The old man put out his hand and Lucas gripped it. ‘I will, sir, if it is humanly possible.’
Samuel kept hold of his fingers. ‘If only I could come with you,’ he said. ‘If only I were not so
weak!’
He looked up at Lucas. ‘She needs someone younger and stronger than I to look after her. My boy, if you bring her back—’
‘
When
I bring her back we will discuss it.’ Lucas put his hand on the old man’s shoulder. ‘Do not give up hope, sir!’
D
arkness closed in and still Belle was a prisoner in the parlour of the Boar’s Head. Hugh Duggan had taken her cloak from her and roped her to a chair. She wasted no time on tears. All her pleading and protestations had not moved her captor who, to every fresh argument she put forwards, merely said, ‘We will wait for Blackstone to arrive.’
Hugh bade her eat a little of the food brought into them by a shambling hulk of a youth that he introduced to her as Zac, one of the landlord’s sons. It was poor fare and she had no appetite, but she forced herself to swallow a few mouthfuls. Whatever was going to happen to her, she did not want to be distracted by hunger. She refused the wine, but took a cup of small beer, which she sipped cautiously. As the evening
wore on Captain Duggan became increasingly agitated. Candles were brought in and the shutters closed, but they were not barred and the captain peeped out through them every time his perambulations around the room brought him to the window.
‘What if he does not come?’ she asked at last. There was no clock in the room and Belle had no idea how long she had been confined. Hugh was biting his thumb as he turned to look at her. ‘Well?’ she persisted, her nerves so stretched she no longer cared if she angered him. ‘Do you propose to kill me?’
She was steeling herself for his answer, determined not to show any fear, when there was the unmistakable sound of an arrival. He moved the shutter an inch to peer out.
‘He’s here.’ He closed the shutter and turned to Belle, a triumphant smile on his face. ‘Now, let us see how much he values you!’
There was a rumble of voices, then the door burst open and Lucas appeared, the shoulders of his caped driving coat almost filling the opening. Belle was torn between relief at his being there and sheer terror that he had walked into a trap. His hard eyes swept the room, resting only briefly on her before he fixed them upon Captain Duggan. It was impossible to read his expression, his countenance as hard and impassive
as stone. He strolled into the room, stripping off his gloves. The landlord followed him and Belle went cold when she saw the heavy shotgun in his hands.
‘What the deuce is this about, Cousin?’ Lucas demanded.
‘You’ve come alone?’
Lucas spread his hands. ‘What does it look like?’
Duggan looked past him to the landlord, who nodded.
‘Aye, Cap’n. My lads is outside, watching. There was no one with him.’
‘Very well. Let us get down to business.’
‘Will you let me untie Miss Havenham first?’
‘No. When we have finished and you have done as I order you, I will release her. Until then she remains a prisoner. And Strutt will remain, too, with the shotgun, in case you try anything clever. First of all I would like you to empty your pockets, I have no doubt that you have at least one pistol hidden away.’ When Lucas did not move, he continued in a silky voice that sent shivers running through Belle, ‘Make no mistake, Cos, it is Miss Havenham who will suffer if you do not comply. Strutt has no qualms about harming a woman.’
‘I can believe it.’ Lucas flicked a cold glance at the landlord, who waved the shotgun at him.
‘Nay, sirs, I’m a respectable innkeeper these days, but that don’t mean I won’t use this if I have to, if I needs to protect my property.’
Lucas ignored his interjection and addressed his cousin. ‘How did you light upon this place?’
‘I met Strutt in the Red Lion. I had been playing cards there and booked a room for the night, do you remember? Well, there being no lightskirts to entertain me once the gaming tables were finished and no gin shop in Stanton, I went down to the taproom for a tankard of ale and fell into conversation. I recognised Strutt as a bad lot almost immediately, although of course I didn’t know then that I would need to make use of his hostelry and his, er, skills.’
‘And just when did you plan all this?’ asked Lucas.
‘Only this week. I had to work quickly. I couldn’t let you go to London. Once you had signed the papers I would have lost everything. But we are straying from the point, Cos. Your firearms, please. Now.’
‘And if I don’t?’ Lucas jerked his head towards the door. ‘If I am not mistaken, there are voices in the taproom—would you risk a shot in here?’
Hugh turned to the landlord with a snarl. ‘Hell and damnation, Strutt, I told you to shut the inn.’
