A Regency Christmas My Love (2 page)

   He paced back to her side and took her hand.  “Maybe it is not all that is proper but you have just lost your parents and find yourself in a most improper situation.  I find I cannot let you suffer in it alone.  I think that is what we call being humane in an inhuman world.”  He kissed her hand and stared into her wide purple eyes wanting to drown in them.  Her hand was jerked from his grasp and he felt offended.

    “Please do not take liberties with my person.  I will consider having tea with you if we leave the door open.  I do not want to be in here alone with you but find I am feeling a little weak.  It might be good to take a little sustenance.”  She held her head in her hands and bent her shoulders in defeat settling back onto the bed again.

     “Give me leave and I will hire you a maid if that will make you feel more at ease?  It will only take me a few minutes.  You rest and let me arrange everything.  Just lie back on the bed and I will return shortly.  If that is agreeable with you?”  He stopped and searched her face for answers as she raised her chin and looked him directly in the eye.

      She searched his face and nodded.  “I think that would be more proper and make me feel more at ease.  Are you sure that is possible?”  He nodded his head and backed out of the room closing the door behind him, grinning like a mad hatter.

  Suddenly, he stopped, turned and jerked the door back open, pacing to the bed.  He took her hand and raised her to stand then put his arms around her.  Creighton held her for the space of a minute and then he traced her cheek with the back of his knuckles lifting her chin with his fingertips.  Staring into her purple eyes he slowly closed the space between them and gently touched her soft warm lips.  A fire started in his veins and he pulled her further into the kiss, deepening the kiss and parting her lips to slide his tongue into her recesses fully tasting her.  She tasted of honey and gingerbread and he sighed. It was the feeling of coming home. Then he set her away from him turned and left the room the second time without looking back but his grin was even wider than before.

     Vicky gasped in outrage and then he slowly warmed her from the inside out.  His tender kiss was the most tactile experience of her young life and she sizzled with the flaming passion he aroused in her small frame.  She was lost.  She wanted to bathe in the heat of his arms.  Suddenly, she was alone again. He was gone and all his warmth and heat dissipated.

****

Chapter Two

     Creighton was gone for only a few minutes and there was a knock on her door.  Vicky thought maybe there was something he forgot to tell her.  She was still standing in the middle of the room with her fingers on her mouth trying to understand what had happened between them.  Her pulse was still racing. She did not think she could take another kiss.  She thought she would feint from the last one.  Vicky slowly turned and put her hand on the door and opened because she thought she might like to feint after all.

      A strange tall thin man with black eyes and a hooked nose with a black top hat and gloves in his hands bowed to her.  He shuffled his feet and looked into the room.

     “I am Mister Crawley and I was told a Miss Victoria Grace was in this room.  Would that be you?”  “Yes, I am Miss Victoria Grace. May I help you?”  “Yes, I just came from the bank and I understand that you are the only one responsible for your father’s debts.  I have come to collect on those debts.”

  Vicky stumbled back aghast.  She shook her head in disbelief.

       “I am sorry but I do not have any money and they took everything else that I own except for my clothes.”  Her eyes filled with tears again and she trembled.

      “You will come with me please.”  Mister Crawley took her by the hand.

     Vicky tried to tug her hand away from him but he held on to her and pulled her after him.  He took long strides and she stumbled.  Surely there was some mistake.

       “I don’t understand.  Where are we going?  I have no way to pay anything if I am in prison.  Please, let me find employment and I will repay all I owe.” 

    Mister Crawley shook his head in disgust and pulled her arm all the more.

     “There is no way that you could pay what your father owes by working as a maid or governess.  There may be something we can arrange that I will discuss in the carriage.”

     “That would be very kind of you.  Let me get my pelisse, hat and gloves.” 

      “No, you will come with me now and stop struggling with me.”  He jerked her arm.

      “Here is my carriage.”  Mister Crawley took her hand and helped her into the black carriage.  It had covered windows and no markings.  It looked a little frightening to Vicky.  She shook from the cold and fright of this horrible man.

     “Where are we going?  Are we going to the bank or to Newgate?  I really will pay all that is owed, if you will just give me a chance.”  Tears ran down her cheeks again.

      “You will pay me what is owed and more.  I have a job for you and you will do as I tell you.”  His tone of voice changed and he was speaking to her in a very nasty manner.

       “I don’t understand.  Why are you taking that tone with me?  I have done nothing to you.”  Vicky backed into the corner of the carriage wanting to disappear from the situation.  This man was scaring her and her arm still hurt from his hand.

      “Oh, yes, you have done plenty to me”. He smirked at her then growled a low nasty sound.  “I saw you at your father’s many times before and I knew then that I had to have you.  You will fetch a very nice price and then I can use you as I wish.  It will be a profitable arrangement and will provide a roof over your head.  I cheated your father out of everything.  He was a very poor gambler not to realize my tricks.  I knew that it would be easy to get you and everything he had.  I even arranged for their accident, all because I had to have you.”  He reached for her and she slumped further into the corner of the carriage to keep his hands off her.  She shook with fright.

     “Are you insane.  I shall scream and bring the watch.  I will howl my outrage.  Keep your hands off me.”  Vicky slapped at his hands and raised her leg to kick him.

  “ Struggle all you like. I will have you.”  His smile turned into a hideous leer.  Mister Crawley grabbed her arm and yanked her into his lap.  His hands moved roughly over her chest and down her back.  His mouth was mauling hers and bruising her lips, Vicky screamed and he slapped her but she screamed again until he hit her with his fist.  Then Vicky sank to the floor of the carriage unconscious and very glad of it.

