Redeeming Jack (24 page)

Carys came up on her knees and put her arms around Jack. She kissed his mouth. “Be careful, Jack.”

He opened his mouth to fully appreciate the softness of her lips. He felt as if he was receiving absolution, like a knight of old, going into battle with his lady’s favor on his helm. He kissed her back, and a bittersweet sensation hollowed his gut. Would knowing about Marcus make Carys more vulnerable to Captain Fury, or would it help protect her? Should he have mentioned that threat as well?

“Carys…”

The faint boom of the stable clock sounded from above them, and Carys’s bright face was swept by shadows. Jack broke off the kiss. The moon’s luster disappeared under the clouds, leaving him chilled and ready to move.

“Wait here,
cariad
. I’ll be back soon.”

* * *

Jack paused on the narrow landing at the top of the servant’s stairs. The scent of roast chicken and plum pudding clung to the air. The house was quiet, apart from the odd rattling snores emerging from Mrs. Edwards’s bedroom. Jack turned and studied the two remaining doors. Mrs. Evans had told him Mrs. Forester’s room was at the back of the house, over the kitchen. Silently mouthing a prayer, Jack turned the doorknob and slipped into the darkened room.

Mrs. Forester’s startled gasp froze him in his tracks. “Jack Llewelyn! What on earth are you doing here?”

Too late, Jack remembered he had forgotten to blacken his hair. Mrs. Forester lay on the top of her bed, her blond hair and doll-like features almost hidden by her black bonnet. She wore a thick coat, as if she were about to call for her carriage. She opened her mouth to scream in earnest. Jack took a flying leap onto the bed, grabbed the bedclothes and efficiently rolled Mrs. Forester up in them.

He placed his hand over her mouth and cursed as she tried to bite his fingers. Leaning down, he pulled off her shoe and stripped her stocking from one of her wildly kicking legs, securing the stocking over her mouth.

He shoved her shoe back on and paused to gather his thoughts and his breath. Mrs. Forester continued to thrash about like a fish on a line, but she wasn’t able to get free. Jack picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. As quietly as he could, he made his way down the stairs and out into the garden.

Carys stood as he closed the gate behind him. Jack fought a smile as he imagined what a ludicrous picture he presented. Mrs. Forester’s yellow satin counterpane dragged on the ground at his feet. He hastened to set it to rights before he tripped.

“Did you have to carry her like that?”

Jack nodded as he resettled a moaning Mrs. Forester against his shoulder and started the climb back up to Oxwich Manor. “I didn’t have any choice in the matter. She was wide awake and set to scream. At least she’s warm.” A prickle of unease heightened his senses. He glanced around the deserted hillside as he climbed. “Carys, take my gun from my pocket and be prepared to use it, should anyone try to stop us.”

He felt her slide her hand into his coat pocket and carefully remove the weapon. She was a fair shot; he’d taught her himself.

The lights of Oxwich Manor swam into view through the gathering sea mist as he gained level ground. He followed the well-worn path around to the stables, conscious of Carys by his side. A black unmarked coach and two horses stood ready in the quiet stable yard. Jack thought he caught a glimpse of Richard in the coachman’s cottage window and headed that way.

As he entered the low doorway, Jack bent his knees in an effort not to knock his reluctant passenger unconscious.

Richard scowled, his gaze fixed over Jack’s left shoulder. “Jack…”

“Put Mrs. Forester down, please.” Captain Fury’s cool voice came from behind Jack along with the unmistakable sound of a pistol being cocked.

He allowed Mrs. Forester to slide to the floor, although he kept her anchored to his side. Two other men, both armed and masked, appeared from the hallway.

Richard took a step forward. “I’m sorry, Llewelyn. They were inside the coach when it arrived. It seems my valet was working for Captain Fury all along.”

Jack smiled as Carys moved closer and gave him back his gun, her movements concealed by the unwieldy cocooned bulk of Mrs. Forester. “That’s quite all right, Richard. I should have known that the good captain would appear to scupper my plans.”

Captain Fury leaned against the door, his pistol leveled at Jack’s chest. “I give you my thanks for bringing Mrs. Forester this far. As you probably realized, she was set to leave with me, tonight.” He sighed. “ I can’t allow you to take her to the duke.”

Jack tightened his grip on his gun. “And why is that?”

“Because I’ve promised the French they can have her. They’ve already paid me.”

