Untitled

by Wendy Bayne

  The kitchen maid took over the care of the children and Charity joined Michael as he checked over and organized the weapons. Lettie, Meg and Beth loaded up their crossbows and put them well out of reach of small interested hands. Emilie and Gwen sat with the kitchen maid and the children. Mother loaded several rifles and stood them by the windows while the Earl and Marquis were doing the same. Just then Robert came stumbling into the room gasping for breath “Oi! I think I found the rest of the staff, but they’re locked up in the cellars. I couldn’t get to them, there’re armed men all over the house.” He paused when he saw the kitchen maid giving her a queer look then shrugged as she turned her back to him before he continued to tell us all that he’d seen. Robert reported that there were at least ten men in the house that he had counted and more outside.

  Miles had been standing by the door listening and when Robert was done he wasted no time in speaking up, “Gentleman, may I suggest since there is considerable heavy furniture in the hallway that we move as much of it as we can to block the stairwell.” Everyone moved immediately to follow his orders.

  After that was accomplished I was engaged in sorting ammunitions and loading the pistols, I couldn’t help but think back to my kidnapping in London at the hands of Randall Browne then my rescue by Miles followed by the subsequent attack that Brownes had led against us. That time we’d had considerable help from a band of gypsies who sadly were not available to us now. I was worried about Jean and his mother, had they made it to the Baxter’s and what could they do? Mr Hillsborough had always been a country squire and though Mrs Baxter had been married to a major I could hardly expect her to lead her workers to storm the chateau and secure our safety. The most we could hope for was that she could rouse the local militia. But as an Englishwoman would she even be able to convince the authorities to send out the militia to a property whose ownership was still in dispute between the people of France and the surviving member of a deposed aristocratic family married to an Englishman. I thought the chance of her rallying any help was less than abysmal.

  I don’t know what I expected as the time passed, perhaps an attempt to breach the barricades across the stairway, a bombardment of the outside walls or a siege. But nothing happened, so we sat primed and anxious. Emilie and the maids amused the children until James fell asleep. The de Bearne twins became bored with their company until Emilie found a horde of toy soldiers for them to play with.

  Miles was sitting by the door listening and fidgeting which was not a good sign; a bored Miles was a dangerous Miles. I walked over to distract him. “What are you doing?” He didn’t respond so I changed my question. “Miles, what are you planning?”

  He still appeared to be deep in thought and I’d seen that look before, impaired eyesight or not he was not a man to sit idly by. “Humph,” he said then looked up at me with a grin. “Remember how dark it can be on this floor?”

  I shivered recalling it, “Yes.”

  “Well, I extinguished all the lights once the furniture was in place. With my heightened senses, I would know if anyone was coming up here long before they could see me.” I reared back in shock at what I thought he was proposing, “Miles, you can’t possibly go out there!”

  He cocked one brow at me. “My eyes are not a handicap in the dark, my dear.” He reached up to caress my cheek. I knew he could discern people as male and female and large pieces of furniture in the light. But could he really tell where people were just by listening? “Lissa, please don’t argue with me, I have to do this.”

  I clasped my hand over his holding it in place, “Argue with you! How can I argue with you when I don’t even know what you’re planning?” I tried to keep my voice down but was failing miserably. The doctor and Murphy came over to stand with us, they had obviously heard some of our conversation and were looking seriously sceptical.

  Murphy clapped the doctor on the shoulder saying with hushed bravado. “You’ll need to stay here, doctor, in case we need you to put us back to together again. Lettie would never forgive me if I got myself killed.” Then he grinned at Miles. “Come then, Mr Johnson, what’s the plan before I get cold feet.”

  Miles smiled. “I can’t think of a man I’d rather have at my back Mr Murphy and I do mean my back. I’m the one with the advantage here so I lead, there will be no heroics from you, my friend.” Murphy nodded grinning from ear to ear. Then Miles sat up straight, he looked like he was listening intently. “Lissa, is my father staring at me?”

  I looked over my shoulder the Earl was glaring at Miles and from the looks of it he was ready to come over and say his piece. I whispered, “Yes he is, and he’s headed this way.”

