With a groan he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss in a way that left her unable to do anything other than clutch at his shirt and hold on. The soft glide of his lips grew firmer until she had no choice but to open her mouth under the persistent onslaught of his. The next few moments passed in a blur of wanton sensation that left her gasping for breath and unable to do anything other than stare into his eyes when he eventually lifted his head.
“Thank you for bothering,” Stephen growled huskily. “I must say that it is the first time that anyone has ever really cared whether I came home dead or alive. I am just relieved that you are alright. Nothing happened while I was gone, I take it?”
Prudence shook her head slowly. She was unable to tear her gaze away from his lips and watched his mouth move as he spoke, but the words barely registered. “Where did you go?” She whispered when he slid an arm under her knees and swept her off her feet.
Once in the sitting room, he took a seat before the fire and settled her onto his lap. He knew he was deliberately taking advantage but was deeply touched by just how worried she had been about him. If he was honest with himself, it was the same worry he had felt for her while he had been out of the house.
“I have left a note at Rufus’ house to ask him to come here at the earliest opportunity. I didn’t explain why, but we will do that when he turns up.” Stephen sighed and settled back in his chair. To sit with her so companionably and tell her about his night was a strange thing for him to do, but he loved the familiarity of it. He was relieved that she hadn’t objected to sitting so intimately with him, even though he needed to shift to ease the ache in his loins. “Mr Simpson is still on the beach where we left him. We will inform Rufus that he is there and leave it to him to ensure that the man’s relatives are informed of his demise. I have also sent word to my boss in London, and asked for a couple of my colleagues to come and help. Given that Levant intends to step up the pressure now, I want to make sure that we are not caught off guard. I cannot investigate Levant, and protect you at the same time, even with the assistance of Rufus. I need support from people I know I can trust; someone who knows what my work is all about.”
“You look so tired,” Prudence whispered. Her hand shook as she lifted it. One finger tenderly swept across the dark circles beneath his eyes. “Does your head hurt much?”
“Not now. It ached a bit when I first got up, but the fresh air has cleared away a few cobwebs. I now feel fine.” He didn’t really feel back to full health just yet, but wasn’t far off it. He was usually the very last man who would sit and accept anyone’s ministrations, but he couldn’t bring himself to move away, or stop her.
She felt as though she had known him all of her life, but how was that possible in such a short acquaintance? Prudence should have been embarrassed, or horrified at the familiar way she sat in his lap. Until last night, this man had been a veritable stranger to her and someone whom she had looked upon with suspicion. Now, here she was, practically lying in his lap while she listened to him detail the work he had done overnight in order to protect the family. He should have been in bed recovering from the injuries she had inflicted upon him. Instead, he was traipsing about the county, investigating her arch enemy.
“You look thoughtful,” he murmured with no hint of rancour.
“I am just thinking about the things we have to do today, that’s all.” She yawned and felt a wave of drowsiness sweep over her that made her eyes droop.
He made no attempt to break the silence that fell over them, and dropped his head back onto the chair as he cuddled her closer.
Within seconds they were fast asleep.
CHAPTER NINE
The following morning, Stephen watched Rufus Denbigh enter the study. He rose and greeted the man with a brisk nod and waved him toward a seat.
“Prudence? Do you want to tell me what is going on?” Rufus demanded as he eyed Stephen suspiciously.
Prudence sighed and watched Eloisa deposit a tray of tea things on the small table before the fire. Once she had handed out refreshments, she took a seat before the fire and turned to their guest. Before she could speak, Stephen broke the tense silence to explain who he was and what he was doing there. He used exactly the same words he had used when he had told Prudence, and did so with such a degree of accuracy that she wondered if it was a pre-prepared speech he had memorised for just such an occasion.
She glanced at him and felt a gentle blush colour her cheeks when their eyes met across the room. She had woken up sometime mid-morning to find herself tucked up in bed. By the time she had risen, seen to her ablutions and joined everyone downstairs, Stephen was seated before the fire while he chatted with Robbie. She should have felt embarrassed, or at least awkward, because he had undoubtedly carried her upstairs and put her into bed. However, the tender smile he gave her when she entered the kitchen eased her discomfort and a wonderful sense of intimacy settled over them.
Rufus ran a hand down his face when Stephen informed him of Mr Simpson’s death. “His wife has reported him missing but, without a body, we hadn’t a clue where to start to look for him. Despite a search, there was no sign of him in his house or on his grounds. He is still down on the beach, you say?”
Stephen nodded. In deference to the ladies’ delicate constitutions, he didn’t mention the state the body was in, and was only glad that Robbie had found it when it had been pitch black outside. Humphrey had been ruthless in his quest to carry out his orders, and had done so with a fervency that Stephen had rarely seen in all of his years with the Star Elite.
“It has been there for a couple of days, I am afraid,” was all he said, but he accompanied his words with a direct look that was met with a brisk nod from the magistrate.
“It has been a couple of days since he first went missing,” was all Rufus said.
“Do you think Levant did it?” Georgiana gasped.
