The man shrugged. “Why not?”
Ah, the hubris of such men.
Under torchlight, Worthington’s haughtiness and vanity were clearly evident. He held himself above everyone, even the monarchy. “I am the Marquis of Hawley. Heir to the Duke of Exeter. Do you know him, Whitpool?”
“I’m afraid not. When in London, I generally avoided the ton elite.” He spoke casually, as though engaged in conversation at his club. But he was going to kill this man for what he did to Aislin. He’d avenge Gideon, as well.
“The duke is my uncle. A tight-fisted, old badger. Keeps a firm grip on his purse strings. Keeps an even tighter grip on mine.”
William nodded. “Alas, I see your problem. You have an appetite for the finer things in life, and Exeter has no intention of cocking up his toes any time soon.”
“You do understand. I was forced to sell secrets to keep my pockets full. Harmless ones, at first.”
William arched an eyebrow. “That’s how it starts, doesn’t it? Then before you know it, you’re in too deep.” He turned to glance at the doctor. “Then, you hit a complication. Dr. Jones learned of your identity. But he is also greedy and will keep silent for a price. Or was it Gideon who suspected you first?”
“Do go on, Whitpool. You seem to have it all figured out.”
“Gideon realized the two of you were in collusion. That’s why he slipped away from the infirmary. Or was he ever there, Doctor? I expect it is all a lie. If he knew the traitor’s identity, which I suspect he did, you wouldn’t have risked bringing him to your infirmary or even bothered to mend his wound. You would have killed him in the cave knowing his body would soon be swept out to sea. Are his bones here? Is this why you’ve brought me down here, so I will die beside my brother?”
“It does me no pleasure to harm you,” the doctor said, taking a step back as a wave washed in almost far enough to break over his boots. “Nor did I wish to harm Gideon.”
“Which of you shot my brother?”
Hawley sneered at him. “I did, of course. One shot through the chest, and I left him to die. Jones wouldn’t have done it. He’s spineless.”
William shook his head and laughed. “Spineless? Are you certain? Yes, I see how all this will play out.” He glanced at the doctor, ignoring the next wave that swirled around their boots up to the ankles. “The Crown’s agents are closing in. You need to get out from under Hawley’s thumb. No one else knows of your treachery. Once Hawley shoots me, you’ll shoot him. And what story will you concoct to the authorities? Or tell Aislin?”
“Shut up, m’lord! You don’t know what you’re talking about.” But the doctor’s hand trembled, causing his pistol to shake.
Gad, what a situation. They were all holding pistols on each other.
Two trained on him.
His was firmly trained on Hawley, for this heir to a duke was a ruthless killer. There would be no talking his way out of death with this man. But the doctor’s hand was still unsteady. He was an odd mix of healer and tortured soul. Hopefully, not the sort to kill a man in cold blood.
“Dr. Jones and I have been working together for about a year now,” Hawley boasted, but his gaze darted to the doctor often enough that William knew he’d firmly planted that seed of doubt.
He could tell by the cold glint in Hawley’s eyes that he had similar intentions. Two villains ready to turn on each other. If Hawley had his way, this Welshman would also be dead tonight.
William meant to take full advantage. “How long do you think this will go on, Dr. Jones? Lord Hawley has no intention of continuing to pay you to remain silent. Your blackmail days are coming to an end. You’ve outlived your usefulness and are becoming a liability.”
“Shut up, Whitpool.” The doctor’s voice had a shrill rasp to it.
William eased back, knowing he ought not push too hard, or he’d be shot before he got his answers. He addressed Hawley. “Tell me what happened that night. How did you lure Gideon here?”
“Does it matter?” Hawley asked, his lips still twisted in a sneer.
“Yes. He was my little brother.” William’s heart was breaking.
He might have saved Gideon, if only he’d come sooner.
Why hadn’t Gideon sent word to him?
Why hadn’t he sent word to anyone in the family?
