Slightly winded, he scrambled to his feet as Norris and Latham ceased their pursuit of the men on foot, and, reining around, came back to him. “I’m all right,” Archie yelled, waving at them. “Run them down! Get them.”
Wheeling their horses again, they charged after the men on foot as Archie went to his stricken horse. The gelding lay on his side, blowing, nostrils flared, blood from the wound on his chest bleeding onto the ground. “Oh, no,” Archie moaned, kneeling beside the gelding’s neck. “You poor lad. I’m so sorry.”
Dragging their captive with them, Isaac and the grooms approached Archie. “My Lord?”
“I need your pistol.”
Silently, Isaac handed it to him. Resting the barrel against his valiant horse’s head, Archie cocked the hammer back. Turning his face away, grieving, his heart aching, he pulled the trigger. “Goodbye, old friend,” he murmured, still not looking at his horse.
Rising, Archie handed the pistol back to Isaac and said, “One of you find mine. It’s in the grass here somewhere.”
A groom left the small crowd to search as Archie strode toward his prisoner. There was just enough light to see the scars crisscrossing his face, his eyes glittering with hatred. “What’s your name?” Archie asked.
The man said nothing.
Turning at the sound of hooves, Archie found Norris and Latham returning. “I’m sorry, My Lord,” Latham said, reining in. “They escaped into the woods. I can track them come morning, but I fear they will be long gone.”
“At least we have partial success,” Archie answered, turning back to the scarred man. “What is your name?”
The man merely returned his glower, silent.
“You gain little by not answering me,” Archie commented dryly. “We know you planned to invade my home and lurk in the walls like rats. Tell me who your master is, and I will see to it you are not gaoled for your part in this affair.”
This time, the man opened his mouth wide as though to yawn, but he did not. “What the hell?” Archie asked, confused, “what does this mean?”
Instead of answering, he continued to hold it open as Latham gasped.
“Get me a torch,” he snapped.
A groom ran into the nearest stable, and returned quickly with an unlit torch. The groom lit it with a flint and steel, then handed the blaze to Latham. Holding it close to the man’s face, he peered into his still open mouth. “Good God.”
“What?” Archie snapped.
Latham turned. “He’s had his tongue out, My Lord. He cannot answer you even if he wanted to.”
“Of all the –”
His hands on his hips, Archie glowered at the scarred man. The groom handed him his pistol and withdrew out of the range of his irritation. “This has to be a joke, right? We managed to catch the one devil who can’t talk and tell us who they work for. This is ridiculous.”
“Can you read and write, man?” Latham asked the prisoner.
The man’s head shook slowly from side to side.
“It’s not entirely hopeless, My Lord,” Latham offered. “His features are very distinct, and not many have had their tongues cut out. We can make inquiries across the district, and perhaps find out his name and who his master is.”
Archie gazed at his dead horse, placing his pistol back into his waistband. “Someone will pay dearly for his death,” Archie said softly. “He was a good lad.”
He glanced at the grooms. “Is your prisoner secure?”
At their nods and murmurs of, “Yes, My Lord,” Archie went on. “Turn him over to Mr. North and Mr. Saxon, then strip my horse of his tack. Tomorrow, he will be buried with honor.”
The prisoner tried to fight, but with his hands tied behind his back, he could do little save march toward the house between Latham and Norris. Archie followed more slowly, anger and grief whirling in his heart. He loved that horse, had seen him grow from a young colt to become his favorite riding companion and friend. Now he was dead, put out of his suffering by Archie’s own hand.
Cornelia stood inside the house with Mrs. Cates at her side, staring at the prisoner as he was hauled in by Latham and Norris. The scarred man glared at her, obviously recognizing her as the two men shoved him past. Archie paused beside her.
“Do you know him?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I have never seen him before.”
“So he does not work for Hill.”
“I do not believe so.”
Dragging his hand through his hair, Archie blew out a gust of breath. “He is also a mute. He cannot tell us a damn thing.”
Latham hesitated, glancing over his shoulder. “The cellars, My Lord?”
Archie nodded. “Chained securely with the others. Then see to it all doors are secure and the footmen are making their rounds.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Latham and Norris disappeared down the hall as Cornelia stared at Archie. “Please let the others go, Archie. Restore them to their former positions.”
Smiling tightly, Archie brushed a tendril of hair from her brow. “I will, angel. I am waiting for you to be healed enough to accept their apologies as well as letting them sweat for a time. That might be a fitting punishment, yes?”
“I suppose that one less merciful might at best dismiss them, or at worst hang them.”
“I know you would approve of neither. But as I am Lord here, I can bide my time.”
Cornelia suddenly laughed. “You are a rogue, Archie.”
