"That was what you were about when you lured me into that game of cards."

"Precisely." Lovejoy got up behind her, the mouth of the pistol pressed firmly into her ribs. "The idea was to compromise you when you came for your vowels, but that did not work. And the next thing I knew, the son of a bitch had married you out of hand."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Not far." He picked up the reins and spurred the stallion forward. "We are going to take a pleasant sea voyage, you and I. And then we shall seclude ourselves in a remote location in France while frustration and rage eat Graystone alive."

"I do not understand. Why do you need me?"

"You are my bargaining piece, my dear. With you as hostage, I shall get safely across the Channel and into seclusion in France. Graystone will pay dearly for you. His sense of honor, if not his affection, will see to that. And when he eventually is permitted to purchase your freedom, I shall lure him into a trap and kill him."

"And then what?" Augusta challenged. "Everyone will know who you are at last. My husband has friends."

"So he does. But as far as your husband's friends are concerned, I shall also be dead. Killed by a valiant Graystone who died in the attempt to free his poor wife. Who was also unfortunately killed. Very tragic. " 'Twill be something of a nuisance to assume a new identity afterward, but I have done it before."

Augusta closed her eyes as the stallion pounded down the lane. "Why did you kill Richard?"

"Your foolish brother tried to play a dangerous game, Augusta. One he did not even begin to comprehend. He joined the Saber Club because it was just the dashing sort of club that appealed to men like him. Then he somehow stumbled onto the fact that a master spy called the Spider was also a member. He reasoned I was doubtless using the place to collect valuable information. Those dashing young officers talked very freely when they were in their cups. A pretty girl, a few bottles of wine, and whatever information the members of the club had was mine for the asking."

"They talked freely because they thought you were one of them."

"Indeed. It worked very well until your brother somehow figured out what was going on. Although I did not think he knew which of the members was the Spider, I decided not to take any chances. I knew that he planned to seek out the authorities and turn his information over to them. I followed him home one night."

"And shot him in the back before you planted incriminating documents on his person."

"It was easier that way. I burned the Saber down and made certain that all the club's records and membership rolls were consumed in the blaze. The place was soon forgotten. Now, then, enough of such pleasant reminiscences. We have a journey ahead of us."

Lovejoy brought the stallion to a halt near a small bridge. He dismounted and jerked Augusta off the horse. She stumbled as she found her footing and when she pushed the hair back out of her eyes she saw the sleek, closed carriage hidden in the trees. It was horsed with two powerful-looking bays that were secured to a tree.

"You must forgive me for what will no doubt be a most uncomfortable journey, madam." Lovejoy deftly bound Augusta's hands and gagged her with a twisted cravat. "But rest assured there is worse to come. The Channel can be very rough."

He tossed her into the small carriage, pulled down the curtains on the windows, and slammed the door shut. A moment later Augusta heard him climb onto the box and pick up the reins.

The horses set off at a furious pace. Lost in the darkness of the carriage, Augusta had no way of knowing which direction they were headed. Lovejoy had said something about a sea voyage.

The nearest harbor was Weymouth. Surely he would not be so bold as to try to get her aboard a vessel in such a public place, Augusta thought.

Then she reminded herself that, whatever else could be said of him, no one would deny that the Spider was as bold as he was vicious.

She could only bide her time and wait for an opportunity to escape or draw attention to herself. In the meantime, she must fight the despair that threatened to seize her. At least Meredith was safe. But the thought of never seeing Harry again was too much to bear.

The smell of the sea, the clatter of wagon traffic, and the creak of timber roused Augusta a long time later. She listened carefully, trying to pinpoint their location. It was unmistakably a harbor, and that meant Lovejoy had indeed driven to Weymouth.

Augusta straightened uncomfortably in the seat, wincing as the bindings cut into her wrists. She had managed to loosen the gag without Lovejoy taking notice by catching the twisted cravat on a brass fitting near the door and tugging against it.

The carriage came to a halt. Augusta heard voices and then the door was opened. Lovejoy, still in disguise, leaned inside. He was holding a large cloak and a black, heavily veiled bonnet.

"A moment, my good man," he said to someone over his shoulder. "I must see to my poor wife. She is not feeling at all well."

