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“What’re you playing at, you fool!” the driver of the mail coach sputtered, jumping down from his buckboard and remonstrating with the carriage driver.
“You shouldn’t pull up on the road like that. I couldn’t see you,” the carriage driver shot back.
They would have come to blows, had not a voice called out from the carriage – a voice which made Eloise’s blood run cold.
“That’s enough, get out of the way, we need to get through. Ah, this is it, though, isn’t it? The prey is close,” Lord Crawford said.
The cloud of dust was settling, and Eloise scrambled to her feet, clutching at Delphine.
“Quickly, run!” she exclaimed, but a shout came from the carriage.
“George, it’s them. They’re there,” Penelope cried.
Eloise grabbed Delphine’s hand, as footsteps raced after them.
“My Lady,” Delphine cried, stumbling as Eloise tried to pull her along.
“Did you think you could get away from me so easily?” Lord Crawford growled, and he grabbed at Eloise, pulling her roughly backwards so she fell to the ground with a cry.
Several others were with him: unpleasant-looking men who pulled Eloise and Delphine roughly to their feet.
“Please… no, you can’t,” Eloise cried.
“Can’t what? Take back what’s rightfully mine?”
The dust had settled, and the driver of the mail coach and his attendant looked on in astonishment as Eloise and Delphine were held in the arms of Lord Crawford’s rough-looking companions. Penelope and Claudia had now climbed out of the carriage and stood scowling at Eloise, who was fighting back the tears.
“What’s all this?” the kitchen boy demanded, advancing towards Lord Crawford, who pulled a pistol from beneath his frock coat and pointed it at the boy, who stared at him in horror.
“Get inside. You didn’t see anything,” Lord Crawford hissed, and the boy ran off, as the driver of the mail coach scrambled back onto his buckboard and geed off the horses.
“Bandits,” he cried out, and the mail coach lurched forward as the horses charged off along the road.
Eloise and Delphine were left alone at the mercy of Lord Crawford and his henchmen, who now dragged them towards the waiting carriage.
“Did you really think you’d get away from me? Fools. I knew you would flee. I had the house watched. The carriage driver who brought you here was easily bribed. You’re not getting away, Eloise. I always get what I want,” Lord Crawford snarled.
“You’re nothing but a coward. A wicked devil.” Eloise struggled in the arms of the man who was dragging her towards the carriage.
“Be quiet, you little slut,” Penelope exclaimed and struck Eloise hard across the face.
At this, Delphine kicked out, sending up a shower of mud, which covered the front of Penelope’s dress.
“You’re the one who fits your own description, Miss. We servants know all about the Crawford twins,” Delphine yelled, and Penelope struck out at her, too, before Lord Crawford pulled her back.
“Enough of this. Leave the servant here. She can find her way back to London. Get Eloise into the carriage. Her father is worried. She needs to be taken home,” he said, smiling at Eloise, who would have gladly struck him across the face if her hands had not been held behind her back.
To Eloise’s horror, Delphine was cast aside, left by the wall of the inn, whilst the others clambered into the carriage.
“I’ll get help, My Lady,” Delphine called out, but Lord Crawford merely laughed.
“Help? Nonsense. What help does she need? She’s going to be my bride, and there’s nothing a mere servant can do about it.” He closed the compartment door behind him.
It was a tight squeeze in the carriage – Lord Crawford, his two sisters, the two speechless henchmen, and Eloise. The carriage set off at a fast pace, a cloud of dust rising from its wheels. Lord Crawford held his pistol, ready for the slightest sign of trouble, and Eloise knew she could not resist his cruel threats.
“You’ve been a foolish girl, Eloise. What were you thinking?” Claudia snarled.
“That I have no intention of marrying your brother.”
