Chapter Twenty
Exhausted and frightened,Barbara clung on to sleep. Jenny hugged the small, warm body, all her senses alert. William had given up trying to peer out of the tiny dusty window, and sagged back on the floor, silenced by the shock he’d experienced. One tended to forget how young he was, he was such a force of nature, appearing so confident, when of course, he wasn’t. She loved both children so much, they might have been her own. Had she made the right decision? Should she have attempted to reach the butler, or the housekeeper? Her first instinct was to get them away. With the attacker following on William’s heels, she’d been afraid he might lie in wait amid the copse of limes that bordered the carriage drive, and attack them before they reached the house. Or even in the house itself. The man must be mad, what could he possibly gain from such violence? Another thought struck her, might he now pose a danger to the duke?
She breathed deeply to calm herself. The children had missed luncheon. They would be hungry. How long could she keep them here? If they weren’t found soon, they must risk emerging into the open and make their way back to the house. Perhaps the gamekeeper would have returned and could help them. They’d send word and wait there. But what if this fiend was lurking somewhere nearby?
Jenny wasn’t sure when she first heard it. The sheep bleated and alerted her. A horseman. She daren’t move. If she woke Barbara, the little girl could give them away. William heard it too, the rhythmic thud of a horse cantering across the meadow. She held a finger to her lips, and William, his face as pale as snow, nodded.
One rider. A clatter of a horse’s hooves on the stones outside, then the thump of someone dismounting. Please God let it be His Grace. Would he be angry with her? Had she failed to take proper care of the children? She didn’t care. Just let it be him. Her eyes filled with tears and a lump formed in her throat. The rusty hinges squeaked as the door opened.
“Miss Harrismith? William?”
Hot relief swept through her from head to toe. She smiled at William.
William leapt up to lower the ladder. “We’re up here, Father.”
In a minute, the duke was with them crowding the small space.
“Thank God.” He dropped to his knees and held his arms out to William. The boy needed no urging, he moved silently into them, and his father folded them around him, one hand on his head. “It’s all right now, son.”
William’s shoulders shook. “Mr. Irvine is dead, Father.”
“No, William, Irvine is quite well, apart from a headache. He is out searching for you.” His smiling eyes met Jenny’s. “Well done, Miss Harrismith,” he said quietly.
Barbara woke. “Father, can we go home? I don’t like this place, it’s dirty, and I’m hungry.”
“Yes, sweetheart.” The duke’s voice broke.
To see the strong, honorable man brought low, made Jenny’s eyes flood with tears. She searched for her handkerchief, plucked it from a pocket and blew her nose.
The duke came to his feet as a rider approached. He pulled his pistol from beneath his coat.
William’s eyes widened.
Barbara wriggled. “Father…”
“Hush, poppet. We have to be as quiet as a mouse,” Jenny whispered.
“Mice squeak,” Barbara observed.
The duke crossed to the window and peered out. “It’s Irvine.”
Jenny took a deep shuddering breath and smiled at the anxious children. “We’ll be just in time for luncheon. I’m quite peckish.”
“I’m hungry too,” Barbara said crossly. “And my bonnet is squashed.”
“Let me put it on, sweetheart,” Jenny said. “I’ll fix it up nicely when we get home.” Her hands stilled at the sound of another horse galloping across the meadow, scattering the bleating sheep.
William turned from the window. “It’s Jem, Father!”
“Good.” The duke held out his arms to Barbara. “Let’s go down and greet the gentlemen, shall we?”
*
With the men’spistols handily placed, tucked into their trousers, and their vigilant gaze on the woods, they rode back to the stables.
A crowd had gathered: the footmen, grooms, and the butler, stood around in groups. They cheered as Andrew, holding Barbara within his arm, left hand on the reins, guided Storm Cloud into the stable yard. Behind him, Jem rode with Miss Harrismith, while Irvine followed with William.
Ben hurried over to help them dismount. “I’m relieved you’re all safe, Your Grace.”
