Chapter 24
Despite Elliot having called him a fool, Pierce didn’t feel like one at all. He may be foolish at times but he wasn’t consumed with stupidity like most men of his sex. At least that’s what he kept telling himself as feelings of foolishness washed over him in waves. The loss he felt was akin to losing a limb, only worse. At least when one lost a limb, one could eventually adapt to the loss but Pierce knew that he would never be able to adapt to the loss of Hope.
When thinking of his future only brought more misery and visions of endless years of loneliness and heartache he decided that he had to do something. He couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing Hope again, if nothing he at least had some questions that he needed answered. He quickly instructed Tucker to pack his bags as he made arrangements to go after Hope.
His first stop was at the Brattondale’s residence. He pulled his watch fob out and glanced at his timepiece noting it was rather late in the evening. Most likely the Brattondale’s would be at some society function but he silently prayed that that wouldn’t be the case. When their butler let him in he handed him his card and was relieved when he was told that Noelle was in. He was shown to the drawing room to await her presence.
When Noelle finally arrived, Pierce rose, not even bothering with formalities, “Where did Hope go, how can I find her?”
“You’re going to go to her?” Noelle asked, surprisingly pleased by this.
“Just tell me where I can find her, there are some things I need to say to her.”
“She told me she was going back to Shepard’s Bush to stay with her mother.”
“Do you recall her mother’s name?”
Noelle tapped one finger against her chin, “Let me see if I can recall…Martha? No…Marianne? That doesn’t sound right…ah ha! It’s Matilde!” She was pleased that she could recall the name and hoped with everything in her that the duke would be able to find her, if only to keep her from marrying him and spending her life locked in a miserable marriage with a man that despised her.
Without any further conversation, not even a thank you, Pierce was off practically jogging to his carriage so he could be on his way. He was grateful beyond relief to know that he wouldn’t have to journey far to find her. He still wasn’t completely sure what he was going to do or say once he found her—he desperately wanted to believe that she hadn’t been like Eliza and was only after him for his title and wealth. He thought back to her actions and their conversations and he had to admit that that description didn’t fit the girl he had come to know and love. Hadn’t she been appalled when he told her of Eliza’s reasons for wanting to marry him? He remembered Noelle’s conviction that she hadn’t really wanted to participate in the charade but that Noelle had practically had to force her to do it. Maybe he could scratch that concern off of his list.
That still left him with a few other concerns, like the fact that he was engaged to Noelle Parrish and that the banns had already been read, or the fact that Hope was merely a servant girl, not someone who he could acceptably marry. He laid his head back against the plush seats of his carriage and closed his eyes and groaned. The situation seemed impossible and the more he thought about it the more it frustrated him. He must’ve dozed off for a bit because the next thing he remembered was waking slowly as he realized the carriage was slowing as they entered Shepard’s Bush. He looked around at the sparse houses and figured it shouldn’t be too hard to find the Hillburn’s residence. He reached up and tapped on the ceiling indicating his driver to stop.
Pierce jumped out of the carriage at the first house they came to, knowing he probably appeared crazy calling on strangers at such a late hour in the evening but now that he was so close to her nothing was going to stop him. He knocked on the door and cringed as he felt the first drops of rainfall pour down from the ominous looking sky. He reached up and pounded once more on the door, impatient to get out of the rain.
When the door finally opened a burly man appeared with a leery look on his face, “Can I help you sir?”
“Yes, at least I hope so. I’m looking for Matilde Hillburn, can you direct me to her house?”
The man’s face instantly turned sorrowful, “I’m afraid you’re too late.”
“Too late? Has she moved?”
“Alas she has, right up to heaven to be with the angels. She passed on a fortnight ago.”
Pierce’s heart ached for Hope and her loss. “Do you know what has happened to her daughter Hope?”
The man shook his thick head, causing his double chin to wobble back and forth, “I haven’t seen the lass for years in all honestly, last I had heard she had gotten a post with some fancy lady, daughter of an earl I believe.”
“Does she have any other family around these parts or anywhere else that you are aware of?”
“Why are you asking? Is she in some kind of trouble?” The man was beginning to get suspicious.
“No, no, she’s just—an old friend of mine and I was hoping to catch up with her on my way through.”
“Oh, in that case nay, she had no family besides her mother, God rest her soul.”
Pierce tried not to let his frustration show, “Well thank you sir for your help.”
