A Breath of Scandal (24 page)

Despite his confusion he still made love to Lara each night in the privacy of their wagon, even though he knew it might result in Lara’s pregnancy.
What in bloody hell was wrong with him?
He didn’t even take the usual precautions.

One week after Julian joined the Romany, uninvited visitors rode into camp. Julian was consulting with Pietro about the horses when they arrived.

A curse rasped past Julian’s lips. “ ’Tis Crockett and his cohorts. They’re looking for me. How in the hell did they know where to find me? Unless … do you suppose Lord Stanhope sent them here?” Julian’s lips compressed into a thin line. “I was hoping he wasn’t involved, but now”—he shrugged—“the evidence against him is growing.”

“No,” Pietro maintained. “Lord Stanhope would never place his daughter in danger. I will send them on their way. Try to remain inconspicuous while I speak with them.”

Julian hung back as the Rom gathered in a knot around Pietro.

“This is private land,” Pietro said. “You are trespassing.”

Crockett gave a dismissive gesture. “We’re looking for a man. Ye lied to us before. The man we sought was in yer camp but ye were protecting him. I will ask one more time. Who among yer people is not Romany?”

“We are all Romany,” Pietro said. “We have Lord Stanhope’s permission to camp on his land during the winter months. I can personally vouch for each and every man, woman, and child in my caravan.”

Crockett appeared unconvinced. “Very well, if that’s the way ye want it. My mates will search the wagons.”

The six men accompanying Crockett dismounted and fanned out toward the wagons. Frantic, Julian searched for Lara and failed to find her. He recalled seeing her walking down to the stream for water and prayed she wouldn’t return until the danger was over. While Crockett spoke with Pietro, Julian drifted out of sight behind a wagon. He was still close enough to watch and listen without being seen. Before he’d let one Rom suffer, he’d give himself up.

“Look what I found!”

The shout came from behind Crockett. Julian stifled a groan when he saw a thug coming up the path from the stream, pulling Lara along behind him.

Crockett smiled. “ ’Tis Stanhope’s daughter. If she’s here, Scorpion can’t be far away.”

“Release my granddaughter!” Pietro demanded.

“Be quiet, old man,” Crockett hissed. “I just want to ask the wench a few questions.”

Julian went rigid with fear when Lara was dragged before Crockett.

“Where is Scorpion?” Crockett asked harshly.

Lara’s chin rose defiantly and Julian had never been more proud of her. She had more grit than some Englishmen he knew. More than was wise.

“I don’t know who or what you’re talking about,” Lara claimed. “A scorpion is a bug, isn’t it? We don’t have them in England.”

Crockett raised his hand as if to slap her and outrage burst inside Julian. A growl rumbled in his chest as he prepared to charge from behind the wagon and launch himself at Crockett. Fortunately intervention wasn’t necessary. Pietro stayed Crockett’s hand with a few well-chosen words.

“There are more of us than you. I’d think twice before hurting my granddaughter.”

Crockett gave Lara a murderous look and shoved her into Pietro’s arms. “Aye, we don’t need the wench. We’ll find Scorpion without her. Search the wagons, men. He’s got to be here someplace.”

Pietro handed Lara over to Ramona, who quickly whisked her out of harm’s way.

“They want Julian, Grandmother,” Lara whispered. “Do you know where he is?”

“No, little one. But let’s hope he had the good sense to hide where those men can’t find him.”

Julian sat on the horns of dilemma. Showing himself could prove fatal. But standing by and letting Crockett and his cohorts manhandle his Romany friends didn’t set well with him. Had they hurt Lara, he wouldn’t have hesitated to retaliate, even if it meant losing his life in the bargain.

He glanced back at Lara and was surprised to find that she was no longer standing where he had last seen her. Ramona was there, but not Lara. Where had she disappeared to?

There was no help for it. He took one step from his concealment when someone grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back.

“No! Stay.”

Julian spun around. “Lara? How did you know?”

“I saw you, and so will those men if you don’t find a better hiding place. The grass is tall here. Get down on your belly and crawl to the wooded area behind the wagons.”

Julian wagged his head. “I want to be where I can watch. I’ll give myself up before I’ll let them hurt your family.”

“Pietro and the others can take care of themselves, they’re used to it. Have you ever seen a Romany use a knife?”

