by Wendy Bayne
Mr Johnson nodded with a grin, saying, “Well, there you have it, Turner. The property is deserted and haunted, it’s perfect!”
Uncle Samuel leaned forward. “Miles, we still have Richards’ associates to worry about or do you honestly think that he was the leader?”
Mr Johnson curled his fingers into fists then relaxed them as he glared at my uncle. “No, I don’t believe he’s the leader, Hughes. That’s why I’m going to propose that you and I stay here with Dawson, we’ll wait to see what happens. Turner can take the others back to London and report to Sir Thomas.”
Father was shaking his head no while Samuel was nodding yes. “Samuel, in case you forgot, your bride is awaiting you and I can’t leave you here with just Miles!”
Mr Johnson snapped an angry look at my father which he quickly concealed. “Thank you for that lovely vote of confidence, Colin. You trusted me to watch over your family in London, but you don’t trust me here with your brother-in-law. Should I infer from that that you have doubts about my veracity? Or do you think I’m the mysterious leader of the smugglers that masterminded the kidnapping of your daughter?” His voice had been very cool and controlled but it thrummed with tension. My father looked astounded. Mr Johnson leaned forward, and I could see the blood vessel in his neck pulsating. His anger was obviously not under control. “Come now, Colin, SPIT IT OUT!” he pounded the table with his fist.
Dawson looked up, saying bleakly, “I already said that I’d stay. I know you have no reason to trust me but I’m staying to keep my neck out of hangman’s noose and to save what me family has built ’ere.” He paused, looking at his son and daughter with pride and love. “And maybe even for what the future holds for them.”
Dr Jefferson cleared his throat. “If someone must go, it might as well be me. I can escort the ladies and the Dawsons to London then send help.”
A long discussion ensued as to who would stay and who would leave. Mrs Dawson refused to go as did her children. It was finally decided that the open road was not safe for just a one man as an escort for all these people and it was not safe for only two men to stay behind with only a very recently reformed thug as their only support.
Louisa was very unhappy about it all, she wanted to leave as soon as possible and argued vehemently for a return to London by everyone. I watched her closely as she sat biting her nails and jumping at every noise. Then my mind clicked on an old axiom, ‘Once a traitor always a traitor’. I was worried for Dr Jefferson. Louisa might still be a spy.
Finally, it was decided that we would all stay. Dr Jefferson, Mr Johnson and Uncle Samuel went with Mr Dawson to look for the most defensible positions on the property if it should come to a fight.
By now my mother would have alerted Sir Thomas so he would be aware that I had been kidnapped and that my father, uncle and Mr Johnson were here in Dorset and in pursuit of my captors, Browne and Richards. But would he send help in time?
Chapter 19
Help Arrives
I was supposed to be helping Angel and her mother in the kitchen, but they didn’t need my help and with one arm I was only in the way. I walked out into the hallway and into the room where I had first met Browne. Richards’ body had been removed and my father was there affixing storm shutters to the windows. He welcomed me with a smile and brushed his hands off on his breeches. “Lissa, my dear, I thought you were helping Angel and Mrs Dawson in the kitchen.”
I gave him a weak smile as I ran my finger along the table that still held Mr Browne’s empty glass. “I believe that I’m more of a hindrance than a help, Papa.” He chuckled then turned to grasp another shutter. “Father,” he let go of the shutter waiting for me to continue, “have you noticed how nervous Louisa is?”
He nodded. “It’s only natural for her to be nervous, my dear. Mrs Dawson and Angel are both scared as well.”
I pursed my lips. “It’s not that kind of nervous, Papa. Didn’t you notice that she argued very hard in favour of returning to London as if she knew that something terrible is going to happen?”
“She’s probably right, Lissa. But I’m not sure what you’re trying to say?”
I had braided my hair earlier with Angel’s help and was now twisting the end of it, but I was too nervous to continue in case I was wrong. I was still feeling my way around having a father that I could confide in. “I just think that she knows more than she’s telling us.” He didn’t move or say anything, instead he looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. He waved me over to him and opened his arms. I walked to him putting my good arm around his waist; he hugged me close, kissing the top of my head. He was warm and comfortable, and I felt safe. I continued trying to make sense of what I knew intuitively. “I think she’s lying, I’m sure that she’s still working for Mr Browne.”
