A Wicked Deception (14 page)

“Come on, girl.” The bushranger grabbed her arm, and she lashed out at him with her foot. He let out a curse, but held her firmly by clamping both arms about her, and crushing her to his chest. “For God’s sake,
shut up, Michael Guilford sent me,” he growled.

“Michael did?”
Her knees almost collapsed under her.

“Keep your voice down
,” he hissed. “Now, you cowardly dogs, be off before I change my mind and shoot you down like the mangy scum you are.”

After the coach took off at breakneck speed the man laughed. “They weren’t too worried about protecting your maidenly virtue, Missie.”

“What did you mean by saying Michael Guilford sent you?”

“He paid me to hold up the coach. He’s hiding over there behind those trees.” With a brief salute the man rode off.

She turned her head from right to left, trying to gather her wits. Michael strode purposefully towards her.

“
Oh, Michael. Thank God you came. Who was that man? Why did you pay him to hold up the coach?”

“His name is Elliot
. I heard of him from an acquaintance. He’d sell his grandmother for the right price, an unsavory individual, but useful.”

“Why?” she persisted
, but inwardly her spirits lifted. He hadn’t deserted her.

“I
couldn’t think of anything else to get you away. I warned you to leave the diggings.”

“I had to help Robbie
. I couldn’t desert him.” She started crying, the tears rolling down her cheeks tumbled into the collar of her dress.

“Don’t cry
, there isn’t time. Try to be brave a little longer. We have to get away from here quickly. Once Douglas hears his prized prisoner has escaped, the area will be swarming with soldiers.”

With his arm around her shoulders, they left the road and headed straight into the scrub. After a hundred yards or so, it opened on to a clearing, where two horses were tethered. Releasing her shoulders, Michael strode over to one of the horses and rummaged through the saddlebag. He handed over a man’s shirt, and a pair of white moleskin trousers.

“Change quickly. Two stockmen will have a better chance of riding around unnoticed than a gentleman with a pretty young lady at his side.”

“I can’t change here.” Embarrassed
heat flooded her cheeks.

“I’ll turn my back, but hurry. We can take your clothes with us. You’ll need them later on.”

With shaking hands she unbuttoned her bodice. She couldn’t believe what was happening to her, and went as far as pinching herself to make sure she really was awake and the events of the last few days weren’t a terrible nightmare. Dragging on the shirt, she then stepped out of her skirt and petticoats. With the belt buckled up, the trousers fitted quite snug.

“You can turn around now.”

Michael smiled when he saw her. “Well, you are a handsome lad. Your hair is going to be a problem though.”

“Cut it off.”

“No, absolutely not, I forbid you to cut so much as an inch off it.”

Too worn out and drained to argue, she meekly pushed the hair up under the wide-brimmed hat he handed over. After pulling on a pair of black boots, she bundled her clothes together and s
tuffed them into one of the saddlebags.

He helped her mount then they
rode without speaking again, concentrating on putting as much distance as possible between themselves and any would be pursuers. Keeping away from the main roads they headed across country through the bush. Girth high ferns and bracken brushed against her legs, before snapping back into place as they passed by. She shuddered on thinking about what punishment awaited if the redcoats captured her. Michael had put himself in danger and it gave her a warm feeling to know he had put himself at risk to save her.

Her arms ached, her body felt as if it had been run over by a coach, with every bone broken,
by the time he stopped in a small clearing for them to rest. He lifted her from the saddle, and sat her under the shade of a large gum tree, while he attended to their mounts. From somewhere close by a stream babbled. After leading the horses down to drink, he came back and squatted beside her.

“Are you hungry?” She nodded, too tired even to speak
, but she managed to raise a tremulous smile. The trauma of the last few days had really sapped her strength, but hadn’t completely broken her spirit.

“Sorry, we can’t light a fire, someone might see it, but there’s bread, cold meat, oh and some apple pie for us to eat.” He flashed a smile.
“I can’t let you starve.”

“The last couple of days have been terrible.” She barely recognize
d the quivering, husky voice as her own. “When Major Douglas hit me, you didn’t seem to care.”

He sat beside her
and picked up her hand, holding it gently. “I cared. You can’t know what a shock I got when you turned out to be his prized rebel prisoner. I dared not let on how well we knew each other.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw you, too. I thought you’d betrayed us by going over to the other side.”

