“Everyone in the village has some of the cargo?” Simon demanded.
“Nearly everyone is involved but not everyone can afford to take part. We help them with the proceeds as much as we can though.”
“You pay Hawkshurst?” Jonathan demanded.
“Aye, we do. A flat rate that is barely a third of what we can sell it for.”
“Where does Harrison come into it?” Norman asked with a frown.
“We think that Harrison has been given information on when the shipments are due by Brian Meldrew,” Jonathan announced flatly. It was either Brian Meldrew, or Hawkshurst.
“Harrison has appeared in the village to search the day after the deliveries just lately.”
“Yes, but he cannot find the goods. If he has found anything, he hasn’t reported them on an inventory, which is what he should do,” Jonathan replied. “I need to know if he has found anything from anyone’s houses that you know about.”
Everyone shook their heads. “We are too clever for the likes of him,” an old sailor scoffed from the back of the tavern. Ribald titters settled over the nervous group, who turned to Jonathan expectantly.
“We are better than Harrison, and can outsmart him any day of the week,” one man boasted from the middle of the group.
“What about the other villagers? Have you heard any rumours about any of their goods going missing?”
“You mean stolen?”
Everyone stared at each other before they shook their heads. Jonathan sighed. It was going to be far harder to capture Harrison than he had realised. Still, the Star Elite weren’t men to give in easily.
“Brian is the reason why Harrison has been ripping the village apart?” Charlie snorted in disgust. A ripple of anger swept over the group and Jonathan shook his head warningly.
“Does Hawkshurst have the main bulk of the cargo?” He demanded with a quick glance at the clock. With any luck they may be able to get to bed before dawn but, if Jonathan didn’t move things along a bit, they would still be in the tavern when Harrison arrived in the morning.
“We have no idea who fetches it. By the time we have taken our cargo home and returned to the beach, all of it has gone.”
“As quickly as that? It’s a hell of a lot of cargo to move that quickly. Is there nobody else around?” Jonathan demanded with a frown. His thoughts turned toward Brian Meldrew, and he wondered just what the boy was up to. “Who do the horses belong to then?”
“They would be the farmers. He uses his cart to take the heavy barrels off the beach and takes them to places in the churchyard and around the farm. We pick them up from our allotted places when we have taken the smaller stuff home,” Harry replied with a frown at a solemn Kat. In all of the years he had know her, he had never seen her this quiet before.
“Has he ever seen anyone else on the beach?”
“I haven’t seen anything or anyone,” the farmer replied with a disgruntled snort. “I usually leave when everyone else does.”
Jonathan knew that Rupert had been tasked with keeping an eye on the main cargo to see who collected it, and would be able to furnish them with more information later.
“Forget the cargo on the beach,” Jonathan ordered. “It is government property now and, as such, is part of our investigation.”
“We have lost nearly all of our stock tonight. You want us to lose the bits we left on the beach too?” Harry growled. He knew that Jonathan was a lord and probably the least likely of everyone to double cross his own villagers, but he still felt driven to ask.
“We have been tasked by the War Office to close the door on all illegal smuggling along the coast, and that includes here. If you don’t comply, I will send you all to jail for a considerable length of time.” Jonathan’s voice was cold and hard. He turned to look at the woman beside him and wondered if she was ill. He wanted to ask her if she was alright, but she looked so lost and forlorn that all he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms for a hug.
“Are all of the stolen smuggled goods the government’s property?” The question came from the back of the room.
“All goods brought into the country illegally that are seized by Excise officers, or any other government official for that matter, immediately becomes the property of the government. It is illegal for anyone to help themselves once the goods transfer into the government’s hands,” Simon sighed and tried not to squirm against the feel of his wet clothes as they clung to his chilled skin.
“So what do you want us to do? Watch to see who collects what’s left?”
“No, the cargo that has arrived tonight is completely lost to you. Under no circumstances must any of you touch it or go anywhere near it. We are His Majesty’s government and have significantly more seniority than Harrison. It is in our possession and, as such, is seized cargo. Touch it now and I will throw you behind bars.” Jonathan replied. “What I want is for you all to pretend that you know nothing about it. From this day on there will be no further smuggling in this village. We will deal with Hawkshurst and anyone else he is connected with. Until we do, all of you must keep your mouths shut about what has happened here tonight.”
That last comment made everyone’s brows rise and they nodded with approval. Now that the initial fear and shock had worn off, the reality that Jonathan was being honest in his offer to keep them out of jail had sunk in. They seemed to realise just how close they had all come to destruction, twice in one night, and a sense of relief settled over everyone.
“Well, you can count on my help,” Harry sighed with a nod at Jonathan. He glanced at Kat again with a frown.
“Aye,” Norman replied with a nod that matched Charlie’s beside him. A rumble of acknowledgements drifted around the room.
The only person who didn’t speak was Kat; who couldn’t get anything past the lump of tears that were very firmly lodged in her throat.
“Well, I don’t know about everyone else but I am going to go home,” Harry sighed, and glanced hesitantly at Jonathan. “Unless you are going to keep us here all night?”
