Lady Eugenia's Holiday by Shirley Marks

Author:Shirley Marks [Marks, Shirley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Franz-Edmund’s will was no match for Eugenia’s determination that they return to Brookhaven for some of her belongings. Upon arrival, they saw no one, not the guests, not any of the belowstairs servants were present.

“No matter, we must quickly gather what we need and be off.” Franz-Edmund ran willy-nilly toward his room to fetch whatever it was he needed to collect while they were there. Eugenia ran to her rooms to have Katrina pack her bags.

Eugenia dashed into her aunt’s room, which was the room before hers. No Katrina. She then ran headlong into her own shouting, “All my clothes! Pack everything!”

Only Katrina was not to be found there either.

Only moments later did Eugenia hear approaching footsteps. Relieved that Katrina had returned, Eugenia ran to the clothespress and flung open the door to choose the garments she wished the maid to pack first.

“I want to take everything!” Eugenia called out to her aunt’s returning maid.

“An excellent idea, although not necessary.” Thomas, Duke of Rothford sounded more amused than worried at the thought of addressing the eyewitness to his act of murder. “You’ll be coming away with me.”

Eugenia stumbled back into the furniture, putting as much distance as she could between them. She had no intention of going anywhere with him. But she did not have much choice in the matter.

Thomas grabbed hold of Eugenia’s arm and drew her toward him, causing her feet to skid across the floor. She put up a struggle as best she could, making as much noise as possible while kicking and screaming, but was too easily overpowered by him. The tears streaking down her face would not stop, nor could she wipe them away.

No one came to her rescue.

Edmund, she knew, was at the far end of the house, for that was where Franz’s room lay. More than likely he would not have heard her pleas for help. Perhaps he had chosen not to act the hero.

Rothford could not have known that Edmund was in the manor, nor would Eugenia give him away. If the younger saw the elder, it would have complicated matters even further. She could not betray poor Edmund.

Rothford was none too gentle with Eugenia, dragging her down the stairs to his awaiting coach, which whisked them away.

The coach lurched forward, plunging Eugenia back into the squabs where she pressed into the corner to get as far away as possible from Rothford, who sat across from her. His dark eyes were more frightening than she ever remembered.

“Well, it seems you have become more of a problem than you were in Brighton, my dear,” he said. His voice was not the warm, soothing tone she had bathed in the Brookhaven library last night. His expression was cold and harsh.

Eugenia said nothing.

“I find it difficult to believe you have no comments to make. It seems to me you always have something to say.” He regarded her from under arched eyebrows. “We both know what happened. I am well aware you saw me and I, most certainly, saw you.

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