At the Highwayman's Pleasure(42)

She heard the violent hiss of Ross's breath.

‘Madam, go. I have had enough of your prating sympathy. Return to Allingford, immediately.'

Charity forced herself to ignore him and the pain she knew lay behind  his harsh words. She concentrated upon the arrested look in her father's  eye.                       
       
           



       

‘This is a personal matter, sir. It requires...discretion.'

‘Very well, we will go to the house.' Phineas spoke over his shoulder  to the men behind him. ‘Keldy, Hutton, I will speak to you later.  Constable, lock up the prisoner when we leave and make sure you do not  allow him any more visitors, do you understand?'

‘No!' Ross jumped up. ‘One more word alone with the lady-I would send a message to Sir Mark-!'

‘Too late,' declared Phineas. He paused, his cold eyes shifting between  Ross and Charity, and a cruel smile lifted his lip. ‘Much too late, I  fear, Durden. I think the game is now going very much my way.' He turned  to Charity. ‘Madam, shall we go?'

She ignored his outstretched arm and walked out of the lock-up. It was  an effort not to look back at Ross and it took every ounce of her  resolve to make her feet walk across the square to the grand house that  Phineas now owned. She felt very much as if she was walking into a  lion's den.

* * *

Phineas ushered her into the drawing room, where Hannah was reclining on a couch, an open book in her hands.

‘My dear, we have a visitor.'

Hannah sat up quickly, her eyes narrowing.

‘So she did go to see him. Like a bitch in heat.'

Charity felt a sudden flash of anger and turned to Phineas. ‘What I wish to discuss with you is best done in private.'

‘What is this?' he demanded with feigned amazement. ‘After you made  such an effort to come and see my lady wife the other day, professing  yourself repentant and wanting to make amends. Perhaps you would like to  tell us what you were hoping to achieve by that?' Charity remained  silent and he continued, ‘But I have no secrets from my wife, especially  in this matter. I think you are about to plead for Durden's life and,  since his capture was in no small measure due to my dear lady, I think  she has every right to hear you.'

‘Oh, yes.' Hannah's malicious smile grew when she saw Charity's brows  rise in surprise. ‘I was in the audience at your last performance-dear  Phineas is so busy these days that I had arranged the visit myself-and I  would not have mentioned it to him, had I not seen something so  alarming that I just could not keep it to myself.

‘That kiss, my dear, when you were making your curtsy. I had seen Mr  Durden in the audience, and it was quite clear to me that you were  directing your salute to him and him alone.' She tittered. ‘Heavens, my  dear, as I said to your father when I returned, you might as well have  pinned your heart to your sleeve!'

Charity drew herself up. ‘And why should I not?'

‘Because the fellow is a damned scoundrel,' retorted Phineas. ‘When  Hannah told me about your shameless behaviour I realised how it was.  Why, I'd wager that your visit here to see Hannah was at his  instigation, trying to find some way to get his money back, I don't  doubt.'

‘So you admit you took his prize money.' Charity fixed her eyes upon  Hannah, thankful that they had no idea of the real reason for her visit.

‘A lovesick fool and his money are soon parted,' Phineas sneered. ‘And  now we have him safely locked away. He will stand trial for highway  robbery.'

Charity shook her head. ‘You have no proof of any of this.'

‘I shall find sufficient proof to hang the fellow, you mark my words.'

And he would, she knew it. What he could not prove he would fabricate  and Ross would hang. She schooled her face to show none of the dismay  she was feeling.

‘Let me save you the trouble of perjuring yourself and damning your  soul,' she said, meeting his eyes with a steady gaze. ‘I will make you a  trade. Let Ross Durden go and I will return to the fold as your dutiful  daughter.'

Hannah jumped to her feet, saying, ‘What sort of bargain is that? Phineas could keep you here now and still hang Durden.'

Charity shot her a contemptuous glance. ‘I came here at Sir Mark  Beverley's behest.' She repeated Ross's lie. ‘You could hold me here  against my will, but would you want Sir Mark to come looking for me?'

