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His lordship tooled his spirited dapple with sure skill, but his mind was not on schooling his horse as he made his way down the Post Road back to Bromley. He had been in London for two days. Two days—only two days, and it had been torture. It seemed a century since he had last looked at her precious face …
This was absurd. He was behaving like a schoolboy. What was wrong with him? He had enjoyed many beautiful and spirited women in his twenty-eight years, but this one … this one was unlike any he had ever known. She had found a way into his mind and managed to take control.
He had gone to look in on his intended bride with great misgiving. Had he done the right thing? Was he doing the right thing? He had stopped by the Elton residence only to be told that Miss Elton was still ill above stairs, and never had he felt such relief. He had done the expected and sent a note with flowers. Should he call this off? How could he? Well, and he could. No announcement had been made. He should call it off. It wasn’t fair to Miss Elton, was it?
This question reverberated in his brain. How was he going to go through with this engagement? Perhaps the marriage was no longer necessary? Could he cry off without becoming the worst cad in creation? What if Miss Elton was a sickly girl, how then could she look after his twins … give him children? Give him children? He didn’t want children with her or any other woman, he suddenly realized. He had to find a way of letting Miss Elton down.
What was wrong with him? His entire world had been turned inside out, and he was fast losing control. Cherry … she said her name was Cherry, but he could find no one who knew anything about a family with a daughter by the name of Cherry Parker. Who the devil was she? She had never been bred to be a governess. She was too self-assured. Her gowns, though showing signs of wear, were of the first stare, both fashionable and expensive. It was that which had made him think perhaps she had been kept in style by another man. It was that which made him think she ran from a man, not her stepfather. Well, that had turned out to be rubbish. She had been a virgin … and what was more, he would never let anyone else near her. Whether she wanted it or not, he would protect her!
What was happening to him? He had lost all control. This Cherry Parker as she called herself had taken him over, body and soul.
Bromley loomed closer in the distance, and he actually felt his heartbeat increase rapidly. Excitement tickled his senses. He missed her … and the twins. He had actually gotten to know them on this last visit.
He felt a thrill as his horse trotted into Bromley Park and approached the house. Cherry … he would soon be with his Cherry, and he knew in that moment, he was in trouble.
* * *
Cherry looked up at the sky. Hmm, clouds were accumulating, and she rather thought they should start for home. She had purchased the day gowns Sky had so insisted she obtain for her position. She wasn’t, however, able to buy the drab, uniform-like gray gowns suitable for her position.
She had an eye for fashion and just could not wear anything so frumpy. However, she compromised and found a lovely black gown with a white lace collar and tightly fitted sleeves with lace cuffs. She had the seamstress do a quick nip at the waist, which was only slightly too big for her. The next gown she purchased was navy silk with a creamy chiffon round collar, puff matching navy sleeves of the same chiffon, and an Empire waist.
There, she thought, that would do. And then she spied a black wool riding habit, with a white chiffon blouse and a matching black top hat, trimmed in the same white chiffon that flounced at the back of the hat. It was dear, but she smiled to herself and paid for it with the money she still had from when she had run away on that fateful evening … which seemed so long ago.
She stepped out of the shop and noted with a frown that the two young men who had been extremely bold to her when she had walked the short distance to the dress shop earlier were still nearby. They had walked right up to her as she had entered the shop; although they’d tipped their hats to her, they’d blocked her path as they introduced themselves as brothers Walter and Thomas Anderson. She did not reciprocate but had politely requested they step aside. They had, but it was obvious they were angry. Remembering the encounter made trepidation tingle inside her tummy.
Cherry was not concerned with her looks, but the fact was she was certainly a beauty and had attracted attention in the small town, as well as stirred curiosity.
She turned heads as she made her way down the avenue. Two of those heads belonged to the Anderson brothers, and they followed.
She saw Freddy across the street and stopped to wave, but she halted her hand in mid-air because he seemed intent as he headed for a very odd-looking gentleman standing outside a weathered storefront.
Cherry’s brows drew together as she saw that the storefront was in fact a drinking establishment. The odd and older gentleman wore a dilapidated gray top hat and shabby clothes. His face was grizzled, and something about the way he moved repulsed Cherry immediately. Her eyes opened wide and flew to Freddy’s face. What in heaven’s name had Freddy to do with such a character?
She went hurriedly to cut him off, calling out brightly, “Right then, Freddy … we need to get going, as it does look like rain.”
“Miss Cherry … there is one more thing I have to take care of while I am in town. Do you think … would you mind terribly starting for home without me, and I shall catch up as quickly as I can?”
She knew he expected her to reply in the positive, and while she didn’t really mind the notion of driving unescorted (in fact she had always enjoyed the freedom before), she did mind going off and leaving him with such a rough-looking individual. “Yes, but, Freddy, it is already near dark … and I don’t relish the notion of taking the Post Road with the children in an open carriage alone at this hour.” Zounds, just listen to her rubbish, but she had to make a push to get Freddy away from that awful man.
“Forgive me, Miss Cherry … I promise, I will catch up, for I swear it won’t take me long to be done with this business.”
Cherry had no choice but to watch Freddy fall into step with this man as they went into the drinking establishment. What, Freddy, just what deep game are you playing, she wondered sadly.
There was nothing for it. She went to the cake shop where Felix and Francine were enjoying their tarts and hot chocolate. They made their way to the livery, where she tipped the groom who had cared for the horses, and off they went onto the Post Road towards Bromley.
They hadn’t been on the Post Road for more than five minutes when Cherry felt edgy and looked around. It was just those Anderson boys that had made her nervous earlier.
* * *
Sky paced to and fro in his central hall as he waited for his family and their governess to return from town. He stood at the open front door, then closed it and went to peer out the large hallway window.
It was with great disappointment that he had received the news they were not home, and the anticipation of seeing them again had him in a fidget very much unlike himself.
It was nearing five o’clock, and still no sign of them. Soon it would be very dark. He’d heard stories about the highwaymen on the section of the Post Road that led to Bromley. Well, Freddy was escorting them, after all. Ah yes, Freddy. He shook his head, but then thought, Freddy is just a boy and unarmed.
Highwaymen were most definitely armed.
This took hold of him and gathered weight. Suddenly, he could stand it no more. He would go and meet them and bring them home safely. His own horse was too fatigued from the journey out of London, but he could use the dark bay Cherry had been working lately.