  Miles sighed stood up and reached for a pair of pistols on the table beside him, shoving them into his waist band. “Lissa, would you please get Murphy a rifle as well as a couple of knives for me.”

  I knew there was no use arguing with him, so I grit my teeth and as I passed the Earl, said, “Good Luck.” The Earl walked up to Miles leaned forward and whispered in his ear. What was said I couldn’t hear and Dr Jefferson and Murphy had moved away to give them their privacy. The Earl finally clapped Miles on the shoulder. “Good luck, son.” I was astounded! That was all that was it! I had picked up the rifle and a set of throwing knives then carried them over to pass the knives to Miles as I about to hand the rifle to Murphy, the Earl intercepted it. Murphy’s empty hand was still extended when the Earl said, “I’m sorry, Mr Murphy, but this will be a father and son expedition only. I taught him how to hunt and track, we’ve worked together many times in hills of Scotland going after more skittish prey than these louts.” He checked a pistol that he’d taken from Miles, then the rifle and lastly, he loosened a knife in his boot.

  Miles moved to open the door, but the Earl grabbed his arm then he looked at me with a grin on his face, “Go on, give him a kiss for luck.” I stood with my mouth open then looked at my mother and she nodded. I went to Miles putting a hand on his shoulder then I suddenly found myself in his arms pressed close to his firm body with his soft lips against mine. I stop thinking, letting him lead me where he wanted. Someone coughed, and Miles’ father cleared his throat. “Miles, son, ah son I think the young lady would like to breathe.” Miles lifted his head and chuckled, I did feel lightheaded, but it wasn’t from lack of air. He let go of me, opened the door and ducking down low he left, followed closely by his father. The doctor pulled me back shutting the door on them.

  I shook off the doctor’s hand and pressed my ear against the door until Murphy came to me, “Miss, you’ll not hear much through that, it’s solid oak, so I suggest for your safety that you at least step away. Mr Johnson would be most distressed if he found you damaged when he returns.”

  I looked at him through tear-filled eyes. “But what if he calls for me, Murphy, what if he needs me.”

  He answered me honestly, “He won’t call for you, miss, but if he does then it’s already too late.”

  I leaned forward resting my forehead against his chest to steady myself then took a few deep breaths before saying, “I’ll just sit here then and wait.” I saw Mother and Aunt Emilie were watching me with concern as Murphy assisted me to the seat by the door. He handed me a pistol which I found oddly comforting as I cradled it in my lap. I turned sideways on the chair and leaned my head against the wall straining to hear anything I could from the other side. But there was nothing, not a sound, not even that of a discharged pistol or an angry voice. Surely, I should have been able to hear something. Then I remembered when I had first met Miles he had appeared a menacing dark creature folded onto himself sitting in the half light of the fire after having been brought to our home by my Uncle Arthur. Miles was a man of many faces and temperaments, he had often used subterfuge and disguise to blend in and outwit his enemies, but how could he manage it being almost blind. Then it came to me; this would not be a fire fight. He would not attack from a distance he would use the dark and his heightened senses to find his target and eliminate them quietly so as not to
alert the others. He would use his bare hands and a knife. His father was there not to fight but to provide him with cover if he should be discovered or possibly to retrieve his body if he failed. I was sick with worry now, I needed some occupation to relieve my mind of these terrible thoughts. I felt like I was going to be sick.

  It was then that Lettie came to stand by me to ask for my advice, I was rather shocked that she would come to me of all people. She pulled up a chair noticing my reluctance to leave my seat and began “It’s about Murphy. He’s not known to be a patient man and he’d like to get married as soon as possible but I’d like to be wed back in England. We have friends back home and they’ve become like family.” She paused then moving as if to look back over her shoulder but resisted. “I’d like Aedan’s sister there as well but that’s not my biggest problem. You see Murphy and his sister both have a bit of money and property from their parents and even though Mr Turner has promised to help Dalton with the case of us being robbed of our inheritance…” She fiddled with her shawl as she seemed to pause to gather her thoughts, but she refused to make eye contact.

  I patted her clasped hands, “And you feel that you’re not bringing anything to the marriage at this point, you want to wait so that you’ll feel like an equal partner?”

