Drake tried invain to roll the weariness from his tensed shoulders, determined not to stop until they reached Felicity. They were nearing Grange in Borrowdale and would stop there in search of someone who knew where the Beans lived. All the while they rode, he, the Duke of Broadmere, the magistrate, and two of the magistrate’s men kept watch for the black coach and the demons who had stolen her away. But they never came across them. Either the blackguards had hidden themselves locally, or they had taken an alternate route back to Binnocksbourne.
They needed to find Felicity before the devils discovered their employers were no longer in any position to pay them. Dawn bathed the land with its gentle, golden glow as they thundered into the sleepy village. The first soul they came upon was a yawning lad filling one of the watering troughs in front of the livery stable.
“Boy!” Drake called as all of them dismounted to give their mounts a brief rest and a moment to drink.
The boy squinted at him, pausing with his buckets at his sides. “Aye?”
“Do you know the Bean family who lives near here?” Drakereached into his pocket, drew out a coin, and held it up for the lad to see.
“Bean?”
“Yes. They live between here and Derwentwater.”
After dragging his sleeve across his runny nose, the boy shook his head. “Don’t know no Bean family, but the vicar might. He knows everyone.”
“Where is the vicarage?” Broadmere asked.
The boy pointed across the village square. “Over there. That place with the white fence that goes to the back of the kirk.”
Drake tossed the coin to the boy and noticed that Broadmere gave the child another.
“We shall stay here with the horses,” Mr. Osbourne said with a nod to his men. “Hopefully, the vicar may be of some help.”
Without waiting for the duke, Drake took off across the village square with a long, hurried stride. Urgency pounded through him, along with fear. Time was of the essence. He banged on the door, willing someone to answer with haste. Not a sound came from inside the tidy dwelling, so he banged again. Surely a vicar wouldn’t still be abed.
“Here, there,” a man called out from the garden area between the vicarage and the small church. “May I be of service?”
“The Bean family,” Drake said. “Do you know where they live?”
“Martha Bean and her son, Edmund?” An older man with his sleeves rolled above his elbows leaned against his spade. He nodded to the north. “Their cottage is a good stretch of the legs in that direction.” Then he frowned and jutted his chin higher. “Mrs. Bean and Edmund are good people. What do you want with them?”
They couldn’t be all that good if they were in business with Rum and Catherty’s ruffians, but Drake didn’t say that aloud. “My intended, Lady Felicity of the Broadmeres, has been kidnapped, and they were named as the people holding her until the ransom was paid.”
The man frowned and exited his garden through the small gate next to the church. “The Beans? Caught up in such terrible wickedness?” He shook his head. “I cannot believe that.”
“People will do anything when they need money.” Broadmere fixed Drake with a pointed glare. “Will they not, Lord Wakefield?”
The words stung, but he could hardly deny their truth. “Indeed, they will, Your Grace.”
The man with the spade drew a handkerchief out of his back pocket and mopped his brow. “They have endured a rough few years since Mr. Bean died.” Again, he pointed to the north. “On foot, it would take you several hours to reach their place. On horseback, you should be there in no time. It’s hard to find, though. Built into a hillside and set back off the road a ways beside a creek. This time of year, the grasses are so tall, it is nearly hidden from view.”
“Sounds like the perfect place to hide her,” Drake said, and Broadmere nodded. “Thank you, good sir.” Drake tipped his hat and headed back to the horses. He wished he had enough money to donate to the church, but it couldn’t be helped. “The Bean residence is not far from here,” he told Mr. Osbourne as he reached the horses. “Think they can go a bit longer?”
Osbourne shook his head. “Better to let them rest a while, my lord, or they’ll have no strength to spare once we reach our destination.”
“Time is of the essence,” Drake argued. “We have no idea of her state.”
“We also have no idea how many men might guard her,” the magistrate said, “and if they see us descending upon them, they could do her harm. You know we saw none of them on the ride here. They must still be in this area waiting for further instructions from Rum and Catherty.”
As much as he hated to admit it, Drake realized Mr. Osbourne was right, and he had already endangered Felicity enough. “What do you suggest we do?”
“Wait a few hours. Give the horses a brief respite, and ourselves as well.” The magistrate gave him a hard up-and-down look. “From what I have gathered about you, and also observed, you need time to compose yourself, my lord, so innocent people are not harmed.” He offered a knowing smile. “I also extended this same advice to His Grace.”
“While I agree it is wise advice, it is difficult to follow when my mind reels with the horrors Lady Felicity could be experiencing at this very moment.”
Mr. Osbourne’s face fell. “I understand, my lord, but we mustn’t endanger her or any other innocent any further.”
“The vicar swears the Beans are good people,” Broadmere said as he joined them. “We can only hope he knows them well.”
