Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series)

by Richards, K. R.

  “The last message I received from you said you were being followed,” Trevan said.

  “I was.” Jack looked to Tuesday. He saw her nervousness. “We were being followed.”

  Tuesday looked to Jack in surprise. He wasn’t going to reveal the fact that she had snuck out and followed him. She smiled at him.

  He grinned back at her and gave her a wink.

  He continued, “Actually, we were shot at. We left Camelford in a rush when I realized there was trouble. We had stopped to rest some hours later and had just dismounted. I was still near my horse and was able to grab the bags before he reared and bolted. We lost Tuesday’s bag and our food.

  Jack turned to the Duchess, “Aunt Morva, I don’t think Tuesday has had anything close to resembling a meal in two days. We had a few bites of food at the Inn yesterday at noon. We had to leave suddenly due to someone following us. The food we brought along was with the horses.”

  “Heavens, Tuesday, let’s get you up to a room. You may have tea and a bite to eat while your bath is prepared,” Morva said.

  “Tuesday,” Catherine spoke up, “I think you can fit into my gowns. We are close to the same size. I’ll have my maid bring several to your room.”

  “Thank you Catherine.” Tuesday smiled. She wanted to ask Catherine why she was here in Cornwall, but she did not. “Oh, I should be in black,” Tuesday said, remembering she was in mourning.

  “Tonight, you will wear what Lady Catherine will lend you. We are not sticklers on formality here. I will pull out some mourning clothes for you. We’ll have my seamstress alter them,” Morva reassured Tuesday with a smile.

  “I have mourning gowns, but the hem shall have to be let out for you,” Grace offered.

  “Thank you, both,” Tuesday said quietly. She was feeling more than a little awkward.

  “Micah you’re walking rather stiffly and the ladies look to be exhausted. Lyon you are limping. I think all six of you should follow me upstairs. It was a long journey for all of you. We’ll get you all some sustenance, you can bathe and rest before dinner,” Morva said as she began to herd the newcomers toward the stairs. Diggory, the butler, led the way.

  “I’ll take the bags, Jack.” Trevan accepted the bags Jack held out to him. “Will you stop in the library and speak to us before dinner, Jack?” Trevan asked. His gaze moved to Tuesday.

  “After I bathe and eat. You did bring my trunk from Roseland Abbey didn’t you?” Jack fidgeted. They wanted an explanation. He had taken Tuesday’s innocence. He would marry her. The explanation could wait until after he cleaned up.

  Trevan nodded. “Yes, it’s in your room. If you need anything else, Tristan’s clothing should fit you well enough. Let me know and I’ll have whatever you need sent to you.”

  Jack nodded. “Thank you.”

  Jack’s hand rested at the small of Tuesday’s back as they ascended the stairs. He looked to Tuesday. She gave him a dazzling, genuine smile that warmed his heart. He smiled back. He had no idea what it was about Tuesday Inwood that captivated him so, but he knew he could admit that he was absolutely enchanted by her.

  Gabriel stepped out into the corridor. “Elowen! Aunt Morva!” He called loudly. Seconds later Elowen exited from her room at the end of the corridor.

  “What is it Gabriel?”

  “Zenny’s fever is rising very quickly. We need cold water to submerge her in.”

  Elowen stopped and nodded. “I’ll let the housekeeper know right away.” She turned and headed in the opposite direction toward the stairs. She met the newcomers to Menadue ascending the stairs with her aunt.

  “What is it, Elowen?” Morva asked immediately when she saw the concerned expression on her niece’s face.

  “It is Senny. Her fever is rising. I’m going down to order a cold bath to be brought up to her room.”

  Morva nodded. “I’ll be along in a few minutes after I get our new guests settled. Send for me if you need me, dear.”

  Elowen nodded and continued to make her way down.

  “Senny Penrose?” Micah asked with concern.

  “Yes, she was taken by a man, oh it’s a long story, but she was shot, and got away but traveled all night across the moors in the rain. She has infection. Gabriel and Marrek found her.”

  “I am sorry to hear that. Please let us know if there is anything we can do,” Micah offered in genuine concern.

