Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) (38 page)

“Oi, Melanie!  Don’t cut yerself,” said Susan, as
she ran over to help. 

“Susan, see if you can fashion weapons out of those
shards of glass while I try to signal.”  She had just enough room to poke her
head out of the open window.  She couldn’t risk having any of the sailors on
their ship see her, so she leaned out only as much as necessary.

The afternoon sun was almost at a point where she
wouldn’t be able to catch its reflection.  Another half hour and it would be
beyond her reach.  She calculated the angle where it would be seen by the most
people, then put her arm out the window and prayed.

*                    *                    *

When Hal and Anne arrived at the docks, the sun was
already in its descent.  It would be dark in not much more than an hour and it
would be difficult to find their way around, not to mention locating one woman
in the crowd.

“I suggest we split up, my lord,” said Anne.

“Out of the question.  The docks are a dangerous
place, especially for a lady.”

“Ah, but I am not one.  And while it’s been a while
since I’ve been here, I still have the instincts of someone used to the
streets, whereas you look every inch the wealthy lord.  If anything, I should
be protecting you.  There’s no time to argue.  We shall split up then meet here
in an hour.  I will brook no opposition.  And remember, I have the pistol.”

Anne disappeared into the crowd before Hal could
object, so he decided to make the most of his time and set off for Captain
Clinch’s ship.

He found the Cassandra in a flurry of activity, as
her crew made final preparations for their morning departure.  The first mate
told him the captain was not aboard, which was disappointing news.  But then he
remembered Rodgers’s telling him about the journal entry for April the second. 
He set out for the harbor master’s office.

As fortune would have it, he spied Captain Clinch
along the way.  The captain was giving orders to several sailors, then waved
him over.  “I was just about to send word to you, Kellington,” he said.  “I
believe I’ve made a discovery.  There’s a schooner in Dover that I believe may
be the one you’re looking for.  There’s something quite odd about the registry,
and I met an old tar who’d seen her sailing into Mediterranean waters earlier
this year through territory I would never dare to visit.”

“But wouldn’t Dover be an unusual place for her to
dock?”

“Not if the villains knew the Home Office was on to
them.  Don’t underestimate them.  They’re rather like your Miss Sutton. 
Ingenious and a force to be reckoned with.”

“Have you seen Miss Sutton today?” asked Hal.

“As a matter of fact, yes.  She came by not two
hours ago.”

Hal’s relief was profound.  “Do you know where she
is now?”

Captain Clinch looked apologetic.  “I’m afraid she
may be on her way to Dover.”

“What!” said Hal, panic rising once more.

“I tried to discourage her, of course, but once I
told her about the ship in Dover, she was set on travelling there herself. 
What’s even worse is that she planned to do so alone.  She was very upset about
something that had happened which made her all the more determined to do this
on her own.  I’m so sorry – I tried to stop her.  I even said I would send
someone with her, but she insisted on setting out on her own.”

“Thank you, Captain.  I must be on my way to try to intercept
her.  I only hope there’s time.  Do be so good as to send word to the Duke of
Lynwood for me.”

“Of course,” said the Captain.  “Godspeed.  I can
only pray you’re on time.”

As Hal turned, something caught his eye.  A flash
from somewhere out on the water. 

“What is it?” asked Clinch.

Hal looked again, but the flash did not repeat. 
“I’m sure nothing.  My eye caught on the reflection of something out there by
those ships.”

Clinch turned in that direction and frowned.  “It’s
a rather common experience, I’m afraid.  Sunlight reflecting off glass.  It was
a pleasure to meet you Lord Hal.  Until next time.”

Hal shook hands with the captain then turned to
leave.

“Lord Henry!  Have you noticed the flashes from that
ship?” 

Hal turned to see Anne approaching.  Good.  He could
tell her about Mel before departing for Dover.  He only hoped he would be in
time.  He had to be.

