Velvet Chains (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  Before anyone could answer, The Raven grabbed Tuddle in a fierce headlock and swung him around to face the other men. A dagger appeared from somewhere among the folds of The Raven's black cloak, and he held it at Tuddle's throat.

  "I have to give you credit, Tuddle. If your plan had worked tonight, you would be hailed as a hero by the British. How much did they pay you to set up your friends? Thirty pieces of silver?" The Raven hissed. "Did you wish to sweeten the pot by handing me over to them as well?"

  "Raven, are you quite sure of your allegations?" Silas asked. "Could there be no mistake?"

  Again they heard the ominous laughter. "It is well that you question me, Silas Dunsberry. We live in dangerous times where friend turns against friend. It is not wise to take a man at face value, as Tuddle has proven. Let Tuddle speak of his own guilt." So saying, The Raven applied pressure to the dagger he held at the throat of the unfortunate Tuddle, drawing blood. "What say you, Tuddle? Do you die with a lie on your tongue, or do you speak the truth and cleanse your treacherous soul?"

  By now the helpless Tuddle knew that he faced certain death. He began to whimper and whine. "What is the difference? You will kill me anyway!" he cried, staring up at the dark, hooded figure of The Raven.

  "Of course you will die," The Raven stated matter-of-factly. "But . . . if you speak the truth, you will have a chance to defend yourself. Otherwise I shall end your miserable life here and now."

  The other men in the room watched in disbelief. Each of them aware of The Raven's reputation with the rapier. Tuddle would have no chance in a match against him. Obviously the luckless Tuddle knew it too, for when The Raven released his hold on the man, Tuddle fell to the floor in a heap, grasping the black cape.

  "I'm a dead man," he whimpered. "A dead man, with no one to stand in harm's way for me."

  "Who knows, perhaps you can best me," The Raven said lazily. "Speak the truth and I will give you even odds," he whispered softly.

  Tuddle scrambled to his feet. He could see by the faces that surrounded him, that everyone was now beginning to believe him to be guilty. Not a one of them would come to his aid. Suddenly he experienced overwhelming hatred toward the men he felt had deserted him in his hour of need. The need for revenge seemed to burn intensely within his body.

  "I will see you all dead!" he raged. "Yes, I told the king's men to come here tonight. I also arranged for The Raven to be present. None of you will escape, for the hour of nine is upon you. You are all doomed!"

  Someone at the back of the room muttered a loud oath and aimed his pistol at Tuddle's heart. The weapon was quickly knocked away by Silas Dunsberry.

  "Let him be. He will receive his just reward from the worthy hands of The Raven," Silas said with feeling.

  George Tuddle studied each face. He saw hatred mixed with disbelief on the faces of the men he had called his friends. He now knew his only salvation lay in stalling for time. He pulled his watch from his pocket and saw it was five minutes before nine. At any moment the redcoats would come swarming into the room. The Raven seemed to sense Tuddle's thoughts.

  "Time is against you, Tuddle. Admit why you committed such a treacherous deed before I run you through," The Raven hissed, unsheathing his rapier and placing the sharp point at Tuddle's throat. "Face the men you have betrayed," he said softly. "Let them hear from your own lips how the deed was done so there will be no doubt in anyone's mind that you are guilty."

  For the first time, Tuddle felt shame as he looked into the eyes of the men he had known most of his life. There wasn't a man among them that he hadn't supped with. He knew all their family members by name. He began to feel dismay at what he had done. Unable to look into the accusing eyes of his fellow patriots any longer, he turned his gaze to the man in the black leather helm. Suddenly he felt unbridled anger toward The Raven who had dashed all his hopes. He hadn't intended to be unmasked as a traitor. The plan had been that he would be arrested with the others and later released. In the beginning it had seemed so simple and impersonal. When he had planned for tonight, he hadn't known he would experience these feelings of shame and guilt. He had thought only of the money the British would pay him and of what it would mean to his family.

