Lady Faith Takes a Leap (12 page)

Warne gazed at her coolly. “Let me explain. One of two things will happen. Your father will pay the ransom I request to return you safely to your home. Alternatively, once you are compromised, he may be glad to have one more daughter off his hands. You have turned down several suitors, I’ve heard, and caused your papa enough grief. He’s suffered financial problems in the past, and a scandal of this magnitude is the last thing he wants.”

His words sent anger thrumming through her. With a cry, she threw herself at the detestable man, her clenched fists pounding on his chest. Warne laughed and took her wrists in a cruel grip. “You are a fiery woman under that quiet exterior. I always suspected it. Our nights will be most pleasantly spent.”

Sibella cast a glance at the mantel clock. “Heavens, look at the time. We must go.” Faith had not returned from her walk. After inspecting Charity’s latest painting and hearing Mercy’s latest remedy for toothache, Vaughn and Sibella took their leave.

They mounted their horses. “Faith’s been gone a long time.” Vaughn frowned. “I’ll ride out and see if I can find her.”

“I must get back for baby John,” Sibella said. “He gives nurse a good deal of trouble at bath time, if John or I aren’t there.”

John and Sibella’s first child, Auberon William John Haldane, heir to the marquisate, was already making his presence felt within the family.

“Another Freddie in the making?” He grinned. “I’ll escort you onto Brandreth land.”

Once Sibella was safely heading for home, Vaughn turned his horse. What direction would Faith take? Lady Baxendale had said Faith often returned by the lane. There was no sign of her now. Suddenly afraid for her, Vaughn guided his horse to where the lane met the road through the woodland, which led to the next township.

Instinct, or merely hope, made him continue along the main road. After some minutes, he’d almost convinced himself he was on the wrong track when a dray approached him from the opposite direction. 

Vaughn turned his horse to ride alongside. “Have you seen a young lady walking on the road?”

The man, his dray filled with barrels, tugged at his red bandana and shook his shaggy head. “Only a carriage, going like the clappers, it was.”

“I’m obliged.” Vaughn rode on. The racing carriage struck an irrational cord of fear in him. Ten minutes later, he came across the vehicle at the side of the road. It leaned into a ditch, one wheel sinking into mud. The driver stood at the horses’ heads, the door hanging open, with no one inside.

Vaughn dismounted. “Can I be of help?”

“Thank you, sir. If you could push from behind, I’ll lead the horses. We may be able to drag the vehicle out.”

Vaughn put his shoulder against the rear of the carriage. “Right!”

He dug his boots into the ground and pushed. After several minutes, the horses straining, the wheel moved. With a deep breath, Vaughn shoved harder. Soon afterward, the carriage rolled back onto the road.

Vaughn walked toward the front of the carriage, rubbing dirt off his leather gloves. Inside the carriage, a fringed, lacy yellow parasol lay on the floor. He frowned. “Where has your fare got to?”

“Gone. Made me drive too fast he did, and I lost it on that bend.” The coachman climbed onto the box. “I’m not waiting for the blighter. Told me it was an elopement, but the lady wasn’t willing. She ran away into the woods.” He pointed to a trail leading into the trees. “Then my fare took off down the road like a bull in spring. Didn’t pay me neither.”

“The lady’s name?”

“Couldn’t say.” The driver slapped the reins.

“Can I have your name, then, sir?” Vaughn called as the vehicle moved away.

“Sorry. Not getting myself mixed up in this havey-cavey business. Not on your life,” the driver yelled as the carriage trundled off. “But I heard him call the lady, Faith.”

Vaughn swore and leapt into the saddle. He rode straight into the trees, in the direction the man had pointed. Yelling Faith’s name into the quiet air caused a flurry of birds and rustling in the undergrowth but no sign of her. He feared he’d find her hurt, or worse that he might not find her at all, and called again. Who was that devil who’d abducted her? Might he be the man Vaughn had seen following the Baxendale carriage a few weeks ago? He should have taken a closer look at him.

He was forced to slow his horse as the track narrowed, littered with fallen logs and hidden gullies. The going became too dangerous. Fearing for his horse, he cursed loudly and dismounted. He led the horse by the reins as he searched the surrounding woodland, calling her name. It was already growing dark beneath the canopy of trees. When he found Faith, he told himself, and returned her safely home, he would go after that villain. And when he got his hands on him….

