Page 52 of The Major's Mistake
“Hear now, I didn’t agree to nothing like this, McTavish,” ventured one of the men. “It’s one thing to bust up a mill or two for blunt your man pays us—we ain’t got no choice if we don’t wish our families to starve. But kidnapping … ” He shook his head. “That’s going too far.”
Several of the others began to murmur in agreement but McTavish cut them off with an abrupt laugh. “A little late to be getting a conscience, Davies.” With a flick of his head, he made a signal to his two cronies. They got to their feet and and began to tap their thick cudgels against their palms. “Or do you fancy explaining to the local magistrate your part in what’s been going on here lately?” continued McTavish. He let the veiled threatsink in for a moment or two before going on, his voice dripping with mock concern. “Think they will feel much in charity with ye? A pity what would happen to your wife and children if you was to be arrested and hanged.”
Davies dropped his eyes, and the other men fell silent as well.
Satisfied that he had squashed any show of dissent, McTavish slowly removed the brace of pistols from his belt and made a show of checking the priming. “Well, now that we are all full in agreement, let’s move into action.”
Justin madea swift lunge into the tall grass. “Look! I got it.”
Miranda repressed a grimace at the sight of the wriggling reptile in her son’s hand. It was harmless, she reminded herself with a swallow as she watched it disappear between the buttons of his shirt. And on regarding the look of delight on his face, she hadn’t the heart to order him to turn it loose. No doubt Angus could build a tall enough box to keep the creature from throwing the household into an uproar.
“How nice. But remember, one is enough,” she answered. “And don’t stray too far, love. I’m nearly finished and then we must be off to look in on Mrs. White’s daughter.”
She turned back to the tangle of roots at her knees and began to carefully separate them with her trowel. As she worked, she couldn’t keep her thoughts from straying to the marquess, as they had been doing all too frequently of late. Though it had been over a week since their last encounter, she still felt the heat rise to her cheeks at the memory of his embrace, and her own response to it. She still could not fathom the meaning of it—any of it. Nothing made any sense, unless …
No.She wouldn’t allow herself to imagine such a thing. Just because she couldn’t hide anymore from the realization that herown feelings were not nearly so hardened as she might have wished did not mean that he?—
“Mama?”
Justin’s voice interrupted her reverie.
“Who are those men coming toward us?”
Miranda’s head jerked around. Three figures were already halfway across the field. A glance to either side revealed several others making their way through the gorse and brambles to cut off any line of retreat.
Her hand came around her son’s arm. “Justin, listen to me and do exactly as I say,” she said in a low voice. “When I tell you to, you must run and not let those men catch you. Do you understand? Take the way through the woods and don’t stop for anything until you are safely home.”
“But Mama?—”
“Please, love. You must do as I say.” She hugged him hard. “I shall be fine, I promise. Now run!”
To Miranda’s immense relief, Justin obeyed and bolted towards the copse of gnarled hawthorns that fringed the forest. But then her breath caught in her throat as one of the men rushed to cut him off. The little boy saw the danger and veered sharply away to his left. His strides, however, were no match for those of his much larger pursuer.
“Here now, imp. Hold up if you know what’s good fer ye,” cried the man as he grabbed hold of Justin’s sleeve.
Both of them skittered to a near halt on the precarious footing of fallen leaves and tangled roots. The man reached out his other hand to take a firmer grasp on the boy. But all at once, he gave a sudden scream and staggered backwards, releasing his hold and jerking both arms heavenward. A small, wriggling shape flew through the air and fell into a thicket of brambles. Justin quickly darted out of his reach and disappeared into the the shadows of the trees.
Seeing that he was safely away, Miranda rose and calmly stood her ground as the men approached.
As the one with the evil-looking pistols thrust through his belt drew close, it became clear he was the leader. Eyes narrowed, he snarled a heated rebuke at the member of his band who had allowed Justin to elude capture.
“You bloody idiot—I wanted the brat as well!”
“A snake! A bloody snake came out of the imp’s sleeve—I swear it!”
A snort of disbelief was the only reply. His angry gaze came back to rake over Miranda. She met it without flinching, and indeed, her coolness seemed to goad his temper even more.
“You’ll have to do,” McTavish said with a sneer, then licked his lips. “And you’ll do very nicely, indeed. You had better hope the blunt comes quickly, else we’ll be forced to take out payment in other ways.”
Miranda paled slightly, but her voice remained steady. “Is that what you expect? A ransom? My aunt is not wealthy?—”
McTavish gave a nasty laugh. “Oh, it’s not your aunt we’re thinking of, it’s yer fancy man, the marquess. No doubt he’ll be willing to pay extra to keep getting a roll in the hay.”
A slight smile came to her lips. “I fear you are sadly mistaken if you think the marquess will pay a farthing to secure my release.”
“Of course he will! I’ve seen him hanging around your skirts.” A note of uncertainty caused his voice to ring even harsher. “It’s clear you’re his doxie, and I mean to see that he pays us well if he wishes to continue having you warm his sheets.” He spat on the ground. “He can well afford it.”
She shook her head doggedly. “You are wrong. I am nothing to His Lordship.”
