Gave laughed again at the frank triumph in the boy’s voice, and the relish with which he repeated the word “escaped.”
“Good lad! Come on then, let’s get back. Tell me on the way. The others are behind us.”
“Where’s Mama?”
“Following in the curricle with Harry.”
They turned and cantered back the way Gabe had just come. Trojan was tired, but gallant as ever.
When they met up with Rafe, Ethan, Luke, and Nash they all whooped with delight. They pelted Nicky with questions as they rode back to the inn, and Nicky happily answered them.
Gabe grinned, enjoying the boy’s triumph. The rock in his chest had eased considerably now that the boy was safe. He was just waiting for the moment when he could put Nicky back in his mother’s arms.
The way he felt, Count Anton could send an army after him. It would make no difference. Nicky was safe and they were going to keep him that way.
They found the inn and woke the landlord who, seeing the flash of gold coins, was only too happy to provide hospitality to a bunch of gentlemen. He chivvied his wife out of bed to see to the provision of food, rousted out a sleepy stable boy to care for the horses, and hurried back in to see to the drinks.
Luke and Ethan kept watch on the road outside.
“So, Nicky,” Gabe said when they were inside. “Tell me again from the beginning and leave no detail out.” There were aspects of the story that hadn’t made sense to him, but he’d only got it in snatches. “The men who took you from your room, did they carry you over the rooftops?”
“No, they tied me up like a sack of potatoes, and they lowered me down in the back alley with ropes. I could see, but because of the gag, I couldn’t yell out or anything.”
Gabe nodded. “You were very brave. What happened next?”
“There was a carriage waiting, and they put me in that. It was dirty and smelled of onions. Then we went somewhere and the count came and he, he—” The little boy’s lip trembled, but he mastered himself and went on. “He had a bottle of something nasty and he made me drink from it.”
Gabriel swore under his breath.
“I thought it was poison, like he used on my puppy,” Nicky continued. “And I fought, but there was nothing I could do. He forced it into my mouth, but I didn’t swallow it. And then he lifted me into the curricle so I let it dribble down my front. He never saw. But I must have swallowed some, because I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up and we were out in the country somewhere and my hands and feet weren’t tied anymore, but I was still wrapped in the quilt. I felt sleepy and a bit sick, so I just lay on the seat and didn’t move, not even when we stopped and the count checked me.”
“They stopped to change horses, and the count went inside, and that’s when I climbed out of the curricle. One of the soldiers saw me, but he only bowed and said how pleased he was I was free and coming home.”
“Hewhat?”
Nicky shrugged. “He wanted me to go into the inn to eat something, but I told him I needed to make water first. Well, I did.”
“And he just let you go? By yourself?” Gabe exchanged glances with Nash and Rafe.
Nicky nodded. “Yes, and he went into the inn so I made water, and afterward I found the horses all saddled and waiting, so I untied them all. I kept one for me and set the others loose. I got on mine—it was a bit difficult without you to boost me, sir, but I managed and I rode at the other horses so that they ran off, and then I rode away.”
Gabe frowned. “The soldier knew who you were?”
Nicky nodded. “Yes, he called me Prince Nikolai. But he didn’t see me stealing the horse. I think he would have stopped me then.”
Gabe was puzzled. The soldier ought have stopped Nicky as soon as he saw he was free. It didn’t make sense. To go to all that trouble to kidnap the boy and then just let him walk away. It was crazy!
Nicky grinned. “Nobody expected me to be able to ride. I heard the count yelling and swearing and screaming at everyone.”
Gabe laughed at Nicky’s expression. Far from being cowed by his adventure, he was positively crowing at his victory. And why not? He’d rescued himself in the best possible way.
But it was a very strange story. And Gabe was determined to get to the bottom of it.
The sound of horses outside drew his attention. He heard Rafe whistle and tensed, with a different sort of tension.
“Brace yourself, Nicky,” he said, “Your mother is here.” A moment later a small whirlwind in a large fur cloak flew in the door.
“Nicky, oh Nicky!” Callie exclaimed and hugged her son convulsively. She checked him all over. “Are you all right, my darling? They didn’t hurt you?”
