Part 29 (1/2)

”Done!” Judge Pinkerton announced with satisfaction.

”This court will recess for 15 minutes so foils can be gathered”

Brandon came for Smokey then, leading her though the noisy crowd and back to the anteroom. Once inside he said only one thing.

”Resign yourself to the truth, Smokey. I wish it were otherwise, but the duel we fought at Bracken wilt feel like child-play after today. Dallas is not yet here, and I'm afraid that nothing else will save you.”

245.

”tell me about my men,” Smokey asked Brandon, who blinked at her in surprise.

He had just warned her how difficult their duel was going to be, and she asked about her men. Brandon stalled by giving her some more water, frustrated that he hadn't thought to bring her some food. She was still very shaky.

”You did say they were released, didn't you?”

Brandon was brought abruptly back to the present. ”Yes.

I'd been working for a couple of days on their case, and it was finally decided that you were the one they were after.

”I couldn't get comfortable until they were out. It wouldn't do much good to have you released without your crew.”

”And you believe I'll be released?”

”Yes.”

Smokey sighed. ”Where was his scar, Brandon?”

Brandon opened his mouth, but the guarding constable knocked and entered. Just minutes later Smokey found herself back in the courtroom. Her eyes met the seething gaze of Haamich Wynn, and Smokey began to tremble as she had done when she'd been locked in the cell.

She was still shaking when the guard led her to the open area of the courtroom and held the foil for her hand Her heart sank when she grasped the weapon. It felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds.

245.

Smokey suddenly realized the room was deathly still. She glanced up to find every eye in the court upon her, and she hadn't even lifted her sword Brandon was in place opposite her, and she met his eyes, ready to tell him she couldn't do it.

”Is that doubt I see in your eyes, Miss Simmons?”

From where the strength came, Smokey knew not, but her chin lifted and so did her foil. Brandon cried ”engarde,” and their foils met.

Occupants of the room barely breathed as they watched Lord Hawkesbury's immediate attack. He came at Smokey without mercy. She countered every move, years of training overcoming her weakness. Judge Pinkerton came to his feet, absentmindedly dragging the wig from his head as the opponents danced around each other, both trying to gain the advantage.

Using the move that had wiped the smile from Brandon's face the first time they dueled, Smokey cut his coat. It was to be her undoing. She couldn't recover, and in a merciless downward stroke, Brandon flipped the foil right out of Smokey's grasp. The move left Smokey's arm tingling from shoulder to fingertips.

Smokey was so spent at that point that she couldn't move.

Only seconds pa.s.sed before the room erupted in pandemonium.

Everyone seemed to be talking at once, and over the pounding of the gavel, Haamich Wynn could be heard shouting.

”This proves nothing! You could see how easy he was with her!”

Brandon turned to the man in fury, but the door burst open and a commotion ensued from the rear. The occupants of the room finally heeded the judge's call for silence as Dallas Knight marched in. Wrists tied behind his back and preceding Dallas at the point of his sword was Haamich Wynn, scar and all.

Smokey stared at the man's face in shock. His eye was blackened and his lip was b.l.o.o.d.y, but the resemblance to the man already in the room was remarkable.

246.

Suddenly the first Haamich Wynn panicked. With no warning whatsoever, he vaulted over the railing and grabbed Smokey. With an arm around her throat in a choke hold, he dragged her back toward the judge.

”I'll break her neck,” he shouted in desperation, his eyes wide with panic. Smokey clawed at the arm that was cutting off her air, but it did no good ”Stay back or she's dead.” He continued to back toward the judge's podium. He was about to shout again when he stopped dead in his tracks. The judge, his wig in place once again, was holding the point of one foil in Wynn's ear. The impostor had never noticed as Brandon set the foils up on the stand.

”Now release her,” Pinkerton's voice was calm, ”or the entire room will watch what we do with pirates.”

With the point pressed against his ear, the first Haamich Wynn grudgingly released Smokey and stood frozen in place; in fact everything seemed to freeze outside of Smokey, who crawled to safety and stayed were she was as Brandon began to speak.

”The man you see before you is not Haamich Wynn. This man is Lawrence Lynne. The man in the rear, however, is Lord Darrell Lynne, alias Haamich Wynn.” The crowd began to buzz, but Brandon continued.

”Darrell and Lawrence are cousins who have been robbing us blind for nearly a year. When Darrell is in London, Lawrence goes into seclusion. Only when Darrell is headed out to sea does he contact his nearly identical cousin to cover for him on the streets of London. The split is 50-50 from what I understand, and with the success they've enjoyed, there have been no plans to quit.”

”Take them away,” Judge Pinkerton said softly. ”The case against Victoria Simmons is dismissed.” The room exploded with noise and confusion.

The guards started toward Lawrence, but with a swift move he leaped away from the judge's box and tried to run.

The guards fell on him.

247.

It seemed to Smokey that a fight was breaking out in every corner of the room, forcing her to hold her position on the floor. Just seconds pa.s.sed before Brandon appeared before her. As he reached to pull her to her feet, she saw the Judge shouting to be heard above the fray.

”The press will be pitiless. Bring her out through my chamber.”

Brandon followed without question and began to move Smokey forward Her head whipped back just before they left the courtroom, hoping for a final glimpse of Dallas. Smokey spotted him amid the commotion, struggling with a man on either side. Then just moments later, before Smokey could find her bearings, she was outside, lifted into a carriage, and headed onto the streets of London.

”Where to, Smokey?” Brandon asked her from his place across the coach.

'The docks,” she said wearily, praying as she did that Dallas would be all right.

”Are you sure? I know Dallas wants to see you. Sunny is at our town house here in London.”

Smokey nodded ”I appreciate the offer, Brandon. I would like to see Sunny and especially Dallas, but I need to get to the Aramis.”

”As you wish,” Brandon told her, seeing that she was fading fast. He gave orders to his driver and settled back against the squabs.

”Brandon,” Smokey's voice came weakly from her seat.

Her senses were beginning to dull, but this had to be said ”In Klink Prison I had a cellmate. Her name is Aggie. I told her about Christ,” Smokey's head had fallen back against the seat, but she forced the words from her mouth.

”Please check on her. I didn't even get to say goodbye.

Please go to her, pray with her. Please--”