“Wait a minute!” One man called from the back of the room. He stood up and hesitated nervously when everyone turned to look at him. “I don’t know about everyone else but I think we all deserve to have a share in the cargo on the beach. We struggled to get that stuff to the shore. Why should we sit back and allow an unnamed smuggler to have it all?”
“Because I want to stay out of jail,” Harry snapped and turned to glare at the man with his hands on his hips. “We have been given the opportunity to stay out of jail and rid this village of Harrison once and for all. I don’t know about everyone else, but I think we should take the chance that Jonathan has given us. If we don’t accept any more cargo, we don’t need to worry when the Excise come knocking on our doors.”
“But you had decided to quit anyway, Harry. You and Kat had already said you had no intention of smuggling anymore. You have nothing to lose if we leave the goods there. We do. We have purchases ready to buy them,” the man argued.
“Yes, but you are free. You will be no good to your wife or children if you are behind bars. It is time to call it a day.”
Jonathan barely heard the argument that broke out. His gaze was firmly locked on Kat, who remained perfectly still. She had decided to quit? Was tonight her last operation? He glanced back at Harry who watched Kat closely.
“You had already decided to quit?”
“Aye,” Harry nodded. “Kat had enough weeks ago, but we persuaded her to carry on once Andrew Ransley was arrested. Then wanted to quit again only for Mr Barnaby to die. We desperately needed her help.”
“Will you lot shut up?” Norman bellowed. He glared at everyone until they quietened down. Once silence had settled over them once more, he turned toward the group. “There isn’t any choice,” he announced flatly. “I don’t know about you lot but I am too blasted old to go to jail. We have got this far but now it is time to call it a day. These men are going to send us to jail if we don’t co-operate. We are go
ing to have to quit at some point. This cannot carry on forever; we all know that. The money we have made has been great, but it isn’t worth dying for, or spending the rest of our lives in jail. We have families, children and people who rely on us to be there in the morning. We will be no use to anyone in jail, and that is where we will be headed. I am not going to be dragged into smuggling Frenchmen into the blasted country. I do draw the line at that.” He turned back toward Jonathan. “I think it is safe to say that Kat, Harry, and I are all in,” he announced and stood shoulder to shoulder with Harry, who nodded emphatically.
“Me too,” someone else cried. He stepped forward to stand behind Norman.
“Count me in.”
The calls went on until everyone agreed to join in.
“We will leave the cargo on the beach. Do you want us to bring it further onto the shore so the sea doesn’t take it?”
“No, leave the stuff where it is. As long as you all promise to stop then everyone is free to go. I warn you again though, I do not expect to see or hear of any of you being involved with smuggling again. There are other gangs up and down the coast, and they will be brought to a stop as well. Anyone smuggling around these parts from this moment on will meet with the full weight of justice. Is that clear?”
There were murmurings as people reluctantly agreed. Although some of them really did need the money, they weren’t prepared to risk jail or death to put an extra loaf of bread on the table. The luxuries of tea and sugar they could do without, as long as they were at home to break bread with their families.
They all shuffled out of the door. Kat seemed to snap out of her daze and stood. Her world rocked at the look of cool aloofness on Jonathan’s face. She knew that she deserved his anger, and wished that he would simply shout at her and get it over with. She hated the icy indifference. Still, there was little she could do about it now.
As she quietly made her way out of the tavern, a part of her waited for him to call her back and demand answers, or at least tell her off, but she left nothing but silence in her wake.
“Are you going after her?” Simon asked as he studied the worry on his friend’s face.
“I have never seen her like that. It is as though the fight as gone out of her,” Harry added with a scowl at the door.
“No, I am not going after her. She needs to get some rest tonight, especially after her close call. I will go and see her tomorrow.”
Jonathan watched her move past the window and wondered if he should at least escort her home, but then decided against it. There were enough Star Elite on watch over the village to ensure that she would get home safely. He had to focus on his job and get the cargo dealt with before he could consider his future.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kat was oblivious to the icy winds that pierced her wet clothes as she made her way home. She never noticed that lights shone in several windows as she passed. Every sense, every thought, every fibre of her being was locked firmly on the man she had left behind in the tavern.
Although she was vastly relieved that she was not about to be taken off to jail, she was bereft at the knowledge that she had lost Jonathan’s respect. A small part of her reminded her that there was nothing between them. He had made no attempt to further their association beyond a few kisses. He had not pressed for more, nor had he made her any promises. She had no real reason to feel as devastated as she did.
Her heart was a heavy weight in her chest and felt as numb as her frozen toes. Tears pooled on her lashes and she sniffed against the urge to let them fall. She only had a few feet to go until she reached home. Once in the safety of her bed, she could give in to the misery that consumed her.
She had known that smuggling was highly illegal, but she had never before been made to feel like a criminal the way that she had tonight, and she hated it. Especially now that Jonathan knew she had lied to him. She doubted he would ever want to speak to her again, and couldn’t entirely blame him.
