‘Where are you taking me?’
‘To Redlands, a little property of mine near Thatcham. It belonged to my late wife—all that remains of her not inconsiderable fortune. Being a gambler is an expensive business, my dear: I need the Allyngham fortune to replenish my own.’
‘So you have abducted me,’ she said, her voice heavy with anger. ‘When it is discovered that my servants have been attacked and I am missing, everyone will guess you are the culprit.’
‘But that may not be for some time, madam, and how are they to know where we have gone? We shall be at Redlands in a few hours: the rector there owes his living to me: I have the special licence in my pocket.’ She saw his evil grin appear. ‘We shall have our wedding today, as planned.’
‘I will never marry you!’
‘Oh I think you will, madam,’ he said softly. ‘And you will learn to please me, if you do not want me to hand you over to my stable hands for their plaything.’
‘You will not get away with this,’ she retorted. ‘When they come after me—’
‘They!’ He gave a cold, cruel laugh. ‘Who do you think will put themselves out to chase after you, madam? Mortimer is not fit to ride, and as for the rest, do you think they care what happens to a woman with a reputation such as yours? That leaves only Major Clifton, and what can one man do against myself and the three fellows travelling on the top? You have overplayed your hand, my lady: the ton will say that the Wanton Widow has received no more than she deserves!’
Eloise glared across the carriage at Sir Ronald, who lounged carelessly in his corner. Perhaps he was right and the ton would leave her to her fate. She had no doubt that Jack would try to find her, but even if he had Alex to help him how long might that take?
Sir Ronald rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘And yet Major Clifton is such a resourceful fellow, he will go to great lengths to do me a disservice,’ he purred. ‘I think I shall hire a room at Maidenhead and take you there, just to make sure of you.’
She curled her lip.
‘Do you think that will save you from him? It will only make him more determined to kill you!’
‘I am well aware that Clifton wants to put paid to my existence. He wants revenge upon me for marrying his childhood friend, the love of his life. You are little more than a pawn in this game, my dear. Did you think you could ever replace Clara in his heart? She was a veritable angel, my dear, as pure as you are wanton. Taking you from me might redress the balance a little, but where would be the satisfaction for him if I had already bedded you? He will not want you then, madam, knowing that I have already sampled your delights. How could he ever lie with you after that, knowing that I had enjoyed you?’ He laughed. ‘But this is mere conjecture. No one knows our direction and it is most unlikely that they will find us before I have wed you. And once we are married I shall make sure you have no opportunity to escape me.’
‘And will you kill me, like you killed your first wife?’
‘Is that what Clifton has told you?’ Sir Ronald gave a bitter laugh. ‘Aye, he would like to believe that. Much more comfortable for him to think I was villain enough to beguile Clara into marrying me and then find a way to dispose of her once I had run through her fortune!’
‘Is that not the truth?’ she challenged him.
‘Far from it. Clara was a sweet, innocent beauty. We were madly, hopelessly in love within weeks of being introduced. Such passion could not last, of course, and I confess that her devotion outlasted mine. She liked to live at Redlands, I preferred town. Once she knew she was with child she settled down, although she seemed to think I should come and live with her. I kept putting it off, making excuses why I could not join her, until it was too late.’ He paused and turned his head to gaze out of the window. ‘I was in London when she drowned herself, driven mad with grief at the loss of her baby. Our son.’
‘I am so very sorry,’ murmured Eloise.
He turned back to her, saying harshly, ‘You need not be. Clara has been dead for three years and unlike your precious major I gave up mourning her long ago. Truth to tell, I cannot say that her death was anything but a relief. I had grown very weary of her maudlin airs and clinging ways. You, my dear, have so much more spirit.’ He stretched out his foot and rubbed it against her leg. She quickly drew back, pulling her skirts about her. Sir Ronald merely laughed again. ‘By Gad, madam, it will be amusing to bend you to my will.’
