AllFreeNovel
Share Us
iled, and then she remembered and with some concern asked, “Thomas?”
“Donna has the lad safe in hand. The villains have been tied to one another and to their wagon, and Robby has gone to fetch the authorities. However, my first concern is ye, lass. How badly are you hurt?”
She pulled on his sleeve as she sat up and then took his hand and with some effort got to her feet. She winced, as she hurt in places she didn’t know could hurt so badly, but she smiled and told him she was fine.
He eyed her doubtfully but asked, “Can ye ride home, or shall I hire a coach?”
“No, no … I would much rather just ride home. It will be quicker. Can you take Thomas up with you?”
“Aye.” He turned to Donna. “Robby knows to follow us as soon as he can.”
Donna frowned. “Indeed, we should get the boy away from here. He tells me he hasn’t had more than a piece of bread in days.”
“Right then,” the earl said, taking Bess’s hand. “Where is yer horse, m’love?”
She led him to her tethered animal, and he helped her mount. She winced and gritted her teeth, as this caused her a great deal of pain, and she wondered if indeed she would be able to ride. However, once in her saddle, she told herself, she would be fine.
The ride home was something she would never forget. Even though she was in a great deal of discomfort, the earl kept Thomas laughing as he told him various anecdotes and stories from his youth.
Bess hadn’t realized she could admire him more, but this side of him made her see him in full light, and that light was astounding.
Donna couldn’t stop looking at her and asking if she was all right. “You took quite a blow, Bess. I wanted to kill the old woman myself, for we arrived just in time to see it happen. Bess, are you in pain? You are, aren’t you?”
She smiled at her friend. “Nothing to speak of.”
“You are a wretch. You said you would wait for us.”
“I couldn’t. I had to take my chance. They were going to kill him,” Bess said simply.
Donna sighed, and they rode in silence for a time.
When Searington was in sight, Bess released a thankful sigh, and it wasn’t long before the earl was helping her dismount, as gently as he could. Thomas immediately ran to her and threw his arms around her waist. It hurt, but she cringed and kept herself from crying out from the pain. Instead, she ruffled his head and said, “Let’s get you washed and fed.”
“Could I get fed first and then washed?” Thomas asked hopefully.
They laughed and ushered him into the house, where they encountered Maddy, who clasped her hands as she looked at Bess and said, “I knew it. I knew it. You are hurt. I can see you are hurt. What happened to you?” She then spied Thomas and said, “Oh, my poor child … oh … what wickedness has occurred?”
Donna gave Maddy a quick rendition as they filed into the kitchen, where they accosted Cook Anna and demanded food, there and then.
It wasn’t long before plates of enticing food were set before them all, and while Maddy clucked over devilry and evil villains, they all went about the job of eating with great enthusiasm.
Thomas eyed Bess and asked quietly all at once, “Why did those Gypsies want me dead?”
Bess frowned and said, “There are always people in this world willing to be wicked for money.”
When Maddy clucked some more, Bess turned an arched look at her and threw her nanny a kiss.
“Who would pay them to … to—” Thomas started to ask the earl.
The earl cut him off and said, “Young lad, ye needn’t worry aboot that. We mean to get to the bottom of it, so ye shouldn’t think on it any longer.” He smiled and changed the subject. “Are ye looking forward to seeing yer kin, Mary Russell?”
Thomas brightened, but only a little. “I suppose.”
“Ah, it is like that, is it?” the earl returned softly. “Right then, ye need a bath, young man, and then ye need to turn in.”
Thomas smiled. “Agreed, my lord.”
“One thing,” the earl asked softly. “Can ye tell me if ye heard anything that might shed some light on this matter?”
