Blake was conscious of the fact his cravat was untied, and he must look like he had debauched his best friend’s sister.
Harrington glared and growled, “We don’t have time to discuss this right now. I have the horses being readied. We need to ride out—there has been activity near the cave.”
Without hesitation, Devonton turned, and they ran to the stables.
Confused, Lucy rubbed her eyes and scanned the room. She was alone. The spot beside her indented but cool. Blake must have left some time ago.
In short order Lucy had put her clothes back on as best she could by herself and then summoned Carrington. She didn’t feel like dining with the other guests this evening, so she requested her supper be brought to her rooms.
Remembering the missive, Lucy retrieved it from the window seat and began to decipher the message. An hour later she read the transcribed passage:
We have intercepted five more missives.
Need your immediate assistance, deadline approaching, please make arrangements posthaste.
Mr. Smyth is at your disposal.
“Five! Good God, how am I to manage? And so soon after the last trip.”
Carrington entered her room, balancing a tray with her supper.
“Carrington, we need to return to London. Please make the necessary arrangements for us to leave in the morning.”
“My lady, we cannot leave without notifying Lord Harrington. What are you going to tell him? Perhaps now would be a good time to tell him the truth.”
“Tell Matthew?” Lucy looked at Carrington as if she’d completely lost all her senses. “He would banish me to a nunnery in a heartbeat if he knew of my involvement with the Home Office.”
Carrington persisted, “I’m not so sure I agree with you, my lady. He would never want to be that far from you. Please consider it. We need to leave the house party, and we cannot leave without your brother’s consent.”
“I’ll tell him I’ve heard from Grace and need to go back to London.”
“Lady Lucy, his lordship has strong feelings for Lady Grace. It would put him in a panic, and he would insist on returning and seeing her himself.”
How did Carrington know of Matthew’s feelings for Grace? Admittedly, servants did tend to be well informed about such matters. Pacing back and forth, Lucy said, “Oh, Carrington, what am I to do? I must think of something…”
Carrington arranged Lucy’s supper on the desk.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Lucy glared at her maid.
Carrington had been hounding her to confess to Matthew for the past year. What would his reaction be? Was she being overdramatic or would he really banish her? No, deep in her heart she knew Matthew would never do that to her. Thinking on it, perhaps her brother could assist her. What if she told Matthew, and he shared with Blake her involvement with the Home Office? Certainly, Blake wouldn’t want a wife who worked. Even if he was to overlook her activities, he wouldn’t understand how important it was to her to remain an agent.
Lucy was lost in her own musings as Carrington ushered her to the table where she began to absently eat her meal. With a deep sigh, she relented. “Very well. I’ll find Matthew and tell him tonight. Be ready to leave at first light.”
It was dark outside when Lucy made her way to the stables. She had not been able to locate either Blake or her brother anywhere in the house, conservatories, or the surrounding gardens. It had been hours since Blake left her rooms, and Lucy was beginning to worry for the safety of them both.
She was in the process of saddling a mare when the stable master came in. “My lady, may I be of some assistance?”
Lucy was glad to see him. “Yes. Did Lord Harrington and Lord Devonton ride out earlier today?”
“Your brother had two steeds readied, but I did not see them leave.” He looked down the row of stalls. “Appears the govs have not returned, my lady. They are both excellent horsemen; I’m sure they will return soon.”
“I will need the escort of either an outrider or footman, whoever can be ready to accompany me in the next fifteen minutes.”
A shadow appeared and Mr. Smyth presented himself. “I will accompany you, my lady.” He disappeared into the stables and reappeared mounted with an efficiency that surprised Lucy.
She grinned and led her horse to the mounting block. “Let’s be off.”
Maneuvering his horse next to Lucy’s, he inquired, “Which way, my lady?”
Lucy frowned as she scanned her surroundings. She had no idea which way Matthew might have gone, but as the minutes passed, a feeling he was in danger had crept into her bones. The last time she’d had this feeling Matthew had fallen and twisted his ankle in the woods; it had taken her hours to convince their papa to help her search for him.
Lucy gazed up to see only stars and a quarter moon. It would be difficult to track them at night. Facing Mr. Smyth, she said, “I’m not very familiar with this area. However, I know Lord Devonton and my brother have been going out riding and most times have been gone for at least three hours, so they must have targeted sites that are approximately forty-five minutes to an hour’s ride out. Are you familiar with the area, Mr. Smyth?”
“I’ve only been this way once or twice. I do know there are smugglers’ caves about a hard hour’s ride out, but in the opposite direction, there is an old abandoned castle that I’ve had to venture to once before.”
“We can split up—one of us should head to the caves and the other to the castle.”
“No, my lady. I will not leave you. If I had to make a choice, I’d venture to the caves. It is only a quarter moon…”
Before he could say more, Lucy spied two steeds meandered down the lane toward them. “Mr. Smyth, those horses are returning to the stables, but they are without riders.”
Dread and a cold shiver ran down her spine.
“We need to decide which direction quickly. Lady Lucy, where to?”
She leaned over her mare and nudged it to a gallop. “The caves.”
