Penelope gave a shudder. ‘I think I prefer the first explanation,’ she said. ‘Who would think that such a lovely place could hold such a bloodthirsty story.’
Lord Lyndhurst laughed. ‘Yes, I think the first explanation is more feasible, don’t you, but the legend seems to have captured people’s imagination more and woven itself into the region’s folklore.’
Penelope helped herself to an apple tart and finished off her wine. Lord Lyndhurst refilled her glass. If he could get Penelope to loosen up a little, he may just get her to confide in him a little more. She had just started her third glass when Lord Lyndhurst turned to more serious topics. ‘So tell me Penelope, why are you staying with a gang of smugglers when you have a perfectly good home in London with your Aunt in Bruton Street? Lady Sears would have an apoplexy if she knew of your situation.’
Penelope looked up sharply. ‘What makes you think that my friends are smugglers? You assume too much, Lord Lyndhurst.’
He just smiled gently. ‘Come Penelope, I have eyes in my head. Andy did not just go out and get himself shot by accident, and when Rosie spoke of a traitor, it did not take much to put the pieces of the puzzle together. What is more, the brandy at the Swan is most superior and I suspect that the landlady is in league with Rosie.’
Penelope could hardly deny it. ‘What are you going to do?’ she asked with a worried frown. ‘You cannot hand Rosie over to the authorities.’
Lord Lyndhurst looked surprised. ‘Why Penelope, I do not intend to do anything. I am hardly lily white myself. At least half of my cellars consist of contraband goods. I am a good customer of John Andrews in Saltburn, but that does not mean that I approve of your involvement here.’
Penelope put down her wine and grimaced. ‘It hardly matters if you approve or disapprove. I am not your responsibility, but I thank you for your discretion with Rosie.’
Lord Lyndhurst pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek. ‘But you would be my responsibility if you were my wife. I am asking you, Penelope. Will you marry me?’
Penelope opened her mouth and then shut it again. She did not quite know what to say. Every inclination of her heart wanted to say yes, but her mind cried out, ‘no’!
‘I cannot marry you,’ she replied. ‘You do not understand. I do not want to be any man’s responsibility. After my experiences this last year, I doubt that I will ever marry again.’
‘Penelope! I am not Captain Blackmore,’ he asserted. ‘And you can hardly claim that I am after your worldly goods, since you have none. Yes, I know about the loss of your assets and the fire in Charlotte Square. You would be safe with me and I would always be there for you.’
‘Like you were in London,’ she retorted, somewhat vehemently, as she remembered her feeling of abandonment and loss. ‘I waited for days on end for you to call upon me as you had promised, but you obviously decided that you had better things to do. Tell me, why should I really trust you? You have let me down before.’
Lord Lyndhurst thought back. What she said was true, but she did not know that he was instrumental in bringing about her marriage annulment and that his disappearance was connected. Neither was he prepared to tell her. He did not wish her to feel indebted.
He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Believe me Penelope, I had a very good reason and I did not mean to hurt you. Will you please forgive me?’
Penelope’s heart melted when she looked into his earnest blue eyes, but she could not cave in. ‘At the very least you could have sent me a letter,’ she replied in hurt tones.
‘But I did,’ he replied sheepishly, ‘only you had left London by the time it arrived at your Aunt’s home.’
Penelope had no answer to that and conceded. ‘Alright, I forgive you, but that does not mean that I will marry you.’
Lord Lyndhurst was irritated by her obstinacy for he knew she was attracted to him. When he kissed her in the barn yesterday he could not have misread her response. Maybe he could remind her of what she was missing. He leaned across and rolled her toward him, holding her close and capturing her soft, warm lips with his own. She could feel the length of his hard, muscled body against hers, and as she melted into him, he deepened the kiss, with a passion she had never before experienced. The searing heat of fire spiralled through her being like an uncontrolled furnace and she was totally lost. He rolled on top of her covering her body and she responded, running her hands up his biceps and across the broad expanse of his back, to feel hard muscle ripple through the material of his silk shirt. He was firm and powerful and as his passion grew, she felt her own traitorous body respond. He ran a hand over the curve of her waist and up toward her breast, the material of her grey wool dress rough on his palms. He broke his kiss in exasperation. ‘Goodness Penelope, whatever are you wearing! It is a far cry from the violet satin you wore at Vauxhall Gardens.’
