The Earl of Gilchrist had answered the question in his mind before he even finished asking it. He would have done anything for Lady Abigail. Try as he might to hide himself away and run as much distance as he could between them, Lady Abigail would always be tethered to his heart.
His most significant fear was to make the journey to only stand witness to her marriage to the horrible Earl of Heshing. He wasn’t entirely sure if that was possible or the last straw to send his mind spirally beyond recovery. It was a risk he would just have to be willing to take.
He collected any items he would need, dressed as warmly as possible, and prepared his fastest steed to begin his journey.
Though he was making good time between the taverns he passed along the main road, Gilchrist was losing much time with each stop he had to make. There was no way of knowing which one Heshing might stop to rest his horses at, and therefore Gilchrist had to check them all.
It became more difficult to convince the proprietors of the establishments to give up information as the night drew on. Now he was not just a beastly creature who pursued others, but one who stalked in the night.
He couldn’t risk halting his pursuit. Taking on the night was his only chance of interception.
Gilchrist anxiety worsened as stop after stop resulted in no answers or leads. It was entirely possible that Heshing had taken a longer but harder to track side route. If that were the case, his only chance of catching them would be right at the Scotland border.
Finally, as midnight set in, Gilchrist got his first good news. The owner of a moderately dingy inn, after a large sum of money, confirmed that a couple matching their description had in fact stopped and dined in his establishment.
From the estimated time give, it put Gilchrist only a few hours behind his target. He would be able to overtake them by dawn if they had decided to stay the night instead of continuing to drive.
From the innkeeper, it seemed that they ate at a relaxed pace while their own horses rested and were watered instead of changing them out for another pair. That told Gilchrist they were in no hurry, and Heshing had no idea that he was being chased down.
Gilchrist did his best not to think about what he would come upon if Lady Abigail was, in fact, complicit in all of this. Especially if he was to come upon them in the middle of the night.
Over and over the Earl of Gilchrist repeated the mantra that he wouldn’t lose his temper. He had done it once in front of Lady Abigail; he would not do so again.
He would tell himself he would not concern himself with his own happiness but only the comfort of the lady, whatever that might entail. He would be there to support her either way for the sake of Isabella.
“I don’t care who yer lookin’ for sir; I want you o’my place this instant!” A fat woman bellowed across the almost empty room.
“Madame, if you will allow me to explain,” Gilchrist said doing his best to keep his cool.
The woman, who had been cleaning the tables and preparing for the morning meal, screamed when he first entered.
“A man such as yer’self has only one thing on his mind when he be asking about a couple headed north. I won't be lettin’ a hired thug like you stop some poor lovers!”
She waved the rag in her hand at him like he was a rat.
“Shoo now! Out wit’ ya!”
“I will have you know that I am Lord Colton Frasier Earl of Gilchrist that you are so rudely denying information to. I am here to capture a rake that has quite possibly stolen a lady against her will. If you have any information on the matter, I suggest you speak it now before I have you arrested for impertinence.”
The woman opened and closed her mouth a few times like a fish gasping for water. She seemed to look the earl up and down. Though his face was ghastly and his clothes covered in mud, he did have the stance and clothes of a fine gentleman.
“Pardon me, m’lord,” she said humbly still with an eye to his face.
He was sure the lady was wondering how a lord could possibly have such a disgusting face. In her mind accidents that caused such markings were undoubtedly reserved for the lower class.
“Well?” Gilchrist asked again now shouting.
The lady jumped at the resounding echo of his word.
“They did stay here but left early this mornin’, m’lord. No more than an hour before you walked in yer’self.”
“They stayed the night then?” He asked in a low tone hiding his own disgust as much as possible at the thought.
“But respectfully,” she added quickly. “He seemed a handsome enough ‘gent. Got her a separate room and all.”
“Looks don’t always match the man inside,” Gilchrist spat back at the woman. “And what of the Lady. Did she look willing?”
“Hard to say,” the woman responded now scratching her mop head with the dirty rag hand. “She was so quiet. Din’ say much at’tal. I figured she was just one u’those blushin’ brides.”
It wasn’t the answer that Gilchrist was hoping for, but it also wasn’t defiant proof that Lady Abigail was going along with the elopement. The separate bedrooms for the night was not only a relief but also further evidence that she may not be willing.
