Never Too Late

by Christina Courtenay

  ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, we both know she’s not, let’s not pretend about that,’ Thomas said. He glared at Luke. ‘I’m not stupid, you know, you can’t fool me. And Lady Hexham was on edge the entire evening. I could tell, even though she tried her best to hide it. Now, why would I wish to harm a child? I admit I’m not used to dealing with them, but that doesn’t mean I dislike little Anna.’

  Luke decided there was no point beating around the bush any longer. ‘You tell me. There seem to have been an awful lot of accidents around here recently and the only person who stands to gain anything from hurting me and my relatives is you.’

  Thomas’s eyes opened wide. ‘You think I’m trying to kill you so that I’ll inherit Hexham Hall?’

  ‘Aren’t you?’ Luke countered, fixing Thomas with a piercing gaze.

  ‘No, absolutely not! That’s a slanderous suggestion. I came here in good faith to offer my support, that was all. I didn’t come here to be insulted and―’

  Luke held up a hand. ‘Enough. I’m not saying it necessarily has to be you. I only pointed out that you do have something to gain. No one else does as far as I can see.’

  ‘Well, it wasn’t me. And I don’t need this run-down estate, thank you very much. I’m to inherit a substantial holding from an uncle on my mother’s side soon and I can live without a title, I’ll have you know.’

  Luke could see that Thomas was in earnest. He didn’t think his cousin could lie if he tried because his face became suffused with tell-tale colour whenever he was agitated or embarrassed. The same would happen if he lied, Luke was sure. ‘I believe you,’ he said and sighed. ‘But that doesn’t help me solve the problem of who’s really behind these attempts then. Any ideas?’

  Thomas calmed down when he saw that he was no longer accused of any misdeeds. ‘No, afraid not. But I’m willing to help you in any way I can.’

  ‘In that case, you can start tonight. You’re right. Anna has been abducted and Maude and I have to try and rescue her. A note arrived. We’re to go to Hope Spring to pay a ransom. A few more allies wouldn’t come amiss and I’ve already recruited my valet, Stetson, but no one else must know. Are you game?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Thomas nodded emphatically. ‘You can count on me.’

  ‘Thank you. Then please pretend to go to bed as usual, but sneak out and meet me down by the stables an hour before midnight. Maude will leave on her own and we’ll wait and make sure nobody is watching. Then we have to follow her. It’s the only way.’

  ‘Sounds like a good plan.’

  Luke wasn’t so sure, but it was the best he could come up with. He hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake in trusting Thomas, but somehow he didn’t think so. ‘Right. Bring a pistol if you have one and make sure it’s loaded.’

  At last, it was time to go. Maude put on her hat, Spencer and cloak, gathered up her riding whip and gloves, as well as a small reticule containing the diamond necklace, and tip-toed out into the corridor. All was quiet and as she made her way down the stairs she didn’t hear a sound from anywhere in the house.

  When she reached the stables, it was just as peaceful. Mayflower greeted her with a snort, but was quickly appeased with a carrot Maude had thought to bring. The horse made no protest when her mistress saddled her either. Not having been spoiled while growing up, Maude was able to do it by herself and therefore had no need to summon the grooms for assistance. This was just as well, she thought, since she didn’t want anyone to know that she was going out. Mayflower followed her into the night without a murmur.

  Anna, here I come, Maude thought. Nothing must stop her now. She squared her shoulders and nudged Mayflower into a canter. She knew the way and had no doubt she could find the place even with only a half moon for guidance.

  Riding through the countryside in near darkness was very strange. With the faint moonlight bathing the trees and hedges in an unearthly glow, Maude felt as if she was in some weird dream land. At any moment, she expected to see elves and fairies, or even trolls and goblins come lumbering out of the nearby copse of trees. The thought sent fresh shivers down her spine and she tightened her hands on the reins until the leather was digging into her palms.

  A barn owl made her jump when he hooted nearby and then flitted past her, like a ghostly shadow. Maude felt her heart beating at double its normal rate and swallowed down the fear that rose within her.

  ‘It’s just an owl, he can’t hurt you,’ she told herself. She knew she had nothing to fear from the creatures of the night. It was humans who were her real enemies.