Hawley spoke up first, ignoring the waves now steadily licking at their boots. “We lured him down here by pretending we’d abducted Aislin. We knew she was working with him to take down the Cornish pirates. Of course, he thought he was coming to her rescue.”
William listened numbly to the rest.
“I shot him at the very spot you’re standing now. Dr. Jones remained behind to make certain his body washed out to sea. I could not stay to see it all play out. Dawn was breaking, and I had to return to the Pendragon Inn, slipping back in the same way I’d gone out, unseen through the secret passageway the Sloanes use to smuggle goods in and out of their establishment.” Hawley nodded toward the doctor. “I dared not be seen with him by the caves. Too many questions raised. But I strolled down here the following day, collecting some rather pretty shells while I made certain no trace of your brother remained.”
“And Aislin knew nothing of this?”
The doctor laughed. “Oh, I’m sure she suspected something. Why else would she come here every day for all these weeks? But she never suspected me.”
“Or me,” Hawley intoned. “I doubt she’s ever noticed me. Your brother would never allow me to come with him to their secret meetings. But a word of caution, Whitpool. I wouldn’t get too close to the lass. Unless you and your brother like to share your conquests.”
“A meaningless warning since I’ll be dead within a few minutes.” He ignored the bastard’s laughter and the insult to Aislin. It was only meant to rile him. “Dr. Jones, what did you give Aislin? Was it poison?”
“Yes. I’m afraid she’ll be dead by the time I return.”
Blessed saints.
“I didn’t wish to harm her. I like the girl, but I had no choice. She knows too much.”
Thank goodness she’d had the foresight to toss away the draught. “How will you explain her body in your infirmary? Her father will skin you alive.”
“Oh, she won’t be found there. Someone will find her floating in the sea tomorrow morning. The poor, mad girl will have taken her own life.”
William quietly palmed the knife tucked up his sleeve. “I don’t know, Doctor. Sounds to me as if you’re both getting desperate. Two bodies found on the same night? Me shot. Aislin drowned. Too much of a coincidence. Gentleman Jack will not believe it.”
“We’ll take that risk,” Hawley said, steadying his aim. But he did not fire his pistol. “Jones, kill him.”
William turned to the doctor. “Don’t! He’ll kill you as soon as you’ve taken care of me. Make him take the shot.”
Hawley’s features twisted in rage. “Shut up, you arrogant bastard!”
Three men. Three pistols. Two aimed at him. But his weapon remained trained on Hawley. Fear of being shot himself was all that kept the man from shooting William in that moment.
And Jones feared to spend his shot, knowing Hawley would then kill him.
This was rich! A standoff.
“Have I hit on a sore spot, Hawley? Ruined your plans? They’re ruined anyway. No one will believe Dr. Jones is the high-level agent turned traitor, even if they do find Aislin dead in his infirmary. He’s just a lackey. No Welshman would ever be admitted into the highest circles.”
William pressed on. “But Mr. Worthington has gone to Trevena regularly to visit the doctor. And the doctor has gone to the Pendragon Inn to treat Mr. Worthington for some feigned illness or other. You’re the outsider, Hawley. Suspicion will immediately fall on you. And Maisie will tearfully confess she was the one who told you about the smuggler’s passageway. Will you kill everyone in Boscastle to keep them quiet?”
“Stop talking or I’ll shoot!”
“No, you wo
n’t. Because the doctor will shoot you as soon as you’ve taken me down. You’re done here. All you can do now is run, for Gentleman Jack will put it all together and come after both of you. And when he catches you, as he certainly will, he’ll rip you apart with his bare hands. Slowly. In a manner that will cause you unimaginably excruciating pain. You should not have hurt his daughter.”
Hawley startled as a wave suddenly washed over him, soaking his elegant pants up to the knees.
William smiled. “Gentlemen, the tide’s coming in fast. How long before we are all drowned? Shall we take this fight to the beach?”
“No.” Another wave swirled around Hawley, soaking him to the hips. He moved deeper into the cave, stepping onto higher ground close to where the doctor stood. In the next moment, he shot the doctor and grabbed his pistol before kicking his lifeless body to the ground.
