Checkmate, My Lord

chapter Twenty-six


Sebastian pushed Reaper, and the others, to greater speeds. Charging through the night placed them all in peril, but overcoming Cochran’s carriage before he gained the city was paramount. The clouds loosened their hold to reveal a waxing moon. Light sprayed over the road, and Sebastian peered into the distance. The outline of a carriage at the far end of the road materialized, and his pulse leaped with hope.

He glanced over his left shoulder to find Catherine riding low over Gypsy’s neck and Helsford, Danforth, and Jack at her back. Jack had caught up with the two agents in the village mere seconds after Helsford’s informant had passed on precious intelligence about Cochran’s intended flight with Sophie. Once again, Helsford’s informant had provided accurate and timely information in support of their cause. One day, Sebastian would meet their mysterious savior and offer him a job.

Carriage up ahead.” He caught Catherine’s gaze. “Remember my instructions.”

She nodded, a determined look in her eye.

He had to trust that she would allow him to manage the situation without her interference. But for good measure, he sliced a meaningful glare at Danforth, who nodded.

They gained on Cochran much faster than Sebastian had anticipated. He could see now that the carriage was stopped in the middle of the lane and a man stood next to it. The man must have heard their approach, for he angled around and—

Oh, dear Lord,” Catherine cried.

Cochran held Sophie against him, her arms and legs swung lifelessly from her body. The backs of Sebastian’s eyes burned at the sight. From this distance, they appeared too late, but if that were the case, the girl would be of no further use to the man and he would not be holding her in such a defensive manner.

Sophie’s kidnapper whipped around, yelling at someone beyond the tree line. Sebastian saw no one, but a movement at the back of the carriage captured his attention. A small boy leveraged himself into a crouched position on the luggage boot.

Teddy. Two children in harm’s way. Ice glazed Sebastian’s spine and sweat dampened his palms.

His gaze narrowed on the boy, who had his hand raised in an attack position. Sebastian could not detect a weapon, but Teddy was definitely preparing to do something rash.

Don’t do it,” Sebastian demanded in a harsh whisper. He gave Reaper all the lead he wanted, and his mount burst forward in an amazing display of power.

The boy picked that moment to launch himself onto Cochran’s back.

The night exploded into a cacophony of screams and curses.

***

Teddy!” Catherine yelled. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The stable lad had launched himself onto the back of a grown man, who would as soon kill the boy as look at him. Infuriated and writhing in pain, Cochran dropped Sophie and wrenched the boy off his back, throwing him across the road like a bucket of yesterday’s slop.

Right into their path.

Watch out,” Sebastian warned.

Out of nowhere, a big black horse appeared carrying a cloaked figure. The rider maneuvered his mount over the stable lad, shielding him from their approach.

Sebastian jerked his horse to the right and Catherine pulled Gypsy’s reins to the left; the three men behind followed suit.

Danforth, to Catherine. Jack, the boy,” Sebastian directed, after they cleared that particular danger. Helsford followed Sebastian into the fray.

Catherine scrambled off her horse and stood paralyzed as she watched Sebastian dismount and draw a pistol from the back of his waistband. Sophie was on the ground, kicking at Cochran as he attempted to recapture her. From a distance, Catherine heard Danforth calling her, but she couldn’t obey his entreaty for her to come away. The two people she loved most in the world were fighting for their lives.

Cochran, stand down,” Sebastian said, leveling the pistol at his head.

Desperate now, Cochran smacked away Sophie’s legs and scooped her up.

You killed Teddy, you beast!” Sophie cried. “How could you?” She no longer dangled passively in Cochran’s arms. She fought like a wildcat.

Catherine was equal parts proud and terrified. She wrenched free of Danforth’s hold and ran forward.

Get back, Catherine.” Sebastian’s harsh command stopped her in her tracks. His eyes blazed with a luminescent vengeance that froze her heart.

From behind the battling duo emerged Declan McCarthy and several men from the village, including the vicar, who ran over to assist Jack with Teddy. Two of the men held Silas between them.

