Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
THEO
Ireached the end of the drive and, certain I had been right that the Underwood woman was on the estate, pulled gently on the reins to make Warrior stop.
After a moment’s hesitation, I turned him around and cantered back towards the manor house, furious that these people were taking me for a fool.
I decided to go straight to the back of the yard, where I would be able to see the back door of the main house as well as the cottages and barns, and could spot her should she come from any of those places.
I was starting to slow Warrior when a girl ran out from the back of the house and skidded to a halt in front of him.
Horrified to think of her falling under his hooves, I pulled on Warrior’s reins.
I didn’t know whether it was the shock of my unexpected reaction or her appearing in front of him that frightened Warrior, but he reared back, his front legs flailing in the air and he snorted loudly.
The girl screamed and stumbled backwards.
‘Rue!’ a man shouted as he rushed to help her.
I stroked Warrior’s neck to soothe him. By the time he was calm and slowly shifting from one hoof to the other, the man had reached her and hauled her out of the way. He glared up at me, his arms still around her waist. I recognised him from somewhere.
Then it dawned on me where I had seen him. And he had called her Rue. My heart stilled. Horrified to realise who she was, I looked at her, straight into the turquoise eyes I knew so well from my dreams.
‘It’s you,’ I said, my heart breaking to discover she was Rue Underwood.
She glowered. Despite her determined stance, I saw she was trembling and hated that I was the cause of her fear.
How cruel life was to let this woman enchant me, only for me to then have to take her to my father for interrogation.
For a moment I struggled to speak. I had dreamt of finding her ever since I had held her in my arms, hoping to court her.
Not this. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.
‘You are Rue Underwood?’ I asked, hoping despite all the evidence in front of me that I could still be mistaken.
‘You didn’t know it was me you were looking for?
’ she asked, an amused expression settling on her face.
Her smirk at my discomfort was the reaction I needed to make me focus.
She might be the most breathtaking woman I had ever seen, but if she was guilty of evil acts, as my father must believe her to be, then I had to carry out my duty.
‘Thank you, Jem,’ she said, her smile gentle as she diverted her attention to him.
She brushed dust from her skirts and ran her hands over her hair to tidy it.
Then she turned her attention back to me with her head held high and her eyes boring into mine.
‘I am Rue Underwood.’ There was an unmistakable defiance in her voice. ‘And you are the Witchfinder’s son.’
Jem stood shoulder to shoulder with her. I pictured the pair of them running away from the festival hand in hand. They swapped glances. I wondered if this was her sweetheart and not just the friend she had made him out to be. My chest tightened as envy swept over me.
‘What could you possibly want with Rue?’ Jem asked.
I admired him wanting to protect her and wished I wasn’t the reason for their anger.
‘It’s not him who wants me,’ Rue said mockingly without looking away from me. ‘He’s just the messenger sent here to do his father’s bidding and fetch me.’
Her reaction infuriated me. How dare she look down on me!
I wondered if maybe that woman from the market had been right to comment on Rue’s haughty demeanour.
I recalled my father telling me she was the daughter of Lady Thistlebury and frowned.
She wasn’t dressed as I expected an heiress would.
I looked from her to Jem. He was without doubt one of the estate workers – his speech and dress proved that – so was it possible that he could be her beau?
Was that something Rue might consider because of her reduced circumstances?
I dragged my thoughts back to my duties. I might not be the offspring of a lord but, as things stood now, I was the one with the upper hand.
Ignoring her comment, I said, ‘As I’m sure you are aware, I am here to take you to Stanthorpe for questioning.’
Her boldness slipped momentarily. ‘Stanthorpe?’
‘It is where the Witchfinder is temporarily based, as I’m sure you know.’
Jem gave her a gentle nudge. ‘I shall take you by cart.’ He looked up at me. ‘My mistress does not have a horse and I’m sure even you will not expect her to walk all that way.’
I shook my head, satisfied to feel in charge once more. ‘That will not be necessary.’
‘Then how do you expect me to accompany you?’ she asked uncertainly.
I slid back in my saddle and patted the leather in front of me. ‘On my horse.’
‘I beg your pardon? You cannot be serious.’
I smiled. ‘Why? Do you not believe Warrior to be strong enough to bear the weight of us both?’
Her eyes darkened but she didn’t respond. Nor did she take her gaze from mine. Her hatred for me was obvious, but I had no intention of giving in to her, or leaving her here. I also knew it would be careless to risk leading her on my horse, since she was more than capable of galloping away.