William was about to launch his dagger through Hawley’s heart when a shot rang out.
William stared at the dagger still in his palm. He clutched his own heart, certain Hawley must have shot him. But he felt no pain. No burn on any part of his body. Was he too numb to notice? He patted his chest again. Nothing.
Sweet Mother!
Hawley hadn’t taken a shot. He lay dead on the rocks beside the lifeless doctor.
William was untouched.
Aislin.
He called out her name.
“William, are you hurt?” She limped to his side.
He swept her up in his arms, just as a wave was about to knock her down. “No, love. Thanks to you. I ought to throttle you for disobeying me, but I’m too grateful at the moment.”
She put her arms around him, careful to keep the pistol she was still clutching pointed away from him. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t fire that shot, although I was about to. My pistol is still loaded. I thought you had done it.”
“No, my weapon is…hell.” He nudged her behind him.
Who had shot Hawley?
Chapter Nine
“Gideon, damn it. Come out where I can see you.” William hoped it was his brother and not Gentleman Jack come in search of his missing daughter.
To his relief, the big oaf who stepped out of the shadows was indeed his brother. Much unchanged, although he appeared a little broader in the shoulders, truly full grown into a man.
William went to him and wrapped him in a fierce embrace. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
His brother hugged him back with equal ferocity. “I know. Let’s head back to the Pendragon Inn and we’ll talk.”
“No,” Aislin said, struggling to maintain her balance as wave after wave began to roll in. “I have to return to my father.”
The cave was quickly filling with water. Within a few minutes, there would be no escape. William grabbed Aislin and lifted her into his arms as another wave was about to knock her down. “I’m not letting you out of my sight ever again.”
Gideon reloaded his pistol before tucking it safely away. “The militia will have surrounded the Farnsworth Inn by now. They’re presently rounding up every pirate found within the walls of Port Isaac. The crooked officials as well.”
“My father,” Aislin said in a ragged whisper and clung tightly to William as they battled against the surging tide to make their way onto the safety of the beach.
Gideon urged them to keep walking. “We mustn’t stay out in the open.”
They made their way to the steps leading up to the castle. “I’m sorry, Aislin,” Gideon said as they climbed, their boots and clothing drenched, but none of them were complaining, for they were happy to be alive. “There is nothing I can do for him. He’ll be taken into custody along with the other pirates.”
“You planned this raid for tonight? How is it possible Hawley was not aware?” she asked.
William was thinking the same thing, for Hawley seemed only to be worried about the doctor and how to be rid of him.
Gideon did not break his stride as they climbed. “Hawley believed he’d killed me. He left Dr. Jones behind to make certain the deed was done, but the coward ran off soon after Hawley did. I almost feel sorry for the Welshman, he’s a blackmailer but not a killer. Lucky for me.”
William frowned. “He gave Aislin poison to drink.”
Gideon’s eyes rounded, and he cast Aislin a look of surprise. “Damn, his desperation must have pushed him over the brink.”
Aislin nodded. “I wasn’t going to drink anything he gave me. Go on, Gideon. Tell us the rest of it.”
“Anyway, I survived, swam out of the cave before it filled with water, and then immediately reported to our Home Office. Hawley was so full of himself; he didn’t consider for a moment his shot had missed my heart.”
William frowned. “But he must have seen blood on you.”
“He got me in the shoulder. Hurt like blazes, it did. The blood spurted onto my chest. Once the Home Office knew he was the elusive traitor and that Dr. Jones was his accomplice, we prepared to mount our operation.”
William paused on the steps. “Cutting both of them out of the planning?”
“We fed them useless information, hoping they would not suspect we were on to them. I had to stay in hiding. None of this would have worked unless they both believed me dead.”
Aislin frowned. “Why didn’t you let me know?”
“Because Dr. Jones had to believe you were worried and frantic. We had this operation planned to the last detail…except we hadn’t considered William showing up when he did.” He shook his head and laughed softly. “We had to scramble to move up the raids. What made you come here now, Will?”
