To Marry a Duke (18 page)

Before Richard could answer they heard Demelza returning.
‘Allegra is not in her rooms. Jenny says she ran in and stayed only long enough
to put on her spencer, bonnet and gloves, then rushed off again.’

Tremayne pushed himself upright using the arms of the chair
as levers. ‘Where will she have gone, Witherton?’

Richard frowned,
then
his face
cleared
.’
To your house,
to find Pledger.
This gossip had to emanate from him; no one else could
possibly have such precise information. But why he should wish to ruin
Allegra’s reputation I’ve no idea.’

Demelza knew, or she thought she did. ‘You told me he
offered for her and she turned him down. I imagine, for some gentlemen, being
rejected would be an unacceptable dent to their pride.’

‘God in his heaven!
Are you saying
she’s going to accuse him of ruining her, Witherton?’

‘I am. It’s her way, it always has been. She takes things
head on, no prevaricating.’

Tremayne moved with a speed that belied his injury. ‘Come
with me, we must find her, if Pledger holds the kind of grudge Demelza is
suggesting, she could find herself in serious difficulties.’

With Richard in close pursuit, he took the stairs two at a
time. The footman, on guard at the front door, barely had time to throw it
open. As they pounded down the pavement, shoulder to shoulder, dodging the
pedestrians, and occasioning not a few raised eyebrows, Richard said what they
were both thinking.

‘If Allegra has taken a pistol, I don’t think much of
Pledger’s chances. Anything could happen.’

Tremayne was having difficulty breathing, and shook his
head, his breath whistling strangely in his throat, unable to respond in any
other way.

When Richard saw the front door stood open he feared the
worst. Tremayne staggered up the

steps
and
burst into the hall. His butler, Adamson, received the second shock of the
morning

The man appeared to be waiting for them, a slightly bemused
expression on his normally impassive face. ‘Mr Tremayne, your grace, Lady
Allegra is in the garden room.’

‘And Pledger, where is he?’ Tremayne managed to gasp.

‘He has departed, sir, a few minutes ago.’

Richard, realizing Tremayne’s difficulty, stepped in. ‘What
has taken place here, tell us quickly?’

‘Lady Allegra and Captain Pledger had words, sir. Lady
Allegra threatened to shoot Captain Pledger and he ran away.’ The speech was
delivered with a degree of satisfaction.

Tremayne grabbed Richard’s arm for support, his tortured
breathing subsiding, finally allowing him to speak. ‘I told you, lad; that
sister of yours is fearsome. The sooner I get her back to Essex and safely
married the happier I shall be.’

At the rear of the house Jago
found his beloved calmly watching the antics of a pair of squirrels on the
lawn. In the excitement, and relief, he had temporarily forgotten he was in
disgrace. She had not.

The look she gave him would have curdled milk. ‘Mr Tremayne,
how good to see you. And
Richard,
is Demelza to arrive
at any moment also?’

Jago cleared his throat, his glance not quite meeting hers.
‘I owe you an apology, are you prepared to accept it?’

‘Please feel free to be seated, sir. Have you nothing else
to add?’ He looked warily around the room and she understood his concern. ‘My
pistol is not loaded, sir, you are quite safe from harm.’

He snatched a spindle legged, cane seated chair and
straddled it. ‘I’m sincerely relieved to hear that, my dear. I don’t wish to
add a bullet hole to my broken ribs.’

She snorted inelegantly. ‘It serves you right, Jago. How
could you have thought, for a second, that I had shared my bed with that… with
that obnoxious coxcomb?’

‘My brain was addled by jealousy. That’s no excuse, I know.
I’ll sit here and give you my full permission to throw whatever missiles come
to hand, I know I deserve it.’

‘Jago, you are impossible! I have no intention of throwing
anything at you ever again. But you must promise never to accuse me
of such a terrible things
.’

‘Of course I promise. I am becoming concerned you appear to
have suddenly developed a penchant for violence, my love. When I proposed to
you I believed you to be calm and dignified, a woman to be admired not feared.
Shall I be safe in your hands or live in daily fear of execution?’

