The Guise of a Gentleman (31 page)

“Can this operative, Greymore, come through for you like the first time?”

“I’m not sure how far his connections reach. Besides, I was in a smaller gaol the first time, not Newgate, and I was unknown then. As you said, my notoriety complicates things.”

Grant paused, his voice quieting. “You didn’t really do everything they credit to Black Jack? Leandro did them?”

“He did some of them, but all the really good stories are rumors my men and I started so the ships we boarded would give up without a fight. Fewer people die that way. On both sides.” He waited a beat. “Grant.”

His brother looked him in the eye.

“I’ve committed acts which will haunt me all my life. But I did it all in the name of duty.”

Grant watched him in that piercing, assessing way he had and slowly nodded. “I know what you mean.”

Jared leaned against the cold stone wall, grateful for his brother’s coat.

Grant broke the silence. “I don’t know what I can do for you. I have an idea, but it will probably fail. Even if it succeeds, there’s considerable risk.” He paused, deep in thought.

Waiting, Jared lay back on the cot carefully so as not to reopen his wounds, and stared up at the ceiling.

Grant drew in a breath. “I agree you shouldn’t give the Admiralty your name. Cole and Christian and the girls shouldn’t bear the stain.”

Jared’s throat tightened as he thought of his brothers and sisters. They were all good people with untarnished names. “Will you tell them the truth about me?”

Grant frowned. “Don’t you want me to?”

Jared considered carefully. His first instinct was to ask Grant to keep his secrets. Then he decided against it. “Yes. Do tell them. Cole already knows; he was my first mate when I first took command. And Christian knows part of it. I’ve told the girls nothing other than that I was a privateer during the war. If Father had known the truth, he might have approved. I hope.”

“He approved more than you know.”

Jared shrugged, but hoped Grant was right. “I don’t want the rest of the family to think I was a disgrace.” He drew a breath and forced himself to say the next words. “But if all efforts fail and I do hang—”

“Stop.” Desperation touched Grant’s voice.

Startled by Grant’s show of emotion, Jared paused, but these were matters that had to be discussed. He pressed on. “As far as public knowledge…”

Grant drew in a breath, nodded, and gave a pained smile. “As far as public knowledge, I’ll make up something about you dying at sea. Want me to say you were protecting a lady when you single-handedly fought off twenty pirates before they overpowered and killed you?”

“That would be spectacular.” Jared thought it over, warming to the idea. “Actually, yes. That’s exactly what I want you to say. But leave Elise’s name out of it.”

Grant looked away and nodded. His voice husky, he said, “If I fail you, I just want you to know…” he cleared his throat.

The tightness in Jared’s chest grew more pronounced. “Don’t get sentimental on me, little brother. Just get me out of here.”

“Right. I’ll hire a small army and we’ll storm the prison.”

“Sounds like fun.”

Grant tapped on the door and waited for the turnkey.

“Grant, before you go, I need you to pay easement and garnishment for my crew. There are ten of them. Talk to Charles Grady at the bank.”

“I’m not taking your money, you fool. Yes, I’ll see to your men.” As the door opened, Grant turned back and gave Jared a long look.

Jared swallowed against a lump. “My thanks, Grant.”

Tight-lipped, Grant gripped Jared’s shoulder in one of the few places where he didn’t hurt, and left with the silence of a shadow.

Moments later, Jared was marched before the Admiralty Court. He was surprised they decided to try him so soon. Often, pirates remained in prison awaiting their trials for months on end. Many died from gaol fever before their case ever came before the Admiralty.

The captain involved in his capture and who’d ordered his flogging was present, along with his first and second lieutenants. They looked smug. Also in attendance were Admiral Ruggle, the governor, two merchant captains, and a clerk.

Jared vaguely remembered a few of the others who lined the walls, looking alternately angry and frightened; no doubt former victims called here as witnesses. Windows behind the admiral revealed grey, stormy skies. Though chained, temptation pulled at him to jump through a window and run, regardless of his abysmal chances at escaping alive.

