“Judith wishes only to discover the truth, sir.” Sebastian’s voice was cold. “If you are innocent you need have no fear—”
“Guilty? Innocent? Who are you to judge? You with your money and your arrogance? My wife shall end her connection with you from this moment!”
“My dear sir, you are making a spectacle of yourself. Have you no consideration for Miss Aveton?”
“Miss Aveton is it, now?” Truscott attempted to seize Judith’s arm. “Don’t listen to him. They are all against me…”
At this point the bishop was moved to intervene. “Lord Wentworth is right. This is a most unedifying scene. It should not be taking place in public.” Frowning, he strode away.
“No, my lord, don’t go!” Truscott hurried after him. “Am I not entitled to defend myself…to refute these allegations?”
“You may do so, and I will hear you out, but not before the altar. Later, if you can explain yourself to the lady’s satisfaction, the ceremony may continue.”
Truscott returned to Judith’s side, attempting to thrust himself between her and Lord Wentworth. With the dashing of his hopes all his composure deserted him. Now he was babbling wildly.
Judith ignored him and moved towards the girl.
“What is your name?” she asked.
“It’s Nan, miss. Please, you must believe me. I wasn’t lying. Josh turned me out. I had no money for the child. I think she’s dying…”
Judith looked at the tiny figure lying in her arms.
“Don’t give up hope!” she said. “You shall have all the help you need. This man you know as Josh? He is one and the same as the man I was about to marry?”
“Yes, miss. Does he claim to be a preacher?” Her eyes grew bitter. “He ain’t no Christian gentleman. He would have left us both to starve.”
“I think you are very tired,” Judith said gently. “Let us go to a more private place. There you may sit down.” She looked up at Sebastian and he nodded. Then he raised a finger to summon one of his servants, despatching the man for food.
In a last desperate effort, Truscott tried to intervene.
“No!” he shouted. “I’ll help! I’ll give her money, but, Judith, you must listen to me!”
“I’m quite prepared to do so.” She slipped her arm about the girl, leading her through the door into the vestry. She was followed by Sebastian, and the frantic figure of Truscott.
Standing before his bishop, the preacher changed his tactics, adopting a bullying demeanour towards the girl.
“Wench, you will burn in hell!” he shouted. “That is the fate of those who lie before God!”
“Spare us your threats!” Sebastian turned on him. “You will keep a still tongue in your head. My lord bishop, will you question the girl?”
Nan looked terrified, but encouraged by Judith’s gentle manner she began to tell her story.
“Seven Dials?” Truscott cried at one point in her tale. “I don’t know the place.”
“Strange, considering that you have a house there!” Sebastian studied his fingernails with interest. “You have been seen entering and leaving, and so has Nan. It is Nan, isn’t it?” He smiled encouragement at her.
The preacher’s face took on a ghastly hue, but he tried to recover his position.
“I might have guessed it,” he said savagely. “You have set men on to spy on me. Much good may it do you! As a man of God my work takes me to all parts of London upon errands of mercy. I don’t always know the names of the places which I visit.”
“Nor, apparently, are you able to recall the faces of those you tend.” The bishop’s face was stern. “Why did you claim not to know this girl?”
“Why, my lord, I can’t be expected to remember all those who come to me for help. There are so many…” Truscott cast a pleading look at Judith.
She didn’t glance at him. Memory had come flooding back. Here, in this very church, she had caught him beating a small child. Nausea overwhelmed her as she realised the truth. She had been mistaken in him all along.
Sebastian hesitated, but not for long. Judith must now hear the truth, however unpalatable it might be.
“Do your duties require you to stay overnight upon these errands?” he asked quietly.
A purple flush stained Truscott’s face. “I may have stayed on one occasion…but it was by a sickbed.”
“Ah, yes, these sickbeds! There are so many, are there not, and all at the house in Seven Dials? I’m told that your presence was required there for several days at a time.”
