Читать книгу His Lady Mistress - Elizabeth Rolls - Страница 8

Autumn 1817

Verity huddled into the murk by the chimney stack, watching through the shifting veil of rain as the two men, little more than dense shadows in the pouring blackness, carried their grisly burden from the cottage to the cart. The horse between the shafts tucked his tail in and stamped restlessly, snorting as the stench of death reached him. The boy at his head murmured in shaking tones and held his lantern higher.

‘One, two, three…’ A thud followed as the men swung the body on to the back of the cart.

Her heart tightened. Oh, God! Please be gentle.

‘Right. Got everything, Jake?’

‘Aye…oh, hang on, where’s the…?’ Jake vaulted into the cart and scrabbled around. ‘No. Here ’tis, Bill.’

‘What?’

‘Thought we’d damn near forgot the stake. Won’t do to forget that an’ all. Rector be really put out, he would.’

A snort greeted this. ‘’Taint him as has to drive it in. Is it? Well, come on. Best get it over with.’

‘Aye. Here, lad, hand over that glim. You get on back to bed. And don’t be thinkin’ on this. ’Tis a cryin’ shame. But there ain’t nothin’ to do ’cept obey orders.’

Orders. Her gut roiled as the lantern changed hands and the cart lumbered off. Slipping from the shadows, she followed, just close enough not to lose the sickly light in the blinding rain.

At the end of the village street a swift rattle of hooves sent her scurrying for cover in the lych gate of the churchyard. All that she could see of the approaching rider was that he was tall, and wore a heavy cloak. Clenching her teeth against their betraying chatter, Verity strained to hear what the rider said to the men. The words were muffled in the curtain of driving rain, but the deep accents were unfamiliar. It must be the fashionable stranger who had put up at the inn earlier in the day.

She bit back a sob of fury as the horseman rode out at the same slow pace as the cart. It was none of his business! Did he just want a sensational story to tell his friends? Her fists balled in impotent rage. She must not reveal herself. Surely he would not stay long. She could still do what must be done. Blinking rain out of her eyes, she followed the cart and rider out of the village.

The rain swiftly penetrated her threadbare cloak, chilling her to the bone. She shivered uncontrollably, fiercely pretending that it was just the cold, that there was nothing to fear.

Doggedly she repeated the litany over and over in her mind. There is nothing to fear. No bears or wolves. Ghosts don’t exist. There is nothing to fear…

Except the dark and fear itself. She had never been out this late at all, let alone by herself… You aren’t alone. The cart is ahead…no one else will be out on a night like this anyway… A shudder racked her at the thought and she forced her mind away…nothing to fear…except her own self-loathing.

Finally the cart reached the crossroads. Trembling with exhaustion and cold, Verity shrank into the hedgerow, crouched on the wet turf, scarcely noticing the branches clawing at her and the icy trickle of water down her back. With a shaking hand she pushed back draggled, soaking hair and peered out of her sanctuary. At least the rain had stopped and the clouds were breaking up so that the moon cast a fitful, nightmarish light.

The lantern had been set down and gleamed on the sodden ground. Close by it she could see a dark, gaping shadow.

One of the men leaned over it and swore. ‘Bloody ’ell! Damn grave’s about half-filled up with water. Gawd! What a miserable business!’

‘Never mind that,’ answered the other. ‘Least we ain’t diggin’ it right now. Get him in an’ be done with it. Quicker the better, I say. Give me a hand here, then.’

Verity watched avidly as the two went to the back of the cart.

‘Wait.’ The stranger had dismounted. ‘One of you hold my horse. I’ll lay him in the grave.’

A choked sob tore free. How dare he? That she had condemned the poor broken creature in the cart to be flung into his grave by a curious stranger.

‘What the hell was that?’ muttered one of the men, shifting uneasily.

Verity put the back of her hand against her mouth and bit down hard.

‘Nothing,’ said the tall stranger. ‘Just some beast out hunting.’

‘On a night like this?’ scoffed the other. ‘Nay. ’Tis easy to see you’re from Lunnon! Any sensible creature’s deep in its hole by now.’

The stranger’s tone mocked. ‘Very well, then. What shall I say? That some other poor wight who lies here is crying his welcome to the newly damned?’

Horrified gasps filled the air.

‘Don’t ’ee say it!’

‘Whisht now!’

They stood back as the stranger lifted the body from the cart. Verity could only watch as the tall figure walked easily to the grave with its tragic burden.

