Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

20th December, 1812

Kate shifted uneasily in her carriage seat as she peered out of the rain-spattered window. Or was it sleet sliding down the pane? It was a dark, damp, icy afternoon; the lowering sky was the dark gray of heavily tarnished silver, the sodden fields slipping by, a patchwork of various shades of muddy brown. She suspected dusk wasn’t far off.

“How much farther, Freddie?” she asked.

“To Hollystone Hall?” Freddie glanced out the window then at his pocket watch. “I believe we’re approaching the village of Great Missenden. But I would say it’s at least another ten miles to our destination.”

So hours and hours away at this plodding rate. Kate shivered and pulled the woolen blanket covering her knees up to her chin. “Bother about the rain. It seems to be getting heavier. I hope we don’t get bogged.” They’d left London well before dawn and had been traveling all day with barely a stop. Freddie had hired a private carriage which was comfortable enough, but to think they still had so far to go. In the rain. In the dark ...

Freddie seemed to read her thoughts. “There’s a decent inn up ahead. The Black Nag. I stayed there in September on my way up north to Fenwick House. Why don’t we spend the night there rather than pushing onto Hollystone tonight? I’m sure the duchess won’t mind.”

Kate immediately concurred. The promise of a hot fireside meal and a warm bed was infinitely appealing considering she had lost all feeling in her fingertips and toes. She’d also begun to feel a bit shaky because it had been hours since they’d consumed the last of the roast beef sandwiches that had been packed for the journey. Aside from satisfying her appetite, it would also mean she would be well-rested before seeing the duchess and all of the other tonnish members of the house party, and that could only be to her advantage.

Within ten minutes, their carriage had drawn into the inn yard and Freddie was escorting her across the muddy ground toward the warm and welcoming interior of the Black Nag. Two connecting bedrooms were easily secured and before Kate knew it, they were eating a hearty meal of mutton pie and buttered potatoes before the blazing fire in a private dining room.

With her hunger appeased and her equilibrium restored, Kate could barely keep her eyes open as she drank the last of her tea.

Freddie laughed at her. “I’ve never seen you quite so done in.” He tossed his napkin on the table, rose, then offered her his arm. “Come, my baby sister. I think it’s time you retired for the night.”

Kate wasn’t about to argue with him. At her door, Freddie kissed her forehead. “I’m going to have an ale in the taproom before I turn in. So make sure you lock the door.”

“I will.”

It didn’t take long for Kate to discard her travel rumpled garments and change into a flannel nightgown. The room was quite cozy and warm, and the tester bed with its plump pillows and rosy red counterpane looked more inviting than her narrow bed at the academy. It seemed Freddie was sparing no expense when it came to this endeavor.

Her mouth curved into a rueful smile to think that perhaps Lord Stanton’s money had paid for the hired carriage, these rooms, and indeed her new wardrobe which was packed neatly inside her brand new traveling trunk presently standing at the foot of the bed. Which reminded her, she needed to hang up her smart, new traveling gown of dark green merino wool so the wrinkles would fall out. She didn’t usually fuss about her appearance, but if she wanted to make a good impression on the duchess and the rest of her well-heeled house party guests, she mustn’t look like a poor teacher who had barely two pennies to rub together.

That task done, she washed her face, brushed out her hair and plaited it, snuffed out the bedside candle, then climbed beneath the bed’s covers. The maid who’d brought her warm water for washing had also placed a warm brick between the sheets at the end of the bed. A smile of contentment upon her lips, Kate closed her eyes and let her thoughts wander wherever they wanted to as sleep began to tug her under. Perhaps the house party wouldn’t be such a trial. Perhaps the other guests would be lovely, and not like Lord and Lady Stanton at all.

Lord Stanton. Despite the warmth of the bed, Kate shivered and the pull of slumber waned. What a horrid, arrogant man. It had been months since she’d last seen him but the thought of their last encounter at the academy always filled her with scalding anger. It also annoyed her no end that she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him whenever she tried to go to sleep.

She could understand that he wanted to protect his sister from unscrupulous suitors, but to suggest Freddie was a rogue seeking to take advantage of Violet, it made her blood boil. But then Freddie had taken the money offered to him to stay away ...

At least it was highly unlikely that she would ever cross paths with the obnoxious man again. For all Violet’s initial enthusiasm about supporting The Women of Whitechapel’s Society, Kate couldn’t imagine that Lord Stanton would let her attend the charity event at Hollystone Hall to lend her support to the cause. The dowager viscountess certainly wouldn’t.

