Harry swore softly as a clawing hand groped for his eyes. A reek of foetid breath hit him full in the face as a swarthy and stubbled visage drew close to his own, the lips drawn back in a feral snarl. The blade inched closer to his throat. Increasing his grip he forced the point away and rolled, landing a punch under the man’s ribs. He heard his assailant grunt but his grip on the dagger never altered. With a supreme effort Harry tightened his grip and slowly forced his arm upwards towards his opponent’s neck. The man’s eyes widened and he launched a rain of desperate blows with his free hand but the point of the blade came inexorably closer. The point pierced flesh. As the blade slid deeper it was followed by a muffled choking noise. The punches ceased and the man stopped struggling. Then slowly he sagged and lay still. Breathing hard, Harry staggered to his feet.
Elena felt a surge of relief wash through her. ‘Are you all right?’
He gave her a wry smile. ‘Thanks to you I am. That was quick thinking.’
‘I didn’t have time to think about it. Luckily, at that range, it was impossible to miss.’
‘If they’d stopped when I told them they’d still be alive.’
‘They made their choice,’ she replied. ‘They’d have killed us without a second thought and robbed our corpses afterwards.’
Jack and Concha came to join them.
‘The world’s well rid o’ t’scum, my lady.’
Concha nodded. ‘We dealt honestly with them and they repaid us with treachery. I have met their kind many times before.’
Elena looked at Harry. ‘What now?’
‘We need to find out if there are any more of them. Jack and I will check the house. You and Concha stay here.’
‘Be careful.’
‘Depend on it.’
The two men went out into the darkness. While they were gone Elena reloaded her pistol, hoping she wasn’t going to need it again that night. It seemed the hope would be realised: when the men returned they reported the house empty. Relief replaced anxiety. However, no one felt remotely inclined to sleep now so they sat and waited for dawn.
By then the rain had stopped, though the air was chill and damp. Harry and Jack found some spades and dug three graves behind the barn. Then they carried the bodies out and buried them. When it was done they rejoined Elena and Concha, who were waiting with the horses, and all four rode away.
They rode in silence for the most part, each lost in their own thoughts. However, each of them wanted to put as many miles as possible between themselves and the sinister farm before they stopped again. Elena was weary now and guessed the others felt the same. Now that the drama was over, the incident left a bitter taste. She could only feel thankful that none of them had been hurt. Had they not been so vigilant it would have been they who were lying in shallow graves now.
‘Are you all right?’
She looked round to see that Harry had brought his mount alongside. His face registered quiet concern.
‘Yes. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.’
‘It’s hardly to be wondered at,’ he replied. ‘Let’s hope my next choice of accommodation is a vast improvement.’
‘You were not to blame. You did what you thought right at the time.’
‘But for your presence of mind I’d certainly be dead now. I owe you a great deal.’
‘Should not a wife defend her husband?’
He smiled ruefully. ‘The roles are usually reversed.’
‘But then it is not usual to be under attack by a band of cut-throats.’
‘No, but it sits awkwardly with me all the same. I must try to do better in future.’
‘I have no complaint to make.’ She paused. ‘Besides, you saved me from the convent.’
‘Are you saying that the honours are even now?’
‘No, for I still consider mine the greater debt.’
Something in her expression caused his heart to beat a little faster. ‘You must not talk of indebtedness, Elena. I do not think of our relationship in those terms.’
She wanted to ask how he did regard it but bit the words back. It was another impertinent question and would almost certainly annoy him. Moreover, they were both tired and she had no wish to quarrel. Instead she changed the subject.
‘Will we reach Seville soon, do you think?’
‘Yes, quite soon. Another week at most.’
‘I’m looking forward to that.’
‘So am I,’ he replied. That was the absolute truth. He wanted to be able to stop exposing her to danger and reckless adventure, especially when he was such a dismal failure as a protector. That realisation only intensified his guilt.
Their conversation also remained on his mind for some time. Elena had shown courage and presence of mind, and never at any time had she treated him to a fit of feminine hysterics. In fact, he thought that she had more spirit and more nerve than many men he’d met. She was remarkable in so many ways. She was also beautiful. After losing Belén he’d been certain that he’d never marry, that no other woman could make him feel as she had done. He had never anticipated rediscovering that kind of magnetic attraction, but now it was impossible to deny that he did feel it. That brief stolen kiss with Elena had only intensified his desire. It was so tempting to give it rein and the opportunity had been there. It would have been easy. He could have taken her, could have made her his in fact as well as in name. He grimaced. Even if Elena was willing to give herself to him what would be her reaction when eventually she learned the truth? It could only be delayed so long, but at some point she would find out and it would be better if it didn’t happen in a casual conversation with someone else. Once they returned to England the likelihood of a chance revelation increased substantially. He was going to have to deal with the matter before then. In the meantime he needed to concentrate on the business in hand.