“There is one problem,” Agnes sighed and threw Kat a worried look. They watched Billy walk alongside Henry, Hester’s son. Assured that his attention as diverted, Agnes sidled closer to Kat and lowered her voice for Kat’s ears only. “With another one of the smugglers down, they will need your help, now more than ever.”
The following morning Kat let herself out of Dentham Hall, and made her way back down the driveway. She felt strangely deflated that Jonathan hadn’t been there. It felt as though the house was hollow and devoid of life, and she hated it. She was uncomfortable with the fact that he had become so important to her in such a short space of time. Although she had grown up seeing Jonathan around and about the village, she had never really spent any time with him. He had just always been there. Even as a young man, he had been exceptionally handsome and she, along with about every other female in the village, had watched the young boy turn into the handsome and debonair young man who was capable of making the old and young swoon with delight whenever he passed. He had always seemed to be on the fringes of her life. Always there but always set far apart.
It was still that way now, especially now that he spent so much time away from home while he took care of his ‘responsibilities’. She had to admit that she was intrigued to know what those ‘responsibilities’ were, especially given that they demanded so much of his time and he was adamant that he wasn’t married. Not all of his ‘responsibilities’ could be down to government business, could they? She hadn’t dared ask his uncle about it whenever she read to him. It seemed wholly out of place and she didn’t want to raise the old man’s suspicions that she had too much interest in his nephew.
She slowly made her way toward Tattersnell, where the market was in full swing. Her mother and Billy had set out at first light with a cart full of fruit and vegetables, and a lot of additional extras for their regular customers. She could only hope that everyone came to collect their orders because it had become imperative that everything was moved on as quickly as possible.
She walked through the throng and called greetings to those she knew well. She nodded politely to those she wasn’t all that familiar with as she dodged and weaved around the children, livestock and people. Suddenly, the noise in the market dimmed. She glanced up and froze. There, only a few feet away, was none other than Mr Harrison, the Excise Officer. Kat’s heart leapt in her throat as she watched him inspect the contents of the stall. She tried to keep her face impassive while her eyes scanned her mother and a clearly terrified Billy. She silently willed Billy to keep his wits about him and not crumble in front of the nosy inspector, and headed toward them.
“Oh, I am sorry,” she muttered as she bumped into a large, solid wall of a chest.
“Kat? What on earth’s wrong?” Jonathan growled, and drew her to a halt when she would have rushed by him.
Kat’s gaze snapped toward him and she stared at him in astonishment. Delight warred with guilt before it was completely swamped with urgent impatience. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of him, tall and debonair, before her. At any other time she would have been happy to stop and converse with him only right now, she had other things on her mind - like what she had to do to divert the attention of Harrison and his men before they discovered the baskets behind the table.
“Harrison is harassing mother again,” Kat snapped and walked past him with an angry scowl on her face. Her fists clenched with indignant fury and she wondered just what she would have to do to get rid of the man once and for all. She saw the relief on her mother’s face when she realised Kat was there.
“Harassing us again, Harrison? I really must warn you that you are seriously becoming a problem. Whoever your contacts are have really led you by the nose on a wild goose chase, haven’t they?” Kat drawled. Her eyes were filled with hatred.
“Kat, I wondered where you had got to. Neither your mother or brother seemed to know,” Harrison drawled silkily.
“I have been reading to Lord Marchester, Lord Dentham’s uncle,” Kat replied. She crossed her arms and stared dispassionately at one of the Excise men as he poked through the vegetables on the table-top. “Bruise that fruit and you will pay for it,” she snapped and tried valiantly to ignore Jonathan, who had moved to stand beside her.
“Harrison? Up to your old tricks again?”
“He is always up to his old tricks. Despite the fact that he arrives to search our house, practically daily, and leaves empty-handed, he still thinks that he is going to find things on us that we shouldn’t have. He doesn’t seem prepared to accept that we have nothing to hide.” Kat said a mental prayer for forgiveness at her outright lie. She felt Billy shift uncomfortably behind her and wondered if he was going to say something but, thankfully, he kept quiet.