“Judith knows about it,” Truscott said defensively. “My mother has been suffering from the smallpox—”
“You are lying, sir. Your mother lives in the parish of St Giles, in that salubrious part of London known as ‘The Rookery’. To my knowledge she is suffering from nothing more than neglect on the part of her disgraceful son.”
Judith rose to her feet. She did not look at Truscott. “I have heard enough,” she said with dignity. “My lord bishop, this marriage will not now take place. What you choose to do about this man I will leave to your own judgment. Sebastian, will you take me home? Nan and her child shall go with us.”
“Judith, you can’t!” Truscott ran after her into the main body of the church, empty now, except for Mrs Aveton and her daughters. “It’s lies, I tell you, naught but a pack of lies. They’ll stop at nothing to take you from me.”
“Nay, Charlie, it ain’t lies! Who knows that better than you, you murdering devil!”
The voice came from the shadowy porch. It was low, but so chilling that it stopped Truscott in his tracks.
He fell back, all colour draining from his face.
“Who is there?” he cried fearfully.
“A dead man, who else?” Margrave stepped into the light, and as he did so, Mrs Aveton screamed.
The forger was a terrifying sight. His face had the pallor of the grave, except for the patches of scarlet blood which seeped steadily from the cloth about his head and trickled down one cheek.
“Thought you’d killed me, Charlie? I ain’t so easy to get rid of. Now it’s your turn. Did you think I’d let you live to enjoy this lady’s fortune?” He raised his pistol and levelled it at Truscott’s heart.
“Wait, Dick! Hear me! It was a mistake! I fell against you. Then I thought that you had cracked your head. What was I to do? I couldn’t have you found here…”
“So you decided to give me a Christian burial?” The forger’s laugh struck terror into those who heard it. “Lucky for me that there wasn’t a tombstone handy. I’d never have left that grave.”
Judith found that she was trembling, but it was Sebastian who spoke.
“Sir, will you be a witness? If this is true, you may leave this man to the authorities—”
“Nay, I’ll not do that. Lord Wentworth, ain’t it? My lord, the authorities are no friends of mine. I’ll handle this myself. I’m sorry, ma’am, that you are to be soon a widow.”
“I am not married,” Judith whispered.
“Really? Ah, I see!” He looked at the girl beside her. “Our little Nan got there before me!”
Judith moved to stand in front of the shrinking girl.
“You are making a mistake!” she said steadily. “Will you commit murder in this church? Please do as Lord Wentworth has suggested. You cannot take the law into your own hands.”
“Count your blessings, ma’am, and stand aside! I know what I’m about. They won’t catch Dick Margrave!” As he raised his pistol once again, Truscott grabbed Judith to his breast.
Holding her as a shield, he thrust her ahead of him towards the porch. She felt the pricking of his knife against her ribs.
“Don’t struggle!” he advised. “I have nothing to lose.”
“Let her go!” Sebastian’s voice was calm. He was almost within touching distance. “This is naught to do with Judith. Your quarrel is between you and this man…” Imperceptibly, he moved closer.
“Back!” the preacher shouted. “Unless yo
u wish to have her blood upon your hands!”
Judith was terrified, but she kept her head. Truscott should not find it easy to drag her from the church. Apparently on the verge of collapse, she leaned heavily against him. Then she felt what seemed to be a sharp blow as he pulled her upright.
“No tricks!” he ordered roughly. “Move!”
Now he had an enemy on either side. Margrave was ahead of him, blocking his exit from the church, and Sebastian was behind.
“You first!” he told Sebastian. “Walk ahead of me!”
He cast just one brief glance at the horrified faces of Mrs Aveton and her girls, the bishop, and finally at Nan.
“You’ll pay for this!” he promised. “I’ll be back!” His face was a mask of evil as he looked at her, and none of his listeners dared to move.
Then, thrusting Judith ahead of him, and using Sebastian’s tall figure as a further shield, he began to edge his way towards the porch and freedom.
Margrave had moved to one side. As his enemy passed it would give him a better shot, but Truscott sensed his purpose.
