The Captain (20 page)
Authors: Lynn Collum
A strange, demented look settled in the lady's eyes. “It should have all belonged to my Prudence.” With no explanation, the lady disappeared into the darkness.
Jacinda backed into the main ice room, horrified at what was happening. Seeing no hope for escaping up the stairwell, she turned and spied the wooden stairs across the room. Hope filled her as she raced for them. She no longer needed her lantern since the flaming doorway lit the room.
In the ceiling above her the heat and smoke pooled, but she held her breath and climbed upward. She reached the trap door, but the smoke was so thick she could barely see. She ran her hand over the wood, but found no latch. Her eyes watered and she coughed, but she pulled her skirt up to cover her face, then pushed with all her might against the wooden portal. To her horror it refused to open. There must have been a latch on the outside.
The smoke grew so thick that she edged back down the stairs and watched the rapidly spreading fire below her. The wooden steps at the inner door were being slowly eaten by flames, while others were inching up the beams toward the ceiling.
Fear gave her strength to rush the trapdoor once again, but to no avail. It remained shut tight. Within seconds the smoke was unbearable, forcing Jacinda to move back to the bottom of the stairs. Out of ideas, she stood with her back to the cool stone wall and watched the fire spreading. Certainty that she would die filled her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she wondered what would happen to Ben. Instinctively she knew that Captain Morrow would make certain he was cared for even if her family would not.
As the captain's face came to her mind, a pain pierced her heart. She loved him. She didn't know for certain when the respect had turned to love but as she faced certain death, she knew that she loved him with all her being. She could only pray that he wouldn't blame himself that they'd failed to unmask Aunt Devere as the killer. She loved him and would never be able to tell him, never!
A loud crack sounded and the burning door frame shifted and fell onto the platform that groaned under the heavy weight. Jacinda slid down the wall to the wet floor and covered her face. She didn't want to watch the fire's steady progress up the beams.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Drew tugged at his cravat as he hurried down the stairs. He'd spent the afternoon handling correspondence from his ship about his return. He'd also written the head of Bow Street regarding a request for information about the Blanchett investigation. Last, he'd jotted notes to send to Berwick, his father's new steward. When he'd finally gotten to his room, James was nowhere to be found, so he'd had to manage on his own. Now he was late and hoped he hadn't kept the others waiting long.
He'd just reached the front hall when the front door opened and Tobias stepped inside with an injured Ben in his arms. The groom was clearly looking for someone to tell him what to do, for he stopped and looked in search of a household servant to take over the boy's care.
Drew went straight to the boy and lifted his hair to inspect the swelling above his eye. “What happened?”
Ben reached out and grabbed the gentleman's lapel. “I took a tumble, Captain, but that ain't important. Jack's gone on an errand to the icehouse.” He tugged at the coat the better to make his point. “It ain't safe, and I told her so, sir.”
Drew quickly inspected the lad's limbs and, finding no broken bones, ordered Tobias to take Ben to his room. “I'll go find her, lad. Where is this icehouse?”
Tobias gestured with a nod of his head. “Go to the stables, sir. Out beyond the carriage house in the west meadow ye'll find a path through the trees. Ye need a lantern to show ye the way in the dark. Take one from the stables.”
Anger stirred in Drew as he made his way to the stables. What had she been thinking to go off alone? Short of locking her in her room, he was his wit's end as to what to do. Hopefully no one would expect her to be out after dark. He wouldn't be comfortable until she was at his side. There was no moonlight due to an approaching storm. By the time he reached the stables, a strange disquiet overtook him. The double doors to the building opened to a black void. He could hear the horses nickering and moving about in their stalls. Both lanterns that usually lit the main aisle were gone. A sense of foreboding took hold of him.
He moved toward the meadow, picking up his pace. Coming round the end of the large building, light flickered in the woods. At first, he thought it was Jacinda's lantern, but as he drew near the trees, he saw flames licking the side of a building. He cried, “FIRE! FIRE IN THE WOODS!” He could only hope someone would heard him. If the woods caught fire, it might get out of control and burn the carriage house, stables, and even the manor.
He raced through the woods to the burning building. The only door was engulfed in flames. “JACINDA!” he shouted.
For a moment he thought he heard laughter in the woods, but decided it was only the wind. He moved closer to the fiery doorway. “JACINDA!”
Through the crackling flames he heard a muffled cry.
He moved so close to the flames he was forced to lift his arm for protection from the searing heat. “JACINDA, WHERE ARE YOU?”
