Runaway (33 page)

‘The constable is here with us, my lord,’ said Lawrence quietly. ‘He would like a word.’ He walked over to the sideboard where some bottles and crystal glasses were laid out, poured a glass of cognac and brought it to my brother, who was looking very pale. ‘Drink this,’ he said in a low voice, pulling up a chair at the table. My brother sank gratefully into the chair and sipped at the cognac.

While he did so, Mrs Saunders boldly addressed Lord Rutherford: ‘I’m here to tell you, your lordship, that if we hadn’t done our best between us to separate Andrew and Emily all those years ago, we’d all have been spared a great deal of loss and unhappiness. I’m not putting all the blame on you. We thought Emily would be happier marrying in her own class too. But you can’t deny your part in that sorry tale. Well, we both lost our children as a result.’

‘What has that to say to anything?’ blustered Rutherford, staring around at his bewildering array of ill-assorted and unexpected extra dinner guests. He put down his cutlery and groped for his napkin.

‘They ran off together and hid themselves is what,’ said Mrs Saunders. She was unleashing anger and sorrow that had been pent up for many years. ‘All these years we thought Emily had put an end to her life, but she didn’t! She ran all the way to America with your son and they raised these two lovely children you see before you!’

‘Impossible!’ cried Rutherford. ‘That girl is a servant and a thief.’

‘I’ve been both,’ I agreed. I found it difficult to speak up before so many people, two of them my mortal enemies. I braced myself and stepped forward. ‘I worked as your servant and I stole your horse to save her life. But I seem to be your granddaughter for all that. I’m not saying I’m pleased about it, but it’s true.’

‘I can vouch for her, as I said last time I was in this room,’ said Henry. ‘And my brother will speak for me, won’t you, James? I assume you will believe a man who has served you faithfully all his life, your lordship?’

Bridges cleared his throat. ‘It’s true that he’s my brother, my lord,’ he said gruffly. ‘And it’s true that he ran off with Master Andrew twenty-four years ago.’

‘And this girl, your granddaughter and ours, is the spitting image of my Emily,’ added Mrs Saunders. ‘I could see that as soon as she came here. Even dressed as a boy as she was!’

Lord Rutherford looked at me with undisguised horror. I would have found it amusing, if it were not so serious.

‘And this is your grandson, Robert, who these two men attacked this morning, tied up, and hid in the icehouse!’ Mrs Saunders added, pointing at my father’s murderer and his accomplice.

Lord Rutherford glowered at Robert in his ill-fitting clothes. Robert looked back, still pale and bewildered. Even I could see the similarity between them, and wondered that it had not struck me before. Robert had a great look of the old lord, though his features were still softened by youth and by the sense of fun he had inherited from our mother.

I looked at my two enemies: the lawyer and the impostor. Both had blenched at the sight of Robert walking into the room. They must have known their tale was told, but it seemed they were still determined to bluster it out. The murderer, still pretending to be Robert, took a large gulp of wine, pushed back his chair, and got to his feet, looking towards Lord Rutherford.

‘I can see these two have bribed your servants to speak for them and concocted some tale,’ he said insinuatingly. ‘But I assure you, my lord, I am your grandson. I have brought you ample proof. I hold all the papers to prove myself.’ He indicated the sheaf of papers on a side table as he spoke.

‘I’ll take a look at those, sir, if that’s all right with you,’ said the constable stepping forward and taking the papers into his possession. The impostor looked uneasy. ‘What can
they
show you?’ he demanded, pointing at us.

Lord Rutherford’s eyes swivelled back to Robert and me. He looked confused and unsure of himself; I’d never seen him at a loss before. He passed a tired hand over his face. ‘It’s a fair point,’ he said. ‘What proof do you have?’

‘I had all the papers that man holds, until he stole them by holding Belle at knifepoint,’ I cried angrily.

Robert shrugged. ‘I have no proof at all,’ he admitted. ‘For this is all news to me. He turned to me. ‘Related to a lord?’ he asked. ‘I have to admit, it don’t seem in the least likely, Charlie, old girl. Where’d you get this notion?’

‘There is a great deal to explain,’ I told him. ‘I only began to suspect it recently myself, though the puzzle had been falling into place for a while.’

‘Tell you what though,’ said Robert shaking his head. ‘I don’t understand why these two men should attack me, hide me away, and steal my uniform if they did not wish to do some mischief! It’s not honest, egad!’

‘We did no such thing!’ cried the lawyer. ‘It’s all a lie!’