  She nodded and sighed. “That’s it, miss. Our father’s company is still thriving, and Dalton and I have a right to some of that since our father’s shares were never sold. If my father hadn’t vanished things would have been different. I would have come to marriage with the dowry that I was raised to expect. So, what I’m asking you is can you help me convince Aedan to wait until it’s settled?”

  “If I do that, Lettie, he may think that you don’t love him or that you don’t think he’s good enough for you.”

  She gasped and grabbed my hand, “Oh, my lord, NO!”

  I looked over her shoulder and smiled at Murphy who was watching us, he smiled and nodded back. My heart felt heavy remembering my own situation with Miles. “I know that’s what I thought when Mr Johnson rejected me based on his lack of prospects. But the heart wants what it wants, how much money you bring to a marriage means very little when you marry for love. Besides it’s not like you will ever be destitute or unemployed. But I think your idea of waiting to marry in England is a fine one. Then we can do it up right.” She smiled at me then I looked over at Murphy again and suddenly realised that they had intentionally distracted me. I leaned in and hugged Lettie. “Thank you, Lettie, I think I’ll be fine now.”

  She patted my hand. “But what I said is true, miss, and I thank you for your advice; though I don’t think Aedan will be appreciative when I tell him that I want to be married at home.” She chuckled as she blew him a kiss over her shoulder. “After all, I only plan on getting married once so I might as well do it right.”

  Just then there was an explosion outside as if cannon had gone off.

  Chapter 31

  Rescue

  The Marquis was by the window motioning for us to join him, “Come! Come, everyone! Our rescuers have arrived.” A bullet hit the window sill and a stone chip flew up, cutting his cheek. He stumbled back but the doctor caught him, assisting him to sit so he could examine it. It wasn’t deep and wouldn’t even require a suture. Everyone stepped away from the windows at Michael’s suggestion, so we had no idea who or how many had arrived. The Marquis said all he had seen were men riding into the stable yard. All we could hear were distorted shouts from below, some clearly in French followed by gun fire. There was still no sound from the hallway, perhaps those in the house had retreated to help their friends or had they overcome Miles and his father and were planning to hold us hostage.

  Gabriel stepped forward grabbing a rifle and stood in the alcove of one of the windows. Charity looked no less fierce standing in the one next to him when she yelled, “Gabriel, it’s Ramsey! I can see him down there to your left behind the hedge row.”

  Gabriel shifted around to look in her direction. “How can you tell?”

  Through clenched teeth she growled, “I’d know that blond scum anywhere. I’m surprised he’s still standing, he doesn’t usually join in a fight, he’s a coward…he’ll run soon.”

  Gabriel raised his rifle and eased open the window saying, “Not this time.” Taking aim, he fired. “Got him.” Charity gasped then threw herself away from the casement reaching out to Gabriel who ignored her hand. I could only assume that he’d hit his target since he was absorbed in the sight below. He turned his head looking past Charity to my mother, “It would seem, Mrs Turner, that your brother and husband have arrived and with help.” There was even more shooting and yelling coming up from below, it was clearer now that he had pushed the window wide open. Then another explosion went off. Gabriel chuckled. “Your gardeners will not be pleased, Mrs Hughes. The new arrivals just threw a grenade into your Greek folly.”

  Emilie’s head shot up. “Really?!” She grinned. “Then it had to have been Samuel, he hates the thing,” she giggled.

  Robert ran towards the window, Michael pulled him back, but Robert was persistent and broke away to get to the window. “Hush! People! Listen. Do you hear that?”

  The doctor seemed to be straining to hear as well but shrugged. “What?”

  Robert grinned from ear to ear. “That’s not French, it’s Romani, it’s them! It’s my uncle!” Robert chuckled. “There’s nothing that Uncle Jibben likes better than a good fight. Though he prefers to do his fighting close up with a knife and his fists.”

  Murphy came up to slap Robert on the back. “Why on earth would the man prefer that? There’s always a chance that he’d go down first.”

