to point his pistol at them. He seemed to hesitate, but then as someone jumped down from the newly arrived chaise and fired in his direction, he turned his horse and fled across the Heath towards a stand of trees.
Captain Mardle dropped to his knees and pulled the mask from the face of the man he’d shot. He gave a cry of astonishment and looked up at Madeline.
‘This is the Marquis of Rochdale,’ he said. ‘I thought him a common highwayman...’
‘He wanted to abduct me,’ Madeline said. ‘I must thank you for saving me, sir. This is not the first time he has attempted to harm me.’
‘I knew him for a rogue, but this...’
‘Is he dead?’ The newcomer had arrived. He glanced down at the marquis with contempt and then at Madeline, before addressing Captain Mardle. ‘It was fortunate that you were here, sir. This man was a vile seducer and has threatened this lady too many times.’
‘Indeed, I know what an evil man he was for he harmed a lady who was dear to me,’ Captain Mardle said. ‘It was my intention to demand satisfaction for it—but I never intended this.’ His face was very pale. ‘But I shall admit my fault and take the consequences.’
‘I pray you, sir, do not speak of fault,’ Madeline said. ‘All of us here will bear witness that you shot in defence of me. You will speak for Captain Mardle, will you not, Hal?’
‘Indeed I shall, sir. I am glad to meet you. In my opinion you have acted just as you ought and I am eternally grateful, as we all must be.’ He shook Captain Mardle warmly by the hand. ‘I might have arrived too late had you not acted so bravely.’
‘It was your arrival that gave me the chance for he looked to see who had come upon us and in that instant I fired.’
‘Then I am glad to have been of some use.’
There was a note in his voice that made Madeline look at him and what she saw caused her to feel as if she wanted to weep.
‘Excuse me, I must help Sally,’ Madeline said. ‘I see that Thomas has recovered consciousness. I must help her get him into the carriage for he needs a doctor.’
‘Allow me to assist him,’ Captain Mardle murmured and moved away.
Madeline stood immobile, gazing up at Hal. He looked angry, his eyes cold, his mouth set in a hard line. She hardly knew how to speak but knew that she must apologise.
‘This is all my fault,’ she whispered. ‘I should not—’
‘No,’ Hal said harshly, ‘you should not. Why did you run away like that? Without a word to me?’
‘You did not receive my letter?’
He looked at her hard. ‘Adam spoke of a letter to Jenny, but made no mention of a letter to me.’
‘Oh...’ Madeline shook her head. She could not know why Adam had not told him, but she was for the moment relieved. ‘I—I did not wish to bring shame on your friends or—or to ruin you.’
‘Was that all?’ he asked. ‘Surely you must have known what could happen? Did you not think of the risk you ran? I have been out of my mind with worry.’
‘Forgive me,’ she begged, and now there were tears on her cheeks. ‘I never meant to hurt or distress you or your friends.’
The stern line of his mouth softened a little. ‘That is what I told Adam. He blamed himself for he thought you must have overheard us talking in the library the previous night.’
Madeline turned away. ‘Yes, I did,’ she admitted. ‘I did not wish you to give up everything you cared for me when...when I am not certain I could welcome you as a wife ought.’
Hal’s hands were on her shoulders. He turned her to face him.
‘What are you saying? Do you not wish to marry me?’
‘I love you,’ Madeline whispered. ‘I am...’
‘My lady, we are waiting,’ Captain Mardle’s cry broke her thoughts. ‘Your servant needs urgent attention for he is bleeding and once more unconscious.’
‘I must go,’ Madeline said. ‘I cannot desert Sally when Thomas is hurt. They have both been so good to me.’
‘Yes, you must go with them. You go to your London house?’
‘Yes. We sent a messenger yesterday and they will be expecting us.’
‘Very well, I shall follow you, as soon as this unpleasant business has been reported to the proper authorities.’
‘Please...we must talk again?’
‘I shall come to your house, Madeline. This must be settled between us.’
‘Yes, I know,’ she whispered. ‘Forgive me.’
Leaving him to return to his own vehicle, she walked over to her chaise and was helped in by Captain Mardle, who then returned to Hal.
‘I must report this business to the nearest magistrate, sir.’
‘I shall come with you,’ Hal told him. ‘My groom will place the body in the chaise and I’ll ride Thomas’s horse. I would not have you suffer from what you did this night, sir. You saved a lady I care for from great harm. I understand that you, too, had reason to wish this devil dead—perhaps you would honour me with your confidence as we ride?’
‘He caused a lady I love to suffer shame and much distress—and he murdered a good man,’ Captain Mardle said. ‘I would have called him out, but the rogue who died this night deserved no better than he received.’
‘I perfectly agree with you,’ Hal said and smiled. ‘And that is exactly what I shall tell the magistrate.’
He mounted his horse and together they followed the chaise as it was driven back to town.
* * *
Madeline knocked and then entered the room where Thomas was lying in bed attended by Sally, who had so far refused to leave him. Madeline had changed her gown and drunk a dish of tea, though she could eat none of the cold chicken and thin bread and butter the chef had sent up to try to tempt her appetite.
Arriving at the house, she had been surprised at the warmth of her reception. Having sent a messenger on ahead, her servants were apprised of her coming. The butler and housekeeper were waiting in the hall with a full array of servants to greet her as their rightful mistress. Madeline had expected they would obey her, but had not expected to receive such warm care for her comfort. It seemed that they bore no malice for the loss of their former master and were eager to serve her.
Now, she approached the bed softly. In the light of the candles, she could see Thomas was sleeping as Sally sat beside the bed to watch over him.
‘My lady...’ Sally began.
‘No, do not get up,’ Madeline said and smiled at her. ‘I just came to see how he was and to ask if you needed anything. Why do you not let one of the maids attend
