Читать книгу To Defy a Duke - A. Mervyn Smith - Страница 7

Chapter Three

Someone must be using a hammer to do repair work very close by. As in right next to his head. Or on it.

Colton was going to enjoy relieving them of their duties and having them tossed out on their backside. Without references!

He attempted to open one of his eyes to spot the culprit, but a bright light forced it closed. Who had had the bollocks to drag his bed outside directly under the midday sun?

The pounding continued, increasing the pain in his head. There was nothing for it. When he could get his body to cooperate, he was going to have to run someone through. Firing was too small of a punishment for this transgression.

He tried again to find the source of his misery and slightly turned his head. Fresh pain shot down his neck and into his shoulder which caused both eyes to fly open. Which, in turn, caused him to emit a cry of pain.

Lords Charleton and Hampshire charged through the door, their ceremonial swords drawn. Searching for the source of Colton’s distress and finding no others in the room, they slowly sheathed their weapons.

“Good Lord, man! You gave us quite a scare!” Lord Charles Charleton, the Earl of Arendon, walked back to Colton’s desk and took in his appearance. Colton sat sideways, a hand on his pained neck, his eyes mere slits, failing to filter out the light shining through the open windows. But the near empty bottle at his elbow was the most telling.

Charles smiled and looked over his shoulder at his friend, Lord Thomas Hampshire. “It seems our friend here chose to imbibe copious amounts of spirits prior to our meeting.” He looked back at Colton. “Which was scheduled to take place at the club nearly four hours ago.”

Leaning across the desk, trying to catch Colton’s eye, he asked, “What, old man, could possibly have possessed you to consume alcohol to such an excess so early in the day? Perhaps, a woman?” He smirked.

“Clara.” Although it sounded in his head like he was yelling, his voice barely came out as a whisper.

“Ah, hell.” Lord Thomas dropped into a chair across from Colton. “That woman could drive a saint to drink.”

Colton attempted to nod his agreement, but the movement created too much pain. He grunted his assent instead.

Thomas gestured toward the door. “Call to Burns, Charles. Order coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. We need our compatriot sober so he can follow our discussion.” He smiled. “And possibly contribute to it. I am anxious to hear his explanation for his abrupt engagement.”

Colton groaned. This was going to be a very long evening.

*****

“So, let me make sure I completely understand.” Charles was, unsuccessfully, trying to hold back his laughter. “Clara managed to concoct this ridiculous story on the spot and spin it, convincing every woman in the room of its veracity.” He lost his battle and started laughing, heartily. “Why, that is positively genius!”

Thomas was not faring any better although he at least tried to disguise it by looking down into his empty cup.

“It is not that amusing, Charles!” Okay, upon further reflection, it could possibly be considered somewhat humorous. But Colton had no intention of sharing that tidbit of information with these two buffoons.

Charles wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. “Maybe it is time we shared some good news with our friend here, Thomas. My sides cannot take any more of Colton’s narration. Please.” Charles flipped his hand between the two. “Proceed to update him with events currently unfolding as we speak.”

“Well,” Thomas placed his cup and saucer on the desk, “it seems Clara’s information was indeed accurate. The Crown has seized the Tiger’s Eye after a thorough search, and the discovery of several hidden compartments.” He winked at Colton. “Her methods may be unconventional, but they are certainly effective!”

“So, has the captain divulged any more useful information? Has the crew been questioned?” After three hours and several cups of coffee, Colton’s mind was clear enough that he could ask the obvious questions. Any obscure inquiry would have to wait.

Charles and Thomas shared a look that Colton’s mind could not decipher.

“Er,” Charles began and abruptly stopped.

“What Charles is trying to convey is…” Thomas again glanced at Charles who shrugged in return. “Fine.” He picked up his empty cup, putting it to his lips and muttered, “He managed to escape and cannot be located.”

Colton rubbed his ears, not sure he had heard correctly. He looked at Thomas. “The captain? Escaped?” Receiving a nod in response, he looked over to Charles. “And he cannot be located. Is that correct?” He received another nod, this one from Charles. Neither would meet his eyes.

He leaned back and studied his two friends. “All right. One final question. What the bloody hell are we doing still sitting here?” He stood and looked around for his jacket. Realizing he was still wearing it, he shouted, “Let us be off, men! We have a fugitive to capture.”

