Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) (47 page)

“You
r wound will be looked at by the surgeon as soon as he arrives,” Marrek informed him.

He continued, “You will still be kept prisoner here in the cellar, but you will be guarded
, as much for your protection as anything else. Until further notice, you will have to stay here. You shall receive clean clothes, good food, water, and brandy for your pain. A bed will be brought down for you. Tomorrow we shall go to Liskeard and you will give me the letter you received from the Leader. Upon returning to Menadue, I shall send a message to one of my men in London to fetch your sisters and talk to your cousin. Would you like us to offer your cousin journey to Australia with you?”

Samuel’s blue eyes moistened
. He nodded his head. “Yes, Felicity would like that too. She would be safe. The Lord’s son in the house where she works is continually trying to trap her in rooms and the like. So far, she has evaded him. I taught her how to defend herself. She is a little thing and quite lovely, like my sisters. If I could bring her with us, I will be indebted to you forever, sir.”

Marrek gave him a nod
. “I shall have a pen and foolscap brought to you. You will need to write a letter to your sisters and your cousin telling them it is safe to come with us. Can you write?”

“
Yes. Felicity taught me to write.”

Marrek
nodded. He turned to Wyldhurst. “Untie him. Make certain he has everything he needs. We’ll need five men watching the cellar, thank you, Luc.”

“And the rest of the prisoners?” Wyldhurst asked.

“They are not of good moral character. They can be turned over to the Constable,” Marrek offered. In truth none of the prisoners had been killed. It had been a ploy to frighten Potts.

Wyldhurst
set about untying Samuel Potts.

Marrek was eager to look in on his wife. When he opened the connecting door, it was to find her sleeping. He smiled as he carefully removed the book from her hands and set it upon the table beside her bed. He gazed at his wife for several moments, taking in her beauty as she slept. He had hoped for another kiss. Yet, he was not disappointed. She was resting peacefully. The fact that she had been reading meant she had tried to wait up for him. He turned the lamp down and left her room.

Wenna woke with the dawn and shook Trevan to wake him. She had taken to joining the Duchess downstairs first thing in the mornings. Morva was teaching her everything about the day-to-day running of Menadue and what her responsibilities as the new Duchess would be. Though she had run Callywith for years, Menadue was a much larger house and had three times the number of staff as did Callywith.

“Wake up
. You need to leave my chamber before I do or the maids will come in and find you.” Wenna settled back down and snuggled deeper into the warmth of Trevan’s body.

“Woman
, I got to bed hours after midnight. Mother won’t expect you down so early this morning after what took place last night.” Trevan put his arm around her and allowed his fingers to splay over her flat stomach. He pulled her tighter against his groin and pressed his awakening erection against her. “This is what I suggest, Wenna. I suggest you let me tire you out a bit and we sleep another hour.”

“You can sleep as long as you like
, in your own bed.” Wenna laughed.

“No, I will never be able to sleep without my woman in my arms again.” He positioned himself at her opening and slid into her wet warmth.
He began to move slowly inside her.

“I’m afraid the only way I can sle
ep longer is if you tire me out,” Wenna purred seductively.

“Oh,” Trevan pushed her fiery hair aside and began to nip at her
bare neck and shoulder. “I intend to wear you out, woman.” His large hand covered her breast. He teased her until she was panting and pressing back to take him deeper.

He purposely drew out their lovemaking, taking
her almost to the edge, then easing her back, until at last, neither one could take any more, they moved as one in a fevered pitch, bodies joined, souls joined until at last they exploded in unison, both crying out. They collapsed against one another. Trevan drew her to him and gave her a slow, lingering kiss. Sated, wrapped in one another’s embrace, their bodies moist; sleep did claim them.

They were about
a half hour from Menadue. Creed rode in front of the group flanked by Newt and Marcus Trevelyan. They had left Priory Place at dawn and made good time.

Jack was anxious to return to Menadue
. He had missed Tuesday. True, it had only been one day and a night, but it just felt odd without her. He missed her smile, her kisses, making love to her, but mostly he just missed her company and having her near. He was so deep in thought he almost didn’t register hearing a gunshot. When the second, third and subsequent shots came one after the other, Jack knew they were in serious trouble.

Creed urged the
party of sixteen to a gallop. They angled off the road in a direction away from the shooters who had come out from behind a stone wall on the side of the road ahead of them. They took cover in a stand of trees. All dismounted save Newt.

August moved to the
tree line to watch their attackers. No one noticed anything out of the ordinary until Newt started to slide sideways off his horse.

Jack was closest and stopped him
from falling. Creed and Marcus helped Jack ease him to the ground. Micah caught the reins of Newt’s horse before he could bolt.

Jack pushed back
his coat. “I don’t see any blood. Maybe he was shot in the back after we turned off the road?”

Creed removed his hand from Newt’s head and immediately felt the sticky wetness on his hand
. “It’s his head. Let’s ease him back down carefully.” Creed supported the back of Newt’s head and lowered it gently to the ground.

