“Go to the front of the carriage, and see if you can drawn them out, but stay out of sight,” Colton bade. “It’s bad enough that I’ve been wounded without having you incapable of getting us out of here. I’ll see if I can pick off one or two while they’re watching you. Hopefully that will send the rest of them fleeing in fear of their lives.”
“How many do ye make ’em out ta be, milord?”
“From the shots pelting the landau while you were getting the rifles, more than we can repel without reinforcements. You’d better start praying for a miracle.”
While on bended knee, Bentley bent his head, muttered a few words, and then, after a breathless “amen,” scurried forward.
A brief curtailment of gunfire had followed his disappearance, spurring Bentley to pop his head into view again. “Yu bloody bastards!” he railed. “Show yur ugly faces.”
Quickly he ducked out of sight again, just as several leaden balls pelted the landau. On the heels of this new barrage, Bentley heard the fairly loud roar of a Brown Bess discharging from underneath the wheel base. On its heels came a distant scream. He chanced a peek through the windows of the landau in time to see a man clasp a hand to his profusely bleeding throat and then tumble forward in a senseless heap.
Another gurgling cry was evoked from another of the villains soon after Colton drew bead upon a tattered red coat visible through the brush. The man staggered into an opening, causing Colton to suffer a deep regret as he recognized the coat as one worn by foot soldiers of the English infantry.
“Bentley, stay down!” he bellowed. “I’ve got to talk with these men!”
The coachman was certain the younger man had taken leave of his senses. “But, milord, they’re tryin’ ta blow us ta kingdom come!”
“Do as I say! Stay down, and don’t draw any more fire!”
A sorely garbled comment, closely resembling an oath, sufficed as a promise of compliance. Petulantly, Bentley folded his arms across his chest, convinced his lordship was courting disaster.
Colton endured the piercing agony centered around the hole in his back as he dragged himself closer to the front wheel. The effort cost him a fair measure of his remaining vigor, and after completing the excruciating task, he was forced to rest a moment. By dint of will, he took firm hold of his resolve as well as his rapidly dwindling strength and called out to the rabble, “Men, why have you attacked my coach? Are you not some of the same fighting men I fought alongside against our enemies? If you have no real ken of the men you’ve attacked, let me introduce myself. I am Colonel Wyndham, recently retired from His Majesty’s armed forces.”
“Colonel Lord Wyndham?” Surprise was evident in the voice of the one who answered, but it was one Colton recognized.
“Sergeant Buford, is that you? Good heavens, man! Why have you repaid me for saving your life by attacking my coach?”
“Milord, I ne’er dreamt for an instant it were yu we’d been stirred up ta attack! Please, yur lordship, yu’ve gots ta believe me! A fella told us ‘at a Lord Randwulf was bootin’ out families o’ dead soldiers who’d been his tenants afore the war an’ were forcin’ their children ta do his drudgery in his work houses in order for ’em ta eat.”
Colton didn’t know which galled him more, his wound or the vicious slander. “Who tells those lies against me? I am Lord Randwulf. I assumed my father’s marquessate after his death. He owned no work houses, and the tenants residing on our lands have been living there for many a year. As for the widows and families of dead soldiers, they are secure in their cottages, doing what they can for their own betterment.”
“Don’t knows the bloke’s name, milord. Nor ‘is face, neither. He wore a mask whilst ’e were wit’ us.”
“Is he among you now? I would speak with this man who has taken it upon himself to fabricate these lies against me.”
“ ’E were just ’ere, milord. ’E’s the one what shot yu. . . . Took ’em two tries ta do it ta ye, too, aftah ‘is own weapon fizzled.” Cautiously Buford rose to his feet, fearing he’d be shot. After realizing he was fairly safe, he stood upright and glanced around the area. “Why, the gent’s taken ‘is bloomin’ leave, milord. Maybe ’e lit out wit’ the idea o’ lettin’ the rest o’ us be ‘anged for what ’e started. ‘Twould ‘peer ’e duped the lot o’ us, milord, an’ for ‘at, I must beg yur pardon.”