  Oh, Anna, what have they done to you? She couldn’t stop the thoughts that tormented her with images of Anna suffering at the hands of her abductors. Hopefully they would keep her safe until such time as they had received the ransom, but what if they hadn’t? What if they’d hurt her already?

  ‘Stop it,’ Maude admonished herself sternly. Such thoughts would lead to madness and she needed her wits about her now if she was to help her daughter. The abductors would have nothing to gain by hurting anyone, all they cared about were the diamonds. And they’re welcome to them, Maude thought savagely. The wretched stones had brought her nothing but trouble. Indeed, she was beginning to think they were cursed and it would be a blessed relief to be rid of them.

  As she turned right at a crossroads, following the sign that pointed to Hope Spring, she thought she heard hoof beats behind her, but when she stopped to listen all was silent.

  She told herself she was just being fanciful. There was no one about except her and possibly Luke, which was as it should be, otherwise there was no hope for Anna.

  ‘How much further to Hope Spring?’ Thomas asked in hushed tones when Luke gave him the signal that he was allowed to speak again. For a moment there, it had looked as though Maude was on the verge of turning back, and Luke had made them all wait in silence for a while to see what she would do. Thankfully, she soon set off again.

  ‘Another half an hour or so,’ Luke replied. ‘We’re just coming up to Bell House, where Maude grew up, which is about halfway.’ The words brought back powerful memories and he had a sense of déjà vu. Not too far from this place, he’d walked his horse and the spare one he’d hired eight years ago, while waiting for the woman he hoped to make his wife. She hadn’t come that time, but now she was riding about the countryside in the dark and he didn’t like it. He had to keep her safe, her and the child both.

  ‘I wonder who’ll be waiting for her,’ Thomas wondered out loud.

  ‘No doubt we’ll find out soon enough,’ Luke said. ‘We must proceed with caution from now on though. I think it would be best if we tether our horses some way off and walk the last bit. Stetson, I have a bad feeling about this. Could you ride to fetch Sir Henry Wallace please? He’s the local magistrate so we may have need of him.’

  ‘Are you sure, my lord? I thought we had to keep it to ourselves.’

  ‘Yes, but by the time he arrives, it won’t be a secret any longer.’

  ‘But what if you require my help here?’ Stetson hadn’t been as convinced as Luke that Thomas was innocent of all wrong-doing. He also knew that Luke’s wound was troubling him, although Luke had tried to play this down.

  ‘No, we’ll be fine. Off you go.’

  ‘Very well, if you say so.’ Stetson frowned in Thomas’s direction one last time, then took the road to the left which lead to Wallace House.

  Luke looked at Thomas. ‘Right, are you ready?’

  Thomas nodded. ‘Lead the way.’

  Chapter Ten

  Hope Spring was really nothing more than a small waterfall that gushed its way down a slope and formed a tiny pool surrounded by rocks. It was rather picturesque in daylight, which was why it made such a great destination for an outing. In the moonlight, however, it looked eerie and the cascade of water sounded loud in the stillness of the night.

  Maude shivered as she jumped down from Mayflower’s back and held on tight to the reins. Somehow the horse felt solid and safe, something to cling on
to. Mayflower must have felt her mistress’s shaking hands too, for she nudged Maude softly and whinnied.

  ‘I know, girl, I know,’ Maude whispered. ‘You don’t like this any more than I, do you? Let’s just leave this blasted necklace and get out of here.’

  There was only one large oak tree as far as Maude could see and she made her way over to it as quickly as she could. A prickling sensation between her shoulder blades gave her the feeling she was being watched, but she tried not to let this daunt her. Pulling the reticule with the diamond necklace out of her pocket, she put it down among the gnarled roots of the old tree. She made sure it was clearly visible since she wanted it to be found immediately.

  ‘There, Mayflower, it’s done. Let’s go back to the road and wait then―’

  ‘Not so fast.’

  The voice that rang out suddenly startled both Maude and the mare, and Maude swivelled round to see where it had come from. Standing by the spring she made out three figures, one smaller than the others and struggling slightly as if trying to evade a strong grip.

  ‘Anna!’ Maude couldn’t stop the anguished cry from escaping, but then clamped her teeth together so as not to say anything else until she knew what was happening.