With her daughter acting the she-cat, Cochran appeared to Catherine almost relieved when Sebastian stowed his pistol and then plucked Sophie off her cursing and bleeding captor. Her sweet girl scratched at the air, determined to do the man more damage.

McCarthy sank a fist into Cochran’s stomach, then kneed him in the face when the man bent forward. He knocked the man to the ground and forced his arms behind his back. Helsford pulled a length of rope from his saddle and tied Cochran’s wrists and ankles.

With both men subdued, Catherine ran forward. Even though Sebastian tried to shelter Sophie’s curious eyes from McCarthy’s attack on Cochran, her daughter observed far too much.

Sophie.” Catherine held out her arms. “Come to Mama.”

Fierce blue eyes turned her way. From one second to the next, the fight went out of her daughter and her eyes filled with tears. “Mama.”

Sebastian handed her daughter over, and Catherine’s pulse quickened when the girl’s small frame began to quake. “I have you now, pumpkin. Everything’s fine.” Catherine smoothed her hand over Sophie’s back in wide, calming circles. Sebastian also placed a hand on Sophie’s back while he angled around until he stood face-to-face with her daughter. “Brave little sprite, why the tears? You vanquished the enemy with nary a bruise.”

Sophie reared back and settled liquid blue eyes on him. An instant later, she bounded up and wrapped her thin arms around his neck. “Bastian,” she said. “You saved me.”

With Sophie half in Catherine’s arms and half in Sebastian’s arms, he stood awkwardly for a few seconds before finally giving in and embracing them both. Catherine closed her eyes and absorbed the moment. It was likely the last hug she would ever receive from him.

Ah, that’s so precious, Somerton,” Cochran said. “Weren’t you supposed to protect the Ashcroft ladies, rather than seduce them?”

The muscles in Sebastian’s arm rippled against her waist, and she heard Helsford order Cochran to be quiet right before the prisoner grunted in pain.

***

Sebastian ignored the ice raking down his spine long enough to finish his conversation with Sophie. “No, sprite. Your brownie friend must take all the credit for your rescue.”

Pushing off his shoulders, Sophie said, “But Teddy’s dead.” Tears leaked from her eyes.

Sebastian glanced over to where a small group had formed around the boy. The cloaked savior had disappeared, as had the two young men who were approaching the carriage before Sebastian stormed into the fray. From here, he could not see if the boy was coming to, or if Cochran had managed to do the unthinkable.

Miss Sophie,” Declan McCarthy said.

She peered over her shoulder at the carpenter.

I believe this belongs to your brave knight.” He held out a carved figure of a man holding a bow and arrow.

Sophie accepted the piece. “I gave this to him.” She glanced up at McCarthy, her pride evident. “Did you see Teddy jab the arrow into the bad man’s neck?”

Yes, miss,” McCarthy said. “He’s a courageous lad. You must be a very good friend.”

Mama,” Sophie said. “I must go see Teddy.”

Catherine glanced at Sebastian, and that’s when he realized he still held them close. Stepping away, he said, “Get them both out of here, Catherine. Please.”

She nodded. “Be careful.”

You may depend upon it.”

She strode away, toward the fallen boy, glancing back when she set Sophie down. The incredible pressure around his chest did not relent until he saw Teddy wobble into a sitting position.

The carpenter’s normally wary eyes burned with purpose. “I’ll take care of that mewling coward who killed my Meghan.”

You know?”

Aye, m’lord,” McCarthy said. “I received a note that the men who killed my girl were fleeing tonight. The murdering bastard admitted his crime right before you arrived.” His hand balled into a fist. “Time to make him suffer.”

Understanding the man’s pain, Sebastian gentled his voice. “I can’t let you do that.”

McCarthy’s jaw stiffened. “Don’t try to stop me, m’lord.”

Sophie’s kidnapper laughed. “Get in line, Irish. Somerton’s not going to let a dead girl stand in the way of protecting his precious Nexus.”