By the time Pierce was back inside his carriage he was soaked through almost to the skin. His dark hair was dripping rain onto his face and down his nose. He didn’t even bother reaching up to wipe it away, instead he instructed his driver to continue on. He wasn’t sure what his next move would be, the only lead he had had gone cold and he was at a loss for where she could’ve gone with no family to turn to.
A few miles down the road Pierce spotted an inn and quickly tapped on the ceiling. The thought of a warm fire and a mug of ale was too tempting to pass up. He was freezing cold in his wet clothes and figured a drink in front of a fire was just what he needed as he planned his next move in his search for Hope.
The warmth of the inn enveloped him the minute he walked through its doors. He was greeted by a slender middle aged man with little hair remaining on his pointy head. “Can I help you? Would you like a room?”
“Thanks but no, I’m just passing through and was hoping to get a mug of ale and warm myself by the fire for a time.”
“Maggie will take care of you.” Just then a plump red-headed serving girl sidled up to Pierce, her unwashed body pressed too close for comfort. He gave her an unsure smile before indicating he’d like the table closest to the hearth and a mug of ale.
The girl, Maggie, leaned in close, “Are you sure that’s all I can get you milord?” she asked flirtatiously.
“Quite, thank you.” He turned and stalked off to his table missing completely the pout that overcame her face at his dismissal.
It was a rare thing for Maggie to be dismissed so easily. The gentlemen that came through didn’t always take her up on her offer of sharing their bed but they at least had the courtesy to flirt with and compliment her. This man had done neither and it irked her. She huffed back into the kitchen and turned to the new girl that had been hired to clean and clear tables in between cleaning the rooms they let out as well as scrubbing the chamber pots, “Take this mug out to the man by the fire, I want nothing to do with the likes of him.”
The girl turned and gingerly grabbed the mug, struggling not to roll her eyes at Maggie’s tantrum. In the short time she had known her she knew she could be moody and temperamental especially where men were concerned. Turning, she used her shoulder to open the door and began walking towards the fireplace. She saw the man sitting, his back to her as he warmed his hands before the fire. His shoulders were broad and his dark hair appeared wet, as well as his clothes that were plastered to his well sculpted body. As she drew nearer she exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. She moved silently across the floor, balancing the mug in her small hand but somehow the man still sensed her presence. He turned when she was just a few steps away from him and she gasped, almost letting the mug of ale drop to the floor.
Pierce inhaled sh
arply as he looked into familiar amber eyes that haunted his dreams. “Noelle?” he managed to squeak out. He watched as she quickly slammed the mug of ale down on the table causing the frothy liquid to splash down the sides of the mug and onto the table then turned and practically started running back towards the kitchen.
He watched her retreating form in shock, goodness she was so beautiful. He stood and in a few long paces he was directly behind her, realizing he had called her the wrong name he tried again, “Hope?”
He watched as her shoulders stiffened, but at least she had stopped running from him. Hope closed her eyes, she had thought she’d never see Pierce again but here he was in the flesh, even more handsome than she remembered. She longed to turn around and throw herself into his arms and beg him to take her away, to still love her but she knew she couldn’t do that. He was engaged to Noelle, possibly even married to her by now. The thought made her heart break in pieces all over again.
She had thought that her heart couldn’t break any further when she had been forced to flee London after Noelle’s return, but upon her arrival in Shepard’s Bush she had learned that her mother had passed away and her grief felt insurmountable. She had been forced to find work quickly to provide food and shelter for herself and the inn had proved a perfect fit. She had thought to provide a new life for herself where she could work long, dreary hours and put her past completely behind her. She never for a minute thought that the past would find her there.
She couldn’t bring herself to turn and look into Pierce’s face. She knew if she did, she’d be lost so instead she kept her back turned to him, her eyes averted. “Why are you here?”
“I came to find you, I have so many questions. Will you please at least look at me?”
When it became clear that she wasn’t going to turn, Pierce walked in front of her and gently cupped her chin in his hand and raised her face to meet his, “I know who you really are.”
“So you know that I’m merely a low class servant?” She desperately wanted him to tell her that it didn’t matter, that he had come to marry her anyway but the look on his face told her that he wouldn’t. Instead he merely nodded. Adopting a business like tone to mask the crushing pain she said, “You said you had so many questions and you’ve yet to ask a single one. I must get back to work so please be brief.”
Pierce cleared his throat, “Why did you do it?”
