“Our father was Welsh. Our mother was English. They are both gone now.”
“Is it just the six of you then? Wives? Children?”
“We had a sister, but she died in childbirth many years ago. Yes, we all have wives and children.”
“Then why would you risk the noose?” Frederick found he was completely baffled by the men’s utter lack of fear.
“How can any man live comfortably knowing his neighbor’s children are starving? When he can hear their wails of hunger through the walls of his croft? Not any man we want to be.”
The man’s conviction was a truly admirable thing to behold. “Why did you mention my mother in the forest? What has she to do with any of this?”
“I cannot say. It is for her to tell you.”
Frederick wondered what his mother could possibly have done during her time at Pentford for these men to speak of her in such a fashion. First, there were the threatening notes, and now this. As much as he loved and respected his mother, Frederick could not ignore the coincidence.
“How do you know my mother?”
“I do not know her. I know of her. There is a difference.”
“I see,” Frederick mused, but in all reality, he did not see anything. He was far more confused than he had been before he asked the question. “Gentlemen, I would like to propose a compromise. From now on you may hunt on my land, but only when I have given my permission, on designated days when I am here at Pentford. We will go together and provide meat and food to the hungry children of the village.”
“My Lord?” Mr. Hanson stepped forward in confusion.
“I will explain everything to you later, Mr. Hanson. For now, trust that my judgement is sound.” Frederick met his eyes.
“Yes, My Lord,” Mr. Hanson bowed his head and returned to his position by the door.
“My grandfather once chose to forgive a poacher on his land and trusted him with the safety of his estate. I am choosing to do the same. I choose to entrust you with the safety of the village and place its people in your care. As their guardians, you will be in charge of distributing the food to the proper people and ensuring that no woman or child goes to bed with an empty belly each night. I will provide food from my own stores and meat from my lands if you will provide the manpower.”
“I do not know what to say,” Llewelyn Evans replied, looking utterly dumbfounded. “We never dreamed that you would be on our side. No nobleman has ever shown our people such generosity before.”
“My grandfather would have, had he known it was needed. I merely carry on his legacy, Mr. Evans.” Frederick brushed the compliment aside.
“No, what you are offering is so much more than that. You have chosen to aid your people in their time of need. Your title does not make you a nobleman, your actions do, My Lord,” Mr. Evans bowed his head in respect using his title for the first time since they had met.
“I will pay you each a wage, of course,” Frederick continued laying out his plan. “But the deer must be managed carefully, or there will not be enough for the future. Managing an estate is more than just the title that goes with it. It means protecting it so that future generations will be able to live on the land as well. Killing the deer at the rate you were doing so is not sustainable.”
“You had so many deer, and the children are hungry now,” Mr. Evans argued.
“I will supplement the meat from my own domesticated stock,” Frederick offered. “I am sure they will not be opposed to a little bit of lamb or pork.”
“No, I would wager not,” Mr. Evans answered smiling.
“Do we have an accord, gentlemen?” Frederick asked, standing up to face the group of brothers.
“We have an accord,” the eldest answered, nodding his head. “I would shake on it, but I appear to be bound.” He chuckled amused at the situation.
“Mr. Hanson, Lt. Buckworth, would you be so kind as to cut these men’s bonds?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Mr. Hanson agreed, grudgingly. Frederick knew he would much rather have seen them all at the end of a rope, but he hoped his most loyal man would stand behind his decision once he explained his thoughts on the matter.
All six brothers stood and shook Frederick’s hand in agreement. Frederick led the men outside to their horses and the waiting deer carcass from their earlier kill. “Make this the last one you kill without me, gentlemen.”
“Yes, Your Lordship,” they murmured as one, then turned their horses and rode away.
“What are you thinking, allowing the men that held us at gunpoint to ride away without receiving any form of punishment at all?” Mr. Hanson was beside himself with worry. “They will return and kill us all in our beds.”
“Nonsense. You were the one who told me of Mr. Smythe’s story. I am simply carrying on grandfather’s legacy.”
