Emma was alone when she stirred, the sun up and streaming in the eastern portion of her room. A little wince crossed her features as she slipped from the bed and stretched, one palm rubbing her sore behind as she went into the bathroom.
She brushed her teeth and found a light dress after finding her underwear. It promised to be cooler today with clouds rolling in with the fog and mist over the ocean. She was not going to leave him to deal with a problem that came to him because of her. No matter how many spankings she had to endure for disobeying.
Emma carried the small bag she had prepared and crept down the back stairs to her workroom. She opened the windows, one much wider than the others and dropped the bag outside before going to the trunk that was there.
Lucas paced the library. The balcony doors were wide, as well as the windows.
Fury was too mild a word for what he was feeling. He’d thrown his jacket off an hour ago after scouring the surrounding woods and beach for three hours. It was after noon already and still, no one had been able to find Emma. Lucas glared at the small carry bag that had been left outside her workroom window with a few pieces of clothing inside and some money.
Wherever she’d gone, she had left her bag behind.
None of the workers had seen her since the day before. Before their argument. None of the staff as far out as the stables and small homes he had dotting his estate. Not a single sign of her.
“I have the horses ready,” Harris announced, coming swiftly into the room. His head shook at the inquiring, piercing and anxious look from Lucas. “Nothing. No one has seen her, I’m sorry. Are you positive she left voluntarily?”
“The bag tells me she did,” Lucas answered, collecting his composure and sweeping past Harris toward the front entrance.
It wasn’t until he had spent an hour skirting the edge of the estate that he realized what they had missed and spurred the horse back toward the house.
He jumped off at the main entrance, the surprised look on Harris’s face as he followed.
“She never left the house. There were no foot prints leading from beneath the window. Nothing in the dirt at all,” Lucas shouted over his shoulder as he raced through the halls to her workroom.
His heart fell to the floor.
The trunk she’d been using at a small table was gone.
****
She thought it had been a perfect plan. A brilliant idea. There were just enough small gaps in the lid of the trunk that air came in without a problem.
She’d heard voices. This was something she expected. Hard, really angry voices and knew Lucas was one of them. Then it went silent for a long time. She breathed a deep sigh and closed her eyes. She realized later that it had been a big mistake on her part.
When the first thump startled her awake, the harsh voices were far from familiar. The following thumps jostled her and made her press her hands and knees firmly against the sides of the large trunk. Emma tried pushing against the lid but nothing happened. She shoved harder and still, nothing.
She wasn’t stupid. But she was quickly coming to the conclusion that this was most certainly not one of the brightest things she’d ever done. First, defying Lucas and then hiding in the trunk. The same trunk that had been filled with obviously stolen money that people wanted back. How it got into her trunk, she still didn’t know.
And what the people now absconding with the trunk and her were unaware of was there was no money inside any longer.
Her stomach growled and she groaned. Another lack of judgment call, she thought with a sigh. She tried again to shove on the lid and this time it lifted, making her think someone had been leaning on it before. The bumping and thumping had stopped but now she felt the steady movement that said she was in a wagon or carriage.
Emma lifted the lid a scarce inch, going up on her side and peering out. She saw the road disappearing behind her. From the direction they were traveling, she knew they were headed to London.
Ironic, she growled to herself. Whether she wanted to go to London or not, she was headed in that direction.
She pushed a long puff of air quietly between her lips and eased the lid a little higher. Somehow the trunk was latched to the end of the carriage and the lid bounced and remained up. Another bright idea, she thought, easing her leg over the side and balancing on the edge of the rocking, jolting and definitely moving carriage.
She quietly lowered the lid and gazed around from her crotched position.
Oh, this was not one of her better days.
The beach was spread out on her left, low sloping hills that rolled down to the ocean. And the softest and easiest way to get away and hide. Hopefully.
Taking in a great gulp of air, Emma held her breath and leaped to the side, struggling to remember the bounce and roll thing from way to far back in her lifetime. She hit the soft, giving sand and immediately dropped to her side and rolled. A lot.
When she finally came to a stop, she remained still until the sky stopped moving. Other than some seriously aching muscles, she hadn’t heard anything snap and there wasn’t any honest to goodness pain inside her. She lay there with her eyes closed for several minutes, just breathing before finally sitting up and looking around. She had no idea where she was, but knew walking back along the road would eventually put her at the estate.
And a very angry Lucas. She sighed. Really no winning this one, she thought, hitching her dress a little and climbing the loose sand to the hard packed dirt road. The large dust trail told her the carriage had just kept going and that made her heart slow down a bit in relief.
But as she walked slowly along the side of the road, she kept peeking over her shoulder. Just in case they changed their mind or thought…she sighed. She had no idea what they might think but she knew if they pulled over and checked the trunk and found the money missing, they’re surely turn around and come back.
