September 1826
Beth quickened her pace as the footfalls behind closed in on her, running up the rough road with strength she had no idea she possessed, her heart in her mouth. At six ‘o’clock in the morning, Beth suddenly realized, much to her chagrin, that Carlisle might not be the safest of places.Her hands frantically searched through her bag for something, anything that would serve as a defensive means to protect herself but flowers wouldn’t even scare the nicest of people, how would it scare anyone else? She could call someone for help, but whom? And if she should try to, her assailant – she supposed the person behind her was one – would catch up with her before she could call for help again. No, she shouldn’t, the knowledge they lacked regarding her exact position was probably the only advantage she had over them. If she tried to call for anyone, her voice would give it away and that was not what she wanted. Perhaps she should seek refuge in one of the caravans? But no one was awake yet, even if they were, she doubted the gipsies would look kindly upon her intrusion. It was over; she was going to die on her very own birthday. Why would life choose to be unkind to her once again? She thought melancholically. Maybe it was someone taking a morning walk. Or like her, out to fulfil an errand. She was probably overthinking. They could be harmless.She heard a click, another click was sufficient for Beth’s heart to fall through her chest to the pit of her stomach; the excuses she had made up disappeared, turning to evaporating mist. Dear Lord, please save me! She prayed as her feet unknowingly quickened their steps. She tripped but righted herself immediately; this was no time to fall. Why, oh why did I decide to leave this early?! She lamented inwardly. She could have waited till first light and rented Clover, her cousin’s mare like Gwen had advised.She heard a thump and a male’s grunt of pain that scared her to the depth of her being. Oh good gracious, it was a man! Throwing all caution to the wind, she picked up her skirt and ran with everything in her, muttering fearfully, “Oh God! Dear God!! Please save me.” Was she running in the right direction? She had no idea, but it was away from that man and that was enough. She heard the footfalls again, this time they were so close and swift, drawing even closer with each passing second. Wait! Was he chasing after her? Dear Lord, what is this? Why was he chasing after her? She wasn’t ready to die nor was she ready to be kidnapped or worse… No, she wouldn’t think of what wouldn’t be as she would do everything to prevent it. Not that she could have, but trying to run even faster, she stepped on the skirt she had let go and tripped.Her breath was knocked out of her, her soul left too. It was over. He would catch up with her now. She was never going to see her family and the thought scared her more than her death. How would they live without her? Would they survive still after another tragedy? Casting all evil thought from her mind, she scrambled to her feet; tripping again and scraping her right knee on a rock which elicited a hiss from her lips, but the pain wouldn’t keep her. Wanting to waste no more time, she tried getting up to run when a hand dropped firmly on her shoulder. She gasped and did the first thing that came to mind.Scream.“Lady! Lady!! Quiet down.” She rose to her feet and stepped away from him. “It is not bright yet for such screams or are you so proud of your vocals that you would prefer the whole world to hear you?” He sounded angry. His voice, deep and bold, rang in the almost darkness. “Go join the theatre or the circus if that is your wish. No one wants this open show you are so graciously offering.” He put his hand towards his face and Beth saw the faint glow of a cigar.Why was he angry? Did she ruin his plans? What were his plans? “Wh-wh-who are you? What d-do you want?!” Her heart quickened, thumping even more. She gripped her bag defensively. Flowers were no weapon but in times when one was desperate, anything would serve; besides he didn’t know she held only flowers. If he tried anything like the unthinkable, his burial would be announced shortly. The sky was blue already but not enough light to make out his face. He was too close for comfort, so she put some space between them. “I asked what it is you wanted.” Her teeth were chattering.He stood to his full height and put his free hand in his pocket. “I wanted to make sure you were alright. That was quite a fall.” He dragged from his cigar and expelled, the odor was pungent and rich. “Although with that voice demonstration, I believe you are just fine.” What was he talking about? A gentle breeze blew and the grass responded to its song.