“I’m of age. I don’t need his consent.”
“He will let me go without a reference,” the woman wailed. Clearly, this was what truly pained her. “He will lock you away somewhere you’ll never escape, my lady. He’ll shoot the duke dead.”
“Then I suppose we had better hurry up and marry,” Henry said. “Gentlemen, if you could give us a moment of privacy?”
The footman who had been enjoying the scene reluctantly stepped outside and closed the door. Henry handed Katie her shift. “Go home and pack. I’ll ready my coach. I’d leave for Gretna Green immediately, but I fear the roads are wet and flooded. If the rain holds off, we can depart at dawn.”
Katie pulled her shift over her head and nodded. “I’ll be ready.”
“You willnot,” Mrs. Murray said. “I will not allow you to run off and elope. I am writing to your father, and you will not leave your bedchamber until he either responds to my letter or comes to take you in hand himself.”
Katie gave her a look. “Mrs. Murray, surely we wish to avoid a scandal? The only way to do that is for me to marry as soon as possible.”
“That’s for your father to decide.” She grabbed the cloak from the floor and dropped it over Katie’s shoulders. “Now, come with me. I had to come in a cart pulled by oxen. The indignity!”
Katie looked back at Henry as she was dragged out the door. He let her go. It appeared he would be climbing the window to the bedchamber one last time.
*
Unfortunately, the weatherremained bad and the roads impassable, and it was another day and night before Henry could make that climb to the bedchamber. The only saving grace was that the weather meant delaying notification of the marquess or his coming to Carlisle Hall. It did give Henry time to inform his mother and to gather provisions they would need for the journey.
To his surprise, his mother did not lecture him or berate him for his less-than-gentlemanly behavior. She only nodded and said that Lady Katherine would be good for him, and it was about time he produced an heir to the dukedom. She did argue about his plan to elope to Gretna Green. She preferred he marry by special license, but she was made to understand the necessity of an elopement when Henry pointed out that Lady Katherine would prefer to marry him alive, and if they attempted a marriage by special license, her father would surely kill Henry first.
“Fine, but once you are wed and the marquess is dealt with, I am planning a celebration in London. No duke marries without some sort of fanfare.”
Henry decided not to point out they no longer had a town house in London, and he was deeply in debt. One step in London and his creditors would descend like vultures. Better to allow theduchess to make her plans and face the realities of the situation later.
Henry had hoped to have a response from Rory or King about the counter-spell by now, but either mail had been delayed by the weather or they hadn’t sent a response.
Finally, the weather cleared enough so that Henry was able to set out in the wee hours of the morning two days later. He climbed to Katie’s bedchamber and tapped on the window. Wouldn’t it be just his luck if he fell now? He stood gingerly on the roof, cursing the return of the warm weather, until the window finally opened and Katie smiled out at him.
“I knew you’d come!” Her words hit him straight in the heart. Any other woman might have expected him to flee and never return. But she seemed to never doubt him. It occurred to Henry that her trust was his to lose at this point. And wasn’t that a heavy burden to bear?
“I’d have come sooner, but the weather—”
“I know. Come in before you fall. I’m packed.” She made sure he was inside before going to her bed and pulling a valise out from underneath. “I had to hide it from Mrs. Murray. She checks on me every hour.”
Henry glanced at the door. “Even in the middle of the night?”
“No. Then she locks me in. I’ll have to climb down like your sister did.”
“That’s the fastest way to ensure we both end up dead. We’ll go through the door.”
“I told you it’s locked.”
“I can break the lock on a door.” Hopefully, he could break this one quietly enough so as not to rouse the entire house. First, he tried the latch. It was indeed locked. He gave the door a tug, yanked the latch, and it came loose and hung limply by one nail. Henry opened the door. “After you, my lady.”
She came forward, and he took her valise, then followed her down the stairs and into the foyer. They’d taken not two steps toward the door when a footman stepped in front of Henry. “Oh no, you don’t.” The servant grabbed at Katie, and Henry dropped the valise, spun the man around, and punched him in the jaw. The footman went sprawling, and Katie looked at Henry, then the servant, then Henry again, her mouth agape.
“Don’t stand there,” Henry ordered her. “Go!”
She snatched up her valise, opened the door, and ran. Henry was right beside her, grabbing her hand and pulling her along as the house lit up and the staff erupted in a commotion.
His coach was ready, but they’d have to run to the dower house. He hadn’t wanted to risk waking Carlisle Hall with the sound of hoofbeats. Henry took her valise, slung it over his shoulder, and sprinted. He was mindful that Katie had to run in skirts. He hoped she had worn boots instead of slippers. Either way, she didn’t complain and kept pace with him.
“Coachman!” he yelled. “Ready the team!”
“All is ready, Your Grace,” came the answer.
