The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight

by Christina Courtenay

  It was Tess’s turn to flush and she felt her cheeks grow hot. ‘Ah, you’ve noticed.’

  ‘Kind of hard not to. You guys aren’t fooling anyone, to be honest. The way Josh looks at you is … well, he’s hot for you.’

  ‘Louis!’

  ‘Just saying. And the stairs creak.’ Tess narrowed her eyes at him but he just laughed. ‘It’s okay. I’m glad for you. Later.’

  Tess sat for a while digesting his words, relieved to have her secret out in the open. She supposed it was inevitable that someone would have noticed. As Louis had said, the heated glances she and Josh exchanged were difficult to hide, even if they’d managed to keep their hands to themselves in public. And she should have remembered about the stairs.

  But that was a minor thing compared to the problem she now faced. What on earth was she to do? She didn’t want to hand over the Merrick jewel. She couldn’t. There must be a way of stopping Marcus. Could she ask the police for advice without him knowing? Not if he was listening to her phone calls.

  She wanted to talk it over with Josh, but again that wasn’t an option if Marcus was monitoring her calls. Maybe she could go to the village and borrow a phone? But he’d know if he was watching her.

  ‘Damn it all! I can’t let the bastard win.’

  In the end, she went to do some painting in order to calm her tightly strung nerves. It was great for thinking about knotty problems and the work freed her mind, but she still couldn’t come up with a way forward. Louis and Shayla found her there an hour later, and they came bouncing in, almost jumping up and down with excitement.

  ‘What’s up with you two?’ Tess felt it was a bit disloyal of them to look so happy when she was in such a fix.

  ‘We’ve got it! The solution to your problem.’ Shayla smiled and threw herself down onto the floor next to Tess.

  Louis followed suit. ‘Shhh, someone might hear.’ He continued in a whisper, ‘Yeah, we’re going to trick the bastard into telling the police himself.’

  ‘Telling them what?’ Tess was confused.

  ‘That he’s making you give him the cross illegally to pay a debt instead of going through the proper channels,’ Louis clarified.

  ‘How?’ Tess put down her paintbrush and stared at them.

  ‘Wait.’ Louis went to turn on the tap in an old sink which Tess used for cleaning her brushes. ‘I’ve seen in movies how the sound of running water makes it so anyone spying on you can’t hear.’

  ‘Okay, double-O-seven.’ Tess lowered her voice even more. ‘So what’s the plan?’

  ‘It’s this – you’re going to be in the library when the guy arrives, sitting behind the desk with your laptop in front of you, like you’ve been typing emails or something while you waited for him.’

  ‘Right and …?’ Tess didn’t see how that would help.

  ‘I’ll put a webcam at the top and it can be turned round so it’s filming whatever’s on the other side,’ Louis continued as if she hadn’t interrupted him. ‘It will be filming him. Steele.’

  ‘I see.’

  ‘No, you don’t,’ Shayla put in, smiling in that superior way teenagers did when they were trying to explain technical things to their elders. ‘The thing is, he’ll be talking to you and all the time we’ll have set up a live video link to that police guy who Louis said you dealt with after the accident.’

  ‘Inspector Houghton?’

  ‘Him, yeah. We’ll contact the inspector via Bryn’s computer first – Dad told me he has an ancient one, but it should still work for something simple like that. We don’t think Steele will have thought to hack into that. Why would he? Bryn’s just the gardener. So all you have to do is get the bugger to talk, explain what he’s doing and then the police can come pick him up. Easy!’

  Tess made a face. ‘You think? How on earth am I supposed to do that? It’s not like I can just demand that he talks to the camera. And is it really grounds for arrest? They could just as well arrest me for giving away something that doesn’t belong to me.’

  ‘Nah, we’ll explain all that to them. And, yes, they can arrest him for dealing in stolen goods. You don’t think he’d sell it on the open market, do you? He couldn’t, not without a proper receipt. Now, come on, you can do this.’ Louis gave her an encouraging push. ‘Just get him talking. Smarmy types like him love to brag about what they’ve done when they think no one can do anything about it. He’ll want to show you he’s in charge and he’s got you beaten. So bat your eyelashes at him and act all feminine, fluttery and scared. I swear it’ll work.’

