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Ned and Mandy lost no time falling on this treat with relish. When they were nearly done with the fruit Mandy asked, “Chauncey, you astound me all the time. How did you get these?”
“Yer aunt ogles the kitchen, she does, but cook knows just how to manage and put aside a few things for us. Henry keeps it in the stables till I can make my way there. He says to tell ye not to worry about your brood mare, she is
doing fine.” Chauncey swung the basket he had been holding at his side and laid it down as he sank onto a nearby chair.
The twins fell on the basket.
With excited sounds of glee they discovered bread, cheese, dried meats, and hard boiled eggs.
Mandy turned and eyed Chauncey adoringly. They had run very low on food and had gone hungry for a couple of days. This was a feast and Mandy got up from it, and flung her arms around him. “Dear Chauncey! What would we do without you? But why does aunt ogle the kitchen?”
“She knows the servants are with ye and his young lordship.” He shrugged, “No doubt she suspicions they might be aiding ye to stay hidden.” He sighed heavily, “Never mind her now. Got a piece of news, don’t know what it means, but I hear tell, there is a tallow faced stranger staying at the Cock Pit in the village.”
Ned obviously did not feel this was of sufficient import to raise his head from the food he was consuming, but Mandy eyed Chauncey who had taken a seat on one of the bales of hay and proceed to eat his bread and cheese.
“Tallow faced stranger?” she asked and then stuffed part of the hard boiled egg into her mouth. She chewed swallowed, groaned with pleasure and asked, “And why does this matter to us?”
“Cat sticks, for legs, they say this stranger has, but a wisty cove all the same,” Chauncey answered. “The fellow claims to be on holiday, but the owner, Bradley of the Cock Pit,” he paused and pointed his large square chin at Ned, “You know him, my lord…”
“Aye,” answered Ned with a full mouth, “Capital fellow.”
“Right, and they say Old Branson down Southgate way has a grey sure to beat Tetley’s red.”
“Chauncey, this is no time to be discussing cock fights. What about this prune faced man,” Mandy urged.
“Right, well Bradley he thinks this Mr. Fowler, that’s his name, ye know,” he stopped, eyed the bread and took a large bite, chewed, swallowed and proceeded, all the while, Mandy tapped her foot.
He nearly choked as he tried to get enough down and Ned laughed while Mandy glared at both of them before he continued.
“Bradley is convinced Fowler is a Bow Street Runner!”
Mandy jumped to her feet, “Oh no!” she turned to Ned. “It can’t be! They have called for the runners to find us!”
Ned and Chauncey exchanged glances and Ned told his sister, “Take a damper. Sit, eat, because no out of town runner is going to find us here.”
“Yes, but this is awful, simply awful,” Mandy murmured but did in fact take a bite of bread. It was a day old but still delicious. Her stomach growled loudly for more.
“Coo, listen to you, Missy. You who planned this all, pluck to the backbone, talking like a suckling? Tsk tsk,” Chauncey got to his feet, “Up now wit both of ye,” he said portentously.
“Why, what’s afoot?” Ned asked as he shook off the dust, stood and stretched.
“Noted the viscount’s coach parked at Sherborne,” Chauncey announced. “By now, he must have had enough of yer Aunt Agatha and be on his way back. Thought ye might like to have a word with him…”
“Really?” Ned returned. “Why would he go visit our aunt? And what about his driver—can’t have him see us meet with Skip.”
“Brooks is a friend of mine. He’ll keep mum, he will and happy to do so,” Chauncey said firmly. “Now…hurry. It might do some good to find out a bit more from yer viscount about this runner.”
“Indeed, but why would Skip be up at the Halls?” Mandy frowned as she started out, bent and picked up her hat and a scarf for her face.
“It queers me to know or answer ye. Thought ye could ask him yerselves.” He started off and didn’t bother to look back as he heard them scramble about collecting their hooded riding cloaks.
They made their way down the torch lit tunnel under the abbey ruins and there opened the trap door that led them outdoors. Chauncey and Ned hurriedly hid all signs of the trap door with rocks and weeds, before the three made their way to where their horses were hidden in a makeshift stable of sorts. The horses were happily munching on fresh hay and looked up at their approach.
Chauncey helped the twins get saddled and tightened the girth on his own animal as he led them away and then mounted to turn his horse in the opposite direction.
“Don’t you come with us?” Mandy called after him.
“No missy. I have a meeting with a friend who has been m’eyes and ears while I’m in hiding wit ye. He has been searching out word about this Bonner woman.”
