Too Hot For A Rake (23 page)

Dusk…

Waverley and Casper took a circuitous route through the woods. To their relief, no armed enemies were in sight. Instead, Tom Wells and his men were hidden near the stables, within sight of the kitchen.

“No enemies here, your lordship.” He said the words with regret, clearly itching for action.

“Is it safe to enter the castle through the kitchen?” Casper asked.

Tom nodded. “Best be careful inside, though. Can’t say what you’ll find.”

“We’re prepared, Tom, thanks to Casper.” Waverley pulled the two pistols Casper had provided from his leather saddlebag, dismounted and threw the reins to Tom.

Tom grinned at the sight of the weapons. “If we hear shots, we’ll come running right quick.”

“Best take care, hear?” said Casper.

Waverley and Casper, guns at the ready, stole cautiously across the road and crouched under a small window. Casper raised his eyes above the sill to investigate. He turned and said, “Emma’s peekin’ out of the pantry. Cook’s there, too, sir. She’d never leave her ladyship alone.” Casper entered first, followed by the marquis.

“Casper!” gasped Emma. She curtseyed to Waverley. “Milord. Thank heaven you’ve come.”

Cook began to sob. Casper shot a questioning look at Emma.

In a breath taken without pause, Emma blurted out, “Milady’s bein’ ’ducted. I heard Harry boastin’ to one of the footmen, the brute.”

“What of my grandmother?”

“Safe, milord. Trudy and Nurse Hubley were locked in with milady, and Cook and I hid down here when those lyin’ Traskers sent everyone else away.”

Waverley managed a thin smile. “Thank you for your loyalty. What else did Harry say, lass? Do you recall?”

“He bragged that he and his ma were finally rid of Lady Helena. He said the Earl of Glynhaven took her off to wed her, and good riddance, he said, and…”

“Stay here and hide yourselves. We’ll find her,” the marquis said grimly. “Come on, Casper.” He turned and crossed the kitchen into the entry hall leading upstairs to the grand hallway. To his astonishment, Mrs. Trasker and her son, their backs to them, were standing in front of the open front doors.

Waverley crept up and hid behind one door, motioning Casper behind the other. They waited until mother and son turned to come back inside. In one motion, they slammed both doors shut and aimed their weapons, overwhelming the astonished pair.

Casper said quietly, “Move a muscle and you’re dead.”

“Where has the earl taken my lady? Answer me, you witch!”

Harry took a menacing step toward the marquis, but he stopped when he saw his pistol. “You’re surrounded, milord,” he blustered. “You’ll never get out of here alive. And besides, My Lord promised me I’m to be marquis soon’s you’re dead.”

“Shut it, Harry,” warned his mother. She changed her tune to civility. “Nothing out of place here, milord. Lady Fairchild’s agreed to wed the Earl of Glynhaven is all. We were just seein’ ’em off.”

“Where have they gone? Answer me, or else.” Casper waved his pistol at Harry.

“Lord Glynhaven’s ship is anchored in Sennen Cove, waitin’ to take ’em to France. They’re to be wed by the cap’n onboard.”

When the scouts returned, one of them reported to the group that a coach was swiftly bearing down on them. “There appear to be two people, a man and a woman, within the coach. Two postillions are leading, two more riding alongside the coach, two outriders holding on in back, a coachman and an armed gunman sitting next to him.”

“Good work, Samuel,” said Sebastian. “We’ll ambush them from that bend in the road. You two take the postillions riding alongside. You two remove the outriders in back. Take their places as if nothing is amiss. Leave the coachman and the gunman up front to us.”

“What about the two leading postillions?”

“We will do this with precision and stealth. They won’t hear a thing until it is too late, Samuel. Take your positions on both sides of the road and watch me. When my fist goes up, we attack. Ready? Good. Take your places.” Sebastian took his wife’s hand and led her into hiding behind a bramble.

The small group did not have long to wait before the coach appeared. Sebastian let the lead postillions pass and raised his fist. The postillions on either side of the coach were swiftly overcome. Sebastian’s men stripped the postillions and donned their coats and caps and took their places, leaving the unconscious men in a ditch on the side of the road. At the same time, his other two men disabled the outriders holding on to the back of the coach and did the same, while Olivia and Sebastian swung over them to the top.