Micah bent down and carefully lifted Jack’s hair
where he saw a glint of blood picked up by a ray of light breaking through the tree branches above them. “He was creased above the ear. It doesn’t appear to be too deep but obviously it was enough to knock him out.” He stood. “We need to get him back to Menadue quickly with as little movement as possible. Perhaps we can lean him up against me, after I am on my horse.”

Creed shook his head
. “No, Micah, you are still recovering from your wound. The undue stress of supporting Newt’s body weight could cause you more harm. I’m the largest man here. I will hold him up in front of me. I will try to keep him as still as possible.” Creed looked beyond the group to where August stood watch. “What is the status on our attackers, August?”

“They are remaining behind the
stone wall for now. It appears they are waiting to see what we do,” August provided. “I think we must outnumber them, I’ve only seen four men raise their heads above the rocks.”

Marcus spoke, “We can’t take the road
. We would have to go past them. If we follow this stand of trees to the north, we will come out on the moor. We can cut diagonally across and reach Menadue faster than if we take the road.”

Creed nodded
. “I believe it’s our only choice at this point, the disadvantage being that on the moor we’re easy targets. Along the road there are trees, farms and such.”

“They will be easy targets on the moor as well,” Micah posed
.

“True, but we will have to watch our backs,” Cree
d sighed heavily.

“I will watch our backs,” Jack offered
.

Marcus Trevelyan, one of the few fair-haired Trevelyans, clapped his hands together and said, “Let’s get Newt to Menadue. I’m certain cousin Elowen can help him. Get on your horse, Creed
. We’ll lift him up.”

“Lyon’s new wife, Sophia, is a healer as well,” Micah added as he supported Newt’s head while August, Marcus and Jack lifted him up to Creed.

The Brown Coats
followed them from a distance the entire way to Menadue. His colleagues’ horses’ hooves clapped over the stones on the large, old bridge spanning a rushing stream. Jack paused to turn and watch their pursuers stop near a hill beyond the road. The road led to the entrance gates of Menadue. Jack watched the seven riders behind them turn and head in the opposite direction. He urged his horse over the bridge and joined the rest of his party.

Upon entering the house, they learned Menadue had been attacked the previous night. Newt was carried upstairs to a room in the family wing near Elowen’s chamber. The doctor was summoned. Elowen and Sophia began to tend to their patient. The duchess assisted them.

Jack sought out Tuesday
. He nearly collided with her as he entered the parlour the ladies used. The alterations on Lady Fitzlewis’ mourning gowns must have been completed, for his lady was in a mourning gown.

He reached out to steady her
. He grinned down at her and whispered. “I was looking for you, Trouble.” He led her from the room.

“Did you miss me, Jack
?” Tuesday grinned up at him.

He took her hand and pulled her along behind him
. He took her upstairs. Making certain there was no one in the corridor, he pulled her into her chamber.

“I missed you terribly
, sweeting,” Jack whispered huskily before he claimed her lips in a demanding, passionate kiss. She matched his demand and his passion. The blood thundered in his veins among other places. He doubted he would ever understand what it was about Tuesday Inwood that made him lose all control. He just had to think of her and he was as hard as a rock.

“I missed you too, Jack
. I couldn’t sleep at all without you,” Tuesday whispered against his ear as she pressed close to him.

“Nor could I, Tuesday.
”

He had only meant to steal a kiss, but when his lady opened the fall of his trousers, he knew he was done for. His hands cupped her firm round buttocks
as he lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around me. You’re not wearing drawers are you?”

Lo
oking down into his amber eyes Tuesday shook her head. A mischievous smile played at the corners of her mouth. “No, I am not. I knew you would be returning home today, Jack.”

He grinned at her
, “That’s my Trouble. Always thinking ahead.” He removed the fine crepe fabric of her black skirts tucked in between them and carefully moved his hands one at the time so he was cupping her bare buttocks.

“Hold on tight, I’m moving us across the room to the outside wall.
”

Making love to Tuesday was always exciting
, always new and different. Once they finally made it to her bed at night, they stayed there. However, getting to the bed was often delayed while their sexual creativity was put into fine use. Not only was Tuesday an adventurer out of the bedroom, but he found her especially daring in the bedroom. She delighted in pleasing him as much as he delighted in pleasing her. She was also demanding and vocal about her pleasure, which was something he absolutely adored about her.

He leaned her against the wall and kept a steady grip on her buttocks as he thrust into her.
He groaned as he embedded himself deep into her warmth. Her legs tightened around him and her fingernails dug into his shoulders as he plunged into her deeply and lingered, pressing her down, fusing them completely.

He began to move again with sure
, swift strokes. Tuesday could feel the tightness knotting in her abdomen. She knew her release would come soon. She gazed into his dark amber eyes and saw something new. Something tender, yet at the same time so brilliant that it mesmerized her. Tuesday already knew she had fallen in love with Jack. She knew he adored her and found her different from any other woman he had associated with, but he had never spoken the words she longed to hear from him. She hoped he shared her feelings. Her hand moved to his cheek. She reveled in the feel of the rough stubble beneath her palm as she caressed him.

