Alistair’s unwieldy lips slipped upward unctuously. “Oh, no doubt, my dear girl, and I apologize most sincerely for startling you. But having come so far to see you, we couldn’t bear to wait a moment longer. Our ship docked only this morning, and we hastened here with all possible spee—”
Bridget entered, looking quite fetching in a neat black gown, a frilly white apron and a starched white cap adorned with lace. Though the maid met neither man’s gaze, she sensed their acute surprise and a strong hint of distress on the part of the solicitor as she went to her mistress. Bearing a tray upon which resided a cup of tea and the usual pitcher of cream and bowl of sugar, she offered the small tea service to Cerynise, who added sugar and cream to her cup. After laying a napkin across her mistress’s lap, Bridget took her leave with quiet aplomb, winning for herself an ever-so-brief smile of approval from Jasper, who was hovering near the door.
“You were saying that you came here from your ship,” Cerynise reminded Alistair, noticing that he had not yet fully recovered from his astonishment at seeing Bridget in her house. “For what purpose?”
“To make amends, madam,” Rudd interjected. He shot a quick glance toward Alistair, as if seeking approval for his statement. “That’s it, isn’t it? All the way here Mr. Winthrop talked of nothing else, how he had wronged you. The man has been tormented with remorse. If you would but hear him out, madam, I’m sure you won’t regret it.”
Alistair was still struggling with his irritation at finding not only Jasper in the Birmingham household, but Bridget as well. He indicated the indomitable butler with a jerk of his oil-slicked head as he broached the subject to Cerynise. “How many more servants came with him?”
“All of them,” she answered forthrightly and was quick to note the darkening rage on her former tormentor’s face. Taking a bit of revenge upon the man, she set the spur deeper. “My husband gave them enough funds to make the journey, but by then, they were already making plans to leave you.”
Alistair jabbed a finger in a southerly direction. “Did they bring that painting across the hall with them?”
“Of course,” she rejoined, feeling a keen sense of pleasure to assure the rascal of that fact. She further needled, “In fact, they brought all my paintings with them, five of which have already been sold for a considerable sum…twenty-six thousand dollars to be exact.”
Rudd choked suddenly and coughed against the bile that promptly rose into his throat. “A glass of water,” he begged the butler. “I need a glass of water.”
Solicitously Cerynise inquired, “Are you all right?”
Rudd cleared his throat, managing to gasp, “Will be as soon as I get some water.”
Alistair silently smoldered. It was obvious now that the enticement they had planned to use would have no effect since the paintings were already in her possession, but he couldn’t help but think of all that money they could have had…if not for Jasper. He’d wring that confounded butler’s neck yet!
The barrister clutched the glass of water which the servant brought back and gulped down half the contents to ease the acidic burning in his throat. The liquid only washed it down to his stomach, where the juices soon began to ferment and erupt upward again in small gaseous bubbles. Rudd knew the signs only too well, and his distress deepened.
Cerynise returned to the business at hand, briskly warning them, “My husband will be averse to you coming here in his absence. He has instructed Jasper to watch over me. Naturally anything you say will be witnessed by him.”
Rudd cast a quick, wary glance behind him at the indomitable butler and tried to soothe the lady’s fears. They would have to come up with another ploy very, very soon or his companion would resort to his usual heavy-handed tactics. “How can we assure you there’s no need of such precautions, madam?”
“By stating your business and then leaving,” Cerynise answered succinctly.
Rudd pressed his fingers to his lips to hide a burp. Then, clearing his throat, he lifted a hand to her in appeal. “Our business is most private, madam.…”
“If you’re suggesting that Jasper be excused, Mr. Rudd, then I’m afraid I won’t be able to hear you out,” she informed him bluntly. “My husband has instructed Jasper not to leave my side while there’s some question of my safety. And as I distinctly remember, you both have proven quite untrustworthy in my presence.”
“We need some papers signed,” Alistair announced, as if it pained him to admit that fact.
