Beyond the Night - eBook - Final Page 14

  He dropped the quill and blew over the ink to dry it. After a moment’s hesitation, he folded and sealed the letter then wrote his father’s name on the front. He would have the letter delivered once he had departed for Spain.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I wish you were coming with us, Beti.”

  India took in Udaya’s concerned features, and tried to smile comfortingly at her. “It’s better this way and safer for you, Kavi and Ridge’s brother.”

  “But not for you,” Udaya said, her expression stern.

  “The viscount and I will be perfectly safe.”

  India rose from her dressing table and surveyed the trunks scattered on the floor. Two were packed, but the rest were empty. Those would be loaded onto the ship to America. The rest would accompany Kavi and Udaya to Brighton.

  Heaviness weighed on her heart. She turned around to face Udaya once more and smoothed her hands over the wrinkles in her trousers. “Why don’t you and Kavi stay here?”

  Udaya’s gaze narrowed and she walked forward to place her hands over India’s. “What bothers you, Beti?”

  India shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. She had been a fool to allow her friends to accompany her in the first place. Danger faced them from two directions. She had no idea what awaited them in Spain, but if someone would threaten her father’s life in order to obtain the means to reach the city, she couldn’t imagine her companions would be safe from harm either.

  “India, you haven’t answered my question.”

  India sighed. “Nothing’s wrong, Udaya. I’m just concerned for you and Kavi.”

  Udaya smiled, her features softening. “Kavi will not allow anything to happen to either of us.”

  India’s chest tightened. Udaya’s unwavering faith in Kavi was a testament to their devotion to one another. Would she ever experience such a bond with a life mate?

  “Why do you do this, Beti?” Udaya asked softly. “Why go back to a life that hurts you so much? I can see the fear in your eyes.”

  India closed her eyes and allowed her hands to slide from Udaya’s. She shuffled over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She hated lying to Udaya, but neither could she tell her the truth. Udaya or Kavi neither one would ever allow her to go alone in search of her father, and given recent events, she could not allow them to accompany her.

  Udaya and Kavi never questioned. They followed where India went and gave of their love unconditionally. And India was throwing that loyalty back in their face. Just as she was twisting the knife in the viscount’s back.

  “It is something I must do,” she whispered. “I cannot explain beyond that.”

  It was a lame explanation even to her own ears. She glanced up at Udaya to gauge her reaction. Udaya gazed steadily at her, her eyes speaking of unwavering support. It was then that India made her decision.

  She would break away from her traveling party as soon as they reached San Sebastian. She wouldn’t lead the viscount on a wild chase to Madrid only to double back and head north into the mountains. Udaya and Kavi would be safe with the viscount. They would all be furious with her, but they would remain alive and unharmed.

  She would leave a note assuring them of her safety and urging them to return to England. If she were fortunate, she and her father would return at a later date. Together.

  A knock sounded at her door, and Kavi’s deep voice filtered through the heavy oak. “Mem-sahib, are your trunks ready to be taken down?”

  Grateful for the interruption, she hastened to open the door for Kavi. She smiled at him, motioned toward her trunks and slipped into the hallway. With a deep breath, she descended the stairs and went in search of Ridge.

  She found him in the sitting room with his brother. They rose as she entered.

  “I’ve summoned the carriage and hired a hack as well so that all our trunks can be taken to the ship. Robby, Udaya and Kavi will return in my carriage and depart immediately for Brighton. If I am correct, attention will be focused on the ship bound for America, and my carriage should go unnoticed.”

  India nodded her head though her insides were twisted into knots.

  “Is everything well with you?” he asked in a quieter voice.

  Again she nodded. The lump in her throat grew bigger as fear collided full force with guilt. She twisted her hands in front of her and glanced at Robby.

  He lounged in an armchair, his appearance disheveled, a bored expression on his face. As if sensing her perusal, he looked up and offered a grin. He was like Ridge, and he wasn’t. The resemblance was strong, but their demeanors were quite different. Robby had an air of irreverence, a devil may care attitude where Ridge was the epitome of seriousness.

  She looked turned her attention to Ridge who was regarding her in silence.

  “I thought you would be more excited,” he said.

  “I am.” Her voice faltered and came out in a breathy rush. “I’m nervous.”

  Ridge smiled reassuringly. “As am I. But I am savoring this moment. It is a proud one. We are embarking on an historical quest, and should we be successful, it will perhaps be the greatest find in modern history.”

  His words fell like a brick on her already swollen conscience.

  “Ho, Ridge,” Robby said as he struggled out of his chair. “You make me damn proud to be along, and I don’t even know what it is we’re looking for exactly.”

  He grinned crookedly and slapped Ridge on the back.

  Ridge smiled at his brother. “The sun should do you good at any rate. Far healthier than those dark gaming hells you like to frequent.”

  India frowned as Robby paled a bit. If it was possible for him to grow paler that is. Something flickered in his eyes. Was it pain? She was well acquainted with secrets and lies. She had certainly held and told enough of them in the past week. And what she saw in Ridge’s brother’s eyes bothered her. He, too, was keeping secrets.