“It is inevitable, don’t you think?” Prudence replied when the men made no attempt to answer her. “He is ruthless enough.”
“How do you want me to help?” Rufus asked. He wasn’t altogether comfortable with the ladies being involved in the conversation, and felt that there were things he needed to discuss with Stephen and, undoubtedly, things that Stephen needed to tell him, that the ladies didn’t need to be aware of.
“I need you to tell me what you have uncovered about Levant’s activities in the area so far. I have done some investigation, so it would help if we put our heads together and got a clearer picture of just how much the man is involved in.” Stephen didn’t want to mention the French spies’ involvement in front of the ladies for fear of making them worry needlessly, but he would have to tell Rufus at some point given what could potentially be happening on his own doorstep.
Stephen glanced at Prudence. He had woken up in the chair with her cuddled against him and had struggled to find the will to move. If it hadn’t been for the heavy thump of boots on the stairs, he could have sat there all morning; well, until she woke up at least. As it was, Georgiana’s appearance in the doorway had broken the intimacy of the moment and he had been forced to carry her off to bed to catch up on some sleep instead.
“Can you show me where Simpson is?”
Stephen reluctantly shook his head. “I want my presence in the house to remain a secret right now. I have reinforcements coming up from London but, until then, it would help if Levant doesn’t know that I am in the house.”
“Unexpected protection,” Rufus murmured and nodded his agreement. “That’s fine by me. I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”
“Are you going to be around later tonight? Say, around eleven o’clock?” Stephen braced his elbows on his knees and stared hard at the man. There was so much he wanted to say. He knew from the look that Rufus directed back at him that the magistrate felt the same.
“Yes, I will be at home all evening. As soon as you can leave, drop by my house.” He gave the address and direction on how to find the house in the middle of the
village. “I will show you what I have on Levant.”
Stephen nodded his thanks and sat back to drink his tea.
The group chatted amiably for several long moments before Rufus took his leave, ostensibly to go and make arrangements for the removal of Mr Simpson’s corpse.
“I can show you where it is,” Robbie gasped enthusiastically and jumped to his feet.
“No, you won’t, Robbie.” Stephen saw the boy’s objection on his face and settled a firm, almost fatherly, look on him. “I have to check on the house and gardens overnight and ensure that Levant and his men stay away while everyone is asleep. Unfortunately, for the time being, that means I have to sleep and rest during the daytime. Rufus has to conduct his investigation and do his work as a magistrate. With both of us busy throughout the day, we need you to be the man of the house and keep an eye out for Levant, or his men, lurking around or heading this way.” He shared a look with Rufus, who nodded his head officiously.
“You need to hold the fort for us, Robbie,” Rufus growled as he winked at Eloisa.
Prudence listened and fought to hide her smile. It was ingenious and, from the look on his face, Robbie was hooked. Stephen had not even finished speaking before her youngest sibling puffed his chest out importantly and stared at him and Rufus in awe.
“It is up to you to keep an eye out for Levant coming down the driveway. You must make sure that everyone is inside and the doors are locked tight before he knocks on the door.” Stephen glanced at each of the ladies in turn. “For the time being, nobody is to go out anywhere. If you find that you simply must go, and you cannot wait, it would be safer if Rufus went with you.”
It wasn’t lost to Stephen that the day after tomorrow was Sunday, and practically everyone went to church on Sundays. The ladies would undoubtedly want to make their weekly walk to church in Brumpton Marches but, unfortunately, Stephen couldn’t escort them there or back. He wasn’t a church-going man himself, but had no opinion on other people’s beliefs and couldn’t really stop them from going.
“We only really go to market on Wednesdays.”
“What about church?”
The ladies shared an awkward look, as though the question made them uncomfortable. After several moments of lengthy silence, Prudence sighed. “I think you should both know that our mother is not well. She cannot be left alone for any length of time and, well, Brumpton Marches is at least an hour’s walk away. We cannot leave mother for three and a bit hours. Even if we went to the church in Marchwell, the locals there know her and will want to stop and have a chat.”
Rufus shared a look with Stephen. They had already heard the woman’s screams and thumps, and knew that the woman was deeply disturbed. At some point either one of them, if not both of them, would have to talk to the sisters about their mother in more detail. Right now though, they both recognised that Levant was more of a pressing issue because of the threat he posed to the safety of everyone.
“While we can manage without going to church, we really must continue to go to market in Brumpton Marches on Wednesday. I can remain here and keep an eye on the family homestead while Eloisa and Maggie go, if you are happy to escort them, Rufus?” Prudence didn’t add that they needed to go to market to be able to sell the shawls that Eloisa and Maggie made. They didn’t earn a lot of money, but the small amount they did raise afforded the family a few extra bits that eased their way a little. They desperately needed those few extra pennies, especially given the shortage of food they would face in the coming months.
At Rufus’ nod, she heaved a sigh of relief and remained silent while the finer details were discussed.
Stephen stood in the alley at the rear of Rufus’ house in the centre of Marchwell, and swore. His gaze was locked on the sight of Humphrey Brown, Levant’s henchman, as he lay in wait for someone. Was Rufus the man’s intended target? Stephen didn’t doubt it and wondered what the magistrate could have uncovered that had Levant so worried.