Penelope gave a wry grin and sat up. ‘I can hardly wear satins, silks and muslins in Rosie’s farmyard when I am mucking out the pigs,’ she replied humorously.
Lord Lyndhurst became serious. ‘Penelope, you must marry me, you were not born to this kind of life. You were born to manage great houses, care for tenants and help improve the life of others. I can give you all of that.’
Penelope sat up. ‘Please Xavier, say no more about it. I can offer you nothing; please let us go before we both do something that we will later regret. It is getting late and we have a long journey home.’
Lord Lyndhurst stood up and helped her to her feet. He smiled secretly. She had just addressed him by his Christian name and she had responded to his kisses with fervour of her own, so there was hope for him yet. He realised that she was still deeply affected by her recent experiences so he would have to be patient. He loved her, so he would wait for as long as it took to get her to truly trust him.
They arrived back at Rosie’s farm just as the twilight was drawing in and Nat rushed out to greet them. Taking Cisco’s reins, he admonished the Earl for his late return. Lord Lyndhurst threw back his head and laughed. ‘Do not be so shrewish, Nat. As you see, her Lady-ship is returned in one piece.’ He jumped off his mare and grabbing Penelope by her waist, assisted her to the ground. ‘I will call on you again tomorrow and give you that sword fencing lesson that I had promised you in London, and then you can no longer hold that against me.’
Penelope was thrilled; at last a worthy opponent with whom to spar. Lord Lyndhurst could not know it, but he had just done the one thing that would totally destroy Penelope’s resistance.
Chapter 16
Two weeks had passed and Lord Lyndhurst had called on Penelope every day. He did not mention marriage or make any advances, but the pair took long rides together along the wide sandy beaches, took long walks over the cliff tops, and Lord Lyndhurst gave Penelope fencing lessons in Rosie’s farmyard. The latter was by far Penelope’s favourite pastime and Lord Lyndhurst had sent back home for foils to prevent the possibility of an accident.
Andy was recuperating well and was now attended upon by the local doctor. Lord Lyndhurst had provided him with a fine pair of sturdy crutches, and although he was unable to do any heavy work, he was able to get up for a few hours a day and potter in Rosie’s kitchen. As he lived alone, Rosie had put up a truckle bed in the corner of the room and he had stayed with her to recuperate, but he would soon be well enough to return to his own small cottage a mile down the lane.
Lord Lyndhurst, however, could not linger at the Swan forever. He had estates and parliamentary business to attend to, and he needed to return to Croxdale. He tried to persuade Penelope to accompany him as a guest of his mother, but she refused. He had not mentioned marriage anymore, but she knew that he had not forgotten, and she was worried that if she became too comfortable at his countryseat, she may succumb to his alluring attraction. It was with a heavy heart that she waved him off, but he had promised to return within the fortnight to spend a few more days.
After spending time in her company, Lord Lyndhurst had come to realise t
hat Penelope, affected by her experiences was her own worst enemy. He would give her time, but he would have to take care that she did not get embroiled with this smuggling ring and end up in trouble. If need be he would carry her off and make her see the error of her ways.
*****
A week after Lord Lyndhurst had left, Daniel entered Rosie’s kitchen. News had come in that a 150-ton Lugger laden with contraband had arrived and was anchored out to sea. The landlord at the Ham Public House in South Shields had spotted its signal and it was a case of all hands on deck before the revenue cutters had time to intercept. This was a more dangerous operation than one of Rosie’s private runs, for the customs men were always on a lookout for the large Luggers plying their trade, and subterfuge was much harder to achieve.
Rosie would have to move quickly. They were already four men down for Mattie and Bart had sailed the Sloop to Edinburgh to purchase some illegally distilled whisky. Andy was out of action and Jem had been dismissed. Hannah was sent to the neighbouring farms to collect some horses to make up the land train, and her first stop was Sam and Ashe’s farmstead in Whitburn. She instructed the pair to meet the others at the Wherry where the fishing cobbles were anchored. They needed all available hands to row out to the Luggers to buy as much contraband as they could carry.