Despair flooded her as she braced herself to see the corpse slung carelessly into the mire. Shock lanced the pain as the bearer knelt in the mud and eased the body to its final resting place. A faint splash told her that the deed was done, and far more gently than she had expected. Shaken, she watched as the man straightened and threw something in after the body.

The murmur of his deep voice came to her. ‘We commit his body to the ground—’

‘Here, now!’ a scandalised voice interrupted. ‘Can’t have that! Rector said so. ’Tis in the prayer book! Them as lays violent hands on theirselves—’

‘To hell with what the Rector said!’

The men shrank back before the sudden fury and the stranger continued. ‘Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…’ The deep voice faded into silence and tears of gratitude mingled with the rain on Verity’s cheeks. Whoever he was, little though he knew it, he was her only friend in this nightmare darkness and she would pray for him all the days of her life.

The older of the two men spoke up hesitantly. ‘Ye’d best stand back, sir. Unless ye wants to handle this bit too.’

‘No, I thank you!’ The stranger jerked back, his voice rough. ‘Can’t you leave the poor devil be, now? Just tell the Rector you did it! This ghost won’t trouble you. Let him rest!’

‘Nay, sir,’ the man averred. ‘Rector says as how it’s got to be done. You go along now, sir. ’Tis a nasty, but it’s got to be.’

A savage oath greeted this and the stranger stepped away.

One of the others knelt over the grave and raised his arm. Numb with horror, Verity saw lamplight slide wetly on steel and heard the first brutal thud as the sledgehammer struck against wood. Again and again the fearful blows landed in a merciless rhythm, ghastly in its very steadiness. Retching, loathing her cowardice, Verity pressed her hands over her ears, but still the sounds penetrated, pounding in her blood as though her own heart was impaled.

Nearly senseless, she sank fully to the ground, uncaring of the bitter cold leaching into her. Even as she realised that they were filling in the grave, the hammering echoed in her soul in pitiless torment.

It remained only to wait until they left so she could make her farewell.

At last they were gone, and Verity, listening to the final, fading splash of hoofbeats, crept stiffly out of the hedge. Cold shuddered through her as she approached the grave. The weather had cleared slightly and moonlight gleamed through a gap in the clouds, lighting her way to the disturbed sods.

With a despairing whimper, she dropped to her knees in the mud, tears pouring unchecked down her cheeks. ‘Oh, Papa, forgive me! I didn’t understand…Papa…I’m sorry…I never meant this…I love you…’

Still weeping, she reached into her satchel and brought out her offering. Small and pathetic though it was, she could do no more. If she put up a cross, no matter how humble, it would be torn down. Even a bunch of flowers would be removed if anyone saw it.

Furtively she scrabbled in the wet, cold earth, preparing it for her hidden garland. He would forgive her…he must. He had loved her once…

‘What the hell do you think you’ll find there? A few miserable trinkets, you cur? I heard you behind us, all the way. I went away to flush you out.’

The harsh voice speared her and she cried out in startled terror as a fierce grip took her shoulder and spun her around to fall helpless on the muddy grave.

Savagely the voice continued, ‘Didn’t they tell you? All a suicide’s possessions go to the Crown. You’ll find nothing here, boy. Now leave the poor bastard alone before I give you the thrashing you deserve!’

Dazed, Verity stared up at her captor, but the moon had fled and a tall, menacing shadow filled her vision. She tried to speak, but her throat, swollen with crying, seized, and all that came out was a choking sound.

‘Go on! Go and rob another grave!’

Her limbs would not move. Helpless, she watched as the shadow leaned down and jerked her to her feet. Both her wrists were imprisoned in a one-handed grip. Another hand flung back her hood just as the fickle moon slid out again. She stared up, but the moon was behind him and his face remained shadowed.

‘God in heaven!’ The grip on her wrists slackened at once and she staggered, only to find herself held in a far more alarming captivity with the stranger’s arm around her waist. ‘You’re a girl, a child! What the devil are you doing out here? Who are you?’

She forced her voice past the choking terror. ‘I…I’m Verity. Verity Scott. He…he…’ Sobs closed her throat again.

‘Verity? Then…you’re his daughter.’ The harshness vanished, replaced by horror and compassion. ‘What were you thinking of? You should never have come here! How old are you, for God’s sake?’ A shaking hand pushed wet, bedraggled strands of hair back from her face in clumsy tenderness.

‘F…fifteen.’

