The Secret of Castlegate Manor (19 page)

"No. But you got this note today. Came from a bloke I never seen before."

Nottington drew the note from his pocket and handed it to Geoffrey.

Geoffrey scowled as he read the fine script.

"I should have known better. I should not have left her."

"Is it bad news, then?" asked the old ostler.

"She is being held in exchange for my signature disclaiming my rights to the estate. I am to follow this map to a meeting place in the woods."

"You cannot be thinking of going. It could be a trap."

"I have no choice. He will hold Caroline until I come and I cannot bear to leave her in his clutches one moment longer than I must."

"You must wait the night, have rest and a meal."

Geoffrey glanced at the cloudy sky, with not even the moon to shine to guide his way. It was as though all was against him.

"Yes. I shall wait the night. I would not have enough light to follow the right path." He sighed in resignation.

Nottington turned his attention to the horse. "You cannot take him out again anyway. I have never seen him so done in."

"We will both take a night's rest and start at daylight."

Geoffrey joined Nottington for a light meal that he did not taste, then tossed restlessly under his covers. It seemed forever until the sun made a weak attempt to light the sky.

He dressed hurriedly and pocketed cold biscuits to serve as his breakfast. He did not know when he would have a chance to have another meal. He vowed it would be after he had returned Caroline safely to the estate.

He was not so foolish as to believe the Viscount would allow him to live once he had signed the papers. With this thought, he kept a sharp lookout as he picked his way through the woods. At a turn in the path, he halted and scanned the foliage.

The sharp smell of damp earth filled his nostrils. A butterfly fluttered away. A rabbit hopped across the trail. The forest was alive with creatures. And, somewhere out among them, he feared one far more dangerous than any of these gentle inhabitants.

He rode on slowly.

He might have missed the man poised for ambush had the glint of a gun not flickered from the foliage. He withdrew his weapon and shot into the brush. He heard a grunt of pain and knew he had found a mark. He slid from his horse and walked cautiously into the bramble where he had heard the sound.

From behind a tree, a bear of a man crashed toward him so swiftly that Geoffrey had no time to react. They sprawled upon the thick carpet of vines. The crushing weight of the larger man squeezed the air from Geoffrey's lungs.

The man reached for Geoffrey's throat with his left hand. His strength would have been overwhelming had he not been hampered by the bullet Geoffrey had sent into his right arm.

Geoffrey struggled to breath. His hand clasped wildly among the vines. Finding a smooth stone, he brought it down with all the force he could manage upon his assailant's head.

The man fell limp. Geoffrey rolled from beneath him, panting. He caught his breath and surveyed the still form of the ruddy-faced hulk.

The blow that might have killed most men, had only rendered this man unconscious. Except for the wound that seeped red on his forearm, he might have been in a deep sleep. Geoffrey had seen similar injuries during battle. Should the man awaken in the next few hours, loss of blood and a painful wound would occupy his attention.

He hurried back to the path. He could not yet count himself the victor. He had Caroline yet to find and rescue.

###

When yet another morning broke with Caroline in captivity, she thought she would go mad with worry and fatigue. She slept little during the nights. The sound of rats scurrying about the filthy room kept her awake.

Lord Humphrey had told her about the note. Geoffrey would come soon, he assured her each morning when her brought her a meager breakfast. And after Geoffrey was out of the way, she would belong to him.

She shivered in the chill of early morning. The fire had gone low during the night. She struggled to stir up the embers.

Lord Humphrey entered. He closed the door tightly behind him. "Cold, my pet? I cannot have my future bride taking a chill. Let me help you with the fire."

As he bent to stoke the wood, Caroline edged toward the table. Grasping a large mug in her bound hands, she edged toward the Viscount. If she could render him unconscious, she could escape and, perhaps, warn Geoffrey.

At the upward movement of her arms, the Viscount spun. He avoided the blow, which sent Caroline, now off balance, plummeting into the hard stone wall of the fireplace.

He grasped her roughly by the shoulders and shook her. "You would do me harm? You had better change your ways or I shall see that you come to the same end as your groom."

He flung her onto the floor, where she collapsed in a weary heap. Feeling weak and helpless, she gave into her anguish and wept, uncontrollable sobs shaking her shoulders.

He stared down at her. "You look a bit pale. Perhaps you have not gotten enough rest. Do not waste your time pining for your love. It will do neither of you any good."

He nudged her with the toe of his boot. "I have the fire stoked to a blaze. I shall come back later with your lunch. And I shall bring a trophy, a glove perhaps, from your former suitor."

He closed the door and latched it behind him.

So deep was Caroline's despair that she heard nothing except the sound of her own sobs. She continued for some time, not bothering to pick herself up from the mud floor. Nothing seemed to matter now. If the Viscount succeeded in his plans, she no longer cared what became of her.

The crackling above her head inspired only a vague curiosity. Yet, as it grew louder, she glanced up. Flames licked at the thatched roof. Sparks from the grimy chimney had caught the roof on fire. Smoke filled the room.

Seized by panic, Caroline pounded at the door. "Open the door. Oh, pleased let me out."

She climbed to the window and pried at the bars. She had little hope of budging them, yet less hope of escaping out the heavy, bolted door.

Orange tongues of flame danced on beam above her head. The smoke thickened. Caroline began to cough.

Suddenly, she heard someone call out her name. She turned toward the sound, gasping for breath. Sparks danced through the air, lighting upon the wood table and setting it ablaze.

The acrid smell of smoke filled her nostrils.

Remaining conscious became a struggle.

