The beautiful smile Kitty gave him warmed him to his toes.
“I will see you shortly?” she asked him in a whisper.
“Yes, as soon as can be,” he nodded.
He left her with a smile and hope in his heart that someday, their relationship would deepen into something much more than friendship. He was suddenly very anxious to finish his business downstairs and get back to his wife.
Gabriel found Senny pacing the floor, her arms crossed over her chest. He could see she was nervous and agitated, “Zenny?”
“Gabriel!” Senny sighed in relief.
His lady looked miserable. He opened his arms to her. “What is the matter, Zenny?” He drew her into his arms as she came to him.
“Everyone in the parlour saw me have my vision. I couldn’t let it go until I saw what I needed to see. When I came out of it, I felt everyone was staring at me. I felt so uncomfortable. Afterward, everyone thanked me and comforted me, though. I must get used to this, I suppose.”
Gabriel gave her a squeeze as he smiled down at her.
“Zenny, your visions save lives, mine included. I am proud of you. Embrace your gifts and accept that they are part of who you are. I assure you, the household is very thankful that you have saved them numerous times with your gift of sight and hearing.”
Senny looked at him skeptically. She nodded slightly. “You are right, of course. I just wish the visions would come when I am dressed.” She shrugged.
He grinned. “It matters not, we are most of us family here and the rest of them are good friends,” he whispered as his hand caressed her cheek and he dipped his head to kiss her.
He gave her a slow, lingering kiss but pulled back before he slid beyond the veil and they connected. He knew the next time he connected to her he would lose every bit of self-control he possessed. He would not be able to resist making her his. He was growing weaker by the day. He already knew he would need to sit with her tonight to keep her calm after the incident of earlier. She was still healing and needed her rest. Gabriel knew he was Senny’s rock.
What Senny didn’t know, was that she was his rock, his calm, his peace. She was his anchor. Someday, he hoped to make her see this.
“We need to change your bandage and you need your rest, Zenny.”
“Yes. We must marry on Tuesday,” she gave him a small smile.
“I will stay with you until you fall asleep, if you like,” he offered as he kissed the tip of her nose.
Senny nodded. The power of the visions had always frightened her. Tonight, she felt stronger and more at peace about what had happened.
“Thank you, but if you need to be downstairs, I think I am fine.” Senny looked into his crystalline blue eyes. His eyes were ice blue and glittered like diamonds. Looking into Gabriel’s eyes always calmed her. She smiled up at him.
He slid his hand behind her neck and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
“I’ll stay for a little while. Come sit for s spell, Zenny.” He took her hand and gently pulled her toward the chairs.
“What is your name?” Marrek asked the man tied to the chair.
“I don’t have one,” the man said with a mocking grin.
“That is what he told you before, am I correct?” Marrek looked to Wyldhurst, Trevan and Tremayne.
“Yes. That’s how he came to have that black eye,” Wyldhurst slammed his large fist into his palm.
“Hmm.” Marrek paced before the man. He pulled on his chin. Then without any warning, he whacked the man across his knees with his cane.
The mockery left the man’s face. He winced in pain. He struggled against the strong bonds that held him to the chair.
“Broken legs or broken arms?” Marrek asked casually as he looked to the other gentlemen present.
“Myself personally, I favor broken arms because your opponent can’t swing back,” Wyldhurst offered with a shrug.
“I like broken legs, because the only way he can escape is by crawling. They’re easier to catch that way,” Trevan offered.
Marrek looked to Tremayne. Tremayne offered a smile, “I like both broken arms and legs. One at a time. By the time you get to the last limb, they usually give in, for the pain is so great.”
Wyldhurst and Trevan enthusiastically agreed.
Marrek’s gaze rested on their prisoner, the leader of the raid upon Menadue. “I’ll give you one more opportunity. What is your name?”
The man gave him a wary look at first. After a moment, some of his cockiness returned, “John Smith.”
Marrek looked to his colleagues. “Well, I prefer to cut his throat, for he is no use to us. He lies.” He looked back at the man.
