Chapter Three

 

Edward Wolcott winced at the sight of one of the most horrific things he had witnessed in a very long time. In fact, it was so terrible, he nearly dropped the bottle of brandy he held in his hand as he stood in the front garden of his cottage. A couple to whom he had spoken in the past only on occasion walked on the road directly in front of his house. They wore wide smiles as the man proclaimed his love for the woman on his arm to any and all who would listen—rich or poor, young or old—and the sight made Edward want to empty his stomach right then and there.

He had lived in the village of Penningford not six months, and he had already been barraged with the tales of love his neighbor had for his wife.

“Good day to you, Mr. Lentworth,” the man, Mr. Christopher Crowley, called, addressing Edward by the fictitious surname he currently used. “It is a fine day, is it not?” The man gave Edward no chance to respond, adding, “The sun is bright, the sky is clear, and the birds sing praises of its majesty. In fact, my lovely wife here says that no finer day has been seen in some time, and I believe she could not be more correct.”

The newlyweds were several years younger than Edward’s thirty years, which made them ignorant in his eyes. He raised the bottle and then took a hefty swig of the brandy. The liquid burned down his throat, providing a feeling of comfort upon which he had come to depend. He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt, bringing a grunt of disgust from Mrs. Crowley.

“It is a fine day for a drink,” Edward called back. “And even a game or two of chance. Do you wish to join me? Or perhaps your lovely wife?”

Mrs. Crowley gasped, and Edward could not help but chuckle. It was nothing more than the woman deserved; she was a nosy woman who seemed fascinated with telling Edward everything concerning the life of her and her husband. They were not poor, but neither were they of the aristocracy, but it was clear that was exactly what she wanted above anything else.

“I am afraid I must decline,” Mr. Crowley replied. “Priscilla and I will enjoy our walk and then later I plan to read from a book of poetry that was delivered from London today.” The man would have splayed his feathers if he had been a peacock.

Edward had endured enough of the couple. Scratching at the stubble on his face, he said, “I do hope you enjoy your day, Mr. Crowley. And be careful, Mrs. Crowley. Highwaymen steal women at every turn, or so I have heard.”

The woman pressed against her husband in fear, and Edward had to keep from laughing aloud. An approaching carriage made the Crowleys move aside.

“Well,” Edward said in a dismissive tone, “I have a guest arriving, as you can see.”

Mr. Crowley gave him a wide grin. “Perhaps you would like to introduce them…”

“Goodbye, Mr. Crowley,” Edward interrupted, and he chuckled when Mrs. Crowley brought her hand to her breast in a most indignant fashion, as if he should be concerned for her feelings.

He took another drink from the bottle, again using his shirt sleeve to wipe his mouth. At least the liquor washed the bitter taste of bile from his mouth after being forced to listen to the insipid speech of Mr. Crowley.

Although he found Mr. Crowley a bore, he felt nothing but contempt for the man’s wife. Edward did not know the woman beyond the occasional greeting in passing, but the truth of the matter was all women deserved his contempt. It would not be long before her husband came to that same understanding.

The reality was he had no concern as to whether the man learned this truth or not, and he pushed the man from his mind as the carriage turned into the drive beside his cottage. Through a friend, Edward had received word that a man was in need of his services. He was well-skilled in many areas, specializing in thievery and blackmail, but no matter what the man needed, he would have the ability to do it.

A price of his services had yet to be discussed; however, the upfront fee had been agreed upon before this meeting could take place, and that in itself was an indication of the size of the monetary reward Edward would receive.

The carriage driver jumped down from his perch and opened the door. A man appeared, his coat of the best cut, denoting that he was a man of means. Edward did not know his name, nor did he care. As long as he was paid, anonymity worked best for both supplier and client. And anonymity it would be, for the man wore a low hat with a scarf wrapped around his face, his eyes the only part of the man’s body Edward could see.

The man glanced about before approaching Edward.

“A fine day for a man to dream,” Edward said, reciting the code he was given.

“Dreams are for fools and beggars,” came the man’s scripted reply. He looked about once more. “So, you are the one they call The Bandit?”

“That I am,” Edward replied. “Yet, I was not given your name.”

“You may call me Adam.”

“Very well, Adam. My name is Edward. Let us go inside where we can speak in private.”

Adam gave him a nod, and Edward led him into the cottage, a home vastly different from the one in which Edward had grown up. Yet, that life was well behind him. He was not one to live in the past.

“I was told you are a viscount,” Adam said after Edward closed the door. “Is this the estate of a viscount?”

Anger boiled in Edward as he rounded on the man. “This is a cottage. Do you see me in some lavish estate? Now, do you wish to discuss business or my personal affairs?”

The man chuckled, clearly unperturbed by Edward’s outburst. “Business if you please.”

Edward nodded and led the man to a low couch and took the chair across from him. The sitting room was small with an attached kitchen and two bedrooms. It was embarrassing to live in such a hovel, but the man before him could change all that if what he indicated in his letter was true. “You mentioned this girl. Annabel?”

The man leaned forward. “Yes. Annabel Lambert. She resides in a grand estate called Scarlett Hall. Are you familiar with the village of Rumsbury?”

“I have heard of it, though I have never been within an hour’s ride of the place. Tell me more about this young woman and the estate.”