Vaughn strode on with murder in his heart.

****

Faith shrank down behind a holly bush, afraid to move. After Warne had urged the coachman to go too fast, the carriage had veered off the road. Warne had jumped out and stood cursing the coachman. Seeing her chance, she’d crept out while his back was turned and run for her life. She ran until she couldn’t breathe and her side hurt but kept pushing forward until she’d fallen over that wretched log. Now, she had no idea where she was, only that she was miles from home. She was afraid to retrace her steps. Warne could be waiting for her anywhere along the road. She’d gone over on her ankle, which throbbed. It had turned red and was already swelling. She heard her name called in the distance and the thud of approaching footsteps. Warne was coming for her!

“Please no,” she whispered, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. From her vantage point, she could see whoever came along the trail and only hoped they wouldn’t find her in her violet pelisse. Her head swam and tears blinded her. Faith tried to quell the sobs. She must be quiet.

“Faith!
”

The man was near. The deep voice didn’t sound like Warne’s. She gasped suddenly, filled with hope. Could it be? Of course, it couldn’t.

Faith peered through the bushes as a man appeared, leading a horse. She gasped and struggled to her feet. “Vaughn!” Her voice was annoyingly weak, her throat choked with tears.

“Faith!” Vaughn threw the reins over a bush and waded through the undergrowth to her. He swept her up in his arms, knocking off her hat, his hand on her hair, cradling her head. “I was so afraid….Are you hurt? Did he…?”

“No,” she whispered. “I’ve never been so glad to see you,” she said with a half-laugh. “Put me down. I think I can walk.” When she tried to put weight on her ankle, her leg buckled.

“You’re injured.” Vaughn hefted her up into his arms. “I must get you home.”

Faith was shuddering as Vaughn strode with her back to his horse. He carefully lifted her onto the saddle. “Who was that man, do you know?” Taking the reins, he led the horse back toward the road.

“Thomas Warne. He’s not still here?” she asked faintly. She didn’t trust Warne not to appear with a pistol.

“He seems to have gone. Who is this Warne?” Vaughn said through clenched teeth.

“I met him at the Duke of Morven’s home in Cornwall. He was there on some kind of business. Honor suspected Warne was trying to get me alone, to compromise me. I don’t think any of us realized just how dangerous he is.”

“He won’t get another chance.”

She looked up at Vaughn’s angry face. “Are you sure he’s not hiding here? He’s a horrid man and best left alone.”

“I don’t intend to let him get away with this, Faith, so don’t ask me to,” Vaughn said murderously.

Her teeth were chattering. “He could be dangerous,” she stuttered.

Vaughn took off his coat and put it around her shoulders. “I am dangerous.”

She gave a weak giggle and clung to the horse’s mane as they emerged onto the road. The carriage had gone, and there was no sign of Mr. Warne. “He’s not here,” she whispered with relief.

“Running won’t save him,” Vaughn said. “You’re shocked. You need to get home.”

He steadied the horse and leapt up behind her. Taking the reins each side of her, he nudged the horse into a walk. “We’ll be home in no time and see to that ankle.”

“When I’m in trouble, you always seem to be there, Vaughn,” she said dazedly. “I am most grateful.”

“Glad I’ve been able to help.” He pressed his lips together, wanting to say so much more.

As they trotted along the road, a landau came toward them. Faith gave a gasp of dismay. “Oh dear, I believe it’s the vicar.” Sitting sideways on the horse, her skirts awry, she made a desperate attempt to cover her legs. The vicar wasn’t alone. Two women from the church traveled with him.

“Damn.” Vaughn groaned and pulled up the horse.

The vicar’s shocked gaze studied them. “My heaven, Lord Vaughn, Lady Faith, has there been an accident?”

“Vicar, ladies.” Vaughn bowed from the neck. “I came upon Lady Faith out walking. She has hurt her ankle. I am taking her safely home.”

The ladies were wide-eyed with interest. “Walking along the road, this far from home?” Mrs. Norris said in an undertone. “A likely story,” she added with a snort.

“And at this time of day!” Miss Graham’s penetrating whisper reached Faith’s ears.

“I do hope it’s not a bad injury,” the vicar said with a frown at his companions.

“I got lost and foolishly fell over a log on the woodland trail,” Faith said. “I’m sure it’s not serious.”

