by Anne Herries
Drew took the paper and broke the seal. He read the cryptic message with a frown and gave it back to Robbie. ‘What do you make of that?’
‘If you wish to find the man who calls himself Joshua Hambleton, come to the old mine at nine this evening. Come alone and you will need fifty guineas for the information, but it will be worth your while,’ Robbie read aloud. ‘Sounds a bit smoky to me, Captain. I should be wary of this if I were you.’
‘Yes, I agree,’ Drew said. ‘And yet I think I must go, Robbie. Jack is banking on the hope that Humble will walk into his trap—but he may disappear, never to be seen again.’ He frowned. His anger against the traitor seemed to have cooled, for taking revenge on Lieutenant Humble would not bring his friends back. ‘It would not matter so much if it were not for…’
‘The old lady and the beauty?’ Robbie said and Drew nodded. ‘Well, you please yourself, Captain. Go if you think it right, but you’ll not be alone—I’ll be at your back.’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Drew said. ‘But you must keep well hidden. If this note is genuine, I do not want him to be scared off…whoever he is…’
‘Might it be the lawyer’s clerk? Did he not give you information before?’
‘Yes, he did,’ Drew agreed and frowned. ‘I would have expected him to want to meet in the safety of the inn, but it could be him.’
‘Supposing it is a trap? Humble may have sent the note himself to lure you there.’
‘Then I shall know how to deal with him,’ Drew said. ‘Jack wants him alive, but if it were necessary I should not hesitate to kill him.’
‘We’ll both of us be armed,’ Robbie said. ‘At the first sign that he means to murder you, I shall shoot him—in the back if I have to.’
‘Fighting talk,’ Drew said and smiled oddly.
Robbie’s loyalty made him feel better. He had been feeling wretched since he had let Marianne walk away from him, cursing himself for a fool and a coward. How could he have hurt her, as he knew he had? Excuses were worth nothing—he knew that the memory of her face would haunt his dreams. He must go to her, beg her forgiveness…try to explain the thoughts that were so tangled he hardly understood them himself.
He decided that he would leave it for a night. She might refuse to see him if he went too soon, and a little time for reflection might help him to sort out his own thoughts.
If all went well, this night might see an end to the business of the traitor and the French spy. In the morning he would seek Marianne out and try to explain the things he had made such a mess of earlier.
‘Is something the matter?’ Mrs Horne asked of her daughter later that afternoon when they were sitting together in the parlour. ‘You look a little pale, dearest. I do hope you are not coming down with a chill?’
‘No, I do not think so,’ Marianne said. ‘But I do have a little headache. I think I shall lie down for an hour or so before dinner—if you do not mind?’
‘Of course not,’ her mother and aunt said together.
‘We do not want you to sicken with anything when we are about to leave for Bath,’ Mrs Horne said, looking anxious.
‘We have decided that we shall go tomorrow, if you are well enough,’ Lady Edgeworthy informed her. ‘Cynthia and I have decided that there is no point in delaying things, because we have already secured a house for the duration of our visit, and I know that some of my friends are in Bath at the moment. Besides, the weather is fine; if we wait, it may change.’
‘I am sure I shall be much better in the morning,’ Marianne said. ‘I had better start packing my trunk, for we do not want to be late tomorrow.’
‘Bessie will do it for you,’ Mrs Horne said. ‘Lucy has already packed her own, and she was going to make a start on mine. She is excited, though I have told her that she will not be able to attend the Assembly because she is too young.’
‘I dare say there will be plenty of visiting to amuse her,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘Lucy will be able to accompany us on drives and walks, and all manner of things. It will be quite exciting to go out in company again. I am looking forward to seeing old friends.’
Marianne nodded her head and left the parlour. The news that they were to leave for Bath immediately was unsettling. She had expected to be here another two days…but what difference did it make? A sob rose in her throat, but she held it back. She was determined not to give way to tears and spoil the promised visit for everyone else. She must put a smile on her face and accept that she had been foolish to imagine that Drew cared for her. His words had been clear enough. He had no idea of marriage, and had thought of her as someone to amuse himself with while he waited to trap the traitor.
