Exile's Return (28 page)

It seemed impossible that Leah's eyebrows could rise any higher. ‘Playing?'

‘Hide and go seek,' Agnes said.

The colour rose in Leah's face. ‘We do not play games in this house. As I feared, you are a vile influence, Mistress Fletcher. Leave this room at once.'

Two pairs of small hands clutched Agnes's skirts.

‘Don't leave us,' Lizzie sobbed, terror rising in her voice. ‘She'll beat us. I know she will. She beats us all the time. She has a birch stick –'

Agnes straightened. ‘I will not be dismissed like a common servant. I am aunt by blood to these children and I am here with the consent of their guardian. I am not leaving them until I am ready to do so and if I choose to lighten their lives by playing games, I will.'

Leah turned to Hannah. ‘Fetch Brown and Simpson.'

Hannah turned and scurried away and Leah took a step into the room.

‘You have cosseted these children to the point where they are ungovernable. They need discipline. They need to have the Word of the Lord beaten into their spoiled little minds.'

‘Beat them? I will not permit you to touch them. I was mistress here before ever you were and their father entrusted these children to me before his death.'

Leah's lip curled. ‘But he failed to confirm his instructions in a will, or so I am told. Tobias … Colonel Ashby is their legal guardian. We will see how much influence you hold in this house.'

Two burly soldiers appeared in the door, one of them Trooper Brown. Leah turned to face them. ‘Take her,' she pointed at Agnes. ‘And secure her in her chamber.'

As the men entered the room, Agnes backed away with her arms around the two children. ‘How dare you,' she said. ‘I am not to be treated this way.'

‘Don't make trouble.' The soldier who must be Simpson reached out to grab her arm.

Agnes batted his hand away. ‘Don't touch me.'

‘You,' Leah indicated Brown. ‘Take the children.'

Brown lunged at Henry, who screamed, trying to get further behind Agnes's skirts, but the man got a purchase on him, lifting him away from her and holding him at arm's length to protect himself from Henry's kicking feet. Agnes swung around to defend the child and in that instant Simpson grabbed her around the waist, knocking her feet from underneath her and pulling her away from the two children.

With the hysterical cries of the children resounding in her ears, Agnes was borne away in the iron grip of the soldier. Kicking and struggling availed her nothing and as they reached the top of the stairs she stopped resisting.

‘Put me down,' she said, employing her most glacial tone. ‘I demand to be taken to Colonel Ashby on my own two feet, not carried like a sack of potatoes.'

The man glanced at Leah who nodded. He set her down but kept a tight grip on her arm as they descended the stairs.

Not since she was nine years old and had been caught stealing apples from the orchard had Agnes felt so humiliated. She stood before Tobias, her hands clasped penitentially before her and her gaze lowered as Leah recited her crimes.

‘Tobias … ' Agnes began.

‘Address the Colonel properly,' Leah cut in. Standing beside Tobias, Leah bristled with self-righteous indignation.

‘Colonel Ashby,' Agnes shot Leah a sharp glance. ‘I know we all have the children's best interests at heart.'

‘And their best interests are not served by unseemly romping in the nursery,' Leah cut in. ‘The children are wild and undisciplined, Colonel.'

Tobias stroked the end of his moustache, his gaze on Agnes.

‘Leah, my dear,' he said at last. ‘I appreciate your zeal, but Mistress Fletcher and I have an understanding. I am allowing her to spend time with the children while she is in this house. I do not believe this will be an extended visit.'

Leah cast Agnes a look that came close to firing blue sparks of pure malevolence.

‘This woman is a whore,' Leah raged. ‘Bedding men for her convenience. The carnal act is for one reason alone, the begetting of children.' She pointed a finger at Agnes. ‘It is God's judgment on you that you have not been cursed with a bastard child.'

Agnes stared at the woman in stunned disbelief.

‘You bewitch men,' Leah continued. ‘You are no better than the Whore of Babylon. Colonel, you must see that her presence here can do nothing but harm to the children.'

Tobias had turned puce and his jaw worked as he tried to formulate a response. ‘Enough of this unseemly spatting,' he said at last. ‘I appreciate your concern, Leah, but Mistress Fletcher has my word. She is the children's aunt and entitled to the respect that entails.'

