Intriguing Lady (26 page)

“I’m not armed. I don’t hold with violence.”

“For your niece’s sake, I hope you’re not lying. What have you done with the three men I left here to greet you, Sir Nicholas? Are they still alive?”

“Don’t think to use them to help you escape,” Sir Nicholas answered. “They are in the cellars, and, with the amount of drugged brandy they have consumed, I doubt they will wake before morning.”

“And Veronique?”

“Who?”

“Don’t play me for a fool,” the comte snarled. “Order her to come in here, before I lose my temper.”

Sir Nicholas shrugged again and sauntered to the door. “She will be of little help to you now,” he said. The comte frowned.

“Veronique!” Sir Nicholas shouted. “You can come down.” He leaned casually against the door post.

When Veronique appeared, her eyes were wide with fear, and Sir Nicholas knew that she would be of little help to him either. That left Lacey and Jenkins.

“The young man I asked you to entertain, Veronique, is he still asleep upstairs?” the comte asked sharply.

Veronique glanced nervously at Sir Nicholas before responding. “I don’t know where he is. I—I think that man,” she said, pointing to Lord Bromley, “had him taken away. I was powerless to stop him.”

“Was he still drugged?” the comte asked.

Veronique shrugged helplessly. “I—I suppose…”

“She doesn’t have the presence of mind of Miss Rushforth,” Sir Nicholas interposed swiftly even as the comte was nodding in satisfaction at Veronique’s reply. “I’m surprised you didn’t instruct the poor girl in the basics of self-defense,” he added, afraid that if Veronique was allowed to continue, she would confess that she hadn’t, in fact, drugged Sir Lacey and that he was at this very moment somewhere in the house.

“Please, Monsieur le Comte,” Veronique cried. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ll do anything to help you just so long as you let me go. I’ve got my brother to t
hink
of. There’s only me to look after him.”

The comte laughed. “You see, my fine Englishman. It matters not that my women aren’t savages. As long as one discovers where they are most vulnerable, they’re easily controlled. Veronique, take the cords holding the curtains, and tie the hands of the two gentlemen behind their backs.”

“And you’ll let me go?”

“Don’t argue, you little fool. Do as I say.”

Veronique ran to the curtains and pulled at the cords until they fell away. In her haste to be gone, she tied Lord Bromley hurriedly and fled.

“How far do you think you’ll get before you’re stopped?” Sir Nicholas asked, trying to divert the comte’s attention.

“With Mademoiselle Rushforth in our party, I think I can persuade your men to let us proceed. If I am stopped, I shall kill her without compunction,” he snapped.

Lord Bromley’s voice exploded across the room. “You’re mad!” he shouted. “Quite, quite mad. Kill me, if need be,” but leave my niece alone.”

“Aren’t you being a trifle overdramatic, monsieur?” Sir Nicholas drawled in an effort to give Lord Bromley time to recover. “She will not be of much use to you if you carry out your threat.”

“She will pay eventually for what she has done,” the comte responded angrily. “That any of you were stupid enough to think I would be fooled for long about mademoiselle having a father is beyond my comprehension. And as for you, Sir Nicholas, it is going to be my pleasure to deal with you personally. Your charade of calling my colleague out on the pretext of settling an affair of the heart is laughable. You didn’t seriously believe that Stephen was taken in, I hope.”

“Then the man’s a fool and a coward to have agreed,” Sir Nicholas responded coldly.

“He agreed to your absurd suggestion of meeting at dawn tomorrow, knowing that he would no longer be in England, Sir Nicholas. He was simply obeying my orders.”

Roberta looked across at her uncle and attempted a smile. No matter what the outcome of the drama now being enacted, she would always draw comfort from the knowledge that Sir Nicholas was prepared to fight for her honor.

“And where is this fine specimen of an English gentleman now?” Sir Nicholas asked. “Holding poor Polly? Now that I consider it a moment, a frightened serving wench is about all I would entrust him to guard.” There was a biting sarcasm to his voice which he hoped Davids would disregard. But it was the only way he knew to goad the comte into telling him who else Stephen was holding. It was essential that he knew whether Jenkins was free, before he made his move.

