Hayes decided to make a wide skirt around the Cake House, careful to be out in the open. He did not trust Mr. Shine and could not know if the man had brought with him some low associates. Open ground would leave him vulnerable to a shot, but too close to trees would leave him vulnerable to an ambush. If he had to guess, he imagined Shine to be more experienced with sneaking up on a person than he’d be with steady aim over long distance.
Through the murky darkness, he saw a lone figure under the stand of trees he’d been directed to. There he stood—Mr. Shine.
Hayes spurred Horus. He’d decided that the only way to deal with a person of Mr. Shine’s dark intentions was to be the aggressor. Therefore, he intended to come in fast.
Horus galloped over the remaining ground, and Hayes wheeled him to a halt.
Mr. Shine stepped back to avoid being trampled.
“This meeting need not be long,” Hayes said, removing one of the pistols from his coat.
“Hey ho!” Mr. Shine cried. “No need for violence, that I can assure you, my lord.”
Hayes thought that was particularly rich, coming from Shine. He said, “There may not be a need for violence at this moment, but I wish you to understand that this is a well you may only dip into once. If you come back for more in future, if you cause any harm to Miss Farnsworth, I will kill you.”
“A person might get themselves hanged for such a thing,” Mr. Shine said, a subtle tremor in his voice.
Hayes thought the man worked hard to appear confident, though he was not wholly successful.
“It is unlikely that a hew and cry overyourmurder would ever be made,” Hayes said. “One less scoundrel plaguing the town will not concern anybody. You will leave England and go somewhere. Where, I care not.”
“Yes, all right,” Mr. Shine said in a conciliatory tone. “I was going anyway. Just give me the money.”
Hayes unbuckled the panniers and threw them at Shine’s feet. “I mean what I say, you rogue. If one whisper of you comes to my attention, I will be murderous. Make your way now to a port and be gone.”
Hayes turned Horus. Behind him, he heard Mr. Shine say, “Couldn’t be happier to be on my way. Iwillneed a horse, though.”
A shot rang out and Haye’s felt a burning explosion in his right arm. The pistol in his hand fell and the force of the shot toppled him off his horse. He landed on hard packed ground.
He heard Mr. Shine laugh and footsteps approach. The man was deranged, he should have seen it! Shine had been reckless from the first, why had he thought the scoundrel would be rational at the final hour?
Hayes rolled over and grabbed the pistol from his left pocket, all but certain Shine intended to finish him off.
He fired, his aim not as good from his less-favored hand. He hit Shine in the leg, though he feared it was only a graze.
As Shine fell, grasping at his leg and crawling through the dirt toward his pistol, Hayes leapt up and struggled with one hand to mount Horus. That stalwart beast had not spooked at the shots and run off, leaving him to his fate. It was well he was master of such a horse, as Hayes could feel the blood running down his arm. He was bleeding profusely and must get away before he lost consciousness and was at the villain’s mercy.
Horus stood stock still as he climbed into the saddle, seemingly aware that they were in a perilous situation. Hayes was seated and his feet in the stirrups as Shine rose, clutching his leg and fumbling with his pistol. He briefly thought of grabbing the panniers and taking them back, but quickly threw off that idea. He knew well enough that would only drive Shine to even more desperate plans. He might decide to kidnap Miss Farnsworth or some other lunatic act. In any case, he could not be sure how much blood he was losing or whether the pistol in Shine’s hand needed to be reloaded or was a second already loaded.
“If I see you again, I will not miss,” Hayes said. He turned Horus and spurred him across the open field, galloping toward the gate and holding on as best he could.
Chapter Fourteen
Though Lily hadwaited all morning for Lord Ashworth to make an appearance and explain his note of the day before, it was Miss Darlington who was led in. She was dressed smartly in a fitted jacket of yellow silk with thin blue stripes over a skirt of the same blue hue. Lily was certain this was a joke upon the Four-in-Hand Club and their blue waistcoats with yellow stripes. The remarkable phaeton and its scowling tiger sat just outside the window.
“Dear Lily,” she said, sitting down by her friend. “I thought to come and check on you as Lady Blakeley said you were indisposed last evening. But here you are, blooming roses.”
Lily was not surprised her cheeks might have pinked. She never did like to tell a fib, though she reminded herself that it was necessary in this case.
“It was only a temporary illness,” Lily said. “A bad fish, we think.”
“Oh dear, I cannot claim to have had that particular experience, though once my entire family was sickened and we were certain it was a fricasseed chicken. It had been smothered in a heavy sauce so we did wonder if the cook had rolled the dice on that one and come up short. In any case, I am glad you are well.”
“Most recovered,” Lily said. “You are very kind to have thought to look in.”
“Of course, I would. Such a shame about the timing of it, though! To have missed Lady Blakeley’s ball, which is always so amusing. Can you imagine what she made for me? The goddess Epona, protector of horses. I was very pleased, as you might imagine. What had she sent you, Lily?”
Lily rose and crossed the room. She brought her shimmering mask over to Penny.