  “Of course, I will. But you all have had your share of mishaps and injuries and you need your rest.” Morva patted Micah’s arm.

  Two hours after Senny’s cold bath her fever climbed again. The Doctor had called just after Senny was immersed in cold water and informed them Senny’s situation was grave. In addition to the infection in her arm, she also had an inflammation of the lungs.

  Still Gabriel tried to connect with his love with no success. He spoke to her, he willed her to live.

  Sophia came to help Elowen with Senny. She and Gabriel watched as Elowen laid various colored stones upon Senny’s chest then applied a poultice to her arm. A candle that smelled of rosemary, lavender and sage burned in a brass holder on the table beside the bed.

  “What do the stones do, cousin?” he asked softly.

  “Well, they contain specific energies, Gabriel. The moss agate is to help with healing. This sunstone,” she pointed to a fiery colored stone, “gives her the physical strength she needs to recover, and the aquamarine,” she touched a clear sea-foam colored stone, “helps to cleanse the toxins of the infection from her body, and it provides peace and healing.”

  She continued, “The bloodstone purifies her blood and helps with the fever as does this agate. This silvery colored stone draws illness from her body. The black stones, jet, smoky quartz and tourmaline, draw all the negativity and infection from her body. The other green stones, aventurine and olivine help with healing. The carnelian and ruby bring life force into her body.”

  “I wonder where I could get some stones like yours, Lady Elowen,” Sophia said in awe. “I have heard of healing with stones, rather with their energy, but I have never seen it done before. I find it fascinating.”

  “After I remove these from Senny, we will soak them in sea water in the moonlight to cleanse them. Then they are yours, Lady Amesbury. I will write down instructions for you. I have plenty of stones. Some come from the mines here in Cornwall and the others my brother brings to me from wherever he travels. Many of them come from India. And please, call me Elowen.”

  “Thank you, that is so very kind. I had best get dressed for dinner. I will check with you later, Elowen, Gabriel.” Sophia laid a hand on Gabriel’s arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

  Gabriel gave her a nod.

  “Thank you for this salve you brought, Sophia. Not only will it help ward off Senny’s infection, but the scent of it will open her up so she can breathe better.” Elowen sniffed the contents of the jar after removing the lid. “Rosemary, chamomile, lavender and is it camphor?”

  “Yes just a hint of camphor. There are a few other ingredients as well. I shall write them down for you and give them to you later,” Sophia offered.

  “Thank you. I shall put it on her wound after I remove the poultice.”

  Gabriel rose and escorted Sophia from the room.

  After closing the door, he turned to see Elowen rubbing her hands together. She placed them on Senny’s shoulders. She closed her eyes and seemed to be concentrating.

  Gabriel saw a quick flash of green light sparkle around her hands. It sank into Senny’s body.

  When Elowen opened her eyes and removed her hands, she looked to Gabriel. “I sent her healing energy, Gabriel.”

  “Thank you, Elowen.” Gabriel hugged his cousin before she left the room.

  His younger brother, Thomas, came in to sit with him a few minutes later.

  “How is she?” Thomas asked.

  “The same.” Gabriel sighed heavily.

  Before going downstairs to gather in the large parlour before dinner, Sophia and Lyon came in
to Senny’s sickroom along with Micah and Libby to pay their respects to Gabriel.

  “Gabriel, we know you don’t feel like company, but we just had to come and tell you we are here for you,” Micah said. This was personal. If not for Gabriel, they might have never found Libby back in Templecombe. He was instrumental in saving both Libby and Sophia in London as well.

  “It’s true, Gabriel,” Lyon spoke. “We, all of us, owe you a great deal. You helped us save Libby and Sophia. If you need anything at all, please, do not hesitate to ask.”

  Choked up, Gabriel could only nod.

  Libby stepped forward and hugged Gabriel, “You must believe she will be well, Gabriel. You have to. Belief is everything,” Libby whispered to him.

  “Yes, Libby. I will continue to believe she will recover.” Gabriel offered her a weak smile.

  “If you and Lady Elowen need relief, I can sit with Miss Senny. I would be pleased to help you,” Sophia offered.

