The Heart is Torn (11 page)

‘Adam,’ she gasped, ‘there’s your father!’

Adam glanced over his shoulder, pushing Beth away.

‘Keep clear,’ he said quickly, and ran towards Jeremy.

At that moment, Peake looked around and recognised the old sea captain.

‘There’s Jeremy Traherne, men,’ he shouted. ‘Take him. Throw him over the cliff.’

His words triggered off a confusion of action. Beth, staring wide-eyed in shock, saw two men start towards Jeremy, but others in the group around Peake started fighting with Peake’s men, one of them attempting to seize Peake and hold him. Adam reached his father’s side and stood between him and the men trying to seize him. He felled one man, but a second ducked under his flailing fists and grappled with Jeremy, who lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Beth ran forward and grasped the man wrestling with Jeremy. She grasped a handful of his hair and tugged with all her strength. The man rolled away, then sprang up, and Jeremy produced a pistol, aimed at the man and fired. There was a sharp cry of pain and the man fell on his face. Jeremy lumbered to his feet and went forward into the group of fighting men, swinging his heavy pistol by its barrel.

Beth looked around. Adam was fighting three men who were endeavouring to pinion his arms, and Beth was scared that all four might pitch over the edge of the cliff. She rushed to Adam’s aid, and received a swinging blow on the head that sent her headlong. Dazed, she staggered to her feet to find herself confronted by Peake, who was swinging a pistol. He grasped her left arm with an unbreakable grip. In the background, the sound of several pistol shots rang out and vague figures fell in the night.

‘You again!’ Peake snarled. ‘I wish I’d never set eyes on you.’

A man approached with levelled gun, and Beth recognised Peter Radcliffe, the exciseman. Relief filled her, for if the men of the customs had been alerted then Peake was finished.

‘Jonah Peake, I am arresting you on suspicion of smuggling. Release that woman and surrender yourself.’

Peake uttered a curse and pulled Beth to him, encircling her waist, intent upon using her as a shield.

‘Get back or I’ll go over the cliff and take her with me,’ Peake cried.

Adam came dashing forward. He grasped Beth around the waist and crashed his right fist against Peake’s jaw. Peake staggered. Beth felt his hold on her slacken momentarily, then tightened again, and he began to pull her towards the edge of the cliff, now only feet away. Peake was shouting at the top of his voice. Beth tried to break his grip, but his arm was like steel.

Adam struck Peake again and the man staggered. His weight took him backwards even closer to the cliff edge. Beth felt panic sweep through her. She was helpless in his grip, and could see the white water of crashing waves far below. Already she could feel a sense of falling through dark space, and closed her eyes as dizziness swirled through her senses.

Jeremy appeared beside them, swinging the pistol he was gripping. The heavy butt struck Peake’s forehead and felled him instantly. Peake’s hold on Beth was broken and Adam dragged her away from the cliff edge. Jeremy staggered and almost went over the cliff. He threw himself aside and rolled back to safety, but Peake went over backwards, his feet moving frantically as he tried to regain his balance, until there was no more cliff beneath him and he fell with a scream into the boiling inferno awaiting below.

Beth closed her eyes, her mind protesting at the horrors that had engulfed them since Adam’s return. Adam lifted her gently to her feet and she felt better with his strong arms around her.

‘Peake has gone,’ Adam said softly, kissing her ear. ‘And with his passing, this evil is at an end.’

‘No,’ she said faintly. ‘There’s still Father. Peake’s men are with him. They have orders to kill him.’

‘Not them,’ Jeremy looked up beside them. ‘When you came to me earlier, the first thing I did was send some men to Sedge Manor, and one of them reported to me a few minutes ago that your father is all right. He regained his senses this afternoon. Peake’s men ran off.’

He looked around, grinning broadly. ‘It looks as if the law is taking control here so what say we go home?’

Adam felt Beth sag a little, and swung her up into his arms. He kissed her ardently.

‘Sweet Beth,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I do believe the worst is over at last. If you still have a mind to wed me then I suggest we start laying our plans. The future awaits us. This storm is passing, and with it the evil of Jonah Peake. His shadow has gone. Everything will be fine now. What say you, my dearest?’

‘Yes,’ she murmured happily, her mind clearing, and she was aware that the future would be fine in so many ways.

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