Fenella J Miller - [Duke 02] (20 page)

Her companion appeared to have recovered his aplomb as he smiled. “That should be an interesting experience, Miss Hadley. I thought perhaps I should go around to the stable yard and arrange for a groom to ride for the physician.”

“Yes, do that, sir. I suppose we had better send the carriage back to find Sir John although I would far prefer to leave him where he is.”

“I shall bring a coachman and a stable hand back with me and they can take the coach to look for him. I shall not be accompanying them; my employment with Sir John is over.”

He pulled himself upright and her heart went out to him. He looked aged beyond his years, a broken man, and despite his involvement with her stepfather she was determined to help him.

“Mr Peabody, I shall ask Westchester to employ you in future. When I am married I shall regain my inheritance and Hadley Manor will be mine once more.” This was not quite true as in law it would all belong to Ralph, but she was certain he would give her full control of her ancestral estates. “Your knowledge of Hadley will be invaluable in the transfer.”

He straightened and looked like his old self again. “I don't deserve such compassion. However, if the duke is gracious enough to give me that task I can promise you I shall not fail him.” He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. “I have knowledge of Sir John's nefarious doings, ledgers and such like; I will give them to Westchester to use against my former employer.”

Her attention returned to the patient. He was certainly breathing more easily and his colour was less pale. She checked the bandage and was delighted to discover no further blood had seeped through the pad; her makeshift arrangement was doing its job.

The estate was strangely silent, no sign of any other servants, no shouting or running feet. Why was that? There had been no banging on the door when Tom went to the house. She would risk standing up and looking for herself.

*

Ralph strode towards the house his shoulders rigid expecting a bullet to kill him at any moment. The house was quiet— no faces at the shutters or voices raised in anger. Tom hammered on the door but there was no response.

“Go around to the back—one of the staff will know where the doctor lives. Send a groom to fetch him and then return to me.”

His coachman nodded and disappeared down the flagged path that ran along the side of the house. Ralph lifted the heavy brass knocker and banged it several times. The door shook under the onslaught. “Open the door at once unless you want to be hung as murderers?”

This time there was a reaction. Hesitant footsteps approached the door and a female voice wavered. “Mr Bennet and Mr Forsyth have left the premises and the man responsible for firing at you has gone with them.”

“I don't give a damn about that. Get this door open at once, my brother is bleeding to death out here and I wish to get him into a clean bed.”

The rasp of the bolts being drawn back meant the woman, presumably the housekeeper, was opening the door. As soon as it moved he placed his shoulder against it and shoved sending the unfortunate female staggering back against the wall.

“I beg your pardon, ma'am, but I had no wish for you to change your mind; my brother’s life might depend on the next few hours.”

The woman recovered quickly and dipped in a deep curtsy. “This is a bad business, sir, indeed it is. I shall get the room prepared immediately. Dr Adams lives only a mile away in the village, he's an excellent physician and well thought of in these parts.”

“Good. My coachman is already taking care of this. How many footmen do you have?”

“Three—and a butler. They refused to help so are locked in the root cellar. I've already sent a girl to release them. They can fetch a trestle and carry in the injured young man.”

He had better introduce himself and explain there would be three chambers required plus accommodation outside for Tom and Fred. “I am The Duke of Westchester, my brother, Lord Shalford, is the gentleman who has been shot. Miss Hadley, my betrothed, will also require accommodation and a girl to assist her. Her trunks are on the carriage.”

“Jenkins, if it please you, my lord. I shall be pleased to help you and your lady in this crisis.” She spun, her blue gown crackling as she moved. “Oh dear! What shall I do with the curate hiding in the pantry?”

“Tell him to disappear. The fewer people here at the moment the better.” His lips twitched. He was issuing orders as if the master of this establishment. Too bad, when things needed doing there was no time to stand on protocol.

*

“At last, Ralph, I was becoming agitated by your absence. Rupert is a little better, his pulse is stronger and the bleeding has all but stopped.”

“That’s excellent news, sweetheart.” He knelt beside her, dropping a quick kiss on her brow before checking the information was accurate. “The men are coming to carry him in. The housekeeper is preparing rooms for us all and the physician has been sent for. Bennet, Forsyth and the rifleman have fled.”

He slipped his arm around her waist and gently pulled her to her feet. Anna relaxed against him for a moment, his warmth gave her the strength she needed. “This is such a muddle; if Bennet intended to marry me why did he have a rifleman inside the house?”

“I've no idea, my love, but I shall make it my business to find out as soon as I'm certain Rupert is out of danger. No one harms those that I love and gets away with it.”

His jaw was rigid and she prayed he would not put himself outside the law when he came face-to-face with the perpetrator of this disaster.

Rupert was transferred to a trestle and transported into the house. An hour or more had passed before Dr Adams had dealt with the injury and declared his patient in no danger. She and Ralph remained in the chamber hardly daring to believe the crisis was over.

“Come, sweetheart, shall we sit on the
chaise-longue
? I have yet to hear the full account of what transpired today.” He took her hand and led her to the window, settling herself comfortably before he scooped her onto his lap.

Whilst she was speaking his chin rested on top of her head which was most distracting. She completed her tale and his arms tightened.

“Radcliffe will regret his actions. How dare he mishandle my mother!”

Anna was relieved she had omitted to tell him Sir John had struck her; if he knew this he would surely kill her stepfather. “Word must be sent to Sarah. I dread to think how she will react when she hears Rupert has been injured. Tell me, dearest, what happened to your coach?”

“We abandoned it and rode here. I must send Tom to fetch our horses from the field and Fred to collect the carriage.”

“What about your clothes? How will you manage without your valet here?”

“You mustn't fret, sweetheart, my mama and I are more resilient than you realise. I expect she has already packed my trunk and is on her way to Hadley Manor as we speak.”

