Sir Ashley's Mettlesome Match. Mary Nichols
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to be swayed by broken hearts and feminine tears. He is famous for his harsh punishments. He takes a pride in them. Being even remotely associated with free traders will be enough to condemn you.’ He put his hand briefly over hers. ‘I think, my dear, you had best leave it to me.’
She did not answer, not even to tell him she was not his dear, not his anything, because they were turning in at the gates of Lord Borrowdale’s country mansion and she needed to gather her wits for the confrontation to come.
Ten minutes later she realised Sir Ashley’s summary of his lordship’s character had been correct when a very superior servant in full livery announced them and she found herself facing the man himself. He was a big man, both in height and breadth, with bushy brows and a full brown wig. His grey eyes surveyed her from top to toe, taking in her plain wool gown, her wild red hair and lack of a bonnet as if wondering how this person had had the effrontery to invade his house. She was glad of Sir Ashley’s steadying hand under her elbow.
Ash had used his considerable reputation and standing in society to gain them admittance and was not going to let a little thing like the other’s superior rank intimidate him. He gave the man a flourishing bow. ‘Your servant, my lord.’
‘Sir Ashley.’ The bow was returned. ‘I have not seen you since your late lamented father went to his Maker. How many years ago was that?’
‘Ten, my lord.’ He turned and drew Pippa forwards. ‘May I present Miss Kingslake of Windward House, Narbeach.’
Pippa gave him a curtsy. ‘My lord.’
‘Narbeach, you say?’ his lordship queried, taking his eyes from Pippa and turning to Ash. ‘There was a landing of contraband goods there last night and the Revenue alerted. All but seven of the devils got away, though.’
‘Six,’ Pippa said, resolutely. ‘The seventh was an innocent bystander.’
‘Innocent bystander!’ his lordship scoffed. ‘On the beach in the middle of the night when cargo is being brought ashore and you call that innocent!’
She refused to be intimidated. ‘I do, my lord. He is but a child, full of childish curiosity. He simply followed the others down to the shore. He was never part of the illegal activities.’
Ash nudged her. She turned to look at him. His eyes were telling her to be silent. She did not feel like obeying him; she wanted to scream and beat her fists upon the bigoted Lord Borrowdale’s chest and demand he set Ben free.
‘Sir Ashley does well to silence you,’ his lordship said. ‘You are incriminating yourself with every word you utter. How do you now what was in the muckworm’s mind unless you were party to it?’
‘Ben is not a muckworm! And I know his mind because I have known him since he was in leading strings.’
‘My lord, may I have a private word with you?’ Ash asked, gripping Pippa’s elbow so hard, she almost cried out. ‘I think I may be able to throw some light on the matter.’
‘Oh, very well, but make it quick. I am about to go out.’
‘Miss Kingslake, would you be so good as to wait in the carriage?’ Ash said. ‘I shall be but a moment.’
Pippa was reluctant to obey. She wanted to hear what was being said. What could Sir Ashley tell his lordship which she did not know? But when a footman was summoned to escort her to the carriage, she was obliged to follow him from the room, her annoyance plain in her posture and the way she swept her skirt up in her hand and threw back her head.
Ash watched her go, smiling a little, then turned back to Lord Borrowdale. ‘Miss Kingslake is naturally upset. She is very fond of her cousin and cannot understand why he was taken up in the first place.’
‘He was with the smugglers. Good God, man! If I let off every young varmint whose females swore his innocence, no one would ever be arrested. How can you be sure she is telling the truth?’
‘I cannot,’ Ash admitted. ‘But if I could talk to the boy, I am sure I should learn something from him. I would deem it a favour if you would give him into my custody. I will undertake to see that he is dealt with according to the law.’
‘And what is your interest in smugglers? Not a Revenue man, are you?’
‘No.’ Ash smiled. ‘Have you ever heard of the Piccadilly Gentlemen’s Club, my lord?’
‘No. Are they a band of smugglers?’
He laughed. ‘No, on the contrary, they are gentlemen dedicated to upholding the law of the land. They have been doing it for the last twelve years. I am one of them. We brought the O’Keefe gang of coiners to justice and the murderers, Black, Randle and Smith, not to mention putting a stop to a possible Jacobite rebellion. Wherever we see crime, particularly organised crime, we investigate it and bring the perpetrators to book.’
‘Don’t the Bow Street Runners do that?’
‘To a certain extent, yes, but their force is small, their resources limited, and they rarely operate outside London. We are a roving band and go where we are needed and we have access to people and places denied to the Runners.’
‘I understand that, but why Piccadilly?’
‘The headquarters of the Society is there at Lord Trentham’s home. You may check my credentials with his lordship, if you wish. As a member of the government he is particularly interested in combatting smuggling.’
‘But you are asking me to release one of my prisoners—surely not the action of a law-abiding citizen?’
‘Into my custody.’ Ash smiled again. His face was stiff with smiling. ‘I intend to make a friend of the boy through his cousin. By gaining his trust, I might find out more. Where are the prisoners being held?’
‘I had them in the Customs House overnight, but this morning I sent them under guard to Norwich gaol. They will be safer there than anywhere until the Assizes in Thetford later this month.’
Ash understood him to mean safe from being set free by their friends. ‘Then I must go to Norwich. Will you furnish me with a letter ordering Benjamin Whiteside’s release into my custody? It will save me having to explain myself all over again. The fewer people who know my intentions the better.’
‘And Miss …’ his lordship waved his hand in the general direction of the door ‘… Miss Whatshername—does she know your purpose?’
‘Miss Kingslake. No, she does not. She went to Sir Felix Markham for help when I was there and I offered to do what I could to bring about the release of her cousin.’
‘Then I hope she is suitably grateful.’
‘Oh, I am sure she will be,’ he said lightly, perfectly aware of his lordship’s meaning.
His lordship left the room and came back a few minutes later, waving a sheet of paper in his hand. ‘Here you are. And I hope I may not live to regret this.’
‘Thank you, my lord.’ Ash took the paper, checked the wording and signature and folded it before putting it in his pocket and bowing his way out.
Pippa was in the carriage, impatiently drumming her fingers on the door edge, when he returned and gave orders for the coachman to proceed. ‘Well?’ she demanded as soon as he had settled in his seat beside her. ‘What happened? Where is Ben? Is he to be released?’
‘Your cousin has been sent to Norwich Castle to await the Assizes and, yes, he is to be released into my custody.’
‘Then we must go to Norwich at once.’
‘No, Miss Kingslake, we cannot go at once. It is becoming late and we should need to stay in Norwich overnight. Even you must realise the impropriety of that. I am going to take you home and acquaint Mrs Whiteside of our progress so far, then I shall go and fetch your young cousin tomorrow. It won’t hurt him to have a taste of prison for a night or two.’
‘Then