To Love and Protect Page 8

  “What did you say?” Justin asked coming closer to her.

  “Would a brother and sister truly fall to that level of moral corruption?”

  “Clarissa, I am sad to be the one to inform you, but things like this happen all over. However,” he raised his hand to stop her words, “perhaps there is another answer.”

  “Oh?”

  He heard the curiosity in her voice. “What if they weren’t really brother and sister? What if they were lovers posing as siblings?”

  “Why in heavens name would they do that?”

  “It would be the easiest way to part a man from his money.”

  “Oh, no,” she shakily stood and began pacing. “And Papa was their victim from the start. They wanted his money didn’t they?”

  “We don’t know anything for certain, Clare. It is just one possible theory.”

  “It’s all my fault, you know?” She kept pacing back and forth, and Justin had trouble following her train of thought.

  “How can any of this be your fault? You didn’t know they would turn out to be villains.”

  “I pushed Papa into this, when I told him I had no interest in marrying. I told him I wanted to stay in the country and take care of him as he grew older,” she broke off when her voice turned shaky. Once she had herself back under control she continued, “Don’t you see? He married so that I would not be obligated to care for him in his dotage. To stay at home. It is my fault that viper came into our lives. Now my father has been kidnapped and is possibly on his death bed while those two are romping around enjoying themselves.”

  Clarissa stopped pacing when two strong hands grabbed her upper arms and spun her about. Justin’s blue eyes pierced her own. His hands tightened on her arms.

  “Listen to me. None of this is your fault. Your father is a grown man and can make his own decisions. Whatever happened is as much his fault as that man and woman in that house. You are innocent. Do you understand?”

  “But,” Justin did not allow her to finish her thought.

  “No. I will not allow you to blame yourself for this, especially when we do not know the entire situation. Do you understand?” He waited for her to nod before continuing. “Good. Now we have plans to make. We need to get your father away from here as soon as possible.”

  “Where are we taking him?”

  “Scotland.”

  “Scotland. But why? Aren’t there doctors in London that can help him?”

  “If that old witch has done something to him, London doctors do not know how to combat the black magic.”

  “Witch? Black magic? Justin, you can’t be serious.”

  “Perhaps I’m exaggerating a bit, but I don’t know how else to describe what evil some men and women can do. My grandmother is a healer. I know that she can help your father.”

  “Fine. Tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it. Just tell me we will get away from here soon.” Determination and a newfound maturity lined her face.

  “As soon as I can arrange transport we will be away from here.” He watched as she nodded her agreement. He pulled her stiff form into his arms and gave her his warmth. He wished he could erase the new lines that had formed on her beautiful face in the last hour, and return her innocence to her.

  Chapter 6

  Justin and Clarissa rose and left the grounds outside of the estate. Neither spoke, but instead went through the motions of saddling the horses. Justin led them down the road away from the large manor house. After several turns they came upon a small village with a sign posted at the edge reading Malmouth.

  “Does this village sound at all familiar?” Justin asked Clarissa. She shook her head in the negative. “Let’s see if they have an inn where we can get refreshments and make discreet inquiries.” The walked their horses through the entire village before coming across a very small inn. Of the two rooms to let, only one was unoccupied. Justin signed them in and escorted Clarissa up to the room. “One of the maid’s is going to come up and help you, well, uh do whatever it is you need to do.”

  “Southerby, don’t tell me you’ve turned shy?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Just do whatever you need to do. I’m going to see where the closest port is from here.”

  Justin slipped from the room leaving Clarissa alone with her thoughts. What was the matter with him? He could tease her, but she could not tease him? Typical, she thought. Anger and despair coursed through her as the reality of the situation sank in. Her father lived, but apparently his health was in decline. Two horrible people had destroyed their family. What would happen when word got out that Papa had been taken by two of the worst thieves, in her opinion, to ever inhabit London? How would Papa face his friends again? Clarissa found herself counting her blessing that she had decided to not marry, because a scandal like this could haunt a family for generations.

  “And that is what you want, is it not?” she asked her reflection in the window. “To spend your life caring for Papa and seeing to his comfort? He did after all give his entire life seeing to your needs. Shouldn’t you return the favor?” She rested her head against the cool glass, feeling very much alone. “Damn you, Lorraine, for not being what Papa needed.” She impotently slammed her hand against the window frame. A brisk knock sounded at the bedroom door interrupting her reverie. “Who is it?”

  “The maid your husband hired to help you.”

  “Of course,” Clarissa walked across the room and opened the door. “Thank you so much for helping. I have days of road on me.”

  “We don’t have tubs inside the house, we’ll have to take you outside to get clean,” the maid went on quickly when she saw Clarissa’s hesitation. “Oh, but don’t worry, ma’am. The water is clean, nice, and warm.” Clarissa nodded her agreement and followed the maid down the stairs to a small room behind the inn.

  She quickly stripped down in the cool air and sank into the steaming water. Molly was right. The water felt wonderful compared to the crisp air outside. Clarissa let her head loll against the lip of the tub as the maid washed her long tresses.

