“There, good man, although…not really. You have been quite boldly spending money you pledged not to touch for a six months, have you not?”
“We couldn’t wait no more…want to leave…sail off and so we will and ye’ll not be bothered with us. I’ve hardly touched it…not m’one third as ye promised, so ye have no cause to be angry…”
“On your knees, Jack…now!”
“But…but…guv’…ye have no cause to…”
“Shut up. There is only one thing that will save your life at this moment. Take me to Elly Bonner and I will spare you.”
“Go to the devil!” Jack said and closed his eyes as he made peace with his maker. Elly was the only thing he had gotten right in his life.
“Just tell me where the diary is and I swear I’ll let the two of you sail off like you wish if…if she gives me the diary.”
“Elly will never give ye the diary and I ain’t letting ye put a hole in her head the way you did those poor coveys…no, I ain’t.”
“There is no need to hurt your woman providing she gives me what I want.”
“Ye see…I don’t believe ye. I see death in yer eyes…and I won’t let it near m’woman.”
“Then you are right Jack, you see death, because that is what you are, a dead man,” his employer told him grimly.
“Kill me, guv’, and she’ll be after yer hide, she will…” Jack tried one last time. He had wanted the new life with his Elly so badly…so badly.
“Precisely so,” said the man he called guv’. He fired one deadly shot, putting an end to the big man’s dreams. “Precisely so, Jack. She will come in search of you, and then I shall have her…and the diary.”
He left Jack lying there, bleeding out and went to Jack’s horse, took off the tack and threw them into the river. He didn’t wait to watch them sink, as he returned to the horse and slapped its flanks. He watched the horse trot away and then mounted his own, for he was late for his dinner.
* * *
At the viscount’s establishment dinner went quite well, with Mandy constantly proposing different ideas for finding her brother and Chauncey, or finding a way to clear his name.
She slipped a forkful of chocolate cake into her mouth and closed her eyes before saying, “Poor Neddy…I wish he were here enjoying this.”
She looked up and found the duke’s blue eyes and they seemed to caress her face. He said, “Ned will be eating with us soon enough, gamine, don’t fret.”
Mandy smiled sweetly at him and turned to find the viscount staring at them both, his mouth open and a startled expression on his face. She smiled and said, “What, Skip? Why do you look like that?”
He cleared his throat, “Like what? I don’t know what you mean.” So saying, he burst into laughter.
Both Mandy and the duke eyed him, and the duke said, “What is the joke?”
“Ah, but you know already, don’t you, Brock?” With which he went off onto another peal of laughter.
“Skip, what is so funny? Do let us in on it,” Mandy declared.
“‘Tis nothing suitable for a female,” Skip said. “Just something that occurred to me.” His face was bright with his amusement.
“Well, that is horrid! You should know that I am up to snuff. My brother is forever telling me things, that I am quite certain you would think not fit for a lady’s ears, but that is all stuff and nonsense.”
The duke cast her an affectionate glance, “No doubt, gamine, but there are things you should not be told.”
“Such as?” She challenged.
The duke and the viscount exchanged glances and Skip waved a superior hand to say, “Never mind.”
“Well, then, it is customary to leave the gentlemen to linger over their port, but don’t linger too long and leave me all alone.” she said getting up and smiling as they rose up as well.