“Too bad fer you, yer word’s not much good these days. You owe debts to half the county, and word has gone ‘round that you can’t pay them. Lucky for me, though, I know what you do have that will fetch a penny.”
Thomas jerked his chin back in the vicinity of his wagon, and Charles’ eyes went wide. There stood his daughter’s own horse, tethered to the wagon.
“You thief! How dare you!” roared Charles, but Thomas only laughed, his gap-toothed grin leering back.
“Thief? I’d watch who I call a thief. You know that’s the same word they throw on a man who does not pay his bills. I’m no more a thief than you are, I’d say,” Thomas said coolly.
“I’ll see you hanged for this!” Charles shouted, unconcerned as to who may be passing by.
“Aye then. You’ll have a handy close view of the gallows from yer cell in the debtors’ prison.” Thomas clucked sadly to himself then sauntered off, leaving Charles to weigh his words. He stopped and looked back for a moment before adding, “And never forget, good sir, that I know yer secrets. You report me to the law for this or anythin’ else, and I’ll tell ‘em all no good you’ve been up to. Twould be a shame if anyone learned of how you’ve been going on these days.”
Charles felt the first drops of a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He knew there was a large measure of truth to the awful man’s threats, so he had no other recourse than to watch helplessly as Thomas climbed into the wagon and led his daughter’s horse away. He stood, alone and feeling the agonizing sense of loss, as they disappeared into the darkness, leaving him to wonder how he would ever explain it to his daughter.
I’ll just say that the horse was stolen, Charles thought, suddenly brightening.And in truth, it’s so. I don’t have to let on that I know who the thief may be!
* * *
Marjorie awoke the next morning after one of the most restless nights she’d ever remembered. Her thoughts flitted between sadness for Valiant, fear for her sister, and the sickening muddled feeling of an unmistakable attraction to the Earl of Lanercost.
Why now, of all days?she thought bitterly. Why would someone such as he, a man of character and breeding and astonishing good looks, appear in her life and disrupt her entire world… onlyaftershe was promised to another man?
Worse, why did she have no voice in the matter?
The sickened feeling stayed with her as she stood up and tried to walk on her injured ankle. Thankfully, there was only a dull throb when she held still, increased by a sharp stabbing pain when she carried her weight on it. After a few paces the length of her room, even that pain became more manageable.
A knock at her door told Marjorie others were awake at that hour, too. “Come in,” she said, turning to see who it might be. “Ah, good morning, Diana.”
“My Lady! What are you doing up? You shouldn’t be straining your injury!” Diana said, carrying a fresh pitcher of water for washing.
She placed the pitcher on the vanity and came to look closely at Marjorie’s cut. Frowning at the redness, Diana retrieved a small jar from her pocket and dabbed more liniment on the puffy skin.
“There. We must keep putting this on the wound else it might leave a very noticeable scar. I like not how it appears for now, but I think we cleaned it well enough.” Diana looked again and tsked loudly.
“It only hurts a little,” Marjorie admitted, “and my ankle isn’t nearly as terrible as it was yesterday. I’m sure I’m mending well enough!”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Diana replied, a stern hint of warning in her words. “I know what you’re after, and you mustn’t!”
“What? I haven’t done anything!” Marjorie’s eyes went wide but she looked away, unable to meet her maid’s accusing stare.
“You’re thinking of heading out. I know you!”
“And what if I am? I’m past due for another visit to Mrs. Bushings to see how she’s getting on. Or perhaps I’ll go for a nice pleasant ride in the carriage with Harriet.” Marjorie fiddled awkwardly with some lace on the front of her robe, but Diana narrowed her eyes.
“Oh, is that all? Well, then I must accompany you, of course. I mean, after what Harriet went through last night, it wouldn’t do at all to send you girls out without someone else to keep watch over you.”
Diana’s attempt at besting Marjorie at her game had the desired effect.
“All right, I admit it! I must return to the Earl’s stables!”
“But why, My Lady? Why would you take such a risk? To be seen in your disguise, to risk further harm, and worse—to risk your heart on someone you cannot have? It’s madness! You’ll only do yourself great disservice! Do not put yourself through it!” Diana pleaded.
“I have to, Diana,” Marjorie said, taking her maid’s hands in earnest. “And as always, I need your help. If anyone knows the business of horses in these parts, it’s the Earl. He may be my only hope of bringing Valiant back home again. Plus, Mother’s own horse is there and I cannot ask anyone to care for it the way she would have.”
Marjorie stopped short of admitting another truth: someone was determined to destroy the Earl’s reputation, and she had to uncover that scoundrel’s reasoning. She knew it was not possible for a girth strap to merely tear, not with leather so thick and wide. It must have been an intentional act. That, coupled with the escaped stallion and the talk she’d already heard around the Earl’s stables of other misdeeds and undoings, left Marjorie with a sickening suspicion, and she would not rest until these terrible things came to an end.
Best not to share that with Diana, though,she thought,and cause her to worry even further.
“It will be fine, Diana. You’ll see. I just need help dressing since I fear my foot will no longer fit in that boot you provided. Do you think you might have a way to fetch me another pair? Or a boy’s shoes, perhaps?”