Penelope dashed upstairs to quickly change into her breeches and make ready. Rosie no longer challenged Penelope’s participation, besides, she had no time to argue and Penelope had already proved herself a loyal and capable ally.
Andy stood up balancing on his crutches, intent of joining them. Rosie looked across sharply. ‘Where do you think you are going?’ she snapped.
‘Where do you think?’ he countered with frustration.
Rosie placed her hand on his shoulders and forced him down again. ‘You are in no fit state to join us. You are my stalwart and I need you to get well. You can stay here with Jorgie and keep watch over the farmyard.’
Jorgie, sitting in front of the fire, briefly looked up at the sound of his name and gave a contented woof, but Andy grumbled in frustration. He knew that he was beaten and reluctantly obeyed Rosie’s command. It would be foolishness to join the run. He was a good cook and perhaps he could be useful here. ‘Okay Rosie, I shall make some supper for when you all return,’ he said resignedly.
Rosie’s band set out to sea in three large cobbles. Sam and Penelope rowed one, Daniel and Rosie the second, with Ashe and Nat following in the third. Hannah was to wait for them with the land ponies and to keep a watch. Visibility was poor as the crescent moon kept disappearing behind a cloud and it was a full half hour before Penny spotted the fore and aft rigged Lugger looming out of the darkness. A half dozen cobbles already surrounded it and were vying for trade and Rosie inched her way between them to find a niche.
Twenty minutes later and with all three boats loaded with tobacco, tea, gin and brandy, Rosie’s Cobbles pulled away. They did not get very far before a revenue Cutter loomed out of the mist and approached the Lugger. Then all hell broke loose. Penelope heard the sound of gunfire as the Lugger pulled away, firing at the Cutter with its 86-pound carriage guns. The cutter fired back and all of a sudden, Penelope found herself caught up in a ferocious sea battle as a barrage of gunshot hit the water and the small Cobbles scattered in all directions. Sam heaved on the oars and urged Penny to do the same as they endeavoured to row the boat out of the danger zone. The laden cobble was heavy and Penelope heaved with all her might, her heart pounding as they made their escape.
Sam glanced over. Their companions were in view. Nat and Ashe were ahead and Rosie brought up the rear with Daniel, but to their dismay, a fourth rowing boat, powered by four excise men followed in their wake. A contingent of guards from the revenue cutter was following in hot pursuit. They were still some distance away, but not carrying cargo and having more manpower, they were slowly gaining.
Rosie made a decision. They would have to discard their cargo if they were not to be caught red handed. Her timing was to be crucial if the revenue men were not to witness what they were doing and they had any hope of retrieving their haul. As soon as they reached shallower water, she shouted over her instructions. ‘Ashe, Sam, Sow the crop!’
They all started to throw their loads overboard, but not until they had anchored them with huge anchor stones and marked their position with a cork. Rosie had been well prepared. Penelope assisted and glanced behind her as she threw each loaded oilskin into the sea. The corks bobbed in the water and were hardly visible, and those that were, looked like the markers for innocent lobster pots. Out of experience Rosie had chosen just the right spot to ditch, it was not so deep as to drag down the corks, but deep enough to offer concealment. All going well, they would be able to collect the contraband tomorrow under the guise of fishermen, but they still had to escape the revenue men who were gaining on them.
As they approached the beach Hannah was waiting, but Rosie frowned for she was not alone. Rosie’s crew jumped into the shallow water of the Wherry and dragged in the cobbles, only to find Captain Blackmore standing there with Hannah in his grip and a gun pointing straight at them. He addressed Rosie. ‘Your daughter for your haul, Rosie, I will take as much as I can carry.’
Sam stepped forward and pointed to the empty cobbles, ‘You are out of luck, Captain Blackmore, for a revenue cutter arrived before we could take possession and as you see, we are empty handed.’
