Lady Star

by Claudy Conn

  Star heard them go outside and hurried to position herself again at the nail. It took a good ten minutes to tear through the rope enough so she could loosen and untie it. She then undid the rope at her ankles. By the time she was done, she was bloodied but fiercely determined.

  She put her wrists at her back and tucked her ankles under her gown, throwing the rope around them loosely as she leaned back against the wall and waited. She would have to bide her time. After all, she couldn’t just run out of the cabin while they were so near.

  She heard them re-enter the cottage and Ally said, “Oi’m hungry…whot ye got to eat Farley?”

  “Look in the cupboard…maybe some day old bread. It will have to do.”

  “Whot about the mort? Should we be feeding her?”

  “No, leave her be. She can’t go nowhere with her wrists and ankles tied and no window in that room. Best to leave her be.”

  “Right then, Oi’ll go down the road to Jeb’s house and take one of his horses and get some food from him and be back.”

  “No, ye’ll stay here and Oi’ll go. He might try and side track ye which he can’t do with me. Aye, Oi’ll be quicker about it than ye,” Farley said.

  “Aye, but don’t forget to bring me back some food…this bread is stale,” Ally returned.

  A moment later, Star heard steps and her door was flung open.

  She blinked against the daylight that streamed through from the other room and hit her in the face.

  “I see ye got the blindfold off. That’s fine, no harm, so tell me, are ye hungry? Oi could feed ye a bit of bread, whether Farley wants me to or not,” Ally said. “Nod, if ye want me to come closer and feed ye.” He grinned awfully, “and Oi’d be exacting a price, Oi would…”

  She wanted to tell him to go to the devil, but she had returned the gag to her mouth and was only able to silently glare at him.

  He laughed out loud. “Spirited mort, ain’t ye. Well then, not hungry yet? So be it.” He seemed to think of something as he turned to leave her and stopped to turn back to her. He stepped toward her and yanked the gag out of her mouth.

  Star gasped, choked and coughed a moment beneath his watchful grin and thought if she had her gun now she would shoot him dead without a second thought, without a trembling hand.

  “Oi want to know about this flash, Sir Edward. Will he pay for your return?”

  She shook her head, “No, you are out there. He will not. He cares much more about his money than he does me.”

  “Is that whot ye think? It isn’t what Farley thinks. He said that the flash warned him away from you and your brother the other night. He let Farley live in exchange for the promise that he would never come near ye or yer brother ever again. Oi guess your flash made a mistake.”

  Star was shocked to hear this and wanted to question him further but held her tongue as Ally hurried on, “So, the flash has blunt enough to pay. Good. Zounds woman, of course he’ll pay it…any man in his right mind would pay it for ye.”

  “You are out there. Sir Edward has always implied that he has an aversion to being forced into doing things he does not like, and finds another way.”

  “Well, it queers me to understand whot ye mean by that. He don’t have a choice. He hands over the ready or we kill ye. Simple. And Farley will kill ye if for no other reason than to exact his revenge.”

  “Then I suppose I am in trouble. Sir Edward has no obligation to pay for my release, and he is the sort to hunt you if you were so unwise as to kill me. He will hunt you, torture you and then after days and days he will kill you. That is the sort of man you are dealing with now.” Star told him. She wasn’t sure if this was true. She rather thought it was, but she meant to unnerve him with this statement.

  He pulled a face at her and said, “Oi’m not listening to any more of this. Going outside for some air, Oi am. Don’t ye be trying nuthin.”

  “How could I try anything all trussed up like this, sir?” Star asked sweetly. She heard him go outdoors. A picture of Sir Edward reading the ransom note flashed in her mind. What would he think? What would he do? Would he try and find her?

  She was free of her ropes, yes, but how could she get past Ally and make her way to the shed for a horse? What had they done with her gig and her horses? No doubt left them loose on the road to prove the truth to her abduction. Once again a picture of Edward formed in her mind and her heart told her, he is coming, never doubt it, he is coming!