“I had to, I had no other option. Well I suppose I did but that would’ve left Lord Brattondale and his family in disgrace and I felt that burden rested solely on my shoulders. I begged Noelle to stay but she’s impetuous and wouldn’t listen. I’m so sorry for the shame I must’ve caused you.”
Pierce was astounded; he couldn’t believe she was apologizing to him, if anything Noelle was the one who should be apologizing for putting them both in this impossible position. He heard the tremble of emotion in her voice though she tried to remain strong and he ached to reach out and pull her into his chest, to stroke her hair and to tell her he would make everything alright, the problem was he couldn’t make that promise, he had yet to figure out a solution and couldn’t guarantee he could fix the dilemma. He had never felt so helpless.
Despite the fact that he couldn’t offer her anything he was just about to pull her into his arms anyway when they were both startled by loud pair of footsteps echoing off of the wood floor. They both turned in unison to see who had interrupted their solitude when the man in question came to a sudden halt. He was weary and pale and the sight of them seemed to put him into a shock, his mouth falling open and his eyes widening.
Without saying a word, the man rushed forward and pulled Hope into his arms just as Pierce was about to do. He stood back and watched in horrified shock as the man began patting her face and exclaiming, “My love, oh my love, I never thought I’d see you again.” The man then leaned forward and placed his lips on Hope’s in an intimate kiss full of longing. Pierce felt his gut wrench and thought he might be ill at the sight. He stormed over to the table where his mug of ale was sitting and slammed down a coin before grabbing his coat and racing out of the door.
Hope reeled back when the stranger finally released her, feeling violated and confused. When her eyes regained focus she took in his appearance and gasped, “Soren?”
He reached for her once more and made to kiss her once again but this time she was prepared for it and pushed back roughly against his chest. “No, this is a mistake, I’m not who you think…”
Soren stood back and assessed her long and hard through squinted eyes, “You’re not my Noelle, of course you’re not…I should’ve known, I mean it’s just that…are you Hope?”
Hope was surprised he knew her name, he must be smarter than she gave him credit for. She glanced at the door that Pierce had just exited and then back to Soren, debating if she should go after him or stay and figure out why Soren was suddenly here in Shepard’s Bush and alive no less.
Before she could decide what to do Soren was speaking again, “Have you seen my wife, do you know where she is?”
Hope’s head snapped around, “Your wife?”
“Yes, Noelle, your former mistress.”
“I know who Noelle is, I just didn’t know that you and her, that you—she’s your wife?” she finally managed to ask. She wasn’t sure how many more surprises she could handle in one day.
“Yes, we rode off to Gretna Green once we were informed that there had been a delay in sailing to America. We figured we couldn’t wait any longer, young love and all.” A small smile quirked at the corners of his mouth.
Hope still had a thousand questions she wanted to ask him, like why he wasn’t dead, but first she knew she had to get to Pierce. “Pardon sir, but there’s something I must do.” And with that she lifted her skirts and ran for the door.
The minute Hope was outside of the inn she paused briefly, just long enough to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She glanced around quickly, her heart racing in her chest, hoping she wasn’t too late. She turned and saw Pierce just as he was about to step into his carriage. Without thinking she ran to him and grabbed furiously at his coat, pulling him back to the ground.
He turned on her, a look of anger and pain etched on his face, “What do you want? I can see I came too late.”
“No, you don’t understand!”
“Oh really? I’m sure my eyes wouldn’t lie to me, I know what I saw and I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
He turned to his carriage once more but Hope reached out and grabbed a fistful of coat in her hand but he jerked it free and disappeared into the confines of the carriage. Hope wanted to scream but instead she did the only thing she could and followed him in. She sat directly across from him and said, “You have to listen to me, that man in there is Noelle’s husband.”
She waited and watched for understanding to dawn before saying, “You can’t marry Noelle, if you haven’t already. Oh please, tell me you haven’t already gone through with it!”
They sat in silence then all of a sudden Pierce began laughing. Hope looked at him curiously, “What’s so funny? I don’t understand.”
“You mean I don’t have to marry that selfish wench?”
“I mean you can’t. It would appear that she is already married. That man in there is the American Noelle ran off with and apparently they eloped to Gretna Green before they were set to sail. She thought he had died so she returned to reclaim her life and to marry you. She has no idea. Oh Pierce, we must tell her.”
Feeling happier than he had felt since he had last been with Hope at Ridgecrest Manor he readily agreed, “Yes, we must.”