Rudd shot him a look of surprise, received a warning frown in return, and then cleared his throat again sharply, trying to dislodge another belch. “Yes, of course.” He lifted a hand to his companion, giving him the honors. “Mr. Winthrop would like to explain the necessity.”
Alistair made an earnest effort to do such a thing. “Well…ah…on further evaluation of my aunt’s will, Mr. Rudd, here, found a clause which decreed that I would have to show just cause for not taking on the responsibility of your wardship, requiring both a court appearance and a signed affidavit from you to serve as a release. Until those two events occur, I cannot claim my inheritance.”
Howard Rudd breathed a sigh of relief at the plausibility of his companion’s stratagem and eagerly nodded in agreement. “A bit awkward for Mr. Winthrop’s creditors, having to wait so long.…Why, just to ask your compliance, we had to scrape up the funds to sail here.”
In some confusion, Cerynise peered at the lawyer. “Do you mean to say that I must appear before a judge and, in his presence, sign a document releasing you from all obligations as my guardian?”
“That’s it exactly,” Alistair affirmed in his companion’s stead and shot a glance toward Jasper. The butler was staring off into space, but Alistair had no doubt that the man was closely attentive to what was being said.
“I see no difficulty in going before a judge here in Charleston and signing such a document, as long as my husband’s lawyer has a chance to read it over first,” Cerynise reasoned.
Alistair winced for her benefit. “But therein lies the difficulty, my dear. You must return to England to make such an appearance.”
“That’s absolutely out of the question.” Cerynise waved a hand to dismiss the merest possibility that she would go to such lengths for them. “If the matter cannot be resolved here in Charleston, then it shan’t be done at all, at least not until my husband and I return to England on another sea voyage, but that won’t happen until early spring.”
“And in the meantime, I’m bereft of funds.” Alistair shook his head dolefully.
“I’m sorry, but I’m unable to relieve your plight.” Cerynise was not at all sympathetic. Had Alistair asked for such a thing before their departure from England, then she’d have gladly gone with Beau to carry out the man’s wishes, but Alistair had been far too adamant about taking possession of her.
Rudd snapped his fingers, as if an idea just came to him, and tested the notion out on Alistair. “You remember that judge who made the crossing with us, don’t you?”
The thinner man inclined his head almost warily, following the solicitor’s lead. “Of course.”
“Well, he’s a proper English magistrate. If she signs the papers in front of him, it would be the same as being in an English court of law.”
“That’s right,” Alistair agreed, smiling at the idea. “All she’d have to do is accompany us to the inn where we’ve all taken rooms and have him witness the event. That would serve our purposes very nicely indeed.”
Rudd seemed extremely pleased with himself for having thought of the ruse. “Would you allow us to take you to see the judge, madam?”
Cerynise scoffed at the idea. “Not without my husband.” And for good measure she added, “And a good dozen of his men to make sure we’re not waylaid.”
Rudd’s face fell forthwith. All their hopes to take possession of her peaceably seemed futile. What were they to do? It was obvious she was too well guarded in her home for them to expect to be able to escape with her with any degree of succ
ess. And, of course, there were the servants, who could identify them.
“Are you suggesting, madam, that we would resort to that kind of duplicity?” Alistair asked in growing outrage.
Cerynise smiled serenely. “Perhaps.”
With a growl Alistair launched himself out of his chair and was across the room in a thrice, snatching Cerynise out of hers. Jasper gave a warning cry and dashed forward to defend her, but he gave no heed to the danger of passing Rudd, who, upon seeing his approach, seized a bronze bookend from a nearby table. The weighty piece crashed down upon the butler’s head, spilling him forward to the floor, where he lay unconscious at the lawyer’s feet.
Cerynise’s scream seized Philippe’s heart in the kitchen. Snatching up a meat cleaver, he raced into the hall with Moon following rapidly behind. By then, Alistair had already tossed his captive over his shoulder and was striding into the foyer with Rudd advancing swiftly on his heels.
Philippe espied them as he raced from the hallway. “Put zee madame down!”
