The Heart is Torn (9 page)

Beth hurried along the street towards Peake’s warehouse, staying in the shadows. She was still gripping the poker in her hand. Reaching the building, she was disappointed to find it silent and in complete darkness. She pushed against the door to find that it was locked. She peered into the surrounding shadows.

She realised that there was nothing for it but to make for Traherne Court, and she did not relish the long walk. But she did not know who in Polgarron she could trust, and set out back along the street, determined to do what was necessary to bring Peake to justice.

She reached the inn that Adam had emerged from when she had passed earlier with Cresse, and paused to peer into the bright interior. If only Adam were here now! She shook her head sadly as the thought flitted through her mind. Stiffening her resolve, she prepared to go on, but the door of the inn was opened at that moment and a man and a woman emerged. Beth shrank into the shadows while they paused, talking, and then they went on along the street ahead of her.

Beth let them draw clear before moving in the same direction. She intended leaving town as quickly as possible. When the pair paused at the door of a house she waited for them to enter. The woman opened the door and lamplight streamed out, bathing the man. Beth froze — it was Adam.

She tried to call out but her tongue seemed glued in her mouth. He looked around fearfully as the light enveloped him, then moved hurriedly into the shadows. The next instant he was gone, and the woman went into the house and closed the door. Beth drew a deep breath, wondering if she had imagined the sighting of Adam. She ran forward to the door of the house and peered into the shadows, looking for the man, but he had disappeared as completely as if he had never been there.

Beth stood undecided while her shock receded, fearing for the soundness of her mind, afraid that she was beginning to see Adam in every man she looked at. But she could not have been mistaken, and knocked on the door the woman had used. When the door opened, Beth found herself looking at a middle-aged woman, and was suddenly at a loss for words. But the woman thrust her face forward and peered intently at Beth.

‘I know you,’ she declared. ‘You’re Elizabeth Farrell. What are you doing out on such a night?’

‘I saw you coming home,’ Beth said. ‘Who was the man with you?’

‘Man? I wasn’t with no man, dearie. My husband is at sea. I wouldn’t dare look at another man for fear that Rufus would find out.’

‘The man you came out of the inn with,’ Beth insisted. ‘He left you at this door. It was Adam Traherne, wasn’t it? I must know. Please tell me.’

As she spoke, Beth felt a weakness begin to overwhelm her, and a strange roaring sound filled her ears. She staggered, and would have fallen if the woman had not reached out to grasp her.

‘Here, you’d better come inside and sit down for a moment,’ the woman said worriedly. ‘You’re all in. What have you been doing with yourself?’

Beth allowed herself to be helped into the house. She closed her eyes against sickening dizziness, and the woman’s voice became fainter then faded into silence as Beth collapsed into the woman’s arms.

9

Beth came to her senses when rum seared her throat, almost choking her. She heard a woman’s voice and opened her eyes to find herself lying on the hard floor of the house. The woman straightened, a glass in her hand and a look of genuine sympathy on her gaunt face.

‘You gave me a nasty turn, fainting like that,’ she declared. ‘I thought you’d died on me, as sure as my name is Jane Mull. Can you get up?’

Beth regained her feet with Jane’s help and was led into a room and seated on a chair. Jane went to close the door, then returned, and Beth co-fronted her, grasping her arms.

‘You must help me, Jane,’ she said fervently. ‘That man you were with. It was Adam Traherne, wasn’t it?’

‘I came home alone,’ Jane replied doggedly. ‘I work at the inn while my Rufus is away, and I never walk home with any man.’

‘You say you know me by sight. You know I’m Elizabeth Farrell, and I live at Sedge Manor. If you do know about me then you must be aware that I am betrothed to Adam Traherne. He has just returned from the Americas and we are to be married very soon.’

‘I know who you are and I saw you earlier, arm in arm with Martin Cresse, who is Jonah Peake’s man. My Rufus is mate aboard the
Seagull
. Trouble’s building up in Falmouth, and they do say Peake is behind it.’

‘I know about it,’ Beth said. ‘Adam told me. Peake’s men tried to steal
Seagull
two nights ago and two of the
Seagull’s
crew were killed.’

‘You could have learned that from Peake.’

‘You must have given Adam some of your husband’s clothes to wear,’ Beth continued. ‘Adam and I were trapped in a cavern below Peake’s warehouse. There was no way out so Adam stripped off and swam through a cave and into the sea. He plans to get some of his men together and raid Peake’s warehouse. You must tell me if it was Adam with you. If he has gone to Traherne Court for help then I don’t have to go there, but if it wasn’t Adam then I have to warn his father, Captain Traherne. You can trust me. If Peake gets the better of the Trahernes then your husband will surely suffer along with the rest of them.’