  "It's true that I sent word to the British to come here tonight, with a message that I would turn over to them a nest of traitors. I also told my contact that I would try to have you here when they arrived, Raven." Tuddle tried to look past the hood to the man underneath. In a panic, he wondered how The Raven could have gotten wind of his plan. He had been very careful not to tell anyone what he was about. Did The Raven have some unholy power that permitted him to see into a man's soul? Tuddle wondered frantically.

  "It will do none of you any good to try to flee. I gave my contact each of your names. There is nowhere you can hide. I'm willing to bet that at this very moment the tavern is swarming with redcoats, that they have the place surrounded." A satisfied smile came over Tuddle's face. "You would all do well to place yourselves in my hands. Perhaps I can convince the British to be lenient with you. Think of your families."

  "You swine," Dawson shouted, moving across the room and grabbing the traitor by his coat front to shake him violently.

  The Raven stepped forward, dislodged Dawson's grip, and shoved Tuddle down onto a chair.

  "What shall we do?" Silas asked, looking to The Raven for guidance.

  "Kill the traitor," Dawson cried out. "If what Wallace Tuddle said is true we have nothing to lose. Let the British find him swinging from the rafters when they burst in on us! Let his miserable life be a substitute for the life of George Dale—though a poor substitute it is."

  "That will not be necessary, my friends," The Raven said. "May I suggest that each of you leave now in the least conspicuous manner. Go straight to your homes and have no fear. I can assure you the enemy does not know your identities, save Tuddle's and before too long he will be past harming anyone.

  "How do we know we will not be set upon when we leave this room?" Dawson asked, voicing the concern of the others.

  "You will just have to trust that I know what I'm talking about," The Raven assured them. "Have no fear for your safety, and leave me to deal with Tuddle."

  The room became silent as each man weighed The Raven's words. There was something about him that did inspire trust, and after all hadn't he revealed Tuddle's treachery to them?

  At that moment The Raven seemed larger than life. Although he was surrounded by mystery, he somehow seemed worthy of their confidence.

  Silas Dunsberry was the first to react. He walked over to Tuddle and stared long and hard into his eyes. "I denounce you as a traitor. You received friendship from everyone in this room, only to flaunt that friendship before the enemy. If there is a lower form of life than you, I am not acquainted with it!"

  Tuddle had the good grace to lower his eyes, unable to face his accusers.

  "Silas Dunsberry, if you will do me the favor of leaving your rapier, since Tuddle doesn't seem to have one of his own, I would be in your debt," The Raven said in his disturbing voice. "I will ask that each of you leave now. As I said before, I shall deal with Tuddle in my own way."

  Without reluctance, Silas handed over his rapier, knowing that Tuddle carried no weapon to defend himself. He felt some regret that the traitor's family would be forced to face alone the hostility occasioned by Tuddle's disloyalty because he doubted that Tuddle's wife, Sarah, or his daughter, Mary, knew anything about tonight's dealings. Silas raised his head and looked at The Raven.

  "I am loath to think how his family will suffer because of Tuddle's dishonor, Raven."

  "I will handle all the details. Rest assured no innocent person will be made to suffer unduly."

  Once again a hush fell over the room as the men began to take their leave. Each man believed The Raven's assurance that no harm would come to them or their families.

  Tuddle felt great fear as the room began to clear. His lips were so dry he had to moisten them with his tongue. He would have rise
n from the chair he was sitting on, but The Raven kept a restraining hand on his shoulder.

  When the last man had departed, The Raven walked over to the door and shot the bolt. He then turned to face Tuddle who seemed to shrink visibly. The Raven took his rapier and the one Silas Dunsberry had given him, and threw them to the middle of the floor, where they landed point-down in the wooden floor and swayed drunkenly in the dimly lit room.

  "I give you leave to choose the weapon with which I will end your life, Tuddle," the hooded man said softly and without feeling. The sound of his raspy voice was enough to send poor Tuddle down on his knees.

  "I beg you, sir, have mercy. I have a wife and daughter who will suffer grievously if I should forfeit my life. Allow me to live, for I have seen the error of my ways," he pleaded.

  The Raven seemed to swoop across the room, his black cape fanning out behind him, giving him the appearance of the bird from which he drew his name. Grabbing Tuddle by the coat front, he raised him into the air and dangled him there as if he weighed nothing.

