My Earl the Spy (15 page)

Chapter 17

For the next few hours Milly sat with a sick feeling in her stomach. She could not eat a morsel of the food Mack had brought; how could she eat when Henry was prepared to die in order to seek vengeance against Joshua? There was nothing she could do to change his mind; too many years had passed; the hatred was embedded too deeply for him to be able to let it go. He was determined to get her free but after that he would be careless with his life. Milly was not sure how she would be able to face a world without Henry at its centre.

Henry had put the pistol in the back of his breeches, the small size being easily concealed by his untucked shirt. One knife he tucked in the top of his boot and the other he gave to Milly.

“Just in case,” he had said with a smile.

Milly always wore her cape, the damp air keeping her chilled if she just sat in her thin cotton gown. She tucked the knife in her cape pocket, not foolish enough to think that she might not need it. The outcome of the next few hours, or maybe days, was going to be unpredictable. She would have to be braver than she had ever been before. She prayed, rather than believed, they would emerge unscathed; Henry was still not strong, and she doubted his ability to fight his way out; even if they managed to leave the room, there would obviously be other men in the warehouse.

During the dark night hours, Henry lay down on the bunk. “Come and join me; we both need some rest. It’s been a trying day.”

Milly hesitated. “We shouldn’t.”

“We did last night.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” came the prim response.

Henry laughed. “You will never fail to amuse me; come here, let a dying man have a last night cuddled up to the woman he adores.”

Milly flushed but responded confidently enough. “As I’m the only woman for miles, that’s not necessarily a compliment!”

Henry chuckled, but tucked Milly next to him as he had done the previous night. He knew so many other women who were more beautiful, more experienced than Milly, but there was nowhere he would rather be than curled up next to her.

Milly felt so protected wrapped in Henry’s arms. She had come so close to telling him that she had made a mistake; she wanted more than anything to be married to him whether he broke her heart or not. Over the last few days she had come to realise that being with him in any form was better than being separated from him.

She had been interrupted by Mack, and the reality was he had saved her from revealing her true feelings to Henry, which would have put even more guilt on him. So much had been explained by being told the story of his sister and the burden he had carried around for so many years. She could not now declare her feelings and increase his self-recriminations for causing her to be in this situation.

Milly realised Henry could have ravished her if he had wanted too, but he had been a gentleman, apart from the odd sleeping arrangements, of course. That was more out of necessity than anything else. Although he teased her about not marrying him, perhaps he had rethought his offer. If that were the case she was even more relieved that she had been interrupted.

*

Both slept late into the following morning and were only disturbed by Mack’s entrance. He nodded at them, his face not betraying any emotion at finding them curled together. Milly moved quickly off the bunk, blushing furiously at being caught in such a compromising position.

“I won’t be back at all for the rest of the day,” he informed them.

“Oh? Anything going on that I should be aware of?” Henry asked, stretching without a care, acting as if sleeping with Milly was the most natural thing in the world.

Mack raised his eyebrow. “Nothing to concern you.”

“I doubt that, but you’ve shown that you have many layers Mack, so I’m not surprised at your reticence. Who’d have thought the amenable Mack would prove such a double agent.”

“Mock all you like; you have no idea what it’s like day to day for any of us,” Mack said quietly.

“That’s true, I don’t,” Henry acknowledged. His mocking tone had gone; Mack was doing a dangerous job, one that if caught would result in instant death.

“You stick to what you’re good at, and I’ll do the same,” Mack said with a half-smile before leaving them alone once more.

“You shouldn’t torment him; he must be in a difficult position,” Milly chided.

Henry smiled. “He can give as good as he gets; he’s just being restrained because you’re here.”

“Well, I’m glad. There aren’t enough people to keep you from becoming too self-absorbed.”

Henry spluttered. “Goodness! You do have a fine opinion of me!”

This time it was Milly’s time to smile. “I like to think it’s realistic.”

“Termagant!”

Milly laughed quietly and busied herself with splitting the food into enough meals that they would stave off hunger for the day. She had not felt full since her captivity, but she was not starving; they were being provided with enough food to not starve but not enough to ever feel content after eating.

“I would love to eat something sweet.” Milly, grimaced at the sight of yet another day of mainly bread and cheese.

“The food not up to your fine taste?”

“I have a sweet tooth at the best of times; now I’m positively longing for anything that is not dry and tasteless!”

“Just see it as an advantage; a sweet tooth can be a problem for a lady. An expanding waistline is often the result of too much indulgence.”

