A Heart in Heaven Read online

  There was no time to think. She only knew she was in the hands of a vile thug and she must fight to her last breath. So she did, managing to land a punch in his stomach and having the satisfaction of hearing him grunt.

  But her advantage was only temporary. This was a big man, powerfully built. He simply lifted her again and tossed her back into the hay. Only this time he dropped down beside her, taking her wrists in his hands and holding her down by the weight of his body, until she gave up fighting and lay there panting.

  “Now then,” he shouted, “what do you think you’re doing here at this hour?”

  “Blake?”

  “What the devil – ?”

  His body had been blocking out the light from the lantern. Now he drew back and saw her face for the first time.

  “Miss Hatton?”

  She could have screamed at the picture she must present, her face flushed, her hair tousled like an urchin. Worse than that was the way his body was pinning her down.

  Suddenly it was no longer cold in the stable any more. Her body was filled with warmth of a kind she had never known before.

  “How dare you!” she exclaimed in a shaking voice. “Release me at once!”

  “Yes, miss.”

  He rose quickly and offered a hand to help her up. Instead of taking it Louisa glared until he dropped his hand and stepped back. While she struggled to her feet, he averted his eyes and fetched her cloak, which had fallen off in the struggle.

  She was horribly aware of the thin silk of her nightdress and how she wore nothing beneath it. She wanted to die of shame.

  She hurriedly pulled her cloak on, not looking at him, and tried to speak calmly but it was hard when she was still panting from exertion and something else that she could not name.

  “I think you must be quite mad to attack me,” she cried.

  “I didn’t know it was you, miss. I thought it was an intruder.”

  “I had a lamp –”

  “Yes, miss, but you hung it outside the stall. It threw the light away from you. All I could see was that someone was in there with Firefly.

  “You might have been a thief or somebody wanting to harm her. I had to act fast. I didn’t hurt you, did I? I am very strong and you are such a slight little thing.”

  She knew she should reprove him for daring to notice her personal attributes, much less mention them. But she felt battered and bruised all over and there was something in his voice now, a kindness and gentleness, that made her want to lean on him.

  “I am just a little scratched by the hay,” she replied calmly. “You didn’t hurt me.”

  “I wish I could say the same,” he said ruefully. “I’ve got a big bruise right here,” he was rubbing his middle. “You pack quite a punch for a lady!”

  In the lantern light she could see his sudden grin and she smiled back. Suddenly it seemed quite natural to be standing in the stable with him, at night, having this strange conversation.

  “It is so sad to see all the empty stalls,” she said, looking around her. “I am used to seeing them all full. Were you here when the other horses were sold?”

  “Yes, miss. And you are right, it was sad. They were like friends.”

  “Oh, yes, they were,” she agreed eagerly. “Old and trusted friends. I have known some of them most of my life. I would have liked to have said goodbye.”

  He nodded. “That’s how I felt. I made sure I said goodbye and thank you to each one before they left.”

  “Did it happen all at once?”

  “It took about two weeks. One by one folk came and took them away. Old Frank, who used to be head man, was retired. The other lad was dismissed and there’s only me now.”

  “But why?” she asked, puzzled. “Why did it have to happen?”

  “Not my place to ask questions, miss. I am just a hired hand. I sleep up there –” he indicated the ladder into the loft above. “Then I am near in case they need me.”

  “In case of intruders, you mean?” she asked impishly and they laughed together.

  “Thank you for taking care of Firefly,” she said.

  “I know how much she means to you.”

  “You do?”

  “His Lordship told me. I have been exercising her every day for you. She is a really fine animal.”

  He walked into the stall, produced an apple from his pocket and gave it to the mare.

  “Just a little something to calm her down,” he said. “It probably upset her seeing her two favourite people fight.”

  This was too much.

  “Really? You consider yourself one of her favourite people?”

  “I know I am. We have got to know each other really well. She trusts me and likes me. After you, of course.”

  And there was no doubt that Firefly was content with this young man. Watching the mare contentedly munching and then nuzzling him affectionately, Louisa felt her anger with him fade.

  “Yes, I can see how much she likes you,” she said. “How nice that she has been in such good hands. I am glad I came out to see her.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Blake said firmly.

  Louisa gasped.

  “I beg your pardon!”

  “You were very silly to come out here alone at night. If there really had been an intruder or if I had been a ruffian like some stable hands, you would have been helpless. You should take more care.”

  Louisa’s cheeks flamed.

  “How dare you speak to me like that!”

  “I was just watching out for your safety.”

  “You are impertinent.”

  “I am very sorry if I have offended you.”

  Blake’s words were meek, but there was no meekness in his manner. Once again Louisa felt his sense of authority, so strange in a hired hand.

  In the half light his eyes were sunk deep in shadow. His mouth was curved and firm and she realised again that this was the most handsome young man she had ever seen. But his impertinence was still inexcusable.

  “I appreciate your help,” she said with a touch of haughtiness, “but it does not give you the right to speak to me like that. I have a good mind to complain to my father.”

