by Anne Herries
‘I’ve got her, Jed,’ the first man grunted and pocketed his pistol before grasping Jane’s arm firmly. ‘She ain’t going to run if she has any sense. This is a rum area in the day and at night she would soon find herself in trouble.’
The sky was quite dark with only a sprinkling of stars, but the light from the carriage lantern gave Jane an indication of her whereabouts. She glanced about her as the man propelled her towards what was clearly an inn of sorts. Its appearance was shabby from outside, the yard littered with animal droppings, bits of straw and other debris. A lantern hung above the door and the sound of water lapping against its banks told her that she was near the river.
The narrow streets behind them were unlit, and the buildings shrouded in darkness. She thought some might be warehouses, for she suspected they were in what appeared to be a derelict area of the docks.
One of the grooms knocked at the inn door and it was opened, light from inside spilling out.
‘That you, Stark? We thought yer were never coming,’ a man grunted. ‘Have yer got her?’
‘I had to wait my chance,’ Stark replied. ‘They were a long time in the house. Is he here?’
‘Aye, and he’s in a rare mood.’
‘I expected that…’
Jane was pushed inside a dark hall that smelled strongly of ale, smoke and stale cooking odours. The man who had opened the door squinted at her, then jerked his head.
‘Bring her upstairs. He won’t see her tonight. Someone shot him in the arm and he’s in pain. He’s been drinking for two hours, swearin’ and cursin’. We’ll lock her in and she can wait fer the mornin’.’ He peered at Jane in the gloom. ‘She ain’t tied up. Be careful she don’t escape like the last time.’
‘It isn’t necessary to tie me,’ Jane said, looking at the man who had captured her. ‘Please, Mr Stark, do not listen to him. You have done your work. If called upon to testify, I should say that you did no more than necessary and did not harm me. You would do very much better to let me go and save your own neck.’
‘Shut yer mouth,’ the innkeeper said. ‘Any more of yer lip and I’ll shut it fer yer.’
‘No need to be rude to the young lady, Rab. She can’t escape this time. Went out of the window at the last place, but there’s nothing to break her fall here.’
He gave Jane a little push towards the stairs. ‘Up you go, miss. I shan’t tie you up. I told you, I don’t hold with hurting ladies.’
Jane made no reply as she walked up the stairs, which were dark and narrow. The man ahead of them was carrying a chamberstick, which threw out just enough light for her to see her way. She knew that for the moment she must do as she was told. There were too many men about and not all of them would be as considerate as Stark if she tried to escape.
The innkeeper led the way into a small chamber furnished with a bed and little else but a battered chest of drawers. He touched his flame to a stub of candle in an iron stick standing on the chest. For a moment there was more light and Jane could see the men’s faces clearly. The innkeeper was a rascally-looking creature, dirty, with a scar at his temple and a lazy eyelid that made him squint. Stark looked like a man who had been used to better things, neat and clean and close shaven—he might have been a lawyer or a clerk in a previous life.
‘I’ll bring you some wine,’ Stark told her. ‘You’ve had a shock and it will help you to sleep, miss. The bed is clean. Rab keeps decent rooms, even if his person leaves something to be desired.’
‘’Ere, you callin’ me names, Stark?’
‘I was reassuring Miss Lanchester that your bedding was clean. She need not fear to pick up lice here.’
‘I keeps a good house,’ the innkeeper muttered and went towards the door. ‘Make sure yer lock her in or he’ll have somethin’ ter say in the morning.’
‘Try not to fret, miss,’ Stark said. ‘Rab won’t hurt you—and the cap’n told me you would come to no harm.’
‘Thank you…’ Jane hesitated, then, ‘You said no man was your master. I do not know what Captain Blake paid you to bring me here, but my brother will pay you more if you help me to get away. Please consider my offer, sir. I think you a good man at heart and would not wish you to hang.’
