Authors: Highwayman Husband
Lucas focused his eyes on the outline of the cutter, seeing men at the oars struggling in well-drilled unison against the swell of the sea, using brute strength to keep it from smashing onto the rocks. A man stepped over the side and climbed into a rowing boat. They watched him row towards the shore, where he climbed out and dragged the boat over the shingle and some way up the sands. He rapped out orders to some of the men, the wind whipping the words from his lips. Pointing to the cave, he indicated that they should store some of the merchandise there. When he turned and moved towards the entrance Lucas recognised the lean profile of Edward Carlyle.
He was coming closer. Taking Laura with him, Lucas stepped back into the darkness. Knowing how headstrong, wilful and unreasonable she could be, he placed his hands on her shoulders and gripped them hard, forcing her to meet the intensity of his gaze. ‘What I said to you earlier applies now more than ever, Laura. Listen to me and listen well. No matter what happens from now on, you will remain out of sight at all times. Is that understood?’
As he saw the spark of defiance gleam from the velvety depths of her eyes, and the stubborn tilt to her chin, his mouth tightened, his dark brows coming together, and he spoke with grinding resolution. ‘I mean it, Laura. I want
you to find it in your defiant heart to obey me on this, otherwise I shall have one of these soldiers escort you back up the tunnel to the house, where you will remain until I return.’
Laura opened her mouth to argue with him, but his gaze was so hard and unyielding that she bit back any words she was about to utter. ‘But what about Caroline and Louis?’
‘When I find them I will bring them to you, but until then you keep out of sight.’
She nodded dully. ‘I—I will do as you say. But—please take care, Lucas.’
He nodded, thrusting her further back. His pistol at the ready, gripped firmly in his hand, he returned to Walter and the others. All were hidden and would not show themselves until the appropriate moment.
It was not until he was within the confines of the cave that Edward dared to light a lantern. Clearly there was more merchandise than could be moved in one night, and from the back of the cave Lucas and his companions watched as packages were carried deep inside to the inner chambers—kegs of only the finest French brandy, parcels containing tea and spices, fine materials and tobacco from the Indies and exotic French perfumes—a rich haul indeed.
When they were done, a man came to join Edward, who was left alone in the cave. They conversed quietly, but it was evident to the hidden observers that the man was impatient and extremely angry about something.
‘Behold!’ Lucas breathed softly. ‘Jean de Mournier.’
Laura stared at the stranger. He was blond and quite handsome, despite the lines of fatigue on his pale face, the de Mournier blood evident in his features. From such a distance and in the dim light she could not determine the colour of his eyes, but unlike Anton’s they were cat-like and cruel, the mouth a thin, merciless line.
When the two men looked as if they were about to leave
the cave Lucas stepped forward, emerging slowly, menacingly, out of the darkness, a pistol levelled at both men.
Seeing a movement out of the corner of his eye, Edward paused and turned. ‘Talbot? Is that you?’
‘Look closer.’ Lucas’s voice lashed the air like a shot, echoing throughout the chambered cavern, causing both men to freeze, visibly thrown off guard. ‘I’m not one of your band of smugglers, but a man who has an account to settle with you, Carlyle.’
Edward’s jaw gaped open in amazement and then fury when he recognised Lucas and saw the pistol. ‘Mawgan! What the hell…?’
Lucas nodded slowly, moving closer. ‘Surprised—disappointed, Carlyle? Did you expect to find me absent from the manor?’ He laughed derisively. ‘How unfortunate for you that I’m not.’
Edward’s expression was thunderous, and he felt at a disadvantage—a unique experience for him—as his eyes probed the blackness beyond, trying to determine if Lucas was accompanied.
‘Isn’t it crazy bringing the contraband here?’ Lucas commented coolly.
‘On the contrary,’ Edward replied, regaining his composure. ‘I was under the impression that you were not in residence, that you would not be returning until Monday—giving me plenty of time to remove the merchandise at my leisure.’
‘I am not unaware that you have used these particular caves in the past,’ Lucas stated with a sneer.
‘Dozens of times. After all, during your absence, as a man betrothed to the mistress of Roslyn Manor, who had a better right to make use of Roslyn Cove than I?’
