fought the discomfort of the hard ground
against her back and turned her head in a frantic search for her
horse. Panic struck at her heart. "But Sebastian…where is he?"

"He's what they wanted," he said, continuing
to stroke her face with a tenderness she'd never experienced at
anyone's hand before. "And, of course, your purse."

"No," she sobbed, struggling to sit up.
"Please Jude. He can't be gone."

"Be still," he whispered. "It's all right,
what's important is right here. You're safe, my darling. That's all
that matters."

"He was my mother's horse. Please Jude, we
have to get him back."

"And we will. But you, I have to see you
cared for above anyone else."

The affection in his voice soothed her and
she reached up with trembling fingers to touch his warm cheek.
"Anyone?" she asked, feeling the darkness once again envelope her
senses.

He placed a small kiss on her cheek.
"Anyone."

"But Belle?"

"She never really mattered anyway. Please,
don't worry about anything. I love you, Chloe. I always have."

His admission had her fighting for
consciousness. She had so many questions. Why had he been so cruel
if he loved her? Why had he brought Belle to Pembridge if he loved
her? None of it made any sense.

"Always?" she asked.

"Yes. I never stopped."

"Then why have you been so distant." My but
her head hurt.

"I'm sorry sweet," he leaned in, his breath
hot against her skin. "I wanted to garner your attention. I wanted
to force your passions to the surface. I needed to know how you
felt about me."

Tears slid across her temple. "Oh, what
fools we've been," she muttered. "I didn't want you to think all I
wanted was your help." Her hands grew heavy and she clutched to the
collar of his coat. "I have missed and longed for you, Jude."

"But do you love me?" He leaned in ever
closer, his mouth but inches from her.

"Yes, Jude," she responded, a small smile
touching her lips. "I love you with all of my heart."

"Then marry
me."

CHAPTER NINE

Chloe thought for sure she must have died
and gone to heaven. She no longer felt much discomfort, and an
angel singing at her side encompassed her in warmth and peace.

"Have her make me a cambric shirt. Parsley,
sage, rosemary…"

"Girl, stop your caterwauling."

Disappointment saturated her. She definitely
wasn't in heaven, the grating, discordant, voice of her stepmother
rang out loud and clear in her suddenly aching head. Oh God, maybe
she’d gone to hell.

"Yes Ma'am." Maggie’s familiar voice
answered.

All these years she considered the woman her
dearest friend and she didn't know she sang so beautifully.

"Is she awake? Has she stirred? Anything?"
There was no concern in Dorothea's voice, just the same commanding,
demeaning tone she always used. Her stomach clenched. Oh how she
loathed that hideous creature, yet forced herself to remain still.
She wouldn't allow her stepmother to realize she was awake. The old
crone's face was not the first face she wanted to see.

"No Ma'am, but when she does, I'll come and
find ya."

"Be sure that you do, girl."

After the sound of her bedroom door opening
and closing, Maggie sighed. "That woman, I'd like to toss her into
the Thames."

"Be sure to bind her hands and feet first,"
Chloe mumbled and slowly opened her eyes. Oh my, the light that
filtered through the window momentarily blinded her. She blinked
and longed to pull the pillow over her head, but couldn’t muster
the strength.

"Oh Miss!" Maggie gasped, throwing herself
over Chloe, and wrapping her arms about her tightly. The pain
filled embrace reminded her of all that had happened. And with a
flash of lightning every bit of it came flooding back--the thwarted
escape, her fall, the theft of Sebastian, Jude's confession. He
loved her. He said as much and a small spark of joy flared in the
depths of her misery. She gingerly pressed Maggie back, her bruised
shoulder throbbing from the effort.

"Can I get you anything, Miss?" Maggie
asked, pushing the hair from Chloe's face in a motherly fashion.
"Are you thirsty? Hungry?"

"Jude. Can you bring him to me?" She looked
at Maggie through bleary eyes and didn’t like at all what she saw.
Concern flickered across her usually pleasant countenance.

She shook her head and clawed at the collar
of her blouse. "No, Miss, I can't. He's been gone nigh two days
looking for the men that knocked ya off your horse. He said he
wouldn't come back till he had Sebastian and their arses in a
cell."

Cloying panic threatened to choke her. Jude
loved her and as much as she loved Sebastian, he wasn’t worth their
future. What if he were hurt on his quest…hurt or worse? "He went
alone?"

"No Ma'am, your father went too. Said too
much had happened to his girl and he had had enough."

Surely she'd heard wrong. "What?"

"Lord Pembridge, he went to aid the young
master."

Her father never did anything but complain
about her shortcomings and ignore her protests, yet now he risked
his safety for her? Unexpected joy gave lift to her heavy heart.
"My-my father? He came to my defense?"