Julian let that sink in. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“They won’t hurt me. Pietro and the others will protect me. Go!”

Julian didn’t like it, not one damn bit. “No. I’ll only go if you come with me.”

Rough voices sounded from inside the wagon behind which Julian crouched, warning him that it was only a matter of time before he was flushed out. Lara must have come to the same conclusion for she clutched his arm and whispered urgently, “Very well. Lead the way.”

Julian dropped down on his belly and slithered through the high grass into the wooded area behind the wagon. He looked back over his shoulder once, could not see Lara crouching behind the wagon, and assumed she was following behind him. It wasn’t until he reached the forest and hid behind a sturdy tree trunk that he realized Lara hadn’t followed.

“Bloody hell!”

Then he saw her. Even from a distance he recognized the proud tilt of her shoulders, the defiant angle of her chin. She was standing with Ramona, watching the smugglers make a shambles of their wagons.

Lara glanced over her shoulder toward the wooded area and prayed that Julian would remain hidden. She’d hated to deceive him but felt it would be too conspicuous for both of them to disappear at once. The men had given up the search, she noted, and were reporting back to Crockett.

“I must go to Pietro,” Ramona said when Crockett turned his angry gaze on Pietro. “Stay here, little one.”

“Where is Drago?” Rondo asked as he sidled up to join Lara.

“Hiding in the woods. I’m hoping he’ll remain there until the danger is over.”

“Who is Scorpion? In what manner of dangerous business is your man involved? I do not like this, Lara.”

“I cannot say,” Lara said. “Hush, listen.”

Crockett made a motion for quiet. “A purse of gold to anyone with information about the man known as Scorpion. I know he has been here. He is a dangerous man. The right information could line yer pockets with gold. Think about it. We will camp nearby tonight should anyone wish to unburden himself.”

“My people know nothing,” Pietro insisted. “Leave. You are not wanted here.”

“We shall see, old man. Perhaps there is one among you who knows something and is willing to talk. Look for my camp to the south.”

Lara watched with trepidation as Crockett wheeled his mount and trotted off. She didn’t like the way Rondo stared after the men, or the way his eyes had bulged when he’d heard about the purse of gold. But she felt reasonably certain Rondo would not betray Julian for fear of earning Pietro’s wrath.

“I’d best go see to the horses,” Rondo said, striding off toward the corral.

Lara felt a prickling of disquiet crawl up her spine, then promptly dismissed it. She was becoming paranoid. She trusted Rondo. He’d do nothing to hurt her. She glanced toward the forest where Julian was concealed and sidled off in that direction. She found Julian leaning against a thick elm.

“What happened?” Julian asked, clutching her in his arms and bringing her against him.

“Crockett offered a purse of gold for information about you. He’s camped nearby, waiting for someone to accept his offer. But don’t worry, no Rom will betray you.”

“I’m not so sure,” Julian muttered beneath his breath.

“Stay here. Wait till dark to return to the wagon.”

“You know what this means, don’t you, Lara?”

Lara did indeed know. “Aye, but where will you go?”

“Back to London. I won’t rest until I run the Jackal to ground.”

“Aren’t there are others who can do that as well as you?”

“No. It has to be me. I’ve narrowed the field of suspects down to three. Another week or two of intensive investigation should yield the results I need. I have to do this, Lara. I’ve explained all this before.”

Lara pushed herself away from him. “Of course. I understand perfectly. I must return to camp before I’m missed. Remember, don’t return until after dark. We’ll discuss this more fully then.”

Julian reached for her but she slithered away, losing herself in the deepening shadows.

The evening hour approached. Cooking fires popped up all over the camp. Lara helped Ramona prepare their meal, remaining alert for trouble. A cool breeze wafted through the trees. She shivered. It was too cold to eat outside so she took her plate into her wagon and lit the brazier for warmth. She glanced out the window, wishing Julian was here with her.

She was staring absently out the window when she saw Rondo slip away from camp and disappear into the shadows. Alarm bells went off in Lara’s head. Where was he going? He usually took his supper with his sister and her family. Curiosity got the best of her. Grabbing a wrap from a hook, she left her wagon and hurried after Rondo.

Lara was relieved to see that Rondo didn’t appear to be looking for Julian, though he did seem to know precisely where he was going. She followed behind at a discreet distance, grateful for the darkening skies.