“Out!” he ordered.
For a long moment Margrave hesitated and Judith closed her eyes. She meant nothing to the man, and there was murder in his face. In his desire for vengeance he was more than likely to fire through her.
Sebastian’s murmur was audible to no one but the forger.
“No!” he said. “Not yet! You’ll get your chance.
It seemed at first that Margrave would disobey him, and for Judith it was the longest moment of her life. Then the man walked out of the church.
Judith felt the sunlight warm upon her face. Again she felt a sense of unreality. Could this frightful scene be taking place here, in the quiet surroundings of the churchyard?
Sebastian’s carriage was already at the lych gate, ready to bear him home.
“Summon your man, my lord! If you wish this lady to live you will obey me. He is to open the carriage door, let down the steps, and stand away. Then your coachman must drive off at speed when we are safe inside.”
Sebastian stopped suddenly. “You can’t be meaning to take Judith with you?” he exclaimed in horror.
Truscott ignored the question. “Do as I say!” he shouted.
“No, listen to me! She will slow you down.”
Judith felt the prick of the knife, and she gave a tiny gasp of pain. “Do as he says,” she pleaded.
Sebastian’s lifted hand brought a groom running to his side. The man’s eyes widened as he realised what was happening. He was a burly fellow, and with his arms spread wide in a wrestler’s stance, he started to move forward.
“No!” Sebastian was quick to stop him. “Do as I bid you! This lady is being held at knife-point.”
“Very wise, my lord,” the preacher mocked. “Now stand aside.”
Judith’s view was partly blocked by Sebastian’s massive figure. Then she heard the sound of running feet.
“Seb, am I too late?” Dan came tearing around the corner of the church. “The Runner has news. I’ve brought him with me. Pray heaven we are in time!”
“Indeed you are!” The preacher’s voice was a paean of triumph. “In time to bid your lady-love farewell. Now, sir, his lordship has been most amenable. I trust that you will follow his example and do nothing foolish?”
As Sebastian stepped aside, Dan took in the situation at a glance. Beside him, the hand of the Bow Street Runner strayed towards his pistol. Then Dan saw the terror in Judith’s eyes.
“We shall do nothing foolish,” he agreed. “You are free to leave, but you shall not take Judith with you.”
“And how are you to stop me?” Truscott jeered.
“I fear that we cannot.” Dan paused. Then he looked at Judith. “Why, my dear, you have forgotten the pearl necklace…”
“Pearls?” Even Truscott was startled. What was the fellow thinking of to speak of a necklace at this time?
Judith raised her head, and for a long moment grey eyes locked with blue.
“Yes,” she murmured. “I had quite forgot.” She bent her head again. Then, with a sudden movement, she thrust it back with all her strength, catching Truscott full in the face.
He gave a cry of agony and staggered back as Dan ran towards him, twisting Judith from his grip.
Two shots rang out in unison, but Truscott had already dodged behind a tombstone. Then he began to run, zig-zagging between the graves.
The Runner raised his smoking pistol and took careful aim, but Margrave thrust him aside.
“He’s mine!” he said with great deliberation. He fired one more at the running man, and this time he did not miss.
Frozen with horror, Judith watched as the preacher’s head exploded in a red haze. Then Dan hid her face against his coat.
“Get her out of this!” Sebastian muttered. “I’ll see to matters here…”
Dan needed no urging. With the aid of the groom he half led and half carried Judith to the waiting coach.
“Back to Mount Street!” he ordered briefly. Then he gathered his love into his arms.
“Why, Dan, you are trembling!” Judith murmured in wonder. “I am unhurt…”
“Then what is that?” With a shaking hand he pointed to her skirt.
Judith looked down to see a long rust-coloured stain creeping from the bodice of her gown down towards the hem. “It’s only a graze. He…he pricked me with the knife.”
“He might have killed you. Oh, my darling, I thought you lost to me for ever.” He covered his eyes and turned away to hide the agony in his heart.
