by Darcy Burke
“Had to. I heard some disturbing news and wanted to tell you at once. Dalby’s gone off.”
“I’m the one who discovered his departure. I left Stratton’s obscene dinner to find him and obtain the letters from Crane.”
“I wondered if you might.” Wade turned to go into the dressing room, and Elijah followed him. “Have you any idea where he went?”
“None.” Elijah was so angry he wanted to find a horse and ride until he felt nothing but the wind on his face and the speed of the animal beneath him.
Wade looked at him curiously, his gaze fixed on the rumpled cravat hanging around Elijah’s neck. “Where did you just come from?”
There was no point in protecting Miss Bowen—Cate’s—reputation since Grey would likely tell Wade what she’d witnessed. Or perhaps not. A lady’s maid kept her employer’s secrets inviolate. But was Grey a typical lady’s maid? His head began to throb from a mixture of agitation and disappointment.
“I went to see Miss Bowen to discuss this development.” “Discuss” was perhaps a generous term. He’d more accurately accused her of some sort of nefarious connection to Matthew’s death and quite thoroughly and embarrassingly relinquished his tightly held self-discipline. “I don’t believe she had anything to do with Matthew’s death.”
Wade’s eyes widened slightly. “You suspected her?”
“I find the connection between her and Stratton Hall unsettling, but Septon also has a connection.” Elijah exhaled. “She has no reason to remain with us now that she knows where to look for the sword. She could’ve easily left us here and continued on her way.”
“Which she’d planned to do,” Wade noted, as he took Elijah’s waistcoat. “Grey said she had a change of heart, however.”
So she’d said that afternoon. Wait, was he still suspicious? After everything she’d said to him, after what they’d just shared? He couldn’t let their physical attraction interfere. Yet another reason he had no intention of touching her again. Or, hell, even being alone with her again.
Elijah kicked his slippers off. “Speaking of Grey, I’m sorry your evening was abbreviated.”
Wade knelt to pick up the shoes. “Eh, it happens. We were searching for a cozy spot when I learned Dalby had left. Lousy timing to be sure.”
Elijah coughed, thinking of his own interrupted evening. But in his case, it had been a stroke of good fortune. Despite her pleas, he couldn’t succumb to her seduction. Her life might be unconventional, but he didn’t bed ladies of her station. Especially not when doing so could land him in the parson’s trap.
“We’ll still leave in the morning?” Wade asked. “No sense in staying. I doubt Dalby will return.”
“No.” Defeat, something Elijah hated more than anything, curled in his chest. “I’d like to persuade a member of the staff to watch and listen for us. Give some money to whomever you trust most. I know you can scarcely have made a judgment since we just arrived today, but do your best.”
“As it happens, the head footman is a bit of a kindred spirit. His father was transported when he was a wee lad and returned a few years back. He enjoyed meeting someone from the colony.”
“Excellent.”
Knowing they’d have a spy of sorts watching out for Dalby made Elijah feel moderately better, though his mind and body were still a mess of unsatisfied lust as he lay in bed. He calculated the time he’d need to spend with Cate. They’d have to stop and spend the night somewhere on the way to Harlech. Once they found the sword—and who knew how long that would take—he’d see her safely home. Where was that again? Monmouth. He’d take her there and deposit her with her parents, who hopefully wouldn’t mind that she’d been traveling with him, with only their personal servants to act as chaperones.
On second thought, maybe he’d part ways with her some distance from Monmouth lest he find himself leg-shackled.
Either way, their time together was finite. Instead of filling him with relief, the notion made him feel just the smallest bit hollow, a sensation he’d thought long buried. And one that he wished had stayed that way.
Chapter 13
Excitement thrummed through Cate’s veins as she stepped into the morning sunshine filtering through the light clouds that dotted the sky. Today was the day she would find Dyrnwyn. Today she would solidify her place amongst the most respected antiquaries in the country. No, the world.