  * * *

  Dilly’s eyes were wide open with fright as she answered Sir Edward’s sharp questions when all at once Jeffries burst through the front door and into the central hall where they were standing and shouted, “The gig…the horses…they just came up the drive they did without Miss Berkley…Miss Star…is missing.”

  Jules turned to him and quietly explained that they were in fact, now searching for her, but that it would have to be done quietly as she had been taken for ransom.

  This set Jeffries to groaning and Sir Edward put a comforting hand on the man’s distressed shoulder as he could see he was overcome.

  He turned back to Dilly who had gasped and burst into tears. “Dilly, this will not help. Do calm yourself. You were saying she was on her way to Miss Madison to take her up and go to Hastings to meet her brother and Miles Denning? You are certain of this?”

  “Yes, yes…it was early morning…”

  “Right,” he turned to Jules.

  “There is no mention of Georgie in the letter,” Jules said and then without waiting for a response added, “Look here…we are wasting time. We must repair to Madison at once.”

  “What exact time did Miss Star leave, Dilly?” Sir Edward pursued.

  “Not sure, but Oi think it was near or just after nine this morning,” Dilly said and sniffed loudly.

  “Do you remember what your mistress was wearing,” Sir Edward wanted all the facts.

  “Ay, that Oi do. She had on a pretty little straw bonnet with a blue ribbon. She didn’t wear her spencer but she took it along and a short waisted blue muslin gown.”

  With this piece of information, Sir Edward spun on his heels and hurried outside, Jules right behind him. They had left their horses tethered at the hitching post and it didn’t take them long to mount and start off.

  “Devil is in it, Ed! What next do we do? I don’t understand any of this. You said you frightened the devil, Farley off the other night.”

  “I know, damn it! I should have put a bullet in his head, but was trying to avoid any scandal that might attach itself to his lordship and Star. Apparently, he means to take his ounce of revenge and get some bounty for it.”

  “Revenge? But you let him live?” Jules was astounded.

  “Aye, but I interfered with him. I threatened him. Hell…I should have killed him.” Suddenly he stopped his horse, “Devil a bit!”

  “What? What?” Jules caught his friends’ reins and then put a hand to his heart. “Getting too old for this….”

  Sir Edward went to the edge of the road where he found a soiled chip bonnet and a piece of a blue muslin gown. He held them up, his face drawn in fury as he shook it. “I will have their blood, Jules!”

  Jules was aghast as he realized the meaning of this. “My God, she put up a fight, Edward…she put up a fight. Certes! Until this moment, none of this seemed…real.”

  “Aye, ‘tis real, and my sweet Star didn’t go quietly, that is for certain and has no doubt suffered the consequences of her bravery,” Edward answered grimly.

  Edward lost no time in pocketing the torn material and tying the hat to his saddle before remounting. “We must immediately visit Georgie,” he announced.

  “Edward…what if the scoundrel has them both?” Jules suddenly went white.

  “I don’t think so, Jules. The abduction took place here…or near here before Star arrived at Madison.” Edward shook his head. “It was only Star he was after. Mark me, he will realize his error of judgment right before I put out his eyes for going near my Star.”


  Jules looked at him oddly for a moment before daring to say, “Your Star, eh?”

  “That is right, mine!” Edward glared at him before he started his horse off into a lope.

  “I am pleased, Edward…honestly I am,” Jules said hurrying after him, “And we shall find her, I know we shall.”

  “You are right and you shall dance with the lovely Miss Madison at our wedding…as I am certain we shall at yours.”

  “Aye,” Jules beamed, “But first, let’s go tear this Farley to pieces!”

  It didn’t take them long to travel the short distance to Madison House and bark a command for Miss Madison to attend them.

  As it happened, Georgie was reading to her mother in her mother’s bedchamber. As her mother shooed her off, she hurriedly made her way to the library where both men impatiently paced awaiting her.

  “What? What is wrong?” she said as soon as she witnessed the expressions on their faces.

  Jules found that the relief he felt at finding her safely at home overweighed all else as he went forward and took her into his embrace, exclaiming, “Georgie, my sweetheart, you are here!”

