Part 30 (1/2)
runner to pick one up, she chose the other and raised it. ”Shall we say, to your health. You do look a bit tired.” Smiling, she raised the gla.s.s to her lips.
”To yours, m'lady.” He quaffed the drink.
Lady Tretain lowered her gla.s.s without having taken a sip. ”Sherry should never be gulped, my man.
When one does it that way, strange things happen.”
”Such as?”
”Why, I am told one becomes sleepy. Now there you are yawning. You must remember never to gulp,
mustn't you, Mr. Dougherty. Mr. Dougherty?
”My, my. Satter,” the dowager countess called once more. ”My guest has found my conversation most boring. Would you fetch Holdt and some others to remove him?”
Watching the men carry the runner from the room, Lady Tretain puzzled over the brief explanation
Adrian had given her.
The children were missing, Lady Juliane was off somewhere searching for them, and now he and the comte were looking for her. A runner was not needed in all this confusion.
Surely, she asked herself, one could get into trouble meddling with a runner? But it was only a harmless sleeping potion. Mr. Dougherty would get a good night's rest and he couldn't be angry with her for that. I do hope Adrian is pleased, she thought with a smile. This is the most fun I've had in years. But then her thoughts took a darker turn.
Were the children and Juliane safe? What was happening?
CHAPTER 22.
Darkness had fallen an hour past. Lord Adrian, Comte de Cavilon, and Mallatt arrived at the Oaks, an ale house which also served as an inn, just as a group of local men left it.
They remained in the darkness as the men pa.s.sed close by, their thoroughbred horses the only evidence of their high station in life. Mallatt had secured clothing that no one who had attended the ball could ever be convinced either the comte or Lord Adrian would deign to touch, much less wear. The garb suited well their purposes on this evening.
Leaving the horses in Mallatt's care, they entered the public room. Their appearance drew little attention from the motley group a.s.sembled. An equally ragged fellow at a table to the rear beckoned to them. Ordering mugs of ale, they joined him.
of hearing.
”What news do you have for us?” asked Lord Adrian.
”It is as you thought. They are using the empty cottages and huts on your estate. They have been moving
every few days, and separately.
”As you know,” the man frowned apologetically, ”we lost three of them last night. The fourth, however, we have kept in our sights. We expect him to lead us back to the others.”
”What do you mean-he'll lead you? Have you no idea where they are?” asked the comte.
”Unfortunately we have only a fair idea. Wait, here's Tom.”
A fourth man pulled a chair to the table. He glanced cautiously about before beginning. ”The coves have settled for the night-or so we think. Can't be too certain of anything these frogs do. There are two men
keepin' watch till we can get there.”
Lord Adrian reached across the table and took hold of the man's arm. Did you see anyone with them-two small children, the girl, a young woman?”
”Nay, m'lord, I'm sorry to say-none of them.”
”Let us ride and see where this is,” said the comte, rising. ”We shall decide what is to be done from that
point.”
The others also stood, tossed coins on the table for the ale, and strode from the inn.
Half-score miles away, the two men left to watch the hut were engaged in earnest conversation.
”Who can that be? What? A woman. What would a woman be about this time a night? And alone!”
”She must be with 'em.”
”We've seen no sign o' the likes of her before-it's too dark to tell who she might be.”