“You know far too much about women,” Milly said trying to be prim, her amusement showing in her sparkling eyes.

“It has been my life’s work,” Henry said, in mock seriousness.

“Yes, I used to think Lord Chertsey was one to watch, but in reality the outwardly more charming one was the more rakish.”

Henry moved quickly, grabbing Milly around the waist and spinning her so that she was pulled against his chest. “So you think I’m charming?”

Milly had gasped, but chuckled at Henry’s words. “You know you are charming.”

“Yes, but I thought you considered me a wastrel.”

“Well, yes, I do, but I can see your attractions just like every other female in society.”

“Oh, Milly, how I wish we were exchanging these words somewhere else,” Henry moaned, resting his head on her forehead.

“I think for both our sakes, it’s probably a good thing we aren’t.”

“You torture me, woman!”

“Because I don’t pander to you?”

“That and the fact that I know you’d prevent me from kissing you senseless if I tried.”

Milly paused, and Henry’s eyes lit up at the hesitation. “Miss Holland, I do believe you want to be kissed by me!”

“Just because I want something, doesn’t mean I’m going to get it.”

“Have either of us got anything to lose?” Henry’s tone had turned serious.

“I have to believe so, or I believe I will lose control, and the fear of our situation will overwhelm me,” Milly replied honestly.

“I’m going to do my damndest to protect you.”

“I know, and I believe you, but you might not be able to. I realise we might not get out of here. Either of us.”

“In that case, we should definitely be enjoying kisses.” Henry bent forward and gently kissed Milly’s lips; he was testing her, giving her the opportunity to stop him if she wished. Just as Henry moved to deepen the kiss, the lock in the door was released, the door opening.

“Damn it!” Henry cursed and although he moved away from Milly, he remained close to her; they were not expecting anyone so soon.

Joshua Shambles stormed into the room. “What is it about you lot?” he raged at Henry. “Why can’t you keep out of business that doesn’t concern you?”

Henry had instinctively moved in front of Milly and moved her so she stood closer to the door. If the situation deteriorated, she had the chance of reaching the door if he managed to delay Joshua.

“What are you talking about?” Henry drawled, every fibre ready to act at the first sign of escape.

Joshua pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Henry’s chest but was prevented from responding by a commotion outside the prison cell. Everyone turned to see Lord Chertsey entering with Mack positioned in front of him, a gun pointing at the back of Mack.

“Edmund, what an absolute delight to see you,” Henry said pleasantly as if they were exchanging pleasantries in Hyde Park.

“What sort of bloody mess have you been causing now, Grinstead?” Edmund said roughly. “I can’t leave you alone for a few weeks and all hell breaks loose!”

“You know how tedious life can get in society. I decided it was about time this rascal was brought to heel,” he said, nodding to Joshua.

“You’re like a dog with a bone.”

“Hopefully, now you’re here, we can sort this out once and for all. Now, Shambles, are you going to come quietly, or will you require a good beating first?” Henry said good-naturedly, taking the pistol out of his pocket and pointing it in the direction of Joshua.

Chapter 18

“Now isn’t this going to be interesting?” Joshua said, not at all fazed that he was out-gunned.

“Isn’t it just?” Henry responded pleasantly. “I’ve waited a long time for this Joshua.”

“Don’t we know it,” Edmund said, rolling his eyes a little. His stance had relaxed; this was clearly a fight between Joshua and Henry; the rest of the group were merely bystanders. His gun he rested on his arm, ready to spring into action at a second’s notice if Mack should move.

Joshua looked at Henry. “You’ll never get out of here alive. My men will realise there’s something amiss soon. Let’s see if you’re so cocky then, shall we?”

“I apologise for putting a dampener on the event, but I think you’ll find your men are being held by mine,” Edmund said. “They weren’t too keen on starting a gun fight, so they gave up quite gracefully. It was a refreshing start to the evening.”

“Damned cowards!” Joshua spat. He turned to Henry. “All this because I ruined your sweetheart? A little overreaction isn’t it?”

Edmund raised his eyebrow in question at Henry; Mack looked resigned, while Milly stepped closer to Henry. Henry did not see Milly’s movement, but Mack indicated she should not move closer; he moved her so she was standing close to himself, he did not wish Milly to be caught in the crossfire between Henry and Joshua, which he was sure was inevitable.

“She was my sister,” Henry growled, his voice low.

