“He was desperate.” She tucked the pistol into her skirt waistband. “You both look hungry. How about some food?”
“We would appreciate it, thank you,” Thea said, looking at Julie, who nodded.
Maggie put two bowls of stew on the table in front of them. “You’ll have to manage. I can’t untie you.”
Thea picked up her spoon and ate some without spilling it. “It’s delicious,” she said. “Try it, Julia.”
Julia shook her head.
“You’ll feel better.” Thea touched the girl’s hand and felt the twine slip.
Julia shook off her bonds and picked up the plate of stew. She threw it at Maggie. It hit her in the chest, and she staggered back with a curse.
Thea ran with Julia out the door and across the yard.
“Stop, or I’ll shoot!” Maggie yelled. She stood on the stoop, the gun aimed at them.
“I don’t think she will. Keep going,” Thea puffed out.
She was right, for as they reached the street, the door slammed shut.
They found themselves on a strange road, surrounded by fields. Black and white cows gathered at the fence to watch them, and crows sat along the wire.
“We must move fast before they return,” Thea said. “But I can’t run with my hands tied.”
Trees bordered the road. They hid in amongst the bushes. Julia kneeled down to free Thea. Finally, the bonds fell away.
“We came that way in the coach,” Thea said, gesturing as she rubbed her sore wrists. “We’ll head in the opposite direction. When we come to a farm, we’ll ask for help.”
They stepped out onto the road and, checking to see if there was no one about, set off. “I wish I’d eaten more of that stew,” Thea said. “I’m starving.”
Julia giggled, relieved to be free at last. “Me, too.”
How long would they stay free? Thea stared grimly down the empty street bordered by fences on either side. There was nowhere to hide if the men came back.
Although Ash triedto dissuade him, the earl blamed himself for sending Thea and Julia to the river. Concerned for his grandfather’s health and reluctant to leave him, Ash prepared to make for London. He had just left the house to go to the stables when Phillips, his grandfather’s groom, arrived in a trap, holding a gun on the driver.
Ash ran over to them. “Who is this?”
“This fellow brings a message for the earl,” Phillips said.
The lanky, dark-haired fellow in yeoman’s clothes stared at Ash, his eyes widening with fright from beneath his battered hat. “They asked me to do it. I’m just doing a favor for a friend.”
Ash held out his hand. “I’ll take this message to the earl. Watch him, Phillips.”
As Ash made his way to the library, while his heart continued its uncomfortable tattoo, he read the short, poorly spelled note requesting two hundred pounds for the return of the woman and the girl. While there was hope Thea and Julia were still alive, there was no guarantee these men would keep their word.
His grandfather read the note in shaky hands. “I have the money. I’ll get it.”
“I’ll take it to him, Grandfather. Then you must rest.”
Once he had the banknotes, Ash went outside where Phillips still held the farmer at gunpoint.
“Where are the hostages?”
The farmer looked horrified. “I don’t know, milord. I didn’t want to know. They offered me a few bob to deliver the note. That’s all. I swear it.”
Ash stripped off his riding jacket. “Give me your clothes,” he instructed the shaking fellow.
