Gabriel did not rise to the bait. ‘I think not,’ he responded mildly. ‘I will return to the ship later on this afternoon after I’ve had the opportunity to see a little more of the city. I trust you will not set sail until the morrow?’ The two men stared at each other for a few seconds. It was not lost on Gabriel that his cousin had not asked about the meeting with Ortega. There had clearly been no mistake. The Viscount’s suspicion that his life was forfeit rose to a certainty. He felt the sweat begin to trickle down his back.
‘I would prefer that you return with me now.’ The answer was soft but was clearly not a request and Gabriel knew the charade was over. If he returned to the ship with his cousin, he would never make it back to England alive. Henry made no effort to conceal the malicious triumph in his eyes. If he was going to make a run for it, it would have to be now. With luck he could lose himself in the narrow streets. He hitched his bag higher onto his shoulder in preparation just as two more sailors appeared, one at each end of the alleyway, effectively cutting off any escape.
Gabriel swore softly. ‘Come along Gabe,’ his cousin called jovially. ‘There’ll be plenty of water for you when you’re back on board. In fact, I’d be surprised if your sleep tonight isn’t the longest you’ve ever had.’ There it was. The acknowledgement that he would not live to see another day. Henry just couldn’t help himself. Gabriel shook his head wearily then eyed the two approaching sailors.
‘Tell me, how did it go with Captain Ortega?’ Henry was laughing openly now. Gabriel gritted his teeth. ‘There is no Captain Ortega as you well know.’
‘I was actually surprised you made it as far as the Castilla,’ his cousin went on conversationally as the two sailors took hold of Gabriel’s arms. ‘After all, a strange city in the midst of a war, well, anything could have happened to you.’ He shuddered theatrically before grinning again.
Gabriel simply glared back. There was no escape for now. But it was a long way to the Seahorse. The opportunity would present itself.
His chance came sooner than expected. As Gabriel, surrounded by his threeescortsentered another plaza, they were jostled by a group of giggling women inadvertently bumping into their tightknit group. ‘Pardon, signors,’ apologised one as she struggled to extract herself and her numerous purchases.
The Viscount wasted no time. Sticking out his foot, he elbowed Henry causing the Seahorse’s captain to stumble forward, directly into the lady’s many bags which she promptly dropped with a cry. The provisions spilled out onto the ground and Gabriel took advantage of the mayhem to slip in between the two confused sailors. Once free, he didn’t look back but simply ran into the nearest alleyway like the devil himself was chasing him. Now all he needed to do was hire a boat.
Unhappily, nearly five hours later, he was still no closer to getting out of the city. His initial euphoria had faded away replaced by a gnawing anxiety. The only way off the damned island was guarded by Henry’s men and it was beginning to look as though his only option was to swim. He shook his head ruefully. His cousin might yet get his wish. There was no doubt he’d underestimated the Seahorse’s Captain. The scapegrace he’d grown up with had been replaced by a ruthless opportunist.
Gabriel was hidden in the bell tower of the Church of Santiago, almost overshadowed now by the nearly completed magnificent Cathedral in the same plaza. He’d entered at the start of the noon service, and it had been easy enough to slip away during the mass. His intention was to wait until dark then sneak out the same way he’d come in. Hopefully he would less likely be spotted by one of Henry’s jack tars once the sun had gone down. He was painfully aware that it was a terrible plan, but it was the only one he had. Especially as he needed to be well away before they began ringing the bells, otherwise the noise could well burst his eardrums.
He leaned back against the wall. The lack of sunlight together with the stiff breeze through the uncovered openings made the small circular room much colder than at ground level. He hugged his arms around his legs in an effort to generate some warmth. His stomach was also growling in protest. His last meal had been several hours ago. Mayhap he was getting too old for such havey-cavey business. Nevertheless, despite his discomfort, he slipped into a light doze, only to be woken by a sudden vicious pain to his chest.