She laughed out loud at his performance. ‘I can promise you,
Jago, if no one else tries to shoot a close member of my family, or accuse me
of being impure, then I shall not be tempted to resort to violence.’ Her smile
faded and she paled. ‘I didn’t mean to kill that man. That was an instinctive reaction
because he had hurt my darling Demelza. I wished merely to retaliate.’

He surged to his feet, his chair falling to the floor, and
dropped to his knees beside her. ‘Sweetheart, if you hadn’t killed him I would
have done so. It was well done, for I hate a shoddy job. And remember, if he
had survived he would have ended his miserable life dangling on the end of a
rope. Surely it’s better for his parents to believe him murdered by footpads
than to watch him die on the gallows?’

‘But that does not change the fact I am a murderer. I have
blood on my hands. How can you bear to touch me after what I have done?’

In answer he drew her down beside him and slid his arms
around her. ‘I love you, Allegra. There’s nothing you have done or could ever
do that could change that.’

She put one hand around his neck and lifted up her face to
receive his kiss. As the blood roared in her ears, her doubts vanished to be
replaced by sensations of a different, and delightful, kind.

Jago pulled back before matters got out of hand. Gently he
removed her hands from his neck and lifted her back to her seat. Her mouth was
swollen from his kisses, her normally pale cheeks hectic with colour. It was
only then he noticed the absence of her maid.

‘Allegra, don’t tell me you came here unaccompanied? Where’s
your abigail?’

‘I have sent her out on an errand, Jago.’ She giggled. ‘I
rather think, in the circumstances, it is a good thing she was not in here.’

Awkwardly, he regained his feet, his right-hand held to his
sternum. Instantly her amusement changed to anxiety. ‘Jago, are you in pain? I
am so sorry. I did not realize I had thrown that statue with such force. It
must be because I have played cricket since I was a girl. My father taught me
to throw fast and with accuracy.’

‘This is nothing, forget it, my dear. Now we tell me, where
is Abbot?’

‘She has gone to visit a cousin of hers, who is cook at Lady
Marshall’s establishment on the other side of the square. I wish to know how
far the gossip has spread. If it is already kitchen talk it is too late to put
things right. We are both ruined. For myself, I do not care over
much,
it is you I am concerned for.’

‘I told you yesterday if I have your approval I care naught
for anyone else. I rather think both Witherton and Demelza will feel the same.’

‘I hope so. But I forgot, in the excitement, to tell you
what I discovered.’ She stared straight at him as she spoke. ‘I believe it is
an old friend of yours, one Lady Camille Oliver, who is behind all this. It
would seem that she wants you back and is prepared to go to any lengths to
achieve her objective.’

Quite unabashed, he nodded. ‘Your information dovetails with
mine. My informants told me she has recently sold an expensive piece of
jewellery for cash. That money could have been used to pay the men who tried to
kill you.’

Allegra looked perplexed. ‘But how could she have known the
lieutenant that I shot? Where could
she
have made this contact?’

Jago was already on his feet and paced the floor, thinking
hard before he answered.
‘God’s teeth!
We have missed
the obvious.’

‘What, Jago? What have we missed?’

‘How did Pledger know Lady Oliver was the gossipmonger? How
could she have had all the details unless he had given them to her?’

She understood his direction and her eyes rounded with
horror. ‘Who better to find soldiers to do his dirty work than another
soldier?’

‘Exactly.
You were right to suspect
him all along. It’s Pledger we seek. It has to have been a joint effort. Lady
Oliver supplied the funds and he organized the attempt.’

He walked to the door and, opening it, shouted down the
corridor, further startling the ever attentive footman waiting outside.
‘Richard, where are you man? We have plans to make.’

Chapter
Eighteen

The butler appeared, his brow
creased. ‘I’m afraid Lord Witherton is not here, sir. He left a moment ago.’

Jago swore under his breath. ‘Did he say where he was going,
Adamson?’

‘I believe he went to fetch Miss Tremayne, sir.’