Quiet.” Helsford ground the heel of his boot into the traitor’s back.

Danforth. Mr. Foster,” Sebastian called.

The agent and vicar were at his side in an instant. “Yes, sir?”

How’s our intrepid hero?”

He’ll be fine,” the vicar said. “The lump on his head will cause him some pain for a while.”

Danforth, we need that carriage for Catherine and the children. And we need the men from the village out of here. Now.” To the vicar, he said, “Make sure the men have everything they need when they get back to Showbury.”

Will do, sir.” The vicar strode off.

Sebastian faced the angry carpenter.

McCarthy’s green eyes burned with a mixture of grief and hatred. “I’ll have justice for my Meghan and her wee babe.”

Yes, you will,” Sebastian said. “But not until after I extract some information.”

For this Nexus.” McCarthy’s lip curled in disgust.

No.” The lie fell smoothly from Sebastian’s lips. “Cochran speaks only to confuse you. His one hope of surviving this situation is to pit us against each other and only then might he have a chance at escaping.”

The carpenter’s hands balled into massive fists.

McCarthy, I need the carriage free and operable. Can you and the other men make that happen? I want to get Mrs. Ashcroft and the children away from this place.” And he wanted to give the man something else to focus on.

The men spent the next ten minutes readying the carriage, then Catherine bundled the two children inside. Sebastian frowned when he noticed Catherine and Danforth engaged in a heated exchange. Then the viscount threw his arms up and grumbled something about stubborn women.

Mr. Foster climbed into the driver’s box, ushering Cochran’s coachman into the hands of two of the villagers. The carriage lurched forward, escorted by an unhappy McCarthy, the rest of the villagers, and Jack riding at the back. Catherine stood at the side of the road, watching the conveyance lumber out of sight.

Mr. Foster, wait.” Sebastian rushed forward, but the vicar ignored his command and continued on toward Showbury. “What are you doing, Catherine?”

What does it look like?” she asked in a calm voice. “I’m staying.”

Warmth seeped into Sebastian’s heart, followed quickly by an ungovernable fear for her safety. “It’s too dangerous.”

For you, as well.”

This could become unpleasant, Catherine. I don’t want you exposed to this.” Nor did he want her to witness his darker side, the one most detested for its ruthlessness.

I will not watch the bad parts, Sebastian,” she said. “Understand that I’m not leaving you.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, I’m not leaving you here to sort out Jeffrey’s mess.”

I’m not leaving you. A wild instinct, ominous and possessive, assailed his senses, overwhelming in its strength.

Chief, perhaps we should finish this,” Helsford said.

The carriage is gone,” she said. “And I’m not walking back alone.”

Dammit, Catherine. You have no business here.”

I have as much right to be here as the rest of you.” Her gaze landed on Cochran. “He threatened my baby girl.”

She had placed him in an untenable situation. How could he protect her and conduct a thorough interrogation of his prisoner?

Cochran laughed. “What’s the matter, Somerton? Afraid your mistress won’t like what she sees?”

Sebastian ignored him. Pointing toward the shadowed tree line, he said, “Stand over there. Do not go near either prisoner, no matter what. Understood?”

Yes, Chief.”

He waited for her to comply before heading back to the circle of men. “Pick him up.”

Helsford pulled Cochran to his feet. With his wrists and ankles bound by the same rope, the prisoner hobbled about until he gained his balance.

Tell me who you’re working for,” Sebastian said.

Cochran smiled. “Why would I need to take orders from anyone?”

Because you’re not intelligent enough to mastermind this elaborate a plan.”

Cochran’s gaze sliced to Silas, who stood passively in Danforth’s grip. “Intelligent enough to locate and silence your nosey agent.”

Catherine’s sharp intake of breath speared through their circle.

Was it Latymer?” Danforth demanded.

Cochran’s gaze landed on Silas again. He said nothing.