Chapter Nineteen
Blake pried open his eyes, but as light filtered through, he flinched. A sharp, stabbing pain pierced through his brain. Sealing them shut again, he utilized his other senses to ascertain where he might be. The ringing in his ears made it hard for him to listen to his surroundings.
His head ached. Lifting his hand to his ear, a warm, thick, sticky substance covered his fingers. He raised them to his nose and confirmed it was blood. He tried to recall what had happened, but the strain intensified the throbbing pain in his head.
Salt. Seawater.
Running his hand over the ground beneath him, his fingers and palm grazed over hard, packed sand and rock. It was moist. He must be in a cave. How close was he to the entrance?
He tried to call out, but all he could manage was a hoarse whisper, “Harrington?”
Silence.
Disoriented, he tried to move, but his stomach revolted, and his head pounded, and within seconds he slipped back into the darkness.
The road was narrow, and Mr. Smyth was in the lead. Where are they? Lucy’s heart beat in time to her mount’s hooves. She was trying to remain calm, but the possibility of the two men she cared for most being harmed had her wits in a tangled mess.
“Over there!” Mr. Smyth yelled and pointed slightly off the path and to the right.
Lucy squinted at the spot he’d indicated. She couldn’t see the man’s features, but she knew it was her twin. Matthew!
She dug in her heels and took over the lead.
Matthew sat up and removed what appeared to be a twig poking him in the most uncomfortable of places. He shook his head and surveyed his surroundings. He seemed to have enough of his wits about him that he was aware of the approaching pounding of hooves. Lucy slowed her mount. Matthew scrambled to his knees. Mr. Smyth’s was right behind her and dust and dirt kicked up into Matthew’s face.
“Matthew!” Lucy cried out as her brother shielded his head with his arms.
The horse sn
orted as Mr. Smyth pulled up on the reins to make a quick turn in an attempt to avoid trampling Matthew or colliding with Lucy. The horse bucked and sent Mr. Smyth to the ground. Mr. Smyth jumped back up to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes. With only a slight limp, he made his way to Matthew.
Lucy jumped down from her mount. Kneeling at Matthew’s side, she began patting him down, trying to assess his health.
“Matthew, what happened?” She really wanted to ask about Blake, but first she needed to understand what had occurred.
In typical Matthew fashion, he questioned without pause, “Devonton? Is he hurt? Where is he? We must find him.”
“We’ve only just found you. It doesn’t appear Blake is close by. Matthew, you need to tell us what happened and stop asking questions.”
“We…” Matthew hesitated.
She wanted to yell and scream now is not the time to keep secrets! But theatrics would not get her the information she was desperate for.
Lucy’s patience was worn thin. It was time to come clean and tell him all. “Matthew, I need to know the truth. Mr. Smyth here was sent by the Home Office to assist me. Now please, tell me what happened.”
“Home Office? Why would the Home Office send you, Mr. Smyth?” With a slight turn of his head, his eyes widened with recognition. “Mr. Jones?”
Anger was not what Lucy was expecting from Matthew. Who was Mr. Jones? How many pseudonyms could one have?
“Yes, I’m Mr. Jones and Mr. Smyth. I have many aliases. But Lord Harrington, this is not the time for questions. We need to understand the situation so we can help Lord Devonton, who I believe is in grave danger.”
Shaking his head, Matthew drew a deep breath and began, “Devonton and I have been monitoring and watching for activity in the cove and the caves. We were hoping to intercept plans. My orders from the Home Office were to protect Devonton as there was a suspicion he was the target of an abduction…”
“You received an order from Lord Archbroke? You knew it was Blake, and still you risked…” Lucy couldn’t continue. The shocking revelation that the pair had been so irresponsible had her wanting to strangle her brother. Why would they put Blake’s life at risk? Seeking out the smugglers was like handing him over on a silver platter.
“Yes, we were informed he was at risk, but he didn’t just want to wait in London like a caged pigeon. We agreed it would be better for us to assess the situation personally rather than wait in ignorance.”
Lucy just shook her head. Why did men feel like they always had to “do” something or “fix” the situation when it might be best left to others? “Matthew, I was the one to decode the message revealing the planned abduction. They are…”
“You! Since when have you been involved with the Home Office?”
“Matthew, please calm down.”
“Calm down! I want answers, sister!”
“And so do we. I’m guessing you will not be helpful until we have this discussion. To start, I’ve been working with the Home Office for many years, assisting them throughout the war in decoding messages and devising the code used for correspondence. I’ll explain in more detail later. I would also like to understand your involvement and role at the Home Office, since you are already acquainted with Mr. Smyth. However, right now we need to help Blake. How long ago were you attacked?”
“I just awoke to the sounds of your horses’ hooves.” Matthew rubbed the back of his head. “Blimey, my head hurts.” Eyes closed, he continued, “I remember Devonton hearing voices in the woods. We dismounted and tethered the horses to a tree and continued on foot. We came upon three men around a campfire and spread out so we could approach from both sides. Devonton was to move in first, but as he did, a man attacked him from behind, swinging a large branch and knocking him out. I was getting up when I heard a noise from behind me. They must have knocked me out too.”
Matthew began patting himself down.