“Why were you following me?” Her voice was low and raspy; her breath, rapid. “Look, I might be a woman, but I’m not scared of you.” She hoped he believed her and wasn’t paying attention to her shaking voice. Or her chattering teeth. Or her heavy breathing. If it came to, she wasn’t going down without a fight. “I’ll hurt you if I have to.”No response. He simply stood before her.After what felt like an eternity, he said. “I believe you as much as you believe yourself.” His deep voice, slow and lazy, mocked her. The silhouette before her brought his hand out of his pocket and raised it to her face. Before she could guess its purpose, a flicker illuminated her face and momentarily blinded her. “I must apologize for doing this, but curiosity got the larger part of me.” He said. “How is it, I beg to know, a small and, well, pretty Lady could harm me?” He took the light down.He called her pretty. Oh God! And was that Brandy she smelt beside the cigar? No, she wouldn’t panic. “When there is a will, there is a way.” She bravely returned. She stepped closer to the bush behind her. If this man tried to get close, she’d run, because there was no way she could fight him, let alone defeat him, brave words aside.She saw him nod, repeatedly. “So they say, until there is no more will and all ways are closed.” Her heartbeat increased. At this rate, she might just about die of anxiety. She searched the area with her eyes, even if she knew there was no way she would find anything in the near darkness. “So they say.” He repeated and stepped closer.She impulsively stepped back, her grip tightened. “Don’t come any closer. Don’t give me a reason to hurt you.” Again he stepped closer and she stepped back in response, her heart missing a beat. “Please stop Sir, I beg of you.” The tears threatened but she held them at bay.Hands in the air in mock surrender, he said. ”You should really put the bag down. I doubt chrysanthemum could hurt anyone.” He put his hands down and sent the one bearing his cigar to his mouth for another drag. “My parents would not appreciate you hurting me. I am an only child you see, very much loved.”How did he know she had chrysanthemums in her bag? “How did you…? How were yo…? How did you know I have only chrysanthemums in my bag?” Her voice helped her thoughts.“I didn’t know you had only chrysanthemums.” He drawled. “They possess such lovely smell. Makes you want to smile all day long for absolutely no reason at all.” It wasn’t a sarcastic comment, it was simply a statement. He knew of flowers.He had no i
* * *From a comfortable position on the bed, Beth watched as Lucy added even more rouge to her cheeks and smiled at the mirror – she looked beautiful. Her ever unruly hair danced on the side of her face as she turned to look more upon her makeup. Gwen sauntered into the room, looking beautiful as well.“Beth, Aunt Marrily said to come to the door in ten minutes.” She approached the mirror. Lucy gave her a thin blue sash.Beth pushed herself down on the bed and closed the book she held, dog-earing where she was. “I told earlier that I want no part of this ball. How best should I say this?” She lifted herself to her elbows. “I do not want to attend the ball.”“Mother!” Lucy turned to the door. “Beth says she won’t attend the ball!”She jolted up. “Lucy!”“What is this I hear?” Aunt Marrily was immediately at the door, hand on her hip. “Why would she not…?” Her Aunt stepped into the room. “Why wouldn’t you want to go to the ball? This is the very reason I asked my sister to send you ove
The ball was as loud and entertaining as any ball could be. Beth was reminded of the few balls her Mother had forced her to attend before giving up the idea, when she realized that Beth truly did not intend to marry. The ball was welcoming to all who loved and hated attention. The hall was large and accommodated the peers of the gentry, for as many that could visit Carlisle and grace the party. Lucy had told them that balls hosted at Carlisle Crest, home to the Duke of Carlisle, were never dull, and it was soon turning out to be shockingly true.From the moment they arrived, the music, the dance and wine opened up to them, and Aunt Marrily wasted no time in passing them over to whichever gentleman came to ask for a dance. By the time Beth had her first drink for the night, she had danced with six different bachelors and her feet were starting to hurt.She quickly escaped her partner as soon as the song was done, and retreated to the wall to gain back her composure, standing, hiding, a
