Raven (Gentlemen of the Order 2)

The traps weren’t for poachers but to catch an unwelcome gentleman snooping about the wo

ods. And while Finlay had reservations, too, Archer deserved a lead ball to the leg.

“The spring-gun, is it loaded with just a powder charge?” The noise would scare a man but not maim him.

“No.” Mrs Friswell’s gaze dropped to her lap. “Powder and a ball, sir.”

Sir?

He had risen a notch in the housekeeper’s esteem. Finlay had a newfound respect for the woman, too. She was willing to go to great lengths to protect Jessica from these lying scoundrels.

“Then you must take me into the woods and show me where you’ve placed the traps. I’m to confront Mr Archer in the deadwood tonight and cannot risk suffering an injury.”

Heaven forbid he should lose a limb.

Worse still, he might get caught in a trap and leave Archer free to enter the house.

“I’m not sure I can walk that far, sir.” Mrs Friswell sucked in a breath as she rubbed her knee. “Mayhap I can draw a map.”

Finlay nodded. “Very well. You can explain it to Blent, and he can accompany me into Blackborne Wood. But it must be before nightfall.” There was much to do before Sloane arrived with Maud and the doctor. And with Blent playing guide, the housekeeper might be more precise with her directions.

A brief conversation ensued. Sophia explained that Goodwin was not a doctor and was being blackmailed by Mr Archer to commit these heinous crimes.

“I knew the man had a wicked streak.” Mrs Friswell’s muttered curses sounded like a witch’s incantation. “I knew there was something strange about his methods. He deserves to have the crows peck at his eyeballs, to have his innards boiled and fed to the pigs.”

Finlay cleared his throat. “Indeed.” He was suddenly glad to be on good terms with the housekeeper. “And you should know, the alcohol in the doctor’s vial contained small traces of fly agaric.”

“Toadstools!” Mrs Friswell clenched her fists as hard as she did her jaw. “That explains Miss Draper’s confusion, why she saw ghosts and cried in agony at night.”

“Goodwin professes to feel some remorse for his actions, hence the reason he gave Miss Draper the concoction in the vial.” Upon noting Mrs Friswell’s confused frown, he added, “If Miss Draper is certified insane, Mr Archer won’t want to marry her as she cannot claim her inheritance.”

“Oh, these men are the devil’s disciples, make no mistake.”

Sophia gave a frustrated sigh. “Yes, and we will need to present a persuasive argument to the magistrate if we hope to make both men pay for their misdeeds.”

Finlay forced a smile. If he had his way, neither man would escape the woods alive.

The note left by the tombstone in the churchyard said Archer should come to the deadwood at two o’clock in the morning. Goodwin assured the devil he would bring Jessica, and he’d given her enough laudanum so she might be persuaded to do his bidding.

“My hair is more silver than gold,” Sophia said, fretting as Finlay locked the door in the boundary wall. “Hopefully, Mr Archer won’t notice in the dark.” Her voice was stretched thin with apprehension. “I suppose it is seven years since he’s seen Jessica.”

Finlay turned to her and fixed the hood of her blue cloak so it shrouded most of her face. “I shall be but a few feet away, and you have the pocket pistol. Use it only if necessary.”

Maud had agreed to come to the woods and pretend to be Jessica. But as the hour to leave approached, fear overcame logic, and the woman crumpled to a heap on the floor, crying and shaking uncontrollably, convinced Archer would kill her.

“Sloane will be watching from the woods.” Finlay had instructed D’Angelo to remain at Blackborne with Jessica. “He’s exceptionally skilled with a dagger and can hit a moving target with impressive accuracy.”

Behind them, Goodwin whimpered. “Archer is as shrewd as a serpent. He’ll be prepared. I fear he’ll know I’ve betrayed him.”

“Get him to confess to his crimes, and then I shall confront him.” Finlay longed to get his hands around the despot’s neck and wring the last breath from his lungs. “He’ll expect you to show a certain amount of fear considering you’ll both hang for abduction if caught tonight.” Finlay pointed to the stile on the opposite side of the road. “We’ll enter the woods there. You’ve got the lantern, so lead the way.”

As soon as Goodwin had outlived his usefulness, Finlay would beat him to within an inch of his life.

He waited for the devious doctor to cross the road before whispering, “Whatever happens in the deadwood, you’re not to run, Sophia. Do you hear? I know exactly where Mrs Friswell laid the traps, but when one is panicked, there’s a temptation to leave the path.”

She nodded, and he couldn’t help but kiss her trembling lips.

“Nothing will happen to either of us,” he reassured her. “Fate can’t be that cruel.”