‘You did,’ said Miss Judith, speaking for the first time. ‘For I saw you. I was out for a ride and I watched it all from the copse. That’s how I knew where to direct the rescue party.’ She smiled triumphantly as everyone gasped.

‘It was you who came in to look at me?’ asked Robert, astonished. ‘Why did you not untie me?’

‘I thought it would be more amusing and instructive to let things play out,’ said Miss Judith. ‘And I was right, wasn’t I?’

‘You still have no proof of your identity!’ insisted the murderer, his eyes flicking from one of us to another in growing panic.

‘Wait!’ I cried, suddenly remembering that I did have proof. I pulled the lace that hung about my neck and drew the ring from inside my bodice. Pulling it over my head, I walked to the head of the table and held it out to Lord Rutherford.

‘My father’s ring, my lord,’ I said as he took it and examined it. ‘It never left his finger until he returned to England. These despicable ruffians never knew I had it, so they could not steal it from me. It bears the Rutherford crest, so I assume you will recognize it?’

‘Indeed,’ breathed Rutherford, turning the ring to read the letters engraved inside. ‘Andrew Stephen Lawrence. It was my gift to him on his twenty-first birthday. Just before he left Deerhurst.’ His voice shook. I knew we had reached a turning point.

He looked up at me with new interest in his eyes. ‘Charlotte, you said your name was? That was my dear wife’s name. Andrew’s mother.’ Then his gaze moved to my brother. ‘You do resemble Andrew most strongly,’ he admitted.

At those words, the man pretending to be Robert made a dash for the door. The lawyer was slower to move, seemingly frozen in horror at the unravelling of their plan. But as my father’s murderer ran from the room, he fell straight into the arms of the butler and three footmen, who swiftly overpowered him.

‘Take care, he’s sure to have a knife!’ I cried. A quick search revealed the knife that had done so much harm concealed in his boot and it was taken from him. Servants then seized the lawyer too.

‘I trusted you,’ snapped Lord Rutherford, staring at him in growing disgust and horror as he struggled in his captors’ arms. ‘I paid you handsomely to track down my son and heir, and you had him murdered! My own
son
!’

He was pale and shaken. Lawrence hastened to pour him a glass of wine. ‘We both trusted him,’ said Lawrence quietly as he took the glass to Lord Rutherford. ‘This has been a disgraceful betrayal, my lord.’

‘You’re mistaken!’ cried the lawyer, terrified. ‘I’ve served you faithfully for many years, my lord! It was nothing to do with me! I believed this man’s tale! I believed he was Robert Lawrence, your grandson! I brought him to you in good faith!’

‘Don’t put it off on me!’ snarled the murderer. ‘It was all your damned idea for me to impersonate the heir so we could profit one day!’

‘Take them away,’ shuddered Rutherford, dropping his head in his hands. ‘My own son!’ he repeated, distraught. His shoulders shook for a moment and I wondered if he were crying. After a moment, he straightened himself with an effort and cleared his throat fiercely. ‘There will be a deuce of a scandal over this,’ he said in what was a good imitation of his usual sharp tone. ‘I shall never be able to hold up my head again.’

‘I don’t think you will have any difficulty with that, my lord,’ said Lawrence with a slight smile. He looked over at me and his smile grew warm, lighting up his eyes.

Lord Rutherford was looking at me too, but with a much less enamoured expression in his eyes. ‘I think it will be devilishly difficult to live down. A couple of American savages as my heir and granddaughter? A girl who has been working in my own
stables
? Dressed as a
boy?
’ His voice gave way in sheer horror at the thought. ‘There is nothing else for it; you will have to be married as soon as possible before it becomes known. I shall find you a suitable husband!’

‘With respect, my lord, I should prefer to make my own choice.’

‘What? Nonsense! Good God, what would you know about how to choose a husband? We’ve had one shocking
mésalliance
in the family, it seems; we hardly need another!’ Lord Rutherford glanced at my shabby dress and short hair and could not repress a shudder. ‘No doubt your upbringing was shocking. But … ’

‘You are speaking of my parents!’ I interrupted with a touch of anger. ‘I would consider myself privileged to be as happy as they were!’

I was inclined to announce my attachment then and there, but meeting Lawrence’s eyes across the room, I saw him shake his head slightly at me. Understanding he wished me to leave the matter to him, I bit back the words I had been prepared to utter.