  “As would I,” Libby added.

  “Thank you. All of you.” Gabriel looked to each one of his friends.

  They talked for several more minutes.

  Gabriel urged everyone, including his brother, to go to dinner and asked Elowen to have a tray sent up for him and some broth for Senny.

  He fed his love as much broth as he dared. He ate alone. Senny began to toss and turn as her fever climbed anew. Her soft moans were growing weaker, and due to the inflammation in her lungs, it appeared she was having more difficulty breathing.

  He took her still, limp hand in his and attempted to reach her yet again. He slid through the veil. This time, instead of darkness, he saw her far off through a hazy mist. Again, she walked up the hill.

  “Zenny! Zenny! Don’t you dare leave me Sennen Penrose! “Come back to me, Zenny. This instant!” He called out to her many times. She turned to look in his direction only once. She never saw him. Nor did it appear she heard him.

  He rose and paced. “Don’t leave me, Zenny. Please, don’t leave me!” he whispered to no one. He knew she could not hear him. She was lost in shadow.

  Jack entered the library, shaved, clean and well dressed in his formal dinner attire that Trevan’s party had brought with them from Roseland Abbey.

  Most of his colleagues were already present.

  “We’re just discussing the scrolls, Jack. First, I need to ask you how Lady Tuesday came to be with you on your journey. I just received a rather frantic letter from her mother at Swandown Manor,” Trevan said.

  “It appears that Tuesday left a letter stating that she was following you to Cornwall.” Harry added.

  “I did not know it was her following me until I reached Camelford. I set a trap for my pursuer and caught her. Please understand, Tuesday now realizes the danger she put herself in. We suspect she was followed as well.”

  He continued, “At first, I was very angry with her and insisted upon returning her to Swandown. Then I realized how much she is suffering over Charlie’s loss. She argued with me relentlessly. She feels the need to be involved. She believes she has the right to be here with us. She needs to feel that she is doing something, I think,” Jack explained.

  He continued in a serious tone, “I had a feeling at the Arms that we needed to leave right away.” He would not tell them just yet that he thought he saw Charlie. He was no longer certain himself.

  He continued, “We were followed by someone from the Arms, though I did not know it. Several hours later, when we stopped alongside the road to rest, someone shot at us from across the road. The shot banked in the dirt not three feet away from Tuesday.”

  “Were you close to her?” Marrek asked.

  “Not very close, no. I was about to tie up the horses. We planned to sit and eat the food we brought from the Arms. I was a good ten feet from her when I heard the shot. You know the rest of the story. I was able to grab the bags from my horse before he bolted. Tuesday’s mare had already run and was headed across the road.”

  He continued, “We ran into the wood since the shots were coming from across the road. It began to rain later and we had to stay in a small cottage of sorts.”

  “It sounds as if someone was shooting specifically at Lady Tuesday,” Marrek remarked.

  “It appeared that way to me as well, but who in the devil would want to harm Tuesday?” Jack shook his head.

  “Good question. There is another more pressing matter. You spent the entire night with her alone, Jack,” Trevan posed in a serious tone.

  “I am well aware of that, Trevan. When I decided to allow her to journey with me to Menadue, I told her she must be willing to marry me upon our arrival.”

  “Did she agree?”

  “She did.” Jack nodded.

  “Jack! You agreed to marry! Have you lost your mind?” Wyldhurst asked in disbelief.

  “No, I have not lost my mind, Luc. I want to marry Tuesday. She is very bright, and when she is not causing trouble, she is quite sweet. Her character is very strong.” Jack grinned. “I like that about her.”

  Wyldhurst grinned at Jack. “Ah, mon ami, she has captured your heart!” He slapped his hand on the table and laughed. “Ha! Another lusty Lord has lost his sword.” He shrugged. A broad, devilish grin appeared on his face.

  “Luc!” Jack scolded, though he grinned with amusement at his friend’s words.

  Wyldhurst shrugged. “My brother-in-law wrote to me and told me what they are saying of the recent marriages among our ranks in London. Apparently, the ton is concerned that the single Lusty Lords of Avalon are all suddenly getting leg-shackled. There are many unhappy matchmaking mamas about London these days. Others say we are losing our swords.” He laughed.

