The Lady and the Earl (55 page)

“I am ashamed to say, but
I was
a smuggler and a thief, and so
were
my men.”  When Lilly looked at him in shock, he tried to explain.  “We
are honest men now.  The land we live on is my own, but I must stay in hiding, for I am still a wanted man.

“In my youth, I joined a band of pirates and eventually took on my own ship. 
I did not continue in piracy, but smuggling was quite profitable. 
As captain, I ran my ship with discipline and respect.
 
I never killed without merit, and I was just in my dealings—well as just as a smuggler could be.
  I met my wife several years ago as a stowaway on my ship.  It is quite a story.  But suffice it to say, for me to marry
her,
I was forced to turn to a life of honesty.  I willingly did so. 
I own a shipping company now.
My brother, Joseph, helped me
start it.  I
t
was several years later the law discovered who and what I was.  I was to hang for my crimes, but Joseph saved me.  And it cost him his life.  I have been in your debt for the help you gave trying to save him.
  I do not expect you to trust my words—or me for that matter—but know this.  I will rescue your family, and I will see you safely to the best healer and midwife in the area.”

Tears entered her eyes for the hundredth time that day. 
“
Thank you
,” Lilly
replied. 
“You have a good soul, William Meredith.” 

He smiled at her.  “It is the people I have known that have made it so.”

There was silence afterward,
yet it d
id not last long
.  Another
contraction
hit,
sending Lilly to her knees. 

“Hold on, Lilly.  We a
re almost
to the camp
,” William said as he motioned Erik to pick her up once more.

The last leg of their journey seemed to last an eternity for Lilly, but finally their little group came to a clearing that opened up into William Meredith’s camp. 

Camp?
  It was more like a small village in the woods.  Erik gently placed a stunned Lilly back on the ground.  Both she and Maggie were staring in shock at the large, very organized camp that stood before them.  Not only were there men, but also women and children
and
elderly
folk
.  This
was not
some rundown camp that thieves would
establish
. 

“Welcome to our humble community,” William said, smiling proudly from the wide-eyed looks on Lilly’s and Maggie’s faces.  “Now if you
will
excuse me, I have an army to organize.” 

The two women watched as he walked away from them and toward the center of his small village.  As he walked, he spoke to Thomas and Garret then disappeared
inside
a large hut
near
the center of the camp. 

Thomas began shouting orders, ordering every able man to ready his horse to prepare to storm the Hoffman estate by order of William Meredith.  Lilly watched in astonishment as men began darting off in different directions, gathering their weapons of choice and saddling their horses, not waiting for further explanation about their mission.  Apparently, they trusted William’s judgment and leadership, seemingly willing to follow him wherever he led.

“Pardon me, ladies,” a beautiful, young, black-haired woman said as she approached Lilly and Maggie.  “My uncle mentioned you might be th
irsty and possibly hungry.  We will not
be preparing lunch for another hour, but if you would like a bite to eat, I am sure I could find some bread and cheese for you.” 

Lilly’s stomach growled at the mention of food.  They had started out early this morning, and she hadn’t realized how much time had passed since they had last eaten.

“Thank you.  We would love something, anything,” Lilly replied.

“Are you certain you should, my L
ady?”
Maggie asked, referring to Lilly’s pains she had been having.

“I a
m fine,” Lilly replied.  “I
haven’t
had a pain since—Oh!”  Once again cramps filled her stomach and she doubled over.

“Lilly!”
Maggie cried as she reached to help Lilly.  The
dark-haired
woman was by her side
as well
.

“William, bring her to our hut,” a musical voice said from somewhere to Lilly’s right.   William and
his lovely wife
were coming toward Lilly and Maggie when Lilly’s pains
overcame her
.  Immediately, William swept Lilly into his arms and took her to one of the huts with
his wife
leading and Maggie following close behind. 

The young black-haired woman watched them go
, but she did not follow
.

William laid Lilly down on the soft, makeshift bed inside the hut.  “Lilly,
you remember my wife Kara
.
She is the midwife I spoke of earlier.
  She is very experienced and will help you deliver this baby.” 

“Oh, no.
  I canno
t have
him
yet.  I need Marcus here,” Lilly pleaded.

“
Don’t
worry, love. 
There is still time
.  If all goes well, William will have your husband
here before this baby comes,” Kara said, patting Lilly’s hand gently.

“Is the
re anything I can do to help?”
Maggie asked.

“Kara, this is Maggie.  I have a feeling she w
ill not
be leaving Lilly’s side, so use her help,” William instructed.

“Oh, don’t worry.  I’
ll keep her busy,” Kara said
,
winking at Maggie who smiled in return.  “Josephine, take Maggie and show her where we get fresh water.  Josephine?” Kara sighed as she looked around the small hut.  “William, where did Josephine go?  I thought she would assist.”

