Bought for Revenge(41)

'I met Strutt in the Red Lion. I had been playing cards there and booked  a room for the night, do you remember? Well, there being no lightskirts  to entertain me once the gaming tables were finished and no gin shop in  Stanton, I went down to the taproom for a tankard of ale and fell into  conversation. I recognised Strutt as a bad lot almost immediately,  although of course I didn't know then that I would need to make use of  his hostelry and his, er, skills.'

'And just when did you plan all this?' asked Lucas.

'Only this week. I had to work quickly. I couldn't let you go to London.  Once you had signed the papers I would have lost everything. But we are  straying from the point, Cos. Your firearms, please. Now.'

'And if I don't?' Lucas jerked his head towards the door. 'If I am not  mistaken, there are voices in the taproom-would you risk a shot in  here?'

Hugh turned to the landlord with a snarl. 'Hell and damnation, Strutt, I told you to shut the inn.'

'Ho, and how suspicious would that be! 'Tis only a couple of packmen.  The boys'll deal with them if necessary. And, yes, sir, to answer your  question, I would risk a shot, if needs be, the story being that I was  aiming to kill an intruder and hit the young lady instead. would you be  willing to risk that?'

So she was being used to force Lucas's hand. Belle strained against the  ropes, but they would not give at all. She watched in dismay as Lucas  drew a long-nosed pistol from his pocket and handed it to Hugh.

'There,' he growled. 'Now will you tell me what it is you want?'

Hugh inspected the pistol. 'A Manton. I should have guessed you would  bring a duelling pistol. And loaded too.' He levelled it at Lucas. 'I  want my inheritance, Cousin.'

'You are still my heir, nothing has changed.'

'Yes, but for how long?' He glanced towards Belle. 'I saw the two of  you, in the churchyard on Sunday night. How long before you and your  wife have a child to supplant me?'

Lucas said quietly, 'Hugh, that will never happen.'

'No? I cannot take that chance, Cousin. I hoped you might be cut down at  Waterloo, but you survived unmarked. Of course, I didn't know then just  what a wealthy man you had become. I have been thinking since I came  here what a disaster it would be for me if you was to have an heir and  cut me out of the succession.'                       
       
           



       

'Then let me make over something to you now,' said Lucas. 'We will agree a sum-'

'Oh, no, I want it all. Everything. It is mine by right. You see, it was  bad enough when you told me you were going to give away Oakenroyd. That  wouldn't be right, after you had put so much of your fortune into  acquiring the place.'

'But I have promised it to Samuel Havenham.'

Hugh's lip curled. 'That foolish old man don't deserve it. You told me  yourself it cost you a great deal to secure that property. But then you  told me you were going to sell Morwood. I can't let you do that, Lucas.  It was my home.'

'Nonsense, you and your mother visited once a year, if that.'

'It was my home,' Hugh repeated, his face contorting with anger. 'You  don't think I could ever regard that damp hovel of my mother's as my  rightful place, do you?'

Lucas glanced at the landlord, leaning against the door with the shotgun resting in his hands.

'Very well, Hugh, we can talk about all this, but we don't need Miss  Havenham here. She is no part of this, let me send her home.'

The captain shook his head, a cunning gleam in his eyes.

'Oh, no, she is my trump card, Lucas. As long as I have her then you will do as I say.'

'Is my word not good enough for you?'

'I regret not. Neither of you will leave this room until you have signed  everything over to me.' He went over to the table and, placing the  pistol down, he opened the leather case and took out a sheaf of papers.  'You will need a pen. Strutt, where is it, and the ink?'

'There on the mantelpiece, Cap'n.'

Lucas watched his cousin fetch the tarnished silver inkwell and pens,  followed by a branched candlestick which he put in the centre of the  table. He began straightening the papers with obsessive care, placing  everything just so. A tiny thread of fear ran through Lucas. There was  something irrational about Hugh's behaviour and that made him all the  more dangerous. He risked a glance at Annabelle. Cold rage went through  him when he saw how she was bound, but it would do no good to show it  yet. Her eyes were upon him. She opened her mouth to speak and he gave a  little shake of his head. It was best if she did not draw attention to  herself. Hugh picked up the pistol again.

