It was almost nine o'clock in the morning when Sir John woke up. Emily was looking at him from the arm chair. She rushed to him as soon as she saw his eyes move. Oh, Sir John, you are awake. I have to tell you, nobody has ever made love to me, the way you did last evening. You were like a wild stallion. You were so big and hard and I have never experienced so many orgasms. Thank you.
Sir John had a splitting headache and couldn't remember a thing, but Emily was such a good actress, he believed he had done the things she said he had.
Please, Sir John, you told me last evening that you propose to....let's call it.....meet my husband on Sunday. Please don't disappoint me, because after he is gone, I will be yours, to do as you please with.
When he left, Emily had all the bed sheets and blankets washed, and the bedroom cleaned from top to bottom.
Peter lay with his head on Charlotte's lap as the coach made its way from London.
I can't travel all the way to the village with you. You must set me down a mile away so nobody sees us. I will walk the rest of the way back to Sedgefield House.
Of course, Charlotte said, as she stroked his head.
The road from London to Sedgefield House was a journey of around thirty miles and took three hours. For the most part it was open countryside and the roads were reasonably passable. Things changed when the road passed through Finchley Wood. A passage of around three miles. The trees stopped sunlight from drying the road, and it was often wet and rutted.
When they reached the forest, the coachman slowed the horses to a walk and everybody clung to a hand rail, as the coach swung from left to right, through the rutted ground.
After two miles, the coachman was pleased with his progress. But he shouted out when he saw a hooded man on a black horse, standing in front of the coach, pointing a pistol at him.
Put your hands up and get down, he said. The coachman got down and stood next to one of the horses. Get the people out of the coach, the rider demanded. The coachman went to the door and knocked. The two lovers had the curtain down, and weren't aware why the coach had stopped.
Peter opened the door and saw a man pointing a pistol at him. What on earth are you doing, sir? he asked.
Get out of the coach and kneel down over there, he pointed to a place next to a tree. If you refuse I will shoot you. You do the same, he said to the coachman. Charlotte stay in the coach.
Peter walked to the place the man had asked him to and knelt. The coachman knelt next to him. When Peter felt the pistol touch his skull he started to pray.
From somewhere in the forest there was a bang and a flash. The robber cried out in agony, and fell down next to Peter. Peter grabbed the pistol and stood up. The man was holding his knee. It was almost completely blown away. When Peter bent down and removed the robber's hood, he gasped. The coachman ran after Charlotte, and knocked her to the ground. Her screams frightened the birds from the trees, as he pulled her by the hair back to the coach.
When two horsemen appeared from the forest Peter thought they were Sir John's accomplices.
Get down from your horses, this instant, he told them as he pointed the pistol at them. James, he exclaimed, as Emily's brother took off his hood. When Emily took of her hood, his mouth fell open. What is happening? he asked totally confused.
I'll tell you what is happening,” Emily said. “Sir John and Miss Pemberly have been plotting to kill you. I found out about it, and as I am unable to shoot, I asked James to help me. As you can see by the state of Sir John's knee, he is an extremely accomplished marksman. These two wanted to kill you so that Sir John could marry me, and take my wealth.
Peter looked at Charlotte, who was being held firmly by the coachman. She dropped her eyes from him. Emily I.......I don't know.....what …...to
James will go and fetch the police, once these two have been arrested, you will come back to Sedgefield House with me.
They arrived home in the dark. Peter rode James' horse home. James had taken a lift to London with the police. When Joseph opened the door, Emily nodded to him in recognition of the part he had played in foiling Sir John's evil plot.
Joseph was a great help in foiling the attempt on your life, my dear, she said.
Thank you, Joseph. I am not fully aware of the details, but my wife will no doubt inform me. I will see you handsomely rewarded for you efforts.
There is really no need, my lord, Joseph said in his usually modest fashion.
Joseph, please bring two whiskeys into the drawing room. This time two real ones.
Now, Peter. Come and sit next to me, Emily said as Peter attempted to sit in his usual place. From now on you will sit next to me in the evenings.
Emily, I am so sorry for what I have done. I have been a fool. You are beautiful and clever and I have ignored you and behaved terribly badly.