  “That is up to you, miss.”

  He was not afraid of her threat and with reason, she recognised. Her father would not approve of her visiting the stables at night and she could not tell him the real reason for her agitation – that this outrageous young man had held her while she was nearly naked and struggled with her intimately, so that she was filled with sensations that threatened to overwhelm her.

  The ironic light in his eye told her that he knew he had nothing to fear. Outraged, she felt herself blushing again and it made her even haughtier.

  “I and I alone will decide whether I come to the stables or not. There was no intruder and if there had been I could have dealt with him. You said yourself I pack a good punch.”

  “Yes, and I’ve felt it. But it didn’t stop me oversetting you, did it?”

  She gulped with horror. How dare this shameles creature remind her of how helplessly she had lain beneath him!

  “I could have you dismissed,” she seethed.

  “I don’t think so, miss. There are not many men who will do three men’s work for one man’s pay, as I do. Now I think it’s time you returned to the house.”

  “I shall decide when –”

  “I will walk with you – in case of intruders.” She sensed rather than saw his grin.

  She did not want him to walk with her. In fact, she told herself, she would be happy if he vanished from the face of the earth.

  But she was not going to risk another argument with him, so she said coolly,

  “Very well, you may carry the lantern.”

  “Yes, miss,” he replied with a suspicious meekness that made her want to throw something at him.

  He took down the lantern and went ahead. At the kitchen door he said, “goodnight, miss.”

  “Goodnight Blake.” Remembering her manners she
took a deep breath and prepared to thank him for his help. But he simply handed her the lantern and strode away, without waiting to be dismissed.

  She ran quietly upstairs to her room. Luckily Arabelle was still asleep. In the darkness she walked to stand at the window. From the stable came a soft, contented, whinny from Firefly and she guessed that Blake must have returned.

  She could still feel a faint tingle in her shoulders where his fingers had held her in an iron grip. And not just her shoulders but all over. He had shown no mercy to the ‘intruder’ and she had been manhandled just about everywhere, as her throbbing flesh reminded her.

  No man had ever touched her in such a way in all he life and it dismayed her to find that, now she was alone, she was not as shocked as she should have been.

  She was even more dismayed by the next thought that came into her head.

  “If only he were Lord Westbridge!”

  *

  Next morning Louisa was up with the lark, pulling back the curtains to survey the glorious weather. At the sight of the sun bathing the autumnal countryside her mood rose to normal. Last night seemed like a dream.

  “You would never know it was November, it’s still so mild,” she said. “What a day to go riding!”

  “Riding!” Arabelle was aghast. “My friend, why must you always be rushing about, doing things? It’s so exhausting. Yesterday was a long journey. I am going to spend today very gently.”

  She was as good as her word. Over breakfast she talked about Parisian fashions to Lady Hatton and when she announced that she would rather spend the day at home, her hostess agreed enthusiastically.

  Louisa sent a message to the stable to say that she would ride Firefly after breakfast. She had dressed in the new riding habit she had bought in Paris. It was dark blue velvet and showed off the blue of her eyes.

  “How elegant you look, my darling,” her mother exclaimed. “I am sure if Lord Westbridge should see you, he would fall instantly in love.”

  It disturbed Louisa to realise that Lord Westbridge was never far from her parents’ thoughts. It was as though they had decided already that she was to marry a man she had never met.

  Blake appeared at the front door with Firefly. He held another horse and was dressed for riding.

  “Blake will go with you,” her mother said.

  “Oh, no!” Louisa exclaimed involuntarily. She did not want to be alone with Blake until she had recovered her poise.

  She managed a merry laugh.

  “There is no need, Mama. I have always ridden alone. What danger can there be when everyone here is my friend?”

  “But if you were to fall,” Lady Hatton protested. “Blake felt –”

  “Blake felt?” Louisa echoed, astonished. “Blake is a servant.”

  “You are not a child any longer,” said her Mama. “You must behave like a young lady and take your groom riding with you.”

  Louisa said no more, but her eyes sparkled with indignation. She was a spirited girl and did not like being ordered about by her groom. He would need to learn that she would not tolerate his presumption.

  Kelly, her beloved spaniel, was ready and eager to go with her. He had missed Louisa and had run to greet her when she returned home. Now he was determined not to be left behind.

  Kelly too seemed very fond of Blake, she noticed. He gambolled about his feet, demanding attention, until Blake fondled his ears.

  “You will be careful not to fall, won’t you?” Lady Hatton said anxiously. “If you hurt yourself it will spoil everything.”

  It was Blake who answered.

  “Don’t worry, your Ladyship. I will take good care of her.”

  They rode in silence for a while. Kelly was enjoying himself chasing rabbits. At last they came to a halt on the brow of a hill, from where they could see Cranford Manor in the distance.

  “It used to be such a beautiful house,” commented Blake.

  “And will be again. I understand Lord Westbridge is restoring it to its former glory.”

