“But a simpler disguise would be possible, wouldn’t it? To allow us to move about in your society without being found out? No one would be looking for us in such circles.”
To hide in plain sight would indeed be possible. At least for the boy, but not for him when he had cuckolds looking for him in those circles. Yet damned if he wasn’t struck by a moment of temptation anyway, until he realized it was because he abhorred the idea of Nessi’s going off on her own to meet the cur she’d been promised to. But trotting the boy back into danger wasn’t the deal he’d made with George.
So again he said, “No.”
But he’d waited a moment too long in the second denial, which prompted Charley’s guess, “You were thinking about it. Don’t deny it. You must think more quickly. Their departure is imminent.”
He gave the boy a nasty look, but Arlo interrupted the argument. “Look yonder.” He was pointing to the south.
Montgomery turned to see a menacing group of mounted strangers approaching them. He didn’t for a moment think that they might be locals returning home. And he hadn’t brought his pistols, hadn’t been wearing them inside the house and hadn’t planned on the ride. Bloody hell.
“Do we return to the house?” Charley asked.
“No, we’re not leading them there. We ride fast for Dawton town, where they won’t dare attack.”
Which is what they started to do, but the men behind them had superior horses and were gaining on them. And then a shot was fired, which changed Montgomery’s mind. They were easy targets out in the open like this.
“Follow!” he yelled, and directed Charley and Arlo to a small copse of trees for cover.
He was furious at himself by then for not having a single weapon on him. He would have to yank the chasers off their horses and see if he could confiscate a few weapons to deal with the rest. But their pursuers reached them too quickly. No sooner did they get to the trees and dismount to take cover than the rebels were upon them.
Charley hurled a dagger at one man that struck true. Montgomery was a little incredulous, seeing that. What did Feldlanders teach their children? He grabbed the man’s pistol as he fell to the ground. Another shot was fired, and he panicked until he saw Charley and Arlo running behind a tree. Then Monty fired the confiscated pistol and snarled when he found it empty. He flipped it over in his hand and bludgeoned another attacker with it as the man was dismounting. He took his fists to the next one, and out of the corner of his eye saw Charley doing the same to another rebel, which infuriated him. Why hadn’t he remained behind the tree? With the boy not staying out of firing range, Montgomery was forced to get between him and the assailants.
But no more shots were fired in such close quarters and having to deal with the three men in front of him, he didn’t immediately notice when another man grabbed Arlo from his cover and rode off with him. Charley noticed and immediately jumped on his horse to give chase. Montgomery growled, cracked the pistol against another head, then leapt toward his horse to go after Charley. He glanced back to see if the last two assailants were going to do likewise, only to see they’d mounted and were riding off in the opposite direction. To get more reinforcements? And the mount he and Charley were chasing was still faster than the nags they were riding. They weren’t catching up to the abductor.
Chapter Twenty-seven
VANESSA WAS STILL Alittle dazed after her mother took her into her study to give her the good news—good news in Kathleen’s opinion. Vanessa wasn’t so sure. Albert Rathban had finally answered Kathleen’s missive. He had concurred that the engagement could move forward and to that end, he was hosting a ball at his own residence in London so the affianced couple could meet. They had barely a week to arrive in time for it, which meant they had to depart in the morning.
Vanessa met that news with aplomb, though that certainly wasn’t how she felt. It was one thing to accept this engagement to a man she didn’t know, quite another for it to be this imminent. She would be giving up so much, her dreams of the perfect marriage that would include a signed contract, her independence, the freedoms she had become accustomed to. And she knew in her heart that her father would never approve—if he knew. He would never ask her to make this sacrifice for him, though Kathleen had no such qualms. But she had to do this! She couldn’t bear the thought of William living out the rest of his life alone and away from everyone he loved. But if there were still some other way to attain the same goal, she would pursue it with alacrity.
Bemoaning her limited options, she changed back into her trousers and hooded cloak and went for a long hard ride on Snow to work off her frustration. She wasn’t ready to leave Monty this quickly, she wasn’t ready to meet the man she had agreed she must marry this quickly, either.
She’d circled around the property to head south when she saw the rider galloping in her direction with someone tossed over his saddle, legs dangling. And it appeared two others were following—or chasing the rider, and one had bright golden hair. Charley? But when she heard Monty yelling in the distance, she squinted and could make out his large frame on one of the horses and realized in alarm what was happening.
The rider, trying to keep an eye on his pursuers behind him rather than what was in front of him, noticed her almost too late and tried to veer away. Vanessa didn’t, and she was riding fast enough that she needed only to steer Snow in his direction then abruptly to the side for a collision to occur, Snow’s shoulder slamming against the smaller mount. The other horse stumbled, losing its balance. Snow reared up to avoid the horse’s flailing legs. Arlo pushed himself off the animal before it crashed to the ground. It all happened so quickly. Vanessa saw Arlo sprawled in the grass, but at least a few feet away from the fallen horse. The rider wasn’t as lucky with one of his legs trapped beneath his horse.
Charley arrived almost immediately, jumped off his mount, and ran over to Arlo.
“Is he all right?” Vanessa asked, dismounting from Snow.
“Yes, just somewhat stunned,” Charley said, helping Arlo to his feet. Then he beamed at Vanessa. “That was incredible, what magnificent bravery!”
“Indeed,” Arlo agreed, rubbing his arm. “Many thanks, Lady Vanessa.”
Monty dismounted next to her and scolded, “What is it about those clothes that makes you take such risks?”
She couldn’t be daunted after such success and grinned. “It was Snow’s idea. He deserves all the credit. I told you he has the strength and spirit of a warhorse.” Monty gave her an admonishing look but before he could do more, she asked, “What happened? How did your enemies find you and why was one of them riding away with Arlo?”
“Those rebels are relentless!” Charley fumed. “Seven of them attacked us. Monty and I were fighting them off and when they couldn’t apprehend me, one of them snatched my servant as a hostage and rode off.”
“No more heroics, boy!” Monty walked over to the fallen horse. Vanessa joined him and together they helped the horse back to its feet. She saw the rider was unconscious no doubt due to the pain of his crushed leg. Monty hoisted the man over the now skittish mount before asking Charley, “All of those shots missed, correct? Or do I need to find a doctor when I take this fellow to town?”
“We’re fine, but I think your horse got nicked, so you probably shouldn’t ride him. And we’ll go with you to town.”
“No, you won’t. The townsfolk can’t get a gander at those golden locks of yours. Our hiding place might be compromised but Dawton Manor is still the safest place for you right now. I’ll escort you back there. I need a few more horses to transport the miscreants we left behind to the constable.”
“You can ride with me,” Vanessa offered as she remounted her giant horse. “Snow could carry all of us if he had to.”
