He handed him a silver sword. I thought the regimental sword may prove useful, he said.
Thank you, Sergeant, very thoughtful of you.
Dismount, men. The sergeant will hold your horses. As we practiced, we will march into the church in formation and apprehend the scoundrel.
Lord Melbourne heard the vicar say, Do you, Charlotte Emily Melbourne, take....
Quick, march, he shouted. Lord Melbourne raised his sword, and the soldiers marched into the church behind him.
As their boots crunched on the sandstone floor, the vicar looked up and stopped speaking. The congregation turned around and looked as the men marched in perfectly timed steps towards the altar. When they reached the Duke, Lord Melbourne said, We are arresting you. You will not marry my daughter today or on any other day. Men, seize him.
Two burly soldiers took the Duke by the collar and held onto him while Lord Melbourne spoke to his daughter. Charlotte, do not ask any questions now. Everything will become apparent as time passes. I cannot allow you to ruin your life. You are to come with us. He then addressed the congregation.
Ladies and Gentlemen. Today is a day, which will live long and proud in my family's history. It is the day when I finally realized how precious my daughter is. I am taking this deceitful man away from here. My men and I are going to teach him a lesson he will never forget. He will never abuse a woman again. Thank you all for your understanding.
Next he addressed his open-mouthed wife. This is what all those regimental dinners were for. Practice for a day when someone needed a bunch of old Hussars to help them. I bid you farewell. You may keep the estate. It is after all, yours. My solicitor will be in touch with you regarding the divorce.
He marched in front of his men again, back down the aisle and out of the door. Right men, mount your horses. As the men mounted, one of them slung the Duke, head first, over his horse and got into the saddle. Charlotte sat behind her father and put her arms around him.
“Let's go, he shouted. The nonplussed village women, who had been waiting to see Charlotte and the Duke appear as a married couple, looked on as twenty horses kicked up the dust and cantered away from the church.
After they had ridden a mile or so, they stopped at crossing in the road. Another mounted old Hussar was waiting for them.
Were you successful in York? Lord Melbourne asked.
Yes sir. All went splendidly well.
Good, Lord Melbourne said. He turned to the man riding the horse over which the Duke was lying. Set the Duke down.
The Duke had said remarkably little throughout the whole incident. He was petrified. My Lord, I have noticed how you have such an affection for the ladies. Do you see that field there? Lord Melbourne said, sarcastically.
The Duke nodded.
Well, it's full of ladies. Let's see how you get on. He turned to the man who was by far the largest of the old Hussars and said, Throw him over the gate.
The man picked the Duke up by the seat of his pants, walked a few yards, and hurled him over the gate into the middle of a group of curious cows. All the soldiers laughed as the Duke lay in the fresh cow dung.
My Lord, please accept my apologies. I have deceived you. I told you the field was full of ladies. I lied. A lot of ladies plus one male. In fact, I believe he is right behind you as I speak. There was another round of hilarious laughter before the men rode off.
Chapter 9
Charlotte and her father stood on the quay and looked at HMS Sutherland. It was an imposing sight. She was a recently commissioned, ninety-gun battleship. Charlotte had never seen a ship before, and the sheer size of it made her feel giddy. Do men really climb those heights to drop the sails? she asked her father.
Yes, dear. Brave souls, all of them.
Mary, thank God, Charlotte shouted as a carriage stopped at the entrance to the naval yard. She ran and took her maid and friend into her arms. Oh, Mary. How I have yearned to see you again.
Me too, me too. I have all your things here, she said as she pointed to seven large pieces of luggage.
You are simply the best maid, no sorry, you are simply the best friend a woman could wish for.
I have packed some very warm clothes, I thought you might need them where we are going.
Two porters put Charlotte and Mary's cases onto a cart and wheeled them up the gangplank and onto the ship.
Mary stood next to Lord Melbourne and smiled at him, Thank you, Sir, for all you have done for me.
Don't mention it, he replied.
Why are we leaving on a military ship, not on a liner? she asked.
The captain's an old friend of mine. He told me he was going the way we wanted to go and offered us a lift. It'll be much more fun than sitting with a lot of stuffy people on a liner. Besides, if the Duke ever managed to get out of that cow field alive, he would be more likely to find us on a liner. He will never find us on this ship. And when we reach the other side, we will be beyond his reach, forever.