It would be much more fun if Minerva wasn’t watching Verity and Arthur approach with a gaggle of urchins disguised in old shirts, coats, and boys’ trousers—and knew two of them were little girls.
Thirty-three
Brydie
Brydie almost swallowedher tongue at the sight of Lynly and Daphne with their hair hidden under boys’ caps and wearing Rob’s outgrown shirts with rolled up breeches.Anyone with half an eye and brain would know they were too clean to be street urchins.But Verity had lived in London and had an eye for costume, so they were passable boys.
To her relief, Arthur and Kate had the four younger boys in hand.They wore similar patched, loose-fitting clothes, even the heirs.Brydie looked over their heads for Mr.Birdwhistle, but he wasn’t to be seen.His presence would give away the fact that the heirs were present, she supposed.He probably wasn’t far away though.
Fashionable Verity had garbed herself in what appeared to be a maid’s black round gown and a mobcap instead of her usual beautiful bonnet.Beneath the cap, her expression was fierce.It had been her idea to separate the orphans to make it difficult for kidnappers to recognize them.
In rough cap and clothes, Daphne still looked like a blond fairy angel, but she was quiet, while dark-haired, skinny Lynly bounced and chatted, distracting from the younger girl.
With his curly, fair hair hidden and hot chocolate smeared on his mouth and nose, Daniel looked a little rougher.He clung to Arthur, his big blue eyes round as he took in the pub filled with holiday festivity.
Twelve-year-old Rob swaggered behind Arthur, with the two eight-year-old heirs, pretending he wasn’t as wide-eyed and swivel-headed as Daniel.Except for Arthur, all had chocolate on their faces.
Under the protection of Minerva and Brydie, Verity nervously tugged down Daphne’s cap and instructed her crew.“Lynly and Daphne and I will go in first.Daniel, you and Rob wait here a moment with Arthur.Oliver and Davey, you need to wait for last and stay with Kate.That way, we won’t each see what the other is buying.”
And anyone watching wouldn’t know which child belonged with whom, without the children understanding they were in danger.Brydie smiled at their excitement.Children ought to feel safe to venture into the world and explore.
For this reason, Brydie would do what she must to capture a kidnapper and killer.She would never be a proper lady thinking like that, but she preferred being useful.
Perhaps Damien felt a little bit like that when he was trying to protect her?She’d think on it, later.
Verity donned a smiling face but her fear was obvious.“We have been ordered to buy currant biscuits, and we are hoping there might be candies.”
As if they hadn’t spent half the morning plotting this, Brydie gestured at the crowded market.“Good thinking.If you hurry, there may be some left.”
The girls dashed eagerly into the pub to examine all the goodies on the three rows of trestle tables.They exclaimed over crocheted angels and pinecone elves in equal excitement.Brydie waited until they were deep inside the high-ceilinged pub before she discreetly followed.Minerva fell in behind Arthur with Rob and Daniel.Kate stayed with the heirs.Mr.Birdwhistle would follow eventually.
The enormous pub had been organized in three rows of tables, six tables long—eighteen tables of delight, plus the bar with cider and nibbles.The children barely knew where to turn.
At twelve, Rob was too old to rein in for long, of course, but he dutifully stayed close to his older brother while casting longing gazes to a table of baked goods.They’d given the children coins and told them to think of others, but Brydie didn’t expect them to make wise choices at their age.
She listened to the girls prattle, while searching the face of every man squeezing through the narrow aisles.She’d not met Elton and wouldn’t recognize him.But she could identifyalmosteveryone from church or around the village or manor.His lordship’s valet seemed to be enjoying serving punch and flirting with the women who stopped to have their cups filled.Gillespie had Rafe’s convict clerk running back and forth from the kitchen with clean cups.Mr.Jasper from the hardware was picking over a table of lacy collars, presumably for his mother.None of these newcomers even looked up at the arrival of a gaggle of youngsters.
Brydie didn’t see Cooper, but that wasn’t unusual.She was fairly certain he had pockets to let and only stayed because he had nowhere to go.Perhaps he’d asked his family for funds when he sent his letters.Surely, they’d have a reply soon.Even after learning of the orphaned children, he certainly hadn’t shown any concern that they might belong to his distant cousin.He probably wasn’t even aware that she’d had children.A family man, he was not.
Mr.Oswald from the mercantile arrived with his wife.A few farmers and laborers from the manor and the stable yard showed up.Brydie wasn’t as familiar with these men, but she was thrilled that they’d been drawn into village affairs.Still, she couldn’t revel in the fair’s success while scrutinizing everyone who might be the man who’d try to kidnap the children and had possibly killed their nanny.
“Should we have asked Rafe and Damien to stand guard?”Minerva whispered, catching up with her.“They’re the only ones besides Gillespie and the orphans who might recognize Elton.”
“Showing their faces would scare him off.They know that.But they're here, you can be sure of it.”Brydie glanced around, searching prospective hiding places.“Rafe won't let Verity and the children out of his sight.”
“Ah, that's how Kate became involved.Damien sent her.”Minerva did the same as Brydie, hunting hiding places.
“There's a place on the lobby stairs where we can see anyone entering the pub.One of the men will be there,” Brydie concluded.“Rafe may be patrolling, hoping to prevent Elton from entering.”
“It would be most excellent if he were captured before disrupting the fair.”Minerva smiled in satisfaction at the bustling scene.“We might even earn enough to buy fabric for altar cloths.”
“The chapel needs cushions more.We should write wealthier churches, ask if they have any old altar cloths in their closets that they're not using.The sewing ladies can fix anything.”
A half dozen men garbed in old army coats sidled in, uncertain of their welcome.Until recently, they’d lived in a camp by the river, homeless and unemployed.Hunt gave them what work he could and a roof over their heads when they wanted it.
“Oh, a chance to persuade them to church.”Minerva perked up.“Paul will be proud of me.”She abandoned Brydie and wove her way through the crowd.
It was almost impossible to keep track of all the people in the room now.The aisles were packed.Uneasily, Brydie worked her way closer to Verity, who had the girls.The boys were everywhere.She spotted Daniel at a table in the aisle by the bar and kitchen, watching one of the market women work a carved puppet on strings.Arthur hovered nearby, pretending to admire fine handkerchiefs.With Damien as an example, her nephew would grow into a strong, brave man someday.