Alistair made the mistake of opening the front door, which the master of the house had just been about to push inward. Beau had been summoned home by Cooper and, upon his arrival, had heard screams from within. It was the sight of his wife lying over the sly weasel’s shoulder that sent his temper soaring. Drawing up a knee, Beau slammed it with brutal force into Alistair’s stomach, doubling the man over with a painful gurgle. Deftly whisking Cerynise off the crumpling one’s shoulder, Beau swept her to her feet and then quickly drew back a fist to finish thrashing Alistair. In the next instant he found himself facing Howard Rudd, who had nervously snatched forth the pistol he had been carrying in his coat. Despite the fact that the solicitor’s hands were shaking dangerously, he had cocked the weapon and had it aimed generally in the direction of the captain’s irate frown.
“B-back away from the d-door!” Rudd stuttered and tossed a quick look behind him at the two men who were almost upon him. “S-stay back, or I w-will kill the captain! So help me I will.”
In the face of such a threat, Philippe and Moon could do naught but stumble to a halt.
“D-drop the cleaver,” Rudd ordered the chef, trying to keep the bore of the pistol centered between the sapphire eyes as he cast another worried glance toward the two. Carefully the cook laid his makeshift weapon down upon the floor.
“Now, C-Captain,” the barrister urged, stepping past Alistair. “You and your wife m-move to the north end of the p-porch…very carefully now.”
Beau complied, drawing Cerynise with him. She was clinging to him, trying to place herself in front of him as a shield, but he would have none of it. With an arm clasped about her waist, he held her firmly against his side.
Rudd caught Alistair’s elbow and, hauling him upright, pulled him through the doorway. His companion was suffering too much to be of any help, and Rudd shoved him toward the front steps of the porch with a command. “Run to the horses.”
“Get the girl,” Alistair croaked weakly, clasping his arms across his belly. His pain was so intense he feared his vitals had been ripped asunder.
Beau swept Cerynise behind him and glowered at the two. “Over my grave!”
Alistair feebly swept a hand to indicate the captain and rasped, “Shoot the bloody bastard!”
“Nooo!” Cerynise cried, trying to thrust herself forward in front of her husband, but he refused to comply with her efforts and held her behind him.
Rudd snorted, denying the wisdom of his companion’s command. But then, it wasn’t the first time he had mentally questioned the intelligence of Alistair Winthrop. “Aye, and let the rest of them kill us,” he derided, and then snapped, “Get to the horses.”
Alistair hobbled hurriedly toward the hitching post where the reins of their mounts had been secured. Snatching the lines free, he hauled himself astride with a painful grimace. “Come on, Rudd. Let’s get out of here.”
Now that he had some open space between himself and his horse, Howard Rudd could breathe a little easier, but he was still wary of the captain. A man with a fiery temper was not to be trusted. “T-try anything, C-Captain, and you or y-your wife will die, and if y-you die, your wife will be at our m-mercy. Th-that much I promise.”
He backed down the path over which Alistair had recently trod and, swinging into the saddle, slammed his heels into the sides of the rented gelding. He lit out amid a noisy clatter of hooves, leaving Alistair struggling to catch up.
Beau ran to the street and watched the pair ride away. They made a turn, but it was not in the direction he had hoped. They were heading farther inland, possibly toward open country, away from the docks.
Cooper was just arriving from his trek to the shipping company. Having sped there by foot, the young man was clearly out of breath and energy from his race back, which his employer, being well rested and frantic for his wife’s safety, had covered in half the time.
Philippe, Moon and some of the other servants had come out onto the porch. It was Moon to whom Beau gave an order. “Find the sheriff, tell him what the blackguards tried to do, and urge him to gather up a posse and go after those two. If he needs descriptions, he can stop by here on his way out. I’ll gladly tell him what those frogs look like.”
“Aye, Cap’n!” With a casual salute, Moon hurried off to fulfill his behest.
