You Only Love Twice (19 page)

Lucas’s reply was drowned out by the sound of an exploding firework. When there was silence, he grinned and said, “Time always passes quickly when one is enjoying oneself. But you’re wrong about the time, Adrian. I’ve been here for half an hour and not a minute longer.”

“Whatever. At least your friends always know where to find you at a ball.” He looked at his watch. “Any moment now, Rupert will come through that door.” He took a long swallow of the champagne in his glass, then smiled slowly. “I sense woman trouble, and I commiserate, I really do. On the other hand, I’m delighted to observe that at long last a woman has the power to shake you out of your complacency.”

Lucas grunted. “I do not have woman trouble,” he said. “Jessica has got the wrong idea about something, that’s all. And when she’s in a more reasonable frame of mind and I explain things to her, she’ll come round.”

Adrian’s eyes danced. “How little you know women!”

“Well, we can’t all have your vast experience,” replied Lucas dryly.

“Oh, I’ve sworn off women. I’ve decided they’re more trouble than they’re worth.”

“Now what has brought this on?”

Adrian took another swallow of champagne then held his glass up to the light and studied it carefully. “She’s married, Lucas, and she loves honor more than she loves me. Need I say more?” He glanced at Lucas. “Now why are you frowning? Is it because I’ve lost my heart? No? Then it’s because she’s a married woman.” He shrugged helplessly. “It’s not so unusual, surely? I believe it happens in the best of families.”

The lighthearted banter was at odds with the serious look in Adrian’s eyes, and Lucas was at a loss for words. Adrian’s affairs were legion. He was the greatest flirt on God’s earth. No woman held his interest for long. And he had always given married women a wide berth.

He looked at his cousin now and realized how much he had taken for granted. Adrian was never serious. Life was all a game to him. When had he last looked deeper than Adrian’s ready smiles and sardonic wit?

Adrian sighed. “It’s not the end of the world, you know. Hearts don’t break. But at least I know now that I do have a heart.” His smile flashed as the door opened and Rupert entered. “As I was saying,” he went on, “here comes Rupert right on cue, if you’ll excuse the pun.”

Rupert laughed. “I knew I’d find you two in here,” he said.

“See what I mean?” said Adrian, and the laughter was back in his eyes. “We’re old fogies, as Perry keeps telling me, and too predictable for words.”

Lucas was watching Rupert. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing too alarming. Your mother is outside. She wishes to speak with you, that’s all.”

Lucas did not wait to hear more.

In the corridor, his mother came to meet him. “It’s Jessica,” she said. “I can’t find her in this crowd.”

“Perhaps she’s watching the fireworks display.”

Rosemary shook her head. “No. I’ve just come from there. Bella said she saw her with some young man, but she doesn’t know who he is.”

“Not know who he is? Surely she knows whom she invited to her own party?”

“Apparently not. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. Perhaps they took a turn in the grounds. The paths are well lit and there are plenty of people strolling about.” The anxious look in her eyes belied the calm in her voice.

Adrian and Rupert came out of the billiard room in time to see Lucas and his mother moving quickly along the corridor.

“What’s that all about, d’you suppose?” asked Rupert. “Jessica Hayward. What else would set Lucas off like a rocket?”

Rupert said, “I always wondered about his interest in that girl. D’you think …?” He let the unasked question hang between them.

“What I think,” said Adrian, “is that I don’t know what to think anymore. Come on, we’d better see what he’s up to.”

They met Perry on their way out. He was with a party of friends coming from the card room and looking pleased with himself. “What is it?” he asked, seeing the expression on his brother’s face.

“Nothing,” replied Adrian, and brushed by him.

Perry watched them leave. “He always says that to me,” he muttered to no one in particular, then, after a moment’s indecision, he went after them.

•   •   •

Lucas was on the path that led to the little pavilion. There were several illuminated walks in the grounds, and he’d set his friends to comb every one of them. This one was the longest, and he’d chosen it precisely because it ended at the pavilion. He reasoned that if a man wanted to take liberties with a woman, it was the perfect setting. Rupert had built it on the best vantage point to view the hills and valley, right on the edge of the bluff. Even at night, the view was picturesque, for the lights of Chalford could be seen below, off in the distance.

