Sally James (17 page)

‘It will do you no good,’ Susannah said calmly. ‘You do not imagine I came here without informing my aunt and uncle of it and the suspicions we had of you? If we disappear you will immediately be suspect. We also have proof you possessed, and sold, some of the jewels belonging to Julian’s father. How will you escape that?’

‘I scarcely think it will matter to you. Whatever you told anyone else I will deny. I have men who will swear to having seen you leave here, and go to the coast, freely. There will be no trace to me and no one could prove any of the jewellery ever belonged to Peter Horder.’

‘But I have a list describing them,’ Julian said. ‘You may murder us, but that would condemn you.’

Sir William looked disconcerted for a moment and then shrugged.

‘What of it? I could have won them from him. He was a gamester.’

‘Then why did you not say so at the time of his death?’ Julian shot at him.

‘Because I did not expect to be believed. That is what I shall say, if I am ever asked, which I doubt.’

‘But we have a confession,’ Susannah said suddenly and both Julian and Sir William looked at her in surprise. She tried to signal to Julian not to speak and went on with apparent frankness. ‘One of the villagers saw you shoot Lord Horder. A few weeks ago, when he was dying, he made a statement, saying he could not die easily with the secret still on his conscience. He says he heard you threaten Lord Harder to make him reveal the hiding place of the jewels.’

She held her breath, wondering whether this shot in the dark was near enough to the truth to frighten Sir William. He looked at her sharply and Julian chose that moment to throw himself forward, when Sir William’s attention was distracted by what Susannah had claimed. He attempted to seize the hand which held the pistol and for a few seconds they swayed there in the doorway. Then a man who had been standing behind Sir William, screened from view in the doorway, stepped forward, and as Susannah cried out a warning, he hit Julian over the head with a short, thick cudgel. As Susannah cried out and Julian sank to the ground, an imperious knocking was heard at the front door.

Sir William, panting, stepped forward and grasped Susannah by the arm as she began to run to the front door.

‘Into here,’ he ordered, pointing the pistol at her and pushing her towards the room where the second man was already dragging Julian. As he was thrown aside and Susannah thrust into the room she knelt beside Julian, who lay utterly still, searching to find if his heart still beat and scarcely heeding the man who closed the door and locked it before turning back to smile triumphantly at her.

Chapter Ten

Susannah looked up, having discovered that Julian’s heart still functioned.

‘You devil! she said calmly. ‘You could have killed him!’

The man shrugged and walked across to a small door at the far side of the room.

‘Now or later, what matter?’

‘Are you Adams?’ Susannah demanded and he turned to grin at her before opening the door and looking out.

‘Now how did you know that, I wonder? Here, Jack!’ he called and another man appeared, looking curiously at Susannah as he entered the room.

‘Are we ready?’ he asked. ‘What’s this?’

‘An extra passenger. Is the coach ready?’

‘Aye, as ordered.’

‘Good. Can you manage the young sprig on your own, while I see to the lady?’ He guffawed.

‘You’ll see to her, no doubt! Aye, I’ll do the uninteresting jobs.’

Adams brusquely ordered Susannah to her feet and when she defied him callously kicked Julian in the side.

‘Get up, or he’ll get more of that!’

‘You are inhuman!’ she snapped at him, but reluctantly rose and permitted him to gag her with a filthy rag he took from his own pocket and then bind her wrists tightly together behind her back. As the other man slung Julian over his shoulder and led the way from the room, Adams pushed Susannah in front of him and she perforce went, stumbling occasionally over the long skirts of her riding habit. If he had not kept a cruel grip on her arm she would have fallen more than once, but he dragged her upright and she bit back the cries of pain when her arm jerked and his fingertips bit into the soft flesh.

The door gave onto a narrow passage which after a few yards turned at right angles and led down a short flight of stairs. Another door, and another short passage, and then they emerged from the house into the stable yard that was situated behind it. In the centre was a coach, with four powerful-looking horses already harnessed to it and a man waiting beside them. Julian was being propped up in the corner of the seat when Susannah was led across to the coach and she was lifted bodily into it and flung down beside him, falling awkwardly across him while the man who had carried Julian climbed in and seated himself opposite. He made no effort to assist Susannah, who, hampered by her tied hands, was trying to struggle upright, and merely laughed when, as the coach moved, she fell back onto Julian.

