“You did not see who did this?” It was Charlotte, still in her chemise, but covered in a long, velvet coat.
“No, Lady,” Gerald told her. “It happened too fast.”
But there were two of them. “How did someone come up on you without either one of you noticing?” Michael put to them. Something didn’t feel right.
“I do not know,” William said with a guilty frown. “He was just there.”
“Who did he hit first?” Michael asked them.
“Me, I believe,” William answered.
“What does it matter, Michael?” Charlotte asked him, sounding impatient.
He cast her a wry look. “I thought you said you were going to bed.”
“That was before our men were attacked. Their wounds must be seen to. Who do you think will arrange that? That is correct! Me!”
“All right,” he held up his hand. “Just keep quiet.”
He didn’t turn all the way around when she spoke again.
“How much longer do you think this will take?”
He looked at William, grinded his jaw, and then continued. “So this person smashed you in the head with something and you fell unconscious?”
“If you mean was I knocked out cold, aye,” William answered.
Michael turned to Gerald. “What were you doing that you didn’t see or hear this in enough time to stop him from striking you?”
“Perhaps there were two attackers!” Charlotte interjected.
Michael thought she might be right. That would solve it. “What do you think, Gerald? Was there another man?”
“Aye, Investigator, there had to be two.”
“Aye,” Michael mimicked, then turned them over to Charlotte. “Go have your wounds seen to with Miss Whimsey. I’m going to look for our prisoner.”
Charlotte stopped and turned to him with a smile fastened on her lips. It looked clownish and artificial. He smiled back.
“’Tis dark out, Michael.”
“I’ll manage.”
“Wait until morning. I will—”
“It’ll be too late,” Michael growled. “I want him back.”
“But I may need you in the morning. My mother will be here, and I do not want to face her alone”
He smiled. He surprised himself by doing it, but he did it nevertheless. “I’ll be back in time for breakfast. Now go, let me get done with what I must do.”
She looked as if she had more to say, but she was wasting time. Every moment was precious.
“I’ll be back in time.”
She finally left the hall with Gerald and William. Michael watched them go. Who attacked them? Were the attackers friends of the captive? How did they know he was at the mill? They must have been with him when he shot at Michael. How had he missed them? He wasn’t used to fighting on horseback in a forest.
He thought of the old saying,as thick as thieves. Thieves stuck together, didn’t they. This guy’s friends came and broke him out.
