Claiming the Chaperon's Heart (18 page)

‘Tell me,’ Jane said, ‘were you once in service to a lady, Sophie?’

‘Aye, my lady, I was—and a sweeter, gentler lady was never to be found. I loved her and stayed with her until she died of a fever and they turned me off; ’twas then I married Herb and came here—and there’s times I curse myself for a fool. He’s not a bad man, milady, but easily led—and my brother was never to be trusted, though as a boy none had a sweeter nature.’

‘Do you know what Captain Hershaw intends to do with me?’

‘Ah, you know him then,’ Sophie said and looked concerned. ‘It would be better had you not seen his face for he will not let you go now—for a crime such as he plans the penalty is death at the end of a rope.’

‘Do you know why he hates me?’

‘I doubt it’s you he hates, milady—but the man you care for. My man heard him in his cups one night, vowing to be even with his enemy. He thinks he can deal him a blow through you from which he will never recover.’

‘Did your man hear the reason for his hatred?’

‘None that he told me, but it seems it was something that happened long ago...’

‘Yes, I see,’ Jane said and bit her lip. ‘I think he means to hold me here to lure Lord Frant to his doom—and then he must kill me too...’

‘Aye, ’tis what I suspected from the start, milady. I’ve told Herb that if he stands by and does nothing I shall leave him...’

‘If you help me to escape I would see you all rewarded for your trouble.’

‘I dare say you would, milady, but money won’t help my Herb if the captain suspects us.’ Sophie gave her a measuring look. ‘I would help you but you must play your part—are you brave enough to fight for your life?’

‘Yes, I believe so,’ Jane said. ‘I have never had cause before—but what would you have me do?’

‘He has gone somewhere for the moment,’ Sophie told her. ‘When he returns for his meal he will probably call for drink. I could make sure that he became drunk more quickly than he thinks and when he comes to gloat over his prisoner, as he surely will...you must be ready.’ Sophie brought out a heavy iron bar with a hook on the end, used for hanging meat in the kitchen. ‘Hide behind the door when he comes and then hit him as hard as you can, but do not drop the weapon for I would not have him know I gave it to you...’

‘I shall do as you suggest,’ Jane promised and took the weapon from Sophie.

She was aware that even in his drunken state Hershaw would not be easy to knock down and if she attacked him he would most certainly retaliate—and yet she knew it was her only chance, for he could not let her live.

‘I wish I could simply let you go now while he’s out,’ Sophie told her. ‘Yet he is an evil man and I fear that he would kill us all.’

‘Have you considered that he may do so anyway when this is over?’ Jane said. ‘Once you have served your purpose it would be an unnecessary risk to let you live.’

‘Yes, I’ve considered it, but my man thinks he’s too useful to the captain,’ Sophie said and shook her head. ‘I think this mad venture will be the end of us all, milady—but I’ve done what I can for you and there’s an end to it.’

* * *

‘You know where they’ve taken her?’ Paul stared at Jack Harding with a mixture of disbelief and wonder. ‘How—please explain?’

‘I happened to see Lady March enter the park yesterday afternoon,’ Jack said. ‘She looked to be in distress and I wondered if I should go to her and ask what was wrong, but, knowing that you worried for her safety, instead I followed at a distance. For a moment I lost her as she sought the shade of some trees. Forgive me, Paul, it all happened so quickly and they had her before I could do anything. I was unarmed and there were four of them. I thought it best to follow and watch—and that is what I did.’

‘Is she in town? A prisoner in some low house?’

‘They had a carriage waiting and took her out of town. I had no horse, but I commandeered one from a friend who rode by in the park and followed. The house in which she is a prisoner is some two hours ride beyond the town, a deserted place tucked well away near some sheltering woods. I remained there all night and then I saw two young lads and asked if they would keep watch over the place. If anyone took a woman away they were to follow and discover the new hiding place and one must return to tell me when I came back...’

‘Do you think they will do as you ask?’

‘Yes, for I gave them half a guinea and promised the other half on my return—and one asked if I needed a groom and I said yes, I would take him if he did as I asked.’

Paul gripped his shoulder. ‘We must return at once. I shall send word to Jane’s brother and gather my men. I pray God that he has not harmed her.’