Nothing would be changed because they were leaving for Bath two days early. She must learn to cope with her heartache and hope that in time it would become easier. She had her family around her, and in Bath they might see Jo when she came down with Aunt Wainwright. She lifted her head, a look of pride on her face. She would not lie down on her bed and cry, she would find Lucy and they would pack Mama’s trunk and her own together.
It was very dark that night. Drew thought that he would not have chosen to be out in such weather for a sudden storm had blown up, whipping the sea into a frenzy about the rocks out in the bay. His lantern was all the light they carried, for Robbie was forced to keep in his shadow in case they were being watched as they left the house and made their way towards the old mine.
Drew’s pistol was primed and loaded, ready for instant use should it be needed, as was the weapon Robbie carried. They had not spoken since they left the house, because they both knew that this was in all likelihood a trap. When they were almost at the mine, Drew blew out the candle in his lantern, plunging them into darkness. For a moment neither were able to see, but gradually their eyes became used to the darkness. Now they had separated, Drew going ahead, Robbie watching from a distance.
Drew could see no sign of anyone waiting at the appointed place. He knew that he was a few minutes early, and he squatted down on his haunches, resting, as he had learned to do in the army, knowing that he was less of a target for an assassin’s pistol. He waited for some minutes, feeling the chill wind as it whipped about his head, blowing his hair and making him wish himself back at the house.
There was no sign of anyone, and after perhaps twenty minutes had passed, he began to think that Robbie had been right—it was either a wild-goose chase or a trap. He got to his feet and began to walk closer to the mine entrance, wondering if the writer of the letter was waiting in the shadows for him to come closer. Looking about him, he did not see what was at his feet, and his boot kicked against something…soft and yet bulky. Dropping to his knees, his hands reached out and discovered a body.
‘Damn it!’ he muttered and felt for his tinder-box. As he lit the lantern once more, the yellow light fell on to the face of a man he recognised as the clerk who had once given him information. His eyes were open, staring straight up at him sightlessly. ‘Robbie!’ He got to his feet and waved the lantern, bringing his batman to him in seconds. ‘You were right. It was my informant from the lawyer’s office, but someone else got here first. The poor devil never saw it coming.’
‘Lieutenant Humble?’
‘Perhaps…’ Drew looked at the man’s pale face. ‘Why on earth did he choose to meet here? There’s nothing we can do for him, and I’ve no mind to hang around here any longer. I’ll send word to Major Barr in the morning. He is the Justice of the Peace in these parts. He can sort out what happened.’
‘Aye, that’s the most sensible thing you’ve said for the past few hours,’ Robbie said. ‘Let’s get back to the house. It will be a wonder if we don’t both catch our death of cold.’
‘I never catch colds,’ Drew said and promptly sneezed. ‘Damn it! We could both do with a rum toddy, Robbie. I should never have come on this fool’s errand.’
‘I’ll second that,’ Robbie said. ‘Whoever did this will have seen you’re not alone. I doubt if he will come after you, Captain. He wi
ll be in hiding for the moment.’
‘At least we know he must be holed up somewhere in the district,’ Drew said as they trudged back to the house. The wind was howling and a driving rain had set in, soaking them through to the skin by the time they were home.
‘You’ve done all you can. Best you leave it to the militia now, Captain,’ Robbie said as they got inside and he put a pan of rum on the kitchen fire to heat. ‘You had best get out of those clothes. Why don’t you go to bed? I’ll bring you a hot toddy when it’s ready.’
‘Anyone would think I was a child or an invalid! I’ve endured worse than this on campaign.’
‘Aye, so you have,’ Robbie said. ‘But there’s always a first time to be ill, my lord, and I’ve seen you in a fever afore this.’
‘Don’t start that,’ Drew said and promptly sneezed three times. ‘Fool! Not you, me. I’ll take your advice, but see you get your own things off, man. You wouldn’t want me as your nurse.’
