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However, they did not see a soul as they hurried along a short stretch of the main road and it was easy to take a short cut through the field farmed by the Greeps. The lingering smell of smoke from the blacksmith’s forge hung in the air as they hurried past the smithy; the wheelwright’s shop was in darkness as was the sawmill. Bats zoomed overhead and an owl screeched as it flew low over the bare soil.
They arrived at the mill house and Nancy went to the back door and knocked.
It was opened by Fletcher wielding a wooden rolling pin. ‘Good God, Miss Nancy. Where have you been? The whole village is looking for you.’ She peered over Nancy’s shoulder. ‘Is that you, Ivy Lugg? What are you doing here?’
‘Please let us in and I’ll explain,’ Nancy said urgently. ‘I don’t think anyone saw us, but it’s important for Ivy to be kept safe. I wouldn’t have escaped if she hadn’t risked everything to help me.’
‘Come in.’ Fletcher stood aside to let them pass, closing the door firmly behind them. ‘You look in a sorry state, the pair of you. Best tidy yourselves up before you see the mistress. She has company.’
Nancy backed away. ‘Who’s here? It’s not Gervase, is it?’
Fletcher rolled her eyes. ‘I can see I’ll get no sense out of you. Forget what I said and follow me.’ She turned to Ivy, holding up her hand. ‘Not you. Stay in the kitchen and I’ll make you a cup of tea.’ She led the way to the drawing room and opened the door without knocking. ‘Look who has just turned up.’
Nancy stifled a sudden desire to giggle. Fletcher had never bothered to adopt the polite demeanour of a servant, but it would take a brave person to attempt to change her attitude. Nancy entered the room and came to a sudden halt.
‘Freddie! You’re the last person I expected to find here! I thought you had urgent family business.’
He crossed the floor in two strides and wrapped her in an embrace. ‘Nancy, my darling. What happened? We have the police scouring the countryside for you.’
Patricia rose from the sofa. ‘We’ve been frantic with worry.’
‘Indeed we have.’ Leo placed his arm around Patricia’s shoulders. ‘Patsy hardly slept last night for worrying about you, Nancy. We’ve had the whole village looking for you.’
Nancy felt herself swaying and Freddie helped her to the nearest chair. ‘Sit down. Take your time and tell us everything.’ He turned to Fletcher. ‘Brandy, please.’
‘Yes, my lord.’ Fletcher bowed out of the room.
‘I’m sorry,’ Nancy said wearily. ‘I felt a bit faint but I’m all right now. It’s been an ordeal but at least I’m free.’
Freddie kneeled at her side. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Gervase sent one of his men to kidnap me. I was locked in a room at Greystone Park.’
‘You were taken prisoner? If he’s harmed you in any way, he’ll have me to answer to.’ Freddie took her in his arms and held her so tightly that she could feel his heart beating against her breast.
‘I’m not hurt, Freddie. I escaped with Ivy’s help.’
‘Tell us what happened,’ Patricia said anxiously. ‘Why would he do such a thing?’
‘Start at the beginning, Nancy, my darling.’ Freddie released her, brushing a lock of hair from her brow with a gentle hand. ‘Tell us how it happened.’
It seemed such an improbable story but Nancy related the events of the previous evening until the moment she and Ivy had walked into the scullery at the mill house.
‘Damned man.’ Freddie rose to his feet. ‘I’ve a good mind to go to Greystone Park this minute and throw him out. He has no legal right to be there in the first place, and by kidnapping you and keeping you imprisoned he’s committed a criminal offence.’
‘Then we should let Constable Burton know exactly what happened.’ Leo helped Patricia back to her place on the sofa. ‘It’s no use taking the law into your own hands, Ashton. Although I would like to beat the devil out of that man myself.’
‘Why would he do such a thing, Nancy?’ Patricia asked tiredly. ‘What good did it do him to keep you locked up?’
‘He wants to marry me,’ Nancy said with a wry smile. ‘Not because he loves me. He just wants to ensure his right to the estate. I think he’s realised that Sir Oliver wasn’t his father, but if he married me everything that I own would become his property. We are cousins if I can prove my identity, but that doesn’t worry him.’
‘Unspeakable.’ Leo clenched his fists. ‘Perhaps you and I ought to go there and teach him a lesson, Ashton.’
‘You’ll do no such thing,’ Patricia said hastily. ‘Leave it to the police.’
‘Yes, I don’t want either of you to get into trouble on my behalf.’ Nancy looked up as Fletcher marched into the room with a tray laden with a decanter and four glasses.
‘Brandy for all.’ She placed the tray on a side table. ‘What shall I do with Ivy Lugg? I have her sobbing in the kitchen. She thinks her ma and pa will starve to death because she’s lost her position.’
