A Christmas Surprise Page 10

  “But, back to the how I ended up thumped over the head. I was about to start my search when a noise coming from in here which drew my attention. Wondering if the sound might perchance be from a looter or someone of interest, I of course, came in to investigate. I only got in a few paces when the rustle of straw brought me around. That was when the scoundrel hit me on the head. Everything went black until you both arrived,” he said in conclusion.

  “Did you by any chance get a look at the person?” Aleece asked.

  Carefully, so as not to hurt his brain any more than it already did, he shook his head. “I’m sorry. The person was a young man about seventeen I would hazard to guess, with unfashionable long black hair. What did surprise me was this boy appeared gaunt in stature.”

  When he noticed the women share a knowing look between them, he was sure they suspected who his attacker was.

  “Yes, we know of this person. His name is Seth Travers, a bigger no good lay about there ever was. A hue and cry has already been set, but without, as you well know, success,” Aleece said.

  Realizing he was sitting while the ladies, Aleece in particular, were standing, he stood, which only caused him to experience dizziness again.

  “Would you please sit so I can? At least until everything stops spinning,” Thomas pleaded.

  “Yes, m’ lord,” Aleece teased, which led to, “And why would anyone call you m’ lord if you are not one?”

  “It was my fault, miss. Seeing how he’d dressed with such fine clothes I forgot myself for a moment. I beg your forgiveness, m’ lady, sir,” Debbi said.

  “That’s quite all right, considering who you’ve been corresponding with since our return,” Aleece replied, knowing Debbi carried a tendre for the son of a baron.

  “That is quiet all right, Debbi. Thank you for raising my station, if but only for a moment,” Thomas joked.

  “Yes, don’t think a thing of it,” Aleece added patting the poor girl’s hand.

  “Now that we have all that out of the way.” Thomas leveled a passionate smile on Aleece. “It’s so good to be here and see you. I cannot tell you how much I have missed you.”

  “And I you. How long will you be able to stay?” Hope rose eternal in her voice.

  “As long as you can bear to have me around,” he replied.

  When Thomas heard Debbi rise, he started to follow suit but was halted by Aleece settling a hand on his arm.

  “I’m going to check on the horses, make sure that beast you’re riding hasn’t scared m’ lady’s or mine. I shouldn’t be more than a few minutes.” Then under her breath as she headed for the door. “Long enough for the two of you to get a kiss or three in,” Debbi said, as Aleece watched her slip out.

  “Then I suggest we do not waste a second,” he responded while lifting Aleece onto his lap.

  Her reply was cut off by his mouth descending on hers.

  Minutes later, breathless, the lovers parted as the sound of scuffling feet and a cough seeped into his mind. With a last briefest of kiss, he set Aleece on her feet and rose, this time not getting dizzy.

  “I know our time together will be brief since it would not do for me to appear at your front door, or any door for that matter. Pray tell, though when will I get to enjoy your company, however fleeting it might be?” he pleaded.

  “I promised Mrs. Smyth I’d visit after luncheon on the morrow, we can cross paths then. If that’s agreeable.”

  He responded to her suggestion with a gracious nod.

  “I’m staying at the Hen and Rooster if you need to contact me if there’s a change in your plans. If you can send Debbi as I know her on sight and know the message will be from you.”

  With his arm settled comfortably around Aleece’s waist, he guided her to the horses, now pawing the ground in anticipation of being allowed to run.

  He turned her into him, and settled his lips on her for a parting kiss. Separating, he settled his hands on her waist and lifted her into the saddle, making sure she was secure. He then assisted a blushing Debbi onto the back of her mount.

  “Until the morrow, dear ladies,” Thomas said with a bow before walking over to his steed and settling himself in the saddle.

  At a fork in the road they parted but only after Thomas was able to steal a final kiss from Lady Aleece.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Holding his breath, he was able to make out most of what they were saying. One of the women he knew to be Lady Aleece and the other most likely her maid. He took pride in knowing, at least by sight, all the nobs in the area, and this man wasn’t one of them.

  He knew getting out of the district and probably England, as well, was his only chance to survive. Setting a torch to a tenant farmer’s house on the ducal estate was guaranteed to have him sent to a prison hulk, if not transported. All to avenge the slight that had been done to his brother.

  He needed money and fast if he was to escape, which raised the question in his mind as to how to get it before he was captured?

  With the man not from these parts, no one would recognize the horse either, even though they were housed at the Hen and Rooster. An evil smile curled his lips now knowing where to get more money that he’d ever seen. He knew of a knacker in the next town over who didn’t ask where an animal came from or how it was gotten.

  Now he had to figure out the safest way to grab the horse and not get caught. It would be too dangerous for him to make a grab for the animal. The staff at the inn where the man was staying knew not only the man but several knew of himself. If he was going to snatch the mount it would have to be while away from there.

  Then he remembered hearing the man, he’d heard called Thomas, was going back to where the Smyth’s were living. Not only him, but if he was to hazard a guess, the women would be there as well.

  Tomorrow he’d find a good place to hide out at the hunting lodge and see if he could overhear what plans the man had for the next day. He’d then find the perfect place to ambush him, steal the horse, and be away before anyone was the wiser.