  “My lord, your carriages await,” the butler announced from the door.

  Her heart started then pounded aggressively in her chest. This was it. They were about to embark on their journey to Spain, and for her, it marked the point of no turning back.

  “Shall we go?” Ridge asked, extending an arm to her.

  She took a deep breath, slid her hand around the crook of his arm and allowed him to lead her into the foyer where Kavi and Udaya waited.

  Moments later, they settled into Ridge’s town coach and started for the docks. Ridge had explained that the hack carried empty trunks, and those would be loaded onto the ship. The packed trunks would remain in his carriage and travel to Brighton with Kavi, Udaya and Robby.

  He and India would board the ship and disembark when he felt it was safe to do so.

  Seemingly simple.

  So why did she feel like they were heading for certain doom? At the moment, fear was winning the war over guilt as being the dominating emotion.

  Beside her, Ridge slipped his hand over hers and squeezed. Warmth shot up her arm with alarming speed. He was reading her distress. He’d have to be blind not to see it, but he acted as if he cared. And that warmed her more than his touch.

  By the time they reached the shipyard, she was nearly in a full-scale panic. She sucked in several steadying breaths as the others disembarked and tried to calm her overwrought nerves. She could do this. She had spent years escaping some of the most dangerous situations imaginable. This was mild by comparison.

  This is of your own doing.

  “Thanks,” she muttered.

  “I beg pardon?” Ridge asked as he helped her down from the carriage.

  She shook her head. “It was nothing. Were we followed?” she asked, swiftly changing the topic.

  “Not that I can determine, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t. We should hasten to board so the others are out of harm’s way.”

  As planned, they made a show of bidding the others farewell. Udaya hugged her tightly and Robby slapped Ridge repeatedly on the bac
k and wished him well in a loud voice.

  Then Robby, Udaya and Kavi retreated into the carriage. India watched as it rolled away, praying Ridge was correct in his assumption that no one would pay their companions any heed.

  Ridge’s hand gripped her elbow. “We should go.”

  She quickened her step to keep in stride with him as they threaded their way through the throng of people milling about the shipyard. Behind them, several footmen carried the empty trunks. At the foot of the gangplank, Ridge paused to await the footmen.

  After a short conversation with the men loading trunks and baggage onto the ship, he gestured for the footmen to leave the trunks and return to the hack.

  “We can board now,” he said. “They’ll make sure our trunks are stowed.”

  As they walked up the gangplank, she felt a prickle of unease skirt up her spine. She whirled around, surveying the people below.

  “Is something wrong?” Ridge asked.

  She scanned the crowd, but she didn’t see anyone that seemed to be paying her and Ridge any attention. And there was no sign of the man with the tattoo.

  “No, I’m just being silly,” she muttered.

  She followed Ridge the remaining way, her mind screaming at her the entire way. How many times had she boarded a ship bound for nowhere? It’s what it felt like each time. Only this time she wasn’t going to a place, she was traveling from her home.

  Her feet were led-filled by the time she stepped onto the deck. She turned and stared at the busy dock, tempted to run back the way they’d came. It wasn’t too late. But it might be for her father if she didn’t arrive in Spain with all possible haste.

  With a heavy sigh, she turned her back on her only way home.

  “Let’s stand over there,” Ridge said, pointing to a spot that offered a prime view of the docks from behind several stacked trunks.

  It was a good hiding place. They would not be in plain sight of anyone looking up from the docks, but they could see anyone who attempted to board.

  They squeezed between two rows of crates stacked three high. Ridge pulled her up tight against him, his arm lingering round her waist. Her shoulder tucked perfectly under his arm, and she rested her head on his chest as they began their vigil.

  For an hour they watched people pass up and down the gangplank. They watched teary goodbyes, cargo being loaded, passengers filing onto the ship, but still no sign of anything suspicious.

  They were a half hour before the ship was scheduled to depart when Ridge nudged her. Her eyes followed the direction of his gaze, and she froze.

  The man with the tattoo stood in the crowd of people, his eyes seeming to find them even in their hiding spot.

  Beside her, Ridge swore. “He’s not our only problem,” he murmured.

  “What do you mean?” she hissed.

  “Look to the right of the gangplank. Do you see that gentleman talking to the rather unsavory group of men?”

  Her eyes shifted over until they lighted on the man in question. Her eyebrows drew in. He was well turned out, obviously of nobility. He brandished a gold topped cane and was speaking in an animated fashion to the three men around him.

  “Do you know him?” she whispered back.

  “Lord Clarence.” Ridge’s voice dripped with disgust.

  Lord Clarence turned and pointed his cane at the ship and stomped his foot for emphasis.

  Ridge’s hand tightened on her arm when Lord Clarence drew out a wad of bills. One of the men reached for the money while another pulled a pistol from his pants.

  “The bloody bastard.”

  “What does he want?” India demanded, her eyes leaving Lord Clarence long enough to search out the tattooed man again.

  Her heart sped up. Where was he?

  She gripped Ridge’s shirt and craned her neck. “Ridge, where is the other man?”