William smiled at Aislin, shifting her more securely in his arms. “A dream.”
Gideon frowned. “A what?”
“He’ll explain later,” Aislin said with a gentle laugh. “Well, it’s done now. We’re safe. But my father…I hadn’t thought I’d care. But I do. What will become of him?”
William understood her conflicted feelings, of hating the man for the pirate he was and at the same time, loving him for the father he’d been to her. Even though Gentleman Jack always thought of himself first, there was no question, he’d raised Aislin as a beloved daughter.
He supposed even the cruelest pirate could find a place in his heart for his children.
Gideon held up his torch as they reached the castle ruins.
William refused to let Aislin out of his arms. Nor did he wish to lose Gideon so soon after finding him. “Our horses are tethered by the infirmary. At least, they were. I don’t know if they are still.”
Gideon nodded. “Wait here. I’ll fetch them.”
As his brother took off, William set Aislin down on one of the castle stones and finally allowed himself to feel a moment of relief. He settled beside her and wrapped his arms around her to try to warm her up. She was wet and shivering even though the night was warm and there was little breeze to speak of.
He was worried, fearing she’d exerted herself too much and torn the stitches Dr. Jones had taken care to sew. He’d actually done a good job of tending to her wound. What a waste to lose a good healer, but this Welshman deserved to die. He’d given Aislin the poison concoction to drink.
William would have cut out his heart while it was still beating, if he’d survived.
Blessed Mother, he was grateful Aislin had the presence of mind not to drink it.
Was she bleeding again?
“I’m going to marry you, Aislin. I’m going to raise a family with you and live out a long, dull, and happy life with you by my side. The duller, the better.”
She lifted her head off his shoulder and laughed. “That does not sound at all appealing.”
“You know what I mean. I’m speaking of our day-to-day life.” The nights spent in passionate exploration of her body would be anything but dull. “I don’t wish for excitement other than in our marriage bed.”
“Ye’ll have to gain my permission first,” a man’s harsh voice resounded among the ruins.
“Jack!” Aislin
leaped to her feet. “Ouch.” Her leg buckled, and she would have fallen if William hadn’t caught her.
“Are ye hurt, daughter?”
“No, Jack.”
William drew her behind him, his pistol drawn, and heart pounding a hole through his chest. How had this man escaped the noose closing in on Port Isaac? She’d called him Jack, no doubt refusing to acknowledge him as her father after he’d destroyed William’s ship and all the innocent sailors on it.
“Put down yer weapon, m’lord. I’m unarmed. Forgive and forget, is what I say. Where’s yer damn brother? I’m here to talk to him.”
“He’s gone for our horses,” Aislin replied. “Promise me you’re unarmed and won’t hurt Baron Whitpool. Promise on my mother’s grave.”
To William’s surprise, he nodded. “Aye, Aislin. I swear it on yer sainted mother’s grave.”
William did not lower his pistol, preferring to keep it trained on Gentleman Jack even after Gideon returned and they all rode back to the Pendragon Inn. It was nearing dawn. The sky had lightened, and the sun was peering over the cloudless horizon as they trotted into the inn’s courtyard.
The scent of oats and biscuits and roasting pork emanated from the kitchen.
“Maisie, fetch us ales all around,” Aislin’s father said, giving the girl a wink when she opened the door to greet them.
She cast him a seductive smile. “Yes, Captain Farnsworth.”
Aislin’s father strode in as though he owned the place. He took a seat in the common room as though presiding over a business meeting. His familiarity with Maisie was obvious and not in any fatherly way. When she delivered the ale, he tossed her a coin. “Gentlemen, won’t you join me?” He began to casually sip from the tankard just set before him.
The girl licked her lips and smiled suggestively at Gideon who had yet to sit. He preferred to stand guard over Aislin’s father whom none of them trusted. “You’re a good lass, Maisie,” Gideon muttered, also tossing her a coin.
The Midnight Hour: All-Hallows’ Brides Page 14