My Lady Vixen (37 page)

After a while Grubbs left the inn to return to duty but Bates still had a few free hours so he remained with Drew, finding his company pleasant. Finally, Drew inhaled sharply and asked. “Are you really guarding an important prisoner?”

Bates cast a blurry eye about him, then whispered wetly in Drew’s ear, “Aye. Did you ever hear of a traitor they call the Fox?” Duly impressed, Drew nodded. “He’s in the dungeon beneath the Governor’s mansion. But not for long,” Bates hinted slyly.

“I’ve heard of the man,” said Drew in a conspiratorial voice. “I hope they hang the bastard.”

“That’s exactly what will happen to him day after tomorrow, but someone wants him done in before that.” Bates laughed raucously, unable to focus his eyes on a shocked Drew.

“You?” asked Drew.

“Naw, I couldn’t care less how he dies. But some toff wants him out of the way badly enough to pay me and Grubbs to do it sooner. Tomorrow night, in fact. It’s all arranged.”

“You’re going to do him in? What will the Governor say to that?”

“The Governor will probably thank us for saving him the expense of a hanging. He’ll be taken from his cell and …” Suddenly Bates realized what dangerous information he was about to divulge and clamped his mouth tightly shut. “Never mind, it’s not for the likes of you to know the where and why. When Fox returns from the ship we’re to take him to, he’s a dead man and me and Grubbs are rich beyond our wildest dreams.

“Ship? What ship?” But Bates refused to utter another word on the subject. Soon afterwards Drew left to report everything he had just learned to Mac and Drake.

After much deliberation the two privateers came to
the conclusion that Fox was to be taken from his cell, to some ship, and then killed when he left. Of Alexa they heard nothing and it worried the two men who both had a certain fondness for the lady. It was decided that Mac, Drake and six men would go ashore after dark and watch the dungeon entrance of the Governor’s mansion for any sign of activity. If nothing happened by midnight they would storm the prison and forcibly remove Fox.

It’s nearly midnight,” whispered Mac to the men crouched beside him. “We’ll give it another half-hour and if nothing seems amiss, be prepared to …”

Abruptly a crack of light showed around the door they were watching, serving to effectively cut off Mac’s words. The crack widened and into the abyss stepped two men, half carrying, half dragging a third. “Fox,” breathed Mac, clenching his hands into tight fists. It was obvious his friend had been handled none too gently by his captors.

Making certain there was no one about, Bates and Grubbs dragged the Fox through the deserted streets the short distance to the docks. Mac, Drake and the others fell in behind, following at a discreet distance. Beforehand they had agreed to do nothing until they learned where Alexa was being held. They would not leave her behind to fend for herself. They decided to allow Fox to be taken aboard the ship, for according to his guards he wasn’t to be killed until he returned to shore. As much as they wanted to remove Fox from immediate danger, it was more important to rescue both the Fox and his Vixen. The anxious men watched apprehensively as Fox was placed into a longboat and rowed out to a ship anchored amid the many others in the harbor.

That week spent in the dungeon-like cell was the most miserable one in Adam’s life. His wounds had been crudely treated and slow in mending. The pain he lived with both day and night was not nearly so bad as his suffering over Alexa’s fate. He had heard nothing of her. He had seen no one but his sadistic guards who took great pleasure in beating him daily despite his wounds and weakness. Just yesterday an officer had appeared and told him curtly that he had already been tried and found guilty months ago and that his hanging, long overdue, was to take place day after tomorrow.

When he questioned the officer about Alexa he was gratified to learn she was still at large. The only conclusion he could draw was that Alexa had made it to safety and told Mac what had happened, just as he hoped. But could he expect an eleventh-hour reprieve? he wondered bleakly. He would give his soul to be able to live out his remaining days with his love, but as long as she was safe he would ask for nothing more.

On the night before he was due to hang, Adam lay on his cot staring desolately into the darkness. Sleep eluded him, but he did not mind. He had too many memories to relive, too many beautiful thoughts of Alexa filling his mind and heart to give in to sleep. Amid his waking dreams of those sweet moments he had first taken her in the guise of Fox, he was rudely interrupted when both Bates and Grubbs entered his cell.

