Markville couldn’t believe Euphrosyne was finally with him again, finally his wife. But this wasn’t over yet. It was Scotland, and contrary to England, their marriage had to be consummated. He wanted to rush her to the waiting coach, but forced himself to make the short walk from the side door to the carriage at a steady pace. Nothing must appear strange. They knew of the one footman who had already been felled, but Hawksworth had warned there could be others.
Markville assisted Euphrosyne into the coach, then joined her. “Almost there.”
She snuggled next to him. “How will Lady Theo and Lord Titus get home?”
“We are collecting them from the back of a store.” The carriage turned down two narrow streets, then stopped. “Here we are.”
Lady Theo and her husband came out of the store and entered the carriage. “There is no sign the coach was followed, but two men were watching the kirk. It will not be long before your father knows you are gone.”
Euphrosyne nodded. “What happens next?”
“Next we take you to the mews behind our house, and you will enter through the garden. No one knows Markville is staying with us, so your father has no reason to search for you here. In the morning, you will enter the coach from the mews.”
“My maid.” Euphrosyne sat up, tension radiating from her. “How will she join me?”
“We’ve been very canny about protecting her.” Lord Titus smiled slyly. “She could not come with us without causing talk. Therefore, she will find the guard your father set on you and raise the alarm. She will then rejoin your mother and her maid, but instead of leaving with them, Shamus will fetch her from the alley in back of the modiste.”
She glanced at Markville. “My mother knows, doesn’t she?”
“She wrote to Meg and told us what was happening.” If it had not been for the duchess, he wouldn’t be here now.
A line marred Euphrosyne’s forehead, and he wanted to smooth it away. “Does the duke not read her correspondence?”
“We don’t know. However, it doesn’t matter. She writes in code.” He laughed when her jaw dropped.
“Code?”
“It was hard for me to believe as well, but it is, apparently, not as uncommon as one might think.”
Euphrosyne smiled up at him. “I’m very glad she did. Thank you for rescuing me.”
“I wish I could take the credit. My role as a hero has been severely limited. I have done nothing more than do was I was told to do.”
“And by ladies at that.” Lady Theo chuckled.
“Ah, well.” His beloved wife grinned. “Sometimes that is for the best.”
He would have liked to at least have punched someone.
Later that day, after he’d made love to her slowly, making certain she knew he was happy about the baby, they slept with his hand wrapped protectively on her stomach. Their child. They would not be able to hide how far along she had been when they’d finally married, but it didn’t matter. Not to him. And if anyone had the audacity to comment, he’d make sure everyone knew Somerset was responsible for the delay.
Shortly before dawn the next morning, her maid and his valet awakened them.
“Turner.” Euphrosyne yawned. “We have no clothing, you and I.”
“Not to worry, my lady.” The maid averted her eyes from the bed. “We have been well taken care of. I don’t know how it happened, but all of our clothing arrived this morning, and his lordship brought another trunk for you.”
His wife glanced at him. He didn’t know either, but he could guess. “I think Lady Theo’s and Lord Titus’s people have been busy.”
The one part Markville had planned was their procession south to Hull. Before he’d left for Scotland, he’d sent letters to friends he knew along the way. Instead of traveling covertly, as Somerset would expect them to do, they lodged with friends, most of whom were peers. Each time they stopped they were greeted with a warmth he had not expected, and enthusiasm for his marriage to Euphrosyne.
By the time they reached Hull, half of England would know he and Euphrosyne were married, making it almost impossible for her father to do anything other than accept the marriage.
They spent the first night at Howick Hall with Earl Gray. The next day, when they stopped for luncheon, Euphrosyne said, “Charles, why are we advertising where we are? I thought we did not want my father to be able to find us.”
“My love, he won’t find out where we have been until after we are in Hull. He will be expecting us to be traveling by ourselves and staying in out of the way coaching inns. I would own myself surprised if his men ask about two carriages traveling together and visiting private estates. You will notice that we are not stopping at inns along the way for more than a quick bite and a change of horses. This way, by the time we do arrive in Town, everyone and their dog will know you are married. Those who for some reason have not been informed will see it posted in the paper.”
Euphrosyne had been worried, but the answer seemed to erase her fears. “That was an excellent idea.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
The Ross Estate outside of Edinburgh
“What the devil do you mean she’s gone?” The men Somerset had watching Euphrosyne blanched. “How the hell did she get out of your sight?”