  “Yes, yes, Georgie is here safe and sound,” Edward said irritably but we don’t have time. “Georgie…we need to speak. There is no time to lose.”

  * * *

  Jules was rattled and Edward was forced to put up with his non-stop chatter regarding what they should and shouldn’t do, even as they strode into the Mermaid Inn.

  Georgie had not been able to tell them anything helpful, and thus, there was just one other notion, Edward had. Find Farley. Someone at the Mermaid would know where he was wont to go to ground.

  It didn’t take him long to slide a coin toward the bartender and demand, “Tell me where Farley’s hovel is located and there will be another coin for you.”

  The bartender shook his head, “Here is the thing, sir…he never told me, and Oi never asked.”

  Sir Edward reached across the counter and grabbed him by his shirt, “Tell me what you do know.”

  The bartender was no fool. It was obvious this flash was out to kill. “Eh now, easy flash…easy.” He nodded at a burly individual who had just sauntered into the Inn. “He might know.”

  Sir Edward turned, walked up to the fellow and held up a coin, “Farley goes to earth somewhere. I need to know where that somewhere is.”

  The man reached for the coin and Edward held it away, “Tell me what I want to know first.”

  “What do ye want with Farley?” the old grubby man asked.

  “Never mind what I want with him. Start worrying what I might want with you, if you don’t tell me what I need to know.”

  “Careful covey…no need for threats. I owe him naught. He did me wrong some months ago. Didn’t give me my fair share, so I don’t owe him anything.” He nodded, “He lives in Romney Marsh…a single cottage all alone.” He held out his hand. “I’ll tell ye more when ye hand over the blunt.”

  Edward put the coin in his hand and added another, “Now.”

  “Ye take Lydd Road as far as it will go, and then fork off onto the deer path through the Marsh. It stands there, his cottage with only one outbuilding. Ye can’t mistake it.”

  Sir Edward with Jules right behind immediately strode hard out of the inn. He had but one purpose, one need. He was going to secure his beloved safe and sound and then tear Farley apart, limb by limb.

  * * *

  Star had been sitting in the darkness of her room, just a bit of dim light filtered in through the cracks between the wallboards. She didn’t think there was even a lock on her door and was waiting for a chance to make a run for it. Nothing good could come of it if she charged wildly out and right into their waiting arms. No, she would bide her time, perhaps when they had fallen asleep.

  All of a sudden, she heard Ally shove a chair across the room and snap, “Whot did he do? He brings me a cob? How am Oi supposed to run with a cob if the need comes up?”

  He went outside with a slamming of the door, and she could hear the two men cursing one another up and down. Their voices grew fainter and she realized they must be headed for the shed to put the horses away. Should she make a run for it now?

  How far could she get on the open marsh?

  It wasn’t dark outside yet, perhaps she needed to wait…if she only had a gun. She got up and hurriedly searched the main cabin when she heard, “Stubble it, blubberhead.”

  She hurried back into her small room and went back to her position. On the other side of the door, Farley grumbled angrily, “That’s whot Oi got and there wasn’t anything else to be had. Here, take the basket and put some food in yer mouth.”

  Ally said nothing to this and Star assumed he was eating, when all at once Farley pulled open her door. She squinted against the light from the main room and he said, “Whot did ye do, Ally? Took away the gag? Whot’s wrong wit ye?”

  “Well, who is she going to yell to way out here?”

  “Oi suppose it don’t matter,” Farley said frowning at her. He threw over his shoulder, “Ever had a flash mort in yer bed, Ally?”

  Ally chortled. “Whot? No, did ye?”

  “No, but Oi’m thinking now…we could…”

  “Eh? Ye must be mad. Sir Edward would skin ye alive,” Ally said screwing up his mouth. “Besides, Oi don’t hold wit taking a woman against her will. No…Oi’ve done many things in m’time, but not that.”

  “Well then, ye can watch…” said Farley going toward her.

  Star felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She could see the glint of a knife in his belt. What she needed was to stay calm and make certain she got her hands on that knife. Oh yes, because he wasn’t expecting her to have her hands free, was he, she told herself.