  “Who lives in the big manor house east of the village? That is the way we came into the village, but found no identifying marks on the gate.”

  “The widow of the Earl of Malmouth lives there with her brother when they are here.” Clarissa could feel the tension entering her body and tried desperately to fight it.

  “Oh?”

  “Aye. ‘Tis a sad story all the way around. The earl had been a widower for several years and had a daughter about to make her debut in Town. He met this beautiful younger woman and married her quite quickly. Me ma says he was in his second dotage to be carrying on so with such a young thing. About a fortnight after the wedding he had a riding accident and was killed.”

  “How horrible. But why doesn’t the daughter live in the manor?”

  “She was found not many weeks after her father. She was bruised and battered. The rumor is she was raped by the wife’s brother. Instead of facing life, she took her own.”

  “How horrible. But why didn’t the earl’s heir take control of the manor?”

  “It was not entailed property,” the little maid said with a shrug.

  “I see.” Clarissa’s head spun with the possibilities stretching out before her, so much so that her head began to pound. “What is the name of the brother and sister?”

  “Thomas Smith and Janet Watts. We really don’t hear too much from them in the village. They keep to themselves a great deal. Hired all new staff even before the earl and the daughter passed on.”

  Clarissa lay in the warm water letting all that Molly said sink in. Was it Lorraine and Franklin, and they were changing identities as they changed victims? How many others had fallen victim to these two? Had Franklin been the one to abuse the earl’s daughter? Is that why he had continually made overtures towards her? She would be cold in her grave before she let that vile man touch her. Those two would be stopped.

  ***

  Justin rode over ten
miles in the direction the old man had pointed him. A small fishing village appeared just over the rise. He prayed he could find someone needing money to escort them up the coast to Scotland. It took him an hour of scouring the village and making inquiries before someone pointed him in the direction of a man named Jack.

  Justin approached the man’s shanty, not knowing what to expect. If the boat matched the falling down shanty, perhaps he should look for someone else to take them into the rough waters between England, Scotland, and Ireland. Justin knocked cautiously on the door that hung at an angle in the doorway.

  “Aye, who be there?” called a gruff voice from inside.

  “Is Jack there?”

  “Mayhap. Who you be?”

  “Southerby. I need passage for three to Scotland.”

  “Do you have blunt?”

  “I do.”

  A giant of a man with a patch over one eye opened the door. His white hair stuck up in tufts all over his head. He had a matching white mustache and beard.

  “I’m Jack,” the older man said. “That be my ship out there,” he nodded toward the largest of the vessels in the small port. It appeared to be clean and well kept. Justin could tell it would be sleek in the water and make good time with the wind in its sails. “Three you say?”

  “Yes.”

  “When would you need to leave?”

  “I don’t know that I could be ready to leave tonight. Tomorrow night definitely.”

  “I can be ready. It’ll cost you. Storms are approaching. It’ll be more dangerous than usual. Cold, too.”

  “I’m prepared to pay. We will have a sick man with us, and I need to get him to Scotland as soon as possible.”

  “Dying?”

  “I don’t know?”

  “Catching?”

  “No. Poisoned most likely.” The old man eyed him with his one good eye. That eye seemed to see more by itself than what most people saw with perfect sight and two eyes.

  “Whatcha gonna do if you get him away tonight?”

  “Hide.”

  Again, that eye seemed to look into the depths of his soul. It unnerved him the way the old man seemed to see how his mind worked.

  “Bring yourself and the others here. I have a cellar you can hide in until we leave tomorrow night.” Jack left him standing there as he walked to a dinghy and rowed out the vessel with Marie spelled out on the bow of the boat.

  Justin turned and returned to the stables where he had left his horse. He paid the lad and then mounted the horse, turning in the direction of Malmouth and Clarissa. The return trip took longer because he took the time to study every possible hiding spot, in case they were followed. He entered the village to curious and hostile stares. Concern for Clarissa immediately set in. He nudged his horse into a trot and returned quickly to the inn. He threw the reins of the horse towards one of the stable lads and entered the inn, racing upstairs. Justin pushed open the door to the room he had booked for Clarissa and found her sitting in the chair looking out the window. He let out a pent-up breath, and she jerked her head in his direction.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked, quickly standing and moving to his side.

  “I don’t know. The villagers were looking at me in a strange manner, and I just had a horrible feeling that turned out to be nothing.”

  “I think I know why they look at us like that.”

  “You, too?

  “Yes.” Clarissa quickly related the information about the earl and his daughter to Justin. “And to make it worse, the daughter had been secretly in love with a village boy. They had planned to run off and marry the week of the attack. Could it truly be Lorraine and Franklin?”

  “You saw them yourself didn’t you?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Then these people have to be stopped.”

  “I agree, but first we have to get Papa away from here and well on the way to recovery. Molly also told me their names were Thomas and Jane, not Lorraine and Franklin. Could that be their real names or just another ruse?”