Sebastian pointed to the gunman and nodded to his wife. He was her prey while the coachman was his. She nodded assent, lay flat on her stomach and waited for her husband’s signal to attack. When he was sure the others were in control, he crooked a finger, motioned forward and Olivia launched herself on the gunman. A simple chop to his neck with the side of her hand sent him forward. She had to hold the unconscious man until Samuel took him down. But not before she had his long-barreled gun trained on the lead postillions. The entire operation took less than ten minutes, all in silence.

Reins comfortably in hand, Sebastian drew the coach to a halt while Samuel and the others overcame the lead postillions.

“What is this? Why have we stopped? Drive on, I say. We must reach my ship to set sail before the tide turns,” shouted the earl from his rolled-down window.

“Good afternoon, Glynhaven,” said Sebastian as he wrenched open the earl’s door, nearly causing him to topple out.

“Hi, sister,” shouted Olivia as she opened the other door. “Going somewhere?”

“Livy!” Helena flung herself into her sister’s arms until they both fell in a heap, laughing, sobbing and rolling in the dirt, yet never letting go.

Frantic, Waverley ran down the steps as if he meant to run all the way to the beach, an impossible task. He was halfway up the drive when he was met with a sight he would never forget as long as he lived.

Sebastian Brooks led the bizarre procession, Olivia at his side and Waverley’s beloved Helena mounted behind her sister. They were at the head of Glynhaven’s carriage, surrounded on all sides by the hastily assembled farmers, a ragtag army led by Lemuel, a mob of young lads, like knights of old, holding pitchforks, long-handled hoes and hastily fashioned clubs as though they were spears and maces, while others similarly armed followed the carriage, prodding the earl’s goons ahead of them, all tied securely with strong hemp.

Waverley didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry at this preposterous scene. He raced toward Helena, who fell into his outstretched arms. He covered her face with kisses. “Helena, my beautiful black-haired raven. I thought I’d lost you.”

“No, my lord. I’m here.”

The colorful parade made its haphazard way back to the castle, but all was not well. On the steps of the front door, Casper held Harry by the arm, his pistol trained on the man’s head, but he let go and Harry saw his opportunity to escape as the two rolled down the steps in a heap. One of the earl’s men leaped out of the bushes, lifted his pistol, took aim and fired at Casper. The bullet grazed his arm just as Tom Wells and his friends came upon them from the direction of the stables. Lemuel got there first with his pitchfork, stabbed the man who shot Casper and rushed to Casper’s side.

“Thank you kindly, Lem. Y’saved me life.”

The toothy grin of Trudy’s beau beamed at Casper. “My pleasure. Lemme have a look-see, Casper.” He bent to examine his friend’s arm. “Winged ya. Not serious.” He ripped off the sleeve of Casper’s shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound to stop the bleeding.

Mrs. Trasker helped her son to his feet, linked her arm through his and, though she had a strong urge to run, began to stroll away with an unhurried air.

“Not so fast,” shouted Lemuel. “Tie those two up,” he ordered, and two lads jumped to the task with enthusiasm. There hadn’t been this much excitement for residents of Sennen Cove since last New Year’s Eve, when the lads celebrated the event by burning down Farmer Hadley’s barn.

“Watch out for the men with guns,” Casper warned.

Lem grinned. “Those goons ain’t got their guns anymore. Whole town’s out there trussin’ ’em up. There are some folk plannin’ on a barbecue tonight, seems like. Them goons might just be the beef.”

Waverley handed Helena over to her sister’s care. “I’ve unfinished business, love.” He tried to wrench the door of the earl’s carriage open, but the earl had locked it. “Open this door, Glynhaven, if you value your worthless life. Do it now or I’ll shoot you dead through the window.”

To his surprise, the earl opened it at once. “Afternoon, Waverley,” he said genially, as if they had met on a country lane. Waverley’s pistol remained aimed at the earl’s head.

“Game’s up, Martin. You’re finished.”

“On the contrary. You’re merely delaying our nuptials. Lady Helena has consented to be my bride, haven’t you, my dear?” He nodded to Helena, who stood next to her sister, near enough to witness this melodrama. She raised her head at the sound of a cart lumbering toward them. Captain Le Clair, young Jess and Amy sat on the front seat with the driver of the large open cart. And behind them sat more crusaders come to help slay the dragons.

Lemuel spotted Casper’s love and whispered in his ear, “It’s Amy, Cas. Here’s your chance. Play dead.” Casper promptly closed his eyes and rolled his head to one side.

Amy spied Casper at once. She leaped down from the moving wagon and ran to his side. “Casper! Is he…?”