“Then it’s quite obvious you don’t know him as well as I,” the comte retorted. “He is a fine man, and has performed well. And for your information, Sir Nicholas, he managed to subdue your man, Jenkins, without any difficulty at all.”

“Leaving you the more difficult task of taking Davids and Polly,” Sir Nicholas responded. “It doesn’t surprise me in the least that he chose to tackle the easier target.” His light bantering tone hid the deep concern he felt for Jenkins, for he knew his servant would not have surrendered without a fight. “I hope he, at least, had the decency to take care of any wound he might have inflicted on Jenkins.”

“Polly’s looking after him, Sir Nicholas,” Davids said. “She knows what to do for a cut.”

“So the brave young man used his rapier, did he?” Sir Nicholas asked, endeavoring to get a clearer picture of the scene outside.

“Enough of your idle chatter,” the comte snapped impatiently. With an angry gesture, he flung Davids away from him and in a thick voice ordered him to pick up Roberta. “Carry her to the coach in the driveway,” he ordered. “Mr. Davenport is waiting for you there.”

Davids moved with deliberate slowness and for a few seconds managed to conceal Roberta from the comte’s view.

Sir Nicholas, watching through narrowed eyes, silently applauded when he saw Roberta reach out and take the gun from the table.

“Be careful you don’t drop her, Davids,” he drawled. “She has injured her ankle.”

Davids grinned conspiratorially at Sir Nicholas. “I’ll treat her like she’s a piece of the finest crystal,” he said. He leaned over and lifted her up. Under the pretense of making her comfortable in his arms, he took the gun.

The comte poked his gun into the small of Davids’s back and ordered him to lead the way. “You will follow, Sir Nicholas, when I nod, and you, Lord Bromley, will come with me.”

Davids started for the door, and as he passed Sir Nicholas, Roberta murmured, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Davids will drop you once you’re outside. Roll away and don’t move until I come for you,” he whispered.

Roberta craned her neck for one last look at Sir Nicholas, marveling at his coolness.

“What is going to happen?” she whispered. “How will my uncle and Sir Nicholas defend themselves with their arms tied behind their backs?”

“The element of surprise will be on our side,” Davids responded, “for I happened to notice that Lord Bromley loosened his bonds a few minutes ago.” With an awkward motion, he opened the front door, and a blast of cold air made Roberta shiver. “Can you see Sir Nicholas over my shoulder yet?” he asked as he paused at the head of the stone steps.

“He’s just coming out of the room now. And there’s the comte and my uncle.”

Davids grunted. “When I get to the bottom of these steps, I’m going to turn to the right and drop you. There is a lavender bush a few yards farther along. Head for that. I’ll cut back to my left and proceed as if I’m still holding you.”

Roberta’s heart beat faster as Davids descended. The last glimpse she had of Sir Nicholas was of him turning to make some comment to the comte. Even as Davids dropped her and she rolled toward the bush, she wondered what Sir Nicholas had thought to say to delay the comte’s progress to the door.

She had barely gained the cover of the bush when she felt a hand cover her mouth. She screamed, but no sound came. She struggled furiously, but her strength was no match against the man holding her. She sagged against him as tears of frustration gathered in her eyes.

“Miss Rushforth, are you all right?”

“Sir Lacey!” she exclaimed. “Where on earth have you been?”

Sir Lacey grinned. “Waiting for you to leave the house. Where did Davids go?”

“To the carriage. He’s armed, though I have no idea what he intends to do.”

Sir Lacey swore softly and stood up. “Davenport will get him, too,” he murmured. “Stay here,” he added, and before she could ask what he meant, he had melted into the shadows.

She watched in fearful fascination as Sir Nicholas appeared on the top step, the comte and Lord Bromley joining him moments later. They seemed to be arguing; the silhouetted scene had an eerie quality about it. Then she saw Lord Bromley drop the cords that bound his hands, and with a speed that belied his age, he pushed the comte down the steps.

