Mistress of Merrivale (19 page)

Along with everyone else, Leo stared at Marguerite, mesmerized by the image presented. She looked vaguely familiar. Who—? The answer sprang into his mind.

This was Ella.

He studied her afresh and wondered why she was sitting so calmly, then recalled the unidentified sweet scent. They’d drugged her into submission.

“This morsel of feminine loveliness is available to the highest bidder. I’m sure you’ve noticed her beauty.”

“Is she a virgin?” someone asked.

“Of course. Why would you suggest anything else?” His toothy smile encompassed the entire audience. “Her virgin status brings added value.”

A low buzz of chatter filled the room before the man lifted his hand. “Let the bidding begin.”

Leo tensed, as the bidding raced to a rapid start. He lifted his hand to indicate a bid of his own.

Chapter Ten

He lost out to another man. The victorious bidder swished his maroon cloak aside and pushed his way up to the dais to receive his prize. The man conducting the bidding produced a key from his pocket and, with great ceremony, unlocked the cage.

He reached inside and took Ella’s hand. She stumbled as she exited, only her contact with the man helping her to maintain her footing. The man handed her off to the winning bidder, sending her on her way with a familiar pat on the arse.

Leo didn’t hesitate. He plunged through the crowd, shoving his way past the masked men and women. Instead of stopping at one of the cells, the man towed Ella out of the ruins and lifted her into a waiting carriage.

“Damn,” Leo muttered. His horse was tethered over the hill out of sight. Leo raced to catch up. For a while he managed to keep up with the carriage but once the road leveled out, the horses increased their speed from a trot to a canter.

Leo stopped following the road and cut across the moor. He plunged through a copse of trees and ran around piles of stones. The contour of the land changed radically, but the steep slope barely gave him pause. He raced down, desperate to cut off the carriage before he lost sight of it. Mud splattered his evening clothes. His cloak flared out behind him, his pistol thumping against his hip in painful digs.

Gasping for breath, he screeched to a halt with the carriage almost on him. Glad of the mask, he pulled out his pistol and stood square in the middle of the road.

Now Leo was closer he recognized the matching chestnut horses—Sir James Harvey. Leo knew him as a man who treasured his reputation, even though he was a rake. That might work to Leo’s advantage.

The driver saw him, saw his raised pistol and visibly hesitated. The team shied and slowed.

“Stand and deliver.”

The driver pulled on the reins, slowing his team further.

Keeping a wary eye on him, Leo opened the carriage door and brandished his weapon. “Out.”

“We have nothing to steal.” The masculine voice contained a thread of fear.

“Get out of the carriage.” Sir James obeyed, albeit unwillingly. “I’ll take your money pouch,” Leo said, taking care to lower the timbre of his voice. “Who is inside the carriage with you?”

“No one important.”

“Out.” Leo gestured with his pistol. When Ella didn’t stir, Leo pointed his weapon at the baronet. Stealing the carriage wouldn’t work. Everyone would know it was Harvey’s carriage. He’d have to get Ella away on foot. “Both of you—out of the carriage.”

The man cursed under his breath. “You won’t get away with this.”

“Do it. Now.” Leo tensed, watchful and ready for Sir James to make his move.

Sir James took a step toward the carriage and spun around, springing at Leo without warning. Leo blocked a punch and backhanded the man. Shorter and slimmer than Leo, he was no physical match. Leo’s second punch knocked him cold. The man fell to the side of the road and didn’t stir when Leo kicked him with the toe of his boot. He wrenched the maroon cloak off the man and rapidly amended his plan. He reached inside the carriage and covered Ella with Harvey’s cloak. She didn’t react.

Scowling, Leo closed the carriage door and climbed up beside the driver. “Drive us down the road.”

The driver clicked his tongue, urging his horses into motion. In tense silence, the horses trotted down the narrow lane. They slowed at a hill and at the top Leo ordered the driver to halt.

