“How on Earth did you find me?”
Lucy looked dirty, bruised, and bewildered, which stirred a fierce desire in him to protect her. To never let her suffer harm again.
“Time for all that later.” At the profound relief, he wanted to hold her in his arms. Hugh tried to ignore his emotional turmoilas he gathered up her bonnet, pelisse, and reticule. “We’ll stay at the inn in Chigwell tonight,” he said as he helped her into her pelisse.
Once her bonnet was on her head and she clutched her reticule, he swept her up into his arms and strode with her to the phaeton. Luke followed and climbed in behind, and Hugh drove them the short distance to the village inn.
Hugh booked two rooms, saw Lucy into one, then went to see to the horses.
Luke came back within the hour with the constable, Mr. Riley, a short, stocky gentleman with an earnest face. Not long afterward, Lucy came down having refreshed herself, and backed up Hugh’s account that Rattray had fired first, as well as everything she knew about the man’s crimes. The villainy of which seemed to shock Mr. Riley, who appeared convinced it had been self-defense. But he would examine the hut for evidence and have the body removed. He’d return if there were any questions.
Hugh ordered luncheon, and they sat in the inn’s dining room while he explained how they’d come to find her. “It was fortunate we found the coachman and the groom at the tavern, for we had little to go on.”
“I’m so glad my aunt is safe,” Lucy said, placing a hand over her mouth as she yawned.
“Up to bed with you, as soon as you’ve eaten,” he said.
Lucy didn’t argue. “I can’t thank you both enough,” she said passionately.
“I’m sure to be in Lady Sarah’s bad books, as I canceled an invitation to take her to see the celebrations in Hyde Park,” Luke said at the end of the meal. He grinned and rose. “I’ll hire a horse from the stables down the road and ride back to London. I need to visit her and apologize. See you there, Hugh.”
Hugh stood to shake his hand. “You’ve been a good friend, and indispensable, Luke. If you require me to put in a good word with Sarah, you have only to ask me.” He grinned. “Although coming from me, it can sometimes prove unhelpful.” He fervently hoped Luke would one day become part of the family. If any man could drive Viscount Cardew out of Sarah’s mind and heart, it would be Luke.
Hugh saw Lucy to her chamber. “I must tell you the rest of it, that which I failed to tell the constable because I didn’t want my father drawn into it. The evil things Rattray has done and what he planned to do,” she said as she stood at the door.
“All in good time.” He framed her face in his hands examined her bruised face, then he dropped a light kiss on her lips. “Shall I send for a doctor?”
“No, I don’t need one.”
He opened the door for her. “We’ll leave for London first thing tomorrow.”
She put up a hand to trace his chin with a finger, sending a flood of warmth straight to his groin. “Tomorrow, then.”
“I’ll fetch your luggage in the morning, before breakfast. Can you manage without it tonight?”
“Of course.” She pushed an errant wisp out of her eyes. “Clothes are of no consequence.”
He shook his head and smiled, briskly banishing the vision of her sleeping naked, which did nothing to help the discomfort in his breeches, then retreated hastily downstairs. Tonight after dinner, he’d play cards at the tavern to resist calling in to see how she fared.
Chapter Seventeen
In bed, Lucydwelled on Hugh’s kisses. Her toes curled, remembering how he’d looked at her. The flame of passion in his eyes. Would he kiss her again? If he’d come into the bedchamber, she wouldn’t have resisted him. She was shameless where Hugh was concerned.
At the knock at the door, Lucy woke with a start. The sun crept in through gaps in the curtains. It must have been late! Was it Hugh?
She leapt from the bed, then realized with panic that she only wore her shift. “Please wait,” she called, then she threw her dress over her head and rushed to the door.
The boot boy stood there with her luggage. She thanked him as he carried it over to the bed. Hugh must have gone to the hut this morning very early to fetch it. She went limp with relief, recognizing she would never have to see the place again. Then she busied herself, sorting through her clothes and selected her crushed traveling gown.
A wave of compassion gripped her.Poor Aunt Mary.She had told Lucy to pack an evening gown. Her aunt had imagined they would be dining in elegant splendor with that rogue!
Suddenly ravenous, Lucy stripped and poured cold water into a bowl at the washstand. Shivering, she washed herself, wincing when she gently washed her face. The view in the mirror shocked her. Her hair had unraveled from its plait, wisps hanging down around her face like an eagle’s nest. How dreadfulshe looked with her bruised face, but the deep relief and the fledgling joy she allowed herself made her appearance seem less important. She dressed quickly, sighing over her torn stockings. There was little she could do with her curls except tie them back with a ribbon.
Lucy slipped on her shoes. How brave Hugh was. How masterful! When he’d run into the hut and found her, his gaze so concerned, her heart had turned over, despite being terrified for his safety. But in the end, Rattray had been no match for him.
Hugh had come all this way to save her. It was difficult to grasp that after everything that had happened, her future had changed for the better. Would their path to matrimony run smooth, or would something else happen to prevent it?“Oh, stop!”With a last glance in the mirror, she went downstairs, eager to see him. She wanted to grasp at happiness now, with both hands.
He waited in the foyer, his eyes tender as he greeted her. He had shaved and smelled of soap. Elegant and handsome, he made her heart leap.