The Highwayman's Daughter (26 page)

When Jack came to, he was lying face down on the forest floor with his hands tied behind his back. Groaning with pain, he rolled on to his side and tried to sit up, then craned his neck to look for Alethea. A sharp kick in the ribs sent him sprawling, but not until he had ascertained his cousin’s whereabouts.

Alethea was sitting a few feet away from him with her back against a tree and her wrists tied in front of her. She had a defiant, mulish expression on her face but appeared to be unharmed, and Jack took heart.

I know that look,
he thought with pride.

But rebellious or not, they were in a dangerous predicament. Whatever these men wanted, it wasn’t money, at least not the few guineas Jack carried in his purse. He had no notion what they truly wanted, but it didn’t bode well.

Suddenly, he was pulled up and his head was yanked back by the hair. ‘Well, well, well, look who’s awake.’ The man planted his fist right on Jack’s cheekbone; then kicked him in the stomach. Dark spots appeared before Jack’s eyes, and he feared he might pass out again, but the other man stepped in.

‘There’s to be no damage. We just keep them till the other gen’leman gets ’ere.’

‘What about the girl?’ said the one called Toby. ‘Are we allowed a bit o’ sport? The gen’leman didn’t specify nuffink about no girl.’

‘No, I’m specifyin’ it,’ said the more well-spoken of the two men.

‘That ain’t no fun, Pete.’

‘Mebbe it ain’t, but you’re getting well paid, so keep your gob shut and your hands to yourself.’

Toby glared at Pete; then, muttering profanities, he moved away and sat down on a tree stump, from where he continued to scowl at Jack.

Jack studied the two men surreptitiously. They had mentioned a third man, a gentleman, and he wondered who that could be. What could he want from him and Alethea? Were they being kidnapped for a ransom perhaps? To be sure, Lord Lampton would pay whatever sum they demanded to have his son and niece safely returned, but somehow it didn’t fit. While highway robbery was rife in these parts, abductions were rare, and they usually involved children or ladies, not grown men.

Alethea’s words came back to him.
I mistrust Rupert intensely.

Could Rupert have a hand in this? He hoped not. However, thinking about who and why would do him and Alethea no good. He had to think of a way to overpower the two men before whatever reinforcements they were waiting for turned up.

And he would have to think fast because when the others arrived, Jack had a horrible feeling that it would be the end of him.

He noticed his rapier lying on the ground a few feet away, where the ruffians must have thrown it when they entered the clearing. Slowly he shuffled sideways on his backside and over a sharp stone on the ground he had spied when Toby punched him. Then he began to work at the ropes binding his wrists, ignoring the pain as the stone cut into his skin.

He had almost finished sawing through the rope when there was a rustle in the bushes, and a man appeared.

Rupert.

The betrayal was like a bodily blow. He hadn’t wanted to believe it, still couldn’t quite conceive of it, but it was clear now that Rupert must have born him ill-will all the time they grew up together. Jack wasn’t sure which was worse: knowing that Rupert had hired these men, or that he had harboured malicious thoughts for so long.

How could I be so blind,
he thought? How could Alethea, eight years his junior, see what he hadn’t?

And now Rupert would be his downfall. Alethea’s too, for she was a witness to whatever happened to Jack. He had to try and reach Rupert somehow, to get him to see that whatever grievance he had with Jack, harming his own sister, an innocent bystander, would be forever on his conscience.

But even if he could be persuaded not to harm Alethea, Jack couldn’t believe that Rupert could be convinced to give up his search for Cora.

‘Rupert,’ he said. ‘What’s the meaning of this? Who are these men, and what do they want with us?’

‘It isn’t they who want something from you, but I,’ Rupert replied. Ignoring Jack’s protests, he turned to Pete, who appeared to be the one in charge. ‘Good work, men. Now I must ask you to leave me alone with my … this man and the lady.’

‘Wot about our money?’ Toby grumbled.

Rupert took a purse out of his pocket and tossed it to Pete, who opened it and began to count. ‘As I promised: you’re well rewarded. You’ll find it’s all there, and more besides, as a token of my appreciation that you can keep quiet about my affairs.’

The last was spoken with the utmost civility, but there was no mistaking the undertone. Jack saw that the two men had understood perfectly.

‘Our lips are sealed,’ said Pete. ‘Toby, it’s ’igh time we was on our way.’

