“You alright, my lady?” he panted.
Alaina gave the man a quick nod, “Yes, I believe so. I must thank you for being quick, Benjamin.”
“I am just glad to have made it in time. I was lucky to step away from the carriage before those bastards came upon Milton, or else they would have gotten me too. I ran as fast as I could to Bow Street. It was the only thing I could think to do.” Benjamin puffed, having run almost the whole way there and most of the way back. His cheeks were quite a shade of red, from a combination of cold and exertion, his flat brown hair askew and partially covering his youthful face.
Both Alaina and Benjamin watched the two men in uniform peel Percy off the ground, having put him in handcuffs, and lead him back toward the street corner. As they approached, the lead pursuer called out, “Are you alright, miss? Your footman said this man had set upon you at your carriage. He feared the worst.”
“Yes, I am fine. Thank you so much for coming so quickly,” Alaina responded, taking a quavering breath before continuing. “I fear he was after money from someone who had been courting me until just recently, and hoped to hold me for ransom,” Alaina responded, trying to ignore the shocked expression from Percy at this pertinent piece of information.
“What?! You lying bitch! She agreed to come with me to help my cousin,” Percy yelled, sending spittle flying as he struggled against the two men’s restraint. Annoyed with this struggle, the lead pursuer again subdued Percy with a quick cuff on the head.
“At gunpoint? I suggest you keep your mouth shut. You are not doin’ yerself any favors,” said the quieter of the two uniformed runners, before turning his attention to Alaina. “My lady, if you will allow us to properly detain this fellow, our superior can come to call on your family for a full statement later, so you can go home to rest.”
Alaina, finally feeling the effects of the terror of the afternoon take hold, responded shakily, “Yes, I would find that agreeable. My family and I reside at the Norwich townhome on Berkeley Square.”
Both of the uniformed men nodded in agreement and began to half lead, half drag Percy back the way they had come. As the group passed by Alaina and Benjamin, Alaina began to shake in earnest, and was barely able to square her shoulders in an effort to steel herself against total collapse.
Setting her jaw, she attempted to take command, refusing to fall apart in the middle of town. “Let us return to the carriage, Benjamin. I imagine my mother and Evelina are worried and I would like to return home.”
“Yes, my lady,” was all Benjamin could say before practically running after Alaina as she beat a hasty retreat to the carriage.
As Christopher rode into London later in the day, he noted the faded daylight. It had not yet gotten completely dark, as the days had gradually lengthened since the start of the season, and he was happy to have ridden the whole of his grueling eight-hour horseback ride from Rochester in daylight. Christopher brought his horse down to a slow walk and patted his neck. The large chestnut stallion had certainly put in a hard day’s work, first the ride this morning, then the trip to London, with only a few stops for a quick rest and water. He would have to make sure that the horse had a good brushing and lots of oats tonight, and more than likely, a few days of rest.
“Thank you, Lazarus,” Christopher muttered with gratitude, sure almost no other horse would have weathered the journey so well.
As the pair, man and horse, walked through the streets, both tired from the day in the saddle, streetlamps were slowly lit by attendants and full darkness encroached. Christopher found himself turning down Berkeley Square, where Alaina’s family townhome was situated. Christopher wished to run up the steps of the townhome and declare himself, but thought, given the time, and his current disheveled look from riding all day, it would be best to wait until morning.
As he rode down the street, closer to the Norwich townhome, Christopher could feel the heavy chill in the air. The skies had been clear all day, but the clouds he could see rolling in overhead to cover the moon told him rain would start at some point in the evening. He was thankful to be in town and close to his lodgings, as he planned to head straight to the Rochester property a few blocks over on Bruton Lane. There he could rest and clean up before his call upon the Sinclair family in the morning. With the streetlamps lighting his way as he and his horse traversed the cobbled street, Christopher could make out the front of the townhome where Alaina was passing her evening, quietly, if he were to guess. A carriage was parked out front, signaling that there may be visitors.
Christopher was about to simply urge his horse back to a trot as he came to the front of the townhome, when the front door opened, and a few uniformed men stepped out into the night. Their distinctive top hats and military-style gray jackets and pants signaled them as the Bow Street Runners. The third man wore a wig and carried a ledger, much resembling a magistrate. The relative low crime in London meant that the runners were rarely seen out and about, and it gave Christopher pause. As the men climbed into the carriage on the street and rode away, Christopher brought Lazarus to a halt.
An overwhelming urge to check on the welfare of Alaina and her family made him rethink his earlier plan to avoid calling until morning. But what would they think of his appearance, and how would he avoid pouring his heart out to Alaina and begging her forgiveness for his delay in calling? Despite his trepidations, his need to be reassured of Alaina’s safety won out, and Christopher swung down from Lazarus.
Leading his horse around the half-circle that served as the front drive at Norwich, Christopher tied him to a hitching post, since a short visit tonight was all he planned. He wanted to see to Alaina’s safety, but wished to be more presentable when discussing their relationship and the possibility of their future. Christopher climbed the steps to the front door and was about to knock when the door was abruptly snatched open by Alaina’s father.
Shocked to be looking at the earl instead of a butler, Christopher was at a loss for words, though Edward gave little opportunity to speak first. “What do we owe the honor, my lord?”
Christopher could not ignore the edge in Edward’s voice. Clearly, he had not wished to be disturbed. “My apologies, sir. I was riding past your home and saw a group of Bow Street Runners leave in their carriage, along with an older gentleman who I assume was a magistrate. I had planned to call tomorrow but I felt compelled to see to everyone’s well-being.”
“Everyone’s or just Alaina’s?” Edward asked, an unintended edge in his voice. It had been a trying day, to say the least. Seeing the shock on Christopher’s face, Edward took some pity on the young man. “Forgive me, it has been a trying day. To be honest, this is my first time out of bed since the fall, all because your best friend’s cousin decided to kidnap Alaina.”
“Kidnap? What happened? Is she alright?” Christopher rattled off questions, surprised at the severity of the mischief Percy wreaked.
Edward studied the young man standing only one step down from him. The lack of action on the marquess’s part this past week had sowed small seeds of doubt as to his intentions, or maybe just his courage in acting on his feelings. “What brings you to London?” was Edward’s next query, trying to avoid betraying Alaina’s heart.
Christopher was not used to such direct inquiries and cleared his throat in discomfort. “Sir, I came back to see your daughter. It seems that there may have been a… misunderstanding between us. Although, like I said, I was not planning to call until tomorrow.”
“Good. We will expect you on the ‘morrow. Alaina, as you can imagine, took quite a fright and is resting right now. My wife and my youngest were also quite shaken when they came out of the shops to find Alaina missing and the driver sporting a bump on his head, with no footman in sight. I was in the front parlor after the discussion with the runners and the magistrate. I saw your approach and did not want to disturb the house. I expect Alaina will be happy tomorrow.”
Edward turned back to head inside, and Christopher noticed the earl was wearing a dressing gown and was moving gingerly, holding his head as he moved to close the door.
“Of course, sir. I will be here tomorrow, in the morning. Are you sure there is nothing I can do to help this evening?”
Edward turned, standing a bit straighter and dropping his hand in a show of bravado. He had caught Christopher’s thinly veiled implication, and it rankled Edward that this man was responsible for his daughter’s doldrums, however much he expected that the marquess loved Alaina.
“The only thing I need from you, young man, is to call on Alaina tomorrow and to not disappoint her,” was all Edward said before softly closing the door.
“I hope I can make her happy, my lord,” Christopher said at barely a whisper, speaking only to the front door and wishing Alaina’s father had more confidence in him.
