June Francis

by Convenient Wife Rebel Lady

  ‘It’s not that kind of trouble. It’s Anna and your lad. What a secretive fellow you are, brother,’ drawled Matt. ‘But never mind that now, you have to come quickly.’

  Jack said grimly, ‘What’s happened to them?’

  ‘I’ll tell you on the way. Can you get some speed out of those horses? I don’t suppose you can leave the wagon here?’ asked Matt.

  ‘God’s blood, Matt. Will you explain?’ cried Jack, whipping up the horses.

  ‘I suspect Anna’s been abducted.’

  Jack’s heart banged with fright. ‘Hal and her husband’s nephew, Will?’ he croaked.

  Matt looked at him in surprise. ‘How did you know?’ he asked.

  ‘Who else would take her?’ Jack felt sick at heart. Only now did he admit to himself just how much Anna meant to him and that he would be lost without her. He had to rescue her. ‘Tell me what you know,’ he said.

  Matt did. Soon the wagon was rattling along the track that led to the house at a fair lick. The passengers clung tightly to the side of the wagon. Jack was heedless of the danger that such speed presented if they hit a pothole or a large stone. Fortunately he drove into the stable yard without meeting with any mishap and jumped down from the wagon as soon as it drew to a halt. He ignored the builders and, flinging a command to Mistress Wainwright, the new cook, to climb down and go into the house and to the manservant to unload the wagon, he left them to it.

  He hurried through the opening in the unfinished extension, sparing no glances for the wooden struts overhead that awaited a roof, but crossed the floor of beaten earth to a passage that led to a large, untidy kitchen. Chairs were placed higgledy-piggledy about the room and there were only a few pots and platters on the shelves. A plain scrubbed wooden table had been pushed up against a wall and on it stood a barrel and several tankards. The air struck chill as there was no fire on the hearth and there was dust everywhere. He was followed by his brother. Jack left the kitchen and came out into a passage. He noticed the baggage placed on the floor in the passage and a muscle quivered in his cheek. He passed several doors on his way to the front of the house and threw open another door. The sunlight that poured out of the room almost blinded him and he put up a hand to shield his eyes. Then he saw his son slumped in a chair, looking the worse for wear.

  ‘Philippe, are you all right?’ Jack hurried over to him. His son slid from the chair and ran over to his father and flung himself into his arms. His grasp of English had deserted him and he babbled away in French.

  Without realising what he was doing, Jack brushed twig and leaves from his son’s clothes and when his boyish tones finally petered out, Jack kissed him. ‘You are intelligent and very brave and I am proud of you.’

  His son’s eyes shone with tears. ‘You will find her, Papa. You will rescue maman from the wicked man?’

  ‘I will,’ said Jack, praying that he would be in time. One word his son had kept repeating: labyrinth. Jack had to believe that was where Anna was being taken.

  ‘Can I come with you, Papa?’ asked Philippe.

  Jack shook his head. ‘You must rest. Your uncle will take care of you.’ He glanced at his twin.

  ‘You don’t want me to accompany you?’ asked Matt.

  ‘No. This I have to do alone,’ said Jack grimly.

  He kissed his son once more before he left him in his brother’s care and hurried outside. He saddled up one of the horses in his stable and knew he was going to have to ride like the wind if he was to save Anna.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Anna was trying to put on a brave face, but she was sick with fear. She had prayed for rescue, hoping Jack would come. She had put her faith in Philippe hearing what she had said and recovering from the blow on his head. At least there was a full moon. She struggled against her bonds. Unfortunately, Will had knotted the cord so tightly there was no give in it. But as soon as they had arrived here at the maze, he had slashed a hole in the material covering her head so she could see what was happening. He had spared her no details as to how he planned to get rid of her, as if she didn’t already know he wanted to see her burn. He had told her that Hal was dead. She had wondered aloud if she had killed him. But Will had admitted that he had never been in favour of Hal’s plan to marry her and gain possession of Fenwick.

  ‘But Hal, being a big man, I wasn’t going to argue with him. I’d come off the worst,’ he’d said. ‘So when I saw you’d knocked him out, I seized the opportunity to get rid of him.’

  ‘How?’ asked Anna hoarsely.