“This is the last time I will ask you. What is your name?”
“You won’t kill me, you need me,” the man said confidently.
Within seconds, Marrek’s cane tip was lifted from the floor. A ten-inch blade rested against the man’s neck.
“Wrong. We do not need you. We have seven other prisoners, two of which have given us some very useful information. Three succumbed to the wounds inflicted upon them while we were trying to get information from them. If you have nothing useful to tell us, your body can be added to the trash heap with the others. It may be anyway with your shoulder bleeding as badly as it is.”
August Trevelyan slipped into the room as Marrek spoke. He added. “That would be four who succumbed to their wounds. My brothers and cousin are working on the last one now. Either he will talk or die.”
Marrek removed his watch and opened the cover. “You have three minutes to decide whether or not you wish to cooperate and live. If you give us the information we want, you will be sent to Australia, but will be alive. Or your body shall be tossed upon the heap in the yard with the others. What is your choice, John Smith? The first thing you can start with is your real name.”
“They will kill me, they are very powerful,” the man protested.
“So am I. I represent the King. If you cooperate, you will be guarded and sent upon the next available ship to Australia. There are two minutes remaining before I sever your head from your body.”
The man swallowed. His eyes widened in fear. “I’ve two little sisters, they need me to survive. Molly is eleven and Fanny is fourteen. Our mother was a whore. My sister Rose went into the trade of my mother three years ago. She was beaten and died. She was seventeen. I’m all they’ve got. I only took this job because the gentleman offered me a great deal of money. Enough so I could maybe get my sisters out of London and into a small cottage in a village or the country somewhere.”
“Tell me your name and what I want to know, and I will send for your sisters. They will travel with you to Australia and I will make certain you have enough money to secure safe lodgings. I know a man who will employ you. He pays a fair and honest wage.”
“Will you give me your word?”
Marrek nodded. “You have it. Give me the direction where I can find your sisters, and I will see they are cared for either way.”
The man sighed then gave a nod of his head. He gave the direction for his sisters. “I must get word to our cousin, Felicity. Our mothers were sisters. Felicity is the natural daughter of some Lord, though she don’t know his name.”
He continued, “But he paid for her to go to a school for young ladies, and she’s got herself a job as a governess in a fine house. She visits us on Sundays and gives m’sisters gowns tossed away by the fine ladies. She taught us to read and write. She gives us coin for I’ve never made enough to feed the girls well. What she gives us keeps them from having to work. She will be frantic if we just disappear. I was hoping to repay her for all of her kindness to us someday.”
Marrek nodded.
One of his men added her direction to the piece of foolscap along with that of his sisters.
“You have thirty seconds. Start with your name.”
“Sam. Samuel Potts. My mother was Mary Potts.”
Marrek kept the blade against his throat. “What is the Lead
er of the Knights of the Brown Order’s name?”
“I don’t know.” His eyes grew wide with fear as he looked to Marrek. “You got to believe me, sir. No one does. He is always robed and hooded at their meetings. Madingly told me only a handful of men know his identity and that it isn’t a good idea to know it. Some have died who do know. I’ve only been allowed to attend their meetings recently when I agreed to lead a group of men ‘ere in Cornwall.”
Samuel Potts continued, “I was recruited by Madingly. Isaac Madingly. He said he could see my drive to better myself and he said I was far too educated to be a dockside rat, so he offered me this position. He was supposed to be here, but I haven’t ‘eard from him since I arrived. I received an order from the leader by way of a letter.”
“Do you still have the letter?” Marrek asked.
Samuel nodded. “I was supposed to burn it upon receiving it, but I kept it. It’s at the lodgings.”
“Where are your lodgings?”
“In Liskeard.”
“Will you take us to your lodgings?”
“Of course. I would do anything to save my sisters and cousin Felicity.”
Marrek removed the blade from Samuel Pott’s throat. He asked, “Were you aware that the men you led have lousy aims?”
