Dangerous Knight by Elizabeth Johns
Chapter Thirteen
Jack paced across the floor in his study, vaguely registering the patterns on the carpet.
“You saw the flash?” Philip asked. “You are certain?”
The look Jack sent Philip would have made any other man, who did not know him so well, quake.
“For God’s sake, she could have broken her neck!” Jack heard the panic in his own voice.
“I am well aware,” Philip said calmly, “but this is the time to stop and think clearly, not lose our heads. If we were not close to our target, they would not be trying to warn us off…if it was indeed intentional.”
“It could have been meant for me. I was riding next to her.” Jack ran his hand through his hair as he continued to circle the room. He had too much pent-up anger to be still.
“For that matter, it could have been meant for any of us. Flashing a mirror is not a precise tool.”
Lady Maria knocked on the open door. “May I come in?”
“Yes, of course. How is she?”
“She is resting now. The doctor gave her some laudanum before he reset the bone and splinted it.”
Maria walked over and selected a chair next to Philip. She sank down into it. “This was not an accident, was it? Kate is one of the finest riders I know.”
“Good riders can only do so much when the horse decides to bolt.”
“But something caused the mare to react in such a violent manner.”
“We suspect so,” Jack agreed. “Is the mare normally reliable?”
“I could not say. Father purchased her the day before at Tattersall’s.
Jack’s eyes met Philip’s. “You don’t say?” He had to remember that Lady Maria was unaware of the conversation Kate had overheard between Major Lloyd and another man, in which he had implicated himself.
“Who chose the horses this morning?” Philip asked.
“I had asked Gabriel to pick Kate a suitable mount. He is excellent with horses, you must admit.”
“No one could dispute that. I consider it essential to explore everything, my lady.”
“The mare had been perfectly behaved the entire time before we met you.”
“We checked the saddle and there was nothing amiss there,” Jack admitted.
“And the horse seems calm now,” Philip added.
“What are you going to do now? Do you really plan on keeping Kate here?” Maria asked.
“It is too risky to do otherwise,” Jack argued.
“Even though you are her guardian, people will talk,” Lady Maria warned.
“Better for people to talk than for her to be killed,” he argued. “No one will be any the wiser if she stays inside these four walls.”
“You need a chaperone.”
“I am short of those at the moment,” Jack retorted.
“She is right, Jack,” Philip said. “You do not want to put her in the untenable position of having to marry you to save her reputation.”
“Untenable, am I?” Jack snorted. “That would please my old granny. She will be laughing from her grave.”
“While I do not think compromising her is the way to go about marriage, I do think the two of you would make an excellent match,” Lady Maria said primly.
Jack did not know what to say to that, so he remained quiet.
“I will ask my mother,” Philip put in. “I am certain she will know of some respectable lady who could provide chaperonage until this is resolved.”
“Heaven help me,” Jack muttered. “Very well, but I get to meet the person first.”
“I will ask Mother to send over Kate’s belongings,” Maria said, standing up. “May I send one of your men?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.”
“I will return home now to speak with my mother. May I escort you, Maria? I should be pleased to see you there.”
Maria looked at Jack and he gave her a nod. “She will be comfortable for a little while.”
Once they had left, Jack considered what to do. He was perfectly willing to find Feathers and Lloyd and strangle them both barehanded, but by the same token he wanted to outmaneuver them and catch them at their treason. Now it was personal – he wanted to see them pay for their duplicity. Philip was correct, now was the time to close in on their target. They were close. Very close.
He knew that in all likelihood he was rewriting his future by keeping Miss Rafferty at his house, but he was responsible for her and he would not be able to live with himself if something happened to her. Being under the same roof with Lloyd…well, he did not think Major Lloyd would attempt to injure her at his parents’ house, but it certainly put her at a higher risk of seeing or hearing something that would make her death a necessity. Clearly the scoundrel was already suspicious. He must somehow have seen her eavesdropping in the hallway that night. This was not a childish prank, and Lloyd knew how to be deadly. It was what they and Philip were trained for, after all.
However, before he made the final decision, he would go and speak with Miss Rafferty. He was not such an ogre that he would force her. He could try to find some other accommodations if she so wished. She was intelligent enough to understand the ramifications.
Jack walked upstairs to see how she did, knocking softly on the door, which was cracked open. She was tucked into the bed, small and still, only her red hair visible. He found himself going into the room and drawing close to the bed. Perhaps a chaperone was for the best, he thought, gazing down at the trim figure.
She looked so peaceful and beautiful lying there that he felt his heart clench over what had happened to her that afternoon and what could have happened.
Without thinking, he took her uninjured hand in his and watched her sleep, noting the bruising on the limb. It was hard not to want to seek immediate vengeance, for his heart wanted revenge. His head knew they had to make certain they had the right person first. He had a duty to Miss Rafferty, but also to King and country.
He realized he was squeezing her hand and let it go. He looked at her face and saw her watching him.
“Forgive me. I wanted to see how you were doing,” he said.
Her deep blue eyes seemed to be studying his face. “I will mend, they say.”
He pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. “I made the decision to bring you here in haste. If you would prefer to stay elsewhere, I will understand, as long as it is not back to Mottram Place. Too many things could happen there.”
“Will it not make them more suspicious?”
“You could have been killed.”
“Yes, but the incident could have been intended to happen to any of us, if it were not mere accident.”
He shook his head. “It is too risky. Everleigh is consulting with his mother about a chaperone.”
“It hardly matters,” she said quietly. “You are my guardian, so it is quite permissible for me to be here. I do not intend to stay among Society, so my reputation is of little consequence.”
“It matters to me! And I think it will matter more than you can, at present, realize. My biggest concern is that you will be compelled to marry me. I am not a fortune hunter, I assure you.”
“I know that, sir.” She smiled slightly and added, “I had not entertained such a notion. The only thing that matters is to find whomever is responsible before something dreadful happens.”
He nodded distractedly. “There is little time left to do so. Nonetheless, there has to be a way.”
“What if he was accused openly, say in front of your commander? Or perhaps not accused but questioned about it?” she suggested.
Jack shook his head. “It would make you more vulnerable by revealing your knowledge of the conversation. And without knowing the identity of the other man involved…”
“If he has a plausible explanation, then Major Lloyd would be ruled out,” she countered.
“And if he does not? If he denies it, then we are no further ahead and we have shown our hand.”
“No, we do not wish to do that,” she answered. “There has to be a way to catch him.”
“Is there anything else you can remember about the second man that night?” Jack asked.
She closed her eyes. “It was very dim in the corridor. He smelled of cigar smoke.”
“That helps a little. Is there anything else? Was he taller than Lloyd?”
“No. He was definitely shorter, perhaps to Major Lloyd’s shoulder, and he was more thick-set.”
“Did he appear older or younger?”
“I cannot be certain, but I would say older. His voice was gravelly but still educated.”
“Did he have hair or no?”
She pursed her lips. “Now that I think about it, I would say no.”
“Would you recognize him, do you think?”
She screwed up her face adorably. “Perhaps. I could not say.”
“You have remembered a great deal more than you thought to.”
“I daresay, that when you asked me specific questions, it was easier to recall what I saw than I would have imagined. Where do you think we might find him?”
“We? We are staying in bed to rest. I will try to find our mystery gentleman.”
“Nevertheless, you will require me to recognize him,” she argued.
“Perhaps I can find some possible subjects and have you identify them from afar.”
“There is no time for that!” She continued to argue, maintaining she was quite stout, even though he could tell she was fading.
“You can barely keep your eyes open,” he replied, trying not to laugh.
“Well, perhaps a nap would not go amiss. I will then be ready to assist you tonight.”
Her eyes were closed before he had gained his feet. He shook his head as he left the room, determined she would go nowhere until the traitor was caught.
*
Being an invaliddid not suit Kate’s disposition, and she knew she could be better employed in sallying forth to help search for the second gentleman. He had to be someone who would be a member of Society or at least assured enough to enter Mottram Place.
When she sat up in the bed, it took some time for the room to stop spinning. Her arm was still very painful. Nevertheless, Kate decided she could manage as long as she kept it still.
She rang for Simpson, who came into the room with a worried look on her face. “Yes, miss? Should you be out of bed?”
“Simpson, I am perfectly well. I need your help to dress for the evening.”
“Does the master know about this?”
“The master? What has he to say to anything?”
“He says you are to stay in bed while you recover and to bring you whatever you ask for.”
“Aha. You are to give me whatever I ask for, and I ask to dress.”
Simpson narrowed her gaze into a frown. “I am sure that’s not what he meant, miss.”
“Are you in his employ or mine?” Kate asked, growing irritated.
“I could not say, miss,” the maid answered doubtfully.
“I will make it very clear, then. I am your mistress, and if you cannot answer only to me, then I might have to release you from your position.”
“Please don’t do that, miss!” Simpson pleaded. “The captain only wants what’s best for you and so do I.”
Kate sighed. “I know, but this is a very serious matter or I would not be putting myself to the bother. I must help Captain Owens. I am the only one who can identify a person who means to cause a great deal of harm.”
“Is he the one who caused your accident?” Simpson asked shrewdly.
“How did you know about that?” Kate asked.
“It did not take much to put two and two together, miss. I will not say anything, but now I understand better why it matters to you.”
“Then please help me to dress.” Kate said.
Dressing with a splint on one’s arm was far more difficult than Kate could have imagined. Then, trying to fashion a way to cover it so it did not stand out like a sore thumb, presented another challenge. In the end, Simpson made a sling out of a dark fabric that blended in with her dress.
Kate knew Captain Owens would not approve of her going anywhere, but she was determined. Slowly, she descended the stairs and joined him as he was gathering his hat and sword to leave.
“Good evening,” she said.
He spun about and scowled when he saw her dressed for the evening. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded.
“This means I am going to the ball with you.”
