Regency Admirer/The Merry Gentleman/The Gentleman's Demand

by Meg Alexander

  Nancy turned her head away, but he didn’t need to see her face to realise that she was close to breaking point. Her body was as taut as a bowstring.

  Sophie gave an artistic wince as she removed her shoe. Then he examined her foot with every appearance of concern.

  ‘Nothing broken, ma’am,’ he told her cheerfully. ‘But this is a bad case. You must be very careful...’ It was the clearest possible warning that Nancy was in a most dangerous state of mind.

  Sophie’s look was pleading. ‘What must I do?’ she asked.

  ‘Rest is what is needed here, Mistress Firle. Rest and complete quiet. I’ll give you a sedative. You won’t find it unpleasant. Taken in a hot drink it is unnoticeable. You will sleep for hours.’

  He rose to his feet and turned to Nancy. ‘Is this your room?’ he asked.

  Nancy didn’t answer him.

  ‘What a pleasure it is to see a cosy fire,’ he continued, apparently untroubled by her rudeness. ‘Now, Mistress Firle, I must be on my way. I am called to a sick woman in the village. The poor wretched creature is without a single covering for her bed.’

  Sophie understood him at once. ‘We have bedding and to spare,’ she cried. ‘Let me find it for you. Abby, will you stay here to make up the fire again? I shall only be a moment.’

  Abby looked about to refuse, but a stern glance from her mistress caused her to think better of it.

  Sophie slipped out of the door and drew the doctor away to the far end of the landing.

  ‘She mustn’t hear us whispering. Oh, what am I to do? Doctor Hill, she has a gun...’

  ‘I saw it, ma’am. Abby told me what has happened. Nancy’s mind has gone, I fear. Without the gun we might have overpowered her, but the risk is now too great. She could fire at random. In any case, we cannot move her at this time of night.’

  ‘This time of night?’ Sophie glanced at the clock in the hall below and realised to her horror that in less than an hour she must open the cellar doors.

  ‘Will you give me the sedative?’ she asked. ‘I’ll try to get her to take it at once.’

  He opened his bag and thrust the preparation into her hand. ‘The doses are made up, but don’t give her more than one, ma’am. They are very strong. Too much can be dangerous.’ His face was grave. ‘Have you no one with you other than the servants? You are taking a serious risk. I think we should move the girl without delay. I’ll try to arrange it for tomorrow.’

  ‘Must you?’ Sophie’s look was pitiful. ‘I couldn’t bear to think of her confined to a madhouse. With care she may recover...’

  He shook his head as he took his leave of her, and she hurried back to Nancy’s room.

  Abby was standing by the door, and, as Sophie reappeared, she shot out of the room. Sophie called her back again.

  ‘Did I not mention that we’d like some broth? Please bring it up at once.’

  Sophie awaited Abby’s return with ill-concealed impatience. Time was running out. If Hatton’s plan was to succeed she must make her way to the cellars within minutes.

  ‘What took you so long?’ she cried as she snatched the tray from her servant’s hands.

  ‘The broth wasn’t ready, mistress. Mother made it fresh for you.’ Abby was startled by the unexpected sharpness in Sophie’s tone.

  Turning her back on her companions, Sophie slipped the sedative into one of the bowls of steaming liquid.

  ‘Now, Nancy, won’t you try to eat?’ she coaxed. ‘You will feel so much better if you do. Come now, just a sip or two to please me?’

  Obediently, Nancy picked up her spoon. Then she cried out as her lips touched the scalding broth. ‘It’s too hot!’ she whispered.

  Sophie gave a despairing glance at the clock. If she hurried, she need not be away for more than a few minutes.

  ‘Then let it cool. Abby, do you stay with Nancy. I shall be back at once, but I must see your father.’

  Matthew was not far to seek. He was waiting for her by the cellar door.

  ‘Give me the keys,’ she demanded, ‘then please go up to Nancy’s room. You need not enter. Just stay by the door. Abby may have need of you.’

  Matthew was torn with indecision, wondering whether Sophie or his daughter would be in the greatest danger.

  ‘Nancy is quieter now,’ Sophie comforted. ‘I think you need not fear for Abby’s safety. This is a precaution.’

