He thought of Nia, of the twins, but tried not to lose his focus by being drawn into images of how afraid they must be. Why the devil had Nia not waited for him or her brother to arrive before charging off on an ill-conceived rescue mission? It was a rhetorical question that Vince already knew the answer to. Fears for the twins’ safety had caused her to act without thought for her own welfare. Brave, foolish child! If he lost her, if the forger harmed one hair on their collective heads, he would beat the man to death with his bare hands. He might well do that anyway in retaliation for the trouble he had caused for Nia and her grandfather.
He strode on, not bothering to move stealthily, but alert and ready for any danger that presented itself. He prayed he was not too late. The forger would be desperate to cover his tracks, and would not care about collateral damage. Nia had a good twenty minutes head start on him. If she had blundered into a dangerous situation the consequences could well be catastrophic. This villain was as cunning as he was desperate and Vince would not make the mistake of underestimating him.
Vince did have one or two advantages of his own. He knew the lie of the land. The small track he was approaching was a turning off the Winchester road just wide enough to accommodate a man on a horse, or a small carriage. Even if the forger had already taken Nia and the twins elsewhere, he did not have much of an advantage. With superior horses Vince and his brothers would soon overtake him. Besides, he could not have got away because Zach would have sent someone to block off the end of the track by now.
He reached the end of the path and glanced across the width of the track that bisected it. Of course, there was an old barn here, long disused. He ought to have remembered that. He and his brothers had often played in it as boys.
As he arrived he saw a small closed carriage pull up outside. The driver jumped down and entered the barn. He was alone. Presumably Annie was inside, keeping watch over Nia and the twins. Did the arrival of the carriage imply that the forger was about to leave with or without his captives? It was impossible to know, and there was no time to consider all the possibilities. If he planned to leave without Nia and the twins, there was every reason to suppose he would kill them first and make a clean getaway. Vince suspected there was little he would not do to protect his identity.
He stepped out from the trees, grim-faced and determined. Still clutching his club, he slipped silently into the barn a very short time after the forger left his carriage. His heart lurched when he observed the twins huddled together on the floor, looking dazed and frightened, but thankfully alive. Their eyes widened when they saw Vince, but he held a warning finger to his lips. They were gagged, but even so, it was important that they remained passively where they were. They were quick on the uptake and made no further attempt to attract Vince’s attention.
The forger was preoccupied with Nia and had not yet noticed his approach. The serving girl’s eyes widened and she seemed on the verge of shouting a warning. It seemed strange that she was tied up when she was the forger’s accomplice, but Vince didn’t have time to worry about the mind-set of a deranged criminal. He sent her a warning glower and she wisely closed her mouth without speaking, looking sullen and afraid.
Satisfied that Annie would probably change sides on a whim, depending upon who appeared to be in the ascendency, Vince turned his attention to Nia. She was also crumpled on the floor, blood pouring from a wounded wrist. Anger surged through Vince at the sight of the forger standing over her with a dagger raised. Nia was holding his gaze defiantly, refusing to cower or beg.
The forger must have sensed Vince’s movements in the periphery of his vision. He turned his head just fractionally, shock registering in his expression when he saw Vince.
“Try fighting a man instead of picking on women and children,” Vince invited in a tone tight with controlled anger.
The forger swung around, thrusting the knife towards Vince. Having anticipated such a move, Vince knocked it from his hand with a vicious swipe of his improvised club. He heard bone shatter, and the forger cried out in agony. Vince glanced at the twins, at Nia’s pale face and the blood-soaked handkerchief wrapped around her wrist. He wanted to kill the blaggard for what he had put them through, but even through the blinding mist of his anger, he knew better than to attack a man who could not defend himself.
But the forger didn’t seem willing to give up so easily. He made a desperate attempt to reach for the fallen knife with his left hand. Vince was delighted by his stupidity, since it gave him carte blanche to retaliate, now that his foe was attempting to arm himself. He brought his club down again for a second time, this time on the back of the man’s head, with considerable force, probably shattering his skull in the process. He fell to the ground with a sickening thud and didn’t move.
Chapter Twenty
“Lord Vincent…”
“Is Aunt Nia all right?”
The twins pulled off their gags and ran to crouch beside Vince, not seeming to care about the forger lying prostrate on the floor, blood pouring from the back of his head.
“I didn’t mean to cut her wrist,” Leo said, tears pouring down his face. “Will she die?”
“She won’t die,” Vince assured them, helping Nia to sit. Her eyes blinked open and she looked at him as though she didn’t know him. “It’s over,” he said softly, somehow resisting the urge to reassure her with kisses. “You are safe.”
“The boys?”
“We’re here, Aunt Nia,” Leo said.
“Kenton is dead,” Art said with great satisfaction. “Lord Vincent killed him.”
Annie wailed. Everyone ignored her.
“Unfortunately I didn’t hit him hard enough,” Vince replied when Kenton, since that was obviously who the forger was, stirred and groaned.
Vince examined the slit on Nia’s wrist as the boys took it in turns to explain how she had come by it. The bleeding had slowed, but the cut was deep. He extracted his own handkerchief and tied it tightly around the wound, suspecting that it would need stitching.