Bates sneered at him, his mouth twisted with hate. He had not forgotten that day when Fox/Adam had prevented him from having his way with Lady Alexa, who as it turned out was the Vixen. During the past week he had vented his anger often enough on the wounded man by administering severe beatings. But now, being given the opportunity to do the man in was the ultimate pleasure.

“Get up, Fox!” Bates ordered, prodding him ungently.

Adam grunted, struggling to sit up. “Can’t you wait till morning to beat me?” he asked, wincing in pain from his previous beating. “Or are you afraid the hangman will deprive you of your sadistic pleasure?”

“Get moving,” Grubbs commanded, shoving Adam toward the door. “Someone wants to see you.”

“Now? It must be nearly midnight.”

“Aye,” agreed Bates. “It’s time.” Between them they prodded Adam from the cell and out the door.

Limping and struggling to keep up, a myriad of thoughts went through Adam’s brain. Where were they taking him? Surely they didn’t intend to hang him in the middle of the night, unless, of course, they feared some kind of rescue by Fox’s friends. But when they hurried him past the newly erected gallows standing like sentinels of death in the deserted square. Adam was truly perplexed.

A glimmer of hope beat in his breast when he was shoved into a boat and rowed to a ship anchored in the harbor. Perhaps these men had been bribed by Mac to let him go. Adam wrongly surmised. But as they drew close to the ship. Adam’s heart sank when he realized he was being rowed to an English warship. Obviously his fellow privateers would not send him to the enemy.

It was then Adam considered jumping from the boat into the water, making a break for freedom. But weakness soon changed his mind. That and the overwhelming desire to see this to the end in the unlikely event he might yet encounter Alexa. With a toughness born of determination, Adam gathered what little strength remained in his battered body in order to meet his fate with courage, unaware that eight of his comrades waited on shore for his return.

The rowboat nudged the hull of the ship, the hooks attached, and winched up to the deck. When prodded. Adam stepped out and watched dispassionately as the boat was immediately lowered to begin its return journey. Adam was not loathe to see the last of Bates and Grubbs.

The total darkness was such that at first Adam did not recognize the man who greeted him. “Come along, Fox,” Charles nodded curtly, “there is someone who wishes to see you.”

His leg stiff and unwieldy from the wound to his thigh. Adam stumbled awkwardly after Charles until the captain was forced to lend him a helping hand. It was obvious that the guards hadn’t eased up on the beatings as he had suggested. Charles only hoped Alexa would not back down when she saw Fox’s sorry condition.

Alexa paced the cabin, nearly sick with worry. What if Adam refused to believe that she no longer loved him? she asked herself grimly. Charles had brought her aboard his shp over an hour ago and she had been
unable to relax since. Now that the time for her meeting with Adam was at hand she wasn’t convinced she could go through with this charade. But when she thought of her child and what would happen to Adam if she failed, she knew she must.

Charles opened the door to the cabin and Adam was momentarily blinded so that he did not immediately see Alexa, or the look of outrage descending upon her pinched face. “Adam, oh my God, what have they done to you?”

“Alexa!” cried Adam, joy and incredulity coloring his words. “Oh my love, you’re safe!” Only then did he recognize Charles who had moved into the light provided by the lantern swinging from the bulkhead, and sheer black panic seized him. “Charles Whitlaw! What is this all about, Alexa?”

“Tell him, my dear,” urged Charles delightedly.

“What is it, my love? Why have I been brought here?” Though Adam wanted to ask more, he wisely refrained.

“You’ve been brought here to bid your wife goodbye,” Charles goaded relentlessly. “That much I’ll tell you. The rest is up to Alexa.” He looked toward her expectantly.

“Adam, are … are you all right?” Alexa began hesitantly. “You look terrible.”

“I’m well enough,” replied Adam, his eyes like ashy cinders never leaving her face. “What is it you have to tell me?”

“I’m going away with Charles,” she blurted out, knowing of no easier way to tell him. “To England. I’ve … already become his mistress,” she lied, lowering her sooty eyelashes until they were dark smudges against her pale cheeks. “I intend to obtain a divorce once I arrive in England.”

“I can hardly blame you for wanting to save your life,
Alexa,” Adam said slowly, waiting for her to explain more fully.

“You’re mistaken. Adam,” Alexa replied, her voice deliberately cold. “I’ve chosen Charles of my own free will. He would have let me go but I wished to return to England with him. I’m tired of running, of war, and … and of you. I want a better life and Charles can give it to me.” Forgive me Adam, she silently implored.