  ‘But what of you, ma’am?’ he protested. ‘Won’t you go back upstairs? I will open the cellars. It’s no task for a woman.’

  ‘Do as you are bidden!’ Sophie snapped. ‘You know that this is all arranged.’ She looked at his worried face and softened her tone. ‘Think about it, Matthew! These men may be waiting by the entrance to the tunnel. They are expecting me, but no one else is supposed to know of their cargo. They might kill you on sight.’

  Matthew paled, but he persisted. ‘It’s too dangerous. Why should they not kill you?’

  ‘They need me. Besides, they think that I’m their ally. Now, Matthew, Mr Hatton has arranged this scheme. Do you believe that he would allow me to put myself in peril of my life?’

  ‘I suppose not, but...well...we can’t be certain what they’ll do.’

  ‘Nothing is certain in this life.’ Sophie spoke with a lightness she was far from feeling. ‘Now give me the keys! Do you have the lantern?’

  His silence spoke volumes as he obeyed her.

  ‘Remember now, you must not follow me!’ Sophie’s heart was pounding as she made her way down the cellar steps.

  The light from the lantern was of little comfort to her. It served only to emphasise the shadows which closed in on her from either side. Following the single beam, she hurried to the hidden entrance to find that Matthew had already pulled the shelves aside and unlocked the door.

  Ahead of her the huge cellar lay in darkness, and she was seized with terror.

  She could only hope that Matthew hadn’t taken it upon himself to open the doors at the far end of the tunnel, otherwise her unwelcome visitors might already be awaiting her.

  She stopped and listened, but there was no sound. Reluctantly, she moved into the tunnel, knowing that she was now beneath the hillside behind the inn. The place was damp and at once she had to fight a sense of claustrophobia. If the walls caved in, she would be buried alive.

  Fearfully, she raised the lantern to examine her surroundings. Then she noticed with relief that the passageway was shored up with heavy baulks of timber. Evidently it had been found worthwhile to construct it with great care. These men must make a handsome profit, she thought bitterly, if they could sanction such an outlay. How long had it taken them?

  Her hands shook as she examined the bunch of keys that had been hidden behind the shelves. There was no indication as to which of them she needed. The first two would not turn in the lock, and she began to despair. Perhaps the metal had rusted from lack of use over these past months.

  In her frustration she kicked angrily at the door. If the third key did not fit, Hatton’s plan would be ruined.

  To her relief it slid smoothly into the lock. She turned it and pulled at the doors. They swung open as if on oiled hinges.

  Sophie peered out into the darkness, holding the lantern high above her head. She could see nothing outside the pool of light. She listened in silence, but nothing stirred in the blackness. What had she expected? Wagons, ponies, groups of men? Possibly they were hidden in the copse of trees.

  Well, she had played her part. It was over, much to her relief. She turned away. Then she screamed aloud as a figure appeared beside her, and she almost dropped the lantern.

  ‘No, don’t raise it!’ a conversational voice advised.

  Sophie knew at once that it was Harward. Furious with him for giving her such a fright she disobeyed his order, thrusting the lantern towards him. Then she quailed.

  In that shadowy light the sharp planes of his features were thrown into relief, giving him a predatory look. His smile did nothing to reassure her. He resembled nothing
so much as a savage wolf, his lips curled into a snarl.

  Now he took the lantern from her hand and set it on the ground.

  ‘You have been fortunate tonight, my dear,’ he observed. ‘You did not follow orders, Mistress Firle. That was a mistake...’

  ‘I...I don’t know what you mean.’ Sophie’s voice was little more than a croak.

  ‘Were you not advised to keep your premises locked, with shutters closed and your servants in their beds?’

  ‘I did as you told me.’

  ‘Then how is it that one of your men was allowed to ride into the village this evening?’

  ‘Matthew? He went to fetch the doctor. One of my girls was taken ill.’ Sophie’s teeth were chattering with fright.

  There was a silence. Then Harward bowed. ‘Fortunately, ma’am, we know the doctor. It is, perhaps, as well...’

  Suddenly, Sophie lost her temper. ‘You have been spying on us?’ she accused.

  ‘Just a sensible precaution, Mistress Firle. We could not risk betrayal.’

