Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4) (24 page)

"She reminds me of you on the night of the ball where you chose your Prince Charming."

"Or the day I discovered that Prince Charming had no worries about spanking my bottom," Lucy whispered back. She smiled when her twin gave Franny a glance and then nodded.

"They look so happy, don't they?" Louisa said.

"As Franny said, they look absolutely perfect!" Lucy couldn't be happier. Franny was such a wonderful woman who deserved true love. The group waited until the couple had finished eating and then stood to return to the party. Ettie and Lawrence were soon out on the floor once again with Bea and Frank, Emmie and Stefan.

As Lucas offered his arm to Lucy, she leaned close. "I need to pot… um, use the necessary," she said, her cheeks pink with the realization of what she had been about to say.

"The retiring room is upstairs," Lucas informed her. "Go ahead and I'll be waiting to twirl my Cinderella about the floor." She turned to head for the stairs when she heard him say, "Wait for Louisa."

Turning back, she approached Louisa, who had been about to leave the room with Edward. "Excuse me, but I need to use the retiring room," Lucy said quietly. "Papa told me not to go alone."

"Good advice," Edward said. "Go ahead, sweetheart. It will give me a chance to speak to George, a prospective new client." He gave his wife a kiss and walked away.

"Okay, just let me see if Franny wants to come with us," Louisa said, turning to see the woman in Samuel's embrace.

"I really have to go. Get Franny and I'll meet you there," Lucy said, not bothering to wait as she hurried towards the stairs. She apologized as she bumped into someone but didn't stop to see who it was. Unless she found the necessary quickly, her promise not to embarrass her family would go unfulfilled. Lucy practically moaned as she entered the room set aside for the women to repair makeup, adjust clothing, make adjustments to their elaborate hairdos and, of course, make their toilets. The room was crowded with both guests and staff who were assisting the attendees. She tried to keep from showing the urgency of her need, hoping the others might think her swaying was simply because strains of music could be heard. Finally, a woman stepped from around a screen and Lucy rushed to take her place.

"Thank you," Lucy said to the young woman who had assisted her. Stopping at a mirror, she made sure her hair was still in place and then looked around. Not spotting her twin nor Franny, she decided that they must be behind one of the many screens. However, that thought evaporated as a sense of foreboding descended over her. Though everything appeared normal and music and laughter could be heard from below, she knew something was wrong. Her heart began to pound and she rushed from the room. At the head of the stairs, she paused, not knowing which way to go. She knew she needed to find Lucas and tell him as a fear unlike any she'd ever experienced gripped her.

A sharp sob escaped as she heard a call for help. Whipping around, expecting to see her sister and Franny, all she saw was an empty hallway. Closing her eyes, Lucy heard it again and realized the call had been only in her mind—but it was not one she could ever ignore. Dashing down the stairs, she wasn't aware of the people she brushed against or the voices raised in indignation at her rudeness. She gave a sharp cry as she ran past a small table, her hip banging painfully into one corner. Ignoring the pain, as well as the sound of a tray of champagne flutes shattering against the floor, she continued to scream for her Papa.

Lucas was stunned to see his wife tearing across the dance floor. Shoving the two glasses of punch he had acquired into a maid's hands, he met her and saw the absolute terror on her face. "What's wrong!"

"He's-he's got them!"

"Who?" Lucas said, taking both of her arms and forcing her to be still. "Lucy! What are you talking about?"

"Franny and Louisa. Some man took them!" She wasn't even aware of his hold on her as her feet continued to attempt to run. All she was aware of was that something was horribly wrong and that Louisa and Franny were in danger.

Lucas watched the color drain from Edward's face before returning in a rush a moment later. "I'll kill the bastard!" Almost like magic, their family instantly gathered around, two members noticeably absent.

Samuel stood, his face showing his horror. "We need to search the house. Find Louisa and my Franny!"

When Lucas attempted to pass Lucy to Stefan, she screamed and kicked out at the man.

"Lucy, you must calm down!" Lucas said. "I promise we will find them! Stay—"

"No!" she screamed, tears running down her face.

"Lucy…" He stopped when he saw her go still and her eyes close. "She's going to faint!"

