Chapter 18
Throwing open the carriage door, Isaac leapt out and took the stone steps to the house two at a time. The butler was already waiting for him, taking the hat that Isaac practically threw in his direction.
“They are in the drawing room, my lord.”
Isaac did not wait to be directed. The note from Lady Wickton had been urgent, telling him that Christina was in danger and could he please attend the house at once – and fear had licked up the sides of his mind ever since that moment.
“Lady Wickton.” Pushing open the door, Isaac inclined his head. “Lord Wickton, Lady Bedford.”
“Thank goodness you are here.” Lady Wickton pressed a handkerchief to her eyes. “We do not know what to do and – ”
“I cannot believe it was Lord Pennington.” Lady Bedford shook her head, her brow furrowing. “It seems quite preposterous to me that the gentleman would do any such thing as this.”
Isaac planted his feet and took in a steady breath to calm himself. “Might someone explain what has happened?”
Lady Wickton nodded but gestured to her husband, who was pacing up and down the room in front of the fireplace.
“Only a short time ago, Christina was returning from her visit with you in town. She had her maid with her. This maid burst into the house and told us all that Lord Pennington took Christina into his own carriage and told her that they were going to be wed.”
Blinking, Isaac tried to take in what was being said, the room growing suddenly too warm, the air thick with tension.
“You mean to say that Lord Pennington took her without her consent?” His voice was sharp, and he could feel his own pulse quickening in his throat. “She would not have gone willingly.”
Lady Wickton wrung the handkerchief between her fingers as she looked up at him, her eyes glassy.
“The maid was quite clear on that. There was a knife. She said… ” Her eyes closed, and another tear fell to her cheek.
“Lord Pennington threatened her most dreadfully. She said that Christina tried to make it plain that she was to escape, that Christina clasped her hands and urged her to the door in her own, quiet way, but that she was afraid to.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Lord Pennington said he would thrust the knife into Christina’s shoulder, should the maid disappear or alert someone to what had happened. ”
“But she did it anyway?” Isaac closed his eyes and shuddered, fearful now that Christina had been injured by the maid’s actions.
“Christina wanted her to go. She had to have someone to tell us what had occurred. The maid was afraid she had done something wrong, but I believe that she acted rightly.” Lord Wickton stopped pacing and went to pour a brandy, handing the first, small measure to Lady Wickton as silence rang through the room.
Isaac’s breathing was shallow, his eyes closing as he fought against a wave of dizziness. Christina was gone, then. Taken by Lord Pennington.
I cannot lose her.
“Did the maid know where he intended to take her?” His body grew tight, his hands curling into fists as his foot tapped heavily on the floor. “We cannot leave her with him.”
Lady Bedford shook her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with disbelief, as though all of this was still too outlandish to be true.
“He did not say, according to the maid. But I cannot understand it. What possible reason would Lord Pennington have for this? He’s a respectable gentleman with good standing, and he is related to our family! Surely he cannot – ”
It was Lady Wickton who cut her off, her voice taut with urgency.
“Mama, you must understand. It is because Lord Pennington is related to us that he has taken Christina. He wants her inheritance, the fortune she is to gain upon her marriage. She in herself is not valuable. It is only what she will bring him.”
Lady Bedford’s breath caught, as if the realization of what Lord Pennington was truly like had come upon her all at once. Isaac’s chest was painful as he dragged in air, trying to keep a hold of his emotions so that he could think clearly and without inhibition.
“We must go after her.” Isaac's voice was firm, the words echoing around the room and garnering momentum as they went. “This cannot be permitted. Lord Pennington has no right to her, and his cruelty, if allowed to stand, will result in nothing but pain and sorrow for Christina.” He glanced briefly at Lady Wickton, who was wiping tears from her eyes, then to Lady Bedford, who had gone very pale indeed. Lord Wickton, seeing this, went to press a brandy into the lady’s hand, but then looked to Isaac in return.
“I quite agree.” Drawing himself up, he held Isaac’s gaze. “But my friend, you must know what society will say if they discover this. To be a young lady alone with a gentleman, taken in a carriage and driven to some place or other… she will be ruined. Utterly.”
Lady Bedford closed her eyes, her hands clutching at the glass. “The ton’s whispers will tear her apart. Lord Pennington will be the only choice she has.”
“No,” Isaac spoke without hesitation, his thoughts centering on Christina.
“There is a way to save her from him. To save her reputation and to soften the rumors of scandal, if it should occur.” He looked straight back at Lady Bedford, seeing her eyes widen as she realized what he was about to say.
“I will marry her. The truth is, Lady Bedford, I have been in love with your daughter for the last two years. It is too long an explanation to tell you why we were set apart and why I did not reach this moment before. You cannot know the depths of my regret that I did not pursue matrimony before now.”
Lady Bedford stared at him in stunned silence. No doubt it was a shock for her to hear such things from his lips, but Isaac had no time to linger on her astonishment.
“We must act quickly if we are to prevent her from falling into further disgrace and from being forced to wed Lord Pennington. Where would he go with her?”
“Perhaps he has a Special License,” Lady Wickton suggested faintly.
Lord Wickton shook his head, pressing a hand over his eyes. “No. A Special License requires the Archbishop’s own signature, and weeks of arrangement beforehand. He could not have one in hand.”
“Then where?” his wife asked, as Isaac’s stomach dropped. “To Scotland?”
“Yes.” The weight of that sank heavily over him, making his feet sink into the floor.
“That is precisely where he will have gone. I should have thought of it earlier, but now… ” He looked around the room.
“There is no time to waste. If you will permit me – for I know she is your sister and I am no relation – I would like to ride out after them.”
Lord Wickton rose to his feet. “I will attend with you. I must.”
“We will have to ride,” Isaac replied, making for the door. “They will have taken the shortest route, but in time, I think we will be able to catch them.”
Lady Wickton rose and embraced her husband as Isaac paused at the door, seeing the way Lord Wickton held his wife close. How much he ached to have Christina back in his arms! How much he longed to have her safe with him again!
“Thank you, Wickton. Thank you, Lord Coventry.” Lady Bedford’s voice cracked as she spoke, but her eyes were filled with hope, her hands clasped in front of her.
“Godspeed to you both. I will pray that you will succeed.” Her eyes closed, a single tear falling to her cheek.
“Please, bring my darling Christina home safely.”
Isaac nodded once, his heart hammering in his chest as he stepped out into the hallway with Lord Wickton on his heels. He had to find her, had to return her to this house and to his arms. Gritting his teeth, he strode towards the front of the house, his determination growing.
I will not fail her.