He didn’t know why he was so panicked. Whoever had gone off with Jess would be out of his mind if he did more than try to steal a kiss. On the other hand, he might have heard some of the rumors about Jess and decided she was fair game. If that was the case, he would personally break every bone in the bastard’s body.

“Jess!” he shouted. “Jess!”

Silence.

Logic told him that Jess was all right, but he could do nothing about the visceral fear that chilled him. Images tried to intrude and he quickly suppressed them. But he began to run.

He was sprinting like an athlete when he rounded the last bend in the path. Ahead of him was the pavilion. It was open on all sides and the lantern should have been lit. He pulled up short just outside. There was no lantern. No one was there. And just a few yards farther on was the rail at the edge of the bluff.

He walked to the rail and looked down. There was nothing to be seen, nothing to hear. And he knew full well that Jess could not have gone over, not unless she’d done it deliberately. She would have had to climb over the rail first. But the rail did not extend all the way round the bluff.

Desperate now, he strove to silence his harsh breathing.
Every sense was heightened for a sound or cry from Jess. Then he heard it, the faint whimper of someone in pain.

“Jess!” he yelled and raced from the path into the undergrowth.

The sight that met his eyes had him snarling. Sir Matthew Paige was bending over Jess. He had a lantern in his hand, and Jess was on the ground, her back against a granite boulder, cowering away from him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get away from her!”

Sir Matthew straightened. Lucas jumped into the small depression that Jess had fallen into and sank to his knees beside her. She looked up at him with eyes dulled with pain and shock. Blood was trickling from one corner of her mouth; her face was lacerated with deep scratches; the gown he had so much admired was filthy and in tatters. She had no shoes.

Sir Matthew said, “I was in the pavilion when I heard what I thought was an animal in pain. So I took the lantern and came to see what it was. You arrived almost as soon as I came upon her.”

Lucas didn’t answer him. “It’s all right, Jess,” he said. “I’m here now. You’re safe.”

He acted without conscious thought and began to test for broken bones. She moaned when he touched her left wrist, and cried out when he gently pressed his hands against her ribs. When he was satisfied that he had discovered all her injuries, he looked up at the older man.

“Leave the lantern and go back to the house. Find Dr. Vale and bring him here. Last time I saw him, he was in the card room. She may have broken her wrist and a rib. Tell the physician I said so. He’ll know what to do.”

Sir Matthew opened his mouth as if to say something, but Lucas cut him off. “We can talk later. Go, man, and hurry.”

He turned back to Jessica, and after removing his coat, he eased it around her shoulders. She moaned. “I know, I
know, it hurts,” he said, “but I don’t want you catching a chill. Jess, I must ask you: Did he rape you?” She shook her head.

Lucas had been almost sure of her answer. Her gown was ripped but her underclothes were intact. It might not be the gentlemanly thing to do, but he’d checked when he was feeling for broken bones.

“Who was he, Jess? Give me his name.”

She wasn’t sure if she answered him. Now that she was safe, she wanted to slip into that blessed oblivion where there would be no more pain or fear. But she dared not give in to oblivion. It wasn’t over yet. She could still feel his presence.

“Rodney Stone,” said Lucas, repeating what she’d said to him. “What did he do, Jess? Tell me what happened.”

“He tried to lure me to his carriage, but I fought him off. He came after me.” Sobs choked her voice. “If you had not found me, he would have abducted me.”

“It’s all right, Jess. You’ve nothing to fear. He’s long gone by now. In the morning, I’ll find him and …”

Lucas’s soothing words washed over her. It wasn’t Rodney Stone she was thinking of, but her Voice. His anger was abating, and his thoughts were becoming more difficult to read.

Then her Voice went out like a light, and there were other voices to distract her, many voices, and Lucas’s bellowing above the rest.

“For God’s sake, man, did you have to bring the cavalry?” He scowled as a crowd of curious spectators followed Sir Matthew and Dr. Vale into the light. “Stand back! Stand back, I say, and let the doctor do his work.”

Adrian and Rupert detached themselves from the press of people. Perry was right behind them. They spoke in undertones among themselves.

Jessica looked up at the sea of wavering faces, then moaned when someone lifted her and eased her down on her back.