  ‘I dragged him to the river and pushed him in.’ Will had laughed. ‘He’d have cheated me out of seeing you burn. He wanted you and wouldn’t have let you go. Bewitched him, you did.’

  ‘I did not,’ cried Anna.

  But Will had not been prepared to listen to her. She had asked after the boy and he had shrugged and told her that he’d given him a blow that had stunned him. It did not seem to matter to Will that the boy was Jack’s son, unless he was unaware of it. He had gone off collecting wood and had, making torches of kindling, but begun to build up his fire.

  Anna was alone with the silence of the fells seeming to press in on her. She could see the bonfire clearly by the light of a couple of flaming torches, for night had fallen by the time they had reached here. Then she heard the squeal of some wild creature and jumped out of her skin. She looked to the torches and their light cast flickering shadows over the maze cut in the turf. Suddenly she realised that there was something moving out there. Her heart began to thud. If only it could be Jack. Then she heard a sound to her right and Will appeared. He began to come towards her. She could not see his face clearly and he dropped what he carried on the pyre. Then he took a torch and tossed it into the piled-up wood.

  The moment she feared had come. Tears blocked her throat as she thought of Jack, wishing that she had told him how much she loved him. Will drew something from his pack. But only when he approached her did she realise he was wearing that devilish mask. Anna screamed.

  ‘You’ll burn now,’ sniggered Will.

  ‘I think not,’ said Jack, riding into the light as the kindling and dry wood burst into flames.

  Anna watched in wonder as Jack leapt from his horse and drew his sword. Will gave a muffled curse and produced a dagger. With one swipe of his sword, Jack forced him to drop the dagger. Then he tossed his sword aside and with a roar, went for Will. Pummelling him with his fists, left, right and centre, he finished him off with an upper cut to the jaw. The force of the blow caused Will to spin and, with arms flying, he fell face down on to the fire. She watched in horror as his clothes began to smoulder and tiny flames appeared. His screams were muffled by the mask.

  Jack was tempted to let him burn, but, with a curse, hurried forward and, reaching out, dragged him to safety. He smothered the flames with his gloved hands and rolled him over on to his back.

  Anna was unable to tear her eyes away as the screeching Will tried to rid himself of the burning mask. The heat from the fire had caused the oil in the paint to melt and then ignite. Jack swore and, reaching out, tore off the mask. She let out a strangled cry. The mask had burnt its devilish impression into Will’s face and there was little left of his skin.

  Jack dropped the burning remains of the mask in the grass. Picking up Will’s dagger, he went over to Anna and slashed her bonds. She fell into his arms and clung to him. Only after a couple of fraught moments did she suddenly become aware that he was holding his arms out straight and not hugging her. Was he furious with her for getting herself into such a dangerous situation? But his kiss rid her of that idea.

  A sudden cry brought the kiss to a speedy end. They turned as one and to their amazement saw Will, who had somehow risen to his feet and tried to stagger towards them with his dagger in his hand, felled by Matt. ‘You didn’t really think I would let you ride into danger without me this time, did you, Jack?’

  Anna was speechless. But her husband said, ‘Is he dead?’

  ‘I thought I’d
best put him out of his misery,’ said Matt, wiping the blood off his blade on the grass. ‘Besides, imagine the looks he’d get with a face like that, the swine.’

  Anna felt Jack’s hand brush her side and she thought she knew what he was thinking. ‘I love your face,’ she whispered.

  ‘I’m glad to hear you say that, but it’s not that which is bothering me right now,’ he said, wincing.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked, taking hold of his wrist. Then her gaze took in the smouldering and half-burnt gloves and, with a cry of dismay, she began to ease it from his hand. Jack gritted his teeth as Anna removed his other glove. She inspected his hands. ‘There are several blisters, but hopefully there will not be any lasting damage,’ she said in a trembling voice. ‘I will anoint them with salve once we get home.’

  ‘Home!’ A smile broke over his face that was covered in smuts. ‘Our home and that’s exactly where I want to be with you, sweetheart.’ Somehow, he managed to place an arm round her and bring her against him.

