The Dark of Knight

by Johns, Elizabeth

  For a brief moment, he wondered if she had heard the steps on the opposite side of the tent, but he could not ponder for long. Hopefully she had had the sense to get out of sight. The footsteps began again and paused at the entrance of the tent, he was sure. Why the hesitation? Someone returning to their own tent would go straight in. Unless they had seen Lady Catalina…

  He had no more time to think about her; someone was entering the tent. Felix debated whether he could slide out behind them through the opening and make his escape, but something made him pause.

  The intruder did not move, as though they sensed his presence. Employing all his faculties, he searched for some clue as to who the person was. The figure was too tall for Lady Catalina; besides which, she would have announced herself.

  Was this someone else searching? An eerie sense of familiarity came over him and he had scarcely seconds in which to decide what to do. The recollection of what had happened the last time he had tangled with this villain still throbbing in his thigh. How did you slip past Catalina, he wondered, and did you know she was there?

  Panic for her welfare infused his veins and he leaped forward in an attempt to capture the dastard.

  Together, they fell through the tent opening, hitting the ground with a loud thump and a simultaneous grunt. There was just enough light upon the man for him to see Dion’s face.

  A slight movement out of the corner of his eye momentarily distracted Felix. Seizing his chance, Dion growled and dug in his toes, gaining enough purchase to throw Felix onto his back. Groaning as the man landed heavily upon him, Felix quickly drew back his dagger and plunged it into the blackguard’s arm. Roaring in pain, Dion released Felix and grabbed at the knife, pulling it free. Instead of continuing to fight, he scrambled to his feet and ran away into the night.

  Felix cursed and pulled himself to his feet. Just then, a moan sounded from his right. Rushing to the prone body on the ground, he rolled the slight form over and tried to search her face.

  “Catalina!” he whispered urgently.

  A few muffled sounds came from her throat, but she was not completely conscious. Debating what to do, he gathered her into his arms and carried her away from the camp. It was almost a mile to the farm and he had no horse, but he dared not keep her out in the elements all night. It would compromise the undertaking if he were to seek out Dr. Broughton or Wellington. He must find a way to send a message to the commander to apprise him of what he had discovered.

  If he could find an unsuspecting soldier, he could send a message. He prayed Dion had run far away and was not waiting to return in order to cause Catalina further harm. He moved her to a more sheltered spot in the shadows of an Inula bush and hurried back towards a line of tents. There was a sergeant walking the perimeter and he hailed him.

  Rightfully suspicious, the sergeant put his hand on his sword.

  “Stand easy, Sergeant. I need your assistance.”

  The soldier relaxed a little at Felix’s aristocratic diction in the King’s English, which he had emphasized on purpose. “I need you to take a message to Lord Wellington immediately. The message is for his ears only and no one else’s. Is that understood, Sergeant?

  “Yes, sir!”

  “Do not repeat it, even to any of his aides de camp or other staff. Tell only Wellington.” Felix stressed the instruction. It was his best hope for now and Lady Catalina. “The phoenix flies west a mile with a wounded sparrow, to the nest.”

  Felix left the Sergeant and hurried back to Catalina. She was limp when he gathered her into his arms. He began walking back towards the farm, trying to think of getting her help instead of the pain in his leg. Fortunately, she was petite and light, or he might not have been able to carry her a mile.

  It was impossible not to flinch at every sound, having seen Dion again. The look on the man’s face, though only a brief glimpse, had been as one possessed. Felix had little doubt that Dion’s intent had been to kill Catalina. How long had he been stalking them? Why was he at Roberts’ tent? Was he also searching or was he there to meet and report? One thing was certain in Felix’s mind—Dion was not working alone and it was imperative they find his comrade before they were both killed.