“Anne, I’m glad you’re here.  But…what’s wrong?”  He
reached a hand out to steady her as she’d suddenly lost all color in her face. 
She began shaking, but did not move from the spot.  She only stared at
something over his shoulder.  “What is it?”

She couldn’t say a word.  Could only gesture behind
him.  He turned to see if Captain Clinch could help, only to see the captain
was holding a pistol trained on him, but his gaze was on Anne.  Hal
instinctively pulled her behind him.

“Clinch, what the devil are you doing?” asked Hal,
wishing he’d brought a weapon. 

But the captain only had words for the woman behind
him.  “I thought you’d died,” he said.  “But with a face like that, I imagine
you hoped you would.”

Anne said not a word, but Hal could feel her
trembling behind him.  “You’re the bastard who did this to her.” he said.

“Yes, Kellington, she used to be mine.”

“I was never yours,” Anne said quietly. 

“But I did leave a lasting impression on you, didn’t
I?  Oh, don’t look so offended Kellington.  She’s just a bloody whore.   Worth
no more than the others.  Actually, considerably less with a face like that.”

“The scars you gave her, you mean,” said Hal,
wanting nothing more than to charge Clinch.  But as they’d been talking, sailors
had surrounded them.  And he knew this was about more than Anne.  “You’re the one,
aren’t you?  The ringleader.”

“Yes.  And now you’ll come with me to the Amber
Moon.  You won’t, however, be making the trip to the Barbary Coast.  I imagine
you’ll only make it as far as the depths of the Channel.  But come with me now
and I may let the whore live.”

“What have you done with Mel?”

“She is also on the Amber Moon, if that makes it any
easier to move you there quietly.  But I warn you, Kellington, if you try
anything, I’ll kill the whore here, then your Miss Sutton soon after.  Shall we
depart?”

Hal couldn’t risk harm to Anne and if there was any
chance Melanie was alive, he had to do as Clinch said.  So he put his arm
around Anne and pulled her close.  Somewhat surprisingly, she let him.  She was
shaking, but she calmly placed one foot in front of the other until they were
at the Amber Moon.

As they walked on board, Hal looked about for a
possible weapon.  He had to make a stand before they took him below deck.  But
then he remembered Anne’s pistol.  Just as they were about to go below, Hal
swung at the sailor nearest to him.  That created a diversion and as he fought
two others who rushed him, he saw Anne pull the pistol from her pocket and take
aim at Clinch.  Unfortunately, another sailor shoved her arm up just as she fired. 
Hal hoped someone on the docks would investigate the noise.  But it probably
wasn’t the first time shots had been fired in the area.

Clinch turned to Anne in a rage.  He picked up a
bottle and broke it against a barrel, then rushed at her with the glass.

“Run!” Hal yelled at Anne, as he desperately tried
to break free.  Anne was able to scurry under a mast that slowed Clinch.  She
kicked a bucket of hot tar and Hal heard Clinch scream when it splashed on him.

Hal was being pummeled by one sailor as the other
two held him.  But he was able to adjust his weight and bring one foot up,
solidly connecting with the sailor’s bollocks.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Clinch closing
in on Anne.  Suddenly, a man tackled Clinch and began beating him.

It was Richard Parker.  And for once, Hal was
pleased to see him.

A moment later, Stapleton was attacking one of the
men holding Hal.  Bow Street Runners were streaming on to the ship, even as armed
sailors were coming up on deck attacking them.  Out of the corner of his eye,
Hal saw Liam, Ned and Arthur join in the fight.

Maybe Liam could get some of his anger out that way.

But all Hal could think about was finding Mel.  He
picked up a dropped knife, then went below deck.  It was mostly deserted since
the men must have figured that fighting their way out was the only way to avoid
hanging if apprehended by Bow Street.

He opened one cabin door after another, until he
found one that was locked.  He pounded on it. “Mel?”

“We’re here!”  She said from within.

And no words were ever sweeter to hear.

