Chasing Eliza (17 page)

On the
horizon he could see a small town and catching Eliza’s stunned
gaze, nodded in that direction. “Let’s stop there. We can find
somewhere to stay.” He sensed her hesitation and sought for a way
to prevent her feeling weak and useless. A quick glance behind
assured him that her reckless actions had bought them the
opportunity they needed to thwart Scraggan’s plans. He could see
the riders gathered in consternation on the brow of the hill,
watching them make their way unhindered through the assorted
traffic.

Edward
eased his grip on the reins and slowed to a steady walk, giving his
horse a hearty pat for his efforts.

“
Eliza, pull up for a moment.” Edward ordered softly, studying
her pale complexion carefully.

Eliza
drew her horse to a stop and turned to look at him
expectantly.

“
Do you want to take a rest for a while?”

Eliza
shook her head. “We need to make the most of the daylight we have.
Let’s keep moving while we have an advantage. You don’t know if
Scraggan has any other nasty surprises lurking.”

“
He is certainly determined.” Edward rode alongside her for
several moments. “Do you know any of the men in the group so
far?”

Eliza
shook her head. “The one who tried to carry me out of the stable
yard was definitely speaking Cornish, but I haven’t seen them in
Padstow. Did you see the cutlass?” Eliza winced, knowing it was
stupid question. Of course he had seen the cutlass, he had been
fighting it.

Edward
smiled ruefully. “I saw a flash or two of it, yes. Although it
looked wicked, unfortunately for the assailant, he wasn’t all that
adept at handling it.”

They
rode in companionable if shaken silence for some time before the
rumbling of Edward’s stomach gave him the opportunity he needed to
find a way to get them off the road, and Eliza a break for a
while.

“
Unless I am mistaken, I think we are headed towards
Huntingdon. We need to get there to meet with Peter at the Hare and
Hound.” Edward wasn’t sure Peter had the time to reach Huntingdon
yet, even if he had been at Dominic’s to receive the missive. He
hoped so, because he desperately needed the shot for his pistol
Peter had been asked to bring.

“
Do you think they will be there?”

Edward
paused, wondering at the apparent ease in which she read his
mind.

Shaking
his head, he saw no reason not to be completely honest. “I am not
sure. We may have to wait until he gets the note. As soon as it
arrived at Havistock, Dominic would have dealt made sure it was
brought to Peter’s attention but there is no way of knowing where
Peter is.” His eyes met and held hers. “He has been known to simply
disappear within minutes if he gets word of a possible sighting of
Jemima.”

Sensing
her lingering doubts and worries, he tried to put a brighter slant
to their current situation. “We can at least reside somewhere where
we can eat and keep warm. Despite Scraggan’s determination to
capture you, it doesn’t appear that he is prepared to enter
property to get to you. The men have clearly been instructed to
capture you out in the open.”

“
Where I am easier to get at and it is easier to kill anyone
with me, without raising the alarm and risk being captured and
tried for murder.” Eliza’s voice was cold as she frowned into the
distance, hatred for Scraggan burning fiercely in her
breast.

Edward
studied her closely and sensed her burning anger. Once again he was
impressed with her cool logic and calm acceptance of their
predicament. He could understand her anger, and even a thirst for
vengeance.

“
It won’t be too long before Dominic or Sebastian arrives.
Even if they cannot locate Peter, they won’t leave us unprotected.”
Edward assured her; very glad that he had two supportive brothers
who were prepared to help out without question.

“
My brother Dominic and Peter were sent to Norfolk about
eighteen months ago, to deal with a large smuggling gang there.
They will know the people in the War Office we can report this to.
People your father may have spoken to about his
suspicions.”

Eliza’s
head snapped around to stare at him. “The War Office?”

“
They are smuggling goods into the country. It is against the
law, Eliza. At best it is kegs of brandy and the odd bolt of lace.
At worse, it could be people – French spies.”

Eliza
flinched, thinking of the papers secreted in the pouch beneath her
breeches. Given everything he had sacrificed for her, she really
ought to tell him everything and at least show him the
papers.

Edward
didn’t miss the look of guilt that stole over her face and knew
that despite everything, she was still withholding information from
him. It disturbed him more than he wanted to admit.

It took
longer to reach Huntingdon than both had anticipated, and was late
afternoon before they agreed they wouldn’t get there before
nightfall. Edward cursed their luck and studied their situation for
a moment.

Although
the Great North Road was littered with busy coaching inns, he was
loathed to stop on such a busy thoroughfare while they were being
followed with such determination. He was fairly certain two riders
were doggedly following them, albeit at the moment making no move
to attack.

Dusk was
darkening the sky to an inky blankness when a weary Eliza announced
that she couldn’t ride any longer. Already she was sore and aching
from the long hours in the saddle. Hunger had begun to gnaw at her
insides and she was so very thirsty.

Edward
spied a single, low slung stone building sheltered in a small
meadow on the horizon. It was evident from the dishevelled state of
the place that it hadn’t been used for some considerable time.
Glancing back at the empty road behind them, he was reassured that
they had put enough distance between themselves and Scraggan’s men
to turn off the road without being found. Nodding to Eliza, he
nudged his horse towards the visual protection of a high hedge
running the length of the field and headed towards the long slung
structure. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to
suffice.

Eliza
glanced at the empty windows with a shudder. Surrounded on three
sides by trees, the large looming rock-face on the fourth side was
almost ominous for its towering height. She was very glad Edward
was there.

The area
was so dark and isolated, it felt as though they were the only
people in the world, as they quietly made their way to the rickety
front door.

“
We’ll take the horses inside.” Edward murmured, keeping his
voice low despite the fact there was little prospect of anyone
being close enough to overhear them.