The walk wasn’t a short one. Her legs began to ache and she was panting when Rondo suddenly stopped, looked around him, then ducked through a hedgerow. Lara crept forward until she reached the place in the hedgerow through which Rondo had disappeared. Crouching low, she peered through the narrow opening, stunned at what she saw. Hurt and betrayal would better describe her feeling.

Rondo had led her directly to Crockett’s camp!

Crockett saw Rondo and rose from his seat beside the campfire to greet him. She strained forward to listen to their conversation. What she heard made her heart pound violently in her chest.

“I suppose you’re here for the gold,” Crockett said with a sneer.

“Aye,” Rondo answered. “I have information about the Englishman you seek.”

“Speak, Gypsy. You’ll have yer gold if yer information pleases me.”

“The man you call Scorpion is in our camp.”

“My men searched every wagon.”

“I know, but Drago wouldn’t go anywhere without Lara, and she’s still here.”

“Drago?”

“Aye, ’tis what we call him. No one knows his real name, except perhaps for Lara and her grandparents.”

“I’ve been told Scorpion wears many guises,” Crockett mused thoughtfully.

“Who told you he’d be here?” Rondo asked curiously.

“The Jackal has his ways. Why are ye so anxious to betray Scorpion?”

“What does the Jackal want with him?” Rondo shot back.

“He knows too much about our operation. The Jackal wants him dead.”

“The Jackal?”

“Aye, and ’tis all you’re getting from me. Tell me what you know.”

“I don’t know anything about Scorpion, but Drago is hiding in the woods. You’ll find him in Lara’s wagon. ’Tis the blue and green one with the red door. You’re not to hurt Lara, is that clear?”

“We’ll not touch the wench. Unless you’re lying. If we fail to find Scorpion, we’ve instructions to take the wench. The Jackal believes the girl can be used to flush Scorpion from hiding.”

“I guarantee you’ll find Scorpion in Lara’s wagon, sleeping in her arms,” Rondo said bitterly. “Leave Lara out of this.”

Lara was shocked by Rondo’s betrayal. Why was he doing this? The answer was given a few moments later.

“Yer jealous!” Crockett crowed. “Ye want the wench for yerself.” He gave a bark of laughter. “I understand now why yer betraying Scorpion. I hope the wench is worth it.”

Crockett reached beneath his coat and removed a purse. He counted out half the glittering coins and placed them in Rondo’s palm. “Ye’ll get the rest when we have Scorpion. Come, share a bottle with us to seal our bargain.”

Lara had heard enough. With the agility of a young doe, she took to her heels. There was much to be done before Crockett returned for Julian. Her side ached and her breath was nearly gone when she tripped past the burning embers of their campfire and rapped on Pietro’s door. A few minutes later, Pietro answered her summons. He saw Lara and hurried her inside.

“What is it, little one? Is it Drago? Have the
gadje
found him?”

“No. Oh, Grandfather, I cannot believe it.”

Ramona appeared beside Pietro, her voluminous nightgown billowing around her ample figure. “Tell us what happened.”

“There is little time. I saw Rondo leave his wagon and followed him to the
gadje
camp. He spoke with their leader. He betrayed Julian and accepted their gold. We cannot stay here. I must find Julian and leave before the
gadje
come for him.”

“Once you are safely away, Rondo will be punished,” Pietro promised. He wagged his head. “Why would he do such a thing?”

Ramona gave him an exasperated look. “Think old man. Rondo wants Lara and he’s smart enough to realize that Drago stands in his way.”

“Rondo has always known that Lara would marry a
gadjo
one day,” Pietro said. “ ’Twas her father’s wish.”

“Sometimes hot-blooded young men think with the organ hanging between their legs,” Ramona said disparagingly.

“How did the
gadje
know to come here for Drago?” Pietro asked, stroking his mustache thoughtfully.

“A man called the Jackal told them where to look,” Lara explained. “I fear that Julian is right … I fear Papa might be involved in all this. I didn’t want to believe it,” she wailed in despair.

“Things are not always what they seem,” Ramona intoned cryptically. “But you are right about one thing. You and Drago are no longer safe here. Go pack your things. Pietro will saddle horses for you. The carriage you arrived in will only be a hindrance where you’re going. I will pack food for your journey.”