Adams called something to the coachmen and then leant in the window.

‘We’ll not set off immediately. Best wait until Sir William has got rid of whoever that was at the front door and confirms our instructions include the gel.’

He clambered in as the coach halted and, after considering Julian carefully, found some cord and bound his hands together. Julian groaned, but did not fully recover consciousness, and Adams gagged him.

‘Wouldn’t it be as well to tie their feet too?’ the second man asked and Adams, nodding assent, made his captives more secure.

‘I’ll go and see how the land lies,’ he said and jumped down from the coach. ‘Keep ‘em hidden.’

Sir William, having seen his unwelcome guests disposed of, nodded to the footman who had appeared and was looking at him enquiringly before opening the front door, on which the insistent knocking fell without pause.

‘Someone is excessively impatient,’ Sir William commented and thrust the pistol into his pocket. ‘Open up, Royston.’

The footman opened the door and revealed Lord Chalford, who thrust him aside and strode into the hall, demanding to be taken to Sir William instantly.

‘Dear nephew. What a hurry you are in. I am flattered,’ Sir William said smoothly as he stepped out of the shadows which had partially concealed him. ‘Do come into the library and take a glass of wine. Take Lord Chalford’s horse round to the stables,’ he added to the footman and then turned back to his nephew. ‘To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?’

Lord Chalford bowed ironically and begged his dear uncle to lead the way, then followed him into the library, a dark and gloomy apartment at the front of the house, opposite to the room where Susannah had been taken.

‘No wine,’ he said curtly, when the door was closed. ‘I came to meet Miss Rendlesham and her brother who are, I understand, visiting you temporarily.’

Sir William smiled blandly at him and poured himself a generous glass of brandy from the decanter standing on a small table near the window.

‘What a strange idea!’ he murmured. ‘Miss Rendlesham? Oh, yes, and her brother is Lord Horder, is he not?’

‘You know that perfectly well, so let there be no roundaboutation! Where are they? I know that you brought Lord Horder here, against his will, during the night, and Su - Miss Rendlesham followed.’

Sir William sadly shook his head.

‘You appear to know more than I do,’ he asserted calmly. ‘The last I saw of either of them was at the Bancroft ball last night. I cannot imagine why you should think they came here. Pray, for what purpose, nephew? I should not care to have it suspected that one of my family has lost his wits!’

‘You prefer it to be known that you are a thief and a murderer?’ Lord Chalford asked bitingly.

‘This is intolerable!’ Sir William exclaimed. ‘What causes you to make such wild accusations?’

‘Oh, we waste time! I speak of the death of the late Lord Horder, when you were of the house party, and the disappearance of his legacy of jewels, some of which you gave to my mother, some you sold, and others which are known to be in your possession now.’

Sir William looked contemptuous.

‘Has that unmannerly sprig been spreading such slander about me? By God, I’ll see to it he suffers!’ he ejaculated, with well simulated indignation. ‘Peter Horder’s death was an accident and no one knew he had any jewels in the house. Far more likely he sold them to raise cash, so the rumour they are missing is false!’

There was a knock on the door before Lord Chalford could reply and the footman came in to say Mr Adams wished to have a word with Sir William.

‘Adams? Yes, I’ll be with him at once. My bailiff,’ he added to Lord Chalford. ‘I’ll send him on his way and then you can tell me exactly what this preposterous story means.’

He left the room and Lord Chalford strolled across to the window, looking out over the park. It was a peaceful scene, with the winding drive weaving its way amongst the scattered trees, the drive he had himself ignored when he had galloped straight across the turf to the front door. He smiled grimly. His uncle seemed determined to protest his ignorance, but Lord Chalford thought he could soon frighten the truth out of the older man. As Sir William returned to the library Lord Chalford fingered the pistols in his pockets, pistols he had collected from home before starting out on this pursuit. He was about to move away from the window and face his uncle when he saw a curricle turn in through the lodge gates.