Not even Elijah’s aloof behavior during yesterday’s long journey could dampen her spirits.
“Here they come.” Grey inclined her head toward the door of the small inn where they’d all spent the night.
Elijah had to duck his head as he came through the door. She caught a brief glimpse of his blond hair before he put his hat on. He glanced at Wade and said something Cate couldn’t hear.
Cate smiled brightly as they approached, hopeful that Elijah would be more amenable today. She didn’t want their encounter from the other night to completely destroy the friendship they’d developed. “Good morning, I trust you slept well.”
Elijah looked at her only briefly before shifting his gaze to the castle atop a two-hundred-foot-tall stone outcrop. “Looks like a good walk.”
“Not too long, but it’s a bit of a climb,” Grey said. She wore her most serviceable gown today, one that allowed her to move more freely, and her favorite walking boots.
Cate had chosen her attire in similar fashion, donning her most comfortable day gown and her oldest pair of boots, which were perfect for a rigorous walk. “Shall we be on our way?”
“Let’s.” Wade, carrying a small bag that held the tapestry, moved to Grey’s side, and they started toward the castle.
Elijah fell into step beside Cate. “Did you bring the de Valery document in case we need it?”
Cate slid her hand into the pocket of her skirt, where she’d tucked the parchment. “Yes. I can hardly believe I’m this close. It’s a dream come true.”
He glanced down at her as they walked. “Most people don’t ever realize their dreams.”
“That’s a rather cynical view.”
He shrugged. “But probably accurate.”
“I don’t know if I agree. Why would you think that?”
He was quiet a moment, perhaps pondering her question. “In the military, most men are there because it’s the only path open to them.”
She cast him a sideways glance. “Was that how it was for you?”
“My father was a landowner, but not a very successful one. After he died, we had to sell the property to settle his debts. What was left went to my mother and my brother. I could’ve opted for a profession, but I was anxious to leave.”
She thought of what he’d said outside his mother’s house in Bath. “I sensed that you and your mother don’t get on well. May I ask why?”
His answering silence made her tense, but he eventually said, “There isn’t much to say. She spared little time or thought for me. Consequently, I do the same for her.”
Cate’s heart clenched as she pictured him as a boy yearning for his mother’s love. “I’m fortunate to have two wonderful parents, whom I love very much. I can’t imagine my life without them. You said you were close to your father.” And then asked to change the subject. Would he do the same again?
“I admired him as a lad, until I reached an age when I could see his faults.”
“It sounds like he disappointed you.”
“Not terribly. I was sad when he died.”
It was a simple statement delivered with almost no emotion, and she suspected there was more to it than that. But she didn’t press. She was amazed he’d shared as much as he had when he typically ignored her probing questions. “My mother says I’m meddlesome.”
The look he cast her was tinged with humor. “Your mother is right.”
Cate grinned as she thought of how her mother would love to hear that. They reached a steeper section of the hill and fell quiet as they climbed. Wade and Grey were in front of them, occupied in conversation, which Cate coul
dn’t hear.
“They seem to be getting on quite well,” Cate said as they reached a more level portion of the road.
“Yes. He thinks I’m not aware that he left in the middle of the night for a period of time.”
Cate shot him a surprised look. “Did he? I didn’t hear Grey leave.”
“I think it’s safe to assume she did.”
They’d conducted a secret assignation in the tiny inn? Could Cate have done the same thing with Elijah if they’d stayed another night? As if it signified. He’d been clear about his intent to leave her alone.
They crested the hill, and the castle rose before them. What had been an imposing battlement rising above the town was now a breathtaking monument to a time long dead. Harlech Castle was in ruins, but still enough of a fortress to conjure battles of old.
“I can see Owen Glendower taking his last stand here.” She hadn’t meant to whisper, but she felt a reverence toward this ancient place.
“And I can see why it was his last stand. This would be a difficult castle to breach. Indeed, the innkeeper told me last night that it held for seven years during the War of the Roses.”
