Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

throat caught. She wished that she had found a way to bring more of her jewels with her, for she would like to reward her good friends and did not like to ask so much of them. However, she could not refuse their kindness and must seek a way to repay them in the future—surely there must be a way for her to be independent?

      She was determined not to be a burden to anyone for long. Hallam had promised to help her, but he had not answered her letter and she could not help being anxious. He’d spoken of calling her husband out—had he been injured himself? A terrible fear gripped her that he might be in pain or even dying.

      She could not make enquiries herself for fear of betraying her whereabouts, but Thomas must go again to Hallam’s lodgings and enquire after him. Madeline would not beg for his help and so would not send a second letter, but she needed to know that he was well and not in trouble.

      Accordingly, the former footman was dispatched with a pearl necklet she insisted on selling and instructed to make enquiries concerning Hallam’s health. While he was gone, Sally packed their few possessions and Mr Hobbis had them loaded on to the chaise ready for his return.

      Madeline spent the time at the window looking down into the yard, standing just behind the curtains to avoid being seen whilst on the look out for Thomas’s return or Hallam himself.

      * * *

      Two hours passed before she saw Thomas crossing the yard. He came upstairs to them immediately. He had sold the necklet for fifty guineas, which Madeline was pleased to have, but his news was not good. Hallam’s landlady had not seen him in three days and she had heard nothing of him since he went out the last evening.

      Madeline felt a surge of despair sweep through her, for she could only think that Hal had met her husband in a duel as he’d promised and been killed. Fighting the urge to scream and weep, she sank down into a chair, her hands to her face.

      ‘If he is dead, what have I to live for?’ she said, the tears she could not control trickling through her fingers. ‘I knew in my heart something was wrong, for he would have come to me when he had my letter.’ Unless he was angry with her, for sending him away with harsh words that night at the ball?

      If only that were so.

      She would rather he hated her than that he should be dead.

      Thomas frowned. ‘I heard a rumour of a duel, my lady...they say a man was killed by foul play, but I do not know the details. Would you have me ask my brother to make what enquiries he may? He has friends who will discover the truth, and when I return the chaise to him he may have more news for us.’

      ‘Thank you,’ Madeline said. ‘How good you and Sally and Mr Hobbis have been to me. Will you take some of these guineas for your brother?’

      ‘He would not accept your money, my lady. Jake has a big heart and he told me he would willingly do more for you.’ What he’d actually said was that he would like to break the count’s neck for treating a lady so ill, and since he was a big strong man with huge hands, given the chance he could do it.

      ‘Then I can only thank you all for your kindness. I do not know what I should have done without my friends.’

      Had she been forced to submit to the marquis, she thought she might very well have taken her own life. Her heart was aching, but she was determined to be brave and carry on, because her friends had done so much for her that she could not give in to her private misery.

      ‘We should leave, ma’am,’ Sally said. ‘Thomas, pray ask your brother to have the chaise made ready. We shall be more than two days on the road and we must seek out small quiet inns, otherwise the count will find it easy to follow us.’

      ‘Yes, we must be careful for all our sakes. It is not just I who would suffer if we were caught,’ Madeline said. Her friends had risked much for her sake and if Lethbridge caught up with them he would punish both Sally and Thomas, as well as forcing Madeline to return with him.

      ‘We’ll be on our way in a few minutes,’ Thomas promised. He patted his coat pocket. ‘Do not worry, ma’am, I am armed and I would die before I let that devil take either you or Sally.’

      * * *

      ‘You should stay in bed another day, sir,’ Dr Phelps said as he saw Hallam up and dressed. ‘We were lucky that the fever soon passed and your wound is healing well, but I would have preferred to see you rest a little longer.’

      ‘I thank you for my good health. Your wife has been an excellent nurse,’ Hallam said and offered his hand, which was firmly clasped. ‘Please render your bill to me at my lodgings as soon as possible. I am very much in your debt.’

      ‘Captain Mainwaring, who has called every day to see how you went on, has paid the bill. He would not disturb you for you were sleeping when he called, but says he has news for you and will come to your lodgings soon.’

      ‘Have the magistrates asked you for an account of that shameful affair?’

      ‘I have given a statement in writing. You may receive a rap over the knuckles for having taken part in a duel, but I think there will be no further charges, Major Ravenscar. There are plenty to speak against the late count and you have more friends than you may realise.’

      ‘I thank you, sir, and will take my leave of you.’

      Once he was out in the cool air of early morning, Hallam felt the pain in his arm. It had taken him four days to recover from the wound and the bout of fever that had kept him restless and tossing for the first two days. The wound itself was not serious and healing well, but the fever had pulled him down more than he liked and he was anxious.

      What had happened to Madeline during the last few days? Her husband could no longer bother her, but he could not rest easily in his mind. Lethbridge had been ready to give her to the marquis.

      But surely she was safe at home, preparing to wear black for her husband and instruct her advisers to arrange a fitting funeral? All she need to do now was to wait a short time and she would be free to live her life as she chose. Her husband must have left her some sort of jointure and so she would not be penniless. If she could be persuaded to marry Hallam, he would have no use for her husband’s money—but would she be satisfied to live quietly in the country as his wife? He had so little to offer her.

      He could not quite forget that she had chosen to marry the count after Hallam’s father had lost his fortune. Madeline had explained that her father would have been ruined had she refused—but now that she was free, might she prefer to find herself a wealthy husband, a man she could respect and love?

      There was only one way to find out. He would call on her at her London home and ask to see her. If she received him kindly, he would ask her to marry him. Out of respect for her late husband’s family, she could not marry again for at least six months, but if they had an understanding it would not matter. Hallam would spend the months between preparing his home and doing what he could to pay off his father’s debts.

      He saw a cab drawn up at the side of the road and spoke to the driver, giving him the address of the countess’s home.

      * * *

      ‘I am sorry, sir. We are a house in mourning,’ the butler said in answer to Hallam’s request. ‘My late master was foully murdered and my mistress is out of town.’

      ‘Out of town?’ Hallam frowned. ‘When did she leave? Do you know where she has gone?’

      ‘I fear I am unable to answer those questions, sir. My late master’s lawyer, Mr Symonds, is arranging the funeral since there is no one else. He is not here at the moment, but should call in later this afternoon. If you wish to know more, you might like to return and speak with him.’

      ‘Thank you... Answer me this, if you will—did the countess leave before or after her husband was killed? I am her friend and very anxious to find her.’

      The butler hesitated, then glanced over his shoulder. ‘I understand it was the previous evening, sir, but I can tell you no more. None