Edward was boasting with that unpleasant brand of sarcasm and resentment Lucas had heard before. Contemptuous of his unworthy enemy, Lucas’s voice was full of scorn. ‘And you have just done so for the last time. Ap
parently you didn’t take my warning seriously when I gave it on this very beach that day. When you threatened my wife into aiding you in your nefarious activities, little did you know you were digging a grave for yourself.’
Edward shrugged, arrogant in his demeanour. His pride ached for some assuaging vengeance, while he mentally strove to seek a way out of this unexpected situation, of reaching into his pocket for the small pistol he carried. But he was wary, knowing he faced no simple opponent but one well versed in the art of arms. ‘We’ll see. Unhappily I don’t have time for this. You can see why. So with your permission we will finish this interesting conversation another time,’ he said, half turning in the hope that Lucas’s hawk-like gaze would miss the moment when he wrested the pistol from his pocket.
‘I don’t think so,’ Lucas responded with ominous coolness. The pistol lifted slightly as Edward took a step back. ‘Move and you’re a dead man.’
With his hand poised over his pocket Edward half closed his eyes so that they gleamed like bright slits. ‘By whose hand, Mawgan?’ he challenged boldly, his sardonic tone turning to sneering laughter. ‘Yours?’
‘Why not? I hold the weapon—and you do not move, either,’ he snapped, nodding at Jean de Mournier, who was watching the proceedings with helpless fury, his body still and tense. ‘You are not to be let off the hook either. You are guilty of kidnap—and I sincerely hope for your sake that your crime does not extend to the murder of an innocent babe,’ he said with icy calm, ‘otherwise I will kill you myself.’
Jean saw the imminent threat of bloodshed, but after all these weeks of searching for his cousin’s wife and child he wasn’t prepared to give in now. His thin, hard mouth curled in a savage sneer. ‘I have what I want,
monsieur
. You can have the
comtesse
—and good riddance to her—but I am not about to give the infant over into your hands.’
‘Why? Because he’s necessary for your survival and your gain? Is that how you deal with your kin?’
‘The Englishwoman is no kin of mine.’
‘No, but Louis is. Before he died Anton asked me to take care of his wife and child, and to do everything within my power to return them to their home—their rightful inheritance—when things have settled down in France. I gave him my word and I will abide by that. You are hardly in a position to bargain,’ Lucas pointed out scathingly, indicating the pistol pointing at him.
‘And you have to find them,’ Jean jeered.
Lucas’s eyes were like cold grey steel as they locked on the Frenchman’s. ‘Oh, I think a little friendly cajoling might wheedle the answer from you. Don’t hope for rescue,’ he said when Jean licked his lips nervously and his eyes darted to the entrance of the cave, as if hoping for deliverance. ‘Your friend Carlyle here cannot help you now.’
Lucas’s eyes gleamed with a deadly purpose as he advanced slowly towards both men, once again turning his attention on Edward. ‘So, Carlyle, you found the tunnel.’
‘I knew of its existence but never bothered to search for it until you appeared on the beach that day. I couldn’t quite work out how you managed to turn up like that unobserved, unless you came from the caves. I decided it was time I took a closer look. It wasn’t easy to find, I admit. But I was determined.’
‘That knowledge could cost you your life if de Mournier has harmed Caroline or the child. I’ve another reason apart from your smuggling activities to bring you to book, Carlyle—as well you know. Your desire to enrich yourself in the nefarious smuggling trade really doesn’t interest me.’
‘Lucas might not be interested in your illicit activities, Carlyle, but there are others who are,’ Walter’s deep voice boomed as he stepped out of the darkness with his companions.
Each man wielding a pistol, they fanned out behind Lucas, who had the satisfaction of seeing Edward’s expression tighten, and alarm enter his eyes when he saw the red coats of the dragoons. He was visibly furious and shaken by this sudden, unexpected turn of events.
‘Squire Ainsworth! So, you are in on this, too. What are you going to do with me? Are you going to arrest me?’
‘Indeed I am. I am arresting you on the charge of smuggling—and murder.’
Edward snorted contemptuously. ‘You have nothing on me—only this,’ he said, flinging out an arm at the stacked contraband.
One of the excise men spoke up. ‘Don’t count on it. You’ve led us a merry dance up to now. But you’re finished, Carlyle. We have a witness who saw you shoot Jed Watkins in cold blood, and there are others who will come forward in an attempt to save their own hides—those poor fools you have inveigled into this mad, dangerous business that so often ends in death.’