She smiled at him. “Your military mind is at work.”
He surprised her by smiling back. “It is. I admit the prospect is exciting.”
“Did you ever see battle?”
“No, I did not. During the war, I was stationed here until I went to Australia in 1813.”
“But you hoped to?”
“In theory, yes. The strategy of war fascinates me, but in truth, I doubt I would have enjoyed it.”
Cate nodded solemnly. She was acquainted with a handful of men who’d returned from the war wounded and broken. She also knew a few who hadn’t come home at all. “I’m glad you didn’t have to fight.”
Their eyes connected for a brief moment before he looked away. “I hope we won’t see a battle today, but we must all be on our guard.” They’d discussed the need for vigilance last night at dinner at the inn. Everyone had brought a pistol, and Cate was certain the knife that had been in Elijah’s boot the other day was still there.
Grey looked at Cate. “Do you have an idea where to search?”
Looking at the massive castle constructed of sandstone, Cate felt suddenly overwhelmed. A crumbling stone bridge led to the entrance, which was flanked by two towers that made up the massive gatehouse one passed through to reach the inner ward.
She didn’t have a specific idea at all of where to look. “I suggest we go into the gatehouse.”
Grey started over the half-ruined bridge, fearless as usual, and Cate followed her.
“Be careful,” Elijah warned as he moved past them. He turned his head to look at them over his shoulder. “Walk where I walk. I don’t want any of you to fall.”
Cate went up second, with Grey behind her and Wade in the rear. Elijah waited for her to reach the top and gestured for her to go in first. Stone loomed above her as she moved between the two towers. She passed two sets of doors, a pair on either side of the corridor. Then she was in the inner ward. Ruined stone and wood from the building cluttered the periphery, and again she was struck with a burst of sadness for the grandeur this castle must have held.
“It’s a shame to see it like this,” she said.
Elijah moved into the center of the ward and turned in a half circle, his eyes scanning the four towers that guarded the fortress. “Magnificent.”
As she watched the sunlight hit his upturned face, she had the same thought. Not about the castle, but about him. She averted her gaze lest he see her staring and assessed where to look first. The private quarters would likely have been upstairs in the gatehouse.
When Grey and Wade joined them, Cate suggested they split up. “I’ll search the left side of the gatehouse. Elij—Norris, you take the other side. Wade and Grey, perhaps you can start in the towers?”
Grey nodded. “I’ll take the northeast.”
“I’ll take the southeast,” Wade said and they both departed.
“Do you really think you’ll just find it tucked away somewhere?” Elijah asked.
The excitement at being so close had been replaced with anxiety that they were still too far. It was like searching for a pin in the grass. “We found the tapestry, didn’t we?”
Elijah chuckled. “Your spirit is unmatched.” He turned and went to the right side of the gatehouse.
Cate, feeling inordinately buoyed after his reaction, went into the opposite side. A pile of rotting wood sat in one corner, indicating the state of ruin. She surveyed the room briefly, but didn’t see a place in which to hide anything. She climbed the circular stairs in the corner and moved into a chamber. It was empty, but offered a view of the grassy inner ward below via a massive window. She moved into the other room, which sported an enormous hole in the floor and nothing else.
Frowning, she retraced her steps and returned to the inner ward. Where next? Buildings that would’ve provided the heart of the castle—the kitchen, dining hall, granary, chapel—were laid out at the edge of the ward. Beyond that, encircling the towers and the inner ward was the outer ward, an important line of defense in castles from this time period.
She eyed the crumbling building against the back wall of the ward in the southwest quadrant and stalked through the doorway. The stone wall was intact, but the roof had caved in, leaving her to pick her way through the ruined timber. She searched through the wood as best she could on her way to the tower and then froze at the sound of boots against stone.
Cate dropped down low and tried to crouch behind some wood. Peering over the top toward the tower, she relaxed as a boy emerged. She stood, smiling with relief.
But he shrieked.