Captain Blackmore glanced over to the empty cobbles and cursed, and Nat pushed his way forward to confront him. He pointed out to sea. ‘I suggest you unhand my wife before the revenue men are upon us and you are arrested alongside us. I would not spend too much time thinking about it because they are almost here.’
Captain Blackmore gave an unearthly grin and sneered. ‘To the contrary, I think they shall be most grateful for my assistance.’
‘Aye,’ Nat replied. ‘And that would work for all of five minutes until I told them who you were.’
Scowling, Captain Blackmore pushed Hannah forward and Nat caught her as she fell into his arms. Nat had called his bluff. He was a wanted man and could not take the risk of being discovered. The Captain retreated silently into the darkness, but not before he noticed the tall female in breeches who looked remarkably like his errant wife. Jem had told him that Rosie had her niece staying with them, and what is more she was called Penny. And another thing, the man who had threatened him looked remarkably like the servant he had dismissed from Charlotte Square in the spring. He could not believe it, but it would appear that Rosie’s niece was no other than Lady Penelope Winterbourne. That was very useful information indeed.
He would find out from Jem where she was staying and when he caught up with her, she would feel the sharp end of his wrath. The annulment had been humiliating and now he was a wanted criminal. He would make her pay for his demise. The money for her ransom would more than pay for his journey south where he could lose himself on Napoleon’s guinea runs.
‘Quick!’ Sam shouted. ‘We have not much time. Let us get away from here before the revenue men land.’ As they scrambled over the rocks to where Hannah had tethered the horses, they could hear their pursuers dragging their boat onto the shore. They quickly mounted and retreated into the darkness and just in time too, as they withdrew amidst a hail of bullets. One thing was certain. Without horses, the excise men could hardly follow. They had escaped within an inch of their lives.
It was not until they reached the safety of Rosie’s kitchen that Penelope heaved a sigh of relief. She was shaken more that she realised. She was more shocked from her encounter with Captain Blackmore than that of the excise men. It was the first time she had seen him at close quarters since her escape from Charlotte Square, and what is more she was sure that he had recognised her and Nat. She could be walking on very dangerous ground indeed and she would have to keep her wits about her.
Andy was waiting for them with a beef stew. He was a keen cook, but as he was not able to stand very long, he had thrown all the ingr
edients in a pot. It was simple fare, but as Andy had a way with herbs and spices, it was very tasty. As they sat around the supper table, Andy looked up. ‘Someone will have to go and keep watch to check that the haul has not been discovered,’ he advised. Nat was the first to finish his supper and wiped his mouth on his napkin. ‘I will go,’ he volunteered. ‘The coast should be clear by now.’
Nat arrived back in the early hours of the morning. ‘As far as he could see all was quiet down at the Wherry and there was no sign of any boats lurking around the drop area. However, he did have news. The beaches had been busy that night from South Shields to Sunderland and Captain Monaghan and his Lieutenant had made a couple of arrests on Marsden Beach. Rosie was beginning to think that she was getting too old for all this excitement. Tonight had been a close shave.
The next morning Sam, Ashe and Daniel returned. Sam gave a huge grin. ‘We are going fishing Miss Penny, Hannah. We are hoping to snag a few barrels of brandy, do you care to join us.’
Penny jumped up, but Nat was not quite so sure. There was every possibility that their haul had been discovered and that the excise men were waiting in hiding to catch them red handed as they retrieved it.
Ashe noticed his hesitation. ‘We need someone to watch the coastline to look for anything suspicious and set a signal to warn us if they suspect a trap. No one can suspect two ladies taking an early morning ride. When we land, we will need assistance to load the horses as quickly as possible. Speed is of the essence.’
Nat could hardly stop Penelope, but Hannah was his wife and he was becoming increasingly uneasy. Last night had been a dangerous undertaking and if they had been caught, the penalties were severe. Heavy fines at the least, and deportation if they were unlucky. They were lucky that none of them had been shot. He was beginning to understand why Rosie had sent Hannah away, for every day brought its own perils. There was not a day went by when Rosie was not free trading.
Lady Winterbourne's Entanglement: A Romantic Regency Adventure Page 17