  Anna thrilled to his use of the endearment and lightly touched his cheek. ‘What would I have done if you’d fallen into the fire? I would not have wanted to live.’

  Jack kissed her fingers. ‘I must have been crazed to have dragged the cur from the flames.’

  Anna knew exactly why her husband had done what he did. ‘It is that warm heart of yours concealed beneath this tough exterior.’ She poked his chest.

  ‘I’d say he’s crazed,’ interrupted Matt. ‘I will not mourn him. By the by, what’s happened to Hal?’

  Jack turned to him. ‘I forgot you didn’t understand a word Philippe said. He helped Anna knock out Hal, but then Will turned up. He bundled up Anna and prevented Philippe from escaping by hitting him over the head. I don’t know what happened to Hal, but he was missing when Philippe regained consciousness and staggered back to the house. He kept repeating labyrinth and I put two and two together. He wanted me to save his maman.’

  Anna felt the warmth inside her grow. ‘Like father, like son. I owe my life to you both. Will confessed to me that he pushed Hal in the river. He only went along with Hal’s plan to marry me to gain Fenwick Manor because he was so much stronger than him.’

  Jack swore. ‘Hal always had his eye on you.’

  ‘He went crazy when I told him we were married.’ Anna sighed. ‘You don’t think he might have regained consciousness and swum ashore?’

  ‘He would have had to do so fairly swiftly. Do you think Will would have allowed that to happen?’ asked Jack.

  ‘He left me only for a few moments,’ she answered, feeling partly responsible for Hal’s death. He had wronged her greatly, but she felt a little sad that the man she had once regarded as a brother had met such a fate and died unshriven.

  Jack seemed to read her thoughts. ‘You had no choice, Anna. You had to defend yourself,’ he said firmly.

  There was a silence.

  ‘So what are we going to do with Will’s body?’ asked Matt.

  Jack stared at his twin. ‘I suggest you take charge of it. I’m for home.’

  Matt sighed. ‘Me, too.’ He looked down at the dead man. ‘I suppose it would be wrong to leave him here for the crows and the foxes, so I’ll tie him to his horse and see to his burial.’ He glanced at Jack and Anna. ‘When can I expect to see you two again? You’re welcome to stay at Milburn Manor whilst the building work is being done at your house.’

  Jack looked at Anna and she shook her head. ‘I’ll send a messenger, Matt, when we’re ready to come,’ he said. ‘There are matters we need to sort out.’

  Matt nodded. ‘I guess you two want to spend some time alone.’

  Jack grinned. ‘You guess right.’

  The twins hugged each other and Anna kissed her new brother. They said their farewells to Matt and watched him ride off, leading the horse with Will’s body tied to it. Then they mounted Jack’s horse with Anna upfront. She insisted that she take the reins. Jack protested, but she was firm with him. ‘This is one of those times when you must allow me to override your command, Jack. It would be foolish to damage your hands further; besides, it would be painful for you.’ He submitted to her will and, with his arm looped about her waist, they set off on the return journey.

  Jack prayed that Anna had truly meant it when she had indicated that she was prepared to stay in his house and put up with inconvenience of the building work in progress. Perhaps in the coming weeks she might change her mind and prefer to travel south and spend some time in the Palatine of Chester. Whatever her decision, he would agree with it. Besides, they had a lot to discuss with Owain and they would have to arrange a meeting with Anna’s man of business to decide what to do with Fenwick Manor.

  There was also the matter of the legal side of their marriage to be sorted out, arrangements to be made for the Church’s blessing and a celebration with the family. The difficulty about such a gathering was not only getting them altogether with winter drawing near, but the unfortunate matter of Hal. Despite what Jack had said to Anna about the unlikelihood of Hal surviving being pushed into the river, he would not feel easy in his mind until his body was found. Only then would he be able to accept that the threat to Anna was finally lifted.

  The house appeared to be slumbering in the early morning sunshine when they arrived back at the house. They rode into the stable yard and dismounted. Jack frowned because there were no men working on the extension and all was quiet.

  ‘Perhaps they’ve taken a day off or they might be in the kitchen,’ suggested Anna, leading the horse towards the stable and thinking she had yet to see the interior of her new home.