“Perhaps I am at that. But I am a sincere one. I will keep you safe, Cornelia. Those men tonight have learned a valuable lesson on what it means to invade my home.”
She slipped her right hand into his. “I fear they may yet return.”
“Yes. They will.”
Chapter 19
Feeling decidedly awkward and ill at ease, Cornelia sat in a chair in the drawing room, Archie behind her, as the four men who attacked her were shown in by Mr. North. Dirty, disheveled and smelling badly, they stood in a row and bowed. Their eyes flicked across hers uneasily, their expressions seemed be a mixture of fear, worry, and guilt.
Uncomfortable being in the same room with them, she dared not show it, or them any sympathy. She flicked a glance toward Mrs. Cates, who stood to one side as chaperone, yet her expression was cold, still, as she gazed at the servants, as though ready to pronounce her own judgment on them. And that judgment would not be pretty.
“What do you gentlemen have to say for yourselves?” Archie asked, his tone neutral.
The big man who confronted her stepped forward and bowed again. “My Lord, Miss Hill, I am profoundly and sincerely sorry for what I have done. I truly meant only to frighten you, Miss Hill, not to harm. Your courage and mercy have shown me the error of my ways, and if I am given a second chance, I will be your man henceforth.”
Not knowing what she was expected to do or say, Cornelia merely murmured, “Thank you.”
The footman who actually stabbed her in the back also stepped forward. “I am undeserving of a second chance. But if given it, I, too, am yours, Miss Hill. My Lord.”
Cornelia dipped her chin gravely, feeling foolish. These men cannot possibly owe me their loyalty. It is for Archie and none other.
The remaining two also vowed that if given the chance to become better men, they, too, would protect Cornelia with their lives, if necessary. Not knowing if they truly meant what they said, Cornelia wished wholeheartedly that Archie had not insisted she be a part of their punishment, if all but groveling before her was indeed considered their punishment. She knew very well such humiliation could backfire easily.
“Miss Hill has asked me to restore you to your previous positions in my household,” Archie said gravely. “Though I am inclined to dismiss you for violence under my roof and for harming someone I hold dear, I am withdrawing that notion. You four are hereby restored to your full duties and positions. However.” His tone dropped. “Any further attempts to provoke or harm Miss Hill from any of you, and you will wish that dismissal
was the least of your concerns. Now clean yourselves up and return to work.”
The footmen bowed again and turned to leave as Shelton Hamden hesitated, his eyes on Cornelia. “I meant what I said, My Lord, Miss Hill. If I can be of service in protecting her in this household, it would be my honor.”
Cornelia glanced around and up at Archie’s face when he did not speak. She found him gazing at Hamden with a slight frown.
“Do you mean as her bodyguard, Mr. Hamden?” Archie asked.
“That is exactly what I mean, My Lord. Mr. North has not exactly kept it a secret that the other man chained below has been trying to capture Miss Hill. If I may help keep her safe, as she is dear to you, My Lord, I am happy to help.”
“How can I trust you?” Cornelia blurted, unable to stop herself. While she advocated having these men be returned to their positions, she did not actually intend for one to be in constant close proximity to her.
Mr. Hamden nodded gravely. “At this point, you cannot, Miss Hill. Not until I prove I can be trusted.”
“Then, yes, Mr. Hamden,” Archie declared. “I accept your offer. You are now officially Miss Hill’s bodyguard. You will sleep outside her chambers, and accompany her everywhere.”
Dismayed, apprehensive, Cornelia shot a look to Mrs. Cates, who appeared angry enough to begin screaming invectives, her brows furrowed and her lips thinned. Mr. Hamden smiled, and bowed, relief etched in his expression.
“I will not let you down,” he said, his eyes glancing between Cornelia and Archie behind her. “Either of you.”
“Get yourself cleaned up,” Archie told him. “You will wear the livery of a footman in order to fool anyone who may enter the house without our knowledge. And you will also be watched, Mr. Hamden. By me, as well as Mr. North.”
“By your leave, My Lord, I will wash and dress appropriately right now, then begin my duties within the hour.”
“Yes. Please do.”
After he had gone, Cornelia stood and faced Archie. “Are you mad?”
He grinned. “Not yet.”
“He tried to kill me.”
“By his own admission he tried to scare you. And you did not want me to dismiss them.”
“Nor did I expect you would assign one to be near me,” Cornelia almost yelled. “What if he is lying?”
“I do not believe he is,” Archie answered easily. He glanced sidelong at Mrs. Cates. “And you, Mrs. Dragon? What do you think?”
She sniffed. “One false move on his part, and I’ll skin him alive myself.”
“Fair enough. Cornelia, angel, you now have a full-time bodyguard. And I, for one, am relieved, and am kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner.”