Instead, Jared stood ramrod straight and looked Admiral Ruggle directly in the eye.

“Your name, sir?”

“My full name is John Black.”

The admiral blinked as if surprised by his answer, or perhaps by his accent. “Are you also called Black Jack?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The charges against him were read, beginning with ‘not having God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil,’ and continued in great detail too long and numerous to follow, but included theft, piracy, and murder. Many of the charges were false, but any one of the true ones would be enough to sentence him to death.

When the clerk ended with, “Feloniously, and et cetera, did kill and murder, against the peace of our sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity. How do you plead?”

Jared took a breath. “I plead guilty.”

Astonishment shone on all the faces present. A murmur rippled through the room.

The admiral leaned forward. “Then you admit to piracy?”

“Yes, Admiral. I have engaged in acts of piracy for the past three years.”

The admiral sat back and looked him over. “You are well-spoken for a pirate. Who were your parents?”

“I am the illegitimate son of a member of the gentry, whose name I do not wish to tarnish. My mother was his mistress. My father paid for my education.”

“I see.”

Disgust was written on the faces of the other navy officers. The merchant captains did not meet his gaze.

The admiral asked, “Do you have any final words in your defense before we pronounce the verdict and punishment?”

“Yes, my lord. I wish to bargain for the lives of my crew. Ten survived the navy’s attack. In exchange for their freedom, I will provide you the coordinates of
Isla del Tuburon
, where we store much of our plunder until buyers can be found. Our own personal hoard is there as well; the accumulation of over two hundred men.”

“Your freedom is not worth a bit of treasure,” snapped the navy captain who’d captured Jared.

Jared met his gaze calmly. “I understand, Captain. But surely the lives of my men are.”

The captain’s face darkened in anger. “You are not worthy of any mercy. Not you, nor your men.”

“That will do, Captain.” Admiral Ruggle glanced at the others.

Jared wondered if he were silencing them, or receiving their agreement.

The admiral steepled his fingers and stared unfocused at the wall behind Jared. “Very well, Mr. Black. In exchange for your information, we will pardon two of your men.”

“All ten,” Jared demanded.

A faint lifting of his brow was the only change in the admiral’s expression, no doubt in reaction to Jared’s cheekiness. “Three.”

“Eight.”

The Admiral’s eyes narrowed. “Three. And that’s my final offer. But they must swear to forsake piracy. They’ll receive full pardons, but if they’re caught again, there will be no leniency. And I want your full written and signed confession.”

“Agreed.”

“Their names?”

Jared took a steadying breath. “Jean-Claude Dubois. Kaleo Anakoni. Timothy O’Brian.”

The clerk recorded their names carefully.

“I’ll have their pardons drawn up,” Lord Ruggle said. “When our ship returns from the island with news of success, your men will be released.”

“You won’t be disappointed, sir.” Knowing his audacity was probably already causing a stir, Jared pushed on, voicing his fears. “My Lord?” He paused and Lord Ruggle waited. “I do have your word? I’ll be dead by the time a ship can get to and from
Isla del Tuburon
with news.”

The Admiral drew himself up. “You have my word these men you named will be pardoned and freed. It is duly recorded and witnessed by this jury.”

Jared nodded. “I have heard you are a fair and honorable man, my lord. I will trust you to save these men who will most certainly be glad to become law abiding citizens if given the opportunity.” Squelching the feeling he was somehow betraying his crew, he drew a breath and gave the coordinates to the island, warned about the offshore reef on the lee side, and described exactly how to find the cave where they’d hidden their hoard.

The clerk carefully wrote it all down and handed the paper to Jared to approve. Jared read it over, made one correction, and a final addition. He handed it back to the clerk and looked at each man in attendance one at a time.

The navy captain appeared poised to spring at his throat. The members of the jury returned his gaze, some in newfound respect, others with blatant distaste.