Carys rounded on Captain Fury, her expression indignant. “I don’t know who you are, sir, but handing a criminal wanted by the British government over to the French smacks of treason.”

Captain Fury smiled but kept his attention and his pistol pointed at Jack. “I assume this is your wife? It appears her temper reflects the color of her hair.”

Jack glanced at Carys, who was advancing on Captain Fury. “He is a very dangerous man,
cariad
. Unless you want to be free of me for good, may I suggest you hold your tongue?”

To Jack’s relief, Carys went still. “I don’t see why he should be allowed to ruin your plans,” she said.

“Neither do I, love, but there are three of them, and they all have guns. I scarcely think we are in a position to argue.”

“Move away from him, my lady,” Captain Fury commanded. “Go and stand by Mr. Mansell.”

After a nod from Jack, Carys stalked across to join Richard.

“Now you, Jack. Hand Mrs. Forester over.”

Jack brought his pistol up in one sharp movement and placed the end of the barrel on Mrs. Forester’s cheek. To his annoyance, she suddenly came to life and began to squeak and struggle.

Captain Fury locked eyes with Jack but spoke to his men. “Rhys, knock Mr. Mansell out. Tom, keep hold of Lady Jack.”

Jack tried to turn sideways to keep both Captain Fury and Carys in view, but Mrs. Forester’s erratic movements hampered him. He heard a body fall to the floor and assumed it was Richard.

A second later, one of the men grunted. “The bitch bit me!”

Before Jack could react, Captain Fury strode across the small room and grabbed Carys’s arm. His clenched fist caught the side of her face and she sagged in his grasp. “Drop your pistol and give Mrs. Forester to me, or I will kill your wife.”

Cold fury exploded in Jack’s gut as he stared at Carys’s limp form. He gazed into Captain Fury’s implacable gray eyes and knew he had no choice. “You’ll pay for that. Now let her go and I will give you Mrs. Forester.”

Captain Fury smiled, his teeth surprisingly white and even. It occurred to Jack that the captain spoke like an educated gentleman. “How about we trade armfuls at the same time?”

Unable to speak, Jack nodded and turned to face his enemy. His mouth felt like it was full of ashes as he placed his pistol on the floor in front of him. Captain Fury kicked it away and tossed Carys toward Jack. Jack released his grip on Mrs. Forester and caught his wife. Despite a bruise forming on her cheek, she seemed unharmed.

“Now we’re even,” Captain Fury said as he gathered Mrs. Forester into his arms. “Tie them up, lads.” He waited until all three of them were bound by thick fisherman’s rope.

Mrs. Forester spluttered something as he casually threw her over his shoulder.

“Don’t bother to come after me. There’s an armed French ship due in the bay tonight that expects to take on a passenger.”

“And what of our other business? I led you to Mrs. Forester. What about my friend in Spain?”

Captain Fury paused at the door. “I haven’t forgotten that. Despite what you might think, I always pay my debts.”

Jack stared after him long after the door slammed behind Captain Fury’s men. The tight rope bit into his wrists as he fought to pull free. He managed to stagger to the window and watch the unmarked carriage drive away carrying with it, all his hopes for a respectable future and a reunion with the love of his life.

CARYS OPENED HER eyes to a strange scraping sound. Jack leaned against the corner of the table above her, attempting to loosen the rope binding his wrists behind his back. She swallowed hard and struggled to sit up, accidentally elbowing a still-unconscious Richard in the process.

“Jack?” He turned to look at her, and Carys almost recoiled from the harsh desolation in his eyes. “Are you all right?”

“I was about to ask you the same question.” He stopped fighting with the rope. “I don’t want to rouse the whole household. Do you think you could take the knife out of my pocket?”

Carys crawled forward until she knelt beside his boots. She fought a wave of nausea as she tried to straighten and clutched Jack’s knee. After a deep breath, she searched his pocket, located the knife and held it out to him.

“Do it for me,” Jack said. “Your hands are tied in front of you.”

His clipped tone bore no hint of the rage Carys knew he must feel. She maneuvered the knife between her hands and began to saw away at Jack’s bonds. It seemed to take forever to cut through the tough strands of damp hessian. A groan came from behind Carys as Richard returned to consciousness.

The stable clock struck again as Jack released Carys from her restraints. Richard sat in a chair, his face pale, a wet cloth pressed to the bump on the side of his head.