Sebastian nodded to Helsford, who knocked Cochran’s feet out from underneath him. The prisoner landed on his face with his bound hands behind him. Helsford grabbed the rope connecting Cochran’s hands to his feet and set a boot to the middle of the man’s back. Then he pulled on the rope like a bowstring, wrenching the prisoner’s arms and legs into an unnatural angle. Cochran cried out.

I believe Danforth asked you a question,” Sebastian said.

Go to hell,” Cochran said through gritted teeth.

The rope tautened.

Care to try again?”

Yes,” Cochran ground out. “I reported to Latymer.”

Sebastian released a satisfied breath. “What was your agreement with the former under-superintendent?”

To retrieve a list of your agents.”

In exchange for?”

More silence.

The rope tautened.

Latymer discrediting you,” Cochran gasped. “I’ve answered your questions. Now call off your dog.”

How would you benefit from my disgrace?”

Cochran glared up at him. “I would have taken your place.”

Danforth barked out a laugh. “You? Chief? Please tell me you aren’t serious.”

If not for someone named Specter muddling in my affairs, I would have been the new chief of the Nexus by tomorrow’s end. Some of the greatest minds in England would have been at my disposal.”

Get him up,” Sebastian said to Helsford. “What made you think Reeves would appoint you as chief, rather than one of my agents?”

Latymer still has powerful friends in the Foreign Office,” Cochran said.

In a lightning-swift maneuver, one Sebastian had never witnessed before, Silas somersaulted out of his captors’ grip and snatched a pistol from Danforth’s waistband. Using his weapon, he motioned for a fuming Danforth to step back and then leveled the barrel at Sebastian. The look on the man’s face could only be described as gleeful.

No.”

Sebastian glanced back to see Catherine scrambling out from the cover of a tree, her fiery gaze on Silas. “Catherine, no!” He had wanted to know what it would feel like to have a champion in a wife. This was as close as he would ever come to knowing the feeling—and he liked the sensation. A lot—until the terror took hold. “You promised, remember?” He waited for her to acknowledge him before pouring all the love that had been building in his heart over the last sennight into his gaze.

Tears filled her eyes. “Sebastian.”

Stay put, love.” Then his smile faded. Taking advantage of the distraction, Sebastian inched his hand toward his weapon.

The little man tsked. “Kindly raise your hands, my lord.”

Sebastian weighed his options. With Silas’s weapon pointed at his chest, he had none. He lifted his arms in the air.

Silas,” Cochran said. “Come remove these bindings.”

In a moment, sir.”

What do you mean ‘in a moment’?” Cochran tried to wrench free of Helsford’s hold.

Silas’s watery eyes settled back on Sebastian. “I am saddened by this turn of events,” he said in perfect French. “The widow has been a worthy adversary, as have you. We shall meet again.”

Before Sebastian could work through the man’s cryptic remark, Silas swept his weapon toward Helsford and fired.

No—” Sebastian dove toward his agent in a futile attempt to block the bullet, but it was not Helsford’s body that bucked against the impact.

Cochran’s neck jolted back and his body froze for an instant before melting in Helsford’s arms. Then his head rolled forward, revealing the bullet’s entrance, his death told by a single track of scarlet liquid.

With a fluid sweep of his arm, Sebastian grabbed his gun, twisted his body around to face Cochran’s murderer, and pulled the trigger. Sebastian’s bullet cleaved into Silas’s forehead at the same time another lead ball from behind blasted into the man’s back.

Get down!” Sebastian yelled as he dove to the ground. “Helsford, to Catherine.” He didn’t have to look to make sure his agent followed his direction—the man was trained to do so without question. He watched Silas’s body collapse in a heap, dead before his face hit the hard-packed road.

Who’s there?” Sebastian’s gaze flicked from one corner of the darkness to the next. “Show yourself.”

It would be my pleasure, Lord Somerton,” a new voice said. “As soon as you lower your weapons.”

Sebastian glanced from Danforth to Helsford; both agents shrugged their shoulders. “I’ll have your name, sir.”

Reeves. John Reeves, Superintendent of the Alien Office.”