Silver Sea (15 page)

She tried to smile. "I do trust you, but perhaps I ought to carry some sort of weapon, just in case..."

* * *

By the time Adrienne emerged from the bookbinder's narrow shop on Parchment Street, Huntsford Harms was nearly mad with anxiety. The church bells had just chimed four, and his watch showed several minutes past the hour. Had Adrienne not said that she wanted to stroll Riverside Walk at four o'clock? Frakes-Hogg would have him drawn and quartered if this bit of muslin changed her mind!

Appearing quite unconcerned with the time, she approached the landaulet they'd driven from Harms Castle to Winchester with an eager stableboy hanging on the back as the tiger. It was hot, but Adrienne was calm and ravishing in a pale-blue walking dress topped by a short pretty spencer in a striking shade of canary yellow. Her bright curls spilled round her shoulders, and her face was framed by a chipstraw bonnet edged with a crisp frill. In spite of his state of near panic, Harms couldn't help salivating in Adrienne Beauvisage's company. She was exquisite.

"Why, Lord Harms, you're looking awfully pale," she teased as he handed her into the landaulet. "Or is that intentional?"

"The mark of a gentleman,
n'est-ce pas?
It's what separates me from plebeians like Nathan Essex." As he spoke, Harms consulted his watch once again. "I gather that you lost track of the time, my dear. You wanted to be walking along the river by now."

"Oh, yes." A pretty shade of pink washed her cheeks. "Perhaps you can drop me there, my lord. You won't mind if I walk alone?"

"No, no, not at all!" He couldn't suppress a burst of relieved laughter as the pair of chestnuts moved into the traffic on St. George's Street. "I understand
completely!"

The bells of Winchester Cathedral were marking the quarter hour when Harms reined in the horses next to the massive walls of Wolvesey Castle. Built in the twelfth century as a bishop's palace, the castle had been destroyed by Cromwell, leaving only ruins and the great walls that fronted the River Itchen. Today, in the heat of the afternoon, the river rushed past a brick and tile mill a short distance to the north, and a cornflower-blue sky was reflected in the sparkling water.

"I'll let you out here, then," Huntsford Harms said. He jumped down and hurried around to offer Adrienne his hand.

"I heard that there was part of the old Roman wall nearby...." She looked around with a trace of worry in her green eyes. "Won't you show me?"

"Over there." He pointed. "I have to visit a sick friend. I'll return in a short while to get you." Then, before she could say good-bye, he flicked the reins and started away. Once around the corner, however, Harms came to another stop. He handed the chestnuts over to the tiger, slipped him a guinea, and charged him to guard the landaulet and pair with his life. Then he started up the nearest set of tower steps leading to the castle's wall walk. Once on top, Harms could watch everything that transpired between Walter Frakes-Hogg and the unsuspecting Adrienne Beauvisage.

It really was a shame that she had to be so lovely and charming—and so kind to his mother....

* * *

There was nothing in her manner to betray the racing of her heart. In fact, to be certain that Walter Frakes-Hogg did not mistake her, Adrienne loosened the strings of her bonnet and let it fall backward so that her hair and face were fully revealed.

Her step was brisk upon the cobbles, and she breathed deeply of the fresh sunny air. Now and then she paused to gaze out over the River Itchen, or south to the water meadows that led to the medieval almshouse known as St. Cross Hospital. A casual observer would conclude that Adrienne Beauvisage was enjoying herself. Smiling slightly, she realized that, perversely, it was true. The scent of danger was intoxicating.

Of course, it was easier to savor the moment's thrill knowing that Nathan was nearby, poised to rescue her from the villain....

Just then, as Adrienne was beginning to relax, a tall man came hurrying silently across the stone bridge, his head bent. He wore a voluminous gray silk cape and a tall hat. His hands were hidden. Adrienne felt paralyzed, and it came to her that Nathan's position near the Roman wall afforded him a view up and down Riverside Walk but none back over the bridge.

She turned away, walking rapidly, suddenly quite terrified. It was difficult to breathe. Blood rushed to Adrienne's head with each thud of her heart.

Footsteps approached behind her. She wanted to scream, but no sound emerged.

"I am flattered that you recognized me, sweet," a low, silky voice declared at her shoulder. "Stop now."

