“And they drew my mother into it to conceal the contraband for them.”
“Yes. Never fear, Missy. As soon as your mother hands over the goods, we shall return you home, safe and sound.”
Mary lowered her eyes and drank more water. “Thank you, sir. That is a comfort. I am certain the goods shall be recovered soon.”
She fell silent and remained motionless, taking occasional sips of water while panic raged within her. Every passing moment threatened the arrival of another smuggler who might destroy her chance of escape.
At last, her captor’s eyes drifted shut.
A minute later, his body sagged against the chair, and his mouth fell open.
Mary rose with care, took up the candlestick, and slipped through the door. The key remained in the lock. She closed the door behind her, turned the key, and slipped it into her pocket.
Then she lifted the candlestick and surveyed her surroundings. Fear rose sharp and sudden in her stomach, leaving her frozen in place, too frightened to venture farther.
Only one path lay before her, a long corridor stretching into darkness. A violent nausea rose to her throat. She bit down hard on her lip. Under no circumstances would she cast up her accounts now. Trembling, she forced herself forward.
She moved as quickly as possible without drawing notice, though no sound came from anywhere within this part of the building. The corridor continued ahead, but a stairway descended to her right.
Mary approached the edge and peered downward. The stair twisted into blackness below.
Down and down she went until at last she reached a door.
She lifted the latch and eased it open barely wide enough to slip through. The hinges creaked loudly enough to stop her heart. She froze and held her breath.
Cold mist swept against her face.
A gust of wind extinguished the candle, though she no longer required it. She pulled the candle free but kept the heavy candlestick in her hand to use as a weapon.
She crept along the rear of what appeared to be a castle. Upon reaching a hedge, she followed it toward the woods bordering the green.
Once concealed among the trees, she looked back.
She had been held captive in a castle.
The chamber where they confined her was in the back of a smaller building, not the castle itself.
Mary turned and fled deeper into the woods. She picked her way with care lest she stumble and suffer another injury. At length, she came upon a footpath. One direction led back toward the castle, so she took the other.
After what felt like an hour, lights flickered ahead through the darkness.
A village, perhaps.
Did she dare approach?
What if the village sheltered the very men who had abducted her? Might the inhabitants consist entirely of smugglers and those loyal to the free trade?
Still, she took the risk.
She dared not remain exposed to the cold night air, nor to men without conscience.
Then her gaze traveled above the rooftops, and in the distance she saw a church steeple.
Relief swept through her.
She would slip quietly to the parsonage and beg for assistance.
Jane and Elizabeth clung to one another upon the couch in Elizabeth’s bedchamber and prayed.
