by Rebecca King
“So why are you here easing your libido with my stepdaughter rather than being out there, protecting King and country, and more importantly Harriett?” Simon demanded, snuffing out several of the candles around the room.
“I am not easing my libido with her,” Hugo sighed, wondering how to appease the man’s anger. “I have got a fair amount of information out of her.” He stopped when Simon glared at him.
“I’ll just bet you have,” Simon snorted. “Now that she has gone, there is nothing keeping you up now, is there? First thing in the morning Hugo, I expect you and Romilla to leave my house. If you want to escort your lover to Launceston, then that is up to you, but don’t return here. I am more capable of protecting Harriett, than you,” he snapped.
“Harriett is well protected,” Hugo began only to stop at Simon’s disbelieving snort.
“Do you think so?” Simon snarled contemptuously. “First thing in the morning Hugo, I want you and your investigation out of my house,” he said, slamming the door behind him before climbing the stairs to his room.
He could hear drawers and doors slamming from within Romilla’s room as he passed, but made no attempt to approach her. Instead he made a mental note to be up extra-early in the morning to order Cook to prepare the woman a breakfast she could eat on the move.
Hugo watched the man leave, and cursed fluidly. He stood before the hearth, staring down at the flames for several moments as he contemplated the night’s events. Romilla was undoubtedly experienced and knew how to push a man’s buttons to get him to want her, but he had no idea what her motive was for propositioning him as blatantly as she did.
He had no doubt she had had several lovers. She was far too experienced in the art of seduction. He also knew that Romilla could put on quite a sexual performance when she wanted to, especially if it was in an attempt to get something out of her lover. Now that she was out of the room, he was able to consider the evening with fresh eyes and knew he had been played for a fool by an experienced mistress. She had teased him, laughed with him, trying to draw him in with her attempt at coquettishness. Despite the cool calculation behind the feigned mirth, he had been unable to break off her ridiculous attempts to convince him of her innocence, and had felt driven to see where she was going to take it. What did she want from him? Besides sex he felt sure she really didn’t want. He had been struggling to pull away from her too clingy arms, and grasping legs when they had been interrupted by a cold, furious Simon.
Being molested by her was a small price to pay for the valuable information he had gleaned from her throughout the evening. He had also learned that the woman had a deep vein of malice toward her stepsister that was born out of jealousy of the deep feelings Simon had for his daughter. Romilla didn’t like to be bested by another woman, and preferred to be the centre of every man’s attention. But did that make her a cold blooded killer? She was certainly determined enough, but Hugo felt she had a lover tucked away somewhere. Romilla was sneaking out of the house at all hours of the day and night, heading off to see her lover. But who? Although Archie had followed her all the way to St Issey, he had lost her twice in the narrow, winding streets and had been so far unable to identify which house she was going to.
Hugo couldn’t shake off the lingering feeling that he had come very close to something tonight, and it wasn’t anything nice. He was glad that Simon had ordered her out of the house tomorrow morning because it gave him the perfect opportunity to make sure she was followed. There was no doubt that she wouldn’t leave her uncle’s house, and would instead head straight to her lover. She had sufficient arrogance about her that she would expect her lover to provide for her, whatever the unfortunate man wanted in return. But was her lover a spy smuggler? Or a cold blooded killer out to avenge his lover’s spite?
Hugo wasn’t sure yet, but he knew that - until he had some definite answers about Romilla’s secret life - he couldn’t cast her out of the investigation just yet. She was equally as dangerous as any assassin. How quickly she could turn things to her own advantage was obvious in the trap she had laid for him, that he had nearly been dragged into.
With a dark frown he was about to leave the room when a soft tapping at the window drew his attention.
The small hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and he frowned for a moment before quietly leaving the room. Moving into the darkened room next door, he crept quietly toward the large bank of windows, peering cautiously out into the night. With a sigh he lifted the window and motioned for Archie to enter.