  *

  Catalina hurt everywhere. Her head throbbed as if someone were beating it with a sledgehammer. What had happened? Thoughts flooded through her head as she tried to remember where she was and what she had been doing. Images of being at home and walking through the vineyards with Toro played in her mind, followed by vague pictures of tents, British soldiers, and deer. It did not smell like home, she realized, when odors of animal dung and hay wafted to her sensitive nose.

  “My lady? Catalina?” a mildly familiar voice said.

  Catalina moaned. She needed to open her eyes, but it hurt like the devil.

  “That’s the way, my lady, wake up.” A cool, wet cloth swept across her brow.

  Catalina squinted with one eye partially open. Faces swarmed before her blurred vision and she felt the overwhelming urge to retch.

  “Wait! A basin!” the voice said, loud enough to make her wince.

  Gentle hands rolled her sideways and she emptied her stomach into the proffered basin. A wet cloth then wiped her mouth as someone held her hair back from her face.

  She rolled back over and groaned; it felt as though the room was spinning about her. Her bed was a blanket on the floor, over a pile of soft hay.

  “Have a sip of water, my lady,” the familiar voice said. Felix. Major Knight.

  “What happened?” she asked, finally opening both eyes and concentrating her gaze until his face converged from two into one.

  “Dion must have crept up behind you while I was searching. I heard footsteps at the rear of the tent, but was unable to warn you.”

  She closed her eyes to think, which was not pleasant. Ah. She remembered. “I did hear him, but he was faster than I. Just as I raised my whistle, he hit me on the head and pressed on my neck until I passed out. He knew my habits, but how did he know ’twas I?”

  “I believe he saw us earlier. That eerie feeling you had…”

  “Yes. The deer distracted us from further investigation—from realizing somebody was near.”

  “It was more comfortable to believe it was the deer causing the sensations. Do you have any other injuries? Your head did not appear severely harmed, as far as I could tell. He did not break your head, at least,” he remarked. Suddenly, Catalina realized he had probably examined her from head to toe. She felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.

  Closing her eyes, she took a mental survey of her body. “It is a shame I have no wound to prove my pain,” she answered dryly. “I feel as though I have been thrown from my horse.” It was the best way she could explain her various hurts.

  He gave a nod of understanding. “You fell to the ground, in addition to being hit on the head.”

  She looked around, noticing her surroundings for the first time. “We are in the hayloft of the barn? I do not remember returning here.” Then it occurred to her what must have transpired. “Surely you did not carry me all that way—and up the ladder?”

  “It was but a mile,” he answered dismissively.

  They heard the door open below. The latch rattled and, from the stamp of boots, it sounded as though more than one person entered. Everleigh and Owens? Anyone with malicious intent would have endeavored to move silently.

  Footfalls thudded on the ladder and the rungs creaked. They were climbing the ladder! Catalina released a slow breath as Owens’s face appeared, first with a smile then a frown as he surveyed the scene.

  “My lady! What happened?”

  Everleigh appeared behind Owens and then they moved out of the way for Lord Wellington himself.

  Major Knight stood immediately and saluted. “Thank you for coming, sir.”

  “I did not trust anyone else to relay the news for me. I am pleased to see you awake, my lady,” Wellington said as he approached her with his hat in his hand against his chest. �
�How severely are you harmed?”

  “I believe I will recover, sir, but I was unconscious until a few minutes ago. It seems Major Knight carried me all the way here.”

  Wellington inclined his head to Knight and exchanged glances which seemed to convey some mutual understanding.

  Owens and Everleigh brought some wooden crates over from the far side of the loft and placed them near her as makeshift chairs. Once seated, Wellington motioned to Knight to tell the story.

  Catalina had not heard his discoveries, so she was also interested to hear the news.

  “Our timing was fortunate. I was able to search both Hill’s and Roberts’ tents while Lady Catalina stayed on lookout. Unfortunately, Dion must have been looking for us, because he sneaked up behind her and hit her over the head. He must have been watching us.”

  “I also felt him squeezing the veins on my neck,” she added.