And she did. He had her elbow; his fingers pinched like tongs. Waves of panic swept over her. What if Nathan couldn't see them? What if Walter killed her outright, perhaps plunging a dagger into her heart, before he could come? How silly she'd been to imagine that this was some sort of lark, or that she might've had the courage or dexterity to use the little paring knife fastened up her left sleeve. Frakes-Hogg saw to it that her right arm was immobilized.

"I have a score to settle with you, sweet. Let us walk into that tower, under the castle wall, where we may have privacy."

Adrienne heard herself beg, "Please, can't you forget about me? I'm far away from London now—"

"That's not enough, I fear, to make up for the indignities I suffered at
your
hands. You were very audacious when you believed I couldn't hurt you any longer, weren't you, sweet?"

His voice was so calm, so deadly, that her fear escalated. Perspiration dotted her brow. Why weren't there any passersby? Was no one going to help her?

They crossed the lane, walking away from the river.

"I have been so good to Ellie and Beth," Adrienne cried. All the feelings of sick terror she'd known in his house flooded back. The smell of his breath made her stomach lurch. "Please, they wouldn't want you to hurt me."

"If you cared so much for them, you would have done
anything
to stay in our home. I gave you many chances to remain with us. I treated you as a member of our family."

The castle wall filled Adrienne's vision, her arm burned where he gripped it, and then the arched entrance to the tower yawned before her, dark and forbidding. "What do you intend to do to me?" She tried to stop, but he pushed at her from behind.

"Too many things to list, sweet."

Another voice interrupted them. "Sorry, not today!" And then Nathan emerged from around the corner of the tower. The sheer power of his tall, strong, young body was accentuated by the pistol he carried. "Release the lady, sir."

"Mind your own business," Frakes-Hogg retorted.

"Miss Beauvisage is my business. Loose her." Nathan drew the hammer back and touched the trigger. "I realize that this weapon may not be very accurate, but at close range, I find that it is surprisingly effective."

Adrienne felt the pincers leave her arm. She was numb below the elbow. Blinking back embarrassing tears, she hurried to Nathan's side. "Oh—thank you."

He gave her a dazzling grin. "I'm pleased to be of service. Now then—go on. Wait for me in St. Cross Hospital. The brethren will keep you safe."

"No. I want to stay with you." She slipped the paring knife from the sleeve of her spencer and smiled. "I can help now."

"Adrienne, at least stand away." Nathan sighed. "You are still in danger. That knife is a toy."

Frakes-Hogg was weighing his slim chances to get away from this lithe, strong fellow, who was undoubtedly a fast runner as well. It hardly seemed worth the untidy scene that would ensue. "Now that you've rescued the fair maiden, I admit that you've won the day. Let us part friends." He bowed as if to bid them farewell.

"Don't be ridiculous. A crime has been committed, and I intend to turn you over to the authorities." Nathan could scarcely believe his good fortune when he saw a constable crossing the bridge, coining in their direction. He raised a hand to call him to their aid.

"Well, well, it's Frakes-Hogg, isn't it! I surely enjoyed the pint you bought me yesterday," the jolly officer exclaimed as he drew near. His brow furrowed at the sight of Nathan's pistol. "This fellow ain't bothering you, I hope, sir!"

A benign smile spread over Frakes-Hogg's long face. "As a matter of fact, he is. I think the man must be mad, or else he and his accomplice mean to rob me, Constable! He accosted me, brandishing that pistol, and the woman drew a knife!"

"That's not true!" Adrienne cried. "Walter Frakes-Hogg accosted
me!
If you search him, I'm sure you'll find a weapon!"

"Why on earth would I want to bother this young lady?" he countered. "But, to prove my own innocence, I insist that you conduct a thorough search of my person, my good fellow."

"But, sir, you're a gentleman! I don't see how—" Clearly embarrassed, the constable obeyed. No weapons were discovered, and he turned accusing bloodshot eyes on Nathan and Adrienne. "Perhaps I ought to take the two of
you
in—"

"No, no." Frakes-Hogg waved off this suggestion. He exuded an air of gracious forgiveness. "I am inclined to hope that it was all an unfortunate error on the part of these young people. Perhaps a case of mistaken identity, hmm? In any event, I am late for an appointment. Will you walk with me to the market, Constable? Good, good." He drew on dark-gray gloves with a satisfied smile.