  “Well now pretty mort, let’s see if ye are as good as ye look,” Farley leered at her.

  Ally at his back said, “Hold, Farley…just wait a minute here…”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  SIR EDWARD HEADED towards the dike. It was both wide and deep, but he meant to take it flying.

  Jules pointed his hunter to follow and did just that. On the other side, he called after Sir Edward, “Well done, damn impressive, I doubt my horse would have taken it if he weren’t following yours.”

  Sir Edward didn’t answer him. He was intent on getting to his destination. The sun was going down and neither he nor Jules knew Romney Marsh well enough to take any shortcuts in the dark. They would now have to stick to the road.

  Jules looked around and called out, “Are we on the right road? Is this Lydd?”

  “Yes, did you not see the fingerpost?” Edward answered sharply. “Just follow me, Jules and have your gun ready. These blackguards may hear us coming.”

  It took them less than five more minutes to reach the turn in the road and bear down the deer path. Farley’s cottage loomed ahead and Sir Edward gritted his teeth. Never had he ever felt this way before.

  He slowed his horse to a stop and Jules inquired worriedly, “What are you doing? What do we do now?”

  “We go on foot,” Edward said as he dismounted. “Here…give me the reins. We’ll tether them here to this bush as there aren’t any trees around.”

  A mist had formed and he looked around with some satisfaction. Mother Nature apparently meant to lend them a hand as they crept toward the cottage.

  * * *

  Farley sneered over his shoulder, “Ye don’t want her, Ally? So be it. But ye can’t be telling me whot to do, so stay out of m’way, fer Oi mean to have this one.” He winked at Ally and turned to Star and said, “Let me show ye how a man does it.”

  Star got ready to fight for her life. If ever a man needed dying, this one did.

  Ally reached for Farley’s arm and Farley roughly shrugged him off. Ally apparently wasn’t giving up easily, and he cried out, “Whot is the matter wit ye? Leave the mort be, Farley. She be promised elsewhere. It’s cash we need, not a piece of flesh.”

  Farley hauled off and landed Ally a facer
that sent him reeling backward. “Keep off me Ally, if ye knows whots good for ye, just stay back. If ye don’t have the stomach to watch, then go outside.”

  “Farley…” Ally tried again as he held his jaw, “Oi never crossed ye before, but Oi don’t hold wit this. She ain’t a barmaid, is she? They’ll hunt us down they will…they won’t give up. Ye know what the gentry are about their women.”

  Farley growled and reached down to grab Star’s upper arm and drag her to her feet. She allowed him to do just that and once on her feet with great agility she imperceptibly got into position, free ankles, free hands and reached out and grabbed his knife out of his belt. She caught him by surprise.

  His eyes protruded and an ugly smile swept his face. “Now whot mort? Do ye mean to stick me with that? Ye best stick me good…make certain Oi’m dead…”

  Ally set up a howl, “Now ye’ve gone and done it…”

  All at once Star felt the entire building rattle with the force at the door as it exploded off its hinges.

  Sir Edward stood, his gun leveled at Farley’s head as Star took a step away, the knife pointed at him and a warning glare in her eyes.

  Farley lunged for her apparently in a last ditch effort to have something between him and the flash cove with the gun.

  Ally had his back to the wall and Jules’ gun pointed at his heart. Other than to put his hands in the air, he made no move whatsoever.

  Farley had her arm and as he pulled her to himself and she screamed and plunged the knife into the arm that held her fast. He bellowed with pain and she jumped aside giving Edward a clear shot and he didn’t hesitate as he took it.

  Farley crumbled, for Edward’s bullet had struck him through the forehead. Seeing this Star ran into Edward’s waiting arms.

  Her eye was swollen and black, her face bruised, her wrists bleeding but all she could feel was love. As he crushed her close and looked at her injuries, he said, “Would that I could revive him and kill him again.”

  Star’s shaky laugh dissolved into tears. He covered her face with kisses. “My love, oh my love…let me get your home.”