'Sit down, Lucas. I want you to know what you are signing.'

Lucas glanced at the landlord, still standing by the door. 'Is it really  necessary for him to be here?' When Hugh hesitated, he added, 'This is  family business, Cousin.'

'Very well.' Hugh waved the landlord away. 'Wait outside until I call you. Now, Cousin, come and sign these papers.'

Lucas strolled to the table. Not by the flicker of an eyelid would he  show alarm, but he had never known his cousin so unsettled. Now he said  calmly, 'Not before I have read them.'

He sat down and picked up the first sheet, conscious that Hugh was  pacing around him, the loaded duelling pistol clutched in one hand.

'Read away, Cos. I spent a great deal of time drawing up these  documents. So helpful of you to leave all your papers in the study at  Oakenroyd. I was able to see exactly what you were planning to do.'

'You went through my desk?'

'Of course. While you spent your days at Morwood I had time to copy out  your instructions to Powell & Son, merely changing a few of the  details, such as removing Samuel Havenham's name and replacing it with  mine own. I have even explained your sudden generosity. You are ashamed  of the shabby way your father treated me and have decided to make  reparation.'

Lucas held up one of the documents. 'This is an indenture for Havenham's gaming debts.'

'Of course. I told you, Lucas, I will not allow you to dispose of my inheritance.'

'But the debts are worthless. Samuel cannot pay.'

'That is no longer your concern, Cousin.'

Lucas cursed silently. That indenture would put Belle and Samuel in his  power, with the threat of the debtors' prison looming over them. He  glanced at Annabelle, pale and silent in her chair.

'I will sign Oakenroyd over to you, Hugh, and Morwood too, if that is  what you want. But let me burn this,' he said quietly. 'Havenham has no  money to pay. I never intended-'

Hugh snatched the paper from his hand and slammed it down on the desk.

'If you didn't intend to collect then you should have destroyed it,' he snarled. 'Now sign them all.'

'And if I refuse?' Lucas watched him carefully.

'I shall have you killed. As you say, I am still your heir, so it will  all come to me anyway. But before that you will see what happens to the  lady.' Hugh walked over to Belle and stretched out one hand to touch her  cheek. Angrily she batted him away. 'Strutt is outside with his sons.  Four of them. I am sure they would all enjoy a tumble, once I have  finished with her.'                       
       
           



       

Lucas remembered the tales he had heard of his cousin's behaviour in the  army. He knew he was not bluffing. 'And if I sign, I have your word you  will release Miss Havenham?'

'Of course.'

'Lucas, please don't do it,' cried Belle, struggling against Her bonds. 'I don't believe-'

'Quiet!' Hugh lashed out, the back of his hand catching Belle's face. Her head snapped back.

Lucas was on his feet in an instant, but Hugh stepped behind her chair, levelling the Manton at him.

'Back, Cousin, back, or I will put a bullet through you, and what will  happen to your precious little lady then? I shall have no further reason  to keep her safe, will I?'

Lucas glanced at Belle. She had a trickle of blood on her lip.

'I should have left you to die on the battlefield at Waterloo,' he growled.

'Aye, 'tis what I would have done, had our positions been reversed.'  Hugh waved the pistol. 'Now sign, before I lose all patience with you.'

Lucas had to choose, and quickly. If it were only himself he thought he  might be able to overpower Hugh, but with Belle a prisoner and the  landlord just outside the door the risks were too great. Signing over  both properties would seriously diminish his fortune, but there might be  enough left to pay off that damned indenture, if Hugh chose to use it  against Havenham. He had caused the man enough harm, he must now do what  he could to protect him.

He picked up the pen and dipped it into the ink. Quickly he scrawled his signature on each of the papers.

'Excellent.' Hugh reached out and took the pen from his fingers.  'Strutt!' he shouted. 'Strutt, come in here and bring your boys. I need  two of you to make your marks here.' He turned back to Lucas, smiling.  'You see, Cousin, all legal and watertight, witnessed by a respectable  property owner and his son.'

Lucas pushed back his chair and got up. As the landlord and his loutish  boys came in he walked over to Belle and began to untie her.