Page 74 of A Perilous Passion

After some persuasion, he let her take charge of the half-sovereign, and agreed that he would, under no circumstances, light the bonfire as he’d been told to. She promised no harm would come to him for disobeying the stranger—and prayed she would find a way to keep her promise.

Once again, the answer lay solidly with Rafe.

If Jacky gave him a description of the stranger, as well as the location of another confirmed beacon, he’d be that much closer to unraveling the traitor’s ghastly plot. When that happened, Jacky and all the other children seduced by the glint of the traitor’s gold would be safe.

The only downside was that she’d have to see Rafe again. And after the events of last night, she didn’t know if he’d let her come anywhere near him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Once again, Charlotte was walking at a rapid pace toward Dovehouse Farm. Luckily, Mama had fallen asleep after luncheon and Aunt Flora was out, so Charlotte left a note to say she’d just popped out again to look at some jacquard weave fabric she’d seen at the milliner’s. As an afterthought, she added a postscript saying she also had a mind to visit Thea, and that Mama should leave the back door unbolted, in case she returned home late.

Thanks to Jacky Scadden, Charlotte now knew roughly how to find one more beacon. She felt duty bound to inform Rafe as quickly as possible, but she wasn’t prepared to trust Thomas the Carrier with such vital information.

Deep down, she knew there was another reason she needed to go in person. Not just patriotism, nor a desire to punish those who used innocent children for their dirty work. The real reason was to please Rafe.

She was desperate to see him again and to rejoice in the pleasure of his satisfied grin when she gave him another piece of his puzzle.

As she came within sight of the milestone that marked the turning to the farm, she paused. Was she just setting herself up for even more heartbreak? Rafe would be thankful for her news, certainly, but what would he do after that? Deny, yet again, the power of the force that drew them together?

On her part, she knew it was love. She’d felt it before, with Justin, but not like this—not this gut-clenching certainty that there was only one person in the whole world that mattered, only one person whose company was more precious than gold, and whose disapproval or indifference could break one’s heart completely.

Damn Rafe for what he’d done to her! She could no longer see straight, think straight, or even walk straight. The bramble scratches on her arms were testament to that fact. Yet, each time she’d come closer to exploring what was between them, he’d pushed her away.

If she didn’t love him so much, she could very easily hate him!

How would he feel if, this time, she rejected him? Once she’d delivered her news, she would say farewell and make it clear she’d merely been doing her duty, and never wanted to see him again.

Let him see how he liked it!

But beneath the notion lurked the faint hope that, hearing her indifference, Rafe would realize how much he needed her and was going to miss her.

Steeling her nerve, she set off again at a swift pace and soon reached Dovehouse Farm. The house was strangely quiet, with no sign of Rafe’s lookout, Paynter.

Her heart sank. It had never occurred to her that he might not be in when she arrived. Rafe could be anywhere, so how was she to get her important message to him?

She ran around the corner of the barn toward the farmhouse, and in her haste, failed to notice a timber beam propped against the barn’s open midstrey. She collided heavily with it, sending it crashing to the ground with a crack like a musket shot.

Well, that should bring Paynter out of his hiding place. Or wake him up…

When she reached the house, she thundered on the knocker and waited.

Still nothing.

Fear prickled along the back of her neck. Was she truly alone here? A place that had formerly felt so safe now seemed to bristle with menace. Hearing the creak of a hinge, she ran back to the side of the barn and peeped round the corner.

Someone was in the stables. One of the doors was still swinging gently. But if it was Rafe or one of his henchmen who’d been there, why hadn’t they come out to see what the noise was?

Battling the urge to flee and hide, she crept out from the shadow of the barn and padded cautiously toward the stables.

Peering into the rich, warm darkness, it took her eyes a moment to adjust.

Good God.

“Rafe?” Oh lord! She yelled, “Goves! Hamblett! Paynter! Where is everyone? Help! Oh God, Rafe, speak to me!”

He was lying across the back of the horse, trussed up like a Christmas goose, with a bag over his head.

He wasn’t moving.