Jaded Moon (Ransomed Jewels Book 2) (20 page)

“He looks…so perfect.”

“He is. The world hasn’t had time to spoil him yet.”

The marquess lovingly brushed his hand across Charlie’s forehead once more then rose. There was a soft look on his face as he watched his son sleep and the lump in her throat grew larger. The wall she’d erected to keep the hurt away crumbled and she felt herself weakening. A voice from deep inside her issued a warning to keep her distance from him but she ignored it. Instead, she did the worst thing imaginable. She reached out and took his hand in hers.

Huge tears filled his eyes, then spilled over his lashes and ran down his face, but he didn’t brush them away. He squeezed her fingers tighter while the tears ran unabashedly down his face.

Josie’s heart ached until she thought it might break. The barrier she’d erected to protect herself crumbled even more when he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held her close to him. If she hadn’t been sure before, she knew in that moment it was far too late to stop herself from loving a man who had the power to destroy her.

…

Ross paced to the window and looked down the lane, waiting for any sign that Sam and McCormick were here. Sam had written to expect them Wednesday and it was nearing four o’clock in the afternoon. He expected them any moment. They wouldn’t want to miss the shipment if it came tonight.

His blood raced in his veins and his heart pounded in his chest. The time had finally come when he could accomplish what he’d set out to do; when he could erase at least some of the black marks against his name. Knowing that he’d helped to save one life from the deadly drugs the smugglers were bringing into the country was the first step in redeeming the Rainforth name.

One was not such a monumental number, but it was the first step to make up for the many his father had taken. Only when the smugglers were stopped could his son grow up proud to be a Bennett. And proud to have the Marquess of Rainforth as his father.

Watching his son as he slept had made him realize how desperately he wanted Charlie to be proud of him. Standing with Josephine Foley’s hand nestled solidly in his made him realize how much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

He nearly laughed out loud. He didn’t know when he knew he wanted her as his wife. Perhaps when she’d stood up to him the first time he’d come to the orphanage to find his son and wouldn’t back down. Perhaps when she hid his son from him to protect the boy. If not then, then certainly it had been at the dinner party when Lady Lindville had openly tried to discredit him and she’d come to his aid.

But if not then, it had been the night they’d made love and she’d trusted him with not only her body, but her heart. From that moment on, he’d known he couldn’t live another day without her.

Ross paced across the room and back, then looked out the window to the drive leading from the lane. Two men rode toward the house.

Ross turned toward the door and waited until Sam and McCormick entered the room.

“What have you found out?” Sam asked before he’d barely tasted the whiskey Ross had offered them.

Ross fought the rush of excitement. “I know where and I’m sure I know who. The when is a guess, but my suggestion would be that the two of you get something to eat then rest awhile. I can almost promise you it’s going to be a bloody long night.

Ross crouched behind the boulder near the cliffs and watched the three small boats come ashore. He was struck again by how absolutely perfect this spot was. Someone had scouted the area and chosen this particular site with smuggling in mind.

If the ship carrying the contraband anchored far enough out to sea—as this one had—the sharp rise of the cliffs hid a narrow strip of water where smaller boats could come ashore without being detected. Only one spot provided an unobstructed view of what was going on below—the spot where Ross sat right now.

Unfortunately, there was no way for anyone to reach the smugglers from this high up, which was why Sam and McCormick and the dozen or so men they’d brought with them were posted down below on either side of the area. This put them at the disadvantage of not being able to see what was going on, but close enough so when Ross gave the signal, they could converge on the smugglers and arrest them before they could escape.

Ross looked down at the flares at his feet and bent to pick one up. He’d waited more than a month for this night to happen. He couldn’t believe he’d been given the chance to do something good to make up for all the evil his father had done. Not that he would have cared two months ago if his name were connected with the capture and prosecution of the smugglers. But he had a son to consider now. He needed to give Charlie a name he could be proud of.

He looked up to the sky. It was a perfect night. The moon was full and the area shone so bright he could almost see the expressions on the sailors’ faces as they rowed the boats ashore.

Ross remembered his conversation with Josie about a full, ‘magical’ moon. Tonight would be a night of magic and miracles. A night when he would start a new life with Josie at his side. Together they would provide a stable, loving home for Charlie, and perhaps even a baby brother or sister in a year’s time.

Ross thought of the two times he’d lain with her and felt a rush of something he never thought he’d feel. Perhaps a babe already grew inside her. Perhaps they’d have a daughter who’d have Josie’s bright eyes and golden beauty. Or, if not a daughter, then another son blessed with Josie’s winning smile and sharp intelligence.