Lawrence had joined the group and stepped forward, ready to assist, but Lucy did not sink to the floor. Instead, they watched as she lifted her head higher, turning it back and forth, her eyes still closed. She then nodded and opened her eyes.

"They aren't in the house. They're in some carriage," she said.

"How can she know that?" Lord Westmoreland asked. The group had instantly drawn his attention and he'd joined them.

Edward spoke. "They are identical twins. They've always had an uncanny ability to sense each other."

Lucas nodded for Stefan to release Lucy. Taking her into his arms but holding her loosely, he spoke as calmly as possible. "Tell us, kitten. What else do you see? Do you know who the man is?"

"No. Louisa doesn't know him and Fran… Franny is-is… oh, God, she's on the floor and she's not moving." Lucas saw Samuel turn white but was grateful he didn't attempt to interrupt.

"That's okay, she's okay. Listen to Louisa, kitten. What else can she tell you?"

Lucy closed her eyes again as the people in the room murmured softly, the music long stopped as the eerie scene played out before them. It was another moment before she spoke again. "It's a black carriage with two horses, brown I think, but it's dark. There's a red crest on the door with a scrolled letter. I-I think it's a 'D'."

Her eyes opened and tears filled them. "Oh, God, it's Walter Drakemore, isn't it? Papa, he has Franny and Louisa! He-he must think Louisa is me!"

"Walter Drakemore?" Martin said. "That man was definitely not invited!"

Edward didn't give a fuck that the man had no invitation. All he cared about was that he needed to find him and then kill the man who had dared lay a hand on his wife.

He didn't realize he'd spoken those thoughts out loud until Lucas said, "You'll have to stand in line, but first we have to find them." Forcing himself to be calm even though he wanted to rage, he turned back to his wife. "You're doing really well, Lucy," he said, hoping she could continue. "Do you have any idea where they are going?"

"No…" Lucy moaned, her body beginning to tremble. "Louisa can't see. The windows are covered. It should be me… he thinks Louisa is me! Please, God, don't let him hurt them! You have to stop him, Papa."

"We will," Lucas said. It only took another few moments before the men were organized. "We'll try his estate first. Samuel, you take one carriage and Stefan you take another, in case we have to split up."

Several men, including servants, began to gather; they would ride with the group.

"It might be faster on a horse," Martin Westmoreland suggested. "I'll ride with you…"

"No," Lucy said. "I'll ride."

"You'll stay here with Frank," Lucas said even as the men began to stride out of the house.

"I won't!" Lucy said. "You need me. You won't know where to go! I-I have to go, and I'll steal a horse and go alone—"

"She's right," Edward said, cutting off her words. "She's connected to Louisa." When Lucas appeared ready to argue, Edward reached out and laid his hand on his arm. "We need her with us, Lucas. We'll keep her safe."

"All right," Lucas said. "Let's get going."

Soon two carriages were tearing down the drive but were quickly passed by three horses Martin had provided. Lucy's cloak flew out behind her as she raced between her husband and Edward. They didn't pause until they reached the fork in the road. Lucas waited until she nodded and took the road to the right.

They raced on, the thunder of their horses' hooves loud in the still air, with the clatter of carriage wheels distant but audible as they followed behind. Every time they came to a fork, Lucy had to pause and close her eyes. Edward never hurried her, though his worry increased each time they made a choice and saw no evidence of the Drakemore carriage.

"I-I think left," Lucy said, the doubt in her voice evident for the first time. Lucas didn't question her even though the road going left wasn't the one leading to the Drakemore estates. "Oh, Papa, I-I'm not sure!" Lucas could barely understand her and realized that her teeth were chattering.

"Just relax, kitten, we'll find them."

"Don't push it, sweetheart. Let Louisa guide you. Listen for her voice." Edward's voice was soft but flat, and Lucas knew how hard it was for the man to remain in control of himself. He was having the exact same problem.

He watched as her eyes closed again. He realized that not only could he hear the clicking of her teeth, he could see she was trembling almost violently. It was cold, far too cold to be riding astride with her dress at her waist, her legs covered only by her stockings and drawers. Moving his horse next to hers, he grabbed her reins as the carriages pulled up behind them.