‘She is right, my dear wife. This must be carefully handled.'

Hannah came up to her husband, saying in a wheedling voice, ‘But, Phineas, you promised me Ross Durden would hang.'

‘So ruining his career by your trumped-up blasphemy charges was not  enough for you.' Charity's lip curled. ‘It appears Congreve is right:  "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a  woman scorn'd".'                       
       
           



       

‘I never loved him. He was a means to an end. I intended to better myself.'

‘By stealing his money and running his estate into the ground.'

‘Estate, hah! A crumbling ruin and a few poor farms. I knew I could do better than that!'

‘So you married a ranting preacher turned magistrate.'

‘Enough,' roared Phineas. ‘This is getting us nowhere.'

Charity shrugged. ‘Your wife insists you hang Ross Durden. Very well,  try if you can do so. He is not without friends and this is no blasphemy  case to rest upon the verdict of a magistrate and a couple dubious  witnesses.' She turned to go. ‘All pretence is at an end now. I am going  back to Allingford, where I shall spare no pains in future to make it  known you are my father-'

‘Wait.' As she reached the door Phineas called to her, ‘If I let Durden  go, you would give up the stage and return here? You would announce  that you repented of your wickedness?'

A cold iron hand squeezed her heart. This was the point of no return.





      Chapter Eleven

‘Put yer coat on, Mr Durden. Magistrate wants to see you.'

The constable stood by the open door, a second, burly individual at his  shoulder, clearly on hand to prevent the prisoner escaping. Not that  Ross had any such thought. Since Charity had walked out with Phineas he  had been prey to the very worst apprehension and conjecture. She had  gone off with the magistrate, determined to buy his freedom, and now he  would discover just what price she was paying. The lock-up was cool, and  as he stepped outside Ross paused for a moment, feeling the hot sun on  his shoulders and blinking in the strong light.

He turned towards the inn where the magistrate held his court, and was surprised when the constable gripped his arm.

‘Not that way. Justice Weston will see you in his house.'

* * *

Phineas was in the study, sitting behind his desk with Hannah and  Charity occupying chairs on either side of him. Ross was not surprised  to see Hannah was present, gloating over his disgrace, no doubt.  However, he gave her no more than a cursory glance before turning his  attention to Charity. She was very pale, but composed, and the fact that  she would not look at him only increased his fears for her.

‘Take off those chains, Constable,' Phineas ordered. ‘You are free to go, Durden.'

‘Not until I know the price of my freedom.' Ross did not move, save to rub his sore wrists once the manacles were removed.

Phineas scowled, but commanded the constable and his assistant to wait in the hall.

As the door closed Hannah said sweetly, ‘Your lover has bought your freedom, Ross.'

‘Then put me back in the lock-up. I will take my chances in court.'

‘I'm afraid that is not possible,' replied Phineas. ‘My...daughter has  decided to repent her wicked ways, in return for your liberty.'

Ross fixed his eyes on Charity, sitting pale and silent, her eyes lowered.

‘What have you done?' he asked her, his throat dry with fear. ‘What have you promised them?'

Phineas rapped on the desk. ‘Do you hear me, Durden? Your horse is even  now being fetched to the back door and you are free to go.'

‘Not that it will do you much good,' murmured Hannah. ‘The charge still  stands against you and you will be arrested if you are caught. And  hanged, you may be sure of that.'

‘However,' Phineas continued, ‘I have agreed to give you twenty-four hours to make your arrangements and get out of the area.'

‘At what price?' he demanded. ‘For God's sake, tell me what she has agreed to.'

‘Of course, you should know,' Hannah purred, like a cat over a bowl of  cream. ‘My stepdaughter has seen the error of her ways. She wants her  father's forgiveness, isn't that so, my dear?' Charity said nothing and  Hannah continued. ‘She will give up the stage and make her life here  with us. You used to tell me, Ross, that one volunteer is worth ten  pressed men. Charity will become a servant to Phineas and me for seven  years.'