Message from a Lady, page 4
“You’ll use the parlor as a chamber,” the housekeeper announced. “A bed has been brought down and made up for you.”
She was led down a corridor to a back room. However, it was one of her captors who entered first and Johanna followed, noting that the only windows and other door led to a walled terrace. She followed him out onto the stone paving and glanced about. The entire area was surrounded by tall, stone walls and the manor on one side. There wasn’t even a gate, but there were openings with delicate iron scrolling. Escape wasn’t impossible as she could find footholds within the iron scrolling and could climb up, over and down the other side, but she’d risk injury in the attempt and would need to give the possibility careful consideration in the event she was not rescued.
Johanna tried to remember how far away she was from the nearest village or even estate. They were far enough that if she did manage to leave, there weren’t many places to hide along the road to the next town as they were mostly surrounded by open fields. If her absence was discovered too quickly, she’d be caught. Therefore, Johanna needed to plan carefully.
At least she would be allowed fresh air when she wished, and it was far more than she could hope for given her current circumstances. She would have been quite put out to be locked in a dungeon, or something unpleasantly similar. Further, having access to the terrace provided her with the very thing she needed. “This will be prefect for my birds.”
“What birds?” one of her captors asked.
“The birds that are in cages on top of the carriage. I am certain they are quite hungry now. Could you please bring them to me before they die?”
He looked to the other captor then nodded.
Johanna crossed the terrace to one of the covered openings and looked out over the landscape but could see nothing beyond but fields and a cluster of trees near a small pond.
“There is nowhere to go,” the housekeeper warned.
Johanna turned around and smiled. “I realize the impossibility, but these accommodations are far more pleasant than I was anticipating.”
“Glad you like them because you won’t be stepping beyond your temporary chamber.”
She suspected as much but Johanna didn’t need to go anywhere else.
The second captor returned a few moments later carrying the covered cages and then set them down in the middle of the terrace.
“Pigeons! You raise pigeons?” the woman asked in disgust when Johanna pulled the draping off.
“Yes, and I take them with me everywhere.”
“They will be staying out here, and not in the manor.”
“I promise to keep them outside,” Johanna answered dutifully. “They will need water for their bowls and I’m certain they are hungry.”
“I am not feeding any birds. They can fly away and find something.”
“Their diet is not so difficult. They can eat peas, beans, corn or barley,” Johanna assured the woman. “If I let them fly off, they may not come back. I’ve had these birds since they were chicks and I’d be most distressed if I lost them.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she hoped to convince the housekeeper for some food. The pigeons would need their strength to fly home.
“If you are so worried about them eating, then share your meals with them since you will likely be fed the same.”
While Johanna didn’t exactly want to exist on a diet fit for her pigeons, it was more important that her birds got their proper nutrition since they were her only hope of being rescued if she didn’t manage to escape on her own.
Over the following days, Johanna only saw the housekeeper when meals were delivered, and no words were ever spoken. The man also made regular rounds outside of the manor. He often stopped by and looked through the openings of the terrace to see that she was still where she was meant to be. He even did so through the long night, which made it difficult for Johanna to determine when it would be safe to escape.
She held out hope that in time he’d not be so diligent and once he began sleeping through the night and not bothered with her, Johanna would take the opportunity to go over the wall. To do so now would result in her being captured because he currently walked the area every two or three hours and that wasn’t nearly enough time to get far enough away so as not to be caught.
After she had been held captive for two days, she sent her first bird out with a message.
She had also calculated how long it would take to travel to Gretna Green, based on information she had overheard, and if she and Peter were truly running off to elope, and assuming the carriage would have only stopped to change horses, then she added additional hours as a precaution. Johanna then allowed a day for her brother to search the village only to learn that she and Peter had never arrived, and how long it would take for them to return to London and advise her father. That would take a total of five days, six at the most because they would be in a hurry.
Her father would no doubt next locate Peter and demand to know where she was.
Of course, he would not know, but she was counting on Peter to determine how he could find her.
Three days later, Johanna still waited for help to come and considered if she should send another message, wait a few more days, or attempt to climb the grating and escape.
Johanna closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the stone. If only she hadn’t forbidden Marcus from reading any messages, she might have been rescued by now.
Then the most frightening thought occurred to her. What if Peter had decided to leave England? What if he didn’t know that she’d been kidnapped? What if he was on a ship bound for Barbados? If that were the case, nobody would ever read her messages.
IT HAD BEEN DAYS SINCE anyone had seen Lady Johanna. After her grandfather had taken her from the theatre she’d disappeared.
When Eldridge called the day following the theatre and in the days that followed, he was advised that she was not at home. Bernice was told the same and eventually the two stopped calling on Lady Johanna.
Both had reported to Peter each time they tried to call on Johanna and now Peter feared she would be married to the first duke, marquess or earl who asked for her hand with no consideration for what she may wish, and it sickened him. And, with each day that passed with no word, the more he drank and worried.