"Stefan!" Lucas shouted and the man was instantly beside the them. "I'm going to put Lucy in the carriage…"

"No!" Lucy protested even as she was being lifted from the saddle. "No! You can't!"

"Sweetheart, you are freezing," Lucas said, trying to avoid her flailing arms and kicking feet.

"No, please, I can't… I won't!"

"Shh, okay, but you are going to ride with me," Lucas said, settling her in front of him and pulling off his coat. He draped it around her, tucking it as tightly as possible. Stefan mounted the other horse and waited for instructions.

Lucy calmed, then looked around and gave her husband a puzzled look. "Isn't this the way home?" she asked, lifting a hand to point to the beginning of a fence line. Lucas realized she was right.

"Why would he take them to Hunter's Ridge?" Edward asked; a question one that no one could truly answer.

"I hear water," Lucy said. Lucas looked around as if expecting to hear the same.

"The pond? That's the only place that Drakemore has been." He turned to instruct Stefan but Lucy was shaking her head.

"No, it's running water… wait, no, it's like the sea." Stiffening, she turned in his arms. "The cliffs. He's taking them to the cliffs!"

Lucas felt his heart stop again. There was no reason to drive a carriage to the cliffs unless… he couldn't let his mind complete the horrid thought. Another possibility occurred to him. "Lucy, do you see a cabin?"

"A cabin? What cabin?"

Realizing he'd not yet taken Lucy to the small hunter's cabin, he had to make a decision. He couldn't imagine Drakemore intended to kill the women, but he could easily imagine him discovering the cabin one day while attempting to find a place to hold the girls hostage while making demands for some sort of ransom. Nowhere in town would do. No, he'd obviously thought to hide them in plain sight. Turning again, he explained his thoughts.

"I agree," Stefan said. "He's been disowned by his family and must be truly desperate."

"He's out of his fucking mind," Edward countered. "He'll have no use of money if he's harmed a single hair on their heads!"

Lucas agreed but knew they needed to get going. Every moment they remained still allowed Drakemore to get further ahead. "The carriages are slower and must take the road. Perhaps we can cut him off by riding across the fields."

The three others nodded and once he was sure that Lucy had a secure hold of his horse's mane, he kicked his heels against the horse's flanks. The horse surged forward and when they reached the fence, Lucas bent forward, praying his grip on his wife was secure as they left the ground to sail over the fence. Again and again the horse made the jump, until at last he could hear the pounding of the surf against the cliffs that ran along the end of his property. The cabin sat in a small clearing at the end of what was little more than a rutted path. It was accessible only from the front, as scattered boulders leading to the cliff were at the back.

Pulling up, he waited until Edward dismounted and then passed Lucy to him so he could dismount as well. They hid the horses in a grove of trees a short distance from the small cabin and moved towards the road. They all strained to listen but could hear nothing above the sound of the crashing waves. After several minutes, Lucas shook his head. They must be in the wrong spot. The cliffs ran for miles, and Drakemore could have pulled off anywhere. He was about to suggest they mount up and try again when Lucy stiffened in his arms.

"They're coming."

"You'll stay here," Lucas said, pulling her behind a boulder. When she attempted to pull away, he shook his head. "Please, God, Lucy, please stay. I-I can't bear the thought of you being hurt."

"I'll keep her safe," Stefan said, pulling her into his arms. When she attempted to pull away, he spoke calmly. "Honey, your Papa can't concentrate on what he needs to do if he is worried about you. Let him go, sweetheart."

"I-I…" With a sob, she stopped fighting. "Be careful, please, don't either of you get hurt."

"It will be okay, kitten…"

"I-I think he might have a gun."

Lucas and Edward exchanged glances. Neither would have a problem with taking on Walter hand to hand. However, both knew they weren't invincible when it came to a bullet. Still neither had a moment's thought of anything other than saving Louisa and Franny.

"We will, kitten. We'll be careful, I promise." Hearing the sounds of hooves, Lucas stopped speaking for a moment. "Keep her safe."

"I will."

Edward and Lucas moved back towards the house, slipping from tree to tree now that they knew the carriage was heading to the cabin. "I know the layout of the cabin," Lucas said softly. "Drakemore doesn't—"

"No," Edward said. "Once inside, we'd have to worry about the girls. I think it's better if we take him outside."