At the Highwayman's Pleasure(41)

       
           



       

The constable blinked, clearly dazzled by her smile.

‘I told you, Mrs Weston, he's due up before the Justice at noon-'

‘Then I shall help him make himself more presentable. What harm can there be in that?'

Ross held his breath-surely this staid officer of the law would not be  swayed by her charms?-but to his amazement the constable retired, saying  he would give her an hour, no more. When they were alone he uttered a  short bark of laughter.

‘By heaven, how did you manage that?'

‘Flattery, a few kind words and a little money,' she said, dipping the  corner of the cloth into the jug. ‘Not that I attempted to bribe him,  but I did leave a small purse with his sister-in-law.'

She put her fingers beneath his chin and gently turned his head to the  light so that she could bathe away the dried blood on his face.

‘Are there any other injuries?' she asked, her voice trembling a little. ‘Did they hurt you very much?'

‘They were not gentle, but then, I did not give in without a fight.' He  touched her arm as she drew in a sharp, hissing breath, as much to  prove to himself that she was real as to reassure her. ‘It is not so  very bad. Apart from the cut on my head I am merely bruised, I think.'

‘I was afraid when Sir Mark told us you were caught. I thought perhaps Phineas-'

‘I have not yet seen him, although I have no doubt it was he who arranged my capture.'

‘Sir Mark said the message came from Phineas, so he was most certainly  involved. There.' She stepped away. ‘I have cleaned up your head as best  I can, but I can do nothing about the dark stubble or the fearful mark  on your cheek.'

‘Do I look very dreadful?' he asked her.

The pain in her eyes told him the answer, but she replied with  admirable calm. ‘Quite frightful. You would attract far too much  attention if you left here in such a state. However, with your hat  pulled low and once we have brushed the dirt from your coat I think you  will look tidy enough for us to make the attempt.'

‘What?'

‘When the constable returns we must, er, persuade him to let you go.'  She reached into the pocket of her travelling cloak and pulled out a  pistol. ‘That is why I brought this. Thankfully Constable Rigg was so  embarrassed when I told him to check the basket that he did not ask to  search my person.'

‘Is it loaded?'

‘No.' She handed it to him. ‘It is one we use on stage and does not work, but I hope it will do the trick.'

‘And just what had you in mind?'

She took a deep breath. ‘When Rigg comes back we will take him  prisoner. I will fetch my carriage, which is waiting at the inn in the  square, and when we drive slowly by the lock-up you will run out and-'

‘Pure folly,' exclaimed Ross, getting to his feet. He held up his manacled hands. ‘How far do you expect me to get like this?'

‘I have no idea, but I have money. I thought we could bribe a  blacksmith to remove your chains, and then we might head towards  Scotland...'

‘No!' He threw down the pistol and grabbed her arms. ‘My darling girl,  we would be caught within days, and if we were not, we would be outlaws,  never able to rest-is that what you want?'

‘If it is the only way to be with you, then yes.'

His heart lurched as he saw the tears in her eyes. He dragged her to  him and kissed her roughly, but the way she clung to him only convinced  him that he must get her away from there. Steeling himself, he broke off  his kiss.

‘I cannot be party to this madness. When Rigg comes back you must go  and do not come near me again until this is all over.' He added, with  far more confidence than he felt, ‘We were fortunate I was attacked on  my return from Scarborough and not on my way there. The letter you wrote  out for me is now on its way to the Admiralty. I am convinced there is  enough substance to our suspicions for them to act. The net will soon  close upon Phineas Weston.'

‘But not soon enough, Ross. Phineas will see you hanged at the first opportunity, we both know that.'

‘I only know that you are in danger every moment you stay here with  me.' He cupped her face. ‘Oh, my love, do you think I could ever forgive  myself if I thought I had brought about your downfall? I love you too  much to allow that. Go back to the theatre, my dear, enjoy your success  there and forget me.'