  Then Blake made a strange remark,

  “He will not succeed. He thinks money can make a house great. But he is wrong.”

  “Why, what do you know about Lord Westbridge?”

  “I – nothing.” Blake changed the subject quickly. “Are you angry with me for riding with you, Miss Hatton?”

  How beautiful his voice was, she thought. But she must keep him at a proper distance.

  “I know you mean only to do your job well,” she responded, “but I don’t like being molly coddled.”

  “Many things have changed while you have been away. More than you know.”

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  She thought he was on the verge of saying something, but he drew back, saying quickly,

  “It’s like Lady Hatton said. You are a young lady and you should behave like one.”

  “How dare you tell me how I should behave!” she exclaimed, amazed at this freedom.

  “If Lord Westbridge saw you riding alone he would not approve. And maybe he would not marry you.”

  Louisa was amazed.

  “And perhaps I would refuse to marry him,” she retorted angrily. “Nobody can make me do what I don’t want to.”

  “I do hope you will always think so, Miss Hatton.”

  Louisa spurred her horse forward. She wanted to get away from this man who knew too much and spoke so freely. When he galloped after her, she increased her speed.

  In no time at all they were racing. She felt thrilled by the cold wind whipping past her cheeks.

  There was a wall ahead that she had jumped many times before. She leaned low on Firefly’s neck, ready for take off. But Blake was catching up with her. At the last moment he reached out and seized her bridle, forcing her to stop.

  “How dare you!” she flashed. “My father will dismiss you for this!”

  She struggled to make him let go, but Blake grasped her wrist instead, holding her in a grip of steel.

  “He won’t dismiss me for saving your life,” he replied. “The farmer who rents this land keeps a plough behind that wall. It would have killed you.”

  She grew still. “I don’t believe you.”

  But she did. This man was so strangely sure of himself that she found she instinctively believed anything he said.

  He released her wrist. “Let me show you,” he said, dismounting and reaching up for her.

  She placed her hands on his shoulders, trying not to be too aware of his hands on her waist, ready to lift her down.

  “What about your stomach?” she asked lightly. “I believe it was injured last night.”

  “You do not weigh enough to trouble me,” he assured her.

  That was another unpardonable freedom, but she could not hold it against him now. Her head swam as he lifted her from the saddle as though she was no more than a feather and set her gently down.

  “Come,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the wall and helping her up onto a large stone that stood at the base, so that she could see over. The plough was indeed there, its sharp teeth gleaming wickedly at her.

  Louisa felt faint at the thought of what could have happened to her. She swayed and felt Blake’s arm around her waist, keeping her safe.

  “I did not mean to upset you,” he said gently. “But you had to see it, so that you will know in future.”

  “If I had landed on that – and poor Firefly – she would have been cut to ribbons. You saved her too!”

  “Of course,” he said lightly. “I had to think of Firefly.”

  “Then I thank you for her sake more than for my own. If you hadn’t –” She closed her eyes.

  “It’s over now,” he said slowly. “We will go to the village and you can recover.”

  “I am all right,” she murmured. “It’s just –”

  She drooped against him. How strong he was! How comforting to know that he was there to protect her!

  He helped her mount by the simple expedient of fitting his hands
about her waist and tossing her lightly up into the saddle. Then they made slow progress to the nearby village of Lark Hatton, where there was Mrs Birley’s Tea Shop.

  Mrs Birley was a kind, elderly lady, who had known Louisa all her life.

  She exclaimed over Louisa’s pale face, made her sit down and brought her some hot tea and cakes. She even produced some titbits for Kelly.

  Louisa looked around for Blake and found him standing by the wall.

  “Why won’t you sit down over here?” Louisa asked him impulsively. “Are you angry with me?”

  “No, Miss Hatton, but I am a servant and you are a lady. It isn’t fitting for me to sit with you.”

  “But you saved my life. Please come in or I will think I have offended you by my rudeness.”

  Blake reluctantly sat beside her.

  “I am not offended,” he replied. “But people would disapprove if they saw me like this.”

  “Then I would tell them that you had saved my life and that you are my friend.”

  He looked at her admiringly.

  “I believe you would,” he said.

  “I wish you would tell me your name. I cannot go on calling you Blake now we are friends.”

  “My name is Roderick.”

  “Tell me all about yourself. What did you do before you came here as a groom?”

  “I was in the Army.”

  Louisa laughed.

  “Now I know why you always seem so sure of yourself. You are so good at giving people orders, you must have been a Corporal or a Sergeant.”

  “Something like that,” he said, smiling at her.

  “Why did you leave the Army?”

  “I was called away by family troubles.”

  “But you are not with your family now?”

  “I – decided I could help my family more by coming here,” he said.

  “But Roderick, I don’t understand –”

  “Miss Hatton, you must not call me by my name. If people were to hear, it would harm your reputation.”

  “Oh, why does a young lady’s reputation have to depend on such silly things?” she exclaimed. “Why can’t I be friends with whomever I like?”