“
Are you sure there will be room?” It didn’t look as though
there would be room for them inside, let alone the horses
too.

Edward
smiled wearily. “We can try.” It was all he said as he dismounted
and began coaxing his tired horse into the darkness within the tiny
building

With a
rueful shake of her head, Eliza followed.

They
consumed the rest of the food as they sat on the rough floor of the
small cottage. Eliza gave the core of her apple to her grateful
horse, as they sat in the silence.

“
I’m sorry we can’t have a fire, or lighting but we really
cannot alert anyone to the prospect that we are here.” Edward
murmured softly, sensing her disquiet.

“
I know, but I hate the dark.” Eliza whispered with a shiver.
She had never realised before just how dark the night could be.
Whenever it had become too dark to see, she had always lit a
candle. She had never considered before just how privileged she had
been just to be able to do so. Eyeing the darkness warily she
inched closer to Edward, issuing a small squeak of surprise when
his long arm slid across her shoulders.

“
How are you feeling?” He whispered, tucking a loose tendril
of hair behind her ear.

“
Sore.” She replied, shifting against the hard flood beneath
her bruised bottom. “It has been several years since last rode. I
had forgotten how much of a strain it can be.”

“
You did well today.” Admiration was clear in his
voice.

“
Thank you. It is something I don’t want to repeat however.”
Eliza replied ruefully.

Silence
descended for several long moments.

“
I’m sorry we didn’t make it to a coaching inn.” He murmured
softly, wishing they had the comforting expanse of a soft bed
beneath them.
At least fully dressed and
sitting upright he wouldn’t pose any risk to her virtue.
He thought ruefully, shifting his numb bottom
against the hard floor in search of a more comfortable
spot.

“
Why don’t you try to get some sleep.” He ignored her soft
snort and tugged her closer until she was flush against him. “I
know it is difficult given the circumstances, but you really must
try to get some rest. We have another long ride ahead of us
tomorrow to get to Huntingdon.”

As they
sat side by side in the darkness, Eliza became aware of just how
quiet it really was. The soft rustle of leaves brushed by the
gentle breeze, and the occasional snort of the horses were the only
sounds in the night. If she was to be faced with such a situation,
then she could only be very glad that Edward was with her. She
didn’t think she could face it by herself.

She
jumped as one of the horses coughed.

“
Try to relax.” Even through the darkness, Eliza could hear
the humour in his voice.

“
I’m sorry, I just hate the dark.” She replied, eyeing the
dark shadows in the far corner of the room warily. She wasn’t sure
if it was her imagination but they seemed to be moving slightly.
Squeezing her eyes tight, she did as he suggested and tried to
relax enough to get some sleep, but she knew it would be a long
time coming.

And it
was.

Edward
was resting his head against the wall behind him, his eyes were
closed but Eliza knew he wasn’t asleep.

Eliza
gasped at a raucous screech that suddenly broke the silence. She
instinctively grabbed Edward’s jacket and felt him jerk in
response.

“
Oh God, what is it?” She listened to the loud, high pitched
scream that seemed to go on forever. Terrified, her heart thumping
heavily in her breast, she clasped her hands over her ears when
after a few seconds of silent, another scream followed.

“
Don’t worry darling, it is just a female fox.” Edward
murmured as he relaxed back against the wall.

Eliza
looked at him aghast. “What? How can you be sure?”

“
That’s the shriek of a female fox warning other foxes off her
turf. She can probably smell the horses and mistakenly thinks they
are other foxes.” Edward’s stifled a yawn, apparently
unconcerned.

When
another shriek pierced the night air, Eliza resumed her position
against his side and sat rigidly against him, as close as she could
get without climbing into his cloak.

“
Oh God, make it stop.” She moaned when the haunting squeal
continued to break the silence. It sounded so much like a woman
screaming it made the hairs stand up on the back of her
neck.

Edward
lurched to his feet and thumped on the door to the cabin. There was
a sudden scurry within the leaves outside. He waited for several
moments before resuming his position beside her. Blessed silence
fell over them once again.

“
Thank you.” Eliza whispered, tugging her knees into her chest
and holding on tight. She wished Edward would hold her tightly, but
daren’t ask him. She glanced across at his stern face, barely
visible through the gloom.

In the
darkness of the shadows, his face looked menacing. All dark,
shadowy dips and hollows. So unlike the Edward she had become so
familiar with, she shuddered and rested her forehead against her
knees, willing the dawn to come.

It felt
an indeterminable age before the first shafts of light began to
chase the impenetrable darkness away. Edward’s face lost some of
its shadows and thankfully began to take on a healthier, more
familiar glow. Eliza sighed with relief, wondering what the new day
would bring.

She
jumped as a loud crack of wood broke the morning air.

Edward
suddenly jerked upright and frowned at her. After several moments,
another smaller crackle of wood followed by rustling of leaves
sounded louder. Whatever was moving out there was big, heavy and
getting nearer.

Jumping
to his feet, Edward slid his sword off the floor beside him, his
eyes locked firmly on the door. Eliza stood and moved to his back,
clutching at the shirt on his back as they sidled towards the
door.

Edward
paused and turned towards her, a dark scowl on his face. He lifted
a finger to his lips and pushed her towards the horses. Eliza shook
her head, refusing to be parted from him, even if it was only a few
feet.

His deep
put-upon sigh was galling for Eliza. She wasn’t a wilting
wallflower by any stretch of the imagination, but at that moment
needed his reassurance. Clearly she was being a pesky nuisance. His
attitude was galling. She frowned at him, with hurt filled eyes for
several moments before turning to do as he bade only to find her
cloak tugged.