“I am merely doing my job.”
“Then I suggest you go and do it and rather than keep checking on innocent people who are going about our daily lives, I think you had better start to focus on people who really do have something to hide,” Kat snapped. She glared pointedly at Harrison and felt Jonathan’s gaze search her face. She wasn’t sure why he had waded into the fray but she was glad that he was beside her. However, she wasn’t sure what she was going to do if any one of them went behind the table. The baskets were only lightly covered with cloths and a smattering of vegetables. Luckily, it was still fairly early in the day and there was still enough stock available to cover the baskets. However, from the look of the amount of fruit and vegetables that had been sold, that situation wasn’t likely to continue for much longer.
She glanced to one side and saw one of her regular customers a few stalls away. She sighed and closed her eyes briefly when the customer turned around and scurried away when she caught sight of the Excise men. For some reason, she just knew that the woman wouldn’t return to purchase her goods today, and Kat couldn’t help but wonder whether she would come back at all.
“What do you want this time Harrison? Do you want a bushel of vegetables, or to throw the goods around the market like you usually do? Whatever it is, get on with it because you are scaring our customers away. Unless you are prepared to compensate us for the loss of business, I suggest that you go and pester someone else.”
“What is your reason for harassing these people?” Jonathan demanded as he drew himself up to his full height. He was aware of the wary looks from the other stall holders and knew from their exchanged glances that this wasn’t the first time Harrison had searched the stalls. Did he know something, or did he just want to throw his weight around and make his presence felt just in case someone was involved in something illegal? Whatever it was, Jonathan wasn’t prepared to stand back and allow the man to harass innocent people.
He saw the fear on Billy’s face and felt a wave of sympathy sweep over him. The young boy was just helping his mother. He didn’t deserve to be scared like this.
“Well, man? Out with it? What reason do you have to believe that Kat or any of the other market traders today, have something to hide?” Jonathan stared at the arrogant dismissal clearly written on the man’s face and heaved a mental sigh. The pompous official merely wanted to throw his weight around and, judging from the mutinous look on his face, wasn’t going to allow Jonathan to stand in his way. “I strongly recommend that you stick to the smugglers in the area and leave these people to go about their business.” Jonathan sidled closer and lowered his voice to a dark whisper that held a hint of menace. “I have connections in the war office that will ensure that you spend the rest of your days at a desk if you seriously think that you can stomp about on my patch making a fool of yourself, and frighten my villagers without undue cause.” His eyes were cold and dispassionate as he stared at Harrison and each of the Excise men in turn. He turned toward the man who sidled toward Agnes. The man clearly intended to shove her out of the way so he could inspect the nearly empty cart that stood a few feet away. The man took one look at Jonathan’s hard stare and froze.
“I have reason to believe that smuggling is
rife in the area. I am merely doing my job and you would do well to stay out of it,” Harrison snarled dismissively. “I suggest you return to the bright lights of London, and leave us officials to get on with our jobs.”
Jonathan fought the urge to grab the man by the throat and squeeze tight. He couldn’t exactly tell the man about his own battles with smugglers and French spies, and heaved a sigh at the mulish look on Harrison’s face.
“I am warning you now that as a Lord, and a notable figure in the war office, you are to cease your activities with immediate effect. Harassing innocent people is not in your mandate. I demand to see what documentation you have as evidence to support your activities and I expect to see it today.” Jonathan stared intently at the man when he took a breath to object. “If I don’t see you in my office by five o’clock sharp, I shall send Hamilton-Smythe to arrest you for being in breach of your duties. I warn you now that I shall also send a request to my good friend, Sir Hugo Dunnicliffe, to investigate your conduct with a view to removing your authority with immediate effect.”
