Captive Hearts (33 page)

He flinched and ducked as an explosion went off close to his head. A cloud of smoke and the smell of burnt

powder leeched into the cell. Hicks bellowed again, the sound more frantic than before. A chunk was carved out of the wooden bed frame where the lead ball had ricocheted off the ceiling and nearly struck the man’s hip.

“Damn ye, Charlie. Ye’re goin’ to kill me afore ’e does. Put that pistol away.”

His ears ringing, Matthew slid down the wall of the cell where he could hold the key in place and stay out of range. Hicks’s outraged expression triggered a chuckle that built into a full-blown laugh. Hicks glared at him, which only served to amuse him more, and he laughed again.

“Ye’re crazy, Yankee,” he accused.

Growing sober once again, Matthew nodded. “’Twould do you well to remember it, Hicks. With a noose waiting for me, I’ve nothing further to loose if I decide to snap your neck.”

“Ye won’t do it.”

He raised one brow and focused his attention on the man. “I haven’t forgotten a moment of your treatment when last I visited this establishment. Think back on all you did and ask yourself if you really believe that.” Hicks considered his words for a moment. His bellows for help echoed off the walls of the chamber, and he began to struggle again.

Sighing, Matthew shook his head. It was going to be a long night.

Katherine hugged herself to still her tremors. Her eyes burned and her fingers were stained black with ink, but several drawings of the men she had seen that night were completed, as well as another of Jaime Stone, and one of her uncle.

Her attention rested on the drawing room door just visible from her seat in the library. She looked at the clock on the mantle again and grimaced when she realized only five minutes had passed.

“Have a cup of tea, Katherine. It will help pass the time.” Clarisse poured the brew in a cup and set it on the table before her. Talbot leaned over and added a splash of brandy from the glass decanter he held. He poured the tea Clarisse had set before him back into the pot, and filled his cup with the stronger libation.

She cradled the teacup in her hand as she wandered to the window to look out. Darkness pressed against the glass unrelieved by moon or stars. Rain ran in a steady stream down the panes catching the light of the lamp behind her. She wondered for the hundredth time if Matthew was all right. To picture him locked away at the mercy of Hicks again was almost more than she could bear.

“Mrs. Hamilton.” Lord Harcourt’s spoke from behind her. She turned to face him, her heart beating in her throat so hard she couldn’t speak.

“Could you bring the drawings you have finished to the drawing room?”

“Certainly.” The word came out a whisper. She set aside the untouched tea and rushed to comply with his request. Her hands trembled with a combination of hope and fear as she gathered the sketches.

“I know how difficult this must be for you,” Lord Harcourt said as he walked beside her.

She doubted that the events she and Matthew had survived in the last few days had ever fallen within the realm of his personal experiences. “I appreciate your help in this matter, sir. I would not want Lord Rudman to doubt the evidence because it came from a source he thought biased. I am certain he will find you an acceptably neutral representative for justice.”

“I am honored by your trust, Mrs. Hamilton.” He opened the door and stood back to allow her entrance.

The men, six in all, came to their feet as a group as she entered the room. Her gaze fell on Henry first. His gnarled hands clutched his hat as he turned it round and round. He bobbed his head in greeting and offered her a shy smile. She did not recognize the man beside him and paused while Lord Harcourt introduced him as Matthew’s purser Carson Ray.

“Mr. Ray.” She offered him her hand. “I appreciate your coming to testify on my husband’s behalf.”

“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Hamilton.” His mouth thinned, making his square-jawed face appear stubborn.

”I’ve sailed with the Captain for several years now. I have no doubt that he is innocent, ma’am.”

“Thank you.”

“I have sent two men to collect Lord Rudman’s driver, Mrs. Hamilton. He should be here any moment,” Lord Harcourt said.

She nodded and stepped to the table to spread the drawings out.

Hampton appeared in the doorway. “There is a gentleman at the front door who wishes to speak with Captain Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton. He is quite insistent.

He says he is one of the Captain’s men.”

“Show him in, Hampton.”

Jess entered the room, his dark hair slick with rain, his clothes dripping with water. “I have to speak with the Cap’in, ma’am.”