  “A very efficient technique to make certain you passed out,” Wellington remarked.

  “Indeed,” she agreed. “I had been taught about it, but can testify to its effectiveness. Otherwise, I do not believe there is any lasting damage.”

  “I am relieved to hear it. I needed to see you for myself before I informed your father.”

  “¡Porque no!” she exclaimed. “Do not speak a word of this to him! Besides, it will compromise the operation.”

  The men looked at her strangely.

  “I believe my father to be innocent, but I would like to see him proven to be so that there is no doubt.”

  “Understandable, my lady. What else did you find, Knight?” Wellington asked.

  “As I said, very little. Besides Dion entering Roberts’ tent, there were love letters written in French, but I was interrupted before I could ascertain their contents to determine if they were coded.”

  Wellington frowned but continued to listen.

  “The only thing that struck me as odd in Hill’s tent was that his desk was covered in dispatches.”

  “Out in the open?” Wellington sounded appalled.

  “Precisely, but without the knowledge of your exact plans, I could not say if they were false or not. Perhaps he was trying to lure our perpetrator himself,” Knight suggested.

  “Do you think you could remember what you read?”

  “Not word for word, but the locations, yes.”

  “Excellent. I will have those from you before I leave.” He turned to Owens and Everleigh. “And was your evening successful?”

  “It was as dull as ditchwater,” Owens replied.

  “We searched both Mendoza and Molina, but there was nothing at all. Not so much as a hint of anything,” added Everleigh.

  Catalina had been unaware of Molina being under suspicion. He had been one of her most serious suitors.

  “It made me feel rather sorry for them,” Owens admitted.

  Catalina tried to stay neutral on the subject of her father, although she knew, even trying to look objectively, that it could not be done. However, it did not mean that Dion had not planted something.

  “You are notably quiet, my lady,” Wellington said to her, stirring her from her thoughts.

  “I have a little to add. I am trying to remain unbiased about my father, but I cannot help but think Dion might feel betrayed and try somehow to place something in order to implicate Father. It would be almost impossible to prove his innocence if that were the case.”

  “I had wondered if the information I had was not intended to mislead me. I am being overly cautious, perhaps, but I have over 100,000 lives to protect,” Wellington said gently.

  “I understand, my lord. I would do the same.”

  “I know you do, my lady, which is why you are still here and why your father has not been removed from command.”

  She turned her gaze slightly towards the captains. “If my father has anything worth hiding, it would be in a pocket within the lining of his hat. The problem is, he is rarely without it.”

  “Is Lieutenant Dion aware of this?” Everleigh asked.

  “It is possible, although I am unaware of Father using it, merely that it exists.”

  “It is worth looking at,” Owens said.

  “I should be the one to look,” Catalina said, knowing the impossibility of anyone else being able to do so.

  “Your order is to rest,” Major Knight said, eyeing her sternly.

  “Tomorrow, I want the two of you to look over the French positioning and see what you can learn,” Wellington said to Owens and Everleigh. “If all is as I wish, we will strike the day after.”

  “Yes, sir,” they answered.

  “Walk out with me, Knight, and you can give me those names.” Wellington moved forward from his crate to kneel before Catalina. “I am very glad you are unhurt, but I would like you to stay here tomorrow to recover. As you said, it is likely that Dion feels betrayed and he may not stop until he kills you or your father.”

  Catalina tried to nod as she fought back tears. She did not wish to show weakness, but she was in pain and Wellington was right. Dion probably had meant to kill her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Wellington and Felix both remained quiet until they were outside the barn. Felix saw Beckerman across the farmyard with the horses, allowing them to graze and drink from a trough. He also had no doubt that Beckerman was keeping a careful watch of the perimeter.

  Felix waited for his commander to speak.

  “Tell me what you read, although I believe I have already decided to make some changes. That way, if Hill is sending out his own dispatches, it will be obvious.” Wellington swallowed hard. Felix would not wish for his position for anything in the world. “Of course, there might be a simple explanation,” Wellington added.