  Tess wasn’t so sure. ‘I don’t know. I think it would be better to try and get hold of your dad, Shayla. It’s his cross, he should deal with it. Can’t we email him from Bryn’s computer?’

  ‘We can try but he told me he wouldn’t be checking his phone much today as he’s meeting up with some old mates.’ Shayla mimed drinking. ‘It could be a long night.’

  ‘Damn it all,’ Tess muttered.

  ‘Come on, you’ll have to follow our plan. It’s the only option,’ Louis said.

  Tess sighed. ‘I can try I suppose. At least it would be good to have it on camera that I’ve been forced to hand over the jewel. Can you keep a copy of the film so I can prove to Josh I didn’t steal it?’

  ‘Yeah, no problem. Not that he’ll believe that for a second, but anyway.’ Louis jumped up. ‘Come on, Shay, let’s go set it up.’ He turned back towards Tess. ‘Oh, and make sure you wear something sexy that shows a lot of your boobs.’

  ‘Louis!’

  ‘No, he’s right.’ Shayla nodded. ‘That’ll distract the guy from looking at the laptop too closely. Seriously low cut and lots of mascara so you look like Bambi. Want me to help you choose a top?’

  ‘Er, no thanks, I think I can manage.’ The thought of receiving fashion advice from Shayla was mind-boggling. Tess was sure she could figure out a sexy look by herself. All she had to do was wear something she thought would make Josh’s eyes light up. Although, come to think of it, that was pretty much everything at the moment. Or it had been until they’d found that jewel. Since then he’d been very subdued, but she didn’t want to think about that now.

  Tess had to stay sitting on the floor for a while after they’d gone. She felt like she’d been steamrollered, but at least she now had a glimpse of hope.

  Merrick Court, 19th August 1646

  ‘I can’t marry your odious nephew because I’m already married. That would be bigamy.’

  Arabella took some satisfaction from being able to say those words to her uncle-by-marriage, who had greeted her with a gloating smile that matched Glyn’s as they walked into the great hall at Merrick.

  Huw Howell shook his head, as if he was looking at a deluded child. ‘We thought that might be the case as Glyn reported that you were overly friendly with a certain man. When you would have contracted such a marriage, I’ve no idea, but just in case, we have taken precautions, girl. In fact, if all has gone as planned, you should already be a widow. So prepare yourself to be wed on the morrow. Your mourning period will be somewhat short.’ He laughed, the sound grating on her ears.

  ‘What? No!’ As his words sank in, Arabella felt her legs begin to buckle and there was a buzzing noise inside her head. Coupled with the terrifying experience of being abducted by Glyn, Huw’s assured statement was just too much. They had killed Rhys?

  No, it couldn’t be.

  ‘Catch her, you fool. She’s about to faint.’ Huw, impatient as always, directed his nephew, but Arabella barely heard him. She pulled herself together and shoved Glyn away with both hands.

  ‘Bastards! Whoresons! What have you done? I’ll tell General Fairfax himself. I’ll—’

  A blow across the mouth cut off the rest of her sentence. ‘Shut. Your. Mouth! Hell’s teeth, but you don’t learn very fast, do you?’ Glyn picked her up and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. ‘Where do I put her?’ he asked his uncle.

  ‘The tower room. It has a stout lock and it’s too high
up for her to escape out the windows. Just leave her there to stew until tomorrow, then we’ll send in your aunt to pretty her up for the wedding service.’

  ‘But can’t I—’

  ‘No! I know you’re eager for her, boy, but best to leave it till you’re legally married. No one can say anything about you beating her black and blue then if you want. For now, we play by the rules.’

  As Glyn deposited her on the bed in the tower room, Arabella was grateful for the small reprieve. But it was only temporary and the following day the purgatory which was the rest of her life would begin.

  She felt numb and couldn’t even begin to comprehend how things had come to this pass. She should have been more vigilant, should have told Rhys to be on his guard … But it was too late now. And if Rhys was truly dead, she didn’t care what became of her. In fact, what was the point of staying alive? Taking her own life would be preferable to submitting to Glyn and giving him the power to do with her whatever he wished. Indeed, anything was better than that.

  And then she’d be with Rhys again.