“The Captain isn’t here, Jess.” His teeth chattered as he spoke. “We found them, ma’am. They’re hiding out at an ale house on the east side, at a place called White-Cross Tavern. I left Hollis standing watch while I came back here to tell the Cap’in.”

“How do you know you have found the men, Jess?”

William stepped forward. “One of the maids saw a man with Jaime Stone at the inn before we arrived. She gave a description of him to Captain Hamilton and me.

When nothing came of our questioning everyone at the inn, he ordered a watch put on the stables. The man the maid described sneaked out near daybreak and rode out.

Captain Hamilton sent Jess and Hollis to follow him and see where he went. ’Twas his belief that he would lead them back to the rest of the highwaymen.” Heedless of the water the man dripped upon the rug, she grasped Jess’ arm to lead him to the table where she had just spread the drawings. “Do you see the man’s likeness here?”

“That one,” Jess pointed at the sketch of a thin, rat-faced man. “They called him Badger.” Katherine’s throat grew thick with tears as her gaze traveled from one man to the other. “If he was traveling with Jaime Stone, perhaps he was a party to Lady Rudman’s murder or a witness. He has to be captured.” William, Andy, Franklin, and Webster started checking the priming on their weapons.

“Wait.” Lord Harcourt’s voice carried over the noise.

“It would be best if His Majesty’s troops were involved.

None of you have authority to arrest them.”

“You do, don’t you?” Webster asked.

Lord Harcourt turned to Katherine. “What of the Captain, Mrs. Hamilton?”

She felt as though something inside her grew tighter and tighter until she could barely breathe. “These men bore witness for my husband, Lord Harcourt. Will it be enough to prove his innocence?” The man’s gaze dropped from her face giving her his answer.

“Then go. But please capture them alive. It may be Matthew’s only chance.” ****

Matthew listened to the squeak of rusty metal as one of the men worked at the hinges of the door. Eventually they would work free the portal and there would be nothing he could do to keep them out of the cell. A wooden club would be little protection against a loaded flintlock.

The only advantage he had over them was the

darkness. Hicks’s presence compromised that for he was constantly taunting him and calling out to the others.

Matthew unwound the stock around his neck. Hugging the wall, he edged his way slowly around the cell to the cot. “Don’t ye touch me, Yankee.” Matthew stuffed the stock into the man’s mouth and tied it around his head. Hicks’s cries diminished to grunts and whimpers, and Matthew wondered why he hadn’t gagged the man hours ago and saved himself the bother of his constant noise.

The man Hicks referred to as Charlie called out.

“Hicks—Hicks, are ye all right?” Matthew crept back around to the door and squatted down to wait.

The men began to beat at the metal. Matthew crossed over to the back side of the portal where the door would give way once the hinges were free.

He had just decided that he preferred Hicks’s bellowing to the pounding when the door shifted sideways. The lock gave way. A man rattled off a string of colorful curses as the door toppled back. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time for it to settle on the dirt floor.

Matthew hugged the wall as closely as he could. He blinked as the light of a lantern extended into the room. A man stepped onto the door and eased just inside the door facing, his flintlock pistol cocked and ready. Matthew grasped the top of the weapon wedging his bandaged hand between the cock and the steel preventing it from discharging. He jerked the firearm out of the guard’s hand at the same time he swung the club. The wood connected to the man’s skull with a sickening thud. The guard fell to the ground and lay still.

He then found himself face to face with the other guard. The man’s eyes rounded with shock, and with a high-pitched yell, he swung the lantern he held at Matthew’s head. Matthew ducked and glass chimney splintered against the stone wall, splattering oil across it.

He thrust upward with the club and struck the man under the chin, driving him back out into the passageway.

The man lost his footing on the metal surface of the door

and fell against the rock wall. The busted lantern clanged as he lost his grip on it and it struck the floor. Tossing aside the club, Matthew gripped the butt of the pistol and pointed it in the man’s face.

“I believe you are in a spot of bother, my friend,” Matthew said, imitating the upper class English accents of the ton.

With a look of resignation, the man leaned back against the wall and spread his hands in surrender.