‘Ho, and how suspicious would
that
be! ’Tis only a couple of packmen. The boys’ll deal with
them if necessary. And, yes, sir, to answer your question, I
would
risk a shot, if needs be, the story being that I was aiming to kill an intruder and hit the young lady instead. would
you
be willing to risk that?’
So she was being used to force Lucas’s hand. Belle strained against the ropes, but they would not give at all. She watched in dismay as Lucas drew a long-nosed pistol from his pocket and handed it to Hugh.
‘There,’ he growled. ‘Now will you tell me what it is you want?’
Hugh inspected the pistol. ‘A Manton. I should have guessed you would bring a duelling pistol. And loaded too.’ He levelled it at Lucas. ‘I want my inheritance, Cousin.’
‘You are still my heir, nothing has changed.’
‘Yes, but for how long?’ He glanced towards Belle. ‘I saw the two of you, in the churchyard on Sunday night. How long before you and your wife have a child to supplant me?’
Lucas said quietly, ‘Hugh, that will never happen.’
‘No? I cannot take that chance, Cousin. I hoped you might be cut down at Waterloo, but you survived unmarked. Of course, I didn’t know then just what a wealthy man you had become. I have been thinking since I came here what a
disaster it would be for me if you was to have an heir and cut me out of the succession.’
‘Then let me make over something to you now,’ said Lucas. ‘We will agree a sum—’
‘Oh, no, I want it all. Everything. It is mine by right. You see, it was bad enough when you told me you were going to give away Oakenroyd. That wouldn’t be right, after you had put so much of your fortune into acquiring the place.’
‘But I have promised it to Samuel Havenham.’
Hugh’s lip curled. ‘That foolish old man don’t deserve it. You told me yourself it cost you a great deal to secure that property. But
then
you told me you were going to sell Morwood. I can’t let you do that, Lucas. It was my home.’
‘Nonsense, you and your mother visited once a year, if that.’
‘It was my
home,’
Hugh repeated, his face contorting with anger. ‘You don’t think I could ever regard that damp hovel of my mother’s as my rightful place, do you?’
Lucas glanced at the landlord, leaning against the door with the shotgun resting in his hands.
‘Very well, Hugh, we can talk about all this, but we don’t need Miss Havenham here. She is no part of this, let me send her home.’
The captain shook his head, a cunning gleam in his eyes.
‘Oh, no, she is my trump card, Lucas. As long as I have her then you will do as I say.’
‘Is my word not good enough for you?’
‘I regret not. Neither of you will leave this room until you have signed everything over to me.’ He went over to the table and, placing the pistol down, he opened the leather case and took out a sheaf of papers. ‘You will need a pen. Strutt, where is it, and the ink?’
‘There on the mantelpiece, Cap’n.’
Lucas watched his cousin fetch the tarnished silver inkwell and pens, followed by a branched candlestick which he put in the centre of the table. He began straightening the papers with obsessive care, placing everything just so. A tiny thread of fear ran through Lucas. There was something irrational about Hugh’s behaviour and that made him all the more dangerous. He risked a glance at Annabelle. Cold rage went through him when he saw how she was bound, but it would do no good to show it yet. Her eyes were upon him. She opened her mouth to speak and he gave a little shake of his head. It was best if she did not draw attention to herself. Hugh picked up the pistol again.
‘Sit down, Lucas. I want you to know what you are signing.’
Lucas glanced at the landlord, still standing by the door. ‘Is it really necessary for him to be
here?’ When Hugh hesitated, he added, ‘This is family business, Cousin.’
‘Very well.’ Hugh waved the landlord away. ‘Wait outside until I call you. Now, Cousin, come and sign these papers.’
Lucas strolled to the table. Not by the flicker of an eyelid would he show alarm, but he had never known his cousin so unsettled. Now he said calmly, ‘Not before I have read them.’
He sat down and picked up the first sheet, conscious that Hugh was pacing around him, the loaded duelling pistol clutched in one hand.
‘Read away, Cos. I spent a great deal of time drawing up these documents. So helpful of you to leave all your papers in the study at Oakenroyd. I was able to see exactly what you were planning to do.’
‘You went through my desk?’
‘Of course. While you spent your days at Morwood I had time to copy out your instructions to Powell & Son, merely changing a few of the details, such as removing Samuel Havenham’s name and replacing it with mine own. I have even explained your sudden generosity. You are ashamed of the shabby way your father treated me and have decided to make reparation.’
Lucas held up one of the documents. ‘This is an indenture for Havenham’s gaming debts.’
‘Of course. I told you, Lucas, I will not allow you to dispose of my inheritance.’