He was early for his meeting with Rufus, but that suited Stephen just fine. He took the opportunity to study the surrounding area and map the escape routes he could take if the need ever arose. He spied the empty stable and carriage barn, and wondered if Rufus had been called out to some sort of emergency, or been waylaid somewhere. It was only half past ten but, in a country village like Marchwell, almost everyone was already tucked up safely in bed.
Stephen studied the heavy bulk of the henchman. There was no sign of a gun on the man’s hip, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a knife secreted somewhere on his ample girth. Given the sheer size of him, it was going to take a lot of determined effort to take the man down if it came to an all-out brawl, and he couldn’t help but wonder how efficient Rufus was with his fists.
With a sigh, Stephen leaned his back against the wall and watched Humphrey watch the magistrate’s house. It wasn’t long before he heard the clip clop of hooves on the cobbled streets and watched Rufus turn his curricle down the alley at the rear of his house.
Stephen took advantage of Humphrey’s distraction and crept closer, and was directly behind him by the time Rufus reined his horse to a stop in the yard. Rufus was busy talking to his horse and didn’t notice Humphrey amble into the yard behind him. When Humphrey lunged at Rufus’ back, Stephen struck.
The ensuing battle was swift and brutal. Although Humphrey was heavy, Stephen had agility and strength on his side and made the use of all of his years of combat to bring the man down with a few swift punches, and a well-placed kick. He grinned at Rufus and both men watched Humphrey’s eyes roll back into his head seconds before he slumped to the ground with a heavy thud.
“What do you suppose he wanted?” Rufus sighed with a frown. He was amazed at the speed and stealth of what he had just witnessed. He hadn’t even been aware that Humphrey was there, let alone Stephen, and he studied his new friend with profound respect, and more than a little gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Pleasure,” Stephen replied, and shook his head with a grin. “I don’t know what the man wanted, but I don’t think he is here to show you how pretty his blade looked.” He nodded to the wicked knife that lay on the cobbled floor, inches from Humphrey’s hand.
“That’s all I need to see,” Rufus muttered, and disappeared into the tack room only to reappear within seconds with one long strip of leather in his fist. “Let’s tie him up. He can wait in the cellars until morning. Then, I think it is time for him to be brought in front of the magistrate for attempted murder. That should keep him out of Levant’s clutches for a while.” His voice was laced heavily with satisfaction and he yanked the ties into place with a little too much enthusiasm before he stepped back to look at Stephen, who was busy closing the yard doors to protect them from prying eyes.
Stephen echoed the man’s sentiments. He knew that he had just gained one significant advantage over Levant. Humphrey was a very effective and efficient killer, but was incredibly stupid. He wouldn’t know what discretion was, even if he could spell it, and would be a fairly easy nut to crack. The information he could tell them would go some considerable way to ensuring that Levant was several steps closer to the prison sentence he deserved, not least for ordering Mr Simpson’s death.
They carried Humphrey down to the cellar together. He was so heavy that both men were puffing a little by the time they lay him on his back in the corner of the darkened room and locked the door to keep him there. The room was no more than six feet square and had a small, narrow window with iron bars on it that let in only a small sliver of light. The door was thick and heavy and decorated with heavy iron hinges and bolts that would be an impossible barrier to break through. It was enough to assure Stephen that for now, he could rest a little more easily.
“Looks like you are next on the hit list,” Stephen sighed when they were seated in the study. He accepted the large goblet of rum off Rufus with a smile and settled back in his chair.
“I think that I may have been too much of a thorn in Levant’s side where Cragdale Man
or is concerned.”
“The ladies need protection.”
“I know, and I need Levant behind bars where he should be. I don’t mind admitting to you, Stephen, that the man knows how to hide his activities well.”
“What do you know about him?” Stephen braced his elbows on his knees and listened while Rufus recounted that, so far, in only a few short weeks, Levant had bulled, lied, schemed and threatened his way into being able to purchase four straight miles of coastline that stretched from Dinnington Hall, a mile out to the east, two miles north and a mile south. The only patch of land that he hadn’t bought yet was Cragdale Manor.
So far, some of the land owners had complained to Rufus that they had been bullied by the man before they had quietly sold their properties to him at ridiculously low prices. Some had mentioned that a series of misfortunes had suddenly started to befall them that threatened their livelihood. Eventually, they had been left with little choice but to move out and sell up, at which point they had disappeared, never to be heard from again.
“What do you have in the way of proof that Levant was behind the threats?”
“I have statements the landowners made about the circumstances in which Levant started to visit prior to their decisions to sell. To begin with, the man appeared to be friendly, but quickly became threatening and downright hostile, and eventually purchased the properties for insulting amounts of money that was far below their actual worth.” Rufus sighed. “I have managed to track a couple of people down since they sold, but they are just too frightened to speak of their experiences and won’t give evidence because they are scared of repercussions, or are embarrassed to confess to how much they actually did sell their properties for.”
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