Most Rebellious Debutante (16 page)

He hated this part of any engagement. Nerves were on edge, wondering how it would go. It was always thus when campaigning. Once the battle started, training kicked in and the instinct to out-manoeuvre the enemy took over. To kill or be killed was easier then, with no time to be afraid.

It was cold. He blew into his hands silently, temporarily warming them.

A sharp sound in the distance brought all his senses together. His muscles tensed. A coach was approaching. Was it
his
coach? His ears listened intently, telling him four horses were in harness. He could imagine every twist in the road as the sounds came closer. This was it!

 A few hundred yards or so away, Lucy increased her pace, even though the ground was now rising slightly. The coach had passed her a moment before. She had heard it coming long before it swayed round the intervening bend and she had had plenty of time to drop into the roadside ditch and crouch in its shadows. She raised her head as it passed and she recognized the Montcliffe coat of arms emblazoned on its doors.

Her head was full of questions. Should she have taken a chance and stopped it
en route
? She dismissed that thought; there was no way of knowing which coach it was until it drew level and it would have been too late to draw back if it were another. By the time she had scrambled back up on to the road, the rear of the coach was already lost in swirls of mist, the rumble of the wheels fading as it went around the bend at the top of the slope.

Was Theo a passenger inside it? He could be driving into danger. Was he well? Fully recovered? She hoped so. Surely
he wouldn’t have planned his return unless he was. Did he know that his cousin was back in the area? What if he didn’t? She must hurry!

Her footwear was totally unsuited to running and it wasn’t an activity she had indulged in very much in recent years. Well-brought-up young ladies weren’t expected to run. Nor were they given the opportunity. Even her outings in the wood with the children hadn’t prepared her muscles for the exertion now required of them, and the carriage accident earlier in the day had affected her strength more than she had realized at the outset, but her anxiety spurred her on her way. Hurry! Hurry! ‘Please be safe, Theo!’

A pistol shot rang out through the misted air. The sound momentarily froze her steps. A stab of fear pierced her heart. She heard the panicky sound of horses missing step and rearing and the jangle of harness out of rhythm.

With a small cry, she urged her feet onwards, her breath now coming in painful gasps. As she stumbled round the next curve in the road, she was brought to an abrupt halt.

Twilight was settling upon the day but there was enough light remaining for her to make out the silhouetted shape of the large coach. It had been forced to stop. A bulky man, whom she presumed was the driver, lay sprawled face down on the ground, dangerously near the horses’ hoofs. A
rough-looking
individual was trying to hold the bridles of the frightened leading horses, whilst another, with a heavy cudgel in his hand, stood over the fallen man. Was either of them the rough-looking groom whom she had seen with Potterill on that first occasion? He would be a brutal
opponent
.

As she crept forward, she could see another man by the
side of the coach. From his height and build, she knew it was Lieutenant Potterill. Her breath seemed to be stuck in her throat and her mind paralyzed. What was he going to do? If Theo were indeed in the coach, why hadn’t he leaped out to see what was going on? Was there a possibility that he wasn’t in it? Or had he already been injured by that pistol shot she had heard?

Before her thoughts had had time to settle, Potterill yanked open the door, but stepped back a pace when the cloaked figure of a woman appeared in the doorway of the coach. She heard Potterill stammer, ‘A … Aunt Isabelle!’ followed by, ‘Really, Piers! Whatever is happening?’ It was the countess, without any trace of fear in her voice. ‘What are you doing here? I think I heard a shot. Have we been held up?’

At the same moment another dark form emerged from the shelter of the trees to her left and a commanding voice rang out, ‘Hold it right there, Piers! You are surrounded!’

Lucy recognized the voice and turned in consternation as she realized the second dark figure was Theo, miraculously standing unaided. His right arm was outstretched, a pistol pointing straight at his cousin. She realized that Theo had challenged his cousin before he had had time to see his mother framed in the doorway of the coach. He clearly had no idea that she would be there, or he would have
challenged
his cousin before he had opened the door.

Yet another dark form emerged behind Theo a few yards to his left as, with a swift movement, Piers reached forward and grabbed hold of the countess, dragging down her slender form from the coach. He held her against his body, a pistol to her head.

‘Don’t move, anyone, or I shall shoot her!’

Lucy held her breath, her eyes locked on Potterill. The muzzle of his pistol was pressing against Lady Montcliffe’s temple as his glance darted between Theo and his companion. ‘Throw down your pistols where I can see them!’ he shouted.