She sucked in a huge breath and blinked rapidly as she tried to quell the fierce ache in her chest. A huge lump formed in her throat and she gasped against the urge to allow the sob to break free. Tears blurred her vision. If they hadn’t, she would have seen who was waiting for her.
“Well, well, well. Lookee what we have here.” Brian’s voice broke the silence of the night. Kat slammed to a halt and stared at the three familiar faces that blocked the last few feet to her front door. She was so close that another minute would have ensure she was safely locked inside. She cursed her own stupidity for not asking for an escort home.
“Go to hell, Brian.” Kat’s voice was cold and hard, and had a hint of bored disinterest that brought a sudden flash of anger to the young man’s arrogant eyes.
“I think that we have a bit of unfinished business.”
Kat snorted and stared at the thick bandages wrapped around Colin’s wrists. She shook her head at him and wondered if he really was stupid enough to try to grab a hold of her again.
“Our business is concluded, Brian. Jonathan has already told you to stay away from me.”
“Jonathan, now, is it?” Brian snorted. His small beady eyes ran over her slowly.
“Yes, it is Jonathan, and you should know that he is going to come after your worthless hide, Brian Meldrew when he finds out that you have been harassing me again. There is nowhere you can hide where you will be safe. You have no idea who he is, and what he is really capable of.”
Kat wondered if she should tell him about Jonathan’s real job, but then decided against providing Brian with a challenge and kept her mouth shut. She shivered as another strong gust of wind slithered over her skin and rippled it with goose bumps.
“Are you going to move aside? Or do I have to scream my head off?” Kat waved to the lit houses behind her. “People are still up and about, and will come to investigate.”
“Do you think that bothers us?” Brian snarled. “You would do well to keep your mouth shut, and come with us.”
“I am going nowhere with you,” Kat snapped with a haughty shake of her head. She knew that she could deal with Colin with relative ease, but Brian and Robert would be an entirely different matter. She briefly wondered where Wally was, but didn’t really care as long as he wasn’t beside Brian.
She glanced at her front door and judged the distance. It wouldn’t take too much effort to get there, if only she could skirt around all three of the men, but she knew that they would capture her before she even got to the door, let alone fumbled with the latch to get the door open. The only alternative was to run back down to the harbour.
Her thoughts immediately turned to Jonathan, who was still down at the tavern. If she screamed and ran, and continued to scream all the way there, he would undoubtedly come out to check what all the fuss was about. She could only hope and pray that he hadn’t gone down to the beach. With how ferocious the winds were tonight, it was highly unlikely he would be able to hear her. She cast a mental prayer heavenward and spun on her heel.
Her feet pounded on the rough cobbles as she raced downward. Her body was propelled by the steepness of the hill and she struggled to keep up with the momentum. The wind snatched her breath from her body and made it impossible to scream. It was difficult enough even to breathe. Her eyes were locked firmly on the roof of the tavern as she ran for her life. It seemed so very far away that she wasn’t sure she could make it. Despite the winds, she could hear the pounding of feet behind her as all three of them gave chase.
She had just about reached the last house when she was ruthlessly captured from behind. Her scream was blocked by the heavy hand that was slammed roughly over her mouth. She twisted and squirmed against the tight hold that swept her off her feet. A whimper escaped her as she clawed desperately with the need to breathe. Her lungs burned and, as precious moments ticked by, her vision began to grow dark. She knew that if she didn’t get her captor’s hold off her mouth and nose she was going to die. With desperate fingers, she clawed ruthlessly with her nails as she trie
d to gasp for air. One solid kick backward gained her the precious inches she needed to wrench her mouth free and she sucked in a huge gulp of cold night air. With more strength than determination, she lunged forward at the same time that she squirmed around, and broke free of Robert’s hold.
She took a breath to scream, only for the world to suddenly go black.
Jonathan was exhausted. He stifled a yawn and blinked his eyes wide to stop their downward fall. His thoughts turned toward Kat for the thousandth time since she had left the tavern. He hoped she would get a good night’s sleep, and didn’t have any plans to go to the market in the morning; he would pay a visit and talk to her then. There were several things he wanted to say, and many things that they needed to sort out.
First though, he had to deal with Harrison and ensure that the man was on his way to Bodmin, along with whoever was receiving the main bulk of the cargo. Jonathan shifted and wriggled his toes in an attempt to get some life back into them. A flurry of movement to the side of the tavern drew his attention. He scowled when he caught sight of Billy, running hell for leather down the main street toward the tavern. Even from his hiding place several feet away, Jonathan could see panic evident on his face.
He was too close to the beach to see Kat’s house, but glanced toward the alleyway that led to the back of the row of houses. There was nothing untoward, but what had sent Billy on such a mad dash so late at night? Jonathan frowned and watched Harry appear out of the tavern’s front door. The man and Billy hurried toward Agnes, who almost ran toward the harbour.
With a quick glance at the cargo that remained untouched on the beach, he broke his cover and made his way down to the harbour to join the others. He studied the area around them but could detect nothing untoward. Since he had taken up his position, he had not seen anybody. It had been one of the most boring watches of his entire career.
My Lord Deceived Page 23