HisLadysKeeperfinal.wps (10 page)

Gunshots echoed through the landscape coupled with the sounds of swords and cutlasses striking each other in battle.

She threw her pistol aside, having discharged the last shot and punched a

somewhat stunned man. Her hand smarted from the contact, the man must have had a jaw constructed of pure steel.

He grabbed onto the end of her gown, in his attempt to pull her back. “Get off!”

she yelled. She kicked him, and heard his bellow of pain at the same time she heard the silk on her dress rip. Lovely. She could feel the cool night air hitting her legs.

Wrenching the carriage door open, she saw Mallory struggling with one last still semiconscious blackguard. Elizabeth sat on the satin squabs, holding Susan to her chest, wild-eyed with fear.

“Help your brother, Gemma. He’s taken quite the beating, he’s weak … he’s

already taken down three men, I fear he can’t stand much more.”

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“Then, you haven’t learned what us St. Martin’s are made out of. Hell itself couldn’t beat us.” Her voice was hoarse.

She looked around the carriage for something to help Mallory with. She

shouldn’t have thrown away her pistol that had been one foolhardy action. Slipping her shoe off, she stalked up behind the struggling duo waiting for the right instant. When Mallory was pinned to the floor of the carriage she took her chance, and whacked his attacker soundly across the back of his head. It was then as he fell to the side that she noticed he wielded a dagger in his hand.

“Oh, my God! Mallory, are you alright?” She gingerly moved toward him,

noticing the flow of blood gushing out of his shoulder.

“Bullet wound or stab wound?” she asked, looking at the wound with terror in her heart.

“Stab wound.” His face was drawn and paler than usual. Without thinking, she reached and ripped off part of her underskirt. “Let me help you.” She padded it against his shoulder, instructing him to hold it there. “We’re going to have to get that sewn up soon, I don’t think that will stop you from bleeding, though I’m hoping it will staunch the flow of blood.”

“Get Elizabeth and Susan to safety,” he ordered, his voice transforming to a tired rasp.

“You don’t understand, I think we’ve gained the upper hand, your men finally realized we’d been infiltrated, and their fighting tooth and nail out there for you. Who is that Spaniard?” she asked.

“Mallory, please, tell me he isn’t one of Antonio’s men,” Elizabeth implored.

Some of the fright etched across Elizabeth’s face had faded.

“No.” Mallory winced when Gemma placed extra pressure on his shoulder. “He’s someone I knew during the war … I don’t think he’s affiliated with Antonio … but then, I wouldn’t exactly be surprised if he was.”

“Who is he?”

“His name is Herrer. I’m not sure what his first name was … they called him Don Herrer. I don’t know much more than that, except for the fact that he was one hell of an army officer.”

“But you were in the navy.”

“Yes, and we did have to take a jollyboat to shore once and while for some

reconnaissance missions. That’s where I first ran into Don Herrer. He was one of the Spanish aristocrats that capitulated with the French, in order to keep his way of life. We had been given word that he wanted to give the English some much-needed intelligence about the movement of troops in the Spanish Peninsula. Instead, we got a bloody turncoat that wanted to see my whole landing party swing in the gallows. We managed to escape by the skin of our teeth, but not before I put a bullet hole through one of Herrer’s brothers. I’d hoped he’d been killed during the war, but it would seem that man never got what was coming to him. And now, he’s determined to get his revenge against me. He is a bloody monster, Gemma. He’s madder than someone that’s already traveled to Bedlam. You have to help Elizabeth get Susan back to the house. In fact, knowing Herrer, he’s probably set up explosives on the perimeter of the estate. I wouldn’t put a bloody thing past him.”

“And here I thought the worst of your enemies were made during your pirating HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 47

days,” Elizabeth murmured.

“Oh, some. I also made the best of my allies during those days as well. Herrer will be planning to escape by sea. He’s probably got a ship waiting up by Balneikal Bay.”

“Mallory, fine. Far be it for me to try to go another round with you, especially when so much is at stake. I’ll make sure Elizabeth and Susan get back to the hall safely.