A hand seized her and cast her toward the door. She recognized Lord Humphrey's voice urging her to hurry.

She stumbled and he grasped her under the arms, shoving her toward the doorway. She saw the welcome light of outdoors and stumbled toward it, sucking in deep mouthfuls of air.

The sound of hoof beats pounded and Geoffrey sprang from his horse. He knelt beside her. "Caroline, are you alright."

His voice sounded as though he were far away.

"Lord Humphrey is still inside."

Geoffrey hesitated for a moment. A mix of emotions played across his face. Then he turned and bolted toward the burning structure.

Caroline moaned softly rocking herself upon the ground. "No, Geoffrey...."

He emerged dragging the unconscious figure of the Viscount onto the ground. Moments later, the roof collapsed in a roar of flames.

Geoffrey abandoned the Viscount and took Caroline in his arms. "Are you injured? Have you been burned?"

Caroline buried her head against his smoky coat and sobbed. "I thought I would never see you again. He meant to kill you. He told me he would bring your glove as proof you were dead."

"Hush, hush." He cradled her softly. "I am here, alive and well. But we must get you away from here."

Caroline glanced at the still figure lying on the ground. A gash on his forehead trailed across his face.

"Is he dead?"

Geoffrey pulled her to her feet.

"No. I will send Nottington back for him."

He led her toward Victory and helped her onto the glossy back. He swung up behind her and urged the horse back along the path. Caroline thought it ironic that she had always wanted to ride this horse and now she was too weary to care.

For two days she drifted in and out of sleep, aware only that voices and faces seemed to appear only to fade out of focus. At last, she opened her eyes to see Lavenia sitting at her side.

"Thank goodness, Caroline. I thought you would simply never awake. You must try to eat. You are nearly skin and bones."

Caroline smiled weakly. "I am glad to be back."

The memories came back to her. "Geoffrey? Is he alright?"

"He is fine."

"And the Viscount?"

"I am afraid he was not so fortunate. His eyes were badly burned by the cinders. The burns on his face will heal, but I am afraid he will be blind."

Caroline shuddered.

"You must not worry about him. Mother and I have worried only about you since we returned from London yesterday and heard what you had been through. It must have been terrible for you."

"It was terrible. I thought that Geoffrey would surely die."

Lavenia nodded. "He told us his true identity. I can see why he wished to hide the truth from Lord Humphrey."

She patted Caroline's arm. "I am going to order you some lunch. You must rest quietly until it arrives."

Caroline glanced about the quiet room, relieved to be back in the home she loved. If only she could see Geoffrey, she would feel completely at peace.

Lady Aberly joined her while she ate lunch and drank a reviving cup of tea.

"I feel so much better. I think I shall dress and sit out in the garden," Caroline said.

"The fresh air and sun would do you good, if you are up to going out. You are very pale from remaining indoors during your imprisonment. And I know a young man who has been asking to see you as soon as you are able to abide company."

Caroline ran her hand across her tousled hair. "Would you see if Maggie might come do something about my appearance."

Lady Aberly smiled warmly. "I shall do so gladly."

When Maggie's ministrations were performed to Caroline's satisfaction, Caroline strolled down to the garden. She was not surprised, but quite thrilled to see Geoffrey waiting.

He took her in his arms. "I feared for your life."

She looked up into his eyes. "And I yours. Lord Humphrey planned to use me as the bait to lure you to your death. I wanted to warn you. It nearly drove me mad that I had no way out of the cottage."

He ran a gentle hand across her hair. "It is all over now. The Viscount will be leaving soon. I shall explain the particulars tomorrow."

"He is here then?"

Geoffrey nodded. "I had him brought here to recover from his burns."

"I understand that he was blinded after he rescued me. It was probably the most noble thing he has ever done."

"For that rescue he shall be rewarded with his freedom. Had any harm come to you, I would see him face his full punishment."

They sat together in the garden while Lady Aberly sat at the open parlour door where she had a clear view as chaperon.

Caroline remembered what Lavenia had said. "They know all about you. Lavenia told me you admitted to them that you are the heir. Do they know about me?"

"No. And they shall not, although, expect for their position in society, there is little difference between you. You see, Lady Aberly was a friend of Lady Eleanor, not a relative. Lady Aberly's husband was given to his liquor and games of chance, not unlike Lord Humphrey. When he died, it was discovered that the estate was heavily in debt."

Caroline sucked in her breath. "Lady Aberly and Lavenia had nothing?"

"Exactly. To spare her good friend the embarrassment, Lady Eleanor brought her here and allowed her to pretend she was related. It seemed she was wont to help those she loved, no matter what their circumstance."

Tears filled Caroline's eyes. "She was a very great lady."

He captured a gloved hand and kissed the tip of each finger. "I shall always be grateful to her for her kind heart that allowed me to meet you. And I am glad that I can court you openly, Caroline. It makes things much less awkward."

"Indeed. Though I see Lady Aberly is keeping a close watch."

He laughed. "Lady Aberly was quite embarrassed to learn of my real position. She made things right by immediately inviting me to join the family for supper tonight."

"And Lord Humphrey?"

"He shall stay in his quarters?"

"And then?"

Geoffrey would say no more regarding the Viscount. He insisted she wait until the Lord Humphrey should join them in the morning.

Caroline spent a happy evening in Geoffrey's company despite her curiosity about the fate of Lord Humphrey.

The next morning, Edwards led the Viscount carefully down the stairs to join them in the drawing room. Caroline shuddered. His bandaged eyes reminded her of the nightmare fire that had caused his injury.