Captive Hearts (32 page)

Katherine stepped down from the coach between him and the men, and Matthew’s heart clenched as eight muskets came to bear on her.

“My husband has been in Birmingham with me for several days, sir. There has been some sort of mistake. He cannot be responsible for this.”

“Step aside, Madame.” The man reached out to grasp

Katherine’s arm, and Matthew caught his wrist preventing him from touching her.

Time stood still as several guns were cocked atop the coach. Matthew glanced up. All six men above had armed themselves.

Talbot stepped out the front door with Clarisse at his side. Elton’s tall figure stood at attention behind them.

“What the hell is going on here?” Beads of moisture shown on the young officer’s forehead. His gaze strayed upward where the barrel of a musket pointed at him. “Captain Hamilton is under arrest, sir.”

Talbot’s bushy, white brows rose. “For what?”

“The murder of Jacqueline Rudman, sir.” Talbot’s face grew red, his features creased in a frown. “That is ridiculous. Jacqueline’s death occurred after Matthew had already left for Birmingham. Avery Rudman has gone too far this time.”

“I have orders to transport Captain Hamilton to Newgate, sir.”

Matthew watched the change come over his men’s faces. They had already seen him taken away once. They would not allow it again. He pulled at Katherine’s arm.

“Get behind me, Katherine.”

“No. If Lord Rudman is involved, they could just as well have orders to shoot you and say you were resisting.” Endicott’s face stiffened. Several of the soldiers on horseback shifted to a more purposeful posture. “I am an officer in His Majesty’s Army, Madame. I do not shoot prisoners without reason.”

Clarisse stepped down the stairs to the drive and right into the path of several firearms. Matthew’s heart stuttered. Someone was going to get hurt.

“Lieutenant,” Clarisse addressed the man, “I suggest you accompany my nephew and his wife into the house, and we will sort this out like civilized people.”

“It is not my job to sort anything out, Lady Willingham, just to follow my orders.” Katherine advanced on Endicott, and he took a step back. “You are not taking my husband to that—place.” Matthew said the only thing that would put an end to the confrontation before it escalated any further. “Yes, he

is.” She turned to look over her shoulder at him, her eyes wide with shock.

“It will be all right, Katherine. We both know I didn’t harm Jacqueline Rudman. I have witnesses that will testify to that.” He swallowed and struggled to retain a calm demeanor as he turned to the Lieutenant. “I am going to order my men to lower their fire arms. I suggest you do the same, before someone gets hurt. We have unarmed civilians in the line of fire. It wouldn’t do your career any good if one of them is shot and killed.” The young soldier couldn’t completely hide the relief that flickered across his face. “I agree, sir.” Matthew glanced upward and met each man’s gaze.

“Lower your weapons men. I’ll need you to testify as to my whereabouts instead.”

“Lower your weapons.” Endicott called out to the men on horseback then turned to face Matthew. “I will need your weapon, Captain.”

Matthew spread his coat wide, pulled out the flintlock pistol at his waist, and offered it to the man butt first. “I would ask you for a moment to speak to my wife and my aunt and uncle, Lieutenant. I will need them to see to my defense.”

“Of course, sir.” The man nodded.

“How was Lady Rudman killed?” he asked.

Endicott studied his face for a moment. “She was strangled, sir, with a blue ribbon.” Katherine caught her breath and bit her lip. As her gaze focused on his face, he read the fear in her expression.

Matthew motioned for Talbot and Clarisse to join Katherine and him at the base of the stairs.

“Talbot, you will need to contact Lord Harcourt immediately. I will need him to testify as to the investigation he is leading. Jacqueline came to the Caroline the day I left for Birmingham.” He felt Katherine shift in response to the news. ”My purser on the Caroline, Carson Ray and my first mate, Henry, can testify I sent her on her way in full view of everyone on deck. Carson rowed ashore with me from the Caroline afterward and he saw me mount my horse and ride away. What day was it

that Jacqueline was killed?”

“That same afternoon, Matthew,” Talbot said, his brows drawn together in a frown, his worry palpable.

“They found her body in her coach in an alley just off the docks. Her driver had been knocked unconscious, and she had been molested and strangled.” He met his uncle’s gaze. “They could argue I suppose, that I doubled back, knocked out the driver, and murdered her. There have to be witnesses to what happened, Talbot. If it was broad daylight, someone had to have seen something.”