“We shall all have to return to the house separately,” Vince said. “That carriage isn’t big enough to take everyone at once. Can you walk back, boys, and reassure your papa that you are safe and well.”
“Yes,” Leo replied. “We can do that. But what about Aunt Nia?”
“And Annie?”
“She deceived us.”
“She was working for him all the time.”
“I helped you,” Annie wailed.
“And then you warned Kenton that Aunt Nia had a dagger.”
“You almost got her killed.”
Annie wailed even louder. “I love him, and he loves me, deep down. We were to have such a fine life together.”
Vince shared a helpless glance with Nia. Between the boys’ chatter and Annie’s pathetic noise, it was impossible to think straight. Fortuitously, Sean Trafford and Amos burst through the door at that moment.
“Papa!”
The boys threw themselves at him and Trafford crouched down in order to embrace them both at once. “Thank the lord you are safe.”
“It was not our fault, Papa.”
“Kenton held our heads under the pond and we nearly died.”
“We would have fought him, but he was too strong.”
“Shush, I am thankful you are safe. You can tell me all about it later.” He turned to Vince. “How is Nia?”
“She has a wounded wrist. It will need stitching.”
Trafford persuaded his sons to walk back to Stoneleigh Manor with him. They appeared to be recovering from the ordeal with remarkable speed, vying with one another in a verbal contest to decide which of them would have overpowered Kenton, given the opportunity. Amos unceremoniously lifted Annie over his shoulder and threw her onto the floor of Kenton’s carriage, still bound hand and foot, still wailing that none of this was her fault.
“Take Miss Trafford home, Vince, and send Trafford back with the carriage for this bounder,” he said, glancing with total disregard for his obv
ious distress at Kenton. “I will stand guard over him until then. With great good fortune, he will try something foolish.”
Vince nodded as he swept Nia into his arms and carried her from the barn. Briefly alone with her, he covered her pale lips with his own, revelling in their sweetness and thanking God for her relatively safe deliverance.
“Don’t you ever frighten me like that again,” he said as he carried her to the carriage and gently deposited her on the seat before driving the conveyance the short distance back to Stoneleigh Manor.
A welcoming committee awaited them on the terrace. Sophia gasped when she saw the state of Nia, as did Hannah. When Nia herself assured them she was not mortally wounded and that Sean and the boys would be back at any moment, some of the tension drained from the atmosphere.
“What about her?” Hannah asked, pointing an accusatory finger as the sobbing Annie.
“Lock her in somewhere secure,” Vince replied, heading for the stairs with Nia in his arms. “We will deal with her later. Come with me, Miss Ash, if you please, and direct me to Miss Trafford’s chamber.”
***
A voice repeatedly called her name. Nia willed it to go away and leave her in peace. She was sleeping for the first time in what felt like days and had no wish to interrupt a vivid dream that centred upon Lord Vincent and his rather skilful fingers teasing at her body. The voice persisted, which was perhaps just as well. There was a very good reason why she should not be thinking about Lord Vincent. Unfortunately, she could not recall what it was. Her head throbbed and thinking exhausted her. So too, did the sound of the persistent voice. It would be easier, she supposed, to open her eyes and be done with it.
Sophia’s lovely face loomed above her when she forced her eyelids to lift.
“How do you feel?” she asked.
“Like I have been trampled by a horse.”
She lifted her right arm, and immediately lowered it again. Her wrist was heavily bandaged, which brought all the memories of Kenton’s demented behaviour flooding back.
“You have been seen by a doctor,” Sophia explained. “The duke was here and arranged everything, as only dukes can. Your wrist has been stitched but you will have a scar.”
“The boys?”
“Are full of their adventure. Their only concern was for Ruff. He bit Kenton, apparently, and Kenton responded by kicking the poor little chap quite viciously. Anyway, all is well since Ruff found his way home and has nothing wrong with him other than bruised ribs, according to Lord Amos, anyway.”
“That is a relief.”
“And before you ask, your grandfather is working contentedly on the duke’s portrait. He has recovered from Annie’s barbaric assault and doesn’t seem to remember much about it.”
“Thank goodness for that.” Nia stretched and wiggled into a more comfortable position. “How long have I been asleep?”
“All night.”
“All night!” Nia attempted to sit up too fast and immediately flopped down onto her pillows again, her head spinning. “You should have woken me sooner.”
“The doctor gave you something to make you sleep. Besides, Lord Vince would have scolded me if I had tried to rouse you before now.”
A small part of Nia rejoiced at his concern. The sensible part chided her for her stupidity. “My actions are no concern of his lordships,” she said, her voice sounding prim and unconvincing.
Sophia smiled. “You can tell him that, if you like. Speaking personally, I do not dare.”
Nia eased herself into a sitting position, lured by a tempting aroma. “I brought you some breakfast, which is why I woke you.”
“Thank you.” Nia gratefully accepted a cup of tea and nibbled at a slice of buttered toast. “What has happened to Kenton?”
