Page 28 of The Duke and the Spinster

“Fare well, my Lady, and I will see you soon, hopefully, at Hallingbrook Grange, as if nothing untoward had happened.”

“Thank you.”

He released her hand, and she turned and began to walk along the roadside. The carriage rolled past, towards the town.

Juliana walked, feeling safe in the quiet of the countryside around her.

~~~~~

Garrett watched her from the carriage window until she disappeared from his sight as they proceeded towards Upper Nettlefold. He did not want to leave her. He wanted her with him, wanted her safe, and him certain of her safety. But he had to leave her, as that was the way to keep her safe.

He spent the last mile of the journey considering Lady Bellinghaugh’s words again - ‘you would not find marrying her a hardship’. The idea was, he had to admit, growing on him. And not just because it would solve her problems, and protect her from gossip and threats. It was growing on him because he liked her, more than liked her. She had become far more important to him than any other woman had ever been. But… if he offered for her, would she accept him? Would she believe it an honest offer, or would she think him simply being honourable? He did not know, and not knowing ate at him.

They rolled into the town square, and he signalled for the driver to stop. He would stretch his legs, maybe even take some tea, and, when enough time had passed, call at Hardcastle House, as if simply enquiring after the family’s health. A quick glance into the Tea Rooms changed his mind about tea, for Lady Prudence Baggington was visible, deep in gossip, at a table near the door. So he settled for walking about the square, looking in the tailor’s window, and just filling up time.

~~~~~

Lord Fondleton was annoyed with the world. Two days had passed and he had not seen Lady Juliana. She was, the word had it, ill. He had fleeced the house party attendees at cards to the extent that they no longer wished to play with him, and he was bored. He had chosen to be taken out in his carriage, to the ruins of a nearby abbey, simply for something to do. It was, he was informed, worth the visit, with an excellent view of the local countryside. So he went.

