“I thought Lord Harcourt was here to do so.”
“He has been called away for a short time. In the interim, I would like to speak with the man. Unless there is some reason you do not wish me to.” Rudman hesitated then said grudgingly, “John is waiting in the hall.”
She strode to the door and paused just outside the room to still her resolve against the discouragement that threatened to overwhelm her. Arguing with Rudman was like throwing oneself against a stone wall. She had promised Matthew that she would fight for him, she would watch his back, and she would do it. She
straightened her shoulders, though every inch of her ached with exhaustion.
The man leaned forward in a chair, his elbows braced on his knees, and his hat held in his hand. He straightened as she approached, and rose to his feet. For a moment, she studied his elderly features wondering if once again their hopes would be crushed.
“Good evening.”
The man bobbed his head and tugged once at his coat to straighten it. “Good evening, miss.”
“Might I ask your name, sir? Lord Rudman called you John.”
“Yes, miss. John Abner.”
“Mr. Abner, my name is Katherine Hamilton. It is my husband who has been arrested for Lady Rudman’s murder.”
The man’s gaze wavered and fell. “’Tis sorry I am for your trouble, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mr. Abner. Will you please join us in the library?”
He hesitated then nodded. His steps slowed as they reached the door, and She placed a hand upon his coat sleeve. “We just wish to ask you some questions about the day Lady Rudman died. It is very important that you share with us everything that happened that day.” The man nodded again. She studied his face as they entered the room. His attention focused on Avery Rudman first as he sat in a chair by the fire then swung away to touch on Clarisse then Talbot. She directed him to a seat across from Clarisse, so as not to allow Lord Rudman an opportunity to intimidate him with a look or gesture.
“Talbot, would you retrieve the drawings I have done from the drawing room?”
“Of course.”
She pulled a seat close to the man’s and sat down.
“How long have you been a driver for Lord Rudman, Mr.
Abner?”
“More than a score of years, ma’am.”
“Lord Rudman has been very fortunate in having you, I am certain. I am also certain he depends on you to be discreet about any private matters you might become aware of as well.”
Rudman shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.
Abner glanced in his direction.
“We depend on the people who have been in our employ for a lengthy time, to look out for our best interests.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She leaned forward in her seat and tried to capture the man’s gaze with her own, but he evaded looking at her. “My maid, Hannah, has been with me since I was a child. She is more than a maid. She is part of my family.
After my parents’ and brother’s deaths, she was the only person I could depend on to care for me, to remain loyal to me.” “I heard about the trouble, ma’am. Everyone has spoken about it.”
“I am sure they have.” She paused as Talbot handed her the drawings. She smoothed the top one of Jaime Stone against her knee.
Abner’s gaze fastened on the drawing and he swallowed.
“My family was attacked by highway men on the road to our home. The men killed my father and brother outright, then they tortured, raped, and strangled my mother.” She swallowed against the pain. “My mother had concealed me in a compartment inside the coach. I tried to escape and mount one of the horses to go for help. I was shot, and when I fell from my horse, one of the men put a ribbon around my neck and tried to strangle me to death.
“He thought he had succeeded in killing me for a time. Since my marriage, he and the other highwaymen have tried to kill me numerous times to insure that I cannot testify against them. Had it not been for my husband’s efforts, I would not be alive here before you now.”
Lord Rudman swung to his feet. “I don’t see what any of this has to do with my wife’s death.” Her gaze swung from his face then back to his driver’s. “Mr. Abner, will you look at the drawings I have done? You may have seen one of these men in the area that day.”