Rushing to the door, he grabbed the door handle and turned to his friends. “Do not tarry! We do not have a moment to waste!” With that he was out the door.

Charles and Thomas sat in silence. “How long do you think it will take him?” Charles asked.

“It should register about the time he arrives at the stables. Maybe until his horse is saddled.” He stood and walked to the bar on the other side of the room. “Care for a drink?”

“Why, yes. I do believe I will. What is available?”

“Well, the scotch is gone, but it appears he has quite the stock of bourbon and brandy. Do you have a preference?” Thomas asked.

Charles leaned back, crossed his legs, and smiled. “Surprise me. It has been a day full of them. One more could not hurt.”

“You are absolutely right about that, my friend.” He poured two generous portions of bourbon and carried them over.

Taking a glass, Charles clinked his against Thomas’s. “Cheers! And to our dear friend who is about to sacrifice his freedom.” He placed a hand over his heart. “For king and country!”

“To Colton! And that the king’s reward be shall be monumental so that Colton may be profoundly compensated for the loss of his freedom!”

They turned up their glasses and drained them in salute to their friend. “Excellent choice, Thomas. Shall we have another?”

Thomas pulled out his pocket watch and sighed. “It will have to wait. Colton should be returning right about…”

“Why are you two not ready? We need to be going!” Colton stood in the doorway with a quizzical look on his face.

“Now.” Thomas finished his sentence and returned his watch to his waistcoat pocket.

Charles stood and motioned to Colton’s chair behind the desk. “Please, take a seat. There are matters that prevent us from taking immediate action.”

Colton walked behind his desk but remained standing. “What could possibly delay our search, gentlemen? We must find this culprit before he has a chance to leave London! He could already be miles away!”

“We would already be scouring the city but for one small detail. Really, it is just a minor oversight and will be rectified in no time.” Thomas nodded his head in assurance.

“And what possibly could this ‘minor oversight’ be, Thomas?”

“I am so glad you asked, Colton. Which brings me around to why we came looking for you in the first place!” Charles beamed.

“Yes, Charles is correct! When you did not show at the appointed time, we waited but an hour or so before we went in search of you. When we arrived at the war department, we discovered the latest and rushed right over here to update you on the events.”

“With only one stop at the Bear’s Claw. We had to make sure you had not stopped in for a dram or two,” Charles added.

“Oh, yes. I forgot about that little detour.” Thomas laughed. “We had no way of knowing what or who had detained you.”

“Tell me you did not check with my future in-laws during your quest!” Colton ground out.

Charles blinked. “By Jove, that is the one place that slipped my mind! Thomas! By the time we reached the Wine and Song, we should have realized that!”

“I thought you stopped at the Bear’s Claw!” Colton growled.

“But we did! Right after we checked at the Brew-Ha-Ha!” Thomas clarified.

Colton’s head was spinning, and his temper had reached its breaking point. He dropped down in his chair and grabbed handfuls of his hair. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, “Just tell me why we cannot search for the captain of Tiger’s Eye before I am forced to kill you both with my bare hands!”

“Why, Colton, old man! We don’t know whom the captain is. It is quite simple, really. There was so much chaos as the soldiers boarded the ship that…”

Charles never had the chance to finish that sentence. Somehow Colton had dove over his desk and had his hands wrapped around Charles’s throat before either he or Thomas could react.

“Get…him…off…me!” Charles managed to squeak out.

Thomas jumped up and tried desperately to pry his friend’s finger from around Charles’s throat. “Colton! Think, man! You do not need a murder charge levied against you! Why, think of the scandal it would cause! And the king would be quite vexed if you kill his almost cousin!”

Somehow the reference of the king penetrated the red haze, and he slowly loosened the hold on Charles’s neck. With the same hand, he patted his friend’s shoulder.

“Begging your pardon, my friend. Please, excuse me. I need a moment to compose myself.” With that said, he removed himself from the room.

Thomas smiled. “Sometimes he just makes it too easy, Charles.”

Coughing, Charles choked out. “Easy for you to say. It was not you he was strangling!”

“This time. Last time I ran clear to Scotland before he gave up the chase.” He picked up the two glasses, walked over, and filled them. “He will be awhile this time.” Holding out a glass to Charles, he asked, “Care to join me?”

Charles took it gratefully. “I thought you would never ask.”

Clinking glasses, they proceeded to drink deeply of Colton’s expensive imported bourbon.