‘Very well.
Have them join us in
the garden-room when they arrive.’

Allegra met him at the door. ‘Where is Richard?’

‘Gone to fetch Demelza; God knows what for.’

She slipped her arm through his. ‘Come in and sit down,
Jago. We have things to talk about and might not get another opportunity.’ She
tugged, insisting he followed her. ‘Scowling down the corridor will not produce
them - it will just give you a headache, my dear.’

The green warmth of the garden beckoned and they decided it
would be pleasurable to stroll whilst they conversed.

‘There is one thing about all this I do not understand,’
Allegra said. ‘Why should Pledger wish to kill me? I did no more than refuse
his offer, hardly enough to warrant assassination.’

‘It’s something I have also considered.’

‘And?’ she prompted impatiently.

‘I have only one explanation. The
man must be deranged.’ At first she thought he was funning and smiled, then saw
his face. ‘The actions of a sane man can be predicted, anticipated, but a
madman, by his very nature, will behave irrationally.’

‘I understand. If he was, well, normally motivated, what
would you expect him to do next?’

‘If it was me, I would report to Horse Guards and ask to be
posted to the Americas. He must realize he’s been discovered, that his days of
freedom are rapidly diminishing.’

Allegra walked over to smell the pungent honeysuckle and his
eyes followed her. She glanced up, her lips curving in a smile. ‘Do not look so
fierce, my love, whatever he does I am certain you and Richard will find him
before he can do any more harm.’

He closed the space between them in one stride. ‘Allegra, I
love you. I don’t know why you return my regard, but I thank God you do.’

‘Do you not? Could it be the fact you are not only one of
the warmest men in England, but also the most attractive?’

Her gurgle of amusement was swallowed by his fierce kiss.
Several intoxicating minutes later she emerged, breathless and more than a
little dishevelled. ‘My bonnet ribbons are strangling me, Jago. Could you
release them for me?’

With expert fingers he undid the knotted ribbon and tossed
the hat aside. It landed neatly on the head of a Greek cherub standing in a
nearby arbour. Allegra clapped her hands.

‘Bravo! That was an excellent shot - I could not have done
better myself.’

Chuckling he took her hand and kissed it. ‘Shall we sit over
there, on the bench, where it’s shaded?’

‘And you shall restore my bonnet to me, Jago. Abbot will be
extremely disapproving if she returns to find me so undressed.’ She quickly
placed a warning finger on his lips. ‘No, my dear, you must not use a
profanity. I asked you to mend your language and you promised me you would do
so.’

Restoring the bonnet was a pleasurable experience for both
and it was there that Richard and Demelza found them later.

‘Oh, Papa, Allegra has forgiven you already. I would not
have done so, I can assure you, for another day at least.’

Jago embraced his daughter and grinned sheepishly at
Richard. ‘I’m glad you’re back; we have important matters to discuss.’

‘I thought Demelza would be beside herself with anxiety, so
brought her here to see that all is well.’

‘We are both content and our differences forgotten.
Witherton and I have plans to make; Demelza, you stay and keep Allegra
company
.’ He turned and, with his hand on Richard’s
shoulder, guided him back inside the house.

‘What are they going to do, Allegra? Did my father tell
you?’

Allegra realized he had not, in fact, done so. ‘I think he
intends to find Captain Pledger and Lady Oliver and have them apprehended. But
how, or where, I have no idea.’

To her astonishment Demelza headed for the French doors, her
face determined. ‘Richard is not leaving without telling me where he’s going.
And neither is Papa.’

When, a few moments later, Allegra decided to follow, not
quite sure how their unlooked

or
appearance would be viewed by either Jago or Richard. The garden room was
empty. Where had they all gone? She could hear raised voices somewhere in the
house and hurried in that direction.

In the spacious hall Demelza was hanging on to Richard’s
arm, berating him loudly. Of Jago there was no sign. Conscious the
staff
was being given more excitement in one afternoon than
they normally had in a year, she hurried over to intervene.

‘Enough of this.
Demelza, be silent
at once.’ Her voice was quiet but firm. ‘Richard what is all this fuss about?
Are you both aware you are making a spectacle of yourselves?’