He inhaled deeply, pulling my arm away from him as he stepped back cupping my chin, looking into my eyes he whispered, “We know, darling.”
My mouth hung open. “What?”
He smiled sadly. “Samuel and I have never trusted Louisa. That’s why I enlisted Matthew to help ferret out what she was up to. We’ve suspected that she was still working for Browne for some time, but we could never catch her in the act, it seems she’s gotten better at spying over the years.”
I was astonished. “You knew already? But Dr Jefferson, how could he—wait, he’s working for you too?” I gasped with sudden realization. “So he isn’t in love with her?!”
He laughed again. “Yes, Dr Jefferson is an agent but nothing of any romantic consequence has transpired between Matthew and Louisa…he is not in love with her. Louisa has a very low opinion of Englishman and believes that we lack passion, but she has a very high opinion of her charms, so she actually believes that Matthew is desperately in love with her which is exactly what we wanted.”
He straightened up, glancing back at the shutters, “Matthew does have his standards. But you cannot let on that you know! We suspect that Louisa knows Browne’s plan and that he’ll come back here for his revenge. It’s probably the reason that she wants to leave so we’d be caught out in the open on the road.”
I had faith that he knew what he was doing but I was terrified for our family, what if Browne had confederates in London that would carry out a plan to hurt my mother. “You won’t let Louisa leave, will you?”
“No, my darling, we won’t.” He pulled me back into a hug. “But I don’t want you to be alone with her either; make sure you stay with the Dawsons. Do not under any circumstances go anywhere with Louisa, do you understand?”
“Yes, Papa.” Then a thought hit me that I might be able to help defend the house. “May I have one of your pistols?” He chuckled but before he could answer we heard raised voices in the hallway. We both moved to the doorway and watched what was going on. The other men had just come back from their reconnoitring outside. Mr Dawson tipped his hat to my father then turned away, moving towards the kitchen, muttering to himself.
I watched the trail of wet footprints that he left as he walked away. Then I noticed the water falling from all their hats and coats, it had started to rain. Dr Jefferson came over to my father and said in a faint voice, “Where is Louisa?” Father looked to me and I shrugged. I hadn’t seen her since everyone had left to assume their separate duties.
Robert came into the hallway carrying a load of peat for the fire, so father asked him, “Robert, have you seen Miss Louisa?”
He nodded. “She offered to go to the poultry house and gather the eggs. But come to think on it, that was some time ago and I haven’t seen her since.” Mr Johnson and Dr Jefferson both raced towards the kitchens. I looked from my uncle to my father then to Robert who just stood there looking in the direction where the other men had disappeared. Then he turned to my father, “No one told us that she couldn’t be trusted.”
Father nodded, stepping aside for Robert to take the peat into the room behind us. He patted his shoulder as he walked by. “You’re right, Robert, that was my mistake.”
Dr Jefferson returned. “One of the horses is gone.”
Father groaned. “Where’s Miles?”
“He’s gone after her, she took his horse.”
Uncle Samuel groaned this time. “Is he a fool?”
Dr Jefferson smiled. “Perhaps, but he said he could ill afford to lose the nag. Besides it had apparently gone lame on him when he went after Browne, so he doesn’t expect to have any trouble catching her. He asked that we save him some supper.” The doctor chuckled.
I was watching Dr Jefferson, but he didn’t seem to be upset or concerned in the least about Louisa. Yet I wondered how he could purport to love someone and not feel remorse when they proved to be false even if he was only acting as an agent. Could he really be that detached? I was lost in thought when I heard Dr Jefferson address my concern indirectly. “I’m glad this charade is over, Colin. I don’t know how much longer I could have pretended to love her. She said her uncle called her ‘stupid’; well, he was right. The woman has no intellect and no sensible conversation at all. It’s a wonder that your aunt has put up with her all this time. I seriously think we should consider sending her to that nunnery where her uncle wanted her in the first place.” Then he and Samuel walked off chuckling, taking their dripping clothes with them while Father and I followed behind them into the kitchen.