Adrienne stared, pale and disbelieving, as the constable warned them to put their weapons away and obey the law. Then the two men walked off down College Street and turned north.

"I can't believe it," Nathan murmured.

"He is evil." Her voice wavered. "Oh, Nathan, I'm frightened!"

He drew her into his arms, patting her curls. "No need to worry. I didn't let any harm come to you, did I?"

"I believe he is capable of anything." She let the tears come. "He despises me and means to exact revenge beyond my worst nightmares...."

Nathan held her closer, staring out over the river as his own jaw hardened with concern. Unfortunately, he feared that Adrienne may not have overstated the situation at all.

Above them, on the castle-wall walk known as the
allure,
Huntsford Harms saw and heard everything. He'd been shocked by his own protective feelings toward Adrienne Beauvisage. When Frakes-Hogg led her into the tower, he had been ready to go to her rescue himself, but then that damned Essex had interfered! How dare he come into Winchester on his own, to watch over Adrienne, when Huntsford had made it perfectly clear that
he
intended to be her protector today! It made him seethe now to watch them embracing from above, to hear Adrienne's sweet sobs and Essex's murmuring reassurances.

Somehow, Huntsford Harms would bring matters to right, so that one day he might be the man to rescue fair Adrienne and embrace her in the aftermath.

* * *

Huntsford rushed to bring the landaulet back to get Adrienne. However, she explained that she had encountered Mr. Essex on her walk and had been persuaded to let him see her home. It was his duty, after all. Huntsford had managed a stiff smile, seething inside, and proceeded to drive straight to the White Ostrich.

"No need to call attention to our vehicle," he told the tiger, handing over the reins. "Wait near the market."

Frakes-Hogg was waiting within. He was eating kidney pie and drinking brandy at a table deep in the shadows when Huntsford Harms approached.

"What are you looking so nervous about? Go on, sit down." The older man poured more brandy for himself. "Have you come to hear a report of my confrontation with Miss Beauvisage?"

"Well—uh—" The waiter arrived then with a glass of negus, and Huntsford drank. The sweet, warm concoction contained just enough wine to soothe his nerves. "As a matter of fact, sir, I saw most of what transpired on Riverside Walk. I was on the castle wall above you."

"Ah!" Frakes-Hogg's manner changed; he put on a smile. "Then you witnessed my skillful finesse of the unsuspecting constable! Not only did I extricate myself from the clutches of that insufferable thug who guards Adrienne, I managed to put the two of
them
afoul of the law!" He rubbed his thin hands together. "Congratulate me, young fellow."

"Yes, that was very shrewd of you, sir... and I was frankly relieved that no harm came to Miss Beauvisage." Huntsford avoided his companion's piercing stare and took another gulp of negus. "I mean, she's been awfully good to Mummy and unfailingly pleasant to me and my guests. I really don't see why you bear her such ill will!"

"I don't think, given the financial arrangement you and I have struck, that it is your place to decide the merit of my intentions toward Adrienne." Frakes-Hogg's voice was low, but each word carried a sting. Pushing his plate aside, he drank more brandy and continued, "Don't tell me that you fancy her yourself!"

Huntsford scowled. "Of course not—but I don't see why you should find that notion so amusing. Not as if I'm a freak of some sort, or even the least bit unattractive to ladies! In fact, I'm known in Town to be a particular favorite—"

"My point has nothing at all to do with you, dear boy," he interrupted. "It's simply that Adrienne can't be enamored of you, because she's carrying on with that awful man—"

"Who? Nathan Essex? But that's
absurd!
You are funning, sir. Is that it?"

"Funning?
Hardly.
Remove your hat and gloves, old fellow. Have a nip of my brandy; it will steady your nerves." Frakes-Hogg watched him through narrowed eyes. Then, with exquisite timing, he delivered another blow: "I perceive that your feelings for the irresistible Adrienne run deeper than even you had realized. I am sorry. However, my news about her and Essex is not a vile rumor or merely conjecture on my part. You see, I saw them together. Late one night, before you arrived from London, I walked the grounds at Harms Castle, just to get a feel for the place."

"I'm not sure I like the idea of you lurking about in our garden," Huntsford protested.

"Oh, but I wasn't lurking there," he countered suavely. "I was among the stand of elm trees, and I saw them together."