Chapter 11
Normanton House, a short time later
“Calm yourself Lady Beatrix. Tell me once more what Dee said.” Fontus used a soothing tone and handed the lady a cup of tea. Outwardly in control, inwardly he seethed. Barbeau is a dead man. His fists clenched and unclenched.
Beside him in the master’s study, Sir Peter and Robin, listened to Beatrix’s tale in silence.
“Steady man,” Robin placed a hand on Fontus’s shoulder. “We’ll find her.”
“Barbeau will be punished,” Sir Peter insisted. “As magistrate, I will see to it.”
“One more time, Beatrix,” Fontus encouraged. He would find Dee. He must. He could not live without her.
Lady Beatrix repeated everything that Dee told her. More slowly this time, in between sips of tea.
“How long ago was this?” Somerville asked.
“I don’t know. A quarter hour perhaps. She left the music room no more than five minutes before you gentlemen joined the ladies.”
“Excellent.” Fontus turned to his host. “I require five of your best men who can ride and shoot.” His blood raced. They could not act quickly enough.
“I can help with that,” Robin offered. “I know the men well. I also know the terrain. Barbeau will aim for the coast. A number of likely inlets and coves could be used to land a small vessel unseen. One of the reasons so many smugglers operate in this area.”
“We must send men in other directions just to be certain,” Somerville said. “I will give the orders and come with you.”
“Ah…” Fontus hesitated. “I think it best if you remain here.”
“Why?”
“Your guests will wonder and gossip should you disappear for hours at this time of night. Also, if you leave, the chances increase that Lady Deoiridh’s absence and Barbeau’s will be noticed.
Even speculation about such a coincidence could harm her reputation.
In addition, your wife might worry enough to try to follow. ”
“I don’t like it, but you are right,” Somerville acknowledged. “We must swear to secrecy the men Robin gathers to assist you. All of them with military experience.”
“Good.” Fontus turned to Robin. “Have horses saddled, and tell your men to meet me at the stable yard in five minutes. If we act quickly, we may yet be able to stop Barbeau.” Could they? They must. The alternative was unthinkable.
“I will alert the men, then catch up with you. I have something vital I need to retrieve.”
A considerable while later, Fontus despaired of ever finding Dee or Barbeau. The flambeaux and lanterns each man carried scarcely pierced the gloom, and a mist rose in the hollows. He would welcome a storm with its flashes of lightning. Fog would limit vision and deaden sound.
They had already passed three potential locations at Robin’s insistence Barbeau would not use them.
Fontus feared they were running out of time. The only sources of hope he’d discovered were the ragged pieces of material found every few miles. He would not have that, had not Robin been so eagle-eyed as to notice the small patches of deeper darkness lying where no such patch belonged.
They paused at a fork in the track they followed while Robin and one of the other men searched each pathway for signs.
“He definitely took the right fork,” Robin announced as he resumed his saddle.
Then they set off again. The pace was agonizingly slow. However, Robin assured Fontus care was necessary not to miss any sign of Barbeau’s passing.
“What about the smuggler’s croft?” One of the men said to Robin.
“A good point,” Robin said. “Undoubtedly, Barbeau has hidden them away close to the river for easy access to any craft he’s hired to take him from England. The best place for that is not widely known.”
“Hence the reason smugglers use it,” the fellow commented.
“Precisely.” Robin described the hovel near the river where he believed Barbeau hid his captives. “If he expects the smugglers to help him, he’ll be sorely disappointed. They had a run-in with Captain Moonlight recently, and are lying low.”
All the men checked their weapons. Torches and lanterns were doused. Then they proceeded into the woods following Robin in single file.
“Look.” Fontus whispered. “There’s a curricle badly hidden in those trees.” He pointed to his left. The carriage appearing in such an odd place gave him hope that they were close to finding Dee and her mother.
A few yards more, and they arrived at a structure, more hovel that croft.
“I suggest we surround the building then wait in the trees for one or more of the men with Barbeau to leave,” said Robin.
“The problem is that we do not know how many underlings the villain hired or how loyal they are to the gold he promised them,” Fontus replied. “Were I him, I’d not trust more than two or three men at most.”
“I agree,” Robin said. “Patience is our ally. We can seize them one at a time.”
“That could take all night,” Fontus warned.
“Not so. Once the first man fails to return, the second will emerge sooner to check on him. The same with the third, if there is one.”
“Very well. Your logic is sound enough, if the men behave as you expect.”
Robin chuckled again. “I know criminals and their behavior quite well. If we are lucky, Barbeau will also leave the women to learn what happened to his men. If not, we will rush the building and try to take him down before he can harm anyone.”
Positioning themselves behind thick brush and trees surrounding the hut they waited.
Beside Robin, Fontus fidgeted.
“Be still,” his friend whispered. “It won’t be long now.”
Whisps of fog drifted across the small clearing.
Eventually, the door opened with a loud creak. Two men left the structure together. They paused a moment before the closed door. Fontus could not hear what they said. Moments later they left, each man in the opposite direction.
“How odd,” murmured Robin.
The thin man walked in their direction. The massive fellow marched off toward the nearby river.
Once the thin man stepped within the tree line, Fontus attacked, striking him with the butt-end of his pistol. The man dropped, unconscious.
“Here,” Robin handed Fontus two long leather straps. “Use these to secure his hands and feet.
Fontus peered at the leather. “You always carry spare belts with you?”
Robin shrugged.
One of their men eased in close to them. “We had some trouble with the other fellow. However, he is now trussed like a chicken and sleeping. He’ll wake with a severe headache.
“As will this fellow.” Robin pointed out their captive. “Have some of the men to remove our prisoners. Leave them in that curricle we passed on the way in. We’ll take care of them when we finish our business.”
“How many more do you think wait in the hut?” Fontus asked.
“I suspect it is only our villain and his captives,” Robin replied.
“Then send the rest of Somerville’s men with our prisoners. The three of us should be able to subdue one man, even more than one.”
The other man left and returned quickly.
“I insist on going in first,” Fontus said.
“We will be right behind you,” Robin confirmed
Fontus took one step toward the hovel when shouting came from that direction followed by the crack of a pistol shot.
“Dee!” Fontus dashed forward. He flung the door open and ran inside.