Anne Herries - The Mysterious Lord Marlowe

‘There you wrong me. I was merely remembering some good times I had here as a boy. It seems sacrilege to disturb the place, but it must be done.’ George took a pistol from his coat pocket, and turning the handle against the glass, gave it a sharp rap. It shattered at once. He pushed the jagged glass in and put his hand through the opening. Finding the catch which secured it, he was able to open the door.

‘I shall go first and light a candle,’ George said. ‘Be careful for there is broken glass. I do not wish you to stumble in the dark and hurt yourself.’

Jane hesitated just inside the door, allowing him time to explore. A few seconds passed and she heard him strike a tinder and then light flared in the darkness. He lit a branch of wax candles, the yellow glow illuminating the pretty if neglected parlour in which she now stood. She looked about her with interest, noting the delicate furniture, workbasket, spinet and the French cabinets filled with porcelain figurines.

‘This parlour must have belonged to a lady.’

‘Yes, it did—an elderly lady. She was my great-aunt and more than ninety years of age when she died.’

‘I hope she would not mind us breaking in?’

‘I should imagine she might find it exciting. I believe she was rather a dashing lady in her youth. She took a shine to me because I was considered a bruising rider to hounds as a youngster—and she was fond of hunting herself.’

‘A lady after my own heart, though it is the thrill of the chase I love. I usually leave the field before the kill.’

‘Aunt Augusta would not have approved of that,’ he said and smiled. ‘However, I seldom hunt these days. I saw enough death and killing in the army. I have no desire for more.’

‘Yet you joined forces with a dangerous man to help abduct an innocent young woman.’ Her tone was accusing and made him look at her.

‘I have no excuse I may give other than that I have already offered. I believed I was helping to provide the illusion of an abduction. Until she struggled so desperately I hoped the lady was willing, as I had been led to believe.’

‘Yes, so you told me.’ Jane frowned as he led the way from the small parlour into another larger one, then into a hall, through several more reception rooms and finally a large kitchen at the rear. It was still painful for her to walk, though a little easier than it had been when he found her in the hut. ‘I find it hard to believe that you were duped, sir. I would not take you for a fool.’

‘I had my reasons.’

Jane glanced at the grim set of his mouth and said no more on the subject. It would not do to antagonise him at this point. She must never forget that Mariah was in danger and this man was perhaps her only chance of finding her friend.

‘I think the fireplace in the larger parlour was set with wood and paper,’ she said. ‘It would be more relaxing than the kitchen for there are some comfortable chairs.’

‘I thought we might find some wine here …’ George disappeared into what looked like a storeroom. Jane heard him rummaging around for a moment or two. He emerged triumphant with a bottle of red wine. ‘There are several bottles here, though most must be in the cellar, but I have no intention of going there at this hour.’

Jane found another branch of candles and lit them from his. Her ankle was throbbing and she sat down at the table, trying not to show how weary she felt.

‘Shall we explore further or settle on the parlour?’

‘I think the beds must need airing. It is more than a year since the house was closed. My lawyers thought it best while I was in the army. I believe a caretaker comes in now and then, but I doubt the bedding is fit to use.’

‘We shall do better in a comfortable chair,’ Jane said. ‘If you are agreeable, I shall light the fire in the parlour.’

‘I shall do that for you. We should eat and then I will look at your ankle. I think cold water and a bandage—which should be in the dresser if all is as it was.’ He went to the dresser and took out a tin, opening it to extract a roll of linen. ‘My aunt was always prepared. I think I must fetch water from the well.’

‘I will wait for you in the parlour.’

‘Forgive me, your ankle still pains you. Go and sit down. I will bring food and the bandage in a moment or two.’

Jane took the candles she had lit and retraced her steps to the large parlour. She lit several more and then touched a flame to the fire. It flared almost at once, which meant the wood and paper had kept dry despite the house being closed for so long. The house was clearly not damp and must be well built.

Her situation was improved despite the impropriety of it all. George seemed to mean her no harm and for the moment she must trust him, though it irked her to be at the mercy of a rogue. She was used to being independent and using her own judgement, and this need of a stranger’s help was both uncomfortable and annoying.

Seeing the elegant day bed, Jane settled back on the cushions and rested her foot in front of her. With the candles and the fire, which was now burning strongly, it was pleasant and comfortable. She put her head back and closed her eyes, quickly falling asleep.

Returning to the parlour some minutes later, George stood looking at Jane, feeling disinclined to disturb her. Yet the bread and cheese he had brought with him was on the plates he had found in the kitchen, the wine poured into glasses—and her ankle would do better if he bound it.

‘Forgive me, Miss … Jane,’ he said and touched her shoulder.

Jane woke with a little start, giving a cry of alarm. Then, seeing him standing there, a tray of food placed carefully on the occasional table by her side, and the linen bandaging in his hand, she smiled. The smile came from within and lit up her eyes. She had such calm grey eyes and her dark, almost ebony hair had fallen into tangles where it had escaped from the knot at the nape of her neck. She was not beautiful in a conventional sense, but had a face filled with character and warmth.