  Abergavenny, 20th August 1646

  Rhys opened his eyes and blinked to clear his sight. He was staring at something white with black lines across, but he couldn’t focus because they were undulating. Nausea rose up in his throat but he swallowed it down and blinked again. This time he succeeded in ascertaining that he was looking at a ceiling with dark roof beams at irregular intervals. After a little while longer, they stopped moving in front of his eyes and the queasiness receded.

  ‘Ah, you are awake. Here, let me give you some ale.’ A soft voice speaking Welsh turned out to belong to a stout, middle-aged woman, who came into his line of vision holding a cup.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, replying in the same language when she lifted his head and shoulders and held the cup to his lips so he could slake his thirst. His voice was hoarse as if he’d been doing a lot of shouting, but the ale helped. ‘Where am I? What happened?’

  ‘At the Lion Inn outside Bergavenny. General Fairfax’s men brought you. Said you were dying and paid my husband handsomely to take care of you until then. But I have some skill at healing and it seemed to me your heartbeat was much too steady for someone about to depart this world, albeit you have a nasty lump on your head. I had you carried up here and I’ve been tending your wounds.’ She smiled. ‘Couldn’t let a Welshman die unnecessarily, now could I?’ As if answering his unspoken question, she added, ‘You muttered something in Welsh when I bandaged your head.’

  ‘Again, I thank you for your kindness, mistress …?’

  She smiled. ‘Mistress Davy. Now just you rest and I’m sure you’ll feel better tomorrow.’

  ‘And I’m Sir Rhys Cadell.’

  At the mention of his name, a sudden onslaught of memories flooded Rhys’s mind and he drew in a sharp breath. ‘What day is it, pray? Was it today I was brought to you?’

  ‘No, it was yesterday. Today is the twentieth day of August, I believe.’

  ‘So the day Raglan Castle surrendered and everyone marched out was yesterday?’

  ‘Indeed. I’m assuming you were one of them, although why the general should worry about you in that case, I don’t know. But you do have the look of someone who’s not been fed properly for a while, like all those poor souls what came out of the castle. Never fear, I’ll bring you some victuals shortly.’

  Rhys sat up, trying to ignore the pounding in his head. ‘I’m sorry, but I have to leave. My wife is in terrible danger!’

  ‘Your wife?’ Mistress Davy frowned and looked disapproving. ‘I’ve not seen hide nor hair of her.’

  ‘That’s because she was abducted, just before I was assaulted, I believe. And I must rescue her before it’s too late.’ He pushed the blanket covering his legs and torso away and swung his legs over the side of the bed. ‘In fact, it could be too late already.’

  ‘I really don’t think that would be wise, Sir Rhys. You’ll be no use to anyone in the state you’re in.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I must. The matter is urgent in the extreme. I’ll manage somehow.’

  She sank down on a chair next to the bed. ‘Now wait a moment. Why don’t you tell me what you think has happened and I’ll see if my husband can help? You shouldn’t go anywhere on your own.’

  Rhys debated with himself whether to trust her or not, but in the end decided he had no option. And if she’d wanted him dead, she could have killed him earlier, so he didn’t think she was in cahoots with the men who had attacked him. ‘Very well,’ he said, and gave her a quick version of events.

  Mistress Davy clasped her hands together and smiled at him as he finished his tale. ‘My, what a wonderful love story, to be sure. But I see what you mean. Now just you rest a bit more while I fetch you something to eat. You’ll need sustenance. And in the meantime, I’ll have a word with my husband. He knows the place, that Merrick Court, and I’m sure when I explain, he’ll go with you. The present owner isn’t much liked hereabouts.’

  She was as good as her word and after he’d had some bread and nourishing broth Rhys felt better. His head still hurt, but it wasn’t pounding as fiercely as before. And best of all, when he made it downstairs he found Mistress Davy’s husband and a group of other men waiting for him, all with horses and weapons of some sort. Someone handed him a sword, which looked like it had been looted from a cavalry officer.

  ‘We reckoned you’d need a bit of back-up, like.’ The landlord gave him a small smile. ‘I wouldn’t send anyone to Merrick Court on their own, not even my worst enemy.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Rhys bowed to them all. ‘I’m much obliged to you. If only we’re not too late.’

