Chapter Thirteen
Charity found her mind replaying the events of the last few days over and over again as she packed her few belongings. The attraction she felt for Jago Cardell paled in the face of the uncertainty she now faced. Where on earth were they going to go? Clearly, wherever the Cornishman had in mind to take them, he did not want Mary Noon to have knowledge of it. She felt sick with fear for her family, and her hands shook so much, she sank down onto the bed and clasped them tightly in her lap to stop their trembling.
Sensing her distress, Freddy whined softly and butted her hand with his head. Stroking him absently, Charity thought back to her scathing comments about her twin's unrestrained behaviour. What if that was the last time she ever saw Chastity? Jago Cardell could even now be making plans to take them to the Americas. A feeling of dread began to well up. She could not,would notleave her sister.
She jumped as a loud knock on the door put an abrupt end to her rising panic. Grateful for the distraction, she took a deep breathand climbed to her feet. No doubt it was her father thinking to give her another lecture.
To her shock, the person at the door was the subject of her thoughts. ‘I’m aware of the impropriety of my request, Miss Shackleford,’ he murmured as she stared at him nonplussed, ‘but I wish to speak with you urgently. May I come in?’
Her face pink at the thought of allowing a man other than her father into her room, Charity nevertheless moved wordlessly aside. ‘You may rest assured that nobody saw me come in, but nonetheless I will get to the point quickly,’ he added when she still didn’t speak, though she felt her panic begin to rise again at his next words. ‘I have reason to believe that Jack suspects you recognised him,’ he stated bluntly.
‘Why … how?’ Charity stammered. ‘I assure you I was most circumspect.’
‘I do not doubt it, Miss Shackleford, but this man has lived on his wits for years, and he’s not survived without developing instincts far superior to most of us.’ He walked to the window and looked down into the courtyard, taking care not to be seen.
‘How do you know he suspects?’ she questioned, joining him.
‘Some individuals have been making enquiries about a young woman with a dog,’ he answered grimly. ‘It’s only a matter of time before their questions lead them here.’ Turning back, his eyes fell on her travel bag. ‘Are you finished packing?’
She nodded, beginning to feel a little lightheaded. ‘What about Mary?’ she asked, fighting down her nausea.
‘Gone,’ Jago replied. ‘She has safe passage aboard a fishing boat bound for Salcombe.’ He took a deep breath. ‘You, your fatherand Percy must be ready to depart at high tide,’ he continued, his voice brooking no argument.
‘Where are you taking us?’ Charity whispered, her fear overtaking her. Jago opened his mouth to snap, ‘What does it matter,’ when he suddenly realised that she was truly distraught. Indeed, she appeared very close to swooning. Swallowing an epithet that had no more place in a lady’s bedroom than he did, Jago took a deep breath. Clearly, he was handling this all wrong. All he’d succeeded in doing was frightening her half to death.
‘I’m taking you to my home in Cornwall,’ he said, deciding that honesty was the best policy. Indeed at this late stage, there was no time for anything else.
‘Oh.’ His answer seemed to take the wind out of her sails, and he couldn’t help but wonder where on earth she thought he was taking them.
‘Jack does not know of its existence,’ he continued. You can stay in safety until the danger to you and your family has passed.
‘But what’s to stop Jack sending his hired thugs to Blackmore anyway?’ countered Charity.
‘Blackmore. Is that where you live?’ asked Jago wondering where he’d heard the name before. Charity bit her lip and nodded.
‘Jack won’t wish to draw attention to himself or his activities unless it’s absolutely necessary,’ Jago reassured her. ‘I’ll advise your father to let it slip to the innkeeper that you are going on to Plymouth, and will be there for a sennight,’ He paused, thinking quickly. ‘It’s important you are seen leaving Dartmouth in your carriage, but once at the village of Stoke Fleming, I’ll be waitingfor you. Your carriage will then continue to Blackmore without you.’
‘Will that work?’ Charity worried.
‘It’s the best we can do in the circumstances,’ he answered simply. She nodded, grateful he hadn’t tried to sugar coat the situation. ‘Please be ready to leave within the hour,’ he finished, turning towards the door. However, as his hand touched the knob, he stopped and seconds later, turned back towards her, his face grim.
‘I’ve not been entirely honest with you, Miss Shackleford,’ he declared roughly. Her pulse quickened at his words, but she said nothing, and after a second, he sighed and continued. ‘You are not the only one for whom Jack has murderous designs.’
‘You,’ Charity confirmed in a whisper, staring into his starkly handsome countenance.
‘Me,’ he verified drily. She raised her eyebrows and waited for him to continue. ‘You’re aware I’ve spent the last two years trying to infiltrate the Hope Cove gang, in the hope of discovering Jack’s real identity?’ He waited for her answering nod before continuing. ‘Well, it seems my efforts to come to his attention succeeded, but not in the way I’d hoped.’ He finally shook his head ruefully. ‘Unfortunately, it appears I overestimated my spying talents.’
‘So what do you do when you’re not trying to infiltrate dangerous smuggling rings?’ Charity murmured.
‘My family own a tin mine,’ he clarified. ‘The name Cardell is false. My real name is Jago Carlyon.’
‘Does Jack know this?’ she questioned. He shook his head in response. ‘Then clearly you are not entirely without talent,’ she responded with a slight smile.
Unable to help himself, he grinned back at her, his heart unaccountably light in the knowledge that she hadn’t condemned him for not revealing the full truth.
‘But you must realise that by aligning yourselves with me, you could well be sailing into even stormier waters,’ he still felt compelled to say.
‘There is no one else,’ she responded with a shrug. And it was true. In Nicholas’s absence, she dared not let her father take charge. She loved him dearly, but his propensity for creating mayhem… Well, spymaster or not, JagoCarlyonwas their best option.