‘Do you think me so stupid Northwood?’ ground a voice directly in his ear. Gabriel instinctively kicked out and rolled away. Disoriented, he didn’t know what his foot connected with, but he heard a satisfying grunt. Blinking he stared up into the glittering eyes of his cousin who this time stood over him with a pistol pointed directly at his head.
Again, he’d underestimated Henry Atwood and the malice in his cousin’s eyes told him this time it would cost him his life.
‘Why are you doing this Henry?’ he rasped, struggling to breath after the blow to his chest.
‘The high and mighty Viscount Northwood at a loss. Now there’ something I’d kill to see… Oh wait, I will very shortly.’ Henry sniggered and leaned back against the circular wall. ‘Wait for me downstairs,’ he said without taking his eyes from Gabriel’s.
‘Gladly,’ the Viscount responded.
‘Funny,’ was the snapped response. ‘I was talking to him.’ He nodded his head towards the man groaning near the stairwell and Gabriel had the satisfaction of knowing his foot had connected with a couple of ribs.
The sailor didn’t speak, but after throwing a last scowl at the man on the floor, he stumbled down the stairs.
‘Tell me,’ Gabriel wheezed as soon as they were alone, ‘what the bloody hell is this all about?’
Henry put his head on one side and regarded Gabriel almost curiously. ‘You know you’re a particularly hard man to kill cousin. You were never supposed to make it here, but you never spent long enough on deck for me to throw you overboard, so I was forced to sail all the way to bloodyCadizto finish you off. Couldn’t do it in Portugal - too many of Wellesley’s men might have smelled a bloody rat.
‘Still, improvisation and all that and there was always the thought of sweet ripe little Marta in the city who believe me cousin is truly worth sailing halfway round the world for.’ He chuckled at his own joke as Gabriel continued watching him silently.
‘Once we anchored, I’d intended to wait until the crew had gone ashore to finish you off, but you decided to go bloody sightseeing.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘By the time my man caught up with you again, you’d actually made it as far as the damn Castilla. Clearly you’re not a complete imbecile.’ He gave a small grin before adding, ‘I was hoping they’d to me a favour and lock you up. Certainly would have speeded things up a bit. But being the slippery bastard you are, you escaped again.’ His grin widened. ‘Don’t worry cousin, when my father takes over as Viscount Northwood, he’ll ensure everyone knows you died a noble death. So sad, but there we go - they’ll say you were reckless, just like your foolish father.’
Devil take it, this whole escapade was all about his bloody title. ‘Hellishly long way to bring me simply to put a bullet in my head,’ drawled Gabriel forcing down his anxiety.
‘What better way for you to die than in the service of King and Country, far,faraway from any prying eyes,’ Henry sneered, ‘except of course at this particular moment in time you’re not in the service of anything. In fact, nobody knows where the hell you are - well, nobody who cares anyway.’ He chuckled again at the flair of panic Gabriel couldn’t suppress and continued, ‘I promise I’ll lay it on thick. By the time I’ve finished, you’ll have a hero’s funeral. Of course, there won’t be a body, but that’s a small matter. I’ll testify that you died the bravest of men. How does being shot by a French musket as Bony’s army enters Cadiz sound to you? Plausible? After all’s said and done, the idiots here aren’t going to stop them. The damn city’s ripe for the taking.’
Gabriel stared back at him in contemptuous silence.
‘What about my uncle?' he demanded at length. ‘I refuse to believe he is party to this madness.’
Henry laughed out loud and the Viscount went cold. ‘Whose idea do you think it was to take you for such a longone-waytripLord Northwood? Your father was an irresponsible idiot. The title should never have gone to him. Your death will simply make things as they should be.’
Gabriel glared at his grinning cousin wordlessly. What else was there to say? He’d been betrayed by a man he thought cared for him. He would die and no one would ever know the truth. He watched Henry lift the pistol, his whole body in shock. The shot when it came seemed distanced, but the pain in his chest took his breath away. Another blast and the top of his thigh was on fire.
Numbly he watched Henry step towards him. His nemesis did not speak, but hefted Gabriel onto his shoulder and simply tipped him out of the window.
Chapter Seven