‘You should know better than to try to bribe me, miss. He would kill me if I crossed him. Once you take his money, there’s no going back—not if you value your life.’
‘Very well, I shall not ask again.’
‘I’m sorry, miss. No doubt your brother will pay well to have you back. Once the ransom is delivered, you’ll be free to go home.’
If only she could believe him. However, there was no use in arguing further.
Jane said no more. As the door was closed and locked behind him, she walked to the bed and sat down. She could only be glad that she had walked ahead of Lady Mary. Such an experience would have been too much for her godmother, who was no longer young, and she could not have escaped and left her a prisoner of the ruthless Blake.
Jane was determined not to give way to fear. She must find a way out of her prison.
Wandering over to the window, she looked down and saw that it was a long way from the ground. She could not see a tree or anything that might break her fall if she decided to jump. Yet she might attempt it if she became desperate. She lifted the catch. It moved easily enough, but the window would not budge. Investigating further, Jane saw that the wooden frame had been nailed through. Her captors were taking no chances this time.
Sighing, she sat on the edge of the bed. She would just have to wait for the morning until Blake came himself. Perhaps he would be reasonable. He must know that she was not an heiress, so what did he expect?
* * *
‘I saw them snatch her, sir,’ the Bow Street Runner told George. ‘It took me by surprise. Everything looked right and tight. She got into the coach, willing like—but then he jumped in after her and they was off like the devil was after them. By the time I went after them they had disappeared, but I think they were heading for the river. I’ve got men out searching. There are a couple of places we are watching. We know the landlords as rogues. If she is in London, we’ll find her, sir, don’t you worry.’
‘And if they have taken her out of London?’
‘One of our men will question every turnpike on all the roads leaving town, my lord. Depend upon it that someone will have seen something.’
‘I pray that you are right, sir.’
‘Nobody gets away from Toby Price, my lord. It’s my opinion the lady will have been taken south of the river—I’ve got a nose for these things, you’ll see.’
‘Next time you see the rogue, shoot to kill,’ George said grimly. ‘I would not have had this happen for the world. Jane has been abducted once. To have it happen again is more than any young woman should have to bear.’
‘I dared not fire at the coachman, my lord. To do so might have caused an accident. It is my opinion that the young lady is in no immediate danger. If I’m not mistaken, the man who posed as her groom is someone known to us as Gentleman Starky. He was once a gentleman’s gentleman and prides himself on his manners. I’ve put the word out on him. If he’s seen, I’ll know within hours.’
George could only accept his assurances that everything was being done to find Jane. However, he blamed himself for what had happened to her. By trying to arrest Blake, he had turned him into a dangerous fugitive. Now Jane’s life could be at risk and there was little he could do except wait for news of her whereabouts.
He prayed that Blake would be desperate for money. If he was anxious for a ransom, Jane would not be harmed—but supposing he wanted revenge? He might kill her and worse.
The thought was too terrible to bear. George could not get the possibility out of his mind. He was unable to rest and sat in a wing chair in his library, staring at the dying embers of a fire his servants had thoughtfully lit.
If Jane were to die or be harmed by Blake, George would never forgive himself. He cared for her deeply, but this lates
t insult to her had made him fully aware of how unfit he was to offer her even friendship. He had botched the affair, miscalculating Blake’s reactions. His actions had been meant to draw the rogue’s fire on himself. Instead, he had endangered the woman he loved.
It had taken George a while to understand his heart, but now he saw clearly that Jane was the only woman he would ever wish to wed. He had blocked the knowledge from his mind, because it was unlikely to happen.
Jane would wish him to kingdom come and her brother had shown his disgust over the whole affair. George would not rest until Jane was found. Even if he could never marry her himself, he must know that she was safe and happy. If Blake had harmed her…but that way lay madness. He closed his eyes, dozing fitfully in the chair.
* * *
George’s butler entered the next morning.
‘Have you news for me?’
‘Nothing yet, my lord. Would you have me bring water for you to shave?’