The man’s hands trembled as he took the papers from her. He stared at the portrait of Jaime Stone. The
wrinkles around his eyes and mouth seemed to deepen, and his eyes filled with tears. He looked up at Avery Rudman then away. “I can’t, your Lordship. I know what I promised, but I can’t see an innocent man hung for something the likes of this one did.” He shook the papers as though angry. “It was him and another man. Lady Jacqueline had just returned to the coach from the ship. I was helping her up the steps when the one came up behind me with a knife and threatened to stick it between my ribs. This man,” he tilted the papers, “forced her into the coach. The skinny one forced me to drive into the alley. He promised they would not harm us, the other one just wanted to ask Lady Jacqueline where the Captain had gone. That’s all he said he wanted.” He swallowed and withdrew a handkerchief to dry his face as tears continued to stream down his face. “When the big one got out of the coach, I knew she was dead. He had a strange look in his eyes, lifeless, dead, like his eyes were made of green glass. The one atop the coach with me struck me three times and knocked me onto the street below. I hit my head. I awoke when one of the seamen from the docks stood over me and shook me awake. He stayed with me until the constable could be notified.” Katherine bent her head, her relief so staggering it took a moment for her to breathe. She raised the driver’s hand to her cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Abner. You cannot know how grateful I am to you.”
“It was his fault she was there to begin with,” Rudman said as he sank back into his seat. He rested his chin on his chest as he gazed into the fire, his flabby features empty of emotion.
She forced herself to her feet. “Matthew sent her away, Lord Rudman. What else did you expect him to do?”
“I wanted him to die. I thought maybe she might—” he broke off what he had begun to say. “I wish him dead still.” She steadied herself against the back of her chair as her heart began to beat in her ears like a drum. She thought of Hicks’s wide, thick-lipped face and the pleasure he derived in beating the prisoners. “What have you done? What more have you done?” The rising pitch of her own voice steadied her, and she grabbed his shoulder
to give him a shake.
“It was his fault she was there on the docks.”
“Matthew went to you weeks ago, and asked you to help him pursue these men. If you are going to point a finger in his direction, then point one in your own as well, Lord Rudman. Had you done your duty, they may have been in prison instead of preying on your wife. Or did you know about them even before that? Did you ignore their threat because Edward asked you to?” Rudman’s expression grew blank. When he looked up, she read the pain of the damned in his expression.
“Talbot, we must go to the prison, now.”
“It is probably already too late,” Rudman murmured.
Those words staggered Katherine’s hopes and sent shards of fear through her. “You had better pray that you are wrong, Lord Rudman. Otherwise, you will hang right along with Mr. Hicks.”
****
Matthew settled the rickety chair on firmer ground then propped his feet on the door facing while he rested the flintlock on his stomach. “Throw out the pistol.” St. John’s voice came from down the hall.
“No. I told you half an hour ago I would surrender it to Lieutenant Marshal Endicott whenever he arrives.
Until then, I intend to keep it.”
“You’re only diggin’ yourself a hole, Captain. Ye can’t just take guards prisoner and expect us to go along with it.” “Well, you didn’t just expect me to go along with their plan to abuse and kill me either, did you, St. John? What else has Avery Rudman ordered you to do?” His words met with silence for a few minutes.
“If you have proof of his Lordship’s involvement in this, I’m willing to listen.”
Matthew snorted. St. John was in Rudman’s pay. The man would kill him the first opportunity he got.
“Lieutenant Endicott may question these men and get whatever proof needed. Until he arrives, ask the other inmates about Hicks’s penchant for beating and tormenting them, for his own pleasure. That should give you proof enough.”
A chorus of voices called out accusations down the passageway, and Matthew looked over his shoulder at the guard.
“Seems you are not beloved, Hicks.” The man glared his hatred. The gag prevented him from speaking.
“Who is this Endicott bloke?” Charlie asked from his position on the floor next to Hicks’s cot. His wrist lay atop the reclining guard’s rotund stomach, held there by one of the four manacles.
“He is one of His Majesty’s Guard and known for his brutality. He talks like a gentleman, but has the heart of a pirate. How else do you think he was able to arrest me?” Charlie exchanged a look with Arthur, the third guard and his manacle mate. Matthew could almost hear the men swallow, and turned aside to hide his smile.
A sound in the passageway had Matthew rushing to his feet. He took a position against the wall just inside the door and pointed the flintlock upward.