Lady Clythebrook had wanted to take her to London to experience a part of life she would never know if she stayed here in Clytheborough. Well, he intended to take her to London too, but not just to see the sights. He would take her as his wife.

He’d introduce her to the cream of Society and escort her to the theater and the opera and ball after ball. He’d dress her in the finest clothes money could buy and shower her with so much love and affection it would shock everyone who’d known him before. He’d prove to all the skeptics who didn’t think it was possible for him to be faithful to one woman how wrong they’d been.

And if she wanted, he’d stand at her side when she met her father. For no other reason than that the man would know how much he’d given up when he’d abandoned her.

Ross looked over the cliff to watch the progress. His heart raced faster in anticipation. Two sailors manned each boat and were close enough that Ross could see their cargo. From what Sam had discovered, the opium would come in small bundles about a foot square. The raw opium was wrapped in poppy leaves and cotton to keep it dry and was relatively light weight and easy to transport. Only one of the boats looked like its cargo fit that description. Ross watched that boat with particular interest.

When the boats reached the sandy beach, six men jumped out. The captain said something to the men then walked toward the mouth of the cave in front of him. Ross leaned forward, hoping whoever the captain was talking to would step far enough out in the open to be recognized, but he didn’t.

Ross suspected it was Lindville. Every detail he’d learned about the smuggling operation made Lindville the prime candidate, from his adamant objection to Ross using the land, to the red mark he was sure Lindville had put on Josie’s face. Even if redeeming his name wasn’t reason enough to put a stop to the smuggling, keeping Josie safe from Lindville’s threats was.

Ross rolled the long, heavy flare between his fingers, but didn’t light the wick. Sam had been very explicit in his instructions not to send the signal too soon. Ross was to wait until the men were busy unloading the opium bundles so there would be little chance any of them could escape. It was important that they catch
everyone
involved, from the captain who brought the opium ashore, to the person at the head of the smuggling ring. Oh, yes. Especially the person who was the mastermind behind the smuggling operation—the person standing below him right now.

The captain came out of the shadows and walked to the men guarding the shipment. Ross pulled the matches from his pocket and took one from the box. It was almost time. He stayed where he could see every movement from below and held the match steady, ready to light. The minute the men unloaded the last of the opium, he’d set off the flare so Sam and McCormick could converge on the smugglers and make the arrest. It was a well-planned operation, guaranteed to put everyone involved swinging from the end of a rope.

Ross stayed ready. He swiped his damp palms against his pant legs. It was happening. The moment he’d been waiting for was unfolding before his eyes.

The captain turned back and said something to the person standing in the shadows, then motioned to his men. There was a scurrying from below. One of the men picked up the first bundle of opium and carried it ashore.

Ross stuck the flare into the ground and waited. His heart thundered in his chest as he watched the boat containing the opium empty. It was nearly time. He’d been given a second chance to redeem his name and nothing would stop him. Charlie’s future depended on it.

When one of the sailors lifted the last bundle out of the boat, Ross struck the match and turned to light the flare.

A movement from below drew his attention and he glanced down just as the person hiding in the shadows stepped into the moonlight. Recognition hit him with a force so painful it nearly took him to his knees.

He closed his eyes, praying that when he opened them Josie wouldn’t be standing below with the full, ‘magical’ moon illumining her features and the last bundle of opium passing before her. He froze, unable to breathe; unable to move.

Light the flare!
a voice inside him ordered. But he couldn’t.

Blood roared through his head, pounding against his ears like great clashes of thunder that stole the air form his lungs. Every part of his body was numb with shock and disbelief.

Light the flare!

He’d imagined so many different outcomes to tonight, the best being the smugglers would be captured and all would end well. The worst, that a gun battle would break out and someone would be injured, perhaps even killed. But not once had he thought he’d have to choose between his family’s honor and the woman he loved.

Light the flare!

Ross looked down onto the sandy beach. Josie stood like a sentinel while the men around her unloaded the rest of the smuggled contraband. They were nearly finished. If he was going to send the signal he had to do it now.

He turned his gaze back to the flare at his feet. Then stopped.

How could he light the flare, then live with himself when the woman he loved was hanged for her part in the smuggling?

Ross didn’t feel the match burn his fingers. He dropped the charred stick to the ground where it flickered and died—along with any hope he had to redeem his name.

A painful grip tightened in his chest. He pulled air into his lungs and pushed it back out even though his body didn’t want to function any more. Every instinct he possessed warned him to turn away from what was happening but he couldn’t lift his gaze.