‘It was Adam,’ Jane said reluctantly. ‘He came to the inn for help, half-dressed and half-drowned. He’d been in the sea all right. I gave him some clothes belonging to Rufus and he’s gone to fetch the excisemen to Peake’s warehouse. He told me not to tell anyone that I’d seen him. Will you stay here until Adam gets back? He’s promised to let me know what happens.’

‘I’d better go to Traherne Court and tell Jeremy Traherne.’

Beth prepared to leave, and felt quite elated as she went out into the storm and hurried along the street. But the prospect of the long walk to Traherne Court did not appeal to her, although nothing could dismay her now and she strode along with great resolution.

She crossed to the opposite side of the street when she reached Peake’s warehouse, and was pressing through the shadows when a coach came along and stopped outside the building. Pausing, Beth watched three men alight from the coach. They looked around furtively, then dragged a man out of the coach and half-carried him into the warehouse.

Beth was instantly alerted. She had not been able to gather any details of the fourth man, but her immediate fear was that it was Adam. But surely he had not fallen foul of yet more of Peake’s men. She crossed the street and hurried to the warehouse door, found it ajar, and peered into the building.

There was a lantern burning just inside the door, and by its dim light she saw the three men carrying the fourth man towards the office. She almost gasped aloud when she saw that the fourth man was indeed Adam. He seemed to be unconscious, and she turned away quickly, aware that her only chance of help was by reaching Traherne Court.

Hurrying along the street, Beth turned off to avoid the port and crossed into the dark road that led to the outskirts of the town. She was breathless and tired, but the desperate thought of Adam being held by Peake’s men was sufficient to force her beyond her physical limit and she hastened on.

Reaching the cliff top on the southern side of Polgarron Bay, she hurried out into the open. Glancing out at the bay, she could see the torment of the sea. There was a ship riding at anchor in the comparative shelter of the bay, and at times it was almost completely submerged by the rolling waves thundering towards the shore.

An hour passed before she reached the grounds of Traherne Court. Lights were showing in several windows, and Beth had never seen a more welcome sight. She hurried along the drive despite her fatigue and struggled up the steps to the terrace. She fell against the front door of the house, hammered on the thick panels, then leaned against it while awaiting some answer. The door was opened by Jeremy himself, and he exclaimed loudly when he saw her. On the point of fainting with exhaustion, Beth fell into Jeremy’s arms. He lifted her over the doorstep and sat her down on a padded seat in the hall.

She blurted out a hesitant account of what had happened, and Jeremy cut her short after learning the salient points.

‘Stay here and rest while I gather the estate workers,’ he said. ‘We’ll go into town and enter Peake’s warehouse. I just hope we’ll not be too late.’

Beth struggled to her feet and moved to the door but Jeremy grasped her arm, forcing her to sit down again.

‘You’re all in,’ he observed. ‘I want you to stay here out of harm’s way. Go to the kitchen and make yourself a hot drink and eat some food.’

‘It will take you time to gather your men,’ she replied. ‘In the meantime, anything could happen to Adam. I’ve got to go back to town. I might be able to do something to help.’

Jeremy had no time to argue, and, while he was getting dressed, Beth dragged open the front door and departed, hastening back the way she had come. After an interminable period, she reached Polgarron and hurried through the deserted streets, concerned only with Adam’s plight.

A horse and cart was waiting outside the warehouse when Beth reached it, and, miraculously, the door of the building stood ajar. As she crept closer to the door it was jerked wide open from inside and two men appeared, carrying a large crate between them. Beth faded into the shadows and crouched like a hunted animal, her heart pounding.

The men put the crate on the cart and hurried back into the warehouse.

‘One more bale and we can be on our way,’ one of them said.

Beth eased forward, her pulses racing. She could hear the men talking, and peered around the door to see them dragging a large bale off the top of a nearby stack. There were two lanterns burning inside the warehouse, one close to the door and another over by the office. She sneaked into the warehouse and ducked into cover, quite breathless with anticipation.

The men departed with the bale, and a few moments later one of them reappeared and doused the lamp by the door. He departed again, and Beth heard the door close with a bang and then a key grating in the lock. The cart rumbled away and an uneasy silence settled. Beth gazed around fearfully. She had last seen Adam being carried into the office, and moved carefully across to the inner door and opened it, her teeth clenched, her nerves taut. But the office was deserted, and she looked around in disbelief.

Where was Adam? She would have to check the cavern. Taking up the nearby lantern, she went to the door that gave access to the cavern.

The panel opened easily and she summoned up the last vestiges of nerve and strength. Descending the steps, she reached the cavern without incident and immediately saw Adam lying on a low stack of bales. Bound tightly, he was looking in her direction, his gaze attracted by the light of the lantern she was carrying. Beth uttered a cry of relief and hurried to his side.

There was a smear of blood on Adam’s right temple. His face was pale and he seemed to be on the point of collapse. Beth untied him with difficulty for he had been bound with a length of tarred rope. She chattered nervously, telling him everything that had happened to her since he dived into the pool. When his hands were free, Adam sat up and grasped Beth in his arms. She clung to him, her relief overwhelming, and tears coursed down her cheeks as a nervous reaction seized her.