‘Fifteen?! Oh, hell!’

She had no will to struggle when he pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. Despair and exhaustion sapped her strength and she leaned into him gratefully. He had laid her father to rest with all gentleness possible and given him part of the Christian burial. He had tried to stop the brutal laying of any possible ghost. And he had come back to defend the grave. Unlooked-for comfort seeped into her very bones.

Dimly his voice penetrated. The words didn’t matter. The voice was sorrow itself, breaking in its own despair. At last the words reached her. ‘I must get you back to the village, before you’re missed. Come. I’ll take you up on my horse.’

He lifted her effortlessly, shocking her out of her daze. Wildly she fought him and landed in an ignominious heap at his feet.

‘No! Not yet!’ She struggled to her feet and nearly fell again as she slipped in the mire. He caught her and steadied her.

‘Miss Scott, Verity—you can do nothing here. Come away. Don’t torture yourself. God won’t abandon him…’ His voice shook and she felt his hands tremble as they grasped her shoulders.

‘I…I brought bluebell bulbs,’ she whispered, gazing blindly up into the shadowed face. ‘They’ll remove a cross or…or anything else. The bulbs won’t flower till spring. Maybe they won’t realise. Then if…if I can come back one day, I’ll be able to find him…’ Tears choked her and she turned away, searching for the fallen bag of bulbs.

The moon sailed out and she saw the bag by her satchel at the edge of the grave. Shivering, she knelt again and realised that her companion had knelt too.

He held out his hands. ‘I’ll help you.’

Fresh tears slid down her cheeks as she tipped bulbs into his cupped palms and tried to thank him. No words came and in silence they planted them.

At last they were done and Verity’s companion lifted her tenderly to her feet. ‘Come now. With those to deck his grave he will be at peace.’

Her hand clung to his. ‘Wait,’ she begged.

Dragging in a deep breath, she began in a childish treble, ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help…’ Her voice cracking and breaking, she stumbled through the psalm she had memorised until she came to the final verses and the strangling lump in her heart silenced her. Shuddering, she dragged in a useless breath, and another, only to feel a powerful arm go around her shoulders.

The deep voice continued for her in steadfast accents, ‘The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.’

Drawing upon his strength, Verity found her voice again and they finished together, ‘The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in: from this time forward for evermore.’

It was finished. She had done what she set out to do—all she could do—to make amends for her betrayal. There was nothing else she could cling to.

Strong arms held her as she stumbled and then lifted her to lie cradled against a broad chest. Seeming not to feel his burden, her champion strode along the lane, uttering a piercing whistle. A whinny and trotting hooves answered and the horse loomed up before them.

She found herself lifted to the horse’s back and held there as her rescuer sprang up behind her and drew her back into his arms. His cloak was flung around her in heavy protective folds and she realised that she had been wrong. She did have something to cling to. She had this stranger, whoever, whatever he was, and she would cherish the thought of him all her days.

‘Will you tell me your name?’ she whispered.

The arms tightened as the horse broke into a slow trot. ‘Max.’

‘You knew him, didn’t you? How?’ She had to find out. She couldn’t bear to know nothing of the one person who had comforted her grief in a shattered world.

‘He was my commanding officer. My superior in every way. A gallant officer and a gentleman. Remember him that way, Verity. And I will remember him as blessed above all men.’

A sob tore at her. Blessed? How could he say that? She could not even frame the question. The horse came to a halt as the moon flickered out again, gleaming hopefully in puddles and on wet hedges.

A gentle hand lifted her chin and she gazed up, seeing him clearly for the first time. Weary eyes looked back out of a harsh, angular face, all colour leached in the silver wet moonlight. Even as she gazed, the face twisted in a sad smile. ‘You don’t believe me, do you, little one?’

Mute, she shook her head.

The smile deepened and he bent to press a light kiss on her brow. ‘He died blessed with a child as gallant and loyal as himself. No man could ask for more. He would be proud of you, Verity. As proud as you should be of him.’

The horse moved on slowly and Verity turned and wept unashamedly on Max’s chest. He doesn’t understand; doesn’t know what I did. If he knew…

But he didn’t know and he held her, rubbing his cheek against her wet hair as the horse picked its way slowly back to the village.

Gradually some of the chill left her. The warmth beneath Max’s cloak lulled her, vanquishing the nightmare, and she dozed, only waking fully when they reached the village and Max spoke.

‘Who is looking after you? Have you any family?’

