“God, Trick, I don’t want you to go…” she whispered back, her words choking on frightened tears.
“I’ll be back, my Lady.” He formally raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You can wager your last bonnet on that.”
He managed a smile, then turned and walked to Dressling. “I would ask that you not place me in manacles. I will accompany you willingly, upon my word as a member of the Wolfbridge family.”
“Yer promise?” asked Dressler uncertainly.
“He has given his word on this house,” said Giles, his voice—for once—uneven. “There is no greater oath for any member of this household, Mr. Dressler. You may rely on that.”
Dressler glanced at his fellows, neither of whom seemed inclined to disagree. “Very well, then. Up into the wagon. Joe, yer up there with him. Harry, with me.”
He shepherded everyone down the Wolfbridge steps, then turned back. “Yer can come visit him if yer wants. Everyone knows where the Roundhouse is.”
“I’ll be calling on Lord Ffolkesborough today, rest assured,” called Daniel from behind Adalyn. “We’ll straighten it all out, Trick, never fear.”
“Chin up, Trick,” added Jeremy. “We’re with you.”
Trick nodded back and saluted as the wagon drove away.
Adalyn simply sobbed.
“I’ll stay here with her,” Jeremy came to her side. “Daniel, you’ll want to be on your way to Ffolkesborough’s. It’s about an hour’s ride from here.”
“I’m going with you,” said Giles.
“All right.” Daniel nodded.
“He didn’t kill Sir Amery,” Adalyn raised her head and spoke through her tears. “I’ll testify to that in any court on earth. Trick didnotkill that man.”
“Of course he didn’t. That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard,” said Evan, still shocked.
“Well someone thinks he did.” Giles closed his eyes and shook his head. “I leave you two to hold the fort here, Jeremy, Evan.” He glanced at the two men. “Take good care of Adalyn. We may not return tonight, depending on whether we can get an audience with Lord Ffolkesborough or not.”
And so they scattered, each to his assigned task, and Adalyn to the scant comfort of her favourite room. Even Evan’s warm hug was no consolation.
She’d lost one of her gentlemen, and the pain of it was terribly real. How could she go about her normal life without him?
She couldn’t. No matter which one it might have been, she’d have felt the same desolation.
She loved them all.
Chapter Sixteen
Wolfbridge was unusually silent that afternoon.
Not twenty minutes after Trick had been taken away from them, Giles and Daniel were mounted and on their way to the Lord Lieutenant’s residence.
Aware that it was a long ride, they might not see the man when they arrived, and that an overnight stay could be a necessity, both men looked sombre as they left, leaving Jeremy, Adalyn and Evan to wave them farewell.
“I must return to the kitchen,” mumbled Evan. “We still have to eat, even though trouble has fallen upon us.”
“And I will make sure their rooms are tidy, a change of clothes laid out, and everything else they might need on their return is fully prepared.”
“I would like to take a package to Trick.” Adalyn’s voice wobbled. “He must eat too. Do you think they’d let me do that?”
Evan and Jeremy glanced at each other.
“It’s quite possible,” said Evan. “But truly, Adalyn, I would wait for at least today. Let Giles and Daniel see if they can do anything, or find out anything, before you go to Ditchley. We need to be prepared, informed of the full situation before we can address Trick’s immediate needs.” He slid his arm around her and gave her a hug. “Besides, if it is all a mistake, which we know it is, and he’s released in the morning, he'll be home and ready to devour my pantry before you know it.”
