Page 44 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
22
It had taken two weeks to get the deeds signed over and organise a date, time and place to help Caro escape. Now the day had come, his stomach was in turmoil.
Drew met her in Mayfair, at the gate of the backyard of Madame Duval’s modiste’s, to make it look to Kilbride’s staff as though she were simply shopping. She hurried through the back gate. ‘Caro.’ He kissed her cheek and took her shaking hand. ‘Come.’ He led her along the alley. ‘Did the modiste query your exit?’
‘No. I asked if I might use her closet. But there is a footman waiting in the shop.’
‘Then we must hurry.’ Drew opened the gate and they ran along the narrow back alley. ‘I ordered the carriage under a false name. We will change the carriage once we are out of London and go the opposite way. Then change again, so we cannot be easily followed. Where was Kilbride when you left?’
‘In the House of Lords. They will be sitting for hours and none of the servants will be able to speak to him there.’
The carriage door stood ajar so they could ascend quickly. He handed her in and climbed in behind her. ‘Go!’ he yelled up tothe driver as he shut the door. The carriage jolted forward and he fell into the seat beside Caro.
‘Pull down the blind,’ he told her, drawing down the one beside him.
Caro’s hands trembled and she breathed heavily from the effort of their flight. She withdrew a folded silk handkerchief from her reticule and looked at him. ‘I brought something to help.’ She unfolded the silk parcel that lay in her lap. Gold and jewels glinted in the low light of the carriage. ‘They are all gifts he gave me, they are mine to take, earbobs, hair slides, bracelets and necklaces.’
Drew smiled awkwardly, he had not expected her to bring anything. ‘I will sell them for you, they will help you live for years.’
He had not told her his circumstances had changed. He thought if he did, she would refuse to leave. So, the money from her trinkets would be handy.
Drew leaned to the window and lifted the edge of the blind with a fingertip. They were passing the shopfront and Kilbride’s carriage. There were no panicked servants surrounding it; the footman must still be waiting patiently inside.
The journey out of London was fast and easy; all went according to plan. When they arrived in Maidstone, the housekeeper was there, waiting to settle Caro in.
The cottage was small. There were two rooms downstairs, a kitchen and a parlour, and two upstairs, with an attic for the housekeeper. He had arranged for the housekeeper to purchase everything she and Caro would need, from clothing and furniture to food and candles.
Knowing Caro was afraid of what was to come, he stayed with her for a couple of hours and drank tea with her in the sitting room.
While Caro got to know the housekeeper, his thoughts drifted to the fond memories he nurtured of Mary. He had not thought of her for most of the day… but now… he remembered all the commonplace moments they spent like this. He missed her. He longed for peaceful moments with her. Even to sit in her brother’s drawing room and drink tea with her. But hope had passed.
‘Drew…’
He smiled at Caro. ‘Sorry, I was wool gathering…’ The truth was he had barely slept since Mary left and his mind was a mess, but he lay no blame on her. All the blame was his.
Caro held his hand for a moment.
It was laughable… the two of them. He had once thought Mary was life’s flotsam. No. She was protected and loved by the numerous members of her family. He and Caro were the flotsam – two drifting souls.
‘I should leave.’ Drew stood. ‘I must return to London, so Kilbride will not guess I helped you. It may be weeks before I can return; Kilbride will have people watching me. So, do not write, it is not worth the risk. I will come as soon as I can, and in the meantime, do not draw attention to yourself.’
She nodded. Then she stood and hugged him. ‘Thank you.’
‘You must be brave, stay calm and strong. He will not find you, I promise.’
‘I am very grateful.’
‘I am glad I have finally been able to help you.’
23
Several hours later, Drew climbed the steps of Sheffield’s town house with Peter by his side. They were attending Sheffield’s ball because he knew Kilbride would be looking for him, and he was sending a silent, very public, message –you will not find her.
But there was another reason he was here – he hoped for a glimpse of Mary.
He and Peter had attended several balls since she left, so he might see her, to know she was well, and quieten the screams of his soul. He had not encountered her once. The last time he laid eyes on her was the day she left – the day they had lain together as though they were in love.
That morning still haunted him. He did not understand why she let that happen.