‘But the debts are worthless. Samuel cannot pay.’
‘That is no longer your concern, Cousin.’
Lucas cursed silently. That indenture would put Belle and Samuel in his power, with the threat of the debtors’ prison looming over them. He glanced at Annabelle, pale and silent in her chair.
‘I will sign Oakenroyd over to you, Hugh, and Morwood too, if that is what you want. But let me burn this,’ he said quietly. ‘Havenham has no money to pay. I never intended—’
Hugh snatched the paper from his hand and slammed it down on the desk.
‘If you didn’t intend to collect then you should have destroyed it,’ he snarled. ‘Now sign them all.’
‘And if I refuse?’ Lucas watched him carefully.
‘I shall have you killed. As you say, I am still your heir, so it will all come to me anyway. But before that you will see what happens to the lady.’ Hugh walked over to Belle and stretched out one hand to touch her cheek. Angrily she batted him away. ‘Strutt is outside with his sons. Four of them. I am sure they would all enjoy a tumble, once I have finished with her.’
Lucas remembered the tales he had heard of his cousin’s behaviour in the army. He knew he was not bluffing. ‘And if I sign, I have your word you will release Miss Havenham?’
‘Of course.’
‘Lucas, please don’t do it,’ cried Belle, struggling against Her bonds. ‘I don’t believe—’
‘Quiet!’ Hugh lashed out, the back of his hand catching Belle’s face. Her head snapped back.
Lucas was on his feet in an instant, but Hugh stepped behind her chair, levelling the Manton at him.
‘Back, Cousin,
back
, or I will put a bullet through you, and what will happen to your precious little lady then? I shall have no further reason to keep her safe, will I?’
Lucas glanced at Belle. She had a trickle of blood on her lip.
‘I should have left you to die on the battlefield at Waterloo,’ he growled.
‘Aye, ’tis what I would have done, had our positions been reversed.’ Hugh waved the pistol. ‘Now sign, before I lose all patience with you.’
Lucas had to choose, and quickly. If it were only himself he thought he might be able to overpower Hugh, but with Belle a prisoner and the landlord just outside the door the risks were too great. Signing over both properties would seriously diminish his fortune, but there might be
enough left to pay off that damned indenture, if Hugh chose to use it against Havenham. He had caused the man enough harm, he must now do what he could to protect him.
He picked up the pen and dipped it into the ink. Quickly he scrawled his signature on each of the papers.
‘Excellent.’ Hugh reached out and took the pen from his fingers. ‘Strutt!’ he shouted. ‘Strutt, come in here and bring your boys. I need two of you to make your marks here.’ He turned back to Lucas, smiling. ‘You see, Cousin, all legal and watertight, witnessed by a respectable property owner and his son.’
Lucas pushed back his chair and got up. As the landlord and his loutish boys came in he walked over to Belle and began to untie her.
‘Forgive me,’ he muttered. ‘This is my fault. Whatever I have done in the past you have my word that I will look after you and your father.’
‘Brave words, Cousin, but foolish,’ said Hugh, gathering up the signed papers. ‘Tie them up, Strutt.’
Two pairs of heavy hands grabbed Lucas. A noose was thrown over his shoulders and pulled tight, binding his arms to his sides. He could only watch helplessly as Strutt seized Annabelle and began to bind her in a similar fashion.
‘Careful,’ ordered Hugh, ‘I want no marks on their wrists.’
‘You damned villain,’ cried Lucas, struggling. ‘You gave your word.’
‘Did you really think I would let you go?’ Hugh sneered. ‘You always were a chivalrous fool, Lucas.’
‘Damn you, I signed your papers!’
‘And very useful they will be, too, but I would still prefer to have you out of the way. Do you really think I am a fool? If I let you live, you will go to the court and challenge me.’
‘But it will look mighty suspicious if I am murdered so soon after signing everything over to you.’
‘I know. That is why you and Miss Havenham are going to have a little, er, accident.’
‘So what are you planning?’
Lucas wanted to keep him talking. They had roped his body, but he was quietly confident that, given time, he would be able to free himself.
‘I told you, an accident.’ Hugh picked up Belle’s cloak and threw it around her shoulders. ‘I guessed my note would make you come in haste and you would bring the curricle, but I am so pleased you brought your bays, too. It will add so much more credence to the story. You were taking Miss Havenham for a drive in your curricle
along Dyke’s Ridge, showing off, no doubt, and took the bend a little too fast.’