“Your apology is accepted, Buford. Now I urge you and your cohorts to go back to your homes and families, and stop this chicanery. If you do not desist in this foolishness, I can assure you that eventually you’ll pay for what you’re doing. If you need work, then by all means, come to my manor. I’ll see what can be done for you, but for heaven’s sake, cease this idiocy ere you’re arrested and strung up for killing innocent people.”
“Are yu wounded, milord?” Buford asked worriedly. “I saw yu fall when the bloke shot yu. ‘Twould be a bloomin’ shame if’n yu died from somethin’ we’d been involved in. Can we ’elp yu, milord?”
“The conniving bastard shot me in the back, all right, but I haven’t time to see to my wound. It’s crucial that I get to Bath.”
Bentley stuttered in sharp surprise before he launched into a vehement protest. “Milord, Bath’s an hour away, an’ the manor only a few moments. Yu could die if’n we don’t turn back. Once a physician looks at ye, then if’n ’e says yu’re able, we can go on as before.”
“Just help me into the carriage, Bentley, and continue on to Bath. We’ll find a doctor there in good time.”
“Milord . . . please . . . I’d be deeply grieved should yu expire along the way. Yur mother’d ne’er forgive me. Yur sister’d likely ‘ave me scalp, jes’ like I been ’earin’ ’bout from ’em far-off places in the Colonies.”
“Dammit, Bentley, do as I say! I won’t be swayed by your arguments. My future happiness may well depend on our ability to reach the city in good time.”
“Well, what ’bout yur life?”
“I’m not ready to give it up just yet, Bentley, and the longer you stand there arguing, the longer it will take you to get me to a physician. Besides, it’s only a scratch.”
“Only a scratch,” Bentley mumbled morosely, climbing to his seat. “Humph, wit’ a ‘ole like that, ’e’ll likely be bleeding ta death afore I e’en gets ‘im ’ere.”
The city of Bath was exactly the place where she wanted and needed to be at this precise moment in time, Adriana decided dejectedly as she gazed out on the lantern-lit city from the second-story bedchamber of her aunt’s town house, where she had been ensconced shortly after arriving with her parents. That had been several days ago, and, since then, her aunt had taken them on lengthy walks, accompanied them on visitations to old friends and distant relatives, encouraged them to shop frugally, dress tastefully, and follow the very pleasant customs of the city, for it was here that divisions between aristocrats and gentlefolk had ceased to exist, that is, if one minded one’s manners, a requirement if one wanted to be accepted. Yet, in spite of her aunt’s vivacious and clever wit, which frequently evoked well-deserved chortles from guests, Adriana still struggled to subdue the tears that quickly began to flow whenever she let down her guard and relented to the agonizing pangs she had been suffering since terminating her courtship with Colton Wyndham.
The distance between Bath and Randwulf Manor had allowed her to separate herself, if not emotionally from the handsome man, then surely in actuality. Even so, regrets continued to press down hard upon her, especially when she was alone. She wished now she had had the foresight to release Colton from the contract ere their courtship ever commenced. Had she done so, she’d have saved herself the enormous grief that now weighed down her spirit. Every instinct she had been capable of feeling had screamed a warning of the improbability of their ever getting married, but like a simpleton she had allowed herself to believe there existed a small, finite chance. And so, much to the injury of her heart, she had allowed herself to fall more deeply in love with the man every day they had been together.
/> A light rap of knuckles sounded on the bedchamber door, drawing Adriana’s somber attention away from the thoroughfare below. At her call for admittance, her mother swept in, valiantly feigning a cheery smile. In spite of her deep concern for her daughter, Christina had endeavored to convey an optimistic facade, though in truth her own heart was breaking for her youngest offspring. It was the best she could do under the circumstances, for she found herself totally bereft of the talent for working miracles and absorbing into herself all the anguish the girl was now suffering. “Lord Alistair just arrived, dear. Will you be coming down soon?”
“Yes, Mama,” Adriana replied, hardly aware of the dejected sigh that slipped from her lips in accompaniment. “I’m ready to leave whenever you are.”
“That will be soon, dear.”