****

“Come sit and rest for a moment, Katherine.” Clarisse patted the settee beside her. “I will tell you of Matthew and his brothers when they were younger; it will pass the time.” Recognizing the couple’s attempts to distract her, she looked from one to the other and read the same strain and worry she felt on their faces. “Forgive me. Both of you. I know you are as concerned for Matthew as I am. I have not been very considerate of how you must be feeling about all of this.”

“Damned helpless.” Talbot’s hands clenched and unclenched as he stood at the fireplace. He raked his fingers through his hair making the white strands stand on end atop his head.

She settled beside Clarisse and the older woman clasped both her hands. She swallowed several times as ready tears threatened.

“I knew in the coach after the wedding Matthew was smitten with you.”

A smile tempted Katherine’s lips for the first since Matthew’s arrest. “I was with him as well.” The heat of a blush crept upward into her face and for a moment, she wondered how much she might share with them.

“I tried not to become attached the first days of our marriage. To him, to the two of you.” Katherine looked up at Talbot. “We struck a bargain during that first meeting at the jail. The marriage would be annulled as soon as I received whatever inheritance my mother left me, and he had his ship back and could sail for Charleston. Then Hannah hung that ridiculous sheet off the balcony and confused the issue.”

“So that is who it was.” Talbot sat in one of the chairs

before the fire. “Matthew never said a word.”

“Of course not.” Clarisse’s blue eyes searched Katherine’s face. “Matthew would have never said anything to disparage Katherine’s reputation.” Katherine caught herself smiling again. “With the rumors, Hannah thought to protect my reputation. I truly meant to stick by the agreement. I planned to leave before the papers were hawked and the bills posted. I thought if I were absent it would give Matthew time and reason to annul the marriage.”

Talbot leaned forward in his seat. “Matthew would have never left you behind. Honor alone would have prevented him from doing so.

“I know.” She tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I delayed leaving for Summerhaven a day too long. He refused to allow me to stay home that day and, in truth, I wanted one more day with him, before we had to part.” She brushed at the tears that trailed down her face.

“Your nephew is difficult not to love.”

“Then why would you even try?” Clarisse asked as she gathered Katherine against her.

She relaxed against the other woman, grateful for her understanding and comfort. “I thought, at the time, to protect him from all the trouble I have caused. It is because of me he is in prison again.”

“No it is not.” Talbot shook his head, a scowl darkening his features. “It is because Avery Rudman’s jealousy has blinded him to the truth.” Hampton appeared at the library door, and Katherine sat up. “Lord Rudman and his driver are here, my lord.”

Talbot rose and withdrawing a handkerchief from his coat pocket offered it to Katherine. “Show them in Hampton.”

“Who are you to command my driver’s presence, Talbot?” Avery Rudman demanded as soon as he cleared the doorway. His features, set in aggressive lines of displeasure, appeared drawn and haggard.

“It was not by my invitation, but by Lord Harcourt’s, Avery. Though there is nothing untoward about my wanting to speak to the man, is there? My nephew has been accused of a heinous crime, a crime of which he is

innocent. I intend to do everything I can to prove that.”

“His innocence is a matter of opinion.” Rudman scowled, his bulldog like jaws trembling as he ground his teeth.

“Not just my opinion. He is innocent.” Katherine stepped between the men when it appeared the conversation was only going to deteriorate into an argument. “My husband told me about your wife’s visit to him on the Caroline that day, Lord Rudman. I am sure your driver told you that she left after only a few moments, as all the men on deck that day can attest to, as well. Matthew’s purser, Carson Ray watched Matthew mount his horse and ride away in the opposite direction.

He was coming to me at Summerhaven.”

“So you say. He could have easily circled back.”

“What reason would he have to do that?”

“Revenge against me for having imprisoned him.

Revenge against her for having caused it.”

“If you knew my husband, you would not believe that, Lord Rudman.”

The man’s jaw flexed. “You are his wife; of course you will defend him.”

“I am his wife because you and my uncle both wanted rid of a problem. I will ask you at another time, what Edward promised you to gain your cooperation in that matter. Right now, I am more concerned that an innocent man may lose his life because you harbor an unreasonable hatred for him.” She delved into the man’s eyes seeking any softening and found none at all. “I would like to speak with your driver.”