Pay Lady Marlton a late-night visit

Randy took the time to shave and wash some of the sweat and dirt from his chest. He refused to think about why he cared how he looked when he went to scout out Marlton Manor. This was not a personal visit he told himself as he braided his blond hair neatly into a ponytail and tied the end with a blue ribbon. He didn't even care if Lady Marlton was home; he needed to see if Lord Marlton was marshaling forces or if the fucking bastard really was not interested in avenging the **** of his only daughter.

Randy studied his reflection in the brass lantern, it was hard to tell for sure without a real mirror, but he thought he looked pretty good. Good enough for the likes of Miss Charlotte he decided as he brushed at the leaves that still clung to his woolen trousers. He'd put an end to this ridiculous state of limbo once and for all.

The trip to Marlton Manor took longer than it had to. Randy was in no hurry, he didn't want to get too close until after the summer sun was low in the Western sky. Several times he paused to make sure that there were no surprises waiting for him along the old trail through the forest. Randy also took the better part of an hour to skirt the village that lay in the shadow of the great Tudor mansion. He approached the manor house carefully from the East with the rising full moon at his back. There was little activity in the great house, he could see some of the downstairs rooms lit by oil lanterns and candelabra, but many of the rooms were dark. It did not look like Marlton was planning a massive raid into the forest to capture him, but instead of reassuring Randy he felt a return of the unease that had worried him back in his lair.

Could it be that Miss Charlotte had not told her family about Black Brand's abduction and his improper treatment? It was hard to fathom but he could think of no other explanation. As he sat in the shadows of a sculpted shrub he saw a light go on in one of the upstairs room. He held his breath in anticipation not daring to hope but eager to see if this was Miss Marlton preparing for bed. He should be hoping that it was Lord Marlton himself, he could end this miserable chapter of his life by climbing into the bastard's room and putting a ball through his heart. However, when after a few more minutes Randy saw Miss Charlotte as she stood by the window gazing out into the dusk he felt no disappointment only an eager anticipation.

Randy watched the pair of lit windows attentively, each glimpse of Lady Marlton inspiring him to continue his steadfast vigil. For nearly half an hour she disappeared from view although another woman - probably her maid - would occasionally move about the room. When he saw Charlotte again she had changed into a nightgown and her hair was in braids.

Shortly thereafter the lights in the upstairs bedroom dimmed and Randy knew that the young mistress of the house had retired. He waited another couple hours until several other sets of lights were lit and doused and the whole house was dark.

Randy approached the manor house carefully watching for dogs or servants whose job it was to patrol the nighttime gardens and lawns that surrounded the estate. After over two years climbing the rigging of a whaler, the climb up to Lady Charlotte's open window was so easy he almost laughed. The stonework of the lower floor provided ample cracks and ledges for his hands and feet, and the post and beam second floor was even easier to move along.

Once Randy reached her window it was not hard to step through the wide sash. When the manor house was first built, the windows had been much narrower, but after almost two hundred years of peace in Southern England the windows had been expanded to let in as much light and air as possible. Unfortunately for Miss Charlotte the wide aperture let in rogues like him as well as the evening breeze and soft morning light.

As he stepped into her room he scanned the room quickly looking for any hint of danger. The room was large and elegantly decorated with a desk and chair not far from where Charlotte lay sleeping on her bed. The moonlight from the window lit the room well enough for Randy to see her serene slumber amidst the white bedding. In the soft moonlight she looked angelic and Randy had to remind himself why he had come.

Some tiny movement on his part must have disturbed her slumber because as he watched and waited in silence her eyelids fluttered open and after a brief moment of confusion she saw him standing by her open window.