The Duke's Deception Page 5

  Edward vaulted over a dung-filled wheelbarrow abandoned by the path. ‘It’s such a perfect morning. Shall we take a picnic down to Badgers Wood? The bluebells are out and it will be beautiful down there.’

  ‘Edward, what a lovely idea!’ Emily answered. ‘I’ll run immediately to the kitchen and persuade Cook to put us up a hamper.’

  ‘And I shall go and ask Billy and Tom to bring it down when it’s ready,’ Marianne added. ‘Then we don’t have to wait for it to be done or carry it ourselves.’

  Charles shook his head. ‘My father doesn’t allow the staff to neglect their duties.’

  ‘They are my staff, Charles, employed directly by me. They have no duties here apart from looking after myself and my horses.’

  ‘In that case, thank you, Marianne,’ he said a trifle stiffly. ‘Emily won’t be long. She’s a favourite in the kitchen and Cook will take little persuading to prepare us something.’

  The bluebells were as lovely as Charles had promised and Marianne enjoyed the excursion. She was drawn into the happy circle and soon found herself warming a little to Lady Arabella. Their al fresco meal finished, Billy and Tom packed up the remains and departed with the empty hamper, mugs and blankets.

  As they were preparing to return one of the dogs, a deerhound of impressive size and rough grey coat, stopped, ears pricked and growled, his hackles up. The other three dogs hearing their leader raced to stand beside him, staring up the path that wound through the chestnut trees and down towards the creek.

  Charles placed a warning hand on the dog’s head. ‘What is it boy? What have you heard?’

  Edward, his face pale, stepped up beside his brother indicating the three girls should stand behind them.

  Marianne could sense the fear in the two young men and wondered at it. Then she remembered the snatch of conversation she had overheard the previous night and thought that maybe she understood the reason for their anxiety.

  The rumbling growls of the four dogs were the only sounds in the wood. Even the birds were silent. Emily instinctively reached out and clutched Marianne’s hand for reassurance. Arabella pressed close to her other side. All three stared up the path waiting to see who would emerge.

  From the gloom three shadowy figures took shape, one leading a laden donkey. The first, obviously the leader, was a stocky man in his thirties his face scarred by pox marks, his clothes rough and a dirty kerchief tied around his neck. The following two were equally filthy and all shared a shifty look. The three men halted a distance away muttering to each other too softly to be overheard, but their stance was menacing.

  Charles reacted.‘You must go. Edward, take the girls and run – don’t stop until you reach the park. Go. Now.’

  Edward didn’t argue. He turned and grabbing Emily’s free hand jerked her forward. ‘Come, they could mean us harm. You heard Charles. Run!’

  They needed no further urging and with skirts held high the girls raced after Edward, not stopping until they emerged into the sunlight and could see the stile leading into Frating Park. They scrambled over and Marianne heard her gown tear as she caught it on a briar but she didn’t pause to examine the damage. She hurried on following Edward until he stopped in sight of the Hall. They were exhausted and gasping for breath after the long run. Edward stared anxiously down the path.

  ‘Where’s Charles, Edward? Why didn’t he come with us?’ Marianne asked.

  ‘The dogs will be a deterrent. Charles will keep them between the men and us as long as he can. Don’t fret, he’ll follow soon enough, he’s not stupid. The odds are too great to stay for a fight.’

  Here in the sunshine their flight began to seem an overreaction. Arabella and Emily had sunk, worn out by their unaccustomed activity, to the grass and were comforting each other with pats and kisses.

  ‘Who were those men, Edward? Why would they wish to do us harm?’ Marianne got no reply.

  Edward was watching the path but he relaxed as the first of the dogs loped into sight. ‘I beg your pardon, I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say, Marianne?’

  ‘I asked who those men were and why they would wish to harm us. We were no threat to them, surely?’

  ‘They were smugglers, didn’t you see the donkey – the animal was loaded with contraband.’

  ‘Why were they out in daylight? I thought such men worked at night.’

  ‘That wood’s not used by the locals. It’s well known as a smuggler’s route to Thorrington Creek and so they avoid it. I suppose those men didn’t expect to see us there.’

