Page 23 of Beth: A Regency Romance Novell

“Miss wanted to go back inside and shoot the baron,” Lilly said. “But I stopped ’er.”

“Very sensible, Lilly.” Marcus gazed down into the exhausted face of the young lady he was coming to feel a great deal for.

Beth tore the delicate flounce from her gown. “The dress is ruined anyway,” she explained as she tied the pink satin around his arm.

“Can you ride, Lilly?” Marcus asked.

“Ponies and plough horses. I’m a country girl.”

“Good enough.” Marcus took Beth’s arm and led them to the stables. “Wait here.” He climbed the coach house stairs and pounded on the door of the stable staff’s quarters.

A burly individual, wiping sleep from his eyes opened it. “What yer want?”

“Your master is in need of you,” Marcus said.

The coachman blinked at the sky. “Barely dawn. He didn’t order an early start. Had plans he said.”

“You’d best go to him immediately. He’s wounded and not in the best of humors.”

After pulling on his trousers the man raced down the stairs.

Marcus entered the stables, gasping at the rancid smell of neglect. He backed Zeus from his stall and saddled him. Then he put a rein on the gelding with the four white feet. He looked for another saddle but there was none.

In the yard, he lifted Beth onto Zeus’ back, and then boosted Lilly up behind her. He took hold of the gelding’s rein and mounted him. The horse, unused to being ridden bareback whickered and sidled.

“There, my good fellow,” Marcus soothed, patting the horse’s neck. “A decent feed awaits you.” He had no compunction about borrowing Ramsey’s horse. He wished he could keep him. The gelding was too good for the likes of the baron. And should Ramsey rally and decide to follow them, a missing member of his team would delay him for a little while.

As the horses trotted along the drive, Marcus glanced through the window. In the great hall, the coachman helped Ramsey to his feet. The wound was high on the shoulder but bled freely. It was unlikely to kill him, but it would take him some time to recover. Marcus didn’t much care. Let Andrew deal with the fellow.

With Lilly’s arms around her, Beth drooped over Zeus’ neck as they crossed the stone bridge and entered an inn at Richmond. The ostler in the yard hurried to tend a coach which pulled in and deposited weary travelers.

“I’ll hire a chaise to take you home after breakfast,” Marcus said. It was unfortunate that it would be broad daylight when they reached London. At least Beth would be accompanied by a maid. He still hoped he could ensure Beth was not compromised by this night of villainy.

“More coffee miss?” the inn’s servant asked Beth.

“Yes, thank you.” Beth glanced shyly at Marcus who was tucking into a steak. She was exhausted, but oddly alert and aware of everything around her, the smells of roasted meat, coffee, and ale, the chatter of diners surrounding them, Marcus’ concerned gaze, more intense than mere concern. Or was she being fanciful?

He smiled at her. “We’ve been lucky, a chaise for hire has just pulled in after taking their fare to a house nearby.”

She couldn’t look away from him. A dark beard covered his jaw, which made him look like a highwayman instead of a gentleman. Her fingers itched to stroke it. Would it be coarse or silky? An honorable man. As soon as they arrived, he had arranged for a surgeon to treat Ramsey’s wound. Would she ever meet another to equal him? She doubted it. Had she really suspected him of being a rake? Was it only last night? What would have happened to her and Lilly had he not come? It didn’t bear thinking about.

“Do you think that Ramsey will come after us? Follow us to London?” She wasn’t afraid when Marcus was with her.

“No, he’s in no condition to travel but if he does he’ll go north. You won’t see him again.”

He seemed so sure. She wanted to believe him. It was a miracle that he had come to find her. “How did you discover he’d taken me?” she asked, as the eggs and drink warmed the cold knot in her stomach. She wanted to know everything.

“Ramsey’s note sent Mrs. Grayshott off on a wild goose chase into the gardens,” Marcus explained. “She searched everywhere for you, then accused me as I was the last man to dance with you. Discovering her mistake she begged my assistance.”

“Oh, dear. Mrs. Grayshott will have told everyone that I deceived her.”

“I very much doubt it. I cautioned her to be discreet for the duke would not welcome any gossip.”

“I’m so grateful, Marcus! I would hate this to damage Jenny and Andrew in some way.” But why had he made the journey during a storm to find her? He did not know her, apart from that one dance they shared. He was a friend of Andrew’s, of course, but still… She tidied away a wisp of hair, aware that she must look a fright. “Andrew and my sister, Jenny, will be dreadfully worried!”

“They will soon be reassured.” He gestured to the yellow-bodied chaise outside the window. Two post boys, dressed in uniform white leather breeches and short jackets with large brass buttons, tall beaver hats on their heads, waited beside it.

“Are you coming with us to London?” Beth asked.

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