“Matthew—“
Katherine’s voice had him tensing. Were they using her to draw him out? He leaned forward to see who might be with her as she stepped upon the metal door. Her wet slippers fought for purchase on the slick surface and he caught her hand and pulled her to him. She steadied herself against his chest as he shielded her body with his own. He braced himself to face whatever threat might follow and was surprised when none came.
She clung to him with her face pressed against his chest and after a moment, he realized she was crying. His hand tangled in her hair, wet with rain, as he cupped her head and held her close.
“What are you doing here?” he asked when she seemed to be regaining her composure.
“You are cleared. Lord Rudman’s driver identified Jaime Stone as Jacqueline’s killer.” Relief had him drawing a deep breath, and he kissed her. “Lord Rudman as good as admitted hiring someone here to kill you. I was so frightened. I thought I might be too late.”
“So you rushed here to save me.”
“Of course.” Her violet eyes rested on him. The worry and fear of the experience had etched dark circles beneath them.
“And you braved the dark.”
She looked about her as though noticing her dank, close surroundings for the first time. “It would seem so.”
“Why?” he prompted.
A frown flitted across her face then cleared. Her eyes moved over his face with a look that brought a feeling of fullness to his chest.
She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you.”
“I told you I was going to kiss you every time you held something back from me,” he said, his voice husky.
His mouth covered hers, and he tasted the sweet truth of her words in her eager response.
“Captain Hamilton,” Lieutenant Endicott’s cultured tones came from just outside the door. “I hear you are once again in a spot of trouble.” Matthew broke the kiss unable to stifle his laughter.
“Indeed, Lieutenant Endicott. Please join us, so we can sort it out.”
Matthew propped his feet atop a small stool and crossed his arms. It was a sorry day indeed when a man couldn’t have a moment alone with his wife to give her a gift and share aloud his thoughts and feelings for her. It seemed the entire household had a purpose for being in their rooms and disrupting their every moment together.
First, Clarisse had come up to bring Katherine a selection of ribbons with which to do her hair. Then one of the maids had delivered the velvet gown Katherine would wear to the dinner. He had been called away for a few moments by his purser to discuss a small problem with a shipment of some of the goods he had purchased, and now, Hannah had come up to help Katherine dress.
He watched Hannah brush and loop Katherine’s hair into an intricate design at the back of her head. He listened as the two women discussed what color ribbon would best match the gown Katherine planned to wear.
He decided that he had missed being privy to a wife’s toilette. He derived pleasure from listening to her feminine tones as she spoke, the soft fragrance of her scent, the look of her perched on the small chair before the dressing table while Hannah attended her.
Katherine’s skin glowed warm and smooth in the lamp light. The tightened stays stretched the fabric of her shift against her breasts, outlining their full shape.
Matthew felt the blood race to his groin and shifted in his seat with a murmured oath. Katherine and Hannah both turned their attention on him, their enquiring expressions bringing a self-deprecating smile to his lips.
”I’ll wander downstairs to see if Talbot has returned.
He may have news. I’ll return shortly to escort you to dinner.” He paused behind Katherine to brush a kiss against her bare shoulder and watched as her cheeks blossomed with color. His gaze captured hers in the mirror. He read the anxious distraction in her expression.
“Hannah, I’d appreciate your staying with Katherine until I return.”
“Certainly, Mr. Matthew.”
He made his way downstairs to the entrance hall. He watched from the landing as one of the maids put the finishing touches on a centerpiece of greenery and holly berries on the hall table.
Christmas would pass before they would set sail. He would once again miss the holiday with Emily. He wondered if there would be any way he could make up to her for his long absence. His earlier letters to her would not reach her for at least another month. He drew a frustrated breath. Perhaps they could have another Christmas celebration when they reached Charleston. It wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t heal the disappointment she would undoubtedly feel now. There was no hope for it.
He could not sprout wings and fly across the Atlantic to join her.
He descended the stairs and walked down the hall to the library. He gave the door a cursory knock then opened it. Talbot turned to look over his shoulder, from his position at the French doors. “Come in, Matthew.”