Agnes glared at Leah. ‘I believe I am owed an apology for my rough treatment.'

Tobias sighed. ‘Yes, I think perhaps you are right. Leah?'

Leah turned hot, angry eyes on Tobias. ‘Apologise to a whore?'

‘Apologise to the aunt of my wards,' Tobias replied in a glacial tone.

A shudder ran through Leah as she straightened. ‘Very well. Mistress Fletcher, you have my apology for the misunderstanding.'

Agnes raised her chin. ‘I am in need of fresh air,' she said. ‘With your consent, Cousin Tobias, I wish to go for a ride.'

‘Colonel … ' Leah made one last bid to re-establish her position.

Tobias looked almost relieved. ‘Leah, let me be quite clear. For the next twenty-four hours, Mistress Fletcher is my guest with all that implies, and she has unfettered access to the children. After that, she will be leaving.'

Leah, her face still white with anger, inclined her head. ‘As you wish, Colonel.'

He waved a hand. ‘I do wish. Now go, both of you!'

***

News of the commotion upstairs had reached the kitchen and set the tongues of the servants wagging. Both the old and the newer members of the household staff had been quietly appalled at the treatment meted out to a woman who wanted nothing more than to spend time with two children who were her blood kin. Daniel found himself the centre of attention from the curious servants and was glad when he received Agnes's order to have her horse saddle coupled with an imperious demand for her boots and riding skirts.

He had both horses saddled and ready as she swept out of the house.

‘Do you wish me to accompany you, ma'am?' he enquired for the benefit of any servants or soldiers in the vicinity.

‘Thank you, Lucas. Just keep your distance,' Agnes replied, waiting for him to assist her to mount. She placed one booted foot in his cupped hands and he hoisted her into the saddle. After the long weeks of travel this was now a well-practiced manoeuvre, but she managed to exude an extra degree of haughtiness and disdain as she arranged her skirts across her saddle.

As she adjusted her stirrups, he recalled the heartbroken waif he had met in London. She bore little resemblance to this outwardly confident woman. He had to remember she had been quasi-mistress of this house for many years. More than that, she had been the mistress of an Earl. Only he knew that beneath that proud demeanour, her heart was breaking.

Keeping a respectful distance he followed her out of the castle. Out of sight of the village, he kicked his horse forward to draw level with her. Agnes drew in a deep breath of cold air, letting it out in a cloud, and gave him a rueful smile.

‘I can breathe again,' she said, turning her face to the sky. ‘I feel like I've been holding my breath ever since Turner came to fetch me.'

‘Are you going to tell me what the rumpus about? It set every tongue in the house wagging,' Daniel said.

A flush of colour rose to her cheeks and she recounted the events that had led to what she described as a humiliating interview with Tobias Ashley. The barely contained outrage exuded from her as she concluded, ‘Those poor children, Daniel. Leah Turner has them completely cowed.' She looked up at him and a single tear rolled unbidden down her face. ‘I have decided that whatever else I do, I have to get them away from here.'

Daniel reached across and wiped the tear away, his gloved hand lingering on her cheek.

‘Agnes, you know that's not possible,' he said gently. ‘We are here for the gold. We can't carry away two children. Be patient.'

She dashed his hand away and he straightened in his saddle. Her tears could avail her nothing. He would have moved heaven and earth to rescue the children, but he just couldn't see how that could be accomplished without compromising everything else.

‘Let us get the gold away,' he said, ‘then we can look at what best to do for the children.'

She sniffed and returned her gaze to the road.

‘Did you find the hiding place?' he asked.

She glanced at him and her lips twitched in a rueful smile. ‘Unfortunately, Leah interrupted me before I could find the entrance, but I know where it is. There is a cavity between the nursery and the bedchamber adjoining. The entrance has to be in the nursery. Lizzie told me she saw a ghost, her father I presume, disappearing into the wall.'

A small spark of excitement flared in Daniel's heart. The years of privateering had given him the scent for treasure of whatever kind, and he could almost feel the gold in his hands.

They turned off the lane, down the narrow path that led to Peg Truscott's cottage. At first sight all seemed as it had the previous day, a curl of smoke rising from the little building. No horses or signs of anyone other than the good woman who lived there.