Eloise returned no answer but huddled in the corner, staring resolutely out of the window, watching the dark landscape flying by. Jack would come after her, she was sure of it, but she was less sure of his reasons for doing so. Sir Ronald’s words had lodged themselves in her brain. Her reputation, even her actions in giving herself to Jack, proved her to be far beneath the paragon that was his first love. She knew he wanted to marry her because she was Allyngham’s widow, but what if he also he wanted to thwart Sir Ronald? Would he still want her once Deforge had taken her to his bed? Even if by some chance Jack decided upon the right road, there was little chance he would catch them before they reached Maidenhead.
Chapter Twenty
They rattled on and Eloise kept her gaze firmly fixed upon the window. She forced herself to consider her position. It did not look promising. Sir Ronald might dress as a fop but he was too strong for her to overpower him, and she did not even have a hatpin with which to defend herself. Once he had her alone in a room she feared all would be lost. The idea of his hands on her body made her shudder with revulsion. She shifted closer to the window and peered down. She had never considered the distance from a carriage to the ground before, but now she was determined that if they slowed at all she would attempt to run away. Sir Ronald took out his watch and held it, turning it towards what little light there was coming into the carriage.
‘We shall soon be at Maidenhead, my dear. You had best prepare yourself.’ He leaned across to run his finger along her cheek. ‘What, still not speaking to me?’ She flinched away and he sat back, chuckling. ‘You will soon learn to enjoy my caresses, Eloise.’
Her stretched nerves noticed immediately when the pace slackened. They were entering a village: the dark outlines of buildings could be seen on either side of the road, although not a light was visible from any window. She tensed, surreptitiously noting the position of the door handle. The carriage slowed still further and began to turn off the road towards the lighted yard of a large inn. Sir Ronald was peering out of the window beside him.
‘What the devil, this isn’t the Bear—’
Eloise seized her chance. She sprang up, released the door catch and leaped from the carriage as it turned off the road. She landed heavily and rolled over, hoping she was clear of the wheels. Her voluminous cloak billowed out and settled around her even as she scrambled to her feet. She could hear Sir Ronald’s outraged roar and knew she had only seconds to escape. As she raised her head she saw there was a line of horses stretched across the road, blocking the way. That was why the carriage had turned off the highway.
It took her a moment to recognise Lord Keworth and Mr Renwick amongst the horsemen. A glance back showed her that more men were surrounding the carriage, their pistols directed at the coachman and the two accomplices who were clinging to the back straps of the coach-body. Sir Ronald had jumped down and was coming towards her. Eloise quickly moved towards the horsemen.
‘Thank God we have found you, Lady Allyngham!’ Lord Keworth dismounted and held out one hand to her, the other levelling a pistol at Sir Ronald. ‘That is far enough, Deforge. Stand, or I shall shoot!’
‘Elle!’ Jack was running towards her. ‘Elle, dearest! Are you all right?’
His voice was shaking, and suddenly she felt close to tears. With a sob she threw herself on his chest.
‘Yes, yes,’ she said, ‘I am well enough now.’
‘Why did you jump from the carriage?’ He held her away from him, staring into her face. ‘If he touched you—!’
Eloise shook her head.
‘No, but he p-planned to hire a room and—’ She broke off, shuddering, and Jack pulled her back into his arms.
‘Then thank God we were in time.’
She leaned against him, secure within his embrace while all around them was confusion.
The riders were dismounting and moving forwards to stand around them, effectively cutting off Sir Ronald’s escape. She could hear a familiar voice barking orders to the men on the coach.
‘Climb down now, me boys, and steady does it: there’s more than one finger here itching to pull the trigger!’
She raised her head.
‘Perkins?’
‘Yes,’ said Jack. ‘It is thanks to your groom that we were able to find you so soon. He was returning from a local gin shop when he saw your carriage pulling away from the side door at Keworth House. If the speed of its departure hadn’t made him suspicious then the fact that a Keworth footman scrambled up on the back told him something was wrong. He immediately raised the alarm and had the presence of mind to follow the carriage until he ascertained that it was leaving London by the Great West Road. We followed, and thankfully, even at this hour of the night there were enough people abroad to notice your flight.’