But if you’re right and Herrer has made alternate plans what’s going to make the Hall safe? He could have the grounds swarming with his little parasites.”

“Hart will be intelligent enough to send a rider for help.”

“Where the hell is he going to find help up in this remote area? I don’t think Lord Kildare will be able to help us … even though he does love his hunting.”

“Hart won’t be sending the rider to Lord Roberts’s estate, he’ll be sending the rider to his family.”

“His family? Oh … I see. His father must be a local villager right?”

“Gemma, right now, I’m not in any mood for your snobbery.” There was

unmistakable anger in Mallory’s voice, not just the usual annoyance he displayed whenever she said things that he deemed snobbish. She didn’t try to be hoity-toity, it just seemed to sneak up on her now and then. She knew she had to take pains to change her attitude, and she would, once they were all safe and sound.

“Come on, Elizabeth since Mallory wants to stick around right in the thick of it, we should make our way to safety.”

Mallory gave her a silent appraisal. “You look like hell, it becomes you.” He gave her another once over. “Where are your weapons? How in the blazes did you get as far as the carriage?”

“I employed some of those fighting skills you and Andrew gave me.”

He nodded his head and grimaced. “How’s about you employ those sword

fighting skills we taught you? Take one of their cutlasses and get back out there …

you’ll need something to defend Elizabeth and Susan with, if you are confronted.

Elizabeth will have to protect Susan, she won’t be able to help you.”

Gemma snorted. She couldn’t see Elizabeth wielding a sword even if she wasn’t holding Susan. Elizabeth was just too much of a lady, fighting didn’t seem to be in her soft nature.

“Mallory,” Elizabeth started, cutting short when Mallory groaned.

“Elizabeth, don’t argue with me. You should know better, you can’t worry about me. Your first priority, our first priority is Susan. So, go now!”

“Mallory St. Martin, I love you. Good luck!” Elizabeth inched her way toward the other side of the carriage. “Gemma, are you ready?”

“Do I look ready?” Gemma looked down at her torn evening gown, she touched

her wayward hair, and smiled. “You bet I’m ready. I don’t take kindly to some blackguard threatening my loved ones. They will all pay dearly for this!”

“I know they will definitely pay. They’ve pissed off Mallory.” Elizabeth

chuckled and then immediately sobered. “I wouldn’t be so scared if I didn’t have Susan.

Promise me, Gemma that you will make sure Susan gets to safety.”

“Of course I will, ‘cause you’re coming with me.” She touched Elizabeth softly on the arm. “Just stay close behind me, I’ll make sure you and Susan aren’t hurt.”

Slipping the shoe back on that she’d knocked out Mallory’s attacker with, she reached for HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 48

the carriage door. The noise of the battle still carried to them through the carriage. There was no telling how the tide had turned … if it had turned at all. “It’s now or never,” she breathed nervously.

“Now.” There was a hardened edge to her voice, which Gemma had never heard

before. Maybe Elizabeth wasn’t all sugar and honey after all.

Creaking it open, she carefully looked around for anyone that might try to kill them as they were alighting from the carriage. “The coast is clear, let’s go. Mallory, just make sure you come back to us in one piece. I don’t feel like burying another brother of mine!”

“I’ll try to make your wish my command.” She could feel Mallory’s presence

behind them, she wished that Mallory would come with them, but she knew he was gunning for Herrer’s ass, even if she thought it was a noble gesture, it was a foolish one right at the moment.

She stepped out of the carriage first, constantly keeping an eye out for more attackers. Her heart stalled at the sight of Hart engaged in battle. She bit her lip. She wanted to jump into the fray with him, but her duty to her family came first.

“There seems to be a clear path to the house. Let’s get a move on.”

“I’m right behind you,” Elizabeth whispered.

She kept her eyes pinned on Hart for a moment or two longer, and then even

though she felt a deadening sensation in the pit of her stomach, she proceeded toward Mallory Hall.

Elizabeth followed her so closely that she kept brushing up against her. Susan was unusually quiet. How her niece had managed to sleep through the entire adventure was beyond her.