The comte landed awkwardly, and the gun he was holding fell from his grasp and slid across the lawn toward her. By the time the comte had risen to his feet, Sir Nicholas, his hands now free, was at his side. Lord Bromley had disappeared.

Sir Nicholas quickly seized the comte by the arm and, using the cord that had so recently bound his own hands, tied the comte’s hands behind his back. “You are surrounded, Monsieur le Comte,” he said. “I wouldn’t do anything foolish.” Then: “Lacey, are you there?” he shouted over his shoulder. Sir Lacey emerged from the inky darkness. “Take him inside,” Sir Nicholas commanded, “while I deal with Davenport.”

“He fled in your carriage a few moments ago, as Davids and I were helping Jenkins to his feet,” Sir Lacey replied. “I didn’t give, chase, for Davids assured me that Lord Bromley’s men will stop him.”

Sir Nicholas turned to the comte and laughed. “So much for your loyal colleague,” he said. “But worry not, monsieur. You will have plenty of time in which to tell him just what you think of his cowardly behavior when you both stand trial for treason.”

The comte’s shoulder’s slumped in defeat, and Roberta watched as Sir Lacey led him away. When she looked back to where Sir Nicholas had been standing, he was no longer there. She sat up and glanced about anxiously. When she couldn’t see anyone, her anxiety increased, and she rolled out from under the bush.

The noise of a breaking twig, followed by a mild oath, caused her to turn. Sir Nicholas was a foot away, on his hands and knees, peering into the bush. If she stretched out a hand, she could have touched him.

Unable to control her mirth at his undignified position, she giggled. Suddenly she felt his arms about her, and tears of joy spilled down her cheeks.

“There, there, my darling girl,” he murmured. “It’s all over now. You’re quite safe.”

“Oh, my precious Nicholas!” she cried. “I know, I know. My tears are ones of happiness at being here with you.”

He looked at her strangely for a moment and then crushed her to him. “I never thought to hear you say that, my love. I worried that after all the suffering I had caused you, you would never want to see me again.”

“And until tonight I thought you didn’t want to see
me
again,” she confided shyly.

“Does this mean, Miss Rushforth, that you are prepared to change your mind and accept my proposal after all?” he asked in a voice that quivered with emotion.

She pushed him away slightly, for she still hadn’t heard the words she most wanted to hear. “Is this declaration prompted by pity?” she asked wickedly.

“You minx,” he responded. “You must know that this one comes from my heart. I love you, my darling. I love you to distraction.”

His lips found hers, and he kissed her passionately. As she surrendered to his embrace, a sigh of pure contentment escaped her.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused them to pull apart. Sir Nicholas rose to his feet and helped Roberta to hers. She leaned against him for support.

“Goddammit! Jenkins, Davids, have neither of you got a flint? I can’t see anyone here.” Lord Bromley’s voice broke angrily through the silence.

“I believe there are some in the house, John,” Sir Nicholas answered with a laugh. “Who are you looking for?”

“The comte, for a start.”

“He’s in the house,” Sir Nicholas said, “with his hands tied firmly behind his back.”

“And Roberta, where is she? Davids has had the devil’s own time searching for her, because the confounded moon fled behind some clouds. For all we know, she is lying somewhere, seriously injured.”

“I’m here, Uncle,” Roberta said gaily.

“Where?” Lord Bromley demanded.

“At my side, where she belongs,” Sir Nicholas answered as he turned to gather her into his arms.

Lord Bromley hurried over to them just as Sir Lacey appeared with a lighted lamp. They stopped short when they saw the radiant expression on Roberta’s face.

“Do I offer you my congratulations now, Nicholas?” he asked.

“She hasn’t accepted my proposal yet, but I am confident she will. I anticipate our wedding will take place in the very near future.”

Roberta gazed up at Sir Nicholas adoringly. “Would tomorrow be soon enough?” she inquired breathlessly, and kissed him gently on his cheek. Then, overcome with emotion, she buried her face in his jacket.

Davids, who had been following close behind, halted when he heard this. With a whoop of joy that took everyone by surprise, he threw his tricorn into the air and turned to embrace Polly.