“Why him, Archie?” Cornelia demanded. “Why not choose another whose animosity toward me has not been proven?”
“Because he is an ex-soldier, and is now driven to prove his loyalty. Give him time. If he still makes you uncomfortable after a few days, then I will find another. But his reputation as a fighter cannot be overlooked.”
“I knocked him out cold,” Cornelia grumbled. “How good a fighter can he be?”
“He underestimated you, angel. He won’t do that with some intruder out to harm or snatch you away from here.”
“His Lordship is right, Miss Hill,” Mrs. Cates added. “You must be protected and outside of Mr. North, he is the best possible guard for you.”
Archie pressed his hand to his chest and stumbled backward, his eyes wide, shocked. “The fire-breathing dragon agrees with me? I think I’m going to swoon.”
“Don’t let it go to your head, My Lord,” Mrs. Cates said stiffly. “I will be watching him closely, and Miss Hill will continue to be armed with the small pistol I gave her. If she is forced to shoot him, it will be your damn fault.”
Cornelia shook her head as Archie laughed. “She will not need to defend herself from Mr. Hamden,” Archie replied. “He will be loyal, I am sure of it.”
“What will you do with the man you caught last night?” Cornelia asked him. “You said he was mute?”
Archie nodded, falling into his habit of pacing as he thought. “I have a talented artist drawing a picture of his face. I will send the drawing to the constables, and have them start showing it around and asking people who he is. For now, he will stay down there, fed and cared for, until this is over with.”
“He cannot escape?”
“Not unless he can slip from shackles on his wrists and ankles, and unbolt the lock chaining him to the cellar wall. Nor can anyone free him from down there, as I will have the door locked all day and night. Only Latham and I have keys to the door.”
“The man who employs him must be furious by now,” Cornelia commented.
“And men who are caught in the throes of their rage do not think straight,” Archie advised. “Just the way I want him.”
“It will also make him vengeful.”
“Again, if he is, he will no doubt make mistakes we can take advantage of. He’s also more than likely blessing his luck we captured a man who cannot talk.”
“True enough.”
Ceasing his pacing, Archie stopped and picked up her hand, smiling down at her. “This will be over soon.”
“I hope so.”
“Believe me, this fool who tried to buy you had greatly underestimated not just me, but you as well. I still wish you to take dirty trick lessons from Latham, and perhaps even from Mr. Hamden. The more able you are to defend yourself, the better I’ll sleep.”
* * *
After sending the drawing and a letter with his instructions to the constables in the care of a footman, Archie and Latham went down to the cellar to examine their prisoner. He sat with his back to the wall, his ankles shackled together with a short chain between them, one wrist cuffed to a longer chain that ran from his arm to a heavy steel bar over his head. His other hand had been left free for him to eat with.
A plate of meat and biscuits sat on a plate next to him, a pitcher of water placed nearby as well as a bucket for him to do his business in. He gazed at Archie with lackluster eyes, not seeming to care what would happen to him.
“You will be well treated here,” Archie informed him. “You may consider trying harder to communicate who your employer is, even if it is with hand signals.”
The scarred man merely shook his head wearily.
“Does he frighten you?”
The man nodded.
“Then he would harm or kill you for failing him? For letting yourself be captured?”
He nodded again. Archie exchanged a long look with Latham. “All the more reason to protect him here,” Archie said in a low voice. To the prisoner, he asked, “Is your employer a lord?”
This time he received a shrug. “You do not know? How can that be? Have you never met him?”
Another small head shake. “How does he pay you? Through one of the others? The leader perhaps?”
He nodded. “Do you know how the leader met him?”
A head shake. “So the leader was recruited by your employer, who in turn recruited you?”
A nod. “And the third man with you? Recruited as you were and also does not know who your employer is?” Archie received yet another affirmative. He glanced at Latham.
“That’s an excellent way of protecting himself. Only one of them knows who he is.”
“And unfortunately, we caught the wrong one.”
Archie turned back to the scarred man. “Are any of you former military who fought in the war?”
He received a shrug – he did not know. “Did you serve time in prison?” Archie asked.
The man nodded, and this time his expression showed fear. “You’re afraid to go back there?”
Archie looked at Latham when he received yet another affirmative. “I wouldn’t want to be in prison, either, My Lord,” Latham murmured. “Nasty places, vile. As he is cooperating, we may see how lenient the courts might be toward him.”
“I agree. If you continue to give what information
you can, we will see to it you are not returned to prison.”
The man nodded, and offered them a wan smile. Turning, Archie led the way out of the cellar, and locked the stout door behind them. “Think he was telling us the truth?” Archie asked as they climbed the stairs toward the upper levels.
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