“Surely you don’t expect me to believe that, do you, my love?” Adam scoffed wanly. “What of our love for one another? Although I am soon to die I did not expect you to forget me so easily.”

“You won’t die,” interjected Charles grandly. “As a gesture of good faith as well as a token of my love for Alexa, I have arranged, at great expense. I might add, for your release. When you leave this ship you will be allowed to go where you will.”

Openly skeptical, Adam spat, “I don’t believe you, Captain Whitlaw!”

“For Alexa I would risk anything,” Charles shrugged. “If I allow you to die your death will always stand between us. I’m doing this for myself as much as for my future wife.”

“Is that true, Alexa?” Though Adam’s face was devoid of all expression, Alexa sensed the bleakness and despair behind his words.

“Aye,” she lied, watching his gaunt face take on a hardness she hadn’t seen in years as Charles moved beside her and curved an arm possessively around her slim waist.

“Come with me, Alexa! I love you,” Adam implored desperately.

“It’s too late, Adam. Don’t you understand? I’m Charles’s mistress!” She was almost shouting. Cleverly, Charles picked that moment to move his hand upward
to cup Alexa’s breast, his thumb rubbing back and forth across her nipple which seemed to surge and harden beneath his tender ministrations. Charles smiled salaciously but Adam turned away, momentarily defeated.

“I believe this interview is at an end,” Charles said, nuzzling Alexa’s neck, all the while edging her toward the bunk, leaving Adam no doubt as to his intentions. “My mistress and I wish to be alone. You’ll be taken ashore in a boat and left on the dock. After that you are no longer my responsibility.”

Haunted by the knowledge that Alexa no longer loved him, Adam ignored Charles, addressing Alexa instead. “Have you nothing more to say, Alexa? Do I mean nothing to you after all we’ve been through together?” He waited, challenging her to reply.

Alexa swallowed hard, lifted her chin, and boldly met his gaze. “Goodbye, Adam. It is over between us. Don’t come after me for I …,” she faltered, choking on the words. “… I never want to see you again.”

“Your wish is granted, Alexa. If I live through this you’ll not be bothered by me, ever. Get your damn divorce. I wish you both well.”

Blurry-eyed, Alexa watched as Adam limped from the cabin, bent beneath the weight of his wounds and the terrible blow she had just dealt him. “You bastard!” she lashed out at Charles. “You didn’t have to touch me like that! What are you trying to do, destroy him completely?”

Charles grinned nastily. “I had to do something, my dear. It was obvious he didn’t believe you.”

“He does now! He’ll go through life hating me!”

Charles nearly laughed aloud, knowing that Fox had little time left on earth to hate anyone. “You did very well, Alexa. I’m proud of you.”

“To hell with you, Charles! One day you’ll be sorry, I swear it!”

“Come along now, Alexa,” Charles cajoled. “You’ll get over it soon enough. You have me and your child to console you. Don’t you want to see how well I kept my word?” He led her out of the cabin and to the rail where they could just see the dim outline of the longboat scraping against the dock.

The sky was beginning to lighten and Alexa watched with trepidation as Adam pulled himself painfully from the longboat and limped off down the quay, not once looking back. She had done her job well, Alexa thought ruefully. He had rounded the corner, already out of sight, but Alexa could not force her feet to move. Beside her, Charles’s attention was concentrated on the shoreline. To Alexa it appeared as if he were waiting for something or someone.

Skulking in the deep shadows of the quay, Mac, Drake and their men kept anxious eyes trained on the English ship to which Fox had been taken. They saw the two prison guards return and disappear around the corner but did not follow. If Fox did not return soon one of the men was prepared to summon the crew of all three ships into a formidable force and attack under the cover of darkness. The time was growing short when Mac saw a boat being winched down into the water. As the boat came close to shore, he could barely distinguish the figures of three men, hopefully one of them Fox/Adam.

Their patience was rewarded when the boat bumped into the quay and Adam emerged with all the speed his lame leg afforded him. The boat departed almost immediately, leaving Fox a lone figure outlined against the midnight sky. Adam paused for one last look at the ship, his eyes bleak. Then his face hardened as a
coldness settled over his features and he limped off rapidly in the same direction taken by the two guards, Bates and Grubbs.