  Now that it was getting on toward night, he crept back in the barn, found a comfortable spot, and went to sleep, with dreams of money in his hands.

  ****

  As the two rode into the stable yard Aleece said, “I think I can safely tell my father I did not find or see anything which would help with making sure Seth was the individual who set the blaze.”

  “Aye, miss, that be true and you also have a good excuse for such flushed and slightly swollen lips,” Debbi replied.

  No sooner had Debbi referenced Aleece’s lips than she touched them with her fingertips. She could feel her face heat, even in the coldness of late December, with embarrassment.

  “Yes, I can say it is from the chill in the air, and that next time I might want to wear a mask to keep my face warm,” Aleece replied, then looked over at her friend. “Yours seem a touch swollen from the cold, and I know you were not kissing anyone.”

  After turning their mounts over to the stable boys, Aleece and Debbi entered the mansion via the kitchen, since it was the closest and warm.

  As she led the way in, Aleece spied Mrs. Linna. “We are back hale and whole, Mrs. Linna,” she announced, walking up to her.

  “Good, now get ye’self upstairs and into a hot bath. I’ve already had the footmen take the water up. It should be just the right temperature by now. Then I want to attend to your injuries. The dressings are due for a changing.”

  Aleece started for the back stairs expecting Debbi to follow. When she didn’t hear her footsteps, she paused to glance over her shoulder as to why.

  On seeing the two in a hushed huddle, she started to become concerned until Mrs. Linna glanced her way, gave her a knowing smile, and released Debbi to her duties.

  In her suite and out of earshot she leveled a glare on the poor girl. “What was that about? I’m not in trouble with her am I? Or where you discussing your gentleman?”

  “No, miss. She noticed the rosy color to your cheeks and lips. She
wanted to confirm that you’d been behaving yourself. It seems she’s aware that a certain wickedly handsome gentleman has been seen out and about the district.”

  With arms across her chest Aleece started to pace, worried that their secret was out. Part way across her bedroom she stopped and spun on her heel.

  “Does she think my parents know?”

  “No, she said she heard it from the second upstairs maid who’s sweet on one of the stable hands at the inn. Mrs. Linna told the girl to keep it to herself and if word got back to either her or your parents she’d be sacked. That was enough to put the fear of the devil in the girl.”

  Aleece let out a relieved sigh, started to unbutton her riding habit, then stopped. “Do you think my parents will suspect anything?”

  “Fear not, by the time we get you bathed and everything set to rights it will look like nothing happened. Now let’s get you out of these and into the bath.”

  The bath was so relaxing Aleece started to fall asleep but the sound of the housekeeper entering startled her awake.

  “I will be ready in a minute,” she called out from the room off hers where she handled her personal needs.

  Moments later Aleece emerged, a towel wrapped around her and another covering her wet hair. What was a surprise Mrs. Linna and Debbi, who had changed into a plain grey dress, were looking through her gowns.

  Aleece had already picked a lovely satin dress in robin egg blue for dinner. The sleeves stopped at her elbows, and she’d wear a pair of gloves to keep her arms warm. The collar came to the base of her neck and she planned to wear her pearl necklace and drop earrings to finish off the outfit.

  Aleece noticed neither were aware of her presence, so she cleared her throat. “I have a gown for this evening,” she uttered, her brows raised in question.

  Mrs. Linna turned. “Yes, but while you are making your call, Her Grace asked about a ball gown for Christmas Eve. I couldn’t remember if you had something suitable, so she asked if, when you returned, I could see.”

  “Well, do I? I know, at least for my parents it is an important occasion, and I wouldn’t want to disappoint them.” The last said with a touch of sadness in her voice.

  “Yes. This deep red gown will be perfect. I also know it’s a favorite of His Grace,” Mrs. Linna said with a smile.

  Aleece gave the woman a smile, slipped out of the towel around her, and into the dressing gown held by Debbi. She then sat on the stool in front of her dressing table while her injuries were treated.

  “How do they look?” she wondered aloud, not able to comprehend the housekeeper’s expression seen in the mirror.

  “They’re healing quite nicely. Nary a mark left. You were lucky,” she said. “Now go sit by the fire and let Debbi brush out your hair so you can finish getting ready for dinner.”

  Over dinner Simon briefly questioned his daughter if she’d been able to remember anything else to positively confirm it had been Seth Travers.

  When she, disappointed, answered she couldn’t, the conversation turned to a topic Aleece didn’t want to think about: the upcoming ball.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  After the chaste kiss at the fork in the path, Thomas watched as his lady love rode off toward home. It was all he could do to stop himself from turning Trooper back to chase after her. When Debbi had politely excused herself so they could have privacy, it took all his willpower not to make love to Aleece right then and there. What prevented him from satisfying his baser animalistic needs was his undying love for her, which he knew was reciprocated.

  That in addition to being heir to one of the most influential and powerful dukedoms, he wanted, nay needed to do right by her. Of all the women whom he’d been attracted to, Lady Aleece was the only one who stirred emotions in him he didn’t think existed.

