“No,” he said with a chuckle.
“I meant his gun,” she said, her lips twitching.
“Oh, well, in that case, probably. There’s no way he would be able to shoot into our room if he had a pistol. They don’t have the same distance. Nor can they get the same altitude. See, if it was a pistol, he’d have to be stand—”
She cut his words off with a quick kiss. “No more explanation necessary.”
He smiled and opened the door to the room—or perhaps closet, depending on who you asked. “All right, in you go,” he said, trying to get his gun ready for the first, and hopefully only, shot.
“I don’t think so,” she said defiantly, crossing her arms. “This isn’t a room, it’s a closet. It doesn’t even have windows.”
“Exactly. But you promised. So, in you go,” he encouraged, giving her bottom a little swat of encouragement.
She groaned and he sent her his best ducal glance. “Oh, please. That look does nothing to cow me. If you want to see a look that gets results you should get to know Brooke better.”
“I believe I’ve seen the look you speak of,” he said honestly. “Twice actually.”
“And did it scare you?” she asked with a cheeky smile.
“Yes, and I’ll be happy to tell you all about it when I return,” he said quickly. “Now, get in there so I can go hunt the goose and get back to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“All right,” she said, resigned. “But you owe me for this.” She stepped into the little space and scowled.
“I’ll do whatever you ask of me. Just stay in the clo—room, please,” he said with a quick kiss. He shut the door quickly and flew down the stairs, taking them two at a time. He swung the front door open and ran in the direction he was certain the shot had come from.
He knew Madison made a valid point. Robbie wouldn’t be such a fool to be lurking in an open field or even around the edges of the forest. He probably scrambled away before the smoke cleared. Probably one of the smartest things he’d done in his life. But Benjamin still had an advantage: tracks.
The coastal regions were always wet from rain. Even if it hadn’t rained in a few days, the ground would still be soggy enough to leave his tracks.
He ran over to where he assumed the shooter had to have been standing in order for the bullet to have come inside at such an angle. He slung his gun over his shoulder, looked down at the ground and groaned. His bullet wound hurt more than he wanted to admit. Madison had been right on that point, too. His right arm was virtually useless. It hurt too much to even try to move it. Good thing he favored his left eye when he shot. He could just prop the end of the gun on something and fire against his left shoulder without causing any pain in his right. He hoped.
Scowling, he surveyed the land. The grass was at a moderate length. It was taller than he’d have liked it to be while searching for footprints, but it was short enough that if he scoured enough he’d find them.
Walking closer to a little knot of trees, his heart picked up. Not only were there boot tracks, but Robbie had carelessly left a small box of lead balls and powder on a fallen log. “Careless fool,” Benjamin muttered, pocketing his find.
Following the trail Robbie had so thoughtfully—or thoughtlessly rather—provided, Benjamin walked with his gun cocked and ready to go at a second's notice. He walked through the forest for a good half a mile when he abruptly stopped his feet and swore.
He frowned as he looked down at the small rock bottom creek that ran right in front of him. It was only three feet wide and couldn’t be more than ankle deep. But that was deep enough. Deep enough to lose a trail. The rocks on the bottom were large enough they wouldn’t shift around a boot to leave a print and the water ran just enough not to allow the mud form his boots to stick to the rocks. He shook his head. Either this was a stroke of genius or luck. Considering Robbie was involved, it was probably the latter.
With a sigh, he released the cock on his gun and sat down. He was tired and in pain. Robbie, it appeared, had gotten away again, and wasn’t likely to return anytime soon. He looked at the offending creek for a minute. Then tore his gaze away in irritation. Just as his eyes left the creek, something on the other side of the creek caught his attention. Another set of boot prints.
He jumped up and leapt across the little creek. He looked down at ground and frowned again. These boot prints were side by side, not one in front of the other. How odd. Another oddity, the new set was considerably larger than the ones he’d followed to the creek.
He set his gun down and put his foot next to the boot prints that was on his side of the creek. It was big. Not quite as big as his boot, but close. He scanned the ground to see if there were any more. There weren’t. Whoever left these, had to have walked to the spot via the creek and just stood here.