  “Christ, I don’t know,” he ground out, his head moving rapidly as he scanned the crowd. “But I’ll tell you this. Lord Clarence is up to no good, and I’m willing to wager my entire fortune that he is after what we have.”

  “Bloody wonderful,” she muttered.

  “We have to get off this ship now.”

  Ridge’s tone brooked no argument. But it was easier said than done. Their only way off was blocked.

  She looked up at him in silent question. They hadn’t considered an actual confrontation, rather they figured staging a presence on the ship would go noted by anyone following them.

  The group of men started up the gangplank, and Ridge pulled her away from the side. They crossed the deck, dodging cargo and a pile of nets.

  “Do you know how to swim?”

  She blinked. “Yes.”

  “Good. We’re going to have to jump overboard.”

  “But—”

  “I know Lord Clarence. He tried to have his own brother murdered. He would think nothing of killing us to gain access to Pagoria.”

  She had a million questions, but they didn’t have time for a discussion.

  “When you go over, stay under as long as you can and let the current carry you down. Stay as close to the bank as you can. When we’re out of sight we’ll swim to shore.”

  She nodded and no sooner had she done so, he dove cleanly over the side. Not sparing a thought for the insanity they were embarking on, she swung a leg over the railing and dropped into empty space.

  She kept her body in as straight as a line as possible so she wouldn’t make much of a splash, and yet when she hit the water, she felt the impact in every bone of her body.

  The cold nearly made her inhale, and she spiraled downward forever. She struggled to position herself forward so she could swim with the current. The murky water offered nothing in the way of sight. Blindly, she propelled herself forward, her chest burning, her lungs screaming for air.

  Still she swam, not wanting to surface too soon. Spots swam before her eyes, and her arms and legs grew numb. Harder she pushed until finally she could go no farther without air.

  With a quick upward thrust, she broke the surface of the water. She gulped in air then kicked below the water once more.

  A hand gripped her shirt and yanked upward. She came up gasping again.

  “It’s all right now,” Ridge said in her ear.

  She went limp against him, her chest heaving with exertion. She chanced a look over her shoulder, surprised to see so much distance between them and the ship.

  “Over there,” Ridge said, pointing to the shoreline.

  They swam, the current tugging them, until they were close enough to heave themselves onto the muddy bank.

  India rolled over on her back and closed her eyes. Her energy was spent. They laid there a long while, neither speaking. Their harsh breaths could be heard over the swirl of the water and the distant sounds of the city.

  Finally Ridge sat up. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, unable to form a coherent sentence.

  He pushed himself up then extended a hand down to her. She grasped it and he pulled her up to stand beside him. Water dripped from her clothing, and goose pimples dotted every inch of her body.

  She looked down at her shirt in dismay then promptly crossed her arms across her bosom. “Any idea where we are?”

  He shook his head then looked around. “We’ll walk to the nearest road. Hopefully we aren’t too far from the posting inn where Robby dropped a bag for us.”

  He held out a hand to her, and after only a slight hesitation, she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her forward.

  “Now who is this Lord Clarence?” she asked as they walked.

  Ridge sighed. “He’s a leech. His primary accomplishments are stealing accomplishments from others.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a nice chap.”

  “He feigns interest in antiquities and archaeology, not because of a passion for history, but out of greed.”

  “A grave robber.”


  Ridge glanced sideways at her. “I suppose you could liken him to one.”

  “So you think he’s after Pagoria?”

  “If there is rumor of treasure, then yes, he is interested.”

  “But isn’t that why you are interested?”

  He stopped then looked at her, something remarkably like hurt flickering in his eyes. She sighed. Was there a rule that stated she must say the wrong thing at the wrong time?

  “I’m sorry, Ridge.”

  “Of course, that is what you must think of me,” he said.

  He dropped her hand and continued walking forward.

  “No, it isn’t,” she said softly. “Not anymore.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  They posed a bedraggled sight, walking toward the posting inn where Ridge had made arrangements for horses. India continued to wring water from her shirt as they trudged the last few steps to the stables.

  “I’m glad now that I arranged for Robby to drop off a bag for us,” Ridge muttered. “We can take a few moments to change clothing and warm up before we leave.”

  India nodded, grateful she would soon be out of the clothes that were sticking to her like a second skin. As Ridge conversed with the stablemaster, the burly man eyed her speculatively.

  She shivered and wrapped her arms tightly around her breasts in an effort to maintain some semblance of modesty. A few moments later, Ridge collected a small valise and motioned her inside the inn.

  They trudged up the stairs, leaving damp footprints on the dull wood. Outside the door of one of the rooms, Ridge produced a key.

  “You go in first and change. I’ll wait by the door.”

  She took the bag from him and waited as he unlocked the door. A blast of warm air greeted them as the door swung open, and she hurried inside.

  The room was modest. Small and sparsely furnished, but an inviting fire burned in the hearth. She wasted no time stripping the soggy clothes from her body then she stood nude in front of the fire, extending her hands.

  Remembering Ridge standing in the hall, still very wet, she reluctantly turned from the fire and dug through the bag for a pair of breeches and a shirt.