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He had settled into his alcove with his eyes firmly fixed on Titania, marveling at the grace and the poise with which she moved. When she smiled, he found his heart lifting in his chest, his mind filling with delight at the mere sight of her. They had shared so much the last few days and the intimacy between them had grown steadily and with such force that it was almost unbelievable. Had Lady Whitehaven and the surgeon not been present some days ago, when he had been speaking to Titania whilst resting from what had been a very difficult ordeal, he would have bent his head to kiss her and, immediately thereafter, sought to make her his bride. It felt more than right to do such a thing, for he knew in his heart that there could be no one else like Titania, no one who could become so dear to him. To make her his wife, to bring her back to his estate and perhaps to settle into a life without the army had suddenly become a much more delightful prospect, and Edward knew with certainty that this was what he desired. Titania was enchanting, strong, and fiercely determined, and within that, he knew, was a growing affection for him – one that he could not help but return. He had never encountered any one like her before, and he was certain he would not find anyone like her again. Therefore, Edward knew that he had to ask her to be his wife and found himself growing ever more eager to do so.
That had been the only thought in his mind, right up until the moment that Lord Huckleby had come to stand in front of Titania. The way he had grasped her dance card with such a possessive manner had taken him aback, and seeing the way that Titania had frowned, he felt himself grow tense. It was not because he had thought that Lord Huckleby had anything to do with the French, but merely because he disliked how he spoke and treated Titania.
However, when Titania had retreated, her eyes wide and flared with a sudden fright, he had risen from his seat in the alcove and had begun to hurry towards her, the pain in his side nagging at him as he did so. Yes, he had recovered a great deal, but the wound was not yet well enough healed for him to move at any great speed. It tugged at him as he had moved towards her – but it had not been in enough time to prevent Lord Huckleby from grasping her arm and propelling her towards the door.
* * *
“Lord Carroway?”
Edward turned from where he stood, staring after Lord Huckleby, to see Lady Whitehaven approaching him, her expression one of fright.
“He is gone this way,” he said quickly, gesturing towards the door. “I know not where.”
Lady Whitehaven reached out and grasped his arm. “Who?” she asked, as Edward saw Titania’s two sisters and cousin coming towards them. “Who has taken her?”
“Lord Huckleby,” Edward replied in a low voice. “I must go in search of them. I do not think that he will have left the house, for someone would have seen them go and your daughter would not leave willingly.”
“Nor in silence,” Lady Whitehaven agreed, although her eyes were filled with fear. Turning to her daughters, she gave them a small smile, reminding Edward that they did not know the intricacies of what was happening all around them.
“Merry, you, Catherine, and Dinah must continue to ensure that our guests enjoy themselves,” she said in a calm voice. “Lord Carroway and I must speak privately for a moment.”
Edward’s heart lurched as Merry’s eyes widened and she turned towards him, although a smile crept across her face as she did so. He knew what they thought he and their mother would be discussing, and he found himself wishing desperately that such a thing was about to occur.
“I quite understand, Mama,” Merry said clearly, looking back towards Lady Whitehaven. “Take as much time as you need.”
“And Dinah,” Lady Whitehaven said, her tone now a trifle more severe. “You are not to hide yourself away in the corner. Engage with our guests, if you please.” She waited until the girl had given her a small, jerky nod before turning back to Edward, whose urgency was rising steadily.
“This way,” he said, urging her towards the door. “As I have said, I do not think that he will have left the house, although it might be wise to ask a footman if—”
He did not get to finish his sentence for Lady Whitehaven hurried away from him at once and began to speak in rapid tones to a nearby footman. Edward waited impatiently, his heart quailing a little within him. He prayed that Titania would be unharmed by the time they found her.
“No, Lord Huckleby and Titania have not been seen leaving the house,” Lady Whitehaven said, coming back to him. “Then where can they be?”
Edward looked along the hallway. It ran from one side to the other, with the ballroom behind him and most of the doors were tightly closed – but there was one that lay in the shadows, as though hiding itself from his sight.
“He will have taken her somewhere here,” he murmured, gesturing to the doors and the other rooms. “He will try to convince her to leave quietly or he will threaten her in some fashion. We must go at once.”
Lady Whitehaven nodded. “I will go to one side if you will take the other,” she said hurriedly, stepping away from him. “I do hope Titania is…” She shook her head, unable to say more, but Edward did not pause to give her any words of encouragement. His need to find Titania was too great.
“We must be quiet,” he murmured, moving to the first door and seeing Lady Whitehaven move across the to the other side of the ballroom, listening carefully at the doors as he did. His instincts told him to hurry to the door farther away from him, the one hidden in shadows, and so he did so at once, moving quickly but quietly, with the growing urgency deep within his heart.
His instincts proved to be correct again, as he heard the unmistakable voice of Lord Huckleby coming from within. Gesturing wildly to Lady Whitehaven, he saw her lift her head and nod, coming towards him at once and bringing two footmen with her.
“He is in here,” Edward whispered, his voice barely audible.
“And Titania?”
Edward swallowed hard, knowing that Lord Huckleby must be speaking to someone but not being certain about the state of mind or of body that Titania was in.
And then, he heard her voice, as clear as crystal, coming from within.
“You are trying to fill me with fear, but I will not allow it to take a hold of me,” he heard her say, wanting to shout aloud with relief as he heard her speak. “I shall not leave this house without making as many people as I can aware of what your intentions are and the truth of your identity, for it is not only my life at stake but a good many others. You work for the enemy. Your plan was to bring down the royal family, and if I allow you to force me to leave this place without making so much as a sound, then what good am I to my King and to my country? You may be willing to betray them, Lord Huckleby, but I am not.”
Edward let out a long breath, relieved that Titania was not only safe but still showing the same strength as she had done before.
“I will tackle him,” he mouthed to Lady Whitehaven, wondering if he should tell her about the pistol that was within the depths of his jacket. “Have the footmen stand guard. Lord Huckleby cannot be allowed to escape.”
Lady Whitehaven nodded, her face ashen as Edward placed one hand on the door handle, preparing to enter the room and finally capture the one man he had been seeking for so long.