It was more than that. His heart ached for her. A small hole of emptiness had begun that night in the theatre when he finally acknowledged that it would be best if he distanced himself from Johanna, yet Peter had yet to book passage on a ship sailing to Barbados. Each time he decided that it was time, he could not bring himself to do so.
“You two certainly bungled it,” Danby barked as he strode into the library where Peter and Eldridge were drinking brandy.
“Bungled what?” Eldridge asked.
Danby snorted and marched to the sideboard. “I knew what game you two were playing at and was surprised it took so long for Chedworth to catch on.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Peter said.
“She could have been yours,” Danby snarled. “If you would have let me handle the situation, you two would be together now, cuddled up somewhere and working on an heir, no doubt.”
Peter hadn’t even kissed Johanna. He didn’t dare because he knew where it would lead. Or, where he would want it to lead, which was another impossibility, so he had not given in to temptation. It was better not to know the sweet taste of her lips than to carry the memory and know that someone had claimed what he coveted.
“It was a foolish idea to begin with,” Peter admitted. “All it did was give me more time with Lady Johanna for nothing but selfish purposes.”
“It was not selfish and could have been your future if you weren’t so bloody proud,” Danby nearly yelled.
“I am resigned to my future,” Peter argued. “No matter how much you attempt to manipulate the situation, I will not marry until I can support a wife. Further, her grandfather will never allow her to marry a man without a title.”
Eldridge got up from his seat and refilled his brandy, intelligent enough not to insert himself into the argument.
“None of my relations will remain a bachelor,” Danby ordered.
“This one intends to be just that and there is nothing you or anyone else can say or do.” Peter would be damned if he would allow a great-uncle to order him about even if said uncle was the Duke of Danby.
“Of all my relations, you by far are the most foolish and stubborn,” Danby grumbled. “Some were difficult, but I never thought you would be the most trying.”
“Thank you.” If foolish and trying meant not being a pawn to Danby’s plans, then Peter was happy to be such. Further, he knew that every relation who had been a victim of Danby’s scheming would applaud him.
Or perhaps not. They were all blissfully happy as a result, but Peter wouldn’t think on that now.
Danby took a deep drink of his brandy, his eyes narrowed on Peter as if he could force him to crumble under the weight of his stare.
Peter drew himself up and looked His Grace in the eye. He would not back down.
“What if I allowed you to purchase the property instead of making it a gift?” Danby suggested amiably.
Peter was immediately suspicious. One must always be when dealing with Danby. “I have no funds with which to do so.”
“A percentage of the payments from rents and crops until I have been paid in full. Certainly, your pride would allow such. Every gentleman has taken a loan at one time or another.”
This was the first time Peter gave consideration to Danby’s proposal. He could make his own wealth if he managed the estate well enough. But what did it really matter? What was the point of owning an estate if he was going to live alone?
“I appreciate your offer, Your Grace, and if the day comes that I wish to wed, we will revisit the topic.”
“I demand to see him now!” a man yelled from the front of the house as heavy boots pounded down the corridor right before the door was flung open with such force that it bounced off the wall.
“Where is she?” Johanna’s father, Viscount Ormonde, demanded.
Peter’s heart seized. Johanna was missing! There was no other reason for Ormonde to be here.
“Where is she?” Ormonde lunged forward and grabbed Peter by the cravat, nearly choking him.
“I do not know.” Peter held out his hands so as not to be a threat.
“You took her, and I want her back!”
In a blink, Danby’s cane came down on Ormonde’s arm, barely missing Peter’s face.
“What is the meaning of this?” Danby demanded.
Ormonde pulled back and rubbed his arm where Danby had struck him. “Your great-nephew took Johanna and I demand that she be returned.”
“I did not take your daughter,” Peter insisted. “Why do you think that I did?”
“It is what your men said as they were leaving.”
Danby poked Ormonde in the chest with the end of his cane. “Tell us everything but I can promise you that Storm had nothing to do with what happened.”
Ormonde looked from Peter to Danby and back to Peter and that is when he saw the fear in the man’s eyes. “My father sent Johanna to the country until he could arrange a marriage. Her carriage was waylaid. The driver and her maid were left behind when the men took Johanna and Father’s carriage. One of the men said that they were taking Johanna to Storm to run off to Gretna Green.”
“I sent no men, nor would I be so dishonorable as to kidnap your daughter,” Peter insisted as his gut tightened. “When was this?”
“Five days ago.”
“Five days!” Peter yelled, as panic settled into his bones. Anything could have happened to her in that time. Horrible things that he didn’t wish to contemplate.
“We sent men after the two of you, all the routes one could take to Scotland and the last one just returned having not located you.”
“That is because it was not me!” Bloody hell! Someone had kidnapped Johanna five days ago.
Fear, anger, and worry swept through Peter’s being as he tried to think of who may have done this, why, and where they may have really taken her.
