He had no idea if he was going the right direction, where Rutledge would have Piper taken, or even if Temple remained in pursuit or had lost them. The English countryside was vast. Without a clue to follow, he might have well been chasing his tail for all the progress he made.
“She has a way of making men love her without knowing it,” Albert murmured as they rode. “Maybe she’ll charm them into releasing her?”
Piper had three men risk their lives for her after a days’ acquaintance. She’d stolen Connor’s heart before it managed a single beat upon seeing her. Despite her innate ability, as much as he liked the idea of her enchanting her captors to the point of them freeing her, Connor wasn’t going to count on it.
They reached the crossroads on the outskirts of Aylesbury without sign of Temple or Piper. Coming upon the latter of the two would have been a stroke of luck Connor had no expectation of being blessed with. On the other hand, Temple was smart enough to know Connor wouldn’t waste time scouring side streets and alleys without cause and would await him in clear view if he knew something.
“Maybe we should go back to the Grange,” the groom suggested, having expressed his own doubts and worries that they were wasting their time along the way. “They may have gone that way. If not, we could press the duke for information.”
“If he’s still there.”
“Or m’lady’s mum,” the older man opted. “She might know where he would take her.”
She might. Connor considered the possibility. Could he take the chance to spend a half hours’ time to backtrack with the expectation that Lady Sedmouth would suddenly summon the morality to spare her daughter? Or was it more likely she would offer denials of knowledge and culpability to delay and mislead them further?
Given the brief interaction he’d had with the woman, Connor wasn’t willing to risk any progress they might have made based on Celeste’s maternal instincts. He’d rather bank on Temple’s skills.
Look forward, rather than back-stepping.
They took the Gatehouse Road to the right, bypassing the town center. A few minutes later, Connor pulled to a halt again as they reached the intersection leading to the train station to the right or left into the village. Indecision ate at him. Their original plan had been to depart from Aylesbury Station. However, their alternate plan, should they discover the station under guard by the duke’s men, had been to flee further afield to the connecting station at Leighton Buzzard ten miles to the east. Had Temple rescued Piper, would they have gone on to that point?
Possibilities were all he had. She might well be on the other side of town by now and the distance between them growing. Likewise, they could have indeed circled back to Dinton Grange.
Albert, too, appeared torn on which direction to go. “I’ve been watching out for m’lady since she was a wee girl. Her brother might have been the one to teach her to ride, but I set her on her first horse. Picked her up when she fell.”
“Ye saved her from this bastard once before and dinnae want to fail her this time.” Connor nodded in understanding. “I ken what yer saying. Ye’re welcome to turn back and try yer hand at interrogating Lady Sedmouth.”
“I’m saying I’m afraid for her,” Albert admitted in a low mumble. “I love the girl like she was my own. I can’t bear the thought of seeing her as she was before. I can’t fail her.”
“We will no’,” Connor promised with grim determination, hands tight on his reins and a prayer on his lips that it wasn’t a lie.
Glancing around at their options one more time, he sat straighter in his saddle and breathed a sigh of relief as a familiar face came into view. “Nay, we will no’. Thank God. Let’s go.”
They kicked their horses into a gallop and stopped near the train station which bustled with foot traffic and carts, both hand drawn and horse pulled.
“Took you long enough,” Temple muttered as he emerged from the shadows. “How are your brothers?”
“They’ll survive,” Connor answered, hoping it was the truth. “They won’t be far behind us. They’ll need a doctor.”
Temple nodded. “What we could use is a gunsmith. Unfortunately, there isn’t one in town. Did you bring my other Wembley?”
“We did better than that. What are we facing?”
“It isn’t good.”
“Wisnae expecting it to be.”
Chapter 31
Mother has licked her wounds and is returning to London. Jane will soon follow and promises to send news as she hears it. She doesn’t understand why I ran. Why I hide. I fear I am too humiliated to speak the words, even to my dearest friend.
~ from the diary of Piper Brudenall, August 1893
A fist pounded on the closed door and Piper gave a start despite the fact she’d been expecting the interruption. Wilkes might have insisted she change into a dress and “become a proper lady again” once he discovered the contents of her valise, but he wouldn’t let her hide out forever.
“I’m indisposed,” she called through the door to buy herself a few more moments.
Regrettably, she hadn’t had time enough to determine a plan of escape. If there was even one to be had. She hadn’t wasted a moment of that time changing her clothes either. Should the occasion to run present itself, she didn’t intend to be hampered by long skirts.