Lucy asked, “What are you searching for?”
“My pistol. My coin.”
“Obviously, they are gone along with Blake,” Lucy said as she walked away to address Mr. Smyth. His features were blank as Lucy ordered, “Please search the area.”
Based on Matthew’s recounting, there were at least five men in the group. Lucy scanned the ground—there were both hoof and footprints. She joined Mr. Smyth, who was crouched and peering at a hoof print. The deep impression was a telltale sign that one of the horses carried something of significant weight.
Lucy’s heart sank.
Blake had been kidnapped. They were too late. She had to find him.
“Mr. Smyth, were you able to find any indication of which direction they headed?”
“The tracks are fairly fresh, so they cannot be too far ahead, but they are well covered, and some appear to have been made in a circular fashion to mask their true direction. We are not dealing with amateurs.”
Matthew joined them surveying the tracks. “There are two caves which have had recent activity. Devonton and I were headed to the first. Let’s continue—”
Mr. Smyth interjected, “Lord Harrington, if in fact there are five men, we are outnumbered, and you are injured.”
“I’m well. We need to find Devonton before he is moved.”
Mr. Smyth was correct in his assessment of the situation. With Matthew hurt, the odds were not in their favor. Lucy was torn. Her heart begged her to pursue Blake. But she rationalized the best chance of recovering him was to return to London and hope the correspondence she had been summoned to decipher would identify Blake’s kidnappers.
She had to convince her brother to see reason. “Matthew, Mr. Smyth is right. You need to recover. We only have two mounts, and if we proceed, we could be headed in the wrong direction if in fact there are two possible locations. We cannot waste time; we need to return to London without delay. I received a summons earlier requiring me to assist with another five missives. Perhaps from those, along with the earlier note that indicated Blake was to be taken to the Lone Dove, we can formulate a plan to recover him and apprehend the French operatives.”
Matthew paced, mumbling under his breath. Why was he taking so long? They didn’t have time to waste and wait around for him to come to his senses and admit she was right. Lucy noticed that he was limping slightly as he paced back and forth and decided to give him a little longer.
Ignoring her brother for a moment, Lucy instructed, “Mr. Smyth, when we return to Redburn House, please have the carriage readied right away. I will have Matthew write a message for Lord Redburn explaining we had to depart due to a family situation in London and have him instruct both his and Lord Devonton’s valets to pack and return with my maid.”
She was deciding what other items needed to be seen to when Matthew announced, “I’m not returning to Redburn House with the two of you. It will look suspicious if…”
Lucy interrupted her brother’s speech. “Matthew, the two mounts you and Blake rode out on have already returned to the stables. If you do not come back to assist me in explaining that we are to depart immediately, there will be more queries as to where the two of you went and questions regarding your whereabouts. Please trust me.” She nervously awaited her twin’s response. She had never before employed such an authoritative tone with him before.
Lucy released a sigh as Matthew conceded, “You will have to ride back with me.”
Chapter Twenty
Blake awoke to cold water being splashed onto his face. It took him a moment to fully regain consciousness. When he opened his eyes, he found he was lying on the ground in a dimly lit cave with three burly men standing over him.
A voice from behind him spoke. “Well, well, well, the famous cartographer finally comes to.” The speaker had a moderated, well-polished voice; this was no smuggler. There was something in his tone that Blake recognized but couldn’t quite place. He tried to turn and look at the man, but his head whipped backward as his jaw was pounded by a large fist. Blood trickled from Blake’s lip.
&
nbsp; His captor said, “Don’t turn around. Our instructions were not to harm you, so if you just follow our lead, all will go smoothly.”
Focused on the three brutes in front of him, Blake slowly regained his wits. All three were similar in looks, possibly brothers or cousins. Their features forever burned into his memory. Blake assessed his odds of escaping. They were not in his favor. Perhaps silence would make his captors uncomfortable and he could gain critical information.
“Nothing to say, Devonton? You and Harrington made my job so much easier. I was anticipating having to subject myself to the idle entertainments of the London ton. I had not planned to return so soon; this means we have a few days to become acquainted before we sail. I’m sure you will find our company and accommodations satisfactory.”
Blake rested his eyelids and kept his lips tight and closed. Who was this man? His accent was definitely British but with a slight Parisian influence, as if he had been in France for an extended period. It was risky to hold him captive on English soil for days rather than set sail straight away. Did they not have the required coin or connections? Was there another orchestrating Blake’s abduction?
From behind, the gentleman commanded, “Give him some bread and water and then see he is moved without issue.”
He was to be moved. But, where was he to be transferred? A blindfold was placed over his eyes and secured tightly. With no chance of Blake seeing his identity, his captor left the cave with quick, decisive steps.
Would the man’s orders be followed? How loyal were the trio to the gentleman? Thirsty, Blake could only hope the bread and water would appear soon.
One of his captors hauled Blake up by the arm. With his hands bound behind his back, Blake made a motion to strike the man with his leg. As he made contact and the man’s legs were swept from under him, Blake was freed and fell to his knees, pitching forward until his forehead hit the ground. A boot to the stomach was the reward for his attempt to escape.
Secrets of Lady Lucy Page 13