“I
don’t
know.  I thought she was right behind us, but apparently she slipped away.  Maybe she went to f
etch some water.  Either way, there is no
time to deal with her now.  I need to be off if you want Marcus here before anything exciting happens,” William said. 

“Thank you, Will
iam
,” Lilly said
,
reaching out to him. 

He grabbed her h
and and squeezed it gently.  “I a
m simply glad I could help,” he said with sincerity.  He gave her one last reassuring smile before leaving the small hut followed by his wife.

*
             
*
             
*

“Be careful, William,” Kara said to him once they were outside the hut.

“I will, my darling,” he replied
,
pulling her close and kissing her tenderly.  He looked at her long and hard before walking away from her and to his men. 

There were at least fifty strong men ready to charge the Hoffman es
tate.  “Are we ready, Garret?”
William asked his
nephew and
most trusted follower.
He was also the man who ran his business affairs in London since he could not.

Garret nodded. 

William turned to Thomas
,
who was his second in command
.  “
Then give the word,” he ordered
. 

“Mount up!”
Thomas yelled.  Most of the men were already mounted, but those who weren’t quickly obeyed the order. 

“Now we ride. 
Yah!”
  William spurred his horse to a gallop, receiving woops and yells from his men as they followed him into the woods and toward
Lord
Lucas Hoffman’s estate.

Allana looked down the second flight of stairs just in time to see
Declan
slide toward the piece of vase at the bottom.  “
Declan
,” she whispered as Lucas stood over her.  

“I love the spirit in you, Allana,” Lucas said deeply.  “It is so attractive.  It’s what makes you unique.”  He smiled coldly, pulling her to her feet. 

She struggled against his grasp, trying to keep her eyes on
Declan
. 

“I
don’t
know why you continue to fight me.  You will be mine whether you like it or not.”  He heaved her like a bag of potatoes onto his shoulder and started back up the stairs.

“No!” s
he screamed
,
beating against him with her fists. 

*
             
*
             
*

“Stand up,” the mercenary order
ed
as he continued to threaten
Declan
with the sword. 

Slowly, without dropping the shard,
Declan
stood while continuing to work at his cords.  The man stepped back enough to give
Declan
room to stand.  The other mercenary was now standing by the first also holding a sword out protectively. 
Declan
felt the rope that bound his wrists break against the shard. 

Finally,
he thought.  Now he just needed a distraction…
.

Allana’s scream pierced the air, causing the two mercenaries to glance up the stairs past
Declan
.  He whipped his hands in front of him, throwing the piece of shard at the man closest to him.  The shard lodged itself in the man’s throat, causing him to drop his sword and clutch the injury.  The blow was deadly, slicing an artery in the neck that gushed blood when the man foolishly pulled the shard
out
.  It seemed only seconds passed before the man lay motionless on the floor. 

The other mercenary watched the scene with horror that changed to rage when he realized his comrade was dead.  He
thrust his sword
at
Declan
, but
Declan
rolled quickly away, snatching up the dead man’s sword and stabbing his opponent with it.  The man dropped to the floor, joining his friend in death. 

After the quick blow,
Declan
lunged
for the stairs only to come up short when a dagger came out of nowhere and pierced the wall inches from
Declan
’s
head.  He spun around to find Rupert grinning wickedly at him with sword drawn.

“It
seems
it’s
just you and me,” the man said.

Declan
walked toward him dangerously.  “I don’t have time for this, Scarface.  Walk away and you w
ill not
have to die.” 

Rupert’s grin turned to a snarl, and he
charged
at
Declan
with furry. 
Declan
parried the attack with agility, creating his own opportunities to strike out at his opponent.  Rupert, to
Declan
’s
surprise, dodged the attack and fought him with skill.  Compared to the other mercenaries
Declan
had dealt with, Rupert
actually fought well
.  He countered several of
Declan
’s
attacks, even cutting
Declan
’s
shirt with an unexpected move.  But he
did not fight that well
.  One mistake and
Declan
cut him down.  Rupert had gone for a high attack on
Declan
not
anticipating
Declan
’s
speed.  With one quick move,
Declan
blocked the strike before driving his sword into Rupert’s side.  It wasn’t a lethal blow, but it brought the man down to his knees.

“Finish me,” Rupert hissed.

“
You’re
not worth it,”
Declan
replied, shoving the man to the ground with his foot.  Allana needed him, and he wasn’t wasting any more time on this fool. 

Declan
dashed up the stairs after Allana just in time to see Lucas carry her into a room at the end of the hall and shut the door.  Heart racing and adrenalin pumping,
Declan
ran down the hallway throwing his body into the locked door, hoping to dislodge it and failing.  He slammed his fists in frustration against the door.