  "I liked you better when you didn't act the sniveling coward. I will show you the same mercy you would have shown your friends tonight, had not your plan miscarried. You are craven as well as traitorous. Arm yourself before I run you through," The Raven hissed.

  Tuddle realized he would receive no mercy from this cold-hearted man. The only way he could survive would be to destroy him. The Raven lowered Tuddle to his feet and gave him a shove that sent him in the direction of the swords. The hooded man seemed in no hurry, and he waited patiently, allowing Tuddle to choose his weapon.

  "But for you, I would be a wealthy man, Raven. My family and I would soon be on our way to London!" Tuddle cried, as he grabbed up a sword and lunged at the unarmed Raven. The Raven had anticipated Tuddle's move, however, and he quickly sidestepped the thrust. Laughing insultingly, The Raven grabbed the remaining rapier, and locked swords with his opponent.

  "Had your plan worked tonight, Tuddle, you wouldn't have found the British as generous as you thought." The Raven taunted. "For all their faults, they like a traitor no better than I do."

  When Tuddle struck, The Raven always anticipated him and easily parried his thrust. It soon became apparent to the now-desperate man that The Raven was only playing with him, humiliating him. The Raven was tireless. He deftly sidestepped or parried every move Tuddle made. Such a man was no match for The Raven, a master of swordsmanship who had the cunning of a fox.

  When at last The Raven tired of toying with the traitor, he ripped the rapier from Tuddle's hand with the tip of his sword and sent it flying into the air to clatter on the floor some distance away. He then placed the tip of his blade at Tuddle's throat.

  "If you have any last requests, Tuddle, I would suggest that you voice them now." The Raven's sword swooped down slicing the brass buttons from Tuddle's coat with such art that the fabric of the coat was unharmed.

  Tuddle licked his lips. "Who are you? What demon from hell lent you its power? What devil allows you to see into a man's soul? From what do you draw your strength?"

  The Raven stood with his blade poised at Tuddle's throat. "I grant you your last request. It is only right that a man should look upon the face of the one who is the instrument of his death." The blade at Tuddle's throat was lowered, and with one swift motion, the leather helm was removed. Tuddle gasped at the tall figure that now stood unmasked before him.

  "My God, it cannot be!" he gasped. "You are the last one I would ever have suspected!"

  The Raven bowed politely. "You are among the privileged few who have seen me unmask. Not many have knowledge of my true identity."

  Tuddle made a sudden dash for the door, but The Raven was too quick for him. He caught the traitor by the shoulder and spun him around.

  "When I came to you today, you allowed me to tell you all about the meeting here tonight. You smiled as I named names. I thought you were pleased to learn about the nest of traitors to the Crown and all along you were laughing at me!" Tuddle cried.

  "You never dreamed today when you sang your song to me that you were signing your own death warrant, did you, Tuddle?"

  "What is the difference between you and me?" Tuddle asked, dropping to his knees. "You aren't what you pretend to be any more than I am." The frightened man's voice rose hysterically.

  The Raven's blade slashed the front of Tuddle's coat, revealing the bare skin underneath.

  "I haven't the time or the patience to point out the differences between you and me, Tuddle. What you did was done in the name of greed and personal gain. What I do is done so that the people of these United States may one day lie in freedom without answering to a foreign power. I do it so an American like your daughter can grow up in a place where she can speak her mind."

  "It's easy for you to speak of freedom; you are already a wealthy man. I wonder how patriotic you would be if you had to grub for a living," Tuddle said accusingly.

  "Enough! I tire of this conversation. Have you any other request?"

  "I am a dead man then?"

  "Yes, the deed is all but done," The Raven said, showing no sign of weakness or pity.

  Tuddle arose to face his death with a surprising lack of the fear and cowardice he had displayed earlier. For some reason it had become important that The Raven should not think him a coward. "I would prefer my wife and daughter not be told about tonight's happenings."

  The Raven inclined his head. "They shall be told that you were killed by the enemy which will be the truth. It will be said that you met death as a brave man. It has never been my practice to punish the innocent."