“I just hope there aren’t more of Herrer’s men in the house. If we do walk into another damn trap, Elizabeth, I’ll create a distraction and you can slip unnoticed into one of the secret passages, wait there until more help arrives. I know you’re going to fight me on this, don’t!”

“I won’t. Ordinarily, I’d be inclined to challenge you since you’ve taken charge of the entire situation without really consulting me, yet, I can understand where you’re coming from. I’m a mother and my duty is protecting Susan.”

“Good. At least we both know what our duties are.” She stopped at the sound of rustling in the bushes. Holding her hand up, she heard Elizabeth skid to a halt behind them. They were so close to the front entrance of the hall. She looked behind them.

Somehow, Mallory and Hart had managed to drive Herrer’s men farther away from the house, giving Elizabeth and her lots of room to breathe. She scanned the area for Herrer.

She couldn’t see the bugger. Why did she get the feeling that she was walking into a booby trap? She knew she couldn’t go back … and she couldn’t go forward … but they had to go forward. Susan had to get out of the night air.

“I have a bad feeling about this, Elizabeth.”

“You too?”

Gemma stared at the rustling bushes, and breathed a sigh of relief when a rabbit popped its head out of the bushes.

“Thank God for small blessings,” Elizabeth murmured.

“Indeed.” They walked up the steps leading to the entrance to Mallory Hall. “If the door doesn’t immediately open … then we know Herrer has somehow gotten into the HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 49

Hall. The servants will no doubt be otherwise indisposed.”

“Agreed,” Elizabeth said.

Just as she stepped up onto the threshold, the grand door swung open. Her heart skipped in her chest, the family butler had unmistakable fear glimmering in his eyes.

She was about to speak, when she heard something that topped her night right off.

“So, we meet again, Lady Gemma. I’m afraid, I’ll have to pay you back in kind for this!” She looked to where Herrer stood behind her butler. He lifted his pistol, aiming it directly at her. She could hear Elizabeth moving to the side. She was doing just as Gemma had instructed. While Herrer’s attention was completely focused on her, Elizabeth was making a fast getaway, getting her and Susan out of the line of fire.

She was glad. She didn’t fear death—Andrew and her father would be waiting for her. At least now, she didn’t have to marry Hart. She smiled.

Herrer smiled back at her, and discharged his pistol.

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Gemma should have felt pain. She should be dead. She’d closed her eyes when he’d shot, but unless you could die without feeling anything, she was still alive.

Impossible.

She looked to the side. He’d hit her butler instead.

“No!” Tears welled in her eyes.

Stewart’s eyes were cloudy with pain. She breathed a sigh of relief realizing he was still alive.

Without thinking, she moved to his side, and supported him, leading him over to the wall. He was bleeding quite heavily and his blood splattered her dress.

“You’re going to be alright,” she whispered. She helped him to slip out of his jacket so that he only wore a shirt. She bunched up the jacket and put it against his wound, hoping the pressure would slow the bleeding. By what she could see, the shot had gone straight through.

“Not if I put another bullet hole in him—I might decide to do that if you don’t cooperate with me. Do you think I missed the duchess slipping away? How did she disappear like that? You will tell me, or I will kill him!”

“No,” Stewart rasped, clutching her hand. Stewart was old enough to be her father, and he’d served their family faithfully through thick and thin—to think he could die, was sucking the strength out of her.

“I don’t know where she went. Do you honestly think that I would be privy to everything my brother, The Duke, would want to share with his wife about this estate’s many secrets? I am merely a woman. I am just as you said before, the daughter of a dead duke. I have no real power or authority when it comes to the running of my brother’s properties. And if you truly knew how my brother treats me, you’d know that glaring truth.”

His dark cold eyes flickered with doubt. Then, he chuckled. She felt as if someone had rubbed icicles down her back.

“In that case, I will have to finish your butler off.”

“No! Not that.” She crouched in front of Stewart blocking the Don’s next shot.

She was sitting in a most unladylike position, and yet, she didn’t give a damn.