In any case, Lord Rutherford was in full flow once more: ‘You understand nothing, my girl, believe me!’ he said. ‘Take my word for it, marriage in our class is not about love, as I’ve explained to Judith many, many times!’

‘But you are wrong, grandpapa,’ interpolated Miss Judith from her place at his right hand. ‘It’s what I’ve been telling you forever. But you cling to the past. People these days marry for love. You’ve forbidden me to do so and made me very unhappy.’

Support from Miss Judith was so unexpected that I could only blink at her. But her face was set and I could suddenly see the unhappiness in her eyes where before I had only seen malice.

Lord Rutherford seemed startled at her unexpected defection. He looked around at us all in sudden bewilderment, as though he had forgotten we were all standing in his dining room. ‘Well, there is time to discuss this,’ he admitted. ‘Lawyers will look over all the papers tomorrow. If I can find some I can trust! Please forgive me if I retire now. I am tired!’

Lawrence stepped forward and assisted him in rising from his chair. ‘You had all better take a seat and have a glass of wine,’ Rutherford said once he was on his feet. ‘Benson, are those felons safely under lock and key?’ he demanded of his butler.

‘They are, my lord. The constable has sent for men to escort them to gaol and is questioning them now.’

‘Good. Can you please have bedchambers made up for our visitors?’ He waved at Robert and myself.

‘I have already done so, my lord,’ replied the butler, with a respectful bow.

‘Benson, is there enough food for all our guests? Send a message to the kitchen, will you?’

Miss Judith rose and took her grandfather’s arm. ‘I’ll accompany Grandpapa,’ she said to Lawrence.

On his way out of the room, Lord Rutherford paused by my brother Robert and looked him over once more. ‘Very like your father,’ he murmured. He shook my brother cordially by the hand. ‘You are still single, I hope?’ he added.

‘Why yes, my lord!’ My brother had some colour in his face and a small twinkle back in his eyes.

‘No one unsuitable in mind?’

‘No one in mind at all, my lord. Please feel free to match-make for me. Happy to consider all candidates!’

‘I’m very pleased to hear it,’ said Rutherford before leaving.

Robert winked at me and I smiled. But I had one more thing to ask his lordship. ‘One last question, my lord,’ I said. ‘Do I have your promise that if I bring Belle to the stables, she will not be harmed?’

‘Belle?’ asked Rutherford, all at sea.

‘My … your horse that was Miss Judith’s,’ I said. ‘You were going to have her shot.’ I looked at Miss Judith as I spoke.

‘Oh.’ Rutherford rubbed a hand wearily over his face. ‘Yes, very well. What is a horse among such revelations as we’ve had today? You have my word, as long as she doesn’t savage anyone.’

‘She won’t.’ I turned to Miss Judith, raising my brows in a mute question.

‘Oh, very well,’ snapped Miss Judith. ‘I don’t want the stupid nag. I have Autumn Gold now.’

‘I’ll bid you good night,’ Rutherford said to Robert and me. ‘We’ll meet again at the breakfast table, I daresay.’

I dropped him a small curtsey. ‘Of course,’ I said.

‘Good night, my lord,’ said Robert.

Lord Rutherford left the room leaning on Miss Judith’s arm and everyone fell quiet for a moment. Then Mrs Saunders came to embrace us both. ‘Welcome to Deerhurst, Robert,’ she said to my brother, kissing his cheek. Henry clapped us both on the back. ‘We did it, Miss Charlotte!’ he said, his eyes suspiciously moist. ‘Your father would be happy to know it.’ He turned to Robert. ‘He loved this estate. He wanted you to know it and to inherit it one day. It meant a lot to him.’

Robert shook him by the hand, looking distressed as he thought of our father. Henry clasped his hand tightly.

‘Come,’ said Lawrence with his usual calm good sense. ‘Sit down, everyone; eat something!’ He signed to the butler to fill everyone’s glasses. ‘It’s been quite a day. I imagine you are all in need of sustenance.’

After dinner, we said farewell to all our friends, both old and new, and Lawrence took Robert and me down to the stable yard so that I could see Belle.

‘I sent Ben up to fetch her during dinner,’ he told me, as I stroked her soft brown nose and leaned my cheek against hers. ‘I knew you wouldn’t be able to relax until you’d seen her comfortably bestowed.’

‘That’s true,’ I admitted. Belle looked very happy to be back in familiar surroundings, and blew contentedly in my hair.

‘I hope you will be able to accustom yourself to sleeping in a bed, rather than in her stable?’ added Lawrence with a smile.