A sharp rebuke burst from Lucas. “Watch what you’re doing, for God’s sake!”

Dr. Vale paid no attention, but continued to examine his patient. At each cry and whimper, Lucas flinched. The crowd grew silent.

Finally, the doctor said, “She has fainted, Lucas, and it’s for the best. Let’s get her back to the house as quickly as possible. I shall examine her more thoroughly there. No, don’t carry her. It’s best if she lies prone.”

They used Lucas’s coat as a makeshift stretcher. Lucas took one sleeve and Adrian the other. Rupert and Perry grabbed the coattails. Sir Matthew went ahead to clear the way as more and more guests came to investigate the strange report that was spreading like wildfire.

Lucas’s face was set and grim on that long, careful walk to the house. Inside, he was trembling. It had occurred to him that if she had not fallen into that depression, she might have gone over the edge of the cliff.

The ball was over, but no one was in a hurry to leave. Guests crowded into the Great Hall as if it were a theater and they the audience. When some tried to follow them up the stairs, Rupert barked out an order. Footmen jumped and quickly ran to do their master’s bidding, herding the guests well back.

Bella met them at the top of the stairs. She was with Lucas’s mother and Ellie. When she saw Jessica, she put a hand to her throat. “Good God! I only just heard. What happened to the girl?”

Rupert answered something vague and soothing.

Bella’s eyes snapped. “Only a fool would go off with a man she did not know. What did she expect?”

Rupert jumped in before Lucas could annihilate her, and his words lashed out, taking everyone by surprise. “If you have nothing useful to say, madam wife, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

Lucas was aware of his mother’s searching look flicking between Jessica and himself.

“In here,” she said, leading the way to a door that stood open. “Mrs. Rankin is helping the maids set things up.”

Anne Rankin’s face blanched when she saw Jessica. “She fainted,” said Lucas.

Anne moved quickly to the bed and pulled back the covers.

When they had placed Jessica on the bed, Lucas stood there, looking down at her, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. Her face was paper white, making the deep scratches and abrasions stand out more vividly. She looked so defenseless, with her tousled hair tumbling around her shoulders.

Dr. Vale was ushering everyone out. Only Anne Rankin was allowed to stay. “Lucas?” he said crisply, and held out his coat to him. When he saw how reluctant Lucas was to leave, he softened his tone. “It’s not as bad as it looks. At the most, a cracked rib and a broken wrist. She’ll be up and walking before you know it. No, really, Lucas, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Dr. Vale was referring to Jessica’s physical condition. But there was more to consider. He knew what people would be thinking and saying about Jess’s latest escapade. They wouldn’t blame the man for what had happened. Like Bella, they’d blame Jess for bringing it on herself.

“Lucas, I must attend to my patient.”

Lucas tore his eyes from Jessica. “What?”

“I must take care of Miss Hayward.”

“Aye, someone must!” he said savagely, and left the room.

CHAPTER
14

V
oices intruded on her consciousness, floating around her in hushed tones, soothing voices that stilled the initial leap of alarm as she slowly came to herself. There was nothing to fear here. She knew these voices, knew the gentle touch of the hands that tended her. They belonged to the nuns of the Sisters of Charity. As her fears faded, she drifted into sleep.

She moaned when a sharp pain suddenly stabbed her side. Someone had raised her head from the pillow and was holding a cup to her lips. She obediently took a sip, then another.

“It looks as though you’ve sprained your wrist and bruised your ribs.” Sister Elvira’s voice, matter-of-fact, cheerful, instilling confidence. “You had a nasty fall and you’ll feel the effects for a day or two. Nothing serious, nothing to worry about. You’ll be up and about before you know it, and Sister Dolores left a bottle of her famous elixir to dull the pain. I have to go back to Hawkshill, but if you need anything, Sister Brigid will be right here beside
you. That’s right, drink it down and off to sleep with you.”

Soothing sounds—the rustle of a habit; the clink of a cup on a saucer; a clock ticking; her own shallow breathing. She slept.

It was brighter now, and there were other voices in the room.

A young voice, petulant. “I don’t see why Lucas is running around the countryside trying to find this Mr. Stone. What has Lucas to do with this woman? Why can’t Adrian find him, or Perry?”