“Some of the influential land owners asked me to join the Committee. They were worried about what open rebellion could mean. There might have been civil war,” he lied. He couldn’t give a damn what these colonials did. He wanted Melanie.

“Once I saw you, I had to get you away. To think you spent a night in some rat infested cell. It must have been frightful.” He sighed dramatically, hoping he wasn’t overdoing it. “You stepped into the room so proudly, ready to defy everyone. Robbie will never know what you did for him.”

“James is taking him to Bendigo where some relative of Uncle Alex lives.”

“Whereabouts in
Bendigo?” This was the opportunity he had been hoping for. Douglas would pay handsomely for information on Pritchard’s hideout. His plan was running so smoothly he almost felt guilty. Sweet little Melanie, so trusting and desirable. Yes, very desirable, and soon she would be his in every sense of the word. His groin tightened in anticipation.

“I don’t know, James just said he was taking him to
Bendigo.”

“It seems rather risky hanging around the goldfields.”

“They’re going through Daylesford and Castlemaine. James says it would be safer with lots of other miners around.”

“Have I met Alex’s relative?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What’s his name?” he persisted.

“Arthur Chadwick.”

“I don’t recall meeting anyone named Chadwick.” He smiled. “I think we should be moving along now.”

“Thank you for rescuing me.”

“I’ve always been fond of you, Melanie, but when I saw you covered in blood and dirt in that mean little hut, I realized how much you did mean to me. You were terrified. Your eyes wide with fear, not a vestige of color remained in your face, yet you stayed to protect Robbie. He shouldn’t have let you take such a risk.”

“I had to save him, no matter what it cost. I’d have laid my life down for him.”

Michael’s lips snapped together
at the passion in her voice. “Don’t get overwrought. I have a doctor friend living near Geelong. We can stay there for a night or two. It will give us time to make some plans.”

“Won’t you get into trouble for helping me?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“What about Lady Priscilla?”

“We agreed to part a week or more ago, all very civilized. Priscilla met up with a French Duke at a Government House function, thought his prospects better than mine.” Conniving bitch, he thought savagely, swallowing back on his rage, but Melanie was a greater prize with her soft, sweet innocence.
Mine for the taking if I play my cards right
, he consoled himself, but Priscilla would pay for her treachery. No woman humiliated Michael Guilford and got away with it.

“I’m sorry.” She touched his cheek in a gesture of sympathy.

“Why? I’m not.” He grasped both hands to pull her up. “You’re tired, I know, my sweet, but we must keep going. If it gets dark before we leave the bush we could lose our bearings. I’m not experienced in this kind of country like James.”

He swung her up in his arms, before striding towards their horses
. She rested her head on his chest, and his heart thudded strongly against her ear.

“There.” He put her in the saddle and handed up the reins. It was now so hot everything seemed to be dozing in the
shimmering heat. They startled birds into flight as they galloped by, and kangaroos and emus darted for cover at their noisy approach.

Late in the afternoon they stopped to rest their horses again. She felt so tired she barely had enough strength to drink from the canteen. This land of brooding solitude was so wide and empty they had ridden for hours without seeing another human being.

“In a few hours you can rest, a nice comfortable bed and hot food.” Michael smiled before turning serious again. “This is the most dangerous part of our journey. We have to leave the safety of the bush to pass through a small hamlet. Stay close beside me. Don’t speak unless you have to. Remember, we’re two stockmen searching for a new stock route.”

Glancing down at his dusty clothes, he grimaced. “Few people would recognize the Honorable Michael Guilford, only son of Lord and Lady Guilford of Greystones
, in these rags.”

She
gave a wan smile because he tried so hard to cheer her up and allay her fears. She was exhausted, nevertheless, when he rose, she did also.

“You’re as light as thistledown.” Once more he scooped her up in his arms and sat her in the saddle.

They passed unchallenged through a cluster of tents and huts making up this small gold mining hamlet. Three barking kangaroo dogs bounded out to greet them. A bearded man, who stared at them with hostile curiosity, called the dogs back.

“How far is it to
Geelong?” Michael asked, as they drew abreast of him. She kept her head lowered praying none of her hair had escaped from under her hat.