Joshua looked genuinely surprised at the information. “Really? I obviously didn’t ask the right questions when I was enjoying her flesh.” He smiled when he noticed Henry’s hand tighten around the pistol. “Oh, you don’t like to know that your baby sister enjoyed her time with a real man?”

“Joshua…,” Mack said quietly.

“What?” Joshua snapped. “I’m just telling the truth; if he can’t handle that, it’s not my problem.”

“Have you no remorse that you killed her?” Henry said.

“Killed her? Dead is she? That’s a shame; she was a pretty little thing, but it had nothing to do with me. I left her alive and well.” There was not a morsel of remorse in Joshua.

“Not quite so well. She was carrying your child,” Henry said.

Milly noticed the abject despair that sounded in Henry’s voice, and her heart broke for him.

Joshua looked taken aback at Henry’s words. “She was having my child? What happened to it? Did she die in childbirth? Where is the child now?”

“She couldn’t face the world when she found out the baby was on the way. She walked into the sea and kept walking,” Henry said.

“She murdered my child!” Joshua spat, all too easily falling into his pattern of blaming anyone else apart from himself.

“You murdered your child as if you had walked into the sea with her yourself!” Milly snapped, sick and tired of Joshua being able to get away with everything.

“Ah, so the spinster talks!” Joshua mocked. “You were the same when I stayed with your pathetic cousin, keen to whisper poison into everyone’s ear. What would you know about it, you dried-up reject of a woman!”

“Leave her out of this; it’s between you and me,” Henry snarled.

“But she’s just made it about herself,” Joshua reasoned. He turned his gun so it aimed at Milly instead of Henry.

Milly stood perfectly still, her eyes widened in fear, but there was no other outward sign of reaction to the change in circumstances.

“Ah, damn, that changes everything,” Henry said. “I’m sorry, Mack, I truly am.”

“Sorry, Mack? Why are you apologising to Mack?” Joshua snapped, looking with suspicion at his henchman.

Henry spoke before Mack had any opportunity, but Mack was watching them both closely. “You see, Mack must think more of you than I do because he didn’t want me to kill you, but you made a fatal mistake. You pointed a gun at Miss Holland, and I have to take exception to that, Shambles. You just can’t go around pointing guns at fine ladies.”

With Henry’s words, he pulled the trigger of the gun he was still pointing at Joshua.

Mack shouted “No!” and jumped towards Henry.

Edmund’s gun moved from its resting place and, pointing the barrel at Mack, Edmund pulled the trigger.

Milly saw what Edmund was doing and pushed Mack with all her might, sending Mack sprawling across the floor.

All four actions seemed to happen instantaneously within a second. Those still standing looked at Joshua’s body, lain prone on the floor, clearly dead having received a bullet at such short range. The last expression on his face, was that of surprise.

Henry turned to Milly and looked at her in horror. “Milly!” he moaned, seemingly unable to move to her.

“Lord Chertsey didn’t know Mack was a good man. I couldn’t let him shoot him, it wouldn’t have been fair for all his kindnesses to me,” Milly responded, colour draining from her face. She smiled slightly at Henry’s worried face. “Henry, I think I’ve been shot.”

Henry moved to catch Milly as she fainted. He had seen the blood staining her dress. He had been more frightened than at any other time in his life. She had been shot, and he did not know how to make it better.

Luckily, Edmund still had his wits about him and barked commands to Henry that he followed dumbly. Henry was ushered through the building and out into the open air. He staggered a little when hit with the brightness of the day; his eyes complaining of the sudden bright light, but he refused to give Milly up when Edmund tried to take her from him.

Mack had disappeared and neither man registered the fact or would have been concerned if they had. Edmund called for his carriage and, once it was brought round, they carefully lifted Milly into it. Henry and Edmund sat down, Henry placing Milly’s head on his lap and holding her in place on the carriage seat as the equipage moved quickly through the streets.

“I’m taking her home,” Henry said eventually.

“No. She’s my family now; she comes to my house. Clara would never forgive me if she wasn’t cared for by her.”

“But she’s
mine
,” Henry moaned, squeezing Milly’s hands.

“No she isn’t, and I’m certainly not giving the care of her over to you. It’s not acceptable on so many counts,” Edmund said firmly. In the occupation they had been involved with, Henry had very much been leader. He was the one who liaised with the higher authority and directed Edmund on what tasks they had to work on but, in this situation, Edmund was taking charge.