After a word with the Admiralty court, the clerk stood and declared; “John Black, your punishment to be hanged by the neck until dead, dead, dead.”

Inside the drawing room of the Greymore’s London house, Elise dropped the newspaper and looked at Charlotte in dismay. “They’ve sentenced him and his crew to hang on Monday.”

Charles nodded grimly. “Officially, he’s an embarrassment. His brothers are working night and day to find some way to save him, but there’s no help from any quarter. We’ve even tried bribery. All has failed.” His voice was tight and angry. “All we’ve managed to do is ensure his family will gain immediate possession of his body instead of letting the ghouls who engage in dissection have it first.”

Elise put a hand over her mouth. A cold chill passed over her.

Greymore cursed and came to her. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t have said that.”

A footman came to the door. “The Earl and Countess Tarrington and company.”

“Show them in.” Greymore turned to Elise. “His family is here.”

Elise found herself nearly overwhelmed by the Amesburys. A handsome gentleman who could pass for Jared’s twin crossed the threshold. He bore a regal, commanding air and his eyes were as blue as sapphires. He lacked the hardness she’d first noticed in Jared, but Elise attributed that to the tall lady on his arm whose sweet face glowed with gentleness.

“Lord and Lady Tarrington.” Greymore bowed.

“Mr. Greymore, thank you for receiving us.” The earl’s rich bass could almost be mistaken for Jared’s.

Greymore introduced Charlotte and Elise to Lord Tarrington.

The earl gestured to his wife, his face softening. “My wife, Alicia, Lady Tarrington.”

The lady put a hand over her slightly swollen abdomen in an unconscious gesture ladies who are increasing often do and held out the other hand to Elise. “I’m very happy to meet the lady who finally tamed Jared’s wild heart.”

Elise could not think of an appropriate reply. Behind the earl and his countess came a younger gentleman. Elise gaped.

He was stunning. A younger, almost ethereal version of the earl and Jared, he stood every inch the height and breadth of his brothers. His eyes were a clear blue, so pale they almost seemed to glow, and his eyelashes were enviable. Unlike the other members of his family, his hair was golden. The only mar to his perfection was a small scar at his temple near one eye. The scar somehow only made him more intriguing.

The ladies on his arms both had the same rich, dark hair as Jared and the earl. They were undoubtedly sisters. The ladies had similar enough facial features to place them as relatives, but did not look enough like one another for Elise to have guessed they were twins. One lady appeared older, haughtier, with sharper features.

The earl continued, “My sisters, Margaret, Lady Hennessey.”

The haughty lady fixed an assessing stare upon Elise.

“And Miss Rachel Amesbury.” The other twin smiled warmly.

“And the youngest of our misbegotten bunch, Christian.”

As Elise turned to the blond gentleman, he smiled, warming her like a ray of sunshine spearing a storm cloud. Endowed with the same athletic grace as his brothers, he bowed over her hand. When he straightened, his blue gaze swept over her in a surprisingly assessing stare.

Elise had the urge to straighten and wondered if she looked as tattered as she felt.

Christian said, “I knew you’d be a remarkable lady to have won my brother’s heart. I see I was right.”

He had an intensity about him that caught Elise by surprise. She didn’t know why, but such high praise from this total stranger suddenly meant a great deal. Perhaps it was due to the affection Jared obviously felt for him. Or perhaps it was his air of quiet dignity normally only found in a peer.

Elise managed to reply, “He spoke of you often and with deep affection, Mr. Amesbury.”

He smiled again and Elise marveled how one family could have produced such magnificent men. “If I have my wish, I’ll be your brother-in-law soon. No need to stand on formality.”

The idea of marrying Jared flitted away like an impossible dream; there seemed little hope he could ever be freed. Tears swam in her eyes and she could not speak.

Christian gently enfolded both her hands in his. They were as large and strong as Jared’s but not nearly as calloused. “Courage,” he said softly. “We will not allow them to execute our brother.”

