Within seconds, he had deduced, from the rolling motion of his surroundings that were adding to his feelings of nausea, that the confined space was the baggage compartment at the back of a carriage.A moving carriage.Not a modern or fast carriage, but one built for journeying that lumbered side to side with the rhythm of the four horses pulling the heavy weight of it.
Guessing it to be a post-chaise, he realized he must have been tied up and secreted away in an outside baggage box on the old-fashioned conveyance.The throbbing of his head indicated he had been knocked unconscious before either of those things had been attempted.Otherwise, he did not believe he would be in his current position.
Now all he needed to deduce was when and how these things had occurred.
And for what purpose.
He recalled leaving Foxburgh Manor in search of Julia.Then entering the maze, and making his way to the fountain, where she had been the last time he looked for her.
This time, there was no one there but the huge statues of four male gods of Olympus.All of them had seemed to give him pitying looks for having so soon lost the woman he was newly betrothed to.
Knowing the folklore attached to these gods, he had no doubt that all those bastards would have tricked Julia into marrying them without a care for whether it was what she wanted.
After giving the statues a dismissive glance, he recalled taking the shortcut out of the maze.His mood had been despondent as he stared down at his feet while walking.Then something had struck him hard on the back of the head before he immediately fell to the grassy ground.
Someonehad struck the back of his head.
Following that, Nicholas knew nothing until he woke up in this confined, dark, and rocking space.
* * *
“I only hope you have not alienated dear Wolfingham irrevocably with your behavior,” the countess reprimanded Julia as the six of them sat eating the dessert course of their dinner later that evening.“I can only guess at how much you have displeased him when he has not even cared to send his excuses for not joining us for dinner this evening, as he had planned to do before today’s earlier upset.”
Julia’s chin rose.“Before I spoke of my opposition to the match between us, you mean.”
“Before you behaved unwisely, yes,” her father reproved.
Julai sniffed.“For my sake, I am glad he is not here,” she dismissed.“But I am sorry for your sake that he has behaved so disrespectfully toward you, dear Mama, my aunt and uncle, and darling Amanda.”
“I agree with Julia.I am more than happy to forgo any more of that gentleman’s company today,” Amanda assured.
“You are both very silly young ladies.”The marchioness frowned her displeasure with them.“Wolfingham is not only titled and wealthy, and well thought of in Society, but he is also excessively handsome.That such an eligible gentleman wishes to make Julia his wife is beyond fortuitous.”
Julia frowned.“I do not recall him saying he wished for that unhappy occurrence.”
“Well, of course, he wishes it,” her mother snapped.“Your marriage will join two families that have been close for many years, as well as ensuring this estate becomes part of the Earl of Wolfingham’s neighboring property.It is a very good match for all concerned.”
“I am one of the people concerned, and I do not consider it a suitable match, let alone a good one,” she scorned.“Besides, I am already the daughter of an earl.I do not need to become the wife of one too,” Julia added defensively.“Or a wife at all, if it comes to that.”
“Of course you will marry.”Her mother glared her displeasure.“As will Amanda.”
“Please do not include me in this sweeping statement, Aunt,” Amanda dismissed.
“I am well aware of this ridiculous alliance you have formed, along with several of your friends, not to marry,” the marchioness reproved.
Julia gasped.“Did Grandmother know about that too?”
“Of course she knew—” The countess broke off as Hutchings, having quietly entered the dining room, now crossed the room to bend down to talk quietly to Julia’s papa.
The earl reared back seconds later.“Where is he now?”
“I have placed him in the library for now, my lord.”The butler grimaced.“I did not know what else to do with him until I had spoken with you.”
“Did not know what to do with whom?”the countess demanded to know.“What are the two of you discussing so quietly?”
“Is it Wolfingham?”Amanda prompted eagerly.“Has he decided to join us for dinner after all?”
“Do not be ridiculous, gel,” her mother snapped.“Obviously, this is something far more serious than arriving late for dinner, is it not, Geoffrey?”She looked inquiringly at her brother-in-law.