‘Never.' She stared up at him, her eyes deep blue pools of tears. ‘I  cannot leave you, Ross, I cannot forget. I love you, there is no life  for me without you.'                       
       
           



       

‘There is, there must be,' he said fiercely. ‘I-'

He broke off. There was the rumble of voices and heavy footsteps coming  closer. He felt Charity tremble, heard her whisper one word. ‘Phineas!'

Swiftly he put her away from him and threw himself down on the bench, stuffing the pistol into his jacket pocket.

‘Follow my lead,' he commanded tersely. ‘You must get out of here and live for me!'

Charity had no time to reply. The door was flung open and Phineas  strode in, followed by two gentlemen whom she recognised as Hutton and  Keldy. From their damaged faces she surmised they had been involved in  Ross's capture. The constable came in behind them all, looking forlorn  and anxious.

‘So-' Phineas's cruel, sneering smile swept over her ‘-am I  interrupting a touching scene?' He indicated the men behind him. ‘I set  my people to watch the lock-up, knowing you would turn up.' He snarled  at Charity, ‘How much did you slip Rigg here to let you in?'

‘Not a penny,' she answered coolly. ‘I appealed to his better nature. Is that not so, Mr Rigg?'

The constable gave a nod, the look on his face a mixture of fright and relief.

‘Mrs Weston is living up to her name,' drawled Ross, slowly sitting up.  He indicated the basket. ‘She is bringing a little charity to a  condemned man.'

‘Comforting you, is she, Durden? The actress giving succour to her lover.'

‘Sir Mark Beverley asked her to come.' Ross uttered the lie with all  the assured confidence of a leading man. ‘You had best be careful,  Weston. The lady has powerful friends in Allingford.'

He spoke quietly, but there was just enough conviction in his voice to  make Hutton and Keldy take a step back. Phineas frowned, his eyes  narrowing.

‘Not powerful enough to save you, Durden,' he said silkily. ‘A search has been made of your house-'

‘I hope you haven't alarmed my housekeeper.'

‘Of course not. My people treated her with the utmost respect.'

A faint smile lifted one side of Ross's mouth. ‘I don't doubt it,  especially when she told you she was once cook to Sir Mark and Lady  Beverley, and continues on good terms with them.'

‘My people were well aware of their duty, being within Sir Mark's  jurisdiction,' snapped Phineas. ‘But nevertheless we found evidence that  you are the highwayman-the black mask in your bedchamber, for example.'

Charity shot a glance at Ross. He was leaning back against the wall, apparently unperturbed by this revelation.

‘Is that all you have on me, Phineas? The relic of some masked ball?'

‘And the blacking in your stable. Your man has disappeared, but I don't  doubt when we find him he will tell us he used it on that black nag of  yours. You will hang for this, Durden. We will find witnesses to testify  against you.'

‘What, those two toadies behind you?' Ross curled his lip. ‘Why not, they have already perjured themselves for you.'

Charity saw her father's face darken alarmingly, but Ross was not  looking at Phineas. Instead he turned his head to address her.

‘I think it is time for you to leave, madam, Sir Mark will be waiting  for your report upon what you have found here. Pray thank Lady Beverley  for her kindness in providing me with breakfast. You will not object if  the lady leaves us, will you, Magistrate Weston?'

Charity met Ross's eyes, but his were hard, indifferent. He was dismissing her, trying to keep her safe from danger.

I love you too much to allow that.

In the dark nightmare of this whole situation his words were like a beacon, a warm, bright light she could not ignore.

Phineas was glaring, his jaw working as he tried to curb his temper.

‘If Beverley is expecting you, then you had best go,' he barked.

Charity looked at the two men, her father with his barely controlled  fury and Ross who was gazing through her as if she was a stranger. She  knew how much her father would like to keep her there, under his  control, but Ross had given her a way out.

If she wished to take it.

‘Not just yet. There is something I should like to discuss with you, Magistrate. In private.'