“She thought Adam was going to be shot,” Florentina said. “I heard her screaming about a trap and saw her running from the trees to warn him.”
“You see!” Dennett cried. “She impulsively tried to save you and yet you’re prepared to let her perish.”
“I’m deeply sorry that this has happened but there’s nothing anyone can do for her now.”
Florentina could see tiredness and strain etched deeply into Adam’s features. Her heart went out to him. She could only guess at the responsibility he felt for what had happened to his brother’s wife.
Dennett was stripping off his clothes, ripping them in his haste, and didn’t appear to hear Adam’s words. It took Adam and one of Madison’s men to prevent him from leaping into the sea and also meeting his maker.
Florentine sensed that the four Spanish girls were totally confused by events.
“One of the girls that just perished was that gentleman’s sister,” she explained in a hushed voice.
The refugees crossed themselves whilst Dennett, seeming to understand at last that there really was nothing more he could do for his sister, fell to the ground, sobbing hysterically. Everyone was watching the extraordinary scene, not seeming to know quite what to do about it. That included the man guarding Reynolds.
Without warning, an arm grasped Florentina’s waist from behind and her body was dragged back until it collided with its owner. She screamed, as did the terrified Spanish girls, loud enough to distract even Dennett from his hysteria.
“Keep still, you little wildcat!”
A hand dealt a savage blow to her face, hard enough to make her head spin. A second arm caught her ’round the throat. She couldn’t move without choking herself. Even kicking the man’s shins was impossible from this position. Despair welled inside her. She knew that voice. Recognized the pungent smell of the body restraining her.
It was Reynolds.
“Let her go.” Adam spoke with calm authority as he levelled his gun at Reynolds’s head.
“Now, why would I wanna do that? This little spitfire has caused me more than enough trouble over the past months, and I intend to get my revenge.”
“By getting your head shot off?”
“Can you be absolutely sure you’ll hit me and not her?” Reynolds voice dripped sarcasm as he started dragging Florentina toward the trees. “You’re welcome to try but somehow I doubt whether you will ’cos I’ve seen the way you look at the little whore.”
“You’re a dead man, Reynolds,” Adam said with quiet mordancy, “unless you release her at once. Let her go and you can leave here. You have my word that no one will attempt to follow you.”
Reynolds guffawed. “I hardly think you’re in a position to give orders right now, so either shoot me or shut up and listen.”
“I am all ears.” Adam lowered his gun but his expression didn’t conceal the fact that he was very anxious to follow up on his threat and help Reynolds on his way to hell.
“I thought you would be. Well, well, it’s funny how things turn out, ain’t it.” Foetid breath hit Florentina’s ear as Reynolds spoke but, because of his restraining arm ’round her neck, she couldn’t turn away from it. “I was cursing the day I ever laid eyes on this little hussy, even though she’s one of the best ever to pass through me hands. But I can see now that she’ll be an asset to me after all.”
“I doubt that very much,” Adam said insouciantly, glancing skyward as though bored with the entire conversation. Florentina followed the direction of his gaze and noticed that the rain had stopped altogether, the wind had blown away the clouds and the moon had reemerged. “She has a mind of her own and if you’re able to make her do as she’s told, then you’re a better man than I am.”
Reynolds leered. “Women are like dogs. You have to beat ’em occasionally, give ’em a good kicking and let ’em know who’s master. Once they get the message, you throw ’em an occasional bone, just to keep ’em sweet.”
He glanced at Florentina. She observed the naked avarice in his expression and it made her quake with fear.
“She didn’t know you when you helped her at that inn, I’m willing to wager, but she’s already reduced you to a simpering pup. Yeah.” Reynolds grinned, providing Florentina with a sideways glimpse of his rotting teeth. “I know a gent wot’ll pay me a pretty penny for her but I have a mind to sample her favours for meself first, just by way of compensation for all the trouble she’s caused me, like.”
“You have to get away first,” Adam pointed out.