Lady Abigail shifted in her seat for the third time that morning. Though they had been traveling at a leisurely pace, it did nothing to prevent the jolts and bumps from the well-worn road.
Though Lord Heshing had tried to spend the night sharing her bed, Lady Abigail had refused, threatening to scream if he so much as dared.
She may have been forced to marry this man she knew no better than the others sitting in the taverns they passed, but she would not allow him such liberties before their wedding day.
Heshing had not been happy with her refusal. No doubt he saw it as one more way to secure herself, and dowry, to him. He had woken her with a loud banging on her door and insisted they leave at once.
She hadn’t even had a proper breakfast before they set out on their path again. Heshing seemed to drive the coachman harder this time around. She wondered if he was becoming nervous that they were being followed.
As much as Lady Abigail wished her brother would come after them and stop this sham from happening, she couldn’t see how that was possible. With a note written explaining her false desire to marry the man, there would be no cause for the Duke of Wintercrest to come after them.
“Why can’t you just sit still, it is very distracting you know?” Heshing said as he again seemed to focus on the road behind them.
Though at their speed it was uncomfortably chilly to have the top down, Heshing insisted upon it so that he might get a good view of anyone approaching.
“Why can’t you just take me home,” Lady Abigail spat back.
“My dear,” he replied looking at her with that oily smile. “It doesn’t matter that we spent nights in separate beds. A day has passed, and you are as good as my wife.”
“Well for a practically husband, you would think you would do better to see to your falsely taken wife’s comfort. It is dreadfully freezing,” she added.
“I could have you sit next to me for warmth,” Heshing said with a raised brow.
“I would rather not,” Lady Abigail retorted with her head held high. “I don’t enjoy close contact with strangers.”
“How could you possibly call me so. I am the same man you have spent your last few months with.”
“I am sorry, Lord Heshing, but you are not at all the man I thought I spent my days with. In fact, you are worse than a different creature. You are the one I was warned of and didn’t believe. Had I only listened,” she added in a softer tone.
“Ah yes, your dear Gilchrist pet. Such an ugly pet if you ask me. I am sure he did his best to blather on about me to anyone who would listen. It will make no difference, though. With your money in hand, I will pay off any debts I have incurred. The ton will be none the wiser to any unsavory business and Gilchrist will go back to being a raving beast.”
“You are the most horrible rake I have ever laid eyes on. To speak of an honorable gentleman in such a way," she shook her head in disgust. "You will never be half the man of Gilchrist.”
“Hm,” Heshing said reaching forward and taking Lady Abigail by the arm. It was quite tight, and Lady Abigail did everything not to show the pain on her face. “Perhaps he was more than just a pet to you. Are you in love with Gilchrist?” Heshing asked as if the idea was laughable.
Heshing glared into Lady Abigail’s eyes for an answer. When she wouldn’t give it, he finally released her.
“Sorry to say, my dear, but I will be severing that tie first thing. You can wave your little pet goodbye for he will never be welcome in my house.”
Lady Abigail glared across the carriage at her intended as he went back to searching the roads behind them. She would have much liked to scratch his eyes out at that moment, although she saw no point to do so.
Her only hope was to pray that her brother was on his way and would find them in time. She cared not a whit that it would mean a life of solitude. At this point, she would gladly be put away instead of being attached to Heshing for the rest of her days.
Finally, just after noon, they stopped to rest the horses for the first time that day. Lady Abigail was beginning to recognize the land. She knew that meant she was close to Wintercrest. Just beyond her brother’s lands was Scotland.
They were seated quietly in an establishment that was at least the cleanest that she had seen as of yet and were waiting for their humble meal to be brought to them. Being so close to the end, Lord Heshing seemed to give up his anxiety that he showed all morning long.
He relaxed into rambling conversations of what he had planned for their future. Lady Abigail would not listen to any of it. Instead, she chose to stare into the fire and do her best to tune out his voice.
It was then that the inn’s door open, and a lady seated just next to it gave out a scream of fear.
Lady Abigail turned from her gaze at the leaping flames, to see the scared remains of Lord Colton Frasier Earl of Gilchrist standing in the doorframe. His eyes seemed to scan the room for only a second before they fell on her. In that instant Lady Abigail gave a great sigh of relief.