Augusta tried to evade the bonnet, but Lovejoy gave her a glimpse of the knife in his hand and she went still as she realized he would have no compunction about slipping it between her ribs.

In a remarkably short time, veiled and securely wrapped in the hooded cloak, Augusta was lifted out of the carriage. Lovejoy must have appeared very much the solicitous husband as he carried her along the stone quay to where a small ship was tied. No one could see the knife concealed in his hand because of the folds of the cloak.

Augusta peered through the thick black veil, watching for whatever opportunity might present itself.

"I'll fetch yer luggage for ye, sir," a familiar, rasping voice volunteered from close at hand.

"My luggage should already be on board," Lovejoy snapped. He stepped onto the gangplank. "Tell your scoundrel of a captain that I wish to sail immediately. We have the tide."

"Aye, sir," said the rasping voice. " 'E's just been waitin' fer ye, 'e 'as. I'll tell 'im yer 'ere."

"Be quick about it. I have paid him a great deal of money for his services and I expect satisfaction."

"Aye, sir. But first I'll point out yer cabin. Yer lady wife looks like she'll be wantin' to take to 'er bunk directly, eh?"

"Yes, yes, point out the cabin. Then notify the captain to get under way. And watch what you are doing with that line, man."

"It's in the way, ain't it? Cap'n don't like that. 'E runs a nice tight ship, 'e does. 'E'll have me arse for that. I'd best get the blasted thing outta the way."

"What the bloody hell?" Lovejoy staggered, trying to catch his balance as the line looped around his boot like a snake. His grip on Augusta slipped.

Augusta saw her chance. She screamed and threw herself forward out of Lovejoy's arms as he fought to keep his feet.

Augusta heard a bellow of rage from her captor as he lost his grip on her. Through the veil she saw the grizzled seaman with the rasping voice reach out to catch her, but he fell back under the impact, enveloped by her cloak.

"Damnation," Peter Sheldrake muttered as he and Augusta both toppled over the edge of the gangplank and plummeted into the cold water of the harbor.

Harry saw his friend go over the edge with Augusta and realized that his wife was safe. Peter would take care of her.

Harry had his own hands full with an enraged Lovejoy, who was already back on his feet, a knife in his fist.

"Goddamn you," Lovejoy hissed. "You were well named, Nemesis, but the Spider always drinks his victim's blood in the end."

"There will be no more blood for you, Spider."

Lovejoy hurtled forward, his arm extended for a gut-slashing thrust. Harry sidestepped the attack and managed to catch hold of Lovejoy's arm as he tried to shift direction at the last instant.

Both men were thrown off balance. Lovejoy went down and Harry went with him, still clutching the arm that held the knife. They landed heavily and rolled nearly to the edge of the gangplank.

"You went too far this time, Spider." Still grappling with Lovejoy's knife arm, Harry tried to force back his assailant's hand. The point of the blade hovered just over Harry's eye. "But then, that was always your problem, was it not? You always took things one step too far. Too many deaths, too much blood, too clever for your own good. That was why you lost in the end."

"Bastard." The goading words had lit more wild, uncontrolled fires in Lovejoy's glittering eyes. His teeth were bared in a savage grimace as he fought to sink the blade into Harry's eye. "I shall not lose this time."

Harry felt the surge of maniacal power in Lovejoy's arm. He heaved frantically to the side to avoid the thrust. At the same time his fingers slid down to Lovejoy's wrist.

Harry twisted the wrist with every ounce of strength at his command. Something snapped. The blade altered direction, pointing upward.

Lovejoy screamed as he came down on top of his own knife. He spasmed and rolled to the side, then seized the handle of the knife and jerked it out of his chest.

Blood spurted, the bright red blood of death.

"The Spider never loses," Lovejoy muttered hoarsely as he stared at Harry with disbelieving eyes. "He cannot lose."

Harry sucked in air, tried to catch his breath. "You are wrong. You and I were fated to meet, Lovejoy. The final rendezvous has been kept."

Lovejoy did not answer. His eyes glazed as he died the death he had meted out to so many others. He toppled over the edge of the gangplank and fell into the sea.