“Who could have taken her?” Eldridge asked.
“Kendal, Cartwright or Turnbell,” Peter answered. “Their pockets are empty and all three hoped to marry her.” He didn’t want to think of the possibility that it had been miscreants who might harm or even kill her. Though, if any of those three men were responsible, they’d stop at nothing to see her ruined so that a marriage could take place and they could claim her dowry.
Rage and sickness engulfed Peter as he imagined what he would do to the person or persons who were responsible for bringing harm to Johanna.
“Except they didn’t take her to Gretna Green,” Eldridge reminded him since Johanna had not been found.
“Any place in Scotland would do.” Peter strode for the door and stepped out into the corridor. “Ready the carriage and have my belongings packed.”
“Where are you going?” Eldridge asked.
“To find Lady Johanna.”
“What if she is already wed? Or worse—ruined?” Eldridge asked.
Peter stepped forward, his hands in fists. “Johanna will never be ruined in my eyes.” Then he looked to his great-uncle, the very powerful Duke of Danby. “If she has unfortunately been wed against her will, His Grace will see the matter rectified judiciously and quietly.”
Danby stared at Peter for a long moment and then gave one nod. It was already as good as done if necessary.
Peter turned back to Ormonde. “Are you certain they said nothing else?”
“That was all the maid overheard.”
“And nobody remained with her?” Peter hated to think that Johanna was alone with whoever had taken her. “A footman? Anyone?” Though if the driver and maid were left behind, it was unlikely the kidnappers would allow anyone else to remain with her.
Why the blazes hadn’t she had more protection than a driver?
“Only her blasted birds, which hardly matters,” her father grumbled.
Peter didn’t even stop to explain as he strode out of the townhouse and demanded his horse, no longer patient enough to wait for a carriage or to have anything packed.
“Where are you going?” Danby demanded.
“To Chelmsford.” Peter knew that was the location of Chedworth’s ancestral estate even though he had never visited.
“She is not there,” Ormonde yelled at Peter. “What do you expect to find at Hartfield Park?”
“A message from a lady.”
Peter knew without a doubt that Johanna would send a message home at the first opportunity. He also knew that the man in charge of their care would never check for a message, which meant that he must.
Chapter Six
Peter stopped only long enough to give his horse rest, but after six hours, he arrived at Hartfield Park.
Peter didn’t wait for the footman but launched himself from the horse and marched right up to the door and began pounding.
A startled butler answered, but before he could ask anything, Peter entered and demanded to know where Lady Johanna kept her pigeons.
The butler stared, mouth agape, as did a few servants.
“Show me to Lady Johanna’s pigeons.” he demanded.
A footman stepped forward. “Right this way.”
He led Peter out of the manor, around the side, and toward the stables before he stopped at a small building. “These are the mews. They once held falcons, but Lady Johanna has converted them for the use of her pigeons.”
“Are you Marcus?” Peter asked.
“Yes, I am.”
Peter quickly introduced himself then explained what had happened to Lady Johanna. “I know that she is traveling with her pigeons. Have any returned recently?”
“One a few days ago,” Marcus offered.
Hope surged. “Which one?”
Marcus stared at him blankly. “I don’t know.” He stepped inside the mews. “They all look the same to me.”
Three pigeons sat on perches inside the mews. “Close the door so that they don’t fly out.” He then attempted to check each tube for a message, but the blasted birds flew away from him.
“Let me,” Marcus said then was able to bring each pigeon to him to check the little tubes. On the third pigeon, he withdrew a small piece of rolled paper and gave it to Peter.
Between Braintree and Halstead
White or grey manor
Dilapidated
Unkept.
He wished Johanna would have written more, but the paper was small, as was her handwriting, as were the tubes so that a pigeon could carry them.
He gave the message to Marcus. “If her father, grandfather or brother arrives, give them this. I’m off to rescue Lady Johanna.”
BY THE AFTERNOON OF her fifth day of captivity, Johanna was growing anxious and began to pace. First, inside her chamber, and then on the terrace.
This being cooped up was driving her mad but she had little choice. Those first days hadn’t bothered her so much, as she’d sent a pigeon and hoped that the message would be found.
Now she feared that it wouldn’t.
If Peter were still in London, would he know if she had her birds? The last he knew she was keeping them in London. He might think she’d only been on a short visit and had not taken her birds.
He might not even remember she had birds!
Johanna would then shake her head. Peter would not forget about the pigeons.
She’d then go back to pacing or stop to look out one of the iron-framed openings in search of a horse or a carriage.
Peter would ask about the birds. He had to ask, and he would use that information to find her.
But when would he learn that she was missing?
What if he was on a ship to Barbados?
What if her family decided to search the whole of Scotland and not just Gretna Green? She could be here for weeks and that would never do.
With those thoughts, Johanna began to plan her escape, which she should have been doing from the very beginning.