  Anna only made muffled noises, which made Maude realise that the little girl was gagged. She wanted to hurl herself across the clearing and go to her daughter’s aid, but one of the other two figures held something in his or her hand that glimmered in the moonlight – a knife.

  ‘Don’t come any closer or the girl dies.’

  The same voice as before, that of a man, deep and harsh. Maude didn’t recognise it and it made a tremor of fear shoot through her.

  The third figure moved forward and as it came closer, something about it seemed familiar. Maude frowned, then realised why. ‘Eliza!’ she exclaimed. ‘What on earth ...? Why are you here? What’s going on?’

  Eliza stopped a few yards away from Maude, pointing a small pistol at her former friend. ‘Always the same innocent, gullible Maude,’ she sneered. ‘It’s as plain as pikestaff, isn’t it? I need your diamond necklace if I’m to make a good marriage this time. His lordship won’t marry a penniless widow, now will he? And contrary to what everyone thinks, I haven’t a feather to fly with.’

  ‘H-his lordship? You mean ... Luke?’ Maude was thoroughly confused now. Of course she’d noticed Eliza flirting with Luke whenever she had the opportunity, but she hadn’t realised how serious the woman was. After all, why would Luke settle for a widow when he could have his pick of all the eligible young ladies in the neighbourhood? Unless he didn’t want to wait until the estate was prosperous again and needed money quickly.

  ‘Of course I mean Luke,’ Eliza snapped. ‘He should have been mine in the first place, but you had to come and interfere. I met him that spring, when you were away visiting your relatives in Herefordshire, and we were well on the way to an understanding. The minute he set eyes on you, however, I was forgotten. I couldn’t put up with that.’

  Maude frowned. ‘What are you saying? You tried to stop Luke from marrying me?’

  Eliza laughed, although it was a sound without mirth. ‘I didn’t just try, I succeeded. A quick word in the ear of your father’s valet and you were trapped. He locked you in, didn’t he, the night you were going to elope? I told him to. Hah!’

  Maude felt her eyes fill with tears, but she wiped them away and drew in a deep breath. All these years of misery and only because Eliza had been jealous. It didn’t bear thinking of. At the same time it made Maude furious, however, but she fought against these emotions. She couldn’t think about that now, she had to concentrate on getting Anna back. That was the only thing that mattered, not the past.

  ‘Fine, take the necklace. You’re welcome to it. Just give me back my daughter.’

  ‘Oh, you can have her all right. Go and join her, by all means. You and she are going on a little journey with my partner in crime there, Mr Hampton.’

  ‘Journey? What do you mean?’ Maude felt icy fingers of terror gripping her insides. ‘And who is he?’

  ‘Mr Hampton is the man my late husband – may he rot in hell – played his final game of cards with. Unfortunately, Gascombe lost and Mr Hampton has been plaguing me for settlement of the debt. Since Gascombe Park is already mortgaged to the hilt and I’m as poor as the proverbial church mouse, that’s where you come in. You and your pretty bauble. A shame I didn’t know you owned it before you wore it to that ball, then I could have stolen the necklace and no one would have been any the wiser.’

  ‘But ...’

  ‘Stop asking so many damn fool questions. Go to your precious child and do whatever it is mothers do. You don’t have much time.’

  Maude began to shake, but after one last dagger look at Eliza, she made her way over to Anna. The little girl looked tiny next to Mr Hampton, who at close quarters seemed to be a huge man with fists the size of hams. His knife still glittered menacingly in the moonlight, but without so much as glancing at him, Maude dropped to her knees in front of her daughter and gave her a quick hug before reaching up to untie the gag. ‘Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,’ she whispered. ‘Are you hurt?’

  Anna shook her head, but a sob escaped the little girl nonetheless. It was clear the child was terrified, her wide gaze overflowing with tears. Mr Hampton didn’t stop Maude from loosening Anna’s bonds, so she continued with the cord that bound the child’s wrists together. Once she had her free, she rubbed at the sore little arms and then enveloped her in her embrace again.

  ‘Very touching,’ Mr Hampton sneered, then shouted over to Eliza. ‘Have you got it? I don’t want to stand around here all night.’

  ‘Yes, these should fetch a tidy sum.’ Eliza held up the necklace and Maude saw the stones sparkling faintly.