“Oh! I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said.
He looked at her strangely, as if he couldn’t understand her. She remembered where she was and tried again, but in Welsh.
His shoulders released and his mouth ticked up. “It’s all right. I like to play here.”
Cate looked around her and thought of the mischief she would have found had she grown up near such a treasure. “What a wonderful place to play. I should like to be a child again here.”
Elijah rushed into the room. “Cate!”
“I’ve met a friend.” She turned to the boy and introduced Elijah to him in Welsh. “He doesn’t speak English. He’s here playing.”
“Did you ask him if he’s seen a sword?”
“No, but that’s an excellent suggestion.” Cate moved closer to the boy. “I wonder if you could help us. We’re looking for something that’s been here for a very long time, nigh on four hundred years. A sword.” As soon as she said the words, she realized how foolish they sounded. If this boy had found a sword, he certainly wouldn’t have left it untouched. But that didn’t mean he didn’t know where it was.
The boy’s earth-colored eyes darkened. He shook his head. “I don’t know anything about a sword.”
Cate frowned and looked at Elijah. “He doesn’t know anything.”
“I gathered that from his demeanor, although I also gather he knows more than he’s saying. He became guarded when you mentioned the sword.”
She’d thought so too.
Wade and Grey entered then. “Haven’t found anything yet,” Wade announced.
Cate gestured toward the boy. “We did. He’s just here playing, and no, he doesn’t know anything about the sword.”
“So he says,” Elijah added.
“Perhaps we should look for a clue in the tapestry.” Wade pulled the bag from his shoulder and set it on a rotting slab of wood that looked as though it had once been a table. He took out the map and laid it out flat.
They all moved closer to inspect it, except for Cate. “I’ve looked at that until my eyes crossed. I don’t think there’s anything more to be discerned.”
The boy arched his neck to see what they were doing. “What is that?” he asked Cate.
“It’s a special tapestry. It shows a battle that
was fought here four hundred years ago. Would you like to see it?”
The boy nodded and Cate gestured for him to come forward.
They made space for him at the table. He inhaled, a sound of total awe, as he looked at the vibrant picture. “That’s Glyndwr!” He pointed at the man wielding the sword.
Cate exchanged looks with Elijah. “Yes, we think so too.”
“Oh, no, it is him! I’ve heard of this battle and this tapestry. His daughter made it.”
Cate’s heart froze in her chest. He’d heard of this tapestry? Glendower’s daughter had made it? She squatted down to the boy’s height. “How do you know of this?”
He shot her an innocent glance, all of his earlier caution gone as if it had never been. “It’s an old story. My father tells it better.”
“Would your father tell us this story?”
“I don’t know. He only tells it to certain people.”
Cate’s pulse raced.
“What’s he saying?” Elijah asked.
Cate looked up at him, eager to share what the boy had said. But the sound of a pistol cocking robbed her of speech.
“Cate.” Elijah grabbed her arm and pulled her to his side.
The boy’s eyes widened. He turned and ran for a window, vaulting through it to the middle ward.
“Don’t ye move,” a male voice called. Cate turned her head this way and that to try to find the source, but she didn’t see anyone. “We’re all around ye.”
Wade and Grey stood back-to-back, pistols already in their hands.
“What do you want?” Elijah asked loudly as he slowly picked up the tapestry and carefully folded it.
“You know what they want,” Cate hissed, nodding at the tapestry.
A single man walked around the corner from the direction of the tower, where this room flowed into another along the adjacent wall of the ward. As with the highwaymen who’d attacked them two days ago, a mask covered his face from hair to mouth. “I want that tapestry. Just put it back down and be on yer way.”
“No,” Elijah said.
The man sneered, his pistol trained on Elijah’s chest. “If ye want to keep breathin’, ye’ll do as ye’re told. This isn’t goin’ to be like the other day. There’s more o’ us than there are o’ ye and the second his lordship puts his hand on a weapon, he’s a dead man.”