“Stand back!” he yelled.  “I’m going to break down
the door.”  He stepped back and kicked the door three times before it finally
gave way.  As he entered, Mel threw herself into his arms.  He didn’t want to
ever let her go.

“My lord,” said an amused Miss LaRue from behind
them.  “Thank you for the rescue.  But there’s others that need us down below.”

They quickly made their way down into the hold where
the other women were being held.  The young guard who’d been left to attend
them was only too glad to obey Hal’s order to let them go.  The women were in
remarkably good health, given their ordeal.  He told them to stay below until
the deck was cleared, but not one of them obeyed.  They each picked up whatever
weapon they could find, then made their way to the deck. 

The fighting was still going on, though it was clear
Bow Street had the upper hand.  That didn’t stop the women from adding their
blows to their former captors.  Hal ushered Mel and Miss LaRue to a relatively
quiet corner.

“Susan!”  They turned to see Conrad Patton and his
men board the ship.  Patton took Miss LaRue in his arms and held her tight. 
Hal could hear the woman’s laughter in the embrace.

“Is that Anne?” asked Mel.

Hal turned to see Anne standing with Parker, Stapleton,
Liam, Ned and Arthur, who were all looking at a body on the deck.  As Hal and
Mel joined them, they saw the body was Captain Clinch, with his throat slashed.

“It wasn’t Mr. Parker, Inspector,” said Anne.  “I
did it.  He was about to stab Mr. Parker and I used the only weapon I could
find.”  She indicated the broken bottle that Clinch had used to come after
her.  “I shall take whatever punishment is coming to me.”

“The only thing that is coming to you, Mrs.
Cartwright,” said Stapleton, “is likely a commendation.”  He turned to see the
women who’d gathered on deck.  “I need to take their statements and see about
getting them shelter for the evening.”

“They can stay at Mitchell House,” said Anne. 

“Thank you, madam, but are you sure you can accommodate
them?”

“Anyone who can’t fit there is welcome to stay at
Dill’s,” said Miss LaRue.  “Ain’t that right, Conrad?”

Conrad Patton had no choice but to agree, since Miss
LaRue was already telling the women to collect their things.  “Lord Henry,” he said. 
“I know you said you’d pay Francis’s vowels.  But there’s no need.  I am in
your debt.  And will be for some time.”

Hal held his hand out, then the two men shook.

When Patton left, Liam asked “Francis’s debt?”

“I will explain later.  I want to get Mel home and
it has been a long day for Mrs. Cartwright, as well.  And, Parker, I suppose.” 

“I shall see Mrs. Cartwright safely delivered,” said
Parker.

Hal wanted to object just because he wanted to
object to everything the man did, but he grunted his assent.

“I wasn’t asking,” said Parker.  “I was informing
you.  But perhaps you and I can settle this right now.”

“No!” said Melanie.  “Richard, thank you for
escorting Anne home and for coming to my aid.”

“I was here before he was,” said Hal petulantly.

“Nevertheless, I thank Richard and all of you.  But,
if it is all the same to you, Henry – Hal – I do wish to go home.”

“Then you shall have your wish,” said Hal.  “Now and
always.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Anne lay in her bed, unable to comprehend the enormity
of everything that had happened.  Worrying about Mel, fearing she’d never see
her again.  Then coming face to face with a monster.

And killing him.

Richard had been so brave to attack him.  She didn’t
think someone raised in the church would have quite the fighting skills he’d
exhibited.  Indeed, she’d been terrified to see their skirmish, knowing as she did
how ruthless Clinch was.  But Richard had gotten the better of him, pounding
him on the deck.  But just as he’d left Clinch to check on her, the captain had
raised a pistol and taken aim.  Without even thinking, Anne had grabbed the
bottle and slashed Clinch.  She hadn’t meant to kill him, only to throw him off
his shot.  It had been a shock to feel the glass connect with his throat.  To
hear his cry and the awful sound of the blood spurting from his body.