  ‘To one of your so-called bandits?’ In her fury, Sophie threw caution to the winds. ‘Do you imagine I believe that cock-and-bull story?’

  ‘I never did.’ Harward observed mildly. ‘I don’t regard you as a fool. You know quite well what we are about.’

  Sophie tried to recover her position. ‘It does not signify to me,’ she said. ‘I am looking for security, Mr Harward. You have promised me that.’

  ‘And I’ll keep my word.’

  ‘Well, then, I shall leave you to go about your business. It is dark enough, God knows. You will be undisturbed this night.’

  She heard a low laugh. ‘You underestimate me, ma’am. We did not intend to move tonight. We needed to be sure of you. Had your servant visited anyone other than the doctor...well...we might have wondered if you were indeed a friend.’

  Sophie shuddered. Matthew had come so close to death that night. She was thankful that her voice was steady when she spoke again.

  ‘I trust that you are satisfied,’ she said in haughty tones. ‘Let me remind you, sir, that I am taking all the risks here. If this cargo is discovered on my premises I face imprisonment, transportation, or even death. I want it moved without delay.’

  ‘Of course you do, and so do we. Shall we say tomorrow evening, then?’

  ‘Certainly! That is, I suppose, unless I have need for a further visit from the doctor...’

  ‘Ah, now you are offended.’ Harward sounded regretful. ‘I am sorry for it, ma’am, but you must understand that a degree of caution is as much in your interest as in our own.’

  Sophie nodded stiffly.

  ‘Then may I suggest that you lock the door behind me? Until tomorrow, then?’ With an exquisite bow Harward turned and disappeared into the darkness.

  Breathing hard, Sophie closed the heavy door, slamming home the bolts and turning the key in the lock. Then she hurried back along the tunnel and through the cellars, bruising her ankles on crates and boxes in her haste.

  She found Matthew waiting for her.

  ‘Didn’t I tell you to look out for Abby?’ she cried. ‘She might have had need of you.’

  Matthew shook his head. ‘My girl is in no danger, ma’am. Nancy is asleep.’

  ‘Thank heavens for that!’ Sophie’s sense of relief was overwhelming. Nancy must have drunk the broth containing the sedative. She questioned Abby at once.

  ‘She ain’t eaten much of it,’ the girl informed her, indicating the half-empty bowl. ‘She wanted to wait for you. I set the dishes beside the fire to keep them warm.’

  Sophie was in a quandary. Had Nancy taken enough of the sedative to quieten her for hours, or would it be best to persuade her to finish off the broth? Nancy stirred then and Sophie decided on the latter course.

  ‘I’m sorry I was so long, my dear. I was looking forward to sharing this meal with you. See, Abby has kept our food warm. Won’t you try a little more?’ She picked up her own bowl.

  Rather to her surprise, Nancy made no objection. She took the proffered dish and sipped slowly at the contents.

  Sophie decided on a little encouragement. Food was the last thing on her mind, but Nancy was regarding her intently, so she began to eat with apparent relish.

  ‘Abby, you need not wait to clear away,’ she said. ‘It is very late. Do you go to bed. The dishes can wait until morning.’

  Nancy had stopped eating.

  ‘Finish it up,’ Sophie urged. ‘See, my own bowl is almost empty.’

  Nancy picked up her spoon again, much to Sophie’s relief. Aside from the necessary sedative, the broth would do her good. Heaven alone knew when she had last eaten. Now, with food inside her and a roaring fire to warm her through, the girl should fall into a sound sleep.

  ‘Won’t you lie down upon your bed?’ she suggested. ‘I’ll help you to undress.’

  Nancy baulked at the suggestion. ‘May I not sit here by the fire?’ she whispered.

  ‘Of course you may!’ Sophie was determined to avoid a confrontation. ‘I thought only that you would be more comfortable...’

  Nancy smiled, gazing at the leaping flames as if she were in a trance-like state. Then she turned her head and Sophie was startled by the look of triumph in her eyes.

  Something was wrong. Sophie attempted to get to her feet, but her limbs would not support her. Overcome by an appalling sense of lassitude, she tried to move her leaden body.

  ‘Sit down!’ Firm hands pushed her back into her chair. ‘You shouldn’t have tried to drug me, Sophie. I watched you through the mirror.’