“And who’s gonna stop me? You?” Reynolds spat a mouthful of vile tobacco over Florentina’s shoulder. “I don’t think so.”
“How far do you suppose you’ll get with half the county on your heels?”
“Far enough that you’ll never be able to find me.” He looked at his lackey, still being held by one of Madison’s men. “Let ’im go.” At a motion from Adam, the man restraining him did as he was asked. “Right now, we’re gonna get to our horses and we’re gonna get out of here. And if I even think I hear anyone following us, I’ll cut her throat and laugh while I’m a-doing it.”
Florentina willed herself not to shiver at the resolution in Reynolds’s tone. She knew he meant what he said, that he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her if she gave him the slightest trouble. But she was damned if she’d reveal her fear in front of him.
“You could take all four of them in exchange for Mrs. Grantley.” Adam inclined his head toward the remaining refugees.
“I could take them anyway, and now that you mention it I think I will, to make up for some of our losses. Thanks for the suggestion.”
Florentina wanted to protest but knew it would be a waste of breath and made do with casting a censorious glance Adam’s way. She was angry with him for so callously offering to sacrifice four of her countrywomen, who’d already gone through so much, in exchange for her. She’d thought him to have a greater moral conscience than that but had no time to dwell upon his inconsistent behaviour.
Reynolds’s man was now herding the terrified girls in the direction of the trees and she was being pushed after them.
Reynolds kept a close hold on her and deliberately turned her toward Adam as they passed his position. It would be impossible for him to get a clear shot at her captor’s body.
She looked directly at Adam, asking him a question with her eyes. When he smiled and nodded just once, relief flooded her. She felt her despondency lifting and was full of remorse for having doubted him, however fleetingly. He’d put the idea of taking the other four girls into Reynolds’s mind quite deliberately, presumably because he required their participation in order to rescue them all.
She inclined her head to show him she understood and allowed herself to be pushed beyond the trees, putting up only token resistance to Reynolds’s brutal handling. He released his hold on her throat as soon as he was a safe distance away from Adam and grabbed her wrist instead, pulling her along with a vicious grip that brought tears to her eyes.
Madison sighed. “What are we supposed to do now?” he asked, watching Reynolds and his little band disappeared from view.
“Go after them, of course,” Adam said.
“But what about Philippa?”
Adam scowled. He’d forgotten all about Dennett. It was his fault that Reynolds had been able to escape and capture Florentina, and he was in no frame of mind to treat him with consideration. “She’s gone,” he said, “and thanks to you, so is Mrs. Grantley. But she, at least, I can rescue.” He leaned over Dennett, tore the shirt away from his arm and tied it roughly over the bullet wound to stop it bleeding. “Now, you can sit here bemoaning the situation or do something to redeem yourself by helping us.”
“I don’t want to say here alone,” he said, sounding like a petulant child.
“Then come with us. But for God’s sake keep quiet and do as you are told or we’ll leave you behind.”
“Is it wise to go directly after them?” Madison asked. “I don’t doubt for a mo
ment that he’ll kill Mrs. Grantley if he detects our presence.”
“That’s why I suggested he take the other four girls.” Adam skirted the path he assumed Reynolds would take. It was the only one wide enough for two men to keep control over five reluctant women at the dead of night. It led to the place where they’d left their carriage but would take longer to traverse than the route Adam proposed to follow through the trees.
“Ah, I see.” Madison nodded his approval and indicated to his men to follow behind him and Adam.
“Just a moment.” Adam turned back. “I almost forgot.”
He jammed the barrel of his gun into the back of the man who’d fired the premature shot and caused the whole operation to fail. He disarmed him and ordered his colleague to firmly bind his hands.
“What are you doing?” Madison asked over the man’s muffled protests.
“That early shot was no accident,” Adam told him. “This man is a traitor, in the pay of Reynolds, and it was his job to warn him if we got too close.”