Another mistake for the day, she thought. If all the people hadn’t been out searching for her, they never would have been able to get into the house and steal the trunk. Of course…there were simply too many variables and she sent her mind to working out some kind of explanation that would keep her able to sit for the next week. If not for the misdirection she’d done by tossing her bag out the window, she might have been able to lie and say she hid when she heard noises.
Emma laughed out loud. There was no way Lucas was going to believe that one. More importantly, she realized, there was no way she was going to lie to him. Argue with him, yes, but no lies, on that point she was adamant. She really wanted to see more of his dominant side and hoped he didn’t want to send her away permanently after this. She was in the middle of another sigh when the sounds broke through.
She quickly pulled her shoes off. Bare feet moved much better on sand than shoes did and she grabbed up the edges of her dress as she slid over the side and down the sloping banks of loose sand. She made it around one large mound and tried her best to flatten herself against it. Beach grasses swayed slightly in the breeze, the rustling sound gradually being overtaken by the pounding of hooves.
Lucas pulled the horse up sharply, his hands tight and muscles clenched in his arms. He was positive he glimpsed a color that did not belong near the sand.
“Emma! Emma!” He shouted loudly, pale lashes blinking at the bits of dust clinging to them from their dash along the road. He felt the oxygen in his lungs abruptly vanish when the dark head peeked around one of the large mounds of sand.
Lucas tossed the reins to Harris and was off the horse in an instant, his long legs carrying him down the loose sand. He slid and stumbled, his footing uneven but his gaze focused and locked on his target.
Carrying her shoes, Emma ran toward him, launching herself into the arms that opened for her and then closed with a security and safety freely given.
“Emma!” Lucas buried his face in the hollow of her throat, one arm around her middle, the other palm up and holding her head against his shoulder.
“I’m sorry! I’m really, really sorry, Lucas!” She cried anxiously.
“You’re alright, Emma,” he murmured in a voice that said he was convincing himself and for a few minutes, every muscle he had threatened to abandon him in his relief.
Emma shuddered in his arms, clinging and not caring. So much for the independent spirit. Finally she leaned back just a little since his arm really wouldn’t allow her much space. Her feet weren’t on the floor and her arms rested along his shoulders, one palm coming from the back of his head and stroking over his face. The faintest sheen of sweat and dust coated her palm. She offered a weak grin.
“Your glasses are dusty,” she murmured before kissing him softly. “I am sorry. I never meant to…I was afraid, Lucas. I was afraid you’d not want me back,” she admitted, the tiniest of sobs breaking free before she could control things.
“We’ll discuss just how you came to that conclusion later, my love, now, I want you safely at home,” Lucas fought the urge tighten his arms and slowly settled her back on the sand.
“They stole the trunk,” she said in a breathless rush.
Lucas saw the hesitation when she peeked up at him as they maneuvered the loose sand and stood on the solid road a few minutes later.
“We discovered that when I realized the bag of things you’d left had been a ruse,” he said flatly, impressed at her plan even if he still wanted to thrash her so she was unable to sit for a month. He couldn’t recall being as cold when he thought of her in the hands of thieves who would not hesitate to murder her. “Why do you believe we were running the poor horses ragged to get to you?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, unable to stop the tears. “You won’t forgive me for a long time.”
“Take heart, Miss Emma, he merely hides his forgiveness well,” Harris said with a laugh.
Emma peeked up hopefully, his strong hands on her waist as he lifted her to sit on the horse who stood patiently waiting for the humans to decide what they were doing. Her eyes shot wide.
“Oh…Lucas…I’ve never…” she looked around frantically for something to hold, finally falling forward and clinging to the thick, warm neck of the horse. “Oh, god…”
“I don’t believe she’s ever been on a horse before, Lucas,” Harris held the reins out to him when he’d mounted behind his wife. “He was very worried for you, Miss Emma. Don’t doubt that at all.”
“What happened, Emma?” Lucas gently pried her arms from his horse’s neck before the animal revolted. “Let go, sweet…lean into me. Diablo is accustomed to me and he’ll move gently.”
“You named him Diablo and I’m supposed to feel comfortable?” Emma groaned, her arms quickly around Lucas’ middle, her breathing ragged.
“He’s grown out of the behavior that earned him the name,” Lucas laughed. And it felt good, his lips down on the soft dark hair. “You were hiding in the trunk.”
“I fell asleep,” she said with a sigh. “It was warm and comfortable and the next thing I knew, the trunk was bumping and thumping and then on a wagon. They didn’t say much, they just carried it out and then it was on the back of…a carriage or wagon, I don’t know. And I know, that’s my fault too, and I’m really, seriously sorry.”
Lucas closed his eyes for a moment, his cheek resting briefly against her head.
“I plan on accepting your apologies for a long time, Emma,” he’d noticed the dirt and sand in her hair as well as over most of her dress, and her shoes were gone, again. “Were you hurt?”
“Probably a few bruises but nothing broke when I jumped from the carriage and they never stopped, so I don’t think they even noticed I’d been there,” she thought for a minute. “I never saw them, though. I know there were two…I jumped and ran to hide. I lost my shoes again, though.”
