Chasing Eliza (Cavendish Mysteries 3)

“But you have estates and people depending on your survival to keep them in employment and accommodation. Don’t risk it all because of me and Jemima.”

“Eliza, we aren’t going to leave you to deal with this alone. We-” Dominic shared a measured look with Peter, “-have unfinished business with Scraggan.”

Eliza turned and looked at him questioningly. They were interrupted by a soft knock at the door and the arrival of the food. Within moments the table was laden with an array of breads, cheese, meats, pies and fruit.

“Is there enough for us?”

Eliza jumped and stared in shock as a somewhat dusty and dishevell

ed Edward stalked into the room, followed closely by Sebastian. She watched in amazement as he barely looked at her, casually dropping into the seat beside her before turning the full force of his direct blue gaze upon hers. He offered her a small smile along with an empty plate as though he had only been gone for a moment rather than three days.

“God I’m starving.” Sebastian declared, oblivious to the interplay between Edward and Eliza.

She was stunned by the depth of emotion she felt at seeing him again and could have wept with the sheer joy of having his solidly reassuring bulk beside her once again. Although she would never admit it, she had missed him. A lot.

She wondered what had happened to make them return and studied them carefully as they ate. Something was wrong.

“So, you couldn’t bear to be parted from us, could you?” Dominic’s droll query was laced with amusement. He hadn’t missed the long searching look Edward had given the woman beside him, and wondered how long it would be before they had another wedding in the family.

Edward and Sebastian shared a look as Edward began to place various foods on Eliza’s plate before loading his own.

It was a scene of such domesticated familiarity, Peter grinned outright.

“What’s wrong?” Dominic demanded several minutes later when most of the food had been consumed. “Have you seen Scraggan?”

Sebastian nodded. “Yeah, there are four of them on the outskirts of the village and a few more down the road. They are waiting for us to leave.” He imparted the news so matter of factly that he could have been giving a shipping forecast.

Edward took a sip of his brandy and sat back in his seat, taking a few moments to study Eliza’s profile. Clearly she had hardly eaten, and hadn’t slept any better than he had. The dark smudges beneath her eyes were several shades deeper. He hated having to impart the latest , but couldn’t see any wisdom in keeping it a secret from him.

“We have news.” He murmured quietly, taking Eliza’s hand in his and holding it tightly.

Eliza felt her stomach drop as she noted the gravity on Edward’s face.

“Jemima?” She whispered weakly, and listened in horror as Edward carefully recounted what they had discovered on their trip to Leicestershire.

“Oh God.” Tears pooled in her eyes as she thought of the horrors Jemima was facing and faced. “She couldn’t have done it. That isn’t Jemima. She worked for my father and hated Scraggan and everything he stood for. She wouldn’t rob anyone!” She turned beseeching eyes towards a stunned Peter, who had moved towards the hearth to stare down at the flames silently, as deeply shocked as she was.

She glanced at each man at the table. Sebastian was staring awkwardly down at his plate, Dominic’s face was filled with bitter regret. Edward’s was laced with abject sympathy as he patted her hand in an almost fatherly manner.

“She didn’t do it.” Eliza gasped, snatching her hand away from Edward’s and pushing away from the table.

Edward followed her, grabbing hold of her shoulders and turning her firmly towards him as they stood beside the window.

“We aren’t saying she did. We are just giving you the facts. We don’t know the exact details and won’t until we get to Derby and find out for ourselves. This is second hand information from one of Peter’s informants. We didn’t take the time to find out if it is accurate, but it is the closest thing we have to a lead right now.”

Edward shook her once for emphasis, and to snap her out of her horrified daze. He ducked his head until her tear-filled gaze met his and softened his voice as he stared at the depths of horrified grief shadowing her beautiful eyes.

His heart flipped at the distress he saw there and he wondered how he could ever have considered closing her out of his life. Ignoring the presence of the other men in the room, he tugged her unceremoniously into his arms, resting his chin on her head as she wept into his shoulder.

“I’ve got to go back to Derbyshire to see what I can do to get her out.” Peter declared flatly, staring at the fire as he tried to quell his racing thoughts. Part of him was overjoyed that she was alive, but he was horrified by the latest turn of events and felt the frantic pull of desperation. He could fight Scraggan and Rogan, but he couldn’t fight the justice system, and if his informant was right and Jemima had already been condemned to death then there was no way out.

“Look Eliza, you don’t need to know if Jemima has been to Padstow if she is in Derby Gaol. There is no need to go there tomorrow. I think we should all return to Leicestershire now. We can send a message for the men we worked with before to meet us there, and begin to make plans on what to do about Jemima sooner rather than later. Given her dire circumstance we need to take action – and quickly.” Dominic practically bristled with suppressed fury, his tone hard and uncompromising.

“If she is in Derby Gaol.” Peter shook his head, unsure how to fight that particular dragon. He would move heaven and hell to find her, but he wouldn’t perform miracles and they certainly needed one if Jemima wasn’t going to end her days swinging from a rope.

“There is something else.” Eliza whispered, easing backwards out of Edward’s arms.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks she moved back towards the table, aware of the men watching her as she tugged the shirt out of her breeches, and undid the front placket.