Chapter 20

The evening passed in a blur for Audrey. She'd taken a step towards happiness, but it felt like a dream. She watched Jude dance with Elspeth, feeling joy at the happiness radiating from her as she enjoyed her first ball. So strange that they were pretty much the same age, but so much had happened to her in the last few months that she felt so much older than Elspeth.

She felt no jealousy watching Jude dance with Lady Caroline. So different from that afternoon when she had felt the stabbing pain of jealousy, seeing Lady Caroline reigning as May Queen. Audrey, secure in knowing Jude loved her, could smile at Lady Caroline, and wish her luck in her quest for a husband.

Waiting with impatience for their waltz together time seemed to slow down. She nodded and smiled as Franny spoke to her, and each of Jude's sisters came to talk and share their excitement at the ball. She noticed Jane and Grace creeping past the ballroom and out to the terrace, but Audrey, remembering the joy of watching her first ball at Rowton Castle, kept silent. Let them enjoy their escapade.

Then he was there. She sensed his presence before she saw him and raised her eyes to melt again in this deep brown eyes. For a moment she wondered if she'd imagined the scene in the great hall. What if he didn't love her after all? But then that strong, deep voice calling her, "his love," and her breathing settled again.

"Shall we dance, dearest, loveliest Audrey," he asked, holding out his hand. She placed her hand in his, feeling that frisson of connection and smiling in recognition.

The music started with a slow melody, and she looked at Jude in surprise. "No waltz?" she asked.

"Later, dear love. I've asked them to play a pavane first. I intend to steal a second dance so we can build up to a waltz."

The older, stately pavane suited their mood perfectly, unfolding like a conversation. They walked together, turned to gaze at each other, and then twirled gently, each mirroring the other's movements. Audrey felt she floated on a cloud as the slow-motion movements built in tempo to the music.

This was the only place she wanted to be, close to the man she loved. It had happened slowly. Almost like the dance, at a slow pace, but she knew with certainty that a strong love connected them.

So many wonderful people had entered her life since leaving Rowton Castle, far outweighing the impact of her controlling brother's evil personality. It became a dance of love and thankfulness, filled with hope of a future with Jude at Clairville.

The tempo then changed into a slow waltz, prompting gasps from those watching as they whirled together. Those around them who knew the steps, joined the waltz, but Audrey was oblivious to everything but Jude. She'd danced a few waltzes before, at balls in London or Bath, but never felt as though her feet were floating in the air. As the music drew to a close, Jude took her hand in his and kissed it. More gasps from those around them at such a public declaration of affection. Only that morning she had been making plans to leave, now she knew she could not leave, and for the first time in many months felt settled and happy in her choice.

She realized suddenly that this meant she would not leave Sasha. The little girl would stay in her life, and she could mother Sasha and love her as a daughter. Suddenly life felt good.

As Jude went back to his duties as host, she stayed close to Franny, glad to be sheltered from curious conversation with other guests.

"You're happy my friend. I can tell you've found true love. I'm delighted and expect to be treated as mother of the bride at your wedding."

"Who else could take that place?" said Audrey, planting a kiss on Franny's cheek. "Now let's find some lemonade. My head is swimming with too much champagne."

As they walked to the refreshment area, they were intercepted by Beatrice, asking if they had seen Jane and Grace.

"I remember seeing them a while ago," said Audrey. "Don't tell your mother, but they were sneaking out to the garden. I suspect they could hear the music and dance there without being seen."

"I did the same myself at Alice's ball," laughed Beatrice. "I won't tell Mama, not to worry."

"I could do with some fresh air. I'll go and check on them," said Audrey. "Franny, save me a glass of lemonade, I'll be back soon."

Her feet almost dancing she walked towards the trees at the edge of the courtyard beyond the terrace, sure that's where she would find the twins. Something made her stop and look around, a feeling of sudden unease.

There's nothing to be sacred of she told herself I'm in the garden at Clairville, I can hear the orchestra, there are people taking refreshments on the terrace, and I'm pretty sure I can hear Grace and Jane just in those trees.

A twig snapped under her foot, and she stopped to listen. Sure enough, the girls were chattering and humming to the music, just to her right. If she remembered rightly there was a little clearing there with a stone table, the perfect place for afternoon tea in the shade, or dancing at a ball.

It happened so suddenly she had no chance to scream. Someone grabbed Audrey from behind and placed a hand over her mouth. Fear crept over her as she kept still. Something told her this was not an intruder, but her brother Ethan's work. A voice hissed sharply from the trees. "Hold her steady."

Most definitely Ethan.

"Bring her to the carriage," he continued.

She found herself picked up and carried by a foul-smelling man. Audrey heard her dress rip as she kicked frantically as she was taken further from the house. Then she was thrown roughly onto the floor of a waiting carriage.

"There you are. And welcome to her. Now where's my shilling?"The man who had abducted her snarled.

