Still smarting, Peter tried to find some positives in the situation.
“So now Jemima is free of the threat of Scraggan, and can get on with her life.” He didn’t require Hugo’s approval and wasn’t asking for his agreement.
Hugo slowly shook his head, and shot Jemima a look of regret.
“We still need to know who her contacts are in Padstow,” and he turned searching eyes on Jemima, watching as her chin firmed defiantly.
With a mental sigh, and Peter’s curse ringing in his ears, he knew that things were going to get ugly.
CHAPTER FOUR
“I’m not going to tell you that. You don’t need to know,” Jemima replied, unwilling to relent.
“I take it they are still gathering information for you?” He wasn’t surprised when Jemima merely nodded.
“Are they male or female?” he persisted, deliberately ignoring Peter’s objection.
“Why do you need to know?”
“Because I think it is a woman: in fact, I have it on good authority that one villager in particular has been a little too watchful.” Hugo’s voice hinted that he knew more than he was telling them.
Jemima outwardly kept her expression blank, and sat perfectly still as she continued to study Hugo, clearly determined not to tell him anything.
It was her rigid posture that told Hugo all he needed to know. She was trying a little bit too hard not to panic.
“She is as much at risk as you, Jemima,” Hugo added, flicking Peter a glance. “While you now have Peter to protect you, your very efficient and thorough informant doesn’t have anyone. Now that Scraggan can return all his attention to his smuggling operation, do you think he won’t notice someone watching just a little bit too closely. He will be intensely angry when he realises Rogan failed to capture and murder Eliza, and is now languishing in prison awaiting trial. He will be seeking vengeance, and will look to anyone and everything that poses a threat to him.”
Hugo’s voice was a silken menace, and he leaned forward in his chair, trying hard not to shake her for her sheer stubbornness. Inside he was hugely impressed with her bravery, and was a little envious of Peter. Clearly her strong will and determination had been a large part of the reason why Jemima had survived the past few months. He knew instinctively that Eliza had the same inner core of steel that had ensured her survival when faced with ruthless adversity. Obviously the Cavendish men were no idiots where women were concerned.
“For God’s sake, stop it!” Peter snapped, launching to his feet. “You are not going to scare her into telling you what you want. Neither Jemima or Eliza are in any danger while under our care.”
“No, but there is a woman who has been helping them, and us, undoubtedly with good intentions but, in doing so, has put herself in considerable danger. I don’t know about you, but I have no intention on bringing Jemima’s ordeal upon anyone else.”
Peter sighed and moved closer to the fire, resting one booted foot on the fender as he stared down into the flames. He didn’t like where this conversation was going, and wished Jemima was his wife so he had the authority to draw a halt to the conversation and demand she leave. But Jemima was still her own person and he had no authority to demand she go anywhere, whether they were married or not. Knowing Jemima, she would probably ignore him anyway. She had made no attempt to leave the room herself and, while she remained, so did he. But he still didn’t like it.
Once again he fought the urge to simply sweep her into his arms and carry her into the bedroom she now occupied, locking the door behind them to keep out the threat from the outside world.
“How do you know it is a woman?” Edward asked Hugo, studying Jemima closely.
“We have our ways,” Hugo replied mysteriously, unwilling to give details himself.
Jemima smiled, fully accepting his reluctance for what it was. The last time she had received word from her friend, her fear for her safety had been clear. Although she had continued to gather information, seemingly undetected, she had suspected that someone was watching her, and was becoming concerned for her safety. At the time, Jemima hadn’t been able to do anything to help.
“I know she is under threat from Scraggan, but is she well?” Jemima murmured, her steely gaze conveying her determination to help her friend.
“The last I heard, she was fine, but there are rumblings that someone local is poking their nose in. It is only a matter of time. She is all alone and clearly needs help, Jemima. You have to be the one to give it to her by helping me set plans in motion to ensure she survives Scraggan’s vengeance. Confirm her name to me and I can put men in place to protect her.”
“You cannot be expecting Jemima to become involved,” Peter snarled, whirling on his heel to stare in shock at Hugo. His gaze met and held Dominic’s briefly before he turned to Jemima, his stomach lurching at the look she was giving Hugo.
“Good God, Jemima, surely you cannot be considering helping him?”
“I don’t expect you to come to Padstow; I am on my way there next. I just need the name of your informant,” Hugo added, picking up the papers and waving them in the air. “These are fantastic; just what we need. But we also need any other information she has managed to collect since you last received word from her. Just tell me her name, and I will ensure her safety.” The promise in Hugo’s voice was clear, but did little to mollify Jemima, who remained silent.
“I need to think,” Jemima finally whispered, pushing out of her chair. She waved the men back down into their seats as they automatically stood.
She paused when Peter moved to follow her and held up a hand, cautioning him to stop. “I need time alone,” she murmured softly, a frown on her face. “I’ll just be next door.” She didn’t know which room it was, but needed to get away from Hugo’s scrutiny and Peter’s protectiveness for a moment, and decide what she was going to do.
She left the room quickly, and closed the door behind her in case Peter took it into his head to follow her. Once in the large hallway, she did as she had promised and moved to the room next door, in the opposite direction to the breakfast room she had been in earlier. Thankfully, it was empty, affording Jemima the time alone she needed to get her thoughts in order.