“Wait while I get the passenger. Once we’re gone you can return to collect your master.”

The driver gave a curt nod, and some of the tension released from Leo’s shoulders. He swung down and wrenched open the door. Ella lay sprawled along the seat, the drug or whatever they’d given her still in her system.

“Easy there, I’m not going to hurt you.” Leo moved cautiously toward her, not wanting to traumatize her anymore than she was already. To his relief, she scarcely blinked when he scooped her up into his arms and backed out of the carriage.

With rapid steps he carried her into the cover of trees, out of sight of the driver. He paused and set her on her feet, while waiting for the man to drive off. After several long moments, he heard the driver’s guttural click to the horses and the creak of the carriage. Still not safe, but at least he’d managed to grab Ella.

She lay passive in his arms, her face a deathly white. Each of her breaths came in a shallow pant. Leo hastened his steps. The walk to Merrivale was a long one, and treacherous, since he’d need to keep to the back paths and cut across the moor.

“Can you walk?”

Ella stared at him, not appearing to comprehend. She hadn’t recognized him, and he was thankful for the mask screening most of his face.

Leo grasped her arm and took two steps. She staggered and would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her. He cursed under his breath and swept her up in his arms. With a purposeful stride, he followed the narrow sheep track through the trees and deeper onto the moor.

Dartmoor was a silent place in the small hours of the morning—inhospitable and unforgiving to the naïve.

“At least there’s a little moonlight,” he said.

Ella didn’t reply, but he could see she was awake, her eyes wide and staring. Leo frowned and cautiously moved down a sheep track. He set one boot down after another, testing his footing before distributing his full weight.

Time passed and clouds skittered across the moon, plunging the moors into darkness. Leo spat out an oath, took two steps and stumbled. He staggered, thankfully regaining his balance. Part of him wanted to take shelter and wait out the rest of the night. It wasn’t safe. Sir James would have raised the alarm now. He mightn’t feel he could make a report to the parish constable, but he could seek help from his fellow monks.

Doggedly, Leo trudged along the track, aided only by his night vision. As they crested a hill, the wind struck them, biting cold despite the summer month. The trail ended abruptly, and he hesitated, unfamiliar with the terrain in this area. He took two steps and sank to his knees in bog. Ella’s extra weight threw him off, sending him lurching forward. She screamed when he sprawled on top of her. She struggled weakly, wriggling beneath him, sobs of terror filling his ears. Each frantic move sucked her deeper into the bog.

Water and mud soaked into their clothes, splashed their faces. And the entire time Ella thrashed. Leo attempted to soothe her, but like a terrified horse she fought wildly, placing them both in danger.

No time for him to panic. He battled mud, backing cautiously away from Ella. His pulse raced, urgency thrumming through him. Damn. He didn’t intend to die in the night, sucked under by a Dartmoor bog. He kept edging away, an inch at a time.

It took him a moment to realize he’d hit firm ground. Thank God. Trembling, he turned his attention to retrieving Ella.

He groped in the mud for her hand, gave up and grabbed one of her legs despite the impropriety.

“Help.” Her cry was weak, ineffectual.

“Cease your wriggling.” He’d had his fill of screeching females. After making sure he had solid purchase, he put some muscle into his yank. A grunt escaped him when she freed her leg and kicked him square in the chest.

“Damn, woman. Stop fighting. I’m trying to help you.” He heaved again, and she came free, sending him tumbling onto his arse.

They landed in an ungainly heap, Leo cursing again when her foot made contact with his balls. He grasped her arms and pushed her forcibly away before the ungrateful woman made a eunuch of him.

Her screech cut off abruptly, and she curled up like a hedgehog under attack. Understandable after what she’d suffered.

The moon peeked from behind a cloud, allowing him to see more of their surroundings. The nearby pile of rocks would offer shelter from the wind until daylight broke.

Gripping Ella’s arm, he dragged her toward the tor, relief striking him once they reached protection.

