Page 15 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
“Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Randel. Have yourself a good night,” Lord Canton said with a dip of his head before he turned with the lantern in hand and walked towards the carriage. Silently, William hoped that Caroline would wait for him, even if it took years for him to put himself into a position to marry her and gain her father’s respect.
Turning the mare around, he flicked the reins and made his way back home. He missed Caroline’s arms around him, the hope she gave him that they could accomplish anything together. And now, he’d let her down. Both him and Lord Canton knew that he couldn’t care for Caroline like she needed. But if Lord Canton was really going to pay him such a fortune each year, then he’d really have to make good use of it.
After all, one day he would need to make this night up to Caroline and prove his love to her.
~*~
Caroline felt numb as the carriage rolled down the road towards her father’s estate. A lantern hung in the carriage, rocking back and forth with the carriage and casting shadows all around. Thankfully, Lord Canton didn’t offer to speak with her. It was already so late that Caroline couldn’t will herself to say anything to the man.
She knew that deep down she should be angry with him, but at the moment all she could muster up was a complete lack of emotions. She was still surprised by William’s actions and couldn’t really wrap her mind around his choices. Just moments ago, they had been on their way to be married, to throw all caution to the wind. And now, she was being returned to her home by a man she’d refused that night.
Caroline couldn’t cry, couldn’t fight, couldn’t think of anything besides what her father was going to say to her when Lord Canton’s carriage arrived. What would happen? What would Lord Canton explain to her father? What would her father to do her with this knowledge? Yet, even with all these thoughts running through her mind, she felt nothing. No fear. No anxiety.
All she knew was that she wasn’t with William, wasn’t going to be with him forever, leaving her with a future that was completely unknown to her. And as she looked across the carriage at Lord Canton, who was smiling at her, she knew she didn’t want a man like him in her future.
When the carriage came to a stop in front of her home, Caroline simply waited for something to happen. For her father to come out of the house, yelling and screaming at her. For Lord Canton to drag her into the house to confess all her sins and intentions for the night. But for the longest time, the carriage door remained closed and Lord Canton simply stared at her.
“What are you waiting for me to do?” she eventually asked him, the last of her energy seeming to sizzle within her body.
“Mr Randel and I came to an agreement. We both know you deserve a life better than what he can provide you,” Lord Canton said, leaning back against the carriage seat. “And eventually, my dear, you’re going to realize that I’m the best thing for your future.”
“So, is that what you’re waiting for? For me to accept your marriage proposal?” she asked, raising her chin in defiance.
“No. I am a very patient man, Miss Caroline. I do love to plan and scheme. So, for tonight, you’ll return to your bedchamber as quietly as you did leave it. I will not tell your father of this night. In return, I only ask for your company.”
Caroline eyed him, wondering what plot he was already forming in his mind. “And if I refuse?” she asked, ready to find refuge in her bedchamber once more. After all, the likelihood of William coming for her now seemed rather slim.
“Then I will not only inform your parents, but I will also write to the papers. Your good name will be ruined, and your father’s business affairs will suffer greatly because of it,” Lord Canton said in a dark voice, as though growling out the words. A shiver ran across Caroline’s skin then, reminding her that she was wearing nothing but a gown and that the night’s cold had started to seep into the carriage.
“You won’t be able to hold this blackmail against me forever,” Caroline retorted, wanting this man to see that she was not afraid of him.
Lord Canton shrugged his shoulders, a smirk coming to his face. “I’m already waiting for my father to die or will the Earldom to me. Therefore, I have all the time in the world to play these games.”
“Then why me? Why don’t you marry a woman who actually wants you?”
“Where would the fun be in that? You are not only beautiful, but bold. I will enjoy my time breaking you slowly, until you realize I’m your only hope in the world for a normal life.”
Caroline could take no more of this cruel man’s words. She quickly opened the carriage door herself and stepped down without any help from the footmen. She didn’t turn back or try to look at Lord Canton as she ran up the stone stairs of the manor and pushed open the front door very quietly. Once the door was securely closed behind her, she stood there for a moment, simply listening to the silence of the house. All she could hear was the grandfather clock ticking in the hallway.
Very slowly, Caroline made her way back to her bedchamber. She was exhausted and felt completely defeated. William had let her go in the end without a parting word or kiss. Had she been deceived this whole time? Had he ever really loved her like he’d always confessed? Caroline was so unsure of what was real anymore that she knew that it would be a long time before she ever allowed herself to love again.
After a time, Caroline reached her bedchamber and dressed in a nightgown. She knew she should sleep but wasn’t sure if she’d actually be able to do so. Instead, she sat down at her writing desk by the window and propped her elbows upon it, resting her head in her hands in a very unladylike fashion as she stared out into the night.
Eventually, the night began to lighten as the first rays of the morning sun stung the horizon. It was so subtle that at first Caroline didn’t realize that morning was coming for she simply stared into the space before her, not really thinking or feeling anything.
It was only when she noticed a creature galloping across the lawn that she seemed to stir. Her mare was making its way alone back to the stables, as the noble beast was trained to do if ever it lost its rider. Caroline slowly got up from her chair to get a better look at the graceful horse, confused and curious to know what had happened to William. As the mare darted into the stables, Caroline made haste to put on her house robe and riding boots before making her way back downstairs.
As she went, she could hear the stirring of all the servants. Yet, she did not care. In the days to come, there would be plenty of rumours about her amongst them. They would gossip about why she’d refused Lord Canton, the reason behind why William was fired, followed by why she was spotted so early in the morning with her horse in the stables, dressed in nothing but a nightgown and house robe.
She was starting to suspect that she was becoming quite scandalous, and since servants often gossiped with other servants, her reputation in the neighbourhood would take some time to mind. But all of these thoughts were problems for the future. Right now, Caroline only cared about inspecting her mare.
Once Caroline made it out to the stables, she was met by the other stable hands who had discovered her mare before she had means to do so. It would have been convenient for her to make up the excuse that she couldn’t sleep and had risen early to be with her horse. But seeing that her mare was saddled would give these men reason to be suspicious.
“Morning, Miss Caroline,” the stable master greeted once he noticed her coming near. “We’ve just found your mare trotting into the barn as though you’d been riding this morning.”
“I was walking her and she returned before I could muster up the strength. I simply need to brush her down now,” Caroline said, her excuse quick to come to her lips. The stable master eyed the horse for a moment and then looked back at Caroline as though he didn’t really believe anything she had just said.
“I’d be happy to do the work me self, if you are too tired after your early morning walk,” the stable master offered.