“Actually they have fairly good aims. I am not a murderer. Madingly wasn’t anywhere to be found. I was instructed in the letter to get into Menadue, get the scrolls and a diary or journal and do whatever was necessary to get them. I had hoped the element of surprise would be in our favor. I figured that if the arrows started fires with your ladies in the room, your first priority would be to get them out. We could have gotten in, grabbed the scrolls and I was hoping to get out without any or at least very little loss of life. I ordered that no one be killed unless it was necessary.”
He added, “In fact, since there was no one else in Cornwall in charge save me, I told the men if they killed anyone they would answer to me. I, ah, allowed them to think the leader had ordered the same. I was hoping to get what the leader wanted, receive my pay and get my sisters out of London.” Samuel swallowed hard. “’Tis why I was so frustrated when the men retreated. I just wanted enough money to get the girls away from the horrible place we live in.”
“Your wound will be looked at by the surgeon as soon as he arrives,” Marrek informed him.
He continued, “You will still be kept prisoner here in the cellar, but you will be guarded, as much for your protection as anything else. Until further notice, you will have to stay here. You shall receive clean clothes, good food, water, and brandy for your pain. A bed will be brought down for you. Tomorrow we shall go to Liskeard and you will give me the letter you received from the Leader. Upon returning to Menadue, I shall send a message to one of my men in London to fetch your sisters and talk to your cousin. Would you like us to offer your cousin journey to Australia with you?”
Samuel’s blue eyes moistened. He nodded his head. “Yes, Felicity would like that too. She would be safe. The Lord’s son in the house where she works is continually trying to trap her in rooms and the like. So far, she has evaded him. I taught her how to defend herself. She is a little thing and quite lovely, like my sisters. If I could bring her with us, I will be indebted to you forever, sir.”
Marrek gave him a nod. “I shall have a pen and foolscap brought to you. You will need to write a letter to your sisters and your cousin telling them it is safe to come with us. Can you write?”
“Yes. Felicity taught me to write.”
Marrek nodded. He turned to Wyldhurst. “Untie him. Make certain he has everything he needs. We’ll need five men watching the cellar, thank you, Luc.”
“And the rest of the prisoners?” Wyldhurst asked.
“They are not of good moral character. They can be turned over to the Constable,” Marrek offered. In truth none of the prisoners had been killed. It had been a ploy to frighten Potts.
Wyldhurst set about untying Samuel Potts.
Marrek was eager to look in on his wife. When he opened the connecting door, it was to find her sleeping. He smiled as he carefully removed the book from her hands and set it upon the table beside her bed. He gazed at his wife for several moments, taking in her beauty as she slept. He had hoped for another kiss. Yet, he was not disappointed. She was resting peacefully. The fact that she had been reading meant she had tried to wait up for him. He turned the lamp down and left her room.
Wenna woke with the dawn and shook Trevan to wake him. She had taken to joining the Duchess downstairs first thing in the mornings. Morva was teaching her everything about the day-to-day running of Menadue and what her responsibilities as the new Duchess would be. Though she had run Callywith for years, Menadue was a much larger house and had three times the number of staff as did Callywith.
“Wake up. You need to leave my chamber before I do or the maids will come in and find you.” Wenna settled back down and snuggled deeper into the warmth of Trevan’s body.
“Woman, I got to bed hours after midnight. Mother won’t expect you down so early this morning after what took place last night.” Trevan put his arm around her and allowed his fingers to splay over her flat stomach. He pulled her tighter against his groin and pressed his awakening erection against her. “This is what I suggest, Wenna. I suggest you let me tire you out a bit and we sleep another hour.”
“You can sleep as long as you like, in your own bed.” Wenna laughed.
“No, I will never be able to sleep without my woman in my arms again.” He positioned himself at her opening and slid into her wet warmth. He began to move slowly inside her.
“I’m afraid the only way I can sleep longer is if you tire me out,” Wenna purred seductively.