Jack looked around for his pistol. “Take care of Richard,
cariad
. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Richard tried to stand. “You won’t catch them now. They’ll be too far ahead.”

Jack looked up briefly as he located his pistol and thrust it into his pocket. “I have no choice. I have to find Mrs. Forester.”

“Jack, if you will but wait a moment, I have a far better plan.”

“And what’s that, Richard? Do you plan to send your mother after them?”

Carys cast him an angry look. “That was unworthy of you. At least have the decency to hear his suggestion.”

Jack turned from the door, his jaw set in a hard line. “I apologize. My manners appear to have deserted me. What do you have in mind?”

Richard sat forward. “I can call out the Sea Dragons.”

“
You
can?”

“Naturally,” Richard said. “The Mansell family has always been in charge of the gang. If there are any foreign ships near our shore tonight, I can guarantee the Sea Dragons will know where they are and how to board them.”

Carys frowned. “I don’t understand. Who or what are the Sea Dragons?”

“It’s the name given to the band of smugglers who operate out of Oxwich Bay,” Jack said, “and one you should strive to forget immediately.”

Carys closed her mouth and studied Richard’s handsome face. He was a respected landowner and sat in the House of Commons, yet he was involved with a band of smugglers?

Jack came back to shake Richard’s hand. “If you can aid me in this, I will owe you a debt for the rest of my life.”

Richard returned the handshake. “It’s a pleasure to help.” He touched his bruised head and grimaced. “And by God, I’d like to get even with the man who did this to me. What did you say his name was?”

“Captain Fury,” Jack said. “I have no idea of his real name, but he is a very dangerous man.”

“You didn’t mention him to me before,” Carys said to him.

He sighed. “In truth, I hoped you’d never have to know his name.”

Glad to be unhampered by her petticoats and skirts, Carys got to her feet. “I’m coming with you.”

Richard looked questioningly at Jack, who shrugged. “We can hardly leave her behind, and we won’t shake her off. In my experience, you might as well give in with good grace.” Jack drew Carys toward him and enfolded her in her cloak. “But you must stay close to me, and do as I tell you.”

She nodded as Richard strode past them and headed toward the stables. Jack touched her bruised cheek, his brown eyes serious beneath the brim of his hat. “At least if you are with me, I have a chance of knowing what you’ll do next.”

Carys caught his hand against her lips and kissed his fingers. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

He smiled then. “I seem to remember you saying that earlier, and look where it got you.”

* * *

The series of concealed caves below Oxwich Manor seemed endless. Carys concentrated on maintaining her footing on the slippery, seaweed-fouled rocks as she followed Jack’s broad back. Ahead of her, Richard led the way, three masked men at his side. A single lantern illuminated the gloom.

Carys stumbled and only brought herself upright by grabbing a handful of Jack’s coat. He gripped her elbow and drew her more securely alongside him. When Richard stopped to converse with the men who had silently materialized from the darkness, Carys sensed the mouth of the cave and the might of the sea beyond.

As her eyes became accustomed to the layers and nuances of the cave, she made out the distinct sheen of the white-tipped waves slapping the rocks. She heard movement on the narrow strip of beach and the presence of more men. Something large slid from the cave toward the sea with scarce a sound. Carys looked down and noticed that heavy sail canvas had been laid over the shingle to smooth the ship’s way.

As a second boat was launched from within the depths of the cave down the impromptu slipway, Richard came back to Jack. He’d added a rough fisherman’s sweater and a woolen cap to his outfit. He looked more animated than Carys would have believed possible, considering his previous pallor.

“There’s a French ship waiting out past Worm’s Head. If we take the small boats we should be able to ‘negotiate’ with the Captain.” He smiled at Jack. “The French bastard should have consulted with the Sea Dragons if he intended to grace our waters with his presence. He’ll be at a disadvantage, and so more prone to being amiable.”

Jack took Carys’s hand. “Which boat do you want us in?”

Richard pointed toward the left side of the beach. “Best if you go in the second one. We might be able to get Mrs. Forester back without revealing your presence. It would be better all round if you remained unseen.” He winked at Carys. “We don’t want the French thinking we’ve taken to employing female smugglers.” He slapped Jack on the shoulder. “If we’re separated, I’ll ensure that Mrs. Forester is taken to London with all speed.”