She heard the rattle of coins as she raised her head from the floor of the carriage. Ethan's voice broke the silence.

"Welcome, dear sister. Yes, please take a seat. You will not escape again."

Audrey saw the glint of pure evil in his face, his delight at having her back in his power. His next words shocked her.

"Caroline, my dear, can you help me. Push her back, while I tie her hands and muffle her voice."

Caroline? Surely not?

Ethan continued, "Audrey, I warn you that you must stay still and comply with whatever I tell you to do. If you don't the consequences will be dire for that child you are so fond of."

"Hideous brat," spat his companion. "Children should be unseen and unheard in my opinion."

It was Lady Caroline, with her brother Ethan. Audrey's head spun with confusion.

Firm hands pushed her back, while her own hands were bound behind her back. She tried to protest as Ethan pushed a silken scarf into her mouth, but he pulled back her head forcefully and reminded her again to stay still.

"Only the best for my sister. We don't want your lovely mouth bruised by a gag. What would your betrothed say if I delivered damaged goods? Stay still Audrey, almost finished. There we are, all safe and secure." Ethan banged the roof of the coach which trundled off into the darkness, leaving Clairville far behind.

Audrey occasionally caught glimpses of the pair opposite her in the moonlight. Her brother nestled his head in Lady Caroline's hair, and they held hands and laughed together. She felt nauseous with the shock, the swaying of the carriage, and the proximity of her brother and his accomplice.

As dawn broke Ethan spoke to her in chilling tones.

"You will marry the Duke of Batton within hours. I'm only waiting on the special license and expect that very soon. All you need to do now is prepare yourself for marriage."

Audrey's back buckled as she strained against the ties. Ethan moved toward her, and she succeeded in kicking his shin. Satisfaction was fleeting as Caroline leaned forward and slapped her round the face.

"Careful, Caro my lamb, we can't damage the bride's face. All brides should look radiant on their special day."

"Impossible my dear, this governess could never look radiant. But if you insist, I shall leave her be."

"It's for the best my dear, the marriage settlement will bring us a considerable amount of money. No damaged goods for the Duke of Batton."

They won't get away with this. Someone must have seen me. Franny knows how happy I was. There is no way anyone will believe I've run away. But she remembered she had run away before, with her cousins help, so people might assume she had done the same again.

Caroline's voice droned on, and Audrey realized how carefully they had planned her kidnapping. "You're thinking they won't believe you've left. I suppose some, like your friend, Mrs. Weston, might wonder. However, we have your dear cousin Rupert, ready to swear that you asked for his help in leaving Clairville. Dear Rupert, so loyal to the sound of sovereigns falling into his purse."

Audrey glared at Caroline as she continued to speak.

"I had so much fun, persuading Rupert to help us out. Your letter will silence any questions. It took me a while to copy your handwriting, but it's difficult to tell any difference in the letter. I placed it in the library myself, while you were twirling and whirling around the ballroom in that sickening waltz. You've resigned from your post, and you beg His Grace not to follow you, or make enquiries about your whereabouts."

Caroline began to laugh hysterically.

She's quite insane,thought Audrey. They both have no grasp of reality.

"I may even return, I'm sure The dowager duchess will greet me with open arms. I am, after all, every inch the perfect duchess. Perhaps I might even seduce the duke and provide some solace for losing his true love. On the other hand, I think I might just suffocate if I had to spend another hour at Clairville. His mother is so perfectly stupid, and all those simpering sisters, all of them fussing around that child, who is just a brat you found on the street." She paused and put her hand on Ethan's chin, gently caressing it. "I'd rather stay with you, my dove."

"You're so clever, my sweet Caro, so clever. They all loved you. Such a clever ruse to play the woman who wanted to secure The Duke of Clairville's affection. Maybe we should have kidnapped the child as well? How about that Audrey? if we have the child in our care then you'd have to do exactly what we wanted." He laughed maniacally as Audrey strained against the ties around her hands.

Surely not. How more despicable could they become? Both rich and elegant members of the ton.

"No, my dove, I can't bear the idea of that child at Rowton Castle. I'm sure we can find ways of keeping Lady Audrey under control."

"Very well, no child at the castle. We're almost there."

Audrey forced herself to breath calmly through the silken binding, gaggingher mouth. Every word she heard filled her with horror. These two were despicable, to joke about kidnapping a child and using her to control Audrey.

None of it made any sense. Presumably Caroline had infiltrated the Lightholder family, made friends with the dowager duchess, as part of a plan to keep surveillance on Audrey, and find a way to return her to her brother. It was the convoluted scheme of two people who were clearly insane.

She had to remain calm, and not panic, so she could find a way to escape. Somehow, she needed to get a message to Jude to protect Sasha. As the carriage rumbled through the morning light she closed her eyes, remembering her dance with Jude and those words of love. She might never see him again, but she knew he loved her, and she would carry those memories with her for the rest of her life.