Page 29 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“I hope you don’t mind my saying, you are a courageous woman, Lady Harlow. It is a great honor to know you.”

“I only did what anyone would do in order to survive.”

“You would be surprised. I’ve seen many a person simply freeze up, unable to think of anything to free themselves. You not only came up with a brave plan, but carried it out to perfection. I’d say none of our best agents could have done it better.”

She felt her cheeks warm under the man’s praise, but she nodded her thanks for his kind words. She didn’t think the plan was so perfect when she’d had to jump overboard. And she surely hadn’t felt brave when she’d simply given up when she couldn’t swim any longer. But she had survived and that was the most important part.

“We are going to track him down. You’ll not need to worry about him anymore. I promise you that. In addition to smuggling, the man has been selling secrets to the French. He’s a traitor to the Crown and will be hunted to the ends of the Earth.”

Harlow was glad the man would be dealt with. Perhaps once she knew he was no longer out there somewhere, she might be able to sleep without nightmares. She’d never seen the captain, but her mind conjured up the most hideous faces. Grotesque creatures always reaching for her out of the shadows.

“Ye are welcome to stay the night. Have a meal,” Reese offered.

“I thank you, my lord, but I must keep moving toward Inverness.”

Reese nodded and went to the door to summon Mrs. Garrison. “Please bring some provisions that Mr. Albert can take with him.”

“Right away, m’lord.”

As they waited, Harlow’s curiosity got the best of her.

“How is my uncle?” she asked the agent.

The man smiled sympathetically. “He is well, my lady. He managed to escape the men. He said they tried to take him as well, but he pulled a knife and was able to get free. He deeply regrets not being able to save you.”

Harlow forced her lips into a smile.

“I’m certain he tried his best,” she said, while inside, the cold darkness of hate crept deeper into her soul. Edgar Polk would pay for his treachery.

*

Harlow was quiet as they ate supper together. Reese imagined she had a lot on her mind with the information they’d received from their guest. Reese had wanted it to be an enjoyable day since she was mobile once again, but the visit from Albert had cast a shadow.

“I’m sorry if the agent upset ye today. You did a fine job providing details to help in the search of the men who hurt you,” he praised her with the truth.

Often a person was able to push the worst parts of life away. As if locking them inside their own chest. But when they were called on to retell the details, the chest is unlocked and the demons of their memories are released to cause pain all over again.

“It’s normal to have memories you don’t want to think about swirling about in your mind after you stirred them up today.”

“It is like any other wound, I imagine. It began to heal over, but talking about it tears them open again to bleed and hurt.”

“Aye. It is just so.”

“There is one thing it did help me with.”

“Oh?” he asked.

“I think I know how I want to deal with my uncle.”

He started in surprise. Harlow had vowed to get her revenge on the man who’d betrayed her, but she hadn’t as yet settled on the details. He assumed they would lure the man here so she could face him and tell him how disappointed she was with him.

Reese didn’t know Edgar Polk, but if he was a hardened man, her words would be unlikely to touch him. Men focused on such things as money are often left with no soul.

As the meal was cleared, he asked her to tell him of her plans.

“You may think it is a bit dramatic, but I want the man shaking in fear for his life. I’m not so terrifying, but I can be, with your help.”

They remained at the table as they went through the details. At first, he was skeptical of how it might work, but soon he had sent for paper and ink so they might make a list of things they would need to carry out her plot.