Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

Adam said. ‘Ask the servants if they’ve seen anything of her maid or the footman she brought with her. Someone may know how long a start they have on me. I must put up a change of clothing and hope to pick up their trail. I dare say they hired a chaise from the Swan Inn. Unless they’ve taken something from our coach house.’

      ‘Madeline would not do that,’ Jenny said. ‘She told me they borrowed a chaise from Thomas’s brother to escape from London and he was sent to return it at once. I believe she would have hired something locally if she could.’

      Adam crossed the room to her, bending down to kiss her lips. ‘Forgive me for leaving you, Jenny. Please have one of the grooms go after Hal and tell him that Madeline has run away again—I’ll go after her and try to bring her back safely.’

      ‘Will you take one of the grooms with you?’

      ‘I have my pistols, but, yes, I shall take George with me. He is handy with a pistol. If Rochdale knows nothing of her flight, we shall be home again before you hardly know we’re gone. But if he is on her trail we may need the pistols if we are to rescue her.’

      Jenny felt her stomach tighten with nerves. ‘You will be careful, please?’

      ‘Of course, but I must find her for alone she is in danger. It is most unlikely that Rochdale is aware she has left our house, but she might fall prey to any number of rogues. Do not worry, Jenny. I shall find her and pray that I may persuade her to return.’

      * * *

      The post boys had advised them to change horses at the White Eagle, a superior inn on the London road. It was some distance from Dover still, but had such a pleasant parlour that Madeline had decided they would partake of luncheon there. She enquired of the landlord where it would be best to stay for they could not hope to reach Dover itself before nightfall. He had told her that the Hare and Hounds Inn situated at the edge of a small village some ten miles from Dover was an excellent hostelry where they could be certain of clean sheets and a good dinner. It was but a short drive from Dover and they could easily reach the port the next morning.

      They reached the inn by seven that evening and, since Thomas had ridden on ahead to warn the landlord, were fortunate enough to secure a room for the night, which Madeline would share with Sally. Thomas would make do with a bed in a communal room over the stables that grooms and post boys often shared.

      Madeline bespoke dinner for them all and was given a table in the parlour, which she had only to share with one other lady—a governess travelling to her employer’s home to take up a new post. She was a woman of some thirty-odd years, dressed in a sober gown of grey and accustomed to being ignored by fine ladies, and showed a little surprise when Madeline asked her where she was going.

      ‘I am to take up a position with Lady Margaret Marlborough,’ she said. ‘She has two young sons and the last governess left in some distress for she could not bear their pranks another moment.’

      ‘I dare say it is often difficult to control young boys?’

      ‘Indeed, it can be, ma’am,’ she replied. ‘My name is Anne Somersham and I am accustomed to dealing with spirited children. I do not foresee any problem.’

      After listening to Miss Somersham’s account of various pupils she had been obliged to deal with during her years as a governess, Madeline mentally crossed off the possibility of applying for such a post herself. She did not think she would be able to make high-spirited boys mind her and the idea of being at the beck and call of an elderly lady held no appeal. No, she thought her first notion of becoming a seamstress was still the most likely way for her to succeed. She might even set up a small establishment of her own once she’d learned her trade.

      A little later, Miss Somersham said goodnight and left the room to go up to her bedchamber. Madeline had finished her dinner and was thinking of retiring to her room. She was just about to ask Sally if she were ready when the landlord entered and asked if they would mind sharing the parlour with a gentleman.

      ‘Captain Mardle is a very distinguished, respectable gentleman,’ he said in an apologetic tone. ‘He had bespoke my parlour for this evening, but I wasn’t sure when to expect him for he said he might be late.’

      ‘We shall be going up to our chamber when we’ve finished our wine,’ Madeline said and inclined her head. ‘Please request Captain Mardle to come in. We are the intruders here and will give up the parlour to him in a very few minutes, sir.’

      The landlord returned a moment later with a gentleman dressed in the uniform of a cavalry officer. He moved towards Madeline as she rose to her feet and bowed politely.

      ‘Please do not feel obliged to leave, ma’am. I am not averse to sharing the parlour.’

      ‘You are kind, sir, but we have finished our supper. The host was not expecting us until we sent word late this afternoon and was kind enough to allow us to eat our dinner in privacy—and now we shall accord you the same privilege.’

      ‘You are gracious, ma’am,’ he said and moved towards the fire, but swayed and seemed unsteady for a moment. Unthinkingly, Madeline put out a hand to steady him. ‘Thank you...’

      ‘Are you ill, sir?’

      ‘I have been for many months,’ Captain Mardle replied. ‘I am recovered now and it was but a momentary faintness, which still troubles me now and then.’

      ‘If there is anything we can do...’

      ‘Nothing at all, though I thank you for the offer.’

      Madeline smiled and inclined her head. Murmuring to Sally that they must leave, she led the way from the room.

      ‘I dare say the gentleman was injured in the war,’ Sally said. ‘He did look a bit pale, didn’t he?’

      ‘Yes, a little,’ Madeline agreed. ‘There was something about him...something in his eyes that spoke of suffering.’

      ‘Yes, my lady. I noticed that too.’

      ‘We shall be in Dover in the morning,’ Madeline said as they went up to their room. ‘I want you to think seriously about your decision to accompany me to France, Sally. I have no right to ask you or Thomas to come with me. I intend to seek work as a seamstress and I cannot afford to employ you both. Thomas will have to seek work for himself. Would you rather not stay here and purchase the inn he desires?’

      ‘No, my lady. Thomas says he will go where I go and I shall follow you. If we set up house together, three wages will be more comfortable than one.’

      ‘As always, you are determined to do everything for me,’ Madeline said. ‘We shall speak of it again when we reach Dover.’

      Once the door was closed and locked, Madeline undressed, refusing Sally’s offer of help. She had chosen to wear a carriage gown that had a separate bodice and skirt, which fastened in front with tiny pearl buttons and was easy to take off. In future she must make certain that she could dress herself for she was determined to make no more demands on her friends. Indeed, her meeting with Miss Somersham had made her more determined to stand alone. All her life she had been cosseted and waited on and she believed it was time to fend for herself. If Sally would not listen to reason, she must find a way to slip away from her friends and take passage on a ship for France.

      It would be very selfish of her to allow them to sacrifice their lives for her.

      * * *

      Jake Mardle sat over the dinner he had hardly touched, staring into his wineglass. Something about the beautiful young woman who had tried to help him when he was dizzy had reminded him of Ellie. There was a certain innocence or fragility that had drawn him to her.

      Ellie, his sweet sister, who was now a shadow of her former self, living the life of a recluse with his Aunt Medina. Ellie had been so beautiful and so sweet when Jake left his home to join the army. She ought by now to have been happily married to a good man who would love her and give her a home and children, but instead she sat all day in her room and stared at the wall. Even the return of her