  ‘If that’s so why did you take us there for a picnic?’

  Edward flushed. ‘It’s part of Frating Hall. We can go where we please; it’s our land, after all. And Charles couldn’t have anticipated meeting those villains. I daresay they pass that way once a month. It was just bad luck all round.’

  Before Marianne could answer, Charles and the other dogs jogged towards them. He waved and smiled no sign of his previous fear apparent. He joined them and dropped down to the grass to speak to the girls who were sitting quietly on the grass.

  ‘That was unfortunate. I hope those men didn’t scare you unduly. I thought it best to run, although you were in no real danger. They were as surprised to see us as we were them.’

  ‘My dress is ruined and I’m quite worn out. Please don’t suggest a picnic to me again, Charles, for I shall not come,’ Lady Arabella replied pettishly.

  He smiled and sprung up. He offered his hand and pulled first Lady Arabella and then Emily, to their feet. He spoke to Marianne, his face serious.

  ‘Marianne, I apologize for ruining your dress and your afternoon. I believe I may have reacted excessively but it’s always better to err on the side of caution, is it not?’

  ‘Yes, it is.’ She grinned. ‘Actually I quite enjoyed the experience. I realize I am not as

  faint-hearted as I had supposed, exactly the opposite, in fact.’

  They returned rather more subdued than when they had set out on the jaunt but they parted on good terms. Tom had arranged for Lady Arabella’s carriage to be harnessed and this was standing ready to return her to Bromley Hall. Charles handed her in and Marianne saw him

  speaking urgently to her, his brown hair almost touching her black.

  ‘Marianne, I am going in to change for dinner will be served in less than an hour and tonight we are to dress.’ Emily giggled as she saw the parlous state of Marianne’s gown. ‘You will not be able to wear that. I’ll send you something else. I believe I have a plain, apple-green silk, dinner gown that will suit you. It has an underskirt of darker stuff, long sleeves and no-frills or bows anywhere. I never liked it overmuch’

  ‘It sounds ideal, thank you Emily, you are too good to me.’ Impulsively Emily stepped forward and embraced her.

  ‘I think of you as a sister already so it is only right that we share.’

  As she sponged away the dust and sweat of the long run through the woods in her second wash of the day Marianne went over the events again. Something was amiss; if she thought hard she was sure she would discover what this was.

  Jane had tutted sadly about the torn gown but promised to wash, press and repair it by the following morning. She hadn’t asked how the damage had occurred and Marianne had not

  volunteered the information. Time enough when she had it straight in her own mind.

  She ran through the sequence of events for a third time. She gasped and dropped her barefoot into the basin sending a cascade of dirty water flooding onto the floor. Charles hadn’t been scared of what the men would do but what they might say. He had made them race off not because they were in any danger but because he and Edward were desperate to avoid being recognized or greeted by name.

  She felt sick. Her suspicions were correct. Charles and Edward, who already had a place in her affections, were involved with free-traders. She had been placed in the invidious position of having to decide if she would denounce them or turn a blind eye to their activities. That there was to be a
third option did not then occur to her.

  Chapter Six

  Three horses all eager to depart were being held steady at the front of Frating Hall. Marianne, out in good time for her morning ride, arrived at the door and her eyes narrowed.

  ‘John, do not tell me, Miss Grierson and Lady Arabella are accompanying us!’

  John grinned ‘Fraid so, miss; orders came down last night to have three horses saddled.’

  ‘I thought I had made the position clear to Lady Arabella. I told her I had no wish to ride with her. I cannot imagine what Sir Theodore’s reaction will be.’

  ‘You will soon find out, miss, for I can see him coming up the drive.’

  Marianne glanced behind her. There was no sign of Emily. As the two girls had not been invited she saw no reason to wait. They would depart as soon as her guardian arrived. She was congratulating herself on a lucky escape too soon because at that moment Emily appeared at the head of the steps her face wan.

  Forgetting her annoyance, Marianne exclaimed, ‘Emily, you don’t look at all the thing. Are you unwell?’

  ‘No, I’m not sick. Oh, Marianne, I am so sorry but Arabella insisted. I know you didn’t wish us to come with you this morning.’