Jonathan knew that the man had something to hide from the look of horror on Harrison’s face at the mention of Hugo’s name. Hugo was an indomitable figure of honour and fairness, and was someone who had the weight of the War Office at his beck and call; for Harrison to be scared of the man proved to Jonathan that he had something to hide. Jonathan felt an expectant thrill of anticipation sweep through him. He always felt this way when he embarked on a new adventure with the Star Elite. He knew he was on to something; that Harrison had secrets and he suspected it had to do with the continual urge to find smuggled cargo.
He made a mental note to go to the Excise House the next time Harrison was out of the area and speak to the man about getting a copy of the seizure inventories from Harrison’s last find; assuming the man had ever found any smuggled cargo in the area.
“I am just doing my job. You cannot threaten me.”
“Try me,” Jonathan countered. “Five o’clock sharp man. Don’t be late.” He clicked his fingers at the Excise man who stood beside the table and waved him away. He adopted his aristocratic look of arrogance, glared down his patrician nose at the underling and waited until the man dutifully moved to stand beside his boss. “For your own sake Harrison, you had better not have anything to hide. I am going to be looking into all of your activities and you will feel the long arm of the law if I find anything untoward in your conduct.” Jonathan’s voice was deadly. He watched Harrison’s mouth open and then snap shut. Without a word the man turned on his heel and stalked away.
Kat wanted to cheer, and fought to keep the smile of delight off her face. In spite of her delight, she had seen the look of anger on Harrison’s flushed face and wondered whether Jonathan had just made matters considerably worse for all of them. Everything in the market remained still for several moments until the Excise men disappeared out of sight then, as though someone had given an all clear whistle, the noise levels returned to normal and people continued with their activities.
“Thank you,” Agnes whispered. She leaned her hips against the table and crossed her arms in an attempt to hide the fact that they shook uncontrollably. She drew Billy to her side, although whether she was trying to comfort him, or herself, she wasn’t quite sure. Still, she had to hold on to something and, if it wasn’t Billy, it would have to be Jonathan, and that would never do.
“How long as this man been bothering you?” Jonathan sighed. His question drew Kat’s attention away from the spot where she had last seen Harrison. The blank look on her face warned him that she hadn’t heard his last question and he heaved a sigh of impatience.
He was tired, hungry and more than a little fed up. Last night he had received a tip-off from his contact in Dadington, who had informed him that he had caught sight of Beaulieu’s associate, Rousseau. Unfortunately, by the time Jonathan had got there he could not find his contact and there was no sight of Rousseau. He wondered if he had just been sent on a merry goose chase and now, as a result of a sleepless night waiting for someone who didn’t appear, he was exhausted, far beyond the end of his patience, and thoroughly fed up that he hadn’t had the chance to meet with Kat at Dentham Hall like he had wanted to.
He had also not had the time to visit Brian Meldrew. When they had turned up yesterday afternoon, Brian wasn’t around and nobody knew where to find him. Since then either he, or Harper, had been too busy to make a return visit and that grated on Jonathan’s nerves. He wanted one matter tied up, so he could get on with other, more important issues.
He saw the worry and fear on her face and turned toward her. “You don’t have to worry, Kat, he won’t bother you anymore.”
“It isn’t just me though,” Kat sighed. She felt such a tremendous weight of guilt sweep over her that she wanted to lay her head on his broad shoulder and rest for a while. “He continues to persecute the entire village.”
“Does he have any reason to suspect that there is something untoward going on?”
“In Bentney on Sea?” Kat struggled to put an innocent look on her face. She daren’t look at her mother, or Billy.
“I will speak to him because I do believe that he himself is up to something. Until I find out what, I cannot countenance him simply stalking people through the market place like this.” He wanted to cup her cheek and promise her that everything would be alright but, given that they were being watched by at least fifty people, he daren’t draw any closer to her than he was at the moment. He glanced over her shoulder at a clearly shaken Agnes. “Why don’t you take a break? I can help Kat for a while.” He tried to stifle a yawn that broke free anyway but made no apology for it.
