Sudden fear sped her steps down the back stairs, hastily fastening her pelisse and bonnet. “I am going for a walk… tell Lady Rennington and her grace that I have gone out,” she said to the footman guarding the side door. It was the same one who had brought her the note.
“Very good, my lady,” he said, smirking knowingly as he held the door open for her.
She half ran down the drive, almost to the lodge at the western gate, then turned aside into the holly walk. It was a dark, dismal place to walk, in fact, the sun not penetrating the dense foliage, and previously she had only ever ridden here, for it was wide enough for two or three riders abreast. Now she hurried along, keen to know the worst.
Robert was standing just round the first corner, smiling at her. Smiling! It could not be anything terrible, then.
“What is it? What is so urgent?” she said, her breath heaving with the exertion.
“Nothing dire, I assure you. Forgive me for alarming you, but I had to be sure to see you alone, and it was the only way I could think of.” He smiled more widely, but for once his charm failed to move her.
“You dragged me out here to no good purpose then?”
“Not that, I hope. Shall we walk, and I can explain?”
He held out his arm, and instinctively she settled her hand upon his sleeve. With another smile, he rested his gloved hand over hers, and began to move, so that she was carried along with him. She was still cross with him for making her think something was amiss, so she said nothing and allowed him to express his thoughts.
“I was very flattered that you sought me out, naturally,” he began. “I am honoured to be your confidant, and shall always be your friend, I sincerely trust, but you must understand that there can never be anything more than friendship between us. Whatever my hopes and wishes might once have been, that time is gone. We can never relive the past, Izzy, however much we might want to. Things happen to us, our lives change and we are swept forwards, always. There is no going back. I know your situation is a difficult one, but it is for you and Farramont to devise a way forward. It has nothing to do with me. Our paths crossed briefly, five years ago, but you have a husband now, youhave children who need you, and I have this wretched title and all the duties and responsibilities that go with it. So many estates to manage, and one of them needs me even now. I am on my way there this moment, and only came to say goodbye, Izzy.”
It was no more than she thought herself, but it enraged her to hear it from him.
“You are abandoning me, are you?” she said. “A fine example of your friendship!”
They were still walking arm in arm, but angrily she tore her arm from his and strode on ahead of him.
“You have your family about you, so you have no need of me,” he called from behind her. “Talk to your husband, Izzy. He is the proper person to discuss your troubles with. Between you, a resolution should be possible.”
“Talk to him? Where is he, Robert? Nowhere to be seen! He has abandoned me, too. Everyone has abandoned me! Do you expect me to crawl home like a beaten dog and beg his forgiveness? And for what? I have done nothing wrong.”
He made no answer, and she could no longer hear his footsteps behind her. Spinning round, the path was empty.
“Robert?”
She spun all the way round but the path was empty in both directions. There was deep silence for a long, bewildering moment, as disquiet slowly rose in Izzy. Somewhere not far away, a horse blew and stamped a foot. That was odd, for she was nowhere near the stables. Then silence again.
Anger boiled inside her. “Robert Osborn, come back this minute! This is not funny!”
Rustling sounded in the holly bushes bordering the path. At last! There he was!
But it was not Robert. Two men, hooded and cloaked, jumped out either side of her, and before she had time to domore than gasp in fear, a roughly woven bag was pulled over her head, and her arms were grabbed.
She screamed, of course, and fought desperately for her freedom and perhaps her life, for who knew what mischief they planned? It was no use. She was half carried and half dragged along the path, and then more hands lifted her and pushed her forwards so that she fell into what could only be a carriage of some sort. The door slammed, men shouted, and the carriage moved off, slowly at first and then rapidly gathering pace.
20: Surprises
Someone was in the carriage with her, grabbing her, lifting her. Again she screamed, and tore at the bag still covering her face.
“Hush, Izzy,” said a familiar voice. “Stop fighting for a minute.”
She froze.“Ian?You?”
“Yes, I,” he said, whisking the bag from her head. “Who else? Let me help you onto the seat.”
“Do not touch me!” she yelled, but he picked her up bodily, tossing her onto the seat beside him. Then to her astonishment, he laughed, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her full on the mouth. When she pushed him away, he laughed again.
“It is no use, Izzy. You cannot escape me now.”
And it was true that the carriage was moving along at a rapid rate, tossing them about inside. There was no possibility of jumping out, even if there were a handle to open the door on the inside.