“A couple of hours
, that way.” The man pointed with one finger.

Michael urged his mount on; she did likewise.
He waited until they were some distance away before speaking. “Probably thinks we’re sniffing around ready to jump his claim. You’re exhausted, aren’t you, my brave girl?” He nudged his horse closer so he could squeeze her hand.

On and on they rode
. Her hair, jammed so tight into her hat, made her head feel as if it had caught fire. Their horses were tired and sweating from having traveled so far.

Michael
appeared hot and dusty also, with damp patches of perspiration causing his shirt to cling to his back. In all the time she had known him, he had always looked immaculate, but now dark stubble covered his jaw.

The sun slipping behind the mountains turned them
a hazy red, a signal for parrots in a multitude of colors to pop out of every tree. Hundreds of them appeared once the sun’s hot rays disappeared.

They kept on riding
. She swayed with fatigue, her head thumped so badly black spots appeared before her eyes. The reins slipped from her hands and she couldn’t pick them up. The horse stumbled without her guidance, but righted itself as Michael grasped hold of the reins.

“Melanie.”

Tears of exhaustion filled her eyes.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you, but you’re letting your horse wander all over the place.”

“I can’t ride any more. Please, I’m too tired to hold the reins properly.” She hunched over the horse’s neck.

“Here, let me lead you.
Thread your fingers through his mane and hang on.”

Darkness fell suddenly
in the Australian bush, and the night birds started calling out to each other. A wild dog howled mournfully in the blackness, to be answered by his mate. Their guiding light came from thousands of stars scattered across the Milky Way.

Sudden pinpricks of light appeared in the distance. “Not long now
.” His voice sounded far away as the pounding in her head reached a crescendo.

Chapter
Seven

Melanie woke up and
tried to focus her eyes. After blinking several times, realization dawned. It was broad daylight. She lay between lavender scented sheets in a calico lined room. A pretty picture of Mary and the Christ child reposed on a chest of drawers. Lace curtains fluttered at the half opened windows.

She sat up, surprised to find herself wearing a white cotton nightgown trimmed with lace and blue ribbons.
Holding a sleeve close to her face, she again inhaled the fragrance of lavender.

“You’re awake.
” A young woman appeared at her bedside. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thank you, I must have slept like the dead.”

“Michael left you in our care. I’m Sophia Lawrence.”

Melanie’s
fingers clutched at the edge of the sheet. Anxiety almost froze the words in her throat. “Has Michael gone?”

“He’ll return, never fear
. He left early this morning to see some government officials.”

“Why?”
Melanie’s heart missed a beat. Surely Michael hadn’t decided to turn her in to the authorities after all?

“Unofficially, of course, he wants to find out what’s happening. Would you like something to eat?”

“Yes please. Thank you so much for taking me in without notice. I don’t like to think I might be putting you at risk.”

Sophia laughed again. Short
and slightly built, she wore her fair hair pulled back from her face and held in place with a velvet band.

“Michael explained
the whole story. Charles and I think you’re so brave. No one will ever think of searching for you here.”

After s
he left the room, Melanie debated about whether to stay in bed or get up. The rattle of crockery heralded Sophia’s return with a tray laden with porridge, toast and tea.

“I might share some toast and tea with you.” She rested the tray across Melanie’s knees before perching herself at the foot of the bed.

“You don’t look like a doctor’s wife,” Melanie blurted out, and Sophia went into peals of laughter. Soon they giggled together like old friends. Later, bathed and dressed, Melanie made her way out to the kitchen to find her hostess up to her elbows in scone dough.

“
Are you feeling better, my dear?”

“
Yes, thank you. Was it you who pressed my gown?”

“Yes, a doctor’s allowance doesn’t run to full-time servants yet. I
have a woman coming in twice a week to do the heavy work.” She giggled girlishly then sobered for a moment. “Poor Charles worries about such things, but who needs fancy maids? “

Sophia’s pleasant, cheerful manner put her at ease.

Charles, a tall slim man, arrived back in time for lunch. He regarded her with hazel eyes, warm but worried. “I’m pleased to meet you, Melanie. Don’t worry too much, my dear, I’m sure Michael has everything in hand.”