“Under no circumstances. Number one, Lady Everleigh has not yet sent a chaperone. Number two, you sustained a bad injury today and need to rest. Number three, someone is trying to kill you! Number four…”
“Sir, I believe you should stop there before you make a foolish strategic error like forbidding me.”
“It had occurred to me,” he admitted.
“Would it not be a wiser course to know where I am? I will stay with Maria or Lady Mottram and no one will be aware there is no chaperone here. They will all assume I am still at Mottram Place. I will not be dancing, but observing from the side.”
She watched him consider each of her suggestions. His face was like an immobile mask, except for his eyes. She could tell he liked none of the options.
“Will you not at least admit you need my help?” She raised her arm slightly. “I now have a vested interest in catching him as well.”
He blew out a breath of exasperation. “Very well, but I must know where you are at all times. You must go nowhere alone. Is that understood?”
“Perfectly.” She tried not to show her pleasure at having won this round, for it was not truly pleasure but the desire to see the traitor caught and punished.
Captain Owens draped her shawl about her shoulders and led her to the hackney Wethersby had waiting for them. He helped her climb into the carriage and settled himself next to her. It was a disturbing moment. She never had a large male sit next to her before. It was overwhelming and yet very domestic at the same time. She was comfortable with him, yet not.
It was all very confusing.
“Where are we going?” she asked, instead of dwelling on her thoughts.
“Lord Worth is hosting the ball tonight,” he remarked.
“I have yet to meet him.”
“He is a vocal supporter of the military and Parliament. In fact, he is General Newsom’s elder brother. He is one of my superiors.”
“Then I shall be especially nice to him.” She laughed.
“Oh, no. Please do not toady to him.”
“You did not think I was serious?” she asked in mock offense.
“Let us say, I hope not. I might truly have to lock you in your room for that.”
When they arrived, amongst a large crowd, no one seem to pay them a great deal of mind. However, when they were announced, Kate could see people whispering. Was it on account of her accident?
She leaned forward and spoke in Captain Owens’ ear. “Aunt Bertha is our chaperone if anyone questions it.”
“Aunt Bertha is still alive?” He looked down at her with a comical face.
“Oh, yes. She is blind and deaf, but was very much alive when I left her at Winterbourne.”
“I always liked Aunt Bertha,” Captain Owens mused aloud. “Unfortunately, she was unable to stand up to her sister.”
Ignoring the whispers, they moved forward into the ballroom. Indeed, perhaps Kate was imagining them, because Captain Owens did not seem to notice. She suspected he was more perceptive than he made out, however.
Lord and Lady Worth greeted them, an older but amiable couple.
“Owens!” the gentleman exclaimed. “Glad to have you here. Glad indeed,” he said, shaking his hand. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Miss Rafferty, my ward.”
Kate dipped a curtsy and she felt Captain Owen’s steadying hand on her uninjured elbow as she rose.
“What happened, my dear?”
“An accident with her horse in the park, I am afraid,” Owens explained.
“Today?” Lady Worth looked concerned. “You should be abed!”
“My words to her exactly, but she would insist.”
“I am perfectly well as long as I keep my arm steady. It is my intention merely to sit and watch and enjoy the music, my lady, rest assured.”
“If you need anything, you have only to ask, Miss Rafferty,” Lady Worth said as they moved on down the line.
“I think we should quickly find you that seat where you may observe before more questions are asked,” he said.
“I see Lady Maria and Lady Mottram. I will go to them,” Kate answered, amused by his protectiveness.
“I shall escort you there,” he said, not letting go of her arm.
“Kate!” Maria exclaimed when she saw her. “What are you doing here?”
Captain Owens shook his head. “She would not be dissuaded. I will say no more.” He led her to the nearest chair and helped her to sit down. “She assures me she will only observe. May I leave her in your care?”
“I do not plan to dance,” Lady Mottram answered. “I will make sure she does not exert herself, and she can explain to me why she is no longer staying at our house.”
“Thank you,” he said, bowing over the countess’s hand.
“You will still do your duty, Maria,” the countess warned.
“Yes of course, Mama. I had not thought to do otherwise.” She cast Kate a look of conspiracy. “I will bear her company until the dancing begins, if you should wish to circulate.”
“Very well.” Lady Mottram waved at a friend and wandered off.
Maria sat in the chair next to Kate. “Has something else happened? I cannot believe you are here!”
“I could hardly lie in my bed all evening knowing I could sit and observe and be useful here.”
“I suppose I would feel the same, but could you not have at least rested for one day?”
“There are only three days left until the celebrations!” Kate reminded Maria.
“Of course, that is so.” She shook her head.
Kate looked around, thinking Maria could tell her who people were. She caught Captain Owens watching her and she smiled sweetly back at him. Currently, he was surrounded by a group of officers also dressed in their regimentals. She looked from soldier to soldier and dismissed them as she went. Too tall, too young, too much hair… her gaze passed an older gentleman and then immediately went back to him. Her breath caught.
Kate nudged Maria. “Who is that gentleman speaking to Captain Everleigh?”
Maria looked and then frowned. “I do not know.”