The faint echoed up the passageway, “I'm down here, Captain! Help!”
His first instinct was to hurl himself down the flaming stairway to reach her. But foolish bravery would do neither of them any good. Logic told him there had to be another way inside. Drew ran to the back of the building where he found a stairway to the roof. He climbed the stairs two at a time until he reached the top. He slid back the bolt, nearly ripping the heavy trapdoor from it hinge when he threw it open. Smoke and heat boiled out, forcing him back. He couldn't see anything. “JACINDA, UP HERE.”
Fearful that she had fallen unconscious in the thick smoke, Drew tied his handkerchief over his nose and mouth, then hoisted himself onto the trapdoor ledge. He dropped his legs over the edge, preparing to jump into the dense smoke. But before he could enter, Jacinda's head appeared out of the billowing cloud. Despite having her face covered with layers of her silk skirt, she was coughing and struggling to breathe.
He lifted her out and joined her on the stairs, pulling her up into his arms. Tugging the kerchief from his face he asked, “Are you unharmed?”
She nodded, unable to say a word due to her coughing. He swept up into his arms and carried her down the narrow stairs to the ground. Behind him there was a sudden shift as the lower door frame collapsed and a shower of sparks swirled into the sky. Worried that the entire building would soon fall, he moved to the edge of the trees but stayed within the clearing. At a safe distance, he put her on her feet, but kept her in his arm as he used the kerchief to wipe the tears and soot from her face. After a moment, he kissed her forehead. “My dear Jacinda, I thought I had lost you before I got the chance to tell you that I love you.”
Jacinda's eyes widened despite tears that streamed down her cheeks. She was still too choked up from the smoke to speak, but her face softened. She took his hands in hers and laid her cheek upon them to convey the message she was unable to speak at the moment. His grip tightened and he turned her hands over to kiss them. She winced and he saw the blistered skin on the back of one.
“You're hurt.”
She managed to choke out in a raspy voice, “Only ... only a little. 'Tis nothing when I think what might have happened if not for you.” She reached up and touched his cheek. He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. As much as he wanted to kiss her breathless, now wasn't the time. The roof of the icehouse burst into flames. “How did this happen?”
Before she could say a word, the sound of running footsteps echoed in the woods. Weems, along with several footmen, grooms, and gardeners appeared on the path carrying water buckets and shovels. The steward shouted orders and the men fanned out and began to fight the fire. Seeing the pair in the firelight, Weems came to where the captain and Jacinda stood.
“We heard your cries, sir, are you both unharmed?”
The captain nodded, unable to draw his gaze from the all-consuming fire. “You cannot save the place, just keep the fire from spreading into the woods.” He looked at Jacinda, who appeared pale in the flickering firelight. “I'm taking my wife to the manor. I'm certain you can handle this without us, Weems.”
“Very good, sir.” Weems hurried back to lend a hand.
Drew led Jacinda back through the woods. The brightly lit manor seemed to beckon them from the darkness. Occasionally he dropped a kiss atop her hair to reassure himself that she was truly safe in his arms. At the garden gate, they could see members of the household standing on the terrace dressed for supper, staring at the glow from the woods.
Cousin Millie hurried down the steps to meet them. When she saw Jacinda, the lady cried, “What happened, child?”
Drew didn't release his hold on his love. He kept moving in the direction of the drawing room door, for he sensed her strength was almost spent. “Jacinda was trapped in the icehouse after someone set it afire.”
There was a collective gasp from those on the terrace. Drew scanned the waiting group. Thomas Wilkins stood with a glass of sherry beside a frowning Matthew Blanchett. Prudence and Giles lingered at the edge of the light that spilled from the drawing room, their moods somber. Everyone moved aside as Drew led Jacinda into the room. He insisted she sit down upon a chaise until they heard her story. He'd barely gotten her settled when Prudence handed him a glass of claret for Jacinda.
“We must get the child to her room,” Millie declared, horrified at the soot-blackened gown and traces of grime on Jacinda's face.
Drew gave Jacinda a searching look. The color seemed to be returning to her cheeks as she sipped at the drink. They needed to know what had happened. “Can you stay a few minutes, my dear? Long enough to tell us how the fire started?”
Jacinda nodded. She finished the claret before she told her story. “I went to the icehouse to get ice chips for Ben's ankle. Oh, dear, how is he?”
Cousin Millie shook her head. “He has a few scrapes and bruises. He'll have a limp for a few days and will have the headache but it's nothing to worry about, child.”
