Page 140 of Feathers in the Wind
In her haste to reach whoever waited beyond the gate—and Luke would wagered it was Jack Farrington—Penitence had left it ajar. The tunnel bent at a right angle as it neared the gate. The light of a lantern spilled over the cobbles and he realised that she had brought the lantern with her, only daring to light it when she thought she could not be detected.
The low murmur of voices reached him. The man sounded soft and reassuring, but the high tone in Penitence's voice, even speaking in a whisper, betrayed her distress. The man said something, and she gave a choking sob.
Luke drew the pistol from his belt and checked its priming. He should get assistance, but he didn't want to alarm the lovers or lose time in summoning his men. If he alerted the lovers, Jack would be gone and probably Penitence with him. He rounded the corner of the tunnel and levelled the pistol at the embracing couple.
Jack and Penitence sprang apart as Luke cleared his throat. “Raise your hands where I can see them, Farrington,” he said.
“Luke! No, you don't understand.” Penitence stepped in front of her lover.
“And you, Mistress Felton.”
“Me?” Penitence sounded genuinely mystified. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Both of you. Shall we proceed out into the fresh air?”
Stooping to pick up the lantern, Luke followed Jack and Penitence out of the tunnel. He shut the door to the sally port with his foot and bellowed for the traitorous guard he knew would be somewhere nearby.
“Truscott! Out here now.”
Penitence began to cry, the wetness on her cheeks silvered in the moonlight. Luke regarded her without sympathy.
He heard the man's boots on the walkway above him, coming from the direction of the Jewel Tower where he must have been sheltering.
“Sir?” He sounded breathless.
Luke would deal with Truscott later. “Sound the alarm,” he ordered.
“But, sir...” Truscott began.
“Now!” Luke said in a tone that brooked no argument
The man grunted and he returned to the Jewel Tower to sound the alarm bell. In less than a minute, the night guard led by Sergeant Hale, appeared in the courtyard. He looked from Penitence to Jack and back to Luke.
“We have traitors in our midst, Hale. Take Captain Farrington and Mistress Felton under guard to the Great Hall and,” he jerked his head at the Jewel Tower, “put Truscott under guard in the darkest and most rat-infested dungeon you can find in this place.”
“Luke! For pity's sake...” Penitence sobbed, but he was in no mood for pity or mercy.
He lowered his pistol as Hale accompanied by four of his men marched the prisoners away.
Ned, who had come late on the scene, caught his sleeve. “Collyer, what's going on here?”
“I just caught Penitence Felton in the embrace of Jack Farrington. We've got our traitor.” Luke leaned against the wall, rubbing a weary hand over his eyes.
“Penitence? Surely not. I'm sure there is an explanation.”
“Of course there is,” Luke snapped, “and I can't wait to hear what story our two lovebirds come up with. Now secure the sally port and put one of our own men on to guard it.”
In the Great Hall, Jack Farrington and Penitence sat side by side at the long table with two armed men standing behind them. Standing across the table from the pair, Luke put his hands on his hips and surveyed them. Jack's hat lay on the table in front of him and the young man looked pale and drawn. Penitence, dry-eyed for the moment, had placed her hand over his and she glared at Luke.
Before he could speak, Deliverance's voice came from behind him. “What's going on? I heard the alarm,” she said.
He turned. Deliverance stood at the screen, a candle in her hand, dressed in her nightgown with a loose robe flung over it.
“Meet our traitor,” Luke said.
Deliverance looked at him, her gaze flicking to her sister and Jack Farrington.
“No,” she said, a disbelieving laugh catching her words, “you don't mean Pen? Surely not.”