He had no idea what history there now was between Milly and Henry, but she was the cousin of Edmund’s wife, and therefore she was his responsibility.

They arrived at the Chertsey abode too slowly in Henry’s opinion, but any faster could have hurt Milly even more. Henry had checked Milly’s breathing regularly and taken a little comfort that she was breathing, although she was still unconscious.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Edmund jumped out and, between the two men, they lifted Milly out just as gently as they had placed her inside. Henry insisted on carrying her up the steps to the now open front door, where Clara hovered.

“My Lord?” she asked Henry in horror, taking in the sight of her cousin’s head lolling over Henry’s arm and the deep red stain on her dress.

“She’s been shot by your husband!” Henry said roughly.

“Edmund?” Clara asked, unable to comprehend what had happened from such a sentence.

“I’ll explain later. The doctor is on his way; I sent someone to get him before we left the docks.”

“Quickly, follow me,” Clara instructed, leading the way up the stairs of the house that had only very recently become her London home.

She led the way into her own bedchamber. It was the largest in the house, apart from her husband’s and would be the perfect one for nursing her cousin. She indicated that Henry place Milly on the bed.

“Leave her here until the doctor has seen her and then I’ll change her into some clean clothes if she’s well enough to be moved,” Clara instructed.

Henry rubbed bloody hands through his hair and walked towards the window. He looked out with unseeing eyes; he had promised to keep her safe, and he had failed her just as he had failed Mabel.

Clara saw Henry’s demeanour and was curious at the marked change in the Earl of Grinstead. It was something to note, but at the moment Milly was her priority.

Luckily, it was only a few minutes before the doctor arrived and was escorted to the bedchamber. Clara moved forward to greet the doctor at the same time as Edmund approached Henry.

“Come, Grinstead. Let’s get you cleaned up while Miss Holland is being attended to; there’s nothing we can do at the moment.”

“I want to stay,” Henry said quietly.

“I know, but she needs to be examined. We shall return.”

Edmund led Henry through the adjoining door to his own bedchamber and dressing room. His staff had acted quickly based on what they had seen and a hot bath was already prepared in Edmund’s dressing room.

“I’ll leave you to bathe. My valet will sort out some replacement clothes; from the look of you I doubt those rags you are standing in will survive a wash. I need to change; there was a lot of blood,” Edmund said. His tone now was more of an older brother than the commander it had been when in the warehouse.

Henry nodded, and a footman helped him with his toilette. He went through the procedure automatically without really comprehending what was happening. When he stood in front of a mirror with borrowed clothes, he saw for the first time how ghastly he looked.

Dark rings were visible under his eyes; the rest of his face was a deathly white in the gaps that were not covered with purple, black and yellow bruises. He had been shaved, but it did not make him look or feel any better.

He had felt dead inside when Mabel died. It had changed a carefree young man into a bitter being, albeit the bitterness was hidden from the rest of society. He had learned to be charming and sociable while being detached. It had enabled him to take risks because he cared about no one, especially himself. That had brought him to the attention of the people looking to persuade some members of the aristocracy that spying was not the contemptible role that it was considered.

Henry had eagerly taken on the role, the danger and deceit being attractive to someone who held society in disdain. When he had started to work with Edmund, he had appreciated the other man’s equally dark outlook on life, but then Edmund had met Clara and been smitten.

Henry had thought him a fool, so it was ironic, then, that at the same time he was himself falling in love with the quiet, elegant, pretty Miss Holland.

In true Henry fashion he had put her at risk just as he had with every other person who could be useful to him. It was his just desserts that she would be taken from him in this way. He put his hands on his hips and breathed slowly in and out. He could so easily lose control at the thought of losing her.

Edmund tapped on the door of the dressing room and entered. “The doctor has spoken to me of his findings.”

“And?”

“She’s been very lucky. The bullet entered her body below the rib cage and passed straight through. We would find it embedded in the wall of the room if we were to go back,” Edmund said, his tone positive.

“Is she conscious?” Henry asked.

“Not at the moment, but Clara said she did regain consciousness for a short time while the doctor was examining her.”

“If the bullet isn’t lodged inside, why is she not awake?”

“Have some sympathy! She’s been shot! Whether the bullet is still there or not, she still experienced a trauma,” Edmund almost laughed at Henry’s unrealistic expectations.

“Thank God for your poor marksmanship,” Henry said, almost able to smile.

“I will be thankful for that until my dying day,” Edmund said seriously as he led the way out of the room.