With a heavy sigh, Kate turned over, but despite her exhaustion it was a little while before she began to feel drowsy again. All because visions of a tall, darkly handsome man with steel gray eyes kept entering her mind. If only he hadn’t showed a modicum of concern for her when she’d felt faint. His whole demeanor had changed. It made her wonder if there was another side to him, that a gentler man hid beneath his cold, hard exterior.

That’s enough, Kate Woodville. Go to sleep. What does it matter if he possesses a kinder, caring side? You are a lowly teacher and he is a viscount. Besides, you know you will never see him again ...

* * *

What was that terrible pounding? Caught on the hazy edge between being asleep and awake, Kate couldn’t quite work out if the thunderous noise she heard was in her dream, or if it was coming from somewhere else. Then she heard her name called, Miss Woodville.

Kate sat bolt upright in bed. It wasn’t a dream. Someone was indeed knocking on her bedchamber door. And then she heard her name again; it was uttered by a deep male voice, his tone low and urgent. Not Freddie. “Miss Woodville. I know you are in there.”

Panic bolted straight through Kate like lightning, making her pulse race. The fire had burnt low and it was still dark in the room. She had no idea what time it was. Was it the innkeeper? Had something happened to Freddie? Was the inn on fire?

She slipped from the bed and threw a shawl about her shoulders as she approached the door. “Who is it?” she called in a breathless voice.

The knocking stopped. “Anthony Lockhart, Lord Stanton.”

What? Lord Stanton? Why, in God’s name, was he at the Black Nag Inn?

She must be dreaming. Kate pinched the tender flesh of her forearm and winced at the sharp pain. No, she was wide awake. “What do you want? It’s the middle of the night,” she called.

“Please open the door, Miss Woodville. I must speak with you.”

“I’m not dressed, Lord Stanton. Come back in ten min—”

“I wouldn’t be knocking on your door at five o’clock in the morning if it wasn’t urgent, Miss Woodville. It concerns your brother. And my sister.”

Oh no ... “Wait a moment.” Kate found her slippers and made sure her shawl was wrapped tightly about her shoulders before she unlocked the door.

Lord Stanton gave a curt nod. “Thank you,” he said, then marched past her into the room, as bold as you please. Wearing only a loose shirt, breeches and top boots, he’d clearly dressed in haste.

Fear spiked Kate’s heart anew. Something very bad must have happened for Lord Stanton to throw established etiquette completely out of the window. She shut the door and crossed her arms over her chest as she regarded him. “What is going on?”

Lord Stanton turned and his face was like thunder. “Your blackguard of a brother has run off with Violet,” he growled.

“You can’t be serious.” Kate’s hand flew to her mouth but judging by Lord Stanton’s dark scowl, he was most certainly serious. Deadly serious. “But how? When? We only arrived last night. We didn’t even know you were staying here ... I presume you are staying here.”

Lord Stanton stepped closer and thrust a crumpled piece of paper at her. “It’s all here. It seems they have been planning an elopement.”

An elopement? Oh, no, Freddie. No. Kate took the paper, but in the dim light of the dying fire it was almost impossible to read.

With an annoyed snort, Lord Stanton stalked over to the fireplace, thrust a taper into the glowing embers, then returned to her side with a lit candle. “Here.”

Kate’s hands were shaking as she read Violet Lockhart’s hastily scrawled note.

Dearest Anthony,

I know you will be shocked and angry when you discover I have gone. But I am hopelessly, madly, and completely in love with Freddie Woodville and he feels exactly the same way about me. I did sincerely try to forget him when you sent me home to Ashcombe Park for all those months, but it seems I simply cannot. Not when he owns my heart.

We will be wed as soon as is practicable and I pray that in time, you will be happy for us. Please tell Mama I love her and that I am sorry I absconded like a sneak-thief in the night. But there is no doubt in my mind that both of you would have tried to stop me from leaving with Freddie if you knew what he and I had planned.

If you can find it within your heart to forgive me and accept my decision, I would be most happy.

Your devoted sister,

Violet.

“I ... I don’t know what to say,” whispered Kate.

Lord Stanton’s eyes blazed like hot coals as he took the letter from her and thrust it back into the pocket of his breeches. “Did you know about any of this?”

“No! Of course not.”

“Then why are you in Great Missenden if not to help your brother make good on his plan to ruin my sister?”

Kate straightened. “We were on our way to Hollystone Hall for the charity house party but because of the bad weather, we decided to spend the night here. I can show you my invitation from the Duchess of Haverford if you don’t believe me.”

Lord Stanton ran a hand through his short black hair and muttered something which sounded like a curse. “My stepmother, Violet, and I were traveling to Hollystone as well, but Violet claimed she felt ill as we began to pass through Great Missenden. That’s the only reason we are here.”