“I shall put a cobbler on our payroll,” Lucas teased, his head up and turning at the sound from behind them. He felt Emma tense and tightened his arm around her. “Easy, sweet.”
Lucas and Harris led their horses to the side, both turning to appraise the approaching coach, a large imposing set of two large horses leading the way. He straightened in the saddle, lashes narrowed behind his lenses. The coach pulled up and slowed, a shade that had been down raised and two men peered out from the inside.
“Feds,” Emma said softly.
The men in the coach seemed to be studying them.
“What?” Lucas said quietly, not taking his gaze from the strangers.
“Government,” Emma tried again, mentally slapping herself. “Law enforcement,” she said louder, almost laughing that the suit and officious look prevailed through the ages.
“Scotland Yard,” one of the men responded politely, each of them tipping the bowler hat they wore.
“Lucas St. Christopher,” Lucas said simply. “I’m relieved you’ve finally arrived.”
“There were two men in a carriage!” Emma looked from them down the road where they’d been. “They had the trunk and they tried…they believed the money was inside the trunk!”
“We know. Two of our comrades are with them at this moment, with the empty trunk,” the older of the men said. “James Hawthorne, Miss…”
“Emma.” She looked at them. “You’ve identification?” Emma asked quietly.
Without a word, they each produced a small black case and identification proclaiming their names and profession within the unit of Scotland Yard investigations, major crimes. Each one even held a description of each man.
“If you’ll follow us, I’ll be only too glad to have the money returned to the bank where it belongs,” Lucas declared, turning his horse and about to trot off.
“Perhaps the young lady might be more comfortable inside the coach,” James suggested with a winning smile, his hand opening the door politely. “We’ve more than enough room to share.”
“No,” Emma shook her head and clung to Lucas. “But thank you kindly.”
“It won’t take long,” Lucas said, unwilling to release his wife. “Follow the road and take the first left. We shall meet you there.”
“As you wish,” the door clanked shut and the coach began to move.
Lucas turned the horse from the road and nodded for Harris to follow across the fields.
“It’s wrong,” Emma said firmly. “It’s wrong, Lucas.”
Lucas slowed the horse, his gaze sweeping the side. “They can no longer see us.”
“How did they know there was a trunk on the carriage?” Emma said hurriedly. “You don’t ride looking over your shoulder at others.”
“And they were very keen to offer Emma comfort,” Harris met his friend’s look.
“Continue to town. Be vigilant, Jules. If they are part of the robbery, then there are two men lying somewhere,” Lucas didn’t add that they were probably dead. “Notify the magistrate of the problem and watch for that carriage with the trunk.”
Harris nodded and sped off without a word.
Lucas urged his horse toward the house, his mind trying to determine where a safe place would be to leave Emma.
“Are you very angry with me?”
“No, love, I should have considered your reaction,” his mouth lifted at the corner. “Are you sorry simply to avoid being punished?”
Emma sighed. “I’d rather not answer that right now. I’m sorry I worried you. I’m sorry it didn’t go as I had planned. I’m sorry my father caused all this.”
“Emma…”
“You want to leave me somewhere and not go home with you because of them.”
“You’ve no shoes and if you’re with me, perhaps I can do a better job of keeping you safe,” Lucas said after a lengthy pause. His hand came from the reins, tipping her head up for a fast, hard kiss. “I am not angry with you…and I would never have sent you away permanently. The instant it was safe, I would have you back in my arms and my bed, believe that.”
“Thank you,” she breathed finally, stiffening as the house came into sight through the thick mass of trees.
“Easy, love, we’ll go to the stables and come in the side entrance,” Lucas exhaled deeply. “Would you listen if I asked you to go to your room and lock yourself in?”
“They want the money, Lucas. They’ll hurt you to get it…or destroy the house if we don’t give it to them. They’ll…we have people to protect,” Emma said quietly. “They won’t know what’s going on…”
“And if they take you, I’ll have no fortitude to keep them from it,” he told her flatly. “Your workroom, Emma. Lock the doors and stay hidden until I come for you. This is no longer a negotiation. I’m not doing this because I feel you’re property; I’m doing this because you’re my wife and it’s my duty to keep you safe.”
“And a wife’s duty is to meekly obey.”
“I don’t expect you to be meek, love, but I do demand your obedience.” Lucas pulled every ounce of his dominant side to the surface.
“Very well.” Emma nodded reluctantly. “I worry, too, Lucas.”
“I know you do, my love, I know.” Lucas slowed the horse, guiding him expertly between the trees behind the house. He nodded at Brock, leaning down slightly. “Get the women and children away from the main house and to the stables. Pull all you can find and allow no one near who is not part of our estate.”
“Aye, sir.”
“I will go greet our guests, Emma. I want you in that utility room and silent as a church mouse.” He swung from the saddle and lifted her effortlessly to the ground, his expression lacking all compromise.