Uncle Matthew sat down in the chair opposite, never taking his gaze from his niece's face. “You went to the icehouse, and then?”
Jacinda's cheeks flamed pink and she developed a sudden interest in the burned spot on her hand. “I was getting ice when I heard a crash and discovered that ... that Aunt Devere had thrown a bale of straw into the stairway then tossed a lantern atop it.” She looked up at Drew and seemed to gain strength. At last she said the difficult words. “She tried to kill me.”
Giles stepped forward. “That a bloody lie! My mother would never do such a thing!”
“Stubble it, boy.” Matthew put out a hand to hold the young man back, frowning at him. “We must hear everything.”
Giles pressed his lips closed but continued to glower at Jacinda. Prudence put a calming hand on her brother's arm ... or perhaps it was to show a united front to those in the room. Her motivation was unclear to Drew.
The solicitor removed his spectacles and began to clean them with his kerchief. “Are you sure it was your aunt?”
Jacinda nodded. “She spoke to me. She said, âIt all should have belonged to Prudence'.”
“Oh, dear God.” Horror etched Matthew Blanchett's face. His gaze moved to lock on Prudence Tyne.
The young widow's face flushed red. “IâI don't understand. Why would my mother think that Uncle Jacob's fortune should be mine?”
Mr. Blanchett slumped back in his chair. It was as if he were seeing her for the first time. He shook his head as if disappointed that his worst fears had been realized. “I always suspected, but never asked him or your mother.”
Prudence's face grew pale and her hand trembled as she clutched at her brother. “Suspected what, sir?”
“That you were my brother's natural daughter.”
She shook her head and began to back away from them. “It cannot be true. Mama would never have betrayed Papa in such a way. Never!”
Matthew rubbed a hand over his tired eyes, then stared at her with pity etched on his face. “When my brother was in negotiations with the viscount to wed Jacinda's mother, he met Iris Devere. She was young and beautiful, with a husband more interested in gaming than in his young wife and child. You cannot deny that your father rarely spent time at home. No doubt Iris was flattered by my brother's attentions. I warned him he was playing with fire, but when it came to women my brother had a weakness, like some men have for spirits or gaming. He just couldn't resist a beautiful woman and your mother was quite a beauty in her day.”
Silence filled the room for a moment. For Jacinda it was a startling revelation. She loved her father, but she'd scarcely known his true self. Seeing the look on Prudence's face, Jacinda rose and went to take her newly discovered half-sister in her arms. But the widow stepped back, fending her off. “No, IâI must find my mother. I must ask her.” She dashed from the room, then her slippered footsteps could be heard tapping on the stairs. Giles glared angrily around the room, then went after her ... or, more likely, to his room to sulk.
Jacinda returned to Drew, who slid his arm round her shoulders. He whispered into her ear. “Don't be hurt, she is a bit shattered by the news. I'm certain she will come around.”
Jacinda questioned Millie whether she'd ever had any inkling of Prudence's paternity.
The older woman flushed. “Well, I did notice that Mrs. Devere acted very ungrateful to your father for the home he provided her and the children. But I suppose by the time they came to Chettwood she was well over her infatuation. They say that love and hate are opposite sides of the same coin, not that I knowâ”
Running footsteps echoed in the great hall. Within a minute, a breathless Giles appeared in the doorway. “Mama is not in her room.”
The image of her aunt's angry countenance flashed in Jacinda's mind. “I could scarcely see Aunt Devere through the flames but it appeared as if she ran deeper into the forest and not toward the manor. She must still be out there.”
Mr. Wilkins, who'd moved to stand by the drinks table, gazed out into the darkness. “We must find her, for it is likely to storm before dawn. I, for one, would like to hear what she has to say about her actions tonight and about your father's death.” He turned to Jacinda, a rueful expression on his face. “My dear, I must ask your forgiveness.”
“Why, sir?”
“I've had it wrong all these years. It wasn't about the inheritance. She killed him out of revenge and hate.”
Jacinda's face reflected her shock. “My aunt hired those men who accosted us.”
The solicitor's look challenged Giles to deny the charge he was about to make. “Can there be any doubt she hired those men to kill Mr. Blanchett? I'm hoping if we handle her properly, she'll confess it all.”
Matthew Blanchett rose and moved to the terrace doorway. “We must organize a search party for your mother, Mr. Devere. Summon any servants not fighting the fire. ”
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