Chapter Thirty-Four
Eli reached theinn where his horse waited, saddled and ready for travel, easily enough, but when he galloped, pistol at the ready, out of the stable yard, the bruiser who had confronted him came huffing across the road. One shot stopped the seaman in his tracks. Eli didn’t halt to check if he’d hit him or merely startled him. He rode up the coast road like the demons of hell were on his heels. Perhaps they were.
Now you’ve alerted Bateson that someone spied on him. He’ll be gone before Holliday reaches here. He cursed soundly as he rode. Eli had another problem. Should he follow Tommy to Holliday or keep his appointment with the thrice-damned bishop?
For the sake of speed, he kept to the main coast road until Connah’s Quay, still undecided about his destination. He pulled up to consider his situation. He neither saw nor heard anyone chasing him. If he’d hit his pursuer, it might be a while before Bateson discovered the body and sent someone to stop Eli. They would be too late because Tommy Withers was well ahead of Eli. If he’d missed, the man would have used Eli’s escape to cover his own absence from the ship, and they were probably after Eli.
Either way, that ship couldn’t leave until the tide turned. Tommy would reach Holliday long before Eli could. If, as he hoped, Holliday set out immediately, Eli would accomplish nothing by following Tommy to Manchester. He didn’t even know what route they might take. On the other hand, if Bateson captured Eli, it would complicate Holliday’s task.
Eli decided to trust the groom and the tides, avoid capture, and go where his skills might do some actual good. He deviated from the main road, following country lanes and cantering across fields back to the river to cross by bridge at Chester, his mood grim and angry, spoiling for a fight.
God spare that bishop if he proves uncooperative.
*
Two days later,Fanny heard banging on the massive oak door, the formal entrance, an unheard-of breach of etiquette. It could only mean trouble. She ran to the stairs to see Harris, frowning deeply, go to answer it.
“I need to see the earl!”
Still on the stairs, she couldn’t see who spoke, but Harris didn’t hesitate. He stepped aside to let Tommy Withers enter, dirty, disheveled, and limp with exhaustion. She pressed a hand to her thudding heart.
Eli. Dear God, Eli. What has happened?
Harris didn’t wait for an explanation. He dispatched a footman for the earl and urged the young groom to the bench by the door.
Fanny ran the rest of the way down, slipped on the parquet floor at the bottom, and righted herself to approach the young groom she knew had ridden off with Eli.
“Sorry to barge in, Miss Hancock, but I rode all the way from Mostyn. I only stopped to change horses and—”
Clarion arrived first, hurrying from his study. “Withers! What news do you have? Where is Benson?” the earl demanded, striding toward them.
Pounding footsteps made it clear the boy’s arrival had been noticed. The nursery set leaned over the upper gallery, and every servant who could paused nearby to listen.
Tommy leapt to his feet and bowed. “Mr. Benson sends word, my lord.”
All Fanny could think was,Thank goodness. If he sends word, he is safe.“Is he in this Mostyn place?”
Tommy glanced at her and back to Clarion, as if uncertain how to go on. “He was, ma’am. But they were on their way to Manchester.”
“This is obviously a complicated tale. We’ll hear it from the beginning, but first, is Benson safe?” the earl asked.
“As can be, my lord,” the boy said.
Fanny sagged with relief.
“And I assume Sir Robert reached him?” the earl went on.
“Not until it was all over,” Tommy said proudly.
All what? Eli went to deal with the sale of the store. What on earth went on?She glanced at Clarion.
The earl responded with one of his sad smiles. “Let’s adjourn to the servant’s dining room and get this young man some refreshments so he has the strength to tell us what I suspect is a long story.”
Tommy reached into his shirt, pulled out a creased and crumpled piece of paper, and handed it to Clarion. “Thank you kindly, my lord, but I need to give you this first. I almost forgot.”
Clarion glanced at it and gave it to Fanny with a wry lift of his eyebrow. The words were few and the message frustratingly short.Business successfully completed. Please tell Miss Hancock we won. Also, she is now safe. Home in three days. Benson.
She trailed after them to the servants’ quarters, her emotions careening up and down. They had won. She assumed that meant she could administer Wil’s affairs. But “Miss Hancock”?And what does the wretch mean, I’m now safe? Drat it, Eli, what were you up to?