  “I just don’t know, Clare. I’m sorry. You said that they replaced all the servants. What happened to the old earl’s servants?”

  “Molly said they were turned out without references. Most are trying to make a living around here, but are finding it difficult.”

  “Get Molly to give us the names of five of the strongest men who used to be in the employ of the old earl. I will meet with them and hopefully enlist their help. There is a fisherman in the next village willing to take us to Scotland for a fee.”

  “Justin, I can’t believe it,” she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her body close to his. “I owe you so much.”

  He let himself hold her close for a few moments before gently setting her aside. “Go and get the information. I’ll wait for you.”

  She nodded her head, flew out the door and down the stairs. Justin walked over to the window and pushed open the glass. The cold breeze washed over his heated body. He kept reminding himself that he had to stay in control. She was only grateful because of his assistance in finding her father. Besides that, a duke would expect his daughter to marry a duke or a future duke. Justin had only inherited his title because of his brother’s death, and still had difficulty relegating himself to the title. He would also eventually be an earl, but found himself in no hurry of inheriting that title from his father.

  ***

  When Clarissa reached the bottom of the stairs, she paused a moment to get herself under control. She had not meant to throw herself at Justin in that manner. She was excited to have her father with her once more, but she had to be honest with herself and admit that was not the only reason she had catapulted herself into his arms. Justin made her heart beat faster and want to do things she had no business doing. Parts of her body that were chaste betrayed her attraction to him even during their heated arguments.

  But she had made herself a promise that she would never marry. Besides that, what man would want a woman so embroiled in a scandal of this magnitude? And then her father had established that ridiculous stipulation in his new will. No, Justin was merely a dream. She had to control herself better around him, not show her feelings. She would save him so that he could marry someone that would bring dignity and honor to his marriage, not someone embroiled in scandal. Why am I even thinking of marriage? She wondered. Didn’t one of their earlier arguments involve my reading more into his actions than what was there?

  Clarissa pushed off from the wall and went in search of Molly. She found her in the back cleaning up the bathing room.

  “Molly, I need to ask you a favor.”

  “Why, ma’am, you startled me.”

  “I’m so sorry. Can we talk a moment?” Molly nodded her head in the affirmative, looking a bit curious. “Molly, my father is being held by an old woman not far from here. The earl’s widow and her brother,” she almost choked on the words, “are behind it. Papa is very ill, and we need to get him away from them. Could you tell me of four or five strong men who used to be in the earl’s employ who might help us?”

  Molly quietly considered for a moment what she had been told and what she should say.

  “They will be compensated for their trouble.”

  Molly thought a minute more. “My brother James’ll help, and he’ll know who t’ bring with ‘im. I’m sorry ‘bout your da’.”

  “Thank you, Molly,” Clarissa gave the little maid and a quick hug that seemed to shock her. “Can your brother and the others meet us here after the evening meal?”

  “I’m sure they can.”

  “Good. I will let So... my husband know,” she finished with a blush, almost forgetting the ruse behind the words. “Thank you again, Molly,” she pulled out a few coins and slipped them into the maid’s hands. Clarissa turned and rushed up the stairs to share the good news with Southerby.

  ***

  Justin looked at the group of men surrounding him. They were a motley bunch to be sure, but had been loyal to the former Ear
l of Malmouth. Clarissa insisted they know why they were helping them. Upon hearing the reason, they were even more eager to help keep someone else from the earl’s fate.

  “Does everyone understand what they’re supposed to do?”

  “Yes, sir,” the group echoed around him.

  “I still say you should let us take care of those two ourselves. I don’t care if she is a woman.”

  “No,” a feminine voice said firmly next to Justin. “Lord Southerby is right. We must have proof to see them brought to justice. Besides, we need to find out if anyone else has suffered from similar atrocities at their hands.” The men grumbled reluctantly at Clarissa’s words, but agreed to abide by the plan. The men began to disperse quietly around the small cabin.

  After the men discovered where the duo kept her father, they agreed that he needed to be removed as soon as possible. They claimed the old woman who lived in that hut dabbled in the dark arts. She used her knowledge for wicked and ugly deeds, and many considered her to be a witch. Clarissa wondered if the old woman and Lorraine shared a deeper connection.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “What?” she asked, just hearing Southerby’s words.

  “Now is not the time to be wool-gathering, Clarissa.”

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “You are to stay hidden until we give the signal.”

  “Yes, yes, I know. I am only to serve as a calming factor for my father. I understand. You have no use for me otherwise.”

  “Bloody hell, Clarissa, now is not the time to play martyr with me. I can’t be worrying about you while trying to save your father’s life at the same time. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Southerby. I’m just anxious for this to be over with.”

  “It will be,” he pulled her into his arms and gave her a reassuring hug. When he drew back, he cupped her cheek with his palm and tilted her face up. Quickly, he lowered his lips and captured her mouth in a short-lived, but heated, kiss. “A kiss for luck,” he said teasingly, but could not quite hide the passion seeping through his voice. “Stay hidden,” he whispered before disappearing into the shadows.