  Suddenly they heard a door open in the house and a moment later Philippe came out into the yard. His face was alight with relief. ‘Papa, it is you! And you have my lady mother with you.’

  Anna gave Jack a pleased look and then smiled at her stepson. ‘Aye, your papa came to my rescue.’

  ‘He is brave, yes?’ said Philippe, grinning.

  ‘Extremely brave,’ said Anna, glancing at Jack’s hands.

  ‘Where’s Joe, Philippe?’ asked Jack, considering the conversation boded well for their future.

  The boy’s expression altered and he informed them in a mixture of French and English that Joe had found a body lodged in the weeds in the river and he had gone to report it to the constable in the town. ‘I like Joe. But I prefer it that you two are here with me. Do you know there is a grand-mère here? She makes apple tarts and they are delicious.’ He licked his lips. ‘Also, there is William—he tells me stories about when he was a mariner. He speaks French.’ Philippe looked at Anna and then at his father. ‘What happened to the other bad man? You kill him with your sword?’ he asked with relish.

  Jack said with a wry smile, ‘What a bloodthirsty boy you are. But, aye, he is dead. Now tell me, where are the men who were working on the house?’

  ‘Two are inside and two others have gone to keep an eye on the body.’ He gazed up at his father and said eagerly, ‘Will you be going to see it? May I come with you?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ said Jack with a faint smile. ‘You are a ghoul, lad.’

  ‘I suppose I should have a look at it,’ said Anna. ‘After all, it might not be Hal.’

  Jack said, ‘I think it’s more likely to be him than not, sweetheart. You go inside with Philippe and wait for me there. I’ll go and look.’

  She did not move. ‘I’d rather come with you, Jack. I want to see for myself if it is Hal.’

  Anna thought he was going to refuse her. But then he nodded. ‘All right. Come with me.’

  ‘Let me come as well?’ asked Philippe, holding his head to one side and pulling a face.

  Anna laughed. It seemed the wrong thing to do in the circumstances, but she could not help it. The boy looked so comical. ‘You can come, but you must stay at a distance,’ she said.

  He smiled and slipped his hand into hers. ‘I am sad that your lute was broken. But we fix your lute, Papa and I. In the house there is a fine miniatur
e sailing ship. William, he tell me that Papa made it.’

  Anna glowed at Jack. ‘Can you fix my lute?’

  ‘I’ll have a good try and, if I can’t, then you shall have a new one from Venice,’ said Jack.

  He headed towards the river, followed by Anna and Philippe.

  They found the labourers, sitting on the bank a few yards from the body. Anna could scarcely believe her eyes when she saw that one of them was fishing with a hand line.

  ‘I won’t pay you for doing that,’ said Jack, frowning. ‘It doesn’t need two of you to watch a dead body. Get back to work. I want the roof on and a door to the extension by the end of the month.’

  ‘But that’s only a week away,’ protested one of the men.

  ‘I’ll pay you all twice as much if you get it done,’ said Jack. He turned to his wife. ‘Now, Anna…’

  She nodded, and taking a deep breath, walked over to the body. Her face blanched as her eyes gazed down at Hal, then she averted her face. ‘May God have mercy on his soul,’ she said, crossing herself.

  Then she hurried away.

  Philippe glanced at the body and then at his father before rushing after her. The boy helped Anna unsaddle the horse and she gave him the task of fetching the beast some water and fodder. Jack entered the stable and gazed at her.

  ‘Are you all right?’ he asked, looking concerned.

  She nodded, although she was feeling unlike herself. But that was understandable in the circumstances. Jack put an arm about her shoulders, ‘Come on, Anna, let’s get you inside the house. You need to rest.’

  She allowed herself to be ushered indoors. The first room she entered was the kitchen. She expected to see building dust, so she made no comment about it to the woman of middle years, who introduced herself as Mistress Wainwright. Philippe’s so-called grandmother, she presumed.

  Jack watched with a mixture of anxiety and pride as Anna asked after the woman’s health and then discussed what they were to eat for dinner before ordering that warm water, drying cloths and bandages be sent up to their bedchamber. Then he hurried his wife out of the kitchen and to the room that he considered the best in the house, glad that the sky was not overcast. He so wanted her approval of his home.