“We will find them, I swear it. You will not languish in jail again for something you did not do, Matthew.” Clarisse placed a hand on Matthew’s sleeve, her pale eyes, so much like his, focused intently on his face. “We will do whatever it takes to set you free, Matthew. No matter what that may be.”

“A coroner’s inquest as soon as possible might be helpful. Isn’t that how things are done here?” He forced a smile to his lips, though he had never felt less like smiling. He turned his attention to Katherine.

His throat felt thick with emotion as he looked down at her. Her eyes had never seemed so dark, nor her skin so pale. He could think of only one thing to say. “I haven’t wanted any other woman, since the first time I saw you, Katherine.”

“I know.”

The open trust in her face was nearly his undoing.

“I’m coming with you.”

“No. We both know Newgate is no place for a lady, sweetheart.”

“My place is with you, no matter where you are, Matthew.”

He cupped her face in his bandaged hands and closing his eyes, rested his forehead against hers. “I need you here, fighting for me, covering my back.” He felt her hands grip the fabric of his coat tight. I—” He kissed her, drawing her in against him to feel the imprint of her body against his. When he raised his head, he read in her face the words she had started to say. “Tell me when I’m a free man again.”

“I will.” Her hand lingered against his cheek.

“In light of your injuries, we’ll use your coach to transport you, Captain.” Endicott motioned to his hands.

He released Katherine and stepped away. “Andy, Webster, and Franklin, you’ll stay here with my wife. I’m counting on you to help keep her safe.” He looked from man to man. “All of you.”

Andy, the quietest of the bunch, said, “Won’t nobody bother ’er whilst we’re around, Cap’in ’amilton.” The men climbed from the coach and moved to stand beside her.

“I am coming with you, Lieutenant. I will see Matthew settled, and know where he is housed,” Talbot said. He hastened to collect his cloak from Hampton at the door. He swung himself aboard the conveyance.

Matthew climbed inside the vehicle. He took his seat.

His gaze settled on Katherine’s face through the window.

With a jerk, the coach pulled forward. His last view of his wife was of her standing on the steps with Clarisse, her hand clenched tight against the frogs that held her cloak in place, her body held taut against the golden glow of the setting sun.

****

Katherine watched the coach turn outside the gate. She thought she might scream if she didn’t find some outlet for the rage and fear building inside her.

“Clarisse, do you know where Lord Harcourt lives?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good, you may give Andy directions.”

“Andy.” She turned to the big man directly behind her. “Please go around back to the stables and see that a horse is saddled for each of you.”

“Aye, Ma’am.” The man started off at a jog.

“Webster.” Emotion gripped her throat as she read the concern in the man’s face. For a moment, her composure deserted her, and tears threatened. She cleared her throat. She had no time for tears, not while Matthew remained confined in that hell-hole. “I need you to go to Lord Rudman’s house and fetch the driver of the coach who was attacked. Lord Harcourt will wish to speak with him, as do I.”

“Yes, Mrs. Hamilton”

“Franklin.”

The man’s red, bushy hair stood on end as if he had

been caught in a windstorm. Katherine smiled, despite the fear and worry bringing a hollow feeling to her insides. “Go to the Caroline and find out where Mr. Ray might be. Have him come here immediately. Bring Henry as well.”

“I’ll be there and back before ye can blink.” She nodded. “I know I may count on you. Do not take no for an answer. If someone is out, inquire where they are, and hunt for them until you find them. As soon as Lord Harcourt and I have had time to speak with everyone, we will decide what can be done.”

****

Matthew listened to the scrape and clamor of metal doors slamming closed deep within the prison. The nauseating smell of urine and filth made his throat burn. The sounds of fear and misery echoed through the halls, more wrenching than any he had ever heard.

He eyed the filthy cot with its straw mattress with distaste, and took a seat on the only chair in the room.

The cell was much like the one he had occupied before, but this chamber also had a pocket of brackish water in one corner where rain had leaked from somewhere above.