A genuine smile of delight touched Christina’s soft lips as her eyes swept over her daughter. The dark-blue silk sheath that her youngest wore was sublimely appropriate for one so tall, lithe, and graceful. The minuscule beads lightly embellishing the gown caught the radiance of a nearby lamp, causing the lovely creation to glitter like tiny stars upon a night-blue sky. Teardrop pearls dangled prettily from small, sapphire-encrusted studs, adorning the lobes of dainty ears. Twining delicately about the base of her neck was a gold choker finely tooled to represent diminutive branches of a tree, the twigs of which were studded here and there with minute sapphires. A fairly large, solitary teardrop pearl hung over the hollow of her long, elegant throat.
The jewelry was the only accoutrement her daughter wore with the costly gown, but Christina was convinced she needed nothing more, for it was a fact that some of the simplest garments complemented a rare beauty far more than frilly or elaborate attire. Indeed, there were times when Christina had to admit, but only to herself, that in pulchritude and grace, her youngest daughter far surpassed her sisters.
“You’re looking especially lovely tonight, dear. Alistair has just arrived and informed us that Samantha and Percy will also be there tonight at the Assembly Rooms with Stuart and Berenice. From what your aunt has been telling me, many of your past suitors have been making inquiries about you and intend to be at Lansdown tonight as well in hopes of renewing their own courtship. Of course, I doubt you-know-who will be there.” Christina dared not mention Colton’s name for fear of touching off another lengthy bout of tears. She did, however, think it a shame the man wouldn’t be there to see just how eagerly other swains welcomed his very noticeable absence from Adriana’s side. It would certainly serve the libertine his just due to realize the zeal other gentlemen freely evidenced in their desire to win Adriana for themselves. Perhaps it was her own entitlement as a parent to feel put out by the man for what she considered a personal affront against her daughter, but then, she couldn’t dismiss from mind another who’d grieve almost as desperately if the couple parted forever.
Christina heaved a sigh of lament for her old friend. “Dear Philana was simply mortified by his sudden fatherhood and marriage to that actress. She was quite put out that special licenses could be bartered by favors to the archbishop in order to legitimize such hasty nuptials. Nevertheless, dear, she hopes you will forgive her son and reconsider his proposal of marriage, but I had to tell her that I didn’t see any chance for that occurrence. As handsome a husband as his lordship would make, a woman must be able to trust in the integrity of her spouse. Yet there are those who seem fiercely loyal to him and defend his actions. As much as poor Alistair is trying his best to remain discreetly mum about the matter in Tilly’s presence, ‘tis obvious he admires his nephew a great deal. He has even spoken in his favor to your father, going so far as to argue that his lordship’s actions could be considered noble when compared to other aristocrats who turn their backs upon illegitimate offspring while arrogantly pretending they’ve done nothing scandalous. At the moment, however, Alistair doesn’t want to set Tilly awry by his defense when ‘tis evident she’s just as loyal to you. If I can believe my eyes, I’d be inclined to say the man is very much smitten with your aunt.”
Adriana offered a meager smile, the best she could manage under the circumstances. “He’s probably more stunned than anyone by his infatuation, having managed to remain a bachelor all these many years.”
“Yes, I can understand why he’d feel that way,” Christina agreed. “As long as we’ve been friends with the Wyndhams, he has never seemed overly enthusiastic about courting women or even getting married. Perhaps you-know-who gets his independence naturally. Still, it will be interesting to see just how it all comes out with Tilly and Alistair. Like you, she is not without her admirers. Even so, I don’t know that her three sons will take kindly to having a stepfather. Being full-grown and with children of their own, they can hardly protest, especially since Tilly would ignore their advice anyway.” Having said that, Christina smiled as she beckoned to her daughter. “Come along, dear. By now, your father is probably pacing the floor, wondering what’s keeping us.”
No sooner had their party arrived at Lansdown Crescent than Adriana found herself besieged with requests from handsome gentlemen vying for her attention, or at least hoping for a dance or two fairly soon, or even later on. As far-fetched as it seemed to Adriana, word that she was in Bath without her usual escort had spread even to London just since the previous day, for sons of their Regent Park neighbors had come to Bath to test the waters, but only those rippling around the daughter of Lord Standish.
