Hugh peered out of the carriage window and waited. Charlotte would be looking out for his carriage and come outside. That was the plan, at least, but after several minutes, she did not appear. He hopped out of the carriage and looked up at the dark house. Just then, he caught a glimpse of a light and a face in an upper window. Someone, holding an oil lamp, had just looked out. He sighed his relief. Charlotte would be on her way down.
Seconds later, the door opened, and Lady Rose rushed outside, carrying a lantern.
“Mr. Warsham! Itisyou! Oh, heaven help us!”
“What’s the matter? You were expecting me were you not? Where is Charlotte?”
“Taken!”
A wave of horror washed over him. “What? I don’t understand.”
“A carriage arrived half an hour ago. The driver came to the door to escort Charlotte to your carriage—that’s what he said. But when they drove away, Charlotte appeared in the carriage window, and her face looked—well, frightened. I told myself I was being silly, and not to worry, but something felt wrong. So, I stayed by her bedroom window and waited. I knew if you came along, then both you and Charlotte had been tricked.”
“By whom? How? No one knew about our plans, did they?”
“I think it must have been Lucas. He’s always been the vindictive, sneaky sort. He must have guessed that you and Charlotte planned to elope before he could speak to Sir Benedict tomorrow.”
“But how did he know the time Charlotte was expecting me—” Hugh stopped mid-sentence. Then he turned and strode to his carriage. “Bastard!” he shouted.
The driver leaped down from the carriage and attempted to escape, but Hugh was faster and stronger than the portly driver. He caught the man by the collar of his coat and dragged him back to the carriage.
“Speak,” he said, slamming the driver against the carriage.
“He paid me—it was a lot of money—my mother is sick; I needed the money.” Despite the cold, beads of perspiration appeared on the driver’s forehead.
“He paid you to do what?” Hugh grabbed the man by the cravat. “Arrive late and feign illness?”
The man nodded.
“Is that all?” Hugh said between gritted teeth.
“No, I was to divert your route, or drive into a ditch, so you would be too late in catching up with him.” The man blinked. “Please, sir, I didn’t do it. I couldn’t. The young lady…I’m sorry.”
Hugh shook him by the lapels. Apologies meant nothing at this moment. He was beyond forgiveness. “And where was he going?”
“Gretna Green, sir.”
Hugh let go of the man. “Gretna Green! He means to force her to marry him.”
Lady Rose gasped.
He turned back to the driver. “Get back into your seat. And if you so much as stall because of a bump in the road, I’ll thrash you until every bone in your body breaks!”
“You won’t getaway with this, Lucas! My papa will have your head on a platter!” Charlotte prayed silently that her mother had seen her bang on the window and heard her cries for help.
Lucas snorted. “Your papa will thank me for preventing you from marrying his enemy’s son.”
“What are you going to do, lock me away? Until when? Where are you taking me?”
“I don’t wish to lock you away, Charlotte. You are going to Gretna Green as planned where you will keep your promise to me and become my wife.”
“I made no such promise to you, Lucas. And I won’t marry you. You can force me to the altar, but you cannot force me to take vows.”
“It’s either me or the nunnery for you. Once you’ve spent the night with me at an inn, no man will take you.”
“You don’t plan to keep me in the same room with you?”
“Indeed, I do. I can’t risk you escaping, Charlotte. But don’t worry, I won’t touch you, not until we are wed.”