  ‘Well, what are you waiting for then? Let’s be on our way.’

  ‘Hold on a moment. You’ll not receive your share until you’ve done away with those two. That was the deal.’

  ‘And what if I’ve changed my mind? There’s no reason why I should risk my neck for your sake. You’re the one who wants them dead. All I want is what’s owing to me. Now give that here and I’ll break it in half.’

  ‘On no account! Are you mad? I’ll have you know―’

  While Eliza and her accomplice continued to argue, Maude took her chance and grabbed Anna by the hand. She inched away from Mr Hampton, heading in the direction of some nearby bushes, but she’d only gone a few yards when Eliza spotted them.

  ‘Don’t even think about it,’ she shouted. ‘Stop right there or I’ll shoot one of you.’

  Maude froze, but in the next instant another voice rang out, one which was much more welcome.

  ‘No you won’t, or I’ll shoot you. And unlike you, I shouldn’t think I’ll miss. I’m accounted an excellent shot.’

  ‘Lord Hexham! What are you doing here?’ Eliza turned an accusing glare on Maude. ‘I told you not to bring anyone, you fool.’

  ‘I didn’t. I mean, I thought I was alone.’

  ‘We followed Maude without her knowledge,’ Luke lied.

  ‘We?’ Eliza glanced around, her face a mask of fury.

  ‘Yes, we.’ Thomas’s voice joined that of Luke and they both stepped into the clearing. ‘I should have known you weren’t to be trusted. Anyone who treats servants as badly as you do, madam, isn’t worthy of being called a lady.’

  ‘Well, here’s a fine kettle of fish,’ Mr Hampton muttered. ‘I’ve had enough of this.’ Without further ado, he reached forward to snatch the diamond necklace out of Eliza’s hands and then made a run for it. A sharp whistle made a pair of horses come trotting out from under the nearby trees and Hampton vaulted onto one of them with surprising agility for someone his size.

  Luke rushed after him, although limping badly which slowed him down. He shouted over his shoulder at Thomas, ‘Watch her!’ Thomas obeyed, pointing his pistol firmly at Eliza, who still had hers trained on Maude.

  ‘I’m faster than you,’
Thomas warned, ‘so even if you manage to pull the trigger, your shot will go wide and you’ll have died for nothing.’

  Eliza seemed to consider this for a moment, before giving up on the idea of shooting Maude with an angry noise.

  Meanwhile, Luke was trying to follow Hampton, who seemed to be getting away. Luke stopped suddenly, knelt on the ground and took careful aim. A shot rang out and in the next instant, Hampton toppled off the horse, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

  ‘I say, capital shot, cousin,’ Thomas crowed, but Luke didn’t reply. Instead, he took off again, but just as he reached Hampton, the man got to his feet and started laying about him with those meaty fists. Maude gasped in terror, but from what she could make out, Luke was giving as good as he got.

  Since Thomas had been distracted momentarily by Luke’s endeavours, Eliza took her chance and sprinted towards the remaining horse. She managed to drag herself onto its back and kicked it into a gallop. Thomas swore under his breath and tried to copy his cousin’s previous manoeuvre – kneeling down and taking careful aim, he fired off a shot. Eliza was moving too fast, however, and the bullet went wide.

  ‘Hell and damnation,’ Thomas muttered, but although he had missed Eliza, he must have frightened her horse because it started bucking. Eliza tried to hang on for dear life, but the horse wasn’t having any of it. It continued its mad dance until the rider was unseated, and then took off at a panicked gallop. Unfortunately for Eliza, she still had one foot stuck in the stirrups and Maude watched in horror as her former friend was dragged along, screaming, behind the horse before her foot finally became disentangled.

  Eliza’s lifeless body came to a halt and Maude shuddered, but there was still Luke to worry about. His fight with Hampton seemed be ongoing and neither man had given up.

  ‘How can Luke possibly withstand punches from such enormous fists?’ Maude wondered out loud. ‘And wounded as he is too. Go and help him, Thomas, I beg you!’

  ‘Don’t worry, he’s younger and a lot more agile even in his present state,’ Thomas replied, but set off towards the two combatants nonetheless. Just before he reached them, however, another shot rang out and he stopped.