Lucy gasped. If Theo did as he was bidden, he would be at his cousin’s mercy. In a flash of understanding, Lucy knew Piers would then kill all present to silence them and, no doubt, lay the blame on a marauding band of thieves! She knew no one dared to move just as she also knew Theo
would
throw down his pistol as he had been ordered, in the hope of saving his mother.

L
UCY KNEW SHE
was the only one who could do anything! But what?

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the man who had dealt with the coach driver begin to creep around the back of the coach. She didn’t dare wait until he entered the fray. She needed to distract Piers in order to give Theo a chance to save his mother without sacrificing himself.

She stooped down and groped her fingers over the ground until she felt a large stone. She swiftly scooped it up and, imagining that she were bowling over-arm to someone taller than Bertie, she flung it over everyone’s heads to land in the only direction where no one was standing. It hit against the trunk of a tree with a sharp crack!

Instantly, Potterill swung around to face that direction, sweeping the light figure of the countess off her feet with him, and fired his pistol. Immediately, another shot rang out. Potterill staggered sideways and fell against the body of the coach, dragging Lady Montcliffe with him. As they collapsed to the ground, Theo lurched forward, followed by his companion.

There were sounds of other scuffles and fights going on in the shrubbery across the road, but Lucy’s attention was solely upon the fallen figures on the ground by the coach.

She ran forward, also. ‘Is Lady Montcliffe all right?’ she gasped.

Theo didn’t respond. Instead, he stamped his foot on his cousin’s outstretched hand that still loosely held his pistol. The precaution wasn’t necessary. Potterill remained slumped where he had fallen.

‘A good shot,’ Theo’s companion murmured quietly. ‘He deserved it, the scoundrel.’

The countess, with Lucy’s help, was struggling to sit up. ‘Thank you, my dear.’ Her eyes widened in surprise. ‘Lucy! You are the last person I expected to see!’

Until Lady Montcliffe spoke her name, Theo’s attention had been solely upon his mother. He had bent awkwardly over her, the pain in his back preventing him from being able to lift her to her feet. He turned in amazement,
involuntarily
wincing as he straightened.

‘Lucy? Miss Templeton?’ He looked back at his mother, who was now leaning on Miss Templeton’s arm as she regained her feet. He put out a hand to steady her, holding on to the coach door with his other hand. ‘You know Miss Templeton, Mama?’

‘Yes, dear. She was a guest at the Hall just over a year or so ago.’

‘Oh, look out!’ Lucy clutched at his arm as the man with the cudgel came into view. They weren’t yet out of danger!

Theo tensed for action but immediately relaxed. ‘It’s all right, he’s one of my men.’

‘Oh! But I thought—!’

‘So did Piers,’ Theo said with a note of satisfaction in his voice. He looked at the man. ‘How’s Simkins? Not too stunned, I hope?’

‘Nah, he’ll do, ’Twas naught but a tap,’ the man replied, his swarthy face softened by a grin. ‘I managed to warn him and he dropped like a professional!’

Lucy’s eyes were drawn to the still figure on the ground. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he? Will you get into trouble for killing your cousin? Although, everyone will give witness—’

‘The shot was mine,’ the other man interrupted. He bowed briefly towards Lady Montcliffe. ‘William Grantham, ma’am. The local magistrate. I’ll take full responsibility for what has happened. Full warning was given and he chose to ignore it. Now, if everyone agrees, it’s time we moved on. The night’s drawing in and it’s getting damnably cold! Get these ladies sorted out, Rockhaven, and leave the rest of us to do what we have to here.’

His words reminded Lucy of the impropriety of her
presence
. ‘Oh, yes, I must return home immediately!’ she cried with dismay. Now that the danger was over, her legs seemed to want to crumple beneath her, but she was too proud to admit to such weakness. Her other predicament, that of being missed from her room, was of much more importance. ‘No one knows I am out of the house,’ she added ruefully. She turned to Lady Montcliffe, stricken by embarrassment. ‘Please don’t think badly of me for being out at this hour with no maid in attendance! I simply couldn’t think of any other way to warn Theo … that is, Lord Rockhaven … that his cousin was back in the area.’

‘Ha! If you think yourself wanton for being out without a maid in attendance,’ Theo declared, ‘look no further than at my dear mother! The coach was
supposed
to be
empty
, Mama!’