‘Yes, I shall go up and change. If news comes, I am to be informed immediately.’
‘Certainly, my lord. Should I have food brought to you upstairs?’
‘Some bread and meat. If no news comes, I shall go out and search for her myself.’
* * *
‘Forgive me for disturbing you, miss,’ Stark apologised as he brought in a tray of bread, butter, cheese and a small mug of ale. ‘I know this is not proper fare for a lady, but there is no tea or chocolate in the house. At least the bread is fresh.’
‘Thank you,’ Jane said as he set the tray down on the chest of drawers. It was morning and she had slept fitfully, her dreams uneasy and worrying. ‘Do you think you could bring me some water to wash?’
‘Yes, miss. I have it ready. I shall bring it up in a few minutes, but I thought you might be hungry.’
‘You are thoughtful, sir. Tell me, what brought you to this life? I think you were not always used to such surroundings?’
‘I worked for a gentleman and his family for all my life, miss. I was dismissed wrongly for theft. Accused of taking guineas that did not belong to me and dismissed without a reference. I tried to find honest work, but no one would employ me.’
‘I would employ you,’ Jane said. ‘You told me not to attempt to bribe you—but if you could help me to escape, I would give you a position that would restore your good name.’
‘It is kind of you to offer, miss. I wish I could help you—but Blake is vindictive. He would have my throat slit as soon as look at me.’
‘Think about it,’ Jane said as he opened the door and went out.
She took the tray to the bed and sat on the edge, breaking a piece of bread and spreading it with butter and a thin slice of cheese. The food was surprisingly good and she ate half of what had been provided, taking two sips of ale from the mug. Returning the tray to the top of the chest of drawers, she was behind the door when the door was unlocked and someone entered.
She knew at once that it was not Stark. A tingling sensation at the nape of her neck told her that this must be Captain Blake—the rogue who had abducted Mariah and her. Seizing the iron candlestick, she put her hand behind her back.
Blake swore as he saw the bed was unoccupied and swung round to stare at Jane.
‘We meet again, sir,’ she said, her heart racing. Inside, she was quaking, but outwardly she was determined to show no fear. ‘I imagined I owed my present situation to your intervention. May I ask what you intend to do with me?’
‘You and your family have interfered in my business once too often,’ Blake said and scowled at her. His left arm was in a crude sling and it was obvious from the way he moved that he felt pain from his wound. ‘Your brother tried to kill me and failed. It is as well for you that his shot went wide. Without me, my men would have panicked and you might have ended in the river. If I were a vengeful man, you would already be dead. However, I require money so that I can live abroad. Therefore, you are safe enough for the moment. If the ransom is paid, I shall allow you to live.’
‘What exactly did my brother do to you?’
‘He and that fool Marlowe tried to arrest me. Marlowe will pay the price for his treachery. I do not forgive those that betray me—but your brother may redeem himself by payment of forty thousand guineas.’
Jane could not control her gasp of dismay. ‘Andrew could never afford so much. He would have to sell the estate and even then I do not think he could raise such a sum. You ask too much, sir.’
‘If he does not have the money, he must get it from his rich friends—or he will never see you again.’ Blake’s gaze narrowed. ‘What are you hiding behind your back?’
Jane’s fingers tightened about the iron candlestick. If he saw what she had, he would take it from her and any chance she had of escaping would be gone.
‘Only this,’ she said and moved towards him as she brought her arm out. ‘You are a rogue, sir—and you mistook me for a foolish woman.’
Blake swore and grabbed at her arm, but Jane was too quick for him. She struck at the side of his head with her weapon, and, more from luck than judgement, her blow sent him to his knees with a curse. Immediately, Jane ran through the door, which Blake had left open when he entered. She slammed the door shut behind her and locked it.
Why Blake had been so careless she could not imagine, but, because she had been standing behind the door, he had seen only an empty room as he entered. Perhaps his mind was still a little fuddled from the night before or perhaps he had thought himself capable of dealing with a defenceless woman.