After lunch Charles excused himself to go to his study, leaving the two women to clear away the dishes. The afternoon wore on and still Michael did not return.
She had followed his instructions to stay inside, only interrupting her incessant pacing to watch the comings and goings of passersby in the street, through the curtained windows. It was agony not knowing the fate of James and Robbie. Had Robbie succumbed to his injuries? Had they been captured?
Oh God, please let them be safe.

A
grim faced Michael marched into the parlor at four o’clock. The shabby moleskins and bushman’s shirt had been replaced by tailored trousers, braided with a side seam, and a black cut-away coat trimmed with velvet on the collar and cuffs.

He
strode over to her. “How are you feeling now, Melanie?”

“Much better, but why are you looking so worried?
Oh please God, not Robbie and James.”

“I’m sorry, my dear,” Michael lied, as she rested her cheek against his shirt. “I’ve heard from impeccable sources, Robbie
is dead.”

“No, no,” she screamed, pummeling at his chest in a frenzy. “He’s alive, he’s alive. He can’t be dead.”

“They found his body in the bush.” Michael held her close. He had always desired Melanie. He craved the taste of her soft white body. He would have her and to hell with everything else. He rarely denied himself anything, particularly when it came to bedding pretty young women.

“What about James?” she sobbed into his chest.

“He’s on the run with a price on his head. I’m sorry.” He patted her shoulder. “I don’t know what else I can say to comfort you, except both of them would want you to escape. Douglas has issued a warrant for your arrest.” His lips tightened. “I read one of the Melbourne newspapers. I’m afraid you appear on the second page. There’s a price on your head now.”

“What!”
Despair combined with sick fear. Their headlong flight had been in vain. Sophia and Charles exchanged anxious looks.

“The Government is offering a hundred pounds reward for information leading to your arrest. We have to get you out of the country. I’ll take you to
England with me.” His decisive tone brooked no discussion. “We’ll get married over there.”

“But, Michael.”
She locked her arms across her breast and swayed from side to side. Leave Australia and everything she held dear? Or face a life on the run from the authorities? But what did it matter now Robbie and James were lost to her? She wanted to scream and rant at the injustice of it all.

“Don’t argue, there isn’t time, I have to get you away. If you’re caught it will mean years in jail. You’ll be held with hardened criminals. I have influence in certain circles, but even I can’t save you from that.
” He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. “The ‘Nautilus’ sails for Liverpool the day after tomorrow. I’ve made the arrangements for us to stay at a small inn, off the beaten track, yet only a short ride from the ship.

“
You’ll be safe in England, I promise. You vowed undying love for me a few years ago.”

He had always been a consummate liar, honing his skill over many years until it
became second nature to him. How many times had it saved him from relentless creditors or cuckolded husbands?

“Oh, Michael.” She wept into his shirt. She felt like a whipped cur with all the life flogged out of her. Robbie lay dead, discarded like some rabid dog in the bush, and James was on the run. Nothing else mattered. Nothing would ever matter again.

***

Melanie pulled herself together by sheer force of will to thank her hosts for their kindness. She felt touched even through her pain and anguish when Sophia hugged and kissed her before their departure early the next morning by coach.

She rested her head against Michael’s arm, wondering why she wasn’t screaming. She was dead inside, an empty, breathing shell. Robbie had taken her heart to the grave with him
.
Her loss was so great she couldn’t cry any more, but she had to go on living somehow, he would want it that way. With Michael’s help maybe she could eventually salvage some happiness. Could she trust him after the dismissive way he had treated her before? She had to believe he had her best interests at heart or she was doomed.

“Tired?” he queried after a time.

“Yes, I feel so drained. I’ll try to be a good wife, I promise.”

“I know you will,” he almost sneered, but stopped himself just in time
. How gullible women were. “It will get easier with time. I understand what Robbie meant to you.” He hugged her close, and moved his lips against her hair.

“Oh, Michael, you’re so kind
. Few men would be so understanding.”

“Charles will go up to Ballarat in a few weeks to let Alex know what’s happening
,” Michael lied. He didn’t give a damn about that stupid old man, but it made him seem even more sincere and caring. “It’s too risky writing at the moment in case the mail gets intercepted.”