The men had finished all the preparations they could make. But I was not given a weapon, instead I was assigned the coveted position of passing the shot for reloading to Robert. Neither of us were very happy with the arrangement since we both considered ourselves excellent shots. But my father would not be moved.
We just sat down to our evening repast when Mr Spencer, Jacob, Michael, Murphy and Dalton came through the door that led to the yard and the stables. Father jumped up at their entrance only to yell at them, “What the blast is going on! You were supposed to stay in London protecting our family!”
Mr Spencer stepped forward with his hands raised, “Calm down, Colin; do you honestly think I’d leave them without protection! Sir Thomas arrived shortly after you left and had the ladies pack up, he moved them all into his home. He left guards at your house and sent us down here to help.” Suddenly there was a commotion coming from the partially opened door that included some loud grunts, groans and a woman screaming in Spanish with Mr Johnson yelling over it, “For god sakes, woman, SHUT UP.”
Mr Spencer chuckled. “And that should be Mr Johnson with the Spanish hellcat. We found him fighting with her on the side of the road, so I take it that she finally showed her true colours.”
Then there was the sound of Miles’ voice raised in anger again. “That does it! I have never hit a lady in my life but for you I will gladly make the exception!” There was one ear splitting scream and then nothing. Mr Johnson walked in with an unconscious Louisa flung over his shoulder. “Is there someplace I can dump this—this person?” We all looked agape. “And bloody well make sure that it has a strong lock!”
Robert popped up grabbing a key ring hanging on the wall by the pantry, he was smiling and trying not to laugh. Mr Johnson was covered in mud, grass and other assorted filth and he smelled awful, Louisa was not any better. He glared at Robert. “You! Why didn’t inform me that part of the stables is being used as a pig sty!”
Robert bit his lip. “It never came up in our conversation, sir.”
Miles rolled his eyes then started to look around for somewhere to deposit Louisa, she must have had been getting heavy. Robert noticed so rattling the keys he pointed towards the pantry, but his mother jumped up, “Here now, you aren’t putting her in my clean pantry. The old laundry room will be good enough for her. There’s a hearth but no window and a strong door with a lock.” She bustled forward crinkling her nose while taking a wide berth of Mr Johnson and pointing the way. Robert grabbed a basket of peat by the doorway and Angel went to the pantry retrieving the blankets and pillow that I had been using during my confinement, then they both followed their mother. Mrs Dawson peered back over her shoulder at Mr Johnson. “Well, come on you then, ye be dripping all over me clean floor; and you’ll be washing off that muck before ye come back into my kitchen expecting to be fed.”
Mr Dawson and I got up to retrieve more plates, cups and knives. Shortly we heard the thud of a solid door closing. Then everyone but Mr Johnson and Robert returned. I watched for a bit, but he didn’t reappear immediately. Mrs Dawson caught my eye and winked, “He’s sluicing his self off at the pump by the laundry.” She chuckled. “It’s a real pleasure to have water inside a house without having to traipse across the yard in all weather. My Robert is helping him, miss, so don’t you worry, the gentleman will come back looking right and proper. Our Robert looks out for the vicar on special days.”
When they finally returned, Mr Johnson was clean and brushed as well as could be expected under the circumstances. He patted Robert on the shoulder. “Have you ever thought of being a gentleman’s valet?” Robert’s eyes lit up as Mr Johnson looked pointedly at my father. “Colin, you’re in need of a new valet, I believe. Dalton can’t continue caring for both you and Hughes for much longer, especially since Hughes will be setting up his own household eventually. And I honestly don’t have the resources to afford one. I’m sure Dalton would make an excellent instructor in the meantime and he’d probably be relieved not to have to care for you both.” He gave Dalton a cheeky grin. “Wouldn’t you, Dalton?”
Dalton’s face lit up and he managed to splutter, “It would be nice, sir.”
