‘That’s why you ran away?’ The matron came back to sit on the bed. ‘I wondered why you chose that particular moment.’
‘Why else?’ George retorted. ‘’Ow long d’yer think it would o’ bin afore John an’ Frank thought they’d ‘ave a go too?’ She shook her head and shuddered, silent for a second as she contemplated the horrors of such a fate. Then a sudden thought occurred to her. ‘’Ow come you wos there that day?’
‘I used to watch for you,’ Judith replied simply. ‘I made sure I always had those guineas in my pocket. I knew the day would come when you’d need them.’ The two women looked at each other, and George touched the matron’s hand in a gesture of thanks.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a key turning in the lock. Instinctively, George drew her legs up and scooted to the top of the bed, watching the door as it slowly opened. She drew in her breath as Henry Atkins swaggered in. Then she wrinkled her nose. She could smell the bastard from where she sat. He was followed by a nervous looking maid carrying a tray with a jug of water and some bread and butter.
Both women’s eyes remained on Atkins as the servant placed the tray on a dressing table, and abruptly George noticed his hand was wrapped in swathes of bandages. ‘Cut yersen shaving, Henry?’ she couldn’t resist saying, then could have cut out her tongue as he glared at her spitefully and stalked towards the bed.
‘You’ll get yer comeuppance, bitch,’ he spat, spraying saliva onto the sheet.
‘Get out,’ Judith ordered, her voice oozing authority despite being locked in a bedchamber for twenty-four hours.
For a second, George thought he’d ignore the older woman’s words, but at length, he backed away, his eyes radiating pure hatred.
Seconds later, they were gone.
‘What the devil did you think you were doing, goading him?’ Judith demanded. ‘The man’s an animal.’
George couldn’t have said what prompted her to prod the bastard. ‘’Is ‘and’s putrid,’ she said instead. ‘Whatever ‘e’s done, it’s turnin’ bad.’ She grinned fiercely at her companion. ‘’E ain’t likely to last the week.’
‘Well, we don’t have a week,’ Judith sighed, turning to the tray and picking up a slice of bread.
Underneath it was a folded piece of paper.
With a triumphant glance towards the younger woman, Judith picked it up. ‘Wot’s it say?’ George breathed, climbing onto her knees.
‘It’s from Jane – my lady’s maid, and you’re right, Atkins is not well.’ Judith looked up. ‘Apparently, he took a sword cut to his hand.’
‘Anthony,’ George crowed.
Judith nodded, then looked back down at the spidery writing. ‘She’s left some laudanum where he can see it. Everyone knows he’s in agony. It’s only a matter of time before he succumbs. As soon as he’s sleeping, she’ll come up and release us.’
‘Wot if yer murderin’ ‘usband gets back in the meantime?’ George fretted.
‘Ruteledge Hall is in Somerset,’ Judith answered. ‘It’s unlikely Simon will be back before tomorrow.’
‘So we jus’ ‘ave to ‘ope the lecherous bastard downstairs kills ‘issen ‘afore then.’
∞∞∞
‘Linfield has a house in Topsham,’ Nicholas announced as he climbed back into the carriage.
‘That was quick,’ Reverend Shackleford muttered.
‘The Duke can be mighty persuasive when he’s a mind to be,’ Malcolm grinned, pulling the carriage door shut.
‘Let’s just say his Excellency was delighted with my donation towards an additional hospice next to the Cathedral.’
‘Nothing like killing two birds wi’ one stone.’ Malcom winked.
‘Not the best analogy, my friend,’ Nicholas retorted drily, as the carriage lurched forward.
‘Do you have an address?’ Anthony grated. The Duke nodded.
‘Don’t get your hopes up, Tony. We’ve no way of knowing whether either she or Linfield are there.’
Anthony gave a reluctant nod. ‘I know, but we have to start somewhere. And I doubt Linfield would have wanted to take her too far across the country.’ He gave a wan grin, ‘George is nothing if not resourceful.’