  Marianne’s anger evaporated and she smiled warmly. ‘I’m delighted to see you. I was a cross -patch yesterday - pray forget I ever mentioned not wishing to have your company.’

  At the sound of hooves behind them they turned. Tom and Sam appeared leading two handsome bay hacks. Puzzled Marianne looked at John.

  ‘Good heavens! Who else is joining our outing? Are we to expect the entire Grierson family to arrive at any moment?’

  ‘No, miss. I am accompanying you. The other horse is for Sam who has to lead Lady Arabella’s mount.’

  ‘Leading it? Am I to believe that as Lady Arabella is not here in person she has arranged for a phantom to ride alongside us?’

  She heard Emily giggling at the absurdity of her comment. ‘We’re to rendezvous with Arabella on the far side of the green. She’s travelling in her carriage from Great Bromley.’

  ‘Let me understand this correctly, Emily. Lady Arabella wishes to ride with us but we have to meet her at Great Bentley?’ Emily nodded her smile fading. ‘She is being driven to this point?’ Emily nodded a second time. ‘Does Lord Hawksmith not keep horses at his establishment?’

  This was a question Emily could answer. ‘Of course he does, silly. But Arabella isn’t allowed to ride outside the grounds of Bromley Park.’

  Marianne turned away not wishing her horrified expression to be seen. John’s face was equally concerned. Before they had time to discuss the implication of providing a mount for someone who had been forbidden to ride in public, her guardian arrived in a flurry of scattered gravel and stamping hooves.

  Expertly he calmed his chestnut stallion and swung one leg casually across the horse’s neck smiling benevolently down at the assembled group.

  ‘Morning, my dears. It appears I am to have a double delight! Two lovely companions instead of one.’

  ‘You are to be even more rewarded, sir; we are to collect a third, Lady Arabella, at Great Bentley.’ Marianne paused, unable to decide if she should tell him the rest. For all his bonhomie, she believed she detected a certain rigidity in his pose.

  He raised his eyebrows and stared at the extra horse now held by a mounted groom. ‘I had no idea Lord Hawksmith had closed his stables. No matter – it’s not my affair.’ Not allowing a reply he sat back in the saddle and rammed his boot loudly into the dangling stirrup-iron. ‘If you will get mounted, my dears, we shall depart. Lucifer here does not take kindly to delays.’

  Marianne and Emily hurried to their mounts and were thrown up by the waiting grooms. Emily’s pretty bay mare arched her neck and pricked her ears eager to be away. Sultan still being unavailable Marianne was riding the bay Billy had ridden from Upton Manor. She had ridden him once before and knew him to be lively.

  The cavalcade trotted down the drive, Sir Theodore leading the way sensibly keeping to the grass verge and avoiding the many potholes. Marianne dropped back allowing Emily to ride behind her guardian. She indicated that John should come beside her.

  ‘John, this is an unmitigated disaster. How dare Lady Arabella involve us in her disobedience?’

  ‘Too late to repine, miss, there’s little we can do apart from pray Lord and Lady Hawksmith don’t get to hear of it.’

  ‘It’s not them I am concerned about. I think I may have underestimated Sir Theodore. Did you not detect his displeasure at being obliged to escort this circus?’

  John frowned and then his face creased and he nodded towards the tall man conversing with Miss Grierson. ‘Not him, miss. He’s more concerned with the cut of his coat than anything else. Look at him doing the pretty - does he look perturbed?’

  Marianne was obliged to admit that he did not. ‘I hope you’re correct. I’ve no wish to fall out with my guardian. This would be laid at my door you can be sure of that.’

  The short distance along leafy lanes to Great Bentley was soon accomplished and she recognized the smart barouche pulled up in the cobbled yard of The Lion.

  Emily nudged her mare forward. ‘I do hope we haven’t kept you waiting, Arabella. See, I have brought Peggy for you. She’s prettily behaved and will be ideal.’

  Her ladyship stepped down from the carriage and Marianne’s mouth dropped open. The abundance of gold frogging on the girl’s habit caught the sun almost blinding her. Even Emily was speechless.