  Robert bit his lip and said in a sombre voice, “He says that for every life taken there is a weight of responsibility that comes with it. Therefore, you should feel the weight of that action with your own hands and see what you’ve done in their eyes.” He shrugged then said in a bit brighter voice, “That’s what he tells the children, but I really think he just likes a good scrap, it keeps him in practice with his knives.” I was astonished by his uncle’s philosophy that he could be that intellectual about such brutality. All the men nodded as if the whole thing made perfect sense to them; while the women had a mixed reaction somewhere between bewilderment and shock.

  As the yelling and screaming continued outside I returned to lean my ear against the wall. I wondered how many men Ramsey had come with. Charity had called him a coward and didn’t seem to think he was the type that other men would follow. Yet they were still fighting.

  Mother was watching Gabriel who was keeping an eye on the battle below. He stiffened when Charity whispered to him, grabbing hold of both his arms as if to restrain him, his hands were fisted, and his jaw tensed. Mother came to sit by me. “Gabriel’s angry and I’m afraid for his family, he may try to go out there.”

  I asked. “Why?”

  “If I’m right, he missed Ramsey and now he’s gone.”

  I watched Gabriel standing with his arm around Charity, both were looking at their boys. I shook my head “He won’t leave his family, Mama. Not after just being reunited with them. Besides if he tried, we’d stop him.”

  She sighed then reached out taking my hand as if to anchor us both in our chairs. I knew what she was feeling, the man she loved was out there in the middle of the battle and the man I cared about deeply was doing lord knows what in the hallway while essentially blind. She squeezed my hand. “Have you heard anything, Lissa?” My mouth was so dry that I couldn’t speak but there was really nothing to say so I only shook my head no.

  James woke up from his nap, he toddled towards my mother with a huge grin saying, “Bang, bang loud!” he was oblivious to the tension in the room. James made an abrupt turn towards the pistols on the table. Mother gasped as he reached out for one then said with delight, “Guns, Lissa, they go bang, bang!” and before anyone could pull him away he withdrew is hand saying, “Papa say NO to Jem!” then giggled to everyone’s delight and turned back to my mother r
eaching up to her, “Papa was loud.” Then he looked at me and asked, “Why you sad, Lissa?”

  I had stopped listening for noises from the hallway since James had awakened so I jumped when there was an audible thump against the wall next to me. I was up and at the door with my hand out when Murphy pulled me back and whispered, “No, miss, he wouldn’t want you out there.” I drew my hand back looking at the door with my hands clenched at my sides. The door handle moved then stopped…then it moved again. Murphy was at my side immediately pulling me to stand behind him. Then the Marquis and Michael joined him to stand in front of me. Allan and Dalton stood to either side while Jacob, Gabriel and Robert stood in front of the other women and children. Suddenly I felt lightheaded then realised that I had been holding my breath. I took a deep breath as we waited, it seemed as if time had stopped. I noticed the Marquis wipe his hand across his brow and that the scratch on his cheek was red and angry looking. Michael and Murphy made identical gestures of dragging their knuckle across their lips as if in anticipation of what was on the other side of the door. Allan and Dalton had both been former soldiers, one a deserter and one an aid decamp, they shuffled nervously from one foot to the other but appeared no less determined than Murphy or Michael. There was another hard thump against the door then the sound of something or someone sliding down and hitting the floor, then silence. Murphy edged towards the door and as he reached out there was the sound of a gun being fired at close range very near the door. He automatically jumped back motioning for us to step to either side and away from the doorway. Finally, I heard a voice, “Lissa, let us in! My father needs the doctor.” There was a gruff muffled retort followed by some equally gruff mumbling. I ran to the door before anyone could stop me and jerked it open.

  Slumped against the doorjamb was Miles, his father was leaning heavily on him and both were dripping sweat and covered in blood. Yet they were grinning and chuckling like fools. Both sounded incredibly wheezy as if they barely had a breath to spare but they continued laughing as the other men helped them into the room. The Earl looked at me with a smile nodding towards Miles, “Can you believe it, Miss Turner. He stabbed me! The boy actually stabbed his own father!” Then he let out a hearty laugh as he extended his arm for me to see the blood dripping down his arm. The doctor stepped forward and assumed command of the situation.