Page 46 of The Undaunted
It seemed that poor Mr. Landon was no match for Bertie, as he’d already been knocked to the ground four times and had yet to inflict any damage of his own. She did not think that Mr. Landon had managed even one touch on his opponent.
Lord Bertridge was masterful, he hardly looked as if he were putting in much effort. And then, he was always rather marvelous with his shirt off, muscles flexing, hair mussed and so intent on what he was doing.
What a man he was!
The day had been overcast and Caroline had worried it might rain, but just then, the sun came out from behind the clouds. It must have hit Lord Bertridge directly in his eyes. For a moment, he shaded them and glanced up.
Then for more than a moment. He was staring straight at her. Caroline did not dare move. To jump out of the way and hide would give her away. She was dressed as a servant and must stay looking as if that was just what she was.
Mr. Landon took advantage of Lord Bertridge’s momentary inattention. It was the first opportunity that had been given him and he wasted no time. He hit Lord Bertridge squarely in the eye.
The pain of it must have been terrible, as Lord Bertridge’s head snapped back from the force of it. The lord staggered, but he did not fall.
The crowd had gasped, and now they grew very quiet. Mr. Landon looked almost frightened at what he’d done. Lord Bertridge raised his fists and, one after the other like lightning, pummeled Mr. Landon.
“And there’s the temper, I think,” Bemmy said cheerfully.
Caroline was terrified. She’d done it. It had been her fault that he’d been hit. And so hard!
Mr. Landon fell to the ground under the assault and the umpires began the count to thirty. His man shouted at him and tried to help him up, but Mr. Landon waved him off. He would not rise to meet Lord Bertridge again.
Caroline stepped away from the window and sat on one of the beds. “He’s seen me, Bemmy. And he’s got what I think will turn into an awful black eye on account of it. We really should go.”
Bemmy considered it and said, “I reckon you’re right. Mostly, I can think of a slip-around for any situation, but this here particular one is layering on the complications. We done ditched Lady Redfield and have to account for that, and now the lord’s spotted you, though we can’t be surehe’ssure it was you. I wouldn’t like to think of him wanderin’ over here between matches to investigate.”
“Goodness no!” Caroline said, filling with horror over the idea. “Let us go in all haste.”
They left the serving girls’ room, Bemmy locking the door behind her by feeding out the latch string and then feeding it back into the room again. They hurried down the stairs and out into the alley and practically ran to Bemmy’s house to change out of the clothes that had been meant to disguise her. By the time they reached Lady Easton’s house, Caroline’s nerves and all the fast walking they’d done felt like they would bring her to her knees.
As they entered the front hall, a plaintive cry came from the opened door of the drawing room. “Is that them!”
It was Lady Redfield, sounding as if she were on the verge of a collapse.
Lady Easton hurried into the hall, with Lady Redfield staggering behind her. “Caroline!” Lady Easton cried. “We have been so worried!”
Bemmy, ever the quick thinker, stepped forward and said, “Now I told the miss that Lady Redfield was a grown woman and could not be in any danger but she insisted that we search the town high and low for the lady. We couldn’t think what had happened to her, one minute she was in the shop and the next she weren’t.”
“But that’s precisely what happened to me!” Lady Redfield cried. “One moment you were there and the next you weren’t and I too searched high and low.”
“Goodness,” Bemmy went on smoothly, “I wonder how many times we just missed each other by a minute going from one street to the next.”
“That must have been so,” Lady Redfield said. “I was forever thinking I’d see you round the next corner.”
Bemmy nodded sagely and said, “Well, it’s all come out right. Though, Lady Easton, I will admit that I did forcefully march Miss Upton back to the house as she’s on the point of falling over from exhaustion. P’raps I shouldn’t have been forceful, p’raps it’s not my place, but I did see a disaster coming on and thought to nip it lest it go too far.”
“Of course you were right to do it, Bemmy. You always do know the correct thing to do.”
“I’m very touched, Miss Upton,” Lady Redfield said. “You really should not have exhausted yourself searching for me, but I am very touched by it.”
“Oh dear, Caroline, you really do not look well,” Lady Easton fussed.
“No, I am all right,” Caroline said softly, the weight of guilt growing upon her shoulders with each passing minute.
“She ain’t all right this minute,” Bemmy said, “but she will be. All that’s required is a few cups of tea and a heap of biscuits, feet up, and she’ll be restored good as new.”
Lady Easton nodded. “Yes, certainly, we must do as you advise, Bemmy. You do have rather good instincts about such things. Take Caroline to her room and I’ll have Bramley send up a tray. Now Cecilia, you have exhausted yourself too and we will take the same good advice in the drawing room.”
Lady Redfield nodded gratefully and consented to be led back while Caroline and Bemmy took the stairs.