  ‘You have a new habit, Arabella. Red and gold - so very bright,’ she finished lamely. Even her partiality could find nothing favourable to say. Marianne ducked her head hiding her amusement.

  What was obvious even to a casual observer was that Arabella had dressed to impress. The person all this splendour was directed at was already on the ground and - surely not - yes, he was actually kissing the wretched girl’s gloved hand.

  Marianne’s good-humour evaporated. How could he be so gullible? He was taken in by a pair of flashing eyes and fluttering black lashes. She watched lips compressed as Lady Arabella fussed and flirted her way to the docile mare. Sir Theodore tossed her into the saddle and began to adjust the single leather and tighten Peggy’s girth.

  Disgusted to see him making a cake of himself Marianne shortened her reins and dug in her heel. She would wait on The Green for them. But her mount leapt forward and taking hold of his bit bolted across the grass.

  As she was an excellent horsewoman she was in no danger of a tumble and sat deep into the saddle and pulled hard, first on one rein and then the other hoping to dislodge the bit from between the teeth of the bay gelding. This failing she grabbed the nearside rein, releasing the offside and applied double weight to her pull, gradually forcing the horse’s nose around and obliging him to shorten his stride.

  No longer able to gallop, held in a tight circle as he was, he slowed his pace and she was once more in control. Breathless but exhilarated, Marianne leant down and patted his sweaty neck. ‘Stupid animal! I forgot you were so sensitive, I should not have kicked so hard.’

  She turned to face the inn and only then realized how far she had come in her mad gallop. Her stomach lurched. She must return at once. Emily would be beside herself with worry no doubt believing she had met with a fatal accident. She pushed the bay into a canter and headed back expecting at any moment to meet John or Sir Theodore racing out to meet her. Puzzled by their continued absence she urged the horse into a second gallop. Where was John? Why had he not come after them?

  Had something catastrophic occurred? She should have been gentler and then her mount would not have taken fright. Arriving at the inn she reined in sharply knowing at once something dreadful had happened in her absence.

  Her guardian was on the ground beside the apparently unconscious form of Arabella. Emily hovered close by crying and wringing her hands. Of John and the other Frating Hall groom there was no sign.

  A terrified ostler was holding a plung
ing Lucifer whilst another held the reins of the other three horses. Lady Arabella’s carriage had been circled and was waiting for Sir Theodore to pick up the injured girl and place her inside. Small wonder no one had bothered to follow her. She vaulted from the saddle and slipping the reins of the gelding over his head led him up to Emily.

  ‘Emily, tell me, what has taken place here? How does Lady Arabella come to be injured?’

  ‘When you galloped off like that it startled all our horses. Even Peggy shied and poor Arabella fell. I fear she’s badly hurt. She’s lying so terribly still.’

  ‘Where is Sir Theodore taking her? Surely not all the way back to Bromley Hall?’

  ‘He has sent John to alert his staff and Sam has gone to fetch the doctor. We’re going to Bentley Hall; remember it’s but a few minutes from here.’

  Marianne watched aghast as her guardian lifted Arabella easily and stepped into the carriage. Her friend jumped forward and closed the door and the carriage moved off. When she intercepted his freezing stare it sent a flicker of fear down her spine. This was not the look of a fop overcome by the disaster but a hard, calculating glare that summed her up and found her wanting.

  How could she ever have thought him feebleminded? For some reason he was a dissembler. Why he should wish to be seen as a man with no direction and little intelligence she had no idea, but she intended to find out.

  But first she must endure the agony of waiting to discover if her lack of thought had seriously hurt Arabella. She didn’t care much for the young lady but had never wished her to be harmed. The clatter of hooves heralded John’s reappearance. Having completed the task for Sir Theodore he had returned to discover the whereabouts of his own charge.

  ‘Thank the Lord! You’re safe, Miss Devenish. I’d no time to chase after you. Sir Theodore was insistent I went to Bentley Hall first.’ He slid out of the saddle and threw his reins to Marianne to hold whilst he assisted Emily to mount. Then he issued orders to the ostler. ‘Stable my mount, I’ll ride the stallion.’ The young man was delighted to hand over his charge having been lifted clear of his feet several times by the animal’s antics.