Page 96 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
Plans for the day fell into place. Robert, Simon, Judd, and the boys would go on an adventure trail to find the hidden waterfall. François, one of the stable hands, would show them the way. Madame Crevant handed them loaves of bread with thick cheese and some dried ham for their picnic luncheon.
The ladies would take a day of rest. They might go into the local town, but for now, all were content to spend time looking at the mustard fields and vineyards and enjoying the tranquility. Finally, they could relax without worrying about Christopher Farrington. There was still no word of his arrest, but the constabulary was confident he couldn’t hide for long.
Arabella found a quiet corner of the garden to write some verses. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had written any poetry, and her publisher was clamouring for more of her work. I don’t think it will be difficult to write here, she thought as she set out her pen, inkwell, and parchment on a marble table hidden behind a screen of hornbeam trees.
So many emotions in so short a time. Grief, fear, despair, love, desire, hope, and plain old happiness. She knew she washappy, and Henry was thriving. She shivered for a moment, remembering Christopher and his obsessive scheming.
A butterfly with yellow wings flew close to her and settled for a moment on her notebook. She had time to sit in a garden, write poetry, and watch the butterflies. Later today, her betrothed would return with her little boy to tell her all about their adventures and probably show her a sketch of a waterfall.
She must have fallen asleep as she woke with a start after hearing what sounded like a muffled scream. She stood quickly, something making her hide behind the hornbeam screen. Madame Crevant raced from the house down the lane towards the village.
Something was wrong. She felt a moment of relief that Henry wasn’t here at the chateau but also apprehension that the only man on the premises was Monsieur Crevant. The stables were half a mile down the road, and no one would hear if she called.
She had to find out what was happening, so she began to make her way towards the rear entrance of the mellow stone house. The garden gave her good cover as she moved quietly, listening all the time for voices. Where were the dowager, Elinor, and Tabitha?
She saw Tabitha close to the back door, hiding behind a statue covered in ivy, and took a risk by hissing to her. Tabitha saw her and cautiously made her way to join her, hidden by anivy screen. “It’s him. It’s Farrington. He’s drunk or insane, as nothing he says makes any sense,” Tabitha told her.
She spoke in a hushed tone, glancing around, her face etched with fear.
“He’s in the grand salon waving what looks like an ancient musket about. The dowager and Lady Rathby stayed very calm and did what he asked them to. He’s looking for you. He hasn’t mentioned Master Henry. I think he sees you as the cause of all his troubles.”
“I’m going to have to go and speak to him,” Arabella said decisively. “I won’t have the dowager and Elinor treated this way. How on earth did he find us?”
“Spies, I reckon,” said Tabitha. “Money always loosens tongues.”
“What’s that? There’s someone over by the orangery. One of the grooms, maybe? Or one of the kitchen staff?”
Arabella saw a flash of red uniform, and a soldier gestured to her to stay where she was, putting his hands to his lips to ensure they stayed silent.
He was beside them in an instant. “Your servant, ma’am,” he whispered. “Lord Colonel Rathby, here to find my wife and son. Who is that man in the grand salon waving a musket about.”
“It’s a long story,” whispered Arabella. “He’s desperate and a fugitive. It seems he is here to teach me a lesson for standing up to him.”
“Best way with bullies, ma’am. We need to rout him out of there before he lets off that musket. He doesn’t look competent with a weapon.”
“I was about to go and remonstrate with him for behaving this way. It’s me he wants, and I planned to cause as much of a distraction so the others could slip away.”
“We don’t want to put you in any danger, but if you can distract him, then I can grab him from behind and disarm him,” suggested Colonel Rathby.
“I don’t believe he’ll shoot me, as he’ll have too much to complain about,” Arabella said with a smile, which hid the fear she felt inside.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, ma’am. That musket might go off, but the only person who would be injured by it would be the man holding it,” the colonel reassured her.
“I believe I hear reinforcements coming up the road,” said the colonel. He turned to Tabitha. “Go and tell them what’s happening while her ladyship and I disarm this lunatic.”
It went like clockwork. Arabella called to Christopher from the hallway, knowing he would recognize her voice. He began to walk towards the door, at which moment Elinor took a marble ornament and threw it at him from behind, causing him to stumble and falter in his progress.
He roared out in pain and could not decide whether to continue to find Arabella or turn back to deal with Elinor.
It didn’t matter. Lord Colonel Rathby caught him from behind, twisted his arm, took the musket, and tackled him to the floor, restraining him with strips of his wife’s torn petticoat.
“My love,” he laughed at her, his eyes twinkling. “We have not even greeted each other after such a long absence, and you are already revealing your petticoat.”
“Charles. How on earth?”
“It was to have been a surprise, my love. Your letter telling me you were coming to Burgundy reached me, and I begged leave of absence from Wellington to ride down to spend a week with you and Freddy.”
“Oh, Charles,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