Kat glanced at her mother who merely shook her head. “We are alright. It won’t be long before our goods are gone and then hopefully we can go home early.” She studied the dark shadows beneath his eyes and wondered what he had been doing that had kept him up all night. She was fairly certain that shadows of the kind he had beneath his eyes weren’t earned through just a rough night’s sleep. He had been up all night. The surge of jealousy that swept through her stoked her disgust and she took a breath to steady herself. She hated the fact that she knew so little about him.
He was a grown man of the world. It was perfectly normal for him to have needs of the flesh and seek out the comfort of a woman who was willing and able to satisfy those needs. It really was none of her business who that woman was, where she was, and why he had felt the need to indulge in the needs of his flesh right under her very nose. In a desperate attempt to put him at some distance, she pasted an impassive look on her face and stared at him as though he was just a customer.
“Thank you for your assistance today, it is much appreciated.” She turned toward the stall and made her way behind it. A quick glance down at her knees confirmed that Billy and her mother had done a good job. All of the small packets were covered from view, but she would still feel more comfortable when they were gone altogether.
Jonathan felt her dismissal as abruptly as a smack in the face and he wondered what he had done or said that had offended her. He had only been trying to help and had been completely honest with her about Harrison. Did she resent his intrusion? If she did it was just bad luck on her half because he had every right to put a stop to anyone in officialdom who harassed his innocent villagers and, whether Kat liked it or not, that included her. He would be no lord of the realm if he just sat back and allowed it to happen.
“Are you going to work tonight?” Jonathan asked. He interrupted the transaction she was making with a customer who wanted a large bunch of carrots.
“Yes, I am, but Mr Peat is going to for a drink tonight and has said that he will accompany me,” she replied. She refused to look at him. In reality, Mr Peat had done no such thing but she didn’t want Jonathan to know that. She glanced warningly at Agnes, who had heard her lie and frowned in warning.
“I will say goodbye then,” Jonathan muttered. He nodded politely to Agnes and Billy and turned back to Kat f
or one last word. “I will drop by before the tavern closes, to escort you home.” It wasn’t a request, it was a statement and he turned away before she had the opportunity to object. She clearly didn’t want him to escort her home but that was tough. Was it because she didn’t want him to kiss her? If that was the case then it was just hard luck as well because he would do whatever it took to further his cause with her. So far, the only time she had let him close was at night was during their walk home and it was just the two of them.
He had to continue to further his relationship with her. It would be deuced tricky because of his need to try to locate the Frenchmen in the area, especially now that he had Harrison and Brian Meldrew to deal with, but he was made of stern stuff. He had faced worse adversaries than Harrison and a village rife with strange activity. His ultimate goal was to get Kat to become his wife, and persuade her to move into Dentham Hall before he had to leave for his next mission. He knew that the clock was ticking. If he wanted to secure his future, he had to do it quickly.
The knowledge that he didn’t have months in which to persuade her, fuelled his determination to surge forward with his plans at the earliest opportunity, regardless of whatever else was going on. Like a flickering light in the middle of the night that guided him home, he would not lose sight of his ultimate goal. Not for one second. The sooner that Kat realised that, the easier everyone’s life would be.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Later that afternoon Jonathan nodded to his butler who had announced the arrival of Mr Harrison from the Excise House. Rather than show the man in, he made him wait in the hallway for nearly half an hour for no other reason that he knew the Excise man wouldn’t like being put in his place. In the end, Jonathan rang the bell and summoned the visitor.
“Take a seat, Harrison.” Jonathan sat back in his chair and watched the man walk across the room. He knew that the study was luxurious to say the least, and saw the avid curiosity on the man’s face as he studied his surroundings. He made no attempt to offer the man refreshments, merely waved to the most uncomfortable seat in the house Jonathan could find. Silence settled between them. When Harrison couldn’t stand it any longer and took a breath to speak, Jonathan interrupted him.
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