“But she will not find this there …”

“I shall send a groom over to Hadley later. She will not travel at the breakneck speed we did: I'm sure she will reserve a chamber somewhere
en route
.”

“I don't understand why Bennet should have hired a rifleman. Surely his intention was to marry me so why should he wish to kill anyone?”

The sound of carriage rumbling over the gravel attracted their attention. His body tensed and he swung his legs to the floor. “Radcliffe has arrived. Remain here, Anna, I wish to speak to him alone. I am certain I shall obtain the answers we seek from him.”

She scrambled from his lap shaking the creases out of her travel-weary gown. “No, Ralph, I must be there. Whatever my stepfather has done, let the law deal with him. I know how angry you are …”

His eyes darkened and his mouth thinned. He was going to refuse. Then he smiled his stomach churning smile and held out his hand. “Very well, we shall speak to him together. Blast it! We cannot leave Rupert unattended. Ring the bell—the housekeeper must sit here whilst we are away.”

Five minutes later the woman arrived apparently unflustered by this sudden request.

She curtsied. “I shall remain at the young man's side, your grace. I am experienced in such matters and you can safely leave his care to me.”

Reassured Anna smiled and hurried after Ralph who was already halfway down the stairs. She hesitated on the landing not sure if she wanted to come face-to-face with her abductor, the man who had sold her to Bennet.

She expected to hear him blustering, demanding restitution for having been thrown headfirst from a moving carriage, but she heard nothing apart from the shuffling feet of the two grooms who were escorting him. As she watched from her vantage point a person she didn't recognise was half dragged, half walked, through the front door. The man who had bullied her these past years, who had been stealing her inheritance and ruining Hadley, was no more. This broken wretch his clothes in disarray was no one to be frightened of.

She slipped into the drawing-room unnoticed. Ralph stood legs apart, hands clenched behind his back glaring at Sir John. “Put him on that chair. I doubt he can stand unaided.”

Sir John’s tale confirmed what she already knew. Her stepfather had agreed to fetch her in return for half her inheritance. He was astounded to discover they had been fired at on their arrival.

“Lock him in a room somewhere; I shall not soil my hands on him. The magistrate can deal with his wrongdoing. Kidnapping is a capital offence, Radcliffe.” This was stated clearly, the meaning unequivocal.

Anna was about to ask for clemency but Ralph shook his head slightly. She waited, not sure what to expect.

“I beg you, my lord, do not hand me over to the authorities. I will sign away all rights to Hadley Manor and the estate if you will let me go. I promise I shall go abroad, you will not hear from me again.”

Ralph appeared to think about it and then nodded. “I believe there is a lawyer somewhere on the premises. I shall have the papers drawn up. Sign them before witnesses and then go.” He lunged forward gripping the sides of the chair and placing his face inches from his prisoner. Sir John shrank back in his chair and the splash of liquid and a pungent smell filled the room.

Anna felt sorry for her stepfather’s final humiliation, but he should suffer for what he had done. A lesser man than her beloved might have beaten him within an inch of his life before tossing him into jail. This way Hadley would be returned to her and Radcliffe would be gone forever.

She retreated to the entrance hall to discover the butler shifting from foot to foot; he was obviously waiting speak to either Ralph or herself.

“My lady, I must explain to you what happened. Mr Bennet and Mr Forsyth decided they would take your inheritance for themselves. They hired an ex-serviceman to shoot Sir John when he arrived. The villain had been told to kill the two gentlemen with you in the carriage. Somehow in the confusion he mistook Lord Shalford and his grace for the lawyer and Sir John.” He rang his hands as if he was personally responsible. “When they realised what they’d done they fled. What will happen to them now? We shall all be in the poor house with no master to pay our wages.”

Ralph had arrived during this explanation and answered the butler. “I shall demand the estates of both Bennet and Forsythe in recompense. I give you my word none of you will suffer because of your master’s perfidy.”

The elderly retainer scuttled off to relay the good news to the rest of the staff. Ralph’s laughter broke the tension. “I can’t believe they thought to get away with such a cracked brained scheme. They must all have been touched in the attic.”

*

The following day Sarah arrived accompanied by Molly and was remarkably unfazed by all that had happened. She took over the sick room allowing Ralph to continue to London to complete the business that had been abandoned. On his return two days later they were gathered just before bed-time in the private parlour attached to Anna’s room.

“My dears,” Sarah said, “I knew how it would be once Ralph was in charge of matters. My darling Rupert is making a remarkable recovery. I fear he will wish to go off to be a cavalry officer before his shoulder is fully healed.”

“I have given the matter some thought, Mama, and have a solution. I have already put the matter to Rupert and he is delighted with my suggestion.”

“What is it, Ralph? You have not discussed anything with me.” Anna frowned at him.

“I know, my love, but I did not wish to bother your pretty head with business matters.”

She drew breath to protest at his highhanded attitude but his chuckle forestalled her. “No, don't poker up at me, my girl. I am the lord and master here and I intend it shall remain that way.”

“Ralph, dear boy, do not tease. Tell us at once what you and Rupert have devised.”

“I have signed over this property and also the Rookery, which was owned by Forsyth, to Rupert. He now has five decent estates to manage and his income will be substantial. Considerable work must be done to make them profitable again but it is a challenge Rupert wishes to take on.”

“Thank you, my boy, this is exactly what Rupert needs to steady him. I do declare his being shot has turned out to be of benefit to us all.” She smiled lovingly at Anna. “I shall leave you two together for I must relieve the housekeeper who is sitting with Rupert.”

Sarah drifted past, no sign of her former infirmity apparent, patting her son on the back as she did so. “I shall give you some privacy, dearest boy. I'm sure you have much to discuss.”