Lem’s lips twitched. “Not yet, lass, but he’s wounded severe.”

Amy fell to her knees, took Casper’s large face in her small hands and kissed his eyes, his nose, his mouth. “They’ve shot you, me darlin’, but you ain’t killed. Don’t you worry, love. Your Amy’s here to take care o’ you. I love you, Cas. With all my heart.” The sight of his bloody shirtsleeve caused her to burst into tears and bury her head on his chest.

Casper lay still, enjoying this triumphant moment. He opened one eye, winked his gratitude to Lemuel, and closed it again.

Helena looked up in surprise. “Desmond! It’s Captain Le Clair. But he’s not well. Why is he here?”

“He’s determined to bear witness, my love. Let us greet him. Come along, Olivia. You’re about to meet our fine French friend.” The marquis looked around him for someone to stand guard over Glynhaven.

“I’ll see he don’t move an inch, milord,” said Jess, eager to take part in the fray.

Amused, Waverley asked, “Do you know how to shoot?”

“Born to it,” the boy bragged.

“Don’t, Desmond,” protested Helena. “Jess is too young to…”

“I ain’t, milady. Trust me to do this for the two kindest people I ever met.” His soulful brown eyes, too large for such a small face, won the day.

Waverley ruffled his hair and handed him his pistol. “Show me you can cock it, and the task is yours, young soldier.”

The boy did so at once and aimed it at the astonished earl.

“Have pity, Waverley. I’m a dead man if you leave that nasty little sod in charge.”

Waverley grinned and said to Jess, “Guard the earl well. If you have to shoot him, aim for his leg. I’d rather see him hang, wouldn’t you?”

The lad’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “It be m’pleasure, milord.” He saluted the marquis with one finger, and aimed the pistol at his lordship’s leg, with the power of his responsibility writ large on his freckled face. “You heard ’im, mister earl. Move an inch and you’ll be limpin’ to yer hangin’.”

Sebastian joined them as Olivia, Helena and Waverley hurried to the captain’s side. “You shouldn’t be here, René. You’re not well,” Helena said.

“I had to come, my dear. There may never be a better opportunity to find the murderers and bear witness.”

“Do you recognize any of the smugglers among these men, sir?”

“I do indeed. That large man standing next to the older woman is the ringleader.” He pointed to Harry, sentencing him, in effect, to the gallows. “I saw him murder two of my crew with my own eyes.”

The captain’s eyes swept over the earl’s goons, now disarmed and tied securely. He pointed and said, “That fellow is another murderer and the man next to him. Those six tied up over there as well.” Pointing to Belinda, Rose, and Eliza, he said, “Those three young maids dragged cargo to the shore.” He continued, “This band of blackguards caused
Le Coq d’Or,
as seaworthy a sailing vessel as you’ll ever find, to crash on the rocky shoreline. They silenced the buoy bells and rang a false bell, luring us to disaster in the fog. Determined to go down with my ship, I watched helplessly from the top deck as they murdered my crew and my passengers, women and children among them, for I was the last to leave my beloved vessel.” The captain, a devout man, added, “The Good Lord chose to save my life.” He nodded to Helena and Waverley. “For good reason. I’m determined to remain in England long enough to bear witness. These men must hang for their terrible deeds,” he said bitterly.

“What about that woman next to the ringleader, René?” asked Helena.

“Never saw her before, milady.”

The captain turned to the young man supporting him. “Take me back to the wagon, young man. I must rest.” But he halted when he heard Harry shout out.

“I ain’t the ringleader, Cap’n!” Harry pointed to the Earl of Glynhaven. “I know I’ll hang for it, but he’s the ringleader. He done all the plannin’ and tol’ us what to do. Ain’t that right, Ma? Me Ma’s right smart. She gets the men we need and we do it, is all. ‘My Lord,’ we calls him, takes half of what we find. It’s him that makes us murder. ‘No witnesses,’ he allus says. Ain’t that right, Ma?”

Mrs. Trasker turned white. “Oh, Harry. You stupid fool,” she said softly. “You just signed your ma’s death sentence. Now I’ll hang, too.”

“Take me to the earl, son,” the captain said to the lad on whose arm he leaned.

“Well, Captain?” asked Waverley, who followed him. “Do you recognize the earl as one of the smugglers?”

“I’m afraid not, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t guilty as charged.”

“You are mistaken, sir,” interrupted the earl. “I never saw that man in my life.”