“What happened?” Archie demanded, a dark scowl on his face.
Hugo paused and looked back at him in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“Harriett.”
“What about her?” Hugo’s heart froze in his chest. He had heard about her near-miss from Rupert, but had not had a moment to go and check on her. Instead he had relied heavily on Archie and Jamie’s reports that she was unharmed, and safely tucked away in her cottage.
“She left the cottage when someone tried to break in,” Archie whispered. “She came in here through the back door.”
“Who was it, do you know?”
Hugo frowned, and felt a leaden weight settle in his chest. Was that the reason for Simon’s fury? Was Harriett in the house? God forbid, had she seen him with Romilla? The blood froze in his veins and a small voice inside him warned that this was indeed the case.
“It was a woman.”
“Romilla was here with me all evening,” Hugo replied, shaking his head.
“Then it must be Marion.”
“Anyone following?”
“Rupert.”
“I thought he was at St Issey?” Hugo snapped with a frown, wondering when his men had taken it upon themselves to change their shifts.
“I was watching Harriett, Jamie is in St Issey, and Rupert is following the woman back into Padstow,” Archie reported, eyeing the burning fury in his boss’ gaze warily.
“Padstow?” Hugo’s eyes narrowed at Archie’s nod. Immediately his thoughts turned to Marion, and the empty doctor’s house. Had she returned?
Something warned him that the end of the investigation was drawing close, and for that he could only be grateful. He needed the assassin, the attempted murderer, and Romilla out of the way so he could focus on his future with Harriett. If indeed he now had a future with Harriett. If she had witnessed him with Romilla tonight–
He turned back to Archie with a sigh.
“Get some rest. Let me know what Jamie finds. When Rupert returns, I want to know exactly what he has discovered.”
Archie nodded.
“Keep watch on the Manor. Do they know Harriett is here?” He smiled mirthlessly when Archie shook his head. “Remove anyone who tries to gain entrance.”
“Remove them?”
Hugo nodded, his eyes cold and hard. It was time to shake up the smugglers and murderers a little. “Make it quiet and make them disappear.”
Hugo’s eyes met and held Archie’s for a moment before other man nodded briskly.
“Yes, sir.” With that, he disappeared out of the window and melted into the bushes.
Hugo closed the window and locked it before snuffing out the rest of the candles in the sitting room, and heading off to bed. He paused at the top of the stairs, wondering which room Harriett was in, before making his way to his own room.
Once in his room, he paused and frowned at the bed. Although he had learned a lot about Romilla, he still had unanswered questions. Did she know Harriett was in the house? Was she involved in the attempts on Harriett’s life? Until he knew for sure, he couldn’t take any risks. Collecting his few belongings, Hugo slipped out of the room and moved into one of the empty rooms further down the corridor, making sure the door was locked behind him.
Tomorrow, assassins, spiteful hoydens, spy smugglers and the Star Elite aside, he would find Harriett, and confront her once and for all.
It was time for them to sort out their future together, so H
arriett understood exactly what she was involved in.
In spite of his determination, he was still scared that if she had witnessed him being caught unawares by an amorous Romilla, he could have just lost Harriett forever.
The following morning events were taken out of his hands when he was woken by a grave-looking Simon.
“Something has happened,” the older man reported, watching as Hugo immediately snapped awake, glaring ferociously back at him.
“Harriett? Where–” Hugo growled, fear beginning to rise at the serious look on Simon’s face.
Despite his anger at the other man, Simon lifted both hands, palm outwards, to stem the worry that.
“Harriett is downstairs having breakfast, none the wiser.”
Hugo scowled at him and pushed to the side of the bed.
“One of your men is here wanting to talk to you; I think it is Archie, but in disguise. He said it is urgent.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right there.” He didn’t wait for Simon to vacate the room before he got up and began to dress. He didn’t bother tying his shirt as he walked down the main staircase, and didn’t notice the surprised look he received from one of the maids when she caught sight of his barely concealed chest.