“Dan, look at me!” Judith pleaded. “I must know! Can you ever forgive me?”
“Forgive you? For what?” he groaned. “I should be asking your forgiveness for exposing you to danger.”
For answer she took his beloved face in both her hands.
“You tried to warn me,” she said tenderly. “Don’t blame yourself! I wouldn’t listen. How could I have been so blind?”
“You weren’t alone, my love. Truscott deceived everyone—”
“Not you! Nor any member of your family.”
“Prudence and Elizabeth had seen another side of him.”
“Oh, my dear, if they had only told me the whole…”
“Would you have believed them? Besides, Sebastian insisted that they must not meddle. He was unconvinced until quite recently.”
“But you?”
“I hated him on sight,” Dan told her simply. “But I was mad with jealousy.”
“You hid it well.”
“I had to, Judith. In the end we came to believe that you were safe only as long as you remained betrothed.”
Her eyes widened. “I was in danger? Why did you not warn me?”
“We had no proof until today. The Runner arrived as I returned from Merton. He’d seen Truscott’s attempt to murder Margrave.”
“Margrave was the man who shot him dead?” Judith closed her eyes as if to shut out the memory of that dreadful scene. “He is dead, isn’t he?”
“He is, my darling, but he was a man who lived by violence and in the end it killed him.”
Judith began to shudder. “I’ll never forget it. It was a frightful ending…”
“Try not to think about it, dearest.” Dan turned her face to his. “It’s over. Now we shall think only of our future.”
He kissed her then, and as his mouth came down on hers the long years of their separation sank into oblivion. They were still locked in a passionate embrace when the carriage came to a halt.
Judith felt light-headed, and when Dan tried to help her down her limbs refused to obey her. She looked down at her skirt and saw that the ominous stain was spreading rapidly.
“Don’t tell Prudence!” she said in a queer, high voice. “I’m sorry, but I think I’m going to faint.”
She fell towards him, and into darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
Judith awakened as the first grey fingers of dawn began to creep across the sky. She lo
oked about her in bewilderment. This was not her room.
She tried to move and winced with pain. Cautiously she touched the firm binding around her ribs with her right hand. Her left was held so tightly that it was impossible to disengage her fingers.
In the corner of the darkened room a single candle was guttering low, and by its faint light she could distinguish a figure sitting by her bedside.
Dan seemed to be asleep, but he stirred as the door was opened.
“You must get some rest,” Elizabeth whispered. “You’ve been here all night. Go now! I will stay with Judith.”
“I won’t leave her!” came the obstinate reply. “I want to see the surgeon.”
“So you shall, my dear, but he won’t return at dawn. I promise to call you the moment he appears.”
Dan shook his head. “He thought there might be a fever. I must stay in case she needs me.”
Judith felt a cool hand upon her brow. “She isn’t feverish, Dan. Do go! At present you look worse than Judith. You mustn’t frighten her. When she wakes she will wish to speak to you.”
“I do!” Judith opened her eyes. “How long have I been here?”
“Since yesterday, my love. You fainted in the carriage…”
Dan’s haggard face alarmed her, but she managed a weak smile. “That was foolish of me. It must have been the shock.”
Elizabeth bent over her. “Judith, you were stabbed. Do you not recall?”
Judith shook her head. “I was pricked by the knife at first. Then I felt a sort of blow…more like a punch to my ribs.”
“You received a deep cut, Judith, but it isn’t serious. By some miracle it missed the vital organs.”
“But you aren’t out of danger, my beloved.” Dan was beside himself with anxiety. “There is the risk of fever.”
“I shan’t get a fever,” Judith promised as she laid a loving hand against his cheek. “But I do feel sleepy. Won’t you rest, my darling? Come back to me later…”
It was only with the greatest reluctance that Dan left the room, with so many instructions to Judith not to excite herself, nor to worry, and most especially to get some sleep, that in the end Elizabeth seized his arm and thrust him through the door.
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