Benjamin stepped back across the little creek and ground his teeth. There was only one reason for two sets of fresh tracks to exist: Robbie had an accomplice.
Chapter 23
Madison felt like an eight year old girl during a thunderstorm hiding in the hall closet. Surely Benjamin was overreacting. Robbie wouldn’t shoot at them and then be so dimwitted as to try and come into the house to collect her. If he was, he had another thing coming. She’d sooner brain the man than go off with him.
Time crept by in that dark little closet that was positioned right above the kitchen. Voices and sounds from the kitchen drifted up to her ears. Apparently most of the footman were on break and were enjoying a game of cards in the kitchen. They were awfully rowdy with their laughter and cheers. Cook was banging around pots and pans, getting ready for their evening meal and yelling at all the men for dragging mud into her kitchen on their shoes. She smiled. As angry as she had been about being dragged here against her will, she was beginning to like it.
All the staff had been more than friendly with her since she’d come. Cook offered to cook anything she wanted. Hatley, the informal butler, commanded all the inside footmen to do whatever she asked. Which they did. She hadn’t been outside much, but she imagined Billings would act as her groom if she wanted to go riding. She knew one day they’d have to leave to go to Glenbrook, but hopefully not for a while yet. She rather liked it here.
“Madison,” Benjamin said tightly, opening the door to the room she was in. “Grab your things, we’re leaving.”
Madison gasped. Had he read her mind? Shaking her head, she said, “What?”
“I said, we’re leaving. I just instructed Billings to ready the carriage,” he informed her matter-of-factly.
“But, you’re not well,” she protested. Why did they have to leave now?
He hefted her stubborn body over his good shoulder and carried her down to their room. “I’m well enough,” he grunted. “Now, the carriage will be ready in fifteen minutes. Will you?”
“Hmm, I don’t know,” she said caustically, blinking at the clock. “I sure hope so. Let me see. Clothes?” She looked down at the same wrinkled blue gown she’d been wearing since they’d left Rockhurst and kicked her foot out from under the hem to reveal her slipper and stocking. “Check. Personal items?” She grabbed her reticule and dropped her brush, mirror and toothbrush inside. “Check.” She looked back at the clock. “Do I win a prize for being early? It only took me fifteen seconds!”
He shook his head. “Very good. Now you can help me.” He started grabbing his clothes from the wardrobe and haphazardly threw them into a trunk.
She went to his bureau and opened the top drawer. Inside was a mess of cravats, stockings and drawers. She left the cravats and stockings and tossed the drawers into his chest. “Anything else I can help you with?” she asked pertly, trying to let on to the “help” she’d already given.
“Yes. Grab the drawings, please,” he said, tossing clothes into the chest.
She tensed. Why did he want those? She’d hoped he’d forget about them when he woke up and she could burn them. “Why don’t we leave these here, and I’ll draw some more,” she offered.
“No,” he said firmly. “Bring them. I want them.”
Scooping them up from where she’d placed them face down on the vanity, she handed them to him and watched in confusion as he took them from her and carefully placed them on top of his pile of clothing. The man was cracked. There was nothing else for it. Only a deranged man would want to keep drawings of another man dancing with his wife. “You know you’re addled, right?”
“Perhaps,” he said quickly. “Are you sure you don’t want me to tell you who that handsome fellow is?” He looked at her and grinned.
“No,” she said vehemently, shaking her head for emphasis. “However, he better not show up wherever it is we’re going.”
His smiled dimmed. “And why is that?”
“Would you really want to share a house with him?”
Benjamin shrugged. “He looks like a nice enough fellow.”
“You know what I mean,” she said tonelessly.
He nodded. “I believe so, yes. However, I feel obligated to inform you he will be there.”
“Then you’ll just need to redistribute him,” she said sharply, crossing her arms.
“Madison,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around her and bringing her close. “Are you unwell? Your face has gone whiter than snow.”
She nodded. “Do we have to go?” she asked weakly.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but yes,” he said softly before brushing a kiss on her cheek. “Just waiting for Robbie to make his move here isn’t a good plan. We’re too secluded here. I think I can protect you better at Glenbrook. I have more servants there and a better land spread so it will be harder for him to climb a tree and shoot inside our room.”
