Page 21 of A Duke to Restore her Memory

“Keep going, boy,” whispered Christina into the black horse’s ear, as they sped along the field, the air whizzing around her head. “Faster!”

The horse seemed to understand exactly what she had just commanded. They were already galloping. Now, the horse increased its pace again, flying like the wind. Christina gasped with sheer delight.

The world was rushing by so fast it was a blur – it looked like paint smeared on a canvas. It was so exhilarating that she gasped again.

This is exactly what I needed. I feel as if the ride is blowing cobwebs out of my mind. I feel as if I do not need to think at all.

She leaned forward, hugging the horse tighter, feeling as if her very muscles were an extension of the animal. The connection was so strong between them as if they were communicating via telepathy.

She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she and the horse had been close in her real life. They were the very best of friends.

She gritted her teeth. If only the horse could talk and tell her who she was and where she came from. If only.

For five minutes, they raced like the wind. Eventually, she slowed the horse down to a trot. They skirted along the top of a hill before heading towards the ruins of a castle in the near distance.

She would explore it before she headed back to Newquay Hall – it would give her something to do while she thought more about what she would do next.

She tethered the horse to a tree, carefully picking her way through the castle’s ruins. There were large grey stones scattered everywhere and brambles interlacing the decaying walls. She had just entered what looked like an old chapel, complete with a tumbling altar, when she stiffened. There were voices on the other side of the wall. Men’s voices.

She froze, not knowing what to do. She didn’t want to alert them to her presence – she was enjoying being alone. She needed to be alone.

She was just about to creep stealthily out of the ruins when she stopped, listening intently to what they were saying. Her eyes widened – she recognized one of the voices. It was so strident and loud.

“You made sure the wooden slats at that abandoned mine were loose?” The man’s voice was withering. “They are fixed now. It was boarded up closely when I walked past it just the other day.”

“Of course, it is boarded up now,” the other man exasperatedly replied. “He found an injured young woman in the shaft. He made sure it was fixed after that.”

Christina froze again. Her heart started to pound uncomfortably. They were clearly talking about the abandoned mine she had fallen into … and ‘he’ was the duke.

Abruptly, her blood ran cold as she realized the first voice belonged to Mr Walter Hester, the man who had spoken to the duke in the village inn that day.

The rival mine owner who had been so rude to the duke. The man who the duke didn’t like at all. His nemesis if you will.

“You must find a way to sabotage it again, Barstow,” declared Hester in a cold voice. “Along with all his other abandoned mines. The more accidents that happen within them, the more word will get around that Newquay’s mines are unsafe, and confidence in him will plummet … which will mean he will sell his mines to me for a song.” There was a significant pause. “Remember, I am paying you a very pretty penny for this, my good man. I demand results.”

There was silence for a moment, and Christina’s heart started to race. They were standing on the other side of the crumbling castle wall and might start walking into where she was at any moment.

She really should leave before they realized she was here. But she couldn’t. She needed to hear more of their conversation. It was very important – Hester was clearly paying this man, Barstow, to sabotage the duke’s mines.

“And you are getting results,” retorted Barstow hotly. “There was the accident with the young woman – then the mine explosion.” There was a taut silence. “I don’t feel good about that one, Hester. Good men lost their lives …”

“You are not being paid to have morals,” snapped Hester. “You are lining your pockets nicely with my coin. You will soon have a nice little nest egg and can leave this district and start over again. You will never have to worry about this community again, will you?”

“I suppose not,” replied the man. But his voice was filled with fear and trepidation. There was another pause, and Christina tensed more, watching a bird fly onto the top of the crumbling wall, staring at her intently. “What do you want me to do next?”

“I want you to sabotage another of his abandoned mines,” declared Hester. “Do not make it look too obvious. I will make sure that people see it … and the rumour mill starts circulating about it. His reputation will be in tatters soon … and it will make it so much easier for me to swoop in and buy his mines.”

The bird on the wall suddenly squawked, and Christina froze. She heard footsteps from behind the wall. The men were approaching, clearly attracted by the sound of the bird.

Quickly, she threaded her way back through the ruins, trying not to make a noise. She didn’t want them to catch her – they would know instantly that she had overheard their conversation.

Her heart was in her mouth by the time she made it back to the horse, untethering the reins from the branch and leading the animal away.

She mounted at a safe distance from the ruins, flying like the wind towards Newquay Hall.

She bit her lip, needing to speak to the duke immediately and tell him what Hester was doing … and what he was still planning to do. But would he believe her? Or would he assume that she was just trying to cause mischief?

The trust between us is broken. He will probably assume that I am making it all up to curry favour with him – that I am being manipulative. But I must try. What else can I do?