‘Touché
!’ Lady Montcliffe laughed, not in the least
embarrassed
. ‘Yes, I’m sorry I nearly wrecked your plan. I thought
my presence might defuse the situation, but I see I was wrong. Do you think he would really have killed me? Yes, I see you do.’ For a moment she seemed overtaken by shock, but she pulled herself together and resorted to admonition. ‘You should have told me in greater detail what you were planning! I just couldn’t wait tamely in London knowing that you were planning to somehow lure Piers into making a move against you, and I could hardly put any of my maids into such a dangerous position, could I? However, it is only for one night. They are following on tomorrow. In the meantime, Miss Templeton, Theo and I will escort you back to Glenbury Lodge, so that we can explain what has happened to your sister.’

Lucy would have liked nothing better than to arrive home sheltered by the countess’s presence, and that of her son, but she would prefer it if Marissa and other members of her sister’s household did not discover her evening’s deception quite so dramatically. Besides, she must protect Nora’s part in her deception.

‘Please, no!’ she implored. ‘I am in disgrace enough, as it is. My sister is out visiting and I am supposed to be resting in my room after a …’ No, she mustn’t mention the carriage accident. That would complicate the matter and delay them all departing to their homes. ‘I pretended to be a little unwell so that I could come to warn Lord Rockhaven that his cousin was in the area trying to recruit men to assist him. Everyone thinks I am asleep in my bed. I am hoping to be back in my room before Marissa returns. She will be shocked if she hears of my part in this, and my maid is covering for me. It will be much better if I creep back into the house unnoticed. I can be back home by the time you
have turned the coach around. Oh dear, it all sounds quite dreadful of me. I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to do.’

Theo reached out to touch her arm, his face wincing in pain with the sudden movement. ‘It was very brave and resourceful of you, Miss Templeton, but you must allow me to come with you to make sure of your safety.’

Lucy backed away, shaking her head, knowing that if he touched her, she would lose her resolve. His pain was evident and Lady Montcliffe seemed as if she had borne enough for one night. ‘No! Your mother’s need is greater than mine. I’m just so glad you’re safe, m’lord!’

Their gaze met and held for a few seconds, each conveying a tumult of emotion. Lucy longed to be held in his arms, to feel his strong body against hers, except, right now, he
wasn’t
strong. The strained lines of his face showed that his exertions had taken their toll on him and she knew he wouldn’t want her to witness his physical weakness.

‘It isn’t far … and it’s mostly downhill,’ she said, forcing a light laugh. ‘I’ll be home before you are.’

‘Then one of my men will escort you as far as the door. I insist.’

Lucy agreed. She was sorry to have to leave. She wanted to hear all the details. Where had Theo been during the past few weeks? How did he know his cousin was going to waylay him on his return to Montcliffe Hall? But, most of all, she just wanted to feast her eyes on him and take in the fact that he was back on his feet and able to walk unaided.

‘Are you sure this is what you want to do, my dear?’ Lady Montcliffe asked. ‘I will defend your action to your sister. Without your distraction, I am sure Piers would have killed my dear Theo. His men’ – she gestured around at the small
band of men now standing around awaiting their orders what to do next – ‘were as helpless to do anything to save me as he was as they were at the other side. I am eternally grateful to you, my dear.’

But Lucy was adamant. The consternation that would be brought on by Lady Montcliffe arriving unannounced on the doorstep of Glenbury Lodge in such circumstances was more than she could bear to contemplate. ‘Yes,’ she said firmly, covering her head with the hood of her cloak. ‘This is best.’

Theo took hold of her hand and bowed over it. ‘I will call tomorrow, as soon as I am able,’ he said softly, raising her hand to his lips. His glance seemed to hold a hint of promise and Lucy felt her heart quicken. It was enough.

She bobbed a tiny curtsy and then, with an air of more confidence than she truly felt, she turned away and, with one of Theo’s men loping along at her side, she hurried down the hill to Glenbury Lodge. Slivers of light shone through the gaps in the curtains at the downstairs windows. She hoped it meant only that the servants had everything ready for their mistress’s return. All she needed to do was to get upstairs without being seen.