Demelza dropped her hand and her shoulders drooped in
defeat. Without another word she turned and fled up the stairs to seek sanctuary
in the rooms she had previously occupied on her visits to the capital.

Richard groaned. ‘She doesn’t think I’m well enough to
accompany Tremayne. But I have no choice, Sis, I’m honour bound to go. For the
man’s bullet was meant for you and it hit my future wife.’

‘I understand, and when I have spoken to her, I am certain
Demelza will also. Where is Jago?’

‘Two men have recently arrived with news. He has gone to
speak with them.’

‘Shall we go back into the garden room? You can tell me what
is to happen.’

Once they were comfortably settled Allegra looked
expectantly at her brother. ‘Well, Richard? What is Jago planning to do? Did he
tell you he thinks that Pledger is insane?’

‘He did and I’m afraid I have to agree. There can be no
other explanation. He’s like a thwarted child wishing to destroy what he cannot
have for himself.’ His mouth turned down and his expression was sombre. ‘I have
known Gideon since we were at school and never suspected he was unstable. I
cannot imagine what has turned his mind.’

‘I think I can. I believe he has harboured an obsession for
me all these years and when I rejected him so brutally, the coin spun and love
became hate. I never liked him, as you are aware, but I am saddened by the
thought that one of England’s heroes has come to this because of me.’ She
stopped, lost in thought. ‘Will he go to the gallows when he is caught?’

Richard shook his head. ‘Not if I can help it. A quick end –
it’s the least I can do for an old friend.’

She shuddered. ‘Perhaps he will take the honourable way out,
or make his escape to France?’ Despite her disquiet she smiled.
‘Do you know, Richard, I asked Fred to arrange for me to meet with
a
freetrader
?
I wanted Jago to be abducted,
taken to France, so he would miss the day of our wedding and release both of us
from those contracts.’

‘Good God! It’s not only Pledger who has run mad! What did
Fred say?’

‘He assumed I wanted to arrange for a delivery of cognac and
tea and insisted it would be unnecessary for me to speak directly to the
smugglers. I could hardly tell him otherwise, now could I?’ She smiled at
Richard. ‘I promise I would not have gone through with it. I was angry that
day, by the following morning I was greatly relieved I had not been able to
arrange anything of the sort.’

‘Did we get the brandy and tea?’

‘I have no idea. I had forgotten all about it until you
mentioned France.’

Richard tried to appear disapproving. ‘I’m supposed to be
setting a good example in the community not fraternising with free traders and
receiving contraband.’

Jago came to join them. ‘Good, I’m glad you’re both here.
I’ve heard from Forsythe, you remember, Allegra, the gentleman who assisted us
at the White Hart the other night?’ Allegra’s smile slipped as she recalled why
the gentleman had been obliged to help.

He continued. ‘It appears there are three men absent without
leave from Colchester barracks. The lieutenant we know about, but also a
sergeant and an enlisted man. I have the names and descriptions of both.’

Richard interrupted. ‘There were two men with information,
were they both from Sir Bertram?’

‘No, the second was a Bow Street runner in my employment. He
has discovered Lady Oliver owns a small estate, inherited from a maternal
relation of her late husband. It’s in a village not far from Ipswich. It’s my
guess they are all holed up there.’

‘In that case we can travel back together, Jago. I wish to
return to the Priory. I have no intention of attending any further society
events until the gossip has died down and the truth is known.’

‘I was going to suggest exactly that, my love. I should be
happier escorting you and Demelza myself.’ He glanced at Richard. ‘We are to
meet up with an escort from the barracks when we get to Colchester. They want
those men back; they don’t take kindly to deserters.’

Allegra got to her feet. ‘I was about to remove my bonnet,
yet again,’ she said, blushing rosily at Jago’s grin, ‘but I rather think I had
better collect Demelza. If we are intending to leave at first light tomorrow
there is a deal of packing for us to organize. I can explain to her what is
happening at the same time.’

