Page 68 of The Chaperone
‘You may shortly become my brother-in-law but that does not mean I will not plant you a facer if you say any more against the Hadlow ladies, who have had much to put up with,’ growled Sir Esmond, glancing out of the window to see how far they had gone.
‘Then why are you so keen to wed the girl?’
‘Because I am mad, as you say.’ With which, Sir Esmond folded his arms, and withdrew into silence until the vehicle drew to a halt, whereupon he almost dragged Lord Tyneham from within, told the jarvey to wait, and hurried his charge into Doctors’ Commons. They emerged a short while afterwards and Sir Esmond directed the jarvey to one of the larger posting houses where he knew the teams were decent quality beasts.
‘But I need to get back to Bond Street. My watch, Fawley.’
‘You can hire this fellow after I pay him.’
‘But …’
‘Oh, and I am not mercenary, or short of funds, but you will make a proper settlement on your sister, to keep the gossips from talking.’
‘She is only my half-sister, so I need only give her ha—’
‘Do not continue, Tyneham. I know her parentage, and before you say more it makes no difference to me, other than perhaps I am quite glad that she is not more closely related to you. You will treat her as your only sister, and devolve upon her all that you were bandying about in the clubs. Susan has had a wayward start, but from now on I want no scandal to follow my wife, so you will keep to the lie your father maintained.’ Sir Esmond looked and sounded severe, and Lord Tyneham thought better of arguing the point. As Sir Esmond said, Susan would be his wife, his responsibility. At least she would not be dragging the Tyneham name through the mire henceforth.
Sophy was pacing up and down in the study, whilst Lord Chelmarsh wondered out loud how he might keep his wife from a spasm when she heard of events, when Sir Esmond knocked upon the front door once more. She gave a great sigh of relief when she heard Bembridge’s voice, and that of Sir Esmond.
Sophy rose, and went to the door, opening it to see the pair of them in the hallway.
‘I am ready, Sir Esmond.’
‘I am impressed, Lady Sophy. I had thought that—’
‘Do not say it, sir, or we will start our journey at odds, and we have hours in each other’s company.’
Lord Chelmarsh came forward, shook Sir Esmond’s hand, kissed his daughter’s cheek, and wished them a safe journey and swift horses.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Sir Esmond had hired a post-chaise and four,and whilst the weight of three persons as opposed to one would slow them a little, he had no doubt that they would reach the point at which Lord Rothley would have stopped the fleeing couple well before the dinner hour.
‘They had an hour’s advantage, Sir Esmond, over Lord Rothley.’ Sophy was not sure now if she was more concerned over the fate of her cousin or that of Lord Rothley.
‘Yes, but he had a curricle and his own pair to Barnet, at least, and perhaps a little further if he nursed them a trifle. A jobbing pair will make no more than nine miles an hour at the best, and I would give odds Rothley will be a good three miles an hour faster than that. By my estimate he should catch them a little before Baldock.’
‘Sir Esmond, what sort of a man is Lord Pinkney? I mean, will he put up resistance if confronted?’
‘If he is so desperate for funds that he would abscond with a girl, then I imagine he would.’
‘Does … does Lord Rothley stand in much danger?’ Sophy tried not to let her fear bubble up.
Sir Esmond frowned. It was not something he would have considered if he had been in the vanguard of pursuit, and he doubted Rothley would do so either.
‘I cannot quantify it, ma’am, but I would be very surprised if Pinkney would risk being arraigned for murder, even to obtain a supply of funds.’
The word sent a chill down Sophy’s spine. Would fate rob her of happiness just when it had placed it at her very fingertips? She prayed, most fervently.
Once the road north left London, Sir Esmond had the postillions increase the pace to a canter, and where the road was open and straight, ‘spring ’em’. The chaise, with three persons a little cramped within, was not comfortable at such speed, and the maid felt decidedly queasy. When Barnet was reached, she was very glad of the brief respite while the team was changed. Sir Esmond ascertained that Lord Rothley had not changed there, but the ostler said that a smart curricle and pair had passed through at pace, a little under an hour since.
‘I think Rothley may try and keep his cattle going until Hatfield, if he trusts them. Besides, they keep good teams at The Eight Bells. I know this road well, and I recall mentioning the fact to him once. If he has a good memory, he will try there.’
‘How long do you think it will take us to catch them all up?’
‘If he overtakes them by Baldock then we will be there no more than half an hour after.’
Half an hour. Might that be half an hour too late? She clasped her hands together tightly. After a while, she forced herself to make conversation.