  Jack shrugged. “My father has been after me for years to marry and beget an heir. I like Lady Tuesday. She entrances me. We rub along very well together. I like her company. I would do well to marry her over any other.”

  Micah and Harry grinned at one another.

  “You’re smitten with her, Jack. Admit it.” Lyon slapped him on the back.

  “Moonstruck I’d say!” Wyldhurst’s boisterous laughter filled the room.

  “There’s no shame in it, Jack. The majority of us in this room have recently succumbed to love, lost our swords or whatever it is they are saying.” Owen grinned.

  Jack smiled. “I must admit, she has captivated me, and not just recently. I was rather attracted to her four years ago at Roseland Abbey. I’ve never been able to get over it entirely.” He laughed, “I daresay, I never shall now!”

  “Not when you are leg-shackled, I can’t see how you could,” Wyldhurst grimaced. “You are sunk.”

  “Luc, stop. I’m very happy,” Jack grinned.

  “Good to hear, Jack.” Trevan continued, “I shall send a letter back to Lady Stanbridge in Devon and one to Lord Stanbridge in London to inform them that Lady Tuesday is safe, that you found her along the road, that trouble ensued, that you were forced to be in company overnight alone and you have offered for her. I will enclose a letter asking for permission to marry her written in your hand to Lord Stanbridge.”

  Jack nodded. “I will provide a letter to her father.”

  “I will vouch for your solid character.” Trevan winked at him.

  Jack smiled. “Then it is settled.”

  “Is it necessary for me to ask Lord Stanbridge to hurry with his response?” Trevan queried.

  Jack hesitated. He looked about. All eyes were on him. He shifted uneasily. He had not pulled out any of the three times he made love to Tuesday, he may well have gotten her with child. “Yes. I would prefer to marry quickly.” He heard a snicker or two from his comrades.

  Trevan nodded. “I will ask for an immediate response. When can you have your letter written?” Trevan asked.

  Jack removed a letter from his coat pocket. He handed it to Trevan. “It is done. I was going to have you see it mailed for me.”

  “Oh, Jack, you are already leg-shackled.” Wyldhurst clucked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

 
“Well then, this matter is settled. Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen, while I retire to my study and write my letters and get these out to Lord and Lady Stanbridge to ease their worry as soon as can be.” Trevan rose from his chair.

  “Thank God you took the time to put the scrolls in leather tubes, Jack. It saved them from being ruined by the rain,” Harry spoke up.

  Jack nodded. “Being on horseback, I suspected I might encounter rain somewhere along the journey from Wiltshire to Cornwall. I stopped at Lyon’s home, Shevington Chase, and raided his library. I found the tubes there,” Jack lifted an amused eyebrow in Lyon’s direction.

  “I just purchased those two months ago,” Lyon said. He added with a sigh, “It’s good that you thought of them. The scrolls were saved.”

  “You told me after you purchased them.” Jack grinned at his friend.

  “Tomorrow we will separate into groups and begin the translation of the scrolls in earnest. Marrek can I count on you to help me with the translation of the Aramaic scrolls?” Trevan asked before he left the room.

  “Absolutely. Creed can help as well,” Marrek offered.

  “Wonderful,” Trevan responded. “Marrek, would you give everyone the information you have about our Reverend friend while I am gone?”

  “Of course.” Marrek turned back to the others. “I knew him as Isaac Slaughter. He worked for the Department for two years before we discovered he was working against the Crown.”

  “Was he in your line of work?” Harry asked.

  Marrek nodded. “Yes. He’s also a skilled assassin. He fled the country when I found him out. If he has been in Cornwall for two months, there is a reason. He is being paid to do something, of this, I am certain. The question is, what is or was he doing and for whom? To become engaged to Wenna is not likely the reason for it.”

  “Perhaps he wanted to get close to Trevan or Gabriel, for Gabriel does live in St. Mabyn,” Micah posed. “Yet, he was engaged to Wenna, so perhaps he intended to call Trevan out.”