‘We shall take the journey back gently, there’s no urgency.
My men are watching Grafton Manor, Lady Oliver’s
house,
no one will be allowed to leave before we arrive.’

‘It’s scarcely two hours ride to Grafton from Colchester. We
can be there and back in the day,’ Richard added.

Allegra moved to the door. ‘Are we to break our journey at
the Saracen’s Head, in Chelmsford, Jago, where we stayed on the way up?’

‘Yes. I’ll send someone ahead to reserve our accommodation.
We must leave at the crack of dawn. We can break our fast at the White Hart in
Romford, I’m sure the landlady will be pleased to see Demelza’s fully
recovered.’

At six o’ clock the following morning a small cavalcade left
Witherton House. Jago had decided the diligence, containing luggage, should
travel with their carriage, also two extra grooms were to follow as outriders.
The interior of the carriage, with two large gentleman and three ladies inside,
was a shade overcrowded, but neither Allegra nor Demelza objected to being
obliged to sit thigh to thigh with their betrotheds. Miss Murrell was forced to
be an unwilling observer and official chaperon and felt decidedly
de trop.

Jago and Richard accompanied the ladies all the way to the
Priory in order to collect their own mounts from the stables.

‘Take care, Jago, my love. I know there will be a troop of
soldiers with you, and there are only three of them, but if they are aware that
their capture is imminent they could fight to the death. They have nothing to
lose after all.’ She shivered as she remembered Richard’s promise that he would
not allow his erstwhile friend to suffer the indignity of the rope.

Jago smoothed an errant strand of pale gold hair from her
face. ‘I’m not foolhardy, my darling. I’ve too much to live for to risk my life
unnecessarily. But until these men, and Lady Oliver, are apprehended I cannot
rest easy.’

She stretched up and touched his mouth with hers, her eyes
soft with love. ‘Look after Richard, remember his vision is impaired.’

‘I will; I’ll remain at his right shoulder throughout.’

The two men were to rendezvous with the military party at
Ardleigh, a ride of only a few miles. She watched them canter, side-by-side,
down the drive and across the park until they were lost from view.

 
‘Come along, Demelza,
let us go inside. I am sure that they will come to no harm. They could even be
back before supper.’

*

Jago and his escort had travelled
scarcely five miles when he spotted two horsemen galloping towards them. The
lead rider wrenched his mount to a halt.

‘Thank God we’ve caught you, Mr Tremayne. The bastards have
slipped through the net. They were there earlier, we saw them in the stable
yard, but when we checked later their mounts had gone.’

Jago’s brow creased. ‘Did Captain Pledger arrive last
night?’

‘No, sir, nobody came. But Lady Oliver did receive a
message, but she didn’t go out. She’s still in residence.’

Jago swore. ‘God damn it to hell! They’re meeting him
somewhere.
But where?’

‘The coast?’
Richard suggested.
‘It’s a high tide tonight and a smuggler’s moon; the ideal time to slip aboard
a ship and sail to freedom.’

‘You know the area, lad, which port will they head for?’

Richard did a rapid calculation. ‘There’s only one place
where free-traders have never been caught and that’s our own creek. There are
legitimate wherries in and out as well as smugglers.’

Jago stood in his stirrups and shouted his command to the
waiting troops. ‘Lieutenant, the birds have flown, we believe they will head
for the coast, try to catch a ship to France.’ The troop, headed by Jago and
Richard, the two Bow Street runners close behind, swung round and galloped back
the way they’d come.

At dusk Allegra sat alone in the orangery, the glass doors
open, enjoying the cool salty breeze that wafted from the creek. The birds were
singing their final evening songs before settling down for the night. Demelza
was safely in her room with Miss Murrell for company. All she had to do was
wait
. She had asked for a late supper to be served if Jago
and Richard returned before ten o’ clock. She would not hear them from where
she was but a footman would run across to fetch her as soon as they arrived.

A slight noise in the garden startled her. Was there someone
outside? Before she could raise the alarm a shadow slipped through the doors
and her mouth was cruelly covered by a calloused hand.