over what had happened to her. Suddenly the details of the abduction flooded back.
Where was Mariah? Opening her eyes, Jane pushed herself up into a sitting position and looked about her. There was no sign of her friend and a shiver of dread ran through her.
She had evidently not been left in the same room as Jane. Was she somewhere in the house? Why had those villains been abducting her? It must surely be for her fortune. The rogues could not know that it was tied up in a fund and could only be released by her trustees. If they were expecting to be paid a ransom, they might be disappointed and what would happen then?
Jane was afraid for her friend. The kind of men who would hold up a coach, wound the groom and snatch two innocent women might be capable of anything. If their demands were refused, they might be violent towards their captives. Both she and Mariah might be in danger of their lives.
Glancing towards the window, she considered taking a look out when she heard voices outside the door of her room. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to lie still as the door was unlocked and someone came in. She made a little moaning sound as she sensed a presence near her and hoped that her captors would believe she was still unconscious.
‘Damn that man Blake,’ a man’s voice said close to her. The voice was harsh, rough in tone. ‘She is still unconscious. He must have hit her too hard. He is a thoughtless devil, for she may die—and then we’ll be hung for sure if they catch us.’
‘We should fetch a doctor,’ another voice added. This was a cultured voice, a gentleman’s voice, but not one she knew. ‘If she is ill, she may well die without attention. When I agreed to this business, I was told the other young woman was a willing participant in the plan. This girl should never have been abducted. What made him do it?’
‘Blake couldn’t afford to leave her behind. She might tell someone what she had seen—and he needs time with the other one.’
‘Where has he taken her?’ the second voice commanded.
‘No idea. Captain Blake is a close-mouthed devil. Never lets his right hand know what his left hand is doing.’
‘He is certainly a vicious brute.’
‘What are we supposed to do with this girl? Blake doesn’t want her. It would have been better to leave her on the road. The coachman would have taken care of her. I don’t want to hang for her murder.’
‘I have no intention of being hung for this affair. Blake struck this young woman. Until then I had no certainty of what was going on. I was hopeful that the Fanshawe girl truly wished to elope.’
‘That tale won’t help you if the Runners catch us. You’ll hang with the rest of us if this goes wrong. We dare not fetch a doctor. The girl will be all right here for the moment. Blake will decide what to do when he comes.’
The men were moving away, leaving the room. Jane heard the door close and the key turn in the lock. She opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. They had gone. She was alone, but she didn’t intend to wait around for Blake to decide what to do with her. Jane didn’t like the sound of the man they called Blake at all. She thought he must be the man with the odd colour eyes, one brown and the other a greenish colour that some called hazel. She’d looked into them seconds before he’d struck her.
Cautiously leaving the bed, she walked softly to the window and glanced out. She was in what appeared to be a private house in the country. From what she could see the grounds looked a little neglected, as if there wasn’t quite enough money to keep them immaculate.
Now she knew why she was here. She had seen too much. Given the chance, Jane could have described the height, build and hair colouring of the men—and in particular the one with the peculiar eyes. Blake was obviously the ringleader. He’d kidnapped Mariah for her money—but what would he do to her when he realised that she had no power to release her fortune into his hands?
Jane hoped Mariah would somehow be able to fend the rogue off until help could be got for her.
If only Andrew had been with them! She was sure her brother would have done something to prevent the men snatching them both.
She must concentrate her thoughts. Somehow she had to get away from here and get help for her friend. Mariah was brave and resourceful. Had she been carrying her pistol she might have shot one of them—as she had the man who had been about to murder their good friend Lucinda, Duchess of Avonlea, earlier that year. Jane was a little comforted by the knowledge that Mariah would not be made a nervous wreck by the abduction. No, wherever Mariah was being held, she would hold her nerve and do her best to outwit her captor. Yet she could not hold out for ever against ruthless men.
Somehow Jane must get a message to Andrew—or, if he were still away on that mysterious mission with the army, to the Duke of Avonlea. He would surely try to help them if only because of the help he had received when his beloved wife was being blackmailed. To do that Jane must first escape her own captors.
She had a clear view of the gardens from her window. She noticed with some satisfaction that there was a large tree quite near her window. As she took stock, Jane saw a man riding away from the house and wondered where he was going. She drew back from the window, but he did not look in her direction.
Perhaps this was her chance to escape. Jane was about to attempt to open the window when she heard something. Realising that someone was coming back to her room, she made a dash for the bed, but it was too late.
She stood staring at the man who had entered and felt a trickle of ice from the nape of her neck down to the small of her back. He was carrying a tray with food and wine, which he set down on a small table near the bed. Jane decided he was not an ill-looking man. His features were regular and he had what she might have thought, in other circumstances, an attractive mouth. His hair was a rich brown, his eyes almost black with a hint of silver in the pupils. She was wary, but somehow not frightened.
‘I thought you were faking it earlier,’ he said and a rueful smile lingered on his mouth. ‘You needn’t be afraid I shall give you away. Nor shall I harm you. I am very sorry for the way you have been treated.’
It was the man with the cultured voice. He was wearing clothes that were not suited to his station—part of a disguise, she imagined. Yet she was certain that he was a gentleman. She relaxed and moved closer to him.
‘I heard you mention someone called Blake. Is he the man with the odd-coloured eyes?’
He frowned. ‘For your own sake, do not let anyone else hear you say that. It would be best not to let the others know that you heard us talking.’
‘Who are you?’ Jane asked. ‘Why were you abducting Mariah? Is she here, too?’
‘No, she was taken elsewhere. Do not ask more for I could not tell you. It is a complicated story and not one I am proud of. The pity is that you became involved. You should have stayed in the carriage rather than risking yourself,’ the man said. ‘I deeply regret that you were taken, Miss—?’
Jane’s thoughts moved swiftly. She thought he was telling the truth when he said Mariah was elsewhere. She must have been brought here because the abductors did not know what to do with her.
‘It is Jane—Jane Blair.’
Jane gave no sign of her inner trepidation as she offered her mother’s maiden name. For the moment she would keep her true identity a secret.
‘Well, Jane, I am sorry for helping those rogues with what has turned out to be a bad business. I am not sure what I can do for the moment. There are three others in the house besides myself and all are armed—but nothing more will happen to you if I can help it. You have my word that I shall protect you from Blake and his lackeys somehow.’
‘You said it would be best to fetch the doctor,’ Jane said. ‘Your friend said Blake would decide what to do—why do you serve him if he is such a monster? You appear to be a gentleman. Are you in trouble that you would stoop to such a wicked act?’
‘It isn’t what you think.’