“I doubt it. They won’t let a ruby like that go. They’ll probably show your family, but keep it. It could pay for a run or two on its own.”

“He said it took him some time to find it. He won’t want to let them have it.”

“I don’t think they’ll give him much choice.”

We had no way of telling the time; they had taken Tom’s watch and I hadn’t been carrying one, but it must have been an hour or two at least before the door opened and someone stood there, silhouetted in the dazzling light outside. It was someone well dressed, someone who stared at us for some time before he stepped inside and took the chair brought in for him. It was Mr. Norrice Terry.

Chapter Nineteen

Tom and I stared at him, lost for words. A slow smile spread across his heavy features. “You weren’t expecting visitors, perhaps?” he asked, his voice thick with what sounded to me like pleasure.

I said nothing. It was obvious he hadn’t come to rescue us, so what was the point? Why was he here?

Terry was at ease in this room. I suspected he knew it well. The man behind him held two flintlocks trained on us, not on Mr. Terry.

He fingered the fine lace at his throat. “So how exactly did you think I raised the money to let my wife and daughter live in the style to which they’ve become so accustomed?”

Tom was seething, but I didn’t want him to let his rage boil over. This was obvious provocation, and I wouldn’t let Terry have the satisfaction of seeing my emotions. I tried with every ounce of willpower I possessed to stay cool, not to let go. “Do they know?” I asked in tones as measured as I could muster.

“My wife suspects, but as long as the money is forthcoming, she doesn’t ask awkward questions. Eustacia doesn’t have the least idea. Her mind is on other things.”

He looked at me, considering. “She wants your lordling.”

“I should be sorry to disappoint her,” I replied politely, “but I’m afraid he’s spoken for.”

“That remains to be seen,” said the fat man, sitting back at his ease. “I’ve promised her she shall have him.”

“But the wedding’s next Thursday.” Tom’s impulsive cry gave Terry an opening.

“Not if the bride isn’t there. Don’t mistake me, you were taken for purely commercial reasons, but if I can do my daughter a favour at the same time by keeping you a few days longer, then I will consider it.”

“But he won’t marry Eustacia.” I tried desperately to think of some way to persuade him to release us.

“He might, if she was there to console him for your terrible abduction,” Terry told me. “Who knows? I can only give her the chance. It’s the least a man can do for his daughter.” He was prepared to go that far then, to let his daughter throw herself at Richard. I supposed Terry thought, along with many other people, that Richard was undiscriminating in his tastes, that any woman would do. But the thought of missing my wedding filled me with despair, and I sank my head forward on to my knees, so Terry wouldn’t see the tears.

“How long have you been in league with these people?” Tom must have seen my distress, and I realised he was trying to distract our captor.

“Since the Cawntons came and asked to use my barns. About five years, I suppose. I saw the contraband, realised how much profit could be made, and bought in. I’ve run the gang in conjunction with the Cawntons ever since. By the way,” he added casually, “the view from here could be improved. I’ve had an ambition for some time now.” His next statement came out of the blue. “Miss Golightly, will you do me the honour of removing your upper clothes for me? I would ask for them all, but that will come later.”

I felt the colour drain from my face. He continued, speaking in the same tones he used in Martha’s drawing room, as he sat back smiling greasily. I met his lascivious stare. “I thought we weren’t to be touched.”

Terry let his pale stare slip over my body. I felt naked already. “That was Cawnton, my dear. This is me. The first time I saw you I thought you would strip to advantage, and I’d dearly love to see if I was right.” His voice hardened. “Do it.”

I sat still. The man who had his guns trained on us didn’t move, but a smile spread across his face. I would get no help there. Tom, next to me, sprang to his feet, and called Terry all the names he could think of, but the man watched him, and smiled.

“Sit down, Tom,” Terry said, then turned back to me with a leer. “If you do this for me, my dear, I’ll let you see what’s happening outside. I’ll wager you don’t even know where you are.”

The thought came to both Tom and me at the same time. “Penfold,” we said in unison.

Terry smiled. “Very good. And in case you wondered, my wife, daughter and most of my household are in Exeter, preparing for your wedding and meeting as many of the great and good as they can. So, there’s no one to hear your shouts. No one who cares, that is. But we’re getting away from the point. I meant what I said.”

He stood up and came over to where Tom sat, and deliberately hit him on the point on his head where he had been knocked out when we’d been taken.