‘You know who took her then?’ Paul nodded grimly. ‘It was no surprise to me that Hershaw should be a villain. I have thought it but there was never any proof. He will not be admitted to any house in England again when I have finished with him.’

‘If I get my hands on him, he will not live,’ Paul muttered. ‘If he has harmed her I will see him dead before nightfall.’

‘Better to leave him to the law,’ Jack cautioned. ‘We have enough evidence to hang him now—and I would see justice done.’

A nerve flicked in Paul’s cheek and for a moment his hands clenched and then he smiled oddly. ‘It is as well you are here, my friend, for I have been in agony all night. I knew not where to search. I feared her already dead and my anger has been building. Yes, the law shall have him—but if they do not take his life I will...’

‘We must waste no more time in talking,’ Jack said. ‘Gather what you need and let us go. The longer she remains in that devil’s power, the more likely that he may harm her.’

* * *

It had been a long day for Jane, cooped up in the stuffy bedchamber with nothing to read and only water to drink. Sophie had brought her some soup and bread at midday, but since then no one had been near her. She thought someone had arrived an hour or so earlier, for she heard shouting downstairs, but since then nothing.

How long must she sit here and feel the anxiety gnawing at her stomach? She’d told Sophie that she would use force to protect herself but she knew she would find it difficult to strike hard enough to fell Hershaw, for he was a big man—and she could never bring herself to kill him, even though he might deserve it. She would beat him about the shoulders and body if she could and then make her escape.

As she heard sounds outside her room, her body tensed and she gripped the iron bar tightly, her heart racing with fear. Standing so that she would be behind the door when it opened, Jane took a deep breath. She would only have one chance to escape, for if she attacked and did not succeed she was sure he would kill her.

The door swung slowly back. A man entered and moved towards the bed, looking at the shape Jane had formed beneath the covers.

‘Still asleep, bitch?’ Hershaw demanded, his voice slightly slurred. Sophie had done her work well, plying him with strong drink and perhaps more.

Jane rushed at him and struck a blow against his back. He gave a yell of pain and rage and turned on her, his eyes blazing. Jane struck out again and caught him on the shoulder, but it was her last blow for he caught the bar and held it, wrenching it from her by force of his superior strength.

‘You damned bitch!’ Hershaw cried. ‘Murder me, would you? I’ll see you in the ground afore the night is done, but first I’ll have a taste of what you give to him...’

‘No!’ Jane struggled as he grabbed her by the arms. ‘Don’t you dare touch me, you filthy brute.’ She pushed him back and then heard sounds in the house. Shouting and screaming and one shot and then Sophie’s voice yelling in anger. Hershaw grinned and looked towards the door. ‘He comes at last—the one I hate...and he shall see you die before his eyes.’

To Jane’s horror, she saw him pull a pistol from inside his jerkin and point it at her. His hand was not quite steady but his finger was on the trigger. Did he mean to kill her or Paul first?

She heard voices outside the door. It was flung back and Paul charged in, armed with two pistols, Jack Harding close behind.

‘Stay where you are,’ Hershaw warned. ‘I shall kill her before you can get to her, Frant. You may kill me but come one step closer and she dies first.’

‘Don’t be a fool,’ Paul said and Jane thought that she had never seen him look so grim. ‘I have this place surrounded. You cannot get away. If I don’t kill you, one of my men will...’

‘Do you think I care what happens to me once I have my revenge? You took all from me when you made those charges against me...and she swore to me that you had ruined her life. Her child is yours and you plan to marry another...and now I have been told she lies ill on her bed in India because of what you did, her child lost and her mind wandering...’

‘If you speak of Annamarie, I am sorry to hear of her tragedy but she was never my wife and I have never laid a finger on her,’ Paul said calmly. ‘If she lied, it was because she hoped you might do something foolish—but I have only your word that she named me when she knew it was a lie...’

‘Damn you, Frant, I loved her and I’ll have your life for her pain if I die for it...’ Hershaw took a firmer aim, holding his right arm with his left in an effort to keep it steady. His finger was on the trigger when Jane bent to retrieve the iron bar and struck. She brought it down on his arm with all the force she possessed. He screamed in pain and his finger squeezed before the pistol dropped to the floor and the ball embedded itself in the wall. ‘You bitch...’ He lunged at Jane but before he touched her Paul’s pistol spoke and the ball struck his leg. He fell, writhing in pain and cursing them both. ‘I should have killed her first...’ he muttered and promptly passed out.