He focused on the barred window high on the wall where a small piece of sky was visible. His thoughts turned to Katherine, and the first time he had seen her in a room like this one. Her gaze had strayed to the window as she staved off her fear of close spaces. He wondered at the courage it had taken for her to face her fears in such a manner.

A knot of emotion rose in his throat as despair crashed down on him. He had done what he needed to do to prevent anyone else from being hurt, but now, as he sat in this cell; he wished fervently he’d had an opportunity to fight. He wanted to smash something and yell at the injustice of it. Avery Rudman wanted someone to blame for his wife’s death, and because of Matthew’s earlier relationship with her it was he. He wondered how many times he was to pay for meeting her. Would he pay with his life for those few, brief, stolen moments that happened months before Rudman had ever married her?

Matthew raked his fingers through his hair.

“I knew ye’d be back,” a familiar voice said from the

door.

Matthew looked up.

Hicks’s broad, piggish face pressed close to the barred opening in the door. His small eyes narrowed as he smiled. “Murdered a Lord’s wife, I ’ear. Ye’ll not be leavin’

’ere this time, lest it be in a box.” A key twisted in the lock. Matthew got to his feet.

“’Tis a standin’ order that all murderers be ironed.” Hicks threw a pair of rusty shackles to the floor at Matthew’s feet. “Put them on.”

He looked at the chains then studied Hicks’s face. A satisfied smile played around the man’s mouth. Hicks wanted him to resist. Matthew’s gaze moved to the open door, and he caught the furtive movement of a shadow to the right. He wondered how many there might be waiting for Hicks’s signal.

Matthew bent to pick up the shackles and eyed the cuffs. With both his arms and ankles secured, he would be bent at the waist and unable to straighten up. He would be helpless to defend himself should Hicks and the other guards attack him. He wondered if Rudman had ordered the guards to kill him.

Probably so.

A sense of calm settled over him, as resolve took the place of his despair. He had been hungry for a fight, and Hicks was providing him with one. He might as well take advantage of the opportunity. A smile curved his lips as he focused his attention on Hicks. “Why don’t you invite the others in, Mr. Hicks, and we’ll get down to business?” Hicks’s smile listed and died, his features taking on a hard look. “’Tis my pleasure, Yank.” He looked toward the door. Matthew swung the chains, hitting him in the side of the head. The man staggered sideways and fell head first into the door blocking the portal, just as two men crowded through armed with clubs. One tripped and went down across Hicks’s limp figure. Matthew swung again barely missing the two and the sound of the metal links hitting the door clanged, making his ears ring.

The two ducked and scrambled on all fours back out of the cell. Matthew adjusted his hold on the shackles. He spun one length of chain with a metal cusp around and

around as he converged on Hicks’s limp form.

“Ye’ll be punished for attackin’ ’im,” one of the men warned.

“I’m in here for murder, and they can only hang me once. Now which one of you would like to be next?” The two eyed each other. One lunged for the door and slammed it shut. “Get the key, ’urry,” he urged.

“’icks is still in there, Charlie.”

“Better ’im than us. ’is Lordship will be more upset should the bloke escape.”

The key rattled in the lock and the tumblers turned.

Matthew’s blistered hands protested as he grabbed Hicks by the back of the coat and dragged him to the bunk. He tossed the shackles next to the bed and hefted Hicks onto it. The side of the man’s head and face had already begun to swell with a multitude of lumps.

Matthew eyed the injury with some satisfaction. He clamped one of the metal cuffs around the guard’s wrist, and then pulled the ring of keys from his belt. He tried several before finding the correct one with which to lock it. He had just finished securing the last one around Hicks’s ankle when the man began to moan and come around.

He removed the short club from Hicks’s belt then leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. Hicks’s beady eyes fluttered open and settled on Matthew. He frowned and looked addled. When he started to sit up, he came up short and flopped back. His eyes widened in surprise, and then fear, as he eyed the chains that held him to the bed frame. “Charlie,” he bellowed.

Matthew left him to his struggles and strode to the door. He tried several keys in the lock until he found the one that fit. Temptation niggled at him, urging him to open the door and take his leave. If he did, his actions would be discerned as an admission of guilt. If he didn’t, he could be hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. With an oath, Matthew slammed the club he held against the door and heard a yelp of surprise from the other side. He held the key in place as someone attempted to force another into the lock from outside.