Drew left him in the kitchen and went into his own bedchamber. There was no fire here, but he stripped off and rubbed himself down with a towel. He was gripped with icy shivers as he got into bed, cursing himself for being idiot enough to respond to the note. And yet it was probable that the dead man had had valuable information to pass on—if only Drew had got to him first! He pulled the covers up around his neck, because he was feeling shivery and took the hot drink Robbie brought him gratefully, holding it in his hands and appreciating the warmth.
‘This will sort me out,’ he told Robbie. ‘I shall be fine once I’ve drunk this. I told you, I never get colds. I’ll be back to normal in a couple of hours.’
But in the morning he was far from fine. He was right to say he didn’t get colds, for it was a nasty fever he had taken and when Robbie went in to wake him, he was out of his head, tossing and turning, his skin burning up.
‘Well, now, here’s a fine to-do,’ Robbie said. ‘There’s a dead man lying out there by the mine, and his murderer roaming the countryside at will—but how am I to do half a dozen things at once? Leave you while you’re this ill, I can’t, Captain. The rascal can go for the doctor, and I’ll send Harry to inform about Master Lawyer’s clerk, but as for that rogue…’ He shook his head. ‘There’s no more we can do for the moment.’
‘Marianne…’ Drew cried, starting up from his pillows. His eyes were dark with fever and he did not know what he did. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you…come back…’
‘She’ll have to wait for the moment, Captain,’ Robbie said. ‘A fine mess you’ve made of things by the sound of it. Anyone could see that she is a real lady. You’ll end up a lonely old man if you lose her.’
Grumbling to himself, Robbie lit a fire in the grate and then went back to the kitchen. He would heat the warming pan and wrap it in a cloth, and then put it in the bed with the captain. He knew that Drew was a strong man, for he had nursed him through worse than this in Spain, but the fevers then had been brought about by his wounds. He wasn’t sure why the captain had succumbed this time for it was true that he seldom took chills, but he would weather it. And while the captain lay here in a fever that murderer was out there somewhere—roaming free and at liberty to do more harm.
Marianne stopped to look in the window of a shop selling pretty hats. Lucy was hanging on her arm, pulling at her, because she had seen a blue bonnet that would match the redingote that Jo had made for her from the blue velvet bought at Huntingdon market.
‘Shall we ask how much it is?’ Lucy asked, looking longingly at the bonnet. ‘Do you think we can afford it?’
‘I think we might if it is not too ruinous,’ Marianne said with a teasing smile. ‘Yes, of course you may have it, dearest. Aunt Bertha gave me an allowance when I first went to live with her and I have not spent a penny of it as yet, for I had what Uncle Wainwright gave me. Let us go in and you shall try it on—and I might try that green one…’
Lucy sent her a look of delight for she had never had so much fun in her life and was thoroughly enjoying their visit to Bath. Once inside the shop she tried on at least ten hats, but in the end she bought the one she had admired in the window. Marianne did not buy anything. She had tried on one or two she liked, but she knew that she and Jo could make them as well as the milliner who had fashioned these, and she enjoyed doing it, especially as her friends were all so complimentary and often asked where she had bought her hats.
When they came out of the shop, they had to stop to allow two ladies to enter. Marianne was about to pass by with a nod in greeting, but the young lady suddenly took hold of her arm and exclaimed in delight.
‘Oh, it is you, Miss Horne! I thought I saw you the other day, but Mama told me I must be mistaken—I am so glad to have bumped into you like this. We are giving a little dance this weekend. The invitations have already gone out, but you will not mind that, I hope. Please do say you will come!’
‘Miss Forester,’ Marianne said and smiled at her enthusiastic welcome. ‘This is my sister Lucy. I am in Bath with my great-aunt and my mother.’
‘Then you must all come, must they not, Mama?’ Henriette looked at her mother pleadingly. ‘Do say they shall!’
‘Yes, certainly, if you wish it,’ Lady Forester said with an indulgent look. ‘You were so kind to take us up in your carriage, Miss Horne. I believe I was too upset to thank you as I ought—please say that you will come to Henriette’s dance. We have only just arrived in Bath and she does not know many girls of her own age as yet.’