"Yes," Maggie said, her eyes filling with
tears that flowed freely down her round cheeks. "But the mistress,
she's beside herself for wanting ya ta wake up. And the baron,
afore he left for London said he still wanted to marry ya despite
the fight with the young master."

Dread had a lump filling her throat. Surely
the baron knew his fight over another woman nullified their
engagement. But no, she quickly realized, that would've been far
too easy.

"I was hoping never to see him again," Chloe
mumbled.

"I overheard him tell Lady Pembridge that he
still wants ta wed ya but he believed that you wouldn't want ta.
But the bitch herself said she'd every intention of seeing the two
of ya wed."

Chloe struggled to sit up. "I'll not marry
him," she shouted but Maggie easily pressed her back into the
pillows.

"Rest Miss. No need pushing yourself too
hard."

"Maggie, you don't understand! Jude
confessed he loves me. He's who I want."

"He told his mum and that fancy lady of his
as much afore he left. It makes no difference ta Lady Pembridge.
Her heart is set on Von Richter."

Chloe clutched Maggie’s worn hands. "What am
I to do, dear friend? Tell me?"

"I don't know, Lady Chloe."

The words had barely left Maggie's lips when
the door swung open and Dorothea swept into the room, her face a
contorted mask of horrific anger. She descended on Maggie like a
ravenous beast. Chloe struggled to sit up, her limbs protesting the
sudden movement. "So you will tell me when she awakens, will you,
girl?"

"Aye Ma'am I was about to," Maggie
sputtered. "She only just awoke this moment."

Obviously undeterred by Maggie's confession,
Dorothea drew back her arm, her hand landing heavily against the
maid's cheek. The sound of bony fingers against pliable flesh rent
the air. The anger that Chloe had held in check so long finally and
fully bubbled over. How dare she take her frustrations out on
Maggie! The woman had only ever been sweet and good.

"Stop, you monster!" Chloe shrieked and
without thought, launched her aching body toward the malicious
witch. She collided into Dorothea, the pair falling backward and
landing with a heavy thump upon the hardwood floor.

The sudden exertion had Chloe's lungs
begging for air and she scrambled to her feet, her legs wobbly
beneath her. Holding on to the door jamb for support, she glared
down at the woman.

"What are you thinking? I think you may have
broken something." Dorothea winced, her pale blue gown above her
knees, exposing her wrinkled legs and worn slippers to the world.
She was a pathetic sight, pitiable until her gaze traveled up to
the woman's face. Her anger and loathing saturated every angle,
every crease, and every bit of her countenance.

"Don’t you lay a hand on her, do you
understand me?" Chloe shouted, her lower jaw trembling with pent up
emotion.

Maggie offered Chloe an appreciative glance
before helping Lady Dorothea to her feet. Dorothea moaned and
leaned heavily against the maid. "I think I may need the
surgeon."

Turning her head, she glared back at her
stepdaughter. "You will marry the baron and the sooner the better
for you."

Chloe stepped aside as the pair limped into
the hallway, her heart hammering against her ribs. She would not
marry the baron. Not when Jude loved her.

"And don't you even think about running
again." Dorothea pushed Maggie away with a vitality that belied her
recent protests. With a flourish, the witch slammed the door.
Before Chloe could reach for the knob, the lock clicked, trapping
her in her room. Through the door she heard Dorothea's angry order
to Maggie. "And you girl, get McCann from the stable. I want him
sitting by this door. I'll not have her trying to get away."

Aching and heartsick, Chloe slid down the
wall and stared up at the ceiling. "Please Jude. Come back to me
before it's too late."

***

Chloe no longer yearned for food and hadn’t
felt the agonizing pinch of hunger for two full days. With only
water brought to her, she felt herself growing weaker and weaker.
Where in the name of God had Jude gotten to? Had he truly said he
loved her? Or was that just a sweet dream which haunted her during
the long hours of solitude?

Sitting on her ladder back chair, she stared
out the window hoping for a sign. Examining and reexamining the
road for some semblance of life beyond the birds and occasional
deer. Anything or anyone that promised to aid her in a release. Any
hope of Jude. Damn it, where was he?

At the sound of her door unlocking, she
stumbled to her feet wishing she'd enough energy to rush forward.
Wishing her body didn't ache with each step. Wishing she'd
controlled her temper one last time and kept herself from knocking
the horror down. For the price of her rebellion, far exceeded what
she could afford to pay.

Weak as a newborn colt, she shuffled forward
praying that Dorothea had decided to give her sustenance. Just the
idea of a slice of freshly baked bread had her mouth watering.

"Miss, do sit," Maggie said, coming into the
room, a fresh pitcher of water in her hands. Dorothea stood in the
doorway, watching the pair with eagle eyes. There would be no
questions asked, no answers given.