“Aye.”
They each took a direction and searched for any clue that suggested someone had been this way.
What if this was not where Evie was? What if someone else took her and is even now—
“Here,” Toby said suddenly. “Someone has been this way and covered their tracks. I’m sure of it.”
Toby disappeared into the trees. Anthony and Jamie followed at a run. Beyond the tree line, there was a well-worn path.
“Why would someone go to the trouble of disguising this?” Jamie asked.
“It’s close to the sea. You can smell it in the air. Perhaps they’re smuggling goods in here?” Toby said.
“Or perhaps someone is hiding it for more nefarious purposes,” Jamie added.
“This is the right place,” Anthony said, suddenly sure of it.
“How do you know that?” Toby asked.
“I just do.”
“Because you love her,” Jamie added.
He said nothing more, just ran along the narrow track. They checked everywhere. Each time there appeared a gap in the trees, they investigated. So far, they’d found nothing. But they would. Anthony felt Evie was close.
“The sea is closer now,” Jamie said.
“Wait!” Toby held up a hand, and they stopped. “What’s that noise?”
“Someone is coming,” Anthony whispered.
They moved into the trees and hid, waiting. The woman that appeared was not Evie, but scared and running from something, if his guess was correct. He stepped out from his hiding place and in front of her.
“No!”
“I mean you no harm,” he said as she backed away from him. “Please, I am trying to find someone. A woman.”
“Pl-please don’t take me back there,” she begged.
“What is your name?” Jamie asked, reaching them.
“M-Molly Allsopp.”
“Molly, your aunt is my housekeeper. She sent me to find you. I am Lord Stafford.”
The girl stopped moving and pressed a hand to her mouth.
“You are safe now, Molly,” Toby said. “But you must tell us all you know at once, as we are very worried for our friend, Miss Evangeline Spencer.”
“Sh-she was the one who saved us!” Molly gasped. “She unlocked the doors and let us out. Then someone heard us, and she told us to run.”
“Where is she?” Anthony demanded.
“We were all separated—”
“All?” Toby asked.
“There were th-three of us in that room when Miss Spencer saved us,” Molly said.