‘Lucy is not out yet…’
‘Oh, but it is a private affair and Henriette is not so much older,’ Lady Forester said. ‘Where are you living? I shall call on your mama and ask her if she will bring you both.’
‘A real dance,’ Lucy said, her eyes shining. ‘Do say yes, Marianne.’
‘Well, if Mama permits,’ Marianne agreed. ‘Lady Edgeworthy has taken a house in Queen Square and will be pleased to welcome you, I know. It is very kind of you to invite us, Lady Forester.’
‘Not at all,’ she replied. ‘It is nothing compared to what you did for us that day, Miss Horne. And now we must get on, Henriette. We have a lot to do this morning.’
She nodded and guided her daughter into the shop. Marianne and Lucy walked on. Lucy looked at her sister curiously.
‘You didn’t tell me anything about them?’
‘I had forgotten,’ Marianne said truthfully. So much had happened to her since she went to live with her great-aunt that the trivial incident had slipped from her mind. ‘It was nothing. Their carriage had broken a wheel. It was being cleared to the side of the road and I took them up as far as the nearest inn. Anyone would have done the same.’
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Lucy said, ‘but isn’t it fortunate that you were the one? A private dance is so much nicer than the Assembly, Marianne—don’t you think so?’
‘Perhaps,’ her sister agreed. ‘Since we have not been to the Assembly yet, I cannot truly say—but it will be pleasant if Mama agrees.’
Mrs Horne had been a little doubtful when Lucy told her that they had been invited to the dance of a lady she did not know. However, when Lady Forester called the next morning to invite them personally, she was pleased to accept.
‘It is just the thing,’ she told Marianne. ‘We shall no doubt meet and make many new friends at the pump room and the Assembly, but it is always nice to be able to claim an acquaintance—and as it is a small private affair, Lucy may come with us, which is even better.’
‘Yes, Mama,’ Marianne said. ‘I was thinking—’ She broke off as Bessie came into the room. She and Miss Rudge had accompanied them to Bath, because Lady Edgeworthy felt that they would do better with some of their own maids to look after them, though the house had come with a full complement of servants.
‘Yes, Bessie?’ her mistress asked. ‘Did you wish to speak to me?’
‘There’s a visitor, ma’am—only he asked for Miss Marianne and I wasn’t sure if she was at home to a gentleman.’
Marianne’s hea
rt raced wildly. ‘Who is it, Bessie?’ For an instant she hoped that it might be Drew, but in the next moment her hope had faded.
‘Doctor Barton, miss. He said that he had heard you were in Bath and thought that he would call.’
‘Oh, how kind of him,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘Ask him to come in, Bessie. We shall have some tea—and some Madeira for the gentleman, if you please.’
Marianne got to her feet and went over to the window, gazing out at the pretty back garden. She needed a minute to compose herself, because her disappointment was so sharp that she felt close to tears. They had been in Bath five days now, and it was stupid to imagine that Drew would follow her here. Why should he? He had made his feelings clear at their last meeting. She must control these foolish longings and accept that she might never see him again. Behind her she could hear the exchange of greetings, and knew that she must turn and smile at their visitor. No one must suspect that her heart was breaking little by little.
Drew was standing by the window looking out at the sea. He turned his head as Robbie brought in a can of hot water for him to shave. It was the first time that he had shaved himself in five days, and he was still feeling a little under the weather, though he had recovered sufficiently by the third day to send Robbie to ask Major Barr to call on him.
‘Major Barr sent word that he will call at eleven this morning,’ Robbie said. ‘I dare say he has been waiting to see if there is any sign of that rogue, but I doubt if they will find him. Wherever he is, he knows how to keep out of sight.’
‘He’ll need food and water. He has to come out of hiding sooner or later. Unless someone is harbouring him, of course,’ Drew said and frowned. ‘He must have contacts in the area, but I’m damned if I know where to look. He seems to have the knack of disappearing…’