Brianna did not turn around, but she sensed what she would see if she had: Michael, very uncertain and wary as he surveyed the stranger suddenly in his home. He would be about to rush past Sloan and race for the protection of her skirts.
“Michael,” she said quickly, cheerfully, “Sloan is going to help your papa. Go with him and let him help you dress.” She held her breath for a long moment. Eleanor touched her arm and she turned at last to see that the two had gone to the bedroom.
She could not eat. Then they heard Michael’s laughter from the bedroom and Sloan’s deep voice droning something that they could not understand. And then Michael’s delighted laughter again.
At last the two reappeared. Michael crawled up on his mother’s lap. “Like him!” he said, pointing to Sloan. Sloan didn’t sit; he inclined his head toward the room.
“Get his things,” he told Brianna. She nodded and set the child down to eat, and went to do as she had been told, fiercely fighting off tears as she packed the tiny garments she had sewn so lovingly.
In time they were ready. Having only the one horse, Brianna put bridles on the ornery mules. They rode first to the jail. Sloan did not go in, but remained outside with Michael.
Despite all her promises Brianna cried out when she saw her husband.
“Oh, Robert!” she cried, sinking to his side.
He smiled at her. “My wife,” he murmured, and he touched her hair, his eyes surveying her. “Brianna, don’t look at me so. Have faith in God.”
“I do,” she lied. Since Pegeen’s death it had been difficult to have such faith. “Oh, Robert…”
He pushed himself up and caught her chin between his hands, his eyes dark and serious as they stared into hers. “I do not want you here, Brianna. Treveryan can take you away; and as your husband, I order you to go.”
She smiled and shook her head. “In anything else, Robert, I would obey. But at your trial I can testify in your defense.” She hesitated. “I am sending Michael to New York today.”
He winced, and his pain touched her deeply, but as regarded the child’s safety, she knew they were both in accord. “Thank him,” Robert muttered, and she knew he meant Sloan. “Let me hold you,” he said, and they leaned against the cold wall.
He was very warm, Brianna thought worriedly. But it was true that he seemed to have everything that could be provided here. Blankets, water, ale, and the crusts of his breakfast remained on a tray. The bread and the fish smelled fresh.
In time he slept. She kissed his forehead and left him.
On the street she could find neither Eleanor, Sloan, nor Michael. Eleanor, she assumed, was still with Philip. But where had Sloan taken her son?
At last she hurried to the taproom of the ordinary. Sloan was alone at a table, a tankard of ale before him. With rising panic she rushed over to him and demanded, “Where’s Michael?”
“I’ve sent him on.”
“With whom? You didn’t let me see him, you didn’t let me say good-bye, you didn’t—”
He caught her hand and pulled her down to sit opposite him, his eyes flashing a warning as he indicated that others were discussing the witchcraft arrests and the coming trials.
“And what would that have done? You would have wept and he would have gone off in tears, fighting all the way! Your friend Sarah Ingersoll took him to Rikky’s.”
“Rikky’s?”
“Lord Turnberry’s,” Sloan explained impatiently. “Rikky will take him on to Boston. In Boston, he’ll find Paddy—and theSea Hawkwill take them on to New York and Lady Eastwood, Rikky’s aunt.”
Brianna stood, eager to rid herself of his presence. Michael was gone, and she knew she was going to cry, and she didn’t want to do so in front of Sloan.
But as soon as she was on her feet, he was on his. She had barely reached the tavern door before he caught her hand, shackling her wrist with his fingers. He tipped his hat to a passing stranger as he led her back to the mules.
“Leave me alone!” she insisted.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t. Tomorrow at Robert’s examination, I will be at your side—ready to throttle you if you create a disturbance.”
“You act as if I had no sense!” Brianna cried out, shaken. She couldn’t bear him so continually by her side. Alone.
“Nay, Brianna. You have sense. But it can too easily be lost these days.”
“I need to go home alone,” she rasped out. Again he shook his head and spoke bitterly.
