“Aye, dinnae be too brave, now. These parts arenae safe this time o’ nigh’.” He didn’t slur, which I thought a good sign. He was not intoxicated, at least.
“My companion and I wish for nothing but to be left alone.” I looked away from him and finished my food before standing and inclining my head in a polite show of farewell. “Excuse us.”
To my dismay, the other men came over to our table as well. There were five in total. And all equally intimidating. Patrice took hold of my arm and we stood facing them. My heart beat quickly, but I made sure my expression remained cool. I stole a glance toward the innkeeper, hoping we’d have someone in our corner if it came to a struggle. I was relieved to see him watching our exchange with the men.
“What will ye do if ye come upon a highwayman?” the same man asked us.
“We have very fast horses,” I said.
“Do ye have weapons?” he asked, prodding.
Patrice spoke up. “Ofcourse we do.”
The men laughed together, making the hair stand up on my neck. What could we do here? Wait until morning to avoid being on the road with these men? Traveling in the light of day certainly would be safer…but I refused to let this chance to find Graham evade me. Even one day wasted was too much.
“We have weapons, and we are prepared to use them.” I did not lie completely. I’d had the foresight to bring a knife with me. If only I had learned how to use it. Curse my neglectful education. Learning how to defend myself should have been one of my essential lessons.
“Aye, that’s grand,” the man said. He stepped closer, and Patrice and I stepped back.
“Miss Findlay,” I heard someone say from behind us. Whirling around, my breath caught in my chest.
“Mr. Ashby!” Patrice and I exclaimed together. We went over to him, ignoring the men who had nearly ruined my plans. Never had I been so glad to see someone before; that is, other than Graham that day in Hyde Park.
Mr. Ashby’s blue eyes were wider than the ocean I anticipated sailing across. “What are you—?”
Glancing back at the men, I grabbed Mr. Ashby’s arm and spoke loudly. “My dear, are you feeling better? Have you had enough rest?”
I widened my eyes at him intently, trying to communicate my desperation. It only took him a moment to understand the scene before him. He placed a hand over mine and looked into my eyes. His smile did not seem fake, which took me quite by surprise. “Yes, darling. I am quite well rested.”
I returned his smile and hugged his arm affectionately for good measure. “I’m happy to hear it. Well, let us prepare for our departure, then. Shall we?”
He nodded, and while we looked into each other’s eyes, we surreptitiously watched the men leave the inn. Once the door closed behind them, I stepped away from Mr. Ashby.
“Forgive me for putting on such a show,” I said, after sighing with relief.
“Now will you tell me what you are doing here?” I gave him credit for catching on to my ruse quickly, but surely he must have known why I was there.
I met his eyes in a fierce stare. “I’m going to find that traitorous ingrate. And you’re going to help me.”
His gaze swept over my face, then to Patrice. “I remember you from earlier today, but we haven’t been formally introduced. I am Arthur Ashby.” He inclined his head in greeting.
“Aye, I ken. Patrice. I am a maid at Edleroy Castle.” She lowered her eyes for a moment in acknowledgement, like a subtle curtsy.
He nodded, then returned his gaze to me, his eyes shrewd this time. “Your father didn’t approve of this, I take it,” he stated.
“It matters not. This is my choice. Graham is my husband-to-be. Cameron cannot go when Melody is expected to give birth any day now, and surely my father wouldn’t make the journey with all the things he must do at Edleroy. So it falls to me. I must go; Ineedto go.”
Mr. Ashby glanced toward the door where the men who’d been a threat to us only moments ago had exited. “You realize the danger you will be getting yourself into. Sailing across the Atlantic is no easy feat.”
“I am well aware of the danger.” My tone of voice communicated how close I knew we had already come to encountering said danger.
“Besides the trouble you could come across as two women traveling on horseback, a woman aboard a ship is not often looked upon kindly.” His eyes pierced me with severity. He was trying to make his point with every minuscule muscle of his overly expressive face.
“I’ve read enough about seafaring to know that. But women cross the sea successfully despite it.” He wasn’t going to scare me, no matter how hard he tried.
He opened his mouth as if to continue, but he must have seen that nothing could sway me. His nod confirmed it. “Then I am at your service, Miss Findlay.”
I grinned. “Somehow I knew convincing you would not be very hard.”
