Chapter 28
In which brothers are in arms
Guile does not always seek to disarm with pleasant allure: sometimes it seeks to enrage, provoke fear, or convey guilt, and thus manipulate.
— from Lady Avely’s Guide to Guile and Peril
She dropped her hand. Before he could answer, Perry and Robert were upon them. The two boys pulled to a halt, standing straight as two pins on either side of Dacian. Just as they had planned.
The duke’s head turned, looking at each of them. A frown marred his brow, but he showed no sign of recognition, which was not part of the plan. Robert doggedly stared ahead, while Perry blinked innocently at Ltn Greene.
Ltn Greene looked taken aback, though also rather relieved at the sudden drop in tension. “Who are you?” He frowned at Perry. “I don’t know you. Do I?”
Perry executed a sharp salute. “New recruits! Sir! The captain put us on roster. To share the guard here. Sir!”
Ltn Greene’s frown deepened. “Really? I do not recollect such an order being given.”
Dacian was staring at Judith, eyes hard.
She willed him to be silent and patient, even as she debated internally how to proceed.
Could they still snatch Dacian back to Castle Lanyon when he no longer knew or trusted her?
He might very well react violently and suspiciously.
Yet the alternative was to leave him here in the clutches of the Custos, with his memory gone and subject to whatever plan Drumpellier concocted.
She might never see him again if she left him here now. She couldn’t bear the thought.
“Well?” said Ltn Greene suspiciously to Perry. “Explain yourselves. Captain Drumpellier is not here, so how could he have given you such an order?”
Perry’s chest was puffed out, but it seemed like he was holding his breath with the effort of it. As he was bereft of words, Robert spoke up. “The captain gave the order before he left. As an extra precaution. Sir!”
“Oh.” Ltn Greene nodded thoughtfully and then looked between them again.
Perry stood even straighter, if that was possible, tucking his chin in like a turkey.
Robert had fixed his eyes on Ltn Greene’s helmet, and Judith was fairly certain that Robert’s own hat was slowly growing in size to match it.
Between them, Dacian said grimly, “I do not require assistance in my duty. But I do require explanations, ma’am, and you have promised to give them to me.”
“And I will.” She put as much meaning as she could into the words, holding his gaze with all the warmth and reassurance she could manage.
Yet his face closed even further. Judith hastened on.
“You were being kept as a prisoner here after killing a man with your Gift. But you struck a bargain with the captain of this regiment, agreeing to help him if he would allow the return of your memories. It seems he has failed to keep his side of the terms.”
“No, no,” said Ltn Greene weakly. “No such thing. Please, Lady Avely, I must protest.”
Dacian ignored him, staring at Judith. “I killed a man?” he said slowly. “I believe that, somehow. Is that why they took my memory?”
“So they claim.”
“Then why are you defending me?”
Judith swallowed. “The matter is not so clear-cut. I believe you are being unfairly detained.”
Ltn Greene coughed violently. “Not at all. An overstatement! Best to wait for the captain and we can discuss it together, as men.” He coughed again. “Er, as sensible people.”
Perry looked very worried, though perhaps that was because his chin was tucked into his throat. Judith knew that she had to clear the scene so that Perry could work his magic and whisk Dacian away, and she clenched her teeth together, wondering how she could manage it.
Fortunately, the lieutenant was equally anxious to remove her. He shifted from foot to foot and cast nervous glances between Dacian and the front gates of the fort. He was clearly concerned that the duke would make a dash for it with his newfound knowledge.
“Come, come, Lady Avely,” he said anxiously. “Let us repair to Custodian House and leave this soldier to his duty.”
She nodded with a show of reluctance. As they turned to go, she took his arm and loudly complained so that Dacian could hear, “Ltn Greene, you are not in possession of all the facts. I am afraid there is a matter of treason that needs to be brought to the attention of your captain.”
“Treason?” said Greene, in disbelief. “What can you mean? Come, ma’am, let me take you to Custodian House and you can tell me all about it.
” He cast one more look back at Perry and Robert and apparently decided that they would be sufficient to guard the duke.
“It sounds as if you have news that should not be bandied about in a courtyard.”
She allowed herself to be chivvied along. But she turned her head and glared at Perry with all the threat she could muster. Then she gave a tiny jerk of her free hand, pointing at the duke.
