The Duke's Reform by Fenella J Miller Page B

tumbled backwards.
     'My lady, here, let me help
you up. Get away you stupid dogs, haven't you caused enough harm?'
    'No, Sam, don't blame them for my
distress. Mary must get up at once. We must depart from here immediately. I've
left him; nothing on this earth will make me return. My life at Newcomb is over
and I must try and make a new one somewhere else, as far away as possible.'
    'Come along, let's get you inside
and Mary can see to you. I shall get out back and harness up the gig.'
    With his support she stumbled
inside. Mary rushed to her side, guiding her to the wooden rocking chair that
stood to the left of the fireplace in the main room.
    'He shut me in the bathing room for
hours; I am still frozen to the marrow.'
    'The monster! You should never have married him,
I always thought him a cold fish, not good enough for you, my pet.' Mary
gestured angrily to her husband. 'Didn't I say, Sam, how much weight the
mistress has lost these past few months? See, she's shaking, hasn't the
strength of a
    kitten because of what he did to her.'
    'Don't worry, your grace, I'll get
you away from Newcomb—we'll keep you safe from further harm.'
          As she rested
against Sam's broad shoulder she told him of her other decision. 'Please, don't
use that title again, I am done with it. From now on I am plain Mrs … ' She was unable to think of a single name to replace
her title. All her life she'd been known by a title, first Lady Isobel, eldest
daughter of the Earl of Drummond and since her marriage she had become a
duchess. Would life be simpler if she was a commoner as most were?
          'Don't fret,
madam, we shall come up with a suitable name soon enough. Here, sit yourself
down. Mary shall make you a hot drink whilst I get the horse out.'
    Isobel settled on the cushions. She
closed her eyes leaving Mary and Sam do what was
necessary to pack their belongings and ready themselves for their flight.
Sounds became distant, she wasn't quite asleep, but far enough from reality to
gain respite from the pain in her heart—this was far worse than any physical
injury.
          'Come along, my
dear, everything is done. It will be light in an hour or two. Do you have any
idea where you wish to go?' Mary offered her arm and pulled Isobel gently from
the chair.
          She closed her
eyes and an image of the huge skies, white sand and the flat green fens of her
birthplace filled her head. 'I should like to leave Hertfordshire and return to
Norfolk. It can't be anywhere near Bracken Hall, that's the first place he will look for me. But if we go to the north of Norwich we should be safe enough.'
          'That's what we
thought— it's going to take us several days to get there. With only one horse,
we will have to take it in stages.'
          'And it's
imperative we don't use the most frequented route, and we must travel at night
where possible. He will send out search parties. I can't go back and I
must not let him find me.'
          A cold nose
pressed into her hand. She rubbed the silky head knowing it to be Othello as
Ebony was already at the door waiting for her to come outside. The one light in
this darkness was she would be with her beloved animals.
          Sam assisted her
into the vehicle; he'd prepared a snug nest in one corner and she curled up . M ary scrambled in beside her. The two
dogs flopped down in the well and they were ready. The first faint glimmer of
dawn coloured the sky. There was no need to light the
lanterns that hung on poles on either side of the carriage. The gentle rocking
of the vehicle helped to soothe her misery— with luck she would sleep through
most of the journey.
    ****
    Alex forced his eyes open. Where the hell was
he? He had no recollection of the previous night—this was not uncommon after
consuming so much brandy. Moving his head made his stomach lurch; he took a
deep breath through his nose. This was Isobel's bed and he was naked. He
reached out a hand and his fingers