“The duke had the local constable take him in charge. He will stand trial and most likely be deported, if he is fortunate enough to escape the hangman’s noose. Abducting children is not a crime that will be looked upon with leniency.”
“He was in league with Lady Fairstock.”
“Yes, so we understand.”
“He implied that he killed her husband so they could be together.” Nia wrinkled her nose. “It would not surprise me if he did, but I don’t suppose he will actually admit it and there is not the smallest possibility of proving it after all this time.”
“There is more than enough to charge him with. He will not escape justice this time.”
“And Annie?”
“She is still locked in the cellar. We wanted to consult with you before we decided what to do about her.”
“She was quite taken in by Kenton, you know. She actually believed he was in love with her and would give her the life of a lady to which she aspired.” Nia cautiously shook her head. “Foolish child! She cannot stay with us. She assaulted Grandpapa and allowed the twins to be abducted without trying to prevent it, or at least warning us. And she was going to destroy the duke’s portrait. Then she helped me, only to change sides again.” Nia spread her hands. “But still, she is not the first woman to be deceived by a handsome rogue, and I don’t believe she is inherently bad.”
“I tend to agree with you. Her father is a parson, you know, in a small village in Devon. Beth tells me she ran away from home because he was too strict and she wanted excitement. I think the worst punishment would be to send her back to her father.”
Nia took a moment to consider the matter. “Yes, it most likely would be.”
“Very well. I will make sure Sean arranges it.” Sophia took Nia’s empty cup from her. “Now then, the boys are anxious to see you. Are you up to it if I send them in?”
“No, I shall get up. I have no excuse to laze about in bed.”
“Oh, Nia, are you sure?”
“Perfectly. Now will you help me or must I dress myself?”
“Very well, if you insist.” Sophia pulled the covers back. “Oh, by the way, I have some good news. My sketches have been found. When Kenton regained his senses, Lord Vincent questioned him about them.”
“Whereas I had forgotten all about them.”
“You had more pressing priorities.”
“Where had Kenton hidden them?”
“As it transpires, he did not have them. The wretched man talked his head off before the constable took him in charge, hoping to save his miserable skin. But he denied all knowledge of the sketches, claiming he was not in the habit of stealing other artists’ work—”
“Merely forging it,” Nia said disdainfully.
“Quite. He seemed to think there was an important difference. Anyway, we have Lord Vincent to thank for their recovery. He saw Annie and Kenton together in Compton a while back and saw Annie pass something to Kenton. He assumed it was the sketches but both Kenton and Annie denied it vehemently. They both said the papers were sketches drawn up by Annie of the layout of this house and the grounds.”
“Because Kenton thought he might need to break in, or at least gain access to the grounds, which of course, he did.”
Sophia nodded. “Lord Vincent believed them, especially since Kenton admitted to painting the forgeries. Being under lock and key, he could not benefit from the sale of the sketches, so why not give them up, if he had them?”
“Yes, I can see Lord Vincent’s reasoning.”
“He deduced that if Kenton and Annie both knew nothing of the disappearance of the sketches then someone living beneath this roof must be responsible for their theft.” Sophia laughed. “You should have seen him, Nia. He was like a dark, avenging angel. He stormed into Drake’s room, ignored its occupant’s protests, and turned it upside down until he found the sketches hidden at the back of his closet.”
Nia, in the process of stepping into the petticoats Sophia held out for her, paused and widened her eyes. “Mr. Drake stole the sketches?”
“Yes, he was put out when you rejected him—”
“So was Kenton, apparently, my refusal being the catalyst for his subsequent activities.” She sighed. “What is
so special about me that it drives men to criminal activities?”
Sophia shook her head. “You still do not know?” Even after Lord Vincent—”
“There is nothing to know.”
“Have it your way.” Sophia flashed a smug smile. “Anyway, Drake stole them as an act of revenge. He anticipated being evicted from this household when we return to Ireland and wanted something to live on. Suffice it to say, he too is now under the constable’s care.” Sophia grinned. “At least he still has free accommodation.”
“How very clever of Lord Vincent,” Nia mused. “But I wish I had arrived at the truth myself. I do so hate being beholden to him.”
Sophia chuckled. “Do you indeed?”
***
Vince visited Stoneleigh Manor that afternoon, more in hope than expectation of seeing Nia. After her ordeal, she was likely to remain in bed, recovering her strength, for several more days yet. He was both surprised and delighted to see her sitting alone in the sunshine on the terrace, staring into space. The boys bounded up to him, seeming none of the worse for their ordeal, Ruff dancing around their feet. He handed Forrester over to them, took a few minutes to answer their barrage of questions, and then presented himself to Nia.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Much better, I thank you. Without you…well, without your timely intervention I do not care to think how matters might have resolved themselves. I am very much obliged to you, Lord Vincent.”
“It was a pleasure to be of some small service to you.”
“Small!”
“How is your grandfather?”
“None the worse for his ordeal, thankfully.” She smiled at him. “We are returning Annie to her very strict clergyman of a father whom she was at pains to escape from. We think that will be punishment enough for her.”
“Why am I not surprised at your soft-heartedness?”
Ducal Encounters 03 - Portrait of a Duke Page 25