My father smiled at Robert. “Well, young man, would the idea appeal to you?”
Robert wasted no time. “Yes, sir, thank you! I would like that very much, sir.”
Mr Johnson clapped Robert on the shoulder. “There now that’s done, don’t you or your brother-in-law get any ideas about the rest of my staff.” He looked down at Mr Dawson “I understand from your son that you’re really not suited to be a fisherman, rather you were raised to be a farmer on this very land.” Mr Dawson nodded but didn’t say a word. Mr Johnson didn’t seem to take notice and continued, “Good then! I’ll need your assistance to get this place on its feet again.”
Then he became very serious as he looked at Dawson. “There are some conditions though, you have to be sober, man!” Mr Dawson nodded and gulped then he smiled a bit and nodded again. Mr Johnson addressed Dawson’s wife and daughter. “You, dear lady, and your daughter, I will need you both as well.” The family were beaming but he cautioned them, “I can’t promise you more than a warm roof over your head, a full belly and a lot of arduous work to start.”
Mrs Dawson looked him up and down then straight in the eye. “You keep that promise, sir, and we’ll work hard for you. You’ll have no complaint I can tell you that for a fact.” With those words and a hard look to her husband, the Dawson family loyalty seemed to have been assured and I knew that Mr Johnson would be a man of his word.
Mrs Dawson waved us all to sit down as she and Angel fetched the rest of the food to the table. We ate a simple but delicious meal of a thick savoury stew, fish pie roast, fowl with hot root vegetables, fresh bread and cheese. Followed by a large apple tart. Yet she apologized for not having any cream to go with it. She was an amazing cook and her eyes danced as she watched the men consume everything in sight, exclaiming all the while that they loved her.
Uncle Samuel looked over at Mr Johnson as he ate his portion of the fish pie. “Miles, you never cease to amaze me. Here we are facing lord knows what conflagration tonight and you’re making domestic arrangements as if nothing was amiss.”
Mr Johnson put his spoon down and pushed his plate away, wiping his mouth and when he answered there was a bit of edge to his voice. “Well, Hughes, my father taught me to never ignore an opportunity when it presents itself.”
My uncle merely agreed. “Right you are that’s good advice.” He chuckled and returned to his meal as did Mr Johnson, both men were smirking.
Finally, the meal was over, and my father moved away from the table asking all the
men to join him in what had been the parlour. As they moved to leave, Dr Jefferson excused himself, saying he would join them shortly. Then taking down a plate from the china dresser he gathered some cheese, bread and fowl. Mrs Dawson walked over to him with a mug of hot tea in one hand and a club in the other. Dr Jefferson looked askance at the club, so she explained, “You open the door, sir, and I’ll make sure that she doesn’t get past you.” She set down the mug and pulled the key out of her pocket passing it to him. Then they walked off together to check on Louisa. I helped Angel clear off the table and watched her as she started washing the dishes which was a new experience for me to even as an observer since I had never seen it done before. Angel was fast and efficient as she worked, and I watched in companionable silence for the most part.
Dr Jefferson came back and went to join the other men. Mrs Dawson in mean time inspected Angel’s work and then set about making more bread and soup. “It’s going to be a long night, Angel, girl; you and Miss Turner will sleep in the pantry tonight. I want you both close by and safe.” Robert entered the kitchen dragging two large feather beds with a huge frown on his face when he looked at me. Uncle Samuel was right behind him with blankets which he deposited on the settee as Robert dropped his load by the pantry door.
Robert left, and Samuel sat down at the table then beckoned me over as Mrs Dawson and Angel arranged the bedding. “So, my dear, we seem to be in a pickle. Your father has said you’re not to have a pistol while Miles, Murphy, Michael and Jacob all think that you should. That leaves your father, Mr Spencer, Dalton and Robert against you. The good doctor has abstained along with Mr Dawson, but he thinks you’re a spirited young lady. The fact that you are a lady is why those other gentlemen are opposed to it, the feeling being that ladies aren’t supposed to shoot people.”