‘Certainly not,’ Reverend Shackleford retorted, ‘but I’m hoping he might be in the land of nod for a good while.’
‘Did he see you?’ The clergyman shook his head.
The Cornishman sighed and wondered how the devil he’d come to be discussing hitting prison guards over the head with a country vicar. Meanwhile, the curate’s mother looked as thoughshe was ready to flee at the first opportunity. ‘Were you harmed at all, Mrs Noon?’ he asked.
Still wearing the Reverend’s cassock, Mary looked as though the last few hours had taken their toll. Underneath the grime, her face was pale and sunken. ‘The bastards din’t dare knock me around too much, else their lord and master’ed ‘ave somethin’ to say about it.’ She paused and grimaced. ‘I just want to go ‘ome.’
‘Will you be safe there, Mother?’ Percy asked, speaking for the first time. The curate too looked as though he was fervently wishing himself elsewhere, and in truth, Jago feared a sudden gust of wind might blow him over.
‘You said in the gaol that you wouldn’t last five minutes in Salcombe,’ the Reverend added doubtfully.
‘I’ve thought about it since. Nobody’ll come after me as long as I keep me ‘ead down,’ Mary Noon retorted. ‘Jack only got in a bleeding high dudgeon cos I’d landed meself right under the noses o’ the Bluebottles.’
Jago knew she was referring to the Customs officials and asked, ‘So what about the Bluebottles, are they likely to drag you back to Dartmouth?’
‘I ain’t no use to them. They got bigger fish to fry. It woz me own bleeding fault I got caught. Landed in their bloody laps, I did, but they know I won’t cry rope on Jack. I might be old, but I ain’t dicked in the bleeding nob.’
Jago wondered what the old woman really knew, but looking into her fearful eyes, he realised she’d never divulge any of the smuggler’s secrets.
‘So, if we leave you in Salcombe, you’re certain you’ll be safe?’ he questioned.
‘How are we going to do that?’ Charity asked. “I’m not certain our carriage will easily negotiate the roads, such as they are. Not this time of year.’
Jago took a deep breath. ‘You can’t take her in your carriage any more than you can return home in it,’ he declared. ‘In fact, you can’t return home at all. At least until Jack is arrested.’
‘You aiming to bring the bastard down then?’ Mary interrupted before anyone else could respond to Jago’s shocking announcement.
‘Yes,’ he answered simply. She stared at him for a second, searching his face, then gave a dark chuckle. ‘Good bloody riddance I say. The day that bastard swings, can’t come too soon.’
‘Why on earth can we not go home?’ Charity queried.
‘Because he’ll find us,’ responded the Reverend heavily.
‘But he doesn’t know who we are or where we live?’ she argued.
‘The innkeeper does. He knows our names at least. And it would only be a small step for Jack to discover our relationship to Nicholas.’
Nicholas again. It was the second time Jago had heard the name mentioned. Clearly, the man was someone of influence. Mayhap he could help them bring Jack to justice. If they managed to get the bastard arrested in the first place. He made a mental note to probe once they were safely out of Dartmouth.
‘And with Nicholas in London and Grace in Torquay,’ Reverend Shackleford was saying. ‘That leaves only Agnes and the youngens. If we go home, we’ll lead these deuced ruffians straight to them.’
‘But why on earth would he take time pursuing us?’ Charity contended. ‘He has no idea what part we have played. And I do not think he…’
She was cut off as Jago, well aware of Mary Noon’s interested silence, swiftly interrupted her. ‘We can’t be sure of anything,’ he declared. ‘And any measures we take are merely precautionary.’ He turned towards Percy’s mother. ‘Come with me, Mrs. Noon. Let us see to your safety first.’ Her eyes narrowed, obviously realising he wanted her gone.
‘It’s best if you leave now, Mother,’ Percy added, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Mary stared at her son and gave a rueful grin. ‘Can’t wait to be rid of me, ‘eh Percy?’
The curate shifted uncomfortably but stood his ground. ‘I cannot approve of your actions, Mother,’ he murmured, ‘but I don’t wish any harm to come to you. And if you stay longer in Dartmouth, you may yet end up behind bars again, or worse.’
She sighed and nodded, climbing to her feet. ‘Will you come and see me?’ she asked, the studied nonchalance in her voice failing to hide her hope.
There was a pause, then Percy nodded. ‘I will,’ he responded finally.
Satisfied, she gave an answering nod. ‘Get a bloody move on then, Cardell,’ she sneered, ‘I ain’t got all day.’
Jago turned to the other three. ‘Pack your belongings and tell your carriage driver to be ready. I will be back as soon as I can.’