“It does indeed appear that your sister and my brother had worked out a plan.”

“Yes, after your bother took my money to stay away from Violet. He has no honor whatsoever. When I catch up to him ...” Lord Stanton clenched his fists and Kate shivered. He would kill Freddie, she was certain of it.

And she couldn’t let that happen. But what could she do? Underlying her fear, there was also a raw wound—a sense of hurt betrayal. “I can’t believe Freddie left without a word,” she murmured.

“Perhaps we should see if he left you a note too. The innkeeper told me you hired adjoining rooms.”

“Yes.” Kate crossed to the connecting door and pushed it open. It was unlocked and the room beyond was in darkness. And deserted. Lord Stanton followed with the candle and Kate quickly ascertained that Freddie’s traveling trunk was gone, and that the bed had not been slept in. But as she drew closer, she spied a piece of folded parchment upon the dark blue counterpane. And her name was written on it.

Her heart plummeted to the cold floorboards beneath her feet. Freddie had left her here alone. He had run off with Violet Lockhart. She didn’t need to read the note to understand the truth of the matter, but she did so anyway.

His letter was brief.

Dearest Katie,

Please forgive me for leaving you here. But I love Violet Lockhart and have done so since the moment I saw her at Vauxhall. By the time you read this, we will be well away; I’m sure you can guess our destination. I doubt Lord Stanton will catch us (and you can tell him so from me). I intend to take my new wife to Fenwick House for Christmas. And if the weather permits speedy travel, we shall join you at Hollystone Hall for the New Year’s Eve Charity Ball.

Love,

Freddie

P.S.: The account at the Black Nag has already been settled, and I have left sufficient funds for you to hire another carriage so that you can safely make your way to Hollystone Hall. You’ll find the money in the top drawer of your bedside table. Tell Stanton I’ll pay him back one day ... Well, everything except for the sum we donated to White Church House for repairs.

Kate swallowed and passed the letter to Lord Stanton. A muscle flickered in his jaw as he read it. “I’ll say one thing for your brother, Miss Woodville, he’s a cocky bastard.”

Kate gasped at the viscount’s use of course language. Though she couldn’t dispute what Lord Stanton had just said. “What are you going to do?” she asked faintly.

The viscount cocked an eyebrow as he handed Freddie’s letter back. “Of course you really mean, what are we going to do?”

“I don’t take your meaning, my lord.”

Lord Stanton’s expression was as fierce as it was resolute. “We are going to stop them.”

“But how? I am expected at Hollystone Hall. Surely you don’t expect me to chase after them with you ...”

“That’s precisely what you will do. Your brother mentions he will be spending Christmas at Fenwick House. Isn’t that your uncle’s home in Cumbria? Perhaps they will also stop there on the way to Gretna Green. I can’t imagine that they’re taking the Great North Road to Paxton Toll, or Mordington, or any of those other towns along the eastern border.”

Kate folded her arms again. “You seem to know everything there is to know about Freddie and me. I’m sure you can find Fenwick House without my assistance.”

Lord Stanton’s dark brows slammed together. “You will come with me, Miss Woodville. I suggest you start preparing to leave straightaway. You have twenty minutes.”

“What will the Duchess of Haverford think when none of us arrive for the house party?”

The viscount waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll send my stepmother on. She’ll know what excuses to make to prevent any sort of scandalous whispers.”

“To protect Violet’s reputation of course. And what of my reputation? I’m a young, unmarried woman, unrelated to you. I can’t go haring across the country on my own with you. What if Mrs. Brooke or anyone from the academy board hears about this exploit? My good name will be ruined. My teaching reputation will be in tatters.”

Lord Stanton drew very close. His gray eyes glittered in the light of the flickering candle he still held. “You’d best worry about the state your reputation will be in if your brother ruins my sister, Miss Woodville. Now get dressed. The clock is ticking. If you are not downstairs in precisely fifteen minutes, I will come to fetch you, ready or not.” With that, he passed her the candle then strode back to her room; the door slammed shut after him.

Kate stood frozen to the spot for a good minute, her thoughts a wild tumble as she frantically tried to consider all of the options.

She doubted they’d catch up to Freddie and Violet before they reached Gretna Green. It surely was a hopeless enterprise. But when Lord Stanton did cross paths with Freddie ... Kate trembled at the thought. There’d been murderous anger in his cold gray eyes when he’d read Freddie’s letter. Perhaps she should go, if only to save her brother’s neck. Despite his foolishness, despite the risk to her reputation, she would do anything for Freddie.

She just prayed she could make Lord Stanton see reason before anything terrible happened.