  If he could have he might have discussed these feelings with his father. He knew, as evident by his sire staying in seclusion for the entire year of mourning, his parents had married for no other reason than love. Maybe then, he would have told Aleece who he really was, but by the time they both realized undying love existed between them, it was too late.

  Now he was forced to maintain this charade, which, as he’d learned yesterday, was harder to keep up than he’d first imagined. Having his hands around her waist when he lifter her into the saddle compounded by the lovely sight of her ankle had been almost more than he could tolerate.

  All he knew was that someone was going to be marrying his love and nothing, not even the knock on the head, would stop it from being him.

  Now that his brain was clearing, not from the kisses given and taken freely, Thomas replayed in his mind what little he’d seen before being struck down. Nothing had changed, the piles of burnt timbers lay on the ground, the few worldly possessions not taken were tarp-covered.

  Nothing only a slight vision of the young man whom he now knew to be Seth Travers stepping up and striking him down. That act alone was enough evidence to prove guilt.

  As he rode up to the inn, he spied several mounts being held by stable boys. Each horse bore the saddle and trappings of a Guards’ steed. Quickly he wheeled Trooper into a copse, not wanting to be spotted. In particular by one of the riders, his former commanding officer, Colonel Martel.

  Last he knew the man was in London arranging for more supplies and troops to fight in Spain. Thomas leaned forward and stroked Trooper’s neck, so he wouldn’t get excited and sound an alarm of their presence. When he saw the tavern door open and not only the colonel but several of his friends from his old company emerge he began to get concerned at the unlikely appearance. A second or so later remembering he’d never said who in London he was calling upon, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  Thomas waited for the sound of steel shoes on cobbles to fade before stepping out from the trees. With a calm demeanor he rode up to the same young boy who’d always been there to help him before and halted.

  “Good afternoon, young master. There seems to be a bit of a hubbub going on. Not another fire, I pray,” Thomas said, as he dismounted and passed the reins to the boy.

  “Aye, no sir. Thankfully. We jist had a bunch of soldier types here. Right smart they were in them uniforms. Even dem ‘orses was all decked out fine as ya please. I’s even got to hold the colonel’s ‘orse. Right fine piece o’ flesh he were. But not as nice as yours,” the young lad spoke, a wide grin on his face.

  Thomas couldn’t hold back the smile on his face seeing the boy talking and puffing out his chest as he did.

  “Why, thank you, son. Trooper is the best charger I have had the pleasure to throw a leg over. Put him in his stall, and I will be out shortly to give him a grooming.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  With his curiosity still peaked as to why the colonel was here, Thomas forced himself to maintain a calm demeanor as he entered into the tavern. Looking around, he noticed Jacob was in the tap wiping down one of the many round oak tables.

  Instead of walking straight up to Jacob, Thomas angled toward the bar. Not that he was one to drink a pint, but he knew this would be the least obvious way to enquire as to the purpose of his former comrades in arms being in the area.

  “Thank you,” Thomas said, tossing a few coins on the bar. As he lifted the tankard he said, “I noticed you had some visitors earlier. Passed them leaving as I was coming in.”

  “Yes, sir. Several Guardsmen. Stopped here for some of the missus’s food,” the tavern owner gloated.

  “Strange to find them so far from the social life of London,” Thomas commented, in hopes of drawing more from the man.

  “Aye. The Colonel, least I think he was one, says they was here for the ball His Grace, the Duke of Carlisle was ‘aving on Christmas Eve. Seems they come down a few days early to see if’n they can’t get some recruits to help fight Boney.”

  “I presume they will be staying here then? Bit early to arrive for a ball.”

  “No. They’re staying at one of the officer’s friends in the next district. This bloke
Ainsworth, I think he was called, said there be good pick-ins there. Too bad they can’t catch that Seth Travers boy. Do him a world of good to be in the army, especially after torching that house yesterday. Prison hulks and gaol too good for him. Boy’s just lazy, if you get my drift.”

  “Well, thank you. I shan’t keep you, and I have a horse to look after.” Thomas set the half-empty jug down and headed to his room.

  After enjoying a dinner of Sophie’s meat pie in a flaky crust and potatoes, Thomas sat near the fire in the tavern section of the inn. In his hand, a pint bought by one of the farmers for thanks in helping with the near disaster yesterday. Only when necessary or directed to did he speak, as he preferred to listen to the latest talk.

  What didn’t surprise him was the praise the men and the few women present had for Lady Aleece. Risking life and limb by going into the building to rescue the babe seemed to be the high point. Several of the wives made mention of her helping out other families in need always with the duke and duchess’s blessing.

  Even Lady Aleece’s suggestion to have the Smyth family occupy the vacant hunting lodge, instead of them being put out or with other families, was met with glorious praise of her caring for people.

  Thomas had all along known when he’d met and gotten to know Aleece the decision to marry her was right. All this praise coming from people who depend on the duke about his daughter cemented his resolve.

  As he lay in bed later his only question, that still bothered him, was the sudden appearance of the colonel and friends in the area.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “Come,” the Duke of Carlisle said in response to a knock on his study door.