The distance was too great to distinguish the identities of the occupants, but Lord Chalford was smiling as he turned round. He had no doubt it was Richard Grainger, with Amanda accompanying him, and he silently congratulated the other man on the excellent speed he had made.

‘That’s a very tolerable Maderia, my boy,’ Sir William said affably and came across to the window to replenish his own brandy glass. ‘Can’t I persuade you to have some, and then we’ll sit down calmly and discuss this nonsense.’

‘You have more visitors,’ Lord Chalford replied and Sir William looked up quickly, spilling some of the brandy in his haste.

‘Damnation!’ he muttered and set the decanter down with a crash.

They watched as Richard approached along the winding drive and then left the main path to take the branching one which led towards the side of the house and finally through an avenue of trees towards the stables. The path turned sharply just before it reached the avenue, and as Richard slowed down to negotiate the bend, a big lumbering coach drawn by four horses came swiftly out of the concealing trees.

The coach, driven recklessly, was going too fast to avoid the curricle. Richard, displaying considerable skill, managed to swerve to one side and had the advantage that the path was turning to his right, so he had but to drive straight on to evade the coach. The other vehicle, however, had appeared to be heading straight for him and one of the leaders, rearing in fright as he was about to take the bend, came down, bringing the other leader with him. The coach stopped in shuddering confusion, the wheelers trying desperately to disentangle themselves from the fallen horses and bolt from the restraint the coachmen was trying to exercise.

Richard brought the curricle to a halt between two trees and handed the reins to Amanda.

‘Just keep them still!’ he commanded and jumped down to go to the heads of the panic stricken coach horses. The door of the coach opened and two men jumped down and between them they calmed the wheelers, then turned their attention to the fallen leaders who were trying to struggle to their feet through a tangle of legs and traces.

Lord Chalford, as soon as he saw the coach and realized the danger of collision, had thrown open the library windows and jumped through them and was running swiftly across the park towards the coach. He reached it while the men were still helping Richard to calm the horses and dragged open the nearest door. Susannah had been thrown to the floor by the jolting and Julian, now groaning with pain, was lying across the seat.

Lord Chalford leapt inside and swiftly untied the gag about Susannah’s mouth. She spluttered as she tried to spit out some threads of the rag that were still caught inside her mouth, and smiled tremulously up at him.

‘Are you hurt?’ he asked and when she shook her head lifted her gently onto the seat, where he untied the cords about her wrists.

‘Is Julian conscious yet? They hit him,’ she gasped.

As if in answer Julian groaned.

‘Can you untie your feet while I see to him?’ Lord Chalford asked.

Susannah nodded, rubbing the feeling back into her hands while he turned to release Julian, who was groaning but showed no other sign of returning consciousness.

‘Can you walk?’ Lord Chalford asked abruptly and Susannah nodded.

‘Yes, we have not been tied for a great length of time, although it seemed endless. We cannot go back to the house, though! Sir William has a pistol!’

Lord Chalford laughed softly.

‘I seem to recall you are no mean hand with one yourself,’ he murmured and she blushed. ‘Here, take this.’

Susannah looked down at the pistol he was offering her and then, her eyes glinting, took it from him. Lord Chalford looked out of the coach door and saw Sir William, who had preferred to leave the house through the front door and was by no means as fleet of foot as his nephew, staggering towards the coach.

‘Methinks we’ll remain here to negotiate,’ Lord Chalford said quietly. ‘Watch the other door in case one of the ruffians tries to take us in the rear.’

Susannah wordlessly stationed herself beside the other door, from which she could see Amanda seated in the curricle, staring aghast at the confusion by the coach. Behind her she heard Sir William, somewhat out of breath, cursing the driver for a benighted fool to have driven at such a speed when he could not have seen what was in front of him.

‘I think the horses are only slightly hurt, with grazes,’ Richard said calmly and Sir William looked at him absently.

‘There are others in the stables that can be used. Mr Grainger, is it not? I wonder if you would be so kind as to drive on to the stables and request some of the grooms to bring my other team?’