With one last look of loathing in Jack’s direction, Toby followed his associate, and the men were gone as stealthily as they had arrived.

Rupert turned to Jack.

‘Alone at last.’ He grinned.

‘Rupert, I demand to know what this is about.’ Hoping to buy time, Jack feigned ignorance. It was only a matter of moments before he would have sawn through the rope. If only he could stall Rupert.

Rupert tutted. ‘I never took you for a fool, Jack. It’s very simple: I’m the son of an earl and I intend to inherit my father’s title. Yes,’ he added as realisation dawned on Jack, ‘I listened in on your little tête-à-tête with your loving parents. Did you really think you could hide the truth from me?’

‘We can come to some sort of arrangement,’ said Jack. ‘You don’t have to do this.’

‘What, pray, could we arrange? I find it very hard to believe that you would give up your birth right. You must die. You can see that, can’t you?’

Rupert sounded almost reasonable, as if he were merely debating the pros and cons of planting wheat, but his eyes glittered with the dangerous sheen of a madman.

‘And Alethea?’ asked Jack. ‘Must she die too?’

Rupert glanced at his sister. Alethea stared back, her eyes huge, but not with fear or pleading – never pleading, not Alethea – but with defiance. With her head held high, her chin out, and her eyes promising Armageddon, she was like the Queen of the Nile, beautiful, regal and deadlier than the asp that killed her.

With shock, Jack realised that she reminded him exactly of Cora. Whatever Rupert planned to do with her, like Cora she wouldn’t go willingly to her death. The thought filled him with pride for his young cousin.

Rupert must have seen it too for he took a step back in alarm. ‘Alethea wasn’t meant to be here, but now that she is, what else can I do but to get rid of her too?’

Jack tried a different tactic. ‘Rupert, we were friends once. Remember when we raided Sir Christopher’s fruit garden? The look on that old miser’s face … Or when we stuffed the housekeeper’s mattress with holly? I never saw such a shade of puce!’

For a moment Rupert smiled with a faraway look in his eyes. ‘I remember you getting me into trouble for that,’ he said.

Jack recalled it quite differently: Rupert coming up with the ideas, and himself being caned. ‘We had fun, though. Doesn’t that count for something?’

Rupert regarded him steadily, and Jack was convinced he was coming around. But Rupert’s wistful expression was quickly replaced by a hard stare.

‘That’s by the by,’ he said coolly. ‘It’s time to end this. But I’m not an ogre; I’ll give you a choice of who gets to die first. Does my sister get to see you die, or vice versa? And if you’re wondering how I plan to get away with this, it’s quite simple; you were attacked by a highwaywoman, and I came to your rescue. That’ll put your lady friend nicely in the frame, don’t you think?’

‘She’ll never be caught,’ said Jack. The mention of her made his heart jolt, and he hoped Rupert couldn’t tell that his words were pure bravado.

‘No? Well, I beg to differ. I’m sure she’ll want to visit her father’s grave one last time. Surely she’ll have heard his body was discovered by the magistrate, or if not, she soon will. All I have to do is lie in wait for her.’

Jack’s hands were nearly free, and when they were, he was certain that he could overpower Rupert. Then he would make sure his half-brother received all the help available to those suffering a sickness of the mind. He just needed to buy a little more time.

‘My father has always seen you right, hasn’t he?’ he continued. ‘You never wanted for anything, and no demands were made of you. A title and an estate comes with the heavy burden of responsibility. Wouldn’t you rather be without it?’

‘You don’t think I’m up to the job?’ Rupert sneered.

‘Frankly, I don’t think a title is worth committing murder for.’ Jack’s right hand was almost free. ‘It’ll weigh too heavily on your conscience, my friend.’

‘I disagree. Since you will not play the game and tell me who dies first, I’ve decided that it’ll be you, if only to silence you.’ Rupert pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Jack.

Finally he was free. Before Rupert had time to cock his weapon, Jack jumped up and grabbed the rapier. But the feeling hadn’t returned to his hands after they had been bound so tightly, and his grip was clumsy. Deftly, Rupert sidestepped the weapon, socked Jack in the jaw with his elbow, and wrenched the blade out of his hand. With his boot he sent Jack sprawling on the ground again, and he pulled Alethea up by the hair.

Alethea shrieked with shock and tried to strike him with her bound hands, but Rupert took her hard by the arm and held her away from him.