  ‘It was only to help you sleep...’ Sophie could barely recognise her own voice. Her words were slurred and now the smiling face above her seemed to be changing, dissolving into a whirling mist.

  ‘What have you done to me?’ she whispered.

  ‘I changed my bowl for yours. Now you will sleep. I couldn’t let you stop me, Sophie...I know what I must do.’

  ‘Oh, please! You must not. You could ruin—!’ Sophie closed her eyes and fell into darkness.

  When she awoke it was to find herself in her own bed, with Hatton at her side. His face was grim.

  ‘Nicholas?’ She reached out a hand to him. ‘What are doing here?’

  ‘Thank God!’ He gathered her to him with a groan. ‘I thought she might have poisoned you.’

  ‘It was only a sleeping draught,’ she said with some difficulty. She still felt heavy-eyed and lethargic. ‘She changed the dishes, giving hers to me.’

  ‘I should have listened to you.’ Hatton was filled with self-reproach. ‘I had no idea that she was so close to breaking point.’

  ‘Nor had I. I knew she was disturbed, but I didn’t realise how badly until Abby told me that she’d been holding conversations with her dead husband. Worst of all, she believed she had a child...’ Two large tears rolled slowly down Sophie’s cheeks.

  Hatton kissed them away. ‘Don’t worry!’ he soothed. ‘When we find her she shall have the best of care—’

  ‘When you find her? Oh, no! Do you tell me that she is gone?’

  ‘She won’t have gone far. Her quarry is here. I thank heavens that you kept her close last evening, else all might have been lost. Can you tell me what went wrong?’

  ‘I sent Matthew for the doctor,’ Sophie told him miserably. ‘It didn’t occur to me that the inn might have been watched. He was followed. They suspected betrayal, you see. It was only when he came back with the doctor that they trusted me again.’

  ‘So that was why they didn’t move the goods last night?’

  ‘No! They had no intention of doing so. Harward is a careful man. He wanted to be sure of me.’ She heard a sharp intake of breath.

  ‘You mean you actually spoke to him last night?’

  ‘He was waiting for me by the entrance to the tunnel.’

  Hatton held her close. ‘I should never have let you take such risks.’ His face was muffled against her hair. ‘Can you ever forgive me?’

  ‘Th
ere was no risk,’ she answered lightly. ‘He even apologised when I flew at him—’

  ‘You flew at him?’ he echoed in disbelief. ‘Sophie, why must you take such chances? Were you not afraid?’

  ‘I was terrified at first,’ she told him frankly. ‘But then he made me angry. He looked so smug...so sure that he had me in his power. I didn’t take kindly to his threats, especially when he spoke of Matthew.’ She shuddered. ‘I hadn’t realised that he would watch the inn so closely. If Matthew had gone anywhere other than to the doctor’s house, they would have killed him.’

  ‘Matthew was in no danger,’ Hatton told her. ‘We were watching too. He was followed by one of my men both into the village and back again.’

  ‘Then you were close at hand? I wish I’d known it.’

  Hatton kissed her gently. ‘You are the most precious thing in life to me, my darling. Would I leave you before our enemies are gone from here?’

  Sophie rested her head against his chest. ‘I’m so glad,’ she whispered. ‘Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. Oh, Nicholas, I needed you so badly. I didn’t know what to do, with Nancy half-demented. I tried to reason with her, but it was useless. She has a gun, you know.’

  ‘Yes, Matthew told me.’ Hatton’s face was sombre. ‘We must find her quickly. She could be in great danger.’

  ‘You didn’t see her leave the inn?’

  ‘No, my dear, but it was dark, and we were some little distance away, hiding in the woods.’

  Sophie thought for a moment. ‘She wouldn’t go far, I think. She knows now that Harward gives the orders and must have been responsible for her husband’s death. He is her target. I am certain of it.’

  ‘I wonder. She has had other opportunities to kill him, Sophie.’

  ‘I think she wanted to be sure. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was listening when Harward and his friend made their proposition to me. Then, as you know, they went away before she could take action.’

  ‘We must find her. This could mean the ruin of all our plans. She could remove our only lead with a single shot. Have you any idea where she could be?’