****   

     Creighton came back to Vicky’s room and knocked about an hour later.  There was no answer.  He called and nothing.  He went to the owner of the hotel, Mister Manner and made him check on his guest.  The room was empty except for Vicky’s trunk and valise.  Her only possessions were left behind. Her hat, gloves, and pelisse were still in the room. Creighton searched the whole of the apartments.  The maid he bought was told to make herself useful and hang her gowns in the wardrobe.  He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.  Something was definitely wrong and he would find out what happened.

     “I don’t understand it. She was waiting right here for her new maid.  Do you know anything?  Was there a visitor of some kind or did you see her leave?  Mister Manner, you will answer me here or at the watch.  I will know what has happened to my charge.”

     “I did have a man, a very tall man with a really tall top hat.  He was searching for her.  He said he was from the bank and that she owed him a debt.”  Mister Manner paled.

    “What was his name? Did he tell you his name?”  “No…yes…maybe…he said a Mister Crawley from the bank.  That was it.  He was very well dressed.  I did not think there would be any wrong in telling him her room.” He swallowed hard and looked away.

      “He gave you some money for the information, did he not?” Creighton stood straighter and looked down his nose at the innkeeper.  He was all aristocrat now.

     “ I am Lord Creighton Brewster the Sixth Earl of Brawley and if I find that you have done anything improper to Miss Grace, I shall see you prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Creighton’s face was red with rage and he stood over the tubby Mister Manner with his eyes glaring.

     “I am going to the New Bank of London and ask about this man.  If I do not find him there, I will bring the watch back here with me.”  Creighton walked toward the door but Mister Manner called him back.  “Please my Lord, I meant no harm.”  He swallowed.

    “Oh no…do not do that…I will tell you.  He is a man that owns the largest gaming establishment in Cheapside.  It is called the Frolicking Fellows.  It is on the Eastside. I would not go there unescorted.  It is a vile den of thieves.  You must protect yourself, my Lord.”  He bowed low to Creighton feeling very much in awe of the distinguished Lord in his establishment.

       Creighton jerked him up by his cravat and squeezed it tightly.  “I will be back with the law.”  He then bowed back slightly and turned on his heel to rush to the bank and to the watch.  He was so angry he could not stay or he would kill the man.

      “No we do not know this Mister Crawley.  I assure you we try to take care of our own business in house. I am Mister Rapene and I was the gentleman that visited the house this morning.  I am our adjuster and assessor. The house and all the contents was impounded for the debts but I don’t think it will be enough.” 

     Creighton flexed his muscles and clenched his hands into fists. His face was filled with rage and he flushed red with it.  He spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

     “Do you know a Mister Crawley?”

     Mister Rapene swallowed hard and looked at the furious Lord, taking a step back as the Lord drew closer to stand over him.

     “ I am Lord Creighton Brewster, the Sixth Earl of Brawley, my father is the Duke of Chelsea so if there is more debt just send the bills to me.  I will take care of this, myself.  I will also check into every detail of the debts with my solicitors, so I suggest that everything be in order.  Do you understand my meaning?”  His eyes narrowed on the man before him in more meaning than he could say.  He wanted to throttle someone, anyone.

     “Yes…my Lord…yes of course…everything will be in order.  I assure you.” Mister Rapene fidgeted nervously and sat.  He looked up at the furious Lord and shook his head.

     “Please do not upset yourself.  Is there anything we can do to help you recover Miss Grace?” Mister Rapene was visibly paler and his eyes widened in alarm.

      “Tell me where this scum, Mister Crawley lives?  I want to visit his home with the watch.  Kidnapping is a criminal offense.”  Creighton raised his eyebrow and fisted his hands.  He was about to hit the nasty man if he did not tell him where she was.

   “Yes, my Lord, he lives by the wharf on Grant Road in Cheapside.  I would suggest you take the watch with you.” Mister Rapene gulped and wiped his brow with his handkerchief before pouring a glass of brandy for himself.  He offered a glass to the gent.

     Creighton shook his head and paced to the window. “I intend doing just that and you better pray that the young lady is unharmed.  I will have your head if she is hurt.” 

     Creighton marched to the window again and looked out on the city.  How could this happen to one as innocent as Miss Grace.  He had horrible thoughts of what this man could be doing to her and he was unable to stop it.  Grabbing his great cape, gloves and hat, he turned and then glared at the man while stomping his boots to the doors.  He would rescue her.  She meant more to him than should be in such a short time.  She was so innocent, beautiful and gracious.  Her lips were the softest and warmest he had ever touched.  He remembered how he had felt her breath on his cheek when he turned from their kiss and he knew she was the one. If he could only hold her in his arms again, and keep her safe for the rest of his days.  He would devote his life to her.  He had to find her.

Chapter Three

     “Please Mister Crawley, let me out of this room.  I am going to start screaming again.  Let me out of here at once.  I have done nothing to deserve such treatment.  If you saw me at my father’s, you know this.  I am innocent of anything you have imagined I did to you. Surely sir, you see the stupidity in this. Someone will come looking for me.”

     Vicky paced the floor and cried.  She had cried more in the last two days than in all her eighteen years.  What was this man going to do to her?  He had mauled her with his hands but so far had not violated her and ruined her utterly.  She had to be grateful for that.  Her mouth was dry and she went to the pitcher and bowl by her bed and took a glass and poured herself a glass of water.  It was good but she had not eaten in two days. 

     “Control yourself Miss Grace.  There is no one to hear you and no one to come for you.  You are completely at my mercy.”  He laughed a horrible nasty laugh and turned from her room’s door to walk back downstairs.  His mouth watered with anticipation for what he would do to her after her got his money out of her.  He made sure she was alone and completely at his mercy.  He could do with her as he wished. He chuckled again.