“Of course we won’t,” said the young Earl of Tarrington.

Christian released her hand as Tarrington approached Elise. He smiled down at her with a brotherly warmth that seemed at odds with his lordly presence. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I wish the occasion of our meeting were more pleasant.” He looked so much like a safe and happy Jared that Elise’s eyes overflowed. His voice softened. “We’ll see this through, I vow it.”

Christian pressed a handkerchief into her hand. Elise wiped her tears, ashamed at her lack of decorum. A pair of slender arms went around her shoulders. Her tears distorted Lady Tarrington’s form next to her.

“What a load of ninnies you are! What’s to be done?” demanded Lady Hennessey.

Tarrington’s mouth twitched. “Quite right, Margaret. All right, Greymore, your friends got my brother into this fine mess. What are you going to do to get him out of it?”

Greymore looked pained.

The earl softened. “Sorry, old man, just a jest. I know he’d have hung years ago if it weren’t for their intervention.”

Charlotte rang for tea and they all sat. No one suggested the ladies leave while the men discussed the ugly predicament at hand.

“I’ve gone all the way to the top,” Mr. Greymore said. “I’ve been denied all aid. He was a rogue when the navy apprehended him and they refuse to sanction the actions he took after his assignment was completed.” No one sent a look of censure Elise’s way, though she deserved it since he took those actions for her sake.

“We could force their hand by going to the press,” Christian suggested. “Play up the angle of an honorable gentleman who served his country with loyalty is about to die.”

Greymore shook his head. “I’ve been assured if any word of this leaks, Jared will be dead within minutes.”

Elise drew in her breath sharply. “They’d do that?”

Greymore rubbed his eyes. “Of that I have no doubt.”

A pall fell over the group.

“Grant may have had success through his own channels,” Lord Tarrington said. “He’ll be here shortly.”

Christian grumbled, “Must we endure his presence?”

Tarrington grinned. “He may be the very devil, but he’s useful, on occasion.” He turned to Greymore. “Why don’t you fill us in on what you know while we wait?”

While Greymore parted with the somber news regarding his attempts at the Secret Service Headquarters, tea and a platter of sandwiches and cakes arrived. Despite the grave matters that brought them together, the family tucked into their meal. Eventually, they fell into jesting, taunting, and laughing, perfectly at ease. Their affection and camaraderie were infectious, in spite of the cracks they took at one another.

Christian had a quick wit that drew reluctant smiles out of Elise and pushed back the darkness that had fallen over her since Jared’s imprisonment. Rachel frequently exchanged glances with Christian as if they shared private jokes.

Margaret presided over them all like a queen, and a single look from her might have reduced lesser men to ash, but Tarrington matched her, even setting her back a time or two. And when she sent those looks Christian’s way, he only threw back his own playful shots, making the imperious Margaret smile in spite of herself.

Next to Elise, Lady Tarrington occasionally touched Elise. At first, the contact surprised Elise, but Lady Tarrington’s touches were so full of compassion that Elise quickly warmed to her. As comfortable as if she’d known this gentle lady all her life, Elise clung to her.

“Mr. Grant Amesbury,” the butler intoned.

Grant Amesbury entered silently. Unlike his siblings, and in contradiction to his station, he wore the coarse clothes of a laborer and was dressed head to toe in black.

He bore only a vague resemblance to the Amesbury brothers. His hair was darker, almost black. Gray eyes held an aloof hardness and the lines of his visage were stern. A long, ragged scar ran down the side of his face. He would have made an even more convincing pirate than Jared.

As Lord Tarrington introduced them, his gaze passed over her, his expression chilling. Clearly, he blamed her for his brother’s fate. Because of her, Jared was locked in Newgate awaiting his execution.

Grant glanced back to the others who waited expectantly. He shook his head once.

Elise’s heart hammered in her chest as cold despair crept over her. “No,” she whispered.