Her heart thumped uncomfortably as she approached the side door through which she had left the house just over an hour earlier. Would it still be unlocked? She tested the handle and breathed a sigh of relief. It was just as she had left it. Silently signalling to the man who had accompanied her that his duty was now over, she gently pushed open the door and slipped inside. She closed the door quietly behind her and momentarily leaned back against it. Her heart was racing but she mustn’t linger. In complete darkness, she
softly made her way along the short corridor to another door that led into a carpeted hallway. Once there, she felt sure she would be able to detect if anyone were in the vicinity though, hopefully, all would be quiet.

It was not to be. It was a swing door and, as she
tentatively
pushed it forward, it was whisked from her hand and she stumbled forward into the well-lit hallway. Her
brother-in
-law, Rupert, faced her angrily.

‘So, you are back! There had better be a good explanation for this, my girl!’

‘Yes, Rupert, I’m—’

But, without giving Lucy a chance to start explaining, he grasped her arm and marched her into the main part of the house. Ignoring the shocked faces of the few servants they passed, he hurried her down the main hallway and flung open the drawing-room door, thrusting her into the room before him.

‘Here she is!’ he snapped. ‘And look at the state of her!’

Marissa had obviously been pacing up and down the room in a state of agitation. Now, she halted and whirled around to stare at her sister, aghast at what she saw. Her hand flew from clutching the necklace at the base of her throat to cover her mouth, her eyes wide with
consternation
. But, as Lucy lifted her chin to face her, a mixture of dismay, regret and defiance in her expression, she realized that Marissa wasn’t the only person in the room. Rising from their seats by the fire were Lord and Lady Templeton, their faces equally shocked and angry.

‘Mama! Papa!’ She felt what remained of her spirit plummet. Oh, dear! This was going to be far worse than she could have ever imagined.

Marissa strode forward and pulled Lucy further into the room. ‘Lucy, how could you? Where have you been? Just
look
at her, Mama! She’ll be the ruin of us! And the servants! I hope the servants haven’t seen her!’ Marissa’s voice rose into a wail.

Lucy tried to tug her arm free of her sister’s grasp, but her mama’s, ‘Oh, Lucy!’ brought her resistance to a
standstill
. The reproach in her voice tore at her heart.

‘I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean you to see me like this. I hoped to be back before anyone missed me. You weren’t meant to arrive until tomorrow.’ It wasn’t what she had meant to say but the shock of seeing her parents here had robbed her brain of reason.

‘Then it’s as well we came a day early, isn’t it?’

Her mama’s face hardened and she glared at Lucy’s state of dishevelment. ‘Just look at you! I can’t believe that a daughter of mine can bear to be seen in such disarray. Your dress is filthy and torn! Your hair is all over the place and your face is flushed! I don’t know if I even
want
to hear what you have been up to.’

‘I had to go,’ Lucy cried. ‘I had to warn him … to try to save him … and I did! It was his cousin, you see.’ Her words were coming out all wrong but Lucy couldn’t help it. ‘He’d already tried—’

Marissa latched on to one word. ‘Him? Him? You have been with a man? Who is he? Nurse Harvey has said all along that you have been a bad influence on the children, and now Arabella tells me you have befriended a pirate in the wood and have been visiting him! And taking the
children
with you! Tell me, if you can, that it wasn’t he whom you have been with tonight.’

‘Well, yes, but it’s not—’

‘Ohh! I knew it! You wicked girl! Did you hear that, Rupert? She has led my innocent children astray and I will never forgive her, Mama. I’ve tried to do my best for her, but I’ve failed!’ Marissa flung herself weeping into her husband’s arms.

‘No, listen, Marissa. You don’t understand. He’s not a pirate, he’s—’

‘Silence, Lucy!’ her father thundered. ‘I will not have any more of your wilful excuses. I determined to listen to you, to hear what you had to say for yourself, as I have always done in the past, but this is the final indignity you will heap upon us. No, don’t interrupt! I will have my say! Neither your mama nor I will put up with it any longer! Now, go to your room and do not emerge from it until you are bidden. We will discuss what is to be done with you tomorrow.’

‘But—!’ Lucy tried to speak again.

‘Go!’ he thundered again, his arm dramatically pointing towards the door.

Lucy knew better than to continue to defend herself. It would only make her papa more angry. Near to tears, her whole body trembling, she summoned enough strength to hold her head high. Her face drained of all colour, she reached out her hand in an impassioned plea towards her mother but she just stared at her coldly. With a broken sob, Lucy turned away and fled to her bedroom. Nora was no longer there. Lucy could only presume that her maid’s part in her deception had been discovered and that she also would be facing punishment.