Perry visibly paled. Robert gulped.
She marched off beside Ltn Greene. When they reached the central gate, she looked back once, just before she passed through.
Perry had his hand on Dacian’s shoulder.
The duke was shaking his head vehemently, and Robert said something, his expression urgent.
They were frozen in dispute, three red soldiers triangled towards each other in postures of aggression.
Then suddenly Perry threw himself forward, putting his arms around Dacian, with Robert following close behind.
Under Judith’s anxious gaze, they squirmed around in a strange silent embrace, then vanished into thin air.
The whole thing took about five seconds to enact.
She saw another solider look around, perhaps alerted by the sounds of a faint scuffle. All that met his gaze was the quiet, empty yard. He turned back to his crenel.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned her head forwards, allowing Ltn Greene to escort her out the gates.
Once out of the fort, the lieutenant ushered her towards Custodian House and led her into the sitting room that she had previously occupied with Drumpellier.
She sat down with a thump, her heart beating hard.
Her imagination followed Dacian to the castle.
How would he react? She feared it would not be with equanimity.
Again, she was plied with tea and bread, and Ltn Greene poured out eager questions. She forced herself to address them and give her men a chance to sort themselves out before she returned.
“Yes,” she acknowledged to Ltn Greene, once she had finished half a cup. “I have discovered who killed Sgt Finlay. It is not someone you might expect, I’m afraid: Miss Onslow.”
The lieutenant did not look as taken aback as she might have expected. His shoulders bowed a little, and he lowered his head to stare at the floor. “I feared as much.”
“You did?” Judith choked on her tea, startled. “Why?”
Ltn Greene paused. “Sgt Finlay told me he was going to meet Miss Onslow on the day he died.”
Judith stared; this was pertinent information indeed. “But why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to compromise her reputation.” Ltn Greene looked abashed. “I know it was wrong.”
Judith sighed. “Well, it is bad enough that you protected a murderer. I’m afraid I must tell you that Miss Onslow is also a French spy, and we’ve locked her up.”
Ltn Greene’s eyes widened to a comical degree. “A French spy?”
“Yes, and she has compromised your captain’s plans. I intend to tell him that myself.”
The lieutenant looked shocked. “Certainly! And where have you locked Miss Onslow up?”
“In one of the parlours. She is being closely watched, do not worry.”
Ltn Greene nodded, eyes like saucers. Then he hesitated.
“But, ma’am, the captain might not return for days.
Do you want to stay at the fort for all that time?
Won’t you let me escort you back to Castle Lanyon, instead?
Not by gig,” he added hastily. “I’m in charge for the moment, and I can extend you the courtesy of a Travel charm back to the island, though it will require us to, uh, embrace for a moment. ”
Judith chewed on her lip. She desperately wanted to rush home, to examine Dacian’s mind and every other part of him, and calm him down if needed—which, she suspected, would be greatly the case.
And if she did stay here, she would be left alone, unguarded at Custodian House, and therefore become open to suspicion when the lieutenant discovered Dacian’s absence.
That would defeat her whole purpose in coming here in the first place.
Ltn Greene sensed her weakening. “I can send Captain Drumpellier to you as soon as he returns. Really, I don’t think it is wise for you to stay here alone, ma’am.”
Judith could not bring herself to refuse.
She had done her duty, after all, and distracted the command while Dacian vanished.
Ltn Greene could honourably testify that she had been with him the whole time, especially if he himself escorted her back to Lanyon Castle.
She only hoped that Dacian, Perry, and Robert had by now removed themselves from the Blue Drawing Room, as per her strict instructions.
“Very well,” she said, putting down her cup of tea. “Let us go.”
Judith hastily disentangled herself from Ltn Greene’s arms. To her surprise, they had not arrived in the Blue Drawing Room, but instead stood on the western ramparts, near the broken-down tower. A breeze whistled through her hair, and she could hear the waves crashing loudly on the rocks.
She directed a look of enquiry at the lieutenant, but he simply shrugged it off. “I apologise for the second-rate landing pad, ma’am; I don’t have the same Travel Charm as the captain,” he explained. “Now, I shall bid you adieu. I ought not to leave my post unattended for long.”
“Certainly, and thank you,” she said, grateful for his help.
He winked at her, then bent to twist a buckle on his boot, and disappeared. She was to think back on that wink later.