“Then why don’t you just take me back to Rockhurst,” she argued.
“No,” he barked. “You’re my wife. You will stay with me.” He abruptly let go of her, grabbed the trunk and left the room.
Madison sank down onto the feather mattress and watched Benjamin leave. Her heart started to hammer so fast with what she hoped to be rage, not panic. She didn’t want to go live near Leo. They may have only seen each other little more than a dozen times and actually spoken less than half that many in less than a month, but it was enough. She didn’t want to see him again. Not that she was certain she’d recognize him anyway; it had been a long time. He was probably fat, bald and dandling babes on his knees by now. But still, the idea he could show up unnerved her. What if he wasn’t bald and ugly? What if he was handsome and single? What if old sparks ignited again and turned to flames. She shook her head. She couldn’t let that happen. She was a married woman now. She belonged to Benjamin and she would never betray him.
But that did nothing to ease her mind. The point was, she didn’t want to go see him. More than that, she really hated being told what to do. Everyone always told her what to do. She’d been the most biddable of the three daughters. Even Liberty with her love for propriety and following rules garnered more respect than she did. People always ran over Madison because she was quiet and usually considered a bit different. Well, not anymore. She may have been manipulated by Robbie for five years. Used by Leo to be some sort of bawdy mental image he hoped to make a reality. Forced to marry Benjamin because she didn’t want to be tied to a scandal involving her brother-in-law. And, stolen straight from her bed in the dead of night. But not anymore. Starting today she was going to starch her backbone and take matters into her own hands. Starting with informing Benjamin she intended to stay.
She knew he’d be up shortly and she’d inform him of her plan to stay. To prepare for his grand entrance, she kicked off her slippers, peeled off her stockings then shoved the items under the bed before moving to the top of the bed and reclining at a forty five degree angle against the pillows. “I feel like a queen,” she said with a smile.
Footfalls thudded down the hallway and Madison pasted a bright smile on her lips. This was it. In a second Benjamin was going to round the corner into their room, causing the curtain to drop and the show to begin, so to speak.
“Let’s go, Madison,” Benjamin called, entering the room. He looked rather handsome just then with his disheveled hair, gristly chin, and unkempt clothing. Certainly not like the duke he was. He looked rugged. Common. Familiar.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “I’ll be staying,” she declared airily. “I happen to like it here. I think I should like to extend my visit.”
He snorted. “Not on your life. Let’s go.” He frowned. “Where are your stockings and slippers?”
She wiggled her toes at him. “I shan’t need them for the rest of the day,” she informed him with a smile.
“And why not?” he demanded.
“Because I’ve no plans to move from my spot,” she declared, wiggling against the pillows behind her for emphasis.
He smiled and shook his head. “All right. Have it your way.”
“What’s that to mean?” she asked, bringing her hand up to inspect her attention deprived cuticles.
“You’ll see,” he answered before grabbing her with his left arm and hoisting her over his good shoulder.
“Put me down,” she yelled, slapping her palms on his back. “I mean it, Benjamin. Put me down.”
“I will,” he said, giving her a tight one-armed squeeze around her midsection. “I suppose you’ll require your reticule.”
“No, leave it there,” she ordered when he picked it up.
He wound the straps around his right hand and let it hang. “If I leave it then you won’t have any of your things.”
“Put me down,” she demanded.
“I already said I would,” he said flippantly.
“Now,” she ground out.
He started walking her down the stairs. “Soon enough.”
She started wiggling her body, trying to break free and his grasp tightened. “Benjamin Collins, let go of me!”
The front door opened and she saw Cook and Hatley stare at the two of them with unhinged jaws as Benjamin carried her past them. “Here we are, duchess,” he said, plopping her down on the velvet squabs of his carriage.
She scrambled to get up and he held her down. “I don’t want to go,” she said stubbornly.
“I know,” he said quietly. “But you have to.”
“No, I don’t,” she said fiercely.
He nodded. “Yes, you do.”
The carriage lurched forward and irritation swelled in her breast. Why did this man always seem to be abducting her as soon as she was beginning to like being around him? She crossed her arms and watched in annoyance as he leaned forward to secure the extra latches on the inside of the carriage She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “I’m not so daft I’d try to jump from a moving carriage,” she muttered.
