“They’ll probably think we continued on to rob someone else,” Graham agreed. “The likeliest explanation is a crime of opportunity. Two utterly foxed gamblers, wagering large sums every single afternoon, at a table on the ground floor, near an open window. Practically irresistible bait to a thief.”
Jacob nodded. “If anything, the surprise will be that misfortune tookthislong to befall them. The entire town knows of the two men’s standing appointment. They must be infamous all the way into Manchester.”
Graham opened his intelligence journal. “There are no dogs on the property. There is one butler and a few maids, but all are cautioned to stay clear of the gamblers unless summoned by the bell. Tommy’s maps indicate which ground-floor rooms are which. It will be easy in, easy out.”
“Once we have the wages, will the coachmen be ready with our carriages?” Kunigunde asked.
“Not quite that fast. Whilst the others are loading the valises, Chloe and Princess Mechtilda will be making I-wish-we-didn’t-have-to-leave-but-the-journey-is-so-long noises at Mrs. Throckmorten. They’ll offer to wait and bid farewell to their host personally…”
“…but Mrs. Throckmorten will advise them to hurry while it’s still light. She won’t expect her husband home until after dark, which gives her several free hours to spread word of the royal visit to her neighbors.”
“Exactly.” He grinned at Kunigunde. “We won’t be fleeing the scene of a crime. We’ll have been shooed away in spite of our sincerest protests.”
“I’m ready for action. Let’s go.”
“Costumes first,” Tommy said. “Come with me.”
“Three miles is too far to flee on foot. Jacob, will you ready the horses?” Graham glanced at Kunigunde. “Astride or sidesaddle?”
Kunigunde looked at Tommy. “Will I be in pantaloons or a gown?”
“Blend,” Tommy enunciated. She turned to Graham.“Subtle.”
He nodded obediently. “Astride for me, sidesaddle for her, please.”
“I’ll go and ready the geldings,” Jacob said. “Because of the trees, the path behind the guest house isn’t visible from the residences. I’ll wait for you there.”
In short order, Tommy had Graham indistinguishable from the local farmers, even muddying his shoes for verisimilitude. He looped the canvas satchel across his chest.
Kunigunde wore a simple muslin dress. A wide, floppy bonnet hid her braids and half of her face. Tommy handed her a plain spencer to use instead of her more expensive one. Kunigunde sewed a few small knives to the underside with a single loop of thread for easy snapping, then pinned her father’s epaulet above her heart.
“We’ll be back soon,” Graham told his siblings.
“There’s no rush,” Chloe reminded him. “Mr. Throckmorten will be gambling until well past nightfall.”
Graham smiled. “Not tonight.”
Jacob was waiting behind the guest barn with the two horses. Both geldings had been outfitted with the large leather traveling receptacles, in case Kunigunde and Graham needed to pass the pig from one rider to another.
He lifted Kunigunde atop her horse, so as to feel her curves beneath his palms once again. Then stole a kiss on the way up. Two kisses. Only seven short days remained. Five for the return journey, full of many stolen kisses at every moment possible. And then two more at home before her ship sailed.
How he hoped he could convince her not to be on it.
They set out toward the river together. When they reached the water, the riding path was not only wide enough for two horses, it was clear they were far from the first to trot along it.
Er, whenGrahamreached the water, that was.
Kunigunde stopped her horse five yards back.
“Come on,” he said. “There’s room for both of us.”
She didn’t move.
He turned his horse toward her. “Kunigunde?”
“Why is it so close?” she stammered. “To the water?”
“Why is the river path…next to the river?”