The small boats were unloaded now. There was still time to light the flare but he had to do it now.

Now.

Instead, he was unable to move as if he were a marble statue.

The men pushed the small boats away from shore and still he didn’t move. He watched as their outlines became smaller and smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared. At last he tore his gaze away from the ship sailing out of the cove and looked back to where Josie had been. She was nowhere in sight. She’d undoubtedly gone back into the cave where the smuggled goods were stored.

He tried to imagine what she was doing. Perhaps counting the goods that had arrived and estimating the profits she’d made from tonight’s delivery. Perhaps offering thanks to her magical moon that had brought her perverse, jaded miracle. Perhaps thinking of what she could buy for herself and for—

That thought stopped him short. Something wasn’t right, but his mind was too numb to figure out what it might be.

Bloody hell
! She was an opium smuggler. She’d destroyed as many lives as her father. And he loved her!

He tried to put the pieces together but they wouldn’t fit. How could she be involved in something so horrific? This was the woman who’d made one sacrifice after another for the children. Who’d tried to keep his son from him because of his reputation. Who kept the children at the orphanage long after they were considered old enough to leave because she wanted to protect them. Had she resorted to smuggling to provide for the children?

She had. He knew she had. This was why she’d been so opposed to his cattle venture. This was why she’d warned him to stay away from this part of the estate. This was why she’d bargained with Lady Clythebrook for one more month. Because of the shipment she knew was coming in tonight.

His mind whirled in confusion as he argued her case. For some reason a part of him still didn’t want her to be guilty. Even after seeing her standing there while they unloaded the opium, he still wanted her to be innocent.

But she wasn’t.

Ross stood on the cliff overlooking the cove, as still as if he’d been chiseled from granite. The ship was nearly out of sight now. The reality of what he’d done cut deep into him with the deadly aim of a rapier. He’d sacrificed his honor to save her. He’d thrown away his chance to redeem the Rainforth name rather than hand her over to the authorities. He’d lost everything he’d hoped to achieve.

“Rainforth!”

The sound of heavy footsteps pounding against the hard ground behind him was all the warning he had. The fury he heard in McCormick’s voice should have set his heart thundering in his chest. But he was too numb to have much reaction at all.

“What the hell have you done?”

He set his shoulders and watched the empty spot where the ship had been. Somehow he’d get through this like he’d gotten through the days and weeks after he’d discovered what his father had done.

“That was the ship!” McCormick bellowed. “You let them get away!”

Ross stepped back from the edge of the cliff and turned to face his accusers. The blatant fury on McCormick’s face was plain to see. The vicious rage was an emotion Ross could deal with. He understood it. It was even an emotion he knew he would feel as soon as the numbness wore off and what he’d done set in.

What he couldn’t deal with was the harsh disappointment he saw on Sam’s face; the restrained anger Sam didn’t put into words; the coldness in his eyes and the open confusion that said no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t come up with one reason why Ross had done what he had.

McCormick stepped in front of him and bellowed in his face.

“You’re ruined, Rainforth. If you think your name was worthless before, the disgrace you suffered was nothing compared to the mud people will sling at it as soon as what you did tonight is common knowledge. And don’t think it won’t be. The twelve men with me can’t wait to get back to London to spread how you’re the second generation of Rainforths to betray his country.”

“That’s enough, McCormick,” Sam said. “Why don’t you see if the men have found anything.”

“You know they won’t find anything,” McCormick fired back, his voice brimming with anger. “Rainforth made sure the smugglers got away. What I want to know is why? How much is your cut from the smuggling?”

Ross felt the barb and fought the urge to throw his fist in McCormick’s face. Sam handled the comment much better.

“Check on the men, McCormick. Let me know if they’ve found anything.”

Ross heard McCormick stomp off and he was left alone with Sam. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on here, Ross?”

Another cloud covered the moon’s brightness. It cast them in semi-darkness that erased everything except the gentle slapping sound of the waves rolling ashore.

“Answer me, dammit! What the hell happened?”

Ross opened his mouth to say something. Anything. But no words would come. At least none that could justify the magnitude of what he’d just done. He closed his mouth and didn’t try.

He saw a flash of anger, then concern in Sam’s eyes. He turned away.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Ross, but be careful. These are dangerous men and you can’t fight them alone.”

Ross arched his brows. “What makes you think I intend to fight anyone? You heard McCormick. I’m the second generation of Rainforths to betray my country.”

Ross ignored Sam’s harsh expletive and stared at the spot where he’d last seen the ship. He knew Sam didn’t intend to let his statement go unanswered, but McCormick coming toward them stopped him.