She looked about, puzzled. They had pulled up outside the inn. ‘Pardon?’

‘Who are you staying with? I’ll see you to the door.’

‘Oh.’ She tried to sound indifferent. ‘I’m still at the cottage. I…I believe my uncle is coming for me tomorrow.’

A low voice spoke from an upper window. ‘That you, sir?’

Max looked up. ‘Harding! Good man. Come down, will you, and take the horse.’

‘Aye, sir.’

Verity clenched her teeth against a shiver. She could make it back to the cottage alone from here. It was only a step. She made to slip down, but found herself held firmly in place. He leapt off and lifted her down, steadying her as she stumbled on legs stiffened with cold.

‘Gently,’ he said, supporting her.

The rest of her might be half-frozen, but her heart felt as though someone had lit a fire under it.

A moment later the inn door opened and a small man came out with a lantern.

‘Everything all right, sir?’ Then, ‘Who the devil’s this?’

The arm around her tightened. ‘Harding, this is Miss Scott. Can you rub Jupiter down while I see her home?’

Harding lifted the lantern higher. ‘Miss Scott?’

She flinched at the light, shrinking closer to Max.

The lantern lowered. ‘I’m that sorry, lass. About everything. He was a brave man. You go with the major. God bless you. I’ll see you later, sir.’

‘Harding?’

‘Yessir?’

‘Don’t wait up.’

‘Sir?’

‘Don’t wait up.’

‘Don’t…? Oh, aye. No, sir. Goodnight, sir.’ He led the horse away.

‘I shall be quite safe now,’ Verity protested. ‘You needn’t—’

‘Don’t waste your breath,’ he advised her and swung her up into his arms. ‘I’m taking you home and that’s all there is to it.’

The easy strength in his arms shocked her into silence until they reached the cottage and he set her down gently. ‘Key?’ he asked.

A bitter laugh escaped her. ‘It’s not locked. They didn’t leave anything worth stealing.’

He opened the door

The darkness within was total. ‘Wait,’ she said and made her way carefully to the table, fumbling for the candle and tinderbox she had left there.

Her numb fingers struggled with the flint and steel. Again and again she tried to strike a spark. A small sob of frustration escaped her at her clumsiness. An instant later both flint and steel were taken by gentle, unerring hands and light flared as the spark ignited the rags in the box.

‘Sit down,’ he said brusquely as he set a chair by the fire and squatted down to touch the candle to the kindling and faggots laid there. Verity obeyed and watched in bemused fascination as he tended the fire and then prowled around the kitchen, looking into every corner. Warmth stole through her, despite the damp clothes.

‘Go up and bring some dry clothes down here.’

That jerked her out of her doze. Blinking up at him in the shadowy, dancing light of the fire, she asked sleepily, ‘Whatever for?’

His voice was very patient. ‘To put on. You need to get dry. Quickly.’

Down here? With him in the kitchen? All of a sudden she was wide awake.

‘I’ll…I’ll change upstairs.’ No doubt he was quite harmless, but still…she couldn’t possibly change down here, even if he turned his back, blindfolded himself and shut his eyes.

‘There’s a fire down here,’ he growled.

‘And so are you,’ she countered. ‘I’ll change in my bedchamber!’

He stared at her. ‘For God’s sake, girl! You can’t possibly imagine that I’d take advantage of you!’

Her cheeks flamed. ‘Of course not! It’s just that…well, I’d rather change up there.’

A sudden grin lightened his rather harsh features. ‘He used to say you were a stubborn little thing. Like your mother, he claimed. Very well, quickly then. I don’t want you catching your death of cold.’

Verity fled before he could change his mind.

By the time she slipped into the kitchen, safely clad in her warmest underwear and a thick nightgown, the major appeared to be foraging in the kitchen cupboards. She sat down by the fire to watch.

He seemed quite at home in a kitchen, finding everything with easy competence as though he were used to looking after himself. Finally he came back with the results of his raid. A hunk of cheese, the end of a loaf of bread and two apples on a chipped earthenware plate. ‘Is this all?’ he asked. ‘It’s not nearly enough.’

She felt heat mantle her cheeks again. ‘I’m sorry. I ate the rest for supper. If I’d known you were coming…’ She’d intended this lot for breakfast, but after what he had done, he was welcome to anything she had.

He blinked and put the plate on her lap. ‘It’s for you! Not me!’

Shaken, she stared at the food. When had anyone last worried about what she ate? She didn’t want to look too closely at the answer.