Lady Tarrington put a hand over her mouth. Tarrington put his arm around her, his own face pale and drawn.

Christian jumped to his feet. “You’re going to let them execute him?”

“Calm yourself,” Grant replied in a rough voice. “I know what’s at stake.”

Christian moved to stand only inches from Grant. “You can’t simply give up.”

“I’ve done everything I can.”

Christian squared his shoulders, raising his head in determination. “Then it’s up to me.”

Grant let out a snort and said sarcastically, “Oh, of course, Chris, you have so much influence in my circles.”

“I have influence in circles closed to you.”

“Being the darling of society gives you influence to Almack’s and other frivolous enterprises of uselessness.”

“You don’t have enough imagination to guess where I have influence.”

Grant and Christian glared at one another with such ferocity that Elise feared they would come to blows. Seeing the gentle Christian so angry gave her pause. She wondered if they were lashing out at each other out of fear over the fate of their brother, or another matter entirely.

Suddenly, it became terrifyingly possible, despite his family and connections, Jared might truly die.

Her heart stopped at the thought. Elise leaped to her feet. “I need to see him.”

“Newgate is no place for a lady,” Mr. Greymore said firmly.

“I must see him. I must tell him ….” She choked. “Please. If you won’t help me, I’ll go alone.”

Wearily, Tarrington glanced at Grant and Christian who stood nose to nose locked in a silent battle of will
s.

“Hail a hackney,” Elise ordered a footman when no one moved. She went for her pelisse.

Christian broke eye contact with Grant. “Don’t go alone.”

As he took a breath to say more, Tarrington interjected. “No, indeed. I shall accompany you.”

Grant said, “I’ll take her. I’ve been in and out enough that I can do it quickly and easily. Wouldn’t want to sully your good name by having the new Earl of Tarrington visiting an inmate of Newgate.” He spoke as if he meant it as an insult.

Tarrington nodded once and made a shooing motion. “Go.”

Christian turned away, but not in time to conceal the frustration in his eyes. She wondered if his brothers were always treating him like the baby, instead of the man he’d become.

“We’ll go after dark,” Grant said, his chill gaze passing over Elise.

Elise glanced at Grant narrowly, knowing she should trust him, but almost afraid to be alone with this intimidating stranger.

“I’ll see you safely in and out,” Grant snapped as if her mistrust besmirched his honor.

Lady Tarrington patted her arm and nodded. She smiled at Grant, something mysterious in her eyes, as if she knew a secret about him.

Grant glared at her in return.

Not the least intimidated, Lady Tarrington positively beamed. She leaned in to Elise. “Don’t let Grant bully you. He likes to play the unfeeling cad, but he’ll protect you with all the gallantry of a knight.”

Grant folded his arms. “Your wife is delusional, Cole.”

The earl grinned. “You just keep believing it, little brother.”

Grant made a sound of disgust. “Women. Always making something out of nothing.”

“I can’t wait to see the day when you fall in love, Grant,” Lady Tarrington said with an impish glint in her eye.

Christian choked. “Grant in love?”

“Over my dead body,” Grant snarled.

“No respectable lady would have him,” Christian said.

Tarrington grinned. “Perhaps he’ll fall for a footpad, or a murderess. Someone disreputable.”

All the Amesbury siblings snickered. Grant folded his arms and glowered until they turned the discussion to other matters.

Outside, darkness fell, and Grant finally gave Elise a brief nod. He hailed a hackney and they departed. An unusually thick fog, even for London, enshrouded the streets and swirled eerily around the hackney winding along the dark streets of London.

Elise watched Grant’s shadowed face and repressed the urge to rub her hands over her arms.

“I understand you also served in the war,” Elise ventured.

Grant nodded, sitting utterly still and staring out the window.

Elise frowned. She’d always heard women speak wistfully of the strong, silent type, but after having met one, Elise decided she liked the playful, roguish type. Like Jared.