Her eyes focused on his sensuous lips
. That mischievous, cocky grin lightened his features. He seemed to know her every thought, anticipate her every move. She ran her tongue along his lips. When he opened to her, she pulled back.

“Tease,” Jack’s whisper was thick with huskiness
.

She leaned closer again
, ran her tongue over his lips and pulled back yet again.

He removed one hand from her buttocks
, slid it behind her nape and brought her lips to meet his. His mouth claimed hers hungrily, demanding her response while he pinned her against the wall, increasing his thrusts. He brought her to her release. He swallowed the cry she emitted as she went over the edge. His tongue mimicked his thrusts as he prolonged their kiss. Feeling her muscles tightening and throbbing about him sent him flying over the precipice and he exploded, groaning as he still moved inside her afterward.

Jack
tenderly kissed her temple, her eyes, her cheek and her lips once again. He eased her back down to her feet.

They assisted one another in
making themselves presentable. Jack slipped them out of her room. Hand in hand, they returned downstairs, their faces flushed and both of them wearing wide, satisfied grins.

The members of the Avalon Society and their ladies were ensconced in the large, recently repaired drawing room, which now served as their meeting place since the attack on the library.

Harry frowned when Tristan led his sister Caroline into the room.

“Harry, you must accept that Caroline will marry Tristan. They are in love, it’s quite obvious. You must prepare yourself to receive his offer for her soon. You gave him permission to court her, after all,” Rowena said in a whisper as her light blue eyes met his dark brown gaze.

Harry exhaled heavily
. “I suppose you are right, my love.”

“Of course, I am right, my darling husband.” Rowena cocked her head and gave him an assured smile.

Harry smiled. His frightened, wounded Angel had broken from her shell and come into her own in a few short months. Now she was a force to be reckoned with. Most often, she was a force
he
had to reckon with, yet he loved, cherished and adored her with all his heart. Even the more forceful Rowena appealed to him. She definitely kept him on his toes. And well sated. Rowena had claimed his heart, his body, mind and soul. She carried their babe. He guessed he must be the happiest man alive.

“Well, at least when Tristan and Caroline marry, my wife s
hall have no reason to make matches. Perhaps she can concentrate her full attention upon her husband.” He grinned. It always ruffled Rowena’s feathers when he mentioned her tendency toward matchmaking.

“Hu
mph.” Rowena rolled her eyes. “You know, Harry, your brother George seems to have developed a tendre for Trevan’s sister, Lady Tamsin. Look there.” Rowena inclined her head toward the pair.

George
was nearly a carbon copy of his older brother. George’s hair was a shade lighter than Harry’s was and he wasn’t quite as tall or muscular as his brother. Lady Tamsin had dark brown curly hair, the trademark Chynoweth brilliant blue eyes, and was tall with a good figure. The pair was talking and gazing into one another’s eyes. Rowena thought it a fine match.

“They have been speaking to one another quite frequently
. They make quite a handsome couple, don’t you think?” Rowena presented her husband with a perfectly innocent smile that would rival any angel’s.

Harry’s brows knit together as he frowned at his younger brother.
He looked down at his wife’s pleased expression. He fought to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up in amusement as he said, “My love, I thought I cautioned you against giving in to your proclivity for matchmaking. It is quite an annoying habit. You must allow George and Lady Tamsin to find
their own way
.”

Harry
snorted when her dainty elbow connected with his ribs. He grinned devilishly at his Angel. She cut her eyes and turned her attention to Lyon and Sophia who were approaching them. He reasoned he would enjoy needling her further tonight after they retired from company. He would enjoy many other things with her as well.

“It seems you are destined to be tied to the Chynoweth family,” Lyon
chuckled as he inclined his head toward George and Lady Tamsin. He brought his tiny, copper-haired wife, Sophia, up beside him.

“It would seem so,” Harry remarked drily
. He looked to Sophia. “How is Newt?”

Sophia shook her head
. “He is still unconscious. He seems to be breathing well. There is no fever. Elowen is still with him. I shall relieve her after we meet.”

Harry nodded
.

Micah and Libby came to join them.

“I understand you gentlemen made quite the find in August’s study,” Harry said to Micah.

Micah grinned
. “If we can find this ancient stone that Christ carved on with his own hand, yes, it will be! Jack and I spoke to Gabriel earlier. He has no knowledge of the stone, but he reasoned it could be hidden in one of the gardens at Fairy Cross, most of them are ancient.”

Jack led Tuesday up to the group
just in time to hear his name. “Gabriel said as soon as it is safe we can search at Fairy Cross. After what happened here last evening and to us on our return to Menadue this morning, we can’t organize a group to search Fairy Cross at present,” Jack offered.