Page 26 of Lord Heartless

Lesley had his flint, and the old thatched roof would burn easily, but there was no guaranteeing that they wouldn't die before they could get out. He used his sword to poke at the lowest corner of the shed, where some of the thatch had fallen in. Two mice tumbled to the floor, and Carissa screamed and clutched his arm in a death grip. “Set the roof on fire! It's better than this!"

But Glad had chased the mice across the dirt floor to a hole that tunneled to the outside. He was digging furiously, trying to catch the escaping morsels. “That's the ticket, Glad,” Lesley encouraged him. “Dig. We'll get that dastard yet.” He used his sword to loosen the dirt and his hands to pull it away. He wasn't as fast as the dog, but he was more efficient

"We'll be too late,” Carissa mourned, trying to stand back from the flying dirt. “He has too much of a head start on us. At least we will get to Pippa before she can be stolen by Gypsies or eaten by wolves or—"

Lesley kept digging. “He has a lead, but I know the shortcuts.” Soon the hole was big enough for the dog to squeeze through. Glad sat on the other side, barking his frustration that the mice were long gone. Lesley did a bit more digging, until the hole was larger still. “I'll go first, you follow."

"Me? There are worms there."

"What?” he shouted. “First mice and now worms? Dash it, woman, your daughter is on the other side of that tunnel!"

"Then let her come open the wretched door! Better yet, Mr. Know-It-All, you can crawl out and unbar the door. It does not take two of us to wriggle through worms. Besides, you forgot Glad."

Lesley was taking off his coat. “Dash it, Carissa, he can't open the door either!"

"No, you forgot that I'm afraid of dogs, too,” she admitted. “I really am a coward, you know."

He kissed her quickly, dirt and all, before lowering himself to his stomach next to the tunnel. “As long as you're not afraid of me, you are perfect."

Once out of the shed, they raced for the horses. Lesley tossed her into the saddle, telling the dog he would have to stay behind until one of the men could come fetch him. They'd be riding too fast for his additional weight on the horse, too wildly for his balance. Carissa tossed Glad the loaf of bread she'd stuffed in her saddlebag, in case Pippa was hungry. Then she tossed him the cheese too.

Lesley did not know if his men would be at the crossroads when they got there, or if the ambush would be possible, he explained as they rode through the woods. He hoped to nab Cantwell as soon as he released the child. If not, he'd follow him to the antipodes.

As it turned out, Byrd and the others were at the intersection, picking likely hiding spots before it got too dark to see. Lesley had them disperse in a circle, out of sight, to cover all angles. Then he and Carissa stood by the side of the road Kane would be using, holding hands, waiting. They could hear a horse's labored breathing long before they could see Kane, hunched over the saddle, Pippa clutched in front of him. Lesley, Carissa, and Byrd stepped out into plain sight, drawing his attention.

"I'll kill the girl, Carrie. You know I will, so call them off.” He had the pistol in his hand, ready.

"If you kill her, you are a dead man, Cantwell, and if you ride past us, you'll have a knife in your back before you've gone five meters. Put the girl down, now."

"And you'll let me go?"

Lesley aimed his own pistol at the ground. “Put her down."

Cantwell was wavering, casting nervous, hasty glances behind him. Lesley could not take a chance on him spotting the others and panicking, so he looked past Phillip and called out, “No, Glad, stay back. He has a gun."

Just as Phillip turned to look, Pippa stuck her thumb in his face. He had to release either the girl or the gun, to put his hand to his eye. He chose the girl. The second Pippa was on the ground, shots fired out, knives flew through the air. It was over. The deserter had met his firing squad a bit sooner, was all.

Carissa was hugging Pippa, dampening her with tears, begging her never to suck that particular thumb again, swearing the awful man would not bother them anymore. Then Lesley was there, holding both of them, vowing to keep both of them safe at every crossroad life put in front of them. Lord Heartless knew right where his heart was found.

Late that evening, Lesley scratched on Carissa's bedchamber door. He was wearing a velvet-edged robe, his tight-fitting trousers, and an open shirt. He carried a bottle of wine and a rose.

Carissa was dressed for bed, in a new pink gown and matching robe with falls of lace at the neck and sleeves. She'd been thinking he might come, hoping he'd come, fearing he would not. She couldn't go to his room, she knew, not again. There was not enough courage in the kingdom for her to take another chance on being rejected. His first words relieved most of her doubts.

"Well, Mrs. Kane, are you ready to become Mrs. Hammond at last?"

"I am ready, but are you sure, Lesley? There is still bound to be talk."

"Good grief, what do I care about talk? You are all I care about, Carissa. You have to know that."

His kiss relieved her of the remaining uncertainties. Then he said, “I hope you don't intend to go into mourning for the dastard?"

She eyed the bed behind them. “No, I did that ages ago."

Lesley tried to ignore the down-turned sheets, the soft pillows. While he poured them glasses of wine, he told her, “A rider came while we were out, with the results of the magistrate's investigation. Cantwell was his real name, not that it matters anymore. The messenger also brought a report from Bow Street about the search of Mason's rooms. They found this.” He handed her Sir Gilliam's will, dated two years ago. In it he left his dearest friend and beloved honorary daughter his house and fortune, except for pensions for the servants and an allowance for his nephew Broderick. Carissa had to borrow Lesley's handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

"I'm afraid it's all gone, every shilling and then some, but I can offer you six houses, a horse farm in Virginia and a hunting box in Scotland. If none of those suit, I'll buy you six more."

So of course Carissa had to tell him that she'd live in a cottage with him, as long as there were no mice. And he had to kiss her again, mingling the taste of wine on their lips. Then he said, “The Runners also found two clothespresses full of women's gowns in Mason's rooms."

"Why, that sly dog had a woman friend all these years. I never would have supposed such a thing."

"The Runners don't think he had a lady friend, not exactly."

"Ah, a paid companion then. I am not surprised no woman would go with him without payment. That must be why he never brought her to Kensington."

"The neighbors told the men they'd never seen a woman go in the place, and it was empty when he leased it."

Carissa was confused. “There must be some explanation."

"Oh, there is. I'll explain it another time, after we are married, which had deuced better be soon. The messenger brought a special license also, my love, so we can be wed tomorrow, unless you want your father to be here."

"And the duchess would be insulted if we did not invite her."

"Hm.” He was tasting her neck now. “We can decide about the wedding tomorrow, my love, but can we have the wedding night right now?"

Her kiss was answer enough.

So rapt in their awakening passion were they that Carissa forgot all about Pippa, asleep on a cot in the adjoining dressing room, in case she had bad dreams in the night.

Rubbing her eyes, Pippa wandered out of the dressing room. She saw her mother alone with Lord Hartleigh, in a lady's chamber, with no chaperon in sight. “I'm telling,” she said.

Lesley did not bother releasing Carissa from his embrace. “You can go tell everyone, Pippin, because it is quite proper. I am to marry your mother and be your father, the way I promised. Now go to bed, your own bed. Sue will be missing you and I need to tell your mother how much I love her."

He locked the door behind her.

Sometime later, close to dawn, Lesley was rudely shaken awake. He opened his eyes to look into his beloved's brown ones, and smiled, a slow, satisfied, seductive smile. “It's been a long night, my love, but I'll try."

Blushing, Carissa shook him again. “Not that! It's Cleo. My cat is having kittens!"

Lesley rolled over, pulling her next to him. “Congratulations, Lady Hartleigh-to-be. You finally found something you cannot blame on the dog."