Behind her, Blake had risen to his feet and flung himself at the door. He was yelling and banging on it as she fled down the stairs to the hall below. She turned the handle of the front door and ran out into the inn yard. Hearing a cry of alarm behind her, she glanced back and saw the innkeeper in the doorway. He had a pistol aimed at her and at this distance he could not miss.
‘Stop or I fire,’ he yelled.
Jane felt a trickle of fear down her spine. She hesitated for a moment, then saw another man behind the innkeeper. Stark raised his arm and grabbed hold of the other man’s wrist, twisting it so that he fired into the air.
Jane wasted no more time. She ran towards the nearest alley and fled into it. Stark had given her a few minutes’ grace, but she knew that Blake’s cries would have been heard. Someone would release him and then he would start searching for her.
She must run as far and as fast as she could and hope that she could lose herself in the maze of dirty little back streets that clustered at the water’s edge.
Chapter Nine
‘What news?’ Andrew asked as George was admitted to Lady Mary’s drawing room later that morning. ‘I thought there might be a ransom note, but I have heard nothing as yet.’
‘My Runner thinks he may have found her. He has men watching the back and the front of an inn south of the Thames, and someone on the inside. It is a place known to the Runners, the haunt of thieves and low life. Someone said a lady was taken there last night. Gentleman Starky was heard to argue with the landlord before she was hurried upstairs—and Price’s informant says food was taken up to her later by Stark himself.’
‘Who is Stark—or Starky?’ Andrew said. ‘You’ve lost me, Marlowe.’
‘Stark was apparently a gentleman’s gentleman, hence the nickname. Price’s informant says that he has been working for a rum cove recently. From the description, I would say he is Blake’s man.’
‘Then we have the rogues,’ Andrew said, a look of grim satisfaction in his eyes. ‘We must get Jane out of there—and bring Blake to account for his crimes. It is time he was safely in prison.’
‘The sooner the better as far as I am concerned,’ George agreed. ‘But we must be careful. Price has men who are experienced in these matters. He says it would be best left to him. They will go in under pretence of searching for stolen goods. If Jane is there, they will bring her out.’
‘How long will all that take? I want my sister back now, Marlowe. If news of this reach
es the ears of the gossips, her reputation will suffer.’
‘This unfortunate affair cannot be concealed,’ George said and frowned. ‘Lady Mary’s hostess knew of the abduction and I dare say most of London will have heard whispers.
If there is any danger of a scandal I should be honoured to do what I could to avert it.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’ Andrew demanded. ‘If you imagine I would consent to a match between you, you may dismiss it from your mind. My sister will not marry a man who is lucky not to be heading for the hangman’s noose.’
‘Damn you, Lanchester. If you were not Jane’s brother, I should call you out for that—you know very well that I took part in Lady Fanshawe’s abduction under a misapprehension. My offer of marriage was made in good faith.’
‘And refused.’ Andrew’s expression gave nothing away. ‘I am grateful for your help in this matter—but that does not mean I would allow my sister to—’
‘Lord George, I am so glad to see you,’ Lady Mary said as she came bustling into the room. ‘Andrew, I have a letter for you—it was delivered by hand a few minutes ago. Do you think it is…?’
‘The ransom?’ Andrew finished for her and took the letter. He glanced at the scrawled writing. ‘The hand is disguised, I have no doubt.’ He tore the seal open and scanned the terse message. ‘He demands forty thousand or I shall not see my sister again. Damn the rogue! I am not sure I could raise such a sum at the moment, even if I sold my estate.’
‘I can offer ten thousand pounds,’ Lady Mary said instantly. ‘Perhaps more if I have time to sell some property.’
‘I would pay the ransom myself if necessary,’ George said with authority. ‘I can raise the money in a few days—but we should not give in to his demands, Lanchester. Be patient and give the Bow Street Runners a chance to get her back.’