Bought for Revenge(46)

'Mrs Wicklow says Mr Havenham brought some of your things with him from Croft Cottage,' said Becky, following her glance.

'He was sure that Mr Blackstone would find me, then.' Belle smiled as  she picked up the brush. Of course. Papa had as much faith in Lucas as  she.

'Oh, yes, miss. What an adventure! Mr Stebbing and Rudd had just got  back when I arrived, telling everyone about how that wicked Captain  Duggan had tried to do away with you and steal Mr Blackstone's  property.'

'Oh, they must have been up all night. Have they gone to bed now? I would like to talk to them.'

'Nay, miss, Cook was feeding them ham and eggs in the kitchen when I  came upstairs, the master-Mr Blackstone, that is-saying he would see  them once he had finished his breakfast.'

Belle waited to hear no more. Having hastily put up her hair she ran  down the stairs to the breakfast parlour, almost skidding to a halt at  the door. She must enter with at least the semblance of composure.

Lucas was alone at the table. She hesitated in the doorway, suddenly  shy, but his smile was reassuring. He got up to pull out a chair for  her, dropping a kiss on her head as she sat down at the table.

'No regrets about last night?' He murmured the words in her ear, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders.

She blushed. 'No, none.'

'Good. Then I propose we visit the parson later today. What do you say?'

'I say, yes, if you please. And … '

'Yes?'

'May I come with you when you see Rudd and Mr Stebbing? I should like to know how they went on.'

He pressed her shoulder. 'Of course. I have no secrets from you now, my love.'

When they had finished breakfast he took her to the study where they  found George Stebbing and the groom waiting for them. They almost stood  to attention when Lucas walked in. Belle noticed that Rudd was sporting a  black eye, but he was looking very pleased with himself.

'All locked up right and tight now, Major,' said George cheerfully.  'Those two boys of Strutt's was squealing like stuck pigs by the time we  got to the lock-up, happy enough to put the blame for everything on  Captain Duggan. Sir John sent the constable and a couple of stout  fellows to the Boar's Head immediately to pick up Strutt and the two  other lads while we went with him to the Red Lion to, er, hap-ree-hend  the Captain. Quite a kick-up there was, when we turned up. The Captain  quite lost his head, admitted in front of everyone that, having failed  to kill you when he burned Morwood all those years ago, he was  determined to do so now.' George chuckled. 'The Captain didn't want to  come quietly. He put up a fight and tried to make a run for it. In all  the confusion that case of his came open and all the papers fell into  the fire.' The old soldier met Lucas's eye for one pregnant moment. 'We  set ourselves to rescue them, of course.'

'Aye,' said Rudd, trying to subdue a grin. 'Burned to cinders, every one  of 'em. Sir John asked what they might be, but the Captain wouldn't  say, and o' course we had no idea, so then Sir John says that what with  the statements from the Strutts and the Captain's confession, made in  front of a dozen witnesses, he didn't want to be bothered with any more  bits of paper.'

'Very wise of him,' said Lucas gravely. 'We will let the law deal with my cousin now.'

'Aye, sir.' Stebbing smothered a yawn. 'Now, if you would excuse us,  Major, me and Rudd will be off. After we'd helped Sir John put the  Captain in the lock-up with his cronies we had to go back to the Boar's  Head and collect the pack ponies we'd borrowed, so we ain't been to bed  yet.'

'Of course,' said Lucas, 'off you go and get some sleep.'

'Aye, sir, that we will, although there's a few things to be done first,  like trying to rescue those boots you was wearing yesterday. Fair  scratched they are and caked with mud …  .'

The old sergeant followed Rudd out of the room, still muttering darkly.  Lucas waited until they had shut the door, then he turned to Belle and  held out his arms. She walked into them as if it was the most natural  thing in the world.

'Papa was right,' she said, reaching up to kiss him. 'It has ended very well.'

'It is not over yet,' he warned her. 'Sir John will want to talk to us  and there will be a trial. You will have to give evidence.'                       
       
           



       

'I do not mind that if you are with me, Lucas.'

His arms tightened around her. 'I shall be with you always from now on,  my love. Which reminds me, fetch your cloak while I send for my  curricle. We will drive into Stanton and find the vicar. There is still  time for him to marry us before Christmas.'

Down in the servants' hall, George Stebbing held one of Lucas's boots  between his knees while he brushed it vigorously with his one hand. He  looked up in time to see the curricle speeding away from the house,  sending up a shower of gravel as it swung sharply around the drive. He  chuckled.

'Clever man, the Major. Always said so. But not clever enough to avoid the parson's mousetrap.'

'And why shouldn't he want to marry Miss Belle?' demanded Becky,  bridling in defence of her mistress. 'She's a fine lady and more than a  match for your Major, Mr Stebbing!'

'Oh, she is that, I grant you,' he said, chuckling. 'He chased her as  hard as ever he could-but in the end he was the one as got caught. Ah  well, 'tis the way of the world, I suppose!'