“No, I didn’t, I swear—”
Madison kicked the man’s shins. He was now bound to a tree and looked terrified, as well he ought. “I’ll deal with you later, Briggs,” he said.
Adam forged into the trees at a rapid pace, grateful the moon’s reemergence enabled him to see a foot or two in front of him. He ignored the branches that whipped against his face, barely felt the brambles that tangled ’round his feet and scratched at his clothing. He tripped over a log but righted himself without even pausing to assess the damage, resolutely determined to effect this rescue swiftly. If Reynolds reached the carriage before he did then his chances of doing so would be greatly reduced. He attempted to put the fact that Florentina was one of the captives firmly to the back of his mind. He agreed with Madison. Reynolds was easily capable of committing murder, and if he allowed himself to think of Florentina’s plight he wouldn’t be able to remain professionally detached.
“Just as long as Briggs was the only one Reynolds managed to turn, we should be all right,” he said to Madison. “I’m relying on your men to take control of Reynolds’s carriage and that we can reach it before they do.”
“But he said he was heading for his horses.”
“That was before he took the other four women. He won’t have enough horses for them all to ride. And he wouldn’t be able to control so many people even if he did.” Adam nodded decisively. “No, he’ll have to use the carriage.”
It took ten minutes of moving as quickly and silently through the undergrowth as they could manage to reach the spot where the carriage was waiting. Adam motioned the others to remain concealed and approached the vehicle cautiously from behind, bent double and making not a sound. He peered inside and saw two men tied and gagged, lying across the squabs. Adam nodded with grim satisfaction. They were in time. He identified himself to the men now in charge of the vehicle.
“Blimey, guv’nor,” said one of them, “you gave me a right fright, creeping up on us like that. I didn’t hear a sound and I thought I was being alert.”
Adam motioned for the others to join him. “Quick, we don’t have much time. Those two in there,” he said, nodding to the inside of the carriage, “are they wearing anything that identifies them as Reynolds’s men?”
“Nah, just great coats, a bit like yours but not ’alf so smart.”
“All right, get them out of there, make sure their gags are in place and tie them to trees well away from this spot. Dennett, you’re about the same size as one of them. Do you want to make amends for all the trouble you’ve caused?”
“What do you want me to do?”
At Adam’s signal, Madison’s men removed the coat from one of the captives and handed it to Dennett.
“Try that on.”
Dennett wrinkled his nose at the smell and needed help to get the coat on over his wounded arm.
“It fits,” Adam said. “None of the rest of us would get into it so it’ll have to be you.” He abandoned his own distinctive great coat and donned the one that belonged to Reynolds’s other man, grimacing as he placed the greasy hat low on his head. “Right, Dennett, you and I are now the coachmen. Madison, you and your men need to surround this spot, stay close but keep well out of sight. That carriage does not leave here with Mrs. Grantley and her countrywomen still on board.”
“How do you intend to prevent it?” Dennett asked.
“Whilst they’re putting the ladies into the carriage, Reynolds will have to turn his back on me.” Adam pulled his hat down even lower. “He has no reason to suspect us, so the moment he does, I’ll disarm him.”
“But what about the other one?” Madison asked. “Dennett is wounded and won’t be able to fight him off.”
“I doubt whether he’ll have to. The man certainly gave in easily enough on that beach. But no shots are to be fired anywhere near the ladies if it can be avoided. Is that quite clear?” Everyone nodded. “I’ll deal with the second man if he tries to put up a fight. If he runs clear of the carriage, Madison, then he’s all yours.”
“Very well.” Madison ordered his men into their positions. “Quick, I can hear them coming.” He shook Adam’s hand, his expression grimly determined. “Good luck, Fitzroy.”
They had only just taken up their places when they heard Reynolds’s voice extolling his men to hurry.