It entertained him for an hour or so, and yes, the view was excellent, with clear sight down the valley of the road from Bath. As he stood there, about to get into his carriage and leave, he saw, far below, a carriage stop on the road. A woman descended, and began to walk, as the carriage rolled away, leaving her. A woman he found unmistakable, her rich gold hair shining in the sun where it trailed from beneath her bonnet, and her elegant movement distinctive. Whatever she was doing there, this was his chance. He flung himself into the carriage, commanding his driver to move as fast as possible on the hilly road.

~~~~~

Juliana found herself enjoying the walk, with the sun warm on her back. She knew that, around the next corner, the bridge over the river would be in sight, and she could slip down to the riverbank path. Then, just before she reached the turn in the road, she heard an unwelcome sound. The sound of hooves, and carriage wheels, a low rumble from behind her. It had to be a private carriage, for it was the wrong time of day to be the mail coach. Nervously, she glanced around.

She would not reach the river path before the carriage was upon her, and there was nowhere on the roadside to conceal herself – a large hedge ran on each side of the road. She would have to simply keep to the side, and keep walking, hoping that the carriage would pass by without taking any particular note of her. Her hope was not fulfilled. The carriage slowed, and drew alongside her. She did not look, still hoping that they would simply pass. Then, without warning, or any word spoken, the carriage door opened, and she was grabbed, and dragged inside. The edge of the carriage step bruised her ankle as she tried to resist, but she was at a terrible disadvantage, due to the surprise. Her bonnet caught on the carriage door, and fell to the roadside as she fell onto the carriage seat, gasping for breath, and looked up. Into the face of the man she least wanted to see, ever again, in her life.

“You obviously needed a ride into town, my dear, for a Lady shouldn’t be walking the road alone, now should she?”

Lord Fondleton’s smile was not pleasant. It was, if she had to put a word to it, predatory. Anger filled her, flowing over the top of fear.

“A gentleman would have spoken first, and offered politely. Instead, you have taken an action that I can only describe as kidnapping!”

“How astute of you, Lady Juliana. I have no intention of you escaping me this time. Your choices are still the same. In fact, I have more scope for tarnishing your name now. There you were, all alone, where you most definitely should not have been. And now, here you are, alone in a closed carriage with me. What more do I need?”

“You are despicable!”

She spat the words at him, but her fear was growing. How could she escape him? They were so close to the town, surely she would be seen!

He laughed, and slid across the seat until he had her trapped between him and the wall of the carriage. His arm slid around her, and he brought his lips to her, kissing her neck, and working his way down towards her breasts.

Between kisses, he whispered, “Yes, I am, but you will come to enjoy it. You’ll be surprised at the pleasure to be had from all sorts of perverse sources. Once I have you in the Inn room I’ll arrange, I’ll make certain that you have no choice but to accept my generous offer. A ruined woman has few choices left.”

She shuddered, fighting him, but he simply used his weight to press her hard against the seat and the carriage wall, continuing his unwelcome exploration of her body with his lips. She refused to react – if fighting him only made him do more, then perhaps absolute passivity would please him less.

Her hand was splayed against the window, balancing her, and she left it there, forcing herself to stillness, although complete immobility was impossible, with the movement of the carriage. Outside the window, the town rolled into view. Fear filled her even more. There was no escape from this. Either she stayed still, and allowed him to take her where he wished, or she made herself visible, and ruined herself in the process – for the townspeople only needed to see her like this to believe her as guilty as Fondleton wanted them to think she was.

“You see, it’s far more pleasant when you don’t fight – too hard. A little fight adds spice – for me, at least.”

She shuddered at his words, and at the feel of his lips on her skin, and he laughed again, taking pleasure in her fear and revulsion. The town passed by, bit by bit. They were now level with the tea shop, and would soon reach the Inn. Her breath caught. There, outside the tea shop – the Duke’s carriage stood. And he stood beside it. He had turned at the sound of an approaching vehicle.

Carefully, Juliana moved her hand against the window. The movement must have caught the Duke’s eye, for he started, then took a step forward. His expression changed rapidly – disappointment, followed by disbelief, followed by startled comprehension. He gave a decisive nod, and then casually turned, to walk in the direction of the Inn. Then they were past him. Juliana prayed that he had understood, that he might, somehow, do something to help her. Fondleton, realising that they had reached the town, lifted his head from her, slipped a hand up to hold her neck, limiting her ability to breathe, and reached up to pull closed the window shades

“No noise from you, my dear. I am going to ensure that you do as I wish.”

He reached with his other hand and flipped up the opposite seat of the carriage, and pulled from the space underneath it a length of rope.

“I must tie and gag you for now. Then you will lie on the floor of the carriage, covered in this blanket, and await my return. If you try to attract attention, it will only go badly for you – I will make certain of it.” As he spoke, he had pulled his handkerchief from his pocket, and picked up a scarf from where it lay on the seat. Terror filled her, and she opened her mouth to scream.

The scream was stifled when he forced the handkerchief into her open mouth, and bound it there with the scarf. Juliana fought, but to no avail. It seemed that Fondleton had experience in subduing fighting women – a thought which added to her terror.

That done, he flung her to the carriage floor, using his weight again to keep her there, and bound her hands, and then her feet with the rope. Satisfied, he sat back onto the seat, admiring his work as she squirmed helplessly.

“Delightful as it is to watch you like that, my Lady, I must now cover you up. It wouldn’t do at all for the ostlers to find you before I have a chance to get you into the Inn.”

He dropped the blanket over her, cutting off the light, and leaving her feeling desperate for air. At least the handkerchief he had gagged her with was clean, but it left her struggling for adequate breath. She lay there and prayed that the Duke had understood, that she had not imagined him seeing her, that he would, somehow, rescue her.

The carriage slowed, and she heard the change in sound as it entered the cobbled yard of the Inn, then the earthen floored carriage house and stable. After a few odd movements, which she guessed to be the process of the carriage being moved into its allocated place, Fondleton patted her back through the blanket, then opened the carriage door and exited. She heard him speak to the coachman.

“No need to tidy the interior, all is well. Be about your business.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Footsteps moved away, and the suffocating darkness closed in around her. She tried very hard not to panic.