‘It is you,’ she said. ‘For a moment I Thought … How thoughtless of me to fall asleep. You must be wanting your supper.’

George’s heart caught when she smiled. She was an attractive girl, but he had not thought her more until that moment. He wondered that she wore such dull colours and scraped her hair back in an unflattering style when she could make so much more of herself if she chose.

‘I was thinking of you, Jane. Your ankle needs a cold compress and ought to be bound tightly to take down the swelling.’

‘Yes, I am sure that would help. I feared it might be broken, but the pain has eased a little, which means, I think, that it is merely a sprain.’

He knelt on the floor beside her and ran gentle, sensitive fingers over her ankle, then inclined his head.

‘I believe it is as you say, Jane. Nevertheless, it will help to have a cold compress and bandaging for a while. We shall not stay here long tomorrow, so it will be better for you if your ankle is easier.’

George worked steadily, applying the cold pack he had prepared with water drawn from the deep well. He bound her ankle tightly, knowing that it would strengthen it for her, making it easier to walk. She drew a sharp breath once and he apologised for hurting her, but she shook her head. He finished his work as quickly as possible.

‘If you are still in pain, I will bind the ankle again in the morning,’ he said. ‘Can you eat something? The wine is soft and fruity, not too strong—will you try a little before I leave you to sleep?’

‘Where will you go? The room is warm now and you could stretch out in two chairs.’

‘Are you sure you wish for that? I thought you might prefer to be alone?’

‘We broke in here and the door is vulnerable. If Blake were to discover this house I would rather not face him alone.’

‘I doubt he would think of coming here.’ George frowned. ‘Though it is possible that he might know it was left to me, I suppose. Someone may have told him.’

‘Then please remain here. I prefer your presence to Captain Blake’s.’

‘Yes, I think I shall. You may rest assured that if he attacked you I should shoot him.’

‘Is that why you have brought the pistol?’

‘Like most military men I am accustomed to travelling with a loaded pistol. I know others do it, too, but I am a keen shot. Believe me—my hand would not tremble if the need arose.’

‘You fought with Wellington?’

‘Yes, for many years—on the Spanish Peninsula and elsewhere.’

‘I see.’ Jane looked at him thoughtfully. ‘I believe I shall sleep more easily for knowing that, sir.’

‘You have my word that I shall protect you with my life. More than that I cannot promise. Blake is a ruthless devil and has several rogues working for him that think nothing of murder. Had I not known that he might kill us all, I should have prevented the abduction as soon as I realised that he had lied about the lady’s willingness to be taken.’

‘Even though he has something important that belongs to you?’

‘Yes, of course.’ George inclined his head. ‘Had it been within my power. As it was not, I decided to do what I could for you.’

‘What of the other victim in this affair? Lady Fanshawe is a dear friend of mine and I fear for her safety. Can you not help her?’

‘For the moment I can do nothing, but I shall try to discover her whereabouts. For that reason I have allowed Blake to go on thinking he has my reluctant loyalty.’

‘Every moment we delay, her situation becomes more desperate.’

‘You should not fear that her life is in immediate danger. Blake wants her alive until he has her fortune safe in his hands. If she died before he persuades her to wed him, he would lose what he truly wants—though he swears he cares for her and she for him. Were I not sure that he means her no harm for the moment, I should have gone to the authorities immediately. I am in part to blame for her predicament and shall do what I can to help her.’

‘Do you believe Blake when he says he cares for her?’

‘Not any longer. Yet I think she is safe enough for the time being—at least, her life is not at risk. More than that is not within my power to judge.’

‘He may allow her to live, but she may lose everything else,’ Jane reminded him. ‘Abduction and the forceful seduction of an innocent lady is a wicked crime. Rogues who participate in such crimes deserve to hang.’

A little nerve flicked at George’s temple. Yet his expression was strictly controlled, giving no hint of his state of mind.

‘I cannot deny it. Nor do I deny that I played a part in this heinous affair. I wish it were otherwise—though had I not agreed to help him, he would have employed some other rogue. I should not then have been in a position to help you—or her.’

Jane silently acknowledged the truth of his words as she ate her food and swallowed a few mouthfuls of wine. She undoubtedly owed the fact that she was still alive to him, for had he not found her in the hut and then denied it to his companions, Blake might have come himself. She might already be lying dead somewhere. Putting the wineglass down still half-full, she sighed and leaned back to rest her head on the comfortable cushions. She was inclined to believe George when he said he regretted taking part in the abduction of Mariah Fanshawe, but that did not excuse his conduct. Whatever the hold Blake had over him, he should not have sunk to that vile creature’s level.

Within a few minutes of finishing her wine, Jane had once again fallen asleep. Watching her, George felt oddly protective. He bent to place another log on the fire. It was most unlikely that Blake would come here, but he would wedge something heavy against the French windows they had broken to enter. He would try not to sleep, though he knew he was tired and might not be able to keep guard throughout the night despite his best intentions.