by Rebecca King
The man beside him stood in stark contrast to Archie’s easy-going charm. Jamie could only be described as sinister, but in a friendly way. Harriett shivered at the sheer presence of the man as he stood before her. Taller than Archie and Hugo, with jet-black hair and beautiful grey eyes, Harriett had no doubt that this man would cut your throat within the blink of an eye if you crossed him, and probably wouldn’t even bother to ask questions later.
Her gaze automatically turned to the last man, Rupert. He looked like the odd one out of the group. His fashionably-cut, dark brown hair was more in keeping with the ballrooms of the ton. If one was fooled by his almost bookish persona, one would be lulled into thinking that his watchful, alert personality was nothing more than mere observation. Harriett felt his eyes study her, assess her searchingly before making an abrupt decision and moving on to the next thing they needed to judge.
The three men were so different that at first one would assume that they had no business even being together.
“It’s what makes them so successful,” Hugo whispered, smiling when Harriett turned startled eyes toward him. He had seen her study the men, trying to make them out, and understood her confusion.
The men from the Star Elite were mis-matched, and that is what made them one of the best undercover fighting units in the country. Nobody looking at them would ever think they even knew each other, let alone had anything in common. But Hugo knew that Rupert was an analyst who could study, assess and remember maps, places, people and faces better than anyone he knew. Jamie was more of an enigma. Precise and knowledgeable, he had astounding knife skills and was adept at entering any property as silently as a ghost. His best skill was breaking and entering. How he had acquired those skills Hugo didn’t want to know, but he was the best in the business.
Archie, however, was probably the most diverse member of the team. He could blend in with any crowd, anywhere, and simply vanish. His sword skills were legendary and, although his knife skills had improved significantly with practice, his ability to track anything that moved with little clues to guide him was simply humbling to watch.
“You said in your note you had been shot. I take it you are better now?” Rupert asked, raising his brows and imperceptibly nodding toward Harriett.
“It’s all right,” Hugo sighed, motioning everyone to the table. With everyone standing, the room seemed to be closing in on them. It was a relief to have everyone seated, and less imposing. “We can talk in front of Harriett and Simon.”
Harriett remained silent and quietly lit the fire, placing a pot over the hearth to boil. She was aware that her movements were being watched by at least four people around the table, and fought the urge to glance over her shoulder at them. She was glad she was sitting beside the reassuring, familiar bulk of Hugo.
Hugo briefly explained what had happened on the night of the shooting in Port Isaac, and to Harriett since. He was very aware that he had yet to hear from Harriett what had happened in the bedroom at the doctor’s house, and although he didn’t want to make her cry in front of the men she didn’t know, he had to give them a complete picture if they were going to decide how best to deal with matters.
“Harriett can explain what happened at the doctor’s house,” he said, pushing away from the table and going to pour everyone a cup of tea. He had never done this before and was fumbling clumsily with the pot when Archie appeared beside him.
“When you have quite finished, I don’t know about the others but I would prefer not to have to drink mine off a spoon because you’ve smashed your way through the kitchen. Move over, and see how an expert does it.” With that, he took the pot off Hugo, and swiftly made everyone a fragrant cup of the steaming brew, shooting his friend a superior smile as he elaborately placed a cup directly under Harriett’s nose.
“There we are, ma’am. Please excuse the oaf here.” He ignored Hugo’s snort, served everyone else and sat down beside a rather bemused Harriett, half turning in his chair toward her.
“I take it the red marks on your neck aren’t from Hugo?” he asked quietly. Despite his affability of a few moments ago, his eyes were dark and mysterious as he eyed the reddened skin around her neck.
“I was asleep,” Harriett replied quietly. “At the doctor’s house. I-”
She paused when Archie held up a hand to stop her. “How were you lying?”
Harriett stared blankly at him a moment, wondering why that mattered. With a mental shrug she decided to tell him anything he wanted to know; after all, they were here to try to capture the people responsible for trying to kill her – twice, and who had shot Hugo – once.
She picked up her tea, savouring the warmth as she shivered at the stark memory of that horrible few minutes when things could have ended so very differently.
“I was lying on my front, facing away from the door. My head was near the edge of the bed, I think,” and she frowned down at the scarred top of the table, still uncertain why he needed to know.
“Then what happened?” Archie prompted her after several moments of silence.
“A pillow was suddenly slammed over my head and a heavy weight pushed on top.” Harriett swallowed, one hand rising to the marks on her neck.
Hugo frowned and stared at the red marks, wondering if the fear had made her forget something.
“Because the pillow left a gap I was able to breathe and fought back. Suddenly, the weight disappeared off the pillow and hands were around my neck from behind. There was a heavy pressure on my back, stopping me from getting up.” Tears began to pool in her eyes.
Hugo reached across the table and placed a reassuring hand over hers.
“Did you hear anything? Was anything said?” His voice was soft and gentle. He hated to have to ask her and resurrect such terrifying memories, but had little choice.
“There was heavy breathing, but they didn’t say anything.”
“It was a man?” Archie asked gently.
Harriett nodded. “Yes, I’d say so. The person holding me down was very heavy, and the hands were very strong.”
