A Simple Case of Seduction

“You should have kept the watch when you pulled it from Thomas’ body,” Daniel said, seemingly unperturbed by the threat to his life. “Had you bothered to examine it, none of this would have been necessary.”

Yes, but a traitor would have been free to roam in their midst, causing untold havoc.

“My mistake was trying to save Thomas by grabbing his waistcoat,” Lily said coldly. “The watch snapped from the chain as he fell. Had it ended up in the water, no one would have been able to read the note.”

Daniel muttered a curse under his breath. “What motivates a woman to kill a man she professed to care for?”

“Money, Mr Thorpe.” Lily snorted. “I’d prefer a comfortable life in France than to rot away in the back streets of Wapping. When the Carron leaves again, I plan to sail away never to return.” She turned the pistol on Daniel. “I would have suggested you come with me. But as you’ve admitted you’re the only person who can read the code, I’ve no option but to kill you. This time I’ll not miss.”

The click of the hammer falling sent a bolt of fear straight to Daphne’s heart. The puff of white smoke wafted up into the cool night air. It took a second or two for the bang to reach her ears.

“Daniel!” Daphne cried as she watched him fall back, watched the cream waistcoat turn crimson with blood. With cuffed wrists, Daphne struggled to clutch her stomach as a searing pain ripped through her body. Tears burst from her eyes as she glared at Lily’s indifferent expression. “How could you?”

Without a thought for her own safety, Daphne rushed forward and dropped to her knees at Daniel’s side. She touched the back of her shackled hand to his waistcoat to find it saturated with blood.

“Oh, Lord. No!” The tears fell so hard they bubbled in the back of her throat. “Please, Daniel. Open your eyes. Don’t leave me.” She looked up and scanned the deserted wharf. “Help! Someone, help me!” Surely someone would have heard the shot.

“There is no need to cry,” Lily said, “as you are about to join him. Only a fool would leave a witness alive.”

Lily aimed at Daphne.

Daphne sucked in a breath, bent down and kissed Daniel on the forehead. “I love you,” she whispered, determined she would own the words in this life as well as the next.

The loud crack of the ball as Lily discharged it from the pistol exploded in her ears. Daphne put her head on Daniel’s shoulder and closed her eyes, waited for the sharp pain to hit her in the back.

When a woman’s shrill cry filled the air, Daphne glanced up to see Lily lying in a heap on the ground. With eyes cold, wide and vacant, it was evident she was dead.

Two figures appeared in the distance. The smaller one carried a pistol. The larger one ran towards her.

“Thorpe!” Bostock cried as he fell to his knees at his friend’s side.

“He’s gone, Mr Bostock.” Daphne’s voice sounded fractured, croaky. She stared at the ugly burgundy stain on Daniel’s chest. Why was life so cruel? Just when she’d glimpsed true happiness. Just when she’d found someone to love. “There’s nothing we can do.”

Bostock leant forward, ripped Daniel’s waistcoat open, sent the button’s scattering across the wharf. “He’s not dead, Mrs Chambers. Least I hope not.” Bostock tore at the linen shirt to reveal a strange contraption beneath.

“What’s that strapped to his chest?”

“Two metal plates with padding in between,” Bostock said, slapping Daniel around the face. He touched a point on Daniel’s neck. “Oh, he’s alive all right. Probably the shock that caused him to black out that’s all.”

“It … it has nothing to do with the shock,” Daniel muttered as he opened his eyes.

Daphne’s head felt suddenly light. “You’re alive!” The pressure of grief pressing down on her heart, lifted.

Daniel groaned. “I’m alive, but the impact may have cracked a rib.”

“But I saw the blood.” Daphne shook her head. “I saw the ball hit you in the chest.”

Bostock tugged the material bag attached to the metal plate. “Betsy made a pouch. I won’t tell you what she used for the lining. We filled it with pig’s blood. Thorpe wanted Lily to think he was dead so that he might have an opportunity to rescue you if need be.”

“But I’m not dead, Bostock.” Daniel winced as he touched his chest. “And I am capable of speaking for myself.”

“I trust the ball hit the breastplate?” the other gentleman said as he stepped closer.

“Yes, my lord,” Bostock replied. “He’s damn lucky she didn’t aim for his head.”

Daniel came up to a sitting position. “It’s a matter of mind manipulation. With my hands raised, my chest was an open target. I more or less told her to shoot me in the heart.”

Daphne sat back on her knees and glared at Daniel. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, whether to slap him or kiss him. “If my hands were free, I’d punch you so hard I’d be sure to break your nose.”