Unfortunately, due to her pregnancy, the traveling dress wouldn’t fit her. Frustrated, she began to hunt for anything that would fit her and would be hardy enough to travel in, but she couldn’t find anything that was suitable. That had her digging into her husband’s clothing, and she found a tunic and breeches that served her well enough because she could get the breeches up over her belly and the tunic hung down to her knees. She still had the heavy traveling cloak that she could wear, and she had a pair of doeskin boots that Creston had purchased for her a few months ago, so she pulled those sturdy boots on.
She felt as if she were dressing in a frenzy, and perhaps she was. There was a sense of urgency in her heart that she’d never felt before, even more so when she thought of her grandfather’s reaction to her accusations. She knew that he would laugh at her, or perhaps he wouldn’t even be angry at her. He might even become violent. Therefore, she went to the big chest where Creston kept his possessions and dug around until she found a large and rather nasty-looking dagger.
For a moment, she simply stared at it.
A weapon. Something that could kill. It underscored the seriousness of what she was about to undertake, but she had to push aside any doubt or fear. She was fully prepared to use the weapon if she were threatened or if her grandfather refused her demands. Even as she thought of that moment, the very moment that she was risking everything for, she knew it was a foolish expectation. Oscar had never surrendered to anyone, least of all a woman, and least of all her.
But she was going to force this.
He was going to listen.
Ophelia had a small satchel in the wardrobe that had a drawstring closure and long cloth handles, something that she could easily put over her shoulders and carry without having to use her hands. Dressed in her husband’s oversized clothing, she rushed back down the stairs and peered from the window to make sure he had not moved, and he hadn’t. She could still see his booted foot. Quickly, she put the remainder of the bread from the morning’s meal and a piece of white cheese from the previous day into the satchel. That was the only food she could find that would be easily transportable, and once she had it stashed away, she went back upstairs and proceeded to carefully put the big dagger into the satchel as well. She also took her coin purse so she could pay for food and lodgings if she needed to.
And with that, she was ready to depart.
The one thing that would work to Ophelia’s benefit was the fact that at this time of day, anyone who knew her would be either training recruits or, in the case of the trainer’s wives, be tending to their napping children. There wouldn’t be anybody to stop her as she made her way out to the stables where Creston had a couple of fine horses and one small palfrey that he had purchased for her a few months ago when they traveled into the village of Minehead. She didn’t like riding on the big horses behind him and preferred to ride alone, so he’d bought the little white mare for her to ride whenever she pleased.
Daisy was her name.
Daisy the mare was very fat and happy because Ophelia didn’t ride much these days. She was very glad to see her mistress, however, and Ophelia paid a young stable boy to saddle her horse, giving the lad a silver coin and instructing him not to tell anyone he had seen her leave. The coin was to ensure his silence. The boy agreed, saddled her horse, and even escortedher to the smaller east gatehouse. There were soldiers there, but only a couple, and they didn’t pay any attention to her as she rode through. After that, it was simply a matter of skirting the eastern wall of Blackchurch’s perimeter so she could get on the road that led south through the village, past The Black Cock, and then straight to Sidmouth.
Ophelia remembered the road they’d taken north from Sidmouth when they came to Blackchurch. There was literally only one main road between Sidmouth and Blackchurch, so all she had to do was stay to the road and she’d make Sidmouth in a day and a half if she was fortunate. She would try to make it as far as she could tonight before finding an inn to sleep, but she was determined to do it. She was blinded by it. It didn’t really occur to her that this was foolish, and even dangerous, and that she shouldn’t be traveling in her condition. All she could think of was confronting her grandfather and demanding he stop his foolishness… or else.
It was that “or else” that had her worried.
But she wasn’t worried enough to turn back.
She kicked her mare in the ribs, and the little horse began to lope southward.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Someone was kickinghis foot.
“Creston? Get up.”
Creston didn’t even realize he’d been asleep. It was nearly pitch dark as he opened his eyes, which meant he really couldn’t see where he was.
Someone kicked his foot again.
“Creston?” It was Brenton, as he recognized the voice. “Are you quite well?”
Creston didn’t know. He lifted his head and the hammering started. Putting a hand to his swimming brain, he looked up at Brenton and saw that Myles was standing with him. He could barely make them out in the light.
“Christ,” he muttered, his mouth pasty. “What time is it?”
“Late,” Brenton said. “Have you been here all day?”
Creston had to think about that.Hadhe been here all day? “Since the morning,” he muttered as his memory began to return. “Since I had to tell my wife that her grandfather is trying to kill us all. She went to bed and I got drunk.”
Hands were reaching down to pull him to his feet. It took some effort, but they finally got him into a standing position as he tried not to vomit.
“God,” he groaned, bending over and resting his hands on his knees. “I haven’t done that in years.”
“Done what?” Brenton asked.
“That.” Creston gestured to the shed behind him. “Drunk myself into a stupor. I used to do it all of the time after I left John’s service, but I haven’t done that since I came to Blackchurch. I will admit that I do not miss it.”
“I would imagine not,” Brenton said. “Can you walk?”