Archie eased her hand away from her neck and studied the red marks, placing his fingers over the marks thoughtfully for a moment before nodding wisely and returning to his tea.
“Who is usually in the house?” Rupert asked, shifting in his seat.
“The doctor and a housekeeper called Marion,” Hugo replied, patting Harriett’s hand gently before releasing her. He was pleased to be able to get the subject away from Harriett’s ordeal, and back on to the facts.
“Marion who?”
Hugo and Harriett looked blankly at each other, before turning to stare at Simon who shrugged.
“I have no idea. Marion appeared in the village a couple of weeks after Joshua did.”
“Joshua?” Rupert asked, raising a brow at Hugo.
“The doctor in the village.”
“When did he arrive?”
“About two months ago. Dr Treyanin had to go to care for his sister, apparently, and left practically overnight. Joshua suddenly appeared and said he was going to take over the practice from his uncle,” Simon replied.
“So Joshua Baintree is Dr Treyanin’s nephew?” Rupert scowled into his tea. He had been in the business far too long to simply accept such a story without needing to know more.
“I think so. Nobody really thought to ask much,” Simon replied with a frown. “Most of the people in the area come to Harriett if they need medicines and the like. They feel more comfortable and reassured coming to her than the doctor.”
This made the men raise their eyebrows and glance at Hugo who stared back at them without blinking.
“Harriett is a witch,” he announced solemnly, his mouth twisting when Archie spat out his tea and began to cough.
“Witches aren’t as beautiful as Harriett,” Archie protested, wiping tea off his chin. “They are old, haggard and have warts on their faces.”
Rupert rolled his eyes and sighed. “Excuse our uncouth friend. He doesn’t get out
in society much.”
“What?” Archie gasped, holding his hands out beseechingly. “I’m just saying witches aren’t as beautiful as Harriett.”
“Harriett is beautiful, and also a witch,” Hugo declared firmly, giving Harriett a wink.
“Anyway, as I was saying,” he continued with a pointed look at Archie. “Most people come to Harriett for herbal remedies if they are ill, so nobody knows much about this doctor.”
“So he could be anybody,” Jamie said solemnly. His words dropped into the silence like pebbles into a pond.
Harriett could have sworn the tension in the room rose several notches.
“Definitely a suspect,” Archie added, frowning at Simon.
“Anyone else?”
“Romilla, my stepdaughter,” Simon glanced apologetically at Harriett. “She doesn’t like Harriett, I am afraid, because Harriett is my daughter by birth.”
“Is she wicked enough to make an attempt on Harriett’s life?”
“Romilla has always been spoilt, and doesn’t like not getting her own way. I have recently advised Romilla that she would do better to reside with her uncle in Lancashire-” he wrinkled his nose and glanced around the table. “It didn’t go down too well.”
“So, there is a wicked stepdaughter who is spoilt and has recently been told to clear off,” Jamie added, sighing deeply. “Then there is the assassin who shot Hugo, who could be trying to bump Harriett off to get her out of the way.”
“Or, because she is close to Hugo,” Rupert added. “They could be trying to hurt Hugo through her.”
Archie rolled his eyes, and shook his head at the number of suspects they had to investigate. He looked at Hugo balefully. “Anyone else?”
Silence settled between them for a few minutes.
“Thank God for that!”
“I’ll take the doctor and this Marion woman,” Rupert added quietly, his dark blue eyes glinting dangerously. Without animation, with Rupert sitting quiet and still, Harriett could see the ruthless fighter in the stern lines of his face. The cold menace she could see hovering beneath the surface made her shiver. She knew instinctively that if Joshua Baintree and the mysterious Marion had anything to hide, Rupert would discover it.
“I’ll take the assassin,” Archie said quickly, glancing at Jamie who groaned and began to protest.
“So I get the spoilt sister?” He rolled his eyes and glared at Archie. “Thanks a lot!”
“Not a problem, Jamie my old man. My pleasure,” Archie replied sneakily, smiling at Harriett cheekily.
Hugo shook his head. He hadn’t expected so many of the Star Elite to turn up, but he was very glad they were there.
“I’ll-” Hugo broke the silence.
“You will stay here and look after Harriett. It’s your job to make sure that nobody gets anywhere near her,” Rupert declared flatly, turning to Simon with raised brows.
“I take it you are not one of the suspects?”
Simon glanced at Hugo. “I am afraid I am,” he replied with a sigh.
“Simon was with me when the attacker tried to strangle Harriett,” Hugo said quietly. His pointed look at the men warned them to remain quiet on the subject for now, and he would bring them up to date later, when they were alone and Harriet, as well as Simon, was out of earshot.
“Could you go and pack a few things?” Hugo said quietly to Harriett, watching the reluctance steal over her features.
“Where is she going?” Archie asked, glancing at the woman beside him curiously. Had he missed something?
“You lot will need a place to stay, so Harriett is going to the Manor to stay for a few days while we get this mess sorted out,” Hugo replied, pushing away from the table as though the conversation was over.
“But you are putting her right under Romilla’s nose, one of the prime suspects,” Rupert protested with a scowl, wondering if he had missed a major clue.