“Make haste, man.” Reynolds marched up to the carriage, still pulling Florentina along by her wrist. “Don’t just stand there gawping. Open up the door, you idiot, and help get these hussies aboard. Keep a weather eye on this one.” He pushed Florentina roughly through the door. “She’s a right little hell-cat. No, on second thoughts…” He pulled Florentina back toward him again. She was already ascending the steps and fell at his feet, causing him to laugh. “Perhaps I’ll have a little fun with her first. God alone knows, I’ve earned it. Besides, her fancy man will soon be here. I’ve a mind to have him watch, knowing there’s not a thing he can do to help her without provoking me into strangling the little whore.” He smiled, revealing his revolting teeth again, thoroughly pleased with his twisted logic.
Damn. Adam watched with frustration as Reynolds’s man pushed the rest of the women into the carriage. They mounted the steps in single file, looking terrified and confused, clinging to one another for support. He closed the door behind them and leaned against it, smirking as he watched his master wrestling with Florentina on the ground. She was putting up a spirited fight but Reynolds was so much stronger than she was. It could only be a matter of time before he subdued her.
He had to do something. And quickly. He motioned to Dennett to move to the other side of the carriage and open the door. To his credit he did so without hesitation. It took a moment for Reynolds’s man to realise that the girls were being lifted down, one by one, and ushered into the trees.
“Here, stop!” The man moved from the door and rushed off in pursuit. “Help me stop ’em,” he yelled to Adam.
“Certainly.”
Adam brought his gun down on the back of the man’s neck with considerable force. He grunted, fell heavily to the ground and didn’t move.
Reynolds, alerted by the commotion, paused in his efforts to force himself upon Florentina and glowered at Adam.
“Give it up, Reynolds. You’re alone now and can’t possibly win.”
“I can whilst I still have her.” He gave Florentina’s arm a vicious twist, causing her to cry out. “Back off or I’ll do for her.”
“And then what?” Adam leaned against a tree, forcing himself to speak with casual indifference. “Kill her and I’ll take considerable pleasure in killing you immediately afterwards.”
Reynolds pulled Florentina to her feet with a growl of frustration, pressed a dagger against the soft skin at the base of her neck, and edged toward the carriage, shielding his own body with hers.
“Still hiding behind a woman’s skirts, Reynolds?” Adam asked. “Why not let her go? I’ll tell Madison and his men to stand down, and it will be
just the two of us. Face me like a man, if you dare, and we’ll resolve this matter once and for all.”
“Nah, why would I wanna do that?”
Adam elevated his brows. “Why indeed.” He shrugged. “What other response could I have expected from a so-called man who is nothing more than a bully and a coward.”
Adam’s attempt to provoke Reynolds was destined for disappointment. The man simply smirked and returned his attention to Florentina, well aware he still had the upper hand.
“Come on!” He half-dragged her the rest of the way to the carriage. “You and me are going for a little ride.”
Adam ground his teeth in frustration. Reynolds was still holding his knife to Florentina’s throat, so Adam didn’t dare to strike out at him for fear that he might retaliate. Reason told him to let them go. Reynolds wouldn’t get far, alone with an unwilling captive inside the carriage whilst he himself was in occupation of the box seat. He shook his head, not wanting to risk it. Reynolds might have more of his people close at hand, and that could prove fatal for Florentina. And, almost as bad, he would probably force himself on her before Adam could intercede for a second time.
The wind was whipping up again, bending the branches in the same manner that Adam ached to bend Reynolds’s miserable neck. Florentina stumbled as she was flung toward the carriage steps. Reynolds swore, bent to help her up, and Adam didn’t scruple to grasp this fleeting opportunity. He closed the distance between them and drew back his arm, ready to plant it in the middle of Reynolds’s face. But before he could do so the man doubled over, clutching his groin and howling with pain, a vicious hat pin protruding from his private parts.
Adam was actually smiling when he finally had the satisfaction of delivering the blow that rendered Reynolds unconscious. Not only had Florentina thought to bring her hat pin with her but she’d remembered to deploy it in a more effective location too.
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