***

“You look like a bee in a bottle,” remarked Sebastian, staring at Daniel as his friend paced the study floor. His friend had dropped by unexpectedly. “Whatever is the matter, old chap?”

Sebastian tried to focus on his friend. But he couldn’t help glancing out the window. It had been over an hour since Georgina had taken the horse and left Newquay Hall, and there was no sign of her return. Had she truly fled the house forever?

No, I cannot believe she would just flee without informing anyone. She did not speak to Mrs Sollock or any of the other servants. And Lady Frances doesn’t know anything about her leaving, either.

He had torn through the house like a mad thing when he realized she was gone, questioning everyone. But no one knew where she was heading. She hadn’t spoken to any of them. She had simply taken the horse from its stable and ridden away.

Abruptly, Daniel turned, facing him. His face was white. “I have come to confess,” he said quickly, the words tumbling out of his mouth. “I … I am secretly courting Lady Frances Lewis, old chap. Behind your back. I feel dreadful about it.”

Sebastian turned his full attention to his friend, stifling a grin. Daniel looked so earnest and scared. For a split second, he contemplated stringing him along, acting offended and angry at the declaration, then decided he couldn’t be so cruel.

Daniel had clearly screwed up his courage to tell him this. He looked taut with tension, his manner stiff and rigid.

Sebastian realized, quite suddenly, that his friend was serious about Lady Frances. Daniel wouldn’t be acting like this otherwise. He wouldn’t have even bothered to call on him to tell him.

“You have my blessing, old chap,” he said with a rueful laugh. “Truly.”

Daniel’s eyes widened. “You … you understand what I am telling you?” He shook his head incredulously. “But … I thought you held a flame for Lady Frances. At least, that is the impression your sister likes to give.”

Sebastian gave a bark of laughter. “Yes, Lydia enjoys interfering in my life, alright,” he stated, his mouth tightening momentarily. Then his eyes softened. “I am telling you the complete truth, old chap. Lady Frances has always been like another sister to me. I have no romantic feelings towards her at all. You truly have my blessing to pursue her.”

Daniel visibly sagged. “Thank you, Newquay. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

“You really like her, do you not?” Sebastian gazed at his friend curiously. “I have never seen you this way before.”

“I do,” declared Daniel, his face splitting into a grin. He took a deep breath. “I am sorry. I was so preoccupied with it that I forgot to ask you how the inquiry about the mine tragedy is progressing. How are you, and how is it going?”

Sebastian sighed heavily. “I am still gathering evidence. It will be a long process. I hope the inquiry into the disaster will be ready in about a month or so.”

“Good,” said Daniel, nodding. He hesitated. “I have some news about Hester, my friend.”

Sebastian tensed. “What news?”

“He managed to buy two more mines,” he replied, his eyes flickering with concern. “It means that you and Hester own all the mines in this district now, Newquay.” He hesitated. “And I heard a rumour that he plans to drive down the price of copper to force you to sell your mines to him.”

“Over my dead body, he will,” growled Sebastian, his hands balling into fists. “He will have the fight of his life on his hands.”

There was a tense pause, and Daniel cleared his throat again.

“I should mention, too, that I have heard rumours circulating regarding Georgina, old chap,” said Daniel, looking embarrassed. “They claim that she is faking her amnesia … so as to deceive and seduce you.” He hesitated. “I want to tell you I do not believe a word of it. I like Georgina and believe she has a good character. The way she swung into action helping the injured miners proved it.”

Sebastian’s heart flipped. “I have heard the rumours,” he admitted. “I confronted her about them … and she said she will leave the house if I truly doubt her authenticity.”

“Do you?” Daniel stared at him hard. “Do you think she is faking it?”

Sebastian shrugged helplessly. “At this point, I do not know what to believe,” he admitted. “I want to believe her … very much.” He hesitated. “I am torn, old chap. I am thinking about hosting a grand ball and inviting people from far and wide, outside of the district as well, to see if anyone recognizes her.”

“What a great idea,” enthused Daniel. “We could use the ball to gather more information about Hester’s schemes, as well …”

Sebastian turned to the window, his friend’s voice fading slightly. A flash of colour and movement had caught his eye. His heart contracted violently.

It was Georgina atop the black horse, cantering across the lawn towards the stables. Abruptly, she stopped, dismounting, leading the horse by the reins. The next moment, she vanished from view.

A wave of relief swept over him. She had returned. She hadn’t fled Newquay Hall. It told him all he needed to know about how he felt about her.

He frowned. But his feelings were not the issue. It was whether she could be trusted. And he still just didn’t know. The doubts about her had wriggled into his heart like worms, and he didn’t know how to dislodge them. Or even if he should try.