“She can hardly remain here with four single men, now can she?”
“But we already have accommodation sorted,” Jamie replied, getting to his feet and handing Hugo his cup. “It is best if you and Harriett remain here.”
“Jamie can come and stay at the Manor as a business associate of mine,” Simon offered. “That way, he can find out what he needs to know about Romilla before she leaves for Lancashire.”
“When does she go?”
“The day after tomorrow. She is packing now.”
“So that makes her dangerous,” Rupert added, his voice calm and matter of fact - as though he was reporting the weather rather than describing the acts of a would-be murderer.
“You mean she has two days to try to kill me?” Harriett added with a shudder. She was suddenly very grateful for the presence of the men standing on either side of her, and felt a little safer knowing at least one of them would be staying with her.
Hugo watched her put her hands to her throat, and wondered just how much bruising she would be left with. Without speaking, he picked up a small scrap of cloth sitting on the table under the window, wet it and placed it against the red marks on her neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered with a soft smile.
“Are there any herbs or something you can put on it to ease the discomfort?” Hugo asked, oblivious to the curious gazes of the assembled men.
“Yes, I’ll get them in a minute,” she replied, blushing when she realised they were the object of scrutiny.
“Now we have our allotted jobs, I’ll say goodnight,” Archie said, picking up Harriett’s hand and bowing over it while he kissed it.
“We’ll rendezvous in the usual spot,” he said pointedly to Hugo, and with a brisk nod at Simon disappeared out of the door.
Rupert and Jamie followed suit, taking Simon with them. Within minutes silence settled over Harriett and Hugo who watched the door close behind them.
“They seem very-” Harriett frowned at the door in consternation, “-decisive. The usual spot? I thought they had just arrived?”
“They are the best in the business,” Hugo replied, carefully ignoring her question and watching her yawn. It all sounded very mysterious, but Archie had told everyone to meet up later in the graveyard of the church in Padstow. The group usually met in the graveyard of whatever village or town they were working it. “You have had a horrendous couple of days. I think it would be best if you got some rest now. I need to pop out for a minute, but will only be outside. Shout if you need anything,” he added, sweeping out of the door without a backward glance.
Harriett gasped and watched the door close behind Hugo, leaving her alone in the room. It felt like the first time in a very long time that she had been alone, and she wasn’t at all sure that she liked it.
Before the last few days, she would have relished the silence and solitude, which allowed her the freedom to do what she wanted, when she wanted. But, of late, especially given the attempts on her life, she wasn’t sure that she ever wanted to be alone again.
Immediately her thoughts turned to Hugo, and she wondered if he was talking to the men from the Star Elite.
Moving swiftly to peep through the tiny gap in the shutters Hugo had used earlier, Harriett peeped out into the garden. Sure enough, there were four shadows standing deep in conversation beside the fence bordering the neighbouring field. As though sensing her watching him, Hugo turned and glanced directly at the shutter she was staring out of. Instinctively she ducked backward, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment at being caught watching.
Quickly moving away, she put another pot of water on the hearth to boil and went to light the fires in the bedrooms.
The bedroom was just as pristine as the rest of the house. Unless she was mistaken, the sheets had been freshly laundered. Once again, the fire had been laid, ready for the fire to be lit. With a sigh of gratitude, Harriett did this and was about to rise to her feet when she was aware of a figure standing in the doorway.
With a gasp she twisted around, sagging with relief when she spied Hugo watching her.
> “It’s only me,” he said quietly.
He had seen her watching through the gap in the shutters, but couldn’t find it within him to be annoyed with her. If the shoe was on the other foot, he would have been snooping out of the window.
“Have they gone?” Harriett asked, getting to her feet.
Hugo didn’t add that the men were taking it in turns to keep watch on the outside of the house so Harriett could sleep undisturbed.
“For now,” he replied obliquely. It wasn’t a lie. They had gone for a short while, all except Archie, who had taken first watch. Rupert had gone to his lodgings in the village, and Jamie had escorted Simon back to the Manor. Simon had been sent on his merry way while the men had sorted out the watch rota.
He remained by the door, everything within him locked on the bed that stood between them. The image of her lying prone in his arms, pale and sweating while she fought the poison, and the red marks still visible around her neck were stark reminders that, as Simon had said, life was too short. He suddenly had the need to make the most of the time he had with the beautiful woman standing facing him.
It was as though she knew, and understood his silent call. Her eyes met and held his boldly, watching and waiting while he walked slowly across the room to her, giving her time to stop him, or show any kind of hesitation at all.
CHAPTER NINE
“I’m sorry,” Harriett whispered, causing Hugo to frown at her in confusion for a moment. “It seems that you have been tasked with being my bodyguard.”
Hugo’s lips quirked upward in wry amusement. “I can think of worse things to do,” he murmured, his thoughts flickering briefly to Archie, standing cold and alert outside.
With the warmth of the fire flickering heartily beside them, the soft glow of the candlelight encased them in gentle warmth that was vaguely hypnotic. Hugo wondered if she had placed a spell on him. If she had, then he could only be very grateful, because this was one spell he didn’t want to be free from.