“Oh,” Trevan pushed her fiery hair aside and began to nip at her bare neck and shoulder. “I intend to wear you out, woman.” His large hand covered her breast. He teased her until she was panting and pressing back to take him deeper.
He purposely drew out their lovemaking, taking her almost to the edge, then easing her back, until at last, neither one could take any more, they moved as one in a fevered pitch, bodies joined, souls joined until at last they exploded in unison, both crying out. They collapsed against one another. Trevan drew her to him and gave her a slow, lingering kiss. Sated, wrapped in one another’s embrace, their bodies moist; sleep did claim them.
Chapter Nineteen
They were about a half hour from Menadue. Creed rode in front of the group flanked by Newt and Marcus Trevelyan. They had left Priory Place at dawn and made good time.
Jack was anxious to return to Menadue. He had missed Tuesday. True, it had only been one day and a night, but it just felt odd without her. He missed her smile, her kisses, making love to her, but mostly he just missed her company and having her near. He was so deep in thought he almost didn’t register hearing a gunshot. When the second, third and subsequent shots came one after the other, Jack knew they were in serious trouble.
Creed urged the party of sixteen to a gallop. They angled off the road in a direction away from the shooters who had come out from behind a stone wall on the side of the road ahead of them. They took cover in a stand of trees. All dismounted save Newt.
August moved to the tree line to watch their attackers. No one noticed anything out of the ordinary until Newt started to slide sideways off his horse.
Jack was closest and stopped him from falling. Creed and Marcus helped Jack ease him to the ground. Micah caught the reins of Newt’s horse before he could bolt.
Jack pushed back his coat. “I don’t see any blood. Maybe he was shot in the back after we turned off the road?”
Creed removed his hand from Newt’s head and immediately felt the sticky wetness on his hand. “It’s his head. Let’s ease him back down carefully.” Creed supported the back of Newt’s head and lowered it gently to the ground.
Micah bent down and carefully lifted Jack’s hair where he saw a glint of blood picked up by a ray of light breaking through the tr
ee branches above them. “He was creased above the ear. It doesn’t appear to be too deep but obviously it was enough to knock him out.” He stood. “We need to get him back to Menadue quickly with as little movement as possible. Perhaps we can lean him up against me, after I am on my horse.”
Creed shook his head. “No, Micah, you are still recovering from your wound. The undue stress of supporting Newt’s body weight could cause you more harm. I’m the largest man here. I will hold him up in front of me. I will try to keep him as still as possible.” Creed looked beyond the group to where August stood watch. “What is the status on our attackers, August?”
“They are remaining behind the stone wall for now. It appears they are waiting to see what we do,” August provided. “I think we must outnumber them, I’ve only seen four men raise their heads above the rocks.”
Marcus spoke, “We can’t take the road. We would have to go past them. If we follow this stand of trees to the north, we will come out on the moor. We can cut diagonally across and reach Menadue faster than if we take the road.”
Creed nodded. “I believe it’s our only choice at this point, the disadvantage being that on the moor we’re easy targets. Along the road there are trees, farms and such.”
“They will be easy targets on the moor as well,” Micah posed.
“True, but we will have to watch our backs,” Creed sighed heavily.
“I will watch our backs,” Jack offered.
Marcus Trevelyan, one of the few fair-haired Trevelyans, clapped his hands together and said, “Let’s get Newt to Menadue. I’m certain cousin Elowen can help him. Get on your horse, Creed. We’ll lift him up.”
“Lyon’s new wife, Sophia, is a healer as well,” Micah added as he supported Newt’s head while August, Marcus and Jack lifted him up to Creed.
The Brown Coats followed them from a distance the entire way to Menadue. His colleagues’ horses’ hooves clapped over the stones on the large, old bridge spanning a rushing stream. Jack paused to turn and watch their pursuers stop near a hill beyond the road. The road led to the entrance gates of Menadue. Jack watched the seven riders behind them turn and head in the opposite direction. He urged his horse over the bridge and joined the rest of his party.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 38