‘Are you sure they are here?' Agnes asked as Daniel lifted her down from the horse, his hands lingering on her waist for a fraction too long.

The old lady appeared at the door and held out her arms. Agnes stumbled up the path, tripping on her skirts, to fall into Peg's embrace.

‘Oh, my girl, my girl,' Peg crooned, her eyes closed and joy radiating from her.

Agnes's shoulders heaved with silent sobs.

Conscious that Agnes needed a moment or two to compose herself, Daniel secured the horses at the back of the cottage, where he found two horses already in residence in a ramshackle shed abutting the cottage. Entering by the low back door, he blinked, allowing his eyes to adjust to the gloom. A haze of wood smoke mingled with tobacco suffused the cottage.

‘What took you so long?' Kit's familiar drawl came from the direction of the fireplace where he and Jonathan sat in the two chairs. Jonathan had stretched out his legs, propping his feet on a log of wood as he puffed on a long-stemmed clay pipe. The dog had laid her head on Kit's lap and he was scratching her ears while her tail thumped the floor.

‘What if we were Ashby's men?' Daniel demanded.

‘You weren't,' Kit remarked mildly. ‘We've been watching for you. Ah, Agnes.'

Kit gently disengaged the dog, who returned to her familiar place on the hearthrug. He rose to his feet and bowed as Agnes entered the cottage, followed by Peg, who shut the door firmly behind her, plunging the cottage into gloom.

Jonathan removed the pipe from his mouth and stood up, offering his chair to Agnes.

‘Mistress Fletcher, I can only begin to imagine what a trial this is for you. Take a seat and tell us what you have managed to discover,' he said.

Daniel cast his brother a quick glance as Agnes settled herself on the chair. Jonathan Thornton had a charm singularly lacking in either Lovell. He wished he had Jonathan's ability to put Agnes at her ease and instil an air of confidence in the situation.

Behind them, Peg resumed her seat at the table and began shelling peas. Daniel gave the woman a quick glance but she was humming to herself and did not appear to be listening. Jonathan leaned against the chimney breast, tapping his pipe out on the stonework.

Agnes looked around the gathered group. ‘We only have tonight,' she said in a low voice. ‘Ashby gave me until sundown tomorrow to find the hiding place.'

‘And it's where you thought?' Kit asked.

‘I know where the hiding place is,' Agnes replied, ‘but I didn't have time to locate the actual entrance.'

Kit paced the tiny room. He failed to duck to avoid a beam and banged his head. As he stood rubbing it, Peg Truscott looked up. ‘Mind your head, young man,' she said, ‘This cottage weren't built for the likes of ‘ee.' Her hands stilled and her gaze scanned the group by the fireplace. ‘What is it you are seeking?'

Agnes spoke first. ‘We are looking for the entrance to a hiding place in the children's nursery, a priest hole, probably.'

Peg returned to her peas, her fingers working without breaking rhythm. ‘Are ye now. I thought that place long forgotten.'

‘James knew it,' Agnes said. ‘Do you know where it is?'

The old woman chuckled. ‘I've worked in that nursery since I were a girl myself,' she said. ‘Ye'll find the catch in the third panel from the door.'

Agnes laughed. ‘Why didn't I think of asking you? Thank you, Peg. That's saved us the search.'

‘What's the garrison strength?' Jonathan addressed Daniel.

‘I've counted twenty-four troopers. They have a token guard on the main entrance but the kitchen entrance is unguarded.'

‘What's the best way to get inside?'

‘Leave the horses in the trees beside the gate to the kitchen garden,' Agnes said. ‘Daniel can let you in through the kitchens and I can meet you at the top of the servant stairs and guide you from there.'

‘What about your guard?' Daniel asked.

‘Guard? He's got you under guard?' Kit stopped his pacing.

‘If you call a large, burly soldier who appears to be in residence outside my bedchamber a guard, then yes, I am,' Agnes said. ‘I think he is intended more to prevent me accessing the children than to prevent any other kind of mischief on my part.'

‘That's a problem,' Jonathan said. ‘We need you. Any chance of slipping past him?'

Agnes shook her head. ‘Only if he's asleep … but he's not the only difficulty. There's the children and their maid. They all sleep in the nursery.'