Their Aunt approached them, two fine gentlemen on either side; her smile was broad and naughty. She stopped briefly to hold a discussion with Lucy, introducing the men to her. Beth straightened her stance while Gwen patted her hair again. “You seem happy.” She observed the younger girl.“I enjoy the attention.” She whispered. “I choose to. Hold up your best smile, else Aunt Marrily will never forgive you.”Their faces lit up immediately as their Aunt finally stood before them. “Go easy on the wine, sweet child.” She warned. Gwen turned red but Aunt Marrily didn’t care. “Sir George, these are my nieces, Beth and Gwen. Beautiful, are they not?” Ignoring whatever reply the men would have given, she continued. “Girls, this is Sir George, a fine Cavalry soldier, second son to the Earl of Moore.”“Lovely to make your acquaintance.” He shook both their hands, kissing hers on the knuckle, holding on longer until Beth slowly withdrew. He gave her a too-bright smile.A smile stuck in place on h
She lifted her head, surprised he had heard her. The moonlight danced on her face again. Flustered, she said. “By my standards, I am. I am quite a meticulous being.” She turned to him and tried to make out his face but the light from behind made her effort fruitless. Somehow, he stood on the spot where she couldn’t see him, maybe on purpose. “I can't handle alcohol well,” she continued, “but tonight I am on the bridge, questioning if to cross.” She smacked her lips and whispered. “Maybe I will. That might just be enough for Aunt Marrily to leave me be.”“You don’t enjoy parties? Or is it this particular ball you are against?” He drank from his glass.She thought for a moment. “This ball is amazing, and parties are wonderful, but my ever-forward and free-spirited Aunt has introduced me to every gentleman in that room.” She threw her head in the direction of the ballroom. “I think I have had my fair share for a lifetime.”“That cannot be true.” She turned to him. “You weren’t introduced
This time she laughed lightly, her hand still over her mouth. “I suppose one does, for your sake.” She leaned again on the railing, this time, putting up enough distance between them. “The view from up here is beautiful.”She commented, he said nothing. After a while, “You are Carlisle.” He looked to her. “On the hill, why did you say you were an only child?”He looked away. “Because I am. ““You mentioned both parents. You only have a Mother.”Nothing.Maybe she had been rude. The silence that followed was at first unnerving and scary, but soon it brought comfort, as they listened to the music flowing in from the ballroom and the gay laughter of men and women. Beth closed her eyes and nodded her head slowly to the beat, enjoying it as much as she couldn’t when she was in the ballroom. The breeze swayed the garden's trees again, but she was content enough to not care about anything.He tapped the railing twice. “How is your wound?”She opened her eyes. “What wound?”“From this morning.
She inclined her head, struggling to keep her emotions at bay. “Hate is a strong word.”“And yet not strong enough to convey the feelings you harbour against him.” She looked away, shaken that he could see through her. “Did he pursue you with dishonourable intentions?”“No!” She wished it had been her. He should have pursued her so.“Were you abandoned at the altar?” He threw his cigar to the ground and crushed it.She exhaled deeply. “Please, Your Grace, It was nothing of the sort. Believe me.” His hoarse voice, rather than annoy her with the badger of questions like the morning before, appeased her for he wasn’t a sycophant trying to please. And why should he try to please her? He was higher than her in wealth, status and in every possible way.When she lifted her head, he was walking closer, she oddly stepped back, unsure of the reason for her action. He stopped and said. “I am intrigued. What was it?”“Please, Your Grace, I mean no disrespect, but I would rather not dwell on that
The sound of the opening door woke Charles from his sleep. With the interval balance of the footsteps, coupled with the implicit knowledge that none other would visit his bedroom without his permission, especially when he was in, he knew right away that it was Albert, his valet.Charles opened his eyes slightly and saw the young man pulling back the curtains. "Did she make it?" His voice was broken from sleep and almost inaudible.Albert was startled. "Your Grace, I am sorry to disturb your sleep. I only wanted to draw back the curtains." He bowed.Charles turned to lay supine, ignoring the apology. "Black? How is she?"Albert stood upright, held his hands together. "As was feared, Your Grace, she passed away last night. The stable hand said it was painless and peaceful."The covers fell to his hips as he sat up. Albert quickly rushed to him, picking up his robe and helping him put it on. "Death is never painless. Peaceful maybe, but who has discovered it out?" He rose and walked to t