‘And then there is the matter of the
Pelican
,’ Lucas reminded him coldly, ‘which is probably the most heinous of all your crimes.’ He spoke slowly so his words would have their full effect. He was not disappointed. At the mention of the
Pelican
the muscles of Edward’s handsome face tensed, his mouth forming a thin line across his face like a slash. Lucas’s smile was deadly as he prepared to thrust home the point that would finish him.
‘I have close, personal friends attached to the Admiralty, and one in particular is Lord Antony Seymour. His sister and her husband were on board the
Pelican
. They had been travelling on the Continent and were returning to England to escape the troubles that had broken out in France.
‘You can imagine Lord Seymour’s anger when I turned up after two years and confirmed what the survivor who managed to make his way to England had reported, that the sinking was an act of piracy. My evidence was enough
to condemn you, but there was another matter to clear up. You were already under suspicion regarding your smuggling activities—and there was no accounting for your sudden affluence, you understand.’
‘I told you, Mawgan, that my finances are my own affair,’ Edward hissed savagely.
‘Not any more. Because I own Roslyn Manor, the Admiralty offered me an appointment to make secret investigations into the smuggling activities and mysterious deaths which have occurred recently in these parts—of excise men and ordinary citizens. I could see your hand all over it, which was why I accepted the appointment. Being a passenger on board the
Pelican
, like Lord Seymour I had my own personal reasons for bringing you to justice. If it were smuggling alone I would not have concerned myself, but this involved desperate and dangerous men who show no mercy to those who cross them. You are a villain, Carlyle, with the blackest heart and guilty of the blackest sin. I guarantee that you will pay the ultimate penalty for your crimes.’
Out of sight, Laura listened to what Lucas was saying in absolute amazement. The revelation that he was working for the Admiralty explained so much and was so different from what she had assumed. He had been watching Edward right from the start, seeking clues, working diligently to destroy him, which must have been why he had kept his return to Roslyn secret, for the longer Edward had remained unaware of his existence, the more clues were presented.
Forgetful of her promise to Lucas, she stepped forward, the sudden movement capturing Edward’s attention. A terrible, consuming hatred flared in his eyes when they lighted on Laura’s slender form slowly emerging from the shadows.
Wondering what had caused this sudden transformation in Carlyle, Lucas jerked his head round. On seeing his wife his eyes registered first disbelief and then anger. How dared
she defy him so blatantly? His gaze raked her contrite face. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing? How dare you disobey me? I told you to stay out of sight,’ he snapped.
‘I know you did. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t bear it any longer. I have to know what they have done with Caroline and Louis.’
Laura did not flinch as she met Edward’s gaze squarely, and Edward knew with sickening certainty that she had tricked him utterly and completely.
‘You bitch! This is all your doing. You will suffer for this one day. I should have known that you would spring a trap on me, that you would betray me to Mawgan. Is this how much your word is worth?’
‘And what of your word, Edward?’ Laura seethed, averting her eyes from her husband’s wrathful glare, yet glad of the security of his nearness. ‘You told me Caroline and her child would be safe. I should have known better than to trust the word of a scoundrel.’
Without shifting her gaze from Edward, she pointed a quivering finger at the Frenchman. ‘You told him, didn’t you, otherwise what is he doing here? I only hope he paid you well for the information, because, knowing of your greed for money, Edward, you would certainly demand payment. Where are Caroline and Louis? What have you done with them?’
‘If you wish to see the woman and her brat alive, you will let me go.’
Laura realised suddenly, from the anguish that tore her heart, just how fond she’d become of Caroline and her son. Stepping forward, she glared at him. ‘I hate you—you devil,’ she muttered through clenched teeth. ‘Your soul is a cold quagmire of cruelty, deceit, selfishness and wickedness, and to think I almost married you! If you or this Frenchman have dared lay a hand on either of them, then I swear by my own mother’s memory that I will kill you myself.’
A man suddenly appearing at the entrance to the cave momentarily caused everyone’s attention to waver. All his senses alert, Edward took advantage. Reaching out, he knocked the lantern off the ledge on which it stood, plunging the cave into almost total darkness. Lucas cursed loudly, aware of Edward and Jean de Mournier running towards the entrance and out onto the beach. Immediately he gave chase, quickly followed by Walter and the others.