Once downstairs, Simon waved him into the parlour on the opposite side of the hallway to the breakfast room where Harriett was eating breakfast.
“Romilla left first thing this morning,” Simon reported, frowning at him in stark warning. He hadn’t forgotten that he had ordered Hugo out of his house too, and clearly expected his now unwanted guest to adhere to his orders and leave.
“Good,” Hugo growled, nodding toward the breakfast room. “Go and join her, I’ll be with you in a minute,” Hugo said quietly to the other man. Luckily Simon hadn’t actually mentioned Hugo’s need to leave. Hugo could only hope he was amenable to hearing Hugo’s reassurances about his intentions toward Harriett.
Sure enough, Archie was standing before the desk, studying a sheaf of papers. He dropped them back into a pile when Hugo entered, his eyes grave as he studied his boss.
“There’s something you need need to see,” Archie replied, glancing warily around the room. It was all Hugo needed to know, and wisely kept quiet, motioning toward the French doors on the opposite side of the room. Within moments they were striding across the lush garden toward a bank of trees that sheltered the property from the fierce sea winds.
They walked through the woods for several minutes before Archie drew to a halt at a small clearing and nodded at the body lying partially buried by the undergrowth.
Hugo didn’t need to look too closely to know that it was Romilla.The light blonde hair was the same, and the dark blue dress that she’d been wearing the previous night confirmed it.
“Do you know how long she has been here?” He squatted down beside the body and studied the pale, drawn face of the deceased.
“A few hours maybe,” Pie replied causing Hugo to look up at him with a grin.
“Pie, my old man, how the devil are you?”
“I’m fine, boss; glad to be here.” Pie ambled forward to shake hands with his boss, his happiness obvious in the broad grin that stretched his face regardless of the gravity of the situation.
“How long have you been here?” Hugo asked, wondering if anyone else had arrived.
“I got here just before dawn. Relieved Archie, because he’s knackered and bloody useless at keeping watch.” His eyes twinkled with mirth as he looked at Hugo, deliberately ignoring Archie’s disparaging snort. “She came from through there, and was walking with a man in a black cloak. They got to the clearing, where she hugged him. I couldn’t see much because of the cloak, but the next thing I saw, she was slumped on the floor with her throat cut.”
“Where did he go?”
“Back the way he came.”
“From St Issey,” Jamie replied, with a yawn. He had been standing along the edge of the tree line, one eye on the narrow track behind them while he listened to the recounting of events.
“St Issey – you know which house?” Hugo glanced down at the prone form at his feet. He had suspected she had had a lover, but had her lover murdered her?
He wasn’t surprised when Jamie nodded slowly. Jamie quickly described the small, nondescript terrace house that was only accessible through a narrow alleyway.
“She went there when she left the Manor?” Hugo demanded, his gaze sharp as he studied Jamie.
“She left the Manor about two in the morning, and went straight to the house in St Issey. It was easier to follow her because it was dark and nobody else was around.”
“Did she notice you?”
“Nope,” Jamie’s grin was proud. “I watched the place for a couple of hours. Just after dawn she left with a man and they came here.”
“What do you want to do about her?” Pie asked, nodding at the deceased.
“Notify the new magistrate, and get her moved, but keep it quiet. I don’t want word of this getting out just yet,” Hugo slowly turned and began to scour the area around the body. Although he knew the men had probably already done a search of the area, there was something about Romilla’s death that wasn’t right. Why kill her? What did she know that would put her life in danger? Moreover, who did she know who wanted to kill her?
Romilla looked completely different to Harriett. She was broader, with blonde hair as opposed to Harriett’s red hair. Also, Harriett wore plain, serviceable gowns, not brightly-coloured frivolous ones like Romilla had worn, so it couldn’t be a case of mistaken identity.