‘Beth, once again you’ve saved me. I was saying my prayers, for Cresse has threatened to kill me on his return. I had given up because I’ve pushed myself to the limit of my strength. But seeing you has given me fresh power. How is it that you have walked down here without hindrance?’

As Beth explained, Adam arose and looked around. He picked up a short length of wood, his eyes filled with a determined glitter.

‘This will have to do,’ he mused. ‘But if only I had a pistol, I’d give Cresse his ticket to oblivion when he returns.’

‘Wait.’

Beth took the lantern and led him to the spot where she had hidden his coat and boots. He smiled as he took his pistol from the pocket of the coat.

‘I thought my last moments had come several times since I left you in here, Beth,’ he observed.

‘I thought you had drowned. I still can’t believe you got out through the cave and made it to the shore.’

‘That was the worst experience I ever had. Now I’m ready to fight. But I must get you out of here, Beth. Let’s go up to the warehouse.’

Beth had no intention of leaving his side, although she said nothing. Adam took the lantern and they ascended the steps. The warehouse was silent and still when they reached it.

‘Beth, I want to wait here for Cresse. You’ll have to stay in the office until I’ve dealt with him. I heard him say he was coming back.’

‘No, Adam. I’m not letting you out of my sight now. Give me that piece of wood and I’ll stand by you.’

Admiration showed in Adam’s eyes but he shook his head. He set the lantern on a crate near the door and checked his pistol.

‘All we can do now is wait,’ he said firmly.

Beth pushed herself into his arms, closed her eyes, and rested her weight against him. She was utterly exhausted, and Adam kissed her.

‘We may be in for a long wait,’ he observed. ‘It will take my father another hour to get here. Why don’t you lie down on one of those bales and try to sleep? And you’ll be out of the way if Cresse shows up.’

‘I couldn’t sleep,’ she protested. ‘Just hold me, Adam. I need to be comforted now. During all the weeks I’ve waited for your return, I never imagined we would have to go through such an ordeal as this, and I hope never to see Jonah Peake again.’

‘Peake is finished,’ Adam said confidently. ‘We have the proof of his guilt all around us.’

He leaned against a stack of contraband and embraced Beth.

Time passed unmeasured, and Beth was lulled into a half-sleep, protected by Adam’s arms. Silence encompassed them like a shroud, until the door rattled, and then voices were heard.

‘Someone’s left a light inside,’ Peake said. ‘Open the door, Cresse. It’s a wonder the place hasn’t burned down.’

Adam put Beth from him and drew his pistol. He motioned for Beth to conceal herself, and she moved swiftly behind a nearby stack and crouched in a position that gave her a view of the door. Adam moved to his right and covered the door from an angle.

The door opened slowly and Cresse entered, holding a pistol. Beth, her eyes wide and her heart racing, saw Jonah Peake, also armed, at Cresse’s shoulder. Both men crossed the threshold and paused to look around.

‘That’s perfect,’ Adam said as he stepped forward. ‘Drop your pistols and raise your hands.’

Cresse started in shock and instinctively swung his pistol to cover Adam, and Peake sprang behind Cresse. Adam fired instantly. Cresse uttered a cry, dropped his pistol and fell to the ground, writhing in agony, but Peake turned and fled out into the night. Adam ran forward, pocketing his empty pistol, and snatched up the weapon Cresse had dropped.

‘Peake’s got away!’

Beth emerged from her cover, trembling.

‘Is Cresse dead?’

Adam bent over the man, who lay motionless.

‘No, he’s still breathing. I didn’t aim to kill. I want him alive so he can talk. He knows all about Peake’s business.’

‘Peake will fetch some of his men,’ Beth warned.

‘I’ll stay here and wait for my father to arrive. You must go and alert Peter Radcliffe, the exciseman. I’m not risking your life again. Come on. We’d better leave here and watch the place from outside. Hurry, Beth, before Peake returns.’

He led her to the door, and as they stepped out into the street a pistol shot cracked. The ball thudded into the door close to Adam’s head and he fired Cresse’s pistol at the muzzle flash across the street. As the echoes of the shots faded, they both heard the sound of receding footsteps.

‘That was Peake’s parting shot,’ Adam observed grimly. ‘I wish I could get my hands on him.’

‘It was not my shot,’ Peake said from the shadows, and stepped forward, a pistol in his hand. ‘I knew your brother would come in useful, Beth. He’s drawn your fire, Traherne, and now I’ve got you. Back inside the warehouse, both of you. You’ve made a bad mistake, Beth. Your father will die now to pay for your meddling, and his blood will be on your hands.’

Adam watched Peake intently, but the man stayed out of arm’s length as he forced them to go back into the warehouse, menaced by his pistol.