“I’d best get Lady Faith home to have her injury attended to. Good day to you.” Vaughn urged the horse forward.

Faith peered around him. The landau was continuing on its way while both women craned their necks to look back at them.

“More horrid gossip,” she said bitterly, biting her lip. Grateful for the support of his arms, she fought the urge to lean her head against his strong chest, close to her shoulder, and give into a good cry. She was so dreadfully tired.

Sensing her distress, Vaughn transferred the reins into one hand, his free arm circling her waist, and pulled her against him. “It will all turn out well. You’ll see.”

Somehow, his masculine smell was reassuring. She closed her eyes. “I don’t see how. It couldn’t be worse. Now, you’ve become involved. ” She turned her head to gaze up into his face, set in grim determination, which was close to hers. “ I hope this won’t mean trouble for you.”

“Don’t look at me like that, Faith,” he muttered in a strained voice. “You make me want to kiss you.”

“You do?” A fluttering feeling filled her chest, and she fought the urge to reach up and draw his face down to hers.

“A man can’t resist a distressed woman. And kissing you would be very ungentlemanly of me given the circumstances.”

She wrinkled her nose. She didn’t want his sympathy. “I am so grateful to you, Vaughn. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t….”

“A woman should be safe walking about without being accosted,” he said heatedly.

“My walks are important to me.” Walking was the small concession her father allowed her, her one tiny bit of freedom, but she knew he would ban her walks from now on.

“Would it be more prudent to take Charity or Mercy along with you?”

“Complaining at every step? Thank you, no. I shall plan for possible obstacles in the future.” Although Mr. Warne was hardly an obstacle one might be able to plan for. “Anyway, my father will never let me out the door after this,” she added gloomily.

“I wish….” Vaughn’s eyes grew heavy-lidded.

She felt the tension in his hard thigh resting against her leg. It was incredibly intimate to be this close. She remembered the feel of his mouth claiming hers, his strong arms around her the night of the fire. She couldn’t ignore the warmth of him, the rough texture of his trousers rubbing against her hip through her skirt. Desire flooded through her. In her weakened state, she would abandon any attempt at decorum if he…. Her body felt heavy and warm.

“What do you wish?” She leaned back against his hard chest and drew in deeply of horse, leather, and male.

“Nothing of import,” he said, cautiously shifting his legs.

He didn’t want her. “I suppose Lady Montrose and Rosamond will be upset when gossip reaches them.”

A muscle clenched along his jawline. “Perhaps they won’t hear of it.”

In Tunbridge Wells? Impossible. Faith dropped her chin to hide her frown as the Highland Manor gates appeared.

“Faith!” Lady Baxendale rushed from the house, followed by Charity, Mercy, and Lord Baxendale. “What has happened?”

“I’ve turned my ankle,” Faith said as Vaughn swung himself from the saddle and lifted her down from the horse.

“Best you come inside, Winborne.” Lord Baxendale put his arm proprietorially around his daughter and drew her inside.

After a flurry of orders that had the servants running about, Faith lay with her foot propped up on the parlor sofa, her ankle bandaged. She was given a small dose of Laudanum for the pain. Lord Baxendale, who refused to talk until it was done, stood with his back to the fire. “Now I want it all. First Faith and then you, Winborne, if you will be so good.”

Vaughn disliked Baxendale’s officious attitude, but as Faith explained how she was abducted, and what Mr. Warne had in store for her, sweat gathered on her father’s brow, and a line of white formed above his compressed lips. Of course, Baxendale was badly frightened, as any father would be. Faith’s story trailed away on how Vaughn had come and found her and brought her home, and the man’s rigid features melted into profound relief.

“I am eternally grateful to you, Winborne,” he muttered in a low voice.

Lady Baxendale, who was ghostly pale, bustled about ordering hot tea with honey. “It’s good for shock,” she said. “I shall have some myself.”

“I’ll have a whiskey,” Baxendale said. “Winborne?”

“I will, thank you.”

“What a monster that man is!” Charity put her arm around Faith’s shoulders.

“We’ll watch him hanged at Tyburn,” Mercy said with a bloodthirsty light in her eyes. Her anxious gaze settled on her sister. They were all badly frightened. Vaughn cursed under his breath, that something so sordid should rock this family’s world.