‘You are not joking?’ she said after a few seconds.
I took a step closer to her. ‘I am not.’
‘How dare you treat her this way?’ Pierre snapped. He had arrived holding a pitchfork I felt sure he was tempted to use on me.
‘How else would you suggest we make the journey with only one horse?’ I sensed the three of them were sorely tempted to attack me.
The time had come for me to leave with her.
I wanted to have her to myself and try to forge a connection.
Even after discovering how unlikely it was that she would ever be my friend, let alone anything more, I still didn’t want her to hate me.
‘Now, Mistress Underwood, if you wouldn’t mind mounting my steed?’ I slipped my foot out of the stirrup and reached out my hand for her to take.
‘No, Rue,’ Pierre said.
‘Don’t go with him,’ Jem shouted.
‘I have little choice,’ she said, looking from me to the stirrup. ‘At least you know where I will be.’ She didn’t turn to either of them but kept her gaze on my horse. ‘Please tell my grandmother and aunt what has happened.’
She gave me a pointed glare before taking her skirts in one hand and reaching up to take my hand. Then, with a little jump, she pulled herself up. She slipped her right leg over the pommel before modestly straightening her skirt and settling stiffly onto the saddle.
Seeing their heartbroken expressions, my feelings towards the two men softened. ‘I will send word to you. Hopefully Mistress Underwood will be allowed to return home shortly.’
The truth was that I had no idea what my father had in mind for this woman. I took up the reins.
‘Are you quite comfortable?’ I asked quietly, wishing the saddle was slightly larger and that I could leave even a small amount of space between us.
‘No, but that is of little matter.’
Her coolness towards me was understandable. As we walked down the drive and onto the road I realised she was still trembling and my bravado vanished.
‘I’m sorry I’ve had to do this to you.’
She stiffened. ‘You’re doing your father’s bidding.’ She sat upright, her chin raised, and I was impressed by her dignity at what must have been a frightening time.
We rode on in silence. I couldn’t help thinking how strange it felt for our bodies to be pressed against each other in this way.
Intimate, yet not at all pleasant. The smell of rosemary wafted from her long shiny hair.
I closed my eyes, wishing things were very different to how they were playing out now.
We had passed Thistlebury village and were on the way to Stanthorpe when she said, ‘I pity you.’
I tensed, hating to hear her say such a thing when all I wanted was for her to love me. ‘Why?’
‘Because most men grow up to follow in their father’s footsteps in admirable professions like law, or as blacksmiths, or maybe taking over the running of the family farm.
Roles that provide help or something useful to the local people.
Whereas no one benefits from the work you and your father do, and people loathe you. ’
Her defiance had clearly taken over any fear she might have felt earlier. I admired her strength and hoped it stayed with her when she came before my father. She would most certainly need it.
I thought through her insult and had to admit most of what she said was true, but not all. I decided to be honest with her, hoping to redeem myself slightly.
‘I would not have chosen this as my profession.’
‘Then why do it?’
I hesitated, trying to decide how much to tell her.
Then, wanting her to know me even a little, I explained my situation.
‘I am grateful to my mother for persuading my father to send me to live with family in Norway for the past nine years. I wasn’t happy to be called back home to work for my father, but whether I like it or not I am an only child and this is my family’s profession.
I am expected to continue with it, however distasteful I might find it at times. ’
She turned her head as if to look back at me, but then looked straight ahead again. I could tell she was surprised by my honesty.
‘I didn’t expect you to share that with me.’ Her voice was quiet and I had a feeling she loathed me a little less. Then she added, ‘But you are a grown man of – what?’
‘Twenty-one.’
‘You’re well built and I imagine capable of standing up for yourself. If you don’t wish to do this work, why not say as much to your parents? Be the man you want to be, not your father’s lackey.’
Her words stung and I wanted to hurt her.
I also wanted to please her. To kiss her.
Damnations, why was my mind in such turmoil?
Because I was infatuated by her, that’s why.
It had been reckless of me to share my horse with her all the way to Stanthorpe.
All I had done was increase her loathing of me, and I only had myself to blame for that.
If only I had resisted giving into my instincts and not raced back to the manor to search for her again.
I knew I would find her there. I was a fool and was furious with myself for my actions.
A sensible man would have done as I had first intended and returned another day, leading a horse for her to ride.
If I had any chance of persuading this woman that I wasn’t beneath her contempt, I must never again resort to foolish decisions on the spur of the moment.