“Is that the only reason?” Hugh murmured, but when it was obvious Harlan wasn’t going to offer anything further, he leaned back with a sigh. “If you want to play hard to get, fine. To answer your questions, she is quite content chatting with Marie. They have become fast friends already.” Harlan knew Hugh well enough to decipher this was just a reprieve. The subject of Leah would return again, but he seemed to realize that they both had something more imperative to discuss. “Benjamin mentioned what you’d learned from the maid and that you plan to return to London.”
Harlan nodded his head in confirmation. “I do.”
Hugh lifted the half-empty bottle of scotch as the door opened and Benjamin, Lucas, and Matthew entered. “It looks as if we are going to need more of this.”
Lucas gave a mock wince as he noticed the bottle. He pushed his spectacles up his nose. “Oh, my. I suppose it is bad.”
“Indeed,” Harlan agreed. He sat forward and steepled his hands before him. “I’m sure you can guess when I asked you all here. I am planning to make my way to London at first light. What I need to know is if any of you plan on joining me.” He held up a hand. “Before you commit to anything, let me say that I will not hold it against any of you if you prefer to remain behind. Your assistance thus far has been very much appreciated, and I can assure you that it will reach the ears of the Crown about your loyalty, not just to me, but to Her Majesty. Thus far, this endeavor has kept us close to Gravesend, so I understand if you don’t wish to travel so far from your families.”
Benjamin stepped forward. “I am with you until the end. After that bastard shot at me, I have a personal vendetta to settle.”
Harlan nodded, and then looked at Hugh, who grinned in true sarcastic fashion. “As if I could allow the two of you to have all the fun without me.”
Next, Harlan’s gaze shifted to Matthew.
“Are you going to need a coachman?” the older man asked.
“No. I think it would be best if we travel on horseback, and rather than utilize the inns, we make camp along the way. We need to remain as circumspect as possible. This man will likely be expecting us to use the main roads.”
There was a pause, and then Matthew looked at each man in turn. “While I would gladly continue our exploits, I fear my talents these days are best served behind the reins. At my age, I fear I would only be a hindrance, so I will stay behind in Gravesend. Send word if something changes course and I shall be at the ready.”
Benjamin clapped him on the shoulder in a friendly manner, while Harlan said, “I’m sure I speak for everyone here when I say it has been an honor serving with you to this point.”
“I appreciate that,” Matthew said, his voice sounding a bit nostalgic. “It was nice feeling as though I was doing some good after the war.” He offered one more nod to each of them and said, “Good luck, gentlemen.”
After Matthew left, Harlan could feel a tightening in his chest as he looked over at Lucas. “I suppose that leaves the last decision to me.” Taking a deep breath, he added, “I think I should go just to keep an eye on the rest of you.”
Hugh snorted.
“So, what is the plan?” Benjamin asked. “I assume we aren’t resuming our guise as highwaymen.”
“He has seen my face, and I’m sure that he is well aware of the rest of our identities as well,” Harlan said evenly. “Masks seem redundant at this point.” When there wasn’t any argument, Harlan laid both of his palms on the table and rose to his feet. “That settles it then. We meet at the windmill and leave at dawn. I suggest you all get some much-needed rest.”
Lucas and Benjamin were the first to leave, while Hugh lingered a bit longer. His eyes were focused, his tone serious when he asked, “What do you intend to do with Leah?”
Harlan clenched his jaw. “Leave that to me.”
Hugh shook his head, but sighed. “Don’t do anything you might regret,” he warned.
Harlan threw back the rest of his drink and set the tumbler down with a light clink on the scarred wooden side table. “I will do my best, but something tells me that I should pay a visit to a priest once it is all over to atone for my many sins.”
Leah knewsomething was wrong the moment she walked in the door and saw Harlan sitting in the parlor with a grim expression on his face. She raised a hand and set it over her neck as her heart jumped into her throat. “Has something else happened?”
“No.” He paused and appeared to reconsider his reply. “Not yet, anyway.”
Leah walked over and sat down next to him. That’s when she noticed the nearly empty bottle of spirits on the table. “I see you’ve been imbibing,” she said evenly.
“I wasn’t alone.”
“I have no doubt that is true,” she murmured. “Your fellow cohorts were gone for some time. I assume you are making plans to pursue your target?”
He watched her steadily. “We are.”
She carefully removed her gloves and set them over the chair arm. “Where might that leave me?” She was almost afraid to hear the answer as she faced him once again.
His focus had never wavered. “I believe you know the answer to that.”
She swallowed. Hard. “I thought you didn’t want me to go.”