‘You’ve made a difficult choice for me. I had thought to spare you watching my high-and-mighty sister die, but now it’ll give me the greatest pleasure to see the pain in your eyes,’ Rupert shouted at Jack.

He put the pistol to Alethea’s temple and cocked it.

‘Rupert, for pity’s sake!’ Jack scrambled to his feet. ‘Think of what you’re d—’

The shot echoed in the forest, and Alethea fell sideways. Inside, Jack broke into a thousand pieces.

‘Oh, God! Please God, not Alethea!’

He dropped to his knees, wanting nothing more than to die himself if only to end the unbearable pain in his chest. Slowly, averting his eyes, he crawled towards her body, preparing himself for a most horrific sight. He knew he was going to do die, but it didn’t matter anymore. All he wanted to do was cradle his innocent cousin in his arms before his own life ended. If only he could hold Cora one last time too.

But on reaching Alethea, he found her staring back at him, very much alive. He blinked, unable to believe his own eyes. Sitting up, Alethea shook her head.

‘I … I’m unhurt,’ she said in a daze, as if she couldn’t quite believe it either.

Jack’s eyes travelled to Rupert, who returned his look with a dull expression and a curious half-smile. His hand dropped to his side, and the pistol slipped from his grasp. Blood bubbled from Rupert’s lips, and he tumbled to the ground like a felled tree.

‘Rupert!’ Jack rushed to his side.

‘Never was … much good with … pistols.’

‘Don’t talk. We’ll get a physician. You’ll be all right. You’ll see.’

Rupert grabbed Jack by the lapel, and Jack leaned closer to hear what he was saying. ‘Alethea … wasn’t supposed to … be here. Didn’t want … to harm her. Promise you’ll look after her. She … trouble.’ He let go of Jack’s coat as if it was too much effort to hold on. Then his eyes lost their focus, and his head fell sideways.

He was dead.

Solemnly Jack closed Rupert’s unseeing eyes; then looked up when he sensed movement behind him

Cora was standing a few feet away, by the tree where Alethea had sat only a moment ago. Smoke still rose from the barrel of her pistol, and the hand which held it trembled uncontrollably. Her eyes were huge with terror and revulsion.

‘Cora …’

With a shriek she dropped the pistol and fled into the trees. Before Jack could get up, he heard the sound of thundering hooves disappearing in the thicket.

‘No! Come back!’

It was too late: she was gone.

Again.

He turned to Alethea, unsure what to do. No matter what Rupert had intended to do, the loss of his cousin was still raw, and he feared the two men might return. He had to see Alethea to safety, but if he did, Cora might disappear out of his life forever. Thus torn, he looked between Alethea and where Cora had vanished. Alethea made his mind up for him.

‘Go after her.’

‘I need to see you home first.’ Though it wrenched his heart to acknowledge it. ‘What if the men return?’ Helping her up, he quickly cut her bonds.

‘I doubt they will. After all, they’ve been paid.’ She snorted contemptuously. ‘We’re not that far from home. Someone is bound to have heard the shot. Help will be on its way.’

Jack glanced at Rupert’s dead body. ‘How do we explain this?’

‘We follow Rupert’s plan; to be just, it was well thought out. I’ll say we were attacked by highway robbers, and that Rupert came to our aid but was killed. I can give a very good description of the two men. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll disappear.’

‘But will you be believed?’

Alethea smiled. ‘Oh, I’ll swoon and do a very good impression of a damsel in distress. Blencowe will be hanging on my every word. Just go, Jack. Don’t miss this opportunity for true happiness.’

‘If you’re sure …?’ Jack hovered, his hand on the horse’s bridle.

‘I’m sure. Now go. I will stay with Rupert’s body. Say my goodbyes.’ Tears welled up in Alethea’s eyes. ‘Oh, Jack! Rupert was misguided, but he was my brother. I shall feel the loss keenly.’

‘We all will,’ Jack said and meant it. He swung himself into the saddle and spurred the horse forward in a gallop.

He found Cora exactly where he’d known she would be. She stood with her head bowed in front of the graves in the forest clearing. When Jack came closer he could see that the larger of the two boards – the one bearing Sarah Duval’s inscription – had been knocked aside roughly and scrawled with foul words.

Lord Heston, he thought, and rage welled up in him. Who else would desecrate the grave of Cora’s mother?

Startled, Cora swung around with the second of her two pistols raised, but she lowered it and returned it to her waistband when she saw who it was.