“Nay!” Sin said, interrupting him. “Don’t even breathe that word lest you jinx me.”
Simon frowned. “Jinx you, how?”
“Henry has been making matrimonial threats. As yet, I’ve avoided it. My hope is to stay the execution.”
Simon laughed. “Then may you continue to elude the marital noose.”
Before Sin could respond, something flashed in the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he tried to see what it was that had attracted his notice.
At first, he saw nothing unusual. Courtiers and servants moved freely about the yard, attending their pleasure and duties. There was nothing unusual.
Nothing that was except for a strangely shaped man who was hobbling near the far wall of the inner bailey. No one seemed to pay any heed, but something about that stranger didn’t seem quite right.
Sin held his hand up to Simon in signal that he’d be right back, then took a step forward to catch a better look at the man whose cloak was just a bit too thick for the unusually warm day.
And as he closed the distance, Sin noticed the strangest thing of all.
The old man had four legs.
Arching a brow in disbelief, he watched as the four-legged man made his way, unchallenged, toward the stable.
“Tell me, Simon,” Sin said as his friend drew near. “Have you ever seen a four-legged beggar?”
“Is this a riddle?”
“Not a riddle, but a puzzle. A puzzle to see just how far she can get before someone stops her.”
“She?”
Sin pointed toward the dark figure entering the stable, then quickened his steps to catch up.
He told Simon to wait outside an instant before he slipped into the darkness of the stable to see the figure separate into two halves.
In spite of himself, he smiled as he snuck along the stalls to watch the Scotswoman lead the boy to a cart and cover him with hay.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” the boy asked.
“Aye. I overheard the lad saying he’ll ready the cart for the carter to get extra supplies in town. We’ll just lie quietly until he stops and then we’ll disappear into the city.”
She climbed up and covered herself.
A few minutes later, an older boy entered and started hitching a team to the cart.
The woman had ingenuity, Sin would certainly give her that. And if not for the fact he had assumed responsibility for the boy and woman, he would allow her to flee.
But he couldn’t do that.
The only question was, should he thwart her now or wait?
He decided to wait. He wanted to see how far she could get on her own.
Leaving the shadows, he quickly saddled two horses, then led them to where Simon waited outside.
“Feel up to a bit of adventure?” he asked Simon.
“Always.”
They mounted their horses, then waited until the carter entered the stable. A few minutes later, he took the cart out.