Three of the men looked toward Sittle. “As I told her grace, Lady Euphrosyne went into the church. While she was praying, Lord Markville, another gentleman, a vicar, and a lady came out of a room. I was running to get her ladyship when I was hit on the head. When I came to, I was tied up and everyone was gone. Her ladyship’s maid found me and went to tell her grace.” He shuddered. “Her grace had everyone running everywhere looking for Lady Euphrosyne, but she disappeared.”
“Disappeared, hell.” Somerset couldn’t believe Markville had found her. Not only wouldn’t he get the land he wanted next to the Somerset holdings in Scotland, but what in damnation was he going to tell Ross? “You three”—he pointed at the men who were supposed to have been helping Sittle—“are sacked. You should have been watching all the doors in that blasted church. Get out of my sight.” The three men bolted out of the room. “Sittle, we need to find her.”
“Yes, your grace. I have already sent grooms out to taverns and inns. I’ll join them tomorrow. They must be heading to one of Lord Markville’s estates.” The man paused. “I don’t know how the team watching his place near Peterborough missed him leaving.”
“They will be dealt with shortly. This sloppiness is inexcusable. Did you question the maid?”
“Yes, your grace, but she was hysterical, and I couldn’t make any sense of what she was saying. The housekeeper gave her a sedative. I’ll talk to her again in the morning.”
“At least I don’t have to worry about Ross’s questions. He’s eating opium again.”
Somerset noticed his servant had nothing to say to that. If the duke kept indulging, they could depart with him being none the wiser. The only person he had to explain himself to was his duchess. If she even cared to listen to him. Knowing her, she already had all the information he did. He knew that she’d publically excoriated Sittle for losing Euphrosyne.
Four days later, the butler brought him the London Times.
Lady Euphrosyne Trevor, daughter of the Duke of Somerset, and the Marquis of Markville in Edinburgh on the 17th of December.
“Sittle, tell her grace we are going home.”
May 1819
Euphrosyne had been surprised to see how many members of her family were present for the christening of hers and Charles’s son, Charles Fredrick Damon, Earl of Hartwick. The only one missing was Laia, who had given birth to twin boys a few weeks before Euphrosyne.
“He is precious.” Mama held her eighth grandchild. Meg had given birth last September, and Quartus and his wife had had twins in autumn. Mama might never see Frank and Jenny’s twins in America.
“It will be nice that he has cousins near his age.” Charles hadn’t left her side during the birth, and was always willing—much to Nurse’s consternation —to take care of the baby.
Even Sarah, who had given birth two months ago, was here.
“Mama, where does Somerset think you are?” Since she had made her vow last year, Euphrosyne never called or thought of him as her father. What real father would do what he had tried to do to his daughter?
“He knows I am here.” She smiled gently. “He is well aware that no matter the circumstances, I will not miss the christening of any of my grandchildren. Except Frank and Jenny’s, which could not be avoided. They are planning a trip to England next spring.”
“It will be wonderful seeing them again.” Euphrosyne still found it hard to believe that her mother, a seemingly placid woman who never contradicted her husband, had a network of friends and allies ready to assist her. Chief of whom were Meg and Hawksworth, but Mama also knew Meg’s grandmother, and the Dowager Duchess of Bridgewater, and numerous other people. And Mama knew codes, which she used regularly, not only to remain in practice, but so that if the duke read her letters, he’d be none the wiser.
Tears sprang to Euphrosyne’s eyes. “Thank you for making sure Charles and I married.”
“My dear, dear, child. I could do nothing less. It was clear the two of you were deeply in love and belonged together.” She smiled ruefully. “I only wish I’d known what Somerset planned to do at Laia’s wedding. That was a miscalculation on my part that I will not make again.”
Euphrosyne believed that wholeheartedly. She glanced at her mother. “We read that Ross had died. Who was the cousin?”
“His land-steward. He and Lady Emily were very much in love. He asked for her hand several years ago, but Ross refused to allow the marriage. They wed privately a few days after her brother’s death.”
“No wonder she didn’t like me.” The absurdness of the situation struck Euphrosyne. “She would have been more than happy to help me escape.”
“Indeed she would have.” Mama took the baby and cuddled him.
“I wonder which of us will be next,” Euphrosyne mused.
Charles joined them, handing her and her mother glasses of champagne. “Whoever it is, we will be there to help them if they need it.”
“Yes.” Euphrosyne stood and held up her glass. “I want to thank everyone for your support and making sure that Markville and I were able to marry. We will pledge our assistance for the next of our brothers or sisters who require it.”
“Here, here!” Charles slipped his arm around her waist. “I knew it. I knew you were going to be a dangerous woman to cross.”