Page 71 of Finding Hope
CHAPTER 18
Hope could not contain her excitement. When she had closed the door behind Rotham, she let out of squeal of delight. Knowing she did not have much time to prepare, she rang for Jenkins. She wanted to look her best for the meeting with the Duke.
It was still hard to fathom that Rotham had chosen her despite the Duchess’ objections. But how could she deny his pleas for happiness? She was his choice, and if he was willing to make that step, she would trust him.
Jenkins entered, and saw the smile on Hope’s face. “Oh, miss! Never tell me he has proposed!”
Hope nodded. “We are to seek the Duke’s blessing in one hour. We must hurry!”
Jenkins moved with purpose, and was soon curling Hope’s hair.
There came another knock on the door, and her sister, Faith, entered. She held out her arms and came over to give Hope a tearful hug.
“I pray those are tears of happiness?” Hope asked.
“Of course they are! I wish you all to find what I have.”
Hope smiled. She wanted that as well. Faith stayed for a few minutes while Jenkins helped her to finish dressing.
“You need not wait. Rotham is coming to escort me himself.”
“Very well. Will you find me afterwards? I want to hear everything!”
“I will seek you out as soon as I may, Faith,” Hope assured her.
Jenkins finished dressing her hair and helped her into her gown. “What do you think of jewellery? I am inclined to think it would be best to wear pearls. He will be giving you a ring, I imagine.”
“I trust your judgement,” Hope said, trying to contain her excitement.
The maid left with ten minutes to spare. Hope danced around the room, unable to believe the turn in fortune when she’d been in complete despair the day before.
There was another knock on the door and Hope rushed over to open it. “You are early!” she said, then stopped as she realized it was only one of the footmen placed there to guard her.
He bowed. “Lord Rotham has sent me to escort you to the Duke.”
Hope was a little disappointed, but she was sure Rotham had his reasons. Anyway, she would see him in a few minutes.
She followed the footman into the hall and down a series of corridors along which she had not been before. It was incredible to think she would soon be mistress of all of this! In time, she would learn her way, but for today, she did not pay attention. She was too pleased with the world.
They came to a wing where there were three large carved doors, the one on the left bearing the Duke’s coat of arms, the one in the centre with the Davenmere crest, and the one on the right with that of the Duchess.
“I have been asked to show you to her Grace’s apartments, which will one day be yours. His lordship will receive you there.”
Hope thought perhaps it was a little odd, given that his mother had been recently sent away from there, and the Duke not yet dead, but if that was what Rotham wished, then she would not argue.
The footman opened the door for her and she walked inside before he entered behind her and locked the door. That was when she knew something was very, very wrong. She did not even have the ability to take note of her surroundings, other than that it appeared she was in some type of antechamber and that dogs were barking somewhere within the house.
“Forgive me, miss,” she heard before a cloth was put over her nose and mouth and pulled tightly behind her head.
She struggled against her capture. “Don’t fight, miss. It will only go worse for you. I have no wish to hurt you.”
“Then let me go,” she mumbled against the tight binding across her mouth. Thankfully, he had not thrust anything into her mouth.
He pulled her towards the wall and opened a cupboard. “I have to put something over you now, miss.”
He threw a burlap bag over the top of her, then pushed her inside the cupboard, which wobbled beneath her, making her shake with terror. Was she in a service lift?
He spoke down through a tunnel. “Clear,” a reply echoed back to them, and she felt a rope pull, then the conveyance began to move downward. It felt as though she was sinking beneath the Earth, when she came to a sudden stop.