He shrugged. “I can never be too careful where you’re concerned, sweet.”
She shook her head. His sarcasm was rather annoying at times. “Well, once again, you weren’t too concerned about me,” she said with feigned sweetness as she kicked one of her bare feet from under her skirt in order to catch his eye.
“That’s not my lack of concern for you. That was your own doing.”
She frowned. “How so?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t tell you to discard your slippers and stockings and hide them from me.”
“I didn’t hide them,” she countered. “They were under the bed.”
“You didn’t tell me that when I asked,” he retorted. “Therefore, I took that to mean you didn’t consider them important enough to bring with you.”
She repositioned herself on the seat, tucking her bare and slightly cold feet under her. “You better stop in the first town and buy me more,” she said coldly. “And while you’re at it, I demand you buy me a new gown. I’ve been wearing this one for ten days straight.”
“My apologies,” he said tonelessly. “However, we will not be stopping before we get to Glenbrook except to eat and change the horses. Once we’re there, I’ll commission a modiste to make you up an entire new wardrobe.”
She crossed her arms and let out a defiant huff. “And just how long will I get to endure your charming personality and frozen feet?”
“Two days.”
“Absolutely not,” she said sharply, scowling. “I will not be stuck in a carriage with you for two days wearing the same gown I’ve worn nearly a fortnight and nothing to cover my feet.”
“Yes, you will,” he said flatly, propping his feet up on the seat opposite him.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It did nothing for her.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said calmly. “You’re not going to be able to run away from me when we stop. So don’t even try it.”
She looked at him sharply. How did he know she was thinking that? “You can’t keep watch of me every second,” she said airily.
“No?” he asked curiously, his lips twitching. “And how do you plan to run away with nothing to cover those beautiful but bare feet of yours?”
“I could buy slippers,” she informed him, raising her chin a notch.
He scoffed. “That would take too long. I might find you before you could board the mail coach if you did that.”
“You make a good point,” she said, nodding. “I won’t need to shop for slippers. On the mail coach I can buy some from another passenger.”
“And if there’s not another female passenger?”
She shrugged. “Then I’ll just go in bare feet. It’s not like I’m not doing that right now.”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not boarding a mail coach. You’re coming with me to Glenbrook.”
“Whatever you say,” she said dismissively.
“Madison,” he said sharply. “You’re my wife. You’re coming with me. End of discussion.”
“All right,” she agreed with a shrug.
Four hours of uncomfortable, deafening silence later they pulled into the first coaching inn. Billings went to go water and feed the horses after he opened the carriage door.
“Come along, Madison,” Benjamin said, climbing out of the carriage.
“No,” she said, shaking her head in defiance.
“If you think I’ll leave you here while I go order our supper and use the necessary, you’re mistaken.”
She scowled. “I’m not walking across the yard in my bare feet,” she said testily.
He smiled. “No need. Now, come along.” He reached his hand up to her, waiting for her to take it.
She didn’t. “I’ll stay here, thank you.”
“No you won’t,” he returned sharply. “Let’s go. I’ll carry you.”
She sighed. “And how, pray tell, do you plan to do that when you have only one good arm?”
“The same way I carried you before,” he said with a grin.
“No,” she hissed. “I will not be embarrassed because you want to show off your brute strength by tossing me over your shoulder like a caveman taking his captive bride to the bearskin rug he calls a bed.”
He chuckled. “You have some imagination. Now get down here. I’m hungry.”
She didn’t budge. He mumbled something beneath his breath and climbed back into the carriage.
“Is that the way of it, then?” he asked, putting an arm around her and dragging her out of the carriage. “I wouldn’t kick and move around too much if I were you. It just draws more attention to us.”
“Put me down,” she said through clenched teeth.
“I will,” he assured her. “Just as soon as we get back into the carriage.”
Never in Madison’s life had she been as embarrassed as she was in the inn. Benjamin continued to hold her bent in half over his shoulder with her backside facing the clerk as he ordered their dinner. Thankfully he didn’t further mortify her by insisting they eat in the crowded dining room full of curious onlookers.