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  London, 20th August 2016

  Josh woke with a pounding head and stared at the unfamiliar surroundings. A hotel room. Stark, clean, featureless. But where? He’d stayed in so many this past year, they all looked the same and blurred in his mind. Then it came to him – London.

  He’d been out with some mates from New Zealand who’d come to work in the UK for a while. They’d had dinner and a few beers, then moved on to a cocktail bar because the other two guys were on the pull. Bad mistake. Cocktails and beer so didn’t go together. He checked the time – 5.42 a.m. Christ. No wonder he felt like death warmed up. He’d only slept a couple of hours.

  As he groped on the bedside table for a glass of water, Josh became aware of something over by the window. A shadow. No, a spirit. He sat up and rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. Was he seeing things? But no, the shape was still there and he recognised it.

  Sir Rhys.

  ‘What the hell …?’ he muttered. ‘You’re a long way from home, mate.’

  The spirit moved as if it was agitated about something and seemed to be beckoning Josh forward. ‘What’s the matter?’ He frowned. ‘You want me to come with you? Where?’

  Sir Rhys either couldn’t or wouldn’t tell him.

  Josh took a deep breath. Something was very wrong, he could sense it. At Merrick Court, maybe? Why else would the spirit follow him here? As far as Josh knew, Sir Rhys had no connection with London whatsoever. He checked his phone, but the battery was dead.

  ‘Damn it! Okay, you’re going to have to spell it out, Sir Rhys,’ he whispered. ‘Talk to me.’

  He ignored the pain in his skull and cleared his mind, trying to open his senses. It was as though he was reaching out towards the shadowy figure by the window, meeting him halfway. The effort made him feel nauseous, but he kept at it until at last he was rewarded with one word.

  ‘Tess!’

  ‘Shit!’ He was galvanised into action and barely noticed the shadow disappear. He had to get back to Wales. Had to leave now, this minute. He never should have left her alone in that big house.

  Merrick Court, 20th August 2016

  Tess fiddled with everything on Giles’s desk, nervous beyond belief. She really wished she didn’t have to confront Marcus on her own, but there didn’t seem to be any choice. As she rearrang
ed a pile of papers for the umpteenth time, she knocked over the pencil pot and a USB pen rolled out, together with all the pens and a ruler. Tess frowned. She’d forgotten all about that.

  ‘Maybe there’s time to look at it now?’ She glanced at her watch – a quarter to nine.

  She put the pens back and plugged the USB into the laptop, where a window opened showing the saved files. There were lots of different ones, but a particular heading stood out. ‘Black Rose?’ All the air hissed out of Tess. Had Giles saved his IOU’s himself? Perhaps she didn’t owe Marcus as much as he said?

  She was just about to click on open when she thought she heard the crunch of tyres on the gravel outside. ‘Shit.’ She quickly opened her email account and sent a message to Louis. ‘Please have a look at attached file. Might help today? T x’ She prayed Marcus wouldn’t be able to hack into her emails from his mobile or he’d see this message too.

  As Louis was monitoring Tess’s actions via the webcam, she said the words out loud as well. After quickly shutting down that screen, she pulled out the USB pen and threw it back into the pencil pot and not a moment too soon as there was a knock on the door.

  Marcus’s head appeared round the door frame. ‘Ah, there you are. So I’m allowed into the nicer part of the house this time, not the servant’s quarters? Glad to know I’ve gone up in your estimation.’

  Marcus’s joking comment had Tess itching to slap him, but she concentrated on controlling her breathing. ‘I thought it best if you came in the front way. I’ve locked my new dog in the kitchen,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t like strangers much.’ Although she wished she could have had Vincent with her, she’d agreed with Louis that it was a bad idea. The dog could ruin their plans if he got too protective of Tess. She’d put a note on the back door for Marcus to go round to the front and left the door there unlocked.

  ‘Good. I don’t like dogs much.’ He flashed her a smile, but she didn’t reciprocate.

  Instead, she got up from behind the desk as calmly as she could and gestured for him to take a seat in a chair by the fireplace. It had been placed so that he’d face the camera and thankfully he didn’t seem to notice as his eyes were – predictably – on her.