“Move so they don’t know you’re there but are within hearing range,” Daniel cautioned. “He needs to be able to protect himself.”
“I hate that you’re right,” Nathan muttered.
“He’s going to get more of that kind of behavior,” Daniel added. “I’ll watch these two from here and purchase them more sugar to quiet them,” he said, taking Ella and Toby in hand.
Nathan and Zach moved close enough to hear what was being said but far enough back that they weren’t immediately noticeable if Adam didn’t turn.
“You can’t throw that ball and remain upright,” one of the men was saying to Adam. He then nudged one of Adam’s crutches with his foot.
Zach’s blood started to simmer, but he stayed where he was, waiting and ready should he be needed.
“You’re lame,” another said.
“But I have intelligence, I wonder if the same can be said of you lot.”
Zach snorted at Adam’s words.
“We’re intelligent!” One of the men howled in outrage. “And could beat you easily, gimpy.”
Zach muttered something under his breath.
“Would you like to challenge me to knife throwing, then?” Adam pointed to a target that had been set up in the rear of a tent before them.
“You’ll lose because you can’t balance,” one of the boys said.
“Were we ever like that?” Nathan asked him.
“No, but maybe with each other.”
They watched as Adam took money out of his pocket, and Zach had to stop himself from going to the boy to show his support and sending the others on their way. Adam had to be able to look after himself. Daniel was right.
The proprietor was more than happy to take their money and hand over the knives.
“And rescue comes,” Nathan said softly.
Zach looked left and then right and saw her. Mary was standing at the stall beside Adam, with her maid. Her family were a few feet away in discussion with the Trent family who had two sons and a daughter. One of the sons was of marriageable age, and Phillipa was gushing all over him.
“She is not stepping in. That will make matters worse,” Zach said. He also did not want those boys saying anything to upset Mary. He was angry with her, but that didn’t mean he would allow anyone to insult her.Which told him what?Nothing he cared to examine—that much he was certain of.
“Beth told me she and the others often go walking with Adam and Mary in the park and that he and Mary have become friends,” Nathan said.
Zach grunted a response but kept his eyes on what was playing out before the knife-throwing booth.
He’d never really been aware of Mary, but now he was, he saw her beauty. It wasn’t in the clothes—it was in her face and the way she carried herself.
Why did I not see her before?Because he’d been a blind idiot.
“Wait.” Nathan grabbed his arm as Zach began to move again.
“I won’t have her upset by those men.” Zach said the words before he’d given them thought.
“Really? Mary? The same Mary you have to apologize to at least twice a month for insulting?”
Zach ignored his brother. Looking at her, a sudden idea of how he could find out for certain if she was part of Alexius or not formed in his head.
“What are you not telling me?” Nathan asked.
“What?” Zach kept his eyes on Mary and Adam. He would not be sharing what he was going to do with his brothers. This was between him and Mary Blake.