“He’ll be devastated about Robbie
. I should be there for him.”

Melanie fell for his ploy, as he knew she would.
“You can’t go, my dear. If you’re caught it means jail. He wouldn’t want you to take such a terrible risk.”

Blackness closed over the countryside
, blanketing it with foreboding. At last, a lantern burning outside a double storey inn bid them welcome. After several bangs of the knocker a sleepy man servant came to open the door.

“I booked a room yesterday for my wife and myself.”

A warning hiss from Michael had her biting back on a gasp of shock. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. What was he thinking of, proposing such a thing? Her reputation would be in tatters if it ever got out.
You fool. You don’t have a reputation to lose. You’ve got a price on your head.

“
Mr. Montgomery, is it?”

“Yes.”

Michael sounded abrupt, almost rude, but he was under such strain she reasoned as they followed the man upstairs to a carpeted, sparsely furnished room. A large double bed, covered with a lacy quilt and matching bolsters dominated the room. Glancing around, she gnawed her lower lip.

“Surely you have something better to offer me than this?
” Michael glared at the man. “I left specific instructions, your finest room.”

“Michael, please.” She touched his arm. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does. I don’t want us to spend the night in squalor.” Haughty disdain laced his voice.

“It’s the best we got
,” the servant sniveled.

“Look here, my man.”

“Please, Michael.”

He suddenly sounded arrogant, upper class
, and she didn’t like that attitude. His rigid body and stiff-legged stance attested to his anger. Turning his back on the man, he stalked over to the window and wrenched the curtains shut.

Without another word, the servant dumped two bags on the floor. One belonged to Michael
, the other contained the things his friends had loaned her. The lantern suspended from the ceiling gave out barely adequate light, but it must have been enough for her trepidation to register with him.

“What is it, my dear?”

“We aren’t married, I mean….” She tried to still her quivering lips.

“We’re going to be wed soon.
The Captain of the ship can perform the ceremony as soon as we get out to sea. Of course, if you don’t trust me....” His voice carried a hard edge. “I’ve risked a lot to help you.”

“I do trust you.”
She shook at the enormity of what they planned to do. If it ever got out she would be shunned by decent society.

H
er eyes, wide and fawn-like, darkened almost to green with yearning, and her soft lips, tremulous with grief, turned mere prettiness into great beauty. She had never looked more desirable. Jealousy knifed into Michael’s guts, because he knew her heart would always belong to Robbie.

He dragged her into his arms. “My darling, we’re only anticipating our wedding night by a few hours
. No one need ever know.”

She clung to him, and the feel of his lips caressing at the nape of her neck allayed her
fear.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sweet, sweet, Melanie.” Suddenly he let her go. “I’ll check downstairs to confirm our arrangements for tomorrow.”

As soon as the door closed behind him she
slipped into a lace trimmed nightgown. The ice cold water in the jug did little to cool her burning cheeks. A quick brush of her hair, then she slid between the sheets and lay there with the covers pulled up to her chin, awaiting Michael’s return.

What
he proposed was wrong, yet she could not deny him after what he had sacrificed for her. Even though she had a price on her head, and was being hunted by the authorities, he had risked everything to help her. Robbie’s death had crushed her spirit and driven all the fight out of her. She needed Michael to look after her now, but it was too soon to take such a drastic step. What could she do?

He tapped on
the door. “May I come in?”

She gulped
. Pushing away the lump in her throat she whispered, “Yes.”

Shyness kept her eyes tightly closed as he moved about the room. Her heart beat a rapid tattoo and fear surged through her. They were breaking every moral standard of society
. She would stand condemned before God, branded a harlot, if anyone found out.

No, no
!
she wanted to scream, but if she denied him what he wanted, he might withdraw his offer of marriage. Abandon her to Major Douglas even, and that was too terrible to contemplate.

The bed moved as he slid in. He reached for her immediately, crushing her body hard up against his own.

“Melanie, you’re so beautiful. I’ll try not to hurt you, my darling, but I’m impatient to make you mine. I’ve dreamed of this moment for years.” His gentle hands and lips coaxed the tenseness and fear out of her. “We’ll be married before the week is out,” he promised. “I’ll take you to Paris for our honeymoon.”