Sir Guy Dalton had stood at the forefront of the collection of young men who had been watching for her. As soon as Adriana entered, he had swept into a flamboyant bow and immediately engaged her in a vivacious conversation about the city and the approaching New Year, two days hence. Although Adriana smiled and chatted with the young knight for several moments, she graciously demurred his invitation, having no other wish than to join her own parents when he tried to coax her into one of the seats the Reverend William Dalton had reserved in the Assembly Room for his family and their guest, the archbishop.
The music in the ballroom was both soothing and uplifting, and in spite of her recent gloominess, Adriana felt somewhat rejuvenated, at least enough to dance with Sir Guy and several other young men who had been keeping a close eye upon her. Still, after returning to the sidelines, she was unnerved when Roger Elston stepped close in front of her.
“My lady.” He smiled into her eyes as if entirely guiltless of any previous wrongdoing.
Her mouth stretched tightly in a crisp smile as she inclined her head in a meager nod of recognition. “Mr. Elston.”
She would have brushed past him immediately, but he advanced in the direction in which she sought to flee, guilefully preventing her escape as he looked casually about the hall. Then, as if totally unaware of her wish to leave him, he smiled down at her and found icy shards boring into him. His gaze descended from those dark orbs as if drawn irresistibly to her bosom, the higher, creamy curves of which were set off to perfection by the shallow bodice of her darkly hued gown. Whether the man was merely seeking to refresh his memory or contemplating something more devious, Adriana could not determine, but she was no less incensed.
“Rather surprising to find you out and about without your gallant escort,” Roger remarked loftily. “Has his lordship forgotten you perchance, or found another lady with whom to wile away his time?”
Adriana pointedly snubbed the miller by turning aside and vigorously fanning her burning cheeks. As persistent as always, Roger stepped forward until they were once again standing shoulder to shoulder. His eyes scanned the dancing couples nonchalantly as he sniffed a pinch of snuff.
“As for myself, I’m in quite good company, having escorted the very beautiful Miss Felicity and a pair of casual acquaintances of hers, who’ve been craving to see Bath for themselves for some time.”
“Have you become a guide of late, Mr. Elston?” Adriana asked coolly and flicked a glance behind him to smile at Felicity and the two young ladies, each hardly much older than ten and seven, who were nearly chirpin
g with excitement as they glanced about the ballroom.
“Indeed, no, my lady. I’m far too busy with the mill to take on such whimsical tasks. Indeed, so swamped was I with orders to fill today that my livery barely made it to Gladstone’s house at the appointed hour.”
“That’s nice,” she replied coolly and was about to walk away when he caught her arm. Turning her head to look at him, she gritted out a smile as she warned, “Take your hand off me, Mr. Elston, or I shall start screaming this very instant.”
He complied forthwith. “Goodness, I didn’t mean to distress you, dear lady. I only wanted to introduce you to Felicity’s friends. Impressionable young girls, they are, truly bedazzled by aristocrats, it seems. They’d be especially honored to meet you. Of course, between Felicity and her friends, I find myself perplexed, wondering which one to lay the honor of a marriage proposal. But then, Felicity is the only one who still resists my manly quests and appetites. She’s such an innocent, poor dear. As for the other two I must confess they have left me somewhat jaded by their eagerness to please.” He patted a hand to his yawning mouth as if terribly bored. “Why, they lift their skirts for any smallest whim of mine and don’t mind that there’s three abed. . . .”
Cheeks burning, Adriana turned abruptly from him and started making her way through the crowd toward her parents. Their presence promised her absolute safety. When she drew nearer the place where they stood, she realized her father had been watching her keenly, and though he voiced no question as she joined him, his eyes bespoke his concern.
“Just angry, that’s all, Papa,” she acknowledged at his silent question. “The man is an utter cad. Too bad you didn’t cut him like Maud said you threatened to do. You might have prevented the debauchment of two silly maids.”
Gyles harrumphed in some discomfiture. “Maud shouldn’t be reddening your innocent ears by repeating my ominous threats, girl.”
Smiling up at her father, Adriana laid a hand upon his finely tailored sleeve. “Papa, I’ve been around horses long enough to know the difference between a gelding and a stallion. Mr. Elston should definitely be a gelding.”