  Wallace Tuddle's death cry was muffled as the rapier sliced through his heart. The Raven felt no remorse for the deed, no pity for the man who would have sacrificed his friends' lives in order to acquire a degree of wealth.

  The Raven removed his cape and wrapped the dead man in it, knowing it would not go well for the tavern keeper if Tuddle's body were found anywhere near The Duck and Hound. It might raise too many unanswered questions.

  Replacing the leather helm on his head, he hoisted Tuddle's body onto his shoulder. The Raven then left quietly by the back stairway and was soon lost in the dark shadows.

  A thick fog swirled about The Raven as he made his way down the back street. The hooded man knew he had done the right thing in ending Tuddle's life. He had been forced to act quickly before too many innocent people had been made to suffer. Still, tonight's business left a bitter taste in his mouth. This was the kind of war that had no appeal for him. He much preferred to b aboard his ship, seeking out the enemy in a fair fight. But he couldn't allow himself to feel sympathy for a man who would betray his country and sell out his friends.

  2

  Silas Dunsberry refused the mulled wine his housekeeper offered him, choosing instead a liberal amount of brandy before sending her off to bed. His nerves were on edge after the incident at The Duck and Hound tonight. Even now he couldn't believe that Wallace Tuddle had turned traitor and betrayed his friends.

  Silas took a large drink of the brandy and felt it burn path down his throat. He cursed himself for leaving the tavern before he'd made certain of Tuddle's death. Should Tuddle somehow overcome The Raven, there would be grave consequences.

  "No, it's not possible," he said aloud. "Tuddle is no match for The Raven."

  The clock in the hallway struck the eleventh hour, and still Silas waited. In the dim firelight, his face showed traces of his growing concern. As the door opened a sudden gust of wind fanned the flames in the fireplace, causing them to leap higher and warning Silas that he was not alone. Someone had just entered his study by way of the garden door.

  Turning his head slowly, the old man saw a dark, hooded figure move out of the shadows to stand before him.

  "Is the deed done then?" Silas asked.

  The dark, hooded man nodded.

  Silas let out a relieved sigh. "Lord, what's the world coming to, when a friend turns on you? Before tonight, I would have numbered Tudd
le among my most trusted friends."

  The Raven sat down opposite Silas and stared into the fire.

  "His last request was that his wife and daughter be spared any hurt. I told him they would be told only that he died at the hands of the enemy, which in truth he did."

  "Yes, there is no reason to cause them hurt. It will be hard enough for them to learn of his death. I feel certain they weren't privy to his deed tonight."

  "So he indicated, Uncle Silas. If that's brandy you're drinking I wouldn't say no to a glass."

  "You'll have to pour for yourself; my gout is paining me tonight," Silas said, waving his hand in the direction of the side table where the brandy decanter stood.

  The older man watched The Raven stand up and walk across the room to pour himself a brandy. Only he knew what it had cost The Raven to go to The Duck and Hound tonight. His eyes followed The Raven as he returned to the chair and sat down, crossing his black-booted legs.

  "My God, have you any notion of the thoughts that went through my mind tonight when you showed up? Are you crazed to expose yourself so?"

  The Raven took a drink and turned to Silas. "I had little choice. Not one of you would have believed that Tuddle was a traitor unless I accused him openly. I had to force him to admit the deed so there would be no doubt in anyone's mind as to his guilt."

  "I am at a complete loss. How is it possible that you found out about his plan? Are you convinced that he told no one else our names?"

  "I can answer both your questions at once. Imagine my surprise today when Tuddle called at my lodgings, asking to speak to me in private. Once we were alone, he told me about the weekly meetings above The Duck and Hound Tavern. He called you and the others by name, and I even wrote your names down to be more convincing."

  Silas could hear the amusement in The Raven's voice. "We were damned fortunate that he chose you to spill his guts to. Had he chosen another, tonight might well have turned out quite differently."

  "The deed is done. It's best to put it behind us," The Raven said, removing his gloves and then his leather helm, and tossing them on the floor beside him.