Giles interrupted. “Gabriel, you do not need to go on. We don’t need to hear what you don’t want to relate, lad.”
The gentle reassurance seemed to help Gabriel. He lifted his eyes to Giles. “You can guess what happened. Sir Albert decided to…totestseveral of us. Myself included.”
Gwyneth was looking worried, but kept silent.
“He decided against taking you?” asked Jeremy.
Gabriel pulled free of Gwyneth’s touch. “Excuse me, my Lady. There’s something you all should see.” He stood and loosened his breeches. Turning his back to them all, he lowered one side, revealing his buttock.
“Dear God in Heaven,” breathed Evan.
“The bastardbrandedyou.” Royce barely managed to speak the words.
“Jesus,” muttered Trick, pale as a ghost.
“Gabriel…Gabriel…no…” Gwyneth stumbled to her feet and rushed to him. “It’s not a birthmark, is it? Oh God, I thought it was a birthmark…” She hugged him fiercely as he refastened his clothing.
He put his arms around her, holding her close. “That’s the kind of man Sir Albert Gylbart is. His houses are filled with the pleasures derived from pain, from torture, from beatings. And sadly all those vile behaviours are visited on youngsters. The younger the better.”
He eased Gwyneth back to the couch and this time sat beside her, with Evan on his other side. “He didn’t pick me because I was a little too old for his clients. But he wanted me for himself.”
“What happened?” asked Jeremy, his face quite pale.
“After he…after he branded me, and started to ready himself to take me, I lost what was left of my composure.”
“That’s got to be the understatement of the year, my friend,” said Royce. “You should have killed him.”
“I wanted to, believe me. But I knew if I did, it would be my death as well. All I could do was turn on him. He wasn’t expecting it, of course, because I believe most of his victims shrank in terror. But I could and did. I walked to him, grabbed his throat and pushed him up against the wall. I hadn’t attained my full height, but I had enough on him to get away with it, especially since his breeches were down around his ankles. I told him if I ever saw him again I’d rip off a piece of him and feed it to the pigs. And then I’d kill him and be damned to the consequences.” His chest rose and fell. “I think he believed me, because he let me go, and left the next day with three other boys. I never saw him again.”
“God,” Gwyneth shuddered. “Just the notion that a man like that is in the neighbourhood is chilling, to say the least.”
“I don’t like it at all,” agreed Trick. “Giles, you must have some thoughts?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Giles, and for a moment he was torn between affection for them all and frustration at their confidence he could solve such things.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a gesture unusual for him, but he was deeply concerned at this new turn of events. “I need to go to London. Before I can come to any conclusions, I require a lot more information than we have right now.” He straightened and looked at them all. “I will leave as soon as maybe, and it should take no more than three days, four at most.” He lifted his head, frowning. “I don’t want to panic the good people around here. But if word could be passed to keep an eye on the little ones, just as a precaution…”
“’Tis good as done,” said Trick. “I’ll have Jane and her mother take care of it.”
“Good,” Giles sighed. “Then I’ll make plans to go to town.”
“An excellent notion,” commended Royce. “Information is the basis for any good strategy.”
“I’m leaving Lady Gwyneth, and her safety in your hands,” said Giles, staring at each man in turn. “I am relying on you to keep her safe, and yourselves as well. That includes you, Trick. I need to know that you and Jane are secure at Fivetrees. I would not recommend your letting anyone in, no matter what the circumstances. I’m sure you can come up with a believable excuse.”
Trick nodded. “I’ll take no chances with Jane and our babe, believe me. But if I’m needed here…” He looked at Giles, and then at Gwyneth.
“We’ll manage, Trick,” answered Jeremy. “The four of us can protect her, and hold Wolfbridge. Besides, these are precautionary measures. We don’t yet know what battles we’ll be fighting, only that a few enemies have been sighted.”
“Well put,” said Evan. “But you are already fully aware, Giles, that our first priority is now, and always will be, our Lady.”
“Without question,” added Gabriel.
“No doubt about it,” finished Royce.
Gwyneth turned to Giles and he was glad to see her gaze steady. “I am well in hand, Giles, as you can see. Go and gather the information you need, then return safely to us and we’ll put a plan together that would make Wellington weep with envy.”
“Er…are you planning on invading Ditchley, my Lady?” Jeremy’s lips curled into a smile.
