Chapter 4
Charlotte awoke with a start as the Duke's hand slipped over her mouth. She smelt his alcoholic breath as he hissed at her.
“'Now, my dear, before you run away from me again, it is time for you to be taught a lesson. I am going to teach you to respect me. You will get up, take off your gown and kneel before me with your mouth open. Do you understand?'' The knife at her neck persuaded Charlotte it was a good idea to comply.
When she knelt naked in front of him, she saw him fiddling with his trousers. When he had freed himself, he grabbed her hair and pulled her to him. ''Open your mouth, wench, I will teach you a lesson.''
Charlotte closed her eyes. She waited, but nothing arrived in her mouth. All she heard was a hideous thud. When she looked, she saw Ralph standing above the Duke with a truncheon in his hand.
''I told you I was sorry. Now I'm here to prove it. Get your things. I'm going to take you to York where you can catch the midnight coach to London. You have nothing to fear. Neither I nor anyone else will follow you. You are free. I love you, and that is truer than the fact that I am standing before you now. I will leave it entirely up to you to decide if you want me or not. I am truly sorry for putting you in this position. Please hurry before the old bastard wakes up.''
''What about Mary? I can't leave her.''
''She is in the house. There are too many servants. I can't just go and get her. Please, hurry. I will see what I can do for Mary when I can.''
****
''Lord Melbourne, Lady Melbourne. I have asked you here today, to talk to you about your daughter.''
''My Lord, it is such a pleasure for my husband and me to know that someone of your standing will be taking care of our only daughter. It is beyond our wildest dreams that she will become a Duchess, and look after you, in a way as befits a faithful wife.''
''Lady Melbourne, please silence yourself. Your mouth is full of bile. Your daughter has once again run away. This time, with the help of one of my guards. It would not surprise me if she were lying with him in some seedy Inn as we speak. I have lost respect for you, and your daughter. There will be no marriage, and I will be pursuing you in the courts, for financial compensation. Your family has done untold damage to my reputation. Now please take yourselves from my property.''
''But my Lord, can't we.......'' Lady Melbourne was interrupted by her husband.
''My Lord. I am so sorry for what has happened. May I ask why you are wearing a bandage on your head?''
''I was brutally attacked. I'm lucky to be here.''
''It is such a shame someone has beaten me to it. I was the one who wanted to be the first to hit you. Oh well, second will have to do.'' Lord Melbourne swung his fist at the Duke and landed him a blow just below the eye. The Duke spun around and landed face down on the marble floor.
''Now, enough of this nonsense, we're going.''
Lady Melbourne stood up and looked at her husband aghast.
''And what are you looking at? You've been a disgraceful mother, as I have a father. If I hadn't been so damn weak, none of this would have happened. That man has done untold damage to Charlotte. I just stood by and watched. I am an apology of a father. I only hope one day, my daughter will learn to forgive me.''
****
''Mary,'' Lord Melbourne whispered as she walked down the bleak corridor in the servant’s quarters.
''Lord Melbourne,'' she exclaimed. She dropped the tray she was carrying.
''Mary, get your things and come with me. You're coming back to Eaton Hall.''
Chapter 5
''All rise,'' the clerk of the court shouted
''Members of the jury,'' said Justice Fielding. ''It is my duty, in summing up the case against Ralph Bellingham, to single out the salient points of the case, which you may come to an informed and correct verdict. Let me first refresh your memories of the alleged facts of the case.
''The court has heard how, on the twenty-first of September, in the year eighteen fourteen, Ralph Bellingham is alleged to have attempted to murder The Duke of Eddington. Bellingham is alleged to have unleashed a blow, of such force, it was likely to have killed the Duke. You have also heard how the Duke has suffered since. His vision has been severely impaired, and his memory is not as it used to be.''