“Scarlett Hall is unlike any estate you have ever seen,” Adam replied. “Think of the largest and grandest home you have ever laid eyes upon and then double that size. Only the estates of the Royal Family are grander.”

“How did this young woman come to be in control of such a place?” Edward asked in wonderment.

The man laughed. “Annabel does not run it. It is her aunt who is in control of it all. The estate is worth a lot of money. Businesses, lands, the reach of that home is great, and I wish a piece of it for myself.”

Brant lifted the bottle to his lips and drank before tipping it toward Adam. “Drink?”

“Thank you, but I must refuse,” Adam replied. “So, concerning the woman.”

“You requested in your letter to have her kidnapped. I am to hold her until the ransom is paid, correct?”

Adam nodded. “Indeed. And there will be a large reward in it for you.”

Edward chuckled. “Large is a relative term to those with and without money. How much is this ransom?”

“Ten thousand pounds.”

Edward had just taken a drink of the brandy, and he choked at the amount. “Are you serious? Surely they do not have that much cash on hand!”

“Secured at the house? Most certainly not. However, the aunt will pay anything for the girl; I am sure of it. It will take some time for them to collect the required sum; that is why you will keep Annabel at this location until the time the payment is due.” He reached inside his coat pocket, produced a document, and handed it to Edward. “It is located just a day’s journey by carriage from Scarlett Hall.”

“You seem to have everything in order,” Edward said, folding the document and setting it aside. “I would say you have been planning this for some time.”

“Everything I do is well-planned,” the man replied with a confident tone. “Now, will you be able to do this for me?”

Edward took a deep breath and considered what he was being asked to do—to take a young woman away from her home and keep her captive. He preferred simple thievery and deceit; they were easier and cleaner. It was not an act he enjoyed, but due to life’s circumstances, he had no choice.

Adam seemed to sense his hesitancy, for he said, “I will give you two thousand pounds when I receive the ransom money.”

“And my upfront fee?” His eyes widened when Adam produced a handful of notes.

“As promised,” he said as he placed the money in Edward’s hand. “Now, how long before you can do this?”

Brant shoved the money into the pocket of his breeches. It was enough to ready himself for what needed to be done. And two thousand pounds? He would be able to return to the life he once lived. The tailored coats, the fine wine, the lavish living, it all created an excitement in him, but he pushed it aside. There was business yet to discuss before he reveled in his winnings.

“This will take some time if I am to do it correctly,” he said. “Kidnapping is no simple matter. I believe a month from now should suffice.”

Adam leapt from his seat. “A month? I thought this could be done in a week!”

“Of course,” Edward replied in a sardonic tone. “I shall simply walk into this Scarlett Hall and carry the woman out through the front door. With the family and servants watching. Surely that plan will not fail.” He leaned forward and glared at the man. “Or perhaps I should wait until the woman is alone, when I have earned her trust. A young lady is often by herself and without witnesses, correct?” He did not care if he sounded as if he was mocking, for the man was a complete fool, but he bit that thought back.

“No, she is not,” Adam said with a sigh. “I suppose you are correct in this matter.”

“I am. But do not worry. I will capture this Annabel and take her away. That you can count on.”

“Then I will wait patiently for you to act.”

Edward walked the man to the door. “This Annabel? She is but eighteen, correct?”

“Yes.”

“And what of her well-being? That is, while she is in my care?”

The man let out a heavy sigh, and as he turned, Edward found he did not like the idea of this man hiding his face. Anonymity was one thing, but it made Edward uncomfortable having no way to identify this Adam if he found the need to do so.

“If you speak of her virtue,” Adam replied, “then claim it for yourself if you so desire. I do not care. In regard to the ransom, once it is paid, she must die. Not before, mind you, for her life may be of use if we must bargain further due to some sort of resistance from Scarlett Hall. But after? I do not care.”

The mention of murder was unsettling, but what choice did he have? “I understand.”

Adam narrowed his eyes at Edward. “This is important. When the money is paid, she will need to die. I cannot have the woman ever seen again.”

Many questions swam in Edward’s mind, but the utmost was, why was this young woman’s death so crucial? Before Edward could voice his thoughts, Adam added, “I have my reasons, and they are of no concern to you.” He smirked as he gave the tiny cottage another look. “Kidnap the girl, claim her virtue if you’d like, do whatever you wish with her. But when the payment comes, you must end her life. This is nonnegotiable.”

The man spoke with such vengeance that Edward, for all his criminal ways, was taken aback. “Did I not say I understood?”

“Good. Once I hear word of her missing, I will see the ransom note delivered. Assume one month for the payment and at least another week in order to send notice that all is well.”

“I will wait for your letter at the destination you gave me,” Edward replied.

Adam walked outside, and Edward had to stop himself from slamming the door behind the man. He returned to the sofa and picked up the brandy bottle once more. Kidnapping. Although he had never committed such an act before, he had no qualms about it now. It was he idea of murder was what he did not like.

However, as he glanced around the room, his stomach ached as he recalled his own follies in life. He had once been a person of worth but he had fallen into despair. His life was all but in ruins, his title the only thing he still possessed. Yet, now there was hope, and it all rested with a woman named Miss Annabel Lambert. A young lady who would bring him happiness, whether she knew it or not.