Her stomach protested at the thought of food, but she forced herself to eat, conscious of Max leaning against the chimney the whole time watching her. She found herself much warmer at the end of the scanty repast.

‘You need a good night’s sleep,’ he said abruptly when she had finished eating. ‘I’ve put a brick to warm in the fire. Take it up with you. Do you feel all right? Not cold any more?’

She nodded as she stood up. It wasn’t quite a lie. She felt a great deal better than she had a few hours earlier.

‘Very well. Off you go.’

‘Good…goodnight, Max and…and thank you.’ Her voice wobbled hopelessly and she shut her eyes to force back the tears. A powerful arm slipped around her shoulder, pulling her close for a hug. She felt the brief pressure of his lips on her hair and turned in his embrace, hugging him hard.

‘I did little enough. Goodnight, sweetheart. Don’t forget that brick.’ He released her and gave her a little push in the direction of the fire.

As she knelt to wrap the brick in the flannels her competent champion had put ready, she looked up. ‘Shall I see you again?’

His mouth tightened. ‘Better not, little one. There’s nothing I can offer you. I can assure you that your uncle wouldn’t approve of me in the least. Go on. Off with you. I’ll sit here for a while to warm up, if you don’t mind.’ He sat down in the chair she had vacated.

‘N…no. That’s quite all right. But wouldn’t you be warmer at the inn?’

He shook his head. ‘Not really, no. Goodnight.’

‘Goodnight,’ she whispered, reluctantly. She backed to the door, unwilling to lose the sight of him before she had to. He glanced up at her and smiled as she reached the door. The smile softened the harsh lines of his face, melting her heart.

Max sat staring into the fire, hating himself. What a hellish mess. He’d been too damned late. If only he’d known earlier the pass Scott had come to—surely he could have done something. His heart ached at the plight of the lonely child upstairs. At least an uncle was coming for her. She had a family to take her in. Although why she had been left here alone passed all understanding.

He grimaced. Given what she had done, it was entirely possible that Miss Verity Scott had remained at the cottage on purpose. Much easier to slip out unnoticed from here.

He glanced around the small room. It might be empty and cheerless, but at least it was clean. No doubt Verity had seen to that. According to the villagers, Scott had became a complete recluse towards the end, refusing to allow anyone else in the cottage, completely in thrall to his opium.

A chill stole through him. No doubt the loss of his arm had been a terrible shock for Scott, but suicide… He grimaced. Probably it hadn’t just been the arm. He remembered what he’d been told… Damn shame, Max. Seems the poor fellow got back after Waterloo to discover his wife had died in childbed. Understand he’s been drinking laudanum ever since. Why don’t you go down and see if you can help them? I tried but he wouldn’t even open the door. I saw only the child. She came out and apologised. Said he wasn’t well…

No. It hadn’t been his fault… But still, if only Scott hadn’t deflected that bayonet. A clean death on the battlefield for Max Blakehurst would not have been such a tragedy. If only he hadn’t been swayed by the family insistence that he go to the embassy in Vienna, he might have heard sooner of Scott’s difficulties, been able to do something. Now all he could do was mourn.

He couldn’t even help the child sleeping upstairs. Her family would look after her now. And the last thing she needed was to be reminded of this dreadful night. No. She was better off without him hanging around.

He’d find out where she was going. Perhaps if the family taking her needed some help he could offer it anonymously, but otherwise he should stay out of her life.

Verity came downstairs shortly after dawn, wishing she had defied Max over her supper and left some of it for breakfast. And whatever had she done with her wet clothes the previous night? Surely she’d simply dropped them on the floor of her bedchamber, but they certainly weren’t there this morning.

Her stomach rumbled hopefully. She ignored it. She’d have to set the fire again to dry her clothes when she found them. There was a little fuel left.

She reached the kitchen and stared. The fire blazed brightly and her clothes hung over the back of the chair. Nearly dry.

Tears pricking at her eyes, she looked around. On the table were four eggs, bacon, a fresh loaf of bread, a pat of butter, some cheese and six apples. And a jug of…she peeped in…milk. The tears spilt over. Judging by the state of the fire, he hadn’t been gone long. He’d stayed all night, then gone out to find her breakfast.

He’d even dried her clothes for her. She looked more closely. The mudstains were nearly gone. He’d sponged them. The grey, bleak dawn brightened suddenly. She had one friend. Even if she never saw him again, somewhere in the world was Max. Someone she could love.