Beau climbed the porch steps, slipped an arm around his wife, and swept her into the house. In the parlor they found Bridget kneeling on the floor beside Jasper. The butler was sitting up, holding a wet compress against the back of his head while the maid was wrapping a strip of cloth around the pad to hold it securely in place.
“I’m afraid I let my guard down, sir,” Jasper apologized, lifting a brief glance toward Beau.
“I understand it was you who sent Cooper to fetch me.”
“Yes, sir. At least I had Monsieur Philippe send the young man to warn you that your wife had visitors. I’m extremely thankful that Cooper found you in time.”
“I’m grateful for your quick thinking,” Beau responded. Hunkering down on his haunches, he asked solicitously, “How do you feel?”
“Like my head is twice as large as normal,” the butler answered dryly.
Beau chuckled. “It doesn’t appear to be.”
“Bridget told me that Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Rudd have managed to escape, sir.”
“Aye, but I’ll let the sheriff search for them.”
Jasper thought that an especially prudent decision. “It’s best not to leave the madam right now. They could come back, sir.”
Marcus’s outraged squalls could be heard coming closer, and Cerynise stepped from the parlor to find Vera hurrying down the hall from the kitchen. The girl was clearly relieved to see her mistress. “I’ve done e’erythin’ I could ta quiet him, Miz Cerynise, but he’s a-wantin’ ta be fed.”
“I’ll take him, Vera.” Holding out her arms to accept her son, Cerynise moved to meet the young woman. The baby’s outraged cries quieted immediately in his mother’s arms, and eagerly he started rooting at her breast. Cerynise took him to the study and, behind a closed door, hastily plucked open the buttons of her bodice as she sank to the cushions of the sofa. When the portal was swung open again, she glanced around as Beau entered. Securing their privacy, he pushed the door shut behind him and joined his wife on the sofa.
It amused Beau to see his son searching with birdlike fervor through the cloth of Cerynise’s gown. When the babe found nothing to assuage him, disappointed wails erupted, evoking a chuckle from his father. Cerynise finally managed to bare her breast and settled the infant against it. That was all it took. The boy latched onto her nipple with the greed of a glutton.
Her eyes glowing with love, Cerynise caressed the small head and then glanced up at her smiling husband with that same adoring gaze. “I would have missed you both terribly if Alistair had succeeded in taking me away. I’d have pined my heart out.”
“No less than I, madam, but I would have come after you,” Beau murmured reassurin
gly, bestowing a kiss upon her temple as he laid an arm behind her on the back of the sofa. “Did that toad say why he wanted you?”
Cerynise repeated what the two men had told her and grew a bit incensed as she recalled their demands. “Alistair actually wanted me to travel all the way to England with them, but when Rudd suggested that I could sign the papers in front of an English magistrate who came over on the ship with them, I said I’d do so, but only with you and an escort to protect us. That was when Alistair became irate. Mr. Rudd hit Jasper when he tried to come to my aid. One thing led to another.” She heaved a sigh, mentally rebuking herself. “I shouldn’t have agreed to see them. Jasper was fearful of some trick, but I ignored his warning.”
“Hopefully they’ll be caught, my pet. If they are, then we won’t have anything more to worry about.”
“Do you suppose that Redmond Wilson was somehow in cahoots with them? But why would they kill him if he was working for them?” She frowned suddenly, remembering what they had said. “According to Alistair, their ship docked only this morning, so unless they lied, they wouldn’t have been here at the time of his murder.”
“Alistair may have just said that to lead us astray, but it seems unlikely that Wilson was killed by strangers. Considering the number of men I sent out to look for him, the culprit was probably someone he knew and trusted.” Beau shrugged. “Who knows?”
Cerynise looked down again at Marcus who was still ravenously sating his hunger. She smiled impishly as she lifted her gaze again to her husband. “At times his voracity reminds me of when you made love to me and proved yourself just as starved for appeasement.”
Beau looked appalled at the comparison. “To my knowledge, madam, I’ve always tried to be gentle with you. When have I ever suckled you so unmercifully?”
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