‘Jane, are you hurt?’ Paul asked as he covered the ground between them and drew her into his embrace. ‘Forgive me, I should have instructed my men to keep a closer watch, but I did not expect him to abduct you. Oh, my love, I have been so afraid. I knew he hated me, but not the extent of his hatred or the true reason for it.’

‘Annamarie—is she the Indian Princess that Lady Catherine said was your wife?’

‘Yes. She is very beautiful in her way,’ Paul said gravely. ‘I think she expects homage and if she does not get it, it makes her angry. I angered her because she made it clear she wished to be my wife and live in my palace but I ignored her—indeed, I am guilty of treating her as though she was a spoiled child. I did not think her capable of such lies...and I pity Hershaw, for she would never have had him. Yet I pity Adam more, for she is his wife...and I must tell him what Hershaw revealed and I know it will cause him pain.’

‘And the child is his?’

‘Yes, so he claims, but I wonder...’

‘Poor Adam,’ Jane said softly, for she understood what he meant. This woman who would lie to set one man against another was not to be trusted and her child might already have been conceived before she married him, but it was not for either of them to speculate. ‘No wonder he was adamant that he could not marry Melia—and yet it was not kind in him to lead her on...’

‘No, and I have told him. I think he regrets it now...as he regrets other things, but he will return to India and live in the palace that I have given him. He will be my agent there, for I shall never return to India. My home is here now, Jane, with you...’

‘Oh, Paul, forgive me for causing you so much trouble. I was distressed and did not think what I was doing...’

‘Do not think of it,’ he said and kissed her softly. ‘Come, I shall take you to the carriage and you will return to town with your brother. I must remain here until the magistrates have been and have this rogue under lock and key.’

‘Is Will here?’

‘Downstairs, seeing to the woman and her husband, I imagine. He knew I should not be satisfied unless I dealt with the rogue myself, though he would have come had I not told him his part was keeping an eye on the others.’

‘Be careful, Paul. He would still kill you if he could and he is only unconscious...’

‘His men have dispersed,’ Paul said. ‘Only one of them put up a fight and once Jack fired over his head, he surrendered and begged pardon. He claims he was forced to help Hershaw and I believe him.’

‘Yes, I am sure it was so,’ Jane said and sighed. ‘Must you truly stay?’

‘Yes, for my word will be needed; otherwise Hershaw will lay false charges. I must see this thing through, my love—but when all is done I shall come to you and we shall begin to plan our wedding...’

‘Was he the reason you wanted to keep our understanding secret?’

‘He had already made three attempts on my life—and then he heard from someone that we were promised to each other and changed his plans to include you...’

‘Three attempts to kill you...’ Jane stared as the horror of it finally hit her and she realised how close they had both come to death. ‘You did not tell me.’

‘I did not want you to worry for my sake, but I did not suspect that he intended to harm me through you until I was told of the rumours. I made arrangements for someone to watch over you, but for some reason my man did not see you leave your house. But I hardly thought Hershaw would kidnap you and hold you hostage in order to torture me before he killed us both.’

‘Paul...he must be evil or mad...’

‘Perhaps a mixture of both,’ Paul said. ‘I believe he had a run of bad luck on the horses recently. He tried to make up for his ill luck at the tables and was caught placing a card he had secreted from his sleeve into his hand. He managed to hush it up, but once the story got round he would have been ostracised and I think he lived by what he managed to win cheating some young fool at the tables.’

‘And so he decided to take his anger out on you—is that it?’

‘Yes, it seems that way.’

‘Who told you all this?’

‘Adam told me when he learned of your abduction. One night when Hershaw was in his cups he’d spoken of his misfortunes and blamed you, though his reasons were incoherent...’

‘Why did Adam not tell you before?’

‘He had his reasons,’ Paul said. ‘Perhaps he too felt some jealousy, Jane—but it is over now and we are friends again. He will return to India to his wife and I shall stay here and run my stables...and marry you, if you will have me.’