“Yes,” Lady Rose said, “but you needn’t worry. If you love each other, then it is nothing to fear. And, if you are lucky, you will be blessed with many beautiful children.”
Charlotte pressed her lips together to stop herself from smiling. She didn’t fear it. It was all she’d been able to think about since meeting Hugh. She’d felt the hardness of his manhood against her when they’d kissed, and it had excited her. But she understood why some women might feel fearful on their wedding nights. If they had entered a marriage of convenience and felt no attraction or affection for their husbands, then the act of marriage would be something to dread. Again, the thought of intimacy with someone like Lucas made her shudder.
“Are you cold, dear? Shall I fetch your coat?”
“No, I’m quite all right, Mama. It’s only that I’m feeling a bit anxious. Shouldn’t he be here already? What if he’s changed his mind?” The thought made her throat swell up.
“He hasn’t,” Lady Rose said.
“How do you know? Do you see his carriage?” Charlotte pushed her face closer to the window and peered out.
“It’s not yet time; he said two hours past midnight.” Lady Rose put an arm around her daughter. “Oh Charlotte, it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious before your wedding day. But I saw how he looked at you tonight. He couldn’t take his eyes off you. I can assure you that he will be here.”
As if her mother’s faith in Hugh had conjured him, Charlotte spotted two spots of light moving up the street. Before long, a black carriage with two candle lanterns affixed to each side came into view. Charlotte held her breath as it rolled to a stop outside her Mayfair townhome.
“It’s him.” Charlotte squeezed her mother’s hand. “I must go downstairs.”
“I will take you down and see you safely in the carriage,” Lady Rose said. “Let me get your coat. And remember to put the hood up. We can’t take any chances of someone spotting you.”
Charlotte slipped on her coat, even though she no longer felt the cold. Her skin tingled with excitement at the prospect of climbing into the carriage with Hugh and driving away to Gretna Green where she would become his wife.
“Just one more thing before we go.” Lady Rose reached into her skirt pocket and withdrew several banknotes. “Take these.” She pressed them into Charlotte’s hand. “No matter what anyone else tells you, a woman should never be without a little money of her own.”
“Thank you, Mama!” Charlotte embraced her mother.
They crept downstairs,secure in the knowledge that Sir Benedict slept soundly after taking a dose of sleeping draught at Mama’ssuggestion, and, upon opening the front door, were surprised to see a coachman, his livery hidden under a black cloak, waiting on the portico.
“Good evening, m’ladies,” he spoke in a whisper. “Mr. Warsham has asked me to escort Miss Rose to his carriage. He didn’t think it prudent to step out himself, lest someone see him.”
“Thank you. That’s very wise,” Lady Rose said. “I was going to escort her there myself.”
“Mr. Warsham insists I do it, ma’am. He will not endanger your ladyship by having you out alone so late at night. It will be much safer for you to stand here and watch her safely ensconced in the carriage.”
“Yes, that’s true. It is very thoughtful of Mr. Warsham, indeed,” she said, handing Charlotte’s carpetbag to the coachman. Then she turned to her daughter, “Remember all that I have told you, my love. And don’t worry about your papa or General Warsham. Mrs. Warsham and I will take care of everything. Then we will all celebrate the union of our children and the joining of our families.
Charlotte threw her arms around her mother and kissed her cheek. “Oh, Mama, I’m so happy, my heart feels as though it will burst.”
Charlotte followed the driver across the street, eagerly awaiting the moment she’d be seated next to Hugh, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
The driver opened the coach door, and a gloved hand extended from inside to help her up. Expecting to see Hugh, she drew back in horror when she saw Lucas sitting in the carriage. But it was too late. She turned to call for her Mama, just as the carriage door slammed in her face, silencing her scream.
“It’s no use screaming, Charlotte.” Lucas grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her roughly toward him. “No one is coming to save you. I’ve made certain of that.”
“What have you done to Hugh?” She clawed Lucas’s face, causing him to loosen his grip on her, and giving herself enough time to turn, bang her fists against the window, and scream for help just as the carriage jerked forward, whisking her away.
Hugh paced thestreet outside his townhome and cursed his driver. The man was late, even though he’d given him strict instructions to have the carriage ready two hours after midnight for a long journey to Gretna Green. He’d ordered fresh horses, who’d been sufficiently fed and rested. Perhaps there’d been a problem with one of the horses? Whatever the reason for his tardiness, he’d better provide a good explanation.
The clip-clop of horseshoes sounded in his ears, and he looked up to see his carriage careening around the corner. The driver yanked on the reins and the horses whinnied and slowed to a stop.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Warsham,” the driver said as he hopped down. “But I had a bit of trouble with my stomach.” The man rubbed his girth. “I must have eaten something bad.”
Hugh frowned, somewhat taken aback by the man’s very personal explanation. “Are you well enough now to undertake such a long drive? Our first stop to change the horses won’t be for at least fifteen or twenty miles.”
“Yes, sir. Nothing to worry about; I am quite well now.”
Hugh nodded, and somewhat embarrassed for the man who hopped quickly into the carriage.
A few minutes later, they arrived at Audley Street and parked discreetly away from the streetlights near the Roses’ Mayfair home.