  Except, Felix reflected, they both knew it was highly irregular. They kept everything in one location and it was guarded by two men at all times.

  “I assume you will not confront him?”

  “No. I do not wish for him to know I am watching him. He is one of my oldest friends, you know. I hope there is nothing to this.”

  Felix nodded, though he had no idea if Wellington could see him in the darkness.

  “I had best be going. I have much to deliberate upon, but I believe it might be best to march from here instead.” He shook Felix’s hand. “Take good care of Lady Catalina. She will need you.” With those cryptic words, Wellington took his horse from Beckerman, mounted and, with his batman following, rode away.

  Felix stood watching the stars for a few minutes before returning to the loft. It was time to bed down for the night, for who knew what tomorrow would bring. Possibilities were beginning to narrow down in his mind but first, there was Lady Catalina to attend to. For a good while that night, he had begun to wonder if she would ever wake. The thought of a world without her vitality was too much to bear. Thankfully, her wits had been about her when she had come to—even if dulled a little by the pain. He had seen a few men take blows to the head and be alive in body but gone in spirit. Thank God she was not one of those. He knew, in his heart, he would have to deal with his feelings at some point, and Wellington’s caution kept echoing in his thoughts. First, however, the traitor must be caught and Napoleon defeated. He had tyrannized Russia and Europe for too long, and would never be content with peace.

  Lady Catalina was already asleep by the time he climbed back up to the loft. Owens and Everleigh had made themselves snug beds of hay covered with blankets and were preparing for sleep. The three of them exchanged glances of understanding. They had worked together many times, and knew that tomorrow was likely to be a critical day. As he prepared his own bed and lay down to sleep, he prayed that Lady Catalina would obey the orders from the commander to rest. If he had to worry about her, he was afraid he would miss something critical. Closing his eyes, he tried to recall the dispatches in his mind’s eye, looking for a code.

  The nagging feeling that he was missing something would not go away.

  The next morning, Felix expected Lady Catalina to be
up and prepared to go searching with him to cast about for more intelligence, but she was seemingly willing to cooperate with Wellington’s orders. To be precise, she was rather blue-devilled.

  Owens and Everleigh kneeled beside her before they set out to scout the French position.

  “You will be careful?” she asked them.

  “Always,” Everleigh reassured her.

  Owens grinned. “Careful is not the word I would choose, my lady, but lucky.”

  She looked heavenward and crossed herself. “Your poor mother, if she only knew.”

  “She knows. Why do you think I was sent into the army, if not that she might worry generally instead of over each of my specific mishaps?” He laughed, and Lady Catalina shook her head.

  “Be off with you, then. Now I will lie here all day and worry about you.”

  “Today, just for you, I will make it my solemn vow to be careful,” he said valiantly, placing a hand on his heart. He bent over and smacked a loud kiss on her cheek before they took their leave.

  “The rogue,” she muttered as their footsteps descended on the ladder.

  “An appropriate term,” Felix agreed.

  “And where are you going?” she asked.

  He hesitated. He had already spoken with the farmer’s wife to make certain Lady Catalina would be looked in on and fed during the day, but he did not want to say his goal was to search General Mendoza’s hat.

  She looked at him in a searching way, still beautiful, but pale and in pain, to judge from the creases between her eyes.

  “The only time you will find Papa without his hat today is during siesta—if he is able to take one. His batman will often leave during that time.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  She held out her hand; kneeling beside her, he grasped it.

  “It is where you were going, is it not?”

  He gave a reluctant nod. “I did not wish to worry you.”

  She barked a laugh of disbelief and then winced with pain. “¡Imposible! Of course I will worry! I will do nothing but worry! But I know it must be done for my father’s sake as well as the war’s. My biggest fear is that the diablo, Dion, will have hidden something incriminating and my father will not realize it.”