“Do you think it is the people we are after?” Archie asked. Although he knew that Romilla hadn’t been very nice, it was a shame to see someone in their prime brutally murdered in such a barbaric way.
“No, I don’t.” Hugo warned, shooting Archie a dark look. “I think we have another problem on our hands; a much bigger problem that we need to deal with first.”
“Like what?”
“Has anyone found out anything about the doctor?” he asked, glancing toward the newest member of the Star Elite to turn up.
“Yes. Doctor Treyanin did have a nephew, who was called Ethan, but he died from scarlet fever over ten years ago.” Pie’s watched his boss’s face harden.
“Anyone heard from the old Doctor Treyanin?”
“Nope, the family are getting worried, because they usually receive a monthly letter from him updating them on his activities. They haven’t heard anything for about two months.”
“Since this so-called Joshua person arrived.” Hugo added, mentally cursing. “Has there been any word of unidentified bodies turning up?”
Pie shook his head. “I can check but, with the sea so close by, it would be easy to get rid of someone.” He nodded down at the woman at their feet. Silence settled over the men for several moments.
“You didn’t inform Simon de Mattingley?” Hugo turned to Archie and nodded in thanks when Archie slowly shook his head.
“I thought I would leave that to you, boss.”
“Don’t say a word to anyone, especially Simon,” Hugo’s voice was grave.
“Why?” Jamie asked, frowning at Hugo.
“I think Simon may be as guilty as the spy smugglers. Do we have a name for any of the spy smugglers yet? Besides Joshua and Marion?”
Everyone shook their heads. “We need to hurry this along. Where is Rupert?”
“Watching the house Romilla went to in St Issey, with Simon,” Rupert reported, confirming that another of the Star Elite team, Simon Montague, had also arrived.
“There is something else,” Jamie added, shifting closer and dropping his voice. “Pierre Chambard and his mother, Marguerite”
Hugo froze and stared in shock at Jamie, brows raised in disbelief. His gaze dropped to the woman on the floor.
“Lovers?”
Jamie nodded slowly.
Hugo cursed. Everyone knew that Pierre and Marguerite Chambard had been living in England for several months, and were an integral part of th
e spy smuggling chain. Until now though, nobody knew what they looked like. It was galling for Hugo to realise that he had been so close to them without knowing who they were. In fact, he had walked right up to their door and asked for their help – a fact that under normal circumstances would have galled him, if it hadn’t been for Harriett’s being in danger at the time.
“Pierre and his mother, Marguerite were Joshua Baintree and Marion.” Hugo’s voice was cold and hard as he revealed the identities of the first and most important link in the spy chain. “Pierre must have been the one who shot me, and headed back to the doctor’s house in Padstow afterward. He must have seen me heading toward Harriett’s house and knew enough about her to know she would help me. It was why he sent the little Frenchman to visit Harriett; he was giving me a warning that he knew what I was and was going to keep me there until he was ready.” Hugo cursed at his own fallibility.
“He wasn’t the one who tried to break into Harriett’s cottage.” Rupert replied, emerging from the trees on the far corner of the clearing.
“Which house did they go to?”
Rupert shook his head regretfully. “I kept pace with them until they reached the top of Padstow but they simply vanished. I checked the area carefully, but didn’t see any movement. This place is full of alleyways, and narrow streets lined with house after house. She could have gone into any one of them.”
“Anywhere near Mrs Partridge’s house?” Hugo queried, his hopes rising briefly before Rupert shook his head.
“Nope. Opposite end of the village.”
“Is everyone here?” Hugo demanded, relieved when Pie reported that everyone was present but Jonathan Arbinger, who was still deep undercover. Hugo nodded in understanding. Jonathan had succeeded in infiltrating a small part of the spy chain several months ago and was working undercover, posing as a courier. The invaluable information he was gathering gave them enough of an advantage to begin to make plans on who to take out, and when, without the rest of the chain being any the wiser.