“Let me go.” Ella wrenched her arm from his touch, eyes fearful and still showing no recognition of him. “Please let me go.”

Leo gave her the illusion of freedom, but watched her closely in case she decided to bolt. Her slight body tensed and she tried to stand. Her legs failed, toppling her back to the ground. He winced at the loud clunk and her groan of pain. But at least she ceased her fidgeting.

Exhausted, Leo scanned their surroundings, searching through the gloom for danger.

The hours passed, and gradually faint rays of sunshine lightened the horizon. In the growing daylight, he studied Ella. She looked pale and thin. Her eyes were closed and purple shadows highlighted her exhaustion. A trail of dried blood decorated her right temple and ear.

Now able to discern the borders of the bog, he nudged Ella awake. Her eyes opened, and she climbed sluggishly to her feet, teetering the whole time. Her gaze remained unfocused, confused. What the hell had they done to her?

Taking her arm, he skirted the marsh, relieved when they reached safe ground. This time she didn’t struggle, merely let him lead her. Leo picked his way through the landscape, using both vision and gut instinct to guide them to safety.

A holler drifted to him. Leo froze and scanned their surroundings, finally making out two figures in the distance. Damn, this was going to complicate matters. The shout sounded again, and he ripped off his mask, shoving it into the waistband of his breeches.

Leo started walking again, half dragging the girl when she stumbled. She fell, and he wrenched her arm, trying to help her regain her footing.

She whimpered, her eyes wide in an ashen face. “Don’t hurt me. Please let me go!”

Leo released her arm, and she dropped to the ground. The air whooshed out of her, and when he offered a hand to help her up, she cringed and let out another whimper.

“Oy, you there! Leave her alone.”

Leo recognized the voice and backed away.

“Turn around. Put your hands above your head where I can see them.”

Leo complied, angling his body to face Captain Cartwright, the parish constable.

“What are you doing with this girl?” Cartwright asked, his face devoid of expression.

“It’s not the baker’s daughter,” the village blacksmith said, his eyes narrowing, large body poised to attack. “But seems the rumors are true.” He lunged at Leo, ham fists swinging.

Pain struck Leo’s shoulder, the force of the blacksmith’s blow sending him off balance. He tripped on a stone and staggered. The blacksmith darted forward to repeat the punch, but Cartwright gripped his arm and wrenched him to a stop.

“Wait,” he said harshly.

“He’s a murderer.”

“Wait,” Cartwright repeated.

Leo fingered his jaw while meeting Cartwright’s gaze. “This is Ella, the maid missing from Merrivale.” He climbed gingerly to his feet, keeping a wary eye on the blacksmith.

“Murderer,” the blacksmith snarled, and he turned his back on Leo and Cartwright to help up Ella. She flinched when Leo moved, shaking her head back and forth, distressed moans issuing from her. Her cries made the hair at the back of Leo’s neck prickle.

“She’s terrified of you,” the blacksmith said.

“I didn’t spirit her away.” Leo stretched out a pleading hand to Ella. “Tell them.”

But instead of clearing his name, Ella started screaming, and she didn’t stop for a long, long time.

“Tell me again,” Captain Cartwright said.

They’d arrived back at Merrivale and given the care of Ella over to Jocelyn and Susan before adjourning to Leo’s study. Now Leo paced from one side of his study to the other, his fists clenched at his sides. When he spun about to face Cartwright, he noticed the watchful air of the constable and forced himself to relax. “Would you like a drink?”

“No, thank you. Tell me about finding Ella.”

“You think I murdered those two women.”

Cartwright’s bushy brows rose. “Did you?”

“No! I did not.” Leo sank onto a chair, trying to maintain a calm air. Everyone thought the worst of him. Even his wife refused to meet his gaze. He